{"id":29925,"date":"2023-01-10T12:24:00","date_gmt":"2023-01-10T20:24:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conejovalleyguy.com\/?page_id=29925"},"modified":"2025-07-03T11:53:08","modified_gmt":"2025-07-03T18:53:08","slug":"my-advice-for-buying-a-home-this-year","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.conejovalleyguy.com\/my-advice-for-buying-a-home-this-year\/","title":{"rendered":"My Advice for Buying a Home in 2025"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"row artcols\"><div class=\"art-col col-xs-12 col-sm-7 col-md- col-lg- \" style=\"background-image:url();\">\n<h1><strong><span style=\"color: #2b4257;\">WHAT TO EXPECT IN 2025<\/span><\/strong><\/h1>\n<p><strong><em>Finding your new home is an exciting journey!<\/em> <\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As you prepare for your move to the Conejo Valley, it\u2019s important to follow the current market trends and how they might influence your decisions along the way. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"color: #709cc1;\"><strong>MY GOAL:<\/strong><\/span> To help you understand the local market and find a home you&#8217;ll love.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Below are some common concerns that many homebuyers have, along with my tips on how to best position yourself to make informed choices when finding and purchasing your next home: <\/span><\/div><div class=\"art-col col-xs-12 col-sm-5 col-md- col-lg- \" style=\"background-image:url();\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"hood-bio\" style=\"z-index: 1;\">\n<div class=\"panel-inner\">\n<div class=\"hood-bio-header\">\n<div class=\"hood-bio-img\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"object-fit wp-post-image\" src=\"https:\/\/www.conejovalleyguy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/BUY-2025-HEADSHOT.png\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 291px) 100vw, 291px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.conejovalleyguy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/BUY-2025-HEADSHOT.png 291w, https:\/\/www.conejovalleyguy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/BUY-2025-HEADSHOT.png 768w, https:\/\/www.conejovalleyguy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/BUY-2025-HEADSHOT.png 895w\" alt=\"\" width=\"291\" height=\"300\" \/><\/div>\n<h3 class=\"title black blue-text\">Conejo Valley Guy<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<p>Hi, I\u2019m Michael.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #2b4257;\"><strong>I follow local market trends so you don\u2019t have to<\/strong><\/span> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"color: #2b4257;\">&#8211;<\/span> sharing my expertise along the way. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As a Realtor\u00ae, I can help you find and buy your new Conejo Valley home, guiding you from start to finish.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a class=\"btn orange-ghost-btn scroll-link\" href=\"#form-section\">Let\u2019s Connect!<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/div><\/div><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div class=\"span-page\" style=\"background-color: #f8f8f8;\">\n<div class=\"container\" style=\"padding: 0px 15px;\">\n<p><span style=\"color: #f8f8f8;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"color: #2b4257;\"><strong>MORTGAGE RATES ARE TRENDING DOWNWARDS<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"color: #709cc1;\"><strong>2025 Q2 RECAP:<\/strong> <\/span>Rates kicked off Q3 with a 3 month low hitting the mid 6s.<br \/>\n<span style=\"color: #709cc1;\"><strong>2025 FORECAST: <\/strong><\/span>Fannie Mae anticipates rates around 6.5% by the end of 2025. Many other forecasters agree.<\/p>\n<div class=\"box\" style=\"background-color: #2b4257; padding: 20px 20px 20px 20px; top-margin: 20px; border-radius: 5px;\">\n<h4><span style=\"color: #ffffff;\"><strong>\ud83d\udca1 MY ADVICE<\/strong><\/span><\/h4>\n<ul style=\"color: #ffffff;\">\n<li><span style=\"color: #ffffff;\">It\u2019s wise to accept that rates in the 6s are the \u201cnew normal\u201d and to plan accordingly.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #ffffff;\">Waiting for a significant rate drop in an already appreciating market may lead to increased competition from other buyers driving prices up further.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #ffffff;\"><span style=\"color: #d97045;\"><strong>REMEMBER:<\/strong><\/span> <em>Purchase price is forever, mortgage rates can be temporary.<\/em><\/span><span style=\"color: #ffffff;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"color: #d97045;\"><strong>_____\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0_____\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0_____<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"color: #2b4257;\"><strong>YOU&#8217;LL NEED TIME TO SHOP FOR A LOAN<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Financing is often the biggest hurdle for buyers, but lenders are eager to work with you. New loan programs make rates more manageable.<\/p>\n<div class=\"box\" style=\"background-color: #2b4257; padding: 20px 20px 20px 20px; top-margin: 20px; border-radius: 5px;\">\n<h4><span style=\"color: #ffffff;\"><strong>\ud83d\udca1 MY ADVICE<\/strong><\/span><\/h4>\n<ul style=\"color: #ffffff;\">\n<li>Minimally, get pre-approved for a loan <em>before<\/em> you start house hunting.<\/li>\n<li>Talk to at least one big bank (BofA, Chase, etc) and one mortgage broker. The big banks are best for highly qualified buyers with fully documented income. Mortgage brokers are best for everyone else. <strong><span style=\"color: #d97045;\">But it\u2019s still good practice to talk to both no matter your situation.<\/span><\/strong><\/li>\n<li>Going one step further and getting a <em><strong>fully underwritte<\/strong><strong>n<\/strong><\/em> pre-approval ahead of time can greatly increase your negotiating power when competing with other buyers.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"color: #d97045;\"><strong>_____\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0_____\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0_____<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"color: #2b4257;\"><strong>HOME PRICES ARE EXPECTED TO RISE<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Lower mortgage rates are bringing buyers back to the market which is expected to cause home prices to increase.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #709cc1;\"><strong>Q2 CONEJO VALLEY UPDATE:<\/strong><\/span> Median prices ended June at $1,170,000, relatively flat over the last 12 months.<br \/>\n<strong><span style=\"color: #709cc1;\">FORECAST<\/span><\/strong>: The California Association of Realtors <span style=\"color: #d97045;\"><strong>predicts a 4.6% increase in 2025<\/strong><\/span>, while Conejo Valley may see even higher growth.<\/p>\n<div class=\"box\" style=\"background-color: #2b4257; padding: 20px 20px 20px 20px; top-margin: 20px; border-radius: 5px;\">\n<h4><span style=\"color: #ffffff;\"><strong>\ud83d\udca1 MY ADVICE<\/strong><\/span><\/h4>\n<ul style=\"color: #ffffff;\">\n<li><strong>Demand for Conejo Valley homes remains relatively high, but way below peak activity.<\/strong> With limited inventory and no plans for large new home developments, steady price increases are expected to continue. <strong><span style=\"color: #d97045;\"><em>Think long term.\u00a0\u00a0 <\/em><\/span><\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Timing the market is more luck than strategy<\/strong>\u2014consider buying when you\u2019re ready vs. trying to time dips in mortgage rates.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"color: #d97045;\"><strong>_____\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0_____\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0_____<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"color: #2b4257;\"><strong>INVENTORY IS IMPROVING CREATING A BALANCED MARKET<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n<div draggable=\"false\" data-pm-slice=\"1 1 []\" data-en-clipboard=\"true\">Inventory has been increasing significantly every month with June ending the 602 homes for sale, a 41% increase over last year.<\/div>\n<div draggable=\"false\"><\/div>\n<div draggable=\"false\">Sellers who have been putting off selling can no longer wait, but the demand for housing isn&#8217;t what it was causing inventory to grow.<\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div class=\"box\" style=\"background-color: #2b4257; padding: 20px 20px 20px 20px; top-margin: 20px; border-radius: 5px;\">\n<h4><span style=\"color: #ffffff;\"><strong>\ud83d\udca1 MY ADVICE<\/strong><\/span><\/h4>\n<ul style=\"color: #ffffff;\">\n<li draggable=\"false\">\n<div draggable=\"false\">Inventory is rising quickly \u2014 outpacing last year at this time \u2014 though it remains below historical averages. We expect it to continue climbing and likely peak around May or June.<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li draggable=\"false\">\n<div draggable=\"false\">While some homes are still seeing multiple offers, <b>move-up<\/b> and <b>downsizer<\/b> properties are selling faster than <b>first-time buyer homes<\/b>, as affordability challenges continue to impact entry-level buyers. <span style=\"color: #ffffff;\"><strong>Plan accordingly.<\/strong><\/span><\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"color: #d97045;\"><strong>_____\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0_____\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0_____<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"color: #2b4257;\"><strong>YOUR COMPETITION ISN\u2019T WHAT IT WAS<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In other words, <\/span><span style=\"color: #709cc1;\"><b>it will be easier to buy in 2025 than it was in the last few years.<\/b><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> The frenzy of selling on a weekend with dozens of offers over asking price is behind us\u2026for now. <\/span><b><i>While multiple offers are still common, the competition is less intense. <\/i><\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Instead of competing with 10+ buyers, you\u2019re likely looking at closer to 1 or 2 \u2013 <\/span><b><i>or none at all.<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n<div class=\"box\" style=\"background-color: #2b4257; padding: 20px 20px 20px 20px; top-margin: 20px; border-radius: 5px;\">\n<h4><span style=\"color: #ffffff;\"><strong>\ud83d\udca1 MY ADVICE<\/strong><\/span><\/h4>\n<ul style=\"color: #ffffff;\">\n<li>\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"93\" data-end=\"222\">Sellers still aren\u2019t biting on lowball offers \u2014 most know inventory is tight and are willing to wait rather than settle for less.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"93\" data-end=\"222\">But if a home\u2019s been sitting for 30 days or more, chances are the price is too high. In those cases, sellers are usually more open to talking numbers and working out a deal.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"color: #d97045;\"><strong>_____\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0_____\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0_____<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"color: #2b4257;\"><strong>OBTAINING FIRE INSURANCE CAN COME WITH CHALLENGES<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>The horrific fires that struck Southern California in January put more pressure on an already challenging situation. Unfortunately, this is an issue that\u2019s not going away any time soon.<\/p>\n<div class=\"box\" style=\"background-color: #2b4257; padding: 20px 20px 20px 20px; top-margin: 20px; border-radius: 5px;\">\n<h4><span style=\"color: #ffffff;\"><strong>\ud83d\udca1 MY ADVICE<\/strong><\/span><\/h4>\n<ul style=\"color: #ffffff;\">\n<li><span style=\"color: #ffffff;\">If you find a home you are considering making an offer on, contact an insurance broker ahead of time to get an idea of the insurability of the property and a ballpark price estimate &#8211; <strong><em>especially homes by hills and\/or open space.<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #ffffff;\"><span style=\"color: #709cc1;\"><strong><span style=\"color: #d97045;\">WORST CASE:<\/span> <\/strong><span style=\"color: #ffffff;\">B<\/span><\/span>uyers can utilize the fire insurance provided through the California Fair Plan as a last resort.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"color: #d97045;\"><strong>_____\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0_____\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0_____<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"color: #2b4257;\"><strong>SELLERS ARE MAKING CONCESSIONS AGAIN<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>The days of buyers waiving contingencies up front and offering extras to win a deal are gone&#8230;<span style=\"color: #2b4257;\"><em><strong>sellers are now more willing to negotiate repairs or other terms.<\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"box\" style=\"background-color: #2b4257; padding: 20px 20px 20px 20px; top-margin: 20px; border-radius: 5px;\">\n<h4><span style=\"color: #ffffff;\"><strong>\ud83d\udca1 MY ADVICE<\/strong><\/span><\/h4>\n<ul style=\"color: #ffffff;\">\n<li>Sellers in both Ventura and L.A. Counties are only required to do 3 things: strap the water heater for earthquake safety, install smoke detectors, and install carbon monoxide detectors. That\u2019s it. Everything else is negotiable.<\/li>\n<li>However, <span style=\"color: #d97045;\"><strong>broken items and safety concerns are fair game. <\/strong><span style=\"color: #ffffff;\">Don\u2019t hesitate to ask for repairs or concessions<\/span><\/span>\u2014most sellers are open to reasonable requests.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"container\" style=\"padding: 0px 15px;\">\n<h3 style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"color: #d97045;\"><strong>_____\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0_____\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0_____<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"color: #2b4257;\"><strong>AGENT COMPENSATION RULES HAVE CHANGED<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Agent compensation has always been and remains negotiable. Key changes went into effect August 2024:<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>Buyers and their agent must now sign a <span style=\"color: #2b4257;\"><em><strong>Buyer Representation Agreement<\/strong><\/em><\/span> \u2013 a legal contract outlining the services provided, obligations, and the terms of compensation.<\/li>\n<li>Sellers can still offer compensation to the buyer\u2019s agent, but it won\u2019t be displayed in the MLS<br \/>\n<span style=\"color: #f8f8f8;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<div class=\"box\" style=\"background-color: #2b4257; padding: 20px 20px 20px 20px; top-margin: 20px; border-radius: 5px;\">\n<h4><span style=\"color: #ffffff;\"><strong>\ud83d\udca1 MY ADVICE<\/strong><\/span><\/h4>\n<ul style=\"color: #ffffff;\">\n<li>\n<div draggable=\"false\" data-pm-slice=\"1 1 []\" data-en-clipboard=\"true\"><b>Sellers traditionally cover the buyer\u2019s agent\u2019s fee<\/b>, and this is still the norm in most cases.<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<div draggable=\"false\" data-pm-slice=\"1 1 []\" data-en-clipboard=\"true\">If a seller offers<em><strong> less<\/strong><\/em> compensation than what&#8217;s stated in the <strong><em>Buyer Representation Agreement<\/em><\/strong>, buyers would cover the difference\u2014often by adjusting their offer price.<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<div draggable=\"false\" data-pm-slice=\"1 1 []\" data-en-clipboard=\"true\">Before signing a <em><strong>Buyer Representation Agreement, <\/strong><\/em>I will provide a <b>free consultation<\/b> to showcase my expertise and explain how I can guide you through finding and purchasing your next home with confidence.<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #f8f8f8;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"color: #2b4257;\"><strong>SO\u2026CAN YOU EXPECT TO <span style=\"color: #2b4257;\">BUY<\/span> A HOME IN 2025?<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"color: #709cc1;\"><em><strong>Yes!<\/strong><\/em><\/span> The housing market is rebounding, and opportunities are emerging. By taking\u00a0 time to understand the market and set your expectations now, you\u2019re already one step ahead\u2026<strong><span style=\"color: #2b4257;\"><em>lean into the excitement of the journey.\u00a0<\/em><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div class=\"row artcols\"><div class=\"art-col col-xs-12 col-sm-9 col-md- col-lg- \" style=\"background-image:url();\">\n<h2><strong><span style=\"color: #2b4257;\">3 STEPS TO FINDING THE HOME YOU\u2019LL LOVE<\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n<h4><strong><span style=\"color: #709cc1;\">STEP 1\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/h4>\n<blockquote><p><span style=\"color: #2b4257;\"><strong><span class=\"OYPEnA font-feature-liga-off font-feature-clig-off font-feature-calt-off text-decoration-none text-strikethrough-none\">FIRST MEETING:<\/span><\/strong><\/span> After our initial call, w<span class=\"OYPEnA font-feature-liga-off font-feature-clig-off font-feature-calt-off text-decoration-none text-strikethrough-none\">e\u2019ll set up a time for us to meet in person or over Zoom. During this meeting, we\u2019ll go over a map of the Conejo Valley, I\u2019ll give you an overview of our 5 towns and we\u2019ll discuss the nuances of each one. <\/span><span style=\"color: #2b4257;\"><em><strong><span class=\"OYPEnA font-feature-liga-off font-feature-clig-off font-feature-calt-off text-decoration-none text-strikethrough-none\">We\u2019ll also go through my Buying Guide, <\/span><\/strong><\/em><\/span><span class=\"OYPEnA font-feature-liga-off font-feature-clig-off font-feature-calt-off text-decoration-none text-strikethrough-none\">and have a more detailed conversation about what you\u2019re looking for, and <\/span><span style=\"color: #2b4257;\"><em><strong><span class=\"OYPEnA font-feature-liga-off font-feature-clig-off font-feature-calt-off text-decoration-none text-strikethrough-none\">discuss the home buying process in CA.<\/span><\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h4><strong><span style=\"color: #709cc1;\">STEP 2\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/h4>\n<blockquote>\n<p class=\"cvGsUA direction-ltr align-start para-style-body\"><strong><span class=\"OYPEnA font-feature-liga-off font-feature-clig-off font-feature-calt-off text-decoration-none text-strikethrough-none\" style=\"color: #2b4257;\">AREA TOUR: <\/span><\/strong><span class=\"OYPEnA font-feature-liga-off font-feature-clig-off font-feature-calt-off text-decoration-none text-strikethrough-none\">If you\u2019re new to the area or need a refresher, we\u2019ll take a drive through neighborhoods that might be a good fit and visit local amenities. <\/span><span style=\"color: #2b4257;\"><strong><em><span class=\"OYPEnA font-feature-liga-off font-feature-clig-off font-feature-calt-off text-decoration-none text-strikethrough-none\">There\u2019s no cost or commitment, just a chance for you to get a feel for the community.<\/span><\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"cvGsUA direction-ltr align-start para-style-body\"><span style=\"color: #2b4257;\"><strong><span class=\"OYPEnA font-feature-liga-off font-feature-clig-off font-feature-calt-off text-decoration-none text-strikethrough-none\">PROPERTY TOURS: <\/span><\/strong><\/span><span class=\"OYPEnA font-feature-liga-off font-feature-clig-off font-feature-calt-off text-decoration-none text-strikethrough-none\">The fun part\u2026and <\/span><span style=\"color: #2b4257;\"><em><strong><span class=\"OYPEnA font-feature-liga-off font-feature-clig-off font-feature-calt-off text-decoration-none text-strikethrough-none\">your chance to visualize yourself living in your potential new home. <\/span><\/strong><\/em><\/span><span class=\"OYPEnA font-feature-liga-off font-feature-clig-off font-feature-calt-off text-decoration-none text-strikethrough-none\">I\u2019ll be there to offer insights, answer questions, and point out anything that might not be obvious\u2014helping you make a confident, well-informed decision.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h4><strong><span style=\"color: #709cc1;\">STEP 3\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/h4>\n<blockquote><p><span class=\"OYPEnA font-feature-liga-off font-feature-clig-off font-feature-calt-off text-decoration-none text-strikethrough-none\" style=\"color: #2b4257;\"><strong>SUBMITTING OFFERS \u2192 GETTING YOUR KEYS:<\/strong> <\/span><span class=\"OYPEnA font-feature-liga-off font-feature-clig-off font-feature-calt-off text-decoration-none text-strikethrough-none\">Negotiating offers and navigating escrow can be complicated. <\/span><span style=\"color: #2b4257;\"><em><strong><span class=\"OYPEnA font-feature-liga-off font-feature-clig-off font-feature-calt-off text-decoration-none text-strikethrough-none\">As a full service agent, I work for you. <\/span><\/strong><\/em><\/span><span class=\"OYPEnA font-feature-liga-off font-feature-clig-off font-feature-calt-off text-decoration-none text-strikethrough-none\">I am your advocate, guiding you through the process, helping you avoid pitfalls, and ultimately finding a home you\u2019ll be happy in for years to come!<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><\/div><div class=\"art-col col-xs-12 col-sm-3 col-md- col-lg- \" style=\"background-image:url();\"><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"color: #87bbd6;\"><b><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-30939 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/www.conejovalleyguy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Untitled-design-1.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"250\" height=\"459\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.conejovalleyguy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Untitled-design-1.png 588w, https:\/\/www.conejovalleyguy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Untitled-design-1-163x300.png 163w, https:\/\/www.conejovalleyguy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Untitled-design-1-558x1024.png 558w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 250px) 100vw, 250px\" \/><\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a class=\"scroll-link btn orange-ghost-btn\" href=\"#form-section\">Let\u2019s Connect!<\/a><\/p>\n<p><\/div><\/div><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-30958 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.conejovalleyguy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/3-pic-banner-2025.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1230\" height=\"314\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.conejovalleyguy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/3-pic-banner-2025.png 1230w, https:\/\/www.conejovalleyguy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/3-pic-banner-2025-300x77.png 300w, https:\/\/www.conejovalleyguy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/3-pic-banner-2025-1024x261.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.conejovalleyguy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/3-pic-banner-2025-768x196.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1230px) 100vw, 1230px\" \/><\/p>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400; color: #2b4257;\"><strong>The Conejo Valley is a great place to live. <em>You&#8217;re going to love it here!<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"color: #d97045;\"><strong>Ready to get started?<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&nbsp; . &nbsp; MORTGAGE RATES ARE TRENDING DOWNWARDS 2025 Q2 RECAP: Rates kicked off Q3 with a 3 month low hitting the mid 6s. 2025 FORECAST: Fannie Mae anticipates rates around 6.5% by the end of 2025. Many other forecasters agree. \ud83d\udca1 MY ADVICE It\u2019s wise to accept that rates in the 6s are the [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":30976,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-29925","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v25.7 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>My Advice for Buying a Home in 2025 - Conejo Valley Guy Michael Rice<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.conejovalleyguy.com\/my-advice-for-buying-a-home-this-year\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"My Advice for Buying a Home in 2025 - Conejo Valley Guy Michael Rice\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"&nbsp; . &nbsp; MORTGAGE RATES ARE TRENDING DOWNWARDS 2025 Q2 RECAP: Rates kicked off Q3 with a 3 month low hitting the mid 6s. 2025 FORECAST: Fannie Mae anticipates rates around 6.5% by the end of 2025. 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