💰 $2,500 Credit for Lower-Income Families 💰
    

Freddie Mac recently announced a fantastic plan to make owning a home more achievable for lower-income families. If you're earning 50% or less of your area’s median income, you could qualify for $2,500 credit to help cover down payment and closing costs.

This brilliant initiative, which kicks off March 1, is open to families who qualify for Freddie Mac’s Home Possible and HFA Advantage products.

Freddie Mac's head of single-family acquisitions, Sonu Mittal, promises this is just the beginning. More support for low-income borrowers is in the pipeline. Stay tuned for more good news to come!

Let's not forget the excellent efforts of Fannie Mae, who last month offered a similar $2,500 credit for very low-income borrowers.

Last year alone, Freddie Mac financed about 800,000 home purchases. First-time buyers made up over half of those, which is the highest number they've seen in 30 years. So, if you or someone you know would like more information, give me a call to discuss how we can help!

Vote for Best of Perimeter
    

We made it to the Final Round! 🏆 Your support has been tremendous and we're excited to compete for the title of 'Best Mortgage Lender 2024'!

The voting period starts on 2/15 and ends on 3/15. Remember, you can cast your vote once per day, per email. So mark your calendars and let's claim this victory together!

Financial News
Is There a Goldilocks Economy Our Future?
        

Our economy has been called all sorts of things for the past three years as it's delivered plenty of surprises. If you're feeling financially nauseous because of a rollercoaster ride that included red-hot inflation, you may be hoping for a soft landing. But some economists are feeling so optimistic that they've gone a step further, predicting a Goldilocks economy that's "just right" to arrive this year.

If you're not familiar with the children's tale of Goldilocks and the Three Bears, it's about a girl named Goldilocks who visits a family of bears' home while they're out. She ends up tasting their breakfast oatmeal. While one bowl is too hot and another's too cold, she proclaims the third bowl of oatmeal "just right" and helps herself to it. (Perhaps the bears have installed a Ring doorbell since then, but that remains to be seen.)

Here are the reasons why we may experience more than a soft landing this year.

1. One factor is consumer spending, which many see as a driver to keep our economy growing.
2. Others watching the bond market are expecting a drop in interest rates, which could help fuel the real estate market.
3. Another factor: whether inflation will continue to wane this year without causing an economic slowdown.

Opponents of the Goldilocks landing have taken a more bearish outlook (pardon the pun). Instead of predicting a robust economy fueled by consumer spending, they expect a slowdown caused by the high levels of inflation-fueled consumer debt. Not only did interest rates for credit accounts rise; expensive prices for groceries and fuel resulted in more consumers charging items than in previous years. investopedia.com

Personal Finances
Five Strategies for Your Next Windfall
        

If a year-end bonus or tax refund is headed to your bank account, deciding what to do with it may not be an easy decision. Here are five options that are recommended by financial planners.

1. Pay Off Debt. If you have balances on any credit cards, these should be first in line for your windfall. Inflation may have pushed your credit cards' interest rates higher than you realize, especially if you have set up autopay and rarely review your monthly statements.

2. Bump up your emergency savings. Ideally, working adults should maintain a cash reserve that equals around three to six months' worth of living expenses. If you'd rather reserve some of your windfall for other things, consider setting aside a smaller amount each month.

3. Boost your retirement fund. Putting cash into your 401(k) or retirement savings is always a smart move. For example, if you deposited a $3,000 bonus into an index fund with an average 7% annual return, the $3k would grow to over $24k in 30 years.

4. Invest in education. If you're looking for ways to move up in your career, consider using your bonus to earn new skills and/or certifications. If you're planning to send a child to college, consider a 529 College Savings Plan.

5. Reward yourself. There's nothing wrong with treating yourself to a night out, a weekend trip or a visit to a favorite retailer. A bonus is a reward for your hard work, after all, so why not have some fun with it? https://www.cnbc.com/

Announcing Pantone’s Color of the Year
🍑Pantone 13-1023 Peach Fuzz 🍑
    

Is 2024 the year you’ve planned on giving your living space a makeover? Or perhaps you just want to add that touch of sparkle to your cozy haven. If so, here’s some exciting news for you – Pantone has announced Peach Fuzz as the Color of the Year for 2024! This charming, tranquil color has got designers worldwide buzzing, and they can’t wait to start incorporating this hue in their creations to make it timeless and sophisticated.

Peach Fuzz, with its warm and serene tone, pairs seamlessly with various neutrals, making it an excellent choice for accent pieces like pillows, artwork, or throws. New York Designer Kati Curtis suggests, “Decorating with peach tones can create a warm, inviting space. Yet, when contrasted with light blue, it adds a serene, cool balance that’s pure joy to the eyes.”

Imagine a light blue area rug, curtains, or throw pillows against a peach backdrop. The blue elements will pop, creating an appealing visual interest that’s bound to have your guests raving. So, step into 2024 in style and give your space a fresh, vibrant look with Peach Fuzz and hints of light blue. Happy decorating!

We have some truly exciting news for you! 🎉 Our second collaboration with American Dream TV is just around the corner - mark your calendars for February 13th!

This episode is going to be truly special. Not only will we be providing you with some game-changing tips to transform your phone into a professional camera, but we're also going to whisk you away on an exclusive behind-the-scenes journey! Ever wondered about the magic that goes into the creation of the awe-inspiring Nights of Lights in St. Augustine? Wonder no more! We're giving you a VIP backstage pass! ✨

Absolutely can't wait to share these incredible experiences with you. Make sure you tune in; it's going to be a blast! See you soon!

💞 Valentine's Day - February 14 💞
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Did you know that Valentine’s Day is the second-most celebrated greeting card occasion in the U.S., with over 150 million cards being exchanged each year? Now that's a whole lot of love being spread around!

Teachers lead the pack in receiving the most Valentine's Day cards.

What's more romantic than a Valentine’s Day proposal? Well, around 220,000 people in the U.S. think it's the perfect day to pop the question. And it's not only in the U.S., our friends in Canada, Mexico, the UK, France, Italy, Denmark, Australia, and Japan also celebrate this heartwarming day.

Let's talk about chocolates - This popular treat earns approximately $22 billion for the candy industry, no wonder it's the most popular candy in the country! And did I mention, the chocolate box was invented in 1868?

Did someone say roses? For Valentine’s Day, a whopping 224 million roses are grown. The majority of us opt for red roses, symbolizing passion. However, white roses (symbolizing purity), yellow roses (synonymous with friendship), and pink roses (suggesting sweetness) also have their place in our hearts.

All in all, Valentine’s Day is a day full of love, affection, and lots of sweet treats. How will you be celebrating this year?

Month in Review
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Here are some key points from the January Market Report Video

• HOME PRICES- Most experts agree, home prices will continue to rise in 2024.

• RATE PROJECTIONS- Experts forecast rates could continue to improve through the year. 

Want Weekly Market Updates?
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After receiving many requests, I have been sending Weekly Market Updates on Fridays to my realtor and referral partners. I have been fielding numerous calls asking for clarity on what is going on in the market from past clients, clients who are currently looking, and future clients who plan on purchasing in the not-too-distant future. If you or anyone you know would like to be added to my Weekly Market Update email, reply to this email, or use/send them the button below to start receiving this timely information! 

I have over 20 years of lending experience and a 100% closing record. The Holly Walther Lending Team is among the top mortgage loan producers in all of Georgia.