SUMMER IS HERE, and it's the perfect time to soak up the sun and make memories with family and friends! Whether you're hitting the beach, enjoying backyard BBQs, or exploring all that our beautiful community has to offer, we hope your days are filled with laughter and joy. The Conner & Co. Team is wishing you a season full of fun, relaxation, and connection. We’re always here if you need real estate advice or a good local recommendation. Cheers to a fantastic summer! EVENT LINKS (Alphabetical): Beach Blanket Cinema Big Bands on the Bay Chalk the Walk Concert Series Farmers Market - Chesapeake Farmers Market - East Beach/EOV Farmers Market - Ghent Farmers Market - Norfolk Farmers Market - Shore Drive Fourth of July Fireworks - Chesapeake Fourth of July Fireworks - Norfolk Fourth of July Fireworks - Mount Trashmore Fourth of July Fireworks - Oceanfront Friday Night Parties Movies on the Lawn Norfolk Harborfest Tuskegee Airmen Traveling Exhibit Virginia Symphony Under the Stars

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With all the uncertainty in the economy, the stock market has been bouncing around more than usual. And if you’ve been watching your 401(k) or investments lately, chances are you’ve felt that pit in your stomach. One day it’s up. The next day, it’s not. And that may make you feel a little worried about your finances. But here’s the thing you need to remember if you’re a homeowner. According to Investopedia: “ Traditionally, stocks have been far more volatile than real estate. That's not to say that real estate prices aren't ever volatile—the years around the 2007 to 2008 financial crisis are just one memorable example—but stocks are more prone to large value swings.” While your stocks or 401(k) might see a lot of highs and lows, home values are much less volatile. A Drop in the Stock Market Doesn’t Mean a Crash in Home Prices Take a look at the graph below. It shows what happened to home prices (the blue bars) during past stock market swings (the orange bars):

Even as Rates Fluctuate, Prices Stay High

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From the 15th annual AARP 99 ways to save edition on your home and yard!

We are often asked “What should I do to prepare my house for sale?” , so I thought I would talk about what brings the most value for resale. Your goal being home value appreciation thus yielding a higher profit and a shorter period of time on market. It is a given that major renovations like complete kitchen and bath remodels add the most value, but they are costly. There are plenty of smaller projects you can do to improve the aesthetics of the home and thus the resale value. Newer finishes can make a big difference attracting more interest in your home. 1 - Biggest bang for the buck: fresh paint . When considering the best colors, go with neutrals that appeal to more prospective buyers. Dark colors tend to make rooms look smaller while lighter colors lighten rooms and make them look larger. 2 - Declutter and clean! I can't emphasize these two steps enough. Declutter: Buyers want to picture themselves living there. You want them to see the beauty and functionality of your house. Clean: If your house is not sparkling, it will be hard for buyers to focus on anything but the lack of cleanliness. Make those windows shine and deep clean all of the appliances. A professional cleaner can make a world of difference and we have several to recommend. 3 - Curb Appeal – Remember when your Mama said you only have one chance to make a good first impression? Couldn’t be more applicable than to selling a house. Walking up to that front door looking at what could be a buyer’s new yard can quickly turn a buyer off if it’s not pristine. Cleaning, replacing or just painting your front door is critical. Some other projects to consider: make sure your mailbox is in good condition, clean your pathways and gutters, check windows and siding for cracks or chips, trim and prune trees and shrubs, add fresh mulch and landscaping pavers and add well thought out pots of flowers or fern. 4 - Consider energy efficient changes. Buyers are looking for energy efficient homes. Things that may increase perceived value of the home include: energy efficient windows, LED lighting, energy efficient appliances, solar panels and providing the average monthly utility bills. You might want to have an energy audit of your home that can be done for free by Dominion Energy. 5 - Update the kitchen – You might decide on a full remodel or know that there are a few DIY updates to modernize the kitchen making it more appealing. Paint those worn scratched kitchen cabinets, change out the light fixtures, install a backsplash, changing out your sink and faucet can make a big difference. 6 - Your bathrooms are the other rooms that have a great impact on value. Again, you can fully remodel or there are options to redecorate and modernize your bath without paying the huge cost of a remodel. Change out the vanity to maybe a space saving floating vanity, change the faucet or replace the mirror. Fresh white towels help to add a spa feel to any bathroom space. 7 - Once the decluttering is complete, considering staging: There are professionals who come to your home, work with you, using your furnishings to turn the space into a design dream. We can connect you to people who just have that flair. The alternative and this is most valuable if you plan to have already moved from the house is the full staging package. Professional stagers will come to your house and work out a custom plan that furnishes the house to appeal to the most buyers. Either way we can suggest what might work best for you and connect you with the service you need. Increasing your home’s value can increase its resale value but even if you are not planning to sell in the near future, projects that increase your value can make the home more functional and enjoyable for you and your family. You might love the changes you implement so much you realize you don’t want to move! Whichever way you go, Conner & Company is here to help. Give us a call to discuss your home’s value today.

The Hampton Roads region has been lucky in recent years to avoid the worst when it comes to hurricanes and hurricane season – typically June 1 through November 30 – but some experts are predicting that 2024 will be a busy year for named storms — hurricanes and tropical storms that meteorologists give names to so the public can keep track of them.

Thinking about buying a home ? If so, you're probably wondering: should I buy now or wait? Nobody can make that decision for you, but here's some information that can help you decide.  What’s Next for Home Prices? Each quarter, Fannie Mae and Pulsenomics publish the results of the Home Price Expectations Survey (HPES). It asks more than 100 experts—economists, real estate professionals, and investment and market strategists—what they think will happen with home prices . In the latest survey , those experts say home prices are going to keep going up for the next five years (see graph below):