Blog - Craig Melton

Housing Market, Sellers

Disaster Strikes: How to Handle Mortgages and Bills

With wildfires sweeping through Los Angeles County, images of destruction are everywhere. Over 12,000 structures have been burned down, neighborhoods reduced to rubble and nearly 92,000 residents forced to evacuate. As Angelenos come together to rebuild their city—and their lives—people across the nation are asking the same questions: What happens to financial responsibilities, like mortgage […]
Housing Market, Sellers

How Home Equity Can Help Meet Your Financial Goals

If you’re a homeowner, chances are you’ve watched your home’s value rise over the past few years. Thanks to record-high equity levels, many homeowners are sitting on what feels like a financial jackpot. But with the housing market shifting and 2025 on the horizon, you might be wondering: Should I sell my home and cash […]
Housing Market, Sellers

How to Attract More Buyers for Your Home

2025 homebuyers have made one thing clear: they want move-in-ready properties. According to a recent Bright MLS survey, more than 56% of prospective buyers say that move-in-ready condition is their top priority. If selling is in your plan this year, here’s what you need to know about buyer priorities and how to prepare for […]
Uncategorized

How to Prepare Your Home for Holiday Guests (Without Breaking the Bank)

The holidays are almost here, and your home is about to be center stage for festive gatherings and cozy reunions. Whether you’re looking forward to hosting or dreading it, the good news is that you don’t have to empty your wallet while prepping your home. As a real estate agent, I’ve seen firsthand how […]

Housing Market Disaster Strikes: How to Handle Mortgages and Bills With wildfires sweeping through Los Angeles County, images of destruction are everywhere. Over 12,000 structures have been burned down, neighborhoods reduced to rubble and nearly 92,000 residents forced to evacuate. As Angelenos come together to rebuild their city—and their lives—people across the nation are asking the same questions: What happens to financial responsibilities, like mortgage […]

Housing Market How Home Equity Can Help Meet Your Financial Goals If you’re a homeowner, chances are you’ve watched your home’s value rise over the past few years. Thanks to record-high equity levels, many homeowners are sitting on what feels like a financial jackpot. But with the housing market shifting and 2025 on the horizon, you might be wondering: Should I sell my home and cash […]

Housing Market How to Attract More Buyers for Your Home 2025 homebuyers have made one thing clear: they want move-in-ready properties. According to a recent Bright MLS survey, more than 56% of prospective buyers say that move-in-ready condition is their top priority. If selling is in your plan this year, here’s what you need to know about buyer priorities and how to prepare for […]

Uncategorized How to Prepare Your Home for Holiday Guests (Without Breaking the Bank) The holidays are almost here, and your home is about to be center stage for festive gatherings and cozy reunions. Whether you’re looking forward to hosting or dreading it, the good news is that you don’t have to empty your wallet while prepping your home. As a real estate agent, I’ve seen firsthand how […]

Buyers Renter to Homeowner: The 5 Biggest Lifestyle Shifts You’ll Make Going from a Renter to a Homeowner is amazing—but it’s also a total lifestyle shift from the rental days. From surprise plumbing issues to finally being able to pick paint colors, there’s a whole lot that changes. If you’re considering making the leap, understanding these shifts can prepare you for what lies ahead and ensure […]

Buyers Why You Don’t Need to Wait for the ‘Perfect’ Mortgage Rate Since September, mortgage rates have been on a rollercoaster. They first dipped into the low 6% range only to climb past 7% by the end of October. Yikes. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, you’re not alone. These rate fluctuations can make home buying feel like a guessing game. Fortunately, you don’t have to wait […]

Buyers Should You Wait for Spring? The Perks Off-Season Buying You might be thinking, Am I missing out on options if I don’t buy a home during the peak season? While it’s true that spring and summer typically bring an influx of listings, they also bring more competition. This can also lead to higher prices. According to the National Association of Realtors (NAR) as home […]

Sellers Boost Your Home’s Appeal with These Affordable Upgrades When it comes to selling your home, making a great first impression is crucial. But what if you don’t have the budget for a major home renovation? Luckily, new data from Zillow and Thumbtack reveal that you don’t need to break the bank to boost your home’s appeal. “Certain low-lift projects can deliver a […]

Buyers Your Guide to Mortgage Resources in Northeast Arkansas A recent study by Fannie Mae revealed a surprising lack of confidence among consumers about the mortgage process. There’s good reason to feel a little cautious. Here in [Market], home prices have risen [x%] since 2020, and mortgage rates have also climbed. However, homeownership remains a top priority for most, with many considering it […]

Buyers Home Insurance on the Rise? Here’s How to Save on Rates in 2024 Now, more than ever, having the right home insurance is essential. But with rates on the rise, how do you ensure you’re getting the best coverage without breaking the bank? Let’s explore the ins and outs of home insurance and uncover some strategies to secure the best deal for your home in Northeast Arkansas. […]

Housing Market 8 Experts Predict Home Prices for 2025 Lately, there’s been a lot of buzz about what’s next for home prices, especially with 2024 shifting gears in some markets. Here in Jonesboro, we saw the number home sold increase by 3.6% and the median home prices increase by 2.6% during the first six months of 2024 in comparison to the first six months […]

Sellers Selling a Home: More Stressful Than Saying ‘I Do’? Selling a home is considered more stressful than planning a wedding. Yes, you read that right! According to a recent study by Opendoor, selling a home is 35% more stressful than planning to exchange vows. And for many homeowners aged 55 and over, selling a home is often intertwined with major life transitions, adding […]

Sellers The Costs of Selling a Home (and How to Maximize Your Profits) Let’s face it—between repairs, closing costs and commissions, everything associated with the costs of selling a home can add up fast. Case in point: homeowners reported spending $54,616 when selling their homes, according to a recent survey from Clever Real Estate—an amount that was surprising to 42%. Despite the costs, the majority (64%) made […]

Buyers The Biggest Mortgage Loan Mistakes People Make There’s nothing like the moment when you’ve found your dream home. It’s easy to get caught up in the excitement and make moves to finalize everything as quickly as possible. And while timeliness is important, it can lead to mistakes that end up costing you thousands. But what about a mortgage loan? Here are […]

Housing Market Real Estate vs. Stocks: The Ultimate Long-Term Investment Showdown When it comes to long-term investments, Americans have a clear favorite: real estate. According to a recent Gallup poll, 36% of Americans believe real estate is the best long-term investment, outpacing stocks (22%), gold (18%), savings accounts (13%), bonds (4%) and cryptocurrencies (3%). Why is that the case? Let’s dive into why so […]

Investors The Secret to High ROI Home Remodeling in Today’s Market Thinking about sprucing up your home? Whether you’re planning to sell soon or just want to enhance your living space, remodeling can be a great investment. But not all projects offer the same return—especially since home repair costs have risen 40% since 2019. I know remodeling costs today can be disheartening, but the experts […]

Buyers 4 Financial Tips for Today’s Home Buyer to Eliminate Financial Stress Buying a home is a major milestone, but it’s not always the right time for everyone. It’s important to remember that a home purchase is a long-term investment, and making this decision without proper financial planning can lead to significant stress. For more insights on the long-term benefits of real estate investment, check out our […]

Housing Market Era Over Era: The 2020s Home Price Surge Compared to Decades Past The 2020s housing market continues to defy expectations. National home price have surged over the past four years, surpassing growth experienced in entire previous decades. This rapid climb has many wondering – is this a sustainable trend, or are we due for a correction? Today, we are diving into the historical data and exploring […]

Investors Multi-Family Investing in Jonesboro, Arkansas Jonesboro, Arkansas, is a growing city with a population of over 75,000 people. This city has a lot to offer, including a strong economy, excellent schools, and a low cost of living. As a result, it is becoming an increasingly popular destination for people looking to relocate. For real estate investors, Jonesboro is also an […]

Sellers Preparing Your Home for Sale is a Critical Step Preparing your home for sale is a critical step in the selling process. When you put your house on the market, you want to make sure that it looks its best so that you can attract as many potential buyers as possible. A well-prepared house will not only attract more buyers but will also increase […]