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5 Things We've Learned In 2020

December 23, 2020
Well, here we are. This same time last year we were all talking about having 20/20 vision and the big dreams and goals we had for the upcoming year. We were celebrating huge milestones, flying across the country to conferences filled with motivational speakers and goal setting workshops, and sitting in crowded rooms without a care in the world. Let’s call a spade a spade, we had no idea what this year had in store for us and the world and were blissfully optimistic about our future. 

Fast forward and we are 10 months into COVID-19, a global pandemic that has transformed all of our lives. Whether you have found yourself working in a makeshift kitchen office, running a homeschool for three kids in three different grades, just trying to figure out how to make it to the end of the week, or have lost more than you could have ever imagined; the good news is you’ve made it this far.

Yearly we sit down and look at what the last year has brought us. We evaluate what went right, what went wrong, and where we are going next. After a year that seems to be filled with nothing but things going wrong, we’ve found some things that have gone very right. There are still things to celebrate, things to be grateful for, and perhaps most important things to look forward to. 

5 Things We've Learned In 2020

Hold on to Hope - When everything goes to the toilet, you need to find a shred of hope to hang onto. The hope you find could be in something bigger than yourself or something as small as sunlight and hot coffee in the morning. We have found the most hope in gratitude. We spent a lot of time this year looking for all the things we were grateful for and found that just 5 minutes of practicing gratitude daily gave us more hope. (gratitude blog). A little more laughter, a little more love, and a little more smiling can make the biggest difference even on the darkest days. 


It’s Okay To Slow Down - while keeping up with the competition is important, it’s also important to take care of yourself. In 2020, we all were forced to halt everything and slow down. In the beginning, slowing down meant stay-at-home orders and lots of banana bread. (Oh how naive we all were last March). However, as COVID-19 progressed, we all realized how important it is to allow ourselves to slow down and care for ourselves. If we can carry something into 2021 with us, it’s the knowledge that rest is good and is something to be prioritized. 


Everything is Bigger Than Yourself - COVID-19 forced all of us to take measures that not only benefited ourselves but saved the lives of those around us. Working to help families find a home is more than just a job, it is giving others the security, safety, and comfort of a place to live. In the housing industry we’ve been incredibly fortunate that professionally this year has been quite amazing, but having the most successful year of your career doesn’t mean much if you’re not using it to give back. Everything is so much bigger than any of us individually and realizing that can help all of us find purpose in everything we do.


Flexibility is Key - Could anybody have predicted that Zoom would take over our lives? Definitely not. There was no way for us to know what was coming for us in 2020, but what we did when it came is defining. From hours of Zoom calls, optimized e-closing systems, virtual home tours, and Tik Tok’s Fairway was able to keep up with business while also improving the experience of it for our customers. If you aren’t able to adapt to the times, you’ll be left behind; COVID-19 or not.


You Can Never Have Too Many Sweatpants - Need we say more?



What We've Accomplished in 2020

In a year that has been unforgiving to most, we find ourselves in an awkward position. The housing industry has had a record-breaking year. It’s difficult to reconcile continued success in a season where the people around you are experiencing the exact opposite. We think it’s important to understand our position in all of this while also being proud of what we have been able to accomplish. So here is a shortlist of all the things Fairway Mid-Atlantic has done in 2020 as a region.


  • Have helped hundreds of families achieve homeownership
  • Donated a portion of our profits to charities and non-profit organizations monthly
  • Added 20+ new faces to our team in the Mid-Atlantic
  • Broken our regional records over and over again
  • Launched this website! And our YouTube Channel
  • Connected with our entire team over zoom more times than we ever could have in-person
  • Hosted virtual educational webinars to serve real estate agents and our regional team 


We are privileged to say that we have been able to cross off all of the goals we set for 2020 and then some. This year has pushed us to our limits but has also brought us back to the core of why we do what we do. We strive to create a mortgage process that is people first. In a year where so many have struggled, we have made it our mission to help as many families as possible in finding their dream home while creating the best experience possible.


Our Forecast for 2021

2021 is finally just a couple of weeks away and we couldn’t be more thrilled. We know that January 1st isn’t going to bring us a clean slate, but it is a clear and definitive fresh start. Just like any year, we are sitting down and dreaming up big goals. 


Freddie Mac is projecting the same low interest rates to continue through 2021. As the economy continues to improve and home sales continue to grow, it’s still a great time to consider starting the homebuying process. If you’re just starting your search, Check out this video on what the process looks like from start to finish. Or watch this video to bust some myths that may be holding you back from becoming a homeowner. 


The bottom line: 2021 looks like more of the same. We are continuing to set big goals and finding innovative ways to create the best experience possible. We are excited to continue growing our team and help more families than we ever have accomplished their goals of homeownership.


How To Set Your Goals for 2021

Having a new year's resolution is great, but resolutions only work if you have a plan in place to achieve them. Setting goals can help you to plan for your future, but it also gives you something to look forward to and celebrate once you accomplish them. They help us grow by pushing us to establish new habits and break old ones that aren’t helping us get to where we want to go. 


If 2021 is more of the same, why should we even bother? What’s the point of setting goals during unprecedented times such as these? These are questions you may be asking yourself as we count down to the new year. Here’s what we think.


We think that 2021 is still a fresh start. January 1st will be a brand-new day to a brand new year full of possibilities and the unknown. Nothing has ever been promised and while we can’t predict the future, we do know that it’ll always be unpredictable. 


When you’re setting goals for 2021, make a plan for how you’ll be taking care of yourself. Consider how flexible you should be with your timelines or expectations. Think about the steps you will need to take to stay motivated when it becomes too difficult. While we can’t control the way the world will turn in the future, we can control how we prepare for and respond to it. 


Keep dreaming big dreams and pushing yourself to new limits. Don’t let the setbacks of 2020 define the rest of your story. We are excited about the prospect of a fresh start and encourage you to join us in setting some big goals for 2021. 


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Q1 Recap

By Mikaylah Collins • April 12, 2023
We've begun to see signs that the Spring Market is here and could be robust! Here is what we know: According to NAR, home sales were up 14% in February over the previous month which marked the biggest monthly increase since July 2020. While March results are not yet published, the mortgage industry saw an increase in purchase applications for the 3rd straight month; a great sign for the housing market. Driving much of this activity is the stabilization of rates in January & February and lower interest rates this past month. We’re starting to see signs of a slowing economy and the markets are now pricing this in. This week we saw the 10-yr Treasury drop under 3.4%, a level it has not reached for quite some time and the lowest it’s been since September 9, 2022. This is great news for consumers as decreasing rates mean more home affordability. Over the past year, most markets have seen home prices stabilize if not even decline, albeit by a very small amount. This stabilization was still a relief for homebuyers as it helped to offset higher interest rates. As rates continue to decrease, we would expect home prices to again increase due to demand increases. In addition to increased demand, there is still a shortage of homes for sale nationwide and that will continue to worsen as more and more homebuyers enter the market.  So what does it all mean? Now is a GREAT time to buy a home! Rates and home prices are stable, there is not as much competition as there will be when rates do decrease, and buying a home is still extremely affordable for most. Once rates fall, we will likely see home prices rise and the competition for the shortage of homes will increase alongside it making the window of a buyer-dominated market very small.

Q1 2023 Market Outlook

By Sarah Rubin • February 10, 2023
We are well into Q1 and feel confident saying that the market appears to be stabilizing. Before we start looking forward, let’s quickly look back at the end of 2022.

Finding The Right Listing Agent For You

By Sarah Rubin • December 15, 2022
Buying a home is a huge investment and one we talk about often - BUT the flipside is that you have an opportunity to cash in on that investment when you’re ready to sell your home! While you do have the chance to cash-in, a lot more work goes into selling a home than you might think! If you are considering selling your home, working with a listing agent will help you market your home, negotiate with potential buyers, work through paperwork, and ultimately close on your home! So what is a listing agent? In its most basic terms, a listing agent is a real estate professional who represents the seller in a real estate transaction. The listing agent lists the home for sale and works on behalf of the seller to sell the home at the best price and terms for their client. Listing your home is a BIG deal and it is not a place to try and DIY. But why can’t you just grab a sign at Home Depot and try and sell yourself? Well, there are lots of reasons some of which include: Professional consultation: A listing agent will walk you through each step and tell you what to expect along the way! They should understand the specific community you’re in and the current market environment and will help you determine a competitive but realistic asking price for your home. Marketing and selling your home: Your listing agent will list your home on the multiple listing service (MLS) in order to better market your home to potential buyers. They also can make staging recommendations and hire a photographer to best show off your home and its features. They’ll schedule house showings, and can be present to answer any questions. Communication and negotiation: Communication is key to both buying and selling a home in order to minimize stress and misunderstandings. Listing agents take care of this important task, by staying in touch with interested buyers and their agents, fielding questions, handling paperwork, and negotiating the final sale price and terms. Recommendations: Seasoned listing agents might come with a list of professionals who they have worked with in the past that they enjoy working with in order to make the selling process smoother for you! Some of these professionals include: real estate attorneys or title companies, inspectors, stagers, those who specialize in home improvement AND of course trusted Loan Officers. How do I find the right listing agent for my situation? In order to find the right listing agent for you, make sure your agent is licensed and has experience, references, and a professional website where you can learn more about them and their qualifications. Most real estate agents work with both buyers and sellers, but some might specialize in one or the other. Once you find a few agents through referrals or online research, meet with them in person to ensure they meet your needs and work well with your personality. It is also important to ask questions during your meeting with them and it’s imperative that you determine what you’re looking for in an agent so you make sure you are happy with the product being delivered. Selling a home can be stressful, especially for first-time sellers. A listing agent can help by taking on some of the burden and providing the information and resources needed to help sellers make informed decisions. We work with agents on both sides of the transaction – if you have any questions or would like a recommendation for an agent in your area, please reach out to us!
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