FREE Shred Event Sign Up, New School Supply Drive, Hot New Home for Sale!Summer is here! This month we're featuring the latest market updates, real estate trends & more!
Summer is in full swing, and just like the weather, the real estate market is heating up in some areas — while cooling in others. We’re seeing what we call a “hot and cold” market: some homes are selling in days, while others are sitting a bit longer than expected. Navigating this dynamic market takes strategy, insight and the right team on your side — and we’re here to help you every step of the way.
A BIG thanks to everyone who came out to our Summer Kickoff Event last month! It was such a joy to see so many friendly faces and connect with new neighbors — this community is truly something special. Thank you for showing up, sharing smiles and helping us build meaningful memories as we head into the summer season!
Be sure to save the date for our FREE Stone Creek Community Shred Event on Saturday, August 23. Clear out that paperwork clutter and protect your personal info! Bring up to 3 banker boxes of documents to shred. Bonus: The first 4 cars in line will receive a special prize!
In May, six homes sold in Stone Creek, averaging 97.76% of their list price and spending around 24 days on the market. While homes are still moving, we're seeing a shift in pricing trends as buyer demand shows signs of softening. That said, motivated buyers are still out there — many on the hunt for a deal. If your home is well-prepped and packed with features, you could have a real advantage. With 5 active listings currently on the market, making your home stand out has never been more important.
Interest rates have been a hot topic lately — and for good reason. With most buyers facing rates over 6%, it can feel like the dream of homeownership is getting further out of reach. But here’s a little good news we had to share: One of our clients just locked in a 3.375% interest rate. Yes, you read that right.
How? They bought a home with an assumable FHA loan, which allowed them to take over the seller’s existing low-rate mortgage instead of starting fresh with today’s higher rates.
It was a little extra work behind the scenes, but it was so worth it. Their monthly payments are significantly lower, and they walked into homeownership with peace of mind — and a little extra room in the budget.
Quick Tip: What’s an Assumable Loan?
Not all loans are assumable — but FHA, VA, and USDA loans often are. That means a qualified buyer can “assume” the seller’s current mortgage terms, including the interest rate. The seller must agree, and the lender has to approve it, so it’s not a fit for every situation — but when it works, it can be a total game-changer!
As always, we're proud to be your neighborhood real estate expert and we want to continue providing meaningful events and resources to residents! Your support and referrals are the heartbeat of our business and the reason we do what we do.
Don’t just take our word for it, check out our 122+ 5-Star Client Reviews and see what others are saying about working with our team!
Wishing you a summer filled with sunshine, joy and memorable moments with the ones you love!
We’re helping one of our Stone Creek neighbors find a loving new home for their sweet cat, Kuching as they relocate out of the country.
American Short-haired Cat
3 Years Old
Neutered Male
Indoor/Outdoor
Litter Boxed Trained
Updated Yearly Shots (Full Medical Report from Arden Animal Hospital)
Kuching is calm, affectionate and ready to bring some love and purrs into the right home. Whether you're a long-time cat lover or looking for your first feline friend, he just might be the perfect fit!
If you or someone you know might be interested, send us a message for more info — let’s help Kuching land in a home full of love.
A BIG Thanks to Everyone Who Came Out to Our Summer Kickoff Event!
What an incredible time we had at our Summer Kickoff Event last month! It was such a joy to see so many friendly faces and connect with new neighbors — this community is truly something special. Events like these are exactly why we love what we do. As your neighborhood real estate experts, we're honored to help bring Stone Creek together and celebrate what makes this community so vibrant. Your support and referrals are truly the heart of our business. Thank you for showing up, sharing smiles and helping us build meaningful memories as we head into the summer season!
NEW: Stone Creek School Supply Drive
Saturday, Nov. 15 - More Details to Come!
Exciting News! We're Launching a School Supply Drive This Fall, Benefiting Navigator Elementary School!
We're excited to introduce a new way to give back this fall* — our Stone Creek School Supply Drive, benefiting our neighborhood elementary school!
As a Platinum Sponsor of Navigator Elementary — a Title I school — we're passionate about supporting students and helping close the achievement gap by ensuring every child has access to the tools they need for a high-quality education.
We’re currently collaborating with school staff to identify the most-needed supplies. Once the list is available, you’ll have two easy ways to donate:
Shop from an online wish list
Porch Pickup — our team will pick up supplies from your porch on Saturday, Nov. 15
*This donation opportunity will replace the Stone Creek Food & Stocking Stuffer Drive that we have previously hosted in past years.
This month, Geoff Black, Senior Loan Officer with Guild Mortgage shares the following message:
Inflation Eases, But Rates Stay Put: What Could Finally Move the Needle?
Despite talk of falling rates, they haven’t budged due to ongoing inflation concerns. Monthly inflation data released this week was promising — both the Consumer Price Index (CPI) and Producer Price Index (PPI) came in lower than expected, indicating inflation is continuing to fall. However, uncertainty around trade deals is keeping markets unstable.
The Federal Reserve remains in “wait and see” mode for their rate policy adjustments, and so do rate-driving markets. Big trade agreements could be the key — each announcement adds more certainty to the economy and releases pressure from the system.
While I don’t expect rates to plummet, I do expect to see some easing as trade deals are announced! If you would like to keep track of daily mortgage rate movements, I recommend downloading the Mortgage News Daily App. It won’t tell you what YOUR interest rate is, but it will give you an immediate reading on the national average and if rates are up or down that day.
Questions? Contact Geoff Black at (916) 486-6558 or [email protected].
Did You Know? Appraisers See the Contract Price When Valuing a Home
That’s right — when a home is under contract, the appraiser reviewing the property is provided with the signed purchase agreement. Why does this matter?
The contract price often helps establish a benchmark for the appraisal. While appraisers still perform an independent market analysis based on comparable sales, condition and location, knowing what a buyer is willing to pay gives valuable context. It can influence whether the appraised value comes in at or near the agreed price — which is important because if the appraisal comes in low, it can affect financing, renegotiations or even cause a deal to fall through.
So while appraisals are objective, the contract price plays a key supporting role in the process. Just another reason why strategic pricing and strong negotiations matter from the start!
Enter Our 2nd Quarter Client Referral Raffle!
It's the 2nd Quarter of 2025! Enter to win a custom CUTCO knife from The Jenica Williams Team!
The best way to refer a friend is to provide us with their contact info and we will happily reach out.
Raffle winner will be announced the first week of July! Thank you for your referrals, we're honored to serve your friends and family!
A group of Stone Creek ladies have started a walking group throughout the community! They meet to walk Monday through Friday from approximately 7-8:30 AM and walk 3-5 miles. They are looking for others who would like to join their group.
Cordova Recreation & Park District's
Party in the Park Event
Saturday, July 12 | 10 AM - 12 PM | Hagan Community Park
Head to a fun summer party at Hagan Community Park with giveaways, music, vendors and more! Enjoy a variety of food and drinks from local makers. Click here for more information!
Did you know that we have a Stone Creek Community Instagram and Facebook Page featuring community info, updates, events, giveaways and more?Follow us!
We hope you've enjoyed reading this newsletter!
As always, we would love any referrals you have who are thinking of purchasing or selling real estate!
How? They bought a home with an assumable FHA loan, which allowed them to take over the seller’s existing low-rate mortgage instead of starting fresh with today’s higher rates.
Quick Tip: What’s an Assumable Loan?
