Welcome Mckenna Kocin to the Black Diamond Group - Your Realtor with a passion for helping people! We are thrilled to introduce our newest addition to the Black Diamond Group, Mckenna Kocin! With a dynamic background and a heart dedicated to helping others, Mckenna brings a unique set of skills and expertise to the world of real estate. A graduate from Kent State University, Mckenna holds a degree in Marketing, allowing her to understand the intricacies of the market and devise strategic plans to ensure the best outcomes for her clients. Moreover, her associates degree in Interior Design adds an extra flair to her approach into the aesthetic aspects of a property. Whether you are a first-time homebuyer, a seasoned investor, or looking to sell your property, Mckenna Kocin is eager to assist you with her knowledge and passion for real estate. So, join us in extending a warm welcome as she embarks on this exciting journey with the Black Diamond Group!

The Black Diamond Group was presented the President's Sales Club Award of Distinction for 2023 As we celebrate this milestone, please know that our commitment to delivering exceptional service remains unwavering. We look forward to continuing to assist you in all your real estate endeavors, whether buying, selling, or investing. Thank you to our customers for being an integral part of our success. Your continued support fuels our passion, and we are excited to keep exceeding your expectations. Jenifer Black at 440.724.0271 Black Diamond Group at Howard Hanna

The BLACK DIAMOND GROUP is honored to be named as a TOP 250 CLEVELAND REAL PRODUCERS for 2023! Our team is in the Top 2.5% of Agents in the Cleveland market last year! Thank you, as always, to our customers and their continued support of our real estate services. Jenifer Black at 440.724.0271 Black Diamond Group at Howard Hanna

Pending Home Sales Increased 2.5% in December, Ending Six-Month Slide January 27, 2023Media Contact: Lauren Cozzi 202-383-1178 Share Share Key Highlights Pending home sales improved for the first time since May, up 2.5% from November. Month-over-month, contract signings fell in the Northeast and Midwest but climbed in the South and West. Pending sales declined in all regions compared to one year ago. WASHINGTON (January 27, 2023) – Pending home sales increased in December for the first time since May 2022 — following six consecutive months of declines — according to the National Association of Realtors®. The Northeast and Midwest recorded month-over-month reductions, while the South and West posted monthly gains. All four U.S. regions saw year-over-year decreases in transactions, with the West experiencing the largest decline at 37.5%. The Pending Home Sales Index (PHSI)* — a forward-looking indicator of home sales based on contract signings — improved 2.5% to 76.9 in December. Year-over-year, pending transactions dropped by 33.8%. An index of 100 is equal to the level of contract activity in 2001. “This recent low point in home sales activity is likely over,” said NAR Chief Economist Lawrence Yun. “Mortgage rates are the dominant factor driving home sales, and recent declines in rates are clearly helping to stabilize the market.” Pending Home Sales Regional Breakdown The Northeast PHSI dropped 6.5% from last month to 64.7, a decrease of 32.5% from December 2021. The Midwest index shrank 0.3% to 77.6 in December, a decline of 30.1% from one year ago. The South PHSI rose 6.1% to 94.1 in December, dropping 34.5% from the prior year. The West index advanced 6.4% in December to 58.6, decreasing 37.5% from December 2021. “The new normal for mortgage rates will likely be in the 5.5% to 6.5% range,” Yun added. “Job gains will steadily become important in driving local home-sales markets. The South, in particular, is set to outperform the rest of the country, thanks primarily to better job market conditions in this part of the country compared to other regions.” The National Association of Realtors® is America’s largest trade association, representing more than 1.5 million members involved in all aspects of the residential and commercial real estate industries. The term Realtor® is a registered collective membership mark that identifies a real estate professional who is a member of the National Association of Realtors® and subscribes to its strict Code of Ethics. # # # *The Pending Home Sales Index is a leading indicator for the housing sector, based on pending sales of existing homes. A sale is listed as pending when the contract has been signed but the transaction has not closed, though the sale usually is finalized within one or two months of signing. Pending contracts are good early indicators of upcoming sales closings. However, the amount of time between pending contracts and completed sales is not identical for all home sales. Variations in the length of the process from pending contract to closed sale can be caused by issues such as buyer difficulties with obtaining mortgage financing, home inspection problems, or appraisal issues. The index is based on a sample that covers about 40% of multiple listing service data each month. In developing the model for the index, it was demonstrated that the level of monthly sales-contract activity parallels the level of closed existing-home sales in the following two months. An index of 100 is equal to the average level of contract activity during 2001, which was the first year to be examined. By coincidence, the volume of existing-home sales in 2001 fell within the range of 5.0 to 5.5 million, which is considered normal for the current U.S. population. NOTE: Existing-Home Sales for January will be reported on February 21. The next Pending Home Sales Index will be on February 27. All release times are 10 a.m. Eastern. View the NAR Statistical News Release Schedule.

Today, the rate of inflation is starting to drop. And as a result, mortgage rates have dipped below last year’s peak. Sam Khater, Chief Economist at Freddie Mac, shares: “While mortgage market activity has significantly shrunk over the last year, inflationary pressures are easing and should lead to lower mortgage rates in 2023.” That’s potentially great news if you’re a buyer aiming to jump back into the housing market. Any drop in mortgage rates helps boost your purchasing power by bringing down your expected monthly mortgage payment. This means the lower mortgage rates experts forecast this year could be just what you need to reignite your homebuying goals. While this opens up a window of opportunity for you, remember: you shouldn’t expect rates to drop back down to record lows like we saw in 2021. Experts agree that’s not the range buyers should bank on. Greg McBride, Chief Financial Analyst at Bankrate, explains: “I think we could be surprised at how much mortgage rates pull back this year. But we’re not going back to 3 percent anytime soon, because inflation is not going back to 2 percent anytime soon.” It’s important to have a realistic vision for what you can expect this year, and that’s where the advice of expert real estate advisors is critical. You may be surprised by the impact even a mild drop in mortgage rates has on your budget. If you’re ready to buy a home now, today’s market presents the opportunity to get a more affordable mortgage rate, find your dream home, and face less competition from other buyers. Bottom Line The recent pullback in mortgage rates is great news – but if you’re ready to buy now, holding out for 3% is a mistake. Work with a local real estate expert to explore the options in your area and learn how today’s rates impact your goals. Article by Keeping Current Matters

ORLANDO (November 11, 2022) – Amid the backdrop of high inflation, elevated mortgage rates and slowing sales activity, severely limited housing inventory will prevent large home price drops for most of the country next year, according to NAR Chief Economist Lawrence Yun. Yun analyzed the current state of the residential real estate market and shared his 2023 outlook today at 2022 NAR NXT, The Realtor® Experience(link is external), in Orlando, Florida. "For most parts of the country, home prices are holding steady since available inventory is extremely low," Yun said. "Some places are experiencing price gains, while some places, most notably in California, are seeing prices pull back." However, Yun noted that today's market conditions are fundamentally different than those experienced during the Great Recession. "Housing inventory is about a quarter of what it was in 2008," Yun said. "Distressed property sales are almost non-existent, at just 2%, and nowhere near the 30% mark seen during the housing crash. Short sales are almost impossible because of the significant price appreciation of the last two years." Driven by the unprecedented rate at which mortgage rates climbed in 2022 – from 3% in January to around 7% today – the downturn in the housing market has had an outsized impact on the nation's overall economic performance, Yun explained. "The slide in sales and home building has [brought] down GDP," Yun said. "If the housing market was stabilizing and not declining, GDP would be positive." Yun added that signs point to mortgage rates topping out, particularly as October's consumer price index showed inflation rising less than expected. He did, however, express concern about the spread between mortgage rates and the federal funds rate. "The gap between the 30-year fixed mortgage rate and the government borrowing rate is much higher today than it has been historically," Yun said. "If we didn't have this large gap, mortgage rates wouldn't be 7%, they would be 5.8%. A normal spread would revive the economy. If inflation disappears, then we'd see less anxiety within the financial markets and lower interest rates, which would allow owners to refinance." In 2023, Yun expects home sales to decline by 7%, while the national median home price will increase by 1%, with some markets experiencing price gains and others price declines. He also projects a strong rebound for housing in 2024, with a 10% jump in home sales and a 5% increase in the national median home price. The National Association of Realtors® is America's largest trade association, representing more than 1.5 million members involved in all aspects of the residential and commercial real estate industries.

You have smoke detectors in your kitchen and living areas, but do you know if your home is really prepared for a fire? According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), there are 346,800 house fires every year on average in the United States. Unsurprisingly, fires started by cooking and heating equipment cause the most fires. October is National Fire Safety Month, and Howard Hanna wants to help you keep your home safe. We’ve compiled a list of fire safety tips and guidelines to help you prevent house fires and safeguard your home. Step Up Your Fire Safety Equipment The smoke detectors that came with your home are great, but there’s so much more you can do to keep your property fire-safe. Consider stepping up your preparedness with: A smart smoke alarm: Smart alarms like the Google Nest Protect are sensitive to both slow-burning and fast-burning fires. They can also send alerts to your phone in case you’re not home. A fire extinguisher: Put out small kitchen fires fast with an at-home fire extinguisher. A two-story emergency escape ladder: Make sure you have a safe exit from second floor bedrooms and living spaces in the event of a fire. A fireproof safe: Safeguard important documents like passports, birth certificates and medical records so they’re not lost after a disaster. Avoid Fire Hazards While Cooking Cooking causes 50% of residential fires every year, with unattended cooking being the leading cause. Here are some guidelines to reduce your risk while cooking: Always cook with a lid beside your pan. If you have a fire, put the lid on the pan and turn the burner off immediately. Always stay in the kitchen when frying, grilling or broiling. Always stay at home when simmering, baking, roasting or boiling, and set a timer to remind you that you’re cooking. Never pour water on a grease fire! Reduce the Risk of an Electrical Fire Heating equipment and electrical malfunctions and the second and third leading causes of house fires according to NFPA. You can help keep your home safer by: Making sure that all heating sources are in clean and working order. Checking your electrical wiring for damage and repairing it if necessary. Replace frayed extension cords, exposed wires and loose plugs. Clearing all high-traffic areas of any wiring. Do not keep any wiring under rugs. Ensuring all outlets have cover plates. Storing any combustible materials in open areas away from heat sources. Never using a stove range or oven to heat your home.

The BLACK DIAMOND GROUP is honored to be the recipient of the President's Sales Club Award for 2022. In the top 10% of Ohio Realtors, this award reflects our dedication to our customers and their real estate needs. Call Jenifer Black at 440.724.0271 when it's time to buy or sell!

A new season is coming up quickly! Here's how your household can enjoy the changing weather, fall foliage, and other perks of autumn safely. Household safety tips change with the season As days get shorter and nights get longer, our habits begin to change. Most of us typically spend more time hunkering down at home and less time frolicking at the beach. That usually means resuming favorite fall pastimes like huddling through football games on Saturday and Sunday or drinking hot cocoa on the sidelines of our little ones’ soccer games. Arriving along with the season of autumn is a host of safety hazards we didn’t have to think about over the summer, creating the need for a little extra vigilance. As the temperatures drop and you settle in for the approaching cold spell, consider the following pointers for ensuring you and your family stay not just warm, but also safe! Warm up carefully. All types of heating units can be dangerous. If you use a wood-burning fireplace, secure it with a screen to prevent sparks, and make sure the fire is completely out before you retire for the night. If you depend on your home’s furnace, make sure it has been inspected before you start to use it again. And, if you resort to space heaters, make sure they are in good working order (no frayed cords) and out of the reach of children. Enjoy ambiance safely. If you use candles to add a warm glow to a cold night, make sure they are safely out of reach of children, can’t be overturned by pets, and are not close to flammable items such as blankets, paper, or furniture. If you’re known for falling asleep before heading to bed, extinguish all candles early to avoid an unsafe, all-night burning situation. Exercise yard safety. If you’re going to be pruning trees and shrubs, hanging Halloween decorations, raking leaves, or engaging in other yard activities, use caution: be careful on ladders, avoid power lines, and put away yard tools when you’re finished. Source: Howard Hanna Blog

🚚 If you're preparing to sell your #home, here are a few helpful tips to ensure a successful move as you settle into your new home! 🚚 ✔️ Make an unpacking plan. ✔️ Set up utilities and connectivity for your new home before moving in. ✔️ Deep clean your new home if you have the time in between closing and the moment you move in. ✔️ Change your address, and communicate with important stakeholders like your bank and insurance provider. ✔️ Take a break from unpacking, take a stroll or drive to explore your new area. ✔️ Don’t feel like you have to do everything yourself. If you’re short on time (or energy), you can hire a professional to assist in the unpacking process. Jenifer Black at 440.724.0271 Black Diamond Group at Howard Hanna