Recent Data Suggests You Shouldn’t Spend Another Dime on Home Improvements Before Speaking With a Local Real Estate Agent
Lighter Side of Real Estate • June 14, 2023
If you do renovations or home improvements to your house, common sense says that doing so would raise the value, right?
The good news is that they do increase the value of your house!
The not-so-great news is that the amount your home goes up in value probably won’t be as much as you even spent on the project…
In fact, as CNBC recently reported, according to the 2023 Cost vs. Value Report, only 4 home improvement projects produce a positive return-on-investment. And if that’s not surprising enough, they probably aren’t even ones you’d think would make the list! The current projects that will net you the most profit when you sell your house are:
- Switching out a traditional furnace to a heat pump. That’ll put an extra $619 in your pocket based upon national averages.Replacing your garage door. That will add $116 to your bank account.
- Replace your siding with a stone veneer. Add $192 to your balance sheet.
- Change out your front door with a new steel door. Treat yourself to some lunch with the $21 you’ll recoup.
If you combined all four of those exact home improvement projects, you can expect to net a whopping $948!
The big, sexy projects most people think about doing to improve value — like a full-blown renovation of an existing bathroom or kitchen — will certainly add value, but they won’t increase the value as much as they cost to do. Those types of projects recoup less than 50% of what they cost a homeowner.
That said, those are based upon national data and averages. Here’s a link to the data CNBC cited in their article, which allows you to choose your specific area to get a better idea for how much you can expect to recoup on a project where you live. But the general gist is always the same: Very few projects will produce a positive return, regardless of where you live. And when they do, it’s rarely all that much of a return.
Should You Even Update or Renovate Your House at All?!
Once the initial shock wears off, the next question most homeowners have is whether they should waste any time or money on improving their house at all. But before you decide to never spend another cent or minute of your time on your house, here are a few things to consider:
- Updates and renovations will make your house more attractive and appealing to potential homebuyers.
- An outdated house (or one in need of repairs) can bring your value down. You need to maintain your house to about the level of other homes in the area, if you want to fetch a similar price to other recently sold homes.
- If your home isn’t updated, it can take a longer time to sell, or not sell at all, if it’s a slow market.
So you still need to make sure you’re keeping your house in good shape, and improving it over the years, if you want your house to sell readily and for as much as possible.
Things to Do and Keep In Mind if You Renovate
In order to maximize the money you spend on home improvements, here are a few key things you should do:
- Speak to a local real estate agent before doing any projects. Basing your decision upon national (or even regional) data can be misleading and inaccurate. Just because a particular type of project tends to produce a better return, and another does not in most areas, that might not be the case in your specific price range and market. A local agent will be able to help you assess whether or not a project will improve the value of your home enough to make it worth the investment.
- Don’t underestimate the value of your enjoyment. While a project may not produce a positive financial return, that doesn’t mean it won’t give you great satisfaction and enjoyment. There’s nothing saying you have to make money on the projects and home improvements you do, so long as you know what to expect ahead of time and aren’t surprised when you decide to sell.
- Be frugal and thoughtful about what you spend on improvements. New and updated is better even if it isn’t the highest end finishes or materials. Unless you’re in the luxury market, you can probably get away with doing lower-grade upgrades if you’re concerned about making as much of your money back as possible.
- Keep it neutral and universal. If you’re concerned about recouping as much money as possible, try to do projects and updates that will appeal to almost every buyer by keeping them neutral in style and color.
The Takeaway:
Many homeowners are surprised that their home renovations and improvements don’t increase the value of their home as much as they hoped, or even as much as they cost to do, when they decide to sell their house. But the reality is, very few projects produce a positive return-on-investment, and it isn’t very much of a return when they do.
If you want to maximize your ROI on home improvements, make sure to speak with a local real estate agent to help you assess whether a project makes sense before you spend time and money on it.
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If you’ve ever bought a home before, you’re probably familiar with the advice that agents give their clients: don’t make any big purchases while you’re in the middle of house hunting. “Big purchases” can mean a lot of things—opening new lines of credit, splurging on furniture, committing to a pricey vacation, or upgrading appliances. And, of course, the one agents mention the most…a new car. Even with that warning, it’s easy to see how some buyers slip. Life happens. Sometimes it’s a planned purchase, sometimes it’s impulsive, and sometimes it’s just unavoidable. A new car can sneak into the budget without realizing its ripple effects. Yet these decisions can dramatically impact how much home a buyer can afford, or even whether they qualify for a mortgage at all. Cars aren’t exactly optional for most people. You can’t always time a broken-down engine or a growing family’s need for extra space to line up with your home buying schedule. And some buyers may have purchased a vehicle months before they even began house hunting, not fully aware of the impact it could have on their homebuying power. But to the degree that it is in your control, understanding the numbers can make a huge difference when planning for a mortgage. How Much Can a Car Payment Cost You? Maybe Over $100,000. Defining exactly how much a car payment will impact a buyer’s home affordability isn’t something you can do in a vacuum. It depends on income, other debts, interest rates, and a host of personal financial factors. That said, looking at a few different analyses can give a clear sense of just how significant even a moderate auto loan can be. According to Mortgage Research Network , each additional $100 in monthly car payment can reduce a buyer’s home-buying power by roughly $14,000. For example, a $600 car payment could potentially lower the maximum home price by more than $80,000. A similar analysis from Refi.com finds that every $100 in car payment reduces mortgage-qualifying potential by about $15,400. At that rate, a $600 monthly payment could shrink a buyer’s mortgage-eligible price by nearly $90,000, depending on other debts and financial circumstances. And last, but certainly not least… Realtor.com suggested that a $430 car payment could reduce a borrower’s mortgage borrowing power by as much as $100,000 in certain situations. To put this in context, the average monthly car payment in the U.S. for a new vehicle is around $700, while the average for a used car sits closer to $500. And that’s just one vehicle—many households carry payments on multiple cars. When you start stacking those payments, it quickly becomes clear that the vehicles in your driveway can have a surprisingly large impact on the home that driveway leads to. Buy the Car You Need—but Know the Home It Costs You Seeing how much even a single car payment can reduce homebuying power makes it all the more obvious how critical it is to think carefully about buying a car not only during the home buying process, but also before you even start house hunting. For most buyers, it’s not about forgoing a necessary vehicle, but about making choices that preserve as much buying power as possible. That could mean opting for a used car purchased with cash, choosing a lower-cost vehicle, or delaying a second car until after closing. For others, living in a walkable neighborhood or one with good public transit can reduce the need for multiple vehicles altogether. Even small adjustments—like refinancing an existing auto loan or paying down debt before applying for a mortgage—can add tens of thousands of dollars to what a buyer could afford. Every decision around transportation affects the home you can realistically buy. With that perspective, you can make informed choices that balance your daily needs with long-term goals, helping ensure that your car payments don’t shrink your home-buying budget any more than necessary. It can also be helpful to connect with a local real estate agent and a mortgage professional early on—even if you’re not quite ready to buy. They can provide guidance specific to your situation, run the numbers for your income, debts, and potential car payments, and help you make informed decisions before taking on any new financial obligations. The Takeaway: Car payments can significantly reduce how much home a buyer can afford. Even a modest auto loan can translate into tens of thousands of dollars in lost purchasing power—and households with two or more car payments feel that impact even more. The more you understand how these costs interact with mortgage approval, the more control you have over your homebuying options. Whether that means choosing a lower-cost vehicle, waiting on a purchase, refinancing an existing loan, or exploring walkable, transit-friendly neighborhoods, small decisions can have big ripple effects. If you’re thinking about buying a home in the near future, looping in a local agent and a mortgage pro early can help you map out the smartest path forward.
What Rising Inflation Means for Your Move Data shows inflation is moving in the wrong direction. But before the headlines send anyone into a panic, here's what's actually going on, why it matters for the housing market, and what it means if you're thinking about buying or selling. Inflation Went Up – Here’s What That Actually Means The government tracks inflation in a variety of ways. One is something called PCE – the Personal Consumption Expenditures Price Index. It measures how much more (or less) people are paying for goods and services compared to a year ago. And just based on your own expenses, you can probably guess which way that’s trending. That’s the one everyone is talking about right now. Check out the yellow line to see how that’s spiked since February (see graph below). A big driver of this jump is the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, which has pushed gas and energy prices significantly higher. Now, you may have noticed there’s a second line. The blue line shows core PCE. That’s the same measure, but with gas and energy prices stripped out. The Federal Reserve (the Fed) actually watches this number most closely because energy prices swing around a lot and can be misleading. And here’s the somewhat encouraging part. Core PCE is rising, but not nearly as fast as the overall number. That suggests a good chunk of the inflation spike we’re seeing right now is tied directly to what’s happening overseas. So, when that situation settles down, inflation may settle a bit, too. Why This Matters for Mortgage Rates Here's the housing connection. When inflation is high, the Fed tends to keep the Federal Funds Rate elevated or even raise it to try to taper spending and cool inflation back down. And while it's not a one-for-one relationship, that Federal Funds Rate can have an impact on your mortgage rate when you buy. Right now, based on the information we have, there's roughly a 50/50 chance the Fed actually raises the Federal Funds Rate before the end of 2026, according to CME FedWatch (see graph below): While it’s too soon to say where this goes for certain and if we’re headed for a rate hike, it does mean mortgage rates are probably not coming down as soon as most people were hoping. If you've been waiting for rates to drop significantly before making a move, this report is a reminder that "higher for longer" is still very much on the table. It really all depends on where the economy goes from here. According to Bankrate: “Oil prices and bond yields have dropped a bit . . . but they're still way up compared to the start of spring. Until there’s a resolution to the war, look for both inflation and mortgage rates to stay high. ” But This Is Not 2008 – Not Even Close Just remember, a tough economy does not equal a housing crash. The conditions today are very different from what led to the 2008 collapse. Here's why: Inventory is still relatively low. There's no flood of homes hitting the market. Most homeowners today have strong equity in their homes. Lending standards are far stricter than they were before 2008. Today's challenge is affordability, not a wave of distressed underwater sellers. Uncomfortable and unhealthy are not the same thing. The market feels hard right now, but "hard" and "crashing" are very different. You Still Have Options. Here’s What To Do. High rates don't mean homeownership is out of reach. It just means the path looks a little different. There are real strategies that can help, depending on your situation: Ask your lender about different loan options. Adjustable-rate mortgages (ARMs) or rate buydowns may help lower your monthly payment in the short term. Explore first-time buyer programs, down payment assistance, or seller concessions that could help offset costs. Stay in close touch with a trusted agent and lender. When rates shift, and they will, you’ll want to be ready to move fast. The right strategy, tailored to your goals, matters a lot more than waiting for the perfect moment that may never come. Bottom Line Inflation is still above where the Fed wants it, and that means mortgage rates are likely to stay elevated for a while. But for people who need to move, strategy matters far more than trying to perfectly time the market. Wondering what this means for your specific situation? Reach out today. Let's cut through the noise together and make a plan that actually works for you.
The Mid-Year Housing Market Update: Why Forecasts Changed in 2026 If the housing market feels confusing right now, you’re not alone. Mortgage rates have risen. Home sales haven't picked up like expected. And many buyers and sellers are wondering when things are going to feel easier or be more affordable . The truth is: a lot changed over the first half of this year. Back at the end of 2025, economists were forecasting a much stronger housing market for 2026. They expected mortgage rates to come down, affordability to improve more dramatically, and home sales to rebound. But lingering inflation, economic uncertainty, and growing geopolitical tensions overseas pushed mortgage rates higher than expected. And because rates stayed elevated for longer, many buyers continued to hold off. That’s why experts recently revised their housing forecasts for the rest of the year (see graph below): So, what does this actually mean for you? Let’s break it down. Mortgage Rates May Remain Elevated While just about everyone wants mortgage rates to go back to the uppers 5s or low 6s we saw at the start of the year, as of right now, the experts don’t think that’s likely to happen this year. Instead, forecasts have been updated from the low 6s they originally projected. Many industry organizations are saying rates will stay in roughly the mid 6s this year. The good news is, that’s still lower than rates were a year ago . Of course, this is based on what we know today. If the conflict overseas comes to an end or inflation drops, this could change. But if you’re waiting for lower rates, it may not pay off in the way you expect. Existing Home Sales Revised Lower Back in late 2025, experts expected we’d sell an average of 4.5 million homes this year. Now? That’s dropped down a bit to 4.2 million. That tells us something important: buyers are still hesitant because affordability remains challenging. Higher mortgage rates have made monthly payments harder to manage, especially for first-time buyers. And that’s slowed the pace of the market compared to what was originally expected. But even though the forecast was revised down, we’re still expected to sell more homes than last year. Once geopolitical tensions resolve and rates begin to settle down, many experts believe that group of buyers will be ready to jump back in. As Lawrence Yun, Chief Economist at NAR, explains: “There is sizable pent-up demand that could be released into the market.” There has already been a few glimmers of renewed hope lately. In recent months, pending homes sale have been improving month-over-month despite higher rates. So, if you’re able to afford a home at today’s rates, it could still make sense to buy now. Because otherwise, if you wait, you’ll have more competition (and potentially fewer homes to choose from) when those others buyers jump back in. New Home Sales Also Slowed Builders also expected to have a stronger year. Earlier forecasts projected new home sales would top 700k in 2026. Now, economists expect we'll be just shy of that number . Again, mortgage rates are a major reason why. But the upside for buyers is that builders may be even more motivated to sell. That means builder incentives , negotiation opportunities, and pricing flexibility may continue in many markets. So, if you live somewhere where there’s more new construction, this may actually be a bright spot for you. Builders could be more ready to negotiate, and that gives you more leverage to get a better deal. Home Prices Are Still Expected To Rise This is one of the most important takeaways from the entire forecast. Even though sales activity is slower, on average, experts did not revise their home price forecast downward. They still expect prices to rise nationally this year. Why? Because while buyer demand has softened, the number of homes for sale is still relatively limited overall. That imbalance is helping support prices, even in a slower market. Of course, conditions vary depending on where you live. Some markets are cooling more than others. But nationally, experts are still projecting steady price growth — not a major decline. And that should be a comfort whether you’re buying or selling. Because sellers don’t want a major drop in prices. And while buyers may think they do, generally you feel better about a big purchase when it doesn’t depreciate right away. Bottom Line The housing market hasn’t rebounded as quickly as experts originally hoped. But that doesn’t mean it’s stalled. Higher inflation and lingering economic uncertainty caused economists to revise their forecasts for this year. But importantly, when those two things settle down, many experts believe the market will regain its momentum. So don’t see this revision in forecasts as a sign of trouble. See it as a temporary reaction to overall conditions and uncertainty. If you want to know what’s happening in our local market, and what it could mean for your plans for the rest of this year, let’s connect.
