Should I Buy or Rent a Home? If you’re feeling stressed about rising rents and interest rates, you are not alone. Most American renters say their rents increased in the past 12 months, and for many, their wage gains didn’t keep pace. In addition, mortgage rates have reached a two-decade high. This means that for those in the market to rent or buy a home, there is a lot to consider. According to Freddie Mac, deciding whether to rent or buy depends on your financial situation, future plans and lifestyle. You should also carefully assess the benefits and financial commitments that come with each option. WHY BUY? If you plan to stay in your home for at least five to seven years, buying can make financial sense. Homeowners may be eligible for certain tax benefits, and increases in home equity are important to building long-term financial independence. Plus, for those with a fixed-rate mortgage, stable monthly payments provide important predictability when creating a budget. Another benefit

  Eggertsville ranked No.7 on  Realtor.com ’ s ® 10 Best Markets for First-Time Homebuyers in 2023 Beyond affordability, these 10 markets have many attractive features for first-time buyers –  from nearby amenities to job opportunities Buffalo, New York - Jan 18, 2023 – Eggertsville one of the market areas served by members of the Buffalo Niagara Association of Realtors, has been ranked number 7 on the Realtor.com ® list of Top 10 best markets for first-time homebuyers in 2023. To find the Best Markets for First-time Homebuyers , Realtor.com ® looked at a number of qualities that make a town attractive, including affordability, livability and where it might be easier for young buyers to break into the housing market.   THE TOP 10 MARKETS FOR FIRST-TIME HOMEBUYERS in 2023 ARE:   1. Portsmouth, Va.,   2. DeForest, Wisc.,   3. Windsor Locks, Conn.,   4. Gloucester City, N.J.,   5. Moore, Okla.,   6. Magna, Utah,   7. Eggertsville, N.Y.,   8. Watervliet, N.Y.,   9. Mattydale, N.Y. and

HUNT Real Estate Names Regional Vice President for Buffalo/Niagara & Rochester Regions BUFFALO, NY – January 24, 2023 – HUNT Real Estate announces Susan Ballard as a new Regional Vice President for its Buffalo/Niagara and Rochester regions.  With over 25 years of experience in management with an emphasis on real estate, construction, and development, Ms. Ballard was previously a branch director for the Williamsville Village branch of HUNT Real Estate from 2016-2020. In this role, Ms. Ballard built a team of goal-oriented sales professionals that worked to achieve and exceed branch metrics, including branch sales volume, listing inventory, unit sales.  As the Regional Vice President, Ms. Ballard will be responsible for leading the HUNT Buffalo/Niagara and Rochester regions to “model region” status, which involves a set of metrics designed to underscore professional achievement and productivity. Ms. Ballard’s additional previous experience includes serving as the Executive Vice Presi

  BNAR Pres Conference:  Anti-Racism Video BNAR hosted a press conference on January 11, 2023. It was hosted to unveil the professionally-produced videos; they were presented to real estate agents and public officials, saying they are the first in the country to create anti-discrimination videos of this kind. Click this link to view the press conference!

BNAR President Rosalind on Buffalo News   We continue to reap dividends from our press conference in which our anti-discrimination videos were unveiled. Rod Watson, longtime columnist at the Buffalo News, interviewed Rosalind.  Keep an eye out for that piece.  In addition, Rosalind was interviewed live via Zoom for more than six minutes on Ch. 2’s (WGRZ-TV) Town Hall news broadcast. Click this link to watch BNAR president on Buffalo News. Skip to 1:28 for the segment with our president.

        Welcome Home Unexpectedly Useful Housewarming Gifts Attending a housewarming is a great way to celebrate a friend’s new home, but how do you find the perfect present to accompany the visit? These unique gift ideas are not only bound to make a statement, they’re incredibly useful to boot. Fix-It Essentials: For practicality at its absolute best, pack up some must-haves for the house. Include a hammer, screwdrivers and some Original Duck Tape brand duct tape to help your friends get all those initial DIY projects handled – and cover bases for any future projects and everyday fixes that may pop up. Plant Some Love: Flowers are always a great way to brighten a day, but why not offer something that can brighten a space for years to come and grow with the household? Bring over a gorgeous houseplant or orchid for a gift that lasts and makes your friends think of you every time they see it. Tie on a sweet note and a ribbon for a fun, personal touch. Organization Must-Haves: Create a

Racism is real  in the Real Estate Community Realtors of color say they often experience racial profiling from the public-at-large and even among fellow Realtors. In an effort to educate and raise awareness of this all-too-prevalent problem, the Buffalo Niagara Association of Realtors (BNAR) has launched a series of anti-discrimination videos. The BNAR hosted a press January 1, 2023  to unveil the  professionally-produced videos; they were  presented to real estate agents and a host of public officials, saying they are  the first in the country to create anti-discrimination videos of this kind.  

Message from the President, by Rosalind Burgin My fellow members, It is an honor to deliver my first President’s message here on the BNAR website, which is chock-full of useful information for our Association membership. I look forward to a busy year helping people of all backgrounds achieve the dream of home ownership. In addition, I encourage you to support my theme – “Together Moving Forward” – and my charity, Eight Days of Hope. You will see and hear much more about these initiatives as the year unfolds. We launch the New Year with nationally recognized good news about 2023’s housing market forecast: Buffalo ranks No. 5 on the Realtor.com® 2023 Top housing markets forecast. Market areas on the list were selected because they are not only poised to see the strongest combined growth in home sales and listing prices in the coming year, but so far they’ve seen lower price increases and a relatively smaller affordability crunch than other markets across. This year’s top 10, in rank orde

Should I Buy or Rent a Home? If you’re feeling stressed about rising rents and interest rates, you are not alone. Most American renters say their rents increased in the past 12 months, and for many, their wage gains didn’t keep pace. In addition, mortgage rates have reached a two-decade high. This means that for those in the market to rent or buy a home, there is a lot to consider. According to Freddie Mac, deciding whether to rent or buy depends on your financial situation, future plans and lifestyle. You should also carefully assess the benefits and financial commitments that come with each option. Why Buy? If you plan to stay in your home for at least five to seven years, buying can make financial sense. Homeowners may be eligible for certain tax benefits, and increases in home equity are important to building long-term financial independence. Plus, for those with a fixed-rate mortgage, stable monthly payments provide important predictability when creating a budget. Another benefit

MJ Peterson Completes Annual Holiday Toy Collection AMHERST, NY -- MJ Peterson Corporate is pleased to announce the completion of their annual toy drive to support the Marine Toys for Tots Program. For the 16th year, MJ Peterson placed several collection bins at their Audubon Center corporate building as well as other MJ Peterson offices to participate in the annual Toys For Tots toy drive. At the end of the campaign, MJ Peterson collected over 4 boxes filled with toys to donate to local children in need. “MJ Peterson Real Estate is committed to helping out the less-fortunate in our community, especially around the holidays,” remarked Victor Peterson III, President of MJ Peterson. “Supporting our community has always been a priority for our company.” The Marine Toys for Tots program began in 1947 by Colonel William L. Hendricks. For 75 years, the program has been providing less-fortunate children throughout the United States with toys to help them experience the joy of Christmas. Famil

  Buffalo Ranked No. 5 on the Realtor.com ®  2023 Forecast of Top Housing Markets Buffalo takes spot in annual ranking of areas poised for highest home price appreciation and sales growth     Amherst, NY - Buffalo, NY, one of the market areas served by members of the Buffalo Niagara Association of REALTORS, has been ranked No. 5 on the Realtor.com ®   2023 Top housing markets forecast . Market areas on the list were selected because they are not only poised  to see the strongest combined growth in home sales and listing prices in the coming year, but up to this point they have seen lower price increases and a relatively smaller affordability crunch than other markets across the U.S.   Mainly concentrated in mid-size markets east of the Mississippi, with local industries tied to manufacturing, education, healthcare and government, this year's top 10, in rank order, are: Hartford-West Hartford, Conn., El Paso, Texas, Louisville, Ky., Worcester, Mass., Buffalo-Cheektowaga N.Y ., Augus