What’s happening with the real estate market?
We are seeing a normalization of the real estate market. Inventory is rising to a morerealistic level and homes are staying on the market a little bit longer than they have. This gives both buyers and sellers a little breathing room and allows for more choices. Interest rates have stabilized and will probably drop a bit more, but don’t expect interest rates to drop back to 3%. Those interest rates always were a market fluke.
Alice Leeper
Broker/Salesperson
The process of buying a home may seem daunting, but Alice Leeper, a broker and salesperson at RE/MAX Boone Realty is here to help. As a Missouri native, she understands the importance of placing people in the right homes in Columbia, Ashland and Hallsville. After 19 years of working in tech in Silicon Valley, she returned to Columbia in 2004 to obtain her real estate license. In 2021, Leeper formed her own real estate team, Hometown COMO Group. The group aims to offer a no-pressure, transparent buying experience for the residents of mid-Missouri. With almost 20 years of experience in real estate, Leeper firmly believes in continuing education and has obtained several specialty certifications. For those hoping to pursue a career in real estate, Leeper says to “take advantage of all the training opportunities you are offered.” She also says helping new agents is the most rewarding aspect of being an expert in her field. Leeper advises prospective home buyers to seek out a trustworthy, experienced salesperson. “Experience is worth more than exuberance. Look for a REALTOR who works as an agent full time and sells more than a couple of homes a year,” she says. An experienced agent like Leeper can help buyers avoid future issues and feel secure in their purchase. “Having an experienced buyer’s agent can both help you find homes that maybe hadn’t hit your radar and avoid future problems by guiding you through the home inspection process,” Leeper says. Choosing the best home for your family starts with choosing the right agent.
