Spring has sprung and with the warmer temperatures usually means more homes for sale on the market in many locations.  Home affordability is still a concern for many and some home sellers have had to take their homes off of the market due to lack of buyer interest.  Mortgage interest rates have started to creep upward again putting further pressure on buyer budgets.  Check out some of the great real estate reads from the month of March 2026 down below.

How Interest Rates Impact Monthly Mortgage Payment

The monthly mortgage payment is directly impacted by the interest rate a mortgage has.  The higher the rate the higher the payment but also there is much more in interest paid over of the life of the mortgage as this article from Paul Sian explains.  In the article Paul also provides tips on how home buyers can get a lower interest rate when applying for a mortgage.  Make sure to start as early as possible with the credit score boosting process to get the best results.

Joint VA Mortgage Options

Luke Skar explains how a Joint VA Loan can help when one borrower is VA-eligible and the others are not, allowing multiple borrowers to share the home and the mortgage. It walks through eligibility, entitlement, and the key lender requirements like credit, debt-to-income ratio, income stability, and primary residence rules. The article also highlights the pros, like using combined income and possibly reducing the down payment, as well as the tradeoffs, such as shared liability and entitlement being used up. For buyers who have military eligibility in the mix, it’s a useful reminder that this can be a powerful financing tool, but it needs to be structured carefully. 

Mortgage Terms Demystified

This article is a great plain-English guide to the mortgage jargon buyers hear all the time, like interest rate, APR, escrow, principal, and PMI. It explains how those terms affect what you actually pay each month, not just what you qualify for on paper. The big takeaway is that buyers should understand the full cost of borrowing before they get too far into the process. It also encourages people to ask questions early so they can compare loan options with confidence. 

Buyer regret after closing

Michelle Gibson focuses on the most common regrets buyers feel after moving in, such as underestimating monthly costs, overlooking HOA rules, rushing inspections, and not thinking about resale. It emphasizes that many regrets come from small missed details rather than one major mistake. The author repeatedly reminds buyers to look beyond the excitement of the home itself and pay attention to location, condition, long-term budget, and future needs. From an agent’s perspective, it’s a strong warning that the smartest purchase is the one that still feels right after the closing papers are signed. 

Pricing a home for sale

Tom Horn at Birmingham Appraisal Blog post breaks down smart ways to price your home right now, warning against overpricing that leads to stale listings and lost money. It stresses using fresh comps, market data like days on market and absorption rates, and realistic adjustments for your home’s condition and updates. Pricing at true market value can spark quick sales and even bidding wars, while emotional wishful thinking often backfires in today’s balanced market. Sellers should team up with agents who analyze current stats, not yesterday’s highs, to maximize your net proceeds without the wait. 

Picking the Right Agent

This article from Tammy Emineth gives buyers and sellers a practical way to choose between two real estate agents they already like, instead of getting stuck on personality alone. The big idea is to compare the agents on fit, communication, local experience, and how well they handle your specific type of transaction. It also encourages asking the same questions of both agents so you can compare answers side by side, not just rely on first impressions. From a client standpoint, the best choice is usually the agent who is most prepared, most responsive, and most aligned with your goals—not just the one you clicked with first. 

Previous month roundup is here. Also check out this roundup at MassRealEstateNews.com.

What other articles did you find helpful from this month?  Be sure to share in the comments below.