Thanks to all our Veterans!
/
Freedom isn't free. With respect, honor, and gratitude, Hinton Real Estate Group thanks all service women and men, past and present for their selfless and honorable sacrifices.
Read More
JUNETEENTH: FREEDOM, HOMEOWNERSHIP & THE WORK STILL AHEAD
A Message from Hinton Real Estate
On June 19, 1865, more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation was signed, enslaved people in Galveston, Texas finally learned they were free.
That day became known as Juneteenth.
Today, Juneteenth is more than a celebration of freedom. It’s a celebration of resilience, achievement, culture, and community. It’s also an opportunity to reflect on how far we’ve come—and how far we still have to go.
FREEDOM DELAYED
Imagine being legally free but not knowing it.
For more than two years, thousands of enslaved people continued to live in bondage because the news of their freedom had not reached them.
Juneteenth reminds us that freedom delayed is freedom denied.
It also reminds us that progress requires action.
THE CONNECTION BETWEEN JUNETEENTH AND HOMEOWNERSHIP
Every June, our nation recognizes both Juneteenth and National Homeownership Month.
That connection is powerful.
Homeownership has long been one of the most effective ways for families to build wealth, create stability, and pass opportunities to future generations.
For many Americans, owning a home represents a key part of the American Dream.
But access to that dream has not always been equal.
THE HOMEOWNERSHIP GAP
Today, only 43% of Black households own their homes.
The gap between Black and White homeownership rates remains approximately 30 percentage points—one of the largest disparities in modern history.
Even decades after the Fair Housing Act of 1968, the homeownership gap remains wider than many people realize.
These aren’t just numbers.
They represent families who missed opportunities to build wealth, create equity, and establish long-term financial security.
WHY HOMEOWNERSHIP MATTERS
Homeownership is about much more than having a place to live.
It’s about building a foundation.
For most families, a home is the largest asset they will ever own and one of the primary ways wealth is created and passed to future generations.
The numbers tell the story:
Median White family wealth: approximately $285,000
Median Black family wealth: approximately $44,900
At the same time, there is reason for optimism.
Between 2019 and 2022, Black household wealth increased significantly, with housing accounting for nearly 44% of total Black wealth.
When families gain access to homeownership, communities gain access to opportunity.
WHAT THIS MEANS FOR OUR COMMUNITY
Here in Ypsilanti, Juneteenth is more than a historical observance.
It’s a community celebration.
This year’s Juneteenth festivities will once again bring together neighbors, local businesses, organizations, entertainers, and families to celebrate freedom, culture, and progress.
It’s a chance to honor history while investing in the future.
It’s a chance to teach our children where we’ve been and inspire them about where we can go.
And it’s a reminder that strong communities are built when everyone has the opportunity to succeed.
OUR COMMITMENT
At Hinton Real Estate, we believe homeownership should be accessible, understandable, and achievable.
We’re committed to:
✔ Promoting fair housing
✔ Educating buyers and sellers
✔ Connecting families with resources
✔ Helping create pathways to homeownership
Because every family deserves the opportunity to build equity, stability, and a legacy.
LOOKING FORWARD
Juneteenth celebrates freedom.
Homeownership creates opportunity.
Together, they tell a story about building a better future.
As we gather with family, friends, and neighbors this Juneteenth, let’s remember that freedom is not just about what was won in the past.
It’s about what we’re building today.
A stronger community.
A brighter future.
And more doors opened for the generations that follow.
Because at Hinton Real Estate, we believe keys unlock more than homes.
They unlock possibilities.
Happy Juneteenth from Hinton Real Estate.
Let’s keep building together.
Sources
National Museum of African American History and Culture
National Community Reinvestment Coalition (NCRC)
Brookings Institution
Urban Institute
History.com
Ypsilanti Juneteenth Celebration
Things to remember this November...
/
Temperatures are cooling down, with winter around the corner here are a few friendly reminders to get you, and your home ready!
Read More'Afro-Culture' Exhibit coming to Hinton Real Estate Office in November
/
Hinton Real Estate welcomes Novembers' featured Artist Stephon Johnson.
Art is the voice of the unheard, and artists are the angel messengers shining color, perspective, and inspiration to all. This November, Hinton Real Estate is excited to welcome featured emerging artist, Stephon Johnson. A Detroit native now working and living in Ypsilanti. Johnson works in a variety of mediums, using wood, fabric, and canvas to create colorful visuals, layered with detail and inspiration. His artistic mission as he puts it:
“... is to capture the essence of what it means to be black in America, How, in response to a complex, hateful, and hindering legacy we still find a way to bounce back strong… creating waves of influence felt globally. From art to science, we continue to push further. This is our culture. Afro Culture”.
Stephon enjoys supporting local business within the Ypsilanti community, and says his favorite place in the city is Frog Island Park and the Depot town area. The Hinton Real Estate Team welcomes you to Meet and Greet with our featured artist and have a little fun with the Hinton Team.
Several pieces on display will also be available for purchase. Join us! Friday November 3rd from 6:30-8:00 @ The Hinton Real Estate Office, 36 North Washington Street
Stephon Johnson, Ypsilanti based artist and Hinton Real Estates' featured artist for November.
Write here...
Why Real Estate Investing Makes (Dollars and) Sense
/
INTRODUCTION
Turn on the television or scroll through Facebook, and chances are you’ll see at least one advertisement for a group or “guru” who promises to teach you how to “get rich quick” through real estate investing. The truth is, much of what they’re selling are high-risk tactics that aren’t a good fit for the average investor. However, there is a way to make steady, predictable, low-risk income through real estate investing. In this blog post, we’ll examine the tried-and-true tactics that can be used to increase your income, pay off debt … even fund your retirement!
Read MoreThe Foreclosure Crisis: 10 Years Later
/
CoreLogic recently released a report entitled, United States Residential Foreclosure Crisis: 10 Years Later, in which they examined the years leading up to the crisis all the way through to present day.
With a peak in 2010 when nearly 1.2 million homes were foreclosed on, over 7.7 million families lost their homes throughout the entire foreclosure crisis.
Dr. Frank Nothaft, Chief Economist for CoreLogic, had this to say,
“The country experienced a wild ride in the mortgage market between 2008 and 2012, with the foreclosure peak occurring in 2010. As we look back over 10 years of the foreclosure crisis, we cannot ignore the connection between jobs and homeownership. A healthy economy is driven by jobs coupled with consumer confidence that usually leads to homeownership.”
Since the peak, foreclosures have been steadily on the decline by nearly 100,000 per year all the way through the end of 2016, as seen in the chart below.
If this trend continues, the country will be back to 2005 levels by the end of 2017.
Bottom Line
As the economy continues to improve, and employment numbers increase, the number of completed foreclosures should continue to decrease.
For More Information on buying a home Click Here
For More Information on selling a home Click Here
Why Working with a Local Real Estate Professional Makes All the Difference
/
If you’ve entered the real estate market, as a buyer or a seller, you’ve inevitably heard the real estate mantra, “location, location, location” in reference to how identical homes can increase or decrease in value due to where they’re located. Well, a new survey shows that when it comes to choosing a real estate agent, the millennial generation’s mantra is, “local, local, local.”
CentSai, a financial wellness online community, recently surveyed over 2,000 millennials (ages 18-34) and found that 75% of respondents would use a local real estate agent over an online agent, and 71% would choose a local lender.
Survey respondents cited many reasons for their choice to go local, “including personal touch & handholding, longstanding relationships, local knowledge, and amount of hassle.”
Doria Lavagnino, Cofounder & President of CentSai had this to say:
“We were surprised to learn that online providers are not yet as big a disruptor in this sector as we first thought, despite purported cost savings. We found that millennials place a high value on the personal touch and knowledge of a local agent. Buying a home for the first time is daunting, and working with a local agent—particularly an agent referred by a parent or friend—could provide peace of mind.”
The findings of the CentSai survey are consistent with the Consumer Housing Trends Study, which found that millennials prefer a more hands-on approach to their real estate experience:
“While older generations rely on real estate agents for information and expertise, Millennials expect real estate agents to become trusted advisers and strategic partners.”
When it comes to choosing an agent, millennials and other generations share their top priority: the sense that an agent is trustworthy and responsive to their needs.
That said, technology still plays a huge role in the real estate process. According to the National Association of Realtors, 95% of home buyers look for prospective homes and neighborhoods online, and 91% also said they would use an online site or mobile app to research homes they might consider purchasing.
Bottom Line
Many wondered if this tech-savvy generation would prefer to work with an online agent or lender, but more and more studies show that when it comes to real estate, millennials want someone they can trust, someone who knows the neighborhood they want to move into, leading them through the entire experience.
For More Information about Buying a home Click Here
For More Information about Millenials home buyers Click Here
