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🏡 Is Utah Really the Perfect Place for a Second Home? Here’s What You Need to Know

Real Estate Issue #11 - Market shifts, portable mortgage buzz, smarter selling in the slow season, and Todd Porter’s Thanksgiving message for every homeowner.

🍁 Welcome to Another Week of the
Home Sweet Buzz 🍁

The real estate market may be cooling for the holidays, but the insights are heating up. This week, we’re talking second homes in Utah, shifting numbers, and smart strategies for buyers and sellers alike.

In this Issue . . .

🏚️ Real Estate News:

📰 Why Utah Is the Ultimate Second Home Destination

📊 Local Market Snapshot - The market showed up to Thanksgiving early—
and the numbers tell quite a story.

🔑 Featured Listings & Open Houses

💬 Ask a Realtor:
Question of the week -❓ "Is the idea of Portable Mortgages that President Trump is talking about a good idea?
⚠️ Warning - - - Another long answer ! 😆

💁🏻‍♂️ Real Estate Tip of the week -  Use the Slower Season to Your Advantage

🛠️ DIY Tip of the Week - Create a Cozy Reading Nook

🎥 New Video Message from our Sponsor - Todd Porter: “The Thanksgiving Lesson Every Homeowner Should Know”

📣 🐝 The Bountiful Buzz VIP PASS is LIVE — and it’s totally FREE!

💛 Readers Poll - What interests you most when it comes to Real Estate?

For a better reading experience
👇👇👇

Why Utah Is the Ultimate Second Home Destination

Utah is becoming a go-to destination for second home buyers, thanks to its scenic landscapes, year-round recreation, and solid investment potential. Whether it’s the ski slopes of Park City, the charm of Utah County, or the desert beauty of St. George, the state offers a variety of settings to match different lifestyles.

Beyond natural beauty, Utah’s growing economy and quality amenities add long-term value for homeowners. Choosing a second home here isn’t just about owning property — it’s about embracing a lifestyle of balance, adventure, and connection.

Brought to byTodd Porter, SURE Synergy United Real Estate Group

🏡The market showed up to Thanksgiving early—
and the numbers tell quite a story.

Bountiful’s market this week feels like it showed up to Thanksgiving dinner early and started snacking before anyone was ready. Things are definitely moving—just not in a straight line. And the numbers tell the story the same way your uncle does while carving the turkey: animated, slightly chaotic, and surprisingly honest.

🦃 Active Listings: The Overfilled Plate

Active homes are lingering longer—about 71 days on market—and sellers are still aiming high with an average list price around $703,000.
It’s the real estate version of piling your plate too full and hoping no one notices. Ambitious? Absolutely. Realistic? Not always.

🥖 Sold Homes: The Quiet, Reasonable Choices

Buyers, on the other hand, are playing it cool. They’re choosing the homes priced sensibly—kind of like going straight for the rolls while pretending not to judge the sweet-potato-marshmallow situation.
Sold homes closed in about 64 days with average list prices around $609,000.
That’s a big gap from what active sellers are asking. The message is loud: price sanely, and buyers step in.

🥔 Under Contracts: The Mashed Potatoes of the Market

Under contracts are holding steady—61 days on market, with list prices near $597,000.
Not dramatic. Not emotional. Just steady, reliable, and completely unbothered by the chaos around them. Honestly? Comforting.

🍽️ The Big Picture

This market feels like a family gathering where everyone means well, but half the table is talking past each other.

  • Sellers are pushing higher.

  • Buyers are shrugging and choosing what makes sense.

  • And the season is nudging everyone toward realism.

If you’re paying attention, the lesson is simple enough to print on a Thanksgiving napkin:
Price it right and it moves. Price it too high, and it just sits there waiting for someone to take pity.

“Custom EPIC Report”

Curious what your home is actually worth in today’s shifting market?
Whether you are planning for taxes, updating an estate plan, checking your equity position, or simply making smart wealth decisions, you deserve real numbers you can trust.

Scan the QR code or visit https://sureut.com/epicreport and request your personalized EPIC Property Value Report.
This is not an automated guess.
This is a professionally engineered, detailed, data backed breakdown of your home’s true value, created specifically for you.

If you want clarity, power, and confidence in your next move, start here:

💬 Real Estate Q & A

Question: "Is the idea of Portable Mortgages that President Trump is talking about a good idea? I know that you do not like his 50 year mortgage plan but what about this one?"
—- Asked by Jasmine

💬 Todd’s Answer: Are Portable Mortgages Actually Good for Homeowners?

Jasmine asked me this the other day, and honestly? Yes. If portable mortgages become a real thing, they could solve one of the biggest challenges homeowners are facing right now.

Right now, everyone is stuck.
People don’t want to sell because nobody wants to give up their 2%, 3%, or 4% mortgage for today’s 7% rates. It feels like trading a warm blanket for a bucket of ice water.

So what happens?

  • Homes don’t move.

  • Sellers stay frozen.

  • Buyers wait things out.

  • Affordability gets worse.

portable mortgage changes that overnight. It lets you take your current low-rate mortgage with you when you move.
Imagine selling your home and telling your next house:
“Don’t worry—I’m bringing my great rate with me.”
Suddenly, moving doesn’t feel like financial punishment anymore.

And here’s the deeper reason this matters:
The real friction point in today’s market isn’t the home… or the buyer… or even the down payment.
It’s the rate.

Now here’s where I get a little fired up, because this part needs to be said clearly:

Housing costs didn’t explode because buyers suddenly became irresponsible or greedy. Prices skyrocketed because:

  • Government spending poured gas on inflation.

  • Regulations and fees piled onto every stage of construction.

    • Land

    • Materials

    • Labor

    • Permits

    • Delays

    • Compliance
      None of those things build a home—but they all drive the price up.

Portable mortgages won’t magically fix inflation or erase those regulations.
But they would give normal families a fighting chance to move again without being crushed by massive payment increases created by forces totally outside their control.

It gives homeowners freedom.
It gives buyers options.
And it helps unfreeze a market that’s been stuck in place for years.

If this policy becomes reality, it could completely unstick the Utah market. Families could move for better jobs, better schools, or better life circumstances—and keep the financial stability they’ve already earned.

And honestly, that’s what homeownership should feel like.
Freedom. Not punishment.

Got a Real Estate question?
👉 Submit a question for next week’s edition

I’m Todd Porter with the SURE Group and eXp Realty.
Call me at 801-755-1882, and let’s build your
custom plan to win in this market.

💡 Real Estate Tip of the Week 👇

Use the Slower Season to Your Advantage

If you're a buyer, November is one of the best times to make your move. Fewer buyers are actively shopping right now, which means less competition and more negotiating power for you. Homes that are still on the market heading into the holidays often belong to sellers who are motivated and willing to be flexible on price, closing costs, or timing.

Take your time touring homes, ask the right questions, and don’t be afraid to write a creative offer. A quieter market can lead to some of the best deals of the year.

🛠️ DIY Mini Tip of the Week

Create a Cozy Reading Nook

With cooler weather rolling in, now’s the perfect time to turn an unused corner into a warm, inviting reading nook. Grab a comfy chair or floor cushion, add a soft throw blanket, place a small side table for a mug of cocoa, and finish it off with a lamp or string lights for that warm glow.

It’s a simple project that instantly makes your home feel more welcoming—and buyers love seeing spaces that spark imagination and comfort.

“The Thanksgiving Lesson Every Homeowner
Should Know”

👇 Click Pic below to hear Todd’s Message!
(A New Video Message Each Week!)
⬇️ ⬇️ ⬇️

📱Call/Text: 801-755-1882
📧 Email: [email protected]

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💛 Thanks for Buzzing By!

We love being your local connection to all things home. Whether you're just browsing or ready to make a move, we hope this edition helps you stay informed and inspired.

📨 Let’s Stay Connected!

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Have an AMAZING weekend! 👋

Brenda 🐝

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