Bonnetta Hubbard From the Teacher’s Desk! THE TEACHER-AGENT® GAZETTEY O U R M O N T H L Y G U I D E T O H O M E O W E R S H I P , R E A L E S T A T E & C O M M U N I T Y A Season to Review Refocus and Prepare September has always felt like a fresh beginning. As families settle into new school-year routines and summer gives way to fall, it is also a natural time to review your real estate goals. This month’s Gazette looks beyond the headlines to explain what changing inventory, home prices and mortgage rates may mean for you. Buyers are gaining more choices in some parts of the market, but affordability still requires careful planning. Sellers must recognize that today’s buyers are comparing homes more closely, making preparation and pricing especially important. Renters who hope to become homeowners can use this season to begin building a practical plan. Whether you are buying now, preparing to sell or planning for a future move, informed decisions begin with education. My goal is to help you understand your options, prepare strategically and move forward with confidence. — Bonnetta Hubbard, The Teacher-Agent® and inspires your next step. SEPTEMBER 15, 2026 www.bonnetttahubbard.exprealty.comCONTACT : 571-234-1194I believe the best real estate decisions begin with education. That's why people don't hire me simply because I sell homes—they hire me because I teach them how to make one of the biggest financial decisions of their lives. As a former educator with more than 25 years of combined teaching and sales experience, I founded The Teacher-Agent® on one simple mission: to advise, educate, and empower every client. My goal is to help families make confident real estate decisions through education, strategy, and trusted guidance. I'm honored to be recognized as a Northern Virginia Top Producer, serving buyers, sellers, investors, and luxury clients throughout Virginia and Maryland. My client-first approach, strong Zillow reviews, and commitment to excellence have earned the trust of families who value knowledgeable guidance and personalized service. My Motto: Learn Today…Close Tomorrow!Where Education Meets Real Estate —and Confident Decisions Begin. R E A L E S T A T E N E W S

The housing market is giving buyers more options, but higher borrowing costs continue to influence decisions. Nationally, August existing-home sales declined 2.0% from July to an annual pace of 3.98 million. Inventory increased to 1.62 million homes, up 5.9% from a year earlier, while the median price rose 1.6% to $429,100.¹ Northern Virginia remains highly local and varies by property type. The latest complete NVAR report recorded 3,025 active listings in July, 19.6% more than a year earlier. Condo inventory increased 41.1% and attached-home inventory rose 33.0%, while detached-home inventory declined 2.5%. The median sold price was $750,000 and homes averaged 21 days on the market.²4th of July Celebration bonnettta.hubbard@exprealty.comCONTACT: 571-234-1194 SEPTEMBER 15, 2026Maryland’s July market also showed a mixed picture. Sales were nearly unchanged from a year earlier, while the median price increased 2.2% to $455,000. Active inventory improved from spring but remained 12.9% below July 2025, and new listings were down 18.5%.³ Mortgage rates remain part of the affordability conversation. On September 10, Freddie Mac reported averages of 6.76% for a 30-year fixed mortgage and 6.09% for a 15-year fixed mortgage. Actual rates vary by borrower, lender and loan terms.⁴ What this means: Buyers may have more negotiating room in some condo and townhome segments, while detached homes can remain competitive. Sellers should not assume every property will sell quickly. Condition, pricing and presentation matter. Latest Real Estate News More Choices More Selective Buyers

Seller Tip: Stand Out This Fall: Win the Buyer ComparisonCONTACT: 571-234-1194 www.bonnetttahubbard.exprealty.com As inventory grows in some segments, buyers have more homes to compare. A successful fall listing should feel well maintained, appropriately priced and easy to understand from the first online impression. Correct small repairs, refresh worn paint, improve lighting and declutter. Outside, clean the entrance, trim landscaping and address visible maintenance. Then compare recent sales with today’s active competition before selecting a price. Preparation Repair, refresh and declutter. Pricing Align with current market evidence. Presentation Create a strong first impression online and in person. BUYER, SELLER & RENTER TIPS & LESSONSIf you hope to buy a home, begin preparing six to twelve months before your lease expires. Review your lease deadlines, credit, debt and savings. Meet with a lender early to discuss your estimated cash needed, loan options and potential assistance through resources such as Virginia Housing or the Maryland Mortgage Program. Eligibility and program terms may change. Your Countdown 9–12 months: Review your lease, credit, debt and savings. 6–9 months: Meet with a lender and create an improvement plan. 3–6 months: Set your budget, preferred areas and home criteria. 1–3 months: Update your preapproval, tour homes and give proper lease notice. Throughout the process, pay bills on time, avoid unnecessary new credit and save for your down payment, closing costs, move and emergency reserve. Renter Tip: From Renting to Owning: Your Homebuying Countdown Buyer Tip: More Choices, Smarter Decisions: Preparing to Purchase Teacher-Agent Lesson:: More choices create opportunity when you have already defined your budget, priorities and offer strategy. Step Buyer Action FinanceUpdate preapproval and set a comfortable payment. Focus Separate needs from preferences. Compare Evaluate total monthly cost, condition and resale considerations. ActPrepare a clear offer strategy before the right home appears. More inventory can give buyers time to compare homes, but it should not replace preparation. Before touring, update your loan preapproval and identify a comfortable monthly payment—not only the highest purchase price for which you qualify. Compare the complete cost of each property, including taxes, insurance, HOA or condo fees, utilities, maintenance and possible special assessments. Review recent comparable sales, and decide which offer terms matter most before the right home appears.Turn More Choices into a Smarter Purchase Teacher-AgentLesson: Preparation helps protect value, pricing creates attention and presentation helps buyers connect with the home.Win the Comparison Before Buyers Arrive Your Lease as a Homebuying Countdown Teacher-Agent Takeaway: You do not have to be ready to buy before asking questions. Starting early gives you time to prepare confidently. Ready to Create Your Plan? Contact me to discuss your goals and next steps.

A CLIENT SUCCES STORYR E A L E S T A T E One of the reasons I love real estate is that I have the opportunity to help families improve more than their living arrangements. The right home can strengthen family relationships, support financial goals, and make everyday life easier. I had the privilege of helping the Ayala family bring two generations and two separate households together. The granparents owned a condominium, while their son, his wife, and their baby were renting. Their goal was to purchase one home that would provide enough space, privacy, and comfort for everyone. To help make their plan possible, I sold the grandparents’ condominium and assisted the family with purchasing a home together. This allowed the son and wfe to move from renting into homeownership while giving the entire family an opportunity to combine financial resources, share household expenses, and save money. The benefits extended far beyond finances. With the grandparents living in the home, they could help care for their grandchild while the son and his wife worked. This arrangement reduced the stress and expense of childcare, simplified transportation, and gave the family more time together. Instead of traveling between two households, they could support one another as part of their daily lives. Since purchasing the home, the son’s family has grown from one child to two. The home they selected was not only suitable for their needs at the time—it also provided room for their family to grow and for the grandparents to build close, meaningful relationships with their grandchildren. This experience is a beautiful example of how multigenerational homeownership can create shared financial advantages while strengthening the ties that hold a family together. By combining their resources and responsibilities, the Ayala family created a home where each generation could contribute, benefit, and thrive. Client lesson: Homeownership can be more than an individual investment. When thoughtfully planned, it can become a shared family investment that reduces expenses, strengthens relationships, and creates a lasting foundation for future generations. This is why I love real estate: I do not simply help people buy and sell properties. I help families create homes where life unfolds, children grow, grandparents remain connected, and generations build their futures together. Learn Today… Close Tomorrow! SEPTEMBER 15, 2026 bonnettta.hubbard@exprealty.comCONTACT: 571-234-1194 Two Generations, One Home and a Stronger Family Foundation