In 2019, the National Association of REALTORS reported that 18% of home buyers were single females, compared to nine percent of single males. From this data, it’s clear that single women see homeownership as an important way to provide themselves with more stability and financial security. Here’s some helpful advice to help single women meet […]
Home buyers and home sellers want to know one thing – how much a home is worth. Fair market comparable data, assessments and appraisals are all relevant ways to determine value, but all values are not the same. So what are the differences? Fair market value. This metric is used to help determine asking and […]
Companies use color trends to boost brand awareness and product sales, but the research behind colors and how they impact consumers is anything but arbitrary. Color trends aim to appeal to emotions caused by world events, history and cultures, the economy, and the human need for change. Consider Tiffany’s aqua blue, recognizable the world over […]
Sometimes, buyers and sellers can behave like adversaries. Both sides want to “win,” often sabotaging the transaction irreparably. No one wins if the home doesn’t sell. So how can you win and keep things civil? Sellers: Be thoughtful and reasonable. Price your home to appeal to buyers and get stronger offers. Make your home easy […]
Fortune 500 recently released their 2019 list of The World’s Most Admired Companies and Berkshire Hathaway holds the current #5 All-Star Rank! Click here to read the complete Fortune 500 article. Key Attributes of Reputation: Ranks Innovation: 3 People Management: 1 Use of Corporate Assets: 1 Social Responsibility: 10 Quality of Management: 1 Financial Soundness: […]
Don’t call them decorators! Interior designers are trained, degreed and licensed professionals who do far more than choose curtains. Their job is to transform the interior of your home to make it more functional and beautiful. If your home could use more space, better traffic flow, better lighting, or an additional room, an interior designer […]
Here’s a case for buying a less expensive home than you secretly want. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average American spends approximately 37% of his or her income on housing. Notably, the top 20 percentile earners spend only 29.9% of their income, while the bottom 20% pay 39.9%. So what do high […]
You may be feeling fairly flush these days, with a bigger salary, job security, appreciating homestead and other wise investments. Now might be the right time for you to buy a vacation home. According to the 2019 U.S. Vacation Home Counties Report compiled by the National Association of REALTORS, the median price of vacation homes […]
Have you ever taken the time to stroll the marketplace in your neighborhood or the city simply for the pleasure of observation? Then you might be what the French call a “flaneur.” The flaneur was first described in the writings of 19th century poet Charles Baudelair as one who casually wanders, watches and chronicles the […]
Some mortgage terms can be confusing, none more so than the similarities and differences between prequalification and preapproval. The two terms are often used interchangeably, but they mean very different things to lenders, real estate professionals and home sellers. Prequalifying is a rough-idea process that tells you how much money you’ll likely be able to […]
The comparison market analysis, otherwise known as a CMA, is an analytics tool real estate professionals use to help sellers learn what homes similar to theirs in size, age, and features have sold for, and buyers learn how close to asking price homes have sold for so they have a better idea how much to […]
Do you know what to do when a disaster strikes? Do your children? By creating and practicing an emergency safety plan, you can protect your family when natural disasters happen. Wildfires, tornadoes, hurricanes, and earthquakes each require special preparations, including emergency kits with food, water, first aid, medicines and blankets. Fires. The National Fire Protection […]
Did you know that the holidays are among the best times of the year to buy a home? Put a giftwrapped set of housekeys under your Christmas tree and ring in the new year with a new abode you’ll love. Here are a few reasons why now is the time. Home prices aren’t going down. […]
With warmer weather across the country, it’s taking longer for trees to drop their leaves, so you may find yourself doing a lot of raking in late October and early November. But after the work is finished, you have to bag the leaves and let them sit on your curb for collection. Or, you can […]
In a survey released this year, the National Association of REALTORS found that 83% of buyers’ agents said that staging helps homebuyers visualize themselves living in the home and influences them enough to make higher offers. Sellers’ agents report that homes sell faster and for more money. Over half said that staging sells a home […]
Cabinets set the style for any kitchen, and with advances in functionality as well as beauty, your new cabinets should transform your food prep workspace. According to Consumer Reports, new cabinets account for about 40% of an overall kitchen remodel budget, so it’s important to get the look and features you want. The most popular […]
Spooky houses look like they haven’t seen a living occupant, gardener or handyman in years. Many so-called haunted houses are so dilapidated they look occupied by ghosts, or they’ve been on the market so long, buyers suspect there’s a skeleton hidden in the closet. But that house for sale that gives you the creeps may […]
If you’re a seller refreshing your home for resale or an investor selling a remodeled home, you should know that some updates won’t impress today’s homebuyers. Inexpensive updates in lieu of the more durable and sustainable materials that buyers prefer may scare buyers into wondering where else you cut costs. Single coat paint – Single coats […]
You’re ready to make an offer on a home. You’ve got the seller’s disclosure of material (physical and environmental) defects, but is that all the information you need to move forward? Before you sign your purchase offer, do a little quick research. Get a loss history report. The Insurance Information Institute advises homebuyers to obtain a loss history […]
Congratulations, new homeowner! You’ve overcome the biggest hurdle – buying your first home – and now it’s time to switch your attention to maintaining and protecting your investment. Your electrical, water, gas and A/C systems may be working fine for now, but sooner or later, you can expect a major repair or replacement expense. All […]
