Real Estate

Every seller aspires to receive the highest possible price for their home. Whether they want to use the proceeds to buy or build their next home, to fund their retirement, or for other investments, maximizing the sales price is always a goal. While sellers can’t control market conditions, they can take steps that may boost the offers they receive from buyers.‍

No matter what local market conditions are like, many real estate agents work pretty much all the time. After all, they need to be available when their clients are free, and they need to constantly refresh their knowledge of their local market. And yet, there are some real estate agents who manage their work-life integration seamlessly and carve out time for their family, friends and relaxation. How do they do it? One way is to rely on timesaving programs to speed up or outsource some of their tasks.

Modern house flipping can be traced back to the autumn of 1960, when President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) into law. Believe it or not, the legislation creating REITs was tucked into the Cigar Excise Tax Extension Act. For the first time ever, a broad base of investors could now pool resources for real estate projects, specifically commercial real estate development. In effect, REITS gave birth to the democratization of real estate investment.

Staging a home for sale may require some extra pre-sale prep, but the time and money reap plenty of rewards. The majority of buyers’ agents (82%) said that staging makes it easier for buyers to visualize a property as their future home, according to a survey by the National Association of Realtors. Nearly a quarter (23%) of buyers’ and sellers’ agents said that a staged home received an offer 1% to 5% higher than a similar home that hadn’t been staged and 18% of sellers’ agents said the value of a staged home was 6% to 10% higher. In addition, 31% of agents said that staging decreased the days a home spent on the market.

Whether you’re new to homeownership or are a repeat buyer, you may not be aware of all the financing options available to help you purchase a home. While meeting with a lender to discuss your individual circumstances is highly recommended, you probably want to know a little about loan programs in advance, so you know what questions to ask.

If you’ve been in the market for a home in the past year you know that mortgage rates have climbed quickly in recent months. Average mortgage rates for 30-year fixed-rate loans were under 3% for much of 2021, according to data from Freddie Mac. By mid-April 2022 rates climbed above 5%.

If you feel a bit of whiplash trying to keep up with housing market shifts over the past few years, you’re not alone. Real estate agents, buyers and sellers have been buffeted by rising home prices, low inventory, heated competition, new migration trends and, more recently, a quick increase in mortgage rates. As an agent, you can put national housing market trends into context for your local market and provide individualized insight and advice for your clients.

There are big and small projects alike that have the potential to increase your home’s value. Here are 6 tried and true improvements to put on your list.

Marketing your house for sale is both an art and a science. By knowing what not to do, you can attract more buyers.

Brokerages across the country are beginning to partner with home concierge providers. This emergence shows a huge shift in long term thinking that emphasizes customized solutions for all. Here’s why brokerages are doubling down on home concierge.

Staying ahead of the competition is crucial for long term success as a realtor. These tools will keep you on the cutting edge and differentiate yourself in the market.

Home concierge has emerged as an asset to realtors looking to win listings. Leveraging home concierge enables realtors to maximize home value for their clients. Let’s learn how.

You don’t know what you don’t know. In the world of renovations, this makes homeowners hesitant. Not all homeowners have the confidence to make financial decisions about their property, luckily we streamline the renovation process to increase homeowner confidence.

In real estate, creative solutions abound. An emerging trend is home concierge, where homeowners work with companies to help them flip their own homes and share in the profit.