The recent recession dealt a hefty blow to the real estate market. Millions of Americans lost their homes, which led to a glut of available properties. Home values are down, and many people who wanted to sell ended up having to hang on to their house for several additional years, with the hopes that the market would correct itself. Things have begun to turn around, but if you hope to get top dollar for your home, your best bet is to work with a real... ❯❯❯
In today’s real estate world, the buyer is king. It wasn’t always this way, and if you were in the game just five or ten years ago you probably remember when property values were at an all-time high and you’d have to put a bid in the day you saw a house in order to fend off the other aggressive shoppers. Today there are thousands of houses on the market at any given time, and the sellers must take the time to consider their property from all angles, and... ❯❯❯
Buying a fixer upper is the dream of many thrifty home owners. Buy a house at a greatly reduced price, work on it yourself or hire contractors, and enjoy your beautiful home happily ever after. It’s practically a fairy tale, but like so many other fairy tales, it is often not entirely realistic. If you believe that you can save money on your home purchase by buying a fixer upper, you may be right. However, every home and every home owner is different.... ❯❯❯
Have you been thinking about putting your home on the market lately? Although the real estate industry is certainly not nearly as “shaky” as it has been in times past, it’s still not thriving as much as it could be. Therefore, in order to make your home a place that catches the eye of potential buyers, you need to do certain things that will make it stand out from the rest of the homes they may have seen. Below, we’ve enclosed five ways for you to not... ❯❯❯
Spring is finally here, and if you’re dipping your toe in the real estate game, that means the busy season is about to begin. Although many markets across the country are still soft, home values are starting to turn around, and now is the time to prepare if you’re looking to sell. You do have a hill to climb, however. Thanks to the recession there are an awful lot of properties on the market, and many of them are listed well under where they would have... ❯❯❯
Due to the housing crisis many of our homes that we’ve put up for sale are just sitting on the market getting stale. You’ve had people come through and make an offer, but it seems to be a challenge to actually close a deal. Your real estate agent might recommend that you hire a professional staging company to fill the house with fancy furniture and accessories to entice buyers, but professional staging is expensive and out of your budget. Yet, it is time... ❯❯❯
As a real estate professional, your office really exists in three places: the car, in the homes that you have listed, and your main home or commercial office. However, it is in your main head quarters that you need to maintain a sense of professionalism and have the tools, at the ready, to do so. In order to be a success in the real estate industry you can’t let anything slow you down or stop you. Moreover, your efficiency as a real estate professional... ❯❯❯
In years gone by, many people dreamed of living in large and spacious homes until retirement, and many of them stayed in their grand old homes throughout their retirement years. Today, that trend seems to be shifting. Economic factors as well as environmental concerns are leading individuals and families everywhere to consider downsizing their homes. There are many benefits to downsizing, but there are naturally some drawbacks to consider as well. If... ❯❯❯
If you’ve been thinking about redesigning your bathroom, there’s a pretty good chance that you want to do it in order to change the way that room in your house currently looks. However, did you know that there are certain bathroom designs that can actually increase the resale value of your home? As you’re writing down some things that you would like to do “upgrade” your bathroom’s décor, we wanted to provide you with a list of five things that will not... ❯❯❯
Just like any other industry, the real estate business has many different jobs – in front and behind the scenes. Typically we think of the most common job in real estate, which is the real estate agent. However, there are a plethora of other jobs in the real estate market with various and differing levels of expertise. For a home to sell on the market, you need a real estate agent, but you also need someone to broker the deal, inspect and appraise the... ❯❯❯
When it comes to deciding on housing options, you might be a little confused as to how apartments and condominiums differ. In many cases, you will find them similar since they share walls with neighbors, they come with no land ownership, and they tend to be one of a number of interconnected units. In truth, the only recognizable difference between these two types of properties is the fact that apartments are rented by their inhabitants whereas condos are... ❯❯❯
Buying a house is a huge decision. Whether it’s your first starter home or a vacation property, there’s a lot of money on the line and dozens of variables to consider. The process of seeking out the perfect home is draining and time consuming, and the closing is always a stressful experience. When you do find a place you fall in love with it can be tempting to try and move the closing along as quickly as possible, both to insure that no one else puts down... ❯❯❯
A home is probably the largest investment you will make in your lifetime. It’s a massive decision, and the risks and reward are clear. Choose wisely and you’ve got a safe, comfortable place to grow your family, to thrive financially, socially and personally, and hopefully to sell for a profit when you’re looking to solidify your retirement. Choose poorly and you could end up stuck in an upside down mortgage, with a problematic property in a neighborhood... ❯❯❯
Real Estate Agent or Property Conveyancing? If a real estate agent is opted for, the agent should be chosen carefully. This is vital especially in a slow market where the seller may require a well informed and successful agent. It is best to start with sourcing agents who are familiar with the area, who sell properties similar to the one on the market and perhaps seek recommendations from friends and neighbours. Try to get two or three agents to come and... ❯❯❯
Even though you may not be a list maker, buying a home is the perfect place to begin. This is when you need to consider all the steps that are required, what you’re responsible to provide and how you’re going to proceed with the financing. Most people are aware that you need proper documents and a strong balance in your bank account before you can apply for a loan. If you make a list of what these are, you can move through the process fairly quickly. Keep... ❯❯❯
You just decided that you need a new home or you’re tired of the old one. You might be tired of the memories and want to start anew or you’re family is growing and you need a bigger home to live in. There might be many reasons why you need a home, but the steps to take to buy or sell a home always stays the same. Buying When buying a new home you should look at the following tips to get the best bang for your buck. Broaden your horizons You might have... ❯❯❯
For U.S. investors seeking opportunities but feeling like the time just isn’t right to jump back into the U.S. housing market, real estate in Mexico is an excellent alternative to consider right now. The U.S. real estate market continues to suffer due to a lack of available credit caused by banks tightening lending standards, but developer financing at reasonable interest rates is frequently available in many areas in Mexico. Cash is still king in any... ❯❯❯
Many people have become fed up with the world of real estate agents and brokers and are instead choosing to sell their home privately. The problem is that most people are not really sure where to start and do not know just how easy it can actually be to sell your home privately. Luckily, there is help out there for you, and with a few tips and hints, you can quickly enter the world of private home sales and avoid having to pay the exorbitant commissions... ❯❯❯
Preparing your home for winter can save you in the long run. Here are a few quick do it yourself tips that can be done in a day off in no time. The main focus is to insulate, since it’s getting cold. Now is about the time most of us are turning on the heat. There are ways that you can capitalize on all that heat, making sure it stays in the household. All homes have small cracks and gaps in the doors and windows. Instead of replacing them, which most of... ❯❯❯
Unless you are planning to handle the buying or selling of a home all on your own, you are going to need to find yourself a good real estate agent; you will be working with this person closely and it is important to carefully consider a variety of factors from experience to personality when it comes to finding the agent that is the best fit for you and your needs. Here are some tips to do just that. Look for the Realtor Designation While many people use... ❯❯❯