Articles are intended as longer pieces which you can send to your clients as a paper mailer or to a specific list of email addresses. Use of articles must follow our client content distribution guidelines.
Agents, we encourage you to adjust this article to best match your local norms when it comes to closing costs.
What are closing costs for sellers? We address several in this article.
Generally-speaking, the number of homes for sale nationally is on the rise, but that doesn't mean it is a free-for-all for buyers. Local inventory numbers and local trends are what is going to drive what buyers and sellers can expect to find in terms of market conditions.
Many home owners aren't really thinking about moving and then one day, they suddenly see an opportunity to move to a better home. This article walks potential buyers and sellers through the process of being listing ready, having their home lightly prepared for a need to move without interrupting quality of life - and introducing your prospects to the idea of listing in the future.
Homebuyers will appreciate insights in this article that help them choose the right area while they are finding the right home. We cover several tips that wise home buyers will take into consideration when finding their next place to live.
Buyers can make a great selling decision when they make an offer on a home that will be in demand with buyers.
If you have recently learned about a long-distance relocation, your mind is likely swimming with thoughts of everything needed to prepare for the move. A great way to approach a big move is to think of it in three separate categories: Selling in your current location, buying in a new location, and the physical moving process itself.
Although the process of obtaining a mortgage may seem intimidating with unyielding options, there actually may be quite a few parameters that have more flexibility than you may expect. Certainly, there are some lenders who do have only a few programs that one might quality for, but often there are more variations than the most popular programs.
Fees and interest rates can make a big difference in the amount spent on a mortgage. This article even includes an example.
The wider the buyer pool, usually the higher the selling price. There are some things the homeowner can control and things he or she can't. Encourage your sellers to make the buyer pool as wide as possible within their control.
Lighting in a room is as important as paint color and furniture and it is critical for whatever function the room dictates. However, many people don’t consider changing the lighting, especially if it includes built-in such as recessed lighting or flush-mount light boxes in the center of a bedrooms. You don’t have to settle! There is a lot of ways you can improve!
Sometimes sellers sabotage their listing - and they don't even know they have done it. Warn them of the dangers and how to avoid these behaviors!
Immigration reform is a timely topic and a contentious one at that. But if it passes, do you know what the impact on the housing market could be?
Sound HOAs can boost property value while a poorly-managed HOA can cause buyers to run for the hills. Encourage your homeowner clients to get involved with the HOA to shore them up prior to selling.
Property equity can be one of the biggest drivers of wealth in this country. This article is based on a fascinating study done by NAR regarding the net worth of renters versus property owners. This article would also make a great informational piece for first time homebuyers or a renters campaign. See below for links to other renter info.
Both buyers and sellers will appreciate these five easy solutions that will help maintain or even improve home value, all while paying for themselves.
The insurance industry is getting stretched thin with big increases in the frequency of large disasters - and becoming choosier about who and how they insure homes. This is adding time and other factors to the home buying process. Educate your potential buyers with this timely article on a topic that impacts everyone.
Interest rates just dropped to their lowest point in over a year and mortgage applications rose as a result. With strong inventory and a possible Federal Reserve rate drop (which may or may not impact mortgage rates), buyers are seeing this as an opportunity to hop off the fence. Do the persistent fence-sitters have all the info?
Leveraging Other People's Money to invest in real estate - whether as a first time homebuyer or a multi-plex investor - can be very lucrative.
Many first-time investors get overwhelmed with property analysis. They think they need to know everything from cap rates to gross rent multipliers. However, once the investor has clearly-established goals in mind, they can begin to analyze properties. This article provides a basis analysis table with an example.