Over the past few years, many of us have spent extra time at home—and that means we appreciate the personal design touches that make a house cozy and comfortable more than ever. Some of us have adapted our dwellings in new ways, from creating functional home offices to upgrading the appliances we use most. But while it’s important to make your home your own, it’s also smart to think about the long-term impact your renovations could have on its value. Choosing highly-personalized fixtures and finishes can make it harder for future homebuyers to envision themselves in the space. Even if [...]

My Home Didn’t Sell! Now What? When it comes to listing their home, most home sellers want three things: 1) to make a lot of money, 2) to put in minimal time and effort, and 3) to sell quickly. But the reality is, selling a home is rarely that simple. And homeowners who try to do it themselves—or receive bad advice—can end up stuck (months later) with a property that hasn’t sold. If that’s you, don’t panic! We’ve outlined the top five reasons a home doesn’t sell—and action steps you can take to overcome each of these issues. Not sure [...]

It’s easy to look up how much money you have in your savings account or the real-time value of your stock investments. But determining the dollar value of a home is trickier. As a seller, knowing your home’s worth helps you price it correctly when you put it up for sale. If you price it too high, it may sit on the market. But price it too low and you may be losing out on a good chunk of money (nobody wants that!). For buyers, it’s important to know a home’s worth before you make an offer. You want your [...]

Last year, one factor drove the real estate market more than any other: rising mortgage rates. In March 2022, the Federal Reserve began a series of interest rate hikes in an effort to pump the brakes on inflation.1 And while some market sectors have been slow to respond, the housing market has reacted accordingly. Both demand and price appreciation have tapered, as the primary challenge for homebuyers has shifted from availability to affordability. And although this higher-mortgage rate environment has been a painful adjustment for many buyers and sellers, it should ultimately lead to a more stable and balanced real estate [...]

You don't have to break the bank to celebrate the holidays in style—even in this season of inflation. Prices may be higher on everything from food to gifts to decorations, but there are still plenty of opportunities to eke out extra savings. For example, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), you can save a couple of hundred dollars a year just by sealing your home and boosting its insulation.1 Other small fixes—such as swapping old light bulbs for LEDs and plugging electronics into a powerstrip—can boost your yearly savings enough to pay off some of your holiday budget. [...]

Over the past few years, a real estate buying frenzy bid up home prices to eye-popping amounts. However, as mortgage rates have risen, buyer demand has cooled. 1 Consequently, home sellers who enter the market today may need to reset their expectations. The reality is, it’s no longer enough to stick a “for sale” sign in the yard and wait for buyers to bang down the door. If you want to net the most money possible for your property in today’s market, you’ll need an effective game plan and a skilled team of professionals to implement it. Fortunately, we’ve developed [...]

Last year was one for the real estate history books. The pandemic helped usher in a buying frenzy that caused home prices to soar nationwide by a record 19.9% between August 2020 and August 2021.1 However, there were signs in the fourth quarter that the red-hot housing market was beginning to simmer down. In the month of October, only 60.3% of sales involved a bidding war—down from a high of 74.5% in April.2 While this trend could be attributed to seasonality, it could also be a signal that the real estate run-up may have passed its peak.  So what’s ahead [...]

In a year that continues to defy "normal", one thing that has been consistent is the strong housing market in our area. While many of us have purchased and sold homes, there's much to know as it relates to the financial aspects of the process. I've invited my friend Cheryl New of Guild Mortgage to answer a few questions that I bet you've wondered about as well (or maybe just me). Cheryl is a Branch Manager and Mortgage Loan Consultant for Guild and has won many awards for her production and expertise in the lending field. She's an expert so I [...]

1. What are the major differences between real estate photography and other styles? Real Estate photography captures a broader view than most other types of photography.  Using a wider angle lens allows the viewer to feel more immersed into the shots.  Most other photography takes advantage of close up shots with zoom lenses. 2. What three things would you advise sellers to focus on most for the best quality photographs of their homes/property? Free of clutter.  Open blinds.  Lights on. Fans off. 3. How have drones and 3D walkthroughs affected real estate photography in recent years? Drones give a sense [...]

What's a CD? If you've ever sold or purchased a home you've likely heard that your title company is waiting on a CD. And if you're like me, you assumed they meant Bon Jovi's classic Slippery When Wet and then wondered why those nice title people don't just get Spotify or Apple Music? It turns out that CD stands for "Closing Disclosure" and is provided by the lender to review at least 72 hours before closing. Courtesy of HouseLogic.com, you should compare it to the Loan Estimate you received shortly after you applied for the loan. "The point of this formal [...]