When most people think of home shopping, they think of buying a single-family home, complete with house, driveway, yard and all that goes along with that. But different people have different needs, and single family homes are not a one-size-fits-all solution. People with limited budgets may prefer patio homes or other clustered construction. In the city, the most viable home types may be condominiums or townhomes. These different types of homes also require varying levels of upkeep and maintenance. What type of home is right for you? Continue reading “What Type of Home is Right for You?” »
Slow Market Strategies
Selling a home in a slow housing market represents a unique challenge. Most people want to sell in a timely manner without having to drop the price dramatically or lose money on the deal. If your home sticks around on the market for too long, it can actually hurt your chances of selling it, or force you to drop the price. With the right approach, though, you can sell your home – even in a slow market. Use the bargaining chips at your disposal and partner with the right team to make your home sale a reality. Continue reading “Strategies to Sell Your Home in a Slow Market” »
If you watched this year’s Super Bowl, you saw a real estate ad for the first time in 21 years! A large nationwide real estate firm has decided that it wants to celebrate its 40th birthday with a big event, and it doesn’t get much bigger than advertising in the Super Bowl! The cost of the 30 second ad placement alone is around $3.5 million – not counting what is spent to make the ad itself. Why would a real estate company spend this kind of money to advertise in the Super Bowl? Continue reading “Real Estate Ads Returned to the Super Bowl” »
When you decide to buy a home, the home shopping experience can be an exciting time. You may find that you really enjoy browsing listings and visiting homes; you can imagine what life would be like to live in a new home. But you may also feel overwhelmed by the choices or the commitment of buying a home, or decide you hate home shopping. The easiest way to ensure things go smoothly is to thoroughly prepare for your home shopping experience. Continue reading “Prepare for Your Home Shopping Experience” »
With the start of another year, real estate sites are making predictions about the number of transactions expected in 2012, whether they think prices will go up or down, whether the market will be good or bad; in short, whether 2012 is going to be a good year for real estate sales. When you’re reading these predictions, it’s vital to remember to adjust for your region. Nationwide trends may not be reflected in your regional real estate market, and trends reported in another region may directly counter your local real estate patterns. Whether you’re thinking about buying or selling in 2012, make sure you consult the trends for your area. Continue reading “Follow Local Real Estate Trends for Relevant Data” »
The idea of buying a vacation home is something that many Americans daydream about, but most people feel there’s no way they’d be able to afford a vacation home. The reality is that vacation homes don’t have to be as expensive as you think; with some creativity and flexibility, you can own a great vacation home. Owning a vacation home can also provide an unexpected source of income, and give you a retreat for weekends or summers away. Continue reading “Can You Afford a Vacation Home?” »
Timing The Real Estate Market
A lot of people think about buying real estate “at some point” but don’t really put a plan into place because they’re waiting for finances to settle, for a better deal to come along or a million-and-one other things. Realistically, ideal timing for a real estate purchase doesn’t exist. You just have to decide to buy, and then do it. If you’ve been holding off on buying because you’re trying to time your purchase to maximize your profit on the transaction – don’t. Trying to time the real estate market only leads to speculation and missed opportunity, and can cost you a great deal. Continue reading “Avoid Trying to “Time” the Real Estate Market” »
