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” »
Seeing a home is a great opportunity to really visualize your lifestyle in that home. You’ll want to think about how your furniture fits in the home, imagine yourself cooking in the kitchen or watching TV in the living room. But if the current homeowner is still living there, don’t forget to be a good home visitor during showings. Be mindful of the existing homeowners’ boundaries, and be polite when viewing their home – it’ll serve you well if you decide to make an offer. Continue reading “Be a Good Home Visitor During Showings” »
Improve Storage Options
One of the biggest problems many homeowners have is a lack of storage. It feels like homes never have enough closets to hide away clothes, vacuum cleaners, mops, carpet shampooers, out-of-season clothes, coats and jackets, sports equipments – you get the idea. And when it comes to storing things for lawn and garden care, and all the other stuff that gets piled up in your garage – space gets even more cramped. Be creative about adding to your storage options, and remember that a little organization goes a long way. Continue reading “Free Your Garage: Improve Your Storage Options” »
