Rising interest rates and the economy are the top two current issues to watch in real estate, according to the Counselors of Real Estate’s Top Ten Issues Affecting Real Estate 2018-2019, a list of the biggest threats to the housing market. For the first time, CRE broke its annual list down into current and longer-term issues to watch during the industry’s next year.Top Current Issues to Watch1. Interest rates and the economy: As interest ra
With homeownership comes a neighborhood, oftentimes including some surrounding neighbors. There are lots of things neighbors can do to tick off those living nearby, and it’s not always noise related. According to a new survey of 1,010 Americans conducted by Porch.com, the top neighbor complaint is intruding on the privacy of others.“Nosy neighbors were the absolute worst of all, whether that included overly talkative meetings at the mailbox
Just how important is a neighborhood’s “vibe” to prospective buyers? Nearly nine in 10 say the look and feel of a neighborhood is a top consideration when choosing where to live, according to an independent survey of more than 2,000 consumers conducted by Ally Home.The majority of survey respondents say they prefer a “quiet and quaint” neighborhood vibe rather than a “modern millennial” vibe. More than one-third say they want a nei
A basic spruce-up makes your listing much more attractiveMany homebuyers prefer a turnkey home, ready for moving in. When looking at a home, buyers want to focus on what’s great, not what needs fixing or is in poor condition.As a real estate agent, the better sale-prep advice you give homeowners, the smoother, and more successful, the home sale will go, and make you look good!Sellers can do a lot to make sure their home shows well and generate
Native plants, outdoor yoga spaces, and charging stations are among the hottest landscaping trends growing in consumer demand for 2018, according to a new report released by the American Society of Landscape Architects. Landscape architects were asked to rate the popularity of several residential outdoor design elements. Landscape architects noted a growth in the use of native plants, low-maintenance landscapes, and flexible-use spaces, for yoga
“There’s no question that the vacation rental business is booming,” Stephens says. The short-term rental market in the United States alone is approaching $18 billion in revenue, with a projected annual growth rate of 6.6 percent, he says.However, before you decide to take on a short-term rental, Stephens advises that you pass on these three questions to help ensure their success:1. Is a vacation rental a smart investment for you? Buying a
Tackling a project to spruce up a property’s outside may be a wise investment for both residential and commercial property owners, according to the National Association of REALTORS®’ and National Association of Landscape Professionals’ 2018 Remodeling Report: Outdoor Features. The outdoors doesn't require a major overhaul to see a strong return either financially or in homeowner enjoyment.The outdoor project that produces the most subst
House flipping activity surged to an 11-year high this year, with more than 207,000 homes flipped, according to ATTOM Data Solutions, a real estate data firm. But the key is knowing where to be and when. “The sweet spot for successful home flipping is finding the neighborhoods just emerging as the next hot neighborhoods in a city,” says Daren Blomquist, a senior vice president at ATTOM Data Solutions. The firm says the average profit for a
Many house hunters are under the mistaken impression that new construction is flawless, a perception that may be challenging to wrestle with if your seller’s home is surrounded by brand-new development. In reality, there can be just as many inspection issues with new builds as there are with resale properties. If you’re working with clients who are interested in purchasing new, it’s important to manage their expectations and let them know
You likely conduct a lot of business from your phone, but when using public Wi-Fi, you may be putting your and your clients’ personal information at risk.As Michael Gargiulo, CEO at VPN.com, notes at Forbes.com, public Wi-Fi is never secure. Hackers will use fake public Wi-Fi networks, along with openly posted Wi-Fi passwords, to break into devices to access that network. The data you send and receive can be intercepted, exploited, and resold.G
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