Tips - Real Estate, Updates, News & Tips

The 10 Best Places to Live in America

Home is where the heart is—but shouldn't your head have a say in it, too? After all, finding your ideal hometown involves a lot of practical considerations, as well as the emotional ones.  What's more important: having a supermarket close by, or a gym? Are there ample prospects for work, in case you decide to make a change? Are there decent restaurants, interesting museums, and soul-affirming parks and trails?Do you want to raise your kids

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REALTORS: Sync Your Email and Direct Mail Marketing

Online and offline marketing work best hand-in-hand. But many real estate pros have given up on a direct mail strategy, even though if you combine it with other channels, “it can help you show customers and prospects you’re truly invested in them,” says McKenzie Gregory, content writer for e-marketing platform Emma. Gregory offers four ideas in her recent article on how to synchronize direct mail so that it supports your digital marketing.

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New Bike Gear Extends Commuters' Reach

Whether you're considering the heart of the city or nearby suburbs, many enjoy or depend on bikes for recreation and commuting. New technology can widen the horizon as you scope out new homes.While a number of companies make e-bikes, with electric motors that typically have a range of 30 miles or so, Delfast plans to introduce a new model with a range of well over 200 miles, potentially offering a week's worth of commutes on one charge. Curbed de

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4 Cleaning Habits That Could Damage a Home

Some well-intentioned homeowners may actually be doing more harm than good when they're completing normal household chores. Realtor.com® recently featured a list of cleaning myths that could actually reduce the value of a home. Here are a few cleaning habits to warn your clients against:Too much bleach.Homeowners may be under the assumption that bleach is the best cleaner in the bathroom. “Bleach does not clean anything,” Leslie Reichert, cl

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Registries Help Link Harvey Victims to Housing

Real estate associations and firms are rushing to help thousands of displaced hurricane victims find temporary housing in the Houston area. The Houston Association of REALTORS® launched a housing section on its website to help victims of Hurricane Harvey find a temporary place to live. The site allows real estate professionals, property owners, landlords, and property managers to post homes they agree to make available. Some of the homes poste

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Even Green Homes Can Have Air Pollution

Indoor air pollution is present even in housing that has been built according to green standards, according to a new study by the Silent Spring Institute, which appears in the journal Environment International.Researchers collected nearly 100 air and dust samples from newly renovated subsidized housing in Boston before and after residents moved in. The building had been renovated to eco-friendly standards, particularly for energy efficiency. Re

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REALTORS: How to Advise Clients on Flooring Options

If you’re ready to move forward with flooring but are uncertain about which direction you should go, these simple facts about the differences between solid hardwood flooring and engineered hardwood will have you landing on solid ground.1. Installation TimeIf time is of the essence, your clients may want to consider engineered hardwood. This option comes prefinished in the color of choice, and the planks easily click into place. No need to hire

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What ‘Great Bones’ Really Means

What do we really mean when we say a house has great bones?It’s a feature that all buyers want, but few can define. Understanding how to identify qualities that add up to the coveted “great bones” feeling can help you set your listing apart.  Recently, Architectural Digest’s Lindsey Mather asked a handful of designers to get specific about the qualities that give a home this elusive quality.  Here are a few distinct items to look for:G

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Tips for Saving Up for a Down Payment

About 60 percent of home buyers put 6 percent or less down on their home purchase, according to data from the National Association of REALTORS®. Considering the median existing-home price is $258,300, a 6 percent down payment would be $15,498.Some aspiring buyers may be unsure of how to come up with that amount. But there are plenty of seemingly simple things they can do to start saving. NAR offers the following infographic.   Sou

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Third of Agents Have Felt Unsafe on the Job

September is REALTOR® Safety Month, and data from the National Association of REALTORS®’ recently released 2017 Member Safety Report shows that 38 percent of members have experienced a situation that made them fear for their personal safety or the safety of their personal information. Common situations that caused fear included open houses, vacant and model homes, properties that were unlocked or unsecured, and properties in remote areas.O

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