Since the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, real estate agents have relied on marketing technology more than ever before. Once social distancing became the norm, realtors across the United States needed to find a new way to show properties and communicate with their clients. For agents looking to grow their real estate business, marketing…

Are you hoping to buy a home with financing in the near future? If that’s the case, then you must become familiar with what you should and shouldn’t be doing with your finances in the meantime. Otherwise, it could be more difficult than necessary to qualify for a mortgage. Before you’ve applied for a loan—and…

If you’re considering beginning the home selling process, your goal is to receive the highest possible return on your investment. For many homeowners, upgrading or renovating their house can seem like an obvious way to make a profit when it comes time to sell. However, is this actually what happens? Believe it or not, it’s…

Preparing to purchase a home shouldn’t begin right before you hope to buy your new property. Rather, the preparation process should start approximately a year before you plan to purchase the home. At this point, you’ll want to meet with a real estate agent and undergo a buyer consultation. Approximately three months after your consultation,…

Now that mortgage interest rates are fairly low, it’s important that home buyers and sellers consider how rates could impact the sales process. Lower interest rates usually lead to an influx of buyers into the market, eager to purchase property. These buyers tend to be more drawn to a 30-year rather than a 15-year mortgage.…

It isn’t always easy to afford housing, whether you’re planning to rent or purchase a home. To pay off the mortgage or stay on top of the rent, many Americans need to make financial sacrifices. However, the kinds of sacrifices that a buyer or renter makes can vary from person to person. For example, it’s…

To succeed at your job as a realtor and keep your clients happy, you’ll need to become a master at communication. One of the simplest ways to communicate better as a real estate agent is to start with a handshake. It seems easy, but it’s surprisingly effective—with a firm, steady handshake, your client is more…

While there is a seemingly endless list of home safety tasks knowledgeable homeowners must remember to accomplish, a few significant duties often go unrecognized. However, this doesn’t mean they are any less essential. For example, many people forget to perform attic fan maintenance. During the spring and summer months, make sure you’re keeping the attic…

Rather than buying a home that’s already been built, maybe you’re considering building a house of your own. To begin construction, you’ll first need to purchase a plot of land to build on. Make sure you’re not buying the first plot that catches your eye, however — there are several factors you’ll need to consider.…

With a new year comes a new batch of resolutions. In 2022, why not focus on bettering your home? There are plenty of home improvement resolutions to consider. To begin, you can resolve to change your HVAC filter every one to three months, if you aren’t already staying on top of this maintenance. You can…

When you’re looking to buy a home, you’re often faced with a decision: whether to hire an inspector. If a home inspector is brought to the property, what can you expect to pay, and are these services actually worth it? Yes, it’s usually worth it to hire a home inspector. The price of the inspection…

Whether you’re a buyer or a seller, if you’re currently involved in the real estate market, you’re probably going to encounter the Multiple Listing Service (MLS). At its core, the MLS is an enormous database of different home listings — but there’s much more to it than just that. In fact, it isn’t even a…

When you bring a home inspector to a property, it’s in your best interest to ask them questions. You should be asking questions before, during, and after the inspection. Early on, asking about the inspector’s limits, what they charge, and what kind of experience they have can help you choose the right professional for the…

As 2021 comes to a close, it’s the perfect time to reflect back on this year’s housing market. Unsurprisingly, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, there’s been a notable rise in housing prices. Between August 2020 and August 2021, home prices have risen by nearly 20% in the United States. That’s an even steeper rise than…

The current housing market is competitive. There’s limited inventory and prices are at an all-time high. You might be tempted to make offers on multiple homes, to increase your chances of a sale going through — but is this actually a good idea? Before you make multiple offers, make sure you’ve spoken with a real…

If you’ve never been involved in the house building process, then you might not know how long it can actually take, on average. But if you’re interested in buying a plot of land and building a home, this is important information to become aware of. When labor conditions are good and there are no supply…

Have you recently raked the leaves in your yard? Even if you have, there’s still a chance you’ve been making some common mistakes. For instance, make sure you’re using the right type of rake to get the job done. When you opt for a narrow metal rake, it will be more difficult to gather large…

The housing market has gone through some memorable changes throughout 2020 and 2021. Most notably, housing prices have reached record highs. This was due, in part, to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Mortgage rates have also been at a record low and fewer homes have been available. However, as we enter 2022, what changes…

When you’re buying a home, you often need to purchase various kinds of insurance — this, of course, includes title insurance. If someone else attempts to claim ownership over your new home, title insurance can protect you. On the fence about whether purchasing title insurance is actually worth it? In that case, let’s look at…

Have you heard the term “quitclaim” recently, but aren’t sure what it means? If you’re currently transferring property to your spouse or a family member, you’ve probably heard a lot about quitclaim deeds. Quitclaim deeds allow ownership of a property to be quickly and efficiently transferred, without the home needing to be sold. There isn’t…