By Melissa Dittmann Tracey, REALTOR® Magazine The speckled, spotted styles of granite countertops that have dominated kitchen design in recent years are moving out of the mainstream. In fact, those brown speckled granite countertops may even start to now age kitchens. Instead, countertops are blending in more to the kitchen design. A polished, solid colored… Continue Reading Hot Home Trend: Countertops Making Waves
By Drew Heasley I want to share some smart and efficient ways to spend your precious marketing dollars, as well as some tips for avoiding high-cost, low-producing marketing. The key is to find the marketing plan that works for you and stick with it. 1. Don’t sign a contract for a marketing program. You should… Continue Reading 4 Real Estate Marketing Dos and Don’ts
Yeti footprints, traffic reports from London, a colorful incineration facility and much more, compiled by Anne-Marie Siudzinski, Senior Library Information Specialist. Is this whale a Russian spy? Possibly. Obsessed by GoT? Try this new fantasy league app. Buy a condo in Vancouver and get free avo toast for a year. Marco Verch/flickr/2018 A very snazzy… Continue Reading What We’re Reading: April 29-May 3
The following is NAR Chief Economist Lawrence Yun’s reaction to this morning’s U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) report on the employment situation in April: “Fantastic news on the jobs market as abundant job openings are getting filled. Such conditions boost consumer confidence which further feeds the economy. Despite the hefty 263,000 net new job creation… Continue Reading Instant Reaction: NAR Chief Economist Lawrence Yun on April Jobs Report
Job growth continues to increase strongly, with the economy generating 2.5 million jobs in March 2019 from one year ago. Payroll employment rose in March 2019 from one year ago in all industries except for information services, utilities, and retail trade. With the economic recovery now on its 10th year of expansion, payroll employment has… Continue Reading Construction and Housing Starts Outlook for 2019—2028
Standard of Practice 12-3 The offering of premiums, prizes, merchandise discounts or other inducements to list, sell, purchase, or lease is not, in itself, unethical even if receipt of the benefit is contingent on listing, selling, purchasing, or leasing through the REALTOR® making the offer. However, REALTORS® must exercise care and candor in any such… Continue Reading Inducements are Ethical if Handled Properly
NAR members and Association staff can borrow up to six electronic books, digital audios and/or videos at no cost, through the Virtual Library eBooks Collection. Members can also borrow up to three books for 30 days from the Library Catalog for a nominal fee of $10. Call NAR Member Support at 800.874.6500 for assistance. Blue Ocean Strategy by… Continue Reading New Books–May 2019
NAR released a summary of pending home sales data showing that March’s pending home sales pace was up 3.8 percent last month but fell 1.2 percent from a year ago. Pending sales represent homes that have a signed contract to purchase on them but have yet to close. They tend to lead Existing-Home Sales data… Continue Reading March 2019 Pending Home Sales
By Jef Conn National Association of REALTORS® needs you. Yes, you! Committee applications to serve on NAR committees in 2020 are due May 1, 2019—that’s tomorrow! There will be other real estate professionals serving our industry on these committees; why not you? Take a look at the available committees and the process for selecting members… Continue Reading How to Apply for an NAR Committee
By Melissa Dittmann Tracey, REALTOR® Magazine Besides a good window cleaning, there’s another way to boost your curb appeal and get those windows shining: Remove the screens. Home stagers love this trick, and it’s taken straight from the film industry. Remove the outside screens on your windows in the front of your home prior to… Continue Reading Staging Tip: Remove the Window Screens Prior to a Photo Shoot