According to a recent study from the National Association of REALTORS®, a majority of Americans believe that homeownership is good for our nation’s communities. Both homeowners and renters were asked if they feel a high rate of homeownership strengthens a community; 67 percent of those surveyed agreed with the sentiment. NAR President Elizabeth Mendenhall says,… Continue Reading Story Idea: Is Homeownership Good for Our Neighborhoods?
By Rachel Lynch When trying to find a buyer’s dream home, it’s critical to not lose sight of what really matters—and no, I don’t mean an immaculate kitchen. Whether your client is a first-time homebuyer, or a retiree looking to downsize, the state of their new home impacts their health. Unfortunately, even the most beautiful… Continue Reading How to Protect Home Buyers, Owners From Asbestos
Every month NAR produces existing-home sales, median sales prices and inventory figures. The data is released with a one-month lag (so the May data is released in June) and is reported on a seasonally adjusted annualized rate. We also provide a perspective of the market relative to the same month one year ago and relative… Continue Reading A Ten-Year Analysis of the May 2018 Existing-Home Sales Figures
By Melissa Dittmann Tracey, REALTOR® Magazine Home buyers love kitchen islands. It’s become a gathering spot for not just cooking but also eating, working, and socializing. As the island continues to gain stature in kitchens, homeowners are finding ways to spotlight it with contrasting shades or even different countertops to make it the focal point.… Continue Reading The Secret to Kitchen Envy: A Stylish Island
At the national level, housing affordability is down from last month and down from a year ago. Mortgage rates rose to 4.71 percent this May, up 17.5 percent compared to 4.01 percent a year ago. Housing affordability declined from a year ago in May moving the index down 10.2 percent from 157.2 to 141.2. The… Continue Reading May 2018 Housing Affordability Index
Offices, valuation, avocados, tech, housekeeping, and retail. Times are changing, and more companies are considering office amenities pioneered by Silicon Valley companies. We wouldn’t complain. The office is virtual, but the valuation is very real. Speaking of value, is $23 million high, or is this FLW home worth it? Of course avocados of this size… Continue Reading What We’re Reading: July 9-13
“Ghetto.” The word evokes a long and vexing tradition of racial imagery and history in the United States. We may think we know what the word means, but where does it come from? Why does it carry such socio-cultural weight? Mitchell Duneier explores these questions in his examination of the evolution of the word in… Continue Reading The Invention and Evolution of a Space and Place Called the Ghetto
By Lee Davenport This is part four in an ongoing series featuring top producers. Read part one featuring Jen Du Plessis Read part two featuring Rod Williams Read part three featuring Teresa Cowart What does it take to be a top producer? There is no magic formula, but there are habits and principles from top… Continue Reading Be a Business Go-Getter With Christian Ross
Some homeowners opt to sell their residence without a real estate agent to get around paying a commission and make more of the profit. Forty-three percent of people (down from 48 percent last year) who sell without a real estate agent think that if they sell themselves, they’ll end up doing a little extra work… Continue Reading Selling Your Home Solo to Save Money? You’ll Actually Make Less Than You Think
Home stager: Libby Paulson with Preferred Staging The home: Paulson staged this remodeled, single-family country estate in Gaithersburg, Md., which featured cathedral ceilings, a two-story stone fireplace, gourmet kitchen, formal living and dining room, two staircases, and a walkout basement with full kitchen and bath. The home is listed at $709,500. Photo credit: Libby Paulson, Preferred… Continue Reading Staged to Sell: A Country Estate in Gaithersburg, Md.