References are one-stop resource packages on dozens of subjects of interest to REALTORS®. On each page you’ll find links to articles, books, web sites, statistics, and other material on each subject. The list of the most-used references from Information Services for the month of November 2017 was released today: Real Estate Office Policy Manuals Farming &… Continue Reading Top Reference pages for December 2017
By Audra Slinkey, Home Staging Resource Outdoor patio spaces have sure changed in the last few years with the onset of new outdoor materials, furnishings, fixtures, Cantina doors, and the home owner’s desire for more outdoor living and entertaining space. In fact, according to the 2017 National Association of REALTORS’ Profile of Home Staging report, the… Continue Reading 2018 Outdoor Living Trends: Jaw-Dropping Transformations
Fueled by strong job growth and the strengthening economy, existing-home sales and contract signings both increased in November. Visit (or watch below) https://www.nar.realtor/videos/housing-minute to watch a 50-second, animated video from the National Association of Realtors® summarizing how the housing market performed in November, as well as a look at current consumer sentiment and NAR’s 2018 housing… Continue Reading WATCH: Realtors® December Housing Minute: A 50-Second Video of Market Activity
Holidays, real estate, currency, technology, and collections. Time to decide what to do with your Christmas tree. Be the life of the NYE party by mastering this trick. Is this better than a plain yule log video? Dennis van Zuijlekom/flicker/2011 Sometimes you buy a house to enjoy it, and sometimes you buy it to tear… Continue Reading What We’re Reading: December 25-29
Net neutrality has been repealed on a federal level, but many web users continue to clamor for an open internet. There’s one possible solution that’s gathering steam: cities could build their own internet networks, and run them as public utilities. Electric vehicles, clean home power, battery storage backup, and more: some think 2018 is the… Continue Reading Will Cities Save Net Neutrality? Will 2018 Be Green Tech’s Breakout Year? (Plus Three More Items in Five for Wednesday)
In what reflects the significant amount of pent-up demand in today’s housing market, existing-home sales surged in November to their strongest pace since December 2006. Good news was also found in November’s pending sales data. Whether it’s been weakening affordability, low supply or hurricanes, sales have been somewhat sluggish since the summer. That changed last… Continue Reading November Sales Surprise to a Near 11-Year High; Contract Signings Also Rise
Whatever you think of the “Tax Cuts and Jobs Act,” which President Donald Trump signed into law just before Christmas, much of it goes away on Dec. 31, 2025, which means many of the changes will revert back to what was in place before the bill was signed unless Congress acts to extend the provisions.… Continue Reading Like the Tax Law? Don’t Like It? Remember, Much of It Expires in 2025
Based on the new tax law, there is no change for capital gains on the sale of a home and deductibility of interest paid for a second home[1]. However, the new law[2] affects the deductibility of mortgage interest and real estate taxes: - New mortgages are capped at $750,000 for purposes of home mortgage interest… Continue Reading Metro Areas Most Affected by the New Tax Law
When it came to the YPN Lounge posts that received the most views and engagement in 2017, readers chose those that offer the most nitty-gritty business tips. These business-building articles share first-hand advice written by YPNers for YPNers. This peer-to-peer blog has been going strong since 2009, and as it enters its ninth year… Continue Reading Top 5 Blogs for Boosting Business This Year
By Mary Purcell, MoneyGeek.com Home staging has gone mainstream and is now widely used to make a home more attractive to potential buyers. According to a 2017 survey by the National Association of REALTORS®, a majority of real estate professionals believe staging increases the sale price of the home anywhere from 1 to 15 percent.… Continue Reading The Forecast: 2018 Trends in Staging