Michael Crist

Prospective first-time buyers in recent years have had to navigate several obstacles on their path to homeownership, including higher rents and home prices, tight inventory conditions and repaying student loan debt. These impediments are a big reason why first-timers were only 34 percent of all transactions in the National Association of Realtors®’ 2017 Profile of Home… Continue Reading The Anatomy of a First-time Buyer in 2017

Anita Clark By Anita Clark Finding it difficult to make an impact with your real estate blog? In this industry, half the battle is making sure that your traffic is actually relevant. Use these guidelines below to do exactly that, then take a look at this extended guide to creating and promoting real estate content.… Continue Reading How to Promote Your Real Estate Blog

After the release of the tax reform legislation from the House, last week’s question was “who will be affected by the new bill?” One of the key elements of the tax reform is the proposed capping of the mortgage interest deduction at $500K. Under the current tax framework, taxpayers who own a home are able… Continue Reading Who Owns a Half Million-Dollar Home?

By Brian Balduf, VHT Studios Appealing to home buyers is all about making that emotional connection. Smart marketers know emotions trump other factors, especially when you hear buyers say the listing “just feels right.” They may be searching for a new house, but they’re envisioning their next home. Buyers’ emotional experience while home shopping is… Continue Reading View the Possibilities With Virtual Staging

This Veteran’s Day we honor those who have served our country, and those who are actively serving in the military, or have a spouse who is currently or has served in the past. Looking at data from the recently released 2017 Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers, we can see home buying trends among active… Continue Reading Veteran’s Day 2017: Active-Duty Military and Veteran Home Buyers

Every month NAR produces existing home sales, median sales prices and inventory figures. The reporting of this data is always based on homes sold the previous month and the data is explained in comparison to the same month a year ago. We also provide a perspective of the market relative to last month, adjusting for… Continue Reading September 2017 EHS Over Ten Years

Questionable products, security, dessert, waiting, bugs, time, art, glitter, communities, and autonomous vehicles. Welcome to 2017, where the following items are being sold: Exhibit A, Exhibit B, Exhibit C, & Exhibit D. Finally! A purpose for lava lamps. Leave it to Alinea to reinvent pumpkin pie. TheCulinaryGeek/flickr/2010 Google Maps is adding a new feature that… Continue Reading What We’re Reading: Nov. 6-10

The National Association of Realtors quarterly home prices increased again this quarter. Prices continue to drift up this quarter and outpacing qualifying incomes. With less inventory, faster price growth may become a challenge for potential homebuyers. Here is a look at the metro areas for the top five most and least affordable of the third… Continue Reading 3rd Quarter Metro Home Prices

Nearly nine in 10 Realtors®, members of the National Association of Realtors®, are independent contractors of their real estate firms. As an independent contractor, many typically don’t have access to traditional employer-provided benefits, such as health insurance. As debate continues around the Affordable Care Act and more insurance companies drop out of the individual and… Continue Reading Healthcare 101: Insurance Challenges for Realtors® and other Independent Contractors