NAR

Iona Harrison (pictured center), chair of NAR’s Federal Taxation Committee, testifies before the Senate Finance Committee on tax reform.  WASHINGTON (September 14, 2017) – Tax reform done right could yield savings and simplification that benefits average Americans, but history shows that misguided reforms can pose significant threats to the economy. That’s the message the National… Continue Reading Homeownership a Common Interest, Deserves Protection in Tax Reform Debate

With talk of tax reform heating up on Capitol Hill, the National Association of Realtors® is offering a full-throated defense of tax incentives that promote homeownership. Iona Harrison, chair of NAR’s federal taxation committee, testified before the Senate Finance Committee at a hearing titled “Individual Tax Reform.” Harrison told lawmakers that tax reform offers a… Continue Reading Homeownership Incentives Vigorously Defended at Senate Finance Committee

Lee Davenport By Lee Davenport Don wrote: “I have no creative gene so it takes me literally hours to create snazzy social media posts. I can’t spend that much time as a ‘solo-preneur,’ but I know the importance of my business being on social media. Dr. Lee, help!” Dr. Lee’s response: You are over-spending your… Continue Reading Design a Social Media Post in Less Than 5 Minutes

Existing-home sales dropped 1.3 percent in July from one month prior while new home sales declined 9.4 percent.  These headline figures are seasonally adjusted figures and are reported in the news.  However, for everyday practitioners, simple raw counts of home sales are often more meaningful than the seasonally adjusted figures.  The raw count determines income… Continue Reading Raw Count of Home Sales (July 2017)

WASHINGTON (September 12, 2017) — Commercial real estate price growth in large markets is expected to flatten over the next year, but strong leasing demand and investor appetite in smaller markets should keep the sector on solid ground, according to the latest National Association of Realtors® quarterly commercial real estate forecast, https://www.nar.realtor/reports/commercial-real-estate-outlook. Backed by the… Continue Reading Outlook Remains Bright for Commercial Real Estate Despite Price Plateau

Safety is a concern in the real estate industry and it’s not limited to female agents. Recent NAR survey data show that a quarter of men in the business carry a gun to protect themselves. The survey is based on a sample of the NAR membership. Almost 49,000 members were sent the survey and a… Continue Reading 25% of Male Agents Carry a Gun

Field Guides 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 field guides from Information Central for the month of August 2017 was released today: Field Guide to Quick Real… Continue Reading Top Field Guides for August 2017

By Phil Karp, guest contributor Photo provided by Phil Karp It’s no secret that a properly staged home can sell faster than an empty one. But how far do you need to go to inspire the “chocolate chip cookie effect,” where a buyer walks in the front door and immediately feels right at home? Sellers… Continue Reading The Chocolate Chip Cookie Effect: Home Staging Tips to Spark Love at First Sight

NAR released a summary of pending home sales data showing that July’s pending home sales pace is down 0.8 percent from last month and also down 1.3 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… Continue Reading July 2017 Pending Home Sales

While the majority of contractors are honest professionals, it is still important for homeowners to be aware of possible scammers, frauds or swindlers when hiring a contractor before undergoing a remodel. Consumers should be wary of contractors who ask for money upfront. According to the Better Business Bureau, contractors who say they need a significant… Continue Reading Story Idea – How to NOT Get Scammed by a Contractor