SCR News Feed

Twitter just made it much easier to thread your tweets together; here’s their official announcement and instructions. Tweetstorms ahoy! Android or iPhone user, newbie or veteran, it doesn’t matter: follow these steps to keep your smartphone secure. Heck, while you’re at it, check out the complete Wired Guide to Digital Security. Where do you put… Continue Reading Twitter Threads Made Simple; Smartphone Security 101; More in Five for Wednesday

The new Choosing a Career in Real Estate: A Perspective on Gender, Race, and Ethnicity report compares the income, business activity, and demographic characteristics of each race and ethnicity. While White and Caucasian members make up the majority of NAR real estate agents at 74 percent, Hispanic, Latino, Mexican, and Puerto Rican members make up… Continue Reading Profile: NAR Hispanic and Latino Real Estate Members

David Hakimi By David Hakimi This article is part two in a two-part series on how to sell newly-constructed homes. Read part one here. In my last post, I discussed the buyer’s agent’s duties in a new construction transaction and the sales process. Now I’d like to touch on hurdles clients may face buying new… Continue Reading The Rookie Agent’s Guide to Selling New Construction: Part 2

Existing home sales rose 2.0 percent in October from one month prior while new home sales increased 6.2 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… Continue Reading Raw Count of Home Sales (October 2017)

In a monthly survey of REALTORS®, respondents are asked “Compared to the same month last year, how would you rate the past month’s traffic in neighborhood(s) or area(s) where you make most of your sales?” Respondents rate buyer traffic as “Stronger” (100), “Stable” (50), or “Weaker” (0) and the responses are compiled into a diffusion… Continue Reading REALTORS® Reported Strong Buyer Traffic in Many States in October 2017

By Merri Cvetan, guest contributor If you’re staging your home during this time of the year, adding a bit of holiday cheer to your decor can make a big impression on potential buyers. Use these tips to create a simple, polished look that puts your home in its best light this holiday season. Choose the… Continue Reading Tips on Christmas Decor Home Staging

Lee Davenport By Lee Davenport I love a good challenge that helps me work smarter in my business. How about you? Well, as the New Year approaches, I’m challenging you to go beyond “going for broke” and “go for unbroke.” No more feast or famine. Stop involuntary income roller coaster rides. Make 2018 your best… Continue Reading Go for Unbroke in 2018

As the year winds down, we’re all in a reflective mood. And, as managing editor of REALTOR® Magazine, one of the more important items for me to look back on is what kinds of content our readers were most attracted to. Photo: Brigitte Tohm via Pexels Below I’ve compiled a list of five most-viewed articles… Continue Reading Our 5 Hottest Stories of the Year

The Department of Housing and Urban Development announced earlier this week that the Federal Housing Administration will no longer insure properties with Property Assessed Clean Energy assessments, winning praise from the National Association of Realtors®. “FHA’s PACE announcement is a smart step that will protect taxpayers and strengthen the overall program for homebuyers,” said NAR President Elizabeth… Continue Reading NAR Applauds FHA’s “Smart Step” on Energy Efficient Loans

The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) must be periodically reauthorized by Congress in order to continue issuing or renewing flood insurance policies.  In 2010, multiple lapses in program authority brought uncertainty and caused major issues for homeowners in neighborhoods across 22,000 communities nationwide. Delays in home sales closings —or even worse, cancellations— are expected to… Continue Reading How Many Home Sales Will be Affected by a NFIP Lapse?