Today's Current News, Opinion & Advice
Would you like to unload your house faster and for more than you expect? That, in rough terms, is what home stagers promise. All the Home’s a Stage My farmhouse house, I will disclose, is as backstage as it gets. Books fill the bookcases. (This is a big no-no in the staging profession.) A vice…
One of the issues that many HOAs grapple with is renters. Some ban them outright, others limit their number. Most live and let live. Interestingly, the HOA has no direct legal authority over renters, only its members. This disconnect creates some practical problems for the board or manager in communicating with tenants since there is…
If your home has increased in value and you are short on cash or have a large upcoming expense, you may be thinking about tapping your home equity. Home equity loans and home equity lines of credit (HELOC) are two easy ways to turn your appreciation into cash in hand, but how do you know…
Warren Buffett said, “Rule #1: Don’t lose money. Rule #2: Refer to Rule #1.” Einstein famously quoted, “Compounded interest is the eighth wonder of the world.” However, what is not included in this quote is how it is important to avoid losses, for compounding is a double edge sword. The power of compounding only works…
A wide selection of elevators is now available, and with the smallest having a footprint of just 12 square feet, they’re suitable for urban home retrofit projects. Home elevators, once thought to be a luxury feature for large new builds, are becoming a more common addition to smaller homes. Residential elevators are a brilliant idea,…
In our ongoing look at how the legalization of marijuana is impacting the real estate market in different areas across the country, today we’re putting the spotlight on Traverse City, MI. Michigan legalized recreational marijuana at the end of 2018, causing a “mad race among prospective marijuana businesses that’s having dramatic effects on the local…
If you’re hiring someone to inspect the home you want to buy, or you’re a seller trying to find out if there are any hidden problems that need fixing before you put your home on the market, here are five things you need to know: 1. You can choose your home inspector. Your real estate…
Question: I have a question concerning roof replacement when it involves zero lot line homes. (Question continued) This case has four homes sharing common walls between them and all under one continuous roof. The roof is at replacement age and should definitely be replaced within the next year as it shows heavy wear per a…
Ask any loan officer what they hear from consumers more than any other question is, “What are your rates today?” And that makes perfect sense. Consumers are encouraged to shop around for the best deal and the interest rate is the main component of that. But what consumers may not know is that rates can…
Many lenders opt to only fund first mortgages because they believe that second mortgages are too risky, but is that always the case? Not always. Not all second mortgages are equal. Many private lenders may choose to fund a junior lien where the first mortgage is relatively small in comparison to the second. For example,…
Competition is keen in the corporate world. Just think of Apple VS Samsung or The Gap VS J Crew. McDonald’s, Burger King and Wendy’s. How do they make their phones, clothes, and burgers stand apart from each other? The answer is that they follow a strategy and you can do the same thing to sell…
Looking to boost the value of your home without spending hundreds of thousands of dollars? You can! Making changes in certain rooms, like the kitchen and bathroom, is more beneficial than in others. These simple DIY projects will help increase your home’s value the most. Modernize Fixtures Replacing outlet covers can cost less than a…
Buyers and sellers typically work with a licensed real estate salesperson or broker. It is important to ascertain if that person is working “for” you (you are the client) or “with” you (you are the customer). Most states will require that the licensee make early written disclosure concerning the agency relationship. License Required State licensing…
Moths give off “pheromones”, a scent that attracts mates from many miles away. Oh, that it were so easy to attract volunteers at a homeowner association. Just spritz a bit of Eau de Volunteer about and stand back! So what does it really take to attract good volunteers? Here are a couple of suggestions: Develop…
There was a lively conversation on our neighborhood Nextdoor last week from someone who was listing his home for sale by owner (FSBO) and wanted to get the word out to neighbors but definitely did NOT want to attract the attention of real estate agents. He had a few choice words for agents around what…
The most important place to feel comfortable is at home. After all, it’s where you spend most of your time and where you have a safe haven. When living with a disability, it’s important to not only feel comfortable but to also feel safe and independent. Finding a home in your price range can be…
When it comes to buying a home, it might seem like minimal credit would look good to lenders. But, the opposite is typically true. Among other things, lenders are looking for a credit history that illustrates a pattern (hopefully a good one!). If you don’t have enough credit to satisfy their requirements, you could be…
For those that are eligible, the VA home loan program is peerless when it comes to financing a primary residence when savings as much cash as possible is a priority. VA loans don’t require a down payment and the veteran is restricted from paying certain types of closing costs. When lenders review an application for…
We wrote last year about the pervasive trend of older women buying homes. In fact, single women—and singles in general—represent a fast-growing portion of the homebuying public. “The share of homebuyers in the U.S. who are single women has been steadily increasing over the last several decades and is now at an all-time high,” said…
Question: It has been the practice at our condominium for the Board to permit independent contractors to work on our common elements without proof they are licensed or that they are properly insured (workers comp. and liability coverage). Everything I have read makes it clear it is important that the association not operate in this…
Customers and clients expect consistent, committed professionalism from those who are licensed to trade real estate and who want to be well-paid for this service. PJ Wade shares a recent report from the Consumer Federation of America that reveals consumers are often disappointed. When intent on delivering real estate services rated “excellent,” it’s not only…
Buying a new home can be incredibly stressful. There’s so much to think about, it can be easy to forget to check everything you want in a new home. According to studies, 26% of people view their home once before buying it, while 43% viewed the property twice, 21% three times and 11% four or…
Yes! Just like curb appeal matters, the colors of your home can and will influence buyers. With that in mind, we explore which colors tend to appeal to the masses. The color scheme of your home, from the outside in, sets the tone. It’s like going to see a theatre play and seeing an intricately…
Ambient air-care is one of those intangible things we don’t think much about. It lives beside us in everything we do, and yet it is very much taken for granted and only perceived when it isn’t there. For sellers within the residential and commercial real estate industries, clean, fresh smelling air translates into a positive…
