Factors Most Influential on Home Values Buyers have become wiser, researching important facts not only about the houses they’re interested in but also about the communities where the homes are located. Desare Kohn-Laski, broker-owner of Skye Louis Realty in Coconut Creek, Fla., says it’s essential that real estate professionals show their value by …
Tag: News
Oct 04
Scope of Equifax Breach Widens Further
Scope of Equifax Breach Widens Further Some 2.5 million more people than originally reported were affected by the recent Equifax data breach, the credit bureau said Monday. The estimate of the number of Americans whose personal information was potentially exposed is now 145.5 million—the largest hack on record. Cybersecurity firm Mandiant, which was hired …
Oct 03
The ‘Bonus Room’ Makes a Comeback
The ‘Bonus Room’ Makes a Comeback Home builders and designers say demand is increasing for more flexible living spaces, giving rise once again to “bonus” or “multipurpose” rooms, The Wall Street Journal reports. Such rooms offer extra square footage for owners to create a space that fits their lifestyle. Baby boomers, for example, are …
Oct 02
Exterior Renovations to Boost a Home’s Value
Exterior Renovations to Boost a Home’s Value Replacing the roof may be the most important upgrade your client can make to the exterior of his or her home, according to the National Association of REALTORS®’ 2017 Remodeling Impact Report. The report takes a look at the cost of the most common exterior and interior …
Sep 29
Homeowners Face Tax Hike Under ‘Big 6’ Plan
Homeowners Face Tax Hike Under ‘Big 6’ Plan Home ownership would no longer be a priority in the tax code if a reform plan released Wednesday by the Trump administration and congressional Republicans becomes law. The “Tax Reform Unified Framework,” known as the “Big 6” tax reform plan, is being touted as a way to …
Sep 28
Buy vs. Rent Index Still Leans Toward Buy
Buy vs. Rent Index Still Leans Toward Buy Which is better for your clients: accumulating wealth through home equity or renting and investing their savings? That’s the fundamental question that the quarterly Beracha, Hardin & Johnson Buy vs. Rent (BH&J) Index aims to answer. After examining 23 of the country’s largest metro areas in the …
Sep 27
4-Bedroom Houses to Lose Favor
4-Bedroom Houses to Lose Favor Millennials’ desire for smaller homes may have a big impact on the future demand of some of the most popular homes today. Young adults are getting married later in life, they’re delaying their first home purchase (often due to student loan debt) by up to seven years in some cases, …
Sep 26
Ways to Make Your Listing Look Bigger
Ways to Make Your Listing Look Bigger Décor choices can have a big impact on how large or small a home appears. Professional home stagers chime in with some tips on how to show off square footage, even when space is tight. Remove heavy drapes. Leave windows bare or hang sheer linen curtains. The space …
Sep 25
Housing Predictions for 2018
Housing Predictions for 2018 New homes are expected to be a “primary driver of sales in 2018,” as 1.33 million housing starts are predicted next year—up from 1.22 million in 2017, according to Freddie Mac’s September Outlook report, which gauges future real estate activity. Total home sales are expected to increase about 2 percent from …
Sep 22
Fall May Be Best Time for Buyers to Move
Fall May Be Best Time for Buyers to Move A slower fall season in home buying may help more lingering home buyers to jump in. Prices are easing somewhat. For the second month in a row, the median price of an existing home dropped. It reached $253,500 in August, after reaching a record high …
Sep 21
Housing Shortages Constrain Existing-Home Sales
Housing Shortages Constrain Existing-Home Sales For the fourth time in five months, existing-home sales dropped as a shortage of homes for sale continues to plague the housing market. Strained supply levels of homes are making it that sales are unable “to break out,” according to the National Association of REALTORS®’ latest housing report, released …
Sep 20
Create a Strong Customer Service Culture
Create a Strong Customer Service Culture If you want to place customer satisfaction at the heart of your company or team, you need to take the time to train and support agents and to model behavior they expect customers to receive. Jeff Mowatt, customer service strategist and author, offers these five strategies that …
