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Singapore shares dipped this morning, dragged mainly by index counter declines after a global rally overnight. In early trade, the Straits Times Index (STI) shed 0.4 per cent to 3,301.57 points after 68.2 million securities changed hands in the broader market. In terms of companies to watch, we have Golden Agri-Resources, after the palm oil company reported today a 60 per cent year-on-year decline in Q1 net profit to US$37 million amid weaker crude palm oil prices.  Elsewhere, from how five index counters traded lower on news that they would be removed from the MSCI Singapore index, to more on expectations on US April consumer prices out tonight, more corporate and international headlines remain in focus. On Market View, The Evening Runway's finance presenter Chua Tian Tian dived into the details with David Poh, Head of Investment and ESG Strategies, South Asia, Amundi.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ron picks up the phones right away this hour. Dan from Wisconsin is first up in this look back to October 10, 2024. Dan is considering buying a 2013 Cadillac buyback vehicle. A  good deal based on a cheap price, or not? Is it worth its advertised "ridiculously low price".  Its a new car turn in from the first owner that GM is selling but now repaired. Is it really fixed? How can Dan be sure?  Ron walks Dan and all of us through his thought process and concerns. Then  Ron talks to a listener from PA about  his 2010 Chevy Malibu discussing air filters; when to change, what to use, high flow filters and and the benefits of all of it. After the break the Car Doctor goes back to Wisconsin and talks to Jason about his 2001 Ford Taurus with both EGR and miss fire fault codes. Its a diagnosis on air as Ron takes us all along with both specific and general diagnostic routines to properly repair a vehicle. There is also a second half to this last call for this segment which will be posted in the next edition of Classic Car Doctor. Look for it soon.  Are you enjoying the Classic Car Doctor episodes?  Your feedback is always welcome.  ron@cardoctorshow.com Check out our website for more information as well.  www.cardoctorshow.com  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Parking lot rage- Dawn works through her issues; Johnny Depp is considering buying an Italian castle; Bradley wants to wait for his birthday dinner until the weekend! Game show roulette Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's the annual holiday episode! Today we're sharing what makes our holidays special and we're sharing some of our past podcast episodes, especially the ones that could help you with your holiday shopping! From books and skincare products to eco-friendly stocking stuffers and unique travel experiences, there's something for everyone! We also touch on topics like solo travel, sustainable lifestyle changes, and support for female entrepreneurs. We hope you are celebrating the season by creating joy for yourself and pursuing what makes you happy.   00:00 Introduction and Welcome 00:16 Reflecting on the Podcast's Journey 00:51 Holiday Planning and Traditions 01:44 Discussing Favorite Holiday Movies 03:59 Holiday Decorations and Personal Preferences 07:55 Real vs. Fake Christmas Trees 08:58 Highlighting Past Podcast Guests and Their Products 09:53 Skincare Talk and Product Reviews 12:58 Promoting Sustainable Living Through Stocking Stuffers 13:43 Switching to Eco-Friendly Laundry Detergents 14:21 Exploring Different Types of Washing Machines 15:11 Using Natural Pellets for Clothes Washing 15:46 Gift Ideas: Eco-Friendly Household Items 16:33 Choosing Useful and Appreciated Gifts 17:20 Wine and Champagne Recommendations 19:03 Book Recommendations and Where to Buy Them 21:20 Traveling Solo and Finding Accommodation 21:57 Working with a Travel Advisor for Unique Experiences 24:35 Buying a House in Italy: A Unique Adventure 27:28 Reflecting on the Year and Spreading Love 28:33 Wrapping Up the Holiday Gift Guide     Scrooge 1970 musical Joel Wood on TikTok       The Skintessa Amy Wall and Timelight Beauty Skincare system  Episode 173 Mala Zero Waste Store Episode 160 Marilee Bramhall Iola Wine Episode 186 The Reading List episode 149 Lessons In Chemistry episode 157 Anatomy of A Story John Truby, Episode 176 Katherine Leamy Dare to Travel Solo episode 154   Sue-Anne Mayne Sister Stay episode 119 Pat Ogle Collins Expedition Travel Episode 163. The Amateurs Abroad Buying a Home in Sicily episode 168   Clean People Laundry Sheets   00:00 Introduction and Welcome 00:16 Reflecting on the Podcast's Journey 00:51 The Importance of Planning for Holidays 01:49 Holiday Movie Discussion: Love Actually 03:07 Favorite Holiday Movies 07:52 Holiday Decorations: Real vs. Fake Trees 08:58 Holiday Gift Ideas from Podcast Guests 09:53 Skincare Talk: Products and Routines 12:58 Reducing Waste: Eco-friendly Stocking Stuffers 13:43 Switching to Eco-Friendly Laundry Detergents 14:21 Exploring Different Types of Washing Machines 15:11 Using Natural Pellets for Clothes Washing 15:46 Gift Ideas: Eco-Friendly Household Items 16:33 Choosing Useful and Appreciated Gifts 17:20 Discussing Wine and Champagne from Iola Wines 18:21 The Importance of Supporting Female Winemakers 18:57 Book Recommendations and the Idea of a Book Club 20:05 Exploring the Idea of Buying Pre-Read Books as Gifts 21:20 Traveling Solo and Using Sister Stay 21:57 Working with a Travel Advisor for Unique Experiences 24:35 Considering Buying a House in Italy 27:28 Reflecting on the Year and Spreading Love 28:33 Wrapping Up the Holiday Gift Guide

Eoin Ó Broin, Sinn Féin housing spokesperson, reacts to the government examining advance purchasing to build a large number of apartments.

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Are you looking to buy a franchise? Matt Kline walks us through the step-by-step franchise discovery day process of OXI Fresh.

Mortgage and real estate expert David Hochberg joins Anna once again to talk about the surge in people buying second homes and if we should be concerned about the current demand in housing. David also answers all of your real estate questions! David hosts “Home Sweet Home Chicago” on Saturdays from 10am to 1pm on WGN Radio. […]

We're back to talk about this week's topics in gaming news! This week's topics include: Xbox might be buying Discord for $10 Billion, PlayStation is shutting down the PS3, PSP, and PS Vita online stores, and Marvel's Avengers sees a small spike in players.And check us out on all these platforms:Discord: https://discord.gg/kt9AJtpPatreon: https://Patreon.com/savedatateamTwitch: https://Twitch.tv/savedatateamInstagram: https://Instagram.com/savedatateamTwitter: https://Twitter.com/savedatateamFacebook: https://Facebook.com/savedatateamShow Notes:00:00 - Intro1:39 - Trivia: How many copies has the Pikmin franchise sold?3:26 - Topics5:24 - Sony is going to shut down the PS3, PSP and Vita stores later this yearhttps://www.thegamer.com/ps3-vita-psp-stores-permanently-closed/ 9:39 - Marvel’s Avengers sees 5x player increase after release of Hawkeyehttps://www.forbes.com/sites/paultassi/2021/03/22/marvels-avengers-sees-5x-player-increase-after-hawkeyes-release/?sh=368facd2738a14:24 - Six Days in Fallujah continues to look worse and worsehttps://www.ign.com/articles/six-days-in-fallujah-is-complicated-and-painful-for-those-connected-to-the-real-events 22:02 - The rumored switch pro is apparently going to have some decent specshttps://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-03-23/nintendo-to-use-new-nvidia-graphics-chip-in-2021-switch-upgrade?srnd=technology-vp 27:37 - Sleazy, bad game Super-Seducer 3 has been banned from releasing on Steamhttps://kotaku.com/steam-flat-out-refuses-to-sell-sleazy-pick-up-game-supe-1846526210 32:27 - It looks like Discord might be sold to Microsoft for $10Bhttps://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2021-03-23-microsoft-among-suitors-for-discord-in-reported-USD10b-deal 37:34 - The Winner is...39:30 - Closing and Plugs

Holmberg's Morning Sickness - Friday July 24, 2020

The study from Capgemini shows the younger buyers are looking the minimize their health risks due to the coronavirus pandemic. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Considering buying a car you've spotted online? Before you do, avoid any potential scams by listening to some tips from cyber security expert Wayne Denner See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Recorded November 7, 2017You ever roll a 1 on a 6 sided die?Tasting Notes:IntroGetting BurgledGluten-Free Peppermint Joe JoesOff-Season ChocolateElf on a ShelfIans Cafeteria WoesCommercials which burned into your brainNon-Xmas Xmas MoviesElection 2016: The Night Of SLASH Morning AfterRob DM'dElection 2016: The WorkplaceWhat are you Wearing?- Coffee, Glasses, and the ApocalypseElection 2016: Nick is from Rural PAElection 2016: Make X Y AgainElection 2016: "Holiday Party"Election 2016: Realizing Trump WonHoliday HeartDancingElection 2016: The World it Always WasElection 2016: Recognizing You Have PriveledgeNick went to the Ren Faire- Audience ParticipationSuper Mario OdysseyNick is Considering Buying a HouseOuttroLinks:Elf on tbe ShelfFuccillo Autoplex Huuuuuuuuge CompilationGolfer VisionLin Manuel Miranda SNLprojects.fivethirtyeight.com/projects/2016-election538 Podcast: Nov 7 2016The Talk Show: "Holiday Party"Playlist:Christmas Star / Preparing the Trap by John WilliamsChristmas at Hogwarts by John WilliamsSkank by Numbers by Mustard PlugFlashlight by The Front BottomsUnder Pressure by Queen & David BowieUltrasonic (AKA 538 Theme) by Jay PriceAlternate Titles:"The Blind Feeding the Blind" Edition"Hidden Basement Treat" Edition"How I Feel and How I Felt" Edition"Holiday Heart" Edition

Considering Selling in 2018: Click here for a Free Price EvaluationConsidering Buying in 2018: Get Gateway Access to the MLSThe leaves are changing, the holidays are approaching, and Thanksgiving is just around the corner. Right now is the perfect time to reflect on what you’re thankful for. That said, I would also encourage you to reflect on the trials you’ve faced this year and those you anticipate moving forward. And as you consider these challenges, don’t allow the opinions of those who would say you can’t overcome them drag you down. Prove naysayers wrong. Don’t let past obstacles deter you from future successes. Also, while you strive to improve your own lives, do the same for those around you. Make someone’s day whenever you have the chance. Your continued support has certainly been a positive force in my life, and today I’d like to challenge you to continue spreading positivity wherever and however you can. “Don’t let past obstacles deter you from future successes. ”There is so much hostility and negativity pervading our current culture. Let this holiday season be a reminder that we are all humans. Whatever differences we may have, we should all strive to build one another up. Once again, I’d like to thank you on behalf of my entire team for the great year we’ve had. May your holiday season be filled with joy and positivity. If you have any questions for me or my team, feel free to give me a call or send me an email. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Considering Selling in 2018: Click here for a Free Price EvaluationConsidering Buying in 2018: Get Gateway Access to the MLSRight now, we’re in the prime selling season here in Chicago. But, if you have plans to put your home on the market, there is one mistake you must avoid. Many sellers hire the agent who estimates the highest price for their home. If one agent tells them they should list for $550,000 and another tells them they should list for $500,000, most sellers will, unfortunately, choose the agent who gave that higher price. However, this is actually the No.1 listing mistake a seller could make in our market. The market, not your agent, dictates price. Instead, sellers should hire an agent they like and trust. They should hire an agent with whom they have a good rapport and who has a proven marketing strategy. On top of working with the right agent, it’s also important to be informed about our current market. One of the most important things to understand is how current supply impacts the traction you’ll have as a seller in our market.A market with more than seven months of supply is a buyer’s market, a market with five or six months of supply is an even market, and a market with between one and four months of supply is a seller’s market. “The market, not your agent, dictates price. ”Another way to gauge the market is by examining the list-to-sale price ratio in your price range. This is important because while your area might be a seller’s market, your specific price range could still be favoring buyers. In general, the spring market is a great time to sell. So if you have been thinking of listing, now is the time to do so. I recommend you start interviewing agents as soon as possible. Also, if your home is already on the market, the next 90 days are vital. You should ideally have your home under contract before July. If you have any other questions, would like more information, or want help with your home sale, feel free to give me a call or send me an email. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Considering Selling in 2018: Click here for a Free Price EvaluationConsidering Buying in 2018: Get Gateway Access to the MLSToday, we’re sharing “aha!” moments from the last day and a half of the Luxury Listing Specialist Certification (LUXE). We are here in Orlando with 23 of the top luxury agents in the area. If you know someone looking to buy or sell in Orlando, make sure that you private message me so I can put you in touch with the best agent. Here are some of the top “aha!” moments: Market research is the bad guy.The match pair concept, when you have a pre-appraisal done so that sellers understand what their competition is. Using the script “I am the most expensive agent and let me tell you why.” If you’re a great agent, you don’t compete by being the cheapest. You bring value to the table. Google is our friend, so video, video, video. Video is not going away. Event marketing. Position or stage your listing so that buyers can mentally move in. Only 10% of buyers can mentally move in and visualize the home. 90% only see the home as-is. Showcase the lifestyle when marketing a listing. Let potential buyers know what kind of lifestyle they will enjoy if they live there. Educate buyers and sellers by using short videos on YouTube. This is a great way of giving value to your clients. Incorporate virtual staging vs. actual staging in circumstances where sellers might not have the investment dollars as a way to promote their lifestyle.How to leverage your resources and network with a luxury club. If you hang out with nine top producers, you’re bound to be the 10th. The difference between being a marketing agent and a listing agent. How DISC personalities give you a better understanding of who your seller is and how they like things done. Sending a gift after the listing appointment so you’re not out of mind.“Only 10% of buyers can visualize what it’s like to live in the home. ”As you can see, we had a lot of “ahas!” in Orlando. If you have any questions for me, just give me a call or send me an email. I would be happy to help you!

Considering Selling in 2017: Click here for a Free Price EvaluationConsidering Buying in 2017: Get Gateway Access to the MLSToday, I’d like to talk to you about a very special property. Architectural Digest chose the most beautiful home from each of all 50 states, which you can take a look at here, and this property was actually named one of the most beautiful homes for sale in Illinois. I’m proud to announce that I’m representing this gorgeous home in Barrington Hills. You may have seen it before on Wednesday nights, since it is featured during Fox’s hit series “Empire.”  Sitting on an approximately eight and a half acre lot, this home features five bedrooms, nine full baths, two half baths, and is over 17,000 square feet. There is also an in-ground pool, a full wet bar, and a theater. You can check out some great photos of this home as well as the lifestyle video we shot here. “Architectural Digest named this property the most beautiful home for sale in Illinois. ”If you or anyone you know is looking to put your home on the market, don’t keep us a secret. My team and I service all kinds of properties, and would love to help you out. If you have any other questions or would like more information, feel free to give me a call or send me an email. I look forward to hearing from you soon. Click here to read NBC ChicagoClick here to view our listingsClick here to view 45 Lakeview LaneClick here to read Architectural Digest

Considering Selling in 2017: Click here for a Free Price EvaluationConsidering Buying in 2017: Get Gateway Access to the MLSToday I’d like to talk about the importance of taking photos of the outside of your house now if you’re thinking of selling in the winter or the Spring of 2018.If you want to sell your home in the spring as many sellers do, I recommend you get your exterior photos taken now while there are still some green leaves on the trees.Recently, I was contacted by a homeowner that listed with another agent in March of 2017. Their contract was up, and they were unhappy with their agent, so they interviewed me. Taking a look at the photos they’d had, I noticed they hadn’t been updated from March when they were originally taken. It was a gloomy day, and there were no leaves on the trees.Being proactive, I quickly had photos taken of the home with a drone, even though their home wasn’t going on the market right away. However, you only get one chance to make a first impression, so exterior photos are really important. If the exterior photos are drab and dreary, buyers may not want to see the photos of inside and ultimately move onto a different listing.“You only get one chance to make a first impression, so exterior photos are really important ”If your home isn’t currently on the market, or if it is but you plan to make changes to your listing, be proactive. Interview your agents now, and take your photos now. I talk about this among many other things in my new book “Luxury Listing Specialist”. This fall we attended many conferences where we were rubbing elbows with some of the top agents from around the world, so I could come back to my marketplace to serve my clients more effectively with cutting-edge marketing, both online and offline.If you need a second opinion on your real estate transaction, you’re thinking of selling, or you have any real estate questions at all, please reach out to us. Let’s keep up the momentum and finish 2017 strong.

Considering Selling in 2017: Click here for a Free Price EvaluationConsidering Buying in 2017: Get Gateway Access to the MLSInstead of waiting until spring or summer when everyone else is selling their homes, it might be smarter for you to sell your home in the fall in our Chicagoland market. Real estate is all about supply and demand, and many sellers typically take their homes off the market in the fall months with the intent of relisting in the spring or summer. The downside to that is if a buyer is looking for homes on the market during fall, they won’t find yours. As Wayne Gretzky once said, “You always miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.”If you keep your home on the market during fall, the lack of supply will drive up demand and increase the likelihood that your listing will see activity. Because there’s less overall activity during the fall, you may have fewer showings, but the ones you do have will be of a much higher quality. If a buyer is willing to trek through rain, snow, and freezing temperatures with their agent to look at homes, you know they’re serious about buying. The other benefit of listing while supply is low is you will receive better offers. Buyers can’t afford to throw out a bunch of lowball offers during fall. If they have to move during these times, they’ll come at you with a stronger offer. “Real estate is all about supply and demand. ”Remember these factors, but keep in mind that you must also be patient. If your home is currently on the market or you’re thinking about selling your home and aren’t sure whether to do it now or in 2018, now is a great time to reach out to me so I can provide you a fresh analysis. I’d also be happy to advise you on which parts of your home you should invest in to improve its resale value, such as cosmetic improvements like wallpaper and paint. If you have any other questions, don’t hesitate to reach out to me. I’d love to help you.

Our team continues to knock it out of the park when listing luxury homes. Here’s our latest success.Considering Selling in 2017: Click here for a Free Price EvaluationConsidering Buying in 2017: Get Gateway Access to the MLSOur team has made two record-breaking sales in Chicagoland over the last month. Here’s how we did it.The first home was out in Ancient Oaks in West Chicago. There had only been two sales in West Chicago listed in our MLS over $1 million since 2008. I’m proud to report that there are now three of them. After investing over a month of painting, landscaping, decluttering, and staging the home, it was finally ready for market. It ended up selling for a record price of $1.3 million. My clients were fired up, and so were we. We love proving people wrong.The second property was a gorgeous home right on 8th St. in Geneva. Even though there hadn’t been a sale over $2.3 million in the entire county for two years, we proved people wrong again. We sold the home for a record $2.4 million in a record time of 30 days.It’s Not The Market, It’s The Marketing. Click here to view one of our recent sales Click Here To Watch How Accurate Are Online Price Valuations for Luxury Homes Click here to view one of our recent sales If you or someone you know has a luxury home and is sick and tired of the lame excuses they keep getting from their agent, reach out and give us a call. It’s not the market, it’s the marketing. Our system has been proven in many different markets and many different price points and we would love to put it to work for you. If you are thinking about selling, the fall is still a great time to put your home on the market as many sellers remove their homes for the fall and winter seasons and the competition drops after the school year has started.If you have any other questions for us or any real estate needs we can help with, give us a call or send us an email. We look forward to hearing from you.

Online home evaluations have been criticized pretty widely in recent times. Today, I decided to put the feature to the test and show you what I found out.Considering Selling in 2017: Click here for a Free Price EvaluationConsidering Buying in 2017: Get Gateway Access to the MLSIn recent times, a lot of negative things have been said about online home evaluations. Many real estate agents can’t stand online home evaluation tools, simply because they are not accurate.Personally, I don’t think online home evaluations as a whole are entirely bad. However, what can we find out about their accuracy is by looking at 10 of the highest-priced homes in Illinois? How does online home evaluations tools compare to real world list price?Well, after reviewing the numbers, the owners for some of these homes may not be too happy. In today’s modern world, a lot of buyers look online for the supposed "Kelley Blue Book" of real estate. But the truth is that online home estimate tools simply aren't accurate enough for this to be the case.At the end of the day, the market determines value—not online home evaluation tools. Seller’s should always rely on an appraisal for the most accurate information possible.But let’s get back to those 10 properties I mentioned earlier. As it turns out, 9 out of the 10 were priced well below asking price. This doesn’t entirely surprise me.What did surprise me, though, was that 8 of the 10 properties had an online value that came up to just 43% or less of the true asking price.“8 out of the 10 properties were valued at or below 43% of the asking price. ”Also, only 1 of the 10 online home evaluation's had a home at just 1% of its asking price. That’s a huge difference.Of the 10 homes we looked at, only 1 actually had a favorable online based value which was above asking price.So, at least in the case of high-end homes, do not rely on internet based home value tools to determine the value of your property. They are simply way off.If you have any other questions or would like more information, feel free to give me a call or send me an email. I look forward to hearing from you soon. Click here to watch the lifestyle film for 205 E. Prairie Ave, Wheaton IL Click here to view Michael's current listings Click here to watch the lifestyle film for Lionhead Farm

Marketing luxury homes is a different animal entirely. Here’s one of our newest techniques that has been seeing great results.Considering Selling in 2017: Click here for a Free Price EvaluationConsidering Buying in 2017: Get Gateway Access to the MLSIn the video above which is geared more towards real estate agents, you will see an amazing property that we are marketing right now at just under $3 million. It has some amazing features such as an indoor saltwater pool, but we wanted to make these features pop on camera and video.To do that, we decided to showcase some amazing artwork from IKONICK, and these big canvas portraits are all over the property catching the eyes of buyers and their agents.  This artwork company took several professional photo's and leveraged those photo's on social media which lead to an online spike in activity for this particular home.“As you can see, the artwork is visually stunning. ”As you can see, the art is visually stunning. Time is money, and with marketing like this, we decrease the time a luxury home spends on the market before selling. Adding this beautiful art to an already beautiful home really brings it all together and shows prospective buyers the unique features of the home by tying in the artwork.As we’ve seen time and time again, marketing your luxury home properly will lead to more offers, higher offers, and a quicker sale. It might take a bit of an investment, but that investment will be worth it when the deal is closed and you no longer have to worry about selling or even maintaining the property.If you have any questions for me about how to successfully market your home for sale, don’t hesitate to give me a call or sending me an email. I would love to hear from you soon. Click here to view the artwork pictures displayed at the photo shoot Click here to watch the lifestyle film for 831 Diane Lane Click here to view pictures of 67 Laurel Ave, Highland Park

Are you a seller who is working with a relocation agent to sell your home? Today I’m talking about a few downsides to this situation.Considering Selling in 2017: Click here for a Free Price EvaluationConsidering Buying in 2017: Get Gateway Access to the MLSIf you’re a seller and you’re relocating to another area, and you have one of these big relocation companies involved, this is for you.The problem with our industry is if you’re a seller who’s relocating and your employer brings in a relocation company, you’re limited in what you can and can’t do. Most recently, I was interviewed by a homeowner who was selling a $1.8 million home who was ready to hire me, and their company told them they needed to use a relocation agent.Because our company wasn’t in their network, the relocation company essentially told them that if they went with me, they wouldn’t buy the home in the chance that it didn’t sell. So now their home is on the market, and their agent is probably a competent woman, but I did some research and she’s NEVER sold one home over $900,000 in her entire career.In last year alone, we had eight sales above $880,000. This home was priced to twice that amount. It reminds me of the old adage: generalists get paid, and specialists get wealthy. This agent did not specialize in high-end and upper-end homes, which is frustrating because this homeowner wanted to hire me and was forced to go with a different, less experienced agent.“Relocation agents often make up to 45% less but do way more work. ”When you’re dealing with relocation agents who represent sellers, many times they’re making 45% less because those relocation companies take a percentage. They also make you do a lot more paperwork and online reporting, making the process lengthier and more frustrating.Keep in mind that just because an agent specializes in relocation doesn’t mean that they have the experience needed to sell your home quickly and for the right price.If you have any questions about relocation or you’re looking buy or sell a home, give me a call. I’d be happy to help! Click here to view pictures of 831 Diane Lane, Naperville Click here to watch the lifestyle film for 831 Diane Lane Click here to view pictures of 67 Laurel Ave, Highland Park

When preparing to market a luxury property, first impressions are essential to getting a good sale.Considering Selling in 2017: Click here for a Free Price EvaluationConsidering Buying in 2017: Get Gateway Access to the MLSIn previous videos, I talked about first impressions and what cosmetic versus substantial improvements on homes can do to the marketplace. You can watch last month’s video here where I go into more detail about that.My favorite phrase these days is “Prove them wrong.” I’m proving naysayers wrong all the time. The multi-million dollar marketplace is very challenging in Chicagoland, and I love proving them wrong.I recently just listed a property in Geneva, Illinois. There hasn’t been a sale above $2.15 million in multiple years. As a matter of fact, there has only been one sale above $2.15 million in all of Kane County in the last two years. Happily, there were multiple offers on that property. This was not only due to it being a wonderful property, but the sellers were also open and receptive to our ideas.“I believe in readying a home so anyone who walks through can visualize themselves there. ”The home I am sitting in front of in my video above is listed around $6 million, and it took us almost five months to go to market. I’m a big believer in readying a home so that anyone who walks through it can visualize themselves in the home. We toned some of the features of the home down, like repainting kitchen cabinets that were painted a vivid color, replacing some of the furniture in the home theater, and carpeting over the lower level tile floors to a more neutral shade.Be willing to do the exact opposite of your competition. Your competition wants to list the property as quickly as possible in order to get it seen during the prime season. We missed much of the prime season readying this home for market, but as you can see by the before and after photos, we transformed this home into a much more appealing space to the masses that most likely don’t share the owner’s personal taste.Remember, it’s not the market, it’s the marketing. You only get one chance to make a first impression, so taking the time to ready the home for market is essential. Take the time to do the things that your competition doesn’t do.If you have any questions on this topic or anything else related to real estate, please shoot me an email or give me a call. I’d love to hear from you. Click here to view 67 Laurel Ave, Highland Park Click here to learn more about matched pairs

Looking through a microscope opens the doors to a normally invisible world for our students. Using one will help them to appreciate how complex life really is. However, choosing a microscope for homeschool use can be a bit daunting.In this episode of the Tips for Homeschool Science Show, I'm sharing tips on how to choose a microscope for homeschool science! Welcome to season 1 of the Tips for Homeschool Science Show where we are breaking down the lofty ideals of teaching science into building blocks you can use in your homeschool.  For show notes visit: https://elementalscience.com/blogs/podcast/27 ------------------------------- **Share the Tips** If you found these homeschool science tips to be helpful, would you please take a moment to rate it in the podcasting app you are using? This would help me tremendously in getting the word out so that more earbuds are filled with science-teaching encouragement. ------------------------------- Find Paige here: > Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elementalscience/ > Elemental Science Website: https://elementalscience.com/ 

Professional photography is an important part of marketing your home for sale. Here are how we use photos to enhance your home’s online presence.Considering Selling in 2017: Click here for a Free Price EvaluationConsidering Buying in 2017: Get Gateway Access to the MLSWhen trying to market and sell your home, you obviously need to hire a professional photographer to take photos of the property. Not just for the quality, but for the experience they bring. Professional photographers know which angles work best in the eyes of buyers and compare different photos to see which are best.Professional photography is the way to position the property most effectively. Having good photos is a must when it comes to selling your home online and I’m a perfectionist when it comes to these photos. As you can see in the video above, we put a lot of work into our photography and editing by enhancing a bunch of tiny details that add up to create breathtaking images.“Photography is the best way to position your home for sale. ”We took one picture during the day, for example, and replaced the blue day sky with an evening magenta sky. It’s a lot of little things like this that help your home stand out among other homes online. Look at the before and after pictures to see what we mean. A few of our luxury properties, including the 20-acre Lionhead Farm, are featured in the video above.If you know of anyone who is looking for a second opinion or sick and tired of the results they are getting, we would be glad to help. We’re in the month of May now, so the next 75 to 80 days is the prime time to sell your home. If you have any questions at all, don’t hesitate to reach out. Remember, it’s not the market, it’s the marketing. I look forward to hearing from you. Click here to view  540 South 8th Street, Geneva Click here to view 3s345 Hart Road, Batavia

Home improvements are important before selling. These numbers tell the truth about how much you should invest.Considering Selling in 2017: Click here for a Free Price EvaluationConsidering Buying in 2017: Get Gateway Access to the MLSMatched pairs is a term you probably haven't heard of. If you’re thinking of selling your home, it’s always wise to consider making improvements and upgrades.  However, you’ve got to know where to spend your money in order to get the highest possible return. Recently, I had a client who spent about $20,000 on leaf guards that were nice but didn’t really add any value to his home. The first thing to do when selling your home is to consult a professional like myself who knows what they’re doing. That being said, it’s always best to do a few cosmetic improvements at least. For unique properties or properties where there aren’t a lot of comparables, we recommend an appraisal prior to going on the market as well.I work with one of the best appraisers in the Midwest, and he recently put together a thorough report about matched pairs. He wrote a report that compared five properties to five similar properties. That brings us back to the term matched pairs. These “matched pairs” were then compared to each other.“The properties that invested in repairs ended up reaping the rewards. ”Half of the properties had minimal fixes. The other half were situations where the owner put in a significant amount of money to improve the home before selling. Some of the owners put in as much as $25,000.The homes that had money put in to make significant improvements ended up selling a lot quicker and for a lot more money.  Some owners invested $25,000 and ended up selling the home for $50,000 more than the owner who only put $5,000 into their home. A lot of those homes that weren’t invested in too much probably sat on the market for quite a while due to price adjustments.If you have any questions for me or you’re thinking of putting your home on the market anytime soon, don’t hesitate to give me a call or send me an email. I would love to hear from you soon.Click Here to view the full document

The next 100 days are absolutely vital for anyone buying or selling a home in the Chicagoland market. We have some research to explain why.Considering Selling in 2017: Click here for a Free Price EvaluationConsidering Buying in 2017: Get Gateway Access to the MLSWhether you're buying or selling a home in the Chicagoland market, the next 100 days are vital.By the end of those 100 days, it will be mid-July. If you're thinking of selling your house, you really want to get it on the market in the next 30 days because if it's not on the market by the first week of May, you could miss out on a lot of prime buyers who were looking in April or before. If your home isn't under contract by mid-July at the latest, you shouldn't necessarily hit the panic button, but you should be concerned.Our company has done a lot of research and found that two-thirds of homes that sell in the prime season by the end of August are already under contract going into Memorial Day weekend at the end of May. If your home has been on the market and you haven't seen the activity you want or you're buying a home and you want a second opinion, keep us in mind.Also remember that if you're selling a high-end property ($500,000 and above) you need to have realistic expectations; you're probably not going to get three or four showings a week. You might get one or two.“Whether you're buying or selling, the next 100 days are vital. ”I recently had a client who lowered his home's asking price by $4,900 and was frustrated to not get any activity the first week after. Adjusting your price isn't like opening a faucet where a lot of opportunities pour out in many cases.When selling a high-end home in Chicagoland, you need to be patient and you need to communicate with your agent. Again, if you'd like a second opinion, don't hesitate to reach out to me. Lower-end homes tend to get more activity, but with high-end homes, it's about quality over quantity in showings.If you're buying or selling a home and you'd like a second opinion or you need an agent to work with, give me a call or send me an email today because the next 100 days are vital. I hope to hear from you soon!

Technology in your home can go a long way in helping get it sold. Here are four ways to easily upgrade your home tech to appeal to more buyers. Considering Selling in 2017: Click here for a Free Price EvaluationConsidering Buying in 2017: Get Gateway Access to the MLSTechnology can go a long way in attracting buyers when selling your home. If you're thinking about selling your home, I have four ideas on how to incorporate technology and get more buyers through your door, no matter your home's price.Smart thermostat: When you're away from your home—especially if you have multiple heating or cooling units—it helps with climate control.Surveillance: I'm talking about cameras and security systems to keep your home secure while you're away. There are some dated security systems out there that you can't turn on or off remotely, which can be an inconvenience when selling your house.High-tech kitchen appliances: For example, you can get no-touch faucets or a refrigerator with low grocery indicators. Can you imagine having a smart refrigerator that tells you that your milk is getting low? Maybe your Coors Light is running low and you need to make a beer run. Upgraded entertainment systems: You can get a Savant system to control TV, music, and security all from your smartphone. I hope you learned something new today that could help you sell your home. If you have any questions I can answer or you're thinking about selling your Chicago house, give me a call or send me an email. I'd be happy to help. Click here to view  831 Diane Lane, Naperville Click here to view 28w660 Perkins Ct, Naperville Click here to view 45 Lakeview Lane, Barrington Hills

Today I wanted to quickly address two topics: a new luxury listing of ours in Naperville and some interesting data in luxury price points. Considering Selling in 2017: Click here for a Free Price EvaluationConsidering Buying in 2017: Get Gateway Access to the MLSI have a couple of topics that I want to cover today: a high-end property we're marketing in Naperville and some data in the $3 million to $6 million price point.First, we're really excited about 831 Diane Lane in Naperville, a gorgeous property built in 2007 that has that old-world feel and has more than 10,000 square feet. Three unique features of this home that we're getting a lot of feedback on include an indoor pool that is the best I've seen in the entire Midwest, a two-story master bedroom closet, and a two-story home office with a fireplace, tons of built-ins, and a second-floor library with a spiral staircase. It's an amazing property, and you can see some photos here.“It's not the market, it's the marketing. ”Secondly, I want to address some data from the $3 million to $6 million price point over the last five years. The bottom line is that there were fewer properties selling at that price point in 2016 than in 2015, and even fewer than there were five years ago. Remember, regardless of whether you're selling an entry-level home or a luxury home, it's not about the market, it's about the marketing.If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to give me a call or send me an email. I look forward to hearing from you. Click here to view  831 Diane Lane, Naperville Click here to view 28w660 Perkins Ct, Naperville Click here to view 45 Lakeview Lane, Barrington Hills

Recently, our area board of more than 16,401 agents revealed some statistics that show how not all agents are created equal.Considering Selling in 2017: Click here for a Free Price EvaluationConsidering Buying in 2017: Get Gateway Access to the MLSAs someone selling their home, beware that not all agents are created equal!Recently, our real estate board—one of the top five boards out of more than 16,401 agents in North America—released some statistics that were shocking, and not in a good way.First off, we found that 54% of the agents on our board of more than 16,401 agents sold zero homes last year and 15% only one home. That’s not good, folks. We can also see that only 1% of agents sold 26 homes or more last year. I’m proud to be in that 1% when it comes to selling homes.“If you’re thinking of selling your house in 2017, don’t hire somebody just because you like them. ”If you’re thinking of selling your house in 2017, don’t hire somebody just because you like them, they work out at your health club, or because your husband or wife works with them. Do your due diligence and keep in mind that only 1% of us sold 26 or more homes last year, while 69% sold just one or zero homes.These agents aren’t making a lot of money, so they’re not spending a lot of money to market your home. Remember, it’s not the market, it’s the marketing.Last year, 73% of people polled said they would hire an agent who uses video to market homes versus an agent who doesn’t. If you’d like a second opinion on your home, I’ll be honest with you and tell it like it is.If you have any other questions about selling your home this year in the Chicagoland market, give me a call or send me an email. I’d be happy to help.

Today I wanted to discuss some of the most important things going on as we head into February.Considering Selling in 2017: Click here for a Free Price EvaluationConsidering Buying in 2017: Get Gateway Access to the MLSToday I wanted to talk a little bit about goals. We're into February, which means we're already 1/12th of the way into 2017. How are you doing with your goals?A goal of mine this year is to have coffee with an average of three different people each week, whether it be real estate-related or not. I want to be around people who want to get better because iron sharpens iron. We'll address that in a moment.With everything going on right now and everyone being so frustrated, I think it's important to talk about tone in 2017. I think if we come from a position of understanding and caring and tone, we'll be better off. Let's be good role models. We can disagree on things, but my goal is to come from a place of understanding and tone, and help more people in 2017.For instance, we're helping someone right now with a $179,000 condo. We don't just do luxury listings—if my team takes you on as a client, you have my team's all. We help the big and the small. I don't want you to think we're too busy or that we're not interested in helping anybody out.With it being February, I hope you're pacing your goals. It's hard to believe Super Bowl Sunday is just a couple days away, but that's when many people believe the 'official' buying and selling season starts. If you're thinking of selling your property, let us know, because there might be 30 to 60 days of work that you need to do. Don't wait until the last second!“We are already into February, how are you doing with your goals? ”I'd also love to hear what your big goals are for 2017, whether they're personal, business-related, religious, or family-related. As I mentioned, I want to meet with an average of three people per week for coffee and hear more about how I can help you. Accountability is important; most people don't share their goals with other people, but accountability is what helps you get to where you want to be. Don't be shy—I'd love to hear your goals!I also wanted share a little bit of information about our networking group, which is growing. We meet monthly, and we'll be meeting the fourth week of February. If you know of a business owner or someone that caters to high net worth individuals and you're interested in hearing more about our networking group, you can nominate them or yourself. We only have one person per field, so we have one men's clothing designer and one kitchen remodeling guy, for example. We'd love to hear from you and to grow that group.In closing, I think 2017 will be a great year no matter who the president is, no matter what interest rates do, etc. You choose to be successful. Don't rely on the government, because you control your outlook. I want to be around positive people no matter what, so let's make the world better as we head into February.If you have any questions for me, you can always give me a call or send me an email. I'd love to hear from you!

Timing is everything in life, and the same holds true for real estate. Today, I wanted to take a moment to explain when the best time to list your home will be in 2017.Considering Selling in 2017: Click here for a Free Price EvaluationConsidering Buying in 2017: Get Gateway Access to the MLSTiming is everything in life, and it's important in real estate, too. When should you sell your home if you're thinking of doing so in 2017?Nobody has a crystal ball, but historically, it's always been better to sell your home early in the year rather than later. Just recently I had a client tell me they would put their house up for sale in April since that's when everyone else does. However, that's exactly why you don't want to put your house on the market during these months.If you're thinking of selling in the Chicagoland market in 2017, I recommend putting your house on the market in January or February.Four years ago after the election, January 2013 was one of our busiest months all year. We anticipate the same in 2017 due to the post-election fervor. This may not be because of the results, but more so the fact that people finally know what we'll be dealing with for the next four years. We already see indications that the market is rebounding, with properties that weren't seeing much interest starting to get showings. We think 2017 will be a better year than this year, particularly January and February.“Nobody has a crystal ball, but it's always better to sell your home early in the year. ”Why these two months?First, there will be a limited supply of homes due to sellers continuing to think they should wait until the spring to sell. Limited supply drives up demand, which means better offers and better prices for you as a seller. Secondly, interest rates are supposed to creep up a bit, bringing buyers to the market.We don't just list Mansions and high-end homes, we also list small and cute homes as well!Finally, I wanted to let you know about a new property we've just listed. This home is located in Naperville, just over 17,000 sq. ft. with a 9-car garage. You can see photos of this stunning home and the lifestyle film here.If you know of anyone we can help or you're thinking of selling your Chicago home, think of us! I hope you have an awesome holiday season. We'll talk soon! Click Here To Take VirtualTour  of 28w660 Perkins Court Naperville, IL Click Here To Watch Perkins Court Lifestyle Film Presented by Michael Lafido 

2016 has been an amazing year. To celebrate, we’re throwing a client appreciation party at The Palace Royale, and you’re invited.Considering Selling in 2016: Click here for a Free Price EvaluationConsidering Buying in 2016: Get Gateway Access to the MLSAre you ready for a party? I hope so, because you are hereby invited to my client appreciation party and open house.This has been an amazing year, and I can’t thank you enough for helping us make it happen. Whether you’re a repeat client, you’ve referred us business, or you’re one of our close friends or family members, we want to extend our deepest gratitude.The party is on Thursday, December 15th from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at The Palace Royale. To view pictures and videos of this amazing mansion that we currently have listed on the market for $10.9 million, please visit www.thepalaceroyale.com.To RSVP, either reply to the original email or send me an email at Mike@thelafidoteam.com.“I can’t thank you enough for making 2016 an amazing year. ”There will be plenty of free food and entertainment. In addition to our friends and colleagues, we also have a lot of nonprofits coming to this party. We believe in creating awareness and raising funds for causes we’re passionate about, so if you’re passionate about them too, that’s one more reason to attend.We’re looking forward to an exciting 2017, but before then, we want to celebrate 2016 with you. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to call me, text me, or shoot me an email. We hope to see you there!                     

Considering Selling in 2016: Click here for a Free Price EvaluationConsidering Buying in 2016: Get Gateway Access to the MLSThe holiday season has officially begun! We hope you are as excited as we are.We’d like to take a moment to express our gratitude to all of you this Thanksgiving. Over the years, we have met some truly wonderful people, and we wouldn’t be where we are today without all of your support.“We have met some truly wonderful people. ”Enjoy your Thanksgiving dinner with all of your family and friends—that’s what we plan to do!In the meantime, if you have any real estate questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us. We would be happy to help you.You can also watch our most recent articles by clicking on the images below! How Will the Election Affect Our Real Estate Market?  Comparing Our Market Today With the Real Estate Peak In 2006

.embed-container { position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%; height: 0; overflow: hidden; max-width: 100%; height: auto; } .embed-container iframe, .embed-container object, .embed-container embed { position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; } Considering Buying? GO HERE to perform a Full Home Search, or if you're a prospective seller, CLICK HERE to receive a Free Home Value Report. For any other questions, feel free to call me at (281) 599-6575, or shoot me an email at rdr@daleross.com.Every so often, we have foreclosed homes that come onto our market, and there are always many different kinds of buyers looking to purchase them. A lot of them are wholesale buyers, looking to purchase a property, rent it out, and sell it. Then we also have the families, the everyday buyers, who are looking for a good deal and want to move into the property right away. If you are a homebuyer looking at a foreclosure, it’s true that these homes will often be marketed at a discounted rate if they are in need of some improvements or other work. Some, if not most, of these foreclosures, wind up in a bidding process. By the time the price gets bid up to an actual sales price, typically it’s not a good buy anymore because of all the time and effort that’s needed to make the home suitable for you to live in. However, people still flock to these properties because they are labeled as “foreclosures.” Usually, regular homes are every bit as good of a purchase. Foreclosures are essentially a mixed-bag, and you rarely know what you’re going to get. If you have any questions about foreclosures, feel free to give me a call or send me a quick email. We look forward to hearing from you!

Considering Buying? GO HERE to perform a Full Home Search, or if you're a prospective seller, CLICK HERE to receive a Free Market Analysis. For any other questions, feel free to call me at (281) 599-6575, or shoot me an email at rdr@daleross.com.Recently, I had a client who was searching for a home ask me an interesting question. He asked if certain builders’ homes sold for higher prices than other builders’ homes. This isn’t an easy question to answer, because many buyers who buy re-sale homes, even custom homes, have no idea who originally built the home. If the homeowner keeps the home updated and upgraded to the point where buyers form an emotional connection with it, typically those homes are all going to sell for the same price. When you’re talking about brand-new homes, there are some builders that initially charge more than others. But really, it’s comparing apples to apples when you’re comparing custom homes. Whenever a buyer goes in, has an emotional connection, and can see great upgrades and updates in the home, it can sell for top dollar. If you have any questions for us or are concerned with how your home will present to a buyer when you’re ready to sell, let me know. I can give you tips and hints to sell for top dollar in Houston. I look forward to hearing from you!

Considering Buying? GO HERE to perform a Full Home Search, or if you're a prospective seller, CLICK HERE to receive a Free Market Analysis. For any other questions, feel free to call me at (281) 599-6575, or shoot me an email at rdr@daleross.com.A lot of people have been asking me about the differences between a short sale and a foreclosure. They are both different kinds of distressed properties, and I’ll tell you the difference today.A foreclosure is a home that a bank owns because it was repossessed due to an owner’s inability to pay back a mortgage loan. A short sale is a process in which a bank allows a homeowner to sell a home at less than what they owe the bank. This usually happens because of a drop in value. I did a search this morning, and we are seeing more short sales and foreclosures because of the rise in prices in the area. I actually expect a 50-60% increase in the number of foreclosures. The market has been white-hot the past few years, and it’s simply time for it to cool down a little. No need to worry, though, our market is still very strong!Please don’t hesitate to contact me if you need help buying or selling a home in Houston!

Considering Buying? GO HERE to perform a Full Home Search, or if you're a prospective seller, CLICK HERE to receive a Free Home Value Report. For any other questions, feel free to call me at (281) 599-6575, or shoot me an email at rdr@daleross.com.December 2015 was a record month in real estate for the Houston area. The momentum has continued so far in January, which started out with a phenomenal burst of buyers. In fact, this past weekend we had 48 people show up to a single open house, and we received three offers by the end of the day.What we're looking for this year is an increase in interest rates. When rates rise, they decrease the affordability index, which can negatively affect home prices. If you take a home price of $250,000, a change in interest rates from 3.75% to 4.25% will have a pretty dramatic impact on the affordability of a home. It will likely put some downward pressure on the median sale price, but how much pressure depends on how big the change is, so be sure to keep an eye on rates throughout the year.If you have any questions about what you can expect from the Houston market this year, please don't hesitate to reach out to us. We would love to help you take advantage of the market before rates rise and prices fall!

Considering Buying? GO HERE to perform a Full Home Search, or if you're a prospective seller, CLICK HERE to receive a Free Market Analysis. For any other questions, feel free to call me at (281) 599-6575, or shoot me an email at rdr@daleross.com.One of the most frequent questions I get these days is if we are in a buyer’s market or a seller’s market in Houston. The answer is, we are actually in a balanced market. Whenever you’re in a balanced market, you’re never really even-keeled. Typically you’re trending one way or another; toward a seller’s market or a buyer’s market. The Houston real estate market is currently trending toward a buyer’s market.This means we have more sellers than we do buyers. Right now we have about 6.5 sellers for every buyer out there. Typically when you get to about a five month supply of homes for sale - which we’re easing towards right now - it turns into a full-blown buyer’s market. Right now, prices are becoming competitive because we have so many sellers trending toward that buyer’s market. Over the past year we’ve seen about a half point decline in home values on a monthly basis, so prices are down in general; about 6% lower than where they were during the same period last year. I expect the current decline to continue, well into the summertime. In fact, I expect us to hit that buyer’s market at the end of July, when prices will become even more competitive, and we’ll have about 10 sellers for every buyer in the market. Things will get interesting unless something changes dramatically in the petroleum industry (which is what controls a lot of our market in Houston).If you’re interested in learning more, email me and I’ll provide a free market analysis. If you have any questions in general, send me an email or give me a call. I look forward to working with you.

Considering Buying? GO HERE to perform a Full Home Search, or if you're a prospective seller, CLICK HERE to receive a Free Home Value Report. For any other questions, feel free to call me at (281) 599-6575, or shoot me an email at rdr@daleross.com.Today, I want to talk to you about a market condition that is starting to happen more often. This isn’t something that happened when Houston was in a seller’s market, but now that we’re in a balanced market, buyers have started making an offer on a home, executing a contract, and then continuing to look for homes. If the buyer finds another home they like better, they will secure that home under contract and terminate the initial contract. The Texas real estate contract lets the buyer out during the termination option period with a very insignificant penalty to the buyer.This drives sellers and agents crazy, but buyers have the upper hand in this market. We haven’t seen this happen before. Now, just having your home under contract is not a sure thing. It used to be that if problems arose during the home inspection and the buyer and seller couldn’t negotiate a deal, then the buyer would walk away. That’s not happening as much anymore. Now buyers are just finding a home they like better, and they have a lot to choose from. In our current market, there are 5.5 sellers for every buyer to choose from. If you have any questions, just give me a call or send me an email. I would be happy to help!

Considering Buying? GO HERE to perform a Full Home Search, or if you're a prospective seller, CLICK HERE to receive a Free Market Analysis. For any other questions, feel free to call me at (281) 599-6575, or shoot me an email at rdr@daleross.com.More and more, we’re starting to see the same problem during home inspections. In 2002, the state of Texas started requiring double-pane windows to be installed on all homes moving forward. These windows have a life expectancy of about 20-30 years, depending on the type. Since builders use different manufacturers and different types of materials for their double-pane windows, they are not all created equal. As a result, we’re seeing a 15% failure rate on some of the earliest windows, typically installed sometime between 2002 and 2005. The cause of these failures is our extreme weather. When you have 100-degree summers, the seals in the windows expand and contract; over time, they lose their elasticity and you get moisture in the window. A sign of a failed window is cloudiness on the inside of your windows, so if you’re seeing that on some of your windows, you may want to get them checked out. If you think your double-pane windows might be failing, it’s best to get them checked out and fixed before you list your home. You don’t want to lose a buyer over an issue like this, and even if the buyer sticks around while you get them repaired, it will really slow down the process. If you have any questions or concerns about this topic, please don’t hesitate to reach out. We would love to give you a hand!

Considering Buying? GO HERE to perform a Full Home Search, or if you're a prospective seller, CLICK HERE to receive a Free Home Value Report. For any other questions, feel free to call me at (281) 599-6575, or shoot me an email at rdr@daleross.com.The great news right now in the Houston market is that interest rates are still low and buyers still have faith in the market. There will come a point when many home buyers will decide to wait another 6 months to start buying again, and when that happens we are going to start to see some declines in buying activity. The biggest challenge sellers are having is that there is only one buyer out there for every 5 sellers. We are seeing 1 out of every 5 homes sell, and the rest are sitting. A lot of people are listing their homes right now and as long as petroleum stays in the $30 per barrel range, we expect this to continue. One other thing we wanted to mention is to remember to protest your property taxes. I can help you with that. Head over to drtaxprotest.com and I’ll send you the info you need to protest them in 2016. If you have any questions for me, don’t hesitate to reach out. I’d love to get a call or email from you!

The upcoming presidential election has left a lot of questions up in the air about our economy. Here is the effect I think it will have on the market.Considering Selling in 2016: Click here for a Free Price EvaluationConsidering Buying in 2016: Get Gateway Access to the MLSI’ve got two things that I’d like to talk to you about today.First, I’d like to tell you about an exciting property we recently listed: The Cloverleaf Ranch. You may have read about it in Crain’s Chicago Business because it’s the highest-priced single-family home in Illinois at $18.9 million. Of course, it’s not your typical home; it is actually a hunting lodge.The ranch is located near Princeton, Illinois on more than 1,217 acres of land. The property includes an FAA grass runway, a shooting range, in addition to a 34-acre lake stocked with walleye, muskie, large and smallmouth bass that some have called “the best fishing in the Midwest.” Check out the pictures and video to see all that The Cloverleaf Ranch has to offer.Secondly, I’d like to talk about a topic that’s obviously on everybody’s minds: the upcoming election. With such a major election coming up, I’ve been asked many times how I think that the presidential election will affect the stock market and the real estate market, so I’d like to break that down for you today.“The stock market does well under split governments. ”Though some may have you believe otherwise, the stock market is not always affected by presidential approval ratings. The market may be hot when a president has a low approval rating, or it may be cold when a president has a high approval rating.In addition, though we have a split government right now with a democratic president and a republican house and senate, the stock market actually benefits from the checks and balances required to run the government. In fact, under split governments, the stock market has averaged a 7% annual increase historically, versus a one-party government when the stock market only sees a 4.6% annual increase.Keep this in mind during this upcoming election because split governments do not necessarily have a negative impact on the economy. Either way, we’re expecting to see a major spike in activity on the real estate market after the election, so be prepared!If you have any other questions about how our market may be impacted by the election or anything else related to real estate in the Chicagoland area, give me a call or send me an email. I’d be happy to help you!

Considering Buying? Click here to search all homes in your area    Considering Selling? Get a Free Home EvaluationDivorce is an unfortunate life event, but it's certainly not uncommon. Because of this, I've received many questions about how to sell a house while going through divorce proceedings.The house is usually the last thing dealt with in a divorce, and it is typically the most emotionally charged aspect of it as well. If one of the parties involved can afford to, they can buy out the other party with cash or by refinancing. The second option is to sell the property, and it's up to the owners, and possibly the court, to determine how the proceeds of that transaction will be divided among the parties. If the property is under water and there is more owed on the property than it is actually worth, a short sale can be conducted with the cooperation of both parties.  Regardless of what you choose to do, we recommend finding an experienced agent to guide the process. Open and transparent communication between the agent and both parties involved with the property is absolutely crucial in this situation.If anyone you know is going through a divorce and needs help buying or selling a property please don't hesitate to reach out to us. We have been through this process many times before and would love to help! !function(e,t,i){for(var a=t.getElementsByTagName("iframe"),o=0;o0){var r=l.height/l.width*100;l.style.position="absolute",l.style.top="0",l.style.left="0",l.width="100%",l.height="100%";var d=t.createElement("div");d.className="fluid-vids",d.style.width="100%",d.style.position="relative",d.style.paddingTop=r+"%";var n=l.parentNode;n.insertBefore(d,l),d.appendChild(l)}}}(window,document);

Considering Buying? Click here to search all homes in your area    Considering Selling? Get a Free Home EvaluationToday we are excited to bring you the second half of our two-part series on the tax benefits of owning real estate. Last time, we talked about the advantages of owning and living in a home as far as your taxes are concerned. Today we are talking about even more tax benefits, but this time from an investor’s perspective. Here are some of the best benefits. First off, you can sell your investment property without having to pay capital gains via a 1030 exchange into another investment property. This allows investors to continue to take out their equity, and re-invest it in something bigger and better.Let’s say you start off by investing in a single-family home. As it goes up in value, you can sell the property, do a 1031 exchange, and buy a better property with the equity. Some other tax benefits that home investors can take advantage of include deducting property taxes and depreciating the value of a home over 27.5 years. These are just a few of the ways you can save on your taxes and protect your real estate investments. Before making any moves, however, we advise you to reach out to your tax professional and see what works best for you. If you have any questions, give us a call or send us an email. We look forward to hearing from you!

Considering Buying? Click here to search all homes in your area   Considering Selling? Get a Free Home EvaluationEvery day here in Los Angeles and Orange County, there are hundreds of homes that exit the market because they just didn't sell. I recently met with someone who had listed with an agent. The agent was a friend of theirs, and the home did not sell.   All real estate agents differ. Just because someone has a real estate license doesn't mean they are a true professional! It's crucial to work with a professional real estate agent in order to sell your property. Here's why.1. Ask for testimonials. When hiring an agent, you should see proof of their success. 2. Ask for their marketing plan. Are they just going to put your house up on the MLS and run an open house or two? Your agent should have a cohesive marketing strategy to get your home in front of as many buyers as possible.3. Are they using technology to target buyers? Make sure your agent is up to date on the latest technological trends. They should be able to track results and show you how your home is being advertised online. 4. Are they an expert on the local market? Do they know the average number of days a home spends on the market? Are they up to date on supply and demand? Market conditions majorly impact the price of a property, so you need an agent who knows what's going on. 5. Do they give you the ability to fire them? A good agent should allow you to stop working with them at no cost or penalty to you. 6. Do they use a professional photographer? The quality of your home photos is critical to how your property shows online. 7. What is their strategy to maximize how well your home shows? In other words, do they have a stager or stylist to prepare your home for buyers? Statistics prove that staged homes sell for 6% to 8% more than non-staged homes.If you have any questions about today's video, give us a call or send us an email. We would be happy to help you!

Considering Buying? Click here to search all homes in your area    Considering Selling? Get a Free Home EvaluationOur next two videos will explain the tax benefits of owning real estate. In the next video, we’ll discuss the benefits of owning real estate as an investment. Today, we'll cover how home ownership can save you money on your taxes.Homeowners are able to receive a number of tax benefits. When you go to sell your home, you can take up to $250,000 in tax re-profit as an individual. As a married couple, you can have up to $500,000 of tax re-profit when you sell.What does that mean for you? Let’s say you own a home as an individual. You bought the property for $300,000, but now it’s worth $550,000. When you sell the property, you have $250,000 in profit, and you’re able to keep that profit tax free. The only requirement is you have to have lived in the property for 2 of the past 5 years. If not, you might be able to get a partial reduction. Owning a home also gets you certain tax write offs. For instance, you can write off interest on your loan, as well as the money you pay every year in property taxes. Plus, if you take out a home improvement loan, the money you pay in interest is tax deductible. There are a number of tax benefits to owning real estate. If you have any questions, just give us a call or send us an email. We would be happy to help you! 

Our lifestyle is powered by energy, yet many of us know very little about it. In Energy Bite, a weekly 90-second radio module focused on energy technology, opportunities, and challenges related to every day life. Each episode, hosted by 90.5 WESA Pittsburgh and distributed by Public Radio Exchange (PRX), features interviews with energy experts from Carnegie Mellon University’s Scott Institute for Energy Innovation. Listeners can participate by asking the experts questions to explore in future episodes and by responding to polls linked to the stories. For more information visit www.energybite.org.

Considering Buying? Click here to search all homes in your area   Considering Selling? Get a Free Home EvaluationRecently, I talked with a past client and they asked an important question: "How do you sell a property occupied by tenants?" Today, I'll share a few tips on selling a tenant-occupied property for a premium price.Identify if you need to disturb the tenant at all. If the property is a single-family home, condo, or townhouse, and you expect that the buyers will want to live in the property, then yes, you will need to work with the tenants.My team and I make this process a win-win situation for you and your tenants. We don't want to hassle the tenants, but we want to we show the property to all interested buyers in order to get the highest price.For example, we recently listed a condo where both tenants worked during the day. We had showings on Wednesdays and Thursdays, and then for a two-hour block on Saturdays. The tenants didn't have to keep the house ready for showings every day, and we still showed the property to all interested buyers. In fact, we got three offers that Wednesday, and another three on Thursday. Even though we had limited showings, this property will be the highest sale in its building. Being tenant occupied did not affect our ability to sell the property for the highest price.If the property is a multi-unit property, such as a duplex, and we expect the buyer to be an investor, we may not need to disturb the tenant at all. We price the property on the market and let potential buyers know that the property is being offered subject to inspection. Once we receive an offer, we will open up the property for a showing.This is a common way to sell multi-unit properties. Once all the offers are in, we schedule a time for the buyers to walk through the property. You still need to communicate with the tenants, but it's only to set up one showing.We recently sold a five unit property with multiple offers. We only disturbed the tenants once, and ultimately, the property sold above asking price.As you can see, selling a tenant-occupied property is not as difficult as it may seem. If you have any questions, give me a call or send me an email. I would be happy to help you!

Considering Buying? Click here to search all homes in your area   Considering Selling? Get a Free Home Evaluation2015 has come and gone, so let's go over the housing market forecast for the market in 2016.In LA County, the average price for a single family home was $540,000, which is a 4% increase for the year. Homes in LA County are selling for 98.8% of the asking price.In Orange County, the average price for single family homes was $695,000, which is a 2% increase. Homes in Orange County are selling for 97% of the original asking price.We have particularly low inventory in Orange County and LA County currently. In fact, both counties have 2.6 months of inventory, which is the lowest inventory we've seen in the past ten years. We expect this to set us up for a very strong 2016.We are currently experiencing interest rates between 3.75% and 4%. In mid December, the Fed increased interest rates by 0.25%. Although this seems like a slight increase, it profoundly affects your mortgage payments. Additionally, we might experience rate hikes again in 2016.We expect that the market in Southern California will go up 3% to 5% for 2016. Keep a lookout for affordability. Right now, only 30% of the population in LA County can afford the median sales price. In the OC, only 22% can afford to pay the median sales price. That's why we're not seeing the major increases in price that we saw in 2012 and 2013. Affordability has hit a bit of a plateau.If you have any questions about today's video, give us a call or send us an email. We would be happy to help you!

Considering Buying? Click here to search all homes in your area   Considering Selling? Get a Free Home EvaluationToday we just wanted to reach out for a moment and wish you and your family a safe and happy holiday season from our entire team here at Tim Majka Real Estate Experts. We are very appreciative of all the support you have shown to us this past year and because of that, we were able to help over 30 families buy or sell a home. We are looking forward to another great year in 2016, helping even more families realize their dreams of home ownership.Have a safe, happy, and fun holiday season, everyone! If you have any questions for us, or are interested in buying or selling a home in the near future, give us a call or send us an email. We can’t wait to hear from you!

First, let’s talk about the cons. The biggest one is that no one wants to spend the time during the holidays to show their home. That is a valid concern, but there are ways you can limit when your home is shown to potential buyers. We can reduce the number of days your home is available for showings, and can even make certain days throughout the holiday season “off-limits” for showings. The other big con that this presents is moving during the holidays. We can help reduce this problem for you. If your home is for sale in December and scheduled to close at the end of the year, a lot of times we can negotiate either a delayed closing or a 2-4 week rent-back period, so you don’t have to add that stress on your plate until after the holidays are over.While there are a few drawbacks to listing your home on the market right now, there are also plenty of advantages to selling now that you don’t get at other points in the year. The biggest pro to selling during the holidays is the low inventory. Right now, we have the lowest level of inventory that we’ve seen in the last 10 years all over Orange County. With less homes to compete against on the market, your home stands out more to buyers.Another great reason to list right now is because of all the serious buyers out on the market right now, looking to close on a deal before the end of the year, either for personal or tax reasons. A lot of times these buyers don’t mind allowing a rent-back for the holiday season, because they don’t want to move then either. These are just a few of the pros of selling during the holidays. We have found that this time of year is a great time for home sellers to list their homes and get back the equity they have gained in recent years. If you have any questions for us, don’t hesitate to give us a call or send us an email. We would love to hear from you!Considering Buying? Click here to search all homes in your area Considering Selling? Get a Free Home Evaluation