Podcasts about full home search

Here's a great example of why you should buy a home sooner than later.Buying a Jonesboro home?  Get a Full Home SearchSelling your Jonesboro home? Get a Free Home Price EvaluationDoes it make sense to buy in today's market? I've been hearing this question a lot lately, and I wanted to offer insight into why my answer is a resounding, “Yes!”I recently saw a colleague of mine post about a house they sold in 2012 for $360,000; it's a gorgeous home. The exact same house, with just a few updates, just sold for $692,000. That's $330,000 worth of appreciation in just about 10 years. Now, the home didn't increase in value by $30,000 every year. In the last few years, home prices have grown exponentially. Most of that value came within the last 12 to 18 months. The house might have gone from $450,000 to $692,000 during that time. I didn't see this coming, and I don't think anyone in their right mind would have thought the real estate market would be rebounding like this amidst a global pandemic."In the last few years, home prices have grown exponentially." So does it make sense to buy in this market? Absolutely; real estate is a fantastic long-term investment. I guarantee that $692,000 home is going to sell for over a million dollars one day. The question is, do you want to be involved in a great investment like that?If you have any real estate-related questions for me, don't hesitate to reach out via phone or email. I look forward to hearing from you soon. 

Here's why Zillow shuttered their home-buying program at the end of 2021Something happened at the end of 2021 that you might not have heard about. Many people visit one platform when they look for available properties. The name of that platform is Zillow, and for the last few years, they have been not only marketing homes but also buying them.Zillow would make an offer on a property without seeing it, close that transaction, and send someone out to renovate it. They were buying and rehabbing houses all over the country, but at the end of 2021, they shut down that program.At the end of the day, nothing can replace a seasoned agent.It's funny because clients used to bring up Zillow's estimate at listing appointments. To me, those numbers felt like they were as much as 25% over or 35% below the actual price. It was interesting when Zillow announced that they would start buying properties based on these estimates. After a couple of years of trying this, it turns out Zillow was losing money on almost every house they bought. They obviously hadn't gone the right way with their algorithm. At the end of the day, nothing can replace a seasoned agent who knows the market, lives in the area, and works in it every day.On top of that, every market is different, and every market changes. It can depend on what's in the newspaper that day or what announcements were recently made. There are just too many pieces for an algorithm to put it all together. It was interesting to see if Zillow could succeed, but they couldn't, and that's why you still need to depend on your local experts.If you have any questions, or if you truly want to know what your home is worth, please call or email me. I'd be happy to do a home valuation for you. Buying a Jonesboro home?  Get a Full Home SearchSelling your Jonesboro home? Get a Free Home Price Evaluation

My experiences with appraisals not meeting the contract price.Buying a Jonesboro home?  Get a Full Home SearchSelling your Jonesboro home? Get a Free Home Price EvaluationWhen you sell your house and the appraisal does not meet the contract price, what do you do? This has happened to me two or three times in the last month, despite only happening to me five other times in the last 16 years. For it to happen three times in the last month is a big deal. The great news was that I still closed all three transactions. One of the properties sold for around $195,000, although the appraisal came in at $185,000. The seller actually purchased that home from us two years before the close date for $150,000, so they made quite a bit of money. When the appraisal came in $10,000 under, we went back, renegotiated the contract, and ended up only moving about $5,000 total. I had another deal that came in $40,000 under the appraised value. I called the buyer and asked them how they would like to handle it. They said, “We love the house and we want it. We really don't care what the appraisal says. We have the funds to pay the difference.” So we went to closing with an appraisal lower than the contract price and the buyer was still thrilled with the transaction."These are the kind of sticky situations that you run into when selling your house."Those were two great situations for the buyer and the seller. Everybody was happy, but what happens if the appraisal comes in under contract price and the buyer doesn't want to move forward? You have a couple of other options. In today's market, I'd be fine with that happening if it was my property. I would put it right back on the market and probably sell it for a little bit more depending on what was going on in your area. These are the kind of sticky situations that you can run into when selling your house. I've seen more people out there sell their house as a FSBO listing during these times because they think it's going to be incredibly easy in a seller's market. It's one thing to sell a house, but it's another thing entirely to close the house. When it comes to buying and selling homes, our team's here for you. We've closed over 3,000 transactions in the last 16 years, and we'll do whatever it takes to make sure you're taken care of. If you're looking to buy or sell a home, don't hesitate to reach out to us. We'll be happy to help you.

Here are some tips and strategies to help you make offers in this market.Buying a Jonesboro home?  Get a Full Home SearchSelling your Jonesboro home? Get a Free Home Price EvaluationToday I'm talking about how buyers in this market can navigate multiple-offer situations. So you're a buyer looking for a home, and maybe you work Monday through Friday, 8 p.m. to 5 p.m., and your agent texts you at 10 p.m. saying the perfect house just hit the market. If you've been a buyer for a little while in this market, you've probably gotten to that house at 6 a.m. only to find that it's already sold. We're seeing buyers getting burned out from things like this. How do you handle that?I always want to inspect a house before putting an offer on it. Any Arkansas real estate association contract is going to have an inspection period. If a good house hits the market at 10 a.m. but you can't get there until 5:30 p.m., go ahead and write the offer at whatever price you're comfortable with. It may get rejected or thrown out, but at least you're on the hunt."We're seeing buyers getting burned out from things like this."Write the offer contingent upon your inspection. Having an inspection doesn't mean you have to find something majorly wrong with the house to walk away from that contract. Your inspection can be you walking in and saying that the bedroom's too small, the layout doesn't work, or the kitchen's just not exactly what you wanted. The inspection contingency is a strategy that we have used in the past, and it works out very well, especially in a hot market like today.Another trick we have is when you write an offer, be flexible on the closing date. If you can tell a seller that once we close you'll give them X more days to move out, that won't cost you any money, and it will make your offer look so much better. If you have kids, write a letter to the seller about how you can see your kids playing in the backyard and all those memories being made. A heartfelt letter will go a long way with an offer as well.If you have any real estate questions, reach out to me and let me know; my cell phone number is (870) 919-4968. If you're thinking about buying or selling, I'm here to help. Have a blessed day, and we'll talk soon.

How do you prepare your home for sale in today’s market?Buying a Jonesboro home?  Get a Full Home SearchSelling your Jonesboro home? Get a Free Home Price EvaluationHomes have been selling with multiple offers, many of them getting well over their asking prices. Truth be told, I don’t know how long these market conditions will last, but I don’t see them slowing down anytime soon. That said, it’s still a good idea to get your home ready for the market. Buyers may be hungry for properties, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that they’ll make offers on homes they deem in poor condition. Walk around your home and look for any cosmetic issues that need to be addressed. Cosmetic issues could include paint, floors, countertops, and so on. Be sure to touch up any scratches or scuffs."It may take some time for subcontractors to get around to the small jobs."You should know, however, that subcontractors in our area are very busy, so if you don’t have any major renovation plans, it may take some time for them to get around to the small jobs. I also can’t tell you exactly how much you’ll be able to recoup in this market, but you’ll probably be able to price your home at a number you’re comfortable with and still leave enough money on the table for your buyer to go in and make the changes they want.If you’re in the market to sell a home or have questions about specific ways to prepare your home for the market, please reach out to us. We’re here to help.

Here’s my advice on how to handle multiple offers in this market.Buying a Jonesboro home?  Get a Full Home SearchSelling your Jonesboro home? Get a Free Home Price EvaluationWhether you’re listing your home in Northeast Arkansas or anywhere else in the U.S., there’s one trend I keep seeing over and over: If the home is clean, neat, and ready to sell, most of the time it’ll get multiple offers. What’s the best way to handle multiple offers, though?For starters, hopefully your listing agent lets other agents know that there are multiple offers on the table. Sometimes this scares other buyers off because they don’t want to get into a bidding war. However, we’ve found that after these same buyers have lost out on a house or two (or three), they’re willing to step up to the plate because they understand they’ll have to engage in a bidding war if they want a house in this market. "When you have multiple offers, why not play them against each other?"That said, my team and I use the ‘highest and best’ method when handling multiple offers. Let’s say one of our sellers gets three offers for their home: one for $10,000 over asking price, one for $11,000 over asking price, and one for $12,000 over asking price. Let’s also imagine that one of these offers is an excellent offer—an offer the seller might even be willing to accept. When you have multiple offers, though, why not play those offers against each other?In this case, we’d contact each agent, tell them we have multiple offers on the table, and give them notice that we’ll go over all the offers at, say, 5 p.m. If they want to leave their offers as they are, that’s fine, but now they know there are multiple offers on the table, and there’s a good chance the seller won’t counter any of them. They’ll probably just accept one of them because they’re all at or above list price. Now their client has the opportunity to put their best foot forward. Three to six months ago, if a buyer would’ve written an offer for a property, they probably would’ve gotten a counteroffer detailing which terms the seller would accept. Nowadays, the seller doesn’t have to do that. You can basically say that you have other offers and need the highest and best brought to you by a certain time. At that point, you can go over the offers and pick whichever one suits your needs. If you’d like to know more about juggling multiple offers, know what your home is worth in this market, or are thinking of buying a home, don’t hesitate to reach out to me. I’d be happy to help you.

Homebuyers should check these three items off their to-do lists. Buying a Jonesboro home?  Get a Full Home SearchSelling your Jonesboro home? Get a Free Home Price EvaluationIf you’re a buyer in today’s crazy market, there are three things you need to do as soon as possible if you want to be ready:1. Get pre-qualified. If you’re financing your home purchase, you need to have a letter from a bank that says you’re approved to buy a house for X amount, or else sellers perceive your offer as being riskier to accept.2. Get proof of funds. If you’re paying in cash, be sure to provide proof of funds, and mention in your offer that you’re buying without any financing contingencies to put yourself in an even stronger position. "Make sure that the agent you choose has experience in this fast-paced market."3. Work with a superstar real estate agent (like me!). While people can go online to get information about the properties they’re interested in as well as whatever information the listing agent wants them to know, you can’t find out all the down-and-dirty stuff that goes on behind the scenes. There are many things about a property that you might need to know; a superstar agent will know to ask about the seller’s property disclosure, utilities, bills of insurance, HOA requirements, and so on. You also need to make sure that the agent you choose has experience in this fast-paced market. It’s important that they’ve been through the ups and downs of the market so they know how to adjust to shifting circumstances.Don’t hesitate to reach out to me for any questions you have or help you need. I’d be happy to help you navigate this market so that you can get a great deal on your next home and move on to a new stage in life.

Here’s what our low inventory means for buyers and sellers.Buying a Jonesboro home?  Get a Full Home SearchSelling your Jonesboro home? Get a Free Home Price EvaluationWhat’s the latest news from our Jonesboro real estate market? The biggest challenge we’re facing is inventory. There aren’t enough homes on the market to meet demand. That meansif a home comes on the market that you’re interested in and fits all your criteria, you need to jump on it. You have to get after it, because if you don’t, someone else will. If you’re a seller, this means you can probably ask whatever you want in terms of price. Due to this lack of inventory, we’re seeing houses sell for more money than I’ve ever seen before. Another reason resale home prices are surging is that lumber prices for new construction homes have gone through the roof. In fact, just about everything you see on a new construction home has increased in price dramatically. If new construction homes cost between $140 and $150 per square foot, sellers who perhaps paid $120 per square foot for their current homes can now ask for $125 to $130 per square foot. “       I always used to say that real life is not like HGTV, but guess what? Now it is.” This obviously isn’t great news for buyers, but the silver lining is that you can lock in a ridiculously low interest rate right now. It seems like I’ve been talking about this for the past 15 years. Every time we think rates can’t possibly get any lower, they do. We’re seeing 15- and 30-year fixed rates as low as 2.9%, 2.5%, and even 2.1%. Although you’ll have to pay more for a home, some of the cost is offset by how low your monthly mortgage payment will be. In addition to being ready to jump on the next suitable listing, have your pre-qualification letter in-hand when you visit it because there’s an agent in front of you and an agent behind you showing that home. We recently listed a couple of homes that literally had lines outside their doors mere hours after going live on the market. I never thought I’d see that here in Jonesboro. I always used to say that real life is not like HGTV, but guess what? Now it is. As always, make sure you get in touch with a great real estate agent so they can guide you through the home-buying process. If you’d like to know what your home is worth or have questions about our Jonesboro market, don’t hesitate to reach out to me. I’d love to help you.

Take a look at just how hot our market is.Buying a Jonesboro home?  Get a Full Home SearchSelling your Jonesboro home? Get a Free Home Price EvaluationToday I was going to show off some really awesome listings that recently became available on the market, but as it turns out, they all flew off the market before we even got a chance to publish this blog post! That just goes to show you how hot this market truly is. Here are a couple of examples of the types of homes that buyers have been snatching up right and left:1. 805 Smithfield, Jonesboro, AR 72401—$299,000. This 4-bed, 3.5-bath home is newly constructed and sold for a great price.2. 5109 Deerfield Dr., Jonesboro, AR 72404—$174,900. This 3-bed, 2-bath home has brand-new flooring in the main living area and the hallways. Being priced under $175,000, there was no way that it would stay on the market for long! “     Buyers in the market need to make sure they’re acting quickly.” We also had a group of new construction homes located in The Orchard, a development we talked about a few weeks ago on our blog. This is a brand-new, master plan development full of craftsman-style homes located in the Valleyview school district. These one-level homes range from $199,000 to $225,000, and there were a ton of builder incentives on them. Since homes are flying off the shelves, buyers in the market need to make sure they’re acting quickly and writing strong offers that will stand out amid their competition. Here are a few tips to help you craft an eye-catching offer:1. Make your best offer first. Don’t write unrealistic offers for which the home couldn’t appraise. In this market, you can’t afford to haggle because the seller will likely move on to one of their numerous other offers.2. Have a solid pre-approval letter. A pre-approval means the lender has already collected your paperwork, is ready to submit it to underwriting, and the only other thing you need is an appraisal. A fully pre-approved offer is almost as good as cash.3. Make an above-average earnest money deposit. The earnest money deposit is usually about 1% of the purchase price, but if you deposit more, that’s a good way to stand out among the competition. Remember: Earnest money is a signal of good faith that tells the seller you’re committed to making a win-win deal. If you’re interested in taking a look at any property in the Northeast Arkansas area, don’t hesitate to reach out to us. Additionally, you can also reach out to us if you’d like your own home featured in one of our listings videos. Contact us for a free home evaluation and we’ll get your home in front of as many buyers’ eyes as possible. Hope to hear from you soon!

Here are three tips that will help you move safely amid the pandemic. Buying in Northern New Jersey? Get a Full Home SearchSelling in Northern New Jersey? Free Home Price EvaluationA pandemic isn’t an ideal time to move, but some people simply don’t have a choice. If you’re facing a move in the coming days or weeks, here are three tips that will help you do so safely and as easily as possible:1. Remember that it’s worth spending extra money. The American Moving & Storing Association recommends passing on free recycled boxes from supermarkets and opting for new ones if possible. The reason is simple: Doing this minimizes your exposure to the coronavirus. Also, stock up on adequate disinfectants and wipes for yourself, your moving truck, and any shared equipment. If it makes sense in your situation, hire a moving company to handle the move for you safely and strategically. Many moving companies currently provide virtual estimates and contactless moving.“  Stock up on adequate disinfectants and wipes for yourself, your moving truck, and any shared equipment.     ” 2. Remember that preparation is more important now than ever. A move can sometimes become a disorganized affair, but now is the time to make it as neat and orderly as possible. By minimizing the moving time, you’re minimizing contact and exposure. 3. If you’re doing the move yourself, clean the truck and any shared moving bins or boxes. If you’re hiring a moving company, inquire about the specific measures they’re using to deal with the pandemic, both with their equipment and employees. A move can be a frustrating experience, but don’t throw caution to the wind and get careless. Be mindful of ongoing advice about masks, social distancing, and hygiene. As always, if you have questions about this or any real estate topic, don’t hesitate to reach out to us. We’d love to help you. 

These three simple home updates will get you the best ROI when selling.Buying in Northern New Jersey? Get a Full Home SearchSelling in Northern New Jersey? Free Home Price EvaluationWhat upgrades will get you the best return on your investment when selling your house? To get the maximum value out of your home projects, focus on smaller tasks; they can actually have a larger impact on the aesthetic appeal of your house without breaking the bank. Here are three of the best ROI updates:1. Small bathroom remodel. This could be as simple as getting new countertops, repainting to a brighter color, or re-tiling the shower. All these projects will have a massive impact without having to completely demolish the bathroom. These projects alone can bring a 102% return on your investment.2. Update landscaping. Landscaping is the first thing buyers see when looking at your property, aka curb appeal. You can simply add fresh mulch and plant flowers. You only get one chance to make a wonderful first impression, and vibrant landscaping can certainly boost curb appeal. The average investment for landscaping is a bit pricier: $3,500. However, it almost always has a 100% return on investment.3. Minor kitchen facelift. Repainting the cabinets and getting new hardware will make an outdated kitchen feel new again. These modest changes can bring around a 97% return on investment.Landscaping is the first thing buyers see when looking at your home.We have excellent connections with contractors and designers that can help with any of your home project needs. If you’d like a referral or have other real estate-related questions, please feel free to give us a call at (201) 825-1266 or email us anytime. We’d love to hear from you. Most importantly, at this time, please stay safe and healthy.

Here are three great home staging items you can buy at a bargain. Buying in Northern New Jersey? Get a Full Home SearchSelling in Northern New Jersey? Free Home Price EvaluationIf you want to sell your home quickly and for top dollar, it’s important to make sure that visiting buyers never have to stare at any empty rooms or bare walls. The “deserted warehouse” look is out, so if your home isn’t staged attractively, you’re missing out because plenty of other houses will be.The good news is, you don’t have to spend a lot of money staging your home attractively. Buying expensive items to upgrade your home isn’t necessarily the way to go if you don’t have the budget for that. One unexpected place to look for staging props, for example, is Walmart. A few dollars spent on the right items there can go a long way. Check out the bargains they offer to amp up your home staging without breaking the bank.“  You don’t have to spend a lot of money staging your home attractively.    ” Here are three items you can buy that will do the trick:1. Fluffy bathroom towels. Bathrooms are the second-most important area and selling feature in a home (next to the kitchen), and fresh, fluffy, colorful towels are the perfect accent for them.2. Faux plants. If you (like me) struggle to keep real plants alive, then faux plants are a great addition. There are some absolutely beautiful ones out there, and they sometimes look so real that it’s easy to assume they are.3. Candles. Candles add warmth, character, and an inviting scent to your home. You can get LED candles or the real thing, but LED candles don’t provide the same ambiance that real ones do, which is why I prefer the real deal. Remember to be responsible for where you place your candles.Bonus tip: Pictures and other accessories help divert a buyer’s attention away from a part of the home you may not like that much.If you’d like to know more home staging tips or have any other real estate questions, don’t hesitate to reach out to me. I’m here to help. 

You can attract more buyers by promoting your home as pet friendly.Buying in Northern New Jersey? Get a Full Home SearchSelling in Northern New Jersey? Free Home Price EvaluationWhen selling your home, one of the ways to attract a different breed of buyers is to promote your house as pet friendly. You should appeal to those who plan to share their new home with their animal friends. Almost any house can be marketed to pet owners, and if you take a little extra time to highlight the pet-friendly aspects of your property, it could sell quicker. You can tell your real estate agent that it’s fine for prospective buyers to bring their dogs along to scope out the home. Buyers are often impressed when sellers show their affection for pets. The best pet-friendly investment is to install a wooden or electric invisible fence around the perimeter of your yard. Also, the latest trend is to put a pet bath in the laundry room or garage, which is a sure-fire attention grabber. “If you take a little extra time to highlight the pet-friendly aspects of your property, it could sell quicker.” It’s equally crucial to hide those parts of the house that might initially turn off even the most ardent pet lovers. Agents everywhere love to use Febreze. Spritz it all around the furniture and pet beds before a showing to eliminate any odors. Even pet owners don’t like smelly houses. Also, be sure that your lawn is immaculate when showing your property; you can even hire a pooper scooper service. As always, please feel free to call or email us if you have questions about promoting your home to pet owners or any other real estate-related topic. We are always here to be of service to you, your friends, family, or anyone else you know that could benefit from our real estate expertise. We look forward to hearing from you!

Entering May, here’s a quick look at how the real estate market is doing.Buying in Northern New Jersey? Get a Full Home SearchSelling in Northern New Jersey? Free Home Price EvaluationWe’re back with our monthly real estate market minute for May. First and foremost, we hope you’re staying safe and healthy. We’re here for you to help with whatever you need during this time—just reach out. Our real estate market is moving along, as over 1,000 homes were listed in April and 480 went under contract. The fact that our market is so active is good news. To learn more about what’s going on in real estate and how we can help you, watch the short video above.

If you need anything at all while the country practices self-isolation and social distancing, let us know. We want to help.Buying in Northern New Jersey? Get a Full Home SearchSelling in Northern New Jersey? Free Home Price EvaluationWe just wanted to reach out to let you know that our entire team is ready to be an ally to you during these challenging times. Over the past few weeks, our team has been able to provide a variety of services, like running errands for the elderly and providing meals to those in need. We also helped find college students to tutor the children of parents who needed support with their homeschooling. If you need anything at all, reach out and let us know! In the meantime, stay safe and healthy. To see our full message, watch the short video above.

These are the three home design trends you’ll want to keep an eye out for in 2020.Buying in Northern New Jersey? Get a Full Home SearchSelling in Northern New Jersey? Free Home Price EvaluationWhen’s the right time to purchase your first home?The answer varies across age groups. One out of every five parents expect their child to own a home by age 25, but this doesn’t quite align with reality. Younger adults tend to feel the most pressure owning a home, but they’re still waiting on their own terms. Millennials between the ages of 25 and 34 have been slow to catch up to the rates of homeownership that Gen Xers and baby boomers did when they were in that age range. Millennials are marrying at later ages and have high student debt to blame for delaying their homeownership debut, and they now represent the largest home-buying force in the housing industry.One out of every five parents expect their child to own a home by age 25, but this doesn’t quite align with reality.Overall, millennials tend to feel the most judgment from their parents in relation to their life goals, whether that pertains to buying a home, getting married, or gaining financial independence. Purchasing a home is one of the most complex and expensive decisions most of us will make, so it’s easy to see how not choosing the right style, location, or size can invoke criticism from relatives. This is why it’s important to work with an experienced Realtor when making this milestone decision.As always, if you have questions about this or any other real estate topic, don’t hesitate to call or email us. We’d love to help you.

We’re sharing our forecast for the real estate market in 2020.Looking to buy a Chicago home? Get a Full Home SearchSelling your Chicago home? Get a Free Home Price EvaluationToday we’ll be sharing a Chicago real estate forecast for 2020. It’s incredible that 2019 is over and 2020 is here. In 2020, I believe the Chicago real estate market will be fairly solid; it’s not going to go too high or too low, at most sales prices may decrease by around 1%. Many sales will happen, a lot of development, numerous people buying, many people selling. Inventory may go up, so buyers might have more from which to choose.It should be a relatively stable environment in 2020.The mortgage rates will be great, we don’t expect them to go up in 2020. We were fortunate enough to have three Fed cuts throughout 2019, which helped mortgage rates and real estate sales overall. It should be a relatively stable environment in 2020, similar to 2019. That’s wonderful news for both buyers and sellers. If you need a real estate broker or have any questions, please reach out to me by phone or email. Also, if you have any loan or refinancing needs you can reach out to David Bowen at (708) 705-7911. Happy New Year!

Today, with the help of David Bowen from loanDepot, I’ll take you on a quick tour of one of my condo units in the South Loop. Take a look!Looking to buy a Chicago home? Get a Full Home SearchSelling your Chicago home? Get a Free Home Price EvaluationLocated at 13th and Michigan in the South Loop near Museum Park, this 1,400 square-foot, 2-bedroom, 2-bathroom condo unit also comes with a den, which has its own closet as well. As you can see in the video above, it’s a loft-style condo that was totally remodeled in 2018. The bathroom and kitchen are brand-new—the kitchen comes complete with quartz countertops. You’ll find a number of closets throughout the property, even in the master bedroom. It also has an in-unit washer/dryer.As for the building, you can take advantage of a workout facility, a package room, and for a fee, premier first-floor parking; you’ll be able to just go to your car and drive right out of the garage.This property is in move-in condition.As for the asking price, you’ll have to reach out to me to find out! I will say that, at the moment, the property is under $450,000, and according to David, you could actually put 3% down on a conventional loan on this unit without a problem. The building’s association is strong, so you shouldn’t find any repair issues!For more information about this unit’s prices, fees, and amenities, don’t hesitate to reach out to me at (312) 802-6204 or visit www.VergisEiland.com. For information about financing the unit, reach out to David Bowen at (708) 705-7911 or visit www.DavidRBowen.com.

Looking to buy a Chicago home? Get a Full Home SearchSelling your Chicago home? Get a Free Home Price EvaluationIt is the end of 2019, and we just want to say THANK YOU so much for your loyalty, business, and support. We appreciate the referrals you’ve given us throughout the year; they help us support our families. If you have any real estate needs or you know someone who wants to sell their home before the end of the year, call or email us immediately. Also, call us immediately if you want to sell, purchase or refinance a home in the new year. The current interest rates are excellent and we expect them to remain relatively low going into 2020. Happy holidays and Happy New Year from us!

If you’re looking for a few ways to make your home cozier and inviting as the weather gets colder, you’re in luck. Here are my top tips.Buying in Northern New Jersey? Get a Full Home SearchSelling in Northern New Jersey? Free Home Price EvaluationIt’s that time of year where we channel the cozy and warm vibes as the weather gets colder. There are plenty of ways to bring a warm, rustic look to your home without breaking the bank. Here are three cozy ways to warm up your home decor this year:1. Use canvas and burlap. Not only are these fabrics durable, but they give your home a more rustic feel. Seek out this fabric for your curtains, pillows, upholstery, and more. It really gives your home more of a cabin-like feel. The material works great on lampshades, ottomans, and barstools as well. Canvas laundry bags, magazine bags, and storage bags are good ideas, too.Cozy textures are simple to add, but they should be done minimally.2. Use natural colors. When considering paint, look to nature. Being immersed in the great outdoors is the idea, so focus on earth tones with splashes of colors. Look at browns, deep yellows, oranges, and greens for your color pallet.3. Use cozy textures. This is simple to do and should be done minimally. Add a chunky knit blanket, woven basket, flannel sheets, or soft wool rugs.These are just a few of the ways to get your home ready for the cold and keep you snug and cuddly inside. Stay warm out there!If you have any real estate-related questions for me, don’t hesitate to give me a call or send me an email. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Looking to buy a Chicago home? Get a Full Home SearchSelling your Chicago home? Get a Free Home Price EvaluationLocated on the northwest side of Chicago, about 6.5 miles away from Downtown, Logan Square is a fantastic area characterized by prominent boulevards, large-scale bungalows, and great restaurants. Because of these, and many other fantastic amenities, Logan Square is a great alternative to more expensive areas, such as Lincoln Park and the North Shore. And, in addition to the many entertainment opportunities Logan Square has to offer, the area also boasts a number of churches, schools, and parks. I’d be happy to speak with you more about this wonderful, family-friendly area if you’d like to find out what else it has to offer. As always, 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. 

Today we’d like to give you a glimpse into a great Logan Square listing: 1828 N. MonticelloLooking to buy a Chicago home? Get a Full Home SearchSelling your Chicago home? Get a Free Home Price EvaluationAllow me to introduce you to a great new listing in Logan Square: 1828 N. Monticello. This newly rehabbed 4-bed, 3-bath home is the perfect blend of aesthetics and function. With beautiful shaker cabinets and stainless steel appliances in the kitchen and hardwood floors throughout, this listing is sure to impress. It also boasts plenty of space, as evidenced by the home’s 2.5-car garage, and is nestled in a great neighborhood. Truly, this house could be your dream home. As always, 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.

One of the best things about the holidays is all the pretty lights. Here are just a few places where homeowners are taking things to a whole new level.Buying a Santa Clarita home? Get a Full Home Search Selling your Santa Clarita home? Get a Free Home Price EvaluationIt’s almost Christmas. Can you believe it? We are looking forward to serving you in the new year, but before we get there we want you to know about some great holiday lights around town. Each of these places is right here in Santa Clarita, so you and your family can pack up in the car and check them out for yourselves:Cotton Blossom Lane, Royal Oaks Rd., and Stevenson Ranch. These streets are all next to one another and they boast over 55,000 lights for you to see. Pretty much any street in this area off of Hope Parkway or Hemingway is great.27841 Crown Circle. This is an eight-house courtyard where the whole community gets together to put on an amazing light display. They even pass out hot chocolate for the people passing through!Essex Place. This is right off of Hillsborough Parkway. This amazing street is also known as Reindeer Lane. You’ll see Santa’s reindeer scattered throughout the displays. Keep an eye out for Rudolph and his shiny nose!Homestead Place. This street in Saugus Canyon has a special place in my heart because it’s the home to some of our favorite clients, the Ang family. You’ll see lights strung back and forth between the houses and some really amazing decorations.Wakefield Court. This is also in Saugus Canyon and affectionately known as the “Wakefield Winter Wonderland.” This is quite possibly the most popular street in Santa Clarita as far as Christmas lights are concerned.We encourage you to check out all of these places.We hope you take the time to enjoy a few of these places this holiday season. If you have any questions for us or any real estate needs in the new year, don’t hesitate to give me a call or send me an email. I would love to hear from you.

As 2017 draws to a close, now is a great time to check in on the Santa Clarita real estate market. How do the latest numbers look?Buying a Santa Clarita home? Get a Full Home Search Selling your Santa Clarita home? Get a Free Home Price EvaluationWe are charging into the end of the year. There is just a month left in 2017, so I wanted to share some of the latest numbers from the Santa Clarita real estate market, as well as a few exciting things for you to look forward to. Inventory is going a little crazy right now. That said, we are seeing a bit of a slowdown in the market as we head into the holidays. Typically, the market slows down around the holidays, picks up in mid-January or early February, and then slows down again for a bit when school lets out. Then the market is hot all through summer, slows down when kids go back to school, picks up again for a bit, and slows down during the holidays again. We didn’t see the cycles in our market a few years ago since there were so many foreclosures and short sales, but in the last couple of years, we have started to see those typical market cycles. That is good news. Although things have slowed down a bit for now, there are still some good options out there. There are 375 active homes in Santa Clarita as of the filming of this video. That is a really low number considering that we are closing 325 to 350 homes each month. As a result, we probably have one month of inventory available. At best, we have six weeks. This means that if no new homes came on the market, we would sell out in a month or six weeks. There are 580 pending sales in escrow right now, and 223 homes have closed so far this month. Now, let’s break down those active listings: 90 active listings in Valencia 21 active listings in Stevenson Ranch39 active listings in Newhall 120 active listings in all of Canyon Country There are just under 30 active listings in Castaic 70 active listings in SaugusSomething to consider is that 223 of those active homes have been on the market for 60 days or less, which means about 150 of them have been on the market for over 150 days. If you’re curious how these numbers impact your personal situation, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me. We have about one month of inventory—six weeks at most.Now, there are two exciting things I want to share with you. First, we’re rolling out a new website in the next couple of weeks. You will get a notification once it’s ready. We are so excited about the new features on this site. We’ll even have password-protected areas for our VIP clients, friends, and family members. Next, we are adding to our client appreciation program in 2018. Right now, we own popcorn machines, tables, chairs—anything that you might use or rent for a party, which you can borrow from us for free. We want to add at least one item to our party supply each month as we roll into 2018.We have more exciting news for you in the future, but we just have to finalize a few things first. If you have any ideas on which items we should add to our party inventory, please let us know. As always, if you have any real estate questions, just give us a call or send us an email. We would be happy to help you. Happy Holidays!

What’s been going on in the world of lending? Well, a recent change has just opened up a whole new pool of buyers on the market. Here’s what that means for you.Buying a Santa Clarita home? Get a Full Home Search Selling your Santa Clarita home? Get a Free Home Price EvaluationToday I want to bring you a few updates from the world of lending. In Santa Clarita, we’re starting to see condos and townhomes with new FHA approval. Properties along these lines that weren’t previously approved are now a great opportunity for sellers. If you’re sitting on one of these properties, know that a whole pool of FHA buyers has just opened up to you. For one example, a condo complex in the heart of Valencia proper called Sienna Villas has not been FHA approved in the past and now is. There are many other properties this applies to, as well.Ultimately, this change is good news for buyers and sellers alike. The FHA loan is a great option for buyers, so that means there will be a lot of buyers out there making use of this program. As you know, more buyers means more competition. Nevertheless, buyers working with the right agent can absolutely find great deals. Working with quality professionals in general will make a big difference in your experience no matter your specific real estate needs or circumstances. I’ve heard far too often from clients who were unhappy with their experiences working with someone.We can help you lay out a game plan for your real estate future.That’s exactly why my team and I are happy to offer recommendations of professionals within our network. We’d be happy to help you meet the right professionals before you work with them. We offer these services to you because we know that the market can be a difficult place to navigate. If you’re thinking of making a move, let us connect you with some of our world-class lenders. Even if you’ve been told “no” in the past, our lenders will work with you to figure out your options. We can help you lay out a game plan for your real estate future. Even if the plan is to keep your current home, we can still help. 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.

We’ve prepared a short checklist in order to help you and your family manage your property in the event of an emergency.Buying a Santa Clarita home? Get a Full Home Search Selling your Santa Clarita home? Get a Free Home Price EvaluationNo one wants to think about worst-case scenarios, or what will happen to our affairs should we be unable to tend to them. That said, with a little forethought and preparation, you can ensure your affairs will be taken care of should the need arise for someone to step in and tend to them.With all of this in mind, we have prepared a short list of things you should look after in order to insure your affairs are in order, and to make maintaining your properties easier for your family in the event you are unable.1. Is your house in a trust? If you want to get your home into a trust, refer back to one of our earlier videos for more information.2. Make a comprehensive list of your account information. On an Excel spreadsheet, or even on a piece of paper, you should make a list of your bank accounts, along with passwords. Include information that you may take for granted, but if someone else had to manage your property, they may need to know (who your utilities are serviced through, for example, and their relevant account numbers and passwords). 3. You may consider including all of your billing information (insurance, phone, cable, internet, etc.) and all relevant account information your friends, family, or other guardian will need to maintain your property in the event of an emergency.We’d like to send you more information regarding our guide for your personal checklist or answer any questions you may have. Please contact us at (661) 510-2789 or online at Brandon@BringingYouHomesSCV.com. We look forward to hearing from you.

How should you deal with lowball offers? Here’s our advice.Buying a Santa Clarita home? Get a Full Home Search Selling your Santa Clarita home? Get a Free Home Price EvaluationI wanted to dive into a topic today that we’ve been getting asked about a lot lately: lowball offers. Dealing with them can be tricky, but it doesn’t have to be. Here’s our advice for how to handle them.We all know lowball offers can be frustrating. However, the first thing you need to remember when you get a lowball offer is to not take it personally. Of course you have pride in your home and there’s no way you’ll accept an offer that’s $50,000 less than asking price, but you don't have to shout that from the rooftop. Just because someone makes a lowball offer doesn’t mean you have to accept it. Set your emotions aside and look at it as a business transaction. That’s a huge step in the right direction.After we’ve taken emotion out of the situation, we need to embrace the counteroffer when it comes to lowball offers. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve received a lowball offer, made a counteroffer that was just under list price, and had the offer accepted. Always come back with a counter.A lot of times, people simply don’t offer full price out of principle. You always have the option to come back with a counteroffer of your own, so you should always do it. In our opinion, it’s always best to put the ball back in their court. You’ll find out really quick if they are serious or not.If you have any questions for us in the meantime, don’t hesitate to give us a call or send us an email. We look forward to hearing from you.

How can you protect your home from burglars? I have six tips to help you today. Buying a Santa Clarita home? Get a Full Home Search Selling your Santa Clarita home? Get a Free Home Price EvaluationThere is a burglary about every 20 seconds in the United States. Today, I have a few tips to help you prevent your home from becoming a target. There are six main things that burglars don’t want you to know: 1. Burglaries don’t always happen at night. That’s what we see in the movies, but the majority of burglaries happen between 12:30 and 2:30 p.m. The last thing the criminal wants to do is run into you. Protecting yourself in the middle of the day is most important. 2. They know when you’re not home thanks to social media. If you’re on Facebook or Twitter, don’t post exactly where you are if you are out of the house or on vacation. They recently caught a burglar who hit 33 different homes. He simply watched his targets on social media and looked at the location when they posted a picture to determine whether the family was home or not. Be careful when posting photos, and don’t make a status update about your week-long vacation. 3. They don’t like your security practices. If there is an easily identifiable alarm system for your home, then your home is 300% less likely to be targeted. Floodlights, leaving a car in the driveway, leaving a TV on, and turning on the lights inside all help deter burglars. 4. Great targets advertise their weapon supply. Is there a bumper sticker on your car that says you own a weapon? There are a lot of burglars out there who are incentivized to steal weapons because they can sell them for a lot of money. Advertising your weapons can actually make you more of a target rather than deterring burglaries. 5. Shrubs and architecture make great hiding spots. If you have big shrubs in front of your house that someone can hide behind to get into your house, that’s not good. The more open your landscaping is, the less likely it is for someone to try to break into your home because a neighbor might spot them from the street. If you do want to plant something in front of your window, make sure that it’s something thorny that they won’t want to jump through to get to your home. 6. Don’t leave your valuables out in the open. A lot of the time, these criminals look through the windows to see if there are any laptops or stuff that’s easily accessible for them to go after. Put your valuables away. I also recommend hiding family calendars because those can advertise where you are going to be. Don’t advertise your location on social media.I hope you found these tips helpful. I have something else to offer you today—one of my mentors and coaches, Steve Scanlon, just published his second book, “Still the Lizard.” It is an amazing read that explains what the lizard brain is and how it works. If you want a free copy, be the first one to email me with the four traits of the lizard brain. (Hint: The answer can be found at www.rewireinc.com.) As always, if you have any other real estate questions for me, just give me a call or send me an email. I would be happy to help you!

Saving money is easy as a homeowner. Here are seven tips that will help you save instantly.Buying a Santa Clarita home? Get a Full Home Search Selling your Santa Clarita home? Get a Free Home Price EvaluationToday I’d like to give you a few tips for saving money around the house. These tips might seem silly or simple at first, but they can save you a lot of money over time and they’re often overlooked by sellers:1. Make the switch to energy-efficient lighting. A standard incandescent lightbulb costs around $180 in electricity to operate each month. If you’re using a CFL or LED light, however, that’s only going to cost you $30 or $40. That’s $100+ in savings each month, and if you add up the totals for the life of the bulbs, the sum is enormous.2. Fix leaky faucets right away. Even if a leaky faucet only drips one drop per second, that adds up to over 3,000 gallons in a year. By fixing those leaky faucets immediately, you can save a lot on your water bill.3. Change your air filter regularly. When you let your filter get clogged up, it works overtime to compensate. That leaves you with dirtier air and a higher utility bill. Make sure your filter is changed every few months.4. Custom temperatures. Whether it’s with a smart thermostat or an old-school programmable one, being able to set custom temperatures in your home for when you’re not there will save you thousands over the years.5. Overwatering your yard. This will not only keep your water bills sky-high, but it could also cause damage to your lawn as well. 6. Pay attention to the water heater temperature. During warmer months, you can drop the temperature in your heater down a little bit to save you a bit more without affecting anything else.7. Poorly sealed windows. If a window or door is letting in a draft, make sure you get it sealed with some caulk or weatherstripping to keep things insulated and keep your energy costs down.These are just a few great ways to save money over time as a homeowner. If you have any questions for me or want any more tips, don’t hesitate to reach out and give me a call or send me an email. I would love to hear from you.

Tax season is officially here, and I want to go over a few important things you should know about property taxes. Buying a Santa Clarita home? Get a Full Home Search Selling your Santa Clarita home? Get a Free Home Price EvaluationTax season is here, so I want to discuss a few things about property taxes and what to do when you have some questions on those. If you plan on buying anything or getting a loan in the next couple of years, how you file today or in the next few months will have a huge impact on what you qualify for on future loans. People write off a lot of items. Whether you are a business owner or you have the ability to write income down or defer things, make sure you give us a call if you are thinking about buying an investment property or primary residence. We have to make sure that you have enough income on there to qualify for whatever home you are looking to purchase. There are a few other things you should know with regard to property taxes. July 1 is the beginning of the tax year for property taxes. October 1 is when tax bills are mailed. The first installment is due November 1. December 10 is the final due date you have to make if you don’t want to pay any penalties. If your property tax bill is too high, we can help you challenge it.Then, the second installment is due February 1. April 10 is the last day for you to pay the second installment without penalties. Then, June 30 is the end of the tax year, and everything starts back over on July 1.  If you get a property tax bill and you believe that it’s too high, let us know. We can help you challenge that.If your property tax bill is too low, then keep that to yourself! If you believe that your bank is supposed to pay your property taxes because you pay impounds, and that number seems to be off or there’s not enough in the escrow account to cover it, keep an eye on that stuff. This is especially important in the first few years of homeownership because the bank can go way off and end up having to assess you additional fees or bump your payment later on.  If you have any other questions about property taxes, just give us a call or send us an email. We would be happy to help you.

Consumer confidence is high in our market, and it’s a great time to buy or sell. Buying a Jonesboro home?  Get a Full Home SearchSelling your Jonesboro home? Get a Free Home Price EvaluationAs we move through August 2019, some interesting market developments are taking place. First, the federal interest rate was recently cut by 0.25%, which is the first time since 2008 that the Federal Reserve has cut interest rates. Additionally, the ADP’s latest employment report exceeded expectations. Because of this, consumer confidence reached an 18-year high and the pending home sales index increased. “I check mortgage rates each and every day, and right before I filmed this video, I saw that the 30-year fixed rate was at 2.75%. ”What does this mean for mortgage rates? At the end of the day, not much. A few months after this type of thing happens, though, we usually see rates drop. I check mortgage rates each and every day, and right before I filmed this video, I saw that the 30-year fixed rate was at 2.75%. Just a few months ago, we were telling our clients to not be surprised if they saw rates hover between 4.75% and 5.25%. The bottom line is that it’s a great time to buy or sell. If you have any more questions about our Jonesboro market or you’re thinking of buying or selling a home, don’t hesitate to reach out to me. I’d love to help you. 

If you’re in the market to hire a real estate agent, you’ll need to hire someone who can negotiate. Here’s why.Buying a Jonesboro home?  Get a Full Home SearchSelling your Jonesboro home? Get a Free Home Price EvaluationThere are many different things you should be looking for when you want to hire a real estate agent. One of the biggest things that comes into play is negotiation skills. We recently listed a property that had been listed multiple times, but the negotiations took about a week, which is a lot longer than we’re used to. It took longer, but it was in the best interest of everyone involved. The last thing you want to do is get into a contract with a long closing period and find issues later. We ensured everything was ready to go and we were all on the same page heading into closing.“It takes years of experience to negotiate these deals properly. ”It takes years of experience to be able to negotiate these kinds of deals properly. Every transaction we’ve done has added to our experience and we’d love to put that experience to work for you.If you have any questions for us about your personal situation or about real estate in general, don’t hesitate to give me a call or send me an email. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

If you really want to make your home stand out, make sure your air filter and the vents around it are clean. Buying a Jonesboro home?  Get a Full Home SearchSelling your Jonesboro home? Get a Free Home Price EvaluationSo you’re considering putting your home on the market this summer.There’s no time like the present to do it—the grass is green, the flowers are blooming, and buyers are everywhere—but there’s still one important tip you shouldn’t forget if you want to really make your home stand out: Make sure your air filter is clean and you’re changing it every 30 days. Make sure the vents around it are clean too.Nowadays, it’s not uncommon for us to walk into houses with white ceilings and see dust and debris cluttered around the air vents. All that tells us is that the homeowner hasn’t been changing their air filter on a regular basis. I know a ton of Realtors that specifically look for this as an indication of how well the house is maintained overall.“I know a ton of Realtors that specifically look for this as an indication of how well the house is maintained overall. ”If you’re considering putting your home on the market later in the year, we’d love to come out and take pictures of it for you right now so that the exterior looks cheerful, green, and gorgeous in its listing photos. That way, it’ll stand out compared to everything else that’s listed during that time.If you have any questions about today’s tip, you’d like to take us up on our offer, or you’re thinking of buying a home in or around Northeast Arkansas, feel free to give me a call or send me an email. I’d love to help you.

Our client appreciation event was a blast. Thanks to all who came, and we look forward to seeing you at the next one in November.Buying a Jonesboro home?  Get a Full Home SearchSelling your Jonesboro home? Get a Free Home Price EvaluationI just wanted to take a quick moment and say thank you to all of you who showed up to our client appreciation party. We had a great time and we hope you did too. If you weren’t able to make it to this one, don’t worry, because we’ll be having another one in November where we'll give away free pecan pies for Thanksgiving to all of our past, current, and future clients. In the meantime, if you’re ready to buy or sell a home, give us a call today and we’d be happy to help get you started.

Get Your Copy of the Ebook Today! Click HereBuying a Jonesboro home?  Get a Full Home SearchSelling your Jonesboro home? Get a Free Home Price EvaluationToday we’re not only changing up the venue, but we’re changing up the topic. You see, I’ve put in the blood, sweat, and tears over the last 20 years to plot out the road map to success, and I’ve finally learned how I can reach success a simpler way. Simplifying your own success is just a click away. You can simplify your own success today by clicking here.

There are four questions that pet owners need to ask when they buy a home. Buying in Northern New Jersey? Get a Full Home SearchSelling in Northern New Jersey? Free Home Price EvaluationMake sure to ask these four questions if you’re searching for a new house for you and your animal companions:1. What are the local pet laws? It’s not guaranteed that pets will be welcome in your new neighborhood, so make sure that you check your city and state laws for breed restrictions or limits on the number of animals that are allowed in a home.2. Does the house have pet-friendly floors? Carpet is bound to be destroyed by claws and dirt, so we recommend that you opt for distressed hardwood floors instead. Your pet and wallet will thank you.3. Can your pet handle the stairs? If your pets are growing older, consider whether they’ll be okay with the stairs in a multi-level property. To help your pets travel up and down with ease, look for a place with a carpet runner on the stairs.“  It’s not guaranteed that pets will be welcome in your new neighborhood, so make sure that you check your city and state laws for breed restrictions or limits on the number of animals that are allowed in a home.”4. Is the neighborhood safe for pets to roam? Your four-legged friends need plenty of room to walk and play, so when you’re shopping for houses, make sure to peek around the neighborhood for parks and walking trails that are close by. You’ll both be very happy you did. If you have any questions about this or other real estate topics, we encourage you to reach out to us. We’d love to speak with you. 

Curious about what the home buying process looks like? It can be boiled down into these five steps.Buying a Jonesboro home?  Get a Full Home SearchSelling your Jonesboro home? Get a Free Home Price EvaluationToday let’s talk about the five steps to purchasing a home:1. Find a superstar agent. You can do this by making a few phone calls, doing a little research, and asking potential agents a few questions such as, “How many transactions have you done in the last 12 months?” and, “How long have you been in real estate?”2. Meet a lender who your agent trusts. Agents have to work with lenders on nearly every deal, so make sure that they have a good relationship with a trusted lender.“You really won’t know what you can afford until you get pre-approved. ”3. Start searching for your home—after you’ve been pre-qualified, of course. You really won’t know what kind of home you can afford until you do.4. Hire a home inspector. Once you’ve found your dream home, it’s time to hire a team of professionals to ensure that the home you are planning to buy is in the right condition before moving forward.5. Close the transaction. If you have that superstar agent and follow all the above steps, this will simply be a formality.If you have any questions for me about buying a home, selling a home, or anything else related to real estate, don’t hesitate to give me a call or send me an email. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

What should home sellers know before they begin their journey? Here are five great tips. Buying in Northern New Jersey? Get a Full Home SearchSelling in Northern New Jersey? Free Home Price EvaluationI’m here today to talk to you about common mistakes that could sink your chances of a successful home sale. Though there really is a wealth of information out there for buyers, there isn’t as much available for those looking to sell. That’s why I’m here today to share with you five common but critical mistakes sellers should avoid when it comes time to list their property: 1. Pricing your home too high. There are three ways you can price your home: You can price it above market value and hope that a buyer comes along; you can price it at market value and take advantage of the interest it generates; or you can price below market value and potentially drum up a bidding war. Typically, pricing at or below market value is the best strategy in our market. 2. Not hiring a real estate agent. Many sellers assume that they can save money by not hiring an agent. However, the commission fee is a small price to pay for the service that an experienced agent can provide. Top-quality Realtors know how to leverage cutting-edge marketing techniques to help you earn top dollar for your home.“  Ordering a pre-listing inspection allows you to get ahead of any potential issues.”3. Not making home improvements before listing. Sellers should do whatever it takes to make their property shine before putting it on the market. Decluttering, cleaning, and staging can really go a long way. If your home doesn’t make a good first impression on buyers, you won’t be able to command the price that you deserve.4. Not ordering a pre-listing inspection. Ordering an inspection before your home hits the market will allow you to identify and possibly resolve issues ahead of time. Also, having a home inspection report ready for buyers to review can really expedite the process.5. Being present during showings. Buyers probably won’t be comfortable expressing their honest opinions about your property if you’re there listening in. When it comes time for a showing, it’s best for sellers to be gone altogether.We hope these tips were helpful to you. If you have any questions for us in the meantime or if you need our assistance with buying or selling a home, don’t hesitate to give us a call or send us an email. We look forward to hearing from you soon.

When buyers view homes in person, their focus tends to shift toward two main areas of a home. Knowing what they are will help you maximize your sale price. Buying in Northern New Jersey? Get a Full Home SearchSelling in Northern New Jersey? Free Home Price EvaluationWhen buyers are looking at properties, they tend to focus on two main areas of a house: 1. The kitchen. Everyone gathers in the kitchen. If you’re thinking about upgrading your home to add value before selling, focus on this area. Modern-style kitchens are very popular right now. Buyers like to see lighter shades in the cupboards and countertops. It’s also OK to add in a few traditional elements, but stay away from rounded countertops, because those have really fallen out of fashion.“  If you’re going to spend money on upgrades, spend it in these two places.”2. The master bathroom. Buyers love to see upgraded master showers, freestanding tubs, and tile flooring. If you have carpet in your bathroom around the toilet or tub area, that must go. It’s a complete no-no. It's a huge turn-off for buyers. Buyers prefer light colors here as well.If you’re going to spend money on upgrades to attract buyers and add value to your home, these are the two main areas you’ll want to focus on. If you want any further tips or have any other questions that we can answer for you, don’t hesitate to give us a call or send us an email. We look forward to hearing from you soon.

Interest rates, sales numbers, and more. Here’s what to keep an eye out for in 2019. Looking to buy a Chicago home? Get a Full Home SearchSelling your Chicago home? Get a Free Home Price EvaluationToday we'd like to share with you our 2019 forecast for both the real estate and mortgage markets. In the coming year, the average sale price will likely rise by 1% at most. This is typical of a normal market.In the mortgage world, things are a little different. In the fourth quarter, rates jumped up a bit, but they’ve gone down since. The Fed recently came out and said that they’d be more conscientious when raising rates in the future.Though rates may go up slightly this year, they should remain at an affordable level for the time being.While inventory is going to go up, interest rates are staying flat. This equals a great opportunity for homebuyers. If you have any questions for us about our market forecast, don’t hesitate to reach out and give us a call or send us an email. We look forward to hearing from you soon.

Today we'll be discussing a fantastic Lakeview listing that is currently still available for purchase. Check it out! Looking to buy a Chicago home? Get a Full Home SearchSelling your Chicago home? Get a Free Home Price EvaluationWe’re coming to you today from a new listing here in the Lakeview Community located at 904 West Fletcher Street. This beautiful 4-bedroom, 4-bathroom duplex has 2,400 square feet of space. The garage has a heated parking space, and the surround-sound system is updated throughout the property.Built in 2005, this property is located approximately 10 minutes from Lincoln Park Zoo, Wrigley Field, Target, Walgreens, and Vic Theatre, and is 15 minutes away from downtown.In this neighborhood, you’ll need the jumbo loan product—in most cases, but not all. For this particular property, you can get in at 5% down all the way up to $1.5 million. Unconventionally, loanDepot offers a 30-year fixed rate; most of the time, loans for this type of property are the 5-year adjustable-rate mortgages (ARMS) or 7-year ARMS. This is a great deal.Built in 2005, this property is located approximately 10 minutes from Lincoln Park Zoo, Wrigley Field, Target, Walgreens, and Vic Theatre, and is 15 minutes away from downtown. ”It’s also worth noting that Fannie Mae has increased their loan limits for 2019—the maximum conforming loan amount is $480,000. If you have any financing questions, you can contact David Bowen at (708) 705-7911 or at DBowen@LoanDepot.com.More details about the property can be viewed on this PDF document. If you’re interested in purchasing this property and would like to discuss pricing or would like to see it in person, reach out to me.

Lakeview is one of the most walkable communities in Chicagoland, and I want to tell you more about it.Looking to buy a Chicago home? Get a Full Home SearchSelling your Chicago home? Get a Free Home Price EvaluationToday I want to tell you about another wonderful Chicagoland community: Lakeview. Some would call it one of the most walkable communities in Chicago. No matter where you’re at, it seems you’re always close to shopping centers and boutiques. As an added bonus, you’re just 10 minutes from Wrigley Field, and depending on where you’re at, you might also be within walking distance to the Lincoln Park Zoo. You’ll find plenty of great subcommunities within Lakeview, including East Lakeview, West Lakeview, Boystown, Wrigleyville, and Southport Corridor—one of the hottest in all of Chicago.

We’ll be seeing a change in inventory and a new generation in our market in 2019.Buying in Northern New Jersey? Get a Full Home SearchSelling in Northern New Jersey? Free Home Price EvaluationThere are a few trends we’ll be seeing as we make our way through 2019. For several years, we’ve had a very low amount of home inventory in our market. More homes are coming on the market, but they’re still not enough to keep up with buyer demand. Nationwide, inventory hit the lowest level in recorded history last winter and only recently began to recover. We expect this growth to continue, but not at a large rate—we predict around 7%.Just a few years ago, most millennials were barely old enough to buy a home. Now they make up the majority of the home buying market, and this will continue to be the case in 2019. Currently, this generation accounts for about 45% of mortgages, compared to baby boomers at 17% and Gen Xers at 37%. And the homes millennials are buying aren’t just starter homes—many are already moving up.“  Inventory hit the lowest level in recorded history last winter and only recently began to recover.”If you have any questions about the landscape of the 2019 market, need further information, or would like to talk about your home buying or selling needs, reach out to us at 201-825-1266 or send an email. We look forward to hearing from you soon.

Check out this home listing in the Bronzeville community.Looking to buy a Chicago home? Get a Full Home SearchSelling your Chicago home? Get a Free Home Price EvaluationToday we’d like to take a moment to tell you about one of our Bronzeville listings. Given that Bronzeville is one of Chicago’s hottest communities, the first benefit this property boasts is its location. But this is far from being all this 4-bed, 3.5-bath home has to offer.Local homebuyers should not let this opportunity slip by. ”Coming in at 2,700 square feet, the property’s floor plan is designed with space in mind. The home comes with a finished basement, two fireplaces, a two-story family room, and a three-car garage—a rarity in Chicago. All in all, local homebuyers should not let this opportunity slip by.But whether for this home or for another in our area, the matter of financing is also paramount. After all, connecting with a lender is the first step any buyer should take before embarking on their search. And given that conforming loan limits have recently been increased, now is a better time than ever to meet with a mortgage professional to discuss your options. If you have any other questions or would like more information about this amazing Bronzeville property, feel free to give us a call or send us an email. We look forward to hearing from you soon.

We’d like to welcome you to the Bronzeville community.Looking to buy a Chicago home? Get a Full Home SearchSelling your Chicago home? Get a Free Home Price EvaluationWe’re standing here today in one of my listings in the Bronzeville community, which starts as far north as 26th Street and extends south as far as 48th Street. Bronzeville consists of the Douglas community as well as Grand Boulevard.There is a lot of elegance and history behind Bronzeville. For example, jazz musicians and famous music producers like Quincy Jones grew up here. That’s not to mention the location: Bronzeville is essentially smack-dab in the center between Lakeshore Drive and Guaranteed Rate Field, which is right off 35th Street on the other side of the Dan Ryan Expressway (not even a mile from here). It only takes about 15 minutes to get to the Downtown area, and the public transportation makes it very easy to get into the city of Chicago.There is a lot of elegance and history behind Bronzeville. ”There is a ton of new construction in the area, as well as residential and commercial properties. You’ll find plenty of great schools, restaurants, and shopping districts in the area—you just can’t beat the placement of this amazing community.Bronzeville is a great alternative for buyers from the northside or the loop area looking for a little more space for their families.The community has gone through a lot of changes over the years, and right now, it is booming. Home values are getting better and better each and every year, and it’s easy to find great opportunities here.If you have any additional questions or are looking to buy or sell a home in Bronzeville, please reach out to us. We’d love to help you take the next step toward your real estate goals.

It’s that time of year to start thinking about our resolutions for 2019 on an individual level. But what about resolutions for our homes to run more efficiently? Here are 3 ways you can do this in the new year.Buying in Northern New Jersey? Get a Full Home SearchSelling in Northern New Jersey? Free Home Price EvaluationWe’re all familiar with the tradition of New Year’s resolutions, where we decide on changes we’d like to make in our lives for the coming year. Today I’d like to talk to you about that very thing, but with a twist: instead of the focus being on what we can change about ourselves individually, I’ll be discussing what we can change about our home for the new year. So how can you make your home run more efficiently in 2019? I have a few resolutions to consider: 1. Cut Energy Use. One of the biggest culprits of energy waste is your HVAC ductwork—heated and cooled air escapes through holes and loose connections found within your ductwork. As a cost-cutting measure and way to maximize energy efficiency, you’ll want to locate those areas of weakness in your ductwork and seal them off.“  Instead of the focus being on what we can change about ourselves individually, I’ll be discussing what we can change about our home for the new year.”2. Exercise Your DIY Skills. When most people think about calorie-burning through some form of fitness, building a fence is not the first thing that comes to mind. Believe it or not, you’ll burn some serious calories per hour building a fence—340, to be exact. Just by caulking windows and doors, you can burn 280 calories an hour! Cleaning rain gutters? You can burn as many as 272 per hour. If you have some home maintenance projects to do in 2019, keep that in mind!3. Use Maintenance-Free Materials in Your Home. If you haven’t already, think about making the switch to materials that keep stress and maintenance low and durability high. Fiber cement siding, for example, will withstand wear and tear by lasting up to 50 years. Another item to consider installing is LED light bulbs—becoming increasingly popular, these bulbs can survive for 20,000 to 50,000 hours between changes! For more information about what I covered today or for more home resolutions you can make for the new year, don’t hesitate to contact us anytime by phone at 201-825-1266 or email us at JeffAdlerJeff@gmail.com.

Looking to buy a Chicago home? Get a Full Home SearchSelling your Chicago home? Get a Free Home Price EvaluationToday we want to wish you the happiest of holidays, and to say thank you. It’s been another great year, thanks to our clients, family, and friends. Over 50% of our business is coming from loyal, supportive people like you and your referrals to us. We couldn’t do this without you. If you have any questions over the holidays, feel free to give us a call. We’d be happy to help you. Until then, have a wonderful holiday season.

Paying down your credit card isn’t the only way to build good credit. Here are four equally-as-effective alternatives.Buying in Northern New Jersey? Get a Full Home SearchSelling in Northern New Jersey? Free Home Price EvaluationIt really is possible to build credit without a credit card–you’ll just have to take a different approach. If you don’t trust yourself with a credit card quite yet, here are some tips:1. Start repaying your student loans. Assuming you have them, you can start repaying your loans while you’re still in school to begin building your credit score. Waiting until you’ve graduated is also an option. Either way, be sure to pay on time each month to build your score without a card.2. Use a credit builder loan. This is similar to a secured credit card. Once you’re approved, the funds in the loan are placed in a savings account or a CD until you’ve repaid the loan. At that point, the money in your savings is yours to keep. 3. Repay a mortgage or car loan. Since both mortgages and car loans report to credit bureaus, either of these will help you build your credit score. The difficult part in getting approved for either of these without an established credit history can be remedied by having a steady income and a good down payment. “  A credit builder loan is similar to a secured credit card.”4. Make sure you pay your rent and all your bills on time. Also, beware of advanced fee loans and other loan scams that prey on people with no or bad credit. These loans typically guarantee approval and ask for some type of upfront payment. Be careful.As always, if you have any questions about your credit or about real estate in general, don’t hesitate to give us a call or send us an email today. We look forward to hearing from you soon.

Thanksgiving is right around the corner. We wanted to share this message of gratitude from our family to yours.Buying in Northern New Jersey? Get a Full Home SearchSelling in Northern New Jersey? Free Home Price EvaluationIt’s that time of year where everyone is expressing their gratitude and appreciation. We love that, but we believe in doing so all year long. We’re so grateful and blessed to be able to keep in touch with so many of our past and present clients. We’re so grateful for you remembering us and referring us to help serve all of your real estate needs. We hope you all have a very happy and healthy holiday season and a wonderful Thanksgiving.

If you’re thinking of buying a condo, there are six things you need to know first. Looking to buy a Chicago home? Get a Full Home SearchSelling your Chicago home? Get a Free Home Price EvaluationDid you know that between the South Loop, Downtown, Gold Coast, and the West Loop, there are almost 2,400 condos for sale? Before you buy one of these condos, here are six things you need to know:1. How the condo association is being run. For example, who’s the president? Who’s the vice president? Who’s the treasurer?2. How the condo association’s budget looks. It might look like it’s being run well, but you should ask to see a copy of the budget and its records for the past two years. You need to make sure they’re putting enough money away for reserves (normally, 10% of the budget should be cash reserves). If they don’t have enough, you have to pay a special assessment, which can be very expensive. 3. What the delinquency rate is. How many of the owners are behind on their dues? How many of the condos have foreclosed? Hopefully that number is close to zero. To make sure the building is insured, you can ask for a copy of its insurance certificate. ”4. Whether the building is insured or not. To make sure the building is insured, you can ask for a copy of its insurance certificate. 5. Whether there are a lot of absentee owners in the building. How many renters live in the building versus actual owners?6. Whether there are any lawsuits against the condo association. If you have any other questions about this topic, don’t hesitate to call or email us anytime. We’d be glad to help you.