There’s $1.7 trillion of dry powder across the globe just waiting to be deployed into real estate in 2017. Los Angeles was the No. 1 target for investors in the Americas, while New York City slipped down one spot to No. 3. But investor concerns ranging from a real estate bubble Read More
1. Price the property competitively. 2. Allow the property to be shown with or without an appointment, just as long as the prospective buyer’s agent is present. Make sure to get the agent’s business card. 3. Whenever possible, please be out of the house when prospective buyers and their agents want to see it. Buyers Read More
With rent growth flattening out and home prices continuing to shoot up, renting is starting to look like a better choice than buying for the first time in years. Home-price appreciation is outpacing rent growth in all 23 of the metropolitan areas tracked by a national index produced by Florida Atlantic University and Florida International University faculty. Read More
1. Tuck Chalk in Your Toolbox to Stop RustYou can keep the metal tools and hardware in your toolbox rust-free with blackboard chalk. How so? Chalk is a moisture-sucking material that traps dampness. When you place several pieces throughout your toolbox, its porous nature will protect items prone to rusting. Bonus tip: Got a musty Read More
It is exciting to see traffic and survey data this fall indicating that first-time home buyers are poised to come back in a big way in 2017. The level of first-time purchases has been depressed—and, frankly, depressing—ever since the real estate market hit bottom in 2011. While first-time buyers now represent over half of the Read More
Where do home buyers go for a mortgage? To a bank, of course—or at least that’s what many might think. Yet a new force has taken over home financing, called “shadow banks.” So what are these non-banks exactly, and should we run for the hills? In a nutshell, these are the less conventional places that Read More
Weekends are meant for coaching a youth soccer team to victory, chopping your way through “Mastering the Art of French Cooking,” or training for a 5K to help save the pandas — not working your way through a tedious, 30-item maintenance checklist. But then, taking care of the home you love is important, too. So Read More
You finally found it: the two-story bungalow in the trendy part of town you’ve been eyeing for years – the one with the best coffee shop (hello, foamy latte) and favorite farmer’s market. You made your best offer (they accepted!) and now you’re about to close on your dream home. Then just before closing, an Read More
The washer/dryer combo was perfect! Such a delightful way to brighten laundry day — with a cheerfully colored front-loader set. They could actually make laundry fun! “They were this gorgeous, greenish-teal, and they looked great in my laundry room,” says Eliesa Prettelt, avid DIYer and author of “A Pinterest Addict” blog. But after barreling through Read More
Remote-controlled window shades, voice-activated TVs, and door bells with high-quality video were once limited to sci-fi novels, Hollywood movies, and TV shows like “The Jetsons.” But the future has arrived, and more tech-savvy homeowners are installing smart home technology. Color-changing lightbulbs, anyone? Nearly half of homeowners renovating their pads are adding new technology while they’re Read More
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