An estimated 2 million home buyers are poised to take the plunge just as soon as the economy returns from the deep. That’s because Americans still place a high value on homeownership, but qualifying for a mortgage and raising a down payment in an economy that won’t produce jobs, keeps many of them sitting on the fence. Eighty-nine percent of owners and 59 percent of renters feel that homeownership is important to the American family...

There’s a great old comic strip about real estate closings. It shows a long narrow boat, like the crew boats you see pictures of rowing up and down the Charles River in front of Harvard and MIT in Boston. In the comic strip, there are at least 8 rowers (sometimes 10 or 12), but they’re dressed in business suits and “business casual” attire. In addition to their oars, they have briefcases and computers with them, along with 6’ levels and several...

The kitchen is used more than any other room in the house, which makes it the most important room to stage in your home. Potential home buyers are looking for a kitchen that is as beautiful as it is functional. Buyers want to view it without any unnecessary countertop appliances and clutter. By showcasing your kitchen in the best possible light, you can potentially sell your home faster and; increase the closing price. Even in a slow real...

I love real estate. It’s “matchmaking” between buyers and properties. A happy match can be very rewarding financially and emotionally. Looking through literally tens of thousands of listings, trying to “read between the lines” and “see between the pictures” to find the perfect match for a buyer can be daunting. Thank heavens so many real estate agents use humor in their listings! Humor? Yes, whether they realize it or not, agents repeatedly use...

Real estate is not a dangerous profession, but when you’re constantly asked to come in contact with perfect strangers or enter locations without any prior knowledge of the area, you have to keep your guard up…especially when working with foreclosed or vacant homes. September is Realtor® Safety Month, and I thought I’d gather some safety tips that I’ve found on sites such as Realtor.org, Inman News, and Rismedia. Meeting with a new client for...