First impressions are a big deal. We’ve all experienced a cringe-worthy moment or two when either we made a bad first impression or witnessed someone else stumble through the initial moments of an introduction. Researchers say that most people draw a solid first impression during the first seven seconds of meeting someone, which doesn’t offer us much time to get it right.  Unfortunately, homes are similarly judged. When putting your house on the market, chances are buyers are going to draw conclusions about whether or not your house is one they would consider buying in the first few secon ..read more

New agents and customers often ask me about the changes that happen in the late summer and early fall housing market. Right now, the market is in a place where, unlike the last two years, sellers might get a handful of showings and no offers, even when a house is competitively priced. Buyers might actually have the time and chance to make an offer and ask for an inspection, which in the previous market, was difficult. It’s not your imagination, the housing market is transitioning. We are not seeing a full reversal of what we’ve seen the last two hectic years, but what we are seeing is a soften ..read more

The school year is upon us, and I can’t help but reflect on those start of the year questions that seemed to make their way into every English class: What did you do on your summer break? What three things should the class know about you? And, the ever popular, what do you want to be when you grow up? That last question was and continues to be…what’s the technical term? Oh, I know – a doozy. Some students (and adults) know immediately what occupation is for them—doctor, lawyer, teacher, YouTube star (I still can’t believe that’s a job IRL). Others are less sure—nurse? computer programmer? zook ..read more

If you love board games like I do, then you know how important strategy can be in order to win. The board game my family has been playing non-stop during the last year is a competitive game called Catan. The key to Catan is to build houses and earn points, but in order to build a house, you need to acquire certain materials. Sometimes life is a little like Catan; except instead of wheat, stone, and iron, you need time, flexibility, and a little cash. Let’s take a look at a couple strategy ideas to help you win the keys to your new home.  Strategy One: A Clean Offer The first and perhaps m ..read more

The Inspection Dilemma  The two-story, colonial a few doors down from ours went on the market last Tuesday, and after 23 showings in a single day, the “sold” shingle was swaying in the wind by the next morning. While the interest resulted in a windfall for my neighbors, the sellers, I can’t help but wonder about the risks the buyers took in order to win the bid.  One risk in particular with which buyers often struggle is deciding on an inspection. The idea of waiving an inspection to some seems absurd. Why risk it? Which begs the question: what are the dangers in waiving the inspecti ..read more

Your agent now has over 6 months of experience selling houses during the pandemic and can make the process easier and safer for you today. COVID-19 protocols and technology usage recommendations from the National Association of Realtors (NAR) are making it possible to sell houses right now, while agents continue to abide first and foremost by state and local regulations. Let’s connect to discuss how to sell your house safely in today’s housing market ..read more

In today’s real estate market, the buzz is all about how it’s a great time to sell your house. Buyer demand is high, and there simply aren’t enough homes available to buy to meet that growing need. This means now is the time to make a move so you can close the deal on your ideal terms. Even in today’s strong sellers’ market, there are homeowners who are choosing not to sell due to ongoing concerns around the health crisis, financial uncertainty, and life in general. According to Zillow, here are the top three reasons homeowners who are thinking of selling sometime ..read more

The number of houses for sale today is significantly lower than the high buyer activity in the current housing market. According to Lawrence Yun, Chief Economist for the National Association of Realtors (NAR): “There is no shortage of hopeful, potential buyers, but inventory is historically low.” When the demand for homes is higher than what’s available for sale, it’s a great time for homeowners to sell their house. Here are three ways low inventory can help you win if you’re ready to make a move this fall. 1. Higher Prices With so many more buyers in the market tha ..read more

Earlier this year when the nation pressed pause on the economy and unemployment rates jumped up significantly, many homeowners were immediately concerned about being able to pay their mortgages, and understandably so. To assist in this challenging time, two protection plans were put into place to help support those in need. First, there was a pause placed on initiating foreclosures for government-backed loans. This plan started on March 18, 2020, and it extends at least through December 31, 2020. Second, homeowners were able to obtain forbearance for up to 180 days, followed by ..read more

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