It’s stressful being a landlord at the best of times, but when the time comes for you to sell your investment property and move on, the stress can feel palpable. You’ve probably spent time getting to know your tenants and have built a relationship with them, and most humans don’t deal with change all that well.  Springing the “guess what, I’m selling your residence out from under you” conversation can feel like a big deal, even if everyone involved knows that isn’t really what’s happening. If you own a home with tenants in it that you want to sell, what do you need to know and address ..read more

Planning to stay in a hotel for your vacation is so ’90s. The emergence of the internet and websites like Airbnb, VRBO, TripAdvisor and more have made it possible for travelers to feel right at home in a new city … because they’re staying in someone else’s home and renting it for vacation. Vacation rentals are a great way to get to know an area like the locals do. They’re often more spacious than hotel rooms, and unless you’re booking a hotel suite, you’ll also typically have access to amenities like a full kitchen. Of course, there’s always a risk to using a vacation rental instead of a hotel ..read more

One thing that can make an enormous difference in your career success as an agent is whether or not you have a high-quality mentor who can help you navigate the ins and outs of real estate. In fact, many agents discover that they operate very well if they have more than one mentor to tap for questions and advice. Your real estate broker may be one of your first mentors, and if you really want to hone your skills and become the very best agent you can be, then you should also seek out other mentors who can help round out your experience and education. But how do you find a mentor? Here are the ..read more

Many buyers are understandably nervous about buying a foreclosed home, also known as a distressed sale. There are horror stories galore about people purchasing a foreclosure and regretting it, but buying a foreclosure isn’t necessarily the nightmare that some people portray it to be. However, there are some things you need to understand about foreclosures before you think about purchasing one as either a primary residence or an investment property. Learn what to expect and prepare yourself before you consider spending large amounts of money on a distressed property.   Understand what ..read more

Every industry contains a danger of job burnout. Although it’s not an actual medical disease, the Mayo Clinic defines burnout as “a special type of work-related stress — a state of physical or emotional exhaustion that also involves a sense of reduced accomplishment and loss of personal identity.” (https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/adult-health/in-depth/burnout/art-20046642) It sounds like fun, right? No, not at all. Real estate agents can be especially prone to burnout because of the unique nature of their job. As independent contractors, agents can feel isolated even if they’re ..read more

Lots of people are attracted to a career in real estate — but is it the right future path for you? The thing about selling real estate is that not anybody can do it, but everybody thinks they can. There are some specific skill sets that the best agents in the business tend to have in common, and if you want to be successful, then you want to either already have or be able to cultivate these skills.   You can listen …  We were all born with two ears, but we don’t all listen — comprehending what we hear and acting on it — equally well. A real estate agent’s core purpose is to help ..read more

Lots of people are attracted to a career in real estate — but is it the right future path for you? The thing about selling real estate is that not anybody can do it, but everybody thinks they can. There are some specific skill sets that the best agents in the business tend to have in common, and if you want to be successful, then you want to either already have or be able to cultivate these skills.   You can listen …  We were all born with two ears, but we don’t all listen — comprehending what we hear and acting on it — equally well. A real estate agent’s core purpose is to help ..read more

If you’ve been thinking about investing in real estate, getting your finances in order before you start searching for properties and scheduling appointments will save you from money headaches in the long run.  Real estate investments could be one of your largest investments, and unless you have cash ready to invest, you’ll need a plan for financing and a plan for cash flow in the future. Here’s what you need to do before heading out to property shop: 1) Create A Financing Plan If you have strong credit, consistent W-2 income, and a sizeable down payment, traditional financing could ..read more

If you’ve never crafted your own real estate business plan before, doing it for the first time can feel especially overwhelming. The good news, however, is that if you include certain things in your plan, and construct your plan in a certain order, you’ll have no problem creating something that fits your business where it is — and prepares you for growth next year. When you’re creating your real estate business plan, make sure you include the following, ideally in this order.   Market assessment The most perfectly crafted real estate business plan won’t get you anywhere if it’s foc ..read more

Since the real estate bubble burst, people all over the country have started doing more with fewer houses. Here are a few simple tips for getting the most out of your humble abode.   Use walls and ceilings. Optimize your floor space by getting as many things as possible off of it. Hang your bicycle from the wall or ceiling. Install shelves for books and other items over doorways and, if possible, in walls themselves. Use the space above your kitchen cabinets for unused appliances, empty boxes, and china sets. Take advantage of corners, which are underused and provide a lot of storage ..read more