11 Jan 2019
By noelkelman

4 Ways to Improve Your Curb Appeal

Real Estate, ,
You have about five minutes to impress (or not) prospective buyers at a showing. For curb appeal, you get about five seconds for buyers to decide whether they want to go inside. Here are four tips to help you get the wow factor from your home's street-facing views. Update Entryway Hardware A wall-mounted mailbox, chic house numbers and a pretty porch light add interest to your entryway. However, dated and dinged hardware impress no one. In a perfect world, all your hardware matches in style, color and finish. Of course, it should also tie-in to the style of your house.…
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09 Jan 2019
By noelkelman

What Happens After Your Offer Is Accepted?

Real Estate, ,
When you make an offer on a home, you wait anxiously to see if it will be accepted. Sometimes you're lucky enough to hear back within hours. Other times you could wait days or even weeks. But once you get that good news that your offer has been accepted, what happens next? It's a common question, and one that your real estate agent can help you with. In general though, here's what you can expect. There's A Home Inspection A home inspection needs to be conducted in order to assess the condition of the home for financing needs. This is…
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08 Jan 2019
By noelkelman

Top 5 Ways To Pick A High Quality Real Estate Agent

Real Estate, ,
Your real estate agent can be the difference between a successful home buy and a bad purchase. Take a look at the characteristics of a good real estate agent and how you should vet your next partner in real estate. Patience Does the real estate agent immediately tell you to give up your rights to audit a home for a quicker sale? You may want to move on. The best real estate agents realize how big of a commitment a home is, and they are willing to walk you through the process at whatever pace you are comfortable with. Localized…
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04 Jan 2019
By noelkelman

Should You Buy A Fixer Upper Or Move-In Ready Home?

Real Estate, ,
There's a lot to be said for buying a move-in ready home. All you have to do is put your things away and start living your life. On the other hand, buying a fixer upper has its advantages, too. You can get a great bargain on a fixer upper home. So which one should you choose? Here are some things to consider. You Can Easily Afford To Buy What You Want If money is no object, then a move-in ready home is the best choice. You'll be able to get exactly the home you want with little or no effort…
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03 Jan 2019
By noelkelman

5 First Steps For New Homeowners

Real Estate, ,
As a new homeowner, now is the time to take control and organize your house for safety and security. The following first five steps should be carried out in the first few weeks if possible. 1. Change The Locks There's no way of knowing if the previous owners gave copies of the house keys to a friend, neighbor or cleaning staff. The very first thing you should do when you take ownership is to re-key the locks on all the doors, including the garage and any outbuildings there may be on the property. Alternatively, you can install brand new locks.…
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28 Dec 2018
By noelkelman

How Tech Can Change the Real Estate Process

Real Estate, ,
Virtual reality, artificial intelligence and drone video are just a few of the ways that technology is changing the real estate industry. If you are in the market for a property, understanding these new processes can help you in many ways. Using Artificial Intelligence Doing business with an AI-infused process helps you more quickly identify properties that meet your standards. AI also reduces human error in the closing process. Agents using AI can get you more information about properties more quickly, and they can also cut the fat out of the close, possibly saving you money. Using Virtual Reality Taking…
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27 Dec 2018
By noelkelman

4 Reasons Why Home Ownership Is Better Than Renting

Real Estate, ,
Are you trying to decide if you should rent or buy? There are many reasons why home ownership is better than renting. Here are just a few to consider when you're making your decision. 1. Stability For Your Family When you own your home, the life of your family will be more stable. If you have children, this is a an even more valuable benefit. Your kids will be able to settle down into the routine of school and extracurricular activities. They'll be able to make lifelong friends in the neighborhood. You and your spouse will be able to feel…
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26 Dec 2018
By noelkelman

FOMC Raises Key Rate, Forecasts 2 Rate Hikes in 2019

Real Estate, ,
During its post-meeting statement, the Federal Open Market Committee of the Federal Reserve announced that its target range for the Fed's key interest rate would increase one quarter percent to 2.25 to 2.50 percent. While this rate hike was not expected by the Executive branch, it met analyst expectations. FOMC said in its customary post-meeting statement that members expect to make two interest rate hikes in 2019 as compared to three rate hikes in 2018 and the Committee's original forecast of three rate hikes in 2019. Given current economic conditions, the Fed forecasted only one rate hike for 2020. Hawks…
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