Most home buyers put in the effort to save for their down payment, but that is only a fraction of the cost they should expect for homeownership. There are many other lesser-known costs that can sometimes come as a shock to buyers. Make sure your home shoppers plan accordingly for the following extra expenses, including:Earnest money: The amount of earnest money required varies by state and local market. In a slower market, $500 to $1,000 migh
Home features—particularly those that are technology-based—have a stronger pull on millennial home shoppers than the promotion of brand names, according to a new survey by John Burns Real Estate Consulting, conducted with 20,000 new home shoppers. Millennials tended to show a preference for tech-focused amenities that could make their lives simpler.Young adults born in the 1980s and 1990s are half as likely as their parents’ generation to
Entrepreneurs are starting business niches to help the growing number of baby boomers who are moving their aging parents, The Wall Street Journal reports.These firms assist with the entire process: clearing out a home and choosing what to throw away, donate, or sell; packing and moving; holding estate sales; and preparing houses for sale.“There is more business than we can handle,” said Kimberly McMahon, co-founder of Let’s Move, whic
If your sellers are looking for ways to improve their kitchen before listing, or if your buyers want to make cost-effective updates to a dated kitchen in their newly purchased home, professional organizer Colleen Klimczak, owner of Peace of Mind Professional Organizing, has five tips. Install under-cabinet lighting. This simple project is low in cost and leaves a big impact, giving the whole kitchen a beautiful glow. Try LED rope lights that pl
Housing prices have returned to the “boom levels” of a decade ago, but this time around, the fast appreciation is being fueled by strong supply-and-demand dynamics rather than predatory lending practices, investor speculation, and too much construction, according to new realtor.com® data released Monday.“As we compare today’s market dynamics to those of a decade ago, it’s important to remember rising prices didn’t cause the housing c
A real estate agent in Scottsdale, Ariz., was trapped inside an open house recently when a two-and-a-half-foot-long diamondback rattlesnake greeted him at the front door in an aggressive stance and refused to budge. The unidentified agent recorded the frightening encounter and posted the video to YouTube under the name “Our Simple Adventures on Tuesday.”In a written message at the beginning of the video, the agent explains that he was carryin
Many people may be visiting your website or blog, but if they aren’t moved to contact you, it’s time to rethink your lead conversion strategy. Jayson DeMers, a columnist for Forbes.com, points out several ways marketers are unknowingly sabotaging their conversion rates.Serving up mediocre content: “If a visitor comes to your site and starts reading your content, but finds it to be thin, unoriginal, or inaccurate, they’ll instantly lose t
Researchers at Dartmouth University have discovered that you can improve a wireless network’s range and increase Wi-Fi security by using aluminum foil as a reflector on and around a router’s antenna. “With a simple investment of about $35 and specifying coverage requirements, a wireless reflector can be custom built to outperform antennae that cost thousands of dollars,” Xia Zhou, an assistant professor at Dartmouth, told technology news
Instead of popping the champagne after your clients officially become new homeowners, how about setting up a photo shoot to help them document the occasion?First-time buyers are showing greater interest in sharing their status as new homeowners with their peers online, so many real estate pros are staging photo shoots to help them capture and share the moment on social media. The photos may include props such as a “First Home” sign, or the bu
Housing experts worry that millions of foreclosures will surface in Texas, Florida, and Puerto Rico after recent hurricanes forced owners from their homes. Though many lenders have extended grace periods for affected customers, consumer advocates fear that many will simply walk away from their mortgages.“I’m anticipating a wave of problems coming in February,” Amir Befroui, a foreclosure specialist with Lone Star Legal Aid in Houston, told
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