This simple tip can be one of the most powerful in the staging process as it simply says that while you may not have a use for that small nook of the kitchen that you don’t currently have furnished, a potential home buyer might. Furnishing it with borrowed or moved furniture can show off another one of the ways your home can be utilized, even if it is not something that you chose to do in your ownership of the property. You will quickly find that a home sale and staging has little to do wit... Read Full Post

Bubble this, bubble that, bubble burst....... etc etc etc. Real Estate markets in California, Florida, NY, and many other places had the luxury of double digit appreciation for a long time. Sources say that the Florida market was up 100% and California was up 150% in early 2006. Now things are sliding down, inventories are up and the whole picture is changing..... Not true in Fort Mill, Tega Cay, and Lake Wylie (except for waterfront). Our market has experienced very normalized appreciation l... Read Full Post

It is the opportune time to buy property in Steeplechase, Palm Beach Gardens Premiere Estate Community. In this community of $1 million+ homes there are currently eight homes for sale under the $1 million level. Located in the heart of Palm Beach Gardens, Steeplechase homes are each built on at least one acre lots, providing opportunities for larger homes and wonderful outdoor space. Of the eight homes under $1 million, some are destined to be torn down with new estate homes built on the prop... Read Full Post

There is one question I get asked weekly by people from around the country, "What's going to happen in the real estate market next year? Should I buy now or wait?" Well based on my experience the last 12 months and a lot of research I've done I have much to proffer on the issue. My previous post noted how much inventory had declined since the peak in March 2006. Well I just pulled the November numbers and found some interesting trends. For Northern Virginia real estate the number of units sol... Read Full Post

I noticed many listings had disappeared for which I had found new buyers in the past 2 months. Sure enough the latest data is out and the inventory of Arlington Virginia Condos is almost back to normal from a year ago. That means our inventory correction took a year. Pretty fast correction it seems. The doomsayers in the media who predicted another 20% decline this year in home values across the board are pathetic but make their $$$$ or earn their time in the spotlight through hype and fear-m... Read Full Post

A comparative market analysis (CMA) is the most important,and, should be the first skill that any real estate agent learns how to do well. A CMA should be used to determine fair market value for a home based on certain conditions. The conditions for determining fair market value are that you have a willing buyer, a willing seller and no undue pressure on either party. This is market value. Not what the seller or agent or buyer feels like the value is, but instead, what buyers and sellers have... Read Full Post

The inventory of single family homes for Fairfax Virginia real estate doubled in a short few months during the 1st half of 2006. That was tough for sellers who saw their homes priced at what in their experience was market value languish for months on end never sell after consecutive price drops. Well inventory has almost come back to normal--much of sold although a lot of perhaps was just withdrawn till 2007. However the prices are lower now by about 5% and therefore buyers and sellers should... Read Full Post

Have you ever noticed the hobby of realtors often seems to be posting or inserting the largest photo of themselves where every they can find a place to do so? I call it realtor egos run amok. [I just blurred out the face as I don't want to hurt anybody]. What does this guy think this is...a calendar competition! In what other professions do business people plaster photos of themselves at every opportunity? Do you really think your photo is going to get your business surging? Is it egos gone w... Read Full Post

This data was complied by Leslie Appleton-young, Chief Economist and Vice President of the California Association of Realtors (CAR). This is a first of a series of articles on this topic. Please check back under the "Real Estate World is Changing" Category. In 2000, 28% of people said that they used the Internet as an important part of their home-buying and selection process. In 2006, 70% said they did; 86% of home buyers started using the Internet as part of their process BEFORE they started... Read Full Post