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Buyer beware — Common pitfalls to avoid when purchasing a home

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Buying a home is not only a large financial investment, it’s also a significant emotional investment. With so much at stake, the process deserves your undivided attention. To ensure that buying a home goes as smoothly as possible, it’s wise … Read more

FHA, Fannie Mae & Freddie Mac — The basics of government mortgage loans

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When it comes time to buy a home, the process of determining which loan is best for you can feel overwhelming. There are many loan options available, some of which are known as government loans, or government-backed loans. Many buyers … Read more

Tricks of the trade — Improve your time management skills

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One of the greatest gifts that being a real estate agent provides, lies in the fact that no two days are ever the same. It keeps you on your toes, keeps your mind active, and your days often seem to … Read more

Priceless — Why professional photography is invaluable

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Home buyers turn to their phones, tablets and computers when thinking about purchasing their next home. Study after study clearly shows that the days of waiting to look in the newspaper, or for a For Sale sign to pop up … Read more

Work/Life Balance — Tips for Setting Boundaries When Business is Booming

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A career as a real estate professional, is by design a bit unconventional. With late nights, and weekend work, there’s no disputing that top producing REALTORS® often have a full plate. Trying to balance family life, or a personal life … Read more

Using Social Media to Meet Your Sales Goals

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Social media affords REALTORS® and mortgage professionals alike an unprecedented opportunity to stay in contact with past clients, all the while reaching out to potential clients. That is, if you know how to use social media effectively. While it might … Read more

7 Secrets for Successful Negotiations

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Homeowners and home buyers have a lot at stake when entrusting a REALTOR® to negotiate for the best price, terms, and conditions of a transaction. After all, homeowners may be using the money made from a sale to upgrade to … Read more

Initial Investment — 7 Things You Need to Know Before You Invest in Real Estate

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If you’re considering investing in real estate, rest assured you’re in good company. Millions of Americans have successfully done so in the past, and countless others continue to do so each year. However, that’s not to say that being successful … Read more

Fresh start — Spring Home Staging Tips

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Even if the weather suggests otherwise, spring is right around the corner (and has already arrived in many places). With this change of season comes a change in the way you stage and present your listings. Spring is all about … Read more

Setting the Tone for Success — How to Set Reasonable Expectations with Buyers and Sellers

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REALTORS® wear a lot of hats. As full-time marketers, advocates, consultants, and business owners, every day real estate agents are doing the job of multiple professionals. With demanding schedules, ongoing deadlines, and often late nights, and weekend work — there … Read more

What to Expect if You Decide to Become a Landlord

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You’ve found your new home. It’s perfect, and you can’t wait to move in. Yet, even though your new home has all the bells and whistles you’ve been dreaming of, the thought of letting go of your current home feels … Read more

The Pros and Cons of Trying to Time the Market

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In many circles, when conversations about buying and selling homes arise, the concept of “timing the market” invariably emerges. Some people will swear by the practice, citing example after example of instances where buying low and selling high has worked … Read more

Top 10 Questions to Ask Your Real Estate Agent

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Buying or selling a home is one of the most significant financial transactions most people will ever be involved in. So it follows that choosing a real estate agent to help reach those goals is one of the most important … Read more

Get the Look — Avoid (or Fix) These Common Decorating Mistakes

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You don’t have to be (or hire) an interior decorator to create a beautiful home that’s warm and inviting. Your own style, taste and imagination should dictate your decorating choices. But there are some common mistakes that can undermine the … Read more

Play it Safe — Security Tips for Real Estate Professionals

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It might not be something you think about often, but keeping yourself safe, both in person and online, should be a priority for every real estate professional. It’s important to consider not only your physical safety, but also the security … Read more

Use Your Words — 5 Tips for Better Business Writing

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It may not seem like it, but as a real estate professional, you spend a good chunk of time writing for your business every week. From texts, tweets and Facebook posts to letters, emails, listing descriptions and presentations, much of … Read more

Top 10 Reasons to Love Your Clients

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Nearly every real estate professional we talk to tells us the same thing: they love their clients. And why not? Helping people buy or sell homes and invest in their future is one of the most rewarding careers there is. … Read more

Master These DIY Home Repairs

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Among the many responsibilities of owning a home is basic upkeep and maintenance. When caught and taken care of in the early stages, many home repairs are fairly easy fixes. You’ll save yourself plenty of time, money and hassle if … Read more

7 Unexpected Things that Affect Home Values

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Preparing your home to go on the market is a major undertaking. But despite your good efforts and best intentions, there are things that could be decreasing your home’s value that are all too easy to overlook. Use this rundown … Read more

The Right Match — How to Choose a Brokerage

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As a real estate agent, one of the most important decisions you can make is choosing the brokerage where you will hang your license. It’s a decision that will play a major role in your success as an agent. And … Read more