Did you know that 80 percent of home buyers know within seconds whether or not they want to buy your home? It’s one of the home selling tips your real estate agent knows all too well, and it’s why they encourage you to put your home’s “best foot forward” immediately at the curb. What you may not know is the science behind this industry secret. According to a recent Realtor.com article on the science of home selling, our minds actually process information more quickly than we perceive. From the … [Read more...]
14 Smart Moves to Make After Attending an Open House
October 16, 2015 by
For many potential homebuyers, attending an open house is a pressure-free way to start gauging the price of homes they may want to buy. But, what happens next? According to Trulia, that depends on how you feel about the home. In a recent article, Paula Pant offers 14 helpful next steps for open house attendees to take based on whether they love the home, are on the fence, or hate it. If you love the home and want to make an offer, get an experienced real estate agent involved immediately. If you … [Read more...]
Buying a Condo: 5 Reasons it’s Smart for Millennials
October 14, 2015 by
With rents rising at twice the rate of income, many millennials are wisely beginning to explore the prospect of buying a home for the first time. According to Zillow, the affordability of buying a condo may make it the smartest way for millennials to enter the realm of homeownership. Because location is often a major selling point for millennial buyers who want to be close to work, night life, and other social settings, buying a condo often offers more bang for the buck than buying a … [Read more...]
The Process of Buying a House: 5 Fears You Can Let Go
October 12, 2015 by
If you’re considering going through the process of buying a house, especially for the first time, it’s normal to feel intimidated by the whole system. After all, the process of buying a house is probably the biggest financial investment you will make. But if your fears are keeping you from taking the plunge into homeownership, real estate expert Brendan Desimone offers some advice that can help give you peace of mind. In a recent Zillow article, he explores the top five fears homebuyers face and … [Read more...]
American Apparel Files Chapter 11 Bankruptcy
October 8, 2015 by
Made-in-America clothing retailer American Apparel filed Chapter 11 bankruptcy this week in the wake of poor sales and pending litigation. According to USA Today, the retailer has reached debt restructuring agreements with the majority of its secured debt creditors. The company, who has 8,500 employees who work in six factories and 230 stores worldwide, told the court it plans to close unprofitable stores as part of its restructuring plan. At the time of filing chapter 11 bankruptcy, the … [Read more...]
How to Make Your House More Appealing to Autumn Buyers
October 6, 2015 by
When it comes to attracting buyers for your home, spring and early summer are typically the most popular shopping months for families. After the school year begins, families are less willing to uproot the family with a big move. What does that mean for you if you’re putting your house on the market this autumn? Well, you may need to shift your focus to attract different kinds of buyers. According to Zillow, millennials and empty nesters are more likely to be looking for a home in the fall. To … [Read more...]
Russia Gets First Wave of Personal Bankruptcy Filings
October 2, 2015 by
A new law that allows individual Russian citizens to file personal bankruptcy took effect this week resulting in a wave of filings in courts throughout the country. According to the Associated Press, nearly half a million citizens are now eligible to file for personal bankruptcy under the law’s provisions. Prior to this week, only legal entities were permitted to file bankruptcy, which left individuals without any legal means of debt relief. Based on reports from Russia’s central bank, … [Read more...]
6 Ways New Homeowners Waste Money
October 1, 2015 by
New homeowners may be highly tempted to go on a shopping spree to decorate, landscape, and fill every room with furniture all at once. But, not so fast. Buying a home is an expensive purchase on its own. You don’t want to make the mistake of overextending yourself (or your credit cards) with additional purchases right away when you can more easily tackle them later on down the road. In a recent article, Realtor.com cautions against six cash-draining mistakes new homeowners make. One mistake is … [Read more...]
Should Your First Home Be a Fixer Upper?
September 28, 2015 by
Buying a home for the first time is one of the most important financial decisions most Americans will make. While the price tag of a fixer upper may seem appealing to a first-time homebuyer, is it really the right financial move for someone who has no experience being a homeowner? According to William Giakoumatos, vice president of American Custom Contractors and a contributor to a recent article for RISMedia, there are seven important factors a first-time homebuyer should consider before … [Read more...]
Average U.S. Household Income is Less Now Than in 2007
September 24, 2015 by
The average U.S. household income has not fully rebounded from The Great Recession according to a report released last week from the U.S. Census Bureau. Based on the findings of that report, the median household income in 2014 was $53,657. When factoring in inflation, that amount is 6.5 percent less than the median household earned in 2007—one year prior to the recession. The report also found a significant disparity still exists in household income by race. Asian households earned the highest … [Read more...]
