As the leaves continue to descend and fall enters its last month, it’s been interesting to see how the leaf blower has taken over from the humble rake to clear away nature’s debris in many of our neighborhoods. Is this a good use of technology? Is trading a little physical exercise for battery-powered convenience the…
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More than 1.1 million homes are now for sale across the United States, giving buyers lots of choice and a strong negotiation position. Inventory of homes for sale has now risen for the 23rd consecutive month, according to the latest data from aggregator Realtor.com. There are now 17% more homes for sale than this time…
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You’d be forgiven for thinking bipartisan politics is a thing of the past in the US, but that’s not true when it comes to housing. The Senate has recently passed an important piece of legislation that is designed to boost construction volume and make homes more affordable. The so-called ROAD to Housing Act (Renewing Opportunity…
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One of the most important skills when selling your home is the art of staging to give an enhanced impression of space, purpose and natural light. Buyers love the idea of having lots of space, but you also need to arrange your furniture so each room has an obvious purpose. It’s disappointing to walk through…
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The role of every real estate agent is to help you maximize the value of your property. We’ll encourage you to make those essential improvements that will earn you a premium from buyers. And we’ll also give you the bad news, such as the need to conduct essential repair work, and offer friendly encouragement to…
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Home sales are on the rise as retail mortgage costs begin to fall following two reductions in the target cash rate by the Federal Reserve. The latest cut takes the target rate to 3.75%-4%, and this could influence the real estate market significantly in the coming weeks. Americans responded to the first reduction with a…
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There’s nothing more American than our Thanksgiving holiday, traditionally celebrated on the fourth Thursday in November. Its history was sparked by a single event more than 400 years ago and is a blend of tradition and a 19th century desire of Americans for national unity. As we prepare to celebrate, we should cast our minds…
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As the darker days descend, preparing your lawn for winter requires a very different strategy from the once-a-week mow and lavish watering required in summer. Homeowners and keen gardeners alike can make some basic mistakes or omissions with their lawns that put it under stress during winter. Right now, it’s important to aerate and dethatch…
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Making a great first impression is essential when selling your home – those first few seconds when the buyer sets eyes on your property create a lens through which they judge their entire experience. Stories are common of buyers who don’t even stop their car when they see a dilapidated property, or one that has…
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New data shows ideal investment conditions are emerging for landlords – solid and stable rental incomes combined with seller discounts that offer the opportunity to expand real estate portfolios. The latest fall in cash rate guidance by the Federal Reserve – a quarter point drop to 3.75%-4% – is also welcome as it will improve…
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