Realtor Resources

The "Silver Tsunami" describes what could be a massive home turn-over created by Baby Boomers as they age out. The numbers are impressive: The US Census Bureau estimates a population of 73 million people aged 65 and older. Some predict this could radically alter the housing supply landscape. But others argue this coming wave won't help housing supply much. The Baby Boomer generation spans nearly twenty years and thus homes that come to market will not appear all at once. Still, whether it's a tsunami or a long, rideable wave, market expert Meredith Whitney (who successfully predicted the 2008 crash), believes the wave could hit this year. That begs the question: What will this mean for real estate in the United States and how can you prepare for the wave that's coming? Following is … [Read more...] about Everything You Need to Understand About the Coming “Silver Tsunami”

Over the last several years we've seen one class-action lawsuit after another filed against the Chicago-based National Association of Realtors® (NAR) and its member brokerages. This also includes a legal battle with the US Department of Justice for anti-trust allegations. It now appears a settlement was reached several weeks ago on March 15, 2024. The surprise $418 million dollar settlement calls for NAR to eliminate decades-old commission rules and establish new rules for the MLS (Multiple Listing Service) participation. Changes are expected to be finalized sometime in July 2024 but consumers are already wanting answers. As such you must be prepared to answer questions from both sellers and buyers. Following is how the surprise settlement could impact you and your fellow agents: … [Read more...] about NAR in a Nutshell: How the Surprise Settlement Could Impact Agents

Clever acronym aside, AREA is not a place but rather a newly created entity to the real estate industry. It stands for "American Real Estate Association" and its ambition is to offer real estate agents a professional trade organization alternative to NAR (National Association of Realtors®). Officially launched in January 2024 at Inman Connect, AREA offers a choice to brokerages and agents concerned by current legal challenges taking place in the NAR organization. Following is the skinny on who is AREA and what should you know about it: … [Read more...] about What is AREA and What You Should Know About It

As the tax filing deadline for 2023 draws near, it's time to roll up your sleeves and chase down your eligible deductions for the year. Doing this right could be the difference of thousands of dollars. Itemizing your deductions for your real estate business is both the beauty and curse of running your own show. Make sure you zero in on every eligible deduction possible in order to get the most out of your business income. This information offers awareness of key tax deductions for a real estate business but is not tax advice. A critical caveat: make sure to consult with your tax expert for any and all tax decisions made for your business. Following is a list of how to make the most of tax deductions for real estate agents: … [Read more...] about How to Make the Most of Tax Deductions for Real Estate Agents