June is the Month of Homeownership, which is a key component of The American Dream. It began in 1995 as a week-long observance to increase homeownership nationwide. In the early 2000s it was expanded to the entire month of June. Following are meaningful ways to celebrate homeownership: … [Read more...] about Meaningful Ways to Celebrate Homeownership
real estate market
How to Make the Most of the 2025 Sell Season
April is historically the kick-off for real estate's spring sell season, but May and June can be just as productive if not more so. Most likely you've been working with your buyers and sellers throughout the busy holiday season and into the later months of winter. Now at last spring is here with the promise of a busy time ahead. Although marketplace headwinds have been formidable over the last few months, there are still opportunities to be had. Here's how to get ready for the 2025 sell season: … [Read more...] about How to Make the Most of the 2025 Sell Season
How a Strong Middle Class Creates Real Estate Wealth
The American middle class was born roughly seventy-five years ago thanks to the GI Bill and government-backed loan programs. These programs spurred homeownership and consumer spending and culminated in the robust real estate industry we have come to expect. The opportunity for regular folks--commonly known as the "middle class"-- to own homes is a defining feature of The American Dream. It's also historically been the main driver of the real estate industry itself. As such, the careers of most real estate agents rely on the ability of the middle class to continue to buy and sell homes. Here's how a strong middle class creates real estate wealth: … [Read more...] about How a Strong Middle Class Creates Real Estate Wealth
How to Not Waste Money on Home Upgrades
More is not always better. In fact, when it comes to home improvement, more can sometimes be worse, especially when it comes to unique design elements. When counseling your clients on home upgrades for a top sale, make sure they know how to not waste money on home upgrades: … [Read more...] about How to Not Waste Money on Home Upgrades
How to Target New Construction in 2025
It's no secret that today's higher interest rates have cast a chill on real estate transactions. Roughly 84% of today's mortgaged homeowners are locked into a rate below 6% so it's no wonder they are staying put, thereby reducing inventory and transaction volume. As such, many buyers are priced out of the market, stuck on the sidelines until rates come down or inventory goes up--or both. Meanwhile, new construction currently represents one third of all single-family housing for sale, adding much needed inventory to the market. More significantly, many builders are offering buy-downs and incentives, effectively reducing interest rates to a comparative 4.5 to 5.5 percentage rate, substantially below today's average of 7 percent. This is why you want new construction in your business plan. … [Read more...] about How to Target New Construction in 2025