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
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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
What You Should Know About Housing Predictions for 2025
As the new year rolls in, we end an unprecedented year for the stock market and paradoxically, one of the slowest volume years on record for real estate transactions. The volatile trifecta of inflation, high interest rates, and low inventory continues to keep the housing market more frozen than not, with little relief in sight for 2025. Ironically, both the good news and the bad news is that the U.S. economy continues to be strong, which is keeping inflation on the sticky side, and thus, interest rates higher than desired. With that in mind, here's what you should know about housing predictions for 2025, as per Fannie Mae: … [Read more...] about What You Should Know About Housing Predictions for 2025
Quick and Easy Social Media Strategies to Live By
Ah, social media. Whether the term fills you with dread or joy, it's a critical part of marketing for any business. But as with most things, there isn't a one-size-fits all when it comes to social media marketing for real estate. Because real estate is all about building relationships through market savvy and customer service, your social media marketing needs to hit to those targets. Following are quick and easy social media strategies to live by: … [Read more...] about Quick and Easy Social Media Strategies to Live By