Twitter Officially Doubles Its Character Count Twitter’s approximately 330 million users can now send tweets on that are up to 280 characters in length, Twitter announced Tuesday. That is double its previous limit of 140 characters. In September, Twitter tested longer tweets on a small group of users. The company says they found those with …
Category: Real Estate Tips
Nov 08
Investors Eye Parking Spaces for Bigger Profit
Investors Eye Parking Spaces for Bigger Profit Real estate investors are utilizing parking spaces as lucrative investments in some major metros across the country. Buying up individual parking spaces is garnering greater interest among small investors who are looking for a low-maintenance investment with potentially big profits, The New York Times reports. For investors, parking spaces can …
Nov 06
Mortgage Rates Mostly Flat This Week
Mortgage Rates Mostly Flat This Week Mortgage rates mostly held steady this week after posting a sizable jump last week. “Following a strong surge last week, rates held relatively flat this week,” says Sean Becketti, Freddie Mac’s chief economist. “The 30-year mortgage rate remained unchanged at 3.94 percent, while the 10-year Treasury yield dipped …
Nov 03
Tax Reform Bill Would Cap MID for New Mortgages
Tax Reform Bill Would Cap MID for New Mortgages The Republican leadership in the House has released its long-awaited bill to reform the nation’s tax code, and it raises significant concerns for middle-class homeowners because of limits on the mortgage interest deduction and the deductions for property taxes and state and local taxes. “This legislation …
Nov 02
Seller Negotiation Tactics That Can Backfire
Seller Negotiation Tactics That Can Backfire Homeowners should not become overconfident in a seller’s market, or they might end up sabotaging their sale. Realtor.com® recently featured common home seller negotiation tactics that can backfire, including: Starting a bidding war. “If mishandled, people may assume the worst, and the best offer may walk away,” Sep Niakan, broker-owner …
Nov 01
5 Horrors at Home Showings
5 Horrors at Home Showings From the artwork to the odor, your listing may be inadvertently giving buyers the creeps. Realtor.com® recently interviewed real estate professionals about the items that have scared off their buyers the most during showings. Here are the top five spooks. Doors with too many locks. If the doors have …
Oct 31
When to Drop Your Listing Price
When to Drop Your Listing Price Though low inventory is prompting buyers to raise their offers in order to beat out competitors, you still want your sellers to know: an overpriced listing will linger on the market. Buyers pay attention to time on market and may erroneously assume something is wrong with a property that …
Oct 30
Protect Your Email From Latest Hacking Trend
Protect Your Email From Latest Hacking Trend Many real estate professionals have become keenly aware of targeted wire fraud scams that include email impersonation tactics. A growing avenue cyber criminals are using to get highly sensitive financial data is known as spear phishing, according to Asaf Cidon, vice president of content security for Barracuda Networks, a data …
Oct 27
Social Benefits of Home ownership
Social Benefits of Home ownership Improved educational performance, higher civic participation, lower crime rates, and improved health remain the biggest social benefits linked to home ownership, according to a new research paper by NAR Chief Economist Lawrence Yun and research economist Nadia Evangelou, which appears in The Journal of the Center for Real Estate Studies. Some findings from …
Oct 26
Upscale Staging Is Key in Luxury Condos
Upscale Staging Is Key in Luxury Condos Looking to get your listing noticed on the higher end of the market? Condo developers in this segment say they lure affluent buyers with models that feature brand-name goods and high-end finishes. “You want customers to daydream a little bit. Everyone always buys what they see,” Alexander Hovnanian, …
Oct 25
How Happy Is Your City?
How Happy Is Your City? How Happy Is Your City? Boulder, Colo., is the happiest city in the U.S., according to the National Geographic Gallup Special/Blue Zones Index. The city’s sense of community, access to nature, sustainable urban development, preservation policies, and its clean mountain air help make its residents feel upbeat, according to …
Oct 24
Battery-Powered Homes Are Becoming Reality
Battery-Powered Homes Are Becoming Reality Your clients may one day live in a battery-powered home, and that’s getting closer to reality for homeowners in New York, California, Massachusetts, Hawaii, Vermont, and Arizona. Many municipalities in those states are revamping their electrical grids and turning to batteries to make them more efficient. But the average homeowner …
