Setting a list price is potentially one of the sharpest thorns in the agent-client relationship. Many sellers believe they know better what their home is worth, and it may be difficult to convince your client to trust your professional opinion. And the internet doesn’t make this process easier.Sellers often consult online automated valuation models, or AVMs, such as Zillow’s “Zestimate,” to get a scope of what their property is worth. But
Toys ‘R’ Us recently announced its plan to close or sell more than 800 of its stores across the country, and some commercial real estate experts are concerned about the hundreds of empty storefronts that will be left behind. Some landlords are already scrambling to find replacements.Many Toys ‘R’ Us and Babies ‘R’ Us locations are between 40,000 to 65,000 square feet. This is “problematic as the list of retailers seeking that
The U.S. Department of Labor’s proposed rule expanding the use of association health plans is a step in the right direction, but more work must be done to refine the plan before making health insurance options available through AHPs, a prominent REALTOR® testified Wednesday on Capitol Hill.Michael McGrew, right, a former NAR treasurer, meets with Rep. Tim Walberg (R-MI), chairman of the House Education and the Workforce Subcommittee on Health
“Adulting” is getting harder for younger generations, which is stymieing the housing market from reaching its full potential, according to Freddie Mac’s latest March Insight report. The report compares young adults to previous generations and the impact to household growth.“For today’s young adults, ‘adulting’ is hard because the economic environment has been tough in recent years; wage growth has been weak and housing costs have
Homeowners who don’t live near a federally recognized floodplain may still be at risk of flooding, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency severely underestimates the number of people who could potentially be affected, according to a new study in the journal Environmental Research Letters.Researchers from the University of Bristol in the United Kingdom, the Nature Conservancy, and the Environmental Protection Agency say that the U.S. pop
Be careful: You may be under surveillance when touring a property. Some sellers are using surveillance cameras inside their home to record the sight and sound as prospective buyers walk through.The increase in these home recordings—many from security systems that owners already have installed—are raising some concerns surrounding privacy in real estate transactions, MarketWatch reports.Jill Comfort, a real estate pro in Phoenix, told MarketW
Replace lightbulbs. The typical American household spends 5 to 10 percent of its energy budget on lighting alone, according to the DOE. Replace incandescent lightbulbs with LEDs, which on average are 85 percent more energy-efficient. You can shave $100 a year on your energy costs by making the switch.Unplug. Leaving cellphones, TVs, computers, and other electronic devices plugged in can continue to pull power from the grid. That can add up over
Last week, we introduced the 50 finalists vying for a spot in REALTOR® Magazine’s 2018 class of 30 Under 30. Now you can learn more about each of these extraordinary young professionals in their online profiles and help one of them win the Web Choice Award and land a spot in the final group of 30.The voting period is now open and will close at noon CDT on Friday, March 23. Members of the public can log in and “like” their favorite candida
Wellness-minded millennials are filling their homes with clean-air houseplants, and real estate developers are realizing that a love for greenery can be used as an amenity to attract buyers.Millennials are looking for spaces to add indoor gardens. Real estate developers are jumping on the trend. The ARC in Long Island City, a 428-unit luxury rental building, allows its residents to use a 1,100-square-foot glass greenhouse where they can plant and
Home floor plans can take much longer to evolve than design trends. Changes tend to occur over years, as some designers and architects look to push the envelope and take a gamble on what they believe will resonate with buyers. But a few trends are starting to emerge.BUILDER recently weighed in on some of the hottest fads that could impact more floor plans in 2018, including:1. Flexibility for multigenerational households. More homes are being bu
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