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Conventional wisdom states that the very best time of year to sell a home is in the springtime -- but conventional wisdom doesn't apply to every home sale, or even every real estate market. If you're thinking about selling your home and you have some flexibility in terms of timing, then you'll want to carefully consider every season before you blindly decide to list your house in the spring just because some nationwide research indicates that spring is a good time to sell. Read More

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When it comes to neighborhood expertise, one real estate agent is pretty much like any other -- right? Not so fast! Depending on where you live or where you're moving, a neighborhood specialist could be heads and shoulders above the competition, and for that reason it doesn't always make sense to list with your cousin's best friend or old college roommate, even if you already have a personal relationship with that person. Read More

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Selling your house can be a very stressful experience for homeowners. It can be emotionally challenging to make repairs or upgrades to a house that you're about to hand over to a buyer; you often need to keep the home in pristine condition for marketing and showings; and even if you find a buyer who's perfect for your place and everything seems to be going swimmingly, a last-minute loan problem can derail your deal and send you back to the beginning -- through no fault of your own. Read More

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There are plenty of good reasons why you might want to buy a house in a different state from your current location -- and thankfully, modern technology makes it possible to shop for a home and work hand-in-hand with trusted professionals who can make the process easier for you. Whether you're going to be living in the house full-time and want to have the purchase handled before you move, you'd like to find a vacation home in one of your favorite places to visit, or you are hoping to invest your money in real estate somewhere you don't actually live, you're not alone! Read More

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In most markets, it's customary for sellers to work on their home until it's in top condition before listing it for sale. But sometimes sellers need to offload their home without making those cosmetic touch-ups -- or major repairs -- for one reason or another. There's no shame in selling a house as-is, but when you have a fixer-upper on your hands that you need to sell, you should be aware of how to do it in a way that nets you the best dollar amount possible while avoiding lingering on the market (unless that's your plan, of course). Read More

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Lots of us enjoy whiling away an hour or three watching those shows on HGTV that involve an attractive couple buying a house, spending what seems like a few hours (or days) making some repairs and upgrades here and there, then either moving into the home of their dreams or flipping it for some serious cash profit. And if you're going to fantasize about some aspect of homeownership, you could do a lot worse than creating your own private castles in the clouds that you help build and finish all on your own. Read More

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When moving out of a primary residence, most homeowners make the obvious decision to sell their current property. But is that really the best choice for you? The answer, of course, depends on many factors -- your current financial and housing situation, the real estate and rental market where you live, and several others that can add up to help you make a decision about what to do. Read More

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The final walk-through is an exciting time for buyers: The house is almost yours! It can be tempting to spend the time set aside for the walk-through mentally planning where you'll place your furniture and hang your wall art -- but there are some things you should make time to check before you leave the walk-through and get ready to close. Otherwise, you might find yourself unpleasantly surprised once the keys are handed over and the seller is no longer responsible for the property. Read More

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When seeking new and different lead-generation strategies, you’ve probably come across the recommendation to host a real estate seminar for potential clients. It’s a common way for real estate agents to get their names and brands out into the community, meet possible buyers and sellers, and explain how a qualified agent can smooth the real estate process. If you’ve ever tried to create a seminar, though, you know that to craft a good one, you need to invest quite a bit of time and possibly some money into the effort. Read More

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There's one question that real estate agents get asked all the time: "How's the market?" It's a difficult question to answer because the most accurate response depends on a variety of factors -- whether you're a buyer or a seller; what price point is most relevant to your particular case (the luxury market behaves very differently than the entry-level market); the state, metro area, neighborhood, and even the street where you're looking to buy or sell; how quickly you want to close the transaction -- you get the idea. Read More