There are an estimated two million real estate agents around the country, according to the Association of Real Estate License Law Officials. In June of this year, National Association of Realtors membership reached an all-time high of more than 1.373 million, which was more than the number of Realtors before the financial crisis in October…
The home buying process is an exciting time for individuals and families who are stepping into the next chapter of their lives. However, it also requires a lot of paperwork and technical knowledge that most homebuyers don’t have. Your Realtor® will be an invaluable resource in guiding you through this process, but there are also…
Fall can be a favorite season for a lot of us. It represents the time where we’re maybe spending more time at home with family, cooking and enjoying the events of the season. You’re back from your summer travels, and you might be in nesting mode once again. This makes it the ideal time cozy-up…
Interest rates have been on somewhat of a wild ride since the end of 2015. At that time, the Federal Reserve started raising rates, and since then, there have been several rate hikes. Before the end of 2015, rates were steadily low at points near zero for years following the Great Recession as part of…
Social media is our go-to for just about anything, so why not use it to sell a house? Social media is one of the best ways to get the word out about a listing, and according to Adweek, Millennials now make up 66% of the first-time home buying market. 99% of those Millennials use the…
A foreclosure happens when a property owner stops paying their mortgage or other financial obligations to the lender. The lender (typically the bank) will take back the rights to the home, evict the owner, and try to resell the house to someone who will be able to pay for it. Foreclosed homes are often seen…
Unfortunately, natural disasters are part of life, and we’re currently in the middle of hurricane season. June is the start of hurricane season, and it goes through the fall, ending November 30. According to the Office for Coastal Management, Hurricane Harvey damage led to costs of $125 billion, and the total cost of the 16…
EffectiveAgents® is committed to providing continuing real estate rewards benefits to all USAA members despite the cancellation of the program. EffectiveAgents® will match USAA member benefits by connecting home buyers and sellers to top performing Realtors® on our data-driven matching platform, after completing a successful closing when you select an agent through EffectiveAgents.com. The program…
People often refer to a mortgage as a single entity. However, there are multiple types of mortgages that potential homebuyers can choose. While some mortgage options might not be right for you, you could be able to afford a home with an alternative choice. While these are more than a dozen types of mortgages out…
Don’t overlook the importance of staging your home because it can be a mistake that costs you both time and money. Despite the statistics and research on the topic, some buyers feel they can get by without staging their home, and they leave it empty or don’t take steps to make it appealing to a…