Warranty and insurance are two terms that can sound quite a bit alike in their purpose and function, but that’s not necessarily the case. A home warranty and home insurance are two concepts, both offering a level of protection and peace of mind for homeowners, but doing so in different ways. What is a Home…
We’re on the brink of a new year, which means a new focus on real estate. The United States real estate market is fast-moving, and there is a myriad of variables that play a role in where the trends go, but the following are some general things you might be able to expect in 2020. …
On nearly every media outlet, there’s an ongoing discussion about when the next recession will be. As we’re already approaching the end of 2019, some wonder if the next economic downturn will be in 2020. While we’re in a period of economic strength, for the most part, there are some troubling indicators, such as the…
Mortgage rates impact buyers and sellers significantly, but it’s a concept frequently misunderstood. With the importance of mortgage rates in real estate, it’s a topic worth exploring. The Basics: What Are Mortgage Rates? When you buy a home and you borrow money in the form of a mortgage, the bank typically agrees to pay around…
The EffectiveAgents® team took a hard look at average realtor® commission rates so far in 2019 to determine how much the average real estate agent receives in gross compensation for a full-service listing. A lot has changed in the real estate world over the last several years. New services have emerged that offer homeowners discounted…
Technology is an unavoidable, pervasive part of life for most of us. There’s not any part of life where technology isn’t a staple of our daily routines, and this is true in the real estate industry and for real estate professionals. Technology has not only changed the entire real estate industry, but it makes things…
Currently, the United States is in the midst of the longest period of economic expansion in history, many economists believe that this isn’t likely to hold on much longer. Most economists predict a recession in 2020 or possibly even sooner at the end of 2019, so what would that mean for the real estate market?…
Buying a home is one of the most important decisions you can make. But finding the right financing at an affordable interest rate can be tricky. To make the process just a little easier, we’ve put together a checklist of everything you need to keep in mind before you close the deal. The Mortgage Process…
When it comes to purchasing a home, they may be nothing as contentious as a homeowner’s association. Some people swear against the concept of an HOA; however, this type of organization can provide benefits that other homeowners prefer. In this article, we will present to you the drawbacks and benefits of considering a neighborhood with…
Understanding your local housing market is crucial if you own property and are looking to sell it or if you are actively in the market looking for a new home. You don’t want to overpay for a new home but you also don’t want to fire sell the home you currently have. We’re going to…