Homebuyers have many things to consider when looking for a new residence, but what ranks among the top considerations? Buying a home is all about weighing the positives and the negatives, but as any real estate agent knows, not

What types of homes have proven most popular with homebuyers in 2013? We take a look at recent NAR data to find out. Consumer preferences are an ever shifting, evolving landscape, and few regions of the economy shift more

As the co-inventor of ACT! contact management software, the product credited as the catalyst for the customer relationship management industry, I’m surprisingly not a champion of the concept of “managing relationships” at all. I don’t think entering data, scheduling

Luxury homes are often fitted with nifty technological features, but which ones do affluent consumers most care about? Technology has become an important part of the home search process for many American consumers, and luxury homebuyers are no exception.

You just received an introductory email from a prospective new client, referred to you by a friend whom you just helped buy a first home. Actually, it could also be either an intro text message or an invite to

Many Realtors, including myself, have an occupational hazard of talking too much. There is so much information to share in order to educate our clients that it is extremely easy to get carried away. Anyone that knows me knows

When it comes to home improvement professionals, which ones are the most popular with Chicago homeowners? Earlier this week, we reported on home improvement projects in Chicago, and which ones have proven the most prominent with homeowners in our

When we think luxury, we generally think “BIG,” but a new survey shows that bigger it not always better with luxury homebuyers. You hear the words “luxury home,” and many things come to mind – high-end finishings, exclusive neighborhoods

There are many ways that homeowners can improve their residences, but what projects are the most popular? Home improvement projects are among the key tenets of homeownership. You purchase a home, renovate certain aspects of it, and then, several

500? 620? 740? What is the minimum credit score needed to get a mortgage? There’s a lot of disconnect between the “official” requirements and the scores that actually get people approved for home financing. Articles online show minimum FICO

Well, it is the fall of 2013, and I find it quite interesting how much a market can change in less than a year. It almost seemed at the stroke of midnight this past New Year’s, buyers collectively decided

What amenities have proven the most in-demand for luxury homebuyers thus far in 2013? All consumers approach the homebuying experience with a specific set of features and amenities that they most desire in their prospective home, but luxury homebuyers

Strong school districts are often a top selling point for certain neighborhoods, but how do they translate to the median price of the area? It’s gotta be among the most common of questions that real estate agents receive –

A common mistake that listing agents often make in front of buyer clients is to talk first and listen later, if at all. They tend to talk nonstop from the start of the showing to the end, often volunteering information

How do American consumers feel about not only the housing market, but their chances at homeownership? A new Bankrate.com survey provides insight. There are many reasons for homeownership. From privacy, to expression, to carving ones own unique niche in

Luxury homebuyers have needs that set them apart from other homebuyers; how do those needs, then, translate to the services provided by agents? Real estate is, at its heart, a service-based industry. As the real estate agent, you are