Every year, the Gallop Organization releases the “Economy and Personal Finances Poll”, which asks Americans to rank the best options for long-term investments.

 The Gallup Poll contrasted Real Estate with Gold, stocks/mutual funds, savings accounts/CDs, and bonds to determine where most Americans are most confident putting their money. Given high consumer confidence and a steady appreciating market, it’s no surprise that Real Estate came out on top.  Here are the numbers:

 (Source: http://www.keepingcurrentmatters.com/2014/10/29/gallup-poll-real-estate-best-long-term-investment-2/)

Real Estate, however, didn’t always wear the investment crown. Gold was the most popular investment among Americans in 2011. Gold was not yet an investment option in…

Investor profiles are very different from the days of old. One of the fastest growing buyer profiles are, not surprisingly, single women.

According to the National Association of Realtor’s 2013 Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers, Single Women represented 16% of the population of recent home buyers, compared to 9% that were single males. Let’s see how else they topped their male counterparts:

Single Women Represented

-       16% of First Time Home Buyers (11% - Single Men)

-       15% of Repeat Home Buyers (8% - Single Men)

-       56% of Homeowners that Live Alone (47% - Single Men)

-       25% of Homeowners that spend over half their income on housing (10% - Single Men)

This shouldn’t come as a shock to anyone. The number of women in…

Many people have the misconceptions that a Real Estate Agent’s job is easy and they can save thousands by selling their house without help. The reality is that without the marketing strategy, transaction guidance, and negotiation skills from a Real Estate Agent, sellers are more likely to net less money from the sale of their house.

Let’s address the very first thing to consider when selling a residence: a powerful marketing plan. As a seller, how will you cast a wide net to local and international buyers? Considering that 92% of buyers begin their search for a house online, what will be your targeted online approach? How will you reach the area’s top agents and their clients without access to the local MLS? These things cost money, time, and a specific…

With holidays around the corner and fresh into a new school year, sellers get very weary about putting their house on the market. However, low inventory and high buyer demand still tip the scales heavily in the seller’s favor.  It’s never going to be convenient to get your home sale-ready, but here are a few reasons why you shouldn’t pass up the opportunity this Fall:

1. Less Competition – Inventory is still at historic lows. Simply put, there are not enough homes to satisfy the number of buyers looking. A fresh supply of inventory is expected to come to market soon, so it would be wise to put homes on MLS while there are still bidding wars.

2. Meet your terms – This market is urging buyers to please sellers when they write their offers. This means…

Millennials (ages 18-29) make up the future’s home-buyer population. As the economy continues to strengthen, it’s important to know where future buying demand is headed. How do these youngsters prioritize real estate investment?

A recently released report by the Demand Institute (“Millenials and Their Homes: Still Seeking the American Dream”) unveiled many myths about these generations and their perception on owning property. Not so glum after all:

-       48% of Millennials plan to switch from renting to owning in the next 4 years

-       75% view home ownership as an important long-term goal

-       73% believe that home ownership is an excellent investment

-       60% plan to purchase in the next 5 years

Here are some other surprising facts…