Suzanne's Blog
California REALTORS® place open letter in California newspapers to mitigate confusion about pending changes in industry business practices
“If you’ve been reading about real estate lately, you’ve no doubt heard about antitrust lawsuits and settlements by real estate brokerages and the National Association of REALTORS®. You’ve also heard about the settlements resulting in certain changes in how agents will be compensated for their work,” C.A.R. President Melanie Barker said in the letter. “Recent […]
Read More
More home sellers are paying capital gains taxes — here’s how to reduce your bill
More Americans are paying capital gains taxes on home sale profits amid soaring property values — but there are ways to reduce your bill, experts say. In 2023, nearly 8% of U.S. home sales yielded profits exceeding $500,000, compared with about 3% in 2019, according to an April report from real estate data firm CoreLogic. There’s a reason the report […]
Read More
What Buyers, Sellers Want Most From Real Estate Agents
When it comes to buying or selling a home, what are the top things that most clients are looking for when they hire a real estate agent? Let’s take a look.. The majority of home buyers and sellers rely on real estate agents—nearly 90% of them—but they’re looking for certain types of help, and what […]
Read More
7 Types of Tax-Deductible Home Improvements
With Tax Day in your rear view, make sure you are taking all the home deductions for which you may qualify for during this tax year. Nearly a quarter of homeowners say they’re planning major renovations this year, and some of those projects may be eligible for a tax deduction. This could help alleviate some of the […]
Read More
Let Your Home Equity Fund Your Retirement
Struggling with Money? Learn about Home Equity Conversion Mortgages (HECMs) If you’re low on cash, you might consider a Home Equity Conversion Mortgage (HECM). It’s like a reverse mortgage backed by the government. This means if you meet certain requirements, you can borrow money against the value of your home. The Federal Housing Administration (FHA) […]
Read More
Why 90% of Homebuyers Will Continue to Choose Working with Real Estate Agents: Insights from the National Association of Realtors
Last month, the National Association of Realtors announced a settlement that would resolve nationwide litigation over claims from home sellers related to broker commissions. The $418 million settlement, and the practice changes it will usher in, have led some to speculate that real estate agents are at risk of becoming obsolete. As someone who has […]
Read More
4 Tips To Make Your Strongest Offer on a Home
Are you thinking about buying a home soon? If so, you should know today’s market is competitive in many areas because the number of homes for sale is still low – and that’s leading to multiple-offer scenarios. And moving into the peak homebuying season this spring, this is only expected to ramp up more. Remember these four […]
Read More
Finding Your Perfect Home in a Fixer Upper
If you’re trying to buy a home and are having a hard time finding one you can afford, it may be time to consider a fixer-upper. That’s a house that needs a little elbow grease or some updates, but has good bones. Fixer-uppers can be a really great option if you’re looking to break into the housing market […]
Read More
Why We Aren’t Headed for a Housing Crash
If you’re holding out hope that the housing market is going to crash and bring home prices back down, here’s a look at what the data shows. And spoiler alert: that’s not in the cards. Instead, experts say home prices are going to keep going up. Today’s market is very different than it was before the housing crash in […]
Read More