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If you’ve kept up with the real estate market over the last few years, you’ve probably noticed it has been anything but what we would consider “normal.” Historically low interest rates, property values increasing exponentially, and houses selling within hours! In the last half of 2022, we saw an increase in interest rates which caused the market to shift a bit. 

We are currently still in a sellers market as there are still many buyers looking for a home and not enough sellers. While it is incredibly unlikely that we will see interest rates drop to 2% and 3% again, those low interest rates seem to still have an effect on our current market. Many people who purchased or refinanced in the last several years locked in the lower rates and now they…

The past few years have been something else when it comes to selling your home. In a heavily weighted market, sellers were getting top dollar and then some for their homes with very few negotiations happening. As 2022 comes to an end, we have shifted away from a seller’s market and things have balanced out between buyers and sellers. What this means is there are more options for buyers and longer days on the market for sellers. This is what most would consider “normal” when it comes to buying and selling real estate.

Now that buyers have more options, pricing your home correctly is key when it comes to selling your home. Here are our top 6 ways to help you find the right price to list your home.

1. Consider the current market

Knowing what…

Buying a house is an exciting time in your life regardless of if you’re a first-time home buyer or purchasing your fifth house. There are a lot of things to consider when buying a home like location, how many bedrooms you need, if are you looking for more storage space, if a yard is important, etc. While purchasing a home is a process, we feel that it is important to understand the upfront costs as you begin the process to help eliminate any surprises. 

To start, it is important to understand these costs are going to be separate from your downpayment. For example, if you’re preapproved for $350,000 and plan to put down 10%, the total amount that you are paying is $35,000 (10% of your loan) plus the following costs. It is also important to note…

It’s that time of year again when the summer break has come to an end and families are gearing up for the beginning of the school year. Whether your children will be attending school in person, online, or home school, preparing your house is one of the best ways to set your child up for success. Here are our top 6 favorite ways to prepare your home for your students to have the best school year yet!

1. Message board/family calendar

Between your work schedule, appointments, sports, and after-school activities keeping up with everybody’s schedule can be chaotic and overwhelming. The best way to organize your week is with a family message center. Keeping a family calendar will help keep up with everybody’s events and also make sure you don’t have…

Getting your house ready for summer doesn't just mean uncovering the pool and prepping the grill. It also means checking off a few to do items to make sure your home is ready for the summer season. By keeping up with regular maintenance, it helps to protect your home and can prevent costly repairs down the road. Here are our top 10 items for you to check off your summer to do list.

1. Service & repair your HVAC

As the temperature rises, it is incredibly important to make sure your air conditioner is ready to take on the hot days of summer. While it is recommended that you service your HVAC annually, the weather changes can take its toll on your unit. Having a licensed technician inspect your HVAC can help you beat the heat this year!

2.…

Spring cleaning is an annual ritual that many perform—some more enthusiastically than others—to clear out the winter debris and achieve a more comfortable environment for everyone in our households. But performing spring cleaning and annual home maintenance tasks isn’t only good for our homes. According to medical science, it’s actually good for our mental and physical health too. In fact, increasing numbers of people have begun to view spring cleaning as an act of self-care because of its benefits to mind and body health. This year, don’t skip this ritual; luxuriate in its healthful benefits, and enhance your living space with improved maintenance at the same time.

Spring Cleaning Benefits Your Mental and Physical Health

Ever walk into a…

You might think you have it covered when it comes to selling your home. How hard can it be really? Well, harder than you think. Before you put up that “For Sale By Owner” sign, read these reasons you shouldn’t first: 

1. It’s going to cost you a lot of time 

You’ll have to take amazing photos of your home. Market your home to potential buyers. Show your home to people who aren’t serious buyers. Show your home repeatedly to serious buyers. You’ll be talking to so many people every day. Prepare for this to be your new part time job. Is it worth it? 

2. You’ll lose money

Most people who do FSBO believe they’ll be saving money by not using a real estate agent. In reality, a good realtor will price your property to get the most money in the…

Buying your first house is a huge step into adulthood. And as most of us know, it’s an expensive one! In fact, a 2017 Zillow survey of 13,000 adults found that only 39 percent of millennials are able to make the standard down payment on a home, and just one in five can pay the minimum to secure a home loan. Ouch. 

The good news is, there are definitely ways to cut down on the cost of buying your first home. Here are 7 of our best tips:

1. Choose an experienced Realtor

This is first on our list because it’s the most important! And it’s not just because we’re biased. You might be amazing at searching sites like Trulia and Zillow for potential homes, but what you probably don’t know is sometimes that information is totally incorrect. So you can find…

Blog contributed by John Butler of Omni Realty  in Memphis.

 "Move-in ready" and "fixer-upper" are two terms you're likely to come across during your home search. The interpretation of these two terms can be different, depending upon the individual. 

A novice would interpret the home as a fixer-upper, while a buyer experienced in home improvement may consider the home move-in ready. 

Sure, home improvement reality TV shows stimulate creativity. But, they also create deceitful perceptions of what a typical house would look like on a showing. The vast majority of houses you view will have their shortcomings, so it’s vital to understand the difference between fixer uppers and move-in ready homes. 

Pros of Fixer-Uppers

Customization:…

There are reasons some homes sell faster than others. We’ve seen more than our fair share of homes, having worked with a lot of clients both buying and selling over the years. So we have the secrets you need to make your home ready for resale and marketable to potential buyers! Check out our top 7 tips straight from the real estate agent: 

1. De-clutter and organize

Be sure to go through your home before photos are taken and potential buyers start coming through to tour the home. Keep only the essentials, and put everything else in storage or give it away. And don’t forget to purge closets as well! Buyers want to know there is a lot of storage space in a home, and if yours looks like it’s bursting at the seams, it’s not going to be appealing.