Real Estate Decoded

Happy first day of another new month! Spring is coming!  And we already have it confirmed via Sir Walter Wally .  What are your plans for your home this spring? If you're looking to refresh your space with color, I've been seeing a lot of decorating using greens and salmons as well as pastels.  For more color inspiration, here are  PANTONE's Top 10 Colors for Spring 2017 : If you're looking to freshen up your home in a cleaning sense, I'm loving these 8 Storage Tips to Help You Clean Better, Clean Faster from HouseLogic.  They suggest using tension rods to hang your cleaning spray bottles, hanging hooks inside spaces to hang things like gloves, and using a shoe caddy to organize also! If you like checklists, Realtor.com has a great list of home maintenance tasks to tackle monthly.  They have the task, a shortcut, and an estimate on how much it is if you call the professionals.  Here are the 8 they list this month: 1. Clean the g...

Hello again! Another week is here! Did you know the spring Real Estate market is here? Some sources say it can begin in March and run through June, and some say it begins as early as end of February. If you or someone you know is thinking of selling your home, I've gathered a few of my favorite staging tips from Houselogic . LIVING ROOM 1. Go for symmetry when arranging furniture or accessories. 2. Turn on lights to add warmth. 3. Help buyers imagine living in your home by displaying a board game or tea service on the coffee table. KITCHEN 1. Keep the countertops clear and uncluttered. 2. Empty all trash cans. 3. Clean the interior and exterior of your cabinets and appliances. BEDROOM 1. Go for a neutral theme in terms of colors and accessories. 2. Remove clothes you aren't wearing this season and consider using wooden hangers to create a sophisticated, boutique look. 3. Place valuables in a safe spot. DINING ROOM 1. Add place settings or set the table to...

First off, I hope you are having a great start to your day and week! Today's topics include preparing for home buying or home selling during spring and a little bit of what's going on in the community. HOME BUYING / HOME SELLING IN SPRING The spring real estate market occurs from March through May, but could start as early as February and end as late as June. One advantage of selling or buying a home not during the spring season is there is less competition, and home appraisers or mortgage lenders are more available to assist. If buyers wait until the peak season to purchase a home, they may keep waiting for the "perfect" home and not commit. Image Source here IN THE COMMUNITY Have children? Or maybe you live in a neighborhood with children? Often, I see parents reminding others about not speeding in the community, as many kids play outside, sometimes near streets. Another reminder I've seen is information on the North Carolina school bus stop law. Se...

Happy Monday! It's the last week of January, and our new chapter, February will be starting soon.  Have you set any home decor goals for your home for the upcoming month? Here are some trends to inspire you! 1. BLACK SHIPLAP Image Source here 2. CALLIGRAPHY Image Source here 3. BUILT-IN BOOKCASES Image Source here 4. COFFEE TABLES Image Source here Happy decorating!  What trends are inspiring you at the moment? Real Estate Decoded Contributor Sources: 1.  HouseBeautiful  2. ElleDecor

Thinking about purchasing a home? Image Source here According to Nerdwallet and Realtor.com's Chief Economist, Jonathan Smoke, January and February are the best months to purchase a home.  Smoke also says there will be an increase of nearly 5% in mortgage rates as the year continues.  Another popular time to buy a home is in July and August. Want to make a smart home investment where there's growth?  Check out Forbes' Full List: Where To Invest In Housing In 2017 .  They teamed up with the North Carolina-based company, Local Market Monitor, that tracks more than 300 housing markets.  The list includes 20 different cities across the United States like Columbus, OH, Atlanta, GA, Fort Worth, TX,  and Seattle, WA. Image Source here Image Source here Before making any purchases, make sure you are prepared.  Find a Realtor that suits your personality, and be in tune with your emotions involved in the process.  Find out more on thing...

Hello and Happy Martin Luther King Jr. Day! In continuation with 2017 predictions, one writer at  Inman , Andrew Flachner, writes, 2017 is the year of the real estate broker .  He mentions that there have been threats and pessimism toward the broker-centric model. Image Source here WHAT IS A BROKER? Here's one definition from Barron's Real Estate Guides' Dictionary of Real Estate Terms (8th edition) : Still don't understand?   This article from The Balance explains it a bit more in depth.  A real estate broker can work as a real estate agent, but a real estate agent cannot work as a real estate broker without a broker's license.  Want to obtain a broker's license?  Learn more here for North Carolina's license qualifications and requirements. Image Source here The article from The Balance also goes into detail and specifies what the following titles are: Broker Associate Real Estate Agent REALTOR ® Listing Agent Buyer's Agen...

Hope you are enjoying winter and the new year so far! With these colder temperatures and even snowfall in some states, here are 3 ways from Houselogic that can keep your home warmer this winter: 1. Get your heating system in order. Schedule your HVAC checkup in the fall or winter before the changes in temperature, and make sure your HVAC professional checks all electrical or gas connections as well as other moving components, drains, heat exchangers, etc. 2. Clean your gutters. Make sure your gutters are free of leaves and other debris. Image Source here 3. Check weatherstripping and caulk. Inspect your doors and windows for any air leaks or even light leaks coming through from the outside and make any necessary replacements. Image Source here To read more on these home maintenance tasks, click here . After reviewing Robert Hahn's,  Notorious ROB's 7 predictions for 2017 , here are the 6 key takeaways listed: 1. Housing prices will fall, but the invento...