Recent Blog Posts

The amazing members of ActiveRain produce hundreds of blog posts every single day of the year.  There is a wonderful mix of all things real estate and beyond for your reading pleasure.

This board rolls all day long with the newest blog posts to our site. You’ll find some diamonds in the rough on this page, so check back often to peruse the blog roll and learn from our committed community of real estate professionals.

The newest blog posts on ActiveRain

By Bob "RealMan" Timm, Owner of Ward Co Notary Services retired RE Broker
(Ward County Notary Services)
Of course, everyone has a bad day now and then.Today I am having a good day. That is/has been a rarity over the last year due to a couple of health issues. I'm not looking for an out pouring of sympathy, I just wanted to take a moment to explain my sporadic posting lately.If you are a person of faith you surly know the saying that when you are feeling down just count your blessings one by one. It works! It's also a great song.Despite the physical pain I have been going through the last year when I start counting my blessings I see many wonderful things going on in my life. I am very eager to tell you about them and I will over the next week with no complaining... even if I have to write from this bed. Wishing you all a wonderful Easter week.
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By Jon Kolsky, Licensed California Real Estate Broker
(Kolsky Realty & Management)
We have the ability to navigate and think our way to success; isn't being human great? Yes, especially for those who navigate well and are wellminded. The industry might soon undergo some changes. From my understanding, there might be a minor bump or two and a few logistical changes in how Co-ops are handled, but that is it. When things eventually change, in the simplest terms, co-ops will no longer be posted in the MLS, and buyers will sign a contract when working with an agent.I am going to bet that the ones that put their consumers first provide excellent service and best understand the upcoming changes in our industry will thrive as usual. After all -professionalism is at the core of success. Be professional and watch your success grow. Now is the time, YOU GUYS. Go out and be the b...
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By Legal Info, Here For Your Legal Needs
Ensuring the safety of children in the home is paramount for parents and caregivers. From curious toddlers to adventurous preschoolers, children are naturally drawn to exploring their surroundings, making it crucial to implement effective childproofing measures. Childproofing your home not only helps prevent accidents and injuries but also provides peace of mind for caregivers. In this article, we'll discuss essential safety tips to help you childproof your home effectively.Conduct a Home Safety AssessmentBefore implementing childproofing measures, it's essential to conduct a thorough assessment of your home's potential hazards. Walk through each room and identify any potential dangers, such as sharp edges, choking hazards, toxic substances, and fall risks. Pay close attention to areas ...
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By Roy Kelley
(Retired)
Happy Maryland Day Happy Maryland Day! On this day in 1634, the Ark and Dove touched Maryland soil, marking a day of thanksgiving. We celebrate our state's history, from St. Clement's Island to every corner of Montgomery County. Here's to our heritage and future!This is a Montgomery County, Maryland announcement.The ship Ark and the pinnace Dove, set sail from Cowes, Isle of Wight, England on November 22, 1633. They first landed at St. Clement’s (now Blakiston) Island on March 23, 1634. On March 25, Father White celebrated a mass of thanksgiving for their safe arrival in Maryland – which we continue to celebrate as Maryland Day. At the time of their landing, St. Clement’s Island was approximately 400 acres. Accessible only by boat, it is now the St. Clement’s Island State Park. Erosion ...
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By Anna Chroscicki, Realtor - St. Lucie County affordable Real Estate
(Re/Max Masterpiece Realty)
Anna Chroscicki with RE/MAX Masterpiece RealtyCall me at 772-485-4188 with any Real Estate Questions. Web-site:www.annasellsrealestate.com1775 SW Gatlin Blvd Ste 101, PSL, FL, 34953Selling Real Estate On Treasure Coast Since 2000.
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By Stephanie Arnett, Forbes | Inman | BossBabe | Newsweek | Tom Ferry
(Mississippi Magnolia)
🏡🏡 58 Lost Lake Hills Rd, Columbus, MS 39702 🏡🏡💲 Price: $320,000Total Bedrooms: 4Total Bathrooms: 4Total SqFt.: 2,757MLS  #24-305🏡🏡🏡🏡🏡🏡🏡🏡Picture-perfect, on a hilltop, and surrounded by wooded privacy! Enjoy morning coffee on the front porch and entertain family/guests from the back deck. The interior is loaded with flexible spaces to accommodate most any family's needs! There are formal living and dining rooms in the front of the home + open-concept family and breakfast rooms adjoining the kitchen- complete w/hop-up bar and pantry. The primary suite boasts a spacious closet w/laundry access, tiled shower, and soaking tub. Across the home are two more bedrooms, above average in size, w/dedicated bath. Upstairs, enjoy yet another flexible space, complete w/closet and full bath to serve a...
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By Hugh Grant, I help investors and consumers with real estate
(RealMax Realty)
Whenever you intend to sell something, the first thing you do is make it as attractive as possible, and this is the same for real estate. A clean home can earn you points, so it's worth making it attractive enough to set a good price. However, before you get your cleaning supplies and the 55-gallon trash bags, there are a few things you need to know about deep cleaning your home. Where Do You Clean?You must clean the hotspots, and this includes the most important parts of the home. There isn’t a specific formula for figuring this out because it differs from home to home. However, there are things or places that, if dirty, will be noticeable to prospective buyers. This means they might rethink making the purchase. Some of the essential places to clean include:Oven, Dishwasher, and Fridge...
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By Roy Kelley
(Retired)
Hometown Holidays Music FestSaturday, May 25 and Sunday, May 26 from Noon-7 p.m.RedGate Park, 14500 Avery RoadThe Hometown Holidays Music Fest returns this Memorial Day weekend with two stages of music, food vendors, kids activities and entertainment, beverage booths, and more. Click here to learn more.This is a City of Rockville, Maryland announcement. Lilies, Longwood Gardens, Kennett Square, Pennsylvania IMG 1083Canon PowerShot G11 CameraPhotograph by Roy KelleyRoy and Dolores Kelley Photographs
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By Ryan Case, Realtor servicing all of Southern California
(Coldwell Banker Realty)
Mission Viejo Weekly Market Update March 18th - 24th, 2024 Baja Finisterra RECENTLY SOLD Blascos | 2 bedrooms | 2 baths | 1269 sq. ft. | $725,000 California Court RECENTLY SOLD California Court | 2 bedrooms | 2.5 baths | 1111 sq. ft. | $649,900 Casa Loma BACK ON THE MARKET Marguerite | 2 bedrooms | 2 baths | 1040 sq. ft. | $619,000 Finisterra on the Lake RECENTLY SOLD Rota | 2 bedrooms | 2 baths | 1240 sq. ft. | $899,000 Las Palmas RECENTLY SOLD La Mar | 2 bedrooms | 2 baths | 693 sq. ft. | $500,000 Rainbow Ridge BACK ON THE MARKET Persimmon | 2 bedrooms | 2 baths | 1221 sq. ft. | $695,000
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By Lisa Brown-McDonald CT Real Estate Agent, Fairfield & Litchfield County REALTOR®
(The Brokerage of New England)
Welcoming Families Home A sweet ending to a new beginningThis month marks a sweet end to our home search and a new beginning for the families moving to Briar Woods this weekend. I'd like to welcome these families to the neighborhood and thank them for their trust in me to secure these properties for them in Danbury CT.  If you are ready to make a move, lets' work together. Call me directly at 203-733-1613 or email me at PropertyGalCT@gmail.com"Lisa is very responsive, detail oriented and knowledgeable. We really enjoyed our experience with her as she made the process of finding a new rental less stressful for us!" MM-K"Lisa is an amazing realtor. She is very thorough and precise with her work and documentation. She is very attentive when it comes to providing great service, that being e...
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By Brandon Jordan
(ERA American Real Estate)
I started this post by doing a search on AR for TikTok It says there are over 300 post on here. I did read through a bit of them and found there are some that said what I had hope they would say Bytedance is the parent company of TikTok and some members here don't trust that company.What I haven't seen covered in post (there could be one didn't read all 300) is why we shouldn't use it and why it should be banned.In no particular order lets get into it. Studies have found TikTok is harmful to children.  Neuroscience is the study of the brain they have been researching the brain for decades, while they don't know everything they know a good bit.Human Brain Project this is just one example. There have been billions spent on multiple projects to study the brain (as it should have been) to u...
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By Kukun's VP of Analytics Franklin Carroll, Elite client engagement tools and proptech
(Kukun, Inc.)
Sadly, conference regulations forced us to deviate from this original concept. We had to go with something a little more conventional. Here are some images of our setting up: And closer to the finished product: Nearly done: Come see how the finished version looks, and more importantly how we can help you sell more homes and make more money, by visiting our booth at R4. Hope to see you there. 
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By John Slocum, Broker, SFR - Vancouver WA Real Estate
(Premiere Property Group, LLC - Vancouver Washington)
A Nice Up-Tick in New Listings and Pending Sales; While Sales Prices Remained Unchanged from Last Month.With warmer weather coming into the area, we have seen a nice move up in both Active Listings and Pending Sales; while Closed Sales moved up only slightly; and the Average Sales Price also moved up slightly, as shown in our first graphic below:The increase in Active Listings is a welcome improvement over last month, as the January statistic was only one (1) unit higher than January 2023! With the improvement in available homes to purchase, it is also a welcome sign to see strong improvement in the Pending Sales.Our next graphic shows the 3 month rolling average trend for Pending Sales, covering the current year plus the 5 previous years:This month we can clearly see a somewhat strong ...
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By Tim L. Ramey
(RG Realty Group)
Good afternoon and hello there again from beautiful Cottage Grove, MN- where it as warmed up to 35 degrees after 8 inches of snow on Sunday.  Where is spring!??   Hope this email finds you doing well this Monday and had a great weekend. Wanted to share Tim's Time Outs: YOUR OPPORTUNITY: You are skilled and experienced at making progress.  Each day, each challenge, and every situation is an opportunity to make some more. Simply living your life up to this point represents a tangible, impressive achievement.  Now you can use your strength and experience to create MANY more achievements.  DON'T sell yourself short.  You are highly capable, so make good and meaningful use of those capabilities.  You have already traveled a unique and valuable path...Now is your opportunity to continue the m...
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By Eric Lawrence Frazier MBA, Founder and CEO of The Power Is Now Media, Inc.
(The Power Is Now Media, Inc. )
🚀 Welcome to the first article in our series dedicated to helping real estate professionals like you unlock new opportunities for success with The Power Is Now Media. As a pioneer in the industry for nearly 15 years, we've been dedicated to empowering agents to establish themselves as thought leaders and experts in their communities, while also leveraging their brand for financial rewards. 🏡💼Branding Yourself as an ExpertAt The Power Is Now Media, we believe in the power of personal branding and the impact it can have on your real estate business. By positioning yourself as a trusted authority in your niche, you not only build trust and credibility with clients but also open the door to new revenue streams and business opportunities.Generating Revenue Through Your BrandLearn how to mone...
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By DALIA KIBBY, Selling Florida Homes with Passion!
(One Sothebys International Realty)
Thinking about buying a home? If so, you're probably wondering: should I buy now or wait? Nobody can make that decision for you, but here's some information that can help you decide.What’s Next for Home Prices?Each quarter, Fannie Mae and Pulsenomics publish the results of the Home Price Expectations Survey (HPES). It asks more than 100 experts—economists, real estate professionals, and investment and market strategists—what they think will happen with home prices.In the latest survey, those experts say home prices are going to keep going up for the next five years (see graph below):  Here’s what all the green on this chart should tell you. They’re not expecting any price declines. Instead, they’re saying we’ll see a 3-4% rise each year.And even though home prices aren’t expected to cli...
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By Robert L. Brown, Grand Rapids Real Estate Bellabay Realty, West Mic
(www.mrbrownsellsgr.com)
UPDATE for Realtors: 1000.00 BONUS to the selling Office upon a successful closing. Seller is motivated. 4 bedroom 2 full baths. This could be YOUR new home. Lots of updates. Call/text for a showing. 616-528-0736. Robert Brown Bellabay Realty 1685 68th ST SE Caledonia Mich 49316. https://www.flexmls.com/share/A8Yyk/667-Silverglade-Drive-SE-Kentwood-MI-49548
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By Walter DiLoreto, Real Estate Short Sale Specialist
(PHP Houses)
Before making the decision to buy a home, it's important to plan for all the costs you’ll be responsible for. While you're busy saving for the down payment, don't forget you’ll want to prep for closing costs too. Here’s some helpful information on what those costs are and how much you should budget for them. What Are Closing Costs? A recent article from Bankrate explains: “Closing costs are the fees and expenses you must pay before becoming the legal owner of a house, condo or townhome . . . Closing costs vary depending on the purchase price of the home and how it’s being financed . . .” Simply put, your closing costs are the additional fees and payments you have to make at closing. According to Freddie Mac, while they can vary by location and situation, closing costs typically include...
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By Bill Salvatore - East Valley, Realtor - 602-999-0952 / em: golfArizona@cox.net
(Arizona Elite Properties )
“The same wall that keeps out your disappointment also keeps out the sunlight of enriching experiences. So let life touch you. The next touch could be the one that turns your life around.” -Jim Rohn   In 2008, I discovered that I was relying too heavily on past experiences and letting fear or uncertainty cloud my judgment, causing me to miss out on new opportunities.   It didn't take long for me to realize my mistake, prompting me to self-correct!   Now, I actively keep my options open and welcome "different and unfamiliar" territory because I've learned that it's crucial for expanding both my business and knowledge.   Happy #MotivationalMonday!   #asktheunderwriter, #nofileleftbehind, #mortgagetraining, #mortgagebrokers, #creditunions   Dionne Bass www.asktheunderwriter.net Monthly Me...
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By Brian England, MBA, GRI, REALTOR® Real Estate in East Valley AZ
(Ambrose Realty Management LLC)
💥Happier Renters ☀️For ALL of Your East Valley AZ Real Estate Needs📞Call or 🙋‍♂Text Brian at 480-773-2370📨Email Brian  ~  Search the MLS for FREE ️Check out the models that are backed by institutional investors which demonstrate the potential for positive renter outcomes ⬇️.  To read the full article...  Click HERE. I specialize in the East Valley of the Phoenix Metro area - Gilbert, Mesa, Chandler, Tempe, Scottsdale, Apache Junction, and Gold Canyon☀️For ALL of Your East Valley AZ Real Estate Needs📞Call or 🙋‍♂Text Brian at 480-773-2370📨Email Brian  ~  Search the MLS for FREE
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