The term “pocket listings” has been cropping up here and there in real estate publications and conversations. If you are buying or selling in today’s market, you need to know what a pocket listing is—and your agent needs to know too. Most of the time when a property comes on the market, the listing agent registers it with the Multiple Listing Service (MLS). This is the primary marketing tool for properties, where online sites such as Trulia and Zillow get their information and where agents get property information as well. Occasionally, however, a property will not be posted on the MLS. These properties are known as pocket listings. These are not to be confused with properties that have not yet come on the market that agents may be aware of. The general consensus among agents is tha... 12/19/2013

  So you've found it: the perfect house, on the perfect street, in the perfect neighborhood. You're ready to write a check, sign some papers and start packing your current home in preparation to move in.  Not so fast. Unfortunately, buying a home isn't like shopping at the department store. In general, you don't get to just pick a house, write a check, and move in. There's a lot more paperwork involved, and in today's market, you may even have some competition for the perfect home.  Why Can't I Just Buy? When you find the home you want, you'll be making a bid on it, rather than simply purchasing it outright. A bid is an offer to buy for a certain amount of money, with a certain set of conditions. This is your purchase offer and it is written by your real estate agent.   Your agent is g... 07/23/2013

Yes, interest rates have increased the past 60 days but now still is a great time to buy! Jason Renno and Keith Renno explain what has caused rates to rise and why now is the time to buy real estate. 07/01/2013

Styling your home to make it look its best when it's on the market, also known as staging, can be more complicated than you would think. But you don't have to rush out and empty the local Williams-Sonoma [and your wallet] to show the potential of your property. Here are some tips for showcasing your home.   The walk-through. Have a critical eye as you move from the curb to the front door. Look for areas that need cleaning and clearing out. Imagine what buyers will be looking for rather than imposing your sense of style on the house. Focus on the highlights of each room and note ways to play those features up.   Clean, clean, clean. If buyers aren't fond of clutter, they'll be even less fond of dust bunnies in corners, dirty footprints across the linoleum, and fingerprints on the stainl... 06/14/2013

  Why Make an Extra Mortgage Payment? Considering the current state of the economy, many people are trying to pay down debt to unburden themselves financially. Have you considered paying down your home loan? Your mortgage is probably the biggest debt you will have in your lifetime; paying it off early will save you potentially thousands of dollars that you'll keep in your pocket, to spend on vacations or college tuition, or to save for a rainy day.   If you're interested in paying down your mortgage faster, you can make just one extra payment per month — or even just one extra payment over the life of the loan. You'll be surprised at how much you can save!   Making a Difference Here's an example. Say you have a mortgage for $210,000. Your interest rate is 4% and your original monthly p... 04/19/2013

    Maximize Your Referrals Repeat customers are the lifeblood of real estate professionals. But we also need to increase our sphere of influence in order to grow our business. Developing strong relationships with your clients will help you on both fronts, by promoting client loyalty and by providing value in order to spur referrals form those same loyal customers.   According to the National Association of REALTORS®, about 20 percent of all business their members receive is through repeat customers. If 20 percent of your clients are recommending you to their friends, families, and coworkers, you will grow a strong and healthy business. If they aren't referring you — well, let's make sure they are!   You're Also Selling You You're not just helping clients find new homes and properties —... 04/05/2013

  It's that time of year again: get ready to gather up the paperwork and settle in to get your tax forms completed. Whether you use a commercial software, stick it out on your own, or hire a professional, there are some documents you'll need to be sure you have to hand when you're maximizing the write-offs you can get by having a home mortgage.   Staying Organized Hopefully you've been keeping all your paperwork organized throughout the year. If you haven't there is no better time than right now to start: Set up folders in your file drawers for 2013 and start putting the papers where they belong! When it comes to your home, you'll want to hang on to your mortgage bills and your year-end mortgage statement; any receipts for home improvements that increased the energy efficiency of your h... 03/26/2013