Admin

Real Estate Industry

“All the news that's fit to print,” or to click, as the case may be, can be found right here at your favorite real estate social networking site, ActiveRain. And here you thought it was merely a great place to chat with colleagues and slap up a blog post or two.


We know you're busy – whether it's trying to fill your pipeline or following up on what's already popped out of the bottom of it. Who has time to read? And, while real estate market news geared toward consumers is easy to round up on the Internet, news for brokers and Realtors is a bit harder to come by.


Your friends at ActiveRain understand how important each of those 168 hours in every week is so we've made it easy for you by consolidating everything you need to know to keep up-to-date with the real estate industry right here, in one place.


How are housing starts looking? Has the FHFA launched any new efforts? How's that Fannie and Freddie loan limit rollercoaster doing?


You've got the questions and your colleagues here at AR have the answers. It's at your fingertips – finally.

Recent blogs on Real Estate Industry
By Sally Dollar
(Royal LePage Niagara Real Estate)
Celebrating 22 years of turning house keys into home dreams across the vibrant Niagara Region! It's been an incredible journey, and I am deeply grateful to every friend, client, and family member who has supported me along the way. Your trust, referrals, and shared moments of joy are the true highlights. Here's to many more years of helping you navigate the world of real estate with passion and dedication. Thank you for being a part of my story! 🥂🏡 🔑 🥂  #22YearsStrong #NiagaraRealEstate #RealEstateExpert #MakingMemories #ClientAppreciation #ReferralLove #LoveWhatIDO #SallyDollarRealtor #RealtorForLife
Comments 6
By Nick Good, www.TheGoodHomeTeam.com
(The Good Home Team with eXp Realty)
What I Learned About Surviving Any Real Estate Market... After 22 Years in DFWIn 2008, I had eight properties under contract. All eight terminated in the same week when the financial collapse hit. I went from expecting a significant commission payday to having no contracts, no income, and a dead pipeline in a matter of days.So I did what any sane person does. I started looking for a job.I went on two interviews with an asset management company handling foreclosed properties. After the second one, they offered me $60,000 to $65,000 a year. I told them I needed to think about it overnight.On the drive home, something clicked. If they were expecting me to commit 40 hours a week to earn that salary, I should be putting that same energy into my real estate business. The problem was not the m...
Comments 3
By Joe Manausa - Tallahassee, FL, Tallahassee Real Estate
(Joe Manausa Real Estate)
I agree that a real estate license is only the beginning. Every transaction is different, and clients deserve an agent who understands their specific needs and knows when additional expertise or guidance is needed. Continuing to learn and develop our skills is part of being a true real estate professional. Should Brokerages Be Responsible for Developing Specialization—or Simply Giving Agents the Resources to Find It Themselves? There is a question I keep coming back to when I look at where real estate is headed. What is a brokerage actually responsible for when it comes to preparing its agents? Not licensing. Not compliance. Not giving an agent a CRM, a website and a stack of marketing templates. I mean something more fundamental: How prepared should an agent be before they represent a ...
Comments 0
By Carla Goddard, Founder & CEO, Vicinity
(vicinity)
Should Brokerages Be Responsible for Developing Specialization—or Simply Giving Agents the Resources to Find It Themselves?There is a question I keep coming back to when I look at where real estate is headed.What is a brokerage actually responsible for when it comes to preparing its agents?Not licensing.Not compliance.Not giving an agent a CRM, a website and a stack of marketing templates.I mean something more fundamental:How prepared should an agent be before they represent a buyer in a transaction they don't fully understand?And perhaps more importantly:Whose responsibility is it to make sure they are prepared?The agent's?The brokerage's?Both?I don't think there is an easy answer. But I think the industry needs to have the conversation.A license tells us very little about specializati...
Comments 4
By Nathan Fitts, The Leading Name in Real Estate in North Georgia
(Nathan Fitts & Team )
From spring orchards and summer adventures to fall apple season and peaceful winter escapes, experience what makes Ellijay, Georgia, special throughout the year.Spring: When Ellijay Comes Back to LifeSpring brings a fresh energy to Ellijay as the mountains turn green, flowers begin to bloom, and outdoor life becomes part of the everyday rhythm again. The area's apple orchards and countryside provide a distinctly local experience, while scenic mountain roads make it easy to enjoy the changing landscape.For those who enjoy being outside, spring is a natural time to explore trails, take scenic drives, spend time near the area's waterways, or simply enjoy a morning surrounded by the mountains. It is also a beautiful season for discovering the quieter corners of the community.For visitors wh...
Comments 1
By Nathan Fitts, The Leading Name in Real Estate in North Georgia
(Nathan Fitts & Team )
Could Mineral Bluff Be Your Next Mountain Escape—and Investment?A closer look at the mountain lifestyle, cabin experience, and second-home potential that make Mineral Bluff worth discovering.What Makes Mineral Bluff Feel Like a True Mountain Escape?Some mountain communities are known for busy downtowns and constant activity. Mineral Bluff offers something different. Its wooded surroundings, rolling mountain landscapes, and peaceful atmosphere create a setting where the journey itself can feel like part of the getaway.Located near Blue Ridge in North Georgia, Mineral Bluff provides access to outdoor recreation while maintaining a quieter mountain character. The Toccoa River, scenic roads, hiking opportunities, and surrounding forests all contribute to the area's appeal.For someone lookin...
Comments 2
By Nathan Fitts, The Leading Name in Real Estate in North Georgia
(Nathan Fitts & Team )
Where mountain scenery, lake days, peaceful escapes, and small-town charm come together in North Georgia.Welcome to the Hiawassee Mountain LifestyleThere is something different about the pace of life in Hiawassee, Georgia. Mornings begin with mountain views, afternoons can be spent along the water, and evenings invite you to slow down and enjoy the scenery.Set in the North Georgia mountains, Hiawassee offers a lifestyle shaped by nature. It is a place where outdoor adventure and quiet relaxation can exist side by side, making it appealing to those looking for a change of pace without giving up the comforts of a welcoming mountain community.From cozy cabins tucked into the woods to homes overlooking the surrounding landscape, Hiawassee GA real estate reflects the area's connection to the...
Comments 2
By Nathan Fitts, The Leading Name in Real Estate in North Georgia
(Nathan Fitts & Team )
In Blairsville, the right home is about more than four walls. It might be a cabin tucked into the trees, a mountain home overlooking layered ridgelines, or a property near Lake Nottely where the scenery becomes part of everyday life.That’s what makes Blairsville GA real estate different from a traditional home search. The land, views, access, privacy and surrounding recreation can be just as important as the home itself.If you're considering buying in Blairsville, understanding what makes each property different can help you find a home that fits the way you want to live.Why Buyers Are Drawn to BlairsvilleBlairsville offers a relaxed North Georgia mountain lifestyle surrounded by scenic landscapes and outdoor recreation.Hiking, waterfalls, fishing and Lake Nottely give residents plenty ...
Comments 3
By Nathan Fitts, The Leading Name in Real Estate in North Georgia
(Nathan Fitts & Team )
Buying a Home in Blue Ridge, GA: What Buyers Need to KnowBuying a home in the North Georgia Mountains is different from buying in a typical neighborhood. In Blue Ridge, factors such as terrain, mountain views, road access, privacy, and location can be just as important as the home itself.For buyers exploring Blue Ridge GA real estate, understanding these details early can help you find a property that fits your lifestyle and goals.Key Takeaways Blue Ridge offers mountain cabins, luxury homes, lake properties, second homes, and full-time residences. Mountain views and terrain can vary significantly from one property to another. Buyers should consider road access, utilities, internet, restrictions, and ongoing maintenance. The right location depends on how you plan to use the property. Wh...
Comments 2
By Bob "RealMan" Timm, Owner of Ward Co Notary Services retired RE Broker
(Ward County Notary Services)
We all have been guilty of hiding the truth at one time or another. Maybe the last time you did was when you were a child, maybe it was yesterday.Regretfully, the Real Estate industry is NOT exempt of those who stretch the truth or outright liars. The good new is that during my career there were few such people involved in Real Estate.Real Estate is such a huge field as it includes builders, Sellers, Buyers, financiers, appraisers and more. Realtors have a strict code of conduct as do lenders but a few bad actors do slip through. Hopefully the authorities catch up to them before much damage is done. Not to preach BUT God will deal with the bad actors eventually.How do you protect yourself from the bad apples?#1) ASK FOR REFERANCES!#2) INTERVIEW THE PEOPLE YOU WORK WITH.#3) CHECK WITH LI...
Comments 6
By Yeiry (JD) Sanchez, REALTOR® & Loan Officer in SE Florida and Georgia
(The Coastal Realm )
Stop Waiting for Rates to DropFlorida Buyers Aren'tPosted by Yeiry (JD) Sanchez | eXp Luxury | Broward & Palm Beach CountyEvery week, I talk to buyers who say some version of the same thing:"We're going to wait until rates come down."I understand the instinct. But the data coming out of Florida right now tells a very different story. What the Numbers Are Actually SayingAccording to the latest data from Florida Realtors, Florida just posted its 11th consecutive month of year-over-year closed sales gains in July 2026. Single-family home sales were up more than 5% from a year ago. New pending sales rose for the 12th straight month.Nearly a full year of consecutive sales growth, and mortgage rates have been hovering in the 6.5–6.75% range for most of the summer.Here in Palm Beach County, sp...
Comments 2
By Jacob Maslow, Your Brooklyn Connection
(Torsx)
The architect was proud of the living room. The render showed a 14 foot window wall, a polished concrete floor, and a fireplace set into a flat white wall. The client moved in on a Tuesday in November. By Friday she was wearing a coat at her desk. The window wall, the concrete, and the flat white wall were all doing exactly what the render said they would do. The render just never showed what they would do in January. Interior architecture advice that ignores the physics of the room is advice that photographs well and lives badly.The interior architecture that works is the architecture that accounts for the things the rendering cannot show: heat, light, sound, and the way a body actually feels in a space at 7 a.m. and at 7 p.m. The advice that follows is the advice most clients wish the...
Comments 2
By Jacob Maslow, Your Brooklyn Connection
(Torsx)
the Building ForgotThe air inside a building is never cleaner than the air outside it. The mechanical system can dilute it, filter it, and recirculate it, but the baseline is set at the property line. The trees, the paving, the traffic, and the wind patterns on the block determine what the rooftop intake pulls in, and the rooftop intake determines what the occupants breathe. This is the angle most of the architecture profession still treats as someone else's problem, and it is the angle that decides whether a 200 million dollar building is healthy or merely sealed.Landscape architecture gets written about as aesthetics, as stormwater, or as habitat. It rarely gets written about as the first stage of the HVAC system, which is the role it actually plays on any urban site. The canopy that ...
Comments 0
By Jacob Maslow, Your Brooklyn Connection
(Torsx)
A private garden is a small piece of ground asked to do a lot. It has to screen the house from the street, hold a place to sit, grow something alive, and look after itself well enough that the owner actually enjoys it. The best private gardens feel inevitable, as if they could not have been arranged any other way. The worst are a collection of plants that never quite agreed with each other or with the spot they were put in. Good garden design is the work of making the first outcome more likely.Begin With the Privacy You Actually NeedPrivacy is the first job of most private gardens, and the one most often fumbled. A solid fence blocks the view but also the light and the air. A line of trees takes years to fill in and may never reach the height needed. The right answer is usually a layer:...
Comments 4
By Jacob Maslow, Your Brooklyn Connection
(Torsx)
A house is the largest single purchase most people will ever make, and the one they cannot return. The architect is the person who turns a vague idea of home into a set of drawings a builder can actually build. Choosing that person well is the difference between a house that fits the life of the people in it and a house that looks right in a rendering and feels wrong to live in. The hiring decision deserves more care than most owners give it.Start With the Project, Not the StyleBefore looking for an architect, be clear about the project. Is this a new build on an empty lot, a major renovation of an existing house, or an addition that has to fit the original. The budget range, the timeline, and the size all shape which architect is a fit. An architect who excels at new modern builds may ...
Comments 0
By Jacob Maslow, Your Brooklyn Connection
(Torsx)
A home renovation is a test of patience, money, and marriage in roughly equal parts. The work itself is only part of the project. The decisions made before the first wall comes down decide whether the result is a house that fits the life in it, or a year of disruption that ends in a space that still feels wrong. The difference between a renovation that pays off and one that haunts the owner is almost always in the planning.Know Why Before You Know WhatThe first question is not what to build, but why. A growing family needs more bedrooms and better flow. A couple planning to age in place needs a main floor bath and wider doors. A kitchen that no longer works for cooking needs a functional rethink, not just new cabinets. Naming the reason keeps the project focused and stops the scope from...
Comments 0
By Jacob Maslow, Your Brooklyn Connection
(Torsx)
A building talks before it fails. A stain on a ceiling, a draft by a window, a hinge that sticks, a drain that gurgles. Each is a small signal that something larger is starting. Property maintenance done well is the practice of reading those signals and acting on them before they become repairs. Done poorly, it is a cycle of emergencies that cost more, take longer, and damage the value of the asset.The Difference Between Repair and MaintenanceRepair is what happens after something breaks. Maintenance is what keeps it from breaking. The two get confused because both cost money and both involve a tradesperson. The difference shows up over years. A maintained building has predictable, spread-out costs. An unmaintained building has lumpy, painful costs that arrive in clusters, often at the ...
Comments 0
By Kerri Naslund-Monday, Savvy Bay Area CA Real Estate Team Leader
(Keller Williams/ The Monday Team)
OK, so today we’re thinking about if you could design your life first, what kind of home would support it? The first thing that comes to mind immediately is adaptability. This dream home would have to be designed to seamlessly evolve along with your many life stages.The first feature of functionality might be a single story home designed with wide doorways. This type of layout is easier for both little kids and older people, and even accommodates some of life‘s surprises such as unexpected injuries, or finding yourself taking care of a loved one, who is limited mobility.The next priority might be low maintenance. The idea is at your house is somewhere where you get to enjoy your life. Enjoy your time, relax. A high maintenance home, steals your time ,and your money for that matter. When...
Comments 6
By Jacob Maslow, Your Brooklyn Connection
(Torsx)
Most owners think of property management as rent collection with a phone number attached. That view is a decade out of date. A serious property manager today is part accountant, part maintenance dispatcher, part legal aide, and part tenant diplomat. The work happens quietly, and the value only shows up when something goes wrong. Owners who understand the full scope get far more from the relationship than those who treat it as a hands-off arrangement.Beyond Rent CollectionRent collection is the visible ten percent. The other ninety percent is what keeps the rent coming in on time. A good manager sets rent at the local market rate, not a wishful number, and adjusts it annually with data in hand. They handle late payers with a firm, consistent process that does not erode into personal disp...
Comments 0
By Jacob Maslow, Your Brooklyn Connection
(Torsx)
Most new gardens start as a sheet of turf because turf photographs well and contractors can price it by the square foot. Then July arrives. The sprinklers run. The water bill explains the design.A water-smart landscape is not a rock desert unless you want one. It is a plan that puts thirsty grass where feet actually land, and puts shrubs, trees, and gravel where they do more work per gallon. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's WaterSense program built landscaping tips around that split: use, climate, soil, then plants, then irrigation.If you skip the first three, the plant list is decoration on a leak.Start With How The Yard Is UsedKids and dogs need a patch they can abuse. That patch can be turf. The rest of the frontage does not have to be. Shade trees cut heat on the house. A ...
Comments 1
Back to Top