Naples, Florida, has earned the top spot as the best place to live in the U.S. for 2024-2025, according to U.S. News & World Report. With its stunning beaches, upscale lifestyle, and sunny weather, Naples appeals to retirees and snowbirds, yet offers something for everyone. The city is known for pristine golf courses, cultural attractions, and a high standard of living. However, its popularity comes with a premium cost of living and increased development challenges, especially in terms of affordable housing.   Key stats:   •Population: 122,578 •Median Home Price: $577,796 •Median Household Income: $98,120   Naples continues to balance growth, charm, and a desirable lifestyle, making it a premier choice for residents and visitors alike.   Living in Naples:   Naples is famed for its pristine beaches, world-class golf courses, and luxurious amenities. Often associated with affluent retirees, the city draws snowbirds from colder regions, especially during the winter months. However, beyond the glamorous lifestyle, the greater Naples area offers a rich variety of experiences, blending rural charm in places like Immokalee with vibrant urban living along the Gulf of Mexico.   Real Estate & Cost of Living:   Naples’ median home price is $577,796, reflecting the area’s desirability and high property values. The demand for housing, coupled with limited availability, has driven up prices, making affordable housing increasingly scarce. While the cost of living is higher in Naples and Marco Island, moving inland toward Immokalee offers more budget-friendly options. Residents benefit from Florida’s lack of state income tax, but property taxes remain a significant factor in the cost of living.   Things to Do:   Naples is a tropical haven for both residents and tourists, offering a wide range of activities. Visitors flock to the sugary beaches, but there are also nature preserves like Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary, Big Cypress National Preserve, and parks such as Clam Pass and Delnor-Wiggins State Park for outdoor enthusiasts. Naples is known for its fine dining, upscale shopping along Fifth Avenue, cultural events at the Baker Museum, and the Naples Winter Wine Festival, which raises millions for children’s services in the area. Thrill-seekers can explore the Everglades or try their luck at the Seminole Casino in nearby Immokalee.   Weather & Climate:   Naples enjoys a subtropical climate, attracting sun-seekers during the winter months. However, the summer brings intense heat, humidity, and daily rain showers, which drive seasonal residents back to their homes in cooler climates. Hurricane season from June to November is another key consideration, as the area is susceptible to storms like Hurricane Irma in 2017, which caused significant damage.   Demographics:   The population of Naples skews older, with a median age of 53, as it is a popular retirement destination. However, younger residents from nearby Florida Gulf Coast University and Florida SouthWestern State College add diversity and vibrancy to the community.   Challenges:   While Naples is a paradise for many, rapid growth has exacerbated traffic congestion, particularly during the busy winter season. The area also faces ongoing challenges with affordable housing, making it difficult for some residents to live near the coast without a high income.   Naples remains a beacon for those seeking a luxurious lifestyle in a sunny, tropical setting, making it one of the most coveted places to live in the U.S.   Read full article HERE

  As SW Florida, navigates the aftermath of Hurricane Milton, residents and businesses are once again reminded of the power and unpredictability of nature. The storm, which made landfall as a Category 3 hurricane, brought heavy winds, storm surges, and widespread flooding across Collier and Lee Counties. While the immediate impact is undeniable, the resilience of the SW Florida community and the forward-thinking approach of its real estate market offer a bright future for the area. The Immediate ImpactIn Naples, the storm brought significant impacts, including wind gusts that exceeded 80 mph. While sustained winds were reported to be around 63 mph during its passage, the storm also generated a storm surge of nearly 5.8 feet, causing flooding and widespread power outages across the region. Thanks to the prompt response of emergency services, volunteers, and local authorities, recovery efforts began swiftly. Relief centers have been set up to provide essentials, and rebuilding efforts are already underway.   Response, Recovery, and ResilienceThe people of SW Florida have faced hurricanes before, and each time they’ve come back stronger. This time is no different. Collier and Lee County officials and local contractors are working tirelessly to restore power, clear debris, and rebuild affected homes and businesses. The sense of community here is evident in the way neighbors have supported one another during this trying time. A Positive Outlook for SW Florida Real EstateDespite the challenges posed by recent storms, SW Florida real estate market remains strong and highly desirable. As a premier destination for luxury living, coastal beauty, and a laid-back lifestyle, Naples and Bonita Springs continue to attract buyers. While the risk of storms is a concern, improvements in construction standards and innovative insurance solutions are increasing the area’s resilience. Many homes are now being built or upgraded with advanced storm protection, appealing to buyers who prioritize both safety and aesthetics. Hurricanes have tested the community, but SW Florida has proven its ability to adapt and recover. Waterfront properties, in particular, remain in high demand, offering an unbeatable lifestyle. Buyers are drawn to our Paradise Coast not just for its beautiful homes, but for its vibrant community and exceptional quality of life.   A Bright Future for SW FloridaSW Florida future remains full of promise. The city’s commitment to investing in smarter infrastructure and sustainable building practices ensures that it will remain a premier destination for both residents and investors.In the wake of Hurricane Milton, many homeowners are considering their next steps, whether upgrading their current homes or exploring new real estate opportunities. For those looking to invest, this is a moment of transformation and potential. The storm may have caused setbacks, but it has also created opportunities to make SW Florida stronger and even more appealing in the long run. Moving Forward TogetherSW Florida is more than just a beautiful place to live; it’s a resilient community that thrives on hope, innovation, and the dedication of its residents. The recovery efforts will not only restore what was lost but create new possibilities for the future. With the real estate market poised for growth and development, and a renewed focus on hurricane-resistant construction, SW Florida continues to be an attractive destination for homeowners and investors alike.As a real estate advisor, I’m here to help navigate the changing market and ensure you’re making the best decisions for your future. Whether you’re considering upgrading your home, exploring new properties, or looking for advice on protecting your investment, I’m ready to assist. Together, we’ll move forward toward a brighter, stronger future for SW Florida.If you’re looking to discuss the real estate landscape or explore your options in this evolving market, don’t hesitate to reach out. Let’s plan for a resilient and prosperous future here in beautiful SW Florida.

In the wake of tragic events and escalating concerns over building safety, Florida has taken a decisive step forward with the enactment of Senate Bill 154 in 2023. This legislation, emerging as a crucial amendment following its predecessor, SB 4D, seeks to address ambiguities and enhance the structural integrity and safety protocols for condominiums and cooperative associations across the state. What is Senate Bill 154? Senate Bill 154, signed into law by Governor Ron DeSantis, serves as a "glitch bill" designed to refine and clarify the mandates introduced by SB 4D, which itself was a response to the catastrophic Surfside condo collapse. The bill makes several critical updates to the Florida Condominium Act, aiming to prevent similar disasters and ensure the ongoing safety of Florida's residential buildings. Key Provisions of SB 154 Milestone Inspections Adjustments: The bill specifies timelines and requirements for milestone inspections, crucial for assessing the structural health of aging buildings. These inspections are mandated for buildings reaching 25 years of age, with subsequent inspections every 10 years, tightening the oversight on older structures susceptible to environmental wear and tear​ (Building Mavens)​​ (Building Mavens)​. Structural Integrity Reserve Studies (SIRS): SB 154 introduces more rigorous requirements for Structural Integrity Reserve Studies, ensuring that associations maintain adequate financial reserves for essential repairs and maintenance. This change aims to fortify the financial preparedness of buildings against significant structural issues​ (Lowndes Law)​​ (The National Law Review)​. Clarifying Maintenance Obligations: The legislation delineates the responsibilities of condominium and cooperative associations in maintaining and repairing common property elements. This clarity is crucial for associations to effectively manage their roles and responsibilities post-turnover from developers​ (Lowndes Law)​​ (Building Mavens)​. Enhanced Dispute Resolution Options: Beginning in 2027, the bill expands the avenues for mediation concerning disputes over structural and life safety inspections. This provision is designed to facilitate smoother resolution processes and reduce the potential for protracted legal conflicts​ (Lowndes Law)​. Transparency in Transactions: Developers are now required to provide comprehensive presale disclosures to prospective buyers, detailing the building's compliance with milestone inspections and reserve studies. This transparency is aimed at protecting consumers and ensuring they are fully informed about the properties they are considering​ (The National Law Review)​. Implications for Condominium Owners and Associations For owners and associations, SB 154 brings a mix of responsibilities and reassurances. The enhanced safety measures require diligent attention to inspection schedules and reserve funding but also promise a higher standard of living and safety for residents. Associations must be proactive in understanding and implementing the new requirements to comply with the law and safeguard their properties and residents against future risks. Conclusion As Florida continues to address the challenges of building safety and structural integrity, Senate Bill 154 represents a significant stride towards safeguarding its citizens and their homes. For condominium and cooperative associations, staying informed and compliant with these new regulations is not just a legal obligation—it's a critical component of community safety and resilience. The enactment of SB 154 underscores Florida's commitment to enhancing living conditions and ensuring that the tragic events of the past do not repeat themselves. For those residing in or managing condominiums and cooperatives, the bill provides both challenges and opportunities to enhance their preparedness and ensure the longevity and safety of their buildings.

Living in and around Southwest Florida comes with a unique set of benefits. From the beautiful, white sand beaches and vibrant sunsets to the year-round warm weather and abundance of recreational activities, SW Florida has earned its reputation as an ideal place for those looking to embrace a laid back life. Despite some volatility along the way due to potential global economic issues and one of the strongest hurricanes in history, the Sunshine State managed to outperform many of its counterparts nationwide.  Let's begin with what happened last fall. On September 28, 2022, Hurricane Ian reached our shores with a vengeance.  It was the third costliest weather disaster on record. Many areas got flooded with several feet of water, so much so that boats were literally floating down the street. The country watched the national news as it approached and the devastation it caused after it arrived. Questions began circulating about if/when we would be "back."  Would snowbirds return?  Would the beaches be "safe?"  Would the water be "safe?"  But we knew what the country did not.  Our Residents are a resilient bunch. Neighbors helped neighbors, businesses helped businesses, and we all did the right thing.  There was no looting or chaos.  Rather it was a story of good people who love the town they live in doing a lot of hard work. Our office and many others on 5th Avenue in Naples, were completely demoed, rebuilt, and reopened five weeks after the storm.  In sum, we all shared the same goal:  re-opening our businesses before the snowbirds returned. And return they did!  5th Ave S, 3rd St, Waterside, and Artis Center were packed. Demand for real our real estate not only didn't fall, if anything, it increased because buyers were looking for bargains.    Supply remained constrained for several reasons, including: Hurricane Ian depleted some of our inventory Very little new product is being developed while the town awaits changes to our building code so that developers know what they can and cannot build. The combination of high demand and very limited inventory has helped maintain or slightly increase prices. NABOR published their numbers earlier this week, which showed the median price increased 9% from last February.   For the last six months, if 100 new properties hit the market a day, 100 properties went pending.  The net effect has been that our inventory remains largely unchanged from the fall.  Last summer, I predicted we'd have 3,000 properties in inventory by the end of the year.  We never quite got there, but we got close. Today there are 2,801. In summary, if you're feeling discouraged by the recent natural disaster in Southwest Florida, don't worry - the region has a history of bouncing back. In fact, with a little bit of research and careful consideration, investors can identify areas that have weathered the storm and are ripe for investment opportunities. And it's not just about real estate - the rebuilding effort will also create opportunities for construction and distressed property investing. Of course, it's essential to work with professionals and do your research to make informed decisions. But with a little bit of effort, you can turn this disaster into a chance for growth and success. For those who are thinking about selling their home, there’s good news: the market is on your side right now. There’s no reason to wait for a potential downturn when the strength is still present. Reach out to me and let’s get started on the satisfying process of selling your home at its true and full potential.

When you’re selling a luxury property, the usual rules about how to market a home tend to go out the window. For starters, not all sellers want the universe to know that their home is going on the market, so you might not have the option of advertising the home on a real estate portal or even listing it on the multiple listing service (MLS). And depending on whether or not the seller (or the home) is noteworthy locally or nationally, there could also be quite a few “interested buyers” who don’t have the means to purchase a home but who still want to come inside and look around. But that doesn’t mean that marketing a luxury home is impossible — far from it! There are specific tactics and strategies that wouldn’t make sense for another type of property but that are perfect for luxury homes, and you can use some or all of them to secure a qualified buyer without compromising privacy. Keep it in your pocket When a home is for sale but it’s not listed on the multiple listing service (MLS), it’s known as a “pocket listing.” There are many reasons why a seller might want to leverage a pocket listing instead of using the reach and network of the MLS, and privacy is usually at the top of the list. If the address or the person who lives there is relatively well-known, then it probably won’t be too long before the media or a fan picks up on the home for sale and turns it into a story.That can be a tactic that works to your advantage, of course, but you might want to save the step of listing on the MLS until after you’ve used the local luxury network to shop the home (and you have not received any viable offers). The local community can be your best asset in the home sales process. If you tell your friends, colleagues, and members of any clubs or organizations where you’re a regular attendee that you’re putting your home up for sale, the likelihood of you finding a qualified buyer is heightened — and your acquaintances can tell anyone they know about the fact that your home is for sale. You might not be telling every buyer in the market that you’re putting a house on the market, but you’ll certainly be reaching a large portion of people who are financially qualified to take on that investment … and possibly interested in buying it. If you think you could stand to expand that network, host a party. There’s no better way to show off your home than when it’s packed with admirers. The luxury world is a stage Even the best-maintained luxury home looks more lived-in than magazine-ready most of the time, so before you showcase yours, it’s smart to take care of any cosmetic issues that might have been lingering and possibly even consider moving yourself and your things to a different location so that it can be staged and presented at its very best. That might be an extreme idea in your opinion, and there’s a lot you can do to make your home shine short of moving out and leaving it to professionals. Start with the basic curb appeal Is your lawn manicured and maintained, and is your landscaping polished? Do you need more gravel or flowers anywhere? Do your trees and shrubs — and grass blades — look healthy? Inside, get the place deep-cleaned to within an inch of its life. Steam the carpets and polish the wood floors. Then look at the balance of furniture in the room — is it arranged to showcase the place at its best, or for human convenience? You might want to remove a piece of furniture or two for every room so that you have plenty of space around each item. Allow for smooth and uninterrupted traffic flow through each room. Some experts recommend leaving space (including between furniture and walls) around each piece of furniture. Examine your decor with a critical eye, too. It might not be enough to remove those family photos from the guest rooms — you may also want to think twice about showcasing any artwork or decorations that are tailored to specific tastes. The idea is to invite visitors to imagine themselves living in the home, and some people might not be able to do that around certain images, so if your own preferences tend toward the risque or out-there, think about going a little more moderate while you prepare to sell. Build your (visual) asset bank If your home doesn’t sell as a pocket listing and you do decide to put it on the MLS, then you’ll need some high-quality images to help entice a qualified buyer to your doorstep. The people who can afford to buy your home won’t want to waste time visiting a property that doesn’t meet whatever standards they’ve set themselves, and in this era of digital opportunity, it’s a huge mistake to ignore images when you’re trying to sell a luxury property. It’s not enough to “just” have pictures, either. You want the lighting, staging, and finish that comes with a professional photographer and all of the accompanying cameras, lights, and other tools. And if you really want to make a splash, you’ll need to go a step further and think about creating a video that really showcases what makes your property shine. Tell a story about the special features A luxury home wouldn’t be a luxury home without sweeping people away somehow. Whether that’s an architect who’s a household name, finishes fit for royalty, or a view that leaves you breathless, you need to know what makes your home fit for the “luxury” label and how you can convey its attraction to people who have never seen it. Pick the thing or couple of things that always elicit a comment from the people who visit your house. You probably know them if you begin to think about them — the beautifully landscaped pool area, perhaps, or the industrially equipped kitchen, or the horse stables, or the view from the master bedroom. Then make sure you make those features a central focus of your property marketing. Help potential buyers feel what it’s like to wake up and look out those windows, or take a dip in that pool after dark. Luxury is a feeling, and if you can spark that feeling in the people who are searching for a place to live, you’ll be working toward a sale in no time. Pricing and incentives It can be difficult to price a luxury home to sell because they are usually much rarer than entry-level or mid-level homes, and therefore they don’t exchange hands quite as frequently. That makes it tough to pull comparable sales when you’re wondering how much your home might fetch on this market. Talking to a real estate professional who specializes in luxury sales is essential when you’re trying to nail down the right price for your home. If you overprice it, it will linger on the market for much longer than it should while you consider reducing the price or pulling it off the market — agonizing for any seller. And it’s equally bad to price it so low that you’re leaving money on the closing table when the time comes to walk away. Don’t use the l-word Most buyers in the market for a luxury home aren’t going to Google “luxury homes for sale in my area.” They look for clues that indicate a property is high-end without saying it outright: “gated community,” “estate,” “extravagant,” “opulent,” or “grand,” for example. They might also look for clues in a listing, like whether it’s a waterfront property or the price per square foot. A real estate professional can walk you through the different cues and clues that qualified buyers in your area are going to be using and help make sure that your marketing materials and listing is peppered with them.

So you’re finally a homeowner – congratulations! This is an important step in anyone’s life, and it’s absolutely normal to feel somewhat (or wildly) unprepared for the realities of owning a place of your own. What if there’s an emergency, or what if something breaks? Do you know what to do? Here’s the good news: Like so many things in life, it’s not what you know; it’s who you know. Some homeowners take years to get all of these names and numbers in their mental address books or their smartphones, but if you start trying to find these essential people in your homeowners’ network early, then you’ll have an easier time handling any problems. 1. An insurance agent If you have a mortgage loan on your home, then you’re going to need homeowners’ insurance, which protects the asset being backed — otherwise known as “your house” — from risk. And to get the best deals on insurance and make sure you’re fully covered for everything that needs to be addressed, you’ll probably need to talk to an insurance agent about your options. Most home insurance policies cover things like fire, for example, but they don’t automatically include coverage for other adverse events like a flood or an earthquake. Do you really need earthquake insurance? Well, your insurance agent can tell you! You may also be eligible for discounts on other insurance policies when you become a homeowner, like your car insurance. In addition, you may want to increase your coverage for policies like car insurance; now that you’re a homeowner, you have a big asset that could become part of a claim if you get into a bad car accident, you’re at fault, and your insurance doesn’t fully cover the other party’s damages or injuries.  A good insurance agent can make sure you’re covered from all angles so that you can get on with the business of living your life. 2. A cleaner Maybe you’re the type who really likes to clean — you find it relaxing or rewarding. Even so, you’ll still want to think about finding a cleaner who’s worth the cost in case you’re ever in a bind, such as if a health issue prevents you from cleaning and the mess is driving you bananas, or if you’ve got to leave town for an extended period of time and are thinking about turning your house into a vacation rental while you’re away. “Worth the cost” can be a relative term! Try to find someone who has references so you can get a good idea of how thorough their cleaning is and how flexible they are with times. A really detail-oriented cleaner might charge more and have fewer time slots available every week or month, but like anything else, you get what you pay for, and it’s probably better to find someone who really knows how to deep clean instead of hiring a relatively cheap cleaner who isn’t actually going to evict all the dust bunnies. 3. A general contractor As a homeowner, there are always going to be little things that need attention here and there, possibly as soon as you move in.  Chipped crown molding, holes in walls, broken windows, or doors that creak — whatever your issue, living with it might be fine for as long as you can stand it, but at some point, you’ll want your house to look as nice as it possibly can, even if that only happens right before you get ready to sell it.  Maybe you want to do some renovations or even add a room, a shed, a garage, a deck … if that’s the case, it’s even more important to find a reliable general contractor. A reliable general contractor is one that shows up on time and who can accurately quote a project so that you can budget for it. Reliable contractors can explain timelines, the cost of different materials, offer options, and get the job done on time (or within a reasonable window). 4. A roofer Depending on the type of shingles on your roof, you may not need to get them replaced at all while you live in the house, but you can bet that any buyers are going to ask when the roof was last replaced. Composition shingles usually last more than a decade but less than 20 years, wood shingles last somewhere between 20 and 25 years, and asphalt shingles can last anywhere from 15 to 30 years. If you’re not sure how much longer your roof has, then talking to a roofer and making any necessary repairs before they’re needed — so a leaking roof doesn’t damage your house — is a good move. 5. A real estate agent Of course, you aren’t ready to sell your house as soon as you move in — but keeping in touch with a local real estate agent is still a good plan.  Your agent is often the first to know not only who’s buying (and moving in) and who’s selling (and moving out), but also whether there are any new developments planned nearby, where the best restaurants and home improvement stores are located, if there’s a new hiking or biking trail planned, and much more. When you are ready to sell, your real estate agent can help you decide what needs to be changed or fixed to make your home one of the most enticing in the neighborhood, can give you a good idea of when would be the best time of year to put your house on the market, how to price the place, and hold your hand from beginning to end. That’ll be easier to do if you’ve maintained a relationship with the same agent over time instead of scrambling to find one only when you’re trying to sell. Plus, like your neighbors, a real estate agent can often help you fill in any gaps that are missing in your own personal homeowner network of helpers.

As a homeowner, it's perfectly natural to wonder how much your house is currently worth (and, not so incidentally, how much money you might make today if you were to sell it). Even though the internet has brought information about home values directly to our fingertips, not all of it is reliable -- that's one big reason why appraisers are still in business, charging hundreds of dollars for an accurate valuation.  The truth is that sometimes even appraisers get it wrong. Your house is worth whatever a buyer in your market is willing to pay for it, and that's usually not evident until you put it on the market and start considering offers. All that said, there are still ways you can assess your home's value without actually putting it on the market. Here are nine things to consider when you're trying to figure out how much your house is worth. 1. Look at your property tax bill Your property tax bill isn't an exact estimate of your home's value, but it's a good jumping-off point. Homes are assessed for property taxes at different times, depending on which state, county, or city you live in. In most states, homes are assessed for taxes every five to seven years; depending on how recently your own home was assessed, you may be able to use the assessment as a starting point for figuring out how much your house is worth. That said, beware of considering an assessment of the final word on your property's value. Typically, an assessment is done by taking the assessment rate of your locale, looking at the appraised value of your house, and multiplying the assessment rate by your home's appraised value. If the last time your house was appraised was when you bought it -- and that was decades ago -- then the assessment of your home could be significantly higher or lower than its actual fair-market value. (But you won't know that unless you call in a professional appraiser and ask their opinion.) 2. Examine homes that have sold recently in your neighborhood To pinpoint a home's value, most professionals use "comps" -- this is just a term for homes that are comparable to yours that have sold recently, preferably within the past three months, but possibly as long as six months ago, depending on how many homes are for sale in your area and how easy it is to find comparable homes. At least three comps should be identified and used to find your home's value, but you can use as many comps as you like; five or six might generate a number that more accurately reflects your home's fair-market value. What makes a house comparable to yours? It really depends on what comps are available in your area. They should definitely be as close to your house physically as possible, and preferably should "look" a lot like your house in terms of the number of bedrooms, bathrooms, square footage, and total lot size. Preferably, the comps will also align in details like the number of parking spaces and even the material used to build the house. To find some comps yourself, look up homes that have recently sold in your area or neighborhood. Try to be as honest as possible with yourself; you're not going to get a reliable valuation if you're only looking at luxury homes and your house is not also a luxury home, or if you're only considering mid-level houses and yours is a starter home. The recently sold homes should be as, well, comparable to your house as possible for this to be a valuable exercise. 3. Consider inventory In some markets where there just aren't very many homes for sale, it might not even matter that much if your house is comparable to others that have recently sold.  “Naples Area is a good example of a market where there isn't a lot of available inventory (a fancy term for "homes for sale") and therefore even tear-down homes can capture seven-figure sales prices - buyers are just that desperate to get their foot on the housing ladder, and they're willing to pay whatever it takes. Those markets are few and far between, but it's still a smart idea to look at how many homes are for sale in terms of total inventory and then use that information to determine how much your own house might be worth. In areas where there are a lot of homes for sale, you might not be able to capture a price at the very top of your price range -- but in areas where there are very few homes for sale, it's likely that you'll be able to get a lot closer to top dollar for your own house. 4. Use an online tool Although online tools for calculating your home's value are everywhere, they aren't always accurate.  Many of them use the same process as a human would to assess value -- namely, comps -- and a robot or algorithm isn't always as good at picking the best comparable homes as a human would be. (This is why valuation tools like Zillow's Zestimate usually don't capture the actual sales price of a house.) A robot or algorithm hasn't actually seen your house; they haven't walked through it to determine whether the flooring, finishes, appliances, and other details are above the market average or below market average, so it's really not possible for them to give you a totally accurate value for your house.  It's a lot easier to get an accurate online valuation for a cookie-cutter house in a recent development with lots of current sales than it is for a one-of-a-kind property.  

An open house can be an ideal way to introduce a bulk of buyers to the property you're hoping to sell them, and done right, an open house can sometimes generate multiple offers. The key, though, is "done right" -- not every open house is going to be a buyer's bonanza, and not every open house showcases a home at its highest potential.  You want buyers walking in to feel welcome and for the house to be presented as at least a little bit of a party venue, so buyers can imagine themselves hosting their own event for friends and family in the home. What does it take to prepare for and host the perfect open house? The following 5 steps will help you create a memorable (and, ideally, lucrative) event that will have buyers dreaming about living in your home. 1. Consider a broker's open house A broker's open house is an open house specifically for real estate agents or brokers who have buyer clients. It's another option that you might discard as too much work, but hosting a broker's open house before your home actually hits the market can create some buzz around the property and help with word-of-mouth advertising -- if an agent or broker thinks it might be perfect for their client (or clients) and have a chance to walk through and check everything out in advance, then they'll be more likely to add it to their list of "must-visits" when you host an open house for the general public. 2. Set a date Deadlines make things happen, so give yourself one when it comes to your open house. The timing is up to you, of course:  Weekends are perennially popular for open houses because lots of buyers tend to be available, but for buyers who work alternate schedules, a weekend might not work so well.  A weekday evening might be a better option, depending on the price range for your home and whether a bulk of qualified buyers work in jobs that keep them mostly occupied on weekends.  Consult with your real estate agent about which days of the week and times of day have historically worked best for them, and see what you can find out about the schedules and availability of most buyers in your area, then figure out a time and date based on what you've learned and start getting ready for launch. 3. Tell everybody No one will show up to your open house if you don't tell them when it's happening and where it is, so marketing the event is a critical component for success. There are a number of ways to do this, you can: put a notice up at the post office or possibly even the local coffee shop, ask your agent to add it to your listing information,  see if any local publications will let you place an open-house advertisement in the appropriate place,  post information at your agent's office and even other brokerages (if allowed),  and of course, set up signs the day of the open house with the address and time clearly visible. Social media is another fantastic way to advertise your open house. Put it up on Facebook and add it to any neighborhood-specific groups so that people who are interested in the area can see it and tell their friends. Make sure you post it on Nextdoor, too.  4. Remove clutter Once you've set a date and advertised the home, it's time to get your property ready for its close-up -- and, fair warning, that's probably going to take a lot of work. You'll need to transform your home from loved and lived-in to looking more like a vacation rental: The ideal look is comfortable and inviting, but not personal. Start with a serious clutter-removal operation, including furniture. You might want to get rid of a few chairs or even an entire sofa in the living room, end tables or even an entire dresser in the bedroom, and a file cabinet or other ancillary furniture in your home office.  Remove any personal items, including family photographs from the walls or fireplace mantle, and if you have substantial music or book collections, it might be a good idea to scale back the number of items.  Remember the ideal and focus on culling any potentially alienating or divisive items, especially; it's fine to have a fixation on religious or political collectibles or artwork, for example, but if you wouldn't find it appropriate in a vacation rental, then you should probably get it out of the way for your open house event. 5. Move the furniture Once you've eliminated the clutter and even some of the furniture, it's time to rearrange what's there so that you don't have obvious gaping holes in your decor.  Your agent might be a good resource here, especially if you're not sure how to replace the giant boudoir-focused images you had hanging on your bedroom walls (hey, we're not judging!). Renting some artwork or items from a stager could work nicely for you, but you may also be able to get away with buying some inexpensive but nice-looking landscapes from a local thrift store and putting those on your walls instead.  Think about the flow of your rooms as you move furniture around and try to leave plenty of space for visitors to walk around and through each room.

Selling your house can be an intensely emotional experience in any market, but it's particularly nerve-wracking when it seems like other homes are going under contract in a matter of days while your listing lingers. In that situation, sellers can't help but wonder if there might be something wrong with their place. Well, the unfortunate truth is that maybe there is something wrong. Usually, it's the listing price, but there are a ton of other things that are keeping your house on the market -- maybe it's the marketing strategy, or even the house itself. If your house just won't seem to move in a market that's otherwise red-hot, consider whether one of these factors could be stalling a sale. The pictures are amateur It's hard to under-emphasize the importance of listing photos. Most buyers start their home search online, and your listing photos are therefore the first impression that buyers will get of the property. When all the other homes for sale in your neighborhood have crisp, clean images that show the home to its best advantage, and your listing photos are off-center, unfocused and scream "I took all of these pictures in 10 minutes with my cell phone," then don't be surprised when buyers aren't all that interested in your place. Make sure that you're selecting only the photos that make your house shine, and if there aren't any, then you might need to reshoot.  Talk to your agent and the listing photographer about shooting at a time of day when there's a lot of natural light and when the home is in pristine condition. You have too much stuff Minimalism might not be a big thing where you live, and that's perfectly fine -- while you're living there. But clutter is going to draw buyers' eyes away from the space of the room and their ability to fill it with their stuff, distracting them when you want them to be fully focused on their dream of homeownership. Garage sales, donation stations, and storage units can all be a viable solution for too much stuff, but you need to get it out of the spaces where buyers can see it. That means the closets, too -- buyers most definitely will open closets and drawers, and if all the clutter is hiding there, it doesn't leave a great impression. The price was based on an online calculator It's hard to find a homeowner who hasn't looked up their own house on a real estate portal like Zillow -- we're all curious, right? Well, even though that Zestimate price may have given you a warm fuzzy feeling, the truth is that it might not be all that accurate.  Online calculators use public records data and sometimes MLS data to create their estimates, but if the data is patchy or there aren't a lot of comparable homes that have sold nearby, then the algorithm might end up pulling some numbers that just don't make any sense. Of course, this can mean an absolute steal for buyers if your automated valuation is below the home's actual value, and you could lose money on the sale. But on the flip side, if you trust that your home really is worth what the automated valuation says -- and you haven't asked an appraiser or a real estate agent what they think -- then that could be why no buyers are interested. The wrong agent is listing the home Like all of us, real estate agents have strengths and weaknesses. Some agents are great at selling condos but haven't sold any single-family homes, and that's just one of the many facets that makes up an agent's experience. It's completely understandable to go with the agent who helped you in your last sale, or a friend of a friend, but do ask any agents you interview about their experience in working with clients like you to sell houses like yours. If they don't have any, then you might be in for a long wait and several price cuts before your house moves. Showings aren't convenient for buyers One of the worst parts of selling a home is dealing with the showing process. It's a pain to keep your house spotless in case a showing gets booked, and then vacate the premises while strangers traipse through with an agent. Although sellers definitely deserve sympathy for how demanding showings can be, they're not exactly a picnic for buyers, either, who are usually trying to visit several houses in the few-hour timespan they've managed to clear out, typically on evenings and weekends when they don't have to work. If you aren't letting buyers come in and walk through on those evenings and weekends, and instead are dictating showing times that only fit your schedule, don't expect buyers to fit your home into theirs. If it's inconvenient, many qualified buyers who'd love your house will prefer to skip it. The listing description is flat or unrealistic Most buyers are going to look at the photos first and foremost, but many will also pay attention to the listing description. This is a chance to tell interested buyers what you love about the house, and they're going to be looking for information or nuance that they couldn't glean from the photos. For example, maybe the view from the master bathtub is your favorite in the house, or perhaps there's a greenhouse in the yard.  Include details in the listing description that help the buyer round out what they know about the house from photos -- and steer away from generic descriptions if possible. Buyers see a lot of them, and they won't help your home stand out. You're too attached Sometimes it's the right time to sell a house -- and sometimes it doesn't matter how hot the market is: You're just not ready to let go yet. That's a very normal feeling to have, but it can also sabotage your home sale for obvious reasons. Consider whether your attachment to the home could be undermining you in other ways, like insisting that it's worth a certain price or demanding specific concessions from your buyers.  If you think it might be, then you have to decide whether your need to sell the house outweighs your desire to stay there, and act accordingly.

When you're selling your house, it can be tempting to hope that buyers will see past the surface to the beautiful bone structure of your abode and realize what a lovely life they could make in it.  But the truth is that most homes could use a little bit of a facelift before you invite people to walk through and hope they'll make an offer on it. So what do you need to do, exactly, to get your house into perfect shape, and keep it that way throughout all the showings and events? Here's a rundown of the steps you can take to make and keep your house not only picture-perfect -- but open-house perfect. Getting started There are a few steps you'll want to take throughout your house in order to get it ready for deep cleaning and make it presentable for showing. Start by walking through each room and asking yourself what items you haven't used lately or that you can do without for a while. Minimizing the stuff in your house will make it much easier to keep everything clean throughout the selling process. Don't forget about the furniture! Removing furniture from a room can make it look more spacious. If you don't want to get rid of anything, rent a storage unit where you can stash your larger items until you're finished showing your house. When you've removed one-third to half the furniture in your house, rearrange what's left to create inviting pathways through each room. Visitors should be able to walk around everything without bumping into anything else. You'll want to pack up and stash any books, clothes, appliances, equipment, or other things that you don't need or want immediately (or, realistically, for the next couple of months). It's fine to keep a few back -- nobody lives in a completely empty house -- but remember that less is more and do your best to streamline to less. Details, details, details Now that the house is more or less arranged the way you want it, it's time to start paying attention to some of those details. Look at your walls and ask yourself if you need to add or remove anything. One strong piece of artwork in each room is a good goal -- two if the room is really big.  Where you aren't replacing art, repair any holes in the walls and paint over them. In fact, if you're going to give any rooms in your house a coat of paint, now is a great time to do that -- before the real deep cleaning starts. Add a houseplant or two. Assess your houseplant situation: How many do you have, and do you need to remove or add any? Like artwork, one or two plants per room is probably a good balance. Assess the lighting in your house. Are there dark areas in certain rooms? A well-placed floor or table lamp or two can take any room from gloomy to soft and relaxing, so think about where you could use a little light help and add it. Think about how your house (and each room) smells as you walk through it. If you have pets and your nose might be sensitized to odors, then ask a friend to give you an honest opinion about how odiferous the place is. Once you've tackled these general tasks, it's time to get down and dirty in each room and outside your house. Get ready! The kitchen If you haven't already decluttered the kitchen, start with the cabinets and work your way down. Box up and store any dishes and kitchen appliances that you don't need accessible -- you may be in for a few weeks of boring dinners or take-out, but it's all in the name of making your house stageworthy.  Organize your pantry, your cabinets and other kitchen storage spaces, which should be quite a bit easier to do with fewer items to organize. Remove everything from your countertops and deep clean them, making sure you scrub the backsplash and pay attention to any tile grout (you may want to steam clean or bleach grout if you have tile countertops or floors). Spend some time cleaning all of your appliances -- oven, stove, fridge, microwave.  Replace any worn burner pans on your stove, and remove any personal items you've secured to your fridge door with tape or a magnet, like kids' drawings or phone number lists. The living room Clearing off surfaces is going to be the first order of business in the living room. If there are ashtrays on coffee tables, remove them while your house is on the market and find somewhere else to smoke. After you've cleared coffee tables and bookshelves of any mementoes or unnecessary items, clean and dust the tables and bookshelves, then do your best to keep those surfaces clean and dust-free.  Kids' toys can be one of the biggest contributors to a messy living room, so confine them to bedrooms or invest in a toy chest or bin where you can quickly toss them and keep them out of the way. Make sure any fireplaces or wood stoves are in good working order and clean off and dust any mantles. Only replace items that aren't too personalized, and make sure that mantles aren't crowded with knick-knacks. The bedrooms Do you have a "special occasion" bedding set that doesn't get used very often? If not, you might consider investing in one -- talk to your real estate agent or stager before you do to get an idea of what's appropriate.  If so, now's the time to haul it out and put it on the bed, so make sure that your nicest bedding set is on display in the bedroom. Clear off all the surfaces in your room -- bedside tables, dressers, and any other surfaces -- and clean them thoroughly. Make sure you've purged any personal items and keep any additions minimal and dust-free. One tip: Don't just shove everything in your closets. Buyers look in there, too! 

Is now the best time to sell your home? That’s an intensely personal question that depends on a number of factors -- many of them beyond your control.  In 2006, some sellers might have been wondering if they should have waited another year and netted even more profit … but today we know that those sellers would have kicked themselves for making that decision. Major economic shifts aside, there are ways you can manipulate your home’s sale to best benefit you and your family as you move into a bigger place or downsize to better fit your lifestyle. When you’re trying to target the most opportune time to put your home on the market, it helps to consider all of the factors involved and control what you can to maximize your price and profit. The annual real estate doldrums … Most advice you’ll hear about selling will be different, but there’s one time of year that most experts believe you should avoid when it comes to listing a home: wintertime. Between the holiday season and, in some parts of the country, the weather, there aren’t too many buyers incentivized to disrupt their lives and move into a new home, which means they aren’t really thinking about shopping for one, either -- at least in some markets.  And fewer buyers means less of a chance that your home will be one of the homes that sells. Winter also isn’t a very fun time of year to be a seller, logistically speaking. You might think you’ll get out of yard work (and you’ll be right), but you’ll probably be cleaning up after visitors tracking rain and snow through your just-cleaned house while they tour it in exchange. … And the peak selling season Just like many experts will warn you against winter, springtime is commonly considered one of the best times of the year to sell a home.  Buyers are interested in making a fresh start, yards look lush and green, days are starting to get longer, and tax season gives some buyers a leap ahead on any down payment savings. So does that mean you should sell in the springtime? Maybe … but be aware that other sellers are going to have the same idea. There will be competition in the form of more homes available on the market. Those buyers also might have the options available to be more picky in the home they end up buying, and that could mean they demand changes to yours before paying for it -- or pass altogether. Your home’s favorite time of year Here’s the thing about all conventional wisdom: It’s geared toward the median, the “normal,” the middle-of-the-road. But the reality is all over the map, and the conventional wisdom for your home could be very different from the norm. If you live in a ski resort town, then wintertime could be the very best time of year to list your home -- when the area is full of visitors who are enjoying themselves and wondering whether they might be able to make a permanent move work. If you own a family-sized house with a little room to grow that’s just a two-block walk from one of the most desirable elementary schools in your metro area - it might make less sense to list your home in the early spring, when many families with young children will be preoccupied with the end of the school year, and instead list in early summer, when they’re able to seriously consider a move. Or perhaps the fall foliage in your part of the world is something tourists travel hundreds of miles to absorb, and you’ve got a grove of beautiful deciduous trees in your yard. Maybe you have a swimming pool or deck area that really shines in the summertime. Or maybe it’s your flower garden that makes passersby stop and stare at your house, and the spring really is the best time for you. Does the day of the week matter? Actually, it might. According to a couple of different studies, homes that were listed on Thursday or Friday have been found to sell in the shortest length of time for slightly higher prices than any other homes. It’s possible that the timing of the weekend is what’s honing Thursday’s and Friday’s edge over the other days of the week.  Buyers are more likely to have time to schedule home tours or attend open houses over the weekend, and there are likely to be more of those buyers looking at each house (and therefore more chances of getting an offer, or maybe even multiple offers).  And if the home was just listed and buyers see that competition for themselves, they’re more likely to put in a full-price offer for the home. It’s usually not a good idea to list a home on a weekend, and you’re less likely to see buyer appointments to tour homes earlier in the week, so if you can’t swing a Thursday or Friday, try a Wednesday. Timing isn’t everything Even if you think you’ve nailed the absolute best time to sell your home and you’ve done all you can repair-wise to maximize your chances, there’s one big mistake that could shoot all your efforts right in the foot: Pricing your home incorrectly when you first list it. Some sellers don’t think this is the huge deal that it really (really!) is.  Serious buyers sign up to property watch lists and get an alert as soon as a home is listed on the MLS. Most of the buyers who could buy your home are going to see its listing within the first 48 hours of that listing being “live.” Unless you overpriced it, of course. Then those buyers won’t see it until you reduce the price down to a more realistic level -- and you might think that the price is a starting point of negotiation, but a qualified buyer is searching for “homes I am qualified to buy right now,” not “homes I am not qualified to buy right now but that might drop into my price range later. So you get one big chance to make your home’s big debut in front of its buyers. And if you set the price too high (or too low, for that matter), you’ve blown it. That’s why the best way to maximize your home’s price is to talk to a qualified agent, who can help you figure it out -- and why the best time to sell is when you’re ready.

If you’re not familiar with home inspections, then you might have a lot of questions about what gets inspected, how thorough the inspectors are, why you even need one, and what you can expect if you’re walking with an inspector through the house you’re hoping to buy. There’s a lot to know about home inspection, and your questions deserve answers. Here they are! What is a home inspection? A home inspection is an event that is basically exactly what the name implies: A home inspector walks through the home, looking at specific elements and features of the house, and then provides a report about anything that needs to be repaired. Why would I want a home inspection? An inspection is a good idea anytime you want a full rundown on any issues or problems with your house.  If you’re already living there, it’s a lot less necessary than if you’re buying the home — when you will most definitely want an inspector to check for any potential red flags.  They’ll be your problem after closing, and big issues can sometimes affect the insurability of your house (which, in turn, affects your loan eligibility), so home inspections are most common after an offer is made on a house but before the closing finalizes the deal. What does the home inspector look at? There are six essential parts of an inspection that you can expect every inspector to hit. They are: the roof and attic,  the basement and foundation,  the plumbing,  the electrical setup,  the heating or air conditioning systems,  the interior of the house,  the exterior of the house. Depending on where you live and what common problems tend to manifest in the homes, you might also want to think about hiring a pest inspector, a sewer line inspector, or even ask about an engineering report to evaluate the home and plot’s structure and stability. And in areas where radon is prevalent, or where there’s a lot of humidity, you may also want to ask about radon or mold testing (some home inspectors do this as an add-on part of the package). How much does it cost? The price of the home inspection is going to depend on the size of the house. You can typically expect to spend around $300 on a home inspection, but smaller properties (less than 1,000 square feet) might cost only $200, whereas larger homes (more than 2,000 square feet) cost upwards of $400 to inspect. Ask an inspector or a real estate agent in your area what they usually cost to get a closer estimate. Do you need an inspector for a new house? It’s always a good idea to get a home inspection — even in a brand-new house. You don’t want to find out there’s a problem after you move in, and an inspection is the best way to figure that out. So follow the “trust, but verify” process with your builder: Trust that they did their very best to get your home in the best condition possible … then verify that they did just that with an official inspection. Should you attend the inspection? It’s usually a smart idea for the buyer to attend the inspection in case they have questions for the inspector or want to follow up on any notes the inspector makes. Many inspectors today use new technologies that allow them to include photos of any issues or potential problems, but there’s nothing like being there in person to better understand exactly what’s wrong and how to fix it. What happens if a problem is uncovered? If everything is not in good shape with the home you’re about to buy, there are options. Usually when this happens, the buyers and the sellers start negotiating again — this time, to figure out who’s going to pay for the necessary repairs.  Buyers might be able to ask for some money to be knocked off the final sales price to accommodate for the problem, or sellers might decide to go ahead and fix it before closing.  If everyone can come to an agreement that suits everybody, then the sale can move forward.

Real estate investing is gaining popularity, and if you’ve been giving it some thought, this guide will give you an overview. The goal of any real estate investor is typically to make money. This means purchasing an investment property at a good price so you can rent it out and maybe eventually sell it for a profit.  Real estate investing is an ever-changing game. To get and stay ahead and make consistent money, you’ll need to do your homework. Here are 10 things to know: 1. Get Pre-Approved for a Mortgage When you get a mortgage pre-approval first, there are some benefits you can take advantage of, financial benefits being a big one.  Once you’re pre-approved, most lenders will lock in an interest rate for you, so if rates go up while you’re conducting your property search, you’ll enjoy your lower, locked-in rate. When it comes to demonstrating your seriousness to a potential seller, having a pre-approved mortgage could get you preferential treatment since you already have financial backing.  2. Cash Flow Cash could be the defining feature of any investment property. If you’re projecting strong cash flow, you should be all set, but if your projection is negative, you might need to reallocate money from other areas such as:  Your salary Other investments Savings 3. Keep Up With Local Pricing Trends  Consider the area where you’re thinking of making your investment, and then study the home pricing in those areas. Investigate further to see if current prices are on the rise, then compare average homes in neighboring towns and cities to see if you can find savings.  4. Research the Local School Ratings Areas with quality schools are attractive to parents with school-aged children.  Most states rank their schools based on how well the kids in each school district score on common tests like English and math.  Check out the state’s board of education website to get started, and look for the schools at the top of the list, or those that are moving up the list. 5. Future Development Before you land on an area for your investment property, talk to people living in the neighborhoods you’re considering, as well as the local town hall to get information on planned and potential future development.  Take a drive around town and see what kinds of construction are already underway.  Even if the location you’re considering doesn’t have many amenities like banks and restaurants at the moment, it might in just a few years.  Keep an eye out for new roads to accommodate future growth, hospitals, and shopping malls.  If a prospective area is set to expand in a few years, you might be able to secure a property at a low price and be able to take advantage of higher rent and substantial appreciation in the future. On the other hand, look out for areas that are always congested with heavy traffic or have overfilled schools.  6. Tax Savings With Alternatives If you’re comparing two nearby towns, and one has lower property taxes, you might be able to take advantage of significant savings.  Also, find out if tax rates are expected to move up or down in the coming months.  Give the local tax assessor a call to find out when the area was last evaluated. If you find out the town is about to conduct a reassessment, this could mean that property taxes will rise. 7. Suburban Areas If the suburb or secondary market you’re exploring is close to a large city, this could be desirable to people who commute to work but don’t want to live in the hustle and bustle of the city. With rents and property values rising, the outskirts are becoming popular alternatives and have all the amenities a city does. If you’re looking in one of these areas, make sure you check out future development plans. 8. Vacancy If you’ve been in the real estate investing market for even a short time, you know many investment properties are vacant. Check out the vacancy rates for the property type you’re considering in your chosen area. 9. Know What You Need  Know what you’re getting into with rehab or a rental property. Study the property closely to get a good understanding of the state it’s in before you commit. This way, if you have repairs and upgrades you’ll be able to make an accurate estimate.  10. Start Small And Learn.  If you’re new to real estate investing, start small.  As you get used to everything that comes with being an investor, you’ll want a smaller and easy-to-manage property.  When you get some experience under your belt and have earned enough money, you can expand your business by replacing your property with a bigger and more expensive one, or purchasing a second one. Armed with these tips, you can start the exciting journey down the road of real estate investing!

If you’ve been thinking about investing in real estate, getting your finances in order before you start searching for properties and scheduling appointments will save you from money headaches in the long run.  Real estate investments could be one of your largest investments, and unless you have cash ready to invest, you’ll need a plan for financing and a plan for cash flow in the future. Here’s what you need to do before heading out to the property shop.  1. Create A Financing Plan If you have strong credit, consistent W-2 income, and a sizeable down payment, traditional financing could be your best option for your first real estate investment since interest rates are typically low and the terms are attractive.  “Figure out how much you can afford based on your current expenses, and how much cash you’ll need to have on hand for renovations and upgrades.  Make sure you know where your liquid funds will come from to improve your chances of landing a good deal. With cash, you can move faster, which will motivate most sellers.  2. Review Your Credit Report And Keep It Healthy Request a copy of your credit report through one of the credit bureaus and make sure you dispute any errors or provide an explanation for any derogatory issues or late payments.  Keep your credit score from slipping by: avoiding any new credit inquiries,  canceling any credit accounts,  lowering your limits with any creditors.  3. Get Mortgage Pre-Approval With an approved mortgage in hand, most lenders will lock in an interest rate, so if rates fluctuate upwards while you’re searching for the perfect investment property, you can relax knowing that your rate isn’t going to change.  To get pre-approved for a mortgage, you’ll need to have the following in order:  Personal documents: Two forms of government-issued ID, your social security number, as well as proof of ownership of other property, including your primary residence or other investment properties. Tax returns: For the previous year, and potentially for the last two years. Proof of income: W2s, paycheck stubs, 1099s, or if you’re self-employed, a year-to-date profit and loss statement.  Proof of assets: Bank statements, 401Ks, IRAs, and money held in stocks or mutual funds. Summary of all debt: Primary property loan(s), credit card balances, student loans, and all monthly payment amounts. 4. Stay Competitive By Doing Your Homework Just because your financing is approved, doesn’t mean you’re ready to start shopping. Do some comparison shopping and contact other lenders to see what kind of interest rate they can offer. A few percentage points might not seem significant, but can save tens of thousands or more over the lifetime of a loan and affect your monthly cash flow.  Consider checking with a bank other than the one you bank with; they might be very likely to be more competitive to win new business.  5. Liquid Funds Based on your financing plan, you’ll have figured out: How much cash you need to have in hand for a down payment and closing costs.  How much money you’ll need for renovations or repairs if the properties you’ll be considering aren’t turn-key.  Consider your cash flow from month to month to make sure you’re not projecting negative cash flow. Or if you are, that you have a backup source of cash such as drawing from your personal accounts. The goal of real estate investing is usually to make money. As your investment style evolves and matures as a real estate investor, the amount of risk you can withstand is bound to change. Keep your original goals in mind, and do your homework to help position yourself to enjoy the financial returns. 

Between micro-apartments, tiny homes, and even #vanlife, the real estate industry is taking the saying “less is more” to previously unknown levels. And while we can all get behind the idea of streamlining your life and shedding possessions that no longer meet your needs. The good news is that as we’ve become increasingly obsessed with small living spaces, we’ve also discovered (or recovered) strategies to maximize what you’ve got. Whether you already live in a small space, you’re downsizing, or you just want to be more efficient with the space you have, these tips will help you achieve your miniature-lifestyle dreams. Look high and low As humans, we’re socialized to see what’s in front of us -- and little else. Ask any hide-and-seek champion and you’ll learn that there’s a whole world of possibilities both above our line of sight and below it, where we rarely glance. Take a walk through your living space and pay special attention to space above your head toward the ceiling and space below your knees toward the floor. If you’ve got high ceilings, you might find a ton of new opportunities for shelving or other storage options. Make sure you’re focusing on “unusual” spots, too -- like under the stairs, for example. We’re not suggesting you turn that space beneath the stairs into a bedroom, but it’s certainly possible that when you bypassed the stairs, you also neglected the perfect space to store out-of-season clothing items. Consider your furniture while you’re examining your place from floor to ceiling. If space is at a premium, then you’ll want to find dining room seating (for example) that tucks completely under the table when you’re finished.  One great way to make your space look larger-than-real-life is to arrange all of your seating lower to the ground. Instead of a couch in the living room, you might consider a futon that folds into a bed -- or maybe even just some big, comfortable cushions that can be stacked in a corner when you’re not lounging or entertaining guests. Transparency is key One of the essential problems with living in a small space is that a “traditional” home is very much divided up by function.  You sleep in the bedroom, cook in the kitchen, work in the office, and relax in the living area -- all of which are divided up by walls. Smaller living quarters often try to replicate a traditional home, but if you’re living in a tiny space, then you might not want walls dividing everything up … and even if you do, maybe a permanent wall of brick and mortar is the wrong move. Glass doors and walls can functionally separate your space for living without sacrificing any of your line-of-sight vision, giving the illusion of plenty of room even in a smaller home.  If you’d like to actually block off space physically and visually, then hanging a curtain that you can fling open or draw closed can be a nice way to create a “room” within a room -- without the walls. Mirror, mirror Hotel designers know this trick (and you won’t be able to unsee it now that we’ve told you about it): Hang a large mirror across one wall to give the illusion of twice the space.  When you arrange lights around or in front of the mirror, you’re also brightening the room up significantly. You can hang the mirror above a couch or a bed, or on the back of a door, very easily. And you can even find mirrored tile these days, so if you love the look of subway tile and also would like to take advantage of some mirroring in your bathroom or kitchen, then you can even consider a mirrored backsplash in one (or both) of those spots to capture light and brighten the room. Work those walls (and ceilings) Now that you’ve walked through your home with an eye toward the sky, you probably know where you are missing an opportunity to maximize your space. Could you replace your kitchen light with a version that includes a rack for pots and pans, for example, freeing up some cabinet space below?  Are you parking your bicycle in the hallway when you could install a couple of hooks and hang it up?  Is there space to add a bookshelf or three for storing rarely used items? (Or books?!) You might find there’s space above your kitchen cabinets where you can park small appliances that you don’t use very often, or maybe there are corners throughout your living space where you could install a shelf and use it. Remember: Your floor is just one surface; you can create many more if you need to. Stackable (or stashable) appliances Yes, you can have a washer-dryer in your small abode -- but it’s probably best if you choose a set that stacks to help save some floor space. Appliance manufacturers have been paying attention to the micro-trend, and they’ve been building products for smaller spaces that work just as well as their full-size counterparts.  Before decking out your diminutive dwelling, do some research on what appliances are available and consider whether they would work for you and your lifestyle. Elevate your furniture Lifting up your furniture just a few inches can expose treasure troves of storage space. If you’ve got a traditional bed or sofa and need to maximize your storage surface area, then consider getting some risers for either piece of furniture and investing in some low boxes or other storage containers that you can slide underneath. Make your outdoors great Maybe that space between your walls is officially “tiny” -- but if you’ve got the ability to spread yourself around outside, then consider turning your deck or yard into a bonafide living space. Patio furniture and hammocks can help you create a dining or lounge space outside, complete with furniture, and if you have room for a grill outside (and the weather is nice enough year-round), then you might even be able to turn your out-of-doors into a kitchen of sorts.  And storage shed outside can solve a lot of your storage problems, too, from out-of-season clothing to recreational equipment. Keeping the lawn mowed and your flowerbeds blooming can also go a long way toward making your home feel serene instead of cluttered and overstuffed with “stuff.” If you maintain the outside of your home, it will invite you to relax just as effectively as a king-sized feather bed with fluffy white pillows or leather sectional in front of a television.

If you've never owned a house before, then it's entirely possible that you've never deep-cleaned a house. (Hey, no shame in that game.) But when the house is yours, the desire to see it as clean and sparkling as it can possibly be is strong -- and you might have no idea where to start or how to go about getting your clean on. Don't panic! Take a deep breath and remind yourself that nobody knows how to do everything. Then follow these tips for homeowners that will outline exactly how to go about deep-cleaning any home ... and how to maintain it so that next time you don't feel so overwhelmed. Make a list, then divide and conquer The most overwhelming part of deep-cleaning is undeniably the moment when you start to realize just how much there is to do. Before you even let yourself go there, stop and make a list of everything you need to do. Begin by listing all the rooms in your house. Include a space for your garage, the basement or the attic (if you have one) and for outdoor living spaces like porches, balconies or decks.  Start listing what needs to be done in each of those spaces. Before you know it, you'll have a comprehensive list of absolutely everything that you need to do to get your house as clean as it's ever been. After you've got your master list, start dividing it up. You can assign different rooms to other household members who are helping with the massive clean or divide it by day of the week so that you're spacing out your deep cleaning in a way that doesn't overwhelm you.  Start at the top Gravity can be your friend or your enemy when you're cleaning a house. You can avoid a lot of heartache by understanding this truth and beginning your work at the top of each room, moving your way down.  That way any dust you're knocking loose from high shelves or light fixtures will land on a floor that you haven't yet cleaned instead of a floor you just finished mopping. It might help to organize your list from literal top to bottom before you even walk into the room. That way you can easily run down the list in order without messing up an area you just cleaned. Declutter, declutter, declutter When you have a lot of stuff -- books, clothes, sports equipment, pots and pans, whatever -- then cleaning around all of it becomes a challenge. The first step in any room should be a sweep to assess what you use and what you haven't touched in a year or more. Anything that falls into the latter category should be considered for disposal -- give it to a friend or donate it if you like. It may feel painful to part from your things, but keeping your house looking neat and clean will be so much easier if you can power through the hard part and let go. Get serious about decluttering now so that your home will look cleaner and more presentable forever. Clean your screens and windows Let's be honest: Cleaning screens and windows can be a real pain, which is probably why it doesn't get done very often.  But it makes a huge difference in the quality of light that pours through those windows, and it's well worth addressing at least once a year. While you're washing the windows, make sure you're paying some attention to the windowsills both inside and outside the house. Don't forget the light fixtures Windows aren't the only factors influencing the quality of light in your house. Your light fixtures might be dusty or dirty and you wouldn't even notice because they're so far above your head. Make sure that you're removing and cleaning light fixtures in each room, drying them thoroughly before you replace them. Organize, organize, organize If you just moved in, then the odds are good that you've still got a box or two packed up and stashed away in a closet. Deep cleaning means deep organization, so if the stray-box theory sounds a lot like you, then it's time to finally finish the job. Even if you've already unpacked absolutely everything, this is still a good time for you to figure out how you're going to establish a place for everything and everything in its place.  Once you have an organizational system that works, be it for your bookshelves or your toolshed, then all you have to do to keep everything spiffy is to follow that system. Tackle the kitchen appliances If your microwave is crusty, then odds are good that your other kitchen appliances could also use some attention. The oven, the stove and the refrigerator are usually the dirtiest appliances in the house, so make sure you're putting them on your rotating "to clean" list -- and stick to it. Some newer refrigerators include easy-to-remove shelves and door inserts that you can clean in the dishwasher. If you're due for a fridge upgrade soon, then look for a model that has some of those cleaning-friendly features. Power wash While you're sprucing up the outside, rent or borrow (or buy) a power washer and tackle the house itself. You will be amazed how much dust and dirt accrues on the outside of your house, the deck, the porch, and other areas -- washing it off can make your house look like it's got a brand-new paint job, plus you'll be eliminating any cobwebs in the bargain. Make it a habit If you only do all of these things to your house once a year, then it's not going to stay clean for very long.  Keep your list of rooms and think about your daily and weekly schedule, then try to squeeze in some deep-cleaning work every now and again.  You'll find that your entire house stays cleaner for longer, and any special-event deep cleaning that you might have to do will be much easier when you have a plan for upkeep.

Just like in any other profession, there are good real estate agents ... and there are, unfortunately, subpar real estate agents, too. But how do you know if you've got a dreamboat or a dud handling your real estate transaction? One way to know whether you've got a good agent (or not) is to consider some of the tasks and activities that a really good agent will manage for a client, then apply what you've learned to your own agent. If you don't have time to track down all of the things that a good agent should be doing for a buyer or a seller, then you're in luck: We've compiled a list so you don't have to. Ask you about your homeownership needs (and hopes) It's dangerous to make assumptions at the best of times, but when it comes to shopping for a home, assumptions are downright dangerous. So if you have an agent who assumes ... everything ... be wary. A good agent should ask you questions -- lots of them -- about where you've lived, what you liked and disliked about both the home and the neighborhood, where you work, how long you plan to stay there, your future family plans, and more.  This is all to the greater good of helping you find the right place and possibly revealing a neighborhood or property type that wasn't on your radar: Start here Recommend a mortgage broker If you don't already have a mortgage broker to help you with your loan, then your real estate agent should be providing referrals for someone trustworthy. (And any agent worth his or her salt should definitely ask if you're pre-approved!) Real estate agents work on real estate transactions every day, and they have contacts who can help with mortgage, title, appraisals, inspections, and beyond. Use them! Give you feedback on the neighborhoods Unless you've lived in a neighborhood your entire life -- and even then! -- there will still be things to learn about the place where you're buying your home.  A good real estate agent should be able to answer your questions and explain how each neighborhood compares against the others.  You'll probably have questions about everything from where to buy groceries to where to walk to dog to what people do for fun on weekends, and your real estate agent should help answer those questions.   Help you find a home You might think that finding a home is as easy as looking it up on the internet, and for some lucky people, maybe it is. But most buyers have to check out endless potentially unsuitable homes before they find "the one" that's their long-term best fit, and pictures (especially on the internet) can be deceiving. An agent should hook you up with an MLS feed that will alert you when a home that meets your criteria hits the market -- and agents should also help you come up with alternate strategies if the going is just too tough in your price range. Price the home correctly For sellers, this is one of the most critical jobs that your agent will complete -- and if they don't do a good job, you could lose tens of thousands of dollars. Pricing the home correctly right out the gate is absolutely vital to selling the home quickly and for fair-market value. Some agents will inflate the possible sales price and tell sellers that they can always reduce the price if they don't get an offer. Although this is certainly true, those agents are misrepresenting a bigger truth: your listing is going to get the most attention from qualified buyers within the first 48 hours of hitting the market.  It's not typically wise to go with the agent who offers the highest sales price; instead, ask prospective agents how they calculated that sales price, whether it lines up with the typical price-per-square-foot in your area, and how long homes priced in that range tend to stay on the market.   Market the home well One reason why sellers hire a real estate agent in the first place is that the agent has a marketing platform to use to advertise the home for sale. Some homes require more marketing than others, but agents should have a plan to market every home they list.  And marketing goes far, far beyond "put it on the MLS, Zillow, and realtor.com -- then pray you get a qualified buyer." If you don't know the listing agent's plan to market your home -- or worse, if you don't think the agent has a plan at all -- then that's a huge sign that your agent might not be the best fit for you. Help you pick an inspector When a buyer is financed for a home loan, the lender is going to want to know that the investment is solid -- that the house doesn't have any major issues, for example. That's where the inspector comes in, and the inspector will have to enter the picture before closing. Your real estate agent should help you find an inspector and answer any questions you have about whether the inspector's price tag is reasonable. Attend the appraisal A lot of agents do not consider attending the appraisal to be particularly pressing -- and that's fine.  But if the appraisal comes in under the sales price and there were no agents present to answer questions or help the appraiser figure out the home's value, then you've got a problem that might not be very easy to solve. Many buyer's agents will make a point to attend the appraisal and make sure that the appraiser has access to everything he or she needs and can get any information necessary to complete the appraisal thoroughly. Is yours one of them? Communicate, communicate, communicate A lot can change between putting an offer on a home and actually moving in.  The real estate agent should be the person who knows all of the different parts and pieces of the transaction -- and is willing to serve as the point of communication between them. If the appraisal is delayed, or there's an issue with the loan, then the agent is one who is communicating that information to the people on each side who need to know. An agent's job is to make the transaction easier for you, and that typically means managing the messages for everybody.

Not too long ago in our country's history, talking about making your house "greener" might get you labeled a hippie tree-hugger. But times change, and as gas, electricity, and water prices creep up, more and more homeowners are seeing the (strong) advantages that come with considering the environment when you make decisions about your household. Are you interested in making your home more energy-efficient -- and saving money in the bargain? You have a lot of options, from cheap to expensive, so read on to discover whether there are some big (or small) energy-saving opportunities that you're missing. 1. Get an energy audit Most utility companies offer an energy audit, oftentimes for free:  They'll send an expert out to your house to take a look at all your appliances, your lights, your windows, your doors, and more -- then make recommendations for changes you can make that will save energy (and money) every month.  If you want a personalized rundown of everything you could do to and for your house to make it more energy-efficient and environmentally friendly, an energy audit is a must. 2. Swap out your lightbulbs Compact fluorescent or even LED bulbs are more expensive than incandescent bulbs, but they also last at least 10 times longer than incandescents and use only about 25% of the energy of an incandescent bulb. As your incandescent light bulbs flicker out, consider replacing them with a greener alternative. And if you decide to swap them all out at once, you'll start seeing a difference pretty quickly in your utility bills! 3. Pay attention to the sun There's a lot you can do to heat and cool your home without spending any money at all -- but you'll need to keep tabs on where the sun is in the sky.  In the northern hemisphere, windows with southern exposure are going to get the most direct sunlight, so start with those.  Make note of whether and when the sun shines into your home across every season, then adjust your habits (and your blinds) accordingly. For example, if the sun is shining directly into your house during the winter season, then you might be able to save some money on your heating bill by opening up all your curtains and blinds in the morning to allow the sun in. But if you're getting that direct sunlight in the dead heat of summer, then the opposite applies: Close your blinds and curtains in the morning to keep your house cool. 4. Weather-stripping your windows Especially in some older houses, sometimes windows might not be entirely airtight -- meaning that you've got drafts from the outside sneaking hot or cold air into your home against your wishes. A relatively cheap and easy fix is weatherstripping your windows to eliminate those drafts and ensure that what's outside doesn't creep inside and vice versa. It's as simple as a trip to a hardware store and a few minutes to weatherstrip each window back at the house. 5. Turn down your water heater Hot water feels amazing in the shower ... but here's the thing: Your water heater is constantly working to keep its water consistently hot, and if you've got the gauge set at a high temperature, then "consistently hot" takes a lot of energy to maintain. Take a look at your water heater's settings and ask yourself if the hot water really needs to be as hot as you have it.  Turning down the temperature ten or even five degrees can result in some surprising savings -- and you might not even notice when you're mixing that hot water with cold for your ablutions! 6. Collect rainwater Depending on where you live, the weather might be an asset that you haven't tapped yet. You can't use rainwater for everything, or even very many things -- you can't drink it, and you won't want to use it to cook, wash dishes, or bathe with -- but if you keep a cistern of rainwater in your yard, then you'll always have a green way to water your grass and flowers in the spring and summer. 7. Swap out your showerheads If you like to take long showers, this fix can be especially helpful: Change your current shower head for a low-flow version that uses less water. These often have several settings for pressure and spray so that you can customize your shower experience -- and you probably won't even notice that you're using significantly less water once you make the change. 8. Buy a smarter thermostat You don't necessarily need a "smart" thermostat for your home (although it's always nice to change the temperature using a phone app from the couch -- just saying!), but if you don't have a thermostat that you can adjust to change the temperature at different times of the day, then you should definitely invest in one. For example, you could set your thermostat to lower the temperature of the house by 10 to 15 degrees when you're at work during the day, and instruct it to start bringing the temperature back up to "normal" an hour to 30 minutes before you arrive home. Many thermostats even let you designate temperature by days of the week, so if you know that you're almost never home on Saturday night or Sunday morning, you can adjust your temperature accordingly. 9. Air-seal (and maybe insulate) your attic and basement You may know that heat rises, and that applies as much inside your house as it does in the world outside.  That means a drafty attic could result in a lot of energy spent keeping the house warm in the wintertime, and it won't do you any favors in the summer, either. An uninsulated basement can also let in cold air in the wintertime and out in the summertime. Check to see if your basement and attic are air-sealed and insulated. If not, consider investing in an upgrade. 10. Use a manual push mower If you live in a region where grass grows like weeds and you don't need to water, then maybe it makes perfect sense to keep your lawn ... but you'll still need to mow it regularly. One greener alternative to a riding mower or a motorized push version is an old-fashioned manual push mower. They do work, but you'll be using your own elbow grease instead of gasoline to power the blades, so you'll get a workout while you mow. Deciding to make your home more energy-efficient can involve a simple move like turning off water to rarely used sinks and toilets, or as complicated and involved as replacing appliances and installing solar panels. Figure out your ideal level of investment and take things one step at a time -- before you know it, you'll have a green home that saves money without sacrificing comfort.