Real Estate Euphemisms 101 It’s purely anecdotal, but I don’t think I’m wrong: something like >95% of the time, when a listing agent touts that a home has a “low maintenance yard” . . . there isn’t a yard (or at least, not much of one). Of course, if there’s only a postage stamp-sized yard...Read More
Real Estate Vocabulary #101 At least when it comes to residential real estate, when is a positive a negative, and a negative a positive? Answer: when it comes to doing a Comparative Market Analysis (“CMA”), the tool Realtors — as well as appraisers — use to estimate a property’s fair market value. CMA Math So,...Read More
Aren’t Multiple Offers Good For Sellers?? Listing Agent: “How did the showing go?” Buyer’s Agent: “Great! They loved it.” Listing Agent: “Is the Buyer going to write?” Buyer’s agent: “No.” Listing agent: “Why not?” Buyer’s agent: “The Buyer doesn’t want to participate in an auction.” –Email exchange between Buyer’s agent and Listing Agent (representing Seller)...Read More
Why Hand Online Cranks a Megaphone?? “In the architecture of online media, comment sections are the septic tanks.” –“Still Kickin”; Mpls St. Paul Magazine (April 2016) I don’t know about other agents, but there’s not much doubt in my mind about whether or not to allow online consumer comments for a listing. In case it’s unclear,...Read More
Beleaguered Shareholders: “Stop the Merry Go Round, I Want to Get Off!” Are gyrating, crashing stocks good or bad for the housing market? Both. In fact, I see three positives and negatives apiece emerging from the recent market carnage. Positives Here are the pluses (yes, pluses): Weak equity markets forestall the Federal Reserve’s plan to...Read More
When the Best Defense is a Good Offense Not every “For Sale” home is in “mint, move-in condition” — nor is that a realistic goal for many sellers (be it due to limited time, money, energy, or simply a cold-eyed cost-benefit analysis). When that’s the case, though, getting top dollar for the home hinges on...Read More
