Real Estate Misnomers One of the biggest misconceptions in residential real estate is that, to be a teardown, a home must first be falling down. Hardly. All “teardown” means is that the home is less valuable than the land underneath it. That can be the case for at least two reasons other than physical condition:...Read More
The Last Refuge of a Scoundrel Desperate Listing Agent When you see a Realtor trumpeting a home’s price per square foot, you can surmise which of the following? A. The home’s a bargain; B. It lacks emotional appeal; C. It’s big; D. The agent is desperate, inexperienced — or both. Correct answer: “B.” (the others are...Read More
Housing Market Leading Indicators What are the signs that a neighborhood is about to be christened that most coveted of labels, “up-and-coming?” One of my favorite bellwethers is (good) new restaurants (dare I say “trendy?”). Such enterprises are budget-conscious, so need to find parts of town with cheaper rent. But, they need to be close enough to...Read More
Steven Martin’s “Overnight” Success “I did standup comedy for 18 years. Ten years learning, four years refining, and then four years of success.” –Steve Martin; People Magazine (June 22, 2015). For an industry with practically non-existent entry barriers — a high school degree, a few weeks of coursework, then an exam does the trick — real...Read More
“Why Should I Help Pay the Buyer’s Closing Costs??” To the “Greatest Generation,” Millennials (roughly ages 18 to 30) can seem spoiled and irresponsible. To Millennials, the “Greatest Generation” — those who were alive during World War II — can appear stubborn and unreasonable. How does that generation gap play out in residential real estate deals?...Read More
Business Days vs. Holidays vs. Weekend Days Scenario #1: The Buyer and Seller finalize their Purchase Agreement tomorrow (July 3). The Inspection Addendum gives the Buyer 5 days to begin the Inspection. What’s the deadline? Scenario #2: The Buyer and Seller have executed a Contingent Purchase Agreement. The Seller gives the Buyer written notice today (July 2)...Read More
