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Best Real Estate Articles for March 2020

By
Real Estate Agent with Sharon Paxson, Realtor® EQTY Forbes Global Properties 01501912

To say that March 2020 has been a month of unprecedented world events would be an understatement. We are all reeling and adjusting to life changes day by day. Learning to not take things for granted such as toilet paper, chicken and a multitude of other things has been an unreal adjustment Sending out prayers to all impacted by this pandemic and continued recovery for all.

Despite all of this, real estate bloggers have taken to their keyboards and are continuing to provide information and educational blogs all about real estate. These bloggers are taking this time to make sure that buyers and sellers are educated about real estate transactions. There have been some fantastic real estate content that has been written and shared by top real estate bloggers across the country. As we approach the end of March 2020,  we want to share the BEST real estate articles for March 2020. Please let us know which articles you liked the best.

Best Smart Lighting Options and Systems

Eric Jeanette has written an excellent article about the Smart Lighting Options and Systems. In the article, he explains that lighting can dim, get brighter and add color depending on what type of lighting you are considering. He discusses smart lighting and it is a technology that will allow the user to control home lighting with a mobile device either. There are also smart light bulbs or Wi-Fi bulbs that will work wherever there is a Wi-Fi connection. Check out this excellent post about lighting.

Tips for Homeowners to Save Money

Having a savings account in place provides assurances to homeowners that they can handle unknown situations that may arise in life.  People who are not homeowners will also benefit from having a savings account since the money will be helpful during a needed event. Paul Sian has written an article and provides Tips for Homeowners to Save Money. In this article, he offers suggestions and tips such as considering refinancing high-interest credit cards and a mortgage refi and cash out. He discusses how credit card debt can cause problems for a homeowner and how difficult it is to get out of debt. Paul also discusses getting rid of unnecessary subscriptions, as they ultimately add up. This is a great and informative article about how to save money.

How to Get Your Home Ready to Sell

This is an excellent time to take the time to get your home ready to sell. Although you might not be ready to put on the market, it is still a good idea to address any deferred maintenance and prepare the home to sell. Luke Skar has written an excellent article about How to Get Your Home Ready to Sell over at Realty Biz News. In this post, you will find information about the importance of making the home neutral. A neutral home is going to be more appealing to more buyers. Remove personal items so a buyer can imagine themselves living in the home. Other things to do to get your home ready to sell include decluttering and decluttering again. Less is more! Consider rearranging the furnishings to create a new look and open floorplan.

Why You Should Never Paint Your Apartment

There are a few things you need to consider before you consider painting the apartment. There are some reasons why painting your apartment is not a good idea. Michelle Gibson has written an excellent article about Why You Should Never Paint Your Apartment. In the article, she discusses there is an expense associated with painting and even if you are going to be doing it yourself, it is still not recommended. The paint may be provided by the association and it can be more expensive than originally anticipated. Michelle provides some suggestions in lieu of painting such as adding artwork to the walls. Other options are wall decals and peel and stick wallpaper which will give your place a new look without painting the walls.

How Much is a Real Estate Commission?

Real estate commission is not the same at every single brokerage. There are industry standards and in general, it is a good idea to be within that range. Real estate commission is entirely negotiable. Bill Gassett has put together excellent information in his article How Much is a Real Estate Commission? There are some brokerages that allow the agent to determine the commission themselves. If you are a seller, there are some brokerages that require the agent to offer 2.5% to 3%. He explains that the seller pays the real estate commission and this is decided when the property is being listed for sale. The listing agent will offer a split to the commission with the buyer's agent. If you are selling, be sure to discuss commission expectations with the seller.

Colorado Eviction Process

Joe Boylan has shared an informative article about the Colorado Eviction Process. If a landlord is going to go through with evicting a tenant at the termination of their lease, there needs to be a legitimate legal reason. The most common grounds for eviction of a tenant is when the tenant defaults on their rent. Joe explains that the landlord must provide notice of at least 10 days to the tenant. This allows the tenant the ten days to pay rent. The ten days do not include weekends or holidays. Ultimately a hearing is scheduled for the tenant for the eviction process. This is a detailed article about the eviction process in Colorado.

How to Know When it is Time to Downsize

It may be difficult to find the correct time to downsize your home. You may have lived in your current home for a long period of time and have many happy memories. Circumstances can change and a smaller home might be a better fit for your situation. Check out the post How to Know When it is Time to Downsize. In the article, there is a discussion about how when grown children move out and live on their own, now the home may have empty rooms which cost money to heat and cool. Additionally, they need to be kept clean. If you have a lot of capital in your home, be sure to discuss the tax implications with your tax advisor. As the gain may be taxable. A smaller home or condo may be the most economical and cost-efficient, and there are benefits of owning a condo.  If you are a senior considering downsizing, then take into account having a single level home may be more beneficial if the senior wants to age in place.

Two Real Estate Agents Buy a House

Karen Highland has shared their journey with selling their long time residence and what the process was like to sell their home and to purchase a new residence. The article is titled Two Real Estate Agents Buy a House. In the article, she discusses that she and her husband had to prepare their home to sell and declutter after living there for many years. She shared resources on where to get rid of unnecessary stuff. They also addressed deferred maintenance on the home in order to prepare it for selling. They were then house hunting and found the one which was an older home (specifically 64 years old). She shared about what the home inspection revealed and how they were able to negotiate with the sellers to buy this home. At the end of their journey, she shares they are very satisfied and they love the house. The article is a good read, and discusses what happens in real estate transactions!

Hidden Costs You Will Want to Know Before Buying a Home

Ryan Fitzgerald has written a detailed article about Hidden Costs You Will Want to Know Before Buying a Home. In the article, he discusses costs that you may not be aware of when you are considering purchasing a home. One of the first costs to consider is having sufficient earnest money which is part of your downpayment. Earnest money gets deposited into escrow. Other expenses when home buying include closing costs as there are escrow, title and lender fees. Recurring costs include property taxes and insurance and it is good to know upfront the amount of these fees. Property taxes are generally calculated by a percentage depending upon the area that you live in. There are also moving costs. Additionally, if you are moving to a condo or a home that is in an HOA, then you will have home owner's association fees. Check out the article for a detailed explanation of the hidden costs.

How to Improve Your Credit Score

Are you trying to improve your credit score? If so, then be sure to check out Kevin Vitali's post How to Improve Your Credit Score over at Vocal Media. Kevin discusses the importance of maintaining a good credit score and we should all be aware of ours and how to make sure we have a good credit score. Having good credit will allow you to borrow money more easily and at a better interest rate than someone who has an inferior credit score. He explains it is important to pull the credit and to look at it. He provides resources on where you can get your credit score pulled including free resources. He also explains that having high credit card debt, even if you pay it in a timely manner will adversely affect your credit. This is an excellent resource for anyone trying to improve their credit.

How to Move with Less Stress

If you are considering moving, there are some important considerations to take into account. If you can anticipate the unexpected, that will take a lot of the stress away. Don’t procrastinate about the move or wait till the last minute to organize your move, as that can be disastrous. Check out the post over at Before it's News How to Move with Less Stress. Ensuring the home has been decluttered will allow you to move fewer things. You can sell them, give them away or donate the items. This is an excellent guide for anyone planning to move.

Final Thoughts

That is it for March 2020 and we hope that you enjoyed this month's edition of the Best Real Estate Articles. Real estate bloggers will continue to share relevant information with you, so you will have the expertise and know what questions to ask! Knowledge is power! Please let us know what you would like to see covered in future editions of the Best Real Estate articles!

 

 

Posted by

Sharon Paxson REALTOR®
EQTY Forbes Global Properties
949.280.0681

DRE 01501912

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Comments (3)

Bill Gassett
RE/MAX Executive Realty - Hopkinton, MA
Metrowest Massachusetts Real Estate

Great roundup of helpful articles for buyer and sellers Sharon Paxson 

Mar 28, 2020 08:50 AM
Will Hamm
Hamm Homes - Aurora, CO
"Where There's a Will, There's a Way!"

Hello Sharon,  Great to see you in the Rain and once again a great blog for all of us to enjoy.  Stay safe.

 

Mar 28, 2020 09:39 AM
MadisonMortgageGuys .com
MadisonMortgageGuys - Oconomowoc, WI
Your local mortgage company serving 47 states!

Great set of articles for the month Sharon Paxson!

Mar 31, 2020 08:04 AM