Facebook Tips for Real Estate Agents Why Facebook? It is no surprise that Facebook has become the most used social media site in the United States and much of the world. It is a place that people use to connect to family, friends and in many cases even clients. Even if you have never connected with clients on the site before, it is very possible that employers and clients have looked you up to learn more about you. So in a business like real estate it is crucial that you position yourself to land more business by making your personal account and business pages portray you in the best light. How does Facebook relate to Real Estate? Getting started in Real Estate can be tough at first. You have to be driven to go out into the world and build your personal brand and new a list of clientele. For this reason, most new agents make their first couple sales to family and friends after becoming licensed. To become successful in real estate the most important factor is developing your s

Tips for Real Estate Agents Real estate agents are required to work for and under the umbrella of a designated broker. The term "agent" refers to the strictly defined relationship between real estate agents and the buyers and sellers with whom he or she conducts business. An agent is an individual who is authorized and consents to represent the interests of another person. As an agent, you act to assist people through the process of buying, selling and renting land, homes and other properties. In addition to meeting licensing requirements and having a comprehensive understanding of pertinent real estate laws, real estate agents have a long list of responsibilities. Real estate agents typically do the following: Advise clients on  mortgages , market conditions and pricing Advise sellers on how they can make their homes more attractive to buyers Compare properties to determine fair and competitive market prices Generate lists of appropriate properties for buyers bas

After finding your dream home, it is now time to protect it and all of your belongings that will be in the new home.  Not all home owners insurance policies are created equal though and the language can be pretty confusing.  The following is a guide on what to look for and how to understand the coverage that you will receive. The Basics of Home Owners Insurance There are many aspects that influence whether your home owners insurance or condo insurance policy is the best policy for you, but the most important thing you need to know is that your insurance policy is only as good as the contract and the wording. As consumers most people tend to focus on the price of the insurance, rather than the value. Because the clauses and language in a homeowners insurance policy can be complicated it can be difficult to understand exactly what kind of coverage you are getting.  Insurance company policies all contain limitations and clauses that can either enhance the coverage they provide, whic

Tips to make moving to a new home go smoothly You found the perfect home and now it’s time to move. I don’t think I have ever met someone who likes moving, but you can make it easier on yourself by using the following tips. Downsize Purge items that you haven’t used in a while. If you don’t use it, why would you want to move it? It’s cluttered your closet for years or months, being moved over and over again so that you could access the things you actually need.  Get rid of it.  Donate it. Sell it. There is never a better time to downsize than now. Get everything together in one place and save yourself a trip to your local Goodwill by scheduling a pickup. Set aside stuff that you want to sell.  Post it online and sell it on Craigslist or LetGo.  If it’s an item with high value but just doesn’t fit your needs anymore sell it on eBay. If you have the time, have a garage sale. Sort your possessions Collect your possessions and sort them: Books with books, shoes with shoes, plate

How to Improve Your Credit Score Your credit score follows you everywhere that you go affecting the most important of financial decisions. In a perfect world, we would all have great credit and have no barriers when making big purchases like buying a car or a new home. However, that isn’t the case for everyone. It isn’t the end of the world though. If a home purchase is in your future, you should start now in Your credit score, also called a FICO score, is a simplified calculation of your history of paying back debts and making regular payments on loans. If you're borrowing money to buy a home, lenders want to be assured that you'll pay them back as agreed in the mortgage agreement. Your credit score and accompanying reports will be the primary basis for their decision. Your credit score will determine whether you qualify for a mortgage, the amount of money you qualify for in a mortgage, and even the interest rat you receive. On a 30 year mortgage even a half a percenta

Buying New Homes versus Older Homes: What will fit your needs best? Whether you are buying your first house to call home or you are looking for a property to earn a passive rental income, the question is, should you buy a new construction home or an older more established home?  There are pros and cons to both.  Below are a few things that you should consider before searching for your next dream home or investment property. See also " What to look for when buying a home " Benefits of buying a new construction home Floor plan:  Newer homes have a modern floor plan that fit the changing needs of homeowners. Chances are good that the layout will lean to having, wide-open floor plans. Rooms tend to be larger and brighter with more natural light and large windows. You also have the option to opt for a custom-built home. Work with the contractor to create a traditional or modern layout that works for your lifestyle. Personalization:  Whether you are buying a custom constr

Buying versus Renting: You need to determine what will make you the happiest and what makes the most financial sense. I have seen it asked many times on Quora whether someone should continue renting or if they should buy a home. It is certainly a sign of the times that buying a home that used to be considered a major part of the American dream, is now considered to be much more optional.  Many will argue that renting is “throwing money away”, but that is not always the case.  For some, renting is still a viable option, while for others settling down and owning a home may be exactly what they need. There are arguments both for buying and for continuing to rent, depending on a potential homeowner’s individual circumstances. To help you understand these variables and evaluate your own situation, here are five important questions to consider as you make the buying versus renting decision. How long are you planning to stay in the same place? How long you stay in one location has

When America was first settled by Europeans, the expansion started from the East and spread to the West.  It would seem that the trend has come back into style.  Many Eastern and Mid Western states are seeing people move out in great numbers. In fact,  Illinois saw the greatest number of people moving out in 2017 . Why is this change occurring?  Many have sited high taxes, crime and climate as the main reasons for leaving. While the Northwest is seeing the majority of this influx, Colorado has become a popular destination as well. With lower taxes, a strong economy, lower crime rates, great job opportunities and beautiful weather all year round, it's not surprising that so many are now calling Denver home. Are you looking to relocate? Denver has attracted more people over the last few decades than most major metropolitan areas. From its booming economy to its mix of both outdoor and indoor entertainment Denver has become one of the most popular places to live and work. Some