WHY BIG IS NOT BETTER ! Over the past 30 years or so, large real estate companies, often franchise organizations, have grown to dominate the market. However,… during the last few years technology has made such drastic changes to the real estate industry that the tide has changed,… bigger isn’t better anymore. What I am referring to is the difference between the large national chain real estate companies and independent boutique real estate brokerages. The traditional thought

You’ve been weighing your options, looking around casually. Now you’ve finally decided to do it - you’re ready to buy your dream home. The process of buying a new home can be incredibly exciting, yet stressful, all at once. Mistakes may prove costly. Use the following list of pitfalls as a guide to help you avoid the most common blunders. Mistake 1: Not Enough Research Market research is crucial when buying high-end real estate. Buyers need to make sure that the appraisal and

Two identical properties in the same neighborhood. One sold for $800,000 and the other for $889,000,… $89,000 more, only a matter of 25 days apart. How does it happen? There were two identical properties in a lovely community. One sold after being 286 days on the market for much less than a 100% comparable home 8 doors up on the same street. It sold 25 days later later with a different agent after being 112 days on the market. The properties were exactly the same, the floorpl

WHAT YOU DON’T CONSIDER CAN COST YOU. When a new client hires me to represent him in the purchase of his dream home or investment property, one of the first questions is "what is important to you in a home?" as you can imagine the answers are as varied as the types of homes in the market. The one answer I never hear is value retention. It is true that some people will say "I want a property that is a good deal" but what they are thinking is that they want to pay less for a pa

EVERY REAL ESTATE AGENT IS THE SAME,... RIGHT? - WRONG,... THERE ARE HUGE DIFFERENCES. As the housing market rises again, new agents come and try this profession. Many don't last long. The truly great ones hold steady. Like doctors, lawyers, CPA's and other professionals, great agents have honed their craft to become experts. They know the ins and outs of the market they specialize in. They know the story behind each home they offer. They know how to help you make the best

UNDERSTANDABLY, CLIENTS WILL HAVE MANY QUESTIONS DURING THE INITIAL MEETINGS REGARDING THEIR NEW CONSTRUCTION PROCESS. ONE THAT COMES UP FREQUENTLY INVOLVES COST PER SQUARE FOOT. UNDERSTANDING KEY COMPONENTS SHOULD HELP BRING CLARITY TO THIS TOPIC. For year’s real estate agents, appraisers, inspectors, taxing authorities and buyers have focused on how much a property is valued as a price per square foot of the living area. Before computers did all the work, real estate and ta

HOW TO IDENTIFY HIGH-END PROPERTIES IN A WORLD WHERE THE TERM "LUXURY" HAS BECOME CLICHE. Too many real estate practitioners are using the word “luxury” for properties that should in fact not be called a luxury home. If you say a word enough times, it starts to lose its meaning. And in real estate, where the right description can draw buyers to a home on the market, using the right terms is crucial. So, when half the homes on the market are suddenly marketed as “luxury,” the

IT'S MORE THAN YOU THINK If you ask ten people who have recently bought or sold a home in the past 12 months, the chance that at least 5 of these 10 people indicate they had a poor experience is pretty good. There are many mistakes home sellers make when choosing a real estate agent and the same can be said about home buyers who are hiring a buyer’s agent. THE TRUE COST OF A BAD APPLE The financial impact is often easily quantifiable and monetary losses can be significant. I

As contemporary design continues to forge ahead, driven by developments in technology and new materials, architects are shaping new ideas. Whether you prefer a trendy look or you’re going for a more traditional contemporary style - there’s something stunning for everyone. According to a new generation of architects, limits are becoming a thing of the past. Principles that once divided the urban from the rural, and the internal from the external, are now colliding and redefini

In most markets across the country, supply still outweighs demand when it comes to home sales. While the focus is often on what can be improved on the interior of the house, many sellers neglect the outside of the property. Most buyers form an opinion whether they like a house or not before they step foot in the front door. The work you do to the kitchen or the fixtures in the bathroom may be great, but by that time it may be too late. If you want to maximize your properties’

Pricing a luxury home is more art than science. Here’s everything you need to know to get top dollar in today's competitive real estate market. When it comes to luxury homes, no two are alike. That’s what makes pricing a luxury home more art than science. You can’t simply compare square footage, lot size, number of bedrooms, and general condition of the home. What Is a Luxury Home? Most luxury homes were custom built in a coveted location and often have unique features that r