MOVE'n To Make A Difference

  Everything You Need to Know About iBuyers and the “Instant Cash Offer”   Technology is changing the way we do almost everything, and real estate transactions are no exception. In fact, a new crop of tech companies wants to revolutionize the way we buy and sell homes.   iBuyer startups like Opendoor, Offerpad, and Properly are rapidly expanding into new territories, and now established players, like Zillow, are starting to get in on the action. Also known as Direct Buyers, these companies use computer algorithms to provide sellers with a quick cash offer to buy their home.   While the actual market share of iBuyers remains small, their big advertising budgets have helped create a noticeable buzz in the industry. This has left many of our clients curious about them and how they work.   In this article, we explain their business model, weigh the pros and cons of working with an iBuyer, and share strategies you can use to protect yourself if you ch...

  The New Normal: A Strong Housing Market Expected to Continue into 2021   “2020 will be known for a lot of things, and a record-breaking year for real estate will certainly be one of its more unexpected legacies,” prominent economist Daryl Fairweather said. 1 And he’s right: most of us would have expected the housing market to suffer from circumstances like a once-in-a-hundred-years pandemic and historic inventory shortages.   But, rather than a slowdown, we are continuing to experience a surprisingly robust real estate market across the country. And experts estimate that these conditions are likely to last well into the new year. Fannie Mae Senior VP and Chief Economist Doug Duncan predicts that existing home sales will ultimately “be up a percent or more in 2021.” He believes home prices will continue to rise due to limited inventory, but he is confident the Federal Reserve will keep interest rates low into the future, which will be “very good for households.”...

  10 Ways to Give Back to Our Local Community This Holiday Season   This year has demonstrated, perhaps more than ever, the importance of our family, friends, neighbors, and community. And with the holidays right around the corner, December offers the perfect opportunity to give back to the place we call home.   Let these 10 ways, both big and small, inspire you to do good in your town.     GIVE BACK NEAR HOME   1. Attract local wildlife .   By making your neighborhood more wildlife friendly, you’re helping to   create a balanced and healthy ecosystem. Plus, many of the animals you can attract help with pest control and pollination. [1]   Ideas: ●      Build a Birdhouse   Create a rain garden to attract wildlife and filter out local pollutants. ●        Use native plants to provide food and shelter for birds, bees, and butterflies.     2. Clean up our community ....

  New Year, New Home? Set Homeownership Goals Whether You’re Buying, Selling, or Staying Put   The start of a new year always compels people to take a fresh look at their goals, from health and career to relationships and finance. But with historically low mortgage rates, increased home sales and price growth, and a tight housing inventory, the time is right to also make some homeownership resolutions for 2021.   Read on to discover key action steps to take to achieve your homeownership goals this year, whether you’re a home buyer, home seller, or a homeowner not yet planning on moving.  HOME BUYERS:  Resolution #1: Qualify for a better mortgage with a higher credit score. Your credit report highlights your current debt and bill-paying history and is used to calculate your credit (or FICO) score, affecting whether you’ll qualify for a mortgage. Generally, a credit score of 740 or higher is very good to excellent.[1] If your score is below 740, work at boosting i...