How Important Is The Land Around A Potential Home?

When viewing a potential home, how much consideration should you give to the surrounding land? In many ways, the land should be carefully regarded, since land is the thing that is hardest to alter. You can rip up carpet, paint walls and even knock down walls, but it takes a lot more effort to change land.  Mature Landscaping  Mature landscaping is typically cited as a benefit, but what if you're the type who enjoys looking out at wide open spaces? It could also be that the mature landscaping - older trees - are situated dangerously near the house. Weakened trees could lose heavy branches in storms and cause damage your roof.…
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4 Simple Tips To Make Sure Your Home Smells Inviting

As a diligent home seller, you've taken all your real estate agent's advice about preparing your home for showings. You've de-cluttered, enhanced curb appeal and developed efficient strategies for leaving your home while viewings are taking place. But have you given any thought to how your home smells to strangers? Newcomers to your home will naturally be more sensitive to the smells of your house. Your nose is likely desensitized to your common household odors, but a prospective buyer may be put off by how it smells. Here are some ways to make sure your home smells inviting. Don't Burn Incense If you enjoy burning incense, you might think this is…
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How To Find Motivated Sellers In Your Real Estate Market

Bargains in real estate may come from identifying motivated sellers who are willing to let a property go for less than it is really worth. Real estate investors who acquire properties at a discount from current market value enhance their success by increasing their profit potential. Real estate agents who list properties owned by motivated sellers increase their chances to sell a property quickly and have happy sellers who might refer them in the future. Here are some tips on how to find motivated sellers: Distressed Discounts A property that lists for a long time and then the listing shows a discount is a clear sign the owner is becoming motivated.…
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New York Penthouse Sells For $238 Million – Is This A Real Estate Bubble About To Burst?

The most expensive home sold in America, so far, was a New York penthouse that sold for $238 million in January 2019. It is on the top of a building that overlooks Central Park. The 26-story luxury condo building designed by Robert A. M Stern is nearly all sold out. Who Has That Kind Of Money? The proud buyer of the penthouse is Ken Griffin. His net worth is estimated to be $9.6 billion. He is the founder of the Citadel hedge fund. Griffin is 50 years old. A few days before buying the NYC penthouse, he closed on a home in London that overlooks St. James Park near Buckingham Palace.…
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Why Do People Stage Homes To Sell?

If you're selling your home, your real estate agent has likely advised you to stage your home to sell. But why exactly do people stage homes to sell? Some people go to great lengths to stage their home too, even going so far as moving possessions into storage units or renting furnishings! If your home is already nicely decorated, why should you go to the added trouble of "staging" it? There are many good reasons to stage your home to sell. 1. Staging Makes Your Home Appear More Spacious Having lived in your home for a number of years, you probably haven't noticed how many things you've accumulated. When you stage…
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What Is Eminent Domain?

Eminent domain is a law that gives the federal, state, county, and municipal governments in the United States the legal right to "condemn" property and then seize it to allow its use for development. Eminent domain is supposed to be used by the government at the various levels to do things for the public benefit, such as to build new roads or construct new public schools. Compensation Under Eminent Domain Seizure The government cannot take property without compensating the owner for its market value. Disputes that lead to lawsuits arise when the property owner and the government have a serious disagreement about the value of the property. Imagine an acre of…
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