The real estate industry, like the technology industry, is constantly evolving. New uses of technology and trends are reshaping how we buy, sell, and manage the property. Artificial intelligence, or AI, is one of the most talked about technologies to impact what we do. It can automate processes, gain insight through data analysis, and improve customer engagement. You have probably heard a lot of chatter about AI, but what impact will it have on the real estate industry? Of course, AI is already in use in real estate and other sectors like healthcare and finance, so it is only natural to expec ..read more

The Use of a Real Estate Contingency Clause Gains Popularity in Market Shift In the hot real estate market we recently experienced, using a real estate contingency clause was not a common practice. However, with the recent shifts in the market and buyer behavior, we will see a rise in the use of contingency clauses in sales contracts. Contingent means “depending on certain circumstances.” A real estate contingency clause can be written into a sales agreement so the buyer can explore or satisfy certain conditions before they are ready to move forward with the sale. It provides the buyer with a ..read more

Brooklyn Home Owners can enjoy the holidays by following this stress-free checklist. We have officially entered the preparation season, and there is much to do. Checklists are a great way to ensure you don’t forget something important. I use checklists to keep me on track regularly.  Time Off Start your holiday planning by deciding on your time off. Block it off your calendar to ensure work or obligations do not interfere. Consider your traditions as you determine the days you want to be free. Prepare Early I’m sure you have found the holidays sneaking up on you once or twice in the past ..read more

As a Brooklyn homebuyer, you know it is no secret that mortgage interest rates have been rising through 2022. Although that sounds like bad news, there are still ways you can lower your interest rate on your new home. Although mortgage rates have doubled since the beginning of the year, they are nowhere near the historical high of October 1981, when they peaked at 18.45%. However, that may not be comforting to you if you could not take advantage of the historically low rates. Still, homeownership typically wins out over renting in the long term. If you are not sure whether you should rent or ..read more

With so many changes in the Brooklyn Real Estate Market, many ask if they should buy or rent. Unfortunately, there isn’t a clear-cut answer; it depends. Sometimes a person should rent, but most often, home ownership has many more benefits and advantages.   Whether you buy or rent now depends on your financial situation and personal goals. If you have saved for a downpayment , have an emergency fund, and are comfortable with the total monthly cost of purchasing a home, now could be the right time for you to buy. Realtor.com offers a rent versus buy calculator to help you determine if ..read more

With the recent stock market volatility, the thought of real estate investment properties may sound appealing to investors. While a good many millionaires will agree that their fortunes were made in real estate, the honest ones will also tell you that they’ve probably lost a few fortunes in real estate along the way.  Real estate investment properties can be risky, and every property purchased doesn’t always pan out to be a success. There are many risks involved in real estate investing and you would be going into battle unprepared if you didn’t take a moment to carefully study these ris ..read more

If you keep up with current events, you surely know the unsustainable market driving Brooklyn home sales is slowing down. As a result, it is more important than ever to properly assess the initial offering price of your home before the first buyer walks through the door. The days of throwing a price on a property and expecting a gazillion offers and selling over that asking price are coming to a close. However, that does not mean that houses still aren’t selling. On the contrary, homes that are in good condition and properly priced are selling. What has contributed to the shift in Brooklyn ho ..read more

Many home sellers are wondering if they can increase their Brooklyn Home’s Value now that the market seems to be shifting. With interest rate increases, the unprecedented hot market we were experiencing is cooling.  However, the cooling market does not mean you can not sell your home for the best price. I have seen the markets shift over my full-time real estate professional career. Homes will continue to sell even in a market shift. As a Brooklyn home seller, it is understandable that you want to sell your home for top dollar. Homes that are in good condition and priced correctly will s ..read more

If you are a homeowner, you may have received an advertisement for a service line protection plan. However, you may not understand the purpose of such a protection plan. Many homeowners do not realize they are responsible for the lines or pipes that run through their property until an issue arises. As the property owner, you are responsible for any connecting lines from your home to the street.  Let’s say your incoming water line springs a leak. It may be a slow leak that takes a long time to realize, or it can be more evident by discovering a prominent wet spot in your yard. Either way ..read more

Your debt-to-income ratio (DTI) is a simple way of calculating how much of your monthly income goes toward debt payments. The DTI will reveal if your debt is out of proportion with your income. Maintaining a manageable debt level is essential to good financial health. If you have applied for a mortgage, you most likely know about this calculation. Your debt-to-income ratio is how lenders determine your ability to make monthly payments on the money you plan to borrow. Lenders use the DTI to determine how much money they can safely loan you toward a home purchase or mortgage refinancing without ..read more