Real Estate Trivia

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Jeopardy has been around for 55 years, but it was James Holzhauer’s epic streak on the game show that has renewed interest in fans from around the world. His aggressive and unique playing style mixed with his seemingly infinite amount of knowledge made his 32-game winning streak an lightening rod for viewership.

While his time on the show may have come to an end before he was able to break the impressive 74-game and $2.52 million streak of Ken Jennings, Holzhauer has inspired a trivia game of our own.

Famous for its high real estate prices, this US state is home to the highest percentage of renters vs owners
Holding the title of “World’s Most Expensive Home” this dwelling is fit for a Queen
This interior design style, popularized in the 1950’s focuses on functionality, geometric forms, minimal ornamentation, and a vast range of colors
With plenty of natural beauty, this US state has long been the most expensive to live in
These Texans are known more for their shiplap fixes than their real estate flops
With an average of 1768sqft, this US state boasts the largest average home size in the nation
Once home to the King, this home now operates as popular attraction complete with themed restaurants, events, tours, and more
Popular both as a hairstyle and floor covering, this style dominated the 1970’s
The US picked up this large piece of real estate in 1867 for just $0.02/acre
Seeing nothing but swampland and opportunity, this person famously picked up the first acre of land where Mickey would make his home for $80
Located in this nation, Istana Nurul Iman holds the World Record as the world’s largest residence of a state head
Once a personal residence, this architectural wonder is now an attraction featuring more than 10,000 windows, 2,000 doors, 160 rooms, and 47 stairs and fireplaces
These large filament bulbs aren’t always the most energy-efficient, but their beauty led them to be a major trend in the 2010s
Nicknamed “The Mountain” and listed at $1 Billion, this 157-acre parcel is the most expensive real estate ever offered for sale and is located in this U.S. city
A prolific creator, this designer and architect drafted more than 1,000 structures and founded the “Usonian” style
This country is home to the Copan Building, the largest apartment building in the world with more than 5,000 residents
Located in Virginia, this estate was once home to the author of the Declaration of Independence
This 1990s interior design trend used marine life, real or manufactured, to style the walls
The most unaffordable market where a skilled service worker needs to work more than 20 years to afford to purchase 650sqft apartment near the city center
This famous patriot directly oversaw the construction of the “President’s Palace”, but never lived in it
Built in 1553, the oldest Governor’s mansion in the US is located in this territory
Cleveland is where you’ll find this movie home-turned-museum with it’s iconic leg lamp in the front window
This minty shade was one of the early hues used by American Standard to color everything from faucets to toilets
With a median home price of $64,300, this Texas town is the cheapest beach city in America
With a price tag of $238 million, this hegde-fund manager closed on the most expensive property in the U.S. in early 2019

Answers

Spoilers ahead!

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Location, Location, Location
  • 200 – New York
  • 400 – Utah
  • 600 – Brunei
  • 800 – Brazil
  • 1000 – Puerto Rico
Famous Homes
  • 200 – Buckingham Palace
  • 400 – Graceland
  • 600 – Winchester Mystery House (Winchester Mansion)
  • 800 – Monticello
  • 1000 – Bumpus House
Interior Designs
  • 200 – Mid-Century Modern
  • 400 – Shag
  • 600 – Edison Bulbs
  • 800 – Sponge Painting
  • 1000 – Ming Green
Market Madness
  • 200 – Hawaii
  • 400 – Alaska
  • 600 – Los Angeles
  • 800 – Hong Kong
  • 1000 – Port Arthur
House Hunters
  • 200 – Chip & Joanna Gaines
  • 400 – Walt Disney
  • 600 – Frank Lloyd Wright
  • 800 – George Washington
  • 1000 – Ken Griffin
kids jumping into pool header image

Pool Homes: What to know before you dive in

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As the weather heats up, so does the housing market and there are plenty of reasons why summer is a great time to buy a home. With the long daylight hours and warm sunny weather, summer is a great time to move, landscape, and do all those projects new homeowners want to jump right into. Summer is also the ideal time to buy a pool home. It doesn’t take long before buyers are dreaming of cookouts on the patio and pool parties with friends and families. Before you get too far into the deep end, here are some things you need to know before buying a house with a pool.

Summer is the best time to buy a home with a pool

Buying a pool home in the summer is an obvious choice, after all, it’s hard to swim in frigid December temperatures, but this timing is ideal for another reason. If you choose to buy a pool that is winterized or shut down for the season, you have to trust the seller’s word as to whether or not it was working, but if you buy a home with a pool during the summer months, your inspector will be able to fully assess the condition of both the pool itself and the mechanics.

You may need a separate inspection

In regions where pools are very common, it’s possible the home inspector you choose will also be qualified to inspect a pool. If you live in a location where pools are not common, you’re probably going to want to have someone who specializes in pools to perform an inspection. Inspections are vital prior to purchasing a home as this allows you to negotiate with the seller for repairs or price reductions based on the findings.

Be aware of the possible issues

Pools typically come in one of three styles: concrete, fiberglass, and vinyl liner. There are pros and cons to each and you can check out this great article from River Pools and Spas for a full explanation.

In general, fiberglass pools are low maintenance and beautiful, but high cost initially and come in limited shapes. Vinyl liner pools are low cost initially and are very customizable, but they can be prone to damage and tend to need replacement every 5-9 years. Concrete pools are flexible in terms of design and can accommodate any size or feature request you would like, but also require more chemicals and maintenance to keep in good repair.

Owning a home with a pool can lead to you spend more time with family and friends or it can be a very expensive headache on your property. It’s important to consider how much you will use a pool and how much maintenance you’re willing to do to understand if owning a pool is worth the effort for you.

Do you have a pool? Wish you did or didn’t? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!

gum shoe mistake

Top Mistakes Even Smart Agents Make

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The real estate industry is constantly being reinvented by new technologies and consumer preferences. While some things like good follow up and strong negotiation skills never go out of style, times have certainly changed. Here are a few of the most common mistakes smart agents make and how you can easily fix them to see a positive impact in your business and your bottom line.

Using the Wrong Address Format
When listing a piece of real estate for sale, one of the most basic pieces of information is the address of the property. Typically, this is something simple that the sellers tell agent and the agent never questions. After all, the seller should know the property best, right? While it may seem obvious how the property address should be entered into the multiple listing service (MLS) and other property portals, it’s wise to double check how common GPS services, like Google Maps, display the address. If you list the property as located at “12345 Cty Rd T N”, but Google doesn’t use the same type of naming style, your success is likely to be minimized simply because potential buyers can’t easily figure out where a property is.
Take Away: Double check to make sure you can easily find the property with your GPS. If your GPS seems to know the area, but just has trouble differentiating between “N” and “North” or “Cty” and “County” or some other small change, choose the version that GPS prefers to be found more easily.

Writing Listing Descriptions for Agents
It used to be that real estate agents would almost exclusively list their properties on the MLS. Many MLS’ have character limits and only other agents could access these listings meaning that soon the industry was taken over by jargon and in-the-know abbreviations. Have a w/o LL in your 4bd/2.5ba sfr? No problem! Nowadays, the process is very different. According to a survey by the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®, 44% of recent buyers started their home search process by looking online, while only 17% decided to first contact a real estate agent.
Take Away: Write your listing descriptions with the buyer in mind. Avoid jargon or abbreviations that aren’t known by the general public, even if you think they are obvious. Buyers are more likely to find your listing before they find an agent to translate so keeping your audience in mind will help to successfully connect with them.

Not Having Enough Photos
As an agent, sometimes you list a property that is in, to put it nicely, appalling condition. Maybe there were destructive tenants, an abandoned major construction project, or a tragic situation. In any event, traditional knowledge would say to simply show the exterior of the property with some sort of euphemism in the description such as “ready for your creative touch” or “tons of potential, just needs your TLC”. These phrases are overused and buyers feel like their time has been wasted when they go to view a property that “needs some TLC” and realize it actually needs to be condemned.
Take Away: Sometimes you can’t get interior photos because of tenant privacy, but it’s important to portray the property accurately. While you can sell properties sight-unseen (as happens with many foreclosure and short sale properties), in most cases it’s in your favor to actively show potential buyers what they’re up against.

Giving Too Much Detail
More isn’t always better when it comes to listing descriptions. The goal is to give enough information that a potential buyer will have their interest piqued, but not so much that they’ll get lost in a sea of features and adjectives. It is important to list the features that may show up in a buyer’s search (open concept, in-ground pool, or split bedroom design), but not so much that you need to detail that there is a “Swarovski crystal encrusted fireplace accented by a hand-polished travertine mantle”.
Take Away: While being detailed and thorough is a good thing, you want to make sure to leave a reason for the buyer to call or schedule a showing. Also, don’t lose people in a sea of text — when possible, use bullet points or paragraph breaks to keep your message clear.

Avoiding Auctions
In Europe and Australia, auctions are seen as a great way to expose a property to a large number of buyers and the competition among buyers leads to a fair sales price, however real estate agents in the U.S. tend to hesitate to even mention the word “auction” to their clients.  This negative connotation is likely because in the US auctions are most commonly seen in foreclosure proceedings. The stigma is then perpetuated by a  lack of knowledge about the benefits of auctions.
Take Away: Auctions are a great way to increase the buyer pool by having a range price that is attractive to a wider audience. This wide audience then creates the competition necessary to increase the final sales price. In a soft auction, like those run by RealtyHive, home sellers are then able to choose whether to accept the winning bid and continue on to a sale or hold off for a higher offer. Learn more about RealtyHive Time-Limited Events here.

Have you noticed any other common missteps? Have any tips you’d like to share? Let us know in the comments!

mansion exterior

Beyond the Sale Price: Accounting for the Upkeep

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Owning a mansion sounds like a fantasy. You can almost picture your kids (or yourself) sliding down the opulent banister like Mary Poppins. Of course, when that tires you, you can retreat to your library, study, conservatory, or any number of the spacious interior or exterior sanctuaries your manse is sure to have. While this all sounds great in theory, and the prices of mansions are holding or even falling in some markets, mansion life can come with some unexpected costs.

According to the latest Luxury Defined report, which comes from luxury real estate leader Christie’s International Real Estate, the average starting price for a luxury home in the United States ranges from $1 million+ in the Atlanta area to $8 million+ in the Los Angeles metro area, but don’t think that’s the all-included pricing. No, these megahomes come with some mega carrying costs, and prospective homeowners can find themselves in financial troubles quickly if these costs are not planned ahead of time.

 

Tax Collector Comes Calling

The only sure things in life are said to be death and taxes, and no matter where you call home in the United State, you’re probably going to be paying property taxes. While the  scale runs from states with an extremely low tax rate (like Louisiana at 0.18% or Hawaii at 0.26%) to the top taxers in New Jersey (1.89%) and New Hampshire (1.86%) these taxes are applied to the value of the home and are collected every year. Alternatively, some states have decided to forgo statewide property taxes and instead allow counties, cities, and municipalities to collect these taxes. Additionally, some areas have adopted a “transfer tax” in lieu, or sometimes in addition to, annual property taxes. This transfer tax is charged when the property changes hands and often works on a stepped scale based on sale price.

 

But if you’re buying a mansion, there might be another tax to be paid on your home. Some states have adopted a so-called “mansion tax” or an additional surcharge on homes over a certain value. In addition to the standard property taxes levied on all properties in an area, some locales have decided to increase the rate for those above a certain value.

 

Maintenance is Essential 

So you’ve picked up your very own mansion. Congrats! While you’re probably busy dreaming of the best paint color to accent the custom murals on your walls, you might want to make a little more space for maintenance costs. The bigger the estate, the bigger the fees to keep it in good condition. Many megahomes have multiple HVAC systems, high-tech surveillance systems, and extensive outdoor areas like pools, tennis or basketball courts that all require upkeep. Instead of worrying about one refrigerator going out in standard home, a megahome could have two or three kitchen where any number of things could go wrong. Groundskeeping also factors in to the maintenance costs of a home and while, depending on the estate size and location, the annual costs can approach those of a small golf course. This financial burden is, of course, not always something that is thought about ahead of time and can quickly lead into troublesome waters for a new owner.

 

Bills, Bills, Bills

If you’re relocating from a townhouse or condo in the city to a palatial country estate, you may be in for quite a surprise the first time the utility bills come due. In many shared living arrangements, utilities can be covered by a general fund or included in the price of rent. Even when utilities are not covered, the price of heating and cooling a standard 1,700 square foot home and a 50,000 square foot mansion with 12 foot ceilings is going to be drastically different. You can expect to see this extreme difference in everything from water and electricity costs to gas and cleaning supplies.

 

 It Takes a Village

On top of all the previously mentioned costs, it’s also important to think about who will do the work. Typically an expansive home requires at least some staff. Many elect to have at minimum a housekeeper and landscaper, but also employ a security guard, personal chef, and additional groundskeepers. While this amount of manpower makes perfect sense with a home the size of a small hotel, the costs add up quickly.

 

Living in the lap of luxury seems like a dream, but it’s important to remember that the home you choose should be an investment into your future, not a burden. The costs add up quickly, and if you don’t plan properly, you could up in a bad situation for a long time. Just ask 50 Cent.

Want to learn more about choosing the home that’s right for you? Check out our blog, How Big of a Home Do You Really Need? Ready to buy? Check out the great selection of luxury homes available now by clicking here. 

buyers agent negotiation

Find the Right Buyer’s Agent

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One of the most unique and misunderstood features of the real estate industry in the United States is the compensation structure. Real estate agent, in almost all cases, are independent contractors for the brokerage they work for. In these cases, all agents, regardless if they are on the listing (selling) or buying side of a transaction get paid via commission on that deal. What makes this unique is that regardless of who is buying or selling, the property seller is almost always the one who is paying for both the listing agent and the buyer’s agent. While the fairness of this is coming under fire (see this 2019 class-action lawsuit) this is the current state of the industry.

That said, it’s important if you are going to be buying real estate (especially a property that is represented by a licensed real estate agent), that you have an agent to represent your best interests. So how should you go about finding a real estate agent that is right for you?

Phone a Friend

One of the best places to start when looking for a real estate agent is to ask friends or family members for their recommendations. Personal recommendations are a great way to source out the best of the best in any industry, but in an industry that is so heavily focused on relationships it’s no wonder why a recent survey conducted by the National Association of Realtors found that about 29% of all Realtor® business came from repeat clients or referrals from past clients and customers.

Consider your preferences

What value does your agent offer? Are they going to be actively looking for homes for you or will they allow you to be the driver and just show the homes to you? Does their communication style match your preferences? Are they as tech savvy or old-school as you would like? If you aren’t on the same page, you’re probably going to have a bad experience so it’s important to make that determination before you sign any sort of buyer-agency agreement.

Ask the right questions

When interviewing a potential agent to work with it’s important to make sure that not only will you connect on a communication level, but also that they are the right fit for your particular transaction. Some of the questions you should ask include:

      • How long have you been in real estate?
      • Which side of a transaction do you typically facilitate?
      • How much business do you do in the area I’m looking in?
      • How do you typically communicate with buyers?
      • Will you be able to show me homes in/at (your schedule)?
      • Tell me about the toughest deal you’ve ever closed- what made it difficult and how did you overcome it?
      • Why are you the best fit for me?

If you’re looking to purchase in a populated area like New York City or Los Angeles, you’ll want someone with intimate knowledge of the particular neighborhoods you’re interested in, but if you’re desiring a more rural area, general knowledge of the market should suffice.

Check Out Cashifyd

RealtyHive is unveiling a completely transformational tool to the real estate industry. Cashifyd allows buyers to find a licensed real estate agent that can help them find their ideal property and receive cash back at closing from the transaction. While Cashifyd may be available if you’ve already selected your agent, the program typically works best when used to find an agent. For more information or to sign up to be one of the first on the Cashifyd platform, click here.

Have a question about buyers agents? Let us know in the comments or find out the benefits of buying with RealtyHive by clicking here.

real estate secrets

The Biggest Secrets in Real Estate – Revealed!

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The real estate industry can be completely mystifying to an outsider (and sometimes even the insider), but some secrets are more tightly kept than others. Here are some of the best kept secrets about the real estate industry that you should know.

  • You need a Buyer’s Agent — Stat!

So you’re in the market for new real estate, congratulations! One of your first steps should be to find a real estate agent that you trust. While you can try handle your full transaction by yourself, the NUMBER ONE biggest secret in real estate is actually threefold. 1). The listing agent (the agent representing the property) is legally obligated to work for the seller’s best interest so even if they offer to help you out, they are working for the seller. 2). The seller pays for both their listing agent and the buyer’s agent. That’s right, as a buyer you don’t pay for an agent who will solely represent your best interests. 3). Even if you don’t sign an agreement with anyone or know about it, a real estate agent may still financially benefit from your transaction due to a common “referral” practise. Long story short, if it’s not going to cost you anything and it might happen anyways and it’s in your best interest, you should probably do it. Check out Questions to Ask a Buyer’s Agent for how to choose the best agent for you.

  • If you want to be taken seriously, lay the right groundwork

Before you start talking to agents, you should get a pre-qualification, pre-approval, or proof of funds letter. These letters, obtained through your financial institution of choice, help to show agents that you are serious about your purchase as well as help you to know what you can afford. These documents serve as proof that you have the financial backing necessary to complete a transaction and signal to an agent that you are a true buyer, not just a looker. While very similar, there are a few differences in these documents. Pre-qualification is the least serious of these letters. There are no hard credit checks required for pre-qualification and no guarantees that what is on the letter is actually the amount you would get, but it is, essentially, a solid guess at the amount you could qualify for. A pre-approval letter requires more information from you and a hard credit check, but the result is that you will know exactly how much money your financial institution would be willing to give you for your purchase. These are both applicable if you intend to finance your purchase, but if you’re a cash buyer, you’ll want a “Proof of Funds” letter. This is a statement from your financial institution that states that you have in your account a certain amount of funds.

  • Referral fees exist and you might be missing out

Did you know that if you are referred to one real estate agent by another real estate agent, the first agent will get paid when you buy or sell with that second agent — even if all they did was make the introduction? Referral fees have been common in the real estate industry seemingly forever, but consumers are often completely oblivious. Often this information has been treated with a “what they don’t know doesn’t hurt them” mentality, but the tides are turning. RealtyHive is pioneering a platform where you can refer yourself as a buyer or seller and in turn reap the benefits of this referral fee system. Real estate agents benefit from this platform because this is the exact same system they are accustomed to and they are able to connect with buyers and sellers who really want to talk to them (rather than getting information from people who were tricked into submitting contact forms) and buyers/sellers benefit by getting what would be a referral fee paid back to them as cold hard cash back at closing.

  • There could be things your agent isn’t telling you

Real estate agents are licensed professionals and as such have to abide by certain rules, regulations, and laws. One of the laws that especially shape the industry is the federal 1968 Fair Housing Act. This act aims at ending discrimination in housing, but has repercussions beyond the intent. For a more complete overview of possible things your agent can’t tell you (and how to find out yourself) check out 5 Surprising Things Your Real Estate Agent Can’t Tell You.

  • The final sales price will be higher than you thought

Congratulations! You found the right property and had your offer accepted (or you accepted an offer on your property). You just need the check for the agreed upon sales price and you’re done, right? Wrong! One of the biggest surprises to buyers and even sellers, especially first timers, are all the costs that come with a real estate purchase. While you can negotiate to have the buyer or seller cover some of the cost, there are fees that are not built into the sales price that will need to be paid. Some of these include closing fees, lender costs, mortgage fees, title insurance, any taxes or outstanding utilities  that need to be paid, and potentially more. It’s important to keep this all in mind when looking at properties so that you don’t overreach on what you can spend. This is something that a Buyer’s agent would be able to help with (see Number 1 on this list!)

Ready to start your home search? Make sure to visit Cashifyd.com to get on the waiting list for your opportunity to get cash back at closing when the Cashifyd app officially launches or start searching now by clicking here.

save money wallet

Save Money When Buying Your Home

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Finding a good deal in real estate can feel a lot like trying to find a needle in a haystack, especially in places where it has been a sellers market for years. There’s a lot of conventional wisdom on how to get the best price when buying your next home, but for many people, especially first time buyers, this advice can ring hollow. Sure, you’ll get a better mortgage rate if you have a credit score in the 800s and can whip out a 60% down payment, but really, who can do that? Yes, you’ll get a lower purchase price on a fixer upper home, but what about all the money you’ll have to spend on repairs and renovations?

Practical Tips to Save Money on Your Next Home Purchase

Look Outside the MLS

Whether or not you’re working with an agent (and you should be!) it’s a good idea to keep an eye out for “For Sale by Owner” properties. These properties are often priced lower than those represented by a real estate agent and because they tend to not have as much exposure, you may be able to score a deal before the competition steps in.

If you’re willing to put in some fixer upper work and do some due diligence homework, is to check your county website for real estate sales. Depending where you live, these may be called Sheriff Sales, Trustee Sales, or Federal Sales, but typically these are properties that have been repossessed by the county government and are brought up for live auction. Depending on the situation, these auctions can happen before a bank foreclosure so you’ll have to do some digging to find them. There is a LOT of homework involved for potential buyers (as well as a good amount of risk), but these can be a way to score an incredible deal on a great property.

Shop Around for the Best Rate

Mortgage rates are at an all-time low as of March 2020. It’s a great time to buy or refinance a current property loan. Mortgage rates are largely influenced by your credit score and history, but every lender is different when it comes to the rate they offer you. There are also a variety of different loan programs that can offer special incentives or rates based on military involvement, first time buyer status, or the location of the property. It is a good idea to talk to a couple of lenders before signing with anyone.

Cashifyd

Technology is a beautiful thing. Whether it’s the ability to instantly order anything from a pizza to a ride to the airport or the ability to stay in touch with friends and family over distance and time, there really is no time like the present. With all this innovation comes new tools and ideas and ways of doing things. One of the newest innovations in the real estate industry is Cashifyd. Cashifyd is a program that turns the traditional real estate process, which involves complex commission and referral structures, on its head. Cashifyd allows buyers like you to refer themselves to an agent and receive a cashback credit at closing. The best part? As long as the agent you’re working with is using the Cashifyd process, nearly any home will qualify!

man playing chess strategy

In It to Win It: How to Have a More Competitive Home Offer

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Buying a home can be a thrilling experience. Sometimes that thrill is exciting like the first day of school, other times it’s more like being trapped on a runaway roller coaster. If the real estate market in your area is hyper-competitive, it can feel as though the coaster has left the tracts.
 
There are a couple of ways to regain your bearings and save your sanity. One of the best first steps is to hire a real estate agent. As a buyer, you typically won’t pay anything for using the services of a licensed agent and they’ve got the experience to help you rise to the top of a competitive offer pile.
 
Put your best foot forward
No one wants to overpay for anything, but if competition is stiff, there’s no time for low ball offers. When deciding on an appropriate offer, talk with your real estate agent or do your research. If similar properties in your area are selling quickly at or above the list price, you know you’ll need to add a little extra to your offer to sweeten the deal. When making this determination, keep in mind how much you want the property. If it’s your dream home, you may want to add on more than if it’s just a place to rest your head for a few years.
 
Eliminate the Contingencies
In a buyers market, contingencies are the norm. Whether you’re wanting to only proceed with buying a home after your sell your current one or you’re wanting a way out of your purchase agreement in the event your mortgage financing falls through, adding contingencies into your offer provides these options. In a very hot and competitive sellers market, these contingencies can push your offer to the bottom of the stack, if not exclude you altogether. Depending on your financial situation, goals, and other circumstances, you can beat out a lot of the competition by eliminating contingencies from your offer.
 
Write a Letter
In situations of high competition, when all other factors are equal, the choice of who gets to purchase a property often comes down to the seller. How does the seller make this choice? It can often come down to the human factor. As a species, we tend to prefer to do business with those that we know or relate to. While you may or may not have met the seller personally, it is more likely that you or your agent have had some contact with them or their agent. Use this connection to send a letter to the sellers telling a bit about yourself and explaining why you like the property. A compelling letter can often help (if only subconsciously) sway the sellers’ decision.
 
The Almighty Power of Cash
Nothing talks like money talks and a buyer who can show up to the table with cash in hand has a lot to say! Not only does having a cash offer mean that you don’t have to wait on a lender for approval or documents, it also tends to mean you can put down a larger down payment or earnest money which signifies to the seller that you are a truly serious buyer.
 
Looking for more insight before starting your home search? Check out this blog to learn what you need to know before you start your home search.

smartphone app users

Free Apps to Up Your Agent Game

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We all know that time is money, but for real estate agents, especially those who are just starting out, money is also money, which is why finding free tools to increase your productivity and expand your personal brand are so important. Here are some of the best free apps for real estate agents.
 
Google Maps
Not all map apps are created equal and Google Maps far outshines the competitors. Android users have Google Maps as the default navigation option, but for iPhone users, this is one app you need to download. While Apple products come loaded with their proprietary map and navigation app, the functionality and accuracy pales in comparison to the much more powerful and helpful Google version.
Best Uses: Online or offline navigation to where you need to go… wherever that may be.
 
WhatsApp
If your client base is located in other countries (or if you want to be set up to expand to other countries), you’ll want to check out WhatsApp. This free app, while still growing in the United States, is immensely popular worldwide. WhatsApp allows for communication across the world without any expensive data charges. Capabilities include sending pictures, texts, files, and making phone calls all done over the internet so there’s no data charges. Simply download the app, connect via wifi, and voilà, you’re ready to accept clients from anywhere!
Best Uses: Communicating with clients in or from different countries.
 
Canva
Many agents look to increase the exposure of their listings by posting them on social media, but just posting a photo is pretty old-school. Enter Canva. This program helps even the design-inept to quickly and easily create beautiful designs with a simple drag-and-drop editor. With tons of pre-designed templates you can create anything from Facebook and Instagram posts to property fliers to business cards.
Best Uses: Creating visually appealing, brand-consistent marketing material.
 
Repost
Real estate is an industry of connections and one of the best ways to connect with others on social media is to share their content. While Facebook makes it easy with the “share” button, Instagram is a little trickier. Repost is an app that specifically works with Instagram to allow users to share content on Instagram while retaining the credit to the original creator.
Best Uses: Sharing high quality content without having to create it yourself.
 
Cozi
While agents enjoy flexibility in their schedules, they also tend to have schedules that vary from day to day. Whether you’re working on paperwork in the office or have a full day of showings booked, staying organized is key, especially important when trying to create a work-life balance. This is where Cozi comes in. Cozi is perfect for busy agents trying to coordinate schedules with spouses, children, and business partners. Cozi creates one main calendar that can be shared and all users have their own color so you can tell who is doing what. This app works flawlessly on all device types and the calendar is only one feature — Cozi can also house shopping lists, to-do lists, and more.
Best Uses: Organizing and coordinating your personal and professional life.
 
Have a favorite free app we should know about? Let us know in the comments!

handing over rent keys

5 Reasons to Rent Instead of Rushing to Buy

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Home shopping can be an exciting, yet nerve-wracking time. There are a lot of important decisions to be made and those choices can impact you and your family for many years to come. Is this the right house? Are we getting a fair deal? Are we making the right choice?

In a highly competitive housing market, there can be huge disadvantages to taking the time to carefully consider your decision. Wait to submit the offer? Lose the house. Have to sell your house before you can buy? You might get lucky, maybe not. It may seem counterintuitive to go from homeownership to renting, just to go back owning again, but here’s why you may want to consider renting instead of rushing.  

5 Reasons to Rent Instead of Rushing to Buy

       1). You’ll know your budget

A huge advantage to selling your home before you buy a new one is that you’ll know exactly what you’re working with in terms of finances. Planning on upsizing? You’ll want to know how much of a price increase you can afford. Downsizing? You’ll need to consider what to do with the profits of your sale. Either way, it’s much easier to do this math when you know what you’re concretely working with.

        2). You’ll be first in line

Without having a home of your own to sell before buying a new one, you are able to submit a more enticing offer to sellers, especially those looking for a quick close. This free-and-clear method, paired with knowing your budget, means that you will be ready to act on any home that interests you and work on your own timeframe.

       3). You can take advantage of the hot market

Real estate prices are at an all-time high in a lot of places, but experts debate how long this streak will last. Now may be the time for you to sell at a premium, but that doesn’t mean you want to buy at a premium, either. Rent just until you find the right deal.

       4). Buying a fixer-upper is a little easier

If you’ve already found a place to rent and you’re getting accustomed to your new temporary digs, it might not be such a stretch for you to imagine staying a little longer. Instead of buying a more expensive move-in ready home, you make the option of a reno project a little more palatable. After all, you just moved in, what’s another month or two– especially if it’ll shave a few years off your mortgage.

       5). You may get to remember the joys of renting

Building amenities are one of the truly great things about rental life and can be a great upside to renting between homes. From included utilities to complementary gyms or community pools, these features can definitely help to smooth the transition.

Want to find your perfect home from motivated sellers who want to see your offer? Check out the properties in our next upcoming time-limited event by clicking here!