This week

“If a home is the most prized possession in an American’s portfolio, should we not take care of it a little differently than we currently are, allowing any Tom, Dick and Harry to get their license, facilitate the deal and call themselves an expert because they had extra ink to print a business card?” says Joshua Hunt, owner/broker of Trelora in the Denver, Colo. market. . . .

Read more about Joshua Hunt

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Yale economist Robert Shiller has found that houses are not guaranteed to appreciate in value

Although the recent housing bubble and subsequent burst may have jaded some, the vast majority of homeowners and investors (and the real estate agents who sold them those houses) believe that house values appreciate over the long haul. What you’re about to discover may surprise you. . . .

Read more about Real Estate Values

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Simple, streamlined furniture and distinctive architecture are just two elements of modern interior design

Urban design and industrial mod style are easy to achieve by keeping only a few basics in mind. Modern style offers a clean, neat layout with simple, streamlined furniture in an architecture style that was influenced by German Bauhaus School of Design and Scandinavian modern design. Sleek smooth surfaces, bold geometric shapes and asymmetry are key characteristics of mod design. . . .

Read more about Modern Interior Design

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Prudent homebuyers find the crime rates in neighborhoods they are considering buying homes in

There’s an episode of the popular TV show “How I Met Your Mother” in which Marshall and Lily find their dream apartment in an unfamiliar NYC neighborhood. Without researching the community referred to as “Dowisetrepla,” they purchase the apartment. Later on, they make a ghastly discovery that their newly purchased dream home is “down wind of the sewer treatment plant.” . . .

Read more about Choosing the Right Neighborhood

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Avoid common mistakes in order to have a successful garage sale

You wouldn’t think there would be any art, science or psychology to having a successful garage sale, but there is. It involves all three, believe it or not. If you are even pondering the idea of putting on a garage or yard sale, think first about the things that can easily make it unsuccessful. . . .

Read more about Garage Sale Mistakes to Avoid

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You can save a ton of money while simultaneously being eco-friendly

By adopting simple practices and making smart changes to your home, you can save big in the long run. Whether you are looking to improve your house and environment, or just need to increase the value of your home for real estate season, making your house more eco-friendly is the smart thing to do. . . .

Read more about Saving Green by Going Green

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Homebuilder confidence is up as homebuyers look toward new construction as an alternative to the low inventory of existing homes

March was a stellar month for housing starts with numbers touching an almost five-year high. Beginning construction of new homes skyrocketed to 1.4 million, making the industry dizzy with excitement. But, the momentum is slowing down a bit. That’s an expected trend and shouldn’t be a cause of worry. Housing starts fell to a 970,000 annual rate in April. Bloomberg says it’s an indication that work on apartment buildings is slowing down. . . .

Read more about Housing Market News

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Choosing native plants and irrigating efficiently can save money and time while creating an eco-friendly garden

An eco-friendly garden works with, not against, nature. What does that mean in terms of water? Ideally, it means you’re not using more water than the ecological system in which you live can provide. In other words, your garden plants will grow without supplemental water from irrigation. That may sound like a lofty goal, but by choosing the right plants and irrigating only as needed, you can have a truly eco-friendly garden that still looks great. . . .

Read more about Water-Wise Gardening

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The VA will not issue home loans for fixer uppers

Veterans Affairs (VA) home loans have experienced tremendous growth in recent years. The VA expects to guarantee more than 620,000 home loans in 2013, which would be the agency’s most successful year on record. But real estate agents need to know that the VA home loan program is unique. It’s quirky. A failure to understand [...] . . .

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Real estate agents can create informed clients by educating their prospects

What if all of your clients knew exactly what to expect during the real estate transaction? Imagine how comfortable they would be, how less likely they would be to freak out over the smallest bump in the road. Taking the time to educate your clients takes this premise and makes it a reality. Even better is to educate your prospects before they become clients. We all know that a prospect can be anyone, anywhere, so reaching out to the broadest possible audience in your efforts to educate . . .

Read more about Educating Your Prospects

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