All posts by Alysia Heun

2021 Home Design Trends

The year 2020 has brought highs, lows and a ton of different trends in fashion, retail and home design. But with 2021 on the horizon, interior design experts are predicting some trends stick around while others stay behind. Check out five home design trends that you can expect to see coming into the new year.

1. Making the Old, New Again

This year you can expect that many of the styles seen in interior design are actually styles from other eras that are making a comeback! As many people are looking for a little bit of nostalgia in their homes, Victorian-era and Art Deco have risen in popularity. Although modern design and clean cut interiors still reign supreme, traditional and historical design can be seen in smaller details or pieces throughout the home, such as floral prints and vintage furniture.

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U.S. Housing Market Predictions for 2021

First, the facts: According to NAR, July 2020 posted the highest monthly total of existing home sales since 2006, jumping 24.7% over June to hit 5.86 million (SAAR). And for the first time in U.S. history, the median existing-home price for all housing types broke a record with the median surpassing $300,000.

According to Zillow, the typical U.S. home sold in just 16 days in September, a typically slow-moving month for real estate.

Still, delinquencies and subsequent distressed property sales could put the brakes on home price growth in the future. If, for instance, CoreLogic Chief Economist Frank Nothaft’s forecast holds true, home price growth could slow to 0.6% in July 2021 with prices declining in 11 states, led by Louisiana, Illinois, Connecticut, Iowa and Arkansas.

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Common Questions About Property Taxes

The journey in buying a new home is what many individuals dream of but, buying a home is not always easy and many long time homeowners can attest to that feeling. Owning your own home does come with extra duties and responsibilities. One of those responsibilities is property tax.

How much do you know about property taxes? What does it do, and what do you need to know about it when buying a home? If you’re a first-time homebuyer, budgeting the property tax cost is an important first step in knowing what you can afford. 

So, let’s cut to the chase, clarify some things about property taxes and answer some common questions.

What Is a Property Tax? 

Let’s identify first what a property tax is. A property tax is one of the long lists of government-issued tax to all its constituents who own a property, whether it be a house, a rental property or a building. Individuals and other legal entities, such as corporations, are charged with property tax. 

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Retirement Real Estate

Retirement societies are in a continual state of change all over the world. Whether helping people who live alone, in need of assisted living or memory care, or advancing to competent care, there is regular turnover regardless of the clients they represent.

Many buyers are likely to sell their house before making the move, while helping seniors plan a move from their long-time home to a senior neighborhood. Therein lays one of the greatest challenges to be tackled by any senior group sales agent.

Being a realtor is a respected career, especially if you are able to have an appreciation for the needs of older clientele. Since many seniors have not sold a house in years, even decades, the real estate agent needs the skills to direct them through the process of home purchases, but also the ability to explain what to expect and how to overcome challenges along the way.

In comparison, if your agent already has a team of service providers who can provide their customers solutions, their relevance to the senior practitioners in the industry improves even further. One stop shop… that’s what a lot of good realtors have.

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Five Reasons You Should Sell Now

With the global pandemic causing many home sellers to put their listing on hold or to take it off the market completely, right now is actually a great time to put your house up for sale. Although, COVID-19. caused weariness, it has actually not affected the market in a negative way like many thought was possible. Here are five reasons to pull the trigger and sell your home now.

Demand is High

The market has more demand than ever right now with not less people selling and more people looking to buy. With the pandemic, many people have resisted listing their home, making it more of a challenge for those looking for their dream place. Plus as more millennials join the market looking to buy for a growing family or a young professional purchasing their first home, there is a growing demand that is just going to continue into the upcoming months.

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How to Change From Fall to Winter Decor

Looking to winterize your fall decor for the changing season? Here are a few tips to help you keep your personal style while adding some holiday cheer around the home!

Add Coziness

We all love to cozy up during the winter months whether it’s in the living room, den or your own bedroom. A great way to transition different rooms from summer to fall to winter is to add some layers for each season it gets a little colder. Quilted blankets and fluffy pillows give the room a cozy look and are great for chilly nights. Plus there are tons of fun holiday pillows that can add color and cheer to the furniture.

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55 Years of Realty Executives and Beyond

As we celebrate our roots and future successes, we take a look back at the history of Realty Executives and the significant times that changed our course and helped us get to where we are today.

Founded in 1965, Realty Executives is one of the largest and most established real estate franchisors in the industry. With over 500 offices and 8,000 agents, it is the only brand that is named after its people- the Executives. 

1965: Dale Rector launches Realty Executives in Phoenix, AZ and creates the first ever 100% concept in real estate

Dale Rector, founder of Realty Executives and creator of the first 100 percent commission concept, had a vision unlike any other. He wanted to create a company that put people first, the agents and brokers that built the brand, not the corporate office. He saw a pattern of high commission splits and low profits for agents that he knew was not the way business should be. He set out to make a change. Fifty five years later, Realty Executives continues to innovate, thrive and adapt to the market, with Dale’s vision in the forefront. Realty Executives started as an industry disruptor, became an industry leader, and continues the legacy of the most professional and productive agents serving home buyers and sellers throughout the world.

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Five Home Remodeling Ideas for Increasing Curb Appeal

If you’re considering putting your house on the market, it’s never too early to start figuring out what it will take to make your home irresistible to prospective buyers. Amping up curb appeal isn’t all about the outside, as making your home more marketable is an inside job, too.

When you’ve got a longer list than budget, what are the must-do remodeling projects and what do you skip?

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The Right Real Estate investment for You

What is an investment? For most people, it’s buying stocks and shares. However, it’s quite intimidating, given the turbulent nature of current circumstances. So if you are looking to invest, real estate is always a smart choice. It’s a physical asset, a great passive income generator – overall, a reliable revenue source. You might not have known that there are several types of real estate investments, and you should think long and hard before you decide which is the best for you.

Passive real estate investments

As the word implies, this is the type of investment where you take a more passive role. There is no driving around in search of a suitable property. Instead, there are real estate investment platforms where you can browse through the options. These platforms often function as crowdfunding websites. You will find a specific project you want to invest in. The amount of money you will put in will depend on the project and the platform of your choice. Then, your money will be put together with other investors’ money, and you will receive dividends from the projects you have invested in. Dividends will, of course, be proportionate to the amount of money you have put in. 

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Realty Executives Partners With Realtors Property Resource® to Expand Local Market Knowledge Across U.S.

Realty Executives is proud to announce the completion of the Realty Executives Property Expert training series.

Realty Executives International partnered with RPR® (Realtors Property Resource), a market data and analytics platform offered through the National Association of REALTORS®, to provide comprehensive training, free of charge, focused on leveraging RPR tools. 

The tools and strategies covered in the educational course are designed to better position Executives as the local experts in their markets. Each session featured different facets of the real estate journey. As a Realty Executives Property Expert, an agent is prepared to tap into neighborhood statistics, school information, and market activity, ensuring top quality service to home buyers and sellers. This data-driven approach is essential for keeping abreast of changes in the market.

Realty Executives International is committed to providing ongoing, timely opportunities for their agents and brokers to grow and expand their real estate knowledge, in order to provide unparalleled customer service.  

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