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October 2nd, 2015 at 10:00 am

TRID

Are you aware of how the mortgage process will change on October 3?

The TILA-RESPA Integrated Disclosure Rule (TRID) will ultimately change the forms used, the timelines of when certain documents need to be executed, and the processes involved with closing. This new rule is roughly 2,000 pages and won’t just affect real estate agents; it will also affect home buyers and sellers. Compliance will be enforced by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.
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September 21st, 2015 at 10:00 am

How to be a good neighbor

How neighborly are you? Do you know the family that lives next door? Did you welcome the couple who moved in across the street a few weeks ago?

September is Good Neighbor Month, so we encourage everyone to reach out and make friends (or at least attempt to!) with their neighbors.

This sounds pretty straightforward, but you might be wondering how exactly how you should introduce yourself to someone you’ve never met before and know nothing about. It’s actually pretty easy to do. Here are some of our suggestions:
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August 12th, 2015 at 10:00 am

Selling your home in August

If you’re thinking about selling your home, you’ve probably heard that spring is the best time of the year to do so. The cooler spring temperatures make looking at homes and moving in and out easier than in the heat of the summer months. But just because things are heading up here in Southern California doesn’t mean you should wait until fall or even next spring to sell your home. Each season comes with struggles and benefits for buyers and sellers alike.

Why are there fewer summer buyers?

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July 22nd, 2015 at 10:00 am

Boost your homes curb appeal

You’ve probably heard the term “curb appeal” hundreds of times. But did you know that increased landscaping and curb appeal can mean selling your home 10 to 15 times faster, according to RIS Media?

Boosting your curbside appeal may seem like a daunting task, but it doesn’t have to cost a lot of time and money. There are endless home-improvement projects that are quick, easy, and sure to increase your home’s value and curb appeal.

Here are some projects and ideas to get you started:

Fix up your front door

Your front door is one of the first things prospective buyers see when they look at your home. If your door looks to be in bad shape, buyers will assume the inside of your home is too. Make your home feel more inviting by cleaning, painting and replacing the hardware on your door. Choose a color that coordinates with the personality and style of your home.

If you want to spend a little more money, replace the entire door with an energy-efficient model. You’ll be able to tell buyers that it can save them 10 percent on energy bills, and the average return on resale is 102 percent, RIS Media notes.
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July 1st, 2015 at 10:00 am

target your real estate market

If you’re a homeowner and thinking about selling your home in the next five years or so, you might want to get familiar with the homebuyers who are dominating today’s market. According to a 2015 National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) study, Millennials and Generation X make up almost 60 percent of recent homebuyers.

Millennials and Gen X have some big expectations when it comes to buying a home, and we have a pretty good idea of what they are. Let’s take a look at each generation individually so you get an idea of who these consumers are.

Gen X

  • Born: Between 1965 and 1979
  • Representation: 27 percent of homebuyers
  • Motivation: Trading up, adding value to their homes, buying a home for their future family
  • Location concerns: Convenience to schools
  • Personality: Environmentally conscious, non-traditional, professionals
  • Typical buyer: 41 years old, more likely to be married couples
  • Buying process: Most likely to use an open house and gather a lot of information before buying
  • Preferred method of communication: Informal, via email, and cellphone

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