Author: Scott Gibbons

For many, homeownership means having a yard. Having an outdoor space and landscape to tend to is a dream come true for many previous apartment dwellers. However, for someone who has never had to care for a yard before, it can be easy to make costly mistakes. Overusing fertilizer is one of the most common mistakes made by amateur gardeners. Too much fertilizer can stunt plan growth and burn, or even kill, grass. Cutting grass too short is another prevalent problem. While it may keep homeowners from having to mow as often, cutting grass short means it cannot absorb the sunlight it needs to… Read More
Source: REALTOR News

According to research from the National Association of REALTORS®, issues related to excessive regulation are creating problems with satisfaction and recruitment in the real estate appraisal field. In fact, nearly 75 percent of appraisers surveyed by NAR named frustration with excessive regulation as a reason for potentially leaving the field. Regulations have also served as a barrier for those who want to enter the appraisal field. Sixty-five percent named regulations as a hindrance to entering the field, mainly those to do with training and licensing.

NAR President William E…. Read More
Source: REALTOR News

On September 30, less than six months from now, the National Flood Insurance Program will expire. The National Association of REALTORS® is working closely with federal regulators and members of Congress to strengthen the program and clear the way for a private market to take hold, but REALTORS® warn the program’s September 30 reauthorization deadline is a threat to consumers.

Policyholders in over 22,000 communities across… Read More
Source: REALTOR News

How does a homeowner know when to spend a lot of money on a home project versus when it is all right to go a cheaper route? When taking bids for a renovation project, it can be tempting to take the lowest offer, but if the highest bid comes in at $75,000 and the lowest is $30,000, there could be a reason the low bid is so low. Owners should look at NAR’s Remodeling Impact Report to see what the average cost of a particular project is and compare those costs to their bids. Sometimes taking the higher bid saves more money in the long… Read More
Source: REALTOR News

According to the latest quarterly forecast from the National Association of REALTORS®, the commercial real estate sector is expected to remain steady in 2017. Strengthening demand in smaller markets and the progressively expanding U.S. economy mean good news for all sectors of the commercial market. NAR chief economist Lawrence Yun had this to say: “Steady hiring and low local unemployment levels are finally supporting higher wages and increased spending, which in turn bodes well for sustained demand for all commercial property types.”

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Source: REALTOR News