Similar to Diogenes’ search for an honest man, homeowners want someone to do quality repairs at a fair price. The task appears reasonably easy but if you’ve ever tried to locate someone to fix something, you know just how difficult it is. Finding a list of companies from a phone book doesn’t mean they’ll be… Read more »

Points refer to prepaid interest on a home mortgage and can be fully deductible by the buyer in the year paid if the right conditions exist. The points must be used to buy, build or improve a taxpayer’s principal residence but not all fees charged by the lender are necessarily deductible. According to IRS Publication… Read more »

One third of all U.S. households, 75% of households with more than $75,000 income and most homeowners itemize their deduction on their federal income tax returns. It makes sense because the interest paid on their mortgage and their property taxes probably exceeds the allowable standard deduction. However, with interest rates as low as they have… Read more »

Part of the American Dream is to own a home. A home is a place to call your own; a place to raise your family and share with your friends. A home is a place to feel safe and secure. A home is a good investment? In a recent report* by Beracha and Johnson, it… Read more »

Competitive vs. Compelling Pricing In today’s market price is king when selling your home.  A home should absolutely be in top notch condition to attract the most buyer candidates, but if the home is overpriced when compared to other homes in your area you have very little chance of getting your home sold in this… Read more »

Meet the Tellers Family. Back in 1946 Albert & Dorothy Tellers bought an 80-acre farm where they would raise their 4 children, farm the land and live their American Dream. This was a time when gas cost 21 cents a gallon and you could buy a brand new John Deere Tractor for $650.00 Times were… Read more »

Work hard, buy a home, start a family and continue to upgrade your home until everyone has enough room. This has been the blueprint for lots of homeowners for the last fifty years but there is certainly a shift in thinking that could change all of that. Interestingly, Americans live in much larger homes than… Read more »

What do they want? What do they need? Will it fit? Do they already have one? These are the common thoughts running through our minds when trying to find the perfect gift. The gift of really listening with no interrupting, no daydreaming and no planning your response is exactly what people want when they have… Read more »

You don’t have to be Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz to feel like there’s no place like home. Home is a place to call your own. It’s a place to raise your family and share with your friends. It’s a place to create memories. A home is a place to feel safe and secure…. Read more »

Consumers are vigilant about buying opportunities like Black Friday, Small Business Saturday and Cyber Monday along with sales, coupons and rebates. Some cautious buyers will even risk shopping early to find exactly what they want to waiting until the last moment for potentially lower prices. In retail, the hype is more obvious and the signs… Read more »

No one wants to pay more than its value regardless of the product. When you buy bananas for 49 cents a pound at one store and see them for 39 cents a pound at another store, it’s not the ten cent difference as much as it is about overpaying. It seems like the natural way… Read more »

There are many dangers in listing your home For Sale by Owner (commonly known as a FSBO).  It’s not because we have been in the real estate business for over  three decades that I very much dislike the idea of people selling their homes as Unrepresented Sellers. There are a dozen reasons that immediately come to mind when I… Read more »

Always ask your self why a buyer prospect is not working with a REALTOR®. Yes there are some valid reasons but the vast majority of serious buyers do not have the time or resources to undertake a property search alone. Did you use and agent to buy your house? If you have not found your next… Read more »

“It’s not far, if you know the way.” Maybe it is an obvious statement but there are some definite steps that will improve your success in buying a home in today’s market. Know your credit score – the best mortgage rates are available to borrowers with the highest scores. Unless you know what your credit… Read more »