1. Did you know this? The LA Times reports Starting in 2020, all new homes in California must come with solar panels. Builders are getting ready “The California Building Standards Commission approved the mandate this month, finalizing a unanimous vote from the California Energy Commission in May as part of the state’s ongoing battle against […]
Real Estate Blog
Love, Hate Relationship
1. I’ve seen them used in Europe and New Zealand, and I love the idea: Tiny homes and shipping containers: Living large in unique housing. The Chicago Tribune just posted a story about a couple in a Chicago suburb have created a home using shipping containers: “A walk through the space reveals high ceilings, an […]
It’s Cold Outside
1. “For those of us who live in cold-weather climates, the winter months are synonymous with hibernation mode. Who wants to go outside when you have to shovel 2 feet of snow just to see the sidewalk? But don’t let the next blizzard or polar vortex take the wind out of your home renovation sails. […]
Skip The Mall
1. “Smart home shoppers know the end of the year can mean deep markdowns on houses. If a home hasn’t found the right buyer by December, sellers often sweeten the deal with a price cut. To give your sleigh a push, we found nine examples of gorgeous homes on the market that have all had […]
Quicker Close
1. Housingwire reports this week, Regulators propose ending appraisal requirement on some home sales of $400,000 and below. “In terms of dollar amount, $96 billion in sales were exempt from the appraisal requirement in 2017. The new rules would increase that figure by $68 billion to a total of $164 billion (or 35% of the total). […]
Let’s Get Serious
1. I love the holidays, and although it’s easy to get caught up in the festivities, it was my favorite time of year to work with buyers and sellers. Why, you ask? Realtor.com takes the words right out of my mouth with these six reasons why ‘Tis the Season (to Sell): 6 Reasons You Shouldn’t […]
Belize Me!
1. Over 1,000 investors believed investing in Sanctuary Belize was a great investment. The New York State news organization, The Real Deal reported this week “The Federal Trade Commission and U.S. Attorneys in Maryland temporarily shut down an alleged $100 million real estate scam in Belize, the FTC announced Thursday. The FTC said the scheme […]
Bubble? What Bubble?
1. The housing market may be slowing down, but Nobel Prize winner Robert Shiller of the Case-Shiller Index, and Yale University professor of economics told CNBC he isn’t fearful that a big downturn is ahead. Whew! I hoped he was going to say that. His exact words are “I don’t expect a sharp turn in the […]
