Navigating Real Estate During Economic Uncertainty: What History Teaches Us About Recessions and Housing

As I'm entering my 42nd year as a REALTOR®, I have helped home buyers and sellers during prior recessions. Many agents quit the business during the Great Recession of 2007-2009, although many refer to the date as 2008, but I was able to stay afloat. The Great Recession was different than the others I was involved in - it was caused by the housing, mortgage and banking industry.

In recent months, economic forecasters and news outlets have increasingly used the "R-word" – recession. For homeowners and prospective buyers, this term can trigger immediate anxiety. After all, our homes represent not just shelter, but often our most significant financial investment. When recession talk intensifies, questions naturally arise about what this means for real…

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15 Ways To Create A Simple, Beautiful, Meaningful Home

Your home doesn’t have to be magazine-perfect, it just needs to be meaningful. A well-loved space should reflect your story, offer comfort, and inspire peace. When your home nurtures you, you can, in turn, share that joy with others. Let’s explore 15 intentional ways to create a simple, beautiful, and meaningful home you love coming back to.

1. Choose Calm, Light Colors

Color sets the tone in a home. Soft whites, warm greys, muted blues, and earthy beiges create a restful visual landscape. Calm colors serve as a clean backdrop, allowing treasured items like a photo from your wedding or a bowl of stones from your favorite beach to shine. Neutral hues promote mental clarity and peace, making your home feel lighter and more open. Avoid bold wall…

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How to Make Your Home Work for You at Tax Time

This probably should have been posted sooner because the tax deadline is about a week away and most of you have filed already. This might help renters decide to get into homeownership in the near future if they've been sitting on the fence.

When people think about owning a home, they often focus on the costs—mortgage payments, repairs, insurance, and property taxes. But what many homeowners don’t realize is that their house can actually help them save money at tax time. Tax laws allow homeowners to deduct certain expenses, claim credits, and lower their overall tax bill—sometimes by thousands of dollars.

A lot of people assume that owning a home is more expensive than renting, especially when they look at the monthly mortgage payment. But what…

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What to Know About the Mortgage Pre-Approval Process in Scottsdale, Arizona

Buying a home is one of the most significant financial decisions most people will make in their lifetime. Whether you're a first-time homebuyer or an experienced investor, securing mortgage pre-approval is a crucial first step in the homebuying process. Pre-approval provides you with a clear understanding of your budget, helps streamline the buying process, and makes you a more competitive buyer in a competitive real estate market.

We spoke with the team at Career Classroom, an NMLS-approved mortgage school, to highlight the key steps and benefits of getting pre-approved. Understanding how pre-approval works, what lenders look for, and how to prepare will give you confidence as you move forward with buying a home. Let’s take a closer look at what…

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This One Week in April is the Best Time to Sell

Timing Is Everything: Why Early Spring Might Be Your Secret Weapon for Home Selling Success

Have you ever heard the saying "the early bird gets the worm"? When it comes to selling your home, those words couldn't be more true. Let's talk about one of the biggest misconceptions in real estate that might be costing homeowners thousands of dollars every year.

The Spring Selling Myth: You Might Be Thinking About It All Wrong

We've all heard that spring is the best time to sell a home. Images of blooming gardens, sunny open houses, and families eagerly house-hunting after the winter thaw make perfect sense, right? But here's where most homeowners get it wrong: they wait too long.

If you picture "spring" as those perfect May days with flowers in…

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Your Guide to the 2025 Spring Housing Market: What Buyers and Sellers Need to Know

Every year as flowers bloom and temperatures rise, real estate headlines proclaim the arrival of the "hot spring market." Social media feeds fill with advice about the "perfect time" to buy or sell, and conversations at neighborhood barbecues inevitably turn to housing predictions. But how much of what we hear is actually useful?

As someone who's been watching housing trends evolve over the years, I've noticed that real estate advice often falls into two categories: genuinely helpful insights and oversimplified myths that don't stand up to scrutiny. You might be told one thing by a member of your family or one of your friends and hear a different take on the news. To cut through the noise, I've compiled what you actually need to know about the 2025…

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Turning Dilapidation into Dollars: The Art of House Flipping in Today's Real Estate Market

Flipping houses can be a great business model in today’s real estate market. If you have a knack for turning something basic into something worth talking about, you could have the right personality and skillset to start turning a real profit.

However, while there are plenty of opportunities to buy and sell properties while seeing a strong ROI, this doesn’t mean that you don’t need to have a methodical approach in place to do so.

Luckily, there are several proven strategies you can follow to help you turn potential “throwaway” properties into something that excites potential home buyers.

Find the Right Location

One of the main factors of a successful house flip is choosing the right location. It’s important to consider factors such as…

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The Ultimate Homebuyer's Dilemma: To Buy or Not to Buy in 2025

Overview of Homebuying in 2025

As we step into 2025, the landscape of homebuying is poised to undergo significant transformations. With technological advancements, shifting economic conditions, and evolving buyer preferences, the real estate market is rapidly shifting for potential homeowners. For many, purchasing a home is not merely about finding a roof over their heads; it's a substantial monetary investment that can shape their financial future. For instance, millennials, who are now entering their prime homebuying age, prioritize energy-efficient homes and smart technology, which influences market offerings.

Mixed Messages

Many buyers are sitting on the fence. They are being told "buy now" but many buyers can't forget the low interest…

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Weighing Your Options: Real Estate vs. Stock Market Investing

The Allure of Bricks and Mortar: Why Americans Love Real Estate Investments

For over a decade, real estate has reigned supreme in the minds of Americans as the preferred long-term investment. A recent Gallup poll confirms this enduring sentiment, with 36% of respondents choosing real estate as the best way to grow their wealth over time. This preference significantly outstrips other investment vehicles like stocks (22%), gold (18%), savings accounts (13%), bonds (4%), and cryptocurrencies (3%). But what fuels this enduring faith in property ownership as the ultimate path to financial security?

Why Real Estate Holds Its Ground as the Favored Investment

Let's delve into the factors contributing to real estate's enduring popularity and explore…

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A Reminder of the Changes in Real Estate That Happened in 2024

You have probably already heard about some of the important changes that have been happening in the housing market. It was big news with big changes, so even if you aren't in the immediate market to make a real estate purchase, you've probably read or heard something about it. Let me break down what has occurred and what it means for you, especially if you are thinking about buying or selling a home in the near future.

For some of you, it might be old news. Others might have heard about it but don't quite understand what the changes entail if they're not actively looking at properties with an agent. The new laws went into effect in August of 2024. That is when the market usually starts slowing down, so many people getting ready to buy and sell in…

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