Photo courtesy of Tanner Homes via Houzz

Would-be home sellers have been facing quite a conundrum for the past few months. Sky-high mortgage rates and inflation have kept homebuyers from coming in droves like they did last year, and that, in turn, has caused homeowners to consider one crucial question: Should I list now or wait until the real estate market cools?

If you’re choosing to sit tight and have refocused your efforts on home improvement, we suggest you invest your time and money in your bathroom. Like the kitchen, the bathroom holds a lot of value, and updating it is likely to pay off if and when you do put your home on the market.

“After hitting the one-year mark in your home, the first places that I’d update are bathrooms, especially a powder or guest bathroom used often by visitors,” says Jay Jeffers of JayJeffers in San Francisco.

Your bathroom can be easily and affordably improved without the need for a gut renovation. Here are a few smart ideas.

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What a difference just a few months can make. As the year comes to a close, the red-hot housing market has been brought to its knees by soaring mortgage interest rates.

It now appears to be in a standoff as just about everyone suddenly feels stuck. Home prices are beginning to fall from their peaks in some of the nation’s hottest markets—but not enough to make up for the higher mortgage rates. So more and more buyers simply can’t afford to buy. Sellers, who are typically also buyers, don’t want to give up their low mortgage rates to purchase new properties. Renters can’t afford to move. And many new homeowners fear they bought at the peak of a rapidly deteriorating market.

“No one wants to catch a falling knife,” says economist Yelena Maleyev of KPMG US. “No one wants to buy in a market when prices are falling. You want to wait it out.”

So what’s next as 2022 comes to an end? Will mortgage rates continue to rise? Could prices come down even more? And will buyers return to the market?

Join us digitally from your desk this Thursday, Nov. 17 for insightful ideas from top industry experts including Joyce Rey and Rayni and Branden Williams.

A slowing market is taking a toll on big real estate companies, though not every firm is suffering equally. A look back on the past three dramatic weeks of third-quarter wins, losses and draws.

A 1940 cottage in Newport Beach, a four-bedroom house in Larkspur and a French country-style estate in Sacramento.

This is the time of year when you need to reach out to those who’ve been on your mind and who’ve contributed to your success. Here you’ll find reasons to write along with templates to use so you’re never at a loss for what to say.

Saying thank you should be more than a once-a-year pie drop-off. Find ways to say thank you to your clients throughout the transaction and the entire year to help build meaningful relationships.

One key area to evaluate is your marketing strategy and whether it’s actively helping you achieve (if not exceed) your goals, or whether you need to make changes in 2023 so you can have your most productive year yet.

Next time someone asks you, “How’s the market?” you’ll be ready to answer with conviction and helpful guidance.

We at Real Geeks consulted Greg Harrelson and Abe Safa on lead conversion myths and facts to help you shift your mindset about leads and lead conversion.

So how do you cut through the noise? Digital marketing tools and platforms provide a flow of new features to create innovative content — and success in real estate is often tied to taking advantage of the possibilities.

Not exactly a real estate team, and not a brokerage, teamerages — as the name suggests — combine the best of both worlds.

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An induction cooktop stove is the kind of burner that uses electromagnetic fields to cause the pan or pot on top to heat up—meanwhile, your appliance remains cool, thus making this method of cooking safer, faster, and more energy-efficient.

While induction cooking technology has been around for decades and induction ranges have long been common in commercial kitchens, they are now catching on like crazy in regular people’s homes.

Induction cooking

Unlike traditional electric or gas stoves, this cooktop’s “burner” doesn’t emit any heat when turned on. Instead, it emits an alternating electric current—which creates electric currents in the metal pot you’ve placed on top. This, in effect, turns the pot itself into the cooking surface.

“The early consumer models, back in the 1970s and ’80s, were a little temperamental, which is why induction didn’t take off then,” explains Dan DiClerico, home expert for HomeAdvisor.com. “But manufacturers have gotten the technology right, and the prices continue to fall, comparable to gas ranges, so induction’s become very hot in the last few years.”

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If you’ve bought a new appliance, you might have noticed a spot to “add salt” and been massively confused. Salt in the dishwasher? Yep, but don’t go pouring in table salt.

“Some dishwashers, usually higher-end appliances, come with a water softener unit,” says Doug Rogers, president of Mr. Appliance. “Putting salt in your dishwasher might seem strange at first, but dishwasher salt is actually an excellent tool for keeping your unit operating at maximum efficiency.”

What does dishwasher salt do?

“The purpose of dishwasher salt is to help soften the water, and prevent the spots that form on your dishes when they’re washed in hard water, which is water that has a lot of calcium and magnesium,” says Rogers. “If your dishes consistently lack that sparkling-clean feeling and always seem to be speckled with spots, dishwasher salt may be the answer to your problems.”

How does it work? The calcium and magnesium in hard water react with dishwashing detergent to form soap clumps that are less effective at cleaning dishes and can leave behind a nasty residue.

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Antebellum architecture is a term used to characterize a style of grand residences largely found in the Southern United States, especially the Deep South, built in the 19th century. As grandiose as these intricately designed homes are, their magnificence has deep and controversial roots in slavery.

Here’s a look at these extravagant homes, their defining features, and the ongoing debate about preserving antebellum properties.

Antebellum architecture characteristics

Recent residential sales in New York City and the region.

Withholding your last month’s rent is not without risks, but new laws designed to help tenants could offer you some protections.

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Retired baseball superstar Pedro Martinez is ready to part ways with his Winchester, MA, home. He’s listed the five-bedroom, 3.5-bathroom property for $1,995,000.

The lanky hurler cemented his legendary status via a seven-year stint with the Boston Red Sox. In addition to winning two Cy Young Awards with the Red Sox, he was a key member of the team’s memorable 2004 World Series–winning roster.

These days, the Dominican-born superstar has a Florida property to fall back on—a home in North Miami that he snapped up in 2019 for $3 million.

The place he’s selling sits just north of Boston on more than an acre of land. Built in 1995, the 5,120-square-foot home has a traditional vibe inside and out. Martinez purchased the place for $1.3 million in September 2018.

After two years, dead skin cells, bugs, dust mites, and their droppings make up one-third of your pillow’s weight.

“Washing your pillows is essential,” agrees Chris Brantner, founder of SleepZoo.com, a site that emphasizes the importance of sleep health. “You should be washing them every quarter, or three months.”

Granted, the pillow washing process can be mystifying. Should you stuff your high-end memory foam pillow into a washing machine? Do down pillows need to be dried on the highest setting? Can all pillows be cleaned together? (The answers are no, no, and definitely not.)

While you should always consult the care instructions from your pillow’s manufacturer, these vital cleaning tips from pillow experts will help you rest a little easier.

Down alternative or polyester pillows

These synthetic pillows tend to be the least expensive, which explains why they also have the least amount of staying power. The life span of a cheap pillow is around 12 to 18 months. A pillow protector can help you get to the far end of that estimate, but two to four times a year, you should still clean it somehow.