As agents head into one of the most challenging political environments in our history, they need management who has their best interests at heart. Many in the real estate industry are poorly prepared to hire, employ and handle the customer service needs of the LGBTQ+ community. 

A two-bedroom bungalow in Oakland, a Craftsman home in Long Beach and a Spanish-style house in Ojai.

With so many appealing ones out there, it’s never been easier to dress your table up (or down).

Ask Brian is a weekly column by Real Estate Expert Brian Kline. If you have questions on real estate investing, DIY, home buying/selling, or other housing inquiries please email your questions to askbrian@realtybiznews.com.

Question from Sandy in VT: Hi Brian, We have more than $260,000 of equity in our house today and we are afraid the white hot seller’s market is fading fast. We don’t want to see that huge chunk of cash on paper also fade away. We are at retirement age and think this might be our one chance to cash out for this large of a profit. We want to sell quickly to lock in the profit at today’s value. The problem is that we don’t where we would live or what we would do. Can you help with some ideas to solve our homeless problem?

Answer: Hello Sandy. That’s a great question and one that I think a lot of baby boomers are asking themselves right about now. It’s also a question where one answer will never fit all. The good news is that there are several viable solutions that you can consider. I’ll cover a few of them.

This first is pretty radical. I know a couple that sold their house for a $185,000 profit several months ago. They don’t have any plans of buying another house any time soon. The good news is that they won’t have to pay taxes on the capital gain from the sale of their primary residence. The IRS rules say that you can exclude up to $250,000 of that gain from a single filer’s income, or up to $500,000 of that gain if you file a joint return with your spouse.

What this couple did is buy a luxury motor home with a large part of the profit. They consulted with a financial advisor and invested the balance in a S&P mutual fund alongside their 401k accounts for retirement. For tax purposes, the mutual fund and 401ks are separate accounts. I’m not sure how well that worked for them now the stock markets are crashing but that is what they did. And then they hit the road in their new motorhome. The last time I talked to them, they didn’t have a plan for when they got tired of living in a motorhome, but they were comfortable knowing they had somewhere to live and the opportunity and savings to do a lot of traveling before they got any older.

We spoke to Aaron Drussel, Broker/Owner of Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Momentum in Provo, Utah, about how agents should be talking to sellers in today’s market.

Realty Biz News: Should sellers try and time the market to get the most money for their home?

Aaron Drussel: People always try to time the market, but it’s a lost cause. It’s like the waves of the ocean – they go up and down. If you say you want to surf the biggest wave, how would you accomplish that? You can watch on the beach for a big wave to come, but by the time you see it, your opportunity to ride it is gone. So it’s much better to roll with the waves and be active in the ups and downs in the market because you will never be able to time it right.

RBN: Is it really about getting the most money?

AD: Of course, sellers don’t want to leave money on the table and agents work their hardest to ensure that doesn’t happen. But the reality is that the majority of people sell their homes because of more emotional external factors than money. These are the many life changes that trigger a move – marriage, birth, divorce, retirement, etc. Many sellers who need to move are more interested in reducing stress and getting across the finish line as quickly as possible than maximizing every dollar.

The innovative sales and marketing technology platform Chime has rolled out a recruiting product as part of its recent evolution as large-scale enterprise player.

Julie Nelson, who proudly identifies as an L in the LGBTQ+ community, says that everyone appreciates a little guidance when it comes to navigating differences. Here are a few tips for working with LGBTQ+ clients.

Viewers of “Only Murders in the Building” know it as the Arconia, but this Upper West Side building has a name — and a dramatic story — of its own.

As the plaintiff in Obergefell v. Hodges, Jim Obergefell sought to honor the memory of his late husband. The result was a sweeping Supreme Court decision that made marriage equality law. Today, he continues his advocacy and is running for the Ohio House of Representatives. Obergefell talks to Inman about housing, advocacy and why a safe place to live is critical for LGBTQ+ people of all ages, especially now.

See how geniusprice from Radian homegenius transforms the way you leverage a CMA with artificial intelligence

Here are four ways you can use this transaction management tool to keep your funnel full and your business moving forward this summer.

International moves are not uncommon for clients in the higher end of the real estate market. While they have the means and mobility to relocate across the world, they also understand the complexity of such a transition.

Recent residential sales in New York City and the region.

As the rental market convulses with a dearth of listings and intense demand, list prices can be deceptive. Here’s how to handle a bidding war.

Financial experts Jordan Curnutt and Michael Kilner outline a plan to apply the principles of the envelope or bucket method to both banking and investment accounts. That way, you can make your money work as hard as you do.

The couple got nearly $16.8 million, making it one of the largest closings in New York City in June. The biggest, a Midtown penthouse, sold for around $56 million.

The Riley Smith Group officially brought its 30-agent team to Compass on June 24. The move was a natural progression as the team looked to further evolve, Riley Smith said in a statement.

It's no secret that startups are risky business, but the real estate industry has a tradition of holding the door open for new tech. Expert Georg Chmiel weighs in on how this means big opportunities for burgeoning companies looking to make an impact.

Tony Rogers, who served as chief growth officer following 17 years as CMO of Walmart, has resigned from kwx. His departure comes less than a month after CEO Carl Liebert's exit.

When you think of celebrating Pride, is it only in the month of June? Nick Acosta shares his personal message about growing up, the importance of community, and speaking out about Pride issues in the real estate industry.