There is a difference between what buyers need and what they want. The first describes a necessity. For instance, if someone is in a wheelchair, they need a wheelchair accessible home. When describing wants, those are characteristics which are part of the dream. For instance, I want a property with an in-ground pool. This is a want, not a necessity. Choosing the right home, the right neighborhood and the perfect layout can quickly become overwhelming. It doesn't have to be if you journal your thoughts and think about what the most important factors you want in your new home are. As a realtor…

As a realtor, I am constantly driving around looking for house numbers. It is remarkable to me how many people, including those who have a home on the market, have numbers placed in a manner that makes it difficult to see them from the street. Having to slow down on a busy street to read house numbers causes the drivers behind me to get upset, so I try to pull over and walk if I think I am close. In order to know if I am close, I need to be able to see the numbers of other homes as well, and this is easier said than done. Sometimes, I feel like certain streets are playing a trick when none of…

I recently met Dr. Lawrence Yun, the Chief Economist and Senior Vice President of Research for the National Association of Realtors. I was excited to hear what he had to say about the real estate market today, and what some of the trends were showing. Dr. Yun creates NAR's real estate market forecasts and participates in many economic forecasting panels, including those for Harvard University. When asked how the market is doing in general, Dr. Yun responded, “Well, figures are up and that’s a good sign. If one looks at the trend line, it’s been mostly moving up. Because of this, the current …

Being a landlord is not easy. Some time ago, I wrote about “Suddenly Landlords,” people who could not sell their home and instead decided to rent them out until the market improved. Today, many of the leases on those homes are ending...and these landlords are facing new challenges. “Suddenly Landlords” are now preparing once again to have vacant properties. When tenants move out, there is often some damage to walls, floors, carpets and other components of the home that often just simple wear and tear. These landlords then quickly figure out that they need to possibly shell out money to make …

As the spring market becomes more active, sellers will have to work hard to make their homes stand out among the rest. While some markets are stabilizing, others continue to face challenging conditions. Millions of existing homes are sold each year, and while each transaction is different, every owner wants the same thing- the best possible deal with the least amount of hassle and aggravation. Unfortunately, home selling has become a more complex business than it used to be. Market conditions are different, and buyers are thinking differently. The result is a frustration on the part of many …

The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines predictions as “something that is forecasted.” As a real estate agent, we are always trying to stay a step ahead. At this time of year, so many realtors are making predictions about what will happen in 2012 that I think they should open their own 900-number. After much report reading, surveying and analyzing, I have my own predictions: Assuming the European debt crisis doesn't derail a global economic recovery in 2012 and the U.S. continues on a modest growth path, home prices in Westchester County should begin to firm up and the number of sales will …

The holiday season is here, and buyers and sellers often think that this is not the time to buy or sell real estate. It’s actually the most wonderful time of the year. Literally. For years, selling homes during the holidays have received an undeserved bad rap. We’re all certainly busy with a wealth of festive activities. But between dashing through the snow and fa-la-la-la-laing, serious sellers may discover that the holiday season is not just a good time for marketing real estate, but a fantastic one. The holidays bring out the serious home buyers. Everyone who was just looking “for fun,” or…