Prospective buyers often have strong feelings about whether their next home must or must not include a homeowners’ association (HOA). However, the majority of people who live in managed subdivisions and developments are happy with their associations. According to the Community Associations Institute (CAI), 64% of Americans who reside in community associations rate their experience positively.
Moving into a new house can be a stressful life event for the whole family, particularly young children who rely on predictability and find comfort in familiar routines. Other than talking to them about the move and including them in the decision-making process, what can you do to make the experience positive and as stress-free as possible?
Realty Executives International has once again ranked among the top five firms on the Phoenix Business Journal’s annual list of franchisors.
Closing out last year with 500 franchise units, Realty Executives International placed number five on the list, which ranks Phoenix-area franchisors based on total number of franchise units as of December 31, 2015. In all, 25 franchise concepts made the list, together accounting for 6,611 total franchise units and more than 245 years of franchising experience.
A lot of people get excited at the idea of a home renovation. They have grand ideas of how they want their home to look. But one thing to keep in mind is how those ideas will affect your home’s value once it comes time to sell after a tenure of nine years, according to the National Association of REALTORS®.
Parkbridge Lifestyle Communities and Realty Executives Canada are pleased to announce a new partnership. Realty Executives has been named the exclusive listing brokerage for The Bluffs of Huron in Goderich, Ontario. The announcement was made jointly by Andrew Blair, President and CEO of Parkbridge Lifestyle Communities, and by Scott Gilmour, President of Realty Executives Regional. An official ribbon cutting at the 55 and up lakeside community took place on June 17, 2016 in Goderich, Ontario.
Wayne White has been a part of Saskatchewan’s real estate community for over 40 years. He’s been a member of the Association of Saskatchewan REALTORS® (ASR) since 1975, a broker since 1978, served as president of the Association of Regina REALTORS® (ARR) twice, received an Honorary Life Membership from the ASR in 2004 and was named Regina’s REALTOR® of the Year in 2007. So it came as no surprise when the ASR and Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) announced that they were honoring White with the 2016 Distinguished REALTOR® Award.
“To have contributed as much as he has to the boards and his community – that’s what this award is all about, and Wayne is an obvious choice for Distinguished REALTOR®,” says Bill Madder, CEO of the ASR. “There is no question about Wayne’s dedication to the REALTOR® community. Our sincere congratulations go out to him,” he adds.
Wasaga Beach, a resort town in Simcoe County, Ontario, Canada, is the latest addition to the Realty Executives International family. Adding to Realty Executives On the Bay Ltd. offices in Midland, Tiny, and Wyevale, Broker/Owner Grace Kidd believes that Wasaga Beach is a key business location.
“Our brokerage will not only serve the real estate needs of Wasaga Beach and the surrounding community, but it will expose our brand to the many tourists who visit from other regions,” Kidd says.
Tourism is recognized as a major industry in the town, which attracts over one million visitors every year according to the Wasaga Beach Chamber of Commerce. “Our quality of life and safe, friendly community has attracted a steady stream of new residents and seasonal dwellers over the years. We are proud of our community and delighted to share it with our many visitors throughout the year,” comments Mayor Brian Smith.
According to comScore, Google Maps is one of the top 10 smartphone apps in the country. Globally, approximately one billion people use Google Maps to perform one billion searches every day. It’s a popular and useful tool, but how can you use it in your search for a new home?
Explore the neighborhood
Go for a virtual walk around your target suburb with Street View. This feature allows you to take a virtual tour of the city streets, even letting you to step into local businesses like restaurants and stores that have indoor maps available.
Approximately 17 to 20 million people are expected to move this summer, and according to U-Haul, the majority of Americans move between Memorial Day and Labor Day.
“People feel more comfortable with the idea of moving house during these three to four months because of the favorable weather conditions, the summer holidays, and various other seasonal factors that seem to promise a safe, comfortable, and efficient relocation,” says relocation professional Ethan Greenfield.
If you’re planning on relocating your family during peak moving season, start planning as early as possible in order to ensure that the process goes smoothly.
Here are some tips to help make your move stress-free:
Have a moving checklist
Your moving checklist should cover all aspects of the move, from filling out a USPS change of address and notifying all relevant parties of your move, to unpacking and organizing your home on arrival. Break your tasks down into manageable phases starting several weeks out.
Your home is on the market and ready to sell – it could be snapped up any day now, but you have a vacation coming up or would like to take a trip out of town. So what do you do?
Consult your real estate agent
“Communication is at the center of real estate,” insists Todd Mobraten, former president and CEO of USRES Inc. and its subsidiary, RES.NET Inc.
Good communication between you and your real estate agent is key. Be upfront and tell your agent that you’re planning a vacation, well in advance. Your agent can tell you your options and help you develop a plan for how to handle any queries or issues in your absence.