Kitchen Trends That are Here to Stay

Whether you want inspiration to revamp your kitchen (and do it right!) or simply learn about what’s the most up-and-coming in the realm of kitchen design, we’ve got you covered.

There are many kitchen design trends that spring up each year, but here we dive deep into the top four ones that are very much here to stay.

Kitchen Islands

Breakfast bars and kitchen islands are not a new trend, but they’re surely here to stay. These provide a cozy spot for quick and casual dining and can also serve as a workplace with storage.

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Tips for Moving During Winter

Often considered the most magical time of the year, winter can be a tough season for any kind of obligation. Relocating can get messy on any regular day, let alone during a snowstorm or cold day. Luckily, we have some tips to tackle some difficulties of moving during winter.

Watch the weather

If you’re relocating during winter, it’s important to watch the weather forecast. Although weather can change quickly and unexpectedly, you can try to monitor as best you can and plan to move on a day that is reporting a high percentage of no snow or ice.

Prepare the gear for moving during winter.

You can minimize all the risks by preparing the necessary gear. This mostly applies to the transportation vehicle for you and your belongings. Some things you may need are:

  • Tire chains
  • Aid kit
  • Shovel for snow
  • Tow rope
  • Resilient window wipers
  • Warm clothes and blankets
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Realty Executives Raises 18,000 for Charity

Realty Executives First Choice, of Winnipeg, MB, has raised and donated a total of $18,000 this year, for the Manitoba Real Estate Association (MREA) Shelter Foundation. The donations will be used to support various Manitoba shelter-focused non-profits.

The MREA Shelter Foundation was founded in 2007, with the mission to raise money and support for charities helping Manitoba community members receive shelter. Throughout its existence the foundation has raised over $945,000. Realty Executives First Choice became involved with the charity in 2009. All money raised was given directly by brokerage Executives, many donating a percentage of their commission throughout the year. Shona Scappaticci, Broker Associate of First Choice, is a board member of the MREA Shelter Foundation and is thankful for all the support her fellow Executives have shown. 

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Habits of Highly Productive Real Estate Agent

The real estate market is affected by so many factors, and yet top, elite agents find a way to always grow and thrive in any market.

Sherri Johnson, premier real estate gives her take on how to work like the most productive agents do!

Making the difference

I remember my first manager telling me that I could make it in any market because I went out and “made it happen” and didn’t rely on one particular lead source for all my business. When you truly know how to add value and deliver five-star level service, you can create your own success. It takes grit, dedication, a business plan and a winning mindset.

Here, I share the “uncommon” characteristics of top selling real estate agents that allow them to keep growing their business regardless of outside economic factors.

These atypical but totally necessary behaviors ring true with all top, elite agents. When adopted and implemented fully, these attributes will become the “difference makers” you need to go from good to great and from wishful thinking to potentially doubling or tripling your production and income.

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Preparing Your Home For a Winter Storm

Do you live somewhere where blizzards are a regular part of your winter life? Many homeowners struggle with having to get ready for a harsh season and harsh conditions hitting their home. Let’s go through a checklist of what you can do to get your home ready for winter.

Stock Up

Now let’s not go toilet paper crazy like we saw in the early months of COVID-19, but it may be a good idea to get a few essential items before being trapped inside because of a blizzard. De-icing salt, shovels, flashlights and batteries are all great items to pick up.  You’ll want flashlights and batteries, just in case the power goes out. The salt is a necessity for many homeowners since oftentimes driveways and walkways get very slick during winter, while the shovel will come in handy once snow starts to build up and you have to dig your doorway or garage out. If you live in an apartment or rented property, the chances are your landlord has hired a service to salt and plow these areas, so you luck out!

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2021 Home Design Trends

The year 2020 has brought highs, lows and a ton of different trends in fashion, retail and home design. But with 2021 on the horizon, interior design experts are predicting some trends stick around while others stay behind. Check out five home design trends that you can expect to see coming into the new year.

1. Making the Old, New Again

This year you can expect that many of the styles seen in interior design are actually styles from other eras that are making a comeback! As many people are looking for a little bit of nostalgia in their homes, Victorian-era and Art Deco have risen in popularity. Although modern design and clean cut interiors still reign supreme, traditional and historical design can be seen in smaller details or pieces throughout the home, such as floral prints and vintage furniture.

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U.S. Housing Market Predictions for 2021

First, the facts: According to NAR, July 2020 posted the highest monthly total of existing home sales since 2006, jumping 24.7% over June to hit 5.86 million (SAAR). And for the first time in U.S. history, the median existing-home price for all housing types broke a record with the median surpassing $300,000.

According to Zillow, the typical U.S. home sold in just 16 days in September, a typically slow-moving month for real estate.

Still, delinquencies and subsequent distressed property sales could put the brakes on home price growth in the future. If, for instance, CoreLogic Chief Economist Frank Nothaft’s forecast holds true, home price growth could slow to 0.6% in July 2021 with prices declining in 11 states, led by Louisiana, Illinois, Connecticut, Iowa and Arkansas.

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Common Questions About Property Taxes

The journey in buying a new home is what many individuals dream of but, buying a home is not always easy and many long time homeowners can attest to that feeling. Owning your own home does come with extra duties and responsibilities. One of those responsibilities is property tax.

How much do you know about property taxes? What does it do, and what do you need to know about it when buying a home? If you’re a first-time homebuyer, budgeting the property tax cost is an important first step in knowing what you can afford. 

So, let’s cut to the chase, clarify some things about property taxes and answer some common questions.

What Is a Property Tax? 

Let’s identify first what a property tax is. A property tax is one of the long lists of government-issued tax to all its constituents who own a property, whether it be a house, a rental property or a building. Individuals and other legal entities, such as corporations, are charged with property tax. 

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Retirement Real Estate

Retirement societies are in a continual state of change all over the world. Whether helping people who live alone, in need of assisted living or memory care, or advancing to competent care, there is regular turnover regardless of the clients they represent.

Many buyers are likely to sell their house before making the move, while helping seniors plan a move from their long-time home to a senior neighborhood. Therein lays one of the greatest challenges to be tackled by any senior group sales agent.

Being a realtor is a respected career, especially if you are able to have an appreciation for the needs of older clientele. Since many seniors have not sold a house in years, even decades, the real estate agent needs the skills to direct them through the process of home purchases, but also the ability to explain what to expect and how to overcome challenges along the way.

In comparison, if your agent already has a team of service providers who can provide their customers solutions, their relevance to the senior practitioners in the industry improves even further. One stop shop… that’s what a lot of good realtors have.

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Five Reasons You Should Sell Now

With the global pandemic causing many home sellers to put their listing on hold or to take it off the market completely, right now is actually a great time to put your house up for sale. Although, COVID-19. caused weariness, it has actually not affected the market in a negative way like many thought was possible. Here are five reasons to pull the trigger and sell your home now.

Demand is High

The market has more demand than ever right now with not less people selling and more people looking to buy. With the pandemic, many people have resisted listing their home, making it more of a challenge for those looking for their dream place. Plus as more millennials join the market looking to buy for a growing family or a young professional purchasing their first home, there is a growing demand that is just going to continue into the upcoming months.

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