New Regulations to Save the Day

I don’t know if you’ve been watching the news, but the price of eggs has gone sky high. Apparently, the Avian flu has wiped out scores of birds, and the increasing costs of fuel and feed have only made matters worse. I was at the Lucky supermarket recently, and the egg cabinet was down to … Read more


Research Can Be Revealing

Real estate transactions can be complex and often require the expertise of many different people, from lenders to licensed contractors. Realtors can help you navigate the whole experience by providing support within the scope of their license, and by referring you to others as needed. Public Records Search One way Realtors can support buyers is … Read more


What Homebuyers Need to Know

When it comes to buying a home, it’s important to know exactly what you’re buying, its condition, and all the expenses you’ll be expected to cover. Real estate transactions can be complex and often require the expertise of many different people, from lenders to licensed contractors. Realtors can help you navigate the whole experience, providing … Read more


Maybe Slower is Better

As a board member of a statewide organization, I must sign an annual confidentiality agreement. This year, rather than signing a paper document, I received a request for an electronic signature. If you’ve read this column for any length of time, you know one of my favorite sayings: In any agreement, the large print giveth … Read more


With Recent Outages, Are You Thinking About Solar?

You may be wondering whether having a solar energy system would be nice. The answer depends on far more variables than most people realize, so many, in fact, that a solar energy disclosure form has just been developed. The form requires home sellers to share information about the condition and financing of their solar system, … Read more


A Doable New Year’s Resolution: Maximizing Your Credit Score

Now that we’re a few weeks into 2023 and your new year’s resolutions are already starting to seem like more trouble than they’re worth, may I suggest a pivot to a different resolution? Make this the year you maximize your credit score. It’s not difficult and it can have big payoffs. If you plan to … Read more


Is a Housing Bubble About to Burst?

Folks have been asking whether they should be concerned about a housing bubble bursting like it did in 2008. Rest assured–there is no housing bubble. Market indicators are very different than they were in 2008. Let me take you through it step by step. Recent interest rate hikes have caused housing prices to drop a … Read more


Should I Sign the Arbitration Clause?

If your Realtor seems cagey about advising you on certain aspects of your purchase agreement, they may be navigating that tricky line between supporting you and inadvertently practicing law without a license. I recently attended a class taught by a real estate attorney and he made it clear in no uncertain terms that Realtors need … Read more


Free Advice Isn’t Free

Recently, an experienced Realtor shared a story that is all too familiar. A community member, let’s call him Joe, approached her asking for advice about his real estate transaction, even though he had hired someone else (a personal friend) to be his Realtor. He was upset when she told him she couldn’t help him, because … Read more