
You worked for weeks getting your home show-ready: organizing, cleaning, and finishing up those half-started projects. The sign went up, the people came through, and you accepted an offer. Maybe this all happened faster than you anticipated; some homes go under contract in just a few days, and the speed of the process can leave you feeling overwhelmed. Here are some of the most common questions that I'm asked by sellers:
1. What do I need to do now?
The home inspections are the first order of business. Bu...

Traditionally, spring is one of the busiest times of the year for real estate. However, the coronavirus outbreak—and subsequent stay-at-home orders—led many buyers and sellers to put their moving plans on hold. Across the country in April, new listings fell nearly 45%, and sales volume fell 15% compared to last year.1
Fortunately, as restrictions have eased, we've seen an uptick in market activity, most notably here in Michigan where real estate had been completely shut down. And economists at Realtor.com expect a rebound in July, August, and September, as fears about the pandemic subside, and buyers return to the market with pent-up demand from a lost spring season.2

"What is happening in the real estate market right now?"
That's the question I keep getting asked, so here are the facts to give everyone a better idea.
The National Association of Realtors conducted a flash survey* last week to get a feel for Covid-19's effects on the behavior of buyers and sellers nationally. Here's what they found:
Home, wherever it may be, is a place like no other. It's where we can relax and truly be ourselves. It's where so much of life happens, where memories are made. So the decision to sell is one that weighs heavily on many homeowners, especially when a change of circumstances makes it necessary. Having a caring and experienced professional at your side can mean the difference between heart-wrenching disappointment and the chance for a fresh start.
Ideally, everyone involved in the transaction should be thoroughly committed to a speedy and successful closing. In reality, failure to communicate and a lack of urgency often create unnecessary stress. Buyers, sellers, agents, lenders, inspectors, appraisers, and title companies all have to work together to bring the transaction to cl...

Homeownership offers many advantages over renting, including a stable living environment, predictable monthly payments, and the freedom to make modifications. Neighborhoods with high rates of homeownership tend to have less crime and more civic engagement. Additionally, studies show that homeowners are happier and healthier than renters, and their children do better in school.1
But one of the biggest perks of homeownership is the opportunity to build wealth over time. Researchers at the Urban Institute found that homeownership is financially beneficial for most families,2 and a recent study showed that the median net worth of homeowners can be up to 80 times greater than that of renters in some areas.3
So how doe...