When you're at a networking event, talk less about yourself and ask more questions of the people you meet. Your approach should be "what value can I bring" to others as opposed to "what can others do for me?" writes Jill Schiefelbein in her book Dynamic Communication. Asking questions will create a more lasting connection and likely lead to benefits for both parties.In the end, Schiefelbein notes, your goal is to get a second handshake during an
The average annual property tax in the U.S. was $3,296 in 2016, with an effective tax rate of 1.15 percent, according to a new report released by ATTOM Data Solutions. The report encompasses a 2016 property tax analysis of more than 84 million single-family homes.The effective tax rate, according to ATTOM Data Solutions, is the average annual property tax expressed as a percentage of the average estimated market value of homes in a geographic are
New homes are getting larger, but their lot sizes are getting smaller. The median size of a new home increased from 1,938 square feet in 1990 to 2,300 square feet in 2016, but lot sizes during this same period decreased from 8,250 square feet to 6,970 square feet. That amounts to about a 16 percent decrease.However, the trend hasn't been consistent: Between 2006 and 2011, home buyers were showing demand for larger homes and larger lots. As home
Rejection, patience and knowing when to ask for help all launched these successful agentsKey Takeaways Looking for your big break in real estate can come from a negative experience rather than a positive one. Bouncing back can be what makes you great.Stephen Shapiro started in apartment leasing when he arrived in L.A. from Philadelphia in the 1970s. Early on, he found a niche leasing property to celebrities including Al Pacino and Mick Jagger in
There are lots of tools that real estate agents can use for their marketing efforts. Marketing is a key element for any successful real estate business. An effective marketing campaign will not only help generate more leads but also showcase your personal brand in front of potential prospects.In this article, you will find a list of the five most effective tools that you can use as a real estate agent. Each of these tools has a very specific role
A decrease in refinancing activity—due to the uptick in mortgage rates since November 2016—has curtailed overall mortgage application activity in recent weeks. It’s again what was behind the 1.6 percent drop in total mortgage applications last week, the Mortgage Bankers Association reported Wednesday.Applications for refinances dropped 4 percent last week and are now 33 percent below a year ago.Meanwhile, applications for home purchases are
How is your city’s noise pollution? The Department of Transportation has released a National Noise Map for you to find out. The heat map reveals the medium to loud sounds surrounding 97 percent of the population. The map focuses on airplane and road noise, with views from a national to county level.Areas that appear in blue to deep purple on the map are considered the noisiest, in which nearby residents are exposed to 80 to 95 decibels regular
Over the last 10 years, the price distribution of new homes has changed significantly, as new homes have grown more expensive. Builders blame a weakness among first-time buyers and rising regulatory burdens as the reason for the shift in focus in the pricier tiers of the new-home sector following the Great Recession.The number of new homes that sold for less than $250,000 started to decline prior to the Great Recession. Sales in this segment have
Townhomes are now the fastest-growing segment of the single-family housing construction market, according to the National Association of Home Builders. Construction of townhomes surged 17.8 percent from 2014 to 2015. That is compared to a 10 percent increase of construction of detached single-family homes and a 12.1 percent increase in co-op, condo, and apartment construction in that time period.Last year, townhomes comprised about 12.4 percent o
Home sellers say the greatest challenge for them this year is the lack of homes to choose from when it’s time for them to move, according to a new survey of more than 800 real estate professionals from Redfin.“It’s a seller’s market, but the catch is, most sellers need to buy as well,” says Eileen Lorway, a Redfin real estate professional in the Boston area. “This is a conversation I have with many clients at our first meeting. We dis
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