Improving Your Business

Stories, articles and advice aimed at improving your business

Mortgage Payments in Texas Way Down Since 2006

Mortgage payments were way out of control during the boom era, but new data suggests they’ve simmered down considerably. #157740817 / gettyimages.com During the housing boom years, home prices were not the only numerical value relating to housing that

The 3 Reasons that Housing May Not Be as Affordable as it Looks

We’re often told about how affordable housing is, but there is a world inside of the world of housing affordability. #475106427 / gettyimages.com Housing, we often read, is currently in a promised land of affordability. Though not quite the ideal

The Inconvenient Truth About Housing – in Two Charts

The most recent existing-home sales report indicated that housing may have turned a corner, but structural issues persist. #142483561 / gettyimages.com Covering the housing market nowadays is a strange experience. On one hand, you have the clear monthly reports

Realtor.com Takes First Steps Toward Connecting Agents with Clients Online

In the wake of its failed AgentMatch program, realtor.com kept its Dec. 2013 promise to develop online tools to help connect agents with prospective clients. The first step? Updating its agent profiles, according to a recent report by Inman

3 Reasons Negative Reviews are a Positive For Your Business

We know, we know, negative reviews are always bad…or are they? Have we been looking at them all wrong? #184641297 / gettyimages.com We live in an era dominated by online reviews. Whether its a product, service or company, the Internet

Agents are Much More than MLS Users

In Friday’s issue of The Houston Chronicle, I saw ad pictured above, which stated the following: the MLS sells homes, and only Realtors can post on the MLS. It really insulted me, and I am tired of our industry minimizing our

11% of Real Estate Agents Cannot Write

We’ve all seen listings with lackluster writing and grammar, but how common are those listings across the industry? #461174833 / gettyimages.com Bad grammar. Misspellings. ALL CAPITAL LETTERS. Oh yes, we’re talking bad writing in real estate listings, something we

The 5 Simple Reasons that Millennials are Not Buying Homes

Why on earth are Millennials not buying homes? It turns out there are pretty straightforward reasons behind their absence. #171287367 / gettyimages.com The housing market has, thus far in 2014, been putting up some pretty lukewarm numbers, and the relative

3 Things to Know About the Most Powerful Man in Housing

Mel Watt, the recently installed head of the FHFA, delivered his first major address on housing this week; here were the main takeaways. #171644428 / gettyimages.com Mel Watt, who is the director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA),

The 6 Assorted Reasons that People Prefer New or Existing Homes

Some consumers prefer newly built homes, while other prefer existing residences; why is that? #486077819 / gettyimages.com It’s always been a give-in that some consumers will prefer newly built homes while others opt for an existing residence, but an

5 Good Things Happening Right Now in Housing

There’s been quite a bit of negative press swirling around housing lately, but we’ve got some pleasant developments to hang your hat on. #461497687 / gettyimages.com There’s no two ways about it – the last few weeks, at least

Career Successes/Retirement Propel Luxury Housing Market

Realtor.com’s survey of luxury housing continues to yield interesting findings about that most important sector of housing. #479997555 / gettyimages.com The last couple weeks, we’ve been covering realtor.com’s survey of the luxury housing market with glee, with our stories

The 4 Things Currently Ailing the Housing Market

Housing has gotten off to a slow start in 2014, and as we approach the year’s halfway point, a diagnosis is in order. #485205213 / gettyimages.com If the last couple of weeks have made anything clear, it’s that the

3 Ways that Real Estate Agents Moonlight as Therapists

Real estate agents must wear many hats for their job, and “therapist” is certainly one of them. Buying and selling real estate is an inherently emotional business, and for good reason. When buying a home, your clients are making

The 4 Biggest Challenges Facing Luxury Homebuyers Today

What are the most troublesome obstacles faced by luxury homebuyers in today’s housing market? Earlier this week, we reported on a fascinating new study by realtor.com, which looked at what features today’s luxury homebuyers desire the most in a home.

3 Intriguing Details About Today’s Mortgage Environment

The mortgage markets may have undergone a radical change since 2008, but some details may still surprise you. Last week, we reported a rather sobering statistic – according to record keeping by Ellie Mae, the average FICO score for

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