Blog - real estate tips

Why Millennial Buyers Aren't Interested in Your Home

Millennials will be 28 - 43 years old in 2024, and despite the significant economic changes their generation has faced, more than half of them are now homeowners. Still more Millennials are projected to follow this pattern of success this year, so it’s little wonder that sellers who are Gen Xers or Boomers want to market properties to this younger generation. 

If you have placed your home on the market with the intention of targeting buyers aged 28 - 43 only to encounter crickets instead of an avalanche of offers, you have to be wondering why Millennial buyers aren’t interested in your home. Most importantly, what can you change to draw in this key demographic?

Decide on One Slice of Millennial Buyers 

You aren’t going to be able to draw in…

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Vacation vs Investment Home

Are you a homeowner who plans to purchase your second home in 2024? If so, you will be applying for a mortgage under different circumstances than those under which you bought your first home. Securing a loan for a second home is more complicated, more difficult, and even includes two separate sets of rules - one for vacation homes and another for investment properties. 

Let’s examine these two types of homes, the rules that govern them, and the pros and cons of each approach when it comes to your finances. 

What Qualifies as a Vacation Home?

Your primary residence is where you’ll spend most of your time, of course, but you are permitted to have one or more vacation homes as well, or even a residence that you use as your office. Either way,…

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Should You Stay or Should You Go?

HGTV’s “Love it or List It” showcases an all-too-familiar conundrum for homeowners throughout Middle Tennessee and beyond. If you’ve seen the show, you know featured guests ask for help deciding whether to remodel and relist or remodel and stay put in their refreshed home. 

As much as you may feel like this show could feature you and your current predicament, the reality is that very few Americans have enough expendable cash, a team of professionals, and a hotel voucher to cover our time away from home. Still, you have a decision to make: should you stay, or should you go? 

Let’s break down the factors that are most likely to help you determine the answer to this question. 

You Should Stay If:

You Have Poor Credit

Life can throw up…

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Warning Signs to Watch for When House Hunting

While a professional home inspection is a crucial step in the home-buying process, there are some warning signs you can spot even before that inspection. During your home tour, keep an eye out for these atypical "red flags." They could indicate underlying issues that might not be immediately evident. Here are seven of them:

Unusual Odors

Pay attention to any strange or persistent odors in the home. Unpleasant smells could be a sign of hidden problems such as mold, mildew, pest infestations, or issues with the plumbing or sewage system.

Patchy or Mismatched Repairs

Be cautious of walls or ceilings with uneven patches, inconsistent paint jobs, or areas that look recently repaired. These could indicate past damage or ongoing issues that…

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Creative Ways to Monetize Your Home

So, you've got a home --that cozy nest where you can rest, relax, and create memories. But did you know your house can do more than just be a roof over your head?

Whether you're a prospective homebuyer or a current homeowner, there are creative ways to turn your property into a money-making machine beyond building equity or renting it out to travelers. Let's explore some exciting options.

Store and Earn

Got a garage or storage space you're not using to its full potential? Rent it out! People are always on the lookout for extra storage. Search for neighborhood storage online to help you connect with renters. Your unused space could turn into a monthly paycheck.

The Host With the Most

If you have a large and attractive outdoor area,…

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Should You Sell to an Investor?

The housing market experiences clear trends, particularly within a geographic region as dynamic as Middle Tennessee. You have, no doubt, been catching the news and social media buzz about the wave of investors who are snapping up properties. As a homeowner preparing for sale yourself, you may have wondered whether or not you should sell to an investor if one were to approach you. As you would expect, there are pros and cons to both sides.

While your personal agent is the ideal person to consult regarding the intricacies of your situation, the following guidelines will be a useful general primer on the main things you’ll want to consider. 

The Buyer’s Future Plans

The most obvious difference between selling to a buyer who plans to move into…

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Handling Low Ball Offers

Even in Middle Tennessee’s thriving real estate market, you may find that you’ve been too optimistic with your initial listing price for your property. The next reasonable step is lowering the price. Sometimes, this will draw buyers like bees flocking to blooming lavender, but there are at least as many instances of nothing happening, even a week or two later. 

But wait: who is that buyer emerging from the shadows? Is this the moment you’ve been waiting for?

No. This is a lowball sniper, the buyer who sees your home languishing on the market and thinks this is their opportunity to offer you a full eight to ten percent less than your asking price. At least, that’s what you will observe during your first interaction.

How are you meant to handle…

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When Can You Terminate a Real Estate Contract?

The process of purchasing a home can be lengthy, allowing buyers like you to experience any number of motivations to terminate a real estate contract. Perhaps you have found a home you would prefer over this one, have encountered a failed financing effort, have discovered faults with the structure, or have received an unexpected job offer that, if accepted, would take you out of the area.

The challenge you will face now is that the moment you signed the purchase agreement for this home, you entered into a binding legal contract with the homeowner.

Conversely, if you’re the homeowner, you may wish to withdraw from an offer you have accepted on your property.

Either way, there’s no easy solution. No matter the root cause of your desire to…

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What is an Estate Sale?

Estate sales are a popular choice for homeowners and beneficiaries to liquidate assets and prepare a home for sale. Estate sales involve selling all or most of the items belonging to an estate at a price point that reflects their current market value. These items are sold directly from the home, which is opened to the public for a set period of time.

When should you consider holding an estate sale and what will that process involve? Read on to find out.

Why Hold an Estate Sale?

In some cases, estate sales are a legal requirement decided upon in probate court. This may occur when:

•        The property owner passes away without having named an heir to their estate.
•        The property owner’s heirs can’t come to an agreement on how to…

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5 Costly Home Features

Let's explore five features that could potentially be a waste of money, helping you make smarter choices for your future home.

1.) Large Yard:

While a spacious yard can be appealing, it's essential to consider the associated costs and maintenance needs. A large yard often requires additional resources and time to maintain, such as mowing, landscaping, and irrigation. These expenses can add up over time, potentially straining your budget. Instead, think about how much outdoor space you genuinely need and consider finding a balance that suits your lifestyle without breaking the bank.

2.) Short Commute:

Having a short commute to work is undoubtedly desirable, but it's essential to evaluate the long-term benefits against the added costs.…

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