Posts with tag 'Real Estate Market Trends'

As we begin 2014, what are some trends that we may see in the housing industry? There are several and here a few that could help shape the landscape.

Millennials are being observed in terms of where they are going and what they are doing. Their financial decisions play a key role in economic markets, including housing. One major trend of millennial is that they are not buying as many homes as previous generations at their age.

Another trend is that recovery of the real estate market is heavily dependent on job growth and recovering from high unemployment numbers. Some experts say that the job market may not fully recover for another 2 years so it is not likely to change quickly.

During the economic downturn, apartments were in high demand. In many cases it was due to former homeowners now becoming renters and multi family situations on the rise as well. However, there should be a slowdown in the building of multifamily buildings and apartments as the demand h...

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Today marks the launch of our Professional Development Center, a comprehensive online Learning Management System (LMS) for our Sales Associates

Old Colony Sales Associates can access programs on sales, marketing, technology and relocation and follow self-guided curriculums to completion.   LeadingRE Certifications are granted to students who successfully complete a comprehensive series of courses and include LeadingRE Sales Specialist (LSS) and LeadingRE Service Expert (LSE).     

The Professional Development Center also fosters informal learning opportunities by allowing participants to pose questions to one another, engage in conversation and share insights through the program's online community.

"With the implementation of their Professional Development Center, Old Colony, REALTORS® has demonstrated its commitment to the ongoing development of their most important resource, their people," notes Rhett Damon, executive Director of Strategy and Technolog...

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Swimming pools can be a draw for some who are house hunting. According to experts in real estate, buyers of middle age with children in their teens are the biggest group of buyers. However, there are those who view having a pool as a liability and a safety issues. In areas where there are a large number of pools, in warmer climates, experts say that a pool can increase the attractiveness of a property and in many cases the trend now points toward focusing on landscaping, decks and other amenities.

Regarding adding value to the home, pools in some cases can add value but not in every instance. In terms of cost, the Wall Street Journal reports that these can be more than what is advertised. Why is this? Because the cost may not just be the pool. It may be additional costs such as landscaping and service year round that could add to the initial cost. It is important to make sure to keep service records to make sure that the pool is in working order.

Location is another...

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Retirees and those nearing retirement age are currently the largest generation.  This group is widely known as the Baby Boom generation, or baby boomers.

This generation is not only active but they have particular tastes and wants in their homes. Sometimes this is due to downsizing after children leave, retirement or perhaps just a redesign that will better go with their lifestyle after retirement. There are particular features that baby boomers look for, including:

• Home Offices/Technology – many baby boomers may be self employed on a part time basis or perform consulting work and want the advantage of a home office and technology to support various devices such as smart phone, Ipads and wireless Internet access.
• Wider Access in Doorways/Hallways – in anticipation of possible life changes, baby boomers are looking at wider access for mobility devices such as wheelchairs and walkers and additional equipment should t...

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Dilemma: You want to make some changes to your home but don't have the time or cash to commit to major renovations. Don't fret, there are smaller, less costly projects that can be completed that will add value to your home and a smile to your face.

Have a home office? There are more people these days that work out of their homes. By updating the home office, you can add some value by changing an unused space into a work area. Projects such as painting, refurbishing an older desk, adding shelving or even new windows can breathe new life into an older space or one that hasn't been used previously.

Owner's suites can add a degree of luxury at a low price. Take the main bedroom of your home and pick a color and theme. There are thousands of ideas out there – utilize the Internet or make visits to local home improvements stores for inspiration. Pinterest, which is an online idea warehouse, contains thousands of ideas and leads for channeling creativity.

Landscap...

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