real estate advice

Most homeowners have visited the Zillow website at some point to check their Zestimate value. Some are pleasantly surprised, while others are offended at the low price assigned to their beloved home. Zillow, and many other realtor websites, have been providing real estate valuations for years. So what goes into these property estimates and how much value should we be placing on the provided information?

If you are preparing to sell your home, you should be aware of the capital gains tax implications. There is a good chance that you will not owe any capital gains taxes on the sale of your principal residence if you meet certain federal requirements. And, if you do, the amount of capital gains that you pay on will be significantly reduced.

During the sale of your home, you will probably come face to face with an ugly truth - there are certain parts of your house (design and structure-wise) that buyers might not like. It's hard to hear, but read on to learn some of the major aspects of your home that buyers will be looking for and what they really don't care to see (or smell)!

Escrow. In the buying and selling process, you'll come across this word on multiple occasions. What is escrow? What does it mean, and how does it relate to the real estate transaction? Read on to find out more.

I recently held an open house for a contemporary home at the last minute, posting it online on Sunday morning only two hours before it started. I usually discourage people about open houses because they attract neighbors and suspects more often than prospects. Most open houses are only responsible for 1% of all home sales. That is why I generally preach against them.

Remember the old saying, “the early bird gets the worm”? Well, it’s true in many respects. When it comes to getting tickets for a concert, when you’re first in line, you get the best access to seats, right? If there’s a sale on Black Friday and there’s only a certain number of TVs being sold for a dollar, you can purchase one if you’re the early bird. Taking advantage of this basic economic philosophy in the sale of real estate works the same way it does in retail, or other parts of our lives – it applies to just about anything. The key is to bring your home to the marketplace at a time when the demand is at its greatest and the supply is at its lowest.

Join Eric Stewart, on Wednesday, January 18 at 7 pm Eastern, or on Sunday, January 22 at 8:15 am , for a one-hour live online presentation and learn how to sell your home for the highest value possible. Eric, with more than 30 years of real estate experience and 2,500 transactions in the DC Metro Area, is among the top 1% of Realtors® in the U.S. He will share with you his secrets for helping his clients get the most money for their homes. Secrets you can put into action for yourself! Eric will also answer questions live from the audience toward the end of the webinar. So if you've got a burning question — bring it with you! Eric loves to answer people's questions.

Do you want less hassle when it comes time to sell your home? If so, you may want to think about selling your home “as is.” Selling “as is” simply means putting the property on the market in its current condition, with few or no improvements. Our NEW As Is Guide provides invaluable tips and suggestions on how to effectively sell your home "as is" while still getting an optimal price. Read on to learn the benefits of selling your home “as is” and how a correct pricing strategy could get you more money than you even anticipated.

Don't miss out! Join top producing Realtor® and WMAL radio host Eric Stewart for a live online webinar on how to sell your home for maximum profit.

Holding open houses has been an age-old tradition in the real estate industry. Yet, did you know that only 1% of buyers come from these events? My radio show listeners have heard my opinion on open houses many times. I am against them in most instances. In my experience, open houses attract three types of people. Who are they?