Selling your house this season? You’ve probably heard you should stage it before it hits the market. But what does that really mean – and is it worth the effort?
The short answer is “yes,” especially right now.
With more houses for sale this year, you’re likely wondering how to make the most money possible without your house sitting on the market. The answer is staging. It can help your house stand out, bring in stronger offers, and sell faster. As Nadia Evangelou, Principal Economist at the National Association of Realtors (NAR), puts it:
“Staging matters. Preparing the home to be ‘buyer-ready’ attracts more buyers, especially now that inventory has increased.”
Here's what staging actually involves and what it could do for your sale.
What Is Home Staging?
Home staging is the process of preparing your house, so it appeals to as many buyers as possible. That usually means decluttering ...

 


For a lot of would-be first-time buyers, affordability is the thing that’s standing in the way. But some buyers are getting creative and finding a way to still make the numbers work – and that’s through co-buying.
The Dream Is Still Alive. The Math Just Isn’t Working for Everyone.
Young people haven’t given up on the dream of owning a home – not even close. According to FirstHome IQ, homeownership still ranks among the top life goals for the next generation.
The problem? 73% of Gen Z and millennial buyers cite affordability as the reason for not making homeownership a priority. And it shows. First-time buyers now make up just 21% of all home purchases, the lowest share since the National Association of Realtors (NAR) started tracking the data in 1981.
But still, some buyers are making it happen. And a portion of them are turning to co-buying to get their foot in the door. ...

 


When you put your house on the market, you don’t just want it to sell. You want it to sell fast. But the thing is, nationally, it’s taking a little longer to sell lately. And that slowdown can feel frustrating if you want a fast process. Here’s what you need to realize.
In every market right now, there’s one clear exception:
Well-priced, well-presented homes are still selling, and it’s often faster than you’d expect.
If you can tap into that, you can still set yourself up to move quickly, too. Here’s how to get it done.
How Long It Takes To Sell Today
According to Realtor.com, homes are selling in about 52 days right now. That’s how long the process takes from the day it hits the market until closing day.
And while that may sound slow to you, it’s not slow. It’s normal.
That’s because it’s pretty much right in line with what it was during the last no ...

 


You may have heard April 12-18 was the “best week” to list your house. That’s based on a report from Realtor.com. But now that it’s passed, you may be wondering if you missed your moment.
Here's the good news – you didn’t. 
Because the reality is, there isn’t just one perfect week to sell your house this Spring. There’s a window. And right now, you’re still in it.
Your Window To Sell Is Still Wide Open
Here’s why. Different organizations run studies like this every year. And they don’t always land on the exact same week. That’s okay. It’s because they're using different research methods and even different definitions of what “best” means.
But the fact that the results vary points to a larger trend. While there may be sweet spots, the entire Spring season gives sellers an opportunity to get some of the best conditio ...

 


At some point, as you start thinking about the years ahead, this question tends to come up:
“Could I stay here long-term… or would it make more sense to move?”
It’s not always urgent. It often shows up in small moments, like going up and down the stairs, keeping up with the maintenance, or just thinking about what the next chapter of your life might look like in this home.
And for most people, the answer is simple. They want to stay.
The USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology found about 90% of adults over 65 prefer to stay in their homes as they get older (see below):
But even if staying feels like the right answer, it’s still worth thinking ahead about what that might actually look like. That’s where the right agent can really help.
What You Need To Plan for If You’re Staying in Your Home
Aging in place is definitely possible. But it’s better if you have a plan. And here&rsq ...