Google announced this week that it will be shutting down its Google + Network on Aug. 31, 2019. Google made the announcement after reports surfaced that the data of half million users had been exposed on the social network.The Wall Street Journal alleges that Google knew about the security issue dating back to March 2018 too but failed to disclose it to users. Google has said it remedied the vulnerability in March. The data breach was due to a so
April 17 is the tax deadline, and tax advisers still can’t agree on whether prepaid 2018 property taxes can be deducted in full. Congress passed a tax reform bill late last year, capping write-offs for state and local taxes at $10,000 per return for single filers and married couples.The move set off a rush of homeowners at the end of the year to prepay their property taxes for 2018 ahead of the tax bill taking effect this year.The overhaul “
If you dread wasting another Saturday away from your family in a lackluster open house, it’s only because you’re not capitalizing on the huge opportunities in front of you.It’s up to you to make the most of your open houses. They can be goldmines if you handle them right.I’ve got 13 ways to help you maximize your next open house and turn those “wasted Saturdays” into some of your most powerful marketing opportunities.I also encourage
You should be chasing the buyers named Dylan, Chelsea, Austin, Alexandra, and Taylor. Those were the first names of millennials who were most likely to buy a home in 2017, according to a new analysis of more than 4 million home sales by ATTOM Data Solutions, a real estate data firm.On the other hand, Generation X and older buyers with the first names Gerald, Kristin, Stanley, Kurt, and Jaime had the biggest decreases in home sales last year.Not s
Black is making a comeback in home design, with black fixtures, appliances, and furniture emerging as hot trends for the new year. Ryan Brown of Brown Design Group in Southern California predicts that black fixtures will replace brass as the most trendy home hardware in 2018. “They look great in modern applications, as well as transitional homes,” he told realtor.com®. “And the best part is no water spots to clean off.”Matted black furni
A little pen and paper goes a long wayKey Takeaways Sending handwritten notes starts with the people you already know, and what you know about them.You’ve heard about the power that a handwritten note holds for real estate agents — it’s an excellent way to build relationships and keep in touch with your sphere in a meaningful, personal way. And every time you sit down to start writing one, you feel … stuck. Or impatient.With the prolifera
Home prices aren’t on the rise everywhere. In some cities, buyers have actually seen prices drop in recent months. Though the national median price for an existing single-family home reached a record high in the second quarter, a handful of metros saw the local median price decrease from a year ago, according to the National Association of REALTORS®. The 10 metros to post the largest year-over-year declines in median home prices are:1. Sprin
Despite tight inventory conditions, economists at mortgage giant Freddie Mac have high expectations for housing. Buyer demand remains strong amid low mortgage rates, even though home prices this year are expected to be about 6 percent higher than last year, the economists note. Mortgage rates are expected to remain around 4 percent for the remainder of the year.“A decade after the Great Recession, the housing market is rebounding,” says Sean
RentHop, an online rental listing platform, conducted a study that unveiled the most common rental scams and how to avoid them. Property managers and agents who work with renters should pass these warning signs and tips on to their clients. Money wiring: If potential renters are ever asked to wire funds via Western Union or Money Gram or through an “escrow service” before they’ve even seen the property, then the apartment probably doesn't e
Companies commonly offer relocation packages for employees who must move for a job, but one firm is providing its workers a "delocation" package—in which they'll pay employees to move anywhere they want.Zapier, a company producing workflow automation tools, says it's offering the package to new employees living in the San Francisco area in hopes of expanding into new markets in the near future. New employees can choose the city that best fits t
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