First Blog Posts

Sometimes, it can be scary to write your first blog post! Luckily, the supportive community of ActiveRain is just the place to start.

On this page you will find a running list of “first blog posts” written on ActiveRain by members of the real estate industry. These new bloggers have taken the leap to begin their blogging journey. Our first-time real estate bloggers deserve a big welcome and some extra encouragement from you!

Take a read, leave a comment, and say hello. You'll make that author’s day and help to give them a great first impression of our community.

Agent's first blog posts on ActiveRain

By Mark Wade, Realtors specializing in Center City Condos
(Center City Condos )
Watch our short video about The Ellington Condominiums!     Offering Prime Rittenhouse Square Living, the condos at 1500 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA, are where Historic Charm Meets Modern Luxury. The Ellington is a historic building re-imagined into luxury condominiums in 2006, offering a sophisticated urban lifestyle on the west side of Broad Street.
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Greetings! This is my first step in a new direction! I have been a teacher for over 20 years and have decided to explore new career paths. My husband works in construction so I have seen a little of the agent side of the business and think it looks fascinating!As I work through the required 120 hours of instruction, I was surprised to see that a lot of time was dedicated to the 21 different ways a person can lose their real estate license. Of the different reasons presented, I found "Neglecting Fiduciary Duties" to be the most encompassing. An agent has the fiduciary responsilibty in accounting, care & dilligence, confidentiality, disclosures, loyalty, and obedience. Neglecting any one of these can have huge conseqences. It gave me more appreciation to the good agents who adhere to ethi...
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By Jill Kravitz, Luxury Living, Community Insights, Real Estate
(Exp Realty LLC)
Boca Raton’s real estate market continues to shine as one of the most sought-after destinations in South Florida. From cutting-edge contemporary homes to waterfront estates, the city offers an exceptional range of opportunities for buyers, investors, and those looking to upgrade their lifestyle. Here’s an insider’s guide to what’s happening in Boca Raton’s thriving real estate scene and why now is the time to invest.1. Luxury Living in High DemandBoca Raton is synonymous with luxury, and its residential offerings reflect this reputation. New Developments Stealing the Spotlight:Communities like Lotus and Boca Bridges are redefining luxury with resort-style amenities, modern designs, and world-class architecture. Homes in Lotus feature sleek, contemporary designs with open layouts, state-...
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By Julia Nikolaus, Home stager extraordinaire in PA
(.)
When deciding to do a home improvement project, one of the most important questions is whether you're going to do it yourself or hire a professional. DIY home improvement is an increasingly popular route, and there are numerous DIY guides and videos online to help walk you through the process; however, without prior experience, people often don’t really grasp what’s involved in home improvement projects until they jump into it. It’s important to go through the various pros and cons of doing home improvement yourself before making a decision and starting your project. The Pros of Doing It YourselfImage URL: https://www.pexels.com/photo/man-using-a-laptop-at-a-wood-workshop-4491881/Creative ControlIf you have a clear-cut vision of what you want to do with your home, in terms of the aesthe...
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By Joe Mojica, Your Home Adds Value to You
(Laer Realty Partners Bowen)
BEFORE YOU LISTING A HOUSE ON THE MARKET, GIVE IT CPR ❤️CPR is used on people in cardiac arrest in order to oxygenate the blood and maintain a cardiac output to keep vital organs alive.  In real estate, CLEAN, PAINT, REPAIR (CPR) does not convey a matter of life or death.  However, it does convey the duration it might sit in the market due to lack of interest.  When buyers shop for houses, typically the homes that leave an impression are those that are clean, that have a fresh coat of paint, and that show no signs of repairs.Clean – cleaning refers to both interior and exterior of the house. Floors, mirrors, windows, and sliding glass doors should look vibrant. Kitchen and baths should be squeaky clean. Bedrooms and closets should look orderly.  Either a scented candle or a scented air ...
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By Brett Baker
Clients put a lot of trust in sales agents when they are looking to purchase a home. There is a specific level of professionalism and organization that is expected when the amount of work and information that we are trusted with comes across our desks. Living in a more and more technological world security risks become more and more dangerous everyday. That makes proper record keeping all the more important. That is why there are laws and regulations to help protect not only clients but real estate companies.On top of the laws and regulations there are financial benefits to safe and proper record keeping. It is estimated that a company that has poor record can lead to 15-20% increase in operational costs.
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By ROBERT THIBODEAU II, eXp Realty Maine | Luxury Homes & Local
(EXP REALTY)
Moving can be an exciting adventure, but for pets, it can also be a confusing and stressful experience. Animals are often sensitive to changes in their environment, and helping them transition to a new home takes a bit of planning and care. Whether you’re moving across town or to a new state, these tips will make the process easier for your furry family members.1. Prepare in Advance Before moving day, make a plan for your pet’s needs. If possible, bring them to the new home before the move so they can start to familiarize themselves with the new environment. Small visits can help pets build positive associations with the new space and ease the transition.2. Create a Safe Space on Moving Day The day of the move is usually busy, with people coming in and out, moving boxes, and strange sou...
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By KM Realty Group LLC, Your path to success in Chicago real estate!
(KM Realty Group LLC)
With everything feeling more expensive these days, it’s natural to worry about how rising costs might impact the housing market. Many people are concerned that high prices and tighter budgets could cause more homeowners to fall behind on their mortgage payments, leading to a wave of foreclosures.But before you start worrying about a housing market crash, here’s a look at what’s really happening. And the good news is: the latest foreclosure data shows there’s no wave on the horizon.How Today’s Market Is Different from 2008Let’s ease those fears by looking at the bigger picture. The graph below uses research from ATTOM, a property data provider, to show that the number of homeowners starting the foreclosure process is nowhere near what we saw coming out of 2008.Back then, there was a big ...
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October 15, 2024  T-MAX Lending LLC, based in San Diego, CA, has extended $45 million in financing to support the renovation of a 226-unit apartment tower in New Orleans. The loan was provided to an entity owned by Brian Pulisic, a borrower with extensive experience in value-add projects in the area. The funds will be used to modernize the property and lease it out to full stabilization. "T-MAX Lending LLC offered a flexible loan that gave us the capital needed to complete our project," said Jones. "Their team ensured a smooth, timely closing. We look forward to continuing our partnership with Jackson and the T-MAX team as we finish the renovation." In its announcement, T-MAX Lending LLC highlighted its focus on real estate debt funds, actively lending in markets across the U.S. and int...
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By Jessica Johnson
(Agent professor )
         Losing a real estate license can happen for many reasons, and one of the most common is false or misleading advertising. Advertising is a crucial part of a real estate agent’s job, but it comes with strict regulations to ensure honesty and transparency. When an agent makes false claims in ads, whether it’s about a property’s features, its value, or even their own credentials, they can be accused of deceptive practices. This can lead to disciplinary action from the real estate commission or licensing board in their state.        For instance, an agent might exaggerate the features of a property in their marketing materials, such as claiming a home has more square footage than it actually does, or saying it’s in “move-in ready” condition when it needs major repairs. Even exaggera...
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By Salote Umufuke
(Real Estate )
One of the most definite ways to lose real estate license would be real estate fraud, commingling funds, stealing funds or property. Real estate fraud can come in many different forms. It can be misuse of money that didn't partake in what it was intentionally used for such as finishing projects and such as that for example; The Lamperes CaseThe criminal fraud and tax evasion case was filed in 2021; Lamperes pleaded guilty to one count of securities fraud on Dec. 31, 2023.According to investigators, Lamperes, who had been living in Berthoud at the time, executed 29 sales contracts related to the Investments of Windsor project. However, only eight of the 29 condos were built.In total, the defendant stole $1,062,500 from victims who invested money into the project, the DA’s office said. - ...
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By CHRIS FALCONE, InterNACHI-Certified Master Inspector
(X-Factor Home Inspections)
Ivy On Your HomeChris Falcone, Home Inspector ACII love English Ivy. I think Ivy is beautiful, and great on the wall at Wrigley Field, but as a Home Inspector it sets off my radar when I see it well established around homes.  It in no way has a symbiotic relationship with a home’s building materials or live trees.English Ivy (and other species) is prolific in Pennsylvania.  It is considered an evergreen so it does grow all year, albeit with different seasonal growth rates.  It can be tempting to leave in place because it is an evergreen, but it is invasive and very destructive if left unchecked.  I hope this information helps if you are shopping for or own a home with ivy on or near it.     There are four main subspecies in this area and you should do your best to keep them away from yo...
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New to Real Estate? Me too! Currently taking my real estate course and an interesting topic is the various ways one can lose their license. It's understandable the list is so large as the way you practice, understand laws and work with clients can impact the economy, clients lives and so much more. The best way to prevent these issues is self reflection on a the topics you may have issues with. For example, I’d acknowledge my issues with organization and bad record keeping could be something l could struggle with. As I finish my training and daily life I'll be focusing on organization and the importance of record keeping.What are your struggles and what can you do to make sure you don't put yourself at risk?
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The old phrase you list you last still holds true for most agents today, probably more so then ever. Many seasoned agents have residual repeat clients to fill their listing pocket but many do not. In this post I will provide a case study whereby a new agent got a multi-million dollar listing with the help of a co-marketing postcard targeting specific home sellers.The pain point for many agents and mortgage professionals in this market is two fold. Finding and capturing listing leads in a stagnant market.  Listing are the bread and butter of any real estate market but so is a ready and willing buyer. If you're a new agent or maybe you've been out of the business, taking or even finding new clients does require some marketing budget and highly targeted personal marketing.Some markets in t...
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By Cheryl Robertson, Rural land and home specialist serving NW Arizona
(Dirt Road Real Estate)
I'm a summertime gal (Truth: with central a/c when I get tired of the heat), but even I was a little discouraged to see in the forecast that we're going to be up over 100 degrees again here in the mountains east of Kingman again tomorrow. And to my friends in Phoenix and other warm parts of the state, I say “Uuh-boy.”BUT then a video of snow came up on my photo feed from February this year, and I am reminding myself to be thankful that I can have really easy early-morning hikes right now with great, dry footing. It will be a lot more work to get outside come February again. So here's a photo to cool all of us Arizonians off this week...remember, winter will be here before we know it!
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By Danny Justice
(Synergy Realty Pros )
10 Tips to Selling Your Home: Tip #1 - Price Your Home CompetitivelySelling your home quickly and at the best price starts with one crucial step: setting the right price. Pricing your home competitively from the beginning can attract more potential buyers and minimize the time it spends on the market.In this first tip, we're diving into why it's essential to conduct a Comparative Market Analysis (CMA). A CMA helps you determine a fair and strategic listing price that reflects the current market conditions in East Tennessee. Overpricing can scare off buyers, but pricing your home slightly below market value might create a bidding war, driving up the final sale price!Stay tuned each week as we share more insider tips to help you sell your home successfully.Danny Justice📱 Cell: (865) 748-0...
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By Grant R. Menard, Fairhaven, Massachusetts Mortgage Broker
(Onshore Mortgage, LLC. NMLS# MB1995582)
In a significant shift aimed at supporting veteran homebuyers, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has announced a temporary policy update regarding real estate agent commissions. Effective August 10, 2024, veterans utilizing VA home loans will now have the option to directly pay their buyer’s agent commissions. This adjustment comes amidst evolving real estate regulations that could potentially impact VA homebuyers responsible for their Realtor’s commission, potentially up to 3% of the home’s sales price.Key Updates and Implications:‍Previous Rule vs. New RuleUnder previous VA guidelines, homebuyers were prohibited from paying buyer-agent commissions. Instead, sellers were mandated to cover these costs. The new rule allows veterans to pay their buyer’s agent directly, provided the ...
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By Katharine Kormanik, Real estate agent in training in SLC, UT
(N/A)
Hi fellow agents and brokers, I am wondering what happens when you are listing a house, and a buyer wants to submit an offer but is not represented. What happens to the BBC? Can it be given as a credit back to the buyer at closing? Can it be given as a credit back to the seller at closing (in which case the buyer would probably decrease the purchase offer accordingly)? Would you need to edit the commission % in your Exclusive Right to Sell Agreement? How often do you get unrepresented buyers? Is there anything special you have to do when working with them? Is it tricky to navigate or pretty straightforward? Would love your thoughts/stories on how this has worked for you in the past. Thanks!
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By Jason Niles, Top Negotiator in Massachusetts
(Coldwell Banker)
Find all of the homes for sale Arlington MA. Search by architectural styles, interior, and exterior features. You also will find detailed information about Arlington MA. Find info about restaurants,outdoor activities, history, and more.Click Here
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By Tariq Thomas, Real Estate Agent, Developer & Problem Solver
(THG of MD LLC)
Understanding the differences between tenant and squatter rights in Maryland is crucial for both property owners and renters. This knowledge can help protect your property, ensure you comply with state laws, and avoid potential legal issues.Understanding Tenant Rights in MarylandA tenant is someone who has a lease agreement to occupy a rental property. In Maryland, tenants have specific rights and responsibilities under the law. These rights are designed to protect tenants from unfair practices and ensure they have a safe place to live.Rights and Responsibilities of Tenants in Maryland: Lease Agreements: A lease is a binding contract between the tenant and landlord. It outlines the terms of the tenancy, including the duration, rent amount, and maintenance responsibilities. Learn more ab...
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