Everyone seems to be into home automation these days. Sellers often want to know if their home would be more appealing if it had some smart technology. Here’s how to decide whether or not to add a few tools to your home as a benefit to buyers.

What Is Smart Technology?

In essence, smart technology is the ability to have technology to do a portion of your thinking for you. Smart tools should generally have a couple of functions. The first will be to perform its job as specified. For example, with a smart thermostat, you should be able to set a temperature and expect it to work as instructed. Smart technology can also do more, however. Smart tools should, at least in theory, be able to make some decisions on the homeowner's behalf. A smart

Thinking about selling a condo? A wide range of buyers are being attracted to condo living in metropolitan regions across the country, and for condo owners willing to sell, it can be potentially profitable, as people of all ages and walks of life can find the low-maintenance, urban lifestyle of condo living to suit them perfectly. They may be looking to downsize both their available space and the hassles of performing maintenance on a home.

With all these buyers interested in your condo, you can get the best price for your place as you can, then move on to a different residence. Yet one of the issues you have to decide on is whether you want to sell the condo furnished or unfurnished. Will the condo sell better if it is furnished? Should you move

When homeowners decide to sell, one of the first considerations usually concerns making preparations to speed the selling process and help obtain the best possible price. But existing homes are somewhat like used cars - they often show signs of wear and tear that can devalue them or have design issues that will need to be overcome to get the most attention from qualified buyers.

Some good examples of this include the presence of pet odors, stale cooking smells, or smoke, as well as worn or faded walls and ceilings or stained or damaged windowsills or trim. In addition, homes may also have negative design issues that may discourage buyer interest, such as rooms that appear too dark or very small, oddly constructed areas due to past additions or

Most people know that home appraisals can be a tricky business because it's the act of forecasting the value of a property. However, in reality, everything for sale is subjective because the value of it can change from day-to-day and person-to-person. However, even if an appraisal isn't an exact science, it's still an important component of selling or buying a home. Learn more about what exactly it involves and how sellers can use this information to their advantage.

For informational purposes only. Always consult with a licensed real estate professional before proceeding with any real estate transaction.

Assessing the Home

An appraiser is an expert who will examine a property and then place a value on it. They consider everything from the

Homeowners seeking to protect their family and keep their property safe and secure are likely considering residential security systems to give them peace of mind. Home security systems are an invaluable home improvement, as more than two million home burglaries occur annually and homes without systems are 300 percent more likely to be targeted by thieves. To protect your Nashville home and the contents inside of it, here are four popular home security systems owners should consider.

Monitored Residential Security Systems

What is the best home security system? The most popular home alarms today are monitored security systems which connect to a call center that notifies the authorities if the alarm is triggered. In the past, these systems were

Protecting assets and income is an important part of retirement planning. As people get older, they may wonder if a reverse mortgage is appropriate for their needs. Reverse mortgages can provide a source of income in a variety of forms, drawn from a homeowner's equity. People who meet the requirements and have significant equity in their homes may want to consider a reverse mortgage. There are several things about reverse mortgages that differ from regular home loans, so homeowners should make sure they understand how it works before they apply.

For informational purposes only. Always consult with a licensed mortgage professional before proceeding with any real estate transaction.

1. What Is a Reverse Mortgage?

When people get a regular

Selling a home can be complicated, especially after the seller receives the offer to buy the home. The home purchase agreement is a complicated document that can be baffling to home sellers, especially if they haven't bought or sold a Goodlettsville home in a very long time. Understanding the basics of the home purchase agreement can help homeowners when they discuss the offer with their agent and then decide whether or not to accept an offer, counter an offer or ignore an offer.

For informational purposes only. Always consult with a licensed real estate professional before proceeding with any real estate transaction.

Home Purchase Price

The purchase price is what people focus on the most when they get the initial offer. While many home

The housing market is taking off. But even as the market comes to life, there are some houses that will sit for months at a time without selling, while others get snapped up immediately. If you are considering selling your home, here are a few tips to help you on your way to getting a quick sale.

Working with an experienced real estate agent will help a seller set a fair market price from the beginning. An agent will look at a number of factors in recommending a list price, include the home's age, condition, and amenities. Most important in the recommendation will be factoring in the comps. Comps are nearby homes of comparable age, size, and condition that have recently sold. This informs the real estate agent of what prices the local market is

Selling a home for less than the mortgage takes a little more work than a regular home sale. With this information, sellers will understand what distinguishes a short sale, and what they should anticipate during the process.

For informational purposes only. Always consult with a financial advisor before proceeding with any real estate transaction.

What Is a Short Sale?

Although home prices generally trend upward, there are periods of time when the value of a home may drop. As long as the homeowner can continue making the payments as specified, this situation may correct on its own. However, if someone needs to sell a home that is worth less than the amount they owe, they may have to go through a short sale in order to eliminate the

The immersive experience of actually standing in a room and seeing all its features without taking a single step presents a unique opportunity for real estate professionals, buyers and sellers alike.

Sometimes touted as the new normal for real estate marketing, virtual tours take photography to new heights of reality. While visual tours and drone photography have become commonplace for online listings, the development of virtual reality tours offers a new dimension. It is destined to become the "new normal" of real estate marketing, saving time and energy, adding a new level of professionalism and increasing the expectation of financial gain.

For informational purposes only. Always consult with a licensed real estate professional before