How to Home

Read our blog featuring real estate tips and essential information for buyers and sellers.

Consumer Guide: Seller Concessions

Mar 6, 2025, 19:50 PM by User Not Found
As a home seller, you have choices when deciding how to market your property, including whether you’d like to offer concessions to attract buyers or close a deal. Here’s what you need to know as you consider whether this approach is right for you.
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Consumer Guide: Ten Questions to Ask a Seller's Agent

Mar 6, 2025, 19:35 PM by User Not Found
If you’re ready to sell your home, you should feel empowered to find and work with the agent who is the best fit for your needs. Here are ten questions you should consider when selecting an agent.
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Consumer Guide: Ten Questions to Ask a Buyer's Agent

Mar 6, 2025, 19:28 PM by User Not Found
If you’re ready to buy a home, you should feel empowered to find and work with the agent who is the best fit for your needs. Here are ten questions you should consider when selecting an agent.
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NAR Written Buyer Agreements 101 PDF document

Consumer Guide: Negotiating Written Buyer Agreements

Mar 6, 2025, 19:12 PM by User Not Found
You’ve decided it’s time to buy a home and want to work with an agent to guide you through the process. The next step is to interview agents and negotiate a written agreement that includes the services the agent will provide and the compensation they will receive. Here’s what you need to know about negotiating an agreement with an agent who is a REALTOR®.
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Consumer Guide: What Veterans Need To Know about Buying a Home

Mar 6, 2025, 18:57 PM by User Not Found
The National Association of REALTORS® is proud to support those who serve our country on their journey to achieve the American Dream of homeownership. Veterans and active servicemembers often have unique needs when looking for a home, and agents who are REALTORS® are committed to helping ensure those needs continue to be met following the real estate practice changes that went into effect on August 17, 2024. Here is what you need to know.
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Consumer Guide: REALTORS®' Duty to Put Your Interests Above Their Own

Mar 6, 2025, 18:31 PM by User Not Found
A REALTOR® is a special kind of real estate agent: one who follows NAR’s strict Code of Ethics, including the first and primary pledge to protect and promote the interests of their clients. This obligation means that a REALTOR® cannot make decisions or provide representation in a way that puts their own interests or commissions ahead of their clients’ interests.
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Consumer Guide: Open Houses and Written Agreements

Mar 6, 2025, 18:12 PM by User Not Found
As of August 17, 2024, many real estate professionals nationwide will be asking buyers to enter into a written agreement prior to touring a home. But what if you are just attending an open house? Here’s what you should know.
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5 Emerging Home Design Trends

Mar 4, 2025, 12:43 PM by User Not Found
Whether you're selling and staging your home, planning a decor refresh, or daydreaming about how you will decorate your new place, 2025’s home trends offer a perfect mix of nostalgia, sustainability, and bold aesthetics. Here’s a look at the most exciting trends shaping interiors right now.
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The 3 Biggest Mistakes Sellers Are Making Right Now

Mar 4, 2025, 09:18 AM by User Not Found
If you want to sell your house, having the right strategies and expectations is key. But that means adjusting to where the market is today. If you are not factoring in that there are more homes for sale or that buyers are being more selective with their budgets, it may cost you. Here’s a quick rundown of the 3 most common missteps sellers are making, and how partnering with an expert agent can help you avoid every single one of them.
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Consumer Guide: Home Inspections

Feb 18, 2025, 15:36 PM by User Not Found
Between signing and close, a homebuyer may choose to have a new home inspected to make sure it is in good condition and safe for a new owner. Here’s what buyers and sellers should know.
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graphic with escrow deposit status bar

Consumer Guide: Escrow and Earnest Money

Feb 18, 2025, 15:20 PM by User Not Found
One of the steps between signing and closing on a home is when homebuyers typically deposit money into an escrow account. An agent who is a REALTOR® can help advise you on your offer and how to keep your deposits safe. When it comes to escrow, here’s what homebuyers should know.
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Today's First-Time Homeownership Facts

Feb 14, 2025, 18:35 PM by User Not Found
In 1986, the typical first-time homebuyer was 29 years old and comprised 44% of total home sales. What does first-time homeownership look like today? Check out our infographic with a few first-time homebuyer facts to find out.
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home for sale sign

Consumer Guide: What Goes Into Pricing Your Home

Feb 7, 2025, 21:12 PM by User Not Found
As a home seller, one of the most important questions to ask your agent is how to determine your home’s listing, or asking, price. Here is what sellers should know about home pricing.
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AI image of a broken window in a house

Consumer Guide: Homeowners Insurance

Jan 27, 2025, 20:19 PM by User Not Found
Understanding homeowners insurance is essential for anyone looking to purchase a home. Start looking at policies early—and ask an agent who is a REALTOR® to connect you with a licensed insurance agent for assistance. A detailed industry overview of available coverage is here, and below are some of the basics.
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A realistic depiction of residential flooding showing a suburban neighborhood with several house partially submerged in floodwaters

Consumer Guide: Flood Insurance

Jan 24, 2025, 21:56 PM by User Not Found
Flooding is the most common and costly natural disaster in the United States. Even a few inches of water can cause devastating damage. A licensed insurance agent can advise you on purchasing the right flood insurance to protect your assets. Here’s what you need to know.
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Yes, You Have to Sign Something to Tour a Property

Jan 10, 2025, 19:27 PM by User Not Found
Q&A for navigating important real estate industry changes that are now in effect.
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Buying a Condo? 8 Things To Ask

Nov 8, 2024, 11:21 AM by Chad Passaro
Condominiums, townhomes, and properties located within a homeowner association offer certain perks, but it’s important to consider them in your decision process.
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Appraisals 101 for Buyers

Nov 8, 2024, 11:21 AM by Chad Passaro
Once you are under contract, your lender will send out an appraiser to make sure the purchase price is in line with the property’s value. Continue reading for key things to know about the appraisal process.
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Are You Ready to Sell Your Home? Here Are 7 Things to Consider

Nov 8, 2024, 11:21 AM by Chad Passaro
Thinking about selling your home? It’s a big step, and the decision isn’t always straightforward. These questions can help you figure out if now’s the right time. If you find yourself saying “yes” to most of them, it might be time to start planning your next move!
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