The Secret To Selling? Using an Agent To Get Your House Noticed In a recent  survey , the  National Association of Realtors  (NAR) asked sellers what they want most from a real estate agent. The number one answer was to help market their house. It makes sense. The way your agent markets your house can be the difference between whether or not it stands out and gets attention from buyers. That’s why it’s so important to work with an expert local agent that knows what they're doing. According to that same  report  from  NAR , here are some of the most common methods real estate agents use to market homes, and how you benefit when  your agent  uses them effectively ( see graph below ): Listing on the MLS  – Real estate agents have access to the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) database. And that’s great for you because having your house on the MLS helps it get more visibility from other agents and buyers. And the more people who see it, the more li...

Two Resources That Can Help You Buy a Home Right Now A recent report from  Realtor.com   says  20% of Americans don’t think homeownership is achievable . Maybe you feel the same way. With inflation driving up day-to-day expenses, saving enough to buy your first home is more of a challenge. But here’s the thing. With the right resources and help, you can still make it happen. There are options that can help make  buying a home  possible today — even if your savings are limited or your credit isn’t perfect. Let’s explore just two of the solutions that could help get you into your first home no matter the market. 1. FHA Loans If your  down payment  savings and your credit score aren’t where you want them to be, an  FHA loan  could be your pathway to buying a home.  According  to the  U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development  (HUD) and  Bankrate,  the big perks of an FHA home loan are: Lower Down Payments : T...