Seaport Real Estate Group Blog

5 things we recommend you do in the Fall to increase curb appeal

When starting a home search, many buyers often judge a home by looking at the photos online. Or their realtor may suggest doing a drive-by before setting up an appointment to check out the area and location. That's why curb appeal is so important. It is the first impression made upon potential buyers. 

Here are 5 things we recommend you do in the Fall to increase curb appeal. 

1. Fall Cleanup - Over the summer, the weeds, sure enough, took their toll on your garden beds, and summer plants have flowered and died and dropped their share of vegetation on the mulch. Cleaning the garden beds, weeding all those pesky unwanted plants, and then putting a fresh layer of mulch will make your garden beds stand out and pop.

2. Power…

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Seller Beware

Caveat Emptor – Latin for: “Don’t buy a house right now”

Sage advice indeed. Unless your circumstances warrant it and you’re ok parting with a few extra shekels you may never see again. Not to worry. Prospective buyers in most price ranges have largely backed away from the buffet table at this point. They haven't had much choice in the matter.

The purpose of my rant today.

The tide has turned, kind of…

It’s not a great time to buy or sell. Excluding those under duress without the luxury of a choice, or the ultra-wealthy paying cash.

For most, it hasn’t been the best time to buy for quite a while, but obviously a great time to sell throughout the “Covid-fueled, no inventory” seller’s bonanza we’ve witnessed over the last few…

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Everything Is Not Okay (And That's Okay)

There is overwhelming news and media coverage regarding today's real estate market. It seems that, based on most coverage out there, it's both a great time to buy and a great time to sell. Social media is the same narrative, everything is great for everyone. When the world is telling you to have your cake and eat it too, something isn't right. So what is the truth? 

Let's take off the rose colored glasses for a moment and look at the numbers and what's driving them, interest rates. In less than a year, rates went from historic lows in 2021 to 30-year highs today. To illustrate the effect of rates on today's market, let's examine what your mortgage payment will be in three different mortgage scenarios. Fair warning; you will be grossed out

…

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Investing in Commercial Real Estate? Here's What to Know | Whiteboard Wednesday Ep. 5

The following is a transcription of the video above:

Hey, welcome to Whiteboard Wednesdays. I, as always, am Kyle Schrader, this is my friend Jeff Rizer We're here today to dip our toes into the commercial world and talk about the basic formula for commercial real estate valuation, which is the IRV formula: income, rate, and value. So what is it?

So one thing quickly about Seaport is the way we separate ourselves is marketing, research, and valuation. And one of the tools we use is this IRV formula. So with a lot of like uncertainty in the markets, one of the things that I think and what a lot of reports show is that commercial real estate is a great investment, even though interest rates are continuing to rise.

The three-year outlook…

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Bait and Click

Finding a home usually starts the same way for everyone; online. You head on over to your home search site of choice, be it Zillow, Realtor.com, Redfin, or any one of the million options out there for you, the consumer. On the face of it, nothing could be more simple; find a house you like, and in a couple of clicks you're in touch with the listing agent of said house and on the road to home ownership. If only it were that simple.

The click you make to contact the agent does more than you think. It most certainly contacts an agent, but more importantly, that click turns you from a home buyer to a product to be bought and sold. That click makes you a lead, and leads are worth big bucks to brokerages, agents, other lead generation companies, and…

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So, you wanna be a landlord...

So, you wanna be a landlord….

The realities of dealing with a nightmare tenant

By Buddy Kane

For those of you that read “Rich Dad, Poor Dad” and utilized this playbook to acquire rental properties prior to Covid, interest rate hikes, and the vanishing of real estate inventory, Bravo! You’ve done well in acquiring rental properties that now command increasing rents and low vacancy rates. It’s good to be you. Life is even better when using other people’s money to pay your mortgages down while collecting cashflow from a hard asset in an inflationary environment. Not to mention the eventual capital gain potential over the long term. This is the good news.

That being said, it’s important to be aware that every sparkling…

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Ethos Crafting- Building a New Perspective

Sometimes, as much as I prioritize self-awareness and looking inward, I still manage to surprise myself with a struggle I don't see coming. My recent focus on building up my Real Estate career has shown me some flaws in my perception of work, and specifically my own self-worth regarding the type of work I'm doing. 

I make stuff; welding and metalworking, woodworking, I make furniture and fixtures, I repair machinery and motors. I absolutely love it. What brought me back to Real Estate and drives me to keep at it is its ability to let me hold on to all those things I love as hobbies. I find that supporting my family by building things doesn't allow me to take joy from it like I did before I went into business for myself. Enter Real Estate, it…

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Comments on the recent turmoil in financial markets

Volatility Appears to Be the ‘New’ New Normal  

Over the past few weeks, we have been witnessing a significant change in the financial landscape in the United States. During this time, we have seen the stock market come down from its recently achieved historic highs. As the price of stocks has decreased, the value of investors' portfolios, and 401K accounts, have been impacted.  

• Whether this is a short-term or a long-term phenomenon remains to be seen.

• The reality is that the rapid run-up in market valuations since the election in 2016 occurred much faster than is normal, and therefore the likelihood of a correction has been anticipated for some time.  

• What had not been anticipated, or widely understood is the swiftness…

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CONTINUING EDUMACATION

CONTINUING EDUMACATION

“C.E.”

 By Buddy Kane

It’s that time of year again. The weather is breaking, the birds are chirping, and once again I’ve waited ‘til the last minute to complete my continuing education credits. There is something bittersweet about a mad dash to the finish line under the wire. I must enjoy getting it done this way or I would have already taken care of business like the responsible adult I aspire to be someday.

There’s a certain measure of gratitude that accompanies 11th hour urgency. Tasks become reactionary, in a full contact sport sort a way. I’m able to make tracks quickly when the only way to proceed is forward, and fast. Wisdom, and motivation come suddenly.

In this space, I tend to think out loud…

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Real Estate Redefined Podcast

You may have heard the term mill rates being thrown around when talking about taxes in certain towns. Tim Bray and Andrew O'Reilly provide insight on the importance of mill rates and why knowing them can help you determine where you want and can live. 

Did you know that you can have your taxes appealed every year? Listen to learn more - available EVERYWHERE you get your podcasts or click here. 

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