The Difference Between a House You Walk Through and a House You Remember
Most buyers think they're shopping for square footage. They're not. They think they're comparing kitchens, bathrooms, floor plans, and countertops. They're not doing that either. What they're really doing is walking through a home and asking themselves one simple...
How Buyers Can Reduce Out-of-Pocket Costs at Closing
Many first-time buyers spend months saving for a down payment. Then they discover something surprising. The down payment isn’t the only money they’ll need to bring to closing. In addition to the down payment, buyers are often responsible for closing costs. These can...
The Borracho Beans That Keep You Home
Some recipes are made in thirty minutes. Borracho beans are made all day. They bubble away quietly while the house fills with the smell of bacon, onions, and beer, becoming less of a recipe and more of an event. They’re a small celebration of being present, of slowing...
What Buyers Say They Want vs. What They Actually Need
What Buyers Say They Want vs. What They Actually Need Most buyers start with a list. Three bedrooms. Open kitchen. Quartz countertops. Walk-in closet. Two-car garage. And there is absolutely nothing wrong with that. But after thirty years in real estate, I've noticed...
The Most Important Beings in My Home Search Don’t Pay the Mortgage
The most important beings in my home search don’t pay the mortgage. They don’t contribute to the down payment. They don’t review HOA documents. They don’t care about interest rates. And they have absolutely no opinion whatsoever on granite countertops. Their names are...
Why Garages Matter More Than Granite
If you’re a first-time buyer, I need you to promise me something. The next time you’re touring a home, spend at least as much time looking at the garage as you do looking at the kitchen. I know. That’s not nearly as exciting. Granite countertops are beautiful. Quartz...