Your Green Home - Show 460

Real Estate Today Radio - SHOW 460

On this week's Real Estate Today, it's our special show "Your Green Home."

This Week's Show Includes:
- Top News Of The Week
- Net-Zero
- The Home Energy Audit
- Ask The Millennial
- Smart Home Technology
- Get REALTOR(R)

Become a part of the community at http://retradio.com!

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http://retradio.com

Smarten Up Your Showings With Smart Home Technology

By Christy Matte, guest contributor

Smart homes with security and automation features are becoming a hot trend, and they can be an exciting way to dazzle prospective home buyers (and up your staging efforts to a high-tech level at the same time). But if buyers have never experienced an automated home environment, rattling off a list of features could be meaningless at best, and confusing at worst. Here are some fun ways to show a home with smart features, so the buyers will be wowed and you can clinch the sale.

Know What It Is and How It Works

It should go without saying, but make sure you can control the features like a security system, smart locks, or smart lighting, before trying to introduce them to buyers. Ask the homeowner for tips, test them out, and be ready for the big show.

Get the Apps

Ask the seller for access to the associated apps for the various systems. Even better, convince the sellers to tie all smart home technology into one convenient smart hub. It’s an easy task with the help of their Internet service provider. Install one app on one device so prospective buyers can try them out.

Educate Buyers on the Benefits

Make a one-page list of the features, specifically showing how they can save time and money, while also providing increased security.

Go Beyond the Basics

Most people have a basic understanding of a traditional home security system. Show them how this particular system can go even further. Can it send them a text message for smoke detection or a water leak? Can you open the smart lock with your own designated code? Show buyers how much flexibility is available. Security systems aren’t just for protecting against theft anymore.

Have Fun!

Use motion detectors to trigger mood lighting and automated music as buyers move through the home. Let them set off the sprinkler system (after touring the yard, of course) with a swipe of the app. Teach them voice commands to trigger the home’s other functions.

With the right planning, you can turn your everyday showing into something truly special and extremely smart.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Christy Matte is a Boston-based writer who covers home security for XFINITY Home. She is also a die-hard techie who blogs at QuirkyFusion.com. 

 

 

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Rates Recover After Flynn Headlines; Residential Sector Driving Construction Spending; Fannie Volume

Mortgage rates were at their highest levels in roughly 1 month as of yesterday afternoon. That ran counter to many of the mortgage rate news stories that came out throughout the day due to said stories using Freddie Mac's Primary Mortgage Market Survey as source material (a longstanding survey that accurately tracks rates over time, but often fails to account for near-term volatility). Accounting for near-term volatility is tricky business for mortgage lenders this week--especially over the past 3 days. Wednesday and Thursday saw rates spike quickly higher as the Senate's version of the tax bill looked increasingly likely to pass. In general, the tax bill is good for stocks and bad for bonds. By far and away, the week's biggest market mover landed today in the form of headlines regarding former

from
http://www.mortgagenewsdaily.com/reports/newsletter/2017/12/1/3113

Your Green Home - Show 460

Real Estate Today Radio - SHOW 460

On this week's Real Estate Today, it's our special show "Your Green Home."

This Week's Show Includes:
- Top News Of The Week
- Net-Zero
- The Home Energy Audit
- Ask The Millennial
- Smart Home Technology
- Get REALTOR(R)

Become a part of the community at http://retradio.com!

from
http://retradio.com

Developer of $30M downtown hotel project updates design, reveals brands

The local hotelier is tweaking the design of the project, which will feature two major lodging brands and incorporate a historic African-American church.

from
https://www.ibj.com/blogs/3-property-lines/post/66475-developer-of-30m-downtown-hotel-project-updates-design-reveals-brands

Developer of $30M downtown hotel project updates design, reveals brands

The local hotelier is tweaking the design of the project, which will feature two major lodging brands and incorporate a historic African-American church.

from
https://www.ibj.com/blogs/3-property-lines/post/66475-developer-of-30m-downtown-hotel-project-updates-design-reveals-brands

Rates Hit 1-Month Highs; New Loan Limits Already at Risk; Production Expenses Hurt Lender Profits

There are several news stories out today that reference LOWER rates this week. These all rely on stale survey data that failed to account for changes over the past 2 days. Mortgage rates actually continued higher today at the same quicker pace seen yesterday. Due to the relatively narrow range during November, rates are now in line with their highest levels in more than a month whereas they were at 2-week lows just 2 days ago. The average lender is now quoting conventional 30yr fixed rates of 4.0% on top tier scenarios, with a few outliers at 3.875% and 4.125%. A few days ago, 3.875% was nearly as prevalent. As we discussed yesterday, the potential tax bill has had a pretty consistent relationship with rates. To whatever extent it looks passable, rates have generally moved higher. Today was

from
http://www.mortgagenewsdaily.com/reports/newsletter/2017/11/30/3111