3 Must-Do’s When Selling Your House in 2024




If one of the goals on your list is selling your house and making a move this year, you’re likely juggling a mix of excitement about what’s ahead and feeling a little sentimental about your current home.

A great way to balance those emotions and make sure you’re confident in your decision is to keep these three best practices in mind when you’re ready to sell.

1. Price Your Home Right

The housing market shifted in 2023 as mortgage rates rose and home price appreciation started to normalize once again. As a seller, you still need to recognize how important it is to price your house appropriately based on where the market is today. Hannah Jones, Economic Research Analyst for Realtor.com, explains:

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Two Things Sellers Need To Know This Spring

2 Things Sellers Need To Know This Spring | MyKCM

As we enter into the spring season, many homeowners are considering selling their homes. After a tumultuous year, it's natural to wonder what to expect in the housing market this season. However, real estate experts are optimistic about the opportunities available to sellers. Here are two important things sellers need to know this spring:

Proper Pricing is Key

According to Jeff Tucker, Senior Economist at Zillow, homes that are priced correctly and updated to current market standards are still selling. Tucker stated, "sellers who price and market their home competitively shouldn’t have a problem finding a buyer." In today's market, it's crucial to price your home right because the landscape has…

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Experts Project Home Prices Will Rise over the Next 5 Years




Even with so much data showing home prices are actually rising in most of the country, there are still a lot of people who worry there will be another price crash in the immediate future. In fact, a recent survey from Fannie Mae shows that 23% of consumers think prices will fall over the next 12 months. That’s nearly one in four people who are dealing with that fear – maybe you’re one of them.

To help ease that concern, here’s what the experts say will happen with home prices not just next year, but over the next five years.

Experts Project Ongoing Appreciation

While seeing a small handful of expert opinions may not be enough to change your mind, hopefully, a larger group of…

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Buying a new construction home can be an exciting experience, but it can also be a complex and overwhelming process. That's why many homebuyers choose to work with a Realtor when purchasing a new construction home in Florida. Here are five reasons why it's smart to use a Realtor in this situation:

  1.        Expertise: A Realtor has the knowledge and expertise to guide you through the new construction home buying process. They understand the local market, the builders, and the available options. They can help you find the best deals, negotiate prices, and ensure you are making an informed decision.
  2.        Builder relationships: A Realtor can have relationships with local builders, which can provide advantages to buyers. They can help you find the…

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What You Should Know About Closing Costs

What You Should Know About Closing Costs | MyKCM

Before you buy a home, it’s important to plan ahead. While most buyers consider how much they need to save for a down payment, many are surprised by the closing costs they have to pay. To ensure you aren’t caught off guard when it’s time to close on your home, you need to understand what closing costs are and how much you should budget for.

What Are Closing Costs?

People are sometimes surprised by closing costs because they don’t know what they are. According to Bankrate:

“Closing costs are the fees and expenses you must pay before becoming the legal owner of a house, condo or townhome . . . Closing costs vary depending on the purchase price of the home and how it’s being financed . . .”

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For the eighth year in a row, Cornerstone Properties International has been named as one of the top residential real estate firms by the Tampa Bay Business Journal in their May issue.  TBBJ recognized Gulf Coast real estate firms from the four-county area covering Tampa, St. Petersburg, Clearwater, Lakeland, Sarasota, Bradenton, and North Port.

Cornerstone Properties International is one of leading real estate brokerages on the Gulf Coast of Florida. The company specializes in luxury homes and clientele, acquisition and disposition services, and residential and commercial properties. Steve Eckhardt has been recognized by Who’s Who In Luxury Real Estate since 2002. Who's Who is an exclusive international network of prestigious independent real estate…

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Mortgage Rates Are Dropping. What Does That Mean for You? | MyKCM

Mortgage rates have been a hot topic in the housing market over the past 12 months. Compared to the beginning of 2022, rates have risen dramatically. Now they’re dropping, and that has to do with everything happening in the economy.

Nadia Evangelou, Senior Economist and Director of Forecasting at the National Association of Realtors (NAR), explains it well by saying:

Mortgage rates dropped even further this week as two main factors affecting today's mortgage market became more favorable. Inflation continued to ease while the Federal Reserve switched to a smaller interest rate hike. As a result, according to Freddie Mac, the 30-year fixed mortgage rate fell to 6.31% from 6.33% the previous week.”

So, what does that mean for your…

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Key Advantages of Buying a Home Today | MyKCM

There’s no doubt buying a home today is different than it was over the past couple of years, and the shift in the market has led to advantages for buyers today. Right now, there are specific reasons that make this housing market attractive for those who’ve thought about buying but have sidelined their search due to rising mortgage rates.

Buying a home in any market is a personal decision, and the best way to make that decision is to educate yourself on the facts, not following sensationalized headlines in the news today.  The reality is, headlines do more to terrify people thinking about buying a home than they do to clarify what’s actually going on with real estate.

Here are three reasons potential homebuyers should consider buying a…

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In today's fast-paced world, where answers are a Google search away there are some who may second-guess the benefits of hiring a real estate professional. The truth is, the addition of more information brings more confusion. Shows like Property Brothers, Fixer Upper,and dozens more on HGTV have given many a false sense of what it’s like to buy or sell a home.

Now more than ever, you need an expert on your side who is going to guide you toward your dreams and not let anything get in your way of achieving them. Buying or selling a home is definitely not something you want to DIY (Do It Yourself)! 

Here are just some of the reasons you need a real estate professional in your corner:

There’s More to Real Estate than Finding a House You Like Online…

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Should You Buy an Existing Home or New Construction? | MyKCM

Finding the right home to purchase today is one of the biggest challenges for potential buyers. With so few homes for sale and construction of newly built homes ramping up, you may be wondering if you should consider new construction in your search process. It’s a great question to ask, and one to look at from the pros and cons of what it means to buy a new home versus an existing one. Here are a few things to consider when making the best decision for your family.

New Construction  

When buying a new home, you can often choose more energy-efficient options. New appliances, new windows, a new roof, etc. These can all help lower your energy costs, which can add up to significant savings over time. With programs like ENERGY STAR, your home…

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