Keeping It Real Estate with Colleen Benson

We'll go over some strategies for finding a real estate agent that fits your needs. Make sure that you are asking the right questions and looking for the right qualifications.

There can be some conflicting statements out there in the real estate world. There can also be statements that are generally accepted as "true" even though they may not be. Let's take a look at some common sayings and strategies and determine if they are legitimate or just a myth.

There are all kinds of surveys that put buying or selling a home as one of the most stressful life events you can experience. It shouldn’t be that way. Let’s look at some of the things you can do to make the process a more positive experience.

Millennials are making up a larger portion of luxury home buyers, but their desires and wants are a little different than the traditional luxury buyer. That’s changing the way builders are approaching the construction of high-end homes. Let’s discuss some of the changes that are starting to take place.

We all want to get a good deal when we buy a home. Sure, you want the home of your dreams, but if you can also call it a “steal” isn’t that the ultimate win-win? However, that pursuit of the perfect bargain home can backfire if you’re not careful. Let’s explore some of the ways buyers have shot themselves in the feet by making key mistakes in the hunt for a bargain buy.

Colleen comments on some recent headlines that have come out in the real estate world. How have 55+ communities impacted the real estate market? What are some features that correlate with a home selling faster? We'll analyze those topics and more.

Buying and selling real estate is full of vocabulary terms that can be confusing to someone who doesn't live in that world. Colleen will explain some real estate terms that you might come across, so that you can understand what they mean when you encounter them.

Everybody has to start from somewhere. We'll hear from Colleen about her early experiences in the real estate world and how they shaped her approach today. She'll also give us a gripping story about how she once stopped a real estate scam from taking place.

We all make silly mistakes. But you want to avoid any kind of tomfoolery when it comes to buying or selling a home. Let’s cover some of the foolish mistakes people make in real estate so you won’t be left slapping your forehead with that “I can’t believe we just did that” look on your face.

Shows like Flip or Flop are popular these days. And you might be hearing and seeing a lot more commercials about house flipping seminars in your area. We won’t get into the “flipper’s” perspective this time around, however. What about the buyer? Is there anything the buyer should be aware of when purchasing a home that’s been “flipped”?

Regardless of who you are, how much money you have, when and where you’re going to sell, these are some of the real estate facts you be sure you need to know. Make sure you aren’t left shrugging your shoulders to any of these important issues.

The process of selling your home can seem like a daunting task. Let's break it down into some easy-to-follow steps so it's not as intimidating.

There are some practices in the real estate world that irk Colleen because they get in the way of a smooth home-buying and home-selling process. Let's go over some of these major real estate pet peeves.

When preparing to buy a home, it’s easy to overlook some of the expenses that go into the process. Sure, the down payment and loan are obvious, but there are several other costs you don’t want to overlook. Let’s spend some time discussing some of the “hidden” costs and fees involved in the home purchasing process. 

Back to basics on this week's show. We'll cover some key vocabulary/terms/lingo to know when it comes to buying and selling homes.

Ever thought of doing an FSBO (For Sale By Owner) transaction? You might want to think again. There are a lot of complications when it comes to trying to sell a home on your own. Learn about the pitfalls on today's show, plus much more great information about buying and selling real estate in the greater Salem area.

We'll be examining some recent headlines that have come up in the real estate world lately - like how home values have risen this past year, how owning a home factors into living the American Dream, and more. We'll also answer some listener questions about buying and selling homes.

Nobody wants to have to make a bunch of repairs when you go to sell your home. At the same time, buyers want to make sure they’re purchasing a home without a major headache just waiting for them after the dotted line is signed. Let’s look at some of the top expensive home repairs.

We'll present Colleen with some general thoughts about buying and selling real estate, and she will tell us if each statement is fact or fiction.

As you shop around for real estate agents, it is vital to find one that's right for you. We'll examine which traits are most important for a realtor to have.

Do you know the most widely agreed upon desire among home buyers? The answer might surprise you. Here's a hint, it's NOT dual toilets in the master bathroom (yeah, that's a thing).

Back to basics on this week's show. We'll cover some key vocabulary/terms/lingo to know when it comes to buying and selling homes.

We'll cover a variety of topics on today's show. First, we'll uncover some outdated real estate advice. Then we'll answer the question is this year better than last year to buy a home? And we'll look at a list of the four must-do's to sell your home fast. Is it truly the definitive list?

In this episode, we'll examine the different types of personalities you'll find among real estate agents. We have The Hot Mess, The Barbie Doll, The Corporate Behemoth, The Dabbler, and The Personal Touch. Which qualities do you want to look for when you're picking an agent to work with in the future? We'll answer that question and more on this week's episode.

We all have that favorite show on HGTV or one of the other DIY-type networks. We'll ask Colleen to peel back the curtain on some of these shows to see what's realistic about them and what isn't. There are some important lessons to be learned from these shows, but also some important reality checks.