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Forget the Fantasy: The Smart Buyer’s Real Best Bet for 2026
Forget the Fantasy: The Smart Buyer’s Real Best Bet for 2026
What’s a buyer’s best bet in 2026? Not the $45 million mansion. Not the real estate fantasy. Not the property that looks good on Instagram but wrecks your monthly budget. In 2026, smart buyers don’t need hype. They need options. And they need the truth about what those options really cost. I’ve ha
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Not Sure What You Want in a Home? Start Here.
Not Sure What You Want in a Home? Start Here.
Buying a home is rarely just about the house. Before anyone buys, they go through a string of questions: What fits my life right now? Do I want a starter home, a forever home, or a fixer-upper? Should I move, remodel, or stay put? First-time buyers and current homeowners ask different questions, b
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AI Just Exposed What Your Listing Is Missing
AI Just Exposed What Your Listing Is Missing
AI is changing how to search for homes, and what buyers care about. Homes.com is rolling out an AI experience, which means we’re done playing checkbox bingo and start asking real questions: Tell me about this house in Japanese. Can this kitchen actually work for me? Will my bed fit? What are the
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The "Convenience Trap": Why Selling "As-Is" Might Be Your Most Expensive Mistake
The "Convenience Trap": Why Selling "As-Is" Might Be Your Most Expensive Mistake
Home is their biggest financial asset for most homeowners. Once sellers reach about age 70, they get lower sale prices for their houses compared with younger owners (ref: Center for Retirement Research at Boston College). A typical home price of $405,400 might get a 5% lower price = $20,270. Onc
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Builder Incentives Decoded
Builder Incentives Decoded
You’re hearing “builder incentives” everywhere—rate specials, closing cost help, and “free” upgrades. Naturally, you’re wondering two things: Is it real? And what’s the catch? Incentives can be fantastic... if you understand exactly what you’re getting (and what you’re quietly paying for). 1. Th
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Are Your Energy Bills a Silent Mortgage?
Are Your Energy Bills a Silent Mortgage?
Everybody’s talking affordability—price, taxes, insurance. Meanwhile, your utility bills are quietly trying to move into the guest room and start charging rent. Good news: you don’t need a full renovation to stop the bleed. A few smart upgrades + better habits can keep your energy bills from bec
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A HERS Score in Plain English
A HERS Score in Plain English
If you’ve toured a home and thought, “It’s cute… but what’s it cost me every month?” — meet the HERS score. HERS stands for Home Energy Rating System. Think of it like a home’s MPG sticker, but for energy use. It tells you how efficiently a house runs—how much it wastes, and how much it keeps you wa
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Pretty sells. Performance wins.
Pretty sells. Performance wins.
What builders don’t show you on the tour. Unless you’ve been studying Building Science in your spare time (no judgment if you are), most homebuyers have no idea what they’re really looking at when they walk into a newly built home. Every builder starts with the same baseline: Minnesota’s building co
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Should you have an inspection on a new home?
Should you have an inspection on a new home?
Absolutely. Every single time. I know what you're thinking: "It's brand new—isn't it be perfect?" Reality check: builders are like ring masters orchestrating a three-ring circus. They coordinate high-flying roofers, precision electricians, HVAC techs, and specialized crews- working under tight deadl
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If Your House Didn’t Sell in 2025, Let’s Hit Reset (Not Panic)
If Your House Didn’t Sell in 2025, Let’s Hit Reset (Not Panic)
If your listing expired or didn’t sell last year, you’re not alone. Thousands of homeowners pulled the plug in 2025—because it wasn’t a stellar year for real estate.The problem? Market stats only tell us what sold—average price, days on market, list-to-sale. They never say what didn’t sell… or why
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How to Write an Offer That Wins Without Overpaying
How to Write an Offer That Wins Without Overpaying
In 2022, writing an offer felt like running a marathon at sprint speed. I’d call the listing agent and ask the obvious question: “Do you have any other offers?”The response was predictable: “Yes—11 offers. Highest and best by 3 PM.” That spring, I wrote six offers for one buyer. We offered $30,000
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Do Your Energy Bills Make You Cry???
Do Your Energy Bills Make You Cry???
When you get an email from Counterpoint or Excel Energy, does your heart skip a beat? Especially in winter when the temps plummet below zero? Is there anything you can do to make a difference? We know that the cost of everything is going up, with or without tariffs, but there are a few things that
MOREThe dream isn’t dead. It just needs a plan.
The dream isn’t dead. It just needs a plan.
No down payment yet? No idea where to start? You’re not behind. You’re just early. When you buy (or sell) a home, closing feels like the finish line. In real life, it’s the first page of the next chapter. I’ve seen both sides of that table. The hard chapter no one posts about During the Recession, I
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Before You Sign That Contract.......
Before You Sign That Contract.......
Before you sign that contract…7 Questions You Need to Ask the Builder Buyers are always excited when they walk into a brand-new home.They swoon over the kitchen, fall in love with the décor, imagine hosting holidays around that 10-foot island. But here’s the thing: you’re buying so much more than qu
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What If Your Dream Home Is The Best Investment You'll Ever Make?
What If Your Dream Home Is The Best Investment You'll Ever Make?
What if your dream home is the smartest investment you'll ever make? I’m Mary Jo—your new construction curator. And here’s the real flex of a “home that loves you back”: It doesn’t just shelter you.It protects your comfort, your health, and your wallet—every single day. So what is a house that l
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The 2035 house minimum standard will feel like a flip phone
The 2035 house minimum standard will feel like a flip phone
By 2035, bare-minimum houses will feel like flip phones. Tight, quiet, healthy, high-performance homes will be the baseline—not the upgrade. 1. High Performance Is the New Minimum“Meets code” is a warning label. Tight envelopes, continuous insulation, verified air sealing, and mechanical ventilati
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