Samia S. Morgan's Blog Posts

Don't Let This Myths About Buying a Newly Built Home Hold You Back

Are These Myths About Buying a Newly Built Home Holding You Back?If you’ve been skipping over newly built homes in your search, you might be doing so based on outdated assumptions. Let’s

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A Second Home Might Be Key in Your Retirement Plan

A Second Home Might Be the Missing Piece in Your Retirement PlanAre you wondering if you’re on track to retire someday?According to Intuit, 69% of people say today’s financial

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Truth About Down Payments (You might be wrong!)

The Truth About Down Payments (It’s Not What You Think)Buying a home is exciting… until you start thinking about the down payment. That’s when the worry can set in.“I&rsquo

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Tale of Two Housing Markets

Today’s Tale of Two Housing MarketsDepending on where you live, the housing market could feel red-hot or strangely quiet right now. The truth is, local markets are starting to move in

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An Advice First-Time Homebuyers Need To Hear

The Advice First-Time Homebuyers Need To HearBuying your first home is a big milestone – and the right support is going to make it a whole lot easier.Because while this process might be brand

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Why You Should Buy a Vacation Home

Should You Buy a Vacation Home?Some HighlightsNow that summer’s here, you may be planning your next getaway. But what if you didn’t have to? ​Buying a vacation home means having a-

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Big Investors Aren’t a Challenge for Today’s Homebuyer

Why Big Investors Aren’t a Challenge for Today’s HomebuyerRemember the chatter in the headlines about all the homes big institutional investors were buying? If you were thinking about

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Why Real Estate Agents Are Essential for Today's Home Sellers

Why Most Sellers Hire Real Estate Agents TodaySelling your house without an agent as a “For Sale by Owner” (FSBO) may be something you’ve considered. But you should know that, in

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Your House Didn’t Sell. Here’s What To Do Now.

Your House Didn’t Sell. Here’s What To Do Now.When your house doesn’t sell, it doesn’t just feel frustrating – it feels personal. You put time, money, and emotional

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Buying Your First Home? FHA Loans Can Help You

Buying Your First Home? FHA Loans Can HelpIf you’re a first-time homebuyer, you might feel like the odds are stacked against you in today’s market. But there are resources and programs

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What Rooms Matter Most When You Sell?

The Rooms That Matter Most When You SellNow that buyers have more options for their move, you need to be a bit more intentional about making sure your house looks its best when you sell. And proper

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Home Projects That Add the Greatest Value

Home Projects That Add the Most ValueSome HighlightsWhether you’re planning to move soon or not, you want to be strategic about which home projects you take on. â€‹Because not all of them

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The Secret To Sell Your House in Today’s Market

The Secret To Selling Your House in Today’s MarketA few years ago, homes were flying off the shelves and getting multiple offers well over their asking price. It felt like you could name your

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Use Some of Your Equity To Give Your Children the Gift of Home

You Could Use Some of Your Equity To Give Your Children the Gift of HomeIf you’re a homeowner, chances are you’ve built up a lot of wealth – just by living in your house and

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Boost Value With These Home Projects

Home Projects That Boost ValueWhether you’re planning to move soon or not, it’s smart to be strategic about which home projects you take on. Your time, energy, and money matter –

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Debunking The 20% Down Payment Myth

The 20% Down Payment Myth, DebunkedSaving up to buy a home can feel a little intimidating, especially right now. And for many first-time buyers, the idea that you have to put 20% down can feel like

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Today’s Foreclosure Numbers Aren’t a Warning Sign

Why Today’s Foreclosure Numbers Aren’t a Warning SignWhen it feels like the cost of just about everything is rising, it’s only natural to wonder what that means for the housing

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It's Time To Hit Play On Those Moving Plans Again!

Paused Your Moving Plans? Here’s Why It’s Time To Hit Play AgainIt’s not really a surprise that 70% of buyers paused their home search last year. Maybe you were one of them. And if

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Buy Now or Wait A Little?

Should I Buy a Home Now or Wait?At some point, you’ve probably heard the saying: “Yesterday was the best time to buy a home, but the next best time is today.”That’s because

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Mortgage Rates Are a Moving Target! What Can you do?

What You Can Do When Mortgage Rates Are a Moving TargetHave you seen where mortgage rates have been lately? One day they go down a little. The next day, they go back up again. It can feel confusing

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The Ideal Window To Sell a House Is Now

Don’t Miss This Prime Spring Window To Sell Your HouseAccording to Realtor.com, the best week to list your house this year was April 13–19. And since that week has come and gone, you

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If the Asking Price Isn’t Compelling, It’s Not Going To Sell

If the Asking Price Isn’t Compelling, It’s Not SellingSome HighlightsUnfortunately, a lot of sellers today are setting their asking price too high. That’s leading to an uptick in

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Pre-Approval Isn’t Commitment – It’s Clarity

Pre-Approval Isn’t Commitment – It’s ClarityIf buying a home is on your radar – even if it’s more of a someday plan than a right now plan – getting pre-approved

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Are You Saving Up To Buy a Home? This Is How Your Tax Refund Can Help

Are You Saving Up To Buy a Home? Your Tax Refund Can HelpYou’ve been working on your savings and dreaming of that moment when you finally have keys to a place that’s truly yours. What

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House Hunting Just Got Easier

House Hunting Just Got Easier – Here’s WhyIf you’ve been frustrated by the lack of homes for sale over the past few years, here’s some good news. You have more options, so it

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Sellers Need To Know This About Their Asking Price

The #1 Thing Sellers Need To Know About Their Asking PriceWhen you put your house on the market, you want to sell it quickly and for the best price possible; that's generally the goal. But too many

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Buying or Selling a Home Helps Your Local Economy

How Buying or Selling a Home Helps Your Local EconomyWhether you’re buying or selling a house, here’s something to think about that most people don’t. Your decision doesn’t

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All You Need To Know About Homeowner's Insurance

What You Need To Know About Homeowner’s InsuranceHomeowner’s insurance is a must-have to protect what’s probably your biggest investment – your home. And while you never want

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This is Why a Pre-Listing Inspection May Be Worth the Investment in Today’s Market

Why a Pre-Listing Inspection May Be Worth It in Today’s MarketSelling a house comes with a lot of moving pieces, and the last thing you want is a deal falling apart over unexpected repairs

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The Real Benefits of Buying a Home This Year

The Real Benefits of Buying a Home This YearHave you been wondering whether you should keep renting or finally make the leap into homeownership? It’s a big decision, and let’s be real

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Why To Buy Before Spring?

3 Reasons To Buy a Home Before SpringLet’s face it — buying a home can feel like a challenge with today’s mortgage rates. You might even be thinking, “Should I just wait

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Is now the perfect time to move?

When Is the Perfect Time To Move?It’s easy to get caught up in the idea of waiting for the perfect moment to make your move – especially in today’s market. Maybe you’re

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Time in the Market over Timing the market

Time in the Market Beats Timing the MarketTrying to decide whether it makes more sense to buy a home now or wait? There’s a lot to consider, from what’s happening in the market to your

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Eco-Friendly Features That Can Boost Your Home’s Value

How Eco-Friendly Features Can Boost Your Home’s ValueSelling your house? Or just looking to increase the value and appeal of your home for when you do? Here’s something you should know

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Why Expert Agent Can Give You an Accurate Value of Your Home

Only an Expert Agent Can Give You an Accurate Value of Your HomeIn today’s digital age, it’s tempting to rely on automated tools for everything — including figuring out how much

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Should You Sell Your House As-Is or Make Repairs To get a Better Deal?

Should You Sell Your House As-Is or Make Repairs?A recent study from the National Association of Realtors (NAR) shows most sellers (61%) completed at least minor repairs;

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Decoding Today’s Mortgage Trends: Why Rising Debt Isn’t a Warning Sign

Why Today’s Mortgage Debt Isn’t a Sign of a Housing Market CrashOne major reason why we’re not heading toward a foreclosure crisis is the high level of equity 

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Overcoming Two Worries to Successfully Sell Your Home

Don’t Let These Two Concerns Hold You Back from Selling Your HouseIf you’re debating whether or not you want to sell right now, it might be because you’ve got some

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The Impact of Presidential Elections on the Housing Market

What's the Impact of Presidential Elections on the Housing Market?It’s no surprise that the upcoming Presidential election might have you speculating about what’s ahead. And those

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Just How the Economy Impacts Mortgage Rates

How the Economy Impacts Mortgage RatesAs someone who’s thinking about buying or selling a home, you’re probably paying close attention to mortgage rates – and

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How Cost of Living and Telecommuting Are Influencing Residential Choices

How Affordability and Remote Work Are Changing Where People LiveThere’s an interesting trend happening in the housing market. People are increasingly moving to more affordable

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To Do's

What To Do When Your House Didn’t SellIf your listing expired and your house didn’t sell, it’s totally natural to feel a mix of frustration and disappointment. And as you;

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What’s Ahead for the 2nd Half of 2024

As we move into the second half of 2024, here’s what experts say you should expect for home prices, mortgage rates, and home sales.Home Prices Are Expected To Climb ModeratelyHome prices

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Builders Aren’t Overbuilding, Only Catching Up

Homebuilders Aren’t Overbuilding, They’re Catching UpYou may have heard that there are more brand-new homes available right now than the norm. Today, about one in three

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Selling Smart: Why a Real Estate Agent Makes

Selling Smart: Why a Real Estate Agent Makes All the DifferenceIf you’re considering selling your house on your own as a “For Sale by Owner” (FSBO), you want to think

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More Than a House: The Emotional Benefits of Homeownership

More Than a House: The Emotional Benefits of HomeownershipWith all the headlines and talk about housing affordability, it can be tempting to get lost in the financial side of buying a

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How to Shield Your Home from April Showers

Spring is here, and you may be eagerly anticipating some April showers to help your May flowers grow.However, if you don’t prepare your home, rainy weather can cause a plethora of problems,

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What Every Homebuyer Should Know About Closing Costs..

What Every Homebuyer Should Know About Closing CostsBefore making the decision to buy a home, it's important to plan for all the costs you’ll be responsible for. While you're busy

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4 Tips To Make Your Strongest Offer on a Home.

My ListingsSan MateoBuyersSellersBlogAbout MeMy ListingsSan MateoBuyersSellersBlogAbout Me4 Tips To Make Your Strongest Offer on a HomeAre you thinking about buying a home soon? If so, you

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Finding Your Perfect Home in a Fixer Upper!!

My ListingsSan MateoBuyersSellersBlogAbout MeMy ListingsSan MateoBuyersSellersBlogAbout MeFinding Your Perfect Home in a Fixer Upper If you’re trying to buy a home and are

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Secret Garden

2024SECRET GARDENReviving an Overgrown Urban Garden with Modern DesignWRITTEN BY BLAKE MILLER / PHOTOGRAPHY BY PETER SCHIAZZAWhen Adolfo Harrison first walked into his clients’

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Taking Shape

2024taking shapeA SPOTLIGHT ON ART IN BLOOMWRITTEN BY JEANINE MATLOWEarly in her career, Birmingham, Michigan-based photographer and artist Laurie Tennent did commercial work for clients like

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Finding Your Ideal Mortgage

 Happy Saturday!In today’s complex market of fluctuating interest rates, it can be difficult to decide which mortgage is the most ideal. Share this guide with your clients to assist them

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Spice of Life

2024spice of lifeENLIVEN YOUR KITCHEN AND PALATE WITH HERBSWRITTEN BY VICTORIA HITTNER“Herbs are the friend of the physician and the pride of cooks.” It’s a quote attributed

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Simply Spring: Harnessing the Fresh Flavors of the Season

2024strawberry rhubarb jamYields 1½ pints½ pound rhubarb, medium diced1 pound strawberries, stems removed, medium diced1 cup sugar1 tablespoon lemon juiceZest from 1 lemonCombine all

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The Italian Garden

2024the italian gardenENHANCE YOUR YARD WITH ELEMENTS OF THIS FORMAL STYLEWRITTEN BY RONDA SWANEYFormal Italian gardens emerged during the Renaissance. Their arrival was an evolution of Italian

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Gathering Place

2024Gathering PlaceA Well-Choreographed Retreat in the Dominican RepublicWRITTEN BY BLAKE MILLER / PHOTOGRAPHY BY IWAN BAAN & KARLA READArchitect Noah Marciniak was no

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