If you’re in need of some fresh ideas for your blog, check our blog each and every Sunday.  We list one seller and one buyer topic that you can use to create your own blog post — or a series of posts.  Either way, using these topics insure you’re providing solid content to your readers — information they are searching for.  If you’re in need of even more blog topics, check out our blog topic archive as well.

Buyers topic for your blog:

Home buyers may be sitting on the side lines because they can’t come up with a big enough down payment on a home or they can’t qualify for traditional mortgage financing.  Take time to outline simple ways buyers can find down payment funds (gifts from parents, grandparents, other relatives; ways to save money to build a nest egg; etc.) to get into the home they want.  Additionally, outline loan programs that don’t make the headlines that may be available from lenders in your area.  (Link to local recommended lenders who offer other loan products that can help buyers who need options.)

Sellers topic for your blog:

Buyers today are not only looking for the best price and move-in condition of their next home, but they’re looking for flexible space in that same home.  Encourage sellers to open up their homes to fresh ideas.  Sellers who want to make their home stand out should consider staging certain areas or rooms as an office, play area or separate dining area if there wasn’t one before.  By using furniture and items around the house, sellers can create spaces within their homes that they never knew that they had — and that look inviting to potential buyers.  List recommended stagers if sellers are looking for additional help to make their home shine while on the market.

Share your blog with us and our readers!

When your content needs a little boost, stop by Gooder Group’s blog each Sunday.  We provide a current topic — one for buyers and one for sellers — that you can use on your blog for a single post or a series.  These topics are centered on real estate information that home buyers and sellers want — and need — to know.  (Be sure to check out our blog topic archive as well.)

Buyers topic for your blog:

It’s not a secret that many cities and towns throughout the US are facing budget shortfalls.  It’s wise to be upfront with home buyers about this topic and encourage them to talk to residents of the town that they are considering buying a home.  With tax revenue down from sales tax, property tax and even state income tax  – where applicable — cities are finding it more difficult to fund their budgets and provide the services and amenities that populations have grown accustomed to.  Buyers should read local newspapers (easily accessible online), browse city and county and even state websites for press releases, locate the local school and park districts and review their budget situation to get the true picture.  Libraries are a great source to find this info — and also talk to the staff to find out if the library is facing cuts too.  Not being surprised by a reduction in services — or an increase in taxes — is a benefit to buyers.  Encourage them to get the whole picture when looking to buy a home.

Sellers topic for your blog:

During the beginning of the year, everyone has a clean out, clear out mentality to get clutter free. Encourage would-be sellers to start clearing out the clutter in their own homes before listing them for sale.  Outline local resources where furniture, books, toys, recyclables (old electronics, hazardous waste, etc.) and other items can be taken — or who provide front door pick up.  You might also list local storage facilities and team up with them to provide discounts to those who are referred there by you too!  Sellers should have clean and organized closets, cabinets, corners throughout their home.  Help sellers de-clutter to sell quicker!

How is your blog helping buyers and sellers?

When your content needs a little boost, stop by Gooder Group’s blog each Sunday.  We provide a current topic — one for buyers and one for sellers — that you can use on your blog for a single post or a series.  These topics are centered on real estate information that home buyers and sellers want — and need — to know.  (Be sure to check out our blog topic archive as well.)

Buyers topic for your blog:

Buyers can often be blinded by a house if it appears to fit all their criteria for price, location, style, condition, etc.  You are the local expert and can link to local resources to provide buyers with a complete picture of the area where the dream home resides — school information, population, crime statistics, city and county data and even shopping/chamber of commerce/visitor’s bureau info.  These valuable resources can help buyers further evaluate homes and make the best home buying decision.  Provide the complete picture for your area — local buyers and those relocating to the area will benefit!

Sellers topic for your blog:

Invite comparison shopping.  Encourage sellers — before they list their home for sale — to take a little excursion with you.  What you and your would-be seller will do is tour local homes for sale in the area where the would-be seller’s home is located.  Touring the competition before listing allows the seller to see the real estate market from the buyer’s point of view — what condition are other homes in, what attractive features in their own home stand out among the competition, what features are lacking in their home, what price points are out there and where does their home realistically fall.  Once would-be sellers see the competition with their own eyes, setting a realistic price for their home will be easier.

Let us know how your blog is working to provide useful information for home sellers and buyers.

Every week Gooder Group provides one seller topic and one buyer topic to help you craft a new post (or two or a series) for your blog that will help educate your readers.  And, if you need more ideas for blog posts, be sure to visit our blog archive for even more seller and buyer topics.

Buyers topic for your blog:

As always, buyers are looking for the best price on a home to buy.  Mortgage interest rates are inching upwards again, but still near historical lows.  Provide a simple calculator or chart (especially good for those visual learners!) that shows a typical range of home prices in your area, different down payments, various interest rates and monthly mortgage payment.  When buyers see how much they can afford to buy in the neighborhoods they’re interested in, it can encourage some of those buyers to make a move.

Sellers topic for your blog:

Sellers who are underwater may believe that they have no options available to them except to stay put or walk away.  Various other options exist including short sales.  Explain short sales in detail explaining the pros and cons for the home seller, the future home buyer and the mortgage holder’s role.  (On a side note you may consider explaining in a later post how traditional sellers on the market fare better against these short sales by being able to sell with fewer “strings attached” and a more attractive time line to ownership.)

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If you need even more new topics, check out our blog archive too!

Buyers topic for your blog:

Foreclosures and distressed properties are in the news headlines regularly.  Define each type of distressed property that is available in your market.  Outline the pros and cons of these homes in terms of price, condition, transaction time needed, etc.  If you’re experienced in helping buyers purchase these kind of homes, outline your expertise in detail to your readers.  Provide case studies and testimonials to make it real for your readers.

Sellers topic for your blog:

If your real estate market typically heats up in the springtime, you may have seen headlines encouraging sellers to put their homes up well before springtime to “beat the rush.”   The new rush may mean more bank-owned properties hitting the market in the spring as well.  Give your would-be sellers the scoop as you know it from your local market.  What type and how many properties will hit the real estate market this spring?  Will your sellers have less competition if they list now?

Let us know how your blog brings you business!

If you would like even more ideas for posts on your own blog, be sure to check our blog archive at any time!

Buyers topic for your blog:

2011 means new resolutions.  You’re likely to get more readers on your blog who are thinking that the upcoming year is the year that they will buy a home or move up from their current home.  Invite these would-be buyers to consult with you to see what properties are currently available and remind them to get pre-approved for a mortgage (especially if they are first-time buyers) to know exactly how much house they can afford.  Make the new year a good one for you and your blog readers!

Sellers topic for your blog:

Now that the holidays are over, would-be sellers don’t have the busy season to blame for holding off listing their home.  Explain why now is the time to list, before any spring rush of homes.  Their home could have fewer competitors and sell quicker now than if they wait for spring to arrive.  Help your sellers keep their resolutions to sell in 2011!

What are your resolutions for your blog next year?

Buyers topic for your blog:

It’s nearing the new year and all over the headlines are going to be articles about what styles and colors are in for the new year, what’s hot and what’s not and what is the must-have for the new year.  As you view houses — both online and in-person — keep in mind that these must-have new features are simply what’s available.  Many homeowners don’t have the money or time to invest in the latest and greatest trends.  It’s important to differentiate all of the houses you tour.  Some may have incorporated current trends in home remodeling or design while others are timeless classics.  Before you lean toward the “trendy” homes, consider what homes will stand the test of time and may prove to be your best investment for the long term.

Sellers topic for your blog:

It never can be emphasized enough in the current market — price sells a home.  Encourage your sellers and would-be sellers to work with you on crafting the best price and incentives to get their home sold.  The price is often the first thing that buyers sort listings on and focus on.  Reiterate the importance of the right price.

We’d love to read your blog!

Buyers topic for your blog:

Buyers may or may not know what comes with a home when they buy it.  As it is, buyers may be watching lots of reality TV and thinking that the staged, furnished home is what they get when they move in — not the bare rooms.  Outline for buyers what generally conveys with a home — unless otherwise specified.  Explain fixtures, carpeting, planted landscaping, etc. that generally go with the house along with the other items that might be negotiable such as garden decorations, special furniture or drapery.  Encourage buyers to always ask before assuming too!

Sellers topic for your blog:

Now is not the time for sellers to be greedy when their house is on the market.  Explain the different methods to entice buyers to their home — besides a winning price and excellent move-in condition.  Incentives such as paying closing costs, throwing in a pool or golf club membership, extra furnishings, outdoor playset and/or outdoor furniture or other creative ideas can really encourage buyers to make a move.

Share your blog with us!

If you’re looking for even more ideas for your blog, don’t miss our blog archive of previous buyer and seller topics to help educate your blog visitors.

Buyers topic for your blog:

Financing a home can be an overwhelming experience.  Explain the key terms (loan types, important terms, etc.) to your readers to help them understand the process.  Include links to local mortgage companies you trust as well as online mortgage calculators, budget tools and other resources that buyers seek out.  Be sure to add a link to your listings and any reports that show the state of home prices in your area.

Sellers topic for your blog:

Your seller’s home appraisal price is key to getting the home sold for the agreed-upon price.  Encourage sellers to be home for the appraisal and to talk with the appraiser, pointing out new updates, upgrades and energy-saving items.  If possible, have sellers create a room-by-room list of updates to provide to the appraiser including outside elements such landscaping features and proximity to local attractions, schools and shopping.  Any information sellers can provide that helps give a complete and clear picture of the property will help the appraiser arrive at an accurate value.

We’d love to read your blog!

Don’t miss the Gooder Group blog archive filled with buyer and seller topics to use on your blog.

Buyers topic for your blog:

It’s hard to keep control of your budget during the holiday season.  Remind home buyers that if their goal is to purchase a home in the not-too-distant future, they should be prepared to make a few changes with their holiday shopping and budget in order to keep (or build up) their down payment, emergency fund and closing/settlement costs.  Share ideas of how to save during the holidays including hosting small get-togethers at home instead of going out to eat at restaurants, inexpensive hostess gifts that can be brought to parties, budgeting for holiday gift shopping, prioritizing what to spend time and money on this holiday in light of searching for a home to buy.

Sellers topic for your blog:

The holiday season’s official start is usually Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving.  (Although we could debate that it begins with the first sighting of holiday merchandise in retail stores around late August/early September.)  Regardless, sellers who have their home on the market during the holiday season from mid-November to early January need to know that buyers who view their home are serious buyers.  Sellers should continue to keep their home ready for visitors (either touring home buyers or out-of-town relatives!) and keep down the number of holiday decorations that could distract buyers from seeing their home effectively.  Despite crazy holiday schedules and the myriad of commitments, sellers should be prepared to entertain offers from buyers and respond to them as promptly as they would any other time of the year.  Business still is conducted during the holiday season — which is a great benefit for your home sellers!

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