Ellen Marcum Realtor

09/01/2026

08/25/2026

It's only natural to want to figure out what type of market you're entering when you decide to list your home for sale. There are distinctive differences between a buyer's and seller's real estate market that are worth learning about. Seller's markets are characterized by: ...

08/11/2026

The period between when an offer to purchase is accepted until the sale closes is one that is fraught with opportunities for the deal to fall apart. While both real estate agents do their best to coordinate everything, there is still a chance something may go wrong. Let's take a look at some of the....

08/04/2026

When you put your home on the market, be prepared for at least one lowball offer. You may not get one, but it's good to be prepared should it come along. Preparation, in this case, means understanding that the buyer isn't intentionally insulting you or your home. Some buyers treat the home purchase....

07/28/2026

Selling a luxury home is not at all like selling a conventional home. From the length of time it remains on the market to the inspections and appraisals, the process is lengthier and requires an entirely different skill set of your real estate agent. There are several differences in the process that...

07/21/2026

Whether a market is 'down,' depends on which side you're on. A down market for buyers occurs when there are few homes for sale and lots of competition from other buyers. For sellers, it's the opposite -- lots of homes for sale and few buyers in the market. So, how does a homeowner sell a home that.....

07/14/2026

When a buyer decides to make an offer on your home, his or her real estate agent will submit a signed purchase agreement. Once signed by all parties, this agreement constitutes a legally binding contract so it's important that you understand every single word. The five most important aspects of the....

07/07/2026

Mention the word 'mudroom' to folks from southern states and you'll be greeted with a puzzled stare. It's a room unique to homes in cold and damp regions and one that most residents of those areas take for granted, yet wouldn't dream of living without. Mudroom design runs the gamut from lavish to...

06/30/2026

Timing the real estate market is a bit like throwing your money down on a roulette table in Vegas. Where that wheel will land is anyone's guess. The same can be said for the real estate market: when will it hit its peak or bottom? Interestingly, the only way to know if real estate prices have hit th...