Melissa Whitelock, Realtor, ERA Laplante

09/07/2021

Did you know that as of June 2021, the median number of days a house stays on the market is 37, according to Fit Small Business? That’s about a month less (mean: 71 days) than the length of days houses were staying on the market in June 2020!

Even though prices have been climbing, statistics show there’s still a high demand — and it largely has to do with low-interest rates! So what does this mean?

✅ If you’re a home buyer, it’s a great idea to get in the market while interest rates are still low. (But it’s still a good idea to work with a real estate agent who understands how to navigate a seller’s market.)

✅ If you’re thinking about selling your home, this is a great time to do it! Your house is in demand, and you’re more likely going to get a great deal out of it!

09/06/2021

Happy ! How are you celebrating the long weekend? 🎉

09/03/2021

Do you ever get overwhelmed from all the maintenance you need to keep up with as a homeowner? 🥴

There are so many tasks to think about, which is why a great strategy to use is to focus on one thing a time, every month! This page is all about real estate, but it’s also about how to take care of your biggest investment! 👍

This month’s monthly maintenance tip is to tackle cleaning the stairs. (Yes, that’s a thing!) Here are 3 simple steps to do this:

1️⃣ Vacuum or sweep the dust
2️⃣ Grab a cleaner and microfiber cloth to clean the railing
3️⃣ Scrub the stairs with a cleaning product that’s appropriate for the material (don’t forget the crevices!

Happy cleaning!

09/02/2021

Time for a game of true or false! What do you think about this statement: You need to have perfect credit to be a homeowner. Is it true or false? Make your guesses in the comments! ⬇️

It’s false!

While credit is very important and can affect whether or not you are eligible to purchase a home, you don’t have to have *perfect* credit.

According to Business Insider, the minimum credit score you need to buy a home will vary by lender and loan type, but for a conventional loan, you’ll need a credit score of at least 620. And to qualify for the best interest rates on a mortgage, you should aim for a credit score of at least 740.

Additionally, there are more options if you have a low credit score.

Did you get it right?

09/01/2021

Happy Pumpkin Season, everyone! (It's otherwise known as September. 😉) Be honest: how many pumpkin spice lattes have you had so far? ⬇️

08/31/2021

Everyone prioritizes making their house feel like home in different ways. Because of that, everyone will find a compliment more satisfying than others! For you, which compliment is the best? Or if there’s one missing that you love to get, add it in the comments below! ⬇️

08/30/2021

Time for a game of this or that! When it comes to table shapes, are you more of a round table or square table type of person? Leave your choice in the comments and also explain why!

08/27/2021

If no one’s told you yet today, here’s your reminder that you don’t need anyone’s approval! Well… that’s not 100% true. You *do* need one person’s approval, and that’s the pre-approval from the person you’re working with at the bank. 🤣

08/26/2021

Happy to all the dog moms and dads out there! 🐶 Make sure you give your dogs extra love today. Share a picture of your pup in the comments!

08/25/2021