Zahr Designs - Real Estate Branding, Marketing, + Web Design

05/22/2025

Some projects leave a mark—and this was one of them.

Helping Jess and Sarah share pieces of their real-life journey, including Jess’s strength and resilience through cancer treatment, was emotional and deeply inspiring.

This isn’t just real estate content. It’s real life. Real hustle. Real heart.

Grateful to play even a small part in helping their story shine.

05/22/2025

This is the kind of content I love to create—straightforward, helpful, and totally on brand for Jess + Sarah. Whether you’re buying your first home or your fifth, knowing your credit score is key 🔑

Today we’re diving into one of the most important steps you can take before buying a home: knowing your credit score! 💳✨

Your credit score isn’t just a number—it’s your financial reputation. And when it comes to buying a house, it can affect everything from what loan options you qualify for to how much interest you’ll pay over time. 😱

Here’s why it matters: 🔑 A higher credit score can unlock better mortgage rates
🏡 It impacts how much house you can afford
📉 It helps lower monthly payments over time

So where do you start?
✅ Check your score (Credit Karma, your bank, or free annual reports)
✅ Pay bills on time (reminder alerts can be your best friend!)
✅ Keep credit card balances below 30% of your limit
✅ Avoid major purchases or new accounts right before applying for a mortgage

💡 Bonus tip: Start building or improving your score months before you’re ready to buy—it gives you more flexibility and less stress when it’s go-time!

Not sure what your score means or how it stacks up for a mortgage? That’s what we’re here for 💕 We’d love to guide you through every step of the journey, from your first financial check-in to the day you get your keys 🗝️

📩 DM us anytime to chat or ask questions—no pressure, just support!

05/22/2025

I always love creating for EDGE Realty Group—this message is such a great one to highlight. It’s not just about buying and selling homes... it’s about experience, strategy, and truly knowing the community.

Proud to help bring strong, on-brand content like this to life!

Buying or selling a home is one of the biggest decisions you'll ever make — and having the right real estate partner can make all the difference.

At EDGE Realty Group, our agents offer more than just a sign in the yard or a listing online. We bring strategic insight, strong negotiation skills, and a deep understanding of the local market to every client relationship.

Whether you're buying your first home, upgrading to fit your growing family, or downsizing for a new season of life, our agents are here to guide, advocate, and celebrate with you every step of the way.

When you work with an EDGE agent, you’re not just getting a transaction — you’re getting a true partner dedicated to your success. 🏡💬

Let’s get you moving with confidence — and with an EDGE.

05/22/2025

These are the kinds of posts that remind me why I do what I do. Helping my clients show up authentically—whether it’s about listings or mental health—means everything. Grateful to work with people who lead with heart. 💛

𝑴𝒂𝒚 𝒊𝒔 𝑴𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒂𝒍 𝑯𝒆𝒂𝒍𝒕𝒉 𝑨𝒘𝒂𝒓𝒆𝒏𝒆𝒔𝒔 𝑴𝒐𝒏𝒕𝒉—𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒂 𝒓𝒆𝒎𝒊𝒏𝒅𝒆𝒓 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒄𝒂𝒓𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒎𝒊𝒏𝒅 𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒓𝒕𝒔 𝒓𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕 𝒂𝒕 𝒉𝒐𝒎𝒆. 💚

Creating a space that supports your well-being doesn’t have to mean a full renovation. Sometimes, it’s the little things that make the biggest difference.

Think soft lighting, cozy textures, and a clutter-free corner just for you. Add a comfy chair, a few plants, or your favorite candle. Try setting up a “no phone” zone for unwinding, journaling, meditating, or simply breathing deep. ☁️

Whether it’s a full room or just a favorite nook, your environment plays a big role in how you feel.
Your home should recharge you—not drain you.

This month (and every month), take a moment to check in—with your home and with yourself. 💛

05/22/2025

Creating content that feels like my clients is my favorite part of the job. Whether it’s a market update, a listing promo, or a personality-packed Reel, staying on brand is everything.

💛 Love what you see? Let’s create something amazing for your business too!

May is the official kickoff to the busiest time of year for buying, selling, and making big moves—and we’re here to help make yours a smooth one!

Whether you're upgrading, downsizing, or relocating across town, here are a few moving tips to keep in mind as peak season begins:

✅ Start early – Movers book up fast this time of year. Get quotes and lock in your moving date ASAP.

📦 Declutter before you pack – Lighten the load and save time by donating, selling, or tossing what you don’t need.

🗂️ Label everything – Clearly mark boxes by room and include a few key items on the outside (you’ll thank yourself later!).

🧹 Plan a clean exit – Schedule time to clean your old place or hire a service—some buyers may request it in the contract.

📑 Work with local experts – From navigating offers to timing your sale and purchase, having a trusted team (that’s us!) makes all the difference.

This is one of the best times of year to buy or sell—and we’re ready to make your next chapter a smooth and exciting one.

Let’s get moving! 💬

04/11/2025

04/11/2025

📣 𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐋 𝐓𝐀𝐋𝐊 𝐓𝐈𝐌𝐄, 𝐅𝐑𝐈𝐄𝐍𝐃𝐒! 🏠✨

OMG, with all these headlines about tariffs, interest rates, and recession talk, it's no wonder our phones are BLOWING UP with questions! Sarah and I (with our 40+ years of combined experience!) want to remind you of one thing: 𝑻𝑯𝑰𝑺 𝑰𝑺 𝑨 𝑺𝑯𝑰𝑭𝑻, 𝑵𝑶𝑻 𝑨 𝑪𝑹𝑰𝑺𝑰𝑺! 💪

𝙃𝙚𝙧𝙚'𝙨 𝙬𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙣𝙚𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙤 𝙠𝙣𝙤𝙬:
-83% 𝘰𝘧 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘨𝘢𝘨𝘦 𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘴 𝘜𝘕𝘋𝘌𝘙 6%!
-39.3% 𝘰𝘧 𝘈𝘮𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘯𝘴 𝘰𝘸𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘩𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘴 𝘍𝘙𝘌𝘌 𝘈𝘕𝘋 𝘊𝘓𝘌𝘈𝘙
-29.3% 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘌𝘘𝘜𝘐𝘛𝘠 𝘙𝘐𝘊𝘏
-𝘚𝘱𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘢𝘳𝘬𝘦𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘏𝘌𝘙𝘌 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘣𝘶𝘺𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘱𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘨!

Remember 2008? We were there helping clients navigate through it all. And guess what? In the 6 recessions since the 80s, home prices went UP in 4 of them! 𝟮𝟬𝟬𝟴 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗘𝗫𝗖𝗘𝗣𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡, 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝘂𝗹𝗲!

As Warren Buffett says, "Be greedy when others are fearful." The BEST time to buy might just be when everyone else is in panic mode! 😉

We're here to be your guides, cut through the scary headlines, and help you make confident decisions based on FACTS, not fear! ✅

Drop a comment with your biggest real estate concern right now, and we'll address it in our next post! 👇



Source:
Tom Ferry, Real Estate Coach
David Childers, CEO Keeping Current Matters

04/11/2025

April is fair housing month and we are proud to support the Fair Housing Act, which ensures everyone has an equal chance to find their perfect home.

This important law makes it illegal to discriminate against anyone buying or renting a home based on their race, color, religion, gender, national origin, family status, or disability. At Kalona Realty, we believe safe, quality housing should be accessible to all.

When you work with us, you're partnering with professionals who are committed to treating everyone fairly and with respect. They're dedicated to helping all clients navigate their housing journey with the same exceptional service and care.

04/11/2025

April is Stress Awareness Month, and we wanted to pause our real estate updates to check in about something that touches all of us: finding balance in a world that rarely slows down.

Let's be real—between careers, family responsibilities, financial considerations, and that phone that never seems to stop buzzing, modern life can feel like a lot to handle sometimes. And that's perfectly okay to admit.

We believe that talking openly about stress and mental wellbeing creates stronger communities. Whether you're feeling overwhelmed by your to-do list, finding it hard to switch off at night, or just needing a moment to breathe—you're in good company.

Small acts of self-care make a big difference: maybe it's a morning walk, a firm work cut-off time, or simply giving yourself permission to leave those dishes until tomorrow. Remember, reaching out for support is always a sign of strength, not weakness.

The beauty of community is that we don't have to figure everything out alone. Sometimes the most powerful thing we can do is simply ask, "How are you—really?" and then listen with our full attention.

We're curious: What's one small thing you're doing to protect your peace this month? Share below and let's learn from each other.

𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐰𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐛𝐞𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬, 𝐭𝐨𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐝𝐚𝐲.

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