Kafayat Ayodele-Peters's blog

If you’d like to buy and move into a beautiful new home this spring, then your countdown has already started!

While the spring might seem far away now, the rush of real estate’s biggest season will be here before you know it. There are many things you’ll need to do to get prepped and ready to buy a home.

Here are a few things you should get started on now in January so you’re ready for the spring market!

- Get your finances in order: Now is the time to pull up your budget, your paystubs, your debt, and your credit score. First, make sure that your credit score is strong and that your...

This spring, you may be faced with a choice: do you renew for another year at an increased rent or do you jump into real estate and finally become a homeowner?

If you think you’ll stay in your area for 5+ years and have a steady income, now could be the perfect time for you to start your real estate journey.

Once you’ve decided that you want to buy a home, you can begin the homebuying process. Here’s how you should plan to spend the next few months!

January: This is the time to start learning about the homebuying process! Go look up some resources for homebuyers, ask your family and...

Every homeowner needs to see this strategy if they want to sell their home for top dollar.

There are some selling strategies out there that won’t work for every homeowner, but this one is universally applicable and so important.

Here’s the strategy: Set the scene when putting your house on the market.

This all comes down to staging your home. With staging, you’re using furniture and decor to help buyers imagine themselves in the home and see how perfectly their life could fit into the space.

Instead of just having an empty room or a space cluttered with furniture, staging sets the...

As you approach the closing date of your home, you’re likely looking forward to moving into your new home. But before you move in, there are eight things you need to do.

1. Celebrate: First things first–a celebration is in order! Make sure to take a moment to celebrate this huge milestone before jumping into the rush of getting ready to move.

2. Change your locks: You want to feel safe and secure in your new home, so changing the locks and getting new keys will help protect you and your new home.

3. Service your HVAC and change the air filter: Make sure that the air you’ll be...

Everyone is talking about interest rates right now, and with good reason. A couple of years ago, we saw interest rates hit historic lows as the Federal Reserve tried to stimulate the post-pandemic economy. But then inflation happened, and now the Federal Reserve has raised interest rates.

As a buyer, you should do everything you can to get the best interest rate possible. But remember: you can always refinance to a better rate down the road.

But how are you actually supposed to get a good rate in the first place? To many buyers, the mortgage rate can seem like a black box that just...

It’s easier to become a real estate investor than you might think!

With a little bit of knowledge about how the real estate industry works, you can become an investor and set yourself up for financial success without needing hundreds of thousands in savings.

Here’s how you can become a real estate investor in 4 easy steps:

1. Buy a home on the low end of your budget. Make sure that it’s not a fixer upper that you’ll end up sinking a ton of time and energy into. A move-in ready home is the ticket here. You’ll need to work with your buyer’s agent to negotiate on the home and ensure you...

Some renovations just aren’t worth it if you want to get a good return on investment or ROI. This is especially true in the bathroom!

There are several bathroom renovations that don’t pay off. When sellers put these upgrades into their bathrooms, they nearly never recoup the cost of the renovation and, as a result, don’t get a high ROI. Let’s go through these 5 bathroom envisions that won’t pay off.

Steam shower: Steam showers can add a spa-like atmosphere, but they’re a niche item for buyers.

Whirlpool bathtub: Most buyers see these outdated and have heard horror stories about how...

Many people think that selling in the winter is a bad move. With all the holidays and the cold, it might not be your first choice in timing. But buyers still need houses, even in the winter!

With these secret real estate agent tips, you’ll know how to get your house ready to sell for top dollar this winter:

Keep your pathway and entrance free from snow.

• Make it easy for buyers to get into your home. Additionally, you don’t want to make it seem like it’s hard to maintain your outdoor spaces in the winter, so a clear entrance is key!

Brighten up every room.

• It gets dark early in...

The holidays are full of hustle and bustle, but that doesn’t mean that you can’t have a wonderful holiday season and also get your home on the market! Whether you need to get your home sold quickly or you just want to capitalize on more serious buyers and fewer homes on the market, the holidays can be a smart time to put your home on the market.

But because the holiday season is often full of events, merry-making, and general busyness, listing your home at this time of year requires a little more planning and some advice from your real estate agent.

Here are the 3 top tips to help you...

Going through the homebuying journey with your partner can be a relationship-building experience, but it can also be a challenge! Buying a home, especially for the first time, is a complex process with different moving parts and a lot of money–this can be a recipe for a stressful situation for many people.

The secret to smooth out some of those bumps in the road before they happen? A money date! Going on a money date is a great way to get on the same page when it comes to buying a home.

To go on a money date, set aside a specific time that’s just for talking real estate. You may also...