JJ & Ainsley Gordon, The Gordon Group

Americans love their home improvement and design shows. With entire channels dedicated to DIY, home decor and design, and everything related to U.S. real estate, we love the possibilities that lie within the real estate market in America. One popular aspect of many shows and publications is home or house flipping. We hear a lot about flipping homes, but what does that really mean? Is it feasible for everyone? Are there risks? Should you buy a flipped home, and what questions should you ask if your property search lands on a potentially flipped property? What is Flipping? Flipping is a predominately U.S. term used to describe purchasing a property with the intent of quickly reselling it for profit. Most of the time, properties that are purchased with the intent to flip are those that are distressed, abandoned, or otherwise in need of repairs that make the property less desirable to other potential buyers. Flipping has become increasingly popular throughout the U.S...

RED:   Acts as a stimulator ORANGE:   Uplifting color that promotes happiness YELLOW/GOLD:  Symbolizes power, stimulates health, patience & wisdom PINK:   Represents love, romance & partnership GREEN:   Represents growth and new beginnings, as well as healing & freshness BLUE-GREENS:   Represents youth, new beginnings & inspires confidence DEEPER BLUES:   Infuses wisdom & introspection PURPLE:   Inspires spirituality, adventure & prosperity BLACK:   Contemplative color that encourages reflection & mystery WHITE:  Cultivates clarity, precision & communication GRAY:   Invites helpfulness and represents a harmonious union of black & white BROWN:  Offers stability & security Room color can influence our moods and our thoughts. This is why it...

Many homeowners consider investing in an income or rental property as a means for extra income. Many real estate markets throughout the U.S. have seen tons of growth in recent years, with rental properties highly sought-after in some popular markets. Generally, real estate is a solid investment in terms of ROI (return on investment) over the long term. While a rental property might seem like a sure thing for extra income, there are advantages as well as disadvantages to income properties. If you've been toying with the idea of investing in another property, consider some of the points below before making your final decision. Advantages of Rental/Income Properties Direct Income Stream One major advantage of an income property is a direct income stream. Monthly rent checks go directly to you, which based on whether or not the property has a mortgage, go directly into your business account. Should the property be continually rented throughout the year, the monthly payme...

With the start of a new year, it's always a good idea to assess your home and its needs. Taking stock of appliances, home systems, and other items that make a house a home will help guide you to home improvements needed, appliances that may be near the end of their lives, and any other updates that can help to boost your home's worth. Listed below are major home systems to evaluate in the new year to help give you peace of mind.   HVAC In the winter and summer months a home's HVAC (heating, ventilating, and air conditioning) systems are put to good use. January is the perfect month to replace disposable filters or wash permanent ones in your home's HVAC or humidifier systems. Filters should be regularly replaced or washed when use is high or during peak seasons. The start of a new year is an excellent time to vacuum all heat vents, especially those that are located on the floor. The vents are overly susceptible to dust, dirt, pet hairs, and other particles...

Perhaps you're considering buying or selling a home or property in the New Year. For some, the idea of selling a home might seem like a challenge worth taking. For others, the thought of selling or buying a property is incredibly daunting, which is a major reason why real estate agents and brokers exist: to help us with our real estate transactions. Even so, there are some people who question the value in an agent. Because a normal real estate transaction takes on average between 30 to 45 days (there are times when it's shorter or much longer), it might seem as though an agent gets a lot more out of the transaction than they put in, prompting a buyer or seller to attempt the transaction on his/her own. What many people don't realize is the incredible value offered to buyers and sellers by using an agent. If you're looking to buy or sell in the New Year, read below to find out all the value you receive by using a real estate agent. Pre-Listing Activities A huge...

When selling a home or property, one of the main goals of the seller is to get the highest offer possible. If the market is hot, the chance of getting a high offer is relatively high. If the market is on the cooler side, many sellers look to alternative options to make their properties more marketable, usually by way of a remodel, a renovation or by updating the property. But what is the difference between a remodel and a renovation? Is an update something that's easy or difficult? While there are no doubt projects that see better return on investment than others, homeowners have a number of options when it comes to boosting their property's value. If you're not particularly ready to put your property on the real estate market, but are looking for ways to help boost your home's overall value, an update, a renovation or a remodel might be just what you're looking for at the current time. Updates Want to help boost your home's value but have a limited budget...

If you are currently in the market for your first home, you probably have a lot of questions. You are about to make an important decision for your future, a great investment of both money and time. Here are some tips that can help make your home buying process more successful. Do Your Homework The key step in buying a home is doing the proper research. Educate yourself on local schools, neighborhoods, and the kinds of homes available. By reading available materials and talking with experts, you can start to put together your idea of the perfect home. Start Planning Most decisions benefit greatly from proper planning and home buying is certainly no exception. Start a filing system with sections such as home buying, home financing and service providers. By forming a home buying plan you can more easily focus on the most important factors and help give structure to the entire process. Get Pre-Approved or Pre-Qualified Attaining the right mortgage is a key step i...