The J Brigham Team is busy as the Spring Market is in full swing.  Buyers are out looking for the perfect place to call home, preferring it to be renovated versus doing the work.  
We are seeing a slight uptick in prices, and inventory is growing as owners want to get their homes on the market before the summer begins. Mortgage activity is also up as 6% mortgage rates are seeming to be normal. 
If you are looking to rent, be prepared to compete for a signed lease as inventory is tight. Often causing rents to increase as prospective renters swarm available rental listings. In Manhattan and Brooklyn, as we head into summer, all signs point to rents increasing. If you have time, do comparison shopping during the quieter summer months as it might be the perfect time to buy vs rent.
Whether you are looking to buy, sell or rent a home, the J Brigham team offers you total dedication, and a stress-free, successful experience, with optimal outcomes. We offer the foresight and intuition necessary to prevent problems before they arise. Let us know how we can help you!

Many people over time have conducted their lives from various locations. The recent trend of "work from anywhere" has accelerated the movement. Working and traveling to many different areas of the globe has become the norm. Often people who do live this lifestyle do so because of tax savings and not necessarily because of better weather or aesthetics.
The IRS considers you a U.S. resident if you are physically present in the U.S. on at least 31 days of the current year and 183 days during a three-year period.
Where can you go to save on taxes? Alaska, Nevada, Texas, Florida, North Dakota, Tennessee, New Hampshire, Washington, and Wyoming attract Americans with no state taxes. Puerto Rico has zero taxes! If you want to live abroad, Portugal, Spain, Croatia, Greece, and Malta are offering a digital nomad visa for non-EU citizens. In the Bahamas, you are not taxed on individual income, but you do have capital gains, capital transfer, and estate taxes.
When it comes time to move, maybe it is not all about weather and aesthetics but a more practical approach to saving on your taxes. If you are thinking of moving out of state and need a real estate advisor, let me introduce you! Message me and I can refer you to a professional real estate advisor across the US and internationally.

I don't know about you but walkability in my home environment certainly makes a difference.  There is a return to a "continental lifestyle".   European cities such as Amsterdam have embraced this lifestyle with city squares and plazas for people-friendly ambience.

Americans are now also enjoying this same lifestyle.  They are increasingly valuing neighborhood walkability, especially when making decisions about real estate. Today's buyers are willing to pay more for this privilege. Research from the Institute for Luxury Home Marketing, confirms a single point difference in walkability score can represent a value difference of $3250.  The importance of having their favorite destinations nearby include dog parks, restaurants, golf courses, entertainment and culture.

Certainly something to consider when thinking about your next real estate decision!​

Are you wondering what is happening in the market?  What steps should you be taking? That is a question many of us are asking ourselves, but it should really be up to the individuals needs and wants in the present moment. Do you need more room for a growing family? Are you recently divorced? Do you need to downsize? Have you experienced a life changing event?

Each year brings a new experience and no year is identical to the previous.  Take 2021, that was unusually robust and artificially exaggerated.  2020 experienced much reactionary activity.  So why compare 2022 to 2021 or previous years? The one comparison is, people are experiencing delayed decision making. Mainly  due in part, to all that is going on in the world, not just your own backyard.

Are you wondering what is happening in the national market? Although real estate is hyper-local, there is value to looking at what is happening nationally as a mirror of things to come.  The latest national market trends according to the National Association of Realtors (NAR) are:

Existing-home sales

• Decreased for the seventh straight month in August 2022, to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.80 million units sold, on par with July’s rate (4.82 million) but down 19.9% from August 2021.
• 29% of existing sales in August went to first-time buyers. All-cash buyers accounted for 24% of transactions in August. 

New Construction

• The census bureau reported that builders broke ground on 1.575 million homes in August 2022, up 12.2% from July 2022 and roughly even with August 2021.
• There are more than 1.7 million homes currently under construction nationwide (multifamily and single-family combined), the most ever recorded

Sales Prices

• The median existing home price was $389,500 in August 2022, up 7.7% from August 2021.
• The median price of new homes sold in August rose to $436,800, up 8% from August 2021

Inventory

• At the current sales pace, there is a 3-month supply of existing homes available to buy (seasonally adjusted), identical to July 2022, and up from 2.6 in August 2021.
• Existing homes sold in August 2022 went pending in 16 days, up slightly from July’s record low (14 days), but down from August 2021 (17 days).
• 81% of homes sold in August were on the market for less than a month, according to NAR.
• There was an 8.1-months’ supply of new homes available to buy in August, down from 10.4 in July but up from 6.5 a year ago. 

When you look at the national figures, you see inventory is down, but prices are up. If you are considering selling your home, now is a good time.  Serious buyers are out!  If you are a buyer, now is a perfect time.  There is new inventory!  No one has a crystal ball as to mortgage rates.  You can always lock in now and refinance a few years down the road.  But always remember, what are your needs at the moment.  

Remember real estate is one of the most important decisions you will make.  It is personal and needs driven.  Think about what is driving your decision in the present. If I can help you in your real estate journey and answer any questions, please reach out to me at colleen.cassel@compass.com or 516-659-9855.
Thank you for reading and please share with your friends and family.
Colleen

You are considering the sale of your home and perhaps you are new to the process. Are you wondering what you should look for in an agent who is going to help you through the process?

Real estate is one of the most important decisions you will make during your life. You will want to work with an individual who will be your trusted guide throughout the process as well as after the sale. You want to feel protected and supported each step of the way, from the moment you connect, to after the close so you feel value for all your home needs. Below are 7 points you need to look for in the #agent who is going to walk the home path with you.

Value Enhancing is very important. You want your agent to walk your #property with you. Pointing out ways to enhance your property so you get top dollar for your home. The suggestions that are offered might be for minor renovations or updates that will make a difference in the timing and sale price of the home. These can include freshly painted rooms, decluttering, an update to your front door, landscaping, a new garage, kitchen, and bathroom updates. One of my favorite elements from Compass is #CompassConcierge, the hassle-free way to sell your home faster and for a higher price.
Compass Concierge fronts money with no interest for the renovations you want to make to enhance your home.

Realistic Pricing will help sell your home in the time you need. Pricing your home too high, will scare buyers away, or pricing your home too low, might leave money on the table. Make sure your agent shares a market snapshot with you. A market snapshot will show you what has recently sold in your neighborhood giving you the most up-to-date pricing that consumers are willing to pay.

Having a strong Marketing Plan will help promote your property to get the maximum exposure. This should include a strong social media plan, print advertising in publications that reach your targeted audience and connecting with a massive reach of agents across the Country to market your home. Compass has a national network of 26,000+ agents that can see your home. With the advent of remote work, people are living all over the Country, regardless of where their job is located, allowing people the opportunity to buy where they want to live.

Great Negotiating Skills from an agent, will give you the best and fair price for your home. Knowing when to push for something or lean back based on your goals and needs as a homeowner.

A Transaction Manager who will make sure your home closes on time with the least number of surprises. You want an agent who has a network and can connect you with services that will make the process as smooth as possible.

Communication is one of the most important elements in leadership and relationships. You want your agent to always communicate with you about market updates and your home updates. This includes the number of showings, and comments regarding your home, regardless of positive or negative comments. This will also help you to understand what will sell your home at the time you need. Make sure the type of communication you are receiving is what you prefer, whether it is through text, phone calls, or emails.

Lastly, I would recommend a Trusting Connection. You are placing one of your most valuable assets in someone else’s hands. Make sure you trust the agent you are working with, you enjoy their company, and are confident they will deliver you the most value to get your home sold.

If you have any questions about your real estate needs, please message me. Whether you are considering a sale of your home, buying a first or 2nd home, or renting, real estate can be a fun but also a daunting process. Let me make your real estate transaction a smooth and enjoyable experience for you.

#realestate #compass #sellingyourhouse

Leadership comes in all styles.  Leaders that remember the importance of what their team can bring versus a "me only" mentality will help the teams to succeed.

A strong team that provides stability for its members is especially important in challenging times. Every member must be clear about their role and how it relates to the overall efficiency and productivity of the rest of the team.  Understanding each individual members strengths and weaknesses will lead to better communication and results.

To read more Click Here from RisMedia.
​#realestate #realtor #leaders #teams

 The market is shifting, what are we to do?  With expert advice from the leaders at Inman, following are steps to do and not to do, during this market shift.

Don't buy before selling your home - Buying before can put financial pressure on you in a market that takes longer to sell.  It makes more sense to sell first and then look to buy. Doing so, will help you sleep at night more easily.

Don't set a price and not move from it - The buyer sets the price. In a shifting market, houses stay on the market longer.  Plus buyers have more leverage with offers coming in lower, effectively lowering market values.  Sellers must consider all offers,  your first offer is often your best and only offer.

Don't underprice your home - Don't list your home artificially low and let the market drive the price up.  It is not an auction.  Sellers should list at a price that they know they will accept.

Don't price higher than what your neighborhood is selling for - When pricing, sellers should follow the market.  In a market that is turning down,  sellers want to price ahead of the market by setting the price under previous sales.

React quickly - When the market shifts it does so immediately.  Respond effectively. Sellers need to accept the new market and look at lower price offers that appear.

Maximize property potential - With increased inventory, buyers become picky.  Sellers should make sure their homes stand out.  Price correctly, stage your home, market it properly and prep your home to win the bid.

Be patient - Sales in a downward market take longer to sell. Stay ahead of market conditions and listen to what the news is saying.

Embrace this new reality. Don't panic. If you have a question whether you should sell, buy now, or even rent for a while, feel free to call me (516-659-9855).  I am dedicated to my clients needs.  I offer outstanding service, excellent communication,  expert market knowledge and cutting-edge technology tools and resources.  #realtor #buyingahome #sellingahome #realestateinvesting

2022 Real Estate Predictions

2022 will be more of the same as 2021.

Heading into 2022, there will be lower inventory than at the end of 2020.  With inventory low, and buyer demand high get ready for a busy 2022. 

2022 will start with  fewer homes for sale than in 2021 and can last into summer. If you list your home for sale and don’t have multiple offers, you will know it is dramatically overpriced. 

Many sellers make the mistake of waiting until spring to list their homes for sale. That is not a good idea. Listing in the winter, lets the seller standout. Homebuyers don’t like to wait.   
Sellers are slow to list their homes for 2 reasons.

1. Many people, will be cautious with covid on the rise again, especially if they aren't in a rush.  They will hold off till Spring.   
2. Home sellers are usually motivated to list when they see homes on the market that they want to buy. Sellers often look in the wrong places, such as Zillow, for homes.  They don't see homes and then do nothing.

Recommendation. Hire a REALTOR.   2022 will be similar to 2021, and a trusted advisor will help you with one of your biggest decisions of your life - buying or selling your home. 

What is happening with Interest Rates

In March 2020 the Fed moved at a rapid pace to steady rates, but also to lower them. They reused the playbook from 2008. They bought billions of dollars in Mortgage-Backed Securities to drive rates to all-time historic lows.  Remember, lower mortgage rates allow for more buying power. But now as we are facing an inflation problem, the Fed is going to take its foot off the gas, which will increase rates.
In the first half of 2021, the average 30-year fixed-rate mortgage was 2.8% to 2.9% and now they are consistently back over 3%.  According to research, rates will go up modestly in the beginning of 2022 and then likely more by summer.  This may cause a decrease in the number of buyers.

But the FHFA announced that the baseline conforming loan limit will increase a record 18% to $647,200, which is an increase of $98,950 from $548,250 in 2021. Making it easier for homebuyers to qualify for higher loan limits!

Over-communicate how to compete as a buyer in today’s market. Agents should over-communicate to their buyer-clients that they need to be motivated, financially prepared and have a sense of urgency to act on a home they want to purchase, as well as be ready to go when they see a house they want.
Over-prepare on pricing strategies in advance. Agents should educate their buyers on a solid pricing and negotiating strategy before they write an offer. Explain and re-explain what the “over ask price” may be based on the price point of that home and neighborhood.  By doing this, buyers will be prepared to go to their highest and best in the moment without losing the opportunity.
Be relentless and resourceful. Agents can help buyers write the very best initial offer by contacting the listing agent to find out their preferred terms for closing dates and occupancy, rent backs if necessary, financing or cash options, so that they can put the best terms in their initial offer. This requires speaking to the listing agent directly, even if that means calling and texting them multiple times.
Prepare buyers to be creative and flexible with terms. It may take an escalation clause for their buyers to offer more than other competing buyers. Other options include using an appraisal gap guarantee or inspection cap on repairs to be creative and keep the buyer’s best financial interests intact while being super competitive and attractive to the seller.
Focus on today’s market price. Explaining the benefits of buying in today’s market to help a buyer maximize their buying power with low interest rates—or for a buyer to maximize the current value of their home as-is and sell at the peak of the market—provides agents with great financial real estate advice to share with their clients. The combination of high buying power, low interest rates and increased value of homes makes for a perfect incentive to buy and sell now.

Go find the inventory for your buyers. It takes more than waiting for the right home to appear in the agent’s local MLS, and in today’s highly competitive market, it has never been more important for agents to go find the listings for their buyer-clients.
It is so important for agents to be resourceful, creative, relentless and devoted to giving their ultimate “A-game” for their clients. Buyers today are stressed out and scared, but agents can add value to their experience by offering the highest level of solutions-based methods to help them purchase.

Sherri Johnson is CEO and founder of Sherri Johnson Coaching & Consulting. Article from RisMedia

You can also read this post as it appeared in Mindfulness App
​
​Mindful leadership has become a popular term.  But what does it really mean to be a mindful leader? Leadership is more important than ever. Globally engagement is at an all-time low of 13%.  80% of employee’s state that they are stressed and 46% of employees are looking for a job while sitting in their office.

What does a leader need to do to help an organization move forward? To improve engagement and ultimately productivity.  We are all leaders, regardless of our title or the job that we do. Individually it is important to be mindful, but when the organization embodies mindfulness, positive change occurs and the culture of the organization improves.

Why become a mindful leader?  Research has shown that when organizations are trained in mindfulness, they experience benefits such as a savings in health care costs, less stress and increased productivity among employees.  For example, Aetna has shown an average of $3000 savings in health care costs per employee and Dow Chemical has shown a 15% gain in employee engagement.

What traits do mindful leaders possess?
Effective Communicators:  Mindful leaders communicate with clarity of content but also of thought.  They are able to interact without abrupt and hasty thinking and reactivity. They have a calm awareness of direction, goals and how to motivate others.  Mindful leaders listen with empathy and curiosity. They embody the ability to feel, sense and understand what others are feeling, ultimately communicating the appropriate response.

Greater Self-Awareness: When leaders are self-aware they know their strengths and weaknesses.  They are confident in their abilities but also know what they need to do to improve and become stronger leaders. Ego is not a part of their equation.  Mindful leaders have greater emotional intelligence skills. Studies show that when we practice mindfulness, the gray matter in our pre frontal cortex that controls decision-making and critical thinking increases.  It improves our self-regulation and gives us the power to respond versus react in situations.  Leaders are able to see things more clearly and objectively without emotional flurry clouding their decisions.

Have a Strong Vision: Leaders that have a vision, see a plan for the future.  They understand the present state of affairs and are able to make critical decisions if change is needed.  Mindful leaders have greater concentration and focus on what is important. They can respond more strategically, prioritize and focus on not only the structure of the organization but the people that make the business flourish.

When we are mindful leaders we are more productive and our performance improves.  We understand what is important and what needs to be done.  Mindful leaders are better communicators, more engaged with employees and are motivated not only for their own purpose but for the greater whole.
Mindfulness offers us the competitive advantage as leaders. 

A simple practice with benefits that can transform not only an individual but a culture. Thank you for reading and please leave a comment and share on your social media.

Colleen Cassel, CEO of Upstream Solutions, is a speaker and leadership consultant. Working with organizations and individuals to impact performance in their business and career.  As CMO of id8TE, Colleen consults and trains leaders on how mindful outcomes can transform performance in leadership, engagement and overall wellbeing within workplaces.  

As seen and published in The Mindfulness App.

Today’s world of too much to do, always working, and a busy personal life, is a fact of life.  But it is not always the healthiest way to live. The good news, there are ways to combat the busyness and have a healthier and happier way of being.    
Due to our very busy lives we often multitask.  But a study from the University of Stanford shows that multitasking is not good for you.  It causes you to make more mistakes, be less creative and it takes more time to complete the task. When you multitask, you are causing your brain to task-switch or bounce around versus being focused and staying on point.  This switching is exhausting. It uses up the oxygenated glucose in the brain, that is needed when you want and need to be most focused.
How do you break the multitasking habit?  Mindfulness has become a proven tool that can help. As Jon Kabat-Zinn states, when you are being mindful, you are regulating your attention on what is happening in the moment and approaching your experiences with openness, curiosity and acceptance.  
Mindfulness helps you to notice that you have gotten off track from what you really want to be concentrating on.  Distractions are a part of what happens.  We have over 50,000 thoughts a day. With mindfulness you become more aware that your mind has wandered.  It allows you to return to what you were doing.  Mindfulness enhances your attention, increases your ability to remain focused and helps you to ignore outside distractions.
Practicing mindfulness has shown to alter the structure and function of the brain.  Thus, resulting in learning and thinking more clearly and improving your memory.  In today’s workplace, it is critical to think creatively for innovation and leadership to occur.
Following are easy ways to break the multitasking habit and be more effective at work in a less stressful manner:

1. Take a breath between projects.  Set up a schedule and prioritize what you need to do.  When you complete a task, take a deep breath and allow time before the next project.  Taking a deep breath, can help to reset the brain, slow your heart rate and cultivate a sense of control and focus on what you need to accomplish.  Resisting the urge to do two jobs at the same time.
2. Choose to be positive. Our brains are wired to think negative thoughts.  But we can train our brain to be more positive and mindfully choose to focus on happier, positive thoughts. Challenge yourself to write down one positive thought each day.
3. When you are stuck, take a stretch, get up and walk away from what you are doing.  Changing your pattern will open your mind for creative thoughts to enter.  When you open your senses to different stimulations you rewire the brain. It helps you to relax, reduces stress and opens up your creative channel.
4. Have compassion.  Reach out for help.  Ask others to assist you on a task or assign it to someone who is capable of handling it.  When you are compassionate to yourself, you are more compassionate and kind to others. Creating a culture of collaboration.  
5. Take time to smile.  A smile actually brings a sense of wellbeing to your entire body and is also reflected in how others see you. Smiling brings awareness. Your body relaxes, and it can help to lower stress in challenging times.

Incorporating these small habits into your daily life will help you to focus on what is important in the moment, reduce mental exhaustion and the stress you experience when multitasking.  Being mindful will improve your overall sense of well being, satisfaction for your job and life, and boosts your energy. Please leave a comment and share it on your social media. Thank you.

What is the secret to happiness? You often think it is a new job, designer shoes, a great partner or even winning the lottery. Believe it or not, the answer is not in the things you have or want, but the answer lies within.  

Why is it when you buy shoes that you thought would make you happy, a day later, you are still not happy. The reason you feel good about the shoe purchase in the moment is similar to the analogy of playing slots at Vegas.  Each time you pull the lever at the slot machine you get a dopamine rush.  It feels good and you continue. But the feeling doesn't stay. It is momentary. The brain is only playing a trick on you.

Happiness is not about chasing the next great thing, but it is about being true to yourself and understanding what you really want.  Research shows that happiness is a skill that is learned and can grow.  Follow the path below and you will be on your way to finding out what truly makes you happy. 

Be Healthy - Start to exercise, it does works. What happens and how is the brain involved? You have two things happening. When you exercise, your brain recognizes it as a moment of stress. To protect you, the brain releases a protein called BDNF, (brain-derived neurotrophic factor). This protein acts as a reset switch to calm the stress. That is why we often feel at ease after exercise.  At the same time, endorphins are released which fight stress.  Endorphins minimize the discomfort of exercise, block the feeling of pain and leave you with a feeling of euphoria.  Research shows that you don't even need to exercise for a long time to reap the benefits.  The first 20 minutes give you the highest happiness rush.  

Be Curious - When you are curious, you are interested in learning new things.  You experience a sense of wonder.  If something is not the way you want it to be, a curious nature allows you to explore and experience new opportunities.  Get curious about you.  Ask yourself, what makes you happy?  What are you good at? What do you not like to do? When you start to ask yourself these questions, you will learn what truly inspires you. Write the answers down so you can act on them. This will be the start to your path of happiness.
 
Be Grateful - Gratitude is a key in happiness and success.  It has been proven by Scientist Robert Emmons and Sonja Lyubomirsky, that not only does it increase happiness, but it also improves your immune system, reduces anxiety, depression and makes you more resilient. With gratitude you recognize the goodness in your life and how you have been supported by others. Gratitude emits positive feelings motivating you to pay it forward.

Be Positive - Our brains have a propensity towards negative thoughts and consider a negative thought to be 5 times more important.  You have over 50,000 thoughts a day and 70% of them are self-critical, unpleasant and negative.  The good news, you can train your brain to think positive.  With positive thoughts you experience greater joy and calm.  You become happier and more interested in finding your own success.  In fact when you choose to be positive, you are 31% more productive and 23% less stressed.

Happiness is all relative. Think about what truly makes you happy.  Explore what you want, what makes you tick and try new things. The path begins with you.  Thank you for reading. Please leave a comment and share on your social media.

Colleen Cassel, CEO and Founder of Upstream Solutions, is a speaker, leadership and career consultant.  Working with organizations and individuals to impact performance in their business and career.  Colleen consults and trains on how being mindful and authentic improves leadership, communication, focus and creates a smarter way to work. Contact: Colleen@colleencassel.com ~704-900-6448.

 
​The secret to gaining the confidence necessary to achieve your goals and dreams comes down to a simple process.  The basis and foundation starts with believing in yourself.  When you believe that you can do it, magic happens. Your goals and desires are achievable but it boils down to believing in yourself and that what you want is yours to have.

The process is simple. Think of it as a ladder.  The first step is believing in yourself. Know that you are powerful, smart and intelligent.  Believe you are that and more.  Act and speak with confidence and a positive attitude. 

The next rung on the ladder is your intent. What is it that you want?  Choose and decide what you want to accomplish.  Don't be afraid to dream big. But, you must believe that what you want is attainable. Get specific as to your desires. Writing your goals and dreams on paper, solidifies what you want to accomplish.  
Now for the next step.  What action do you need to take to start the process?  Everything you want to accomplish requires an action, even a simple task.  Put the work in and believe it will happen. 

The last rung on the ladder is to LET GO!  Jump off and know that ii is yours.
​
But you ask? How do I get the confidence to believe in myself and my dreams?  You need to retrain your brain. Our minds have over 50,000 thoughts a day and 70% of those are negative or unhappy thoughts. Science has shown that traits such as confidence, happiness, leadership and communication, once thought to be innate, are indeed trainable traits.  We can actually become better at something and happier with practice.  

Neuroplasticity, means that the brain acts like plastic.  It can be rewired and retrained with practice.  Old patterns and habits can be broken and new ones created.  Retraining your brain requires that you create a new neural pathway.  Every time that you try something new, a new neural connection is made which creates new pathways.  Each new pathway can build a new habit, but it requires practice. 

If you want to build confidence, tell yourself each day that you can do it. Couple your verbal talk with journal writing.  Every day write 3-5 positive statements about yourself.  “I am powerful”  “I am smart” "I am a great athlete" or whatever it is you want to achieve.  Do actions that match your statements. Eventually your positive talk and affirmations will create new pathways in your brain. Belief and confidence in yourself will build.

Whether you want to build confidence, become happier or accomplish a goal, you must first believe that you can do it.  Learning to rewire new pathways and connections in your brain, will help you to achieve goals and dreams.  

Please comment and let me know what your new goal. And how you plan to rewire new pathways.