Gema Smith's Blog

Posted on 04/21/2025

The #1 Thing Sellers Need to Understand About Pricing Their Home

When you list your home, it’s only natural to want it to sell quickly and at the highest possible price. That’s the ideal outcome for most sellers. But in today’s housing market, many homeowners are setting their asking prices too high — without realizing how much the market has shifted. As more homes become available, competition increases. And...

For Sellers

Home Prices

+ 8 more

Posted on 04/21/2025

Pre-Approval Isn’t Commitment – It’s Clarity

If buying a home is on your radar – even if it’s more of a someday plan than a right now plan – getting pre-approved early is still one of the smartest moves you can make. Why? Because, like anything in life, the right prep work makes things clearer. The best time to get serious about buying is...

For Buyers

First Time Buyers

+ 7 more

Posted on 04/21/2025

Don’t Miss This Prime Spring Window To Sell Your House

According to Realtor.com, the best week to list your house this year was April 13–19. And since that week has come and gone, you might be wondering: did I miss my chance? Not at all – and here’s why. That’s just one source’s take, based on their own research. Other organizations run similar studies. And since different places...

For Sellers

Selling Tips

+ 7 more

Posted on 04/20/2025

Home Staging: How and Why to Find a Home Staging Professional

There are plenty of things you can do to potentially boost the profits of your home sale, such as tackling repairs and renovations. One thing you may also want to consider is hiring a professional to stage your home. What is Professional Staging? When a home is staged, a professional comes in and decorates/furnishes the home to make...

Design

+ 9 more

Posted on 04/17/2025

Mastering Your Money: A Practical Guide to Creating a Budget That Works

No matter how much you earn, having a solid budget in place is one of the smartest moves you can make for your financial health. By gaining clarity on where your money goes each month, you can take control of your finances and start building toward your bigger goals—whether that's saving for a home, eliminating debt, or simply...

Budgeting Tips

How To Create A Budget

+ 16 more

Posted on 04/17/2025

Healthy Living for Seniors: Boosting Wellness Through Nutrition & Movement

Aging is a natural part of life—but staying healthy while doing it can make all the difference. Rather than simply focusing on avoiding illness, healthy aging is about living with energy, independence, and purpose. The foundation of that lifestyle? Nutritious food and regular physical activity. With the right habits and support, especially from senior living communities, older adults...

Senior Wellness

Healthy Aging Tips

+ 10 more

Posted on 04/17/2025

The Power of Reflecting on Personal Achievements in Later Life

Reflection and Its Role in Enhancing Seniors' Mental Health Reflecting on life’s accomplishments is an important activity that can positively affect seniors’ mental health. The American Psychological Association reports that reminiscing can improve psychological well-being, especially for seniors dealing with cognitive issues like Alzheimer's or dementia. While memories of loved ones are often the focus of reflection, it’s...

Senior Wellness

Benefits Of Reflection For Seniors

+ 11 more

Posted on 04/16/2025

7 Real Estate Investment Strategies to Build Wealth and Support Retirement

Investing at any stage in life can feel complex, but when you're nearing or in retirement, the stakes are higher. At this point, your financial strategy needs to prioritize stability, income generation, inflation protection, and tax efficiency—all while minimizing risk. You’ve worked hard to build your nest egg, and now it’s time to make it work for you....

Real Estate Investing

Retirement Planning

+ 8 more

Posted on 04/14/2025

4 Ways To Make an Offer That Stands Out This Spring

Now that spring is here, more and more buyers are jumping back into the market, and competition is heating up. If you’re serious about landing a home you’ll love, you need more than just a wish list. You need a smart strategy – and that starts with working with a great agent who can help you put together...

For Buyers

Agent Value

+ 6 more

Posted on 04/14/2025

Here’s What a Recession Could Mean for the Housing Market

Recession talk is all over the news, and the odds of a recession are rising this year. And that leaves people wondering what would happen to the housing market if we do go into a recession. Let’s take a look at some historical data to show what’s happened in housing for each recession going all the way back...

For Buyers

For Sellers

+ 6 more

Posted on 04/13/2025

Key steps for approaching homebuying challenges

The homebuying journey often comes with many hurdles -...

Home Buyer

Homebuying Help

+ 1 more

Posted on 04/07/2025

House Hunting Just Got Easier – Here’s Why

If you’ve been frustrated by the lack of homes for sale over the past few years, here’s some good news. You have more options, so it may finally be time to kick off your home search again. As Daryl Fairweather, Chief Economist at Redfin, explains: “Now is the best time to buy in the last two years. Mortgage...

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