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Our Blog: Central Maryland Real Estate News, Tips & Local Insights

Whether you’re buying your first home, preparing to sell, or simply staying informed, you’ve come to the right place. Our blog is your trusted resource for Central Maryland real estate market updates, home values, buying and selling tips, homeowner advice, and local community news.

At Rivero Realtors, we believe real estate is about more than just houses—it’s about helping people find the right place to call home. That’s why we share timely information, practical advice, and local insights to help you make confident decisions every step of the way.

If you ever have a question about the market, a neighborhood, or your next move, we’re just a phone call away. We’d love the opportunity to help.

We Care... And It Shows!

Rich & Debbi Rivero

Rivero Realtors | RE/MAX Advantage Realty

March 7, 2022

COVID is Turning The Housing Market Inside Out!

 

Before the onset of the pandemic, many buyers were interested in remodeled homes.  The nicer the kitchen, the more a buyer would pay for the house.  Although you always have some hot buttons like garages, basements, primary bedrooms, kitchen remodels were really leading the market.  If you had remodeled your kitchen, you could assume you would get one of the highest prices in the neighborhood. 

Photo by Mark McCammon from Pexels

Then, COVID came.  As we tried to market to the buyers during this time, we emphasized mostly all the extra rooms that families could use or convert into living space so every family member could have a place to go for their Zoom meetings in school and work without having to be imprisoned in their own bedrooms.  We tried to find the need of the buyer and assumed that larger houses and homes with extra spaces would definitely be the most desirable for the majority of the buyers in the market.

Photo by energepic.com from Pexels

Now as we head out of the pandemic, the most desirable area seems to be the outdoor living space.  Homes with outdoor kitchens, elaborate decks and patios are the new HOT button.  Buyers are in biding wars with homes with "pretty" outdoor spaces, and most of them don't care about the interior.  Considering identical houses,  one house with outdated kitchen and nice outdoor living space will fetch an easy 10% more than the same house with updated kitchen and just a standard deck or patio.  As a seller, this is critical to know.  If you are considering selling in the near future and deciding to do some upgrades prior to putting your house on the market, you need to know what will fetch you top dollar!

Image by StockSnap from Pixabay

Spend more of your money in making the outdoors more inviting and you will win over the buyers!  Need some ideas or tips?  Reach out to us, we are here to help!

 

 

Post by Debbi Rivero

Posted in buying real estate, forecasting real estate, Helping Others, Homes for Sale, selling real estate, Sellingyourhome
no comments yet
Feb. 21, 2022

6 Steps to Moving With Your Family for Your New Job

 

This article provides a simple breakdown of key moving tasks for people who plan to relocate for work.

 

You’ve just been offered a fantastic job opportunity - but it’s quite far from where you currently live. Moving for your career is a big decision, but with the help of Rivero Realtors, you can find the perfect new home! Here’s how to execute a long-distance move for your family.

 

Choose the Right Neighborhood

 

To narrow down your choice of neighborhoods, consider the location of your office, the local school systems, your price range, and any features you want in your home. If you’re interested in buying a home rather than renting, your choice of neighborhood is especially important. You’ll want to work with a real estate agent who can recommend areas you like!

 

Find a Rental

 

Looking for the right home for your family can be challenging, especially when you’re searching from far away! That’s why using an online rental search platform is a smart choice, whether you’re looking for Denver, CO apartments or apartments in Ellicott City, MD!

 

Whether you want to live in an apartment or a house, you can use a platform like this to look up rentals in your price range in cities like Ellicott City or Denver, where the average 2-bedroom apartment costs approximately $2,531 per month. Just enter the amenities you want and your preferred number of bedrooms and bathrooms! You can also look for rentals near your office to shorten your commute. Be sure to check out listings with 3D tours included so you can visualize the space.

 

Avoid Common Moving Mistakes

 

Trying to complete your whole moving to-do list on your own is inadvisable. Instead, create a moving timeline in advance and hire movers to assist you with lifting heavy furniture and relocating your belongings. You should also stock up on moving supplies, like cardboard boxes, label stickers, and packing tape!

 

Hire Professional Help

 

With so many moving companies out there, how should you decide which one to trust with your belongings? NerdWallet recommends looking for a full-service moving company, which will load, drive, and unload your belongings - sometimes, they’ll even help you with unpacking! To narrow down your choices, check out local reviews to make sure their other customers were satisfied.

 

Start Packing

 

Packing up your home will probably take longer than you think, so it’s important to start this process with plenty of time to spare. And to make things easier, get your older kids actively involved. Give them pre-labeled boxes for their belongings, and encourage them to pack up their own rooms. If you have a pet, make sure to put their items in a designated box that you can easily access while you’re on the road.

 

Relax and Settle In

 

To unpack quickly, Neighbor recommends unloading all of your boxes in the correct rooms and then going room by room to unpack. You can assign your family members to different rooms so that the process goes by faster!

 

Once your belongings are unpacked, you can finally relax and unwind. This is also a good time to figure out exactly how you’ll be getting to work, whether you’re planning to drive or take public transport. When you have a plan for the first day in the office, you can head out the door with your family and start getting to know your new area! Feel free to stop by the house next door and greet your new neighbors, too.

 

Relocating to a new city and starting a new chapter in your career is exciting! But navigating this process is definitely not easy, especially when you have a family. By laying out a blueprint for your move, you’ll be able to minimize your stress as you make your way to your new home.

 

Need help searching for your new home? Turn to Rivero Realtors for guidance! Fill out the contact form on our website today to start looking for the perfect place.

 

 

Photo via Pexels

 

Blog written by Claire Wentz

 

Posted in Helping Others, Moving Tips, Relocation
no comments yet
Feb. 1, 2022

Thinking of Retirement?

 

Expanding Your House and Your Life

Image via Pexels

While many retirees are focused on downsizing, you may be one of a select group who's actually looking to expand your house and your life by incorporating new hobbies, visitors, and maybe even a new business. If this sounds like you, read on for some tips and tricks from the Rivero team to help you find the perfect home for your ideal life.

Incorporating New Hobbies

Now that you're retired, you finally have time to pursue those hobbies you've always wanted to try. But you also need the space in which to do so, and this may mean buying a larger home. Perhaps you've always wanted to plant a huge garden and grow vegetables and flowers. You need a significant piece of land to be able to follow that hobby. You may also need an upgraded kitchen so you can cook or can your produce.

Maybe you have a special love for arts and crafts. In that case, you may want studio space so you can spread out and create. If you're a musician, you may long for a music studio where you can practice and record. If you're into model trains, you need a large room to create your dream layout.

Welcoming Visitors

If your hobbies aren't your primary focus, you may instead want to concentrate on welcoming visitors to your larger home. You may be longing to surround yourself with your children, grandchildren, friends, and members of your extended family. In that case, you need plenty of bedrooms for your guests as well as entertainment spaces where your loved ones can gather for food, fun, and conversation.

Starting a Business

You may also need a larger home if you're planning to start a home-based business. Whether you're planning to teach music lessons, practice interior design, try your hand at farming, or freelance as a writer, editor, or tutor, you need enough space to start and pursue your business interests. This may mean you need a dedicated room for an office or studio, or maybe you need more land.

If you're seriously considering starting a business, you might decide to form a limited liability company (LLC) to benefit from its tax benefits, flexibility, and limits to personal liability. Do your research ahead of time, though, as rules and regulations vary by state. If you don't feel up to doing all the paperwork on your own, you can save time and lawyer fees by hiring a formation service to make sure everything is in order.

Buying the Right House

When you've decided that a bigger house in Ellicott City is exactly what you need, you must then take a close look at your budget and determine how much you can spend. Also, write up a list of priorities with your hobbies, visitors, or business in mind and determine what you absolutely must have in a new home. To smooth out the buying process, consider hiring a real estate agent to help you with your search, negotiations, and closing.

Enjoying Your New Place

When all is said and done, you can settle back into your new, larger home and pursue your hobbies, entertain your visitors, or start your business. So contact Rivero Realtors today, and get started.

Image via Pexels

 

Post by Claire Wentz

Posted in Enjoying Your House, Retirement, senior care
no comments yet
Dec. 31, 2021

Many First-Time Home Buyers Are Overlooking a Competitive Edge in 2022

Buying a house was challenging for many buyers in 2021, but especially for first-time buyers. Competition and prices were high, and inventory was low, and while some predictions suggest things will loosen up a bit in 2022, buyers will still need to have an aggressive strategy heading into the new year.

According to this REALTOR Magazine article, first-time buyers are optimistic about their chances in 2022, and many are changing their strategies to increase their odds of success.
The most notable changes in strategy were:

  • Making an offer within 48 hours of seeing a home
  • Offering above asking price
  • Being willing to compete in bidding wars
  • Going over their budget
  • Making offers on houses without even seeing them first

Making offers quickly, being willing to go above asking and compete in bidding wars are all advisable strategies in this market.

Going over budget on the other hand…well, that depends. If “going over budget” means still within their comfortable financial means, sure! If not, it’s a recipe for future struggle and financial trouble.

And making offers on houses without seeing them in person first isn’t the worst thing to do given technology, but it isn’t ideal.

What wasn’t on the list, and would likely make the biggest impact for first-time buyers, was to choose and work with a great real estate agent. Working with a trusted buyers’ agent can enhance any of the above strategies, if not make them unnecessary. Their awareness of the market, perspective, advice, connections, and negotiation skills can often give first-time buyers an edge, yet many first-time buyers don’t put a lot of emphasis on choosing and working with one.

So, if you’re a first-time buyer looking to edge out competition in 2022, by all means be prepared to do everything on the list other buyers are planning on. But, to truly tip the scales in your favor, make sure you’re teaming up with a buyers’ agent you connect well with and trust.

Posted in buying real estate, first time buyer, Helping Others, Homes for Sale, Real Estate Deals, Real Estate for Sale
no comments yet
Oct. 31, 2021

10 Creepy Real Estate Stories That’ll Make You Gasp With Fear…or Laughter!

Sometimes the scariest thing in the job of a real estate agent isn’t a mile long inspection report detailing foundation issues, or seeing your buyer pull up in a new car before their mortgage is approved. From the just plain weird to the downright freaky, the crazy situations agents find themselves in would surprise anyone who hasn’t been in the biz.

Below is a curated list of stories from fellow real estate agents who dared to share the spookiest, creepiest things they’ve come across when out listing and selling homes. Some can probably be explained away, while others are just downright funny…and a few will leave you scratching your head and wondering about the existence of “the other side”…

1. Out of the mouths of babes

2. The creepy canine

3. Getting ghosted

4. Head-scratching headstones

5. Nothin’ but knockin’

6. Even the ghosts are too busy in NYC

7. Again!? Does “he” do this often?

8. Maybe it just had great “central heir”!

9. Movement that’ll make you wanna move


10. Time to consider new construction

 

 

Posted in buying real estate, Celebrating Holidays, Just For Fun, Real Estate for Sale
no comments yet
Oct. 21, 2021

On the House: Debt Management for Would-Be Homeowners

On the House: Debt Management for Would-Be Homeowners

 

 

There are a number of obstacles standing between potential buyers and their new properties, but according to research, none hinder purchases as often as unpaid debt. It’s believed that a whopping 48% of undergraduates have put off buying a home due to their loans. The question arises, then, how can debtors rein in finances to secure a property of their own?

 

RE/MAX Advantage Realtors Debbi and Richard Rivero outline the following methods for reducing debt so you can realize your dream of homeownership.

 

Pay High-Interest Debt First

 

An often-overlooked key to paying off debt is to focus first on paying off your high-interest loans. Experts call this the avalanche method: The less you pay in interest, the more you put towards repayment of principal. This may not work for everyone as some other loans require more immediate action but it can certainly help to avoid high-APR credit cards from draining the money that should be spent moving you forward. To get a clear overview, draw up all of your loans and identify any with high or rising interest rates.

 

Stop Adding Debt

 

This may seem like a no-brainer but, through mismanagement, it is common for those seeking to pay off debt to increase it further. If possible, your first step towards avoiding this should be to reduce credit card usage to its minimum percentage. This will help improve your credit score and ensure manageable monthly payments. It goes without saying that you should also be avoiding additional lines of credit and auto loans. A big purchase may prohibit you from making one for a house.

 

Create a Financial Plan

 

Most people can’t afford a personal accountant but that doesn’t mean your finances should go unreviewed. It’s worth spending a couple of evenings during the week building a financial overview so that you can track purchases and debts and estimate budgets and spending. To help with this, there are a number of useful apps that can be used from a smartphone so, if you’re busy, you can check in on the move. Make sure to keep all of your excel sheets and paperwork filed securely to be used as reference when applying for a mortgage later. 

 

Negotiate Lower Rates

 

If you’ve been doing everything right so far, you’ll find the game is balanced asymmetrically. That means a good credit score may qualify you for lower interest rates on your credit accounts or loans. Oftentimes, the longest-standing loans (if paid off at a steady rate) are the most eligible for this tactic — reliability is an important factor for most issuers. Make sure to tell the truth about your circumstances. Failing this, consider asking for an altogether break. Even if your credit card issuer is unwilling to grant one, you may receive a reduction of some percentage points.

 

Review Loan Options

 

When buying a property, it’s very important to understand all of your options before you lock yourself into one for an indefinite amount of time. Conventional fixed-rate loans are an excellent choice for steady earners but, for those still working through debt, there are alternatives. FHA home loans, for example, require a much smaller down payment and are applicable to those with a shorter credit history. Although these types of loans are typically inflexible and charge mortgage insurance, they provide opportunities for first-time buyers with a limited budget.

 

Work a Second Job

 

There is some comfort knowing that, with enough hard work, it’s possible to get out of almost any financial strait. Whether it’s a side hustle, a part-time role, or a temporary position, if you can spare the time and it doesn’t affect your day job, another source of income could alleviate a lot of your financial worries. This lifestyle, of course, comes with serious drawbacks. While it may work to pay off debt in the short term, you should not stake long-term plans on a two-job income.

 

In some cases, managing your money is as important as earning it. If you’re looking to buy a property within the next year, make sure that poor financial organization isn’t the reason stopping you. And when you’re ready to take the leap, turn to RE/MAX Advantage Realtors Debbi and Richard Rivero to find your perfect first home. 



Image by Pexels

 

Written by: Sharon Wagner

 

Posted in buying real estate, first time buyer, Helping Others, Real Estate for Sale
no comments yet
Oct. 11, 2021

What is the Future of the "Office Job"

Home Office vs. Traditional Office

Our “new normal" in the working life for many of us (thanks to COVID) has been more and more home offices, working from home, while teaching our children at home and doing household chores.  Although this can seem fun for a while, there are also many downsides and possible future harm.  Let’s dwell deeper..

While this might have been a pleasant year of working from home without the stress of daily traffic to and from your place of work, there are other issues with a strict work from home routine.  First, many home workers are seeing less exercise and therefore weight gain as they sit in front of their computers for hours.  Second, the psychological effects of non-interaction with fellow workers.  And some are realizing how difficult it is to work from home with children or spouses around, and still some cannot find that quiet space for themselves to be most productive.  Only time will tell how this "new normal" will pan on society.  If you are looking to be most productive at home, revisit my blog How to set up a home office. To find out more about pros and cons of working from home, check out this article "Working from Home vs. Office"

As we are starting to migrate back to the workplace or some sort of hybrid of that, you may see a huge impact on your finances as well.  John Egan has written an article for Bankrate entitled "How returning to the office can impact your finances".  John gives great tips and savings recommendations.  I would recommend reading and seek additional advice for your particular situation and finances.

If you prefer the working from home format, you might find that you need to expand your living space to make some more private spaces to separate work life from family life.  If that is the case, we have your remedy!  Start your search for a new home on line.  If you also have a house to sell, reach out to us so we can guide and advise you the best way to buy and sell with the least amount of stress and disruption to your life.

 

We will all make it through these crazy times, but know we are here to help and advise anyway possible.

 

Posted in buying real estate, Helping Others, Homes for Sale, Real Estate Deals, Real Estate for Sale, selling real estate, Sellingyourhome
no comments yet
Oct. 7, 2021

And the Winner is...

We are celebrating again!

 

Every year, the country is rated on numerous items.  The one that concerns me and should concern my readers as well is Safety.  I think your home should be your sanctuary.  I believe that is much easier to obtain when you home is located in a safe place.

According to Wallethub, the top places to live in the United States is now recorded and the number one place to live in 2021 is Columbia, MD!  

 

 

If you are thinking about making a move, you should consider Columbia, it is very conveniently located about a half an hour from both Baltimore and DC.  For more info on Columbia or the current real estate market there, check out or Columbia WebPage

Posted in buying real estate, Helping Others, Homes for Sale, Howard County Homes, Market Updates, Real Estate Deals, Real Estate for Sale, selling real estate, Sellingyourhome
no comments yet
Sept. 18, 2021

The Best Week to Buy a Home Is Right Around the Corner

With low inventory, high competition, and high prices, the summer has been a tough time to buy a home. But, the good news for buyers is that it looks like that’s about to change, and early October is poised to be a much better time to find and buy a property.

According to a recent article from realtor.com, the best week to buy a home in 2021 is right around the corner—the first full week of October, October 3rd through the 9th.

So, what makes this week such a prime time to purchase your dream home? According to Realtor.com’s analysis (which analyzed data going back to 2018), experts are predicting that about 100,000 new homes could hit the market that week—a much-needed inventory increase that can give buyers more options to choose from. And with the school year back in full swing (and many parents reluctant to move and pull their kids out of school), less competition is expected—which could save buyers money on their home purchase. Demand is predicted to fall 18 percent from the peak of the summer—while home prices are projected to drop 2.6 percent.

The Takeaway:

So, what does this mean for you? “Buyers who think that now is the time to buy should get ready,” realtor.com Chief Economist Danielle Hale said in the article. “You’ll get a better-than-average price, more options to choose from, and homes that don’t sell as fast as they did in the heat of summer.” So, if you’ve been struggling to find the right property at the right price, things could be looking up in a few weeks—making now a great time to start looking for a home.

Posted in buying real estate, first time buyer, forecasting real estate, Helping Others, Homes for Sale, Howard County Homes, Real Estate Deals, Real Estate for Sale
no comments yet
Aug. 21, 2021

Thinking About Updating Your Home? Here Are Some 2021 Design Trends to Consider

When you redesign your home, you want to design it in a way that feels timely and on-trend.

But what does “timely” and “on-trend” look like in 2021?

The 2021 Houzz Emerging Home Design Trends Report outlined some of the year’s most popular home design trends, including:

  • Dedicated activity spaces. Forget craft closets. One of 2021’s biggest trends is creating an entirely dedicated room or space in the home to house the family’s favorite activity—whether that’s an art studio, a home theater, or a wine cellar.
  • Living room refreshes. Updating their home in general is a priority for many homeowners this year—but the room homeowners seem to be most interested in refreshing? The living room. According to Houzz’s data, searches for living rooms (which can provide homeowners design inspiration) are up 52 percent compared to 2020.
  • Luxury colors and materials. This year, homeowners are embracing luxury in their home design—with velvet, gold, and crystal accents all in high demand.
Posted in Enjoying Your House, Helpful House Tips, Real Estate for Sale
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