There are many homeowners across our country postponing the sale of their home due to the precariousness of the housing industry. Because a home sale is not imperative, some owners are choosing to make home improvements, either by their own hand or by hiring professionals.

The White House, which theoretically will never be for sale, is also receiving some much-needed improvements, which will benefit its present occupants and others in years to come.

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Body language: We all “speak” it, but do we always know how to interpret it?

Eyes - Unless on drugs, dilated pupils indicate that the person is interested in what you’re saying. Stong eye contact also shows the listener is engaged and exudes confidence.

Hands & Arms - Open palms suggests the person is relaxed and comfortable. Open arms indicate honesty and acceptance. Folded arms can communicate anger or disapproval.

Legs - Standing with legs shoulder-width apart is a relaxed stance. A wider stance conveys confidence. Seated with legs splayed is a signal of power. Crossed legs indicate shyness.

Feet - If someone’s feet are facing you, they are engaged and comfortable with you. If their feet point away from you, this indicates just the opposite.

Picking up on subtle cues of body language can help you neutralize a difficult situation. Learn to speak body language and you will communicate more effectively.

What are your body language secrets? Tell us in the comments below.

Posted by Sharon Walker

The Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) is the “world’s foremost provider of country, industry and management analysis. For over 60 years, the EIU has delivered vital business intelligence to influential decision-makers around the world.”

Each year the EIU ranks 140 cities, worldwide, on liveability.

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The saying goes, “Home is where the heart is.” If that’s true, then size doesn’t really matter when it comes to living quarters. That is indeed the case for Zaarath and Christopher Prokop. They live in the smallest apartment in NYC, a mere 175 square feet, along with their 2 cats.

Labeled a “microstudio,” the couple purchased their apartment for $150,000 just 3 months ago. It measures not quite 15 feet in length and 10 feet wide. It houses a tiny kitchen with a mini fridge and a hotplate. The bathroom with a shower, sink and a toilet is about 3 by 9 feet. Basically a two-room flat, the Prokop’s queen-sized bed occupies about a third of their entire living space.

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If you’re seeking to buy a home in the city of Chicago, there’s a house on the market that may interest you. I can give you the address, but don’t expect to be able to drive by and see it for yourself. It’s a street only available to residents and under the watchful eye of the U.S. Secret Service.

Located in the Hyde Park area of south Chicago, the 100-year-old home at 5040 S. Greenwood Ave. is situated right next door to the family home of President Barack Obama.

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Real estate has gone through many changes during the last 30 years. In “Back to the Future … a time travel through real estate”, Connect2Agent member Steve Osmar led a time travel voyage from handshakes to Internet-powered real estate deals. Osmar dished about real estate times past, when real estate systems were starting to evolve and documents for real estate resembled handshake-type deals.

Fast forward to the Internet-empowered consumer and the present. The iron curtain has been lifted and real estate information is flooding homes across America. Home buyers - 8 out of every 10 - are researching the heck out of listings, communities, schools and house values. They crave real estate knowlege and e-commerce is quick to dish it up.

What will the future hold for real estate? I spoke with Connect2Agent member Deborah Rubley, who sells real estate in Austin Texas, and she was willing to give a preview on the future of real estate. (more…)

You’ve found your dream house and the next few days ’til your appointment, you are pumped up with anticipation. Showing day comes - yahoo! You jump into your car and drive to meet your real estate destiny. Traffic cooperates and everything is zipping right along until you pull up to the curb.

Uh-oh, what is this? The house looks much smaller, the driveway is narrow with big cracks running through the now-gray asphalt, the greenish-brown lawn’s decorative border is weaved with the yellow heads of dandelions and other hearty weeds.

What the ____? The pictures didn’t look like that online. How did this happen? Let’s rewind. (more…)

Selling your house can make you feel a little loco. There are many things that can happen during the course of a day in the life of a real estate listing–last minute showings, lowball offers, home inspection wish lists …

How does a real estate seller survive the time from just listed to sold? Here are five stress busters for real estate sellers:

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What is in store for real estate listing data in the future? On Zillow, you can get an estimate of value for a house, vote between competing room designs and even see how much money would tempt homeowners to sell their houses. 

How can you get a sense of what a house is really like to live in?

If I were to consider a cross-country move right now, I would want to know as much as I could from the local folk who live there. From the neighbors right down to the shop owners, I’d want to get the inside scoop. These are opinions real estate agents can’t give me. This is what progressive real estate search should be.

I want the inside story. If you have relocated before, you know what I mean.

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How do you make a "to-do" list that keeps you on task? Are you still writing in an agenda book or day planner? Do you use a Blackberry or other smart phone to sync your Outlook tasks, so you can connect to them while mobile? Is it working?

I know how busy life can be. Managing a career, a family and a personal schedule can feel like building an intricate pyramid. Each layer of tasks is interdependent but independent. One slip in the carefully built layers of plans can have a domino effect on the rest of your tasks. 

It’s like getting up and stubbing your toe in the morning. If you let it, the day will just continue to snowball from the get-go.

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