Christopher Olsen's (christopherolsenbangor) Blog

Near the Equator of the Earth is an area that if you’re in a sailboat, you’re quite often out of luck when it comes to wind. It’s called the “Doldrums” and there’s so little wind, you hope your little outboard can get you back into a more breezy area.   Well for many of us in the real estate mark...

When it comes to home ownership, I am like a cheerleader…without the shorts and pom-poms (sorry for the disturbing image).   There was an ad for a bank years ago and it shows a couple moving into their house and the man is doing the Chuck Berry move…hopping along on one foot, with the other foot ...

You may have a Great Landlord...But No Equity...Why are you still renting? Recently the National Association of Realtors ran an ad campaign, with a TV ad showing a couple with their kids, literally "sitting on a fence" looking lovingly at a house...A house that COULD be THEIR home! I was in broad...

Happiest of Holidays to One and All! Anyone who I've represented as a first time home buyer knows the story I've told countless times to so many people. The feeling of owning a home is something so strong and spiritual, especially if you rented for as long as my beloved Wife, Robin and I did. Don...

FIRST TIME HOMEBUYER TAX CREDIT Frequently Asked Questions In 2008, Congress enacted a $7500 tax credit designed to be an incentive for first‐time homebuyers to purchase a home. The credit was designed as a mechanism to decrease the over‐supply of homes for sale. For 2009, Congress has increased ...

Resolve to Get Your Home Documents Organized! As a person who is good at "saving" stuff...but not necessarily good at "organizing" all of it...I thought I would share this helpful article from Prudential's Site, PREA Center. Like comedian George Carlin described his home as a "place for my STUFF"...

You want to get the best price for your home, plus sell it in the least amount of time. In a buyers' market such as the one emerging now, homes will take longer to sell. Therefore, it's important that you make the right moves at the very beginning of your homeselling process to remain competitive...

Shopping for a home is an exciting adventure and it's easy to get lost in a sea of dazzling for-sale homes and all of their fabulous amenities - which can cause you to temporarily forget that a large backyard is your top priority. To keep yourself focused, take time to identify and organize exact...

Buyers are drawn to homes that appeal to their senses. This is important to remember when preparing your home for an Open House. Through sight, sound and smell, buyers should leave your home with a lasting impression. Here are some tips to showcase your home in the best-possible light.Exterior St...

The media has been full of stories about the slowing housing market - and although this kind of market normalization is commonplace in the real estate industry, there is no question that in many parts of the country, houses are currently on the market a little longer and there is more competition...