These days, our local housing market is as uncrowded as the hand sanitizer shelf at your local grocery store.

Competition is lean and the demand is mean. At the time of this publication, there are a mere 231 active residential listings in Macon County. So for sellers who are are ready to list, the lack of competition is going to add up to mean a big-time advantage.

For Brinkoetter Realtor, Louis Kappler, these days listing a home that’s priced to sell and in show-ready condition is a fast-moving process. “I was recently working with a client whose home was immaculate and priced accurately. They listed on a Wednesday morning and it was sold by Wednesday afternoon.”

Continues Kappler, “I think sellers have a real advantage right now, but having a good

The Key Team is taking over the Brinkoetter "Vlog" this week, talking about the advantages of working with a realtor who knows you, knows what you need, and knows your big-picture story. Check them out!

As I am putting my pen to paper, it is the final day to vote for the Herald & Review Reader’s Choice Awards. If you know me at all, you know I am loyal to a fault and I spend a majority of my money at local businesses. I take this so far that I refuse to eat at the new Chipotle location because I’d rather go to Solsa! It’s ok. You can laugh at me. I know it’s a little ridiculous.

Scrolling through my social media feeds, I have seen an outpouring of support for local businesses and people in Decatur. This makes me so proud of our city! Supporting our friends, especially in local businesses, is vital not only to our city’s economy, but our community as a whole.

In an entrepreneurial career like real estate, it is so important to have support from our

When you’re in the market for a new home, it’s a good idea to create a list of “Wants” and “Must Haves.” You’ll also need to think through a budget. Not only will this help you and your family get on the same page, it will better equip your real estate agent to find your perfect fit.

Along the way, you may find that you’re willing to give up a few of your “Wants” in order to get your “Must Haves.” According to Brinkoetter agent, Jodi Brinkoetter, sometimes sacrificing things that can eventually be repaired and upgraded is an easy way to narrow your search.

“While I always want buyers to get exactly what they want, sometimes they have to sacrifice some of their ‘Wants.’ I would suggest sacrificing things that they can budget for and change in the

There’s good news for the residents of Macon County: not only is our Real Estate Market doing well, we remain the most affordable housing market in the country. 

Here’s the good news, by the numbers:

- The average sales price of a home rose from $109,859 in 2018 to $118,195 in 2019 which represents an increase of 8%.

- Days on market averaged 85 in 2018 and 66 in 2019 which represents a decrease of 29%.

- The average sale-price to list-price ratio was up to 96% in 2019, representing an increase over 2018’s 95%.

- A lack of housing inventory over the past year is the main factor driving these positive numbers. At the time of this publication, there are less than 400 active residential listings being marketed in the Multiple Listing Service (MLS).

In the age of HGTV reality shows, buyers expect homes to look like they do on TV and are willing to pay more for what they want. The goal of Home Staging is to make a home appeal to the highest number of potential buyers, thereby selling a property faster and for more money. And it works!

Meet Brinkoetter Realtor and Home Stager, Aimee Dial.

“Home Staging is not just a hobby for me; it combines my two passions: real estate and interior design,” says Dial. “And with a Bachelor’s degree in interior design, seven years of real estate experience in three states, and twice an owner of a home staging business, I am an expert in the topic.”

According to Dial, vacant homes are much more difficult to sell than furnished homes. “It’s difficult for most

Buying a new home comes with all kinds of surprises. It’s the work of a home inspector to ensure those surprises don’t end up costing you a lot of money down the road.

Here are a few of our tips and tricks for navigating a successful home inspection, and stepping into your new, no-surprises home.

Inspector Detector

Every home buyer should hire a licensed home inspector to inspect the major systems of a house — the structure, plumbing, electrical, heating and cooling equipment, windows, doors, kitchen appliances and more. Talk to your Brinkoetter realtor for recommendations. They’ll direct you to someone who is reputable, knows the market, and has a good understanding of local homes – how homes are built, how well they’ve been maintained, and

Determining how much to list your home for is a delicate dance. Of course you want to ask as much as possible, and be fairly compensated for what your home is worth. But there are some big risks involved in overpricing your house, and some big advantages in getting your price right from the beginning.

So how do you do that?

You work with an experienced realtor who knows the area, knows the market, and is going to tell you what you need to do to sell your house, fast, instead of what you want to hear.

“In the world of real estate, there’s always talk about how long homes have been on the market and what the competition looks like,” says Brinkoetter Designated Managing Broker/Owner Tom Brinkoetter. “But the numbers and statistics only tell part of the

Working with a real estate agent who is invested in the community adds up to big advantages for clients. Not only do they have good relationships with area professionals, and know what’s going on within the community, often times they know what’s about to transpire locally. They’re ahead of the trends and on top of their game.

As a company, Brinkoetter Realtors’ commitment to technology, innovation, and community involvement are the crux of our culture. And as we are a body of more than 60 agents, we are represented across a wide variety of organizations, clubs, projects, and leadership collaborations. On any given day, you’ll find a Brinkoetter representative helping a local charity, volunteering at a school, delivering meals to elderly friends, or

If your four walls could talk…what New Year Resolutions would they make? Would it be more organization, and less clutter? More energy saving, and less bill paying? Here are some of our favorite home-goals for the new decade.

Resolution One: Safety First!

The look and feel of your home is important, but more important is the heath and safety of its occupants. There are a few things to check on at the top of the new year to ensure your family isn’t living with potential risks and hazards. 

1. Get a Radon Test

It’s important to check your home for radon. This colorless, odorless gas causes about 21,000 lung cancer deaths each year from the radioactive particles it traps in your lungs as you breathe. And what’s super scary is that one in every