Melissa Tracey

Host, Hot Or Not? at Real Estate Today

Contributing Editor at Realtor Magazine

#realestate #homedesign trendwatcher 👀 @RETradio host “Hot or Not?" / Housing Muse Podcast host / creator of @realtormag Styled Staged & Sold blog

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Articles

Visionaries: 3 Tech Trailblazers Honored as iOi Innovators of the Year

3 weeks ago | nar.realtor | Melissa Tracey

© metamorworks / iStock / Getty Images Plus Three tech innovators were honored Tuesday for advancing real estate through creative problem-solving and forward-thinking solutions—tackling challenges like the housing inventory crunch and business inefficiencies.
How to Layer the Lights for a Soft, Warm Inviting Feel

3 weeks ago | nar.realtor | Melissa Tracey

Stop just relying on overhead fixtures. They’re not very inviting. Instead, designers and home stagers are taking a more dynamic approach that blends different types of lighting to make rooms more functional and aesthetically balanced.
How to Buy a Home With Bad Credit - and Improve Your Credit

4 weeks ago | houselogic.com | Melissa Tracey

Too often, this scenario unfolds: A young consumer buys too much on credit while setting up a new place to live and preparing for a first job. Years later, they find their freewheeling use of credit took a big toll on their credit score. It matters now because they want to buy their first home, but they’re dealing with a low credit rating – in other words, bad credit. Bad credit isn’t always a deal breaker, however.
Maybe It’s Time to Stop Obsessing Over Mortgage Rates

1 month ago | nar.realtor | Melissa Tracey

© draganab / E+ / Getty Images Home buyers may need to brace for a new reality: Mortgage rates in the upper 6% or even 7% range—at least for the time being. The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage rose to 6.89% this week, Freddie Mac reports. This week’s mortgage rate averages are higher than those seen in the last 16 weeks, says Jessica Lautz, deputy chief economist at the National Association of REALTORS®.
Fire Safety and Prevention Tips to Protect Your Home

1 month ago | houselogic.com | Melissa Tracey

Our storage habits and the cleanliness of our homes could be creating a fire risk. You may know the dangers of unattended appliances and candles. Other conditions — like cluttered countertops, paper stacks, and what’s sitting beside that candle — could also compromise your home’s fire safety.
The Housing Inventory Is Here-Where Are the Buyers?

1 month ago | nar.realtor | Melissa Tracey

© Grace Cary / Moment / Getty Images Home buyers are finding the highest number of homes for sale in years this spring, yet sales are falling short of expectations for what was expected to be a robust selling season. Economists say elevated mortgage rates are to blame. “At this critical stage of the housing market, it is all about mortgage rates,” says Lawrence Yun, chief economist at the National Association of REALTORS®.
Front Door Refresh: The Overlooked Housing Update That Sells

1 month ago | nar.realtor | Melissa Tracey

Home sellers looking for a home upgrade that can have an aesthetic impact and be financially smart might start with the front door. Replacing a worn front door isn’t just a cosmetic fix—it’s one of the best remodeling projects for return on investment, according to the 2025 Remodeling Impact Report from the National Association of REALTORS® and the National Association of the Remodeling Industry.
More Listings, Fewer Closings: Is a Market Shift Underway?

1 month ago | nar.realtor | Melissa Tracey

© SvetaZi/ iStock / Getty Images Plus Sales of existing homes slowed last month, dimming hopes for a robust spring selling season. Despite the highest number of listings in years, buyers remain cautious. The decline was slight: Existing-home sales—a measurement of completed transactions on single-family homes, townhomes, condos and co-ops—dropped by 0.5% in April compared to March. April sales were down 2% compared to a year ago, the National Association of REALTORS® reported Thursday.
What Real Estate Agents Know About Home Remodeling Projects Buyers Want

1 month ago | houselogic.com | Melissa Tracey

Here’s a tough lesson about home ownership and improvement: Not everything you do to spruce up your home will increase your home’s resale value. With kitchen or bathroom updates, you can spend tens of thousands of dollars. Whether you’re ready for that kind of investment or a more affordable project, you’ll likely want to gain not only personal enjoyment, but also a return on your investment when you sell your home one day.
A Unique Twist on Staging Vacant Land: Is That Bigfoot?

1 month ago | nar.realtor | Melissa Tracey

© Orion Moquin/Colin Amidon Real estate agent in a Bigfoot costume poses on a 12-acre parcel for sale in Maine. Real estate pro Orion Moquin is turning heads with his 12-acre listing in Waterboro, Maine. Scroll through the property photos, and you may just catch a glimpse of a mysterious, hairy figure lurking in the woods. Yes, it’s Bigfoot.