What's the big deal about trade deals?

By Marcie Geffner - Bankrate

During his campaign, President-elect Donald Trump promised voters that he would renegotiate existing U.S. trade deals to make them better for the country.
But what, exactly, are trade deals, and why do they matter?

The simplest definition is that a trade deal is an agreement between two or more countries to remove or lower barriers that might hinder the flow of imports and exports between them.

"The goal is to remove obstacles against the movement of products -- goods and services -- between the countries," says Pinar Cebi Wilber, senior economist at the American Council for Capital Formation, a Washington, D.C.-based research and policy advocacy organization.

Read more:
http://www.bankrate.com/finance/economics/trade-deals.aspx


Outdoor advertising tips for real estate

By Marcie Geffner - BMO / Harris Bank

Online real estate marketing gets tons of attention, but the digital world isn’t the only place real estate agents can shine. Outdoor advertising, also known as out-of-home marketing, can be highly effective for both new and experienced agents.

Out-of-home (OOH) marketing typically includes ads placed on the street, such as billboards, benches and kiosks, and on or inside public transportation like buses and subways. This type of marketing can work particularly well for agents focused on a specific area, because you can place your ads right in front of your target market. In fact, research has found that the return on investment is $2.80 for every $1 spent on outdoor ads.

https://realestateagent.bmoharris.com/articles/make-the-most-out-of-your-outdoor-advertising/

Just right: How big a house do you need?

By Marcie Geffner - NewHomeSource

Bigger houses offer more bedrooms, bathrooms, living spaces and bonus rooms like a home office, crafts room, playroom or game room.

Smaller houses are more affordable to heat, cool, furnish and maintain and easier to clean.

Given those tradeoffs and the obvious allure of a larger home, how much square footage do you really want?

Read more:
https://www.newhomesource.com/resourcecenter/articles/how-much-square-footage-fits-your-family