You are finally aligned and ready to embark on a new journey: Moving out.
Whether that is venturing out on your own for the first time into your first apartment or into your first home, the excitement bubbles inside as you look forward to finding the living space of your dreams. Or not! Perhaps the whole home hunting process makes you a bit anxious and confused as you flip through apps like Apartments.com, Zillow, and Trulia making calls to property management offices and realtors alike trying to find a lead.
Whether you are the first or latter of the scenarios, you can benefit greatly from your search if you invest in a seasoned realtor's assistance. I know what you're thinking: "Now I have to pay a realtors fee?" And my answer is, yes. Spend it, sis. The investment is worth it, and you are worth it.
Rather recently, I called myself trying to save a few coins by searching for my first apartment on my own, and almost became a victim of a renter scam. Thankfully, I used my head and sought counsel from my friends and family about the rental before making a decision. I was blessed enough to find a great realtor to help me find my first apartment who was able to talk my rent down by $100 from the asking price. I save $1,200 a year that I would've paid if I hadn't hired my own realtor, and she checks in with me yearly for my feedback and offers suggestions about buying or renting my next apartment. You are paying to have an experienced agent with your best interest at heart on your side in an industry that is trying to give you less as you spend more.
I sat down with a millennial realtor Madison Fraizer who was able to spill the tea on the apartment and home search to explain the many reasons why partnering up with a realtor is one of the smartest and most risk-free moves that you can make:
Though using online apartment listing is a great starting point for young women looking to move, would you suggest using a realtor?
Madison Fraizer: I definitely recommend utilizing a realtor, a lot of the inventory we have privy to, opposed to you going on Trulia, and definitely not Zillow, or 'Killer Craig's List'. I'm still very skeptical about Craigslist, even though I found my current apartment on the site, but it was because I knew the broker. Anyone can post on Zillow and Craigslist now so it's more so for the assurance if you are a woman; one for safety, and two to be certain it is really inventory. Is it really available? I had a client, unfortunately, she thought that my condo was for rent, and when she went to go meet the seller off Craigslist, they robbed her on Christmas Eve. So that's why I encourage people to stay off the online platforms and to partner up with a reputable realtor in person.
What are some tips and trends you could offer to young women trying to find a great value in their investment whether they are looking to rent or buy?
I encourage young adults to have roommates because rent is so high. Rent is so high that it is forcing people to buy. You may think that buying into a single-family home is too much, as I did I was younger. Now I have a chance to work with other young women who do investment properties, and I am looking to invest in the same. I will be able to live in one unit and let the second unit be rented out in order to pay my mortgage.
This way, whatever money I am making, I can save for my next investment because rent is ridiculous, especially due to gentrification. I can attest to this, as I worked a decent job every day, and could not afford a luxury apartment because the rent starting for a one-bedroom in my town started at $1800. I had to move further south so that I could afford my lifestyle.
For some of us that are on the search for the right fit in a realtor, what are some guidelines you suggest we follow?
When looking for a realtor, the first thing I think they should ask is if the realtor is resourceful. Could they offer you a variety of programs? If they are looking to rent, are they knowledgeable about the market you want to buy into? You want to find a realtor that is in constant contact with their clients, following up, doing everything that has to be done to get it to the closing table. Rentals can be just as hard and as difficult as selling a house because of the paperwork involved and the requirements of the landlord.
"You want to find a realtor that is in constant contact with their clients, following up, doing everything that has to be done to get it to the closing table."
As the new year approaches and many of us make resolutions to move into a bigger and better living space, make it your first order of business to find a realtor that best fits your needs. This is a great opportunity to enlist the help of a female realtor of color that is not only well-educated in their craft, but street smart in regards to the surroundings that you are looking into.
Follow Madison @Msmadisonrealty for more tips!
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Featured image by Getty Images
New Jersey native creating a life that she loves while living in gratitude. She loves using beauty, and fashion to create a balanced lifestyle while prioritizing wellness. A devoted fur mom, and a full-time lover of laughter. She is out for revenge against the darkness by being light, taking her own advice, traveling the world, and letting you know that you are so lit! Connect with her via IG @iamzaniah and please visit Zaniahsworld.com
Exclusive: Melanie Fiona On Making High-Vibrational Music & Saying Yes To Partnership
Melanie Fiona is back! After taking a little more than a decade-long hiatus, she has officially made her return to music and blessed us with two singles, “Say Yes” and “I Choose You.” While both singles are very different from each other, they both reflect who she is today and the type of music she wants to make. In our conversation, the mom of two expressed what she learned during her time away.
“It's interesting, even when I said it is like coming back, I don't ever feel like I really left because I was always still performing. I've still been public. It's not like I went into being this recluse person or version of myself, but the thing that I really learned in this process is that I think things take time,” Melanie says in a xoNecole exclusive.
“I think often we're so caught up in it, being on the timing of demand or popularity, or, like, striking while the iron is hot and the thing that I've learned is that everything is on God's time. That's it. Every time I thought I would have been ready, or, like, things were taking too long, I had to reship some things, personally, professionally, in my life. I also gave myself permission to make a living, not just make a living, but make a life for myself.”
Making a life for herself included getting married to Grammy-nominated songwriter Jared Cotter, starting a family, and embracing new landscapes, such as podcasting as a co-host of The Mama’s Den podcast. She also began doing more spiritual work and self-care practices like meditation, sound healing, Reiki, acupuncture, and boundary setting, which allowed her to get in touch with her inner voice.
“I wasn't putting out music, and I wasn't experiencing a number one record, but I was being a number one mom,” she says.
“I was experiencing things that were allowing me to heal and get in touch with myself so that I could make new music from a space of joy and freedom, and excitement again because I definitely feel like I did lose some excitement because of just politics and industry and what it can do to your mental health and even your physical health. So giving myself the space to really just say, ‘Hey, it's okay. Everything's right on time.’”
The joy and excitement are felt in one of two new singles, “I Choose You,” which is more of a lovers rock vibe, a tribute to Melanie’s Caribbean roots. While the Grammy award-winner is known for ballads like “It Kills Me” and “Fool For You,” she is becoming more intentional about the music she makes, calling it high-vibrational music. She says her music is a “reflection of my life,” as it captures every facet, from hanging out with friends to riding around in her car.
“Say Yes” has the classic R&B vibe Melanie is known for. However, both songs are inspired by her relationship. Melanie and Jared got married in December 2020, and the Toronto-bred artist dished on their relationship. Fun fact: he is featured in the “Say Yes” music video.
“When we first started dating, I had come into that relationship post a lot of self-work. I had gotten out of a long-term relationship, I had a year and a half to date and be by myself and do a lot of work on myself alone. And when we met, I remember feeling like this has to be my person because I feel it,” she says.
“And so when we went into that relationship, and we started dating, I was very clear. I was like, I know what I want. I'm very clear on what I need, and I'm not going to withhold my truth about myself in this process because of pride or fear of rejection. I know you love me, but I'm coming with my heart in my hand to let you know that if we're gonna get there, we have to put fear aside and say yes. So that was kind of like my open letter to him, which is why the video is us having a conversation.”
Melanie also shares that saying yes to her partner has empowered her in many ways, including motherhood and showing up for herself. Her new EP, also titled Say Yes, will be available at the top of 2025.
Check out the full interview below.
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Tasha Smith On Why Your Self-Worth Is Your Greatest Asset In Relationships
If the definition of BOOM needed a photo next to it, it better be Tasha Smith’s face.
Tasha Smith, 53, the actress known for her captivating performances and outspoken personality, has become a beloved figure in the entertainment industry. Her portrayal of the fierce and fabulous Angela in the hit movie Why Did I Get Married? is nothing short of iconic.
Beyond her role in the Tyler Perry film, Smith has established herself as a versatile actress with a range of impressive credits to her name. She has consistently delivered powerful performances in both film and television, showcasing her ability to embody complex characters and bring their stories to life.
Off-screen, Smith is equally captivating. She is known for her candid and outspoken nature, never shying away from speaking her truth. Her authenticity and willingness to address important issues have made her a role model for many.
Lucky for us, she brings that authentic energy no matter the occasion. Tasha had us saying “Amen” and “Amen again” while listening to a resurfaced interview with Donni Wiggins on theFully Transparent podcast. There, she talked about starring in Bad Boys: Ride or Die, working with Will Smith and Martin Lawrence, and being a powerhouse.
One commenter shared, “Tasha Smith needs to have her own talk show and or motivational conferences!” and we couldn’t agree more. Keep reading for some gems that stuck with us!
Tasha Smith On Self-Worth and Resilience:
“Don’t let any man burn you out or make you feel bad about yourself. Don’t take 'no' from anybody. Period. I mean it, honey. When things go wrong, don’t stay down for too long. Let the comeback be quick and big, honey. Big. We’re resilient. We are.”
On Understanding Your Value:
“You have to understand your value. Sometimes, when things don’t go right in relationships, we, as women, tend to blame ourselves. But why does that have to be the case? I remember talking to a woman who said her guy cheated on her. I told her, ‘He didn’t think he was good enough for you.’ She looked at me confused, and I said it again, ‘He cheated because he didn’t think he was good enough for you.’ That behavior has nothing to do with you—it’s about him trying to feel better about himself.”
On The Power of Boundaries:
“If we understood our value, we’d have more boundaries, and we wouldn’t accept so much. You know what I mean? Because, honestly, we create bad behavior by what we allow. Women ask, ‘Why does he keep doing that?’ Well, because you keep letting him. The apologies are working, and those apologies come with more demonic ones.”
On Breaking the Cycle of “Sorry”:
“Once you get delivered from one 'sorry,' if you keep the door open, more will come in—stronger and harder to overcome. Before you know it, you’re stuck in that 'sorry' space. If you truly understood your value, you’d be quicker to walk away.”
On Moving Forward with Self-Respect:
“For me, at this point in my life, I’m not spinning the block anymore. You can’t just keep spinning the block. You have to have self-respect, boundaries, and a sense of your own worth. If you don’t value yourself, trust and believe a man won’t value you either.”
Watch the podcast interview in full below:
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Featured image by Paras Griffin/Getty Images