Auburn and Opelika Real Estate Blog

Coldwell Banker celebrates 120 years in real estate from 1906 to 2026, honoring generations of families and the meaning of home.

120 Years of Real Estate: What Has Changed…and What Hasn’t

By Corrie Kent Green | Aug 16, 2026

120 Years of Real Estate: What Has Changed…and What Hasn’t Real Estate Explained Think about what buying a home looked like in 1906. There was no Zillow. No scrolling through listing photos from the couch. No electronic signatures, virtual tours or text messages from your REALTOR® telling you, “They accepted your offer!” In fact, much […]

A clean white promotional graphic for the "Real Estate Explained" series featuring REALTOR® Corrie Green smiling with her hands raised in a shrug. The headline reads, "Where Does a REALTOR's Commission Go?" The graphic introduces an educational article explaining how real estate commissions work, how compensation is negotiated and divided, and the business expenses involved in running a real estate business. The footer states that the Kent McCown Group helps buyers and sellers make informed real estate decisions across East Alabama.

Where Does a REALTOR’s Commission Actually Go?

By Corrie Kent Green | Jul 29, 2026

Where Does a REALTOR’s Commission Go? When people hear that a home sold for $400,000, it’s easy to assume the REALTOR® just walked away with a huge paycheck. I hear comments like this all the time: “Wow! You must have made a fortune on that sale!” The reality is…that’s almost never how it works. One […]

Graphic for the Kent McCown Group's Real Estate Explained series featuring REALTOR® Corrie Green standing on a ladder while installing decorative trim above a stone fireplace using a power drill. The text reads, "Should You Renovate Before Listing Your Home?" Kent McCown Group branding appears alongside the message, "Helping buyers and sellers across East Alabama make informed real estate decisions," introducing an educational blog about deciding which home improvements are worth making before selling.

Should You Renovate Before Selling Your Home?

By Corrie Kent Green | Jul 26, 2026

Real Estate Explained Should You Renovate Before Selling Your Home? If you’re thinking about selling your home, you’ve probably asked yourself one of the most common questions homeowners face: “Should I renovate before I list my home?” The honest answer? It depends. Some improvements can help your home sell faster and potentially for more money. […]

Real Estate Explained graphic featuring a home with a Coldwell Banker "Under Contract" sign in the front yard. The image introduces the topic "Why Some Homes Sell Fast...and Others Sit on the Market," educating homeowners about the factors that influence how quickly a home sells, including pricing, marketing, presentation, and timing.

Why Some Homes Sell Fast… and Others Sit on the Market

By Corrie Kent Green | Jul 25, 2026

Why Some Homes Sell Fast…and Others Sit on the Market. Real Estate Explained Every time a home sells in a weekend, people ask the same question: “What made that house sell so fast?” And every time a home sits on the market for weeks or even months, people assume the answer is simple. “It must […]

Bedroom with a navy accent wall, framed artwork, bedside lamps, and a patterned bench at the foot of the bed. The image is branded "Real Estate Explained" and introduces the topic "What Actually Stays With the Home When You Buy It?" by Kent McCown Group, educating home buyers about fixtures and personal property in a real estate transaction.

What Actually Stays With the House When You Buy It?

By Corrie Kent Green | Jul 19, 2026

What Stays With the House When You Buy It? Have you ever walked through a home and wondered, “Does that refrigerator come with it?” Or maybe you fell in love with a porch swing, a beautiful chandelier, or even a one-of-a-kind carousel horse in the backyard. What Stays With the House When You Buy It? […]

Cover image for the Kent McCown Group's Real Estate Explained blog series titled "The Truth About Price Per Square Foot." Two happy homebuyers stand in front of their newly purchased brick home holding a blue "SOLD" sign. The article explains why price per square foot is only one factor in determining a home's value and why buyers and sellers in Auburn, Opelika, and the surrounding East Alabama communities should consider location, condition, updates, and comparable sales when pricing a home.

Why Price Per Square Foot Can Be One of the Most Misleading Numbers in Real Estate

By Corrie Kent Green | Jul 18, 2026

Price Per Square Foot – The Most Misunderstood Number In Real Estate Helping buyers and sellers across East Alabama understand real estate, one question at a time. “What’s the price per square foot in my neighborhood?” As Realtors®, this is one of the most common questions we get from homeowners. It’s an understandable question. Price […]

Corrie Green of Kent McCown Group smiles beside a Coldwell Banker Kennon & Parker Alliance sign with the headline "Alabama Market Update – What Buyers & Sellers Need to Know This Summer." The image serves as the cover for a blog about current Alabama housing market trends for buyers and sellers.

Alabama Housing Market Update | What Buyers & Sellers Need to Know This Summer

By Corrie Kent Green | Jun 30, 2026

Alabama Real Estate Market Update What the Latest Data Means for Buyers & Sellers This Summer As we head into the second half of 2026, one question keeps coming up: “How’s the market?” The latest statewide data from Alabama REALTORS® gives us a good snapshot of where things stand. While these numbers reflect the most […]

Real estate agent Corrie Green sitting at her desk with the headline "Don't Panic: Understanding Higher Mortgage Rates," introducing an educational blog about how rising mortgage rates affect home buyers.

What Do Higher Mortgage Rates Really Mean for Home Buyers?

By Corrie Kent Green | Jun 29, 2026

What Do Higher Mortgage Rates REALLY Mean for Buyers? Every time mortgage rates make the news, my phone starts ringing. “Should I wait?” “Are rates going back down?” “Is now a terrible time to buy?” The truth is, Higher Mortgage Rates do affect affordability. But they don’t always mean you should put your home search […]

Doris Kearns Goodwin speaking at the National Association of REALTORS conference in a bright purple blazer and colorful patterned skirt, illustrating lessons about leadership, history, and why understanding the past matters beyond real estate.

Why History Still Matters: Lessons Beyond Real Estate

By Corrie Kent Green | Jun 21, 2026

Why History Still Matters When I walked into the NAR conference last week, I had never heard the name Doris Kearns Goodwin. As she was introduced, an 83-year-old woman walked onto the stage with a big smile on her face. Her bright purple blazer perfectly matched her eclectic, colorful pleated skirt, and she completed the […]

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