(RE/MAX Blog)- The day many tech lovers have been waiting for is here: Google Daydream View is now available in stores. The new virtual reality headset connects with a smartphone (specifically, Google Pixel) to immerse users in their favorite games, movies or even the latest news story. And at just $79, Daydream is making VR technology more accessible to consumers than ever before.

But the uses of virtual reality technology go beyond entertainment. Here are a few ways VR is making its way into real estate.

1. Open houses

Virtual reality headsets, about the size of a scuba mask, can provide 360-degree virtual reality property tours of homes. The headsets completely fill the user's field of vision with a view of the home, allowing them to look up, down and from side to side. Developers are working on adding more tactile features to the experience, so users can do things like see their own hand opening a door, reports the New York Times.They're even developing smells. One day Realtors might be able to add the smell of virtually baking cookies to their virtual open house.

2. Long-distance shopping

Virtual reality home tours give out-of-town buyers (and local buyers, too) another tool to help narrow down their choices of homes they'd like to physically visit in a limited amount of time.

3. Staging

More affordable than hiring a pro to stage your home, several virtual options allow you to add furniture and decorations to vacant rooms using computer technology. It can help buyers envision a property with different furniture and paint.

There's a lot more to a real estate transaction than VR goggles can replace. Ready to buy or sell your home? Start the process here.

(RE/MAX Blog)- Have you and your family fallen in love with a vacation spot and you're wondering whether it makes sense to buy there? Here are some key questions to ask yourself (And keep in mind that a great real estate agent can always help you talk through them!).

1. Do you really, really love the location?
It's a good idea to visit the area during the low season. Do you still enjoy it when the ski slopes are green, or when those ocean breezes are too chilly for lounging on the sand?

2. How often can you get there?
Calculate how many times a year you'll be able to use the home. Carefully consider the commute as well as your career and family commitments to determine how much time you realistically can spend there relative to the costs of owning and maintaining the property.

3. Have you talked to the locals?
Spend some quality time at the local coffee shop or microbrewery and chat with people who live in the area year-round. Ask them what they like, and don't like, about living there – and about any cultural trends they've noticed.

4. Could you rent your place if you had to?
Renting out the home when you're not there brings with it a host of other considerations. Does the HOA allow rentals? Would potential renters be interested in the property's amenities, such as a fireplace in a ski town or an inviting deck or patio in a beach community?

5. What about the taxes?
Taxes for a second home can be more complicated than those for your primary residence. Talk to a tax pro and learn more about the tax implications for your specific situation, including taxes on rental income if you plan to rent out the place for part of the year.

6. What's the tab when you're not there?
Calculate the true, year-round cost of owning the home, including utilities and property management when the home isn't occupied.

Start your search today for a vacation home in the Washington, DC Metropolitan Area.

(RE/MAX Blog)- Negotiating your deal is one of the most critical aspects of your real estate journey. It's also one of the parts of the process where your agent's experience can make the most dramatic difference. Your home purchase or sale, probably one of the biggest financial transactions you'll make in your life, is not the time to test rookie negotiation skills. Here are just a few things agents, as professional negotiators, know that help them reach the best closing agreement for you.

1. That knowledge is power
In addition to their in-depth knowledge of the market and valuing a home, your agent will have dug into public records about the property and the neighborhood. Your agent will also look into the seller's motivation. Knowing things like whether the seller is under pressure to move quickly can help shape negotiating strategy.

2. How to time it
Sometimes a quick response to an offer is critical. Other times, it's best to keep the other party on the hook. Knowing which strategy to employ is crucial in negotiations.

3. Objectivity is a must
As a professional negotiator, your agent is able to control the process without being affected by the emotions that swirl around real estate transactions for buyers and sellers. Among other potentially expensive missteps, inexperienced negotiators can reveal too much info to the other party, especially during intense, fast-moving negotiations.

4. What to ask for
If you don't ask for something, you won't get it. As your advocate, your agent will know how to ask for things like concessions and repairs in a manner that's most appealing to the other party.

Selling your bike online? Go forth and make a killer deal on that two-wheeler. But when it comes to buying or selling your home, stick with a professional. Real estate negotiation is no place for training wheels.

(RE/MAX Blog)- A home inspection can be a nerve-racking part of the home-buying process – but it is also a vital step. Here are a few things an inspector may find that could add to the cost of a home – or save you from buying a lemon altogether.

1. Lurking charges

Even though a home's electrical system may seem to function adequately, inspections can reveal safety issues. This frequently happens with old wiring that's corroded or outdated, or with new wiring that was improperly installed.

2. A failing grade

Poor grading, or a slope that drains water toward your house instead of away from it, can cause all kinds of problems such as flooded crawl spaces or basements, rotting walls and framing, and mold and foundation damage.

3. Trouble on top

Roofing materials don't last forever, and inspectors often find problems with aging materials that will soon cause problems. The scale of necessary repairs can range from needing to replace a few shingles to needing an entirely new roof.

4. Mold

Especially in humid regions, mold can sprout anywhere moisture collects, like attics, basements and drywall around leaky pipes. If the inspector finds mold, a separate mold inspection may be required.

5. Foundation flaws

As a home settles over the years, the foundation can shift. Symptoms include cracks in the drywall, uneven floors, and doors and windows that won't shut. While home inspectors can identify basic foundation issues, if they see something that seems structurally suspicious, they'll often recommend you call a foundation engineer to assess the situation.

6. Not going with the flow

Inspectors often find clogged or bent gutters, or gutters that channel water too close to the house, where it can cause damage.