Yes, You Can Have Your iPhone Charging Station by the Microwave Now

Shouldn't we all be wireless by now? Hasn't technology advanced so much that we can call people with our brains, a microchip built in to target Wi-Fi waves? I'm getting impatient with that, people! I want the goods when it comes to electronics and technology, like Tron and the light cycles. Greetings, program!

We Just Might Be Seeing Something Close to That Wireless Technology, Though -- Right in Homes

As far as real estate trends for 2015 go, the one common theme we've seen year by year is that we want a trend to emphasize convenience. Ease of use. Expediency.

Think laundry chutes, mud rooms, and attached garages. A home that makes life in general that much easier is quite the selling point for any buyer looking for a place to live. Remember that. For this particular trend in the real estate market, though, we see quite the benefit for many moms out there (and perhaps some dads) that want to ensure their smartphones get charged no matter what without having to pull the charger out of the wall and carry it like a security blanket.

Let's say you want to cook dinner. Your spouse, though, is on the way home, and you want to contact him/her to ask if he/she can pick up another gallon of milk. Oh, maaaaaaaaaaaaan.... Phone's dead. So now you have to get downstairs to where your charger is, plug it in, wait for it turn on, all while your noodles are about to burn on the stove and cause a fire.

Then your spouse shows up along with the fire department. And you're covered in soot. It's not a pleasant situation to be in.

Is It Any Wonder That We Like This Idea of a Charging Station by the Microwave, For Example?

Thank God, though, that the fire department showed up. And perhaps maybe Superman could make a pit stop and get the cat out of the mud room or laundry chute for you! All in all, you're a happy camper, avoiding a disaster, all because you have a built-in space in a corner of a kitchen specifically designed to charge digital devices.

This makes sense with Wi-Fi proliferation and the compactness of those devices, doing away with the home offices and separate spaces dedicated to keeping the electronics in order. Mobile devices have now become much more mobile than before.

So plan on seeing this trend making waves in home design. The busy homeowner appreciates the convenience.

The Key to Good Brainstorming: Question EVERYTHING

If you've ever studied Leonardo da Vinci and his genius mentality, you'd know one of his great mantras ever was to question everything in life.

Question society. Question the world. Question yourself. Question religion. Question philosophy. Question people. Question nature. Be skeptical. Be challenging. Ask the hard-hitting questions like a journalist on acid, and people will bend, sway and follow your tune like they're rats and you're the pied piper.

This Spurs You to Always Keep a Journal on Hand

When you do that, this is what happens: it forces you to take notes. It forces you to log in questions. Don't worry so much about getting them answered, though, quite yet. Don't even give yourself a deadline. Simply answer the question and let it simmer in your journal like a pot of stew, merging the flavors slowly and letting it seep into your nostrils.

That's how you brainstorm effectively.

That way whenever you're in a pow-wow or a conference with X amount of people, you can either have that journal on hand (or locked-away questions in your head), and you're prepared to stimulate the thinking in ways that can only be explained as genius. Like you're a new Leonardo da Vinci.

Hence a Brainstorming Session Isn't About You Carrying on the Conversation

When you ask certain questions, you'll get certain answers. You'll get everyone thinking about something. You'll inspire. That gets results. That develops new trends in action plans for whatever business or focus you're in. You're not leading any conversation that way; you're simply encouraging others to help in leading.

Effective Brainstorming: It Involves Everyone

See how simply questioning everything can draw everybody in? Take note then as we end here: the ultimate goal of any brainstorming session is this -- involve your team. Get them thinking. And the way to get them thinking is simple: ask as many interesting questions as you possibly can.

Flipping Houses: Don’t Be Daring, But Smart With Real Estate Investment

I won't lie to you: flipping houses can be risky. Actually, it is risky. You can hit it big, though, if you know what you're doing, know the market like the back of your hand, and have been at it for a good number of years. Stellar negotiation skills, too, would help tremendously.

You Do Need Some Cash in Your Pocket for the Real Estate Investment

So recognize the risk there when it comes to real estate investments, particularly of the more upscale properties. You're basically paying for something that might not sell. Are you okay with that? If yes, great. If no, okay. The good news is you have a market that's saturated with high demand for rehabbed homes. Just look for the markets where the prices are climbing. Your chance of finding a buyer willing to make an offer to recoup your investment just might be good.

Watch the Real Fixer-Uppers, Though.... Don't Fall Into the Money Pit

The problem many flippers have, though, is the fact that some renovations just get way over their head. There are numerous problems:

• Deadlines
• Additional Costs
• Extra Manpower

And it's like quicksand. You have a goal in mind, but the house is so far under that you end up spending more than you had budgeted out, and before you know it -- you're way too high in the market, and you'll never find a buyer worth the green. It's not a pretty situation to be in.

Instead, Be Strategic, and Look for the "Cosmetic Fixes"

Ugly ducklings don't have to be ghastly geese. If the cosmetic repairs won't cost a whole lot (not cheap, of course, because you want it done right and well) and, more importantly, can be done quickly, congratulations: you've found a flip that most likely will result in substantial profits for you.

Just make sure the comparables in the neighborhood and the market itself shows an increase in pricing, because you will have no doubt that real estate agents for buyers will view the numbers and ensure that those individuals make the best offers.

Do the numbers, subtract your selling and buying costs, contractor expenses, and always figure in your profit margins at 15% to 20%, and you'll have a clear idea of what you're looking at -- within deadlines, without headaches, and with happy thoughts -- well before your flipped house goes on the market.

That being said.... It's easier said than done! Although, I'll say this: you're up for the challenge, aren't you?