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.

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?