Buying a Fixer-Upper: What You Need to Know
August 14, 2020
What to Look for in a Good Fixer-UpperLocation is almost always the most important factor when purchasing real estate, and that's especially true when it comes to finding a good fixer-upper. Look for a home in an established neighborhood that is close to amenities and is predominantly made up of owner-occupied homes.Unless you're planning on using ...
Staging a home to sell quicker!
August 14, 2020
There are several tips and tricks that go into the selling of a house. A trending topic in realestate is the staging of homes. Many realtors will furnish and touch up homes prior to thebuyers visit in order to appeal to the buyer’s wants and needs. Home staging is able tomaximize the strengths of a house while simultaneously ...
Moving In? 5 Essential Steps to Quickly Feel More at Home
August 14, 2020
MOVING IN? 5 ESSENTIAL STEPS TO QUICKLY FEEL MORE AT HOME You just purchased a new-to-you home? Congratulations! It will take a while to feel completely comfortable in your new home, but there are many ways to help the transition go faster and smoother.Step 1. Clean From Top to BottomBefore bringing any boxes or furniture into your new ...
Flooding your ceiling? Really?
August 14, 2020
Now that we are in the throws of Summer, here is a tip to keep your home Air Conditioning system from becoming a problem. Please be sure that your drain line is clear. If it should become clogged, the condensation from the coil could fill the pan under the unit and overflow. This can damage your ceiling and ...
Renovation Loans - Preparation is KEY
August 14, 2020
Renovation loans as a viable option for purchasing a HUD property have pros & cons. Some lenders have renovation loans for FHA, VA, Conventional & USDA. Understanding the process and having that understanding will help agents & buyers to consider them when searching for their perfect home & set realistic expectations into this process.A renovation loan ...
Real estate is a seller's market as sales soar by 21 percent — but renters worry they will be left behind
August 14, 2020
https://news.yahoo.com/real-estate-sellers-market-sales-202112129.htmlMartha C. White-NBC News•July 22, 2020 Existing home sales spiked by a record 20.7 percent in June, while rising prices cheer sellers, worry buyers — and frustrate renters whose ability to save for a down payment is crimped by rising rents.New homeowner Lina Andersen purchased the Oakland, California, house she and her husband ...
Why Homeowners Have Great Selling Power Today
August 14, 2020
We’re sitting in an optimal moment in time for homeowners who are ready to sell their houses and make a move this year. Today’s homeowners are, on average, staying in their homes longer than they used to, and this is one factor driving increased homeowner equity. When equity grows, selling a house becomes increasingly desirable. Here’s ...
How Is Remote Work Changing Homebuyer Needs?
August 14, 2020
With more companies figuring out how to efficiently and effectively enable their employees to work remotely (and for longer than most of us initially expected), homeowners throughout the country are re-evaluating their needs. Do I still need to live close to my company’s office building? Do I need a larger home with more office space? Would making ...
August 14, 2020
AVERAGE LIFE EXPECTANCY TIMELINEOne of the problems a first time home buyer will face is the cost of maintaining a house. This cost is more than often not considered when purchasing the house. Here is a list of some of the life expectancies of items associated with the maintenance of a house:6-10 YearsPaint on exterior of house 5-7 yrsMicrowave ...
ARE HOME WARRANTIES WORTH IT?
August 14, 2020
What are the pros and cons of owning a home warranty? Our review team discusses whether or not home warranties are worth it | Photo Credit: Shutterstock © Ewelina Wachala With the high cost of home repairs, many homeowners want to know whether a home warranty is worth it or not. Before making a decision, it is ...
The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act - What it Means for Homeowners
August 13, 2020
Tax Rate ReductionsThe new law provides generally lower tax rates for all individual tax filers. While this does not mean that every American will pay lower taxes under these changes, most will. The total size of the tax cut from the rate reductions equals more than $1.2 trillion over ten years.The tax rate schedule retains seven brackets ...
Current Buyer & Seller Perks in the Housing Market
August 11, 2020
Current Buyer & Seller Perks in the Housing Market Today’s housing market is making a truly impressive turnaround, and it’s also setting up some outstanding opportunities for buyers and sellers. Whether you’re thinking of buying or selling a home this year, there are perks today that are rarely available, and definitely worth looking into. Here are ...
Expatriate: The New Ticket to Adventure
August 11, 2020
You may have watched a brief episode of House Hunters International or have seen a few Caribbean spots in a commercial showing off their amenities and accessible price points. For some it is a far-fetched dream, but it is becoming more reality for more than many would believe. An expat is a person who lives outside of their ...
Real Estate Market in Guilford County, NC
August 11, 2020
The real estate market in Guilford County, NC has been booming these past few months! It seems after the initial shock of the pandemic, home sales increased leading to a big month for sales in July thanks to the pent up demand and the low interest rates. Great time for sellers in this area!Check out the ...
Raise Your Home Value With These 10 DIY Ideas
August 10, 2020
As a Realtor with 33 years experience, as a full time Broker in Middle Tennessee, I would like to encourage you to perform routine maintenance on your homes. The small cost will reap rewards for you in the future. I often see automobiles receiving more maintenance than our homes. They are both necessities in ...
Top Three Best Cities in South Carolina to Live and Raise a Family
August 10, 2020
Families have different priorities when it comes to relocating to different areas. Some would favor location with great amenities for the kids and the entire family to enjoy. While others will consider the size of the property and the number of rooms at the top of their must-have list. The moving season officially starts in April and ends ...
Mortgage Rates Plummet to a New Record Low, Adding Fuel to the Housing Market
August 10, 2020
Mortgage Rates Plummet to a New Record Low, Adding Fuel to the Housing Market The already scalding-hot housing market is likely to heat up even more. Mortgage interest rates continued their downward descent, hitting yet another record—largely thanks to the pandemic, and the resulting economic downturn, dragging on.Rates fell to just 2.88% for 30-year, fixed-rate loans ...
5 Reasons Buyers And Sellers Are Unhappy With Their Agent:
August 07, 2020
1. TrustThe number one quality consumers seek in an agent is trust. Buyers and sellers want full disclosure at all times about every document. They want to be given the heads up about important changes to housing regulations and mortgage rules. They want to be advised of realistic expectations to selling or buying their home, and dislike last-minute changes. ...
"Hold As A Back-Up"
August 07, 2020
I call the "Hold As A Back-Up" the second chance button. I encourage agents to submit all offers, even if the offer is not list price. As days on market increase, and the property becomes "aged", the buyer/buyer's agent may receive an email from HUD inquiring if buyer(s) still has an interest in the property at ...
What You Need to Know About Refinancing Your Mortgage
August 05, 2020
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Now is a Great time to buy!
August 04, 2020
2020 has been a rollercoaster so far, we started off with flooding in the south east then covid19 hit in March, then massive unemployment and unprecedented business closures. Due to rates staying low most Americans still felt confident in buying a home according to the US Census Bureau which reported…. “The homeownership rate of 67.9 percent ...
What I wish I'd known before buying a foreclosed home
August 04, 2020
By Rebecca Benison When I began looking for a home on Long Island with a budget of $280,000 three years ago, finding a single-family home that wasn’t on the verge of collapse seemed almost impossible. Like many prospective buyers, I’d see listings for lower-priced foreclosures come up during my searches, but many were cash-only purchases since ...
7 Things You Can do to Qualify for a Mortgage
August 03, 2020
If you are thinking about buying a home this year and aren’t sure if you will qualify for a mortgage, there are several actions you can take to improve your chances of being approved for the amount you wish to borrow.Lenders look at more than just your credit rating. They want to know that you have a ...
Time Is Running Out For FHA Mortgage Loan Relief
August 03, 2020
Under the CARES Act passed in 2020 to help financially stricken Americans, all government-backed mortgages had foreclosure-avoidance measures instituted to protect homeowners from losing their homes during COVID-19.Those with VA, USDA, and FHA mortgages had all foreclosure actions suspended until the end of August 2020; the CARES Act forbids lenders and loan servicers “from beginning a judicial ...
Disaster Preparedness
August 03, 2020
One easy way to prepare for hurricane season in North Carolina is to get the right information on your phone. There are many ways that you can stay up-to-date. Here are three suggestions. American Red Cross – Lots of great tips and tools to prepare for a disaster and to weather a stormFederal Emergency Management Agency – Get ...
