Triangle Area Real Estate News & Information - Home Ownership

Avoid These Common First-Time Homebuyer Mistakes

According to a new report released by the National Association of Realtors, First-time buyers make up 35 percent of all home buyers in 2017. Our team loves helping first-time buyers achieve their dreams of homeownership. In fact, it's one of our specialties! Each client is different but the excitement and joy of closing on the first home is the same for each. We work alongside our clients as they navigate the market and process of buying a home. Without guidance, navigating the complexities of homebuying can often lead to mistakes—but that's where we come in.

Here what you need to know in order to avoid the most common mistakes new home buyers make.

1. Be Fully Prepared for Home Ownership

As you start making preparations to buy a new home,…

1105 Views, 0 Comments

How To Get The Best Curb Appeal For Your Home In Fall

Fall is a favorite season for many who live in the Triangle area. As the heat of summer fades giving way to a comfortable cool, it is a great season to buy or sell a home. While spring is known as a popular time for real estate transactions, industry trends point to the fall as the best time to sell a home.

The Benefits of Selling Your Home in the Fall

For sellers, the autumn real estate market is ripe with serious buyers looking for a good home to match their needs. The fall market tends to showcase fewer homes than spring and summer. As a result, your home will become will likely be the focus for many shoppers. To gain a competitive edge in the market, take advantage of the fall season to create curb appeal to impress potential buyers.

How…

1480 Views, 0 Comments

Match Volunteer Opportunities with your Interests in the Triangle Community

A great way to meet new people while engaging and learning about your community is to volunteer. There are many volunteer opportunities available in the Raleigh, Durham, and Chapel Hill area. Triangle residents are immensely proud of the wide variety of interests and passions that make up the different communities. Keeping Durham Beautiful, a nonprofit that works with Durham County to conserve and the appearance of Durham, notes that properties average a nine percent to 10% increase in value when there is an added presence of landscaping, trees, and green space. Volunteering is one way to contribute to the value of your neighborhood and participate in acts of service.

It can be difficult to figure out where to start or select from the list of…

1443 Views, 0 Comments

DIY Storage Hacks for an Organized Garage

Over the years, the garage has become more than a place to park your car. It's the place to store items with nowhere else to go: bikes, tools, toys, even furniture. It's easy to understand how a garage can become disorganized in a hurry.

To avoid a cluttered garage, here are some storage hacks to help you keep it organized on a budget:

DIY Cleaning Tools Holder

Every household has a number of tools used to help keep it clean: mops, brooms, dustpans, and other supplies. Ironically, these cleaning tools are one of the main culprits contributing to a messy garage. One way to keep these necessities organized is to create a DIY cleaning tool organizer. A quick trip to your local home center will get you all the materials you need, at a fraction of…

1417 Views, 0 Comments

Smart Home Tech & Trends: What To Watch For in 2017

This is the Year of the Smart Home

You come home from a long day’s work to your empty home, but it’s ready for you. The thermostat is set to your favorite temperature, all of the lights are dimmed, and the dishwasher is quietly running. The sprinklers are watering your lawn and the dog is sleeping in his bed after being fed by the automatic dog feeder.

This may sound like a scene from a movie, yet this could be your reality if you join the smart home trend.

According to CNBC, 2017 will be the year of the smart home, with over 80 million smart home devices being delivered worldwide. These products include devices for the kitchen, living room, bedroom, home security, and even the yard.

Popular Smart Home Products To Watch For

With…

1093 Views, 0 Comments

Attending Duke University in the fall? Here Are The Best Neighborhoods For Students Nearby

Congratulations on your acceptance to one of the best schools in the nation! Now it's time to figure out where to live for the next year, if not your entire stint at Duke University, and beyond! Here's  our overview of which Duke University neighborhoods to consider as your new home while you attend school. Everything from affordable abodes, to   the convenience of location, and of course which neighborhoods are closest to all the action in the city of Durham, can be found here. We've even looked into the rental market for your investment purposes!

Old West Durham

To make the most out of your time at Duke University, we recommend living as close to the city of Durham as possible. Old West Durham is also one of the closest Duke Universtiy…

4451 Views, 0 Comments

3 Home Office Organization Tips to Avoid Clutter

Today, more people than ever are working from home, and the trend shows no signs of slowing down. According to Forbes, “68 percent of U.S. workers say that they expect to work remotely in the future."

But in order to be productive in the comfort of your home, you must have an organized office space. Here are some quick and simple tips to help make your home office a model of organization:

Dedicate a Space

One of the drawbacks of working from home is all of the distractions. Other members of your family want your attention. Household chores are never ending. And sometimes the TV, refrigerator, and sofa are just calling your name.

There is no way to eliminate these distractions, but you can minimize them by dedicating a room only for your…

2500 Views, 4 Comments

Lawn Care Tips: 3 Easy Ways To Maintain Your Home's Curb Appeal

We’ve all driven by those houses with the calf-high-brown grass, lack of flowers, and dead garden beds. We’ve also all seen those pristine envy-inducing lawns with their lush grass and gorgeous gardens.   Whether you’re trying to sell or add curb appeal to your home or are just making sure your neighbors don’t get angry, lawn care is important to maintaining your home’s curb appeal.

By spending a little bit of your time fixing your lawn this summer, you can create a stress free oasis on your own property. It just takes a little effort to attain the perfect look. Here are some tips to make the transformation from drab to fab a little bit easier. 

Know Your Grass

First thing’s first, you should know what breed of grass you have, as there…

947 Views, 0 Comments

3 Things You Need To Know About Mold In Triangle Area Homes

If you're buying a home in this area that's more than ten years old, mold (or fungal growth) is a topic that may come up. But the truth is, mold is rarely as serious a problem as some would have you believe.

Here are three important things to understand about mold:

1. Mold is Everywhere

Mold is actually quite common. In fact, it's everywhere. There are more than 100,000 different species of mold, and there is likely mold on every surface you touch and in the air you breathe. Most of the time, it's harmless, though people who suffer from allergies may be more susceptible to mold-related health problems.

When it comes to mold in the home, again there are many different kinds, and it takes a qualified specialist to properly identify molds.…

1082 Views, 0 Comments

How to Set Up a Safe Woodshop in your Garage

From making small crafts to intricate furniture, woodworking is a rewarding hobby for people of all skill levels. It's also a good way to teach children how to solve problems and build their confidence.

For those people who want to take up woodworking, the garage can be a great place to set up a shop, as long as you don't mind keeping the car in the driveway. But if they're not careful, a woodshop can also cause safety problems.

Here are some safety tips for setting up a home woodworking shop:

Heating Your Workshop

Most garages in this area are not heated, making them difficult to work in during the cold winters. Many homeowners are tempted to solve this problem with a space heater. While they are effective, they can be very…

3806 Views, 0 Comments