Many of our new home buyers in Raleigh Durham as well as some of our existing clients ask us about home equity. What is it? How do I build it? Can I use it for buying a new home? And more. Most of our younger generations consider cryptocurrencies as more solid wealth generators than home equity, but investing in housing is one of the most stable investments, definitely more stable than the latest coin. It is surprising how poor most people's understanding is of home equity when it is one of the most reliable ways to build wealth. We are going to give you a quick course on how to build wealth using home equity and how you can use existing home equity to your financial advantage.

What is Home Equity?

What is equity? Home equity is the percentage…

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It is a glorious fall in The Triangle and as the leaves and temperatures are falling, you will need to do some seasonal maintenance to ensure your home is prepared. These tips save money and keep your home in good condition. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, as the saying goes and this is really with home maintenance. If you are considering selling this winter or fall, these will also need to be on your checklist. Looking for a specialist to help you maintain your home, work on the gutters, or check your roof? Please reach out! We have excellent home maintenance partners.

Get your Mind on Your Gutters!

Your gutters play a critical role in your home by diverting thousands of gallons of water annually off of your home. They drain…

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Remote work can seem like a dream or make your home feel like a cage, depending on your home office setup. In the past year we have seen many businesses decide to move offices permanently remote or implement hybrid work options. Why? Remote work is not only preferred by many workers who save an average of $2,000-$5,000 and it is also cost-effective for businesses who save an average of $22,000 per employee. As home work is here to stay, we are also seeing work from home preferences change for buyers, and seeing more buyers come to The Triangle because of hybrid work opportunities. If you are a seller looking to make your home more desirable for the home office hybrid worker or you are just looking for a more exciting home office, here is our…

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May Day May Day!!!! The inspection report is back and it lists dozens and dozens of "defects", what can I do!! Receiving the inspection report can feel like a personal affront. My NC Homes has talked hundreds of buyers and sellers off a ledge and helped them understand what the inspection reports are saying and their implications. Below we dive into what they include and do not include and when panic, is warranted. Remember, homeowners who are considering selling in the future can reach out to My NC Homes for a referral for inspection companies prior to listing.

What is a home inspection report?

A home inspection report is supposed to be an objective document provided after an evaluation by a qualified home inspector. It should include…

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There is non stop press coverage questions whether there is a bubble in the real estate market, discussing the severe lack of inventory, timber shortages, labor shortages, and more, but how does all of that really affect affordability? Can you guess the last time homes were this affordable in The Triangle? Are you under the impression that homes are overpriced right now? Homes are more affordable now than they have been since 2016. Let's dive into some statistics on the affordability of home buying, RIGHT NOW in The Triangle.

Home prices are appreciating and prices have been steadily, arguably rapidly; rising in nearly all domestic markets. When we hear prices are going up, we immediately think houses are becoming unaffordable and as Realtors, we…

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The emergence of a global pandemic and the effects of a warming climate have resulted in a reprioritization for buyers in The Triangle real estate market, and a buyer migration nationally. As real estate progressive professionals in the tech-driven Research Triangle, we already witnessed some shifts from buyers wanting much more in when it comes to work from home options. In addition more buyers are looking for more multi-generational home options, sustainable living options, and locations where climate change is factored in. We heard from buyers telling us they were relocating from the west coast specifically to avoid ever worsening drought and water restrictions as well as fires.

Below is a list of insights for sellers to make homes more…

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My NC Homes covered the Tiny House craze previously in our blog and we continue to get questions and find applications for tiny house design that are in demand throughout The Triangle. We will focus a bit on pros and cons of building tiny homes, as opposed to just hiring contractors and building out additions on existing homes, and some of the many fun applications for the concept in 2021.

Note: it is important that before building anything you check with your local zoning department and confirm whether you can build a tiny home or addition on your property. The vast majority of cities and town within the Research Triangle have "impervious surface" restrictions or other zoning restrictions that may impact your ability to add an addition to your…

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Gardening is a pastime steeped in Triangle tradition. From award-winning floral garden designs to award-winning vegetables grown and recipes derived from the fruits of North Carolina soil, we are fortunate to have incredibly fertile earth in Central North Carolina, and a  moderate climate, supporting a wide variety of flora and fauna. With such diversity however come pests in the summer.

Throughout history,  plants have been used in garden design, agriculture, and landscape design for certain properties, in fact, combining certain plants is commonplace for the benefits they confer. My NC Homes would like to offer practical tips for designing and adding plants that repel summer pests and add curb appeal. My NC Homes would be remiss not to mention…

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Ahhhh the smell and feeling of North Carolina BBQ has no parallel. BBQ's and Cookouts in the summer are quintessentially American and it is hard to describe 4th of July, Labor Day, and Memorial Day, in terms of what people love to do, without mentioning a BBQ or cookout. In North Carolina, especially, with its rich history of delicious BBQ, cooking outside for long periods of time and enjoying the fruits of your labor around a pit are part of the culture. As long time Realtors in The Triangle and cooking afficandos, we have seen lots of trends come and go in terms of trends in homes and amenities, but some things are always going to be big sellers, and the outdoor kitchen with BBQ is one of the top amenities in the South. Here are some of the…

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More than 44 million borrowers in the US have student loan debt totaling over $1.5 trillion. For students, recent grads, or those who have advanced degrees with lots of debt, it might seem like home ownership is out of the question because of financing. The Triangle Area is home to some of the best academic undergraduate, graduate, and medical and law programs in the United States and we have helped hundreds of students, recent graduates, and those with considerable student loan debt, successfully buy real estate. We want to assure you it's not impossible. Here is a short guide to buying, with student loan debt even in the current market.

  1. Spend the Time to Improve your Credit Score: Regardless of whether you have student debt of not it all…

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