Congratulations!

In the next couple of months, millions of students will be graduating and moving out of their parents home. Hopefully you're celebrating; your child has graduated and is moving on into the next stage of their lives and you are about to do the same. Trust me it's good stuff, you and your partner get to spend more quality time together and making plans becomes so much easier. I know this was the case for my wife and I, it's how we ended up in North Carolina. I encourage you to be proud;think about how far you've come since they were first born.

Is it time to make a move?

Now may be a good time to take a look at your home and really think about is it ideally what you'd like to spend the next 10-20 years in? What

There has been a lot written about millennials and their preference to live in city centers above their favorite pizza place. Some have even gone so far as to say that millennials are a "Renter-Generation."

And while this might be true for some millennials, more and more research has surfaced that shows for the vast majority, owning a home is a major part of their American Dream!

New research shows that 66% of millennials who currently rent are determined to buy a home! Seventy-three percent of those surveyed {Pulsenomics} plan to buy a home in the next five years, with 40% planning to do so within the next two years!

"Millennials want to own a home as much as prior generations," Ali Wolf, Director of Economic Research at "We saw

2019 The Cost of Renting Vs Buying

If you're tired of renting, you are not alone, the vast majority of Americans rightly believe that owning a home makes sense as this video below shows. 

While home ownership may not be ideal for everyone, here in the Chapel Hill, Durham, Raleigh area of North Carolina the numbers are awfully compelling if you know you'll be living here for a minimum of three years. The longer you live in the area, the more compelling the numbers are. If you're as into data as the My NC Homes team is, you'll want to check out the link below for Buying Vs Renting. We originally sat down and laid out the numbers in 2012, then Larry updated them in 2017 and honestly in the past two years the thing that's changed the most is

If you're a first time home buyer then there's a good chance you are getting lots of conflicting information, from the Internet, your friends, family and co-workers. We hear things from when we're speaking to our buyer clients that never cease to surprise us as it's so often incorrect. There's a lot to consider and some prep work required. Here it is, a definitive guide to preparing to buy your first home.

Getting Ready: Mortgages and Financing

1. - Start saving for your down payment.

It may seem obvious, but if you're going to buy a home you're going to need money and the sooner you start saving, the sooner you can start looking for a home in earnest. Saving for a down payment is frequently the biggest hurdle for first time buyers, so it

There are things to know before you buy a Tiny House. Tiny houses are sweeping the nation with their charming looks and function-packed features. At no more than 500 square feet, they focus on simple living without sacrificing on quality or comfort. And speaking of quality and comfort--tiny houses can be stocked with everything from Smeg fridges to clawfoot tubs. This level of comfort makes tiny houses livable for more than just a vacation. Now before you head off to purchase your tiny home, it’s a good idea to do your research. Here's a look at what you should know before buying a tiny house.

Tiny houses can be divided into two main categories; tiny houses on wheels and tiny houses on foundations.

Tiny houses on foundations are built

Preparing for Natural Disasters

People and businesses in the Carolinas are emerging from the aftermath of Hurricane Florence this week. Our home sellers were holding their breath as Hurricane Florence made her approach. Everyone in the Triangle was scrambling for basic needs. Clients selling their homes in this active market were also preparing extensively for measures to protect their homes. The majority of residents in the Triangle were fortunate to avoid extensive damage and disaster that other parts of of North Carolina are experiencing as a result of Florence.

Preparing your family

Hurricane Florence is not the first nor will she be the last hurricane to move through the Triangle. As storms like this increase in frequency, homeowners

What makes a home a great place to live?

Buyers want a great place to live, which involves more than just the house. Beyond the walls that people call home lies the neighborhood and community that make a particular location a great place to live. We asked our buyers to define what makes a particular place great and we asked our sellers what they'll miss most when leaving the area behind.

Defining what makes it great

Location

For some buyers location might be at the top of the priority list when trying to decide what spot is right for them. Work commute can be a factor, and location to shopping, dining, or access to the highway might determine what is most important. We work with a wide variety of clients from different generations; both

Rich In History

In the late 1800s, Durham had a robust economy based on tobacco and textiles. This thriving town had fashionable homes, a new hospital, and a respected university: Trinity College, which preceded Duke University.

Anchored by Queen Anne-style homes originally built for college professors, the area features homes in a variety of architectural styles including Victorian, Neo-Colonial and Craftsman. After a brief period of decline in the mid-20th century, Durham residents banded together to form the Trinity Park Neighborhood Association. This association was instrumental in halting hasty development and demolition of historic homes, and a priority was placed on restoring owner-occupancy.

Trinity Park is comprised of approximately

Outdoor home maintenance: outsource or DIY?

A home requires regular maintenance both indoors and outdoors. The maintenance required on the exterior of the home is dictated by the weather climate where we reside. Maintenance is time sensitive due to the exposure to the elements.  Making sure you keep up with regular exterior inspections as a critical first-step. This gives you the option to do it yourself (DIY) and save money in the long term. 

Your House

The roof

Your roof is your first defense against the weather. The roof is also taking the majority of the beating from the sun, wind, rain,  hail, and snow. It is important to regularly inspect your roof for major   damage and signs of wear that may need repair. However, we encourage   our

Indoor home maintenance: Outsource or DIY?

Homeowners face a multitude of decisions as they manage their households. Whether it is regularly needed maintenance or special situations, homeowners will inevitably make decisions to either outsource or DIY the work themselves. New homeowners especially may be especially keen to save money at every opportunity.  Not all DIY maintenance work is created equal. The more experience with DIY will inevitably show you that, some jobs are better left to the professionals. In this blog, we will look at some common indoor home maintenance tasks that will make homeowners ask, “Should I outsource this home maintenance job or do it myself?”

Inside the Home

Some homeowners keep a regular schedule of tasks to