What you should know about closing costs? A LOT! Buyers need to understand the costs and timelines associated with purchasing a home, or better be working with an experienced, reputable Realtor to explain details. When you start saving for a home or putting money aside for a down payment, the closing costs may not immediately come to mind. Closing costs include the items listed below and in some states Buyers are required to pay the state a "tax" on the purchase as well. Let's break these down so you are not learning about closing costs, the hard way.

Seller closing expenses include the commission they agreed to pay their listing agent which is typically split with the Buyer's Broker and in NC and many other states the seller pays a tax on the sale…

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At the height of the housing craze in 2020, where we witnessed highly constricted inventory, a catapultic rise in remote work, and demand for more space, any time of year to list your home, was the right time of year. Now that we see housing conditions normalizing, buyers and sellers are considering timing again. May is the most popular time of year to list a home, but this Spring might give sellers the best advantage.

April Showers May Flowers

According to a ten-year Bank Rate analysis, homes selling in May net a 12.6% seller premium, which is the amount over market value. Indeed, in the Triangle, May is a great month to list, however right now in Raleigh Durham, we are ranked two of the hottest housing markets in the United States. Home sales…

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Real Estate buying, selling, and moving tend to follow some predictable patterns. Many buyers delay moving until Spring, some believing this to be the best time to buy and the easiest time to move, others planning on specific school districts for the following year. While there is the benefit of kids being in school, and many people decide to list their homes in Spring for the same reason, it makes for a frenzied time that does not always yield the best conditions for moving. Let's discuss the benefits of moving and buying prior to the Spring selling and buying rush.

Tempting Interest Rates for Buyers

Last year, home prices began to fall ever so slightly in The Triangle, and buyers saw rates dip slightly at the end of the year. As rates fall,…

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Many Triangle homeowners consider renovations in the new year. Some renovations recoup the investment in resale and are more desirable than others. The spring is an excellent time to renovate a home and if you are considering selling, we recommend, instead of large-scale renovations, making curb appeal changes linked here, to take advantage of the current market conditions. We are sharing home renovations according to Fortune Builders that yield the best ROI by percentage, and explanation according to our expertise. If you are thinking about selling in The Triangle, please contact a member of My NC Homes to discuss the best strategy for selling this spring.

Landscaping: ROI 100% : Fresh landscaping adds both curb appeal and value to a home. Where…

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Are you considering retirement? Are you thinking about downsizing? Is 2023 the year to do it? As we contemplate making these major life decisions, timing can be very important. Depending on the structure of your retirement, if you choose to retire sooner than later, you stand to earn more money through interest and also the time you sell your home. We wanted to go over some current market conditions to help those who are considering making this transition in The Triangle.

Downsizing and Home Selling

Are you ready to downsize? If this feels "too final", consider reframing downsizing. This can feel like a ton of work, but the first step is to clear the clutter, recognize the opportunity in reducing maintenance of homeowning, and considering the…

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4 Surprising Things That Will Increase Your Homes Equity

Investing in real estate is generally considered a sound strategy for growing wealth, especially in areas where home values are rising, like The Research Triangle. Home equity is a homes value minus liens or debts against a home. There are a number of factors within and outside of a homeowner's control that amounts to a home's equity. To grow home equity and its’ values there are some surprising things you may not be aware of. As experts in home values in The Triangle, we are sharing some of our top "surprising" tips.

  1. Meticulous Renovation Documentation

It is well known that investments in renovations such as a new roof, a kitchen upgrade, or bath upgrades increase the value…

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Winter Events in the Research Triangle

While the temps are dipping in the early months of the year, we wanted to offer some outdoor and indoor events throughout The Triangle. The Triangle truly has excellent entertainment and celebrations year-round, and these events prove it! From Valentine's to Block Parties, here are some great ways to enjoy The Triangle in the winter.

Black History Month on The Triangle 

February is Black History Month and in recognition, in Durham, the 20th Annual NC MLK Black History Month Block Party and Parade will be in Durham on February 4th. This celebration includes marching banks, step, dance, drill teams, mascots, and more.

Valentine's on The Triangle

Does a certain someone make you see stars? Why not…

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Making Your House A Home

Much of our blog reports on market conditions, local area lifestyle information, home improvements as well as Buyer and seller information. To frequently we fail to talk about just enjoying your home. We would like to underscore the importance of making a house a home. When we think about increasing curb appeal for sellers, what about for buyers to envision themselves in a home? What are some steps you can take to really envision your ideal home, and then start your search. It is a great time to buy over renting, and stabilizing housing costs is a great way to invest in your future.

Your Future Space

How do you take up space? This is more than an abstract concept. When you are envisioning your new home, where are the…

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When reading about real estate, it is important to remember that there never has been, will there ever be a national real estate market. All real estate markets are local. Supply and demand in real estate is dictated by what buyers are willing to pay and sellers accept, in a precise location. It is imperative to work with a highly experienced Realtor who can filter the national real estate noise to deliver local real estate insights. We would like to offer some reasons why it is important to debunk this national market myth for local Triangle area buyers and sellers.

Markets to Watch

A local market is influenced by a number of factors and does not exist in a vacuum. Job growth, population growth, housing affordability, proximity to desired…

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What's Ahead For Home Prices?

This fall has been a rocky one for financing. With the federal reserve continuing to raise interest rates, borrowers are facing more higher financing costs than in the past several years. We understand that there is a lot of uncertainty in today's market and wanted to share the latest perspectives from economists. Much of our content regarding market fluctuations discusses historic trends in housing and economics and we want to reinforce that when other sectors of the market are more volatile, it does not necessarily mean that housing suffers as well. Let's look at what the market is doing and what the experts are forecasting.

What goes up must come down

Interestingly and not necessarily very reassuring are…

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