The Myth of a National Real Estate Market

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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Homeowners and Buyers Consider Climate Change

You can't watch TV or read the news without wondering with rising global temperatures what the impact of weather, storms and droughts can be expected and what the implications are for our homes.

Should I move?

According to a report by Realtor.com, 78% of buyers took incidences of natural disaster into account when choosing where to buy their home. Further, it reported that 34% of existing homeowners have considered selling their houses and moving to a new location because of the changing climate. While we do not need to go into the devastation of the fires in 2021, we know that many of our new transplants from Silicon Valley came here for a combination or reasons including the threat of fires and drought. You cannot completely remove your risk…

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Should You Pay off Your Mortgage Early?

Are you sitting on a large holiday bonus? Have you had a windfall financially and are considering paying off your mortgage early? This is a common question our clients ask us and many are often a little surprised to hear us tell them that it isn't always the best idea and that depending on a variety of individual factors it may not be in their best interest to focus exclusively on paying off their mortgage. There are a number of consideration when considering whether you should pay off your mortgage particuarly if they have other debts besides their mortgage.

Considerations

Prepayment Penalties

Did you know you can be penalized for prepayment? Lenders count on the interest of your loan, so paying off early to save on the interest may require…

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Condo, Townhome or Single Family Home?

"4-bedrooms and 3-baths and at least 2500 sqf."

So often this is how buyers start off our initial conversations. If we were like most brokers this information and a price range and we'd be off and running. The question is , "Are we really adding value and helping the buyer if this is all we discuss?" This is one example of where the "Experience" in our logo pays off. We understand that when it comes to buying a home, everyone is unique. Because of our extensive building background we know that square footage is much less important than layout. We've all seen examples of wasted square footage in a home. Yes the number of bedrooms and baths are a consideration, but if this is the extent of the information we start with, a lot of time and perhaps even…

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Make the Dream of Homeownership a Reality in 2021

Make the Dream of Homeownership a Reality in 2020

As Realtors we know that the majority of Americans, share a common goal: Owning a home: a piece of land, a roof over our heads, and a place where our families can grow and flourish.

If you're dreaming of buying a home this year we know that the best way to start the process is to connect with a Real Estate professional to understand what goes into buying a home. By having your questions answered and understanding the process you will put yourself in the position to make a smart informed decision. Below are some questions to help guide you

1. How Can I Better Understand the Process, and How Much Can I Afford?

The process of buying a home is not one to enter into lightly. You need to decide…

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The Top Things to Look for When You're House Hunting in 2018

If you're considering purchasing a brand-new home, you've got a lot of work ahead of you. Not only will you be spending various nights and days looking through the listings in North Carolina to find the property that's perfect for your family, but you'll also need to think about how much you can afford to ensure that you don't overspend.

Remember, when it comes to buying the right home, it's important to keep your budget firmly in mind so that you don't put yourself in a difficult financial situation. But if you've got a solid idea of what you can spend, then the following 3 things might be the top things to look for when you're house hunting this year.

1. The Location

Speak to any real estate agent and they'll tell you that the top three…

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The 10 Questions to Ask When Hiring a Realtor®

Are you considering hiring a professional to assist you with buying or selling your home? This is a big decision, as the sale of real estate involves large amounts of money and there's a lot of things to keep track of. Hiring the wrong Realtor® can be a disaster. Whether buying or selling, it's critical that you ask the right questions when you interview agents. After more than 25 years as a Realtor®, here's my list of the 10 questions I advise my friends and family to ask.

How To Interview A Real Estate Agent

1. Are you a Full-Time Broker? Are you available on short notice to show me homes for sale (or handle potential buyers for my house)? Do you have time to work with me now? Not all agents work full time, many have second jobs or other…

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