Pros and Cons of Adding a Hot Tub
January 15, 2021
Hot tubs come in a wide variety of options and can be found to fit most budgets. Check out these pros and cons to adding a hot tub. Article by Peter GoldbergPurchasing a hot tub for your home is becoming more and more appealing to those looking to spark joy in their outdoor space. Even the top local ...
North Carolina Facts
January 15, 2021
•Capital: Raleigh •Nickname: Ol' North State / Tar Heel State •Bird: Cardinal •Elevation: 6,684 ft. •Flower: Dogwood •Song: "The Old North State" •Counties: 100•Vegetable: Sweet potato•Food: BBQNorth Carolina is teeming with ways to get outside and enjoy our lovely state! Whether you™re hiking, swimming, boating, or just exploring new attractions, our state is the perfect spot to ...
The good, the bad, and the likely for housing in 2021
January 15, 2021
Despite the pandemic, incredibly, the housing market has surpassed all expectations in 2020. Applications to purchase a home hit a low point in the spring due to stay-at-home orders and mandated business closures, but have rebounded swiftly.As of the week ending December 4, purchase loan applications have exceeded year-ago levels for 29-straight weeks, and cumulative purchase applications have ...
Know Your Competition
January 15, 2021
There are two groups of buyers that many of our more local buyers seem to not consider when contemplating purchasing a HUD home. The first group is "bulk buyers/investors". Individuals in this group have often made offers "sight unseen". The second group is homeowners relocating from areas with "high price tags" homes and high taxes. ...
What Happens When Homeowners Leave Their Forbearance Plans?
January 14, 2021
According to the latest report from Black Knight, Inc., a well-respected provider of data and analytics for mortgage companies, 6.48 million households have entered a forbearance plan as a result of financial concerns brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. Here’s where these homeowners stand right now:2,543,000 (39%) are current on their payments and have left ...
Why Right Now May Be the Time to Sell Your House
January 14, 2021
Why Right Now May Be the Time to Sell Your House The housing market made an incredible recovery in 2020 and is now positioned for an even stronger year in 2021. Record-low mortgage interest rates are a driving factor in this continued momentum, with average rates hovering at historic all-time lows.According to the latest Realtors Confidence Index ...
How to Negotiate and Get Top Dollar for Your Home
January 14, 2021
These 4 Negotiating Tips Can Help You Sell for Top DollarReceiving your first offer is one of the most exciting parts of selling your home. And while it might seem like the hard work is finally over, the negotiation process is actually just getting started. Even in a seller’s market, negotiating with a buyer can require quite ...
Will Forbearance Plans Lead to a Tsunami of Foreclosures?
January 14, 2021
Will Forbearance Plans Lead to a Tsunami of Foreclosures? At the onset of the economic disruptions caused by the COVID pandemic, the government quickly put into place forbearance plans to allow homeowners to remain in their homes without making their monthly mortgage payments. Today, almost three million households are actively in a forbearance plan. Though 29.4% of ...
Affordable Housing?
January 14, 2021
I was reading an article the other day about the affordable housing issue that we have in many cities in the United States. This started me thinking… Is affordable housing and affordable home ownership the same thing? The answer that I reached is no. They are not the same. Affordable housing talks about both a home purchase ...
The Four Pillars of Financial Health
January 14, 2021
Many financial experts agree that financial health includes four key components: Spend, Save, Borrow, and Plan. It is crucial that you actively work on improving the health of each one. Unsatisfied with your financial health? Here are some valuable tips to strengthen each component. Spend.To spend wisely, you need a budget. With a little time, you can ...
3 Things Why You Should Use ShowingTime
January 13, 2021
Getting the trust of sellers and buyers to do real estate business with us starts the realtor-client relationship. Adding a wow-factor takes that relationship to a whole new level. Having a piece of in-depth knowledge on the real estate tools is crucial to make our business be ahead of the game. Going out to show properties takes about 80% ...
10 Home Renovation Myths You Might Believe (But Just Aren’t True)
January 12, 2021
by Valerie KalfrinWhen you’re ready to put your home on the market, it’s tempting to fall for the renovation bug. You know the one: You’ve wanted to redo that tile flooring in the kitchen, but you’ve never made the time. Why not do it now? Or you watch those home design shows and push, ...
The Do’s and Don’ts for Investing in Real Estate
January 11, 2021
Are you thinking about investing in real estate in 2021? It may be the perfect year to purchase a rental property, a vacation home, or to flip houses. I would be happy to help you find the perfect investment property, and I’ve put together this list of tips to help you get the best return on your investment....
8 Tips to Sell in the Dead of Winter
January 11, 2021
8 Tips to Sell in the Dead of WinterCredit goes to Homelight...
What will the real estate market look like in 2021?
January 11, 2021
Market experts say the pandemic is a main predictor.The nation will continue to see COVID-19’s unprecedented seller’s market effect on the single-family housing market, experts say, and it will be evident in North Carolina.Since the summer’s housing boom began, due to the Triangle’s existing popularity and to all-time-low federal interest rates, which allow ...
Making an offer in 2021!
January 11, 2021
Now that the holidays are over, many people use the first few months of the year to organize their finances (and file taxes!) and get lives in order in preparation for buying a home. Maybe that means selling a home first in order to make a purchase. With a tight market, it is more important than ever to ...
Why are HUD Homes Good Investment Options?
January 09, 2021
Post by: Nancy Braun, Showcase RealtyWhy are HUD Homes Good Investment Options?Everyone wants the best deal possible when it comes to investment. That makes it easy to see why a lot of property buyers invest in HUD homes. These foreclosed homes offer a lot of unique benefits, especially for first-time investors.Here are some reasons why HUD ...
Homeownership versus Renting
January 09, 2021
When it comes to affordability, homeownership across 63% of America is still more cost-effective than renting, according to researchers at ATTOM Data Solutions. ATTOM’s report showed that in the most populated urban markets, renting remains more affordable. ATTOM’s 2021 Rental Affordability Report shows that owning a median-priced three-bedroom home is more affordable than renting a three-bedroom property ...
The Effects of Remote Working on the Real Estate Market
January 08, 2021
Since the start of the pandemic, the number of people who work remotely has increased greatly. Prior to the virus, 4.7 million people were working entirely from home. Of the remaining workers, around 70% of them worked remotely at least one day a week. Studies showed that it allowed for lower overhead costs and an increase in productivity ...
HOW TO SPOT A ROOF LEAK
January 08, 2021
What are the signs of a roof leak, and what steps should you take to stop the damage? Here’s what to do when you’re faced with a leaking roof.Most homeowners or renters might be able to tell you the age of their roof, but beyond that, there’s uncertainty. Take a roof leak, for example: The ...
The story behind General Electric (GE)
January 06, 2021
The story behind General Electric (GE) begins in the late 1880s and involves 2 ofAmerica’s most famous business personalities: inventor Thomas Edison and banker John Pierpont (JP) Morgan.In 1889, Edison had his hands in all things electricity and -- in an obnoxious move to remind everyone of it -- had stamped his name on various ventures: Edison ...
Decoding Common Paint Terms
January 06, 2021
Break through the jargon to ensure you choose the right paint for the job. When it comes to paint, there’s a lot of jargon, from “sheen” and “finish” to “scrubbability” and “washability.” A novice painter might find themselves asking: What do those terms actually mean? Understanding common paint terminology can help ensure ...
FHA ANNOUNCES NEW SINGLE FAMILY LOAN LIMITS FOR 2021
January 05, 2021
WASHINGTON - The Federal Housing Administration (FHA) today announced the agency's new schedule of loan limits for calendar year 2021 for its Single Family Title II forward and Home Equity Conversion (reverse) Mortgage insurance programs. Loan limits for most of the country will increase in the coming year resulting from robust house price appreciation, which is factored into ...
A homebuyer’s guide to a competitive housing market
January 05, 2021
Millions of people are locking in their dream to own a home. So, what’s stopping you from the exciting homeownership journey? Despite the fact that low housing inventory is making it a competitive market, people are still buying and listing homes. It’s simply up to you to take ownership of your home-buying dream, and we’re here ...
U.S. Home Prices Surge to 6-Year High as More People Flee Cities, Case-Shiller finds
January 05, 2021
By Jeffry Bartash | Dec 29, 2020The numbers: The cost of buying a home surged again in October, a closely followed index showed, and prices rose at the fastest rate in six years in a clear sign the housing market is still booming despite a raging pandemic.A measure of home prices in 20 large cities rose at ...
