July’s new housing activity jumps back up amid increased demand
August 17, 2020
August 17, 2020, 9:00 am By Alex Roha Single-family housing authorizations rose 6.43% month-over-month in July – a sign that housing activity is advancing in the face of the ongoing pandemic, according to a report by Buildfax, a property condition data service provider.Despite the slight uptick last month, single-family authorizations are still down 5.25% year-over-year – ...
Hurricane Season
August 17, 2020
With hurricane season upon us, keep up to date with local and state laws in regards to governing hurricanes, evacuations, and vacation rentals. Your state's real estate commission is a great place to review, please see link below.https://ncrecblog.com/hurricanes-evacuations-and-vacation-rentals/ Carolina East Realty...
What is Home Warranty Insurance and What Does it Cover?
August 15, 2020
Post by: Nancy Braun, Showcase Realty When you buy a home in Charlotte or anywhere else in the U.S., one of the offers you’ll receive is a home warranty. Like buying a new appliance, there is also a warranty that comes in home buying.A home warranty is a product meant to protect the ...
Don't wait, do it today!!!
August 15, 2020
The house you looked at today and wanted to think about until tomorrow may be the same house someone looked at yesterday and will buy today...
What To Do With An Unfinished Basement
August 15, 2020
Although currently dimly lit and a little rough on the eyes, your unfinished basement still has a lot of potentials. With just a little love and the help of the following ideas, you can spice it up in no time and get some great use out of the space.Add a pop of color. Give your basement a whole ...
Buying During the Virus By Sandra C Brown, Broker, GRI
August 15, 2020
Why Are Prices Rising Virus Market? By Sandra C Brown, GRI Broker/Owner, Dream Catcher Realty, Sevierville,TN Real Estate prices for the month ended July 31, 2020 just reached records highesThis happened in the middle of a virus crisis and with unemployment over 10%But how? Why? Many experts suggest millions will be be ...
5 myths about home buying
August 14, 2020
Americans spend more on housing than anything else. When making one of the biggest financial decisions of your life, it’s smart to weigh your options, understand current market conditions and arm yourself with the right information. This has always been true when it comes to buying or selling homes, and in today’s landscape, it’s even more ...
Mistakes to Avoid After Buying Your First Home
August 14, 2020
You’re smart. You’re doing your research about home buying and homeownership (like you are right now!), so you feel like you’re prepared to avoid common home buying pitfalls. But you’ll soon find that once you’ve moved in, there is a whole new list of common problems that plague unwary first-time homeowners.To help ...
Buying a Fixer-Upper: What You Need to Know
August 14, 2020
What to Look for in a Good Fixer-UpperLocation is almost always the most important factor when purchasing real estate, and that's especially true when it comes to finding a good fixer-upper. Look for a home in an established neighborhood that is close to amenities and is predominantly made up of owner-occupied homes.Unless you're planning on using ...
Staging a home to sell quicker!
August 14, 2020
There are several tips and tricks that go into the selling of a house. A trending topic in realestate is the staging of homes. Many realtors will furnish and touch up homes prior to thebuyers visit in order to appeal to the buyer’s wants and needs. Home staging is able tomaximize the strengths of a house while simultaneously ...
Moving In? 5 Essential Steps to Quickly Feel More at Home
August 14, 2020
MOVING IN? 5 ESSENTIAL STEPS TO QUICKLY FEEL MORE AT HOME You just purchased a new-to-you home? Congratulations! It will take a while to feel completely comfortable in your new home, but there are many ways to help the transition go faster and smoother.Step 1. Clean From Top to BottomBefore bringing any boxes or furniture into your new ...
Flooding your ceiling? Really?
August 14, 2020
Now that we are in the throws of Summer, here is a tip to keep your home Air Conditioning system from becoming a problem. Please be sure that your drain line is clear. If it should become clogged, the condensation from the coil could fill the pan under the unit and overflow. This can damage your ceiling and ...
Renovation Loans - Preparation is KEY
August 14, 2020
Renovation loans as a viable option for purchasing a HUD property have pros & cons. Some lenders have renovation loans for FHA, VA, Conventional & USDA. Understanding the process and having that understanding will help agents & buyers to consider them when searching for their perfect home & set realistic expectations into this process.A renovation loan ...
Real estate is a seller's market as sales soar by 21 percent — but renters worry they will be left behind
August 14, 2020
https://news.yahoo.com/real-estate-sellers-market-sales-202112129.htmlMartha C. White-NBC News•July 22, 2020 Existing home sales spiked by a record 20.7 percent in June, while rising prices cheer sellers, worry buyers — and frustrate renters whose ability to save for a down payment is crimped by rising rents.New homeowner Lina Andersen purchased the Oakland, California, house she and her husband ...
Why Homeowners Have Great Selling Power Today
August 14, 2020
We’re sitting in an optimal moment in time for homeowners who are ready to sell their houses and make a move this year. Today’s homeowners are, on average, staying in their homes longer than they used to, and this is one factor driving increased homeowner equity. When equity grows, selling a house becomes increasingly desirable. Here’s ...
How Is Remote Work Changing Homebuyer Needs?
August 14, 2020
With more companies figuring out how to efficiently and effectively enable their employees to work remotely (and for longer than most of us initially expected), homeowners throughout the country are re-evaluating their needs. Do I still need to live close to my company’s office building? Do I need a larger home with more office space? Would making ...
August 14, 2020
AVERAGE LIFE EXPECTANCY TIMELINEOne of the problems a first time home buyer will face is the cost of maintaining a house. This cost is more than often not considered when purchasing the house. Here is a list of some of the life expectancies of items associated with the maintenance of a house:6-10 YearsPaint on exterior of house 5-7 yrsMicrowave ...
ARE HOME WARRANTIES WORTH IT?
August 14, 2020
What are the pros and cons of owning a home warranty? Our review team discusses whether or not home warranties are worth it | Photo Credit: Shutterstock © Ewelina Wachala With the high cost of home repairs, many homeowners want to know whether a home warranty is worth it or not. Before making a decision, it is ...
The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act - What it Means for Homeowners
August 13, 2020
Tax Rate ReductionsThe new law provides generally lower tax rates for all individual tax filers. While this does not mean that every American will pay lower taxes under these changes, most will. The total size of the tax cut from the rate reductions equals more than $1.2 trillion over ten years.The tax rate schedule retains seven brackets ...
Current Buyer & Seller Perks in the Housing Market
August 11, 2020
Current Buyer & Seller Perks in the Housing Market Today’s housing market is making a truly impressive turnaround, and it’s also setting up some outstanding opportunities for buyers and sellers. Whether you’re thinking of buying or selling a home this year, there are perks today that are rarely available, and definitely worth looking into. Here are ...
Expatriate: The New Ticket to Adventure
August 11, 2020
You may have watched a brief episode of House Hunters International or have seen a few Caribbean spots in a commercial showing off their amenities and accessible price points. For some it is a far-fetched dream, but it is becoming more reality for more than many would believe. An expat is a person who lives outside of their ...
Real Estate Market in Guilford County, NC
August 11, 2020
The real estate market in Guilford County, NC has been booming these past few months! It seems after the initial shock of the pandemic, home sales increased leading to a big month for sales in July thanks to the pent up demand and the low interest rates. Great time for sellers in this area!Check out the ...
Raise Your Home Value With These 10 DIY Ideas
August 10, 2020
As a Realtor with 33 years experience, as a full time Broker in Middle Tennessee, I would like to encourage you to perform routine maintenance on your homes. The small cost will reap rewards for you in the future. I often see automobiles receiving more maintenance than our homes. They are both necessities in ...
Top Three Best Cities in South Carolina to Live and Raise a Family
August 10, 2020
Families have different priorities when it comes to relocating to different areas. Some would favor location with great amenities for the kids and the entire family to enjoy. While others will consider the size of the property and the number of rooms at the top of their must-have list. The moving season officially starts in April and ends ...
Mortgage Rates Plummet to a New Record Low, Adding Fuel to the Housing Market
August 10, 2020
Mortgage Rates Plummet to a New Record Low, Adding Fuel to the Housing Market The already scalding-hot housing market is likely to heat up even more. Mortgage interest rates continued their downward descent, hitting yet another record—largely thanks to the pandemic, and the resulting economic downturn, dragging on.Rates fell to just 2.88% for 30-year, fixed-rate loans ...
