Announcement and Season's Greetings

Extremely honored and excited to announce that I Have joined Re/Max One Realty!

Is now the right time to buy a house in NC?

We have certainly seen some drastic changes to the real estate market over the past few years.  Many people agree that the ecomomy is just starting to make improvments.  Some buyers are skeptical about making a home purchase right now in fears that things will not get better but rather decline.  Although nobody has a crystal ball, there are some things to consider if you are thinking about buying a home sooner than later.  First thing is the fact that interests rates are still VERY low and favorable.  Waiting a year or two to get a loan could mean a huge difference in the overall cost of buying a house.  Even if the prices dip a little bit lower, paying a higher interst rate over a 30 yr loan may wind up costing you more in the end. Secondly, continuing to rent a place still costs money that you will never see again.  There are tax benifits to homeownership that you don't reap when renting(consult with a CPA for all the details). Lastly, there are many homes on the market right now giving a buyer a large selection to choose from. 

Buying can now ensures a  low rate, immediate tax benifits, and wide varity of choices. 

The importance of making your home "perfect" before it goes on the market

Its no big secret that we are in the midst of a buyer's market.  There are many a home for sale in all price ranges.  While there are some great deals to be had, there are homes that are selling at reasonable prices and in a relatively short period of time.  These are what I call "turn key" homes.  Walls, trim, exterior all have a fresh coat of  neutral paint.  The yard is well manicured and flowers are in bloom.  Windows are spotless.  Updates to kitchens and baths have been made.  The floors are new or in great shape. Light fixtures updated.  Old wallpaper removed.  Intervention from a professional stager has the home showing like a model.  The old cliche of it takes money to make money is oh so true.  Spending money to get your home ready for a tough market is extremely important.  My experience has shown that buyers will heavily over estimate the cost of getting a home into this "turn key" state. In turn, heavily discounting there perception of your homes value and often times moving on to other homes.  People will pay a premium for convenience and readiness.  First impressions make all the difference in the world.