I actually saw an article today with the title: The Housing Market WILL Recover in 2012.  I thought, “Yikes!”  I would never make a statement like that given what the market has gone through over the past few years. I am a total optimist, but I also don’t want my clients to have false hope.

The reality is this: Real Estate is LOCAL. LOCAL. LOCAL. National numbers don’t say anything about where WE are, or where we will be.  When a client tells me, “I saw on the news that prices are going up.” I groan inside a little, because I know their market, and that isn’t the case there, in that neighborhood, but since the news said it…..must be true.

If you want to know how the market is doing, ask a Realtor (like me!).  Oh, and I don’t have a crystal ball, so I have no idea what is going to happen this year.  I do know this, I still love being in Real Estate!

I also recommend my clients ride around the neighborhood at different times: day time, night time, and weekend, to get a sense of what the neighborhood they may be living in will be like.  At 3:00 the neighborhood may be nice and quiet, but maybe at 4:30 when the high school has let out the streets are full of kids smoking and listening to loud music…OR maybe the neighborhood is still nice and quiet.  You won’t know unless you check it out.

The picture here was taken in what most would consider a really nice neighborhood in Northwest Guilford County.  Most of the homes are upwards of 300k.  My buyers were shocked when they drove around and found this house with gargoyles and such.  Now, my buyers still moved into the neighborhood, and they love it.  These neighbors are just fine, BUT I wonder if my buyers had found this house AFTER they bought theirs if it might have been a little off putting.

Ride before you buy.

• Prices are  down in the Greensboro market (over 4th quarter 2010 and 3rd quarter 2011)
• It is taking longer for houses to sell than it did it the third quarter of 2011 (avg of 126.9 days)
• It takes even longer the more expensive your list price is (ex: 232.2 days is the average for a house over 500k)

Now, none of this is all that surprising, really.  The market is what it is right now.  BUT houses are still selling, even the big ones.  The main thing to keep in mind is to have your house show off ready, staged, and priced right.  Price right=competitive and priced better than your competition!

Buyers-remember that sellers are learning they have to be priced right!  Be sure to ask your agent to show you the comparable sales before you make an offer that is only 75% of the list price.  If you want the house, the seller needs to see you are serious, so take it seriously.  If they are priced right, make a fair offer, not a crazy one.

Starting December 19, Greensboro and Guilford County residents can call 336-373-2489 to schedule a next day pick up of their old electronics for recycling.  Below is a list of what they will pick up:

• computers
• monitors
• laptops
• televisions
• VCR s
• stereos
• copiers
• fax machines
• microwaves

You can also take your electronics to the Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) Collection Center at 2750 Patterson St.

Stunning lake view corner lot in amazing private gated community on recreational Belews lake featuring walking trails, golf cart paths and a lakeside cabana.

Clubhouse and swimming pool under construction. Marina and boat launch next door!

Build your dream home or second home and enjoy the tranquility and fun lake living has to offer! Convenient to shopping, dining and entertainment in both Greensboro and Winston-Salem.

Lot 33 at corner of Crows Nest and Leeward.

No detail was left out of this amazing home created from a beautiful Southern Living floor plan.

The Master Suite on the main level will be your sanctuary with sunrise lighting built into the crown molding.  Enjoy the beautiful stone gas fireplace in the winter, so cozy you won’t want to get out of bed!  The spa  style bathroom has a large tile shower with bench seat, separate luxurious air tub, will be your escape at the end of the day!  Separate vanities, with space for a mini fridge and café area.

Executive home office with beautiful and expansive built-ins has two separate work desks, and lots of storage.  This office makes working from home a joy.

A cook’s kitchen lets you spread out with lots of work space, and an amazing walk in pantry. You will find hardwoods and double crown molding throughout main level.  Next to the kitchen is a relaxing keeping room with a stone fireplace and entry to the large screened in porch that overlooks the pool area.

The living room boasts a two story stone gas fireplace and tall built- ins on both sides of the fireplace draw the eye up to the coiffured ceiling, a beautiful architectural detail.   The formal dining room also has a coiffured ceiling and butler’s pantry.

Amazing outside entertaining & play areas with beautiful fenced in ground pool, sound system, fire pit, koi pond, huge front porch, and large screened in back porch!  You won’t need to go anywhere in the summer, just vacation in your back yard!

Lower level boasts amazing theater room with 119” screen, projector, and Adobe surround sound.  There is also a rec room ready for a wet bar, lots of natural light and space, even storage!  Walk out to the patio and right to the pool!  There is a full bath downstairs so that you can go from the pool to the shower.

The upstairs has the three more bedrooms and a bonus that could be a second master or in-law suite.  The bonus has huge spaces and its own private bath.

If you are looking for a home that can be your sanctuary, your retreat, and your place to play, you have found it in Riedsville, North Carolina.

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• 10 Ways to Winterize Your Home
• Housing Watchers Pin Hopes On 2015
• Use Incentives to Sell House with Defects
• Demand For IT Workers Grows in NC
• NC Court Hears Key Case on Foreclosure
• When will REO Sales Finally Reach the Peak? What is an REO? Click here.

If you have any articles to share please add them in the comments!  Also, let me know what you think of the articles I have added.  Did you find them useful, informative, surprising?

REO stand for:

Real Estate

Owned

Property

This basically means that a lender owns the home.  You see the phrase REO frequently associated with foreclosures.

If you have any other real estate terms you would like defined leave me a note in the comments and I will address it!

• Third Quarter Housing Report Released
• House Prices to Fall Over the Next Six Months
• Don’t Blame Home Inspectors for Every Surprise Defect

If you have any articles to share please add them in the comments!  Also, let me know what you think of the articles I have added.  Did you find them useful, informative, surprising?

There are lots of great sites, sounds, and smells to take in as you stroll through over 22 acres that is set up like an old village with merchants and street performers, even a camel you can ride!

My son really enjoyed the bird show, where a falcon swoops out over the audience!  He of course could not resist playing with the wooden swords and shields you can find hand made in the marketplace.

By far, the best part of the day is watching one of the well performed jousting tournaments.  The crowd is riled up to cheer for their knight.  Yes, there are good guys and bad guys, and no matter where you are sitting, you will want to cheer!  I suggest you get to the jousting arena 30 minutes early, but first stop at one of the nearby food shops for a snack and a brew to enjoy while you wait.

If you like people watching, this is the place to be!  Many folks are dressed up, and they can really go ALL out!

A few take-aways at first glance:

1. Days on Market, or as the report calls it Time on Market, has increased to 127.3 days.  That is up 16.3% from last year at the same time.  It is taking longer to sell a house.

2. Sales are averaging at 93.3% of list price.  So if your home is listed for $200,000 that means it would have sold for around $186,600.

Put those two together and that means: It is going to take longer to sell your house, and it will be selling for less.

What can you do about this?  How can you keep your house from being on the market as long and sell for a higher price?  The best advice I can give is to make sure you are priced right the first time, and re-evaluate pricing on a regular basis (monthly!).  Also, be sure your home is staged, clean, and ready for a buyer to fall in love!  You have to be the shiniest apply in the bunch to get picked!

• How to get more dirt on any house than just what is online!
• Bank of America will no longer buy mortgages from other banks
• Tips to present a stronger mortgage application
• Buying a home a safer bet than buying gold

If you have any articles to share please add them in the comments!  Also, let me know what you think of the articles I have added.  Did you find them useful, informative, surprising?

Usually, your Realtor isn’t going to know a lot of these things, and some questions are off limits to agents.  For example, we can’t answer the question “Are there a lot of kids in this neighborhood?”  While you may want a neighborhood full of kids, so your kids have someone to play with, the agent can’t tell you because “Familial Status” is a protected class.

All of these and more are important questions for you about your next home.  So, how do you find this stuff out?  It may not be as hard as you think!

• Drive through the neighborhood at night
• Drive through the neighborhood on the weekend
• Go talk to your future neighbors (You will be shocked what all you can find out!)
• Check on Facebook to see if there is a “Page” for the neighborhood

This may be more work on your part, but isn’t your investment worth it?  Of course it is, so get out there!

*Note: I do not and will not discriminate for any reason, and I expect my clients to behave in the same manor, or we will not be a good fit.

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Who Pays for Damages in HOA?

Staged-to-Sell, But is it Priced-to -Sell

Selling? Waiting Until the Spring Makes No Sense

Fixed-rate Mortgages Lowest on Record

The Vicious Cycle of Foreclosures

If you have any articles to share please add them in the comments!  Also, let me know what you think of the articles I have added.  Did you find them useful, informative, surprising?

My recommendation is always going to be to get one, period.  You are making way too big of an investment to let $200-$500 stop from you from getting all the information you need about your new home.  Not convinced?  Let me tell you a story…

I recently had a buyer who wisely obtained a survey, and discovered that her property was encroaching on three other properties!  Encroaching is the word we use to basically indicate there is a survey issue, and you are over the line.  Fortunately, all parties were able to work things out and it was not a big deal.  What if she hadn’t discovered this until she decided to sell in a few years, and one of her neighbors did in fact have a problem?  It could have cost her a lot of money to correct it, whereas, in this instance the seller had to pay to have the encroachments remedied.

Still not convinced?  Here are some instances that are a red flags to do a survey:

A fence: often homeowners guess as to where the line is when they build them.  Going to build one?  Get a survey first!

Other items that may have been added after the house was built: a driveway, a storage building, a play-set, etc.

How about items not associated with the property you are buying, but the adjoining property?  Do they have any of those things?  They could be encroaching on the property you are about to purchase.

Again, I will always recommend you get a survey.  I’d rather you spend the money now, and have the seller correct any issues, rather than you having to spend a whole lot more down the line to correct an undiscovered issue, because you were saving some money on a survey.

You can enjoy the changing of the leaves almost anywhere in NC, but it doesn’t get much better than the Blue Ridge Parkway!  Be sure to take a picnic, and enjoy one of the many trails and scenic views.

One of my sons favorite things to do with his Grandpa is to go fishing. Try one of the many fishing holes in NC.  You can enjoy the leaves while you cast!

Not many folks outside of our great state know that we have over 100 wineries!  There are a lot of great fall events at the wineries, and some beautiful views-yet another great way to see the fall colors.

5 Way Appraisals Are Sinking Real Estate Deals

Houses Under Water: The Tide is About to Rise

The Garage Can Help Sell Your Home

Energy Tax Credit Facts

If you have any articles to share please add them in the comments!  Also, let me know what you think of the articles I have added.  Did you find them useful, informative, surprising?

There were 14 sales in the last 6 months between $1,050,000 and $2,950,000.

The previous 6 months there were 9 sales between $1,013,000 and $1,075,000.

The same time frame in 2010 there were 10 sales between $1,100,000 and $1,625,000.

So, the numbers don’t lie…there have been definite improvements in the luxury price point in number of sales and sales price.  This is good news, are you sensing a “BUT” in here?

In 2005 in this same time frame there were 22 sales between $1,001,659 and $5,912.500.

I know, way to be a Debbie Downer Heather.  I only give you this information because I love you my readers.

While we are seeing improvements in the luxury market, I don’t think it is fair to anyone to call it a comeback.  There are a lot of sellers out there in the luxury market that are getting their hopes up.  It is still a very difficult market given the very small pool of buyers in this price range right now.

It has been predicted that we will never see sales the way we did in 2005, so as LL COOL J would say, “Don’t call it a come back.”  Let’s instead call it a very welcome improvement that we hope to see more of!

154 Meadow Bluff, Reidsville  NC

100% USDA financing eligible

Home Warranty included

Special touches throughout this one level home make every day feel special:

Cathedral ceilings

Palladium windows

Rounded walls

Crown molding

Wainscoting

Tray ceilings

Recessed lighting

Lots of hardwood floors

And more!

Privacy means you can enjoy your windows and lots of natural light.

Master bath is your spa like retreat with a double sink vanity, separate shower and jetted tub.

Close to golf course, new grocery store and other conveniences.

Why? Well, if prices have continued to fall that means that new listing, you know your competition up the street, if it was priced based on the most recent comparables (and it should have been) than it is likely going to be priced less than yours.  You see, your house isn’t worth today what it was 6 months ago.

Make sure your house is priced today for what it is worth today, what the comparables show.  If you Realtor hasn’t given you an updated CMA in the last 6 months, let them know you want one.  When you get it, don’t ignore the information!  If it shows you need to reduce $10,000 to be in line with today’s values…then do it, or you need to take your house off the market if you can’t bear to go that low.

These changes meant some changes to other things we utilize such as the MLS (Multiple Listing Service), and in the Triad many of us use Listing Book as well.

Prior to this change I had a lot of clients ask me about what Pending and Pending AB meant when they saw that in Listing Book.  You will also now see Due Diligence in Listing Book.

If a home is marked as “Due Diligence” it means that they are still within the time frame of the contract when the buyer is doing all of her research about the home, such as inspections.  If it states the home is Pending then it is after the due diligence period.  An important thing to note about the difference in these two time frames is that a contract is more likely to fall apart during the due diligence period, so if you see a home you like, just keep an eye on it during this time.  If the home shows as pending it is more likely the home will actually close.

Let’s use the town of Summerfield as an example.

In the last 6 months 77 homes sold in the town of Summerfield.  There are currently 159 homes on the market in Summerfield.

Source: Triad MLS, Actives in Summerfield for the date of 7/29/11, Solds in Summerfield for the last 6 months as of 7/29/11

Based on this calculation it appears Summerfield currently has enough homes on the market to last for over one year.  So, what is important about that?  If you don;t want your home to sit on the market for a year (or more) you need to price it right and have it in top condition.

I can calculate absorption rates for any city, neighborhood, zip code, etc.  If you would like information please contact me!

Greensboro residents seeking to make energy-efficient upgrades to their homes now have access to a federally funded program available through the City. The BetterBuildings program offers grant assistance and a rebate and incentive package to homeowners who make qualified upgrades that result in at least a 15 percent improvement in their home’s energy usage.

The $5 million program allows the City to assist homeowners in making their homes more comfortable and healthy while lowering energy usage and cost. The program qualifies homeowners for a grant that will provide $2,000 worth of energy upgrades designed to lower energy costs by 15 percent. Lower income homeowners can qualify for the grant program, while those with higher incomes can receive a rebate on their energy assessment and other incentives. Duke Energy will also make $425 rebates available to the first 100 homeowners who do not qualify for the grant.

The grant provides for basic upgrades, such as insulation improvements and heating and air duct sealing. All participants in the BetterBuildings program will receive a complimentary introduction package that includes CFL light bulbs, a programmable thermostat, and low-flow shower heads. Homes receiving energy-efficient upgrades will be ‘Home Performance with Energy Star’ certified. To learn more about the program or download an application, visit the City’s website or call 336-373-CITY (2489).

This is a loan that allows you to get money for renovations or repairs, and the best part is- all the work can be done after closing.  You can get money available for minor repairs such as carpet & paint… you can remodel bathrooms and kitchens… fix or upgrade air conditioning… add appliances, new windows and siding, a new roof – you can even add an addition.  For the most part, if it is attached to the home and adds value and is not considered a luxury item, you can pretty much use this loan to take care of it.

Since this is an FHA loan, this is for primary residences only  and will be subject to FHA’s loan limit (varies by county, Guilford County is $271,050).  FHA purchase loans require a 3.5% down payment, and on a 203(k) loan the 3.5% is based on the sale price + the cost of renovation.  Interest rates are slightly higher than a ‘normal’ FHA loan, but considerably less than construction loans.  They are based on a normal 30 year fixed term, so you won’t have to worry about payments increasing down the road.

Procedurally, you will need to make your wish list of all the items you want to repair or improve in the home.  Next a licensed and insured contractor will create a bid to do the work, and then you are ready to move forward. (Certain renovations may require a HUD inspector to review the contractor’s bid to ensure it is in line with FHA guidelines, most basic renovations do not require this).  It is a good idea to get your home inspection and all program required inspections completed (termite, well & septic) within the 1st week of going under contract so if there are any hidden defects to the home, they can be addressed by your contractor.

Don’t miss out on an opportunity just because the home is not quite the way you want it – fix it up and make it your own, you will be glad you did.

This guest post is provided by Mortgage Loan Originator, Scott Shubert of Benchmark.  Check him out at  www.TeamShubert.com

This can be handled a couple of different ways.  Sometimes I take my office with me, and can work from where I am, if needed.  I may not check my emails and voice mails as frequently, but once or twice a day to handle anything should be sufficient.  This is typically if I am somewhere closer to home, and that I know I will have good phone service and access to wireless interenet.

Now, what about the other way?  That is what you really need to know about.  I am about to leave the country on a mission trip in a remote village and there definitely will not be wi-fi.  Oh, and honestly, on a mission trip, real estate is the last thing I will be thinking about.  So, what happens to my business while I am away?

Part of planning a trip like this is planning for my business.  It is important that my clients know they will be taken care of without a single misstep in my absence.  I elicit the help of another agent in my office that is experienced, and I know treats his or her own clients well.  I make sure the agent that is filling in has my clients contact information, their files, and that they are aware of anything in particular that is going on.  I also make sure my clients have the other agent’s contact information.  Any Realtor I am working with will also have the contact info for the agent that is filling in, so if we are in the middle of negotiating a contract negotiations won’t stop and wait for me, and they don’t have to!

So, don’t fret over your Realtor’s travels….just make sure they have got you covered!

Our hotel, a brand new and super cool La Quinta, was only minutes from Tweetsie Railroad, which was nice because there was no rushing out of the hotel to get there early.  We were early enough though to park very close, so no long walk back to the car at the end of the day-score!  The tickets seemed a little pricey, $34 for me and $22 for my son, but hey-it is a one time thing, and a unique experience.

The park isn’t huge so it is easy to get around, and doesn’t wear you out like other theme parks, but there is still lots to see and do.  My son wasn’t interested in any of the shows, but of course wanted to go into all of the shops and check out the western stuff.  It is worth going into the stores and trying on some of the funny hats for some good picture opps.  There were no cute T shirts for me or the kiddo to commemorate our trip though.  Bummer, they could have had more of my money!

The highlight of the whole park is the train and the train ride.  It goes right through the center of the park at the front area, and it is huge, especially to the little ones.  There was no wait to get on at all, and plenty of seats.  It really is a nice ride through the cool mountains on a summer day.  They do a wild west style show that is cheeky and funny.  The cowboys ride the train with you and give all the kids a bullet to take home.

The rest of the rides were perfect for my son, who is not a huge thrill seeker, he likes little thrills, and that is exactly what they offer.  They even have the scrambler which is my absolute favorite (I am also a small thrill seeker).  Although, after eating the fare offered, a few rides had me calling for mercy and sending the kid to ride the next few on his own.  The nice thing is the park is small enough (and not crowded) that I could do that while watching him the whole time from a pic-nic table.

They also offer gem mining and a petting zoo, although my kiddo stuck to the rides.  We also did one of those funny pictures where they dressed my kid up like an old gun slinger.  It turned out great-he looks super tough!

The scariest part of the entire park: the chair lift.  I was half way up the mountain before I realized I have become very afraid of heights and had to beg my child not to move or talk.  Ridiculous! He thought this was hilarious of course and started rocking the chair lift.  Goober.

Tweetsie is a great place to go for a special day with your kids.  It is close enough to the Triad that you can make it a day trip, and like I said, it really doesn’t wear you out like the big parks.

One more post to go!  What do you like to do in the North Carolina Mountains?

I firmly believe that every American who comes within 100 miles of the Blue Ridge Parkway should go there.  If you want to experience nature, and the way it changes with the season, there just is no better place.  We were on the parkway for about an hour, but you could really enjoy it for days.  There are a lot of trails and camping.  I am definitely going to bring a pic nic next time!

We were headed to our next destination and fortunately the Blue Ridge Parkway was the best way to get there.  I explained to my son that there are no commercial vehicles allowed, so the parkway is quieter and more enjoyable, and maybe even safer.  There are also no signs allowed except for the ones that point out scenic overlooks, etc. so you have an unblemished view of the beautiful scenery.

We were driving at about 5 or 6, so the sun was still up but the air was getting cooler.  We got out at several overlooks, and were glad that we had our jackets-even in June! My son marveled at how beautiful the mountains were, and said that he wished we could live in one!  They truly are breath taking.

Along the way we saw two deer eating on the side of the road.  The were not afraid of our car, so they didn’t stop enjoying their dinner.  There wasn’t a car behind me, so I stopped so we could watch the deer for a few minutes.  That was really neat!

I may even venture to the Blue Ridge this fall to see the leaves in their glory.  I have heard it get’s pretty busy on the Parkway, because North Carolina has some beautiful falls, with vibrant colors.  If you have been on the parkway in the fall, let me know what your experience was like.

After we got off the blue ridge we had another fun attraction waiting for us, but you’ll have to wait for the next post about that!

There was hardly anyone there with it being the middle of the week, so we got a tour all to ourselves.  The tour guide was informative, funny, and tried to engage my 7 year old in conversation as much as he could.

The caverns are one of only two places in the world that you can truly be without light.  You are after all in the middle of the inside of a mountain.  It is 52 degrees all the time inside the caverns, and thankfully we knew this and brought jackets.  At one point they turned off all the lights so we could experience what the total darkness was like.  Pretty spooky!  People used to hide out in those caverns, but I can’t  imagine!

There are some incredible and ancient rock formations with many different colors.  They had named a lot of the rocks for what they looked like, and even had us make up our own names for some of them-my son loved that!

There is a creek that runs through the inside with some fish in it.  We squeezed through a tight walkway over a metal bridge where you could see the lower level of the cavern, which is a pool that is so still and deep you would think it was glass.

My son wants to go back when the bats are there-lucky me!

Our next leg in this journey took us to the Blue Ridge Parkway….to be continued…

8308 Quail Creek, Colfax NC

• 4 bedrooms, 3 and a half baths

• Third floor suite with its own full bath, raised ceilings, large closets, tons of storage, and a reading bench

• Master suite has tray ceiling, hardwood floors, and spa like bath with whirlpool tub

• Eat-in Kitchen has granite countertops with lots of counter space and storage, huge pantry

• New stainless steel appliances

• Upgraded natural cherry cabinets give the kitchen a rich and warm feel

• Hardwoods throughout downstairs

• Formal Dining room

• 9’ ceilings with beautiful crown molding

• Level lot with 1.37 acres

• Large 2 car garage