Raleigh Real Estate Video Blog with Greg Ismay

You’re Not Getting Any Younger—Multigen Living Can Save Your Money and Health

2018-05-29T11:30:00.000-07:00

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Over the past several years, I’ve been seeing a trend where buyers look for homes that will accommodate multiple generations—grandparents, parents, kids, and grandkids.

My gut tells me that there is a demographic shift occurring here, where:

Grandparents or empty-nesters are becoming more inclined to live with people of other generations, and/or:
Younger generations are more inclined to have their parents or grandparents living with them.

Since we’re all living longer, the older generations might feel the pressure of housing costs. Secondly, as people try to downsize in today’s marketplace, it’s important to know that buying a smaller home doesn’t always mean that the costs are lower. Typically people are looking for different floor plans, possibly those with main-level living, and those properties can be more costly.

Conversely for the younger generation, having the parents or grandparents around could be helpful in regards to caring for children. I also think that this younger generation might worry for their parents as they slow down with age; as they lose mobility and develop medical issues, they need more attention, and their younger counterparts want to be there to ensure they’re safe and comfortable.

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Since we’re all living longer, the older generations might feel the pressure on housing costs.

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Putting these factors together, many people have asked about what opportunities there are where they can bring the whole family together. Some big builders are starting to build what they call multigenerational plans in which they’ve accommodated into the floor plan a space where the parents and grandparents can have their own space, alongside the general or main living areas with the rest of the family.

In order to accommodate multiple generations, they might move, eliminate, or add some walls. They might make the basement a fully furnished space (with a kitchen and bathroom) with a separate entrance from the main door to foster privacy for the occupants. Additionally, if the property is large enough, then a guest house could be considered.

If you have any questions about accommodating multigenerational living, feel free to reach out to me. I’d be happy to help and advise you however I can.

Keep Radon Out of Your Home and Keep Your Family Safe

2018-04-17T07:46:00.000-07:00

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Today I’m joined by Randy Paquette of First Choice Radon to discuss what you can do to prevent radon from seeping into your home.

As a gas, radon is the leading cause of lung cancer in the U.S. among non-smokers. It also kills more people annually than breast cancer, colon cancer, and prostate cancer combined.

The good news is, radon is easy to test for, and you can do it with several different monitors. Randy suggests that you test for radon annually, even if you have a radon system already installed in your house. If you don't have access to professional radon testing, you can use a home kit. Home kits take about 48 hours. After the test is done, you send the kit to a lab, which then sends you back your results.

If your numbers come back a little high, you should have a professional then test your home so you know exactly what the levels are. Once you know what the levels are, the next step is to mitigate them. If you have a basement or a slab home, they create a vacuum under your home using a sub-slab system (or “fan system” as some call it), which sucks the radon out before it can get inside.

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In the long run, the cost of protecting your family from radon is worth the investment.

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If you have a crawl space home, this process takes a little more work, so the cost is a little different. Basement and slab-home mitigations cost about $1,300, but the system itself should last anywhere between 10 to 30 years, so the annual cost is negligible. It only costs about $2 per month to operate the system, which is also a negligible amount.

A single test costs roughly $150. North Carolina is what’s referred to as a “red state,” meaning homes here typically have higher levels of radon in them, so $150 is a sensible investment to protect your family from something as potentially dangerous as radon is.

If you have any more questions about radon or radon testing or you have any other real estate needs I can assist you with, don’t hesitate to reach out to me. I’d love to help you.

What Buyers and Sellers Must Know About Our Spring Market

2018-04-04T11:19:00.000-07:00

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The month of March has been cold and dreary here in the Raleigh area. So, when I say that it’s time to get ready for the spring market, many people think, “Spring market? It’s still winter!”

However, despite the cold, spring has definitely arrived. The spring real estate market has sprung. I recently looked at all homes listed on our MLS in the last 30 days, and I found that 62% of those properties are already under contract.

This tells us that the market is at a blistering pace. So, today I’d like to bring you some tips on how to prepare if you plan to buy or sell in our spring or summer market.

Let’s start by talking about buyers. If you’re thinking of making a home purchase this year, I recommend that you do so sooner rather than later. Interest rates are sliding up a little bit and many predict this trend will continue into the future. So, make your move as soon as you can.

The first step to take as a buyer is to get with a good lender and get pre-approved. This will give you a good starting place for your home search. Once you’ve met with a trusted local lender, you’ll need to find a good agent. The right agent will not only be able to help you strategize your home search, but they will also be able to help you find properties that haven’t come to the market yet. Additionally, a good agent will help you make faster decisions, which will be beneficial in our fast-paced market.

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Listings are moving quickly, but more inventory will be coming to our market soon.

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As for sellers, you may want to wait until the summer to make your move. This is especially the case if you have children since they will be out of school during this time and more family-style homes tend to be listed at this time of year. That said, now is the best time to focus on getting your home ready for the market. That way when it comes time to list, you will be well-prepared. Listings are moving quickly, but more inventory will be coming to our market soon.

If you have any other questions or would like more information, feel free to give me a call or send me an email. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

You Never Know What Issues a Home Might Have

2018-03-08T10:51:00.000-08:00

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Let’s talk about home inspections.

Beyond a general home inspection, there are several specific inspections buyers may choose to conduct while under contract.

Radon inspections, termite inspections, and others are all options, depending on the features of the property and the buyer’s concerns.

If, during a general inspection, the home inspector finds fault with any of the features they examine, additional inspections may be ordered to further evaluate the specific issue. When specific issues are uncovered, it can be beneficial to have a specialized expert take a closer look.

Even in the case of new construction homes, the issues an inspection can uncover will more than justify the cost of the process. A home inspection usually costs around $500, with additional inspections costing between $100 and $150.

Some buyers wonder why they can’t just inspect the home on their own. Technically this is an option, but if the buyer plans to use the inspection report to pursue negotiations with the seller, a licensed inspector is best.

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When specific issues are uncovered, it can be beneficial to have a specialized expert take a closer look.

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It isn’t only buyers who can order a home inspection. Many sellers have asked me recently if they should order one before listing their property. This isn’t always advisable, but if a home is more than 10 years old, there are absolutely some advantages to doing so.

When a seller orders an inspection before listing, they can get issues addressed ahead of time. It also gives them more leverage in terms of marketing the home.

These are just a few key points on what you need to know about home inspections. If you have any other questions or would like more information, feel free to give me a call or send me an email. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

A Look Back at the 2017 Market and a Glimpse Ahead to 2018

2018-02-16T12:55:00.000-08:00

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Sales figures are in for the Triangle MLS, and there are some really good numbers to report, both for the month of December and the entirety of 2017. Additionally, we’re going to take a look at some predictions for the 2018 market.

In December of 2017, inventory levels were down 5% again versus 2016. A whopping 18% of the listings that sold in December were above list price. Fifty-three percent of resale homes went pending or actually closed. That is a really big number.

When we look at 2017 as a whole, it was a banner year. There were six records that were broken during the year, giving us a real sense of what was going on in the marketplace:

There were 896,000 annual showings.
Annual pending sales were nearly 40,000.
There were 39,436 closes in 2017.
The average price for home sales was $287,800.
The median price was $250,00.
The average days on market was an astoundingly low 35 days.

As far as our predictions for this year, the Triangle-area forecast is very strong. Since our employment forecast is also strong, that should indicate a robust real estate sales market for the coming year.

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When we look at 2017 as a whole, it was a banner year.

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It appears as though resale listings are going to continue to be low, and new construction inventories are way up.

One thing that people have on their minds is the new tax reform bill. As far as I can tell, it doesn’t look as though things will be affected too much. The National Association of Realtors predicted that pricing would be affected in a downward fashion due to the tax bill, but I’m not seeing it yet; we’ll just have to see what happens.

If you have any questions about what happened in the 2017 market or the outlook on 2018, feel free to reach out to us.

5 Ways to Make Your 2018 Move as Smooth as Possible

2018-01-31T08:02:00.000-08:00

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If you are thinking about buying a house in the 2018 spring market, there are a number of things you can do to put yourself in a strong position when getting ready to make your move.

Here are a few pointers on how to get ahead of things if you plan on making a move in the coming year:

1. Check your credit score. Most people think that they’re in good shape, but the fact is that there are some derogatories that can find their way onto your report. Those problems can take time to clean up, so make sure that you look at that ahead of time.

2. Start looking at homes and neighborhoods. Consider things that the home will deliver for you. If you have a growing family, you may need more space. If you are downsizing, you may need a master bedroom on the main level. Start looking around and make a preliminary checklist.

3. Keep tabs on interest rates. Shop for a lender, too. You need to get pre-approved, and it’s better to do that sooner rather than later.

4. If you own your home, you need to put a plan together to get maximum value from your home sale. This includes things like staging, repairs, or making some upgrades to make your home more attractive to potential buyers. Get an idea of what you can net from the sale and put that into the financing for your next home.

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Get approved sooner rather than later.

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Do you want to get the equity out of your current home first and move into temporary housing while you shop for your next home? Or do you want to go for a same-day closing on both properties? Each of these strategies has its own set of advantages and disadvantages, so let me know if you have any questions.

5. Interview potential real estate brokers. Find one who can provide the best service and help you find a home or get the maximum value for your current home.

As always, if you have any questions, just give me a call or send me an email. I would be happy to help you.

Have You Set Any Goals for the New Year?

2018-01-02T10:34:00.000-08:00

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Goals—now that we’re in the new year, what are your goals? Do you have them written down? Are you reviewing them on a regular basis? If not, here are some things that you may want to consider that may help you set, stick to, and achieve your goals.

Most anything you read about goal-setting states that if you write your goals down, you’re 80% more likely to achieve them. For years, I had goals that I kept in my head but never wrote down. I don’t think I was nearly as effective in achieving them.

Some authors on goal-setting even suggest that it’s a good idea to review your goals daily, first thing in the morning when you wake up and as the last thing you do before you go to bed at night. That may seem excessive for some, but the whole point to that conversation is to make sure that once you get your goals written down, you don’t let 12 months pass before you review them again. You should choose whatever is going to be a good process for you to be checking on your own goals.

I’d like to share a tool I use which I’ve found helpful in terms of setting a goal, as well as placing underpinnings beneath that goal that will help you review your progress and overall process.

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If you write your goals down, you’re 80% more likely to achieve them.

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Suppose my goal is to lose 10 pounds. This time of year, it’s always especially difficult with the number of holiday dinners that we’re exposed to. To help with that goal, I’ve drafted a “1-3-5” form. To make one for yourself, you should:

Write one goal at the top of the form.
Devise three strategies that will help you achieve those goals. Write them laterally beneath your goal.
For each strategy, come up with five different tactics that you can measure and develop to meet your goal. Write those in the columns beneath each strategy.

For losing 10 pounds, my three strategies are to generally improve my diet, lift weights and work out three days a week, and to do cardio exercises two days of the week. To illustrate the purpose of the 1-3-5 form, I’ve created five tactics for eating better:

Taking a protein shake once a day.
Cutting soda from my diet.
Cutting fast food from my diet.
No dessert.
Stop eating past 6 p.m.

With this, I’m able to develop not only a goal, but put some underpinnings on it as well. I can check this form on a daily basis to hold myself accountable for achieving my goal.

If you have any questions about goal-setting, please reach out to me. I’d love to hear some of your goals and strategies for achieving them.

What the Ismay Realty Group Is Thankful for This Year

2017-12-18T13:35:00.001-08:00

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As we approach the end of the year and prepare for 2018, it’s a good time to reflect on the blessings we’ve seen in 2017. I recently learned that when you write down the things you’re grateful for, a chemical reaction occurs in your brain which leads to feelings of joy.

This is a proven fact, so why not give it a try? If you’d like to let me know what you are grateful for this year, get in touch. I’d love to hear from you.

Here at the Ismay Realty Group, we’re grateful for a few things. First of all, we’re grateful for our office manager, Robyn. Robyn has been with us a long time, and despite some medical hardships this year, she has been recovering well. She’s still receiving some treatments, but is getting stronger all the time.

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We’re so grateful for all of you.

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The second thing we’re grateful for is all of you: our clients. We appreciate everyone who has trusted their transaction to us over this past year.

We’re also thankful for all of the great vendors we work with. We know people who specialize in flooring, paint, tax preparation, and more. So, if you ever need a recommendation, we’ve got you covered.

Another thing we’re grateful for is our area. Between our great real estate and job markets, our amazing quality of life, and our fantastic economy, our team is very happy to live here.

I hope your holiday season is happy and safe. I’ll see you next year.

If you have any real estate questions, feel free to give me a call or send me an email. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Don't Let This Ruin Your Home Sale

2017-11-30T07:28:00.000-08:00

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If you are preparing your home for the market, you need to check on your crawl space.

You may say, “Why would I even want to think about the crawl space? I don’t want to go look at it. There are spiders down there!”

I completely understand where you are coming from. Like the saying goes: Out of sight, out of mind. However, we’ve had several clients experience delays and costly surprises during their transactions thanks to their crawl space. These issues could have been avoided with some preparation up front.

When you look at your crawl space, there are a few things to watch out for.

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Avoid costly repairs and delays by checking out the crawl space up front.

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1. The insulation is hanging down. If you see this, that could mean that moisture levels have risen above the acceptable level. If that’s the case, you should also look for small leaks in any pipes and get those taken care of. Check for water around the foundation as well. It could be that your gutters are clogged, that your downspouts aren’t draining properly, or that you need extensions for your downspouts.

2. Is your vapor barrier in good condition? The vapor barrier should not be torn. Make sure that it is spread out evenly and that it covers the majority of the dirt floor in the crawl space.

3. Termite bond. If you have a company that checks your property, they will do moisture readings in the crawl space. A lack of moisture helps prevent termites. If you don’t have a termite bond, it might be worth your while to get a termite inspection before you put your home on the market.

These are just a few things you can do to avoid any delays or costly repairs once you get your home on the market and under contract.

If you have any other questions about crawl space maintenance or preparing your home for the market, just give me a call or send me an email. I would be happy to help you!

10 Reasons to Consider Selling During the Holiday Season

2017-11-08T09:00:00.001-08:00

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Although spring is traditionally considered the best time to sell a home, today I’m excited to share the top 10 reasons you should consider listing in the next few months before the spring market hits.

10. You will have the opportunity to be a non-contingent buyer in the spring. In the spring, there are more homes available on the market. By listing now, you can sell high and buy low in the spring.

9. You can restrict showings during the holidays. They don’t have to upset your family time.

8. January is when employees start new jobs. Since transfer employees can’t wait until spring to buy, you’ll need to be on the market at the end of the year to capture those buyers.

7. People are looking to buy for tax reasons.

6. People have more time to look for homes. Because people often take off work during the holidays, they will be freer to spend time searching the market than other times of the year.

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Less competition on the market means more eyes on your property.

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5. Buyers are more emotional. During the holidays, people become sentimental and may be more likely to pay a higher price.

4. Houses show better when they are decorated for the holidays. Everyone loves seasonal decor, so homes at this time of year are more attractive.

3. Supply will dramatically increase as the spring market ramps up in January. This will lead to less demand, and less demand means less money in your pocket.

2. Serious buyers have fewer options. During fall and winter months, there is less competition on the market. This puts your listing at an advantage.

1. People who look for homes at this time of year are much more serious about buying.

If you have any other questions or would like more information about selling your home this time of year, feel free to give me a call or send me an email. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

4 Out-of-Pocket Costs Homebuyers Should Expect

2017-10-09T09:42:00.000-07:00

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When buying a home, there are four out-of-pocket expenses that you should be prepared to pay:

1. Your due diligence deposit. Our purchase contract was revised a few years ago and now stipulates that the buyer make a non-refundable due diligence deposit to the seller. This deposit does credit back to the transaction as long as you make it to the closing table. The due diligence deposits can range anywhere from $500 to several thousand dollars, depending on the price of the property and the competitive pressure against the property.

2. The earnest money deposit. This is another deposit from the buyer to the seller, in addition to the due diligence deposit. Like the due diligence deposit, the earnest money deposit credits back to the transaction at closing. The earnest money deposit can range from $1,000 to several thousand dollars, again depending on the price of the property and the amount of pressure on the property at the time of contract.

3. Home inspections. A general inspection, termite inspection, and radon inspection are the big three that you’ll want to order. Home inspections range from $700 to $800 overall. That said, there may be additional inspections required based on what the initial inspections find. If the property has a well or septic tank, those require their own inspections. Generally, though, expect to pay $700 to $800. Those expenses can be moved to the settlement statement, but it’s good to know that amount up front for planning purposes.

4. Other fees and service costs. Depending on your lender, you will have to pay some costs for the appraisal process, application fee, and more. These other services usually cost a few hundred dollars.

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The earnest money deposit credits back to the transaction at closing.

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These are the four main costs that you should plan for when buying a home.

If you have any other questions about the home buying process or our current real estate market, just give me a call or send me an email. I would be happy to help you!

Accessing Our Newsletter Just Got Easier

2017-09-21T09:31:00.000-07:00

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I was just talking recently with a past client, Lori, who had a great idea. As you may know, we do have a newsletter available.

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Now we have archives of our past and current newsletters on the blog.

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This newsletter contains information on the market, vendors, local happenings, and success stories as well.

This brings me to Lori’s great idea. It all started when she realized she’d gone to work without bringing along our newsletter.

For this reason, she suggested that we find a way to put copies of our newsletter up on our blog.

So, my team and I made it happen. Now we have archives of our past and current newsletters on the blog.

For those of you who don’t receive our newsletter, please let me know and I’ll get you on the list.

If you have any great ideas like this one or a question you’d like to see in our video, we’d love to hear it.

If you have any other questions or would like more information, feel free to give me a call or send me an email. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

How Can an Agent Help You With a New Construction Purchase?

2017-08-31T06:12:00.002-07:00

Why is being a represented buyer so important to the purchase of a new construction home? There are more reasons than you may think.

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If you have been considering purchasing a new home, it’s absolutely vital that you hire an agent to represent you.

Even if you are not in the market for a new home at the moment, this information may still be pertinent to you in the future.

As of late, many people have begun to shift the focus of their home search from resale properties to new construction. In the majority of popular price ranges in 2017, in fact, one in every three homes sold is a new construction.

New construction purchases are becoming more and more popular as time goes on.

What does all of this mean in terms of you hiring your own agent?

First of all, the builder rep, or on-site agent, has a fiduciary responsibility to the seller. An on-site agent is there with the express purpose of getting the best deal for the seller—they are simply not looking out for your best interests.

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Having an extra set of eyes and ears on the building process will be extremely helpful.

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Only your own agent will truly work toward getting you the best deal. Nevertheless, one of the primary reasons people tend to believe they should forego representation is cost.

The cost of hiring an agent, however, is massively inconsequential compared to the money, opportunity, and peace of mind you gain from professional representation in a real estate transaction. As a matter of fact, the on-site agent, as well, would prefer you have representation.

Working directly with another agent will not only help you but also everyone involved, to achieve as smooth a deal as possible.

Another factor to consider in terms of cost is that add-ons, like fencing, could push the price of the property above what it was listed at. Even though you may be paying a slightly higher price, working with an agent will still greatly aid you in obtaining the greatest value possible.

But, financial benefits are not all you gain from being represented. Having an extra set of eyes and ears on the building process will be extremely helpful in making sure that you are protected.

If you have any other questions or would like more information, feel free to give me a call or send me an email. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Have You Been to Some of These Great Venues in Raleigh?

2017-08-10T16:06:00.000-07:00

Are you looking for something fun and different to do here in Raleigh? I have a list of great venues and activities for you today.

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There are a lot of great things to do in our area, so if you get an itch to go out, here are a few different places for you to check out:

First, make sure to visit the Koka Booth Ampitheatre for weekly movies on the lawn and weekly concerts, which include country music, bluegrass, and rock and roll. They even host the North Carolina symphony on occasion.

The art museum also features weekly movies on the lawn and concerts.

Speaking of music, North Hills has its annual summer beach series going on right now; you can check that out each Thursday night. In the fall, they will switch over to their tribute band series on Friday nights.

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Don’t miss Raleigh Restaurant Week—explore downtown and enjoy some great food!

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If you are looking for some major acts, look no further than the Walnut Creek Amphitheatre. Upcoming concerts include Foreigner, John Mayer, Luke Bryan, Green Day, and more.

If you’ve been waiting for a reason to check out downtown Raleigh, don’t miss Raleigh Restaurant Week from August 21st through the 27th. This is a great time to explore the downtown area and enjoy some great food.

We also have some great professional sports. From the Durham Bulls to the Carolina Mudcats, there is still plenty of baseball to see this year. Soon, hockey players will be ready to take the ice.

North Carolina is a college sports mecca, with Duke and North Carolina football teams getting ready to take the field. After that comes basketball. So, all throughout the year, we have some real quality sports teams to watch.

When it comes to art, culture, and museums, there are a lot of great venues to consider:

The UNC Arboretum
The UNC Playmakers Repertory Theatre Company
The Duke Art Museum
The North Carolina Museum of Art
The North Carolina Museum of Life and Science in Durham
The North Carolina History Museum
The Carolina Ballet
The North Carolina State Assembly Legislature
The Governor's Mansion

That is just a brief rundown of some very interesting venues and great places to go for inexpensive entertainment here in the area.

If you have any questions about what it’s like to live in Raleigh or would like to learn more about our local real estate market, just give me a call or send me an email. I would be happy to help you!

Want to See One of Our Newest Homes for Sale?

2017-06-21T13:37:00.000-07:00

Today we’re offering you a sneak peek of a beautiful ranch-style property coming on the market this Saturday.

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Follow along with me in the video above for a guided tour of the exterior of a gorgeous property we’re putting on the market this Saturday.

This is a custom-built home that was built for the developer of this particular neighborhood who also developed several other high-end neighborhoods in Wake Forest. We’re pricing this home to sell, so there will be a lot of demand for it. We’ll run open houses for it on both Saturday and Sunday, and our goal is to have it sold by Monday when the homeowner gets back from their beach trip.

So what does the outside of this single-story, ranch-style home have to offer?

Starting out front, a nice, big driveway circles all the way around the yard and affords a lot of space for parking. Since this home is located on the west side of US 1 in Wake Forest, this area isn’t as congested with traffic as what you would see on the east side. The lot this property sits on is well-treed, and the canopy of shade keeps things much cooler on a hot summer day.

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Come join us Saturday or Sunday for a closer look at this great property.

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As you can see, the current homeowner does his due diligence in terms of landscaping. He selected the home’s exterior color scheme so it would showcase the cedar shake roof, which was redone in 2008 and was recently inspected and serviced. If you’re not familiar with cedar shake roofing, it’s designed to last longer than asphalt shingles.

If you’re looking for single-level living, it’s tough to find a ranch-style home with all of the bedrooms on the same level. In this home, the master bedroom and the study are on one side, and the other bedrooms are on the other.

Rounding out the tour, the back of the home is bulwarked by a very generous deck that spans almost its entire length, and farther out in the backyard lies a scenic pond stocked with fish.

If you or someone you know is interested in this property, come join us this Saturday or Sunday or give us a call so we can schedule a private tour of the inside.

Frustrated With the Marketplace? We Have a Solution

2017-06-14T09:28:00.000-07:00

Our strategic home buying consultation will alleviate your frustration as a buyer and help you find the home of your dreams.

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We’ve been noticing a lot of frustration from buyers in the marketplace lately about the home search process. That’s too bad, because we believe this should be a joyful and fulfilling experience. With that in mind, we’ve cracked the code to help buyers get through the ambivalence and anxiety of the home search process with a strategic home buying consultation.

Look at it this way—there aren’t many important things in life you wouldn’t develop a strategy to address to ensure your success, right? Unfortunately, when addressing the home buying process, people oftentimes go online and start looking at properties in the marketplace without thinking about the strategy they’ll use to win in the marketplace.

Buying a home is the most expensive purchase many people will make in their lifetime, so it absolutely requires strategy and focus. This is where our strategic home buying consultation comes in.

The first step to this consultation is to understand the needs, wants, and desires of all parties involved in the process. Find out what they are and hit those targets. There may be some give and take, but doing that up front will prepare you to be more successful in the marketplace.

The second step is to figure out your motivation. When there’s a home that needs to be sold in order to purchase the perfect home—whether it’s a trade-up or trade-down home—there can be a conflict of motivation. Are you more interested in finding the perfect property to motivate you to actually move? If so, the danger there is once you find that perfect property, your current home isn’t ready to be marketed. If you’re more interested in getting your current home on the market, the danger there is once it’s under contract, you’ll have nowhere to go.

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Buying a home absolutely requires strategy and focus.

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Lastly, you have to know what you can afford. Many first-time homebuyers don’t know what they can afford or what mortgage loan products are available to them. Because of this, they wait until they can build up their down payment or credit score to where they think it should be without realizing they’re probably already qualified to purchase. The longer you wait, the more home prices and interest rates may rise. It might be more advantageous for you to move forward now.

The whole point of our strategic consultation is to determine whether the time is now for you to buy a home. You’d be surprised at what we can get accomplished in 60 minutes by sitting down with folks and developing a strategic plan. This will help you enjoy the process of finding your dream home.

If you have any questions about this process or you’re a homebuyer and it sounds like something that might interest you, don’t hesitate to reach out to us. We’d be happy to help you.

Important Changes in New Construction

2017-05-03T09:11:00.000-07:00

Today I want to share an observation that could affect you if you’re thinking about buying new construction.

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Recently I talked to an interesting young man who had an observation, rather than a question, that I would like to share with you today.

This young man is a commercial property builder, while his father builds residential homes. They have a company together that works all over the Triangle area and they have found that the labor force is tightening.

There is a lot of building going on, which means the competition for roofers, framers, drywall installers, and others is pretty steep.

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New construction homes could get more expensive in the near future to compensate for labor costs.

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With demand for these laborers so high and the supply so low, builders have already started building the extra cost of labor into the prices of commercial properties. Residential homes are expected to follow suit in the near future.

So, if you’ve been thinking about buying new construction, now might be better than later.

If you have any questions about buying new construction or if you have any other real estate questions, please feel free to give me a call or send me an email. I look forward to hearing from you!

Some Great Work Here From Taylor 1 Flooring

2017-04-20T09:27:00.000-07:00

Kevin Taylor and Taylor 1 Flooring are one of our most trusted vendors. We’re here today to show you some of his great work.

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I’m delighted to be joined today by Kevin Taylor of Taylor 1 Flooring to talk a little bit about how he’s helping some of our clients with their flooring needs. We also wanted to show off his handiwork.

Kevin has been in the flooring business for 27 years and his company services all areas of Raleigh. There are three projects in particular that he has done for us recently that really stand out.

The first is with a home that had carpet and old laminate wood throughout. He ended up tearing up the whole floor and replacing the carpet with a nice, hand-scraped oak wood that significantly improved the value of the home.

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Kevin has done a lot of great work for us.

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Next, we had a carpeted living room that the owner wanted to match to the wood in the kitchen and the entryway. Kevin was able to find a wood that was very close to the color and quality of the rest of the floor for a lower price.

Finally, a leaky bathroom meant Kevin had to tear up a shower and find the source of the leak. He did, sealed it, then installed a brand-new shower and bathtub.

These are just a few of the times where Kevin has really been able to help our clients out. If you have any questions for us about Taylor 1 Flooring or anything else, give us a call or send us an email and we’d be happy to answer it for you or refer you to someone who can.

What Do the February Numbers Tell Us?

2017-04-03T08:36:00.000-07:00

Today I want to give you a quick recap of our market for February 2017.

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Unfortunately, inventory for February of this year was down 8% compared to last year. The good news is that February inventory was actually up 4% from January. New listings were also up 7% compared to a year ago, which I think is an indication that we are getting the word out to sellers that now is a great time to sell.

Here’s a fun fact! In the month of February in 2017, 54% of all the inventory that was on the market went under contract. A good year in the past meant 20% to 25% of the inventory going under contract, so February was fantastic. We are really burning through inventory.

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We are really burning through inventory.

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This means prices are going up. All home sales were up 7% and resale homes were up 3%. New construction is hot right now, which is why all home sales are up a bit more than resale.

If you have any other questions about our market, or if you’re looking to buy or sell a home, please feel free to give me a call or send me an email. I look forward to hearing from you!

How Smart Technology Can Improve the Value of Your Home

2017-03-15T14:53:00.000-07:00

Having smart technology in your home can go a long way in improving its resale value and enticing homebuyers.

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What kind of smart technology are we seeing in homes these days?

The most popular additions is smart thermostats, and one of the major brands we see most often is Nest. This product learns your behavior and habits and adjusts your HVAC system accordingly. If you want it cool at night during the summertime and you forgot to turn the temperature down, it will remember and do it for you. If you leave your home for an extended period of time and forgot to adjust the thermostat, it will automatically recognize the fact that no one’s there and adjust itself.

We also see surveillance technology prevalent in many homes nowadays. This system primarily involves cameras installed in homes as an added protection for when homeowners travel or leave their families for an extended period of time. This equipment allows you to monitor what’s happening on your property from your smartphone.

Moving into the kitchen, there’s a lot of smart culinary technology we’re seeing pop up, such as the no-touch faucet, the smart refrigerator, and a Bluetooth thermometer that syncs to your phone.

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Smart culinary technology is making kitchen work easier and easier.

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With the no-touch faucet, you can activate water pressure by waving your hands in front of the faucet and rinsing them without ever having to touch anything. The smart refrigerator is programmed to remind you when you’re running low on food. The Bluetooth thermometer allows you to monitor your oven temperature without having to open the door.

The last thing I want to talk about is the whole house remote. This technology is pretty self-explanatory. It allows you to adjust audio, video, and lighting in multiple rooms in your house. It’s pretty cool stuff.

If you’re interested in what some of these gadgets and technologies can do for the long-term value of your home, feel free to reach out to me. I’d be happy to help.

Exploring the Impact a Little Paint Can Make on Your Home

2017-02-22T15:21:00.000-08:00

Painting is crucial in terms of improving the value of your home, and today I’ve brought in an expert to show you how.

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Whether you’re preparing your home for sale or just settling into a new home, a little painting can go a long way in terms of improving that home’s value.

With that in mind, today I’m joined by Roy Taylor of Roy Taylor Painting to demonstrate the impact paint can have on a home. They’ve been in business for five years, and they know all the tricks of the trade. In the video above, you can follow along as we roam through a home that was just worked on.

According to Roy, before you do any painting on the exterior of the home, you need to look it over and see if the surface is clean enough to paint. Before Roy’s team even starts a job, they usually pressure-wash everything first. The deck, especially, can get very dirty and be susceptible to mold that can cause rotting wood. As a part of their service, Roy’s team can replace any boards or siding that have sustained damage.

On the inside of your home, painting is a good, quick, and easy way to modernize the aesthetic of a room such as your kitchen. As far as that goes, Roy and his crew can customize your colors to match the rest of your decor in your house. As you can see in the video, they painted the cabinets of that home’s kitchen white to match with the gray color of the granite countertop.

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We take pride in referring vendors like Roy Taylor Painting.

”

I want to extend a special thanks to Roy for joining us and sharing his expertise. We take pride in the vendors that we refer, and Roy Taylor Painting exemplifies the same excellence we expect from ourselves in serving you. If you have more questions about the impact of painting in your home, you can call Roy at (919) 675 5705.

If you’re looking to make improvements to your home, please give us a call and we’ll set you up with one of our trusted vendors. We look forward to hearing from you!

We’re Seeing Great Numbers in the Triangle Market

2017-02-08T08:21:00.000-08:00

The numbers are in for Triangle real estate in 2016. They are up across the board, which is great news.

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The 2016 year-end numbers are in for the Triangle MLS.

Overall, we saw some great things happening in our market. Sales were up 10% over the previous year and amazingly, the number of listings was down a full 12% as well. We got more sales out of less inventory, which is a sign of a fantastic market. On top of that, showings were up 5% and at the highest level since 2007. That was the last peak in the market.

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We got more sales out of less inventory.

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The average prices were up as well, as you can imagine. They were up 5% across the board and 6% for resale homes specifically. A full 17% of homes, almost one in five, sold for above list price. Two-thirds of resale listings had a contract on them within 30 days of being on the market.

We had a great year in 2016 and, by every indication, 2017 should be another great one. The one thing we do see that could be a bit of a problem is the shortage of inventory in most price ranges. If you’re a homeowner considering selling your home, now could be a very good time to list your property, particularly if you’re looking to trade up to a larger home.

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to give us a call or send us an email. We look forward to hearing from you.

How the Market Is Favoring Generation X

2017-01-23T12:13:00.000-08:00

Baby boomers and millennials should be active in this year's market, but it’s Generation X that stands to benefit.

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If you’re a part of Generation X, now is a great time to trade up to your dream home for a few reasons.

The first is that the baby boomer generation is starting to sell their homes. They are in their early 50s to 70s and have started downsizing now that their families have grown and gone. This means there are nearly 80 million people giving up those Generation X dream homes.

So if you are a part of Generation X, meaning you’re in your early 30s to 50s, and you are looking for a bigger home for your family, there are only 50 million of your generation looking for homes for sale by 80 million baby boomers. Based on those numbers, now is a great time to jump in the market.

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Generation X stands to benefit immensely in this market.

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There is also good news for Generation X sellers as well. There are 75 million members of the millennial generation, whose ages range from early teens to early 30s. The older members of this group are rumored to be incredibly active this year in the market, making it a great time to sell your home.

If you are looking to trade up to a bigger home or if you have any real estate questions, please give me a call or send me an email. I look forward to hearing from you!

Meet John Riggle and J. Rig Wood Works

2017-01-09T07:33:00.000-08:00

We’re highlighting a great local business today. Come learn more about J. Rig Wood Works.

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We are going to talk about something a little different than real estate today. This is the first in a series of videos where we are featuring some of the fine folks we do business with. First up is John Riggle and J. Rig Wood Works.

John started his business as a hobby. He had some woodworking supplies in his garage, but one day his wife wanted him to redo some countertops. To make a long story short, some of the wood that he used for those countertops turned into a nice cutting board for his wife. After some neighbors saw it, he was making cutting boards for them too. Soon, word started to spread about John and his woodshop, and the rest is history.

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John even has a special engraving machine.

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Most of what John does is butcher block-style cutting boards. He buys rough lumber, cuts it into workable pieces, and glues them together in different patterns. After that, he lets it sit in a machine that glues the wood together for a full day, then it’s time to sand and finish the boards. He’s been able to get more and more great woodworking equipment over the years and always does a fantastic job.

Although cutting boards are his specialty, John has the ability to make a wide variety of wood products. He even has a special engraver that is perfect for putting company logos, sports teams, or personal messages on.

Thanks to John for joining us today. If you have any questions for him or if you’re looking to get some custom woodworking done, give him a call at (919)-435-8931 or visit his website here.

If you have any real estate needs, we are always here to help. Just give us a call or send us an email. We look forward to hearing from you.

Why We’re Thankful for You This Holiday Season

2016-12-19T14:44:00.000-08:00

Today, we're giving thanks for all the things that made 2016 great as we head toward the holiday season.

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Today I wanted to reach out briefly just to give you thanks for helping us make 2016 such a great year. These are the top five things we're grateful for from 2016:

All our great clients we had the privilege of representing this year. We thank you for your business!
Robyn's health. A year ago, Robyn wasn't healthy, so we thank the surgeons, doctors, nurses, and staff at WakeMed who brought her back to her awesome self.
Our vendors and contractors that we refer. When clients and friends have issues, we refer these folks in good faith. They always deliver!
Our families and friends. This one goes without saying!
Looking forward to next year. We can't wait for 2017 and the great year we're planning.

I hope you and your loved ones have a happy holiday season. We look forward to seeing you next year!