How to Obtain a Mortgage

Chances are, if you are a first-time home buyer, you will most likely need to apply for a mortgage. In addition to finding the right mortgage, it is also important that you find a lender who will provide an interest rate and closing costs that won’t break the bank. Of course, it is difficult to have the perfect combination of all of these factors, but knowing how to obtain a mortgage and understanding your grant eligibility could help you save thousands of dollars in the long-term. We lay out some of the best strategies in securing a great mortgage deal.

What are the steps involved in obtaining a mortgage?

Find a Lender and Get Pre-Approved for a Mortgage

There is a difference between getting pre-qualified and

Real Estate Statistics for Home Buyers and Sellers

Home Buyer Statistics

First-Time Home Buyers made up 34% of all home purchases, with a median age of 32 years old and a median household income of $75,000.

Repeat Home Buyers made up 66% of all home purchases, with a median age of 54 years old and a median household income of $97,000.

The typical home purchased was 1,870 square feet in size and was built in 1991 with an average of three bedrooms and two bathrooms.

Among those who financed a home, the average was a total of 90% of the home's value.

87% of buyers purchased a home through a Real Estate Agent a percentage that has steadily increased from 60% in 2001.

89% of buyers who purchased a home would use their Real Estate

101 Real Estate Agent Tax Deductions

There are a lot of tax deductions Real Estate Agents are not using as tax write-offs. It's important to remember that anything you spend money on for your business as a Real Estate Agent can potentially be used as a tax write-off. Tax laws change often, so whether you're doing your own taxes or using a Certified Public Accountant you'll want to ensure you're using the correct write-offs. 

Recently, we put together an article on how much money Real Estate Agents make and decided to add to that resource with information on Real Estate Agent Tax Deductions!

We put together this checklist or cheat-sheet to help Real Estate Agents with their Tax Deductions. 

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What are the Best Wake Forest Neighborhoods?

Wake Forest is a town located northeast of Raleigh and has been exploding with growth. One of the best parts of living in Wake Forest is the downtown area filled with local shops, restaurants, breweries and a small town charm that is sure to delight you. 

We have helped people a number of people buy and sell homes in Wake Forest and are happy to help you as well. Without further ado, let's jump into the information you're looking for, the town's best spots to live!

 Hasentree

Where world-class amenities meet small-town charm, Hasntree is one of the more modern neighborhoods in Wake Forest. With a country club as it's backbone and amenities for everyone, it's a place the whole family will

Real Estate Investing

Ninety Percent of all millionaires become so through owning real estate. More money has been made in real estate than all industrial investments combined. The wise young man or wage earner of today invests his money in real estate. - Andrew Carnegie 

In the video interview to the right (jump to the 1:30 mark) you'll learn more about why I am in real estate, and that's important for you to understand before we begin:

Helping other people obtain a financial freedom is the reason I became a Realtor, and while many may assume my goal is to build a Real Estate Company, it's actually to build a Real Estate Company, that gives me the leverage necessary, to invest back in Real Estate. Raleigh, NC is the place I chose to build

Buying a House in Raleigh, NC? What you Must Consider:

If you're buying a home in Raleigh, NC there are things you must consider BEFORE you start searching homes for sale online.

One of the largest reasons some buyers walk away from a home purchase feeling remorseful is because they don't consider everything about purchasing real estate before they jump into it. There are common buyer mistakes we address with all of our buyers upfront so they have a highly successful transaction. One thing that many folks don't want to do is put in the upfront work, studying, and preparation that goes into buying a house. You need to prioritize your needs, and your wants - and if you have a partner you need to communicate together on everything. Maybe one

Zillow Home Values

How can you find your DREAM Home if you can't see it?

If you're searching for home value information the first person you should ask is a top local Real Estate Agent, and the last place you should check is Zillow.

As of today, Zillow is the most widely used real estate website in the United States. It's an awesome experience for users because the website behaves beautifully. It's fast, it's clean, and it gives great functionality that other websites don't. It also appears that they have future plans to operate with boots on the ground.

However, News Corp has other plans for the Real Estate Marketing Giant...

Let's start with a little of the background drama before we hop into the details. News Corp owns

Does Selling Your Home With a Realtor® Net You More Money?

Selling your home For Sale By Owner (FSBO as it’s referred to in the Real Estate world) makes a lot of sense for homeowners on the surface. It’s an opportunity to save on the commission you’d normally pay a Realtor® to sell your home. It’s the number one reason someone sells their home For Sale By Owner, to save on the commission. By saving on the commission, the data shows you’re losing on the net:

You Net More Money When You Use A Realtor®, Numbers Don’t Lie:

For Sale By Owner (FSBO) Statistics

It’s interesting why the founder of Craigslist, Craig Newmark, openly says he loves his Realtor®, right? Unless of course his Realtor® was netting him more money than he could by