9 Things to Know BEFORE Your Home Appraisal

Home appraisals. They can keep buyers up at night after going under contract on a home. With competitive bidding wars and home selling for large percentages over the asking price, it's no wonder everyone is concerned about the home appraisal.

Here’s what you want to know about your home appraisal and the role it plays when buying a home. 

After spending several weeks touring homes throughout Raleigh, you have finally found the home of your dreams. The seller accepts your offer and you are officially under contract and the home will be marked contingent. Your mortgage lender informs you of the next step in the process: the home appraisal. While the process may sound intimidating, there is no reason

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 for homes for sale in Raleigh.

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.

7 Tips for Downsizing Your Home

Bigger is not always better. Sometimes, less really is more. You may be feeling the need to downsize your home, which can happen for many different reasons. Real estate agents often hear from their clients that they are looking to downsize to save money or simply because their house has too much space and no longer fits their needs. Downsizing is one of the many reasons people use our website to search homes for sale in Raleigh. Clients want to move into something smaller and sell the larger home they currently live in. Since several different reasons can lead you to the decision to downsize your home, let’s take a look at seven steps that you can take to accomplish this task efficiently. 

7 Tips to Downsize

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 actually losing on the net and that a Real Estate Agent is worth their commission. Here's the data:

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®,

7 Home Improvement Projects That Add Value to a Home

Home improvement projects are one of the best ways to add value to a home. Every year, Americans spend more than $400 billion on repairing and renovating their residential homes. Not all home improvement projects will add value though so place close attention to the ones that are likely to do so!

Whether you are looking to make upgrades for yourself and your family to enjoy or you are doing so before putting your house on the market, an important consideration is a return on investment. From curb appeal to kitchen remodels to the best flooring options, we are going to dive into all the ways you can add value to your home with home improvement projects!

So, which home improvement project can

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.

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

Advertising

• Billboard
• Brochures/Flyers
• Business Cards
• Copy Editor Fees
• Direct Mail
• Email Marketing/Newsletters
• Graphic Designer Fees
• Internet Ads (Facebook, Google, Etc)
• Leads/Mailing Lists

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 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 enjoy.

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