Home Design Trends in 2017

Now that we’ve bid adieu to 2016, the New Year brings with it exciting possibilities that encompass many spheres of our life. When it comes to home decor and interior design, 2017 promises to be a year that will make people look beyond the obvious color palettes and the “oh so!” style themes.

• For the Kitchen
• For the Bedrooms
• For the Bathrooms
• For the Living Room
• What is out of style?

Over the last couple of years, home decor has completely changed its ballpark with new trends emerging every season. As the world becomes more compact, tastes and preferences are no longer defined by geographies. Now, people are also more willing to spend a generous amount of money to give their home a makeover it

Tax Breaks for Homeowners

This article is for informational purposes only. If you're seeking tax advice please consult with a tax advisor.

When you decided to own a home as opposed to renting one, you were getting started on the road to creating an investment. To assist homeowners such as yourself with the strain caused by paying high mortgages, the US government has created numerous tax deductions specifically designed to lower the payments you’ll have to make during tax season. Now that you qualify for them, your next step should be to learn as much about them as possible.

We’re sure that up until recently, you’ve probably only been claiming standard deductions on your taxes. Now that you’re a homeowner, you’ll learn to itemize the extra

Questions to Ask: Choosing a Real Estate Agent to Buy or Sell a Home

How do you know which Real Estate Agent to hire? 

You won't until you begin interviewing. 

One of the first things we tell our clients: "Today we are going to learn more about our ability to work together. Should you choose a different Real Estate Agent to represent you, we will not be offended, just let us know." 

It's important for consumers to understand that the Real Estate Agent will likely be interviewing them as well.

Without further ado, let's dive in on the questions to ask:

Is Real Estate a Full-Time Job For you?

The first questions you should ask a Real Estate Agent is if they work full-time. If the answer is 'no' that is a red-flag and typically is

Divorce is not easy. It’s an emotional and stressful time for everyone involved. We are here to help.

Did you know that selling your home during divorce can potentially save you money on capital gains tax as long as you sell while you're still legally married?

You're eligible for an exclusion up to $500,000 while legally married. Once you divorce that exclusion drops to $250,000. You can read more about tax strategy below.

Let's get one thing straight before we dive into this article.... Just because you're going through a divorce does not mean you have to sell your house, even if you want to sell, you should seek expert advice to find out if it's a good time to sell, the market shifts fast.

In this article we are going to answer some of the

There is a right way to sell a house, and a wrong way to sell a house... how you proceed is your decision. In this article, we will be going over some tips to help you get your home sold, even with kids posing a challenge!

I know what a lot of you are thinking... "Can my kids convey with the house?" (joking of course). They cannot.

Selling your home can be stressful. You want to make sure that the entire process runs as smoothly as possible. Adding kids to the equation makes things even more difficult. So can pets, and that's another topic.

So let's dive into some tips on how to sell your home with kids:

Make sure the Kids Understand

One of the best things you can do is to start by letting your kids know how important it is that you sell

The three most important factors when buying a home are location, location, and location.

Too often I hear people talking about making decisions based on the home itself, instead of the location, and that is a mistake.

What is it about location that makes it so vital to a real estate investing?

The condition and price of any home can be changed. You can even change the size of the house. The one thing you can't change is the home's location. A great location can change an entire neighborhood seemingly overnight as happened in Downtown Raleigh.

Supply and demand are two factors that will always play a role in real estate appreciation. Housing supply in great locations is limited to the number of homes in that location.

Location creates

Should I use a Realtor when Buying and Selling Homes?

Using a Realtor when buying and selling homes is an investment. You're going to pay them a commission, and statistics show you are going to see a GREAT return on your investment. It's also a great way to avoid being sued.

Some people don't want to use a Realtor when buying and selling homes, and this is because they want to try and save on the commission normally paid to an Agent. This is easy to understand. Ask the Founder of ForSaleByOwner.com how trying to sell his home without a Realtor worked out for him. He tried to sell his New York City Condo for 6 months before asking the help of a Real Estate Agent... who sold it in a few weeks for $150,000 MORE.

Craig Newmark the founder

Moving is NOT fun. It is one of the least enjoyable parts of buying and selling real estate.

When you buy a house, you need to move in... and when you sell your house, you need to move out.

With the amount of people moving to Raleigh NC, it's about time we simplified things with a 'Moving Checklist!' This article is intended to help with your move, so if you find it valuable please drop us a line in the comments section below... we love feedback!

If you're anything like the buyers and sellers we work with, than there is a good chance you have a lot of stuff that you need to pack, load into a truck, unload from the truck, and then unpack once you arrive to your new home. While the thought of moving is enough to make most people cringe, we are

How to Sell a House FAST for The Most Money

Here is an infographic on 'How to Sell Your House Fast and For The Most Money!' 

Be sure to check out each tip in detail below!

Preparing your House to Sell Fast!

Part of selling your house fast for the most money is going to come from the work and efforts you put in leading up to listing it for sale. Give yourself a full 2 weeks to prepare (sometimes you'll need more) because there are a lot of things you want to do in advance to make your home sell fast!

Consult with a top local real estate agent to ensure that you are preparing your home for sale the right way. If your home was once an expired listing it will likely sell the next time around if you prepare it the right way. Almost 90%

How to Avoid Foreclosure in Raleigh, NC

If you're a homeowner in the Raleigh, NC area and you are unable to make your mortgage payments, the lender may seize your property, evict you, and sell the home as it is written in the mortgage contract.

So how do you Avoid Foreclosure?

Talk to Your Lender

Once you begin having trouble making your mortgage payments you should contact your lender and explain to them your financial situation. This will give your lender the opportunity to work with you, and hopefully create a plan that helps you keep your house. Don't stop paying your bills, and don't wait until you can't make payments to act on your financial hardship. 

It's often that many homeowners are embarrassed or scared to tell their