Wednesday, November 19, 2008

November's Featured Listing


1300 Brucemeont Drive ~ Heather Hills ~ Garner, NC



You must consider this home if you are looking for a home in a great location, very close to Raleigh; one story living; and a home with character.
This home is waiting for it's new owners to entertain in the winter by the masonry fireplace in the keeping room and enjoy the summer months on the large back deck . Pantry in the Utility Rm, Kitchen w/ Built In Desk, Smooth Top Range, and Breakfast Bar, Front Bedroom w/ Window Seat, Double Vanity in Hall Bath, WIC and Built in Wall Unit in Master Bedroom. Outside Storage. Must See!

Thursday, November 13, 2008

Happy to Help My Fellow Agents

Today was our monthly office meeting. It was a dreary, rainy day, so it was a smaller meeting than usual. I am so happy to hear the other agents in the office talking so enthusiastically about using the internet to further their business.  

home for sale, real estate, wake county, nc Our discussion began with the company website, then turned to blogging and social networking sites. My real estate career would never had taken off from the beginning if it was not for the internet. I was not a new agent in my hometown. I did not have a lot of family in the area. I hardly knew my neighbors! But buyers began to find me anyway, through my time consuming but free, internet marketing.

So, I am no expert on the new online marketing, but I do it, I enjoy it, and I see results. If you are new to this, if you didn't know what a blog was earlier today; don't worry. Just dive in, have fun, enjoy your work. We are lucky enough to do something we love for a living! Happy Blogging!

Thursday, November 06, 2008

Previewing Homes Today

Aside from some recent Broker Luncheons, I have found that I have not spent the time lately to go out there and see what was available on the market. With the market as it has been here the past couple of months, I found myself spending more time keeping in touch with potential clients, figuring out how to market my listings so they stand out from the crowd, and stressing. What I have not done was to just go out and see what some local builders have been working on, check out the new subdivisions, and spend a little time with other agents in my office. It was time well spent. The conversations, hearing what other agents are going through right now, bouncing ideas off each other; really helped me to spend less time stressing and more time focusing on what I need to do. It was also good to step away from the computer for a little bit. I enjoy what I do. I find a great amount of satisfaction from helping a client sell their home and a buyer finally find the right home for them. lately it has been just a little less fun. Now, I put on my optimistic, positive goggles, and look forward to the opportunities before me tomorrow.

Tuesday, October 28, 2008

Tonight it is supposed to get below freezing

Tonight it is supposed to get below freezing for the first time this fall. I think it is around this time of year that I really start to love my home. There is just something so cozy about the crisp air outside, and the warmth in the home. I am a sucker for an evening at home with my husband, and our dogs laying on the couch and watching something interesting on TV. It’s the time of year when the days are shorter, I come home earlier, and I am able to spend more time with my family.
It may be my own opinion, but I would like to thank the media for bringing fear to the American people about the current economic condition. I hear people tell me over and over again, “we are going to wait until the beginning of next year before we do anything” and “we are just going to rent right now”. So, I arrive home from work a little earlier, because my clients are deciding to wait to buy and wait to sell. Buying and selling a home is an important decision in a person’s life. I understand some of their concerns. But there are others that I have spoken with, and many more that I have not had the pleasure to meet just yet; and they don’t know that now is a fantastic time to buy a home. Interest rates are low. Email me and I will send you a graph showing interest rates for the past 30 years. Interest rates are low. There is a lot of inventory on the market. Sellers are more willing to negotiate with buyers. This does not mean that people are giving their houses away. This means that a buyer may be able to get a very fair price for the home, maybe get more of the repairs completed that the buyer requests or seller pay closing costs.
Take some time to think again about whether now is a good time for you to buy a home. Ask a Realtor to help you discover if now a good time is for you. Where do you want to be this winter?

Wednesday, September 24, 2008

Amazing Housing Opportunities

Interest rates are low. There are solid mortgage loan programs available to homebuyers. There are a lot of houses on the market to choose from. Although sellers are not giving their homes away, sellers are willing to negotiate. It is a great time to be a home buyer in America.

The fact of the matter is that you have to live somewhere. If you are considering buying your first home, but you think now is not a good time to take the leap to homeownership; I would like you to reconsider. How much are you spending in rent? Look at the mortgage calculator at the bottom of this page. Plug in the numbers to see what you would be paying if you own a home. Say you decide on a home that costs $135,000. If you get a mortgage for the entire amount, and you figure an interest rate of 6%, estimate the property tax for about $1100 a year and $450 for homeowner’s insurance. Now remember that the money you put into a home is an investment. The money you pay to rent just gives you a place to live for another month.

Does it look like maybe you should speak to a Realtor or a mortgage broker to see if is the right time for you to buy your first home? Contact me for more information so you can make the right decision for you.

Wednesday, April 30, 2008

Is Now A Good Time To Buy?


Quite Simply, YES.


If you are a first time home buyer, think about this. Interest rates are great. They have been going back and forth between 5.5 and 6%. Buyers back in the 1980s were paying 17%!!! Also, the crazy variable interest rate loan dished out by predatory lenders is a thing of the past. There are great fixed rate options for buyers today from Conventional loans, FHA, or USDA Rural Housing. People are looking to sell their starter home to move to one with a little more room as their family has grown. There is a good amount of inventory to choose from.

If you are tired of renting and giving all of your money to someone else, give me a call or send me an email. Let's talk about your options. Home ownership will provide you with more benefits than simply a roof over your head. Their are tax advantages, it's an investment that you may see when it comes time for you to sell your first home as your family grows, or your job takes you to a new location.

There are a lot of reasons that now is a great time to buy. Contact me and we can discuss why it would be right for you.