LOL Comedy Club in Clayton & JCAR ~ Special Comedy Event for Special Olympics

Hello all my favorite people!

 

Johnston County Association of Realtors is sponsoring a night of comedy, which I'm sure we could all use on Thursday, May 7th. Show begins at 7:00.

 

It also happens to be my birthday, so I will be there celebrating and laughing my you know what off! So, please join me, have fun, and support a fantastic cause. J

 

Ticket available at http://www.lolcomedyclubclayton.com/shows.cfm , click on Special Olympics Charity event. Video of comedian...funny. Send to everyone you know-LET"S FILL THE HOUSE!!!!

 

Lisa Kuyath

Broker

919.815.1356

Lisa@LisaKuyath.com

www.JohnstonCountyProperties.com

www.LisaKuyath.com

2008 RE/MAX Executive Club

 

 

If you are not interested, just delete the email. I just wanted to help get the word out about this good cause. Thank you.

 

LOL Comedy Club in Clayton & JCAR ~ Special Comedy Event for Special Olympics

Hello all my favorite people!

 

Johnston County Association of Realtors is sponsoring a night of comedy, which I'm sure we could all use on Thursday, May 7th. Show begins at 7:00.

 

It also happens to be my birthday, so I will be there celebrating and laughing my you know what off! So, please join me, have fun, and support a fantastic cause. J

 

Ticket available at http://www.lolcomedyclubclayton.com/shows.cfm , click on Special Olympics Charity event. Video of comedian...funny. Send to everyone you know-LET"S FILL THE HOUSE!!!!

 

Lisa Kuyath

Broker

919.815.1356

Lisa@LisaKuyath.com

www.JohnstonCountyProperties.com

www.LisaKuyath.com

2008 RE/MAX Executive Club

 

 

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!

For More Details: www.lisakuyath.com/mls1620548

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.  

 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!

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.

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?

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.

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.

Happy Holidays!!

Wishing You All a Very Happy Holiday Season!
Look forward to helping you get in a New Home in the New Year!!

The media is so negative. Can I still get a mortgage?

YES. Now is a great time to buy a new home. Builders are lowering prices and offering incentives. Resales are available and sellers are ready to move. And, yes, the mortgage industry has made some changes and things are looking better and better for home buyers. There are great loan programs out there like FHA and USDA Rural Housing. Would you like more information? Send me an email, lisakuyath@nc.rr.com

Just Joined a New Firm!

It was tie for me to move on and I have just joined RE/MAX Connected Realty and the Beth Hines Team.

Here is some new contact info...


Lisa Kuyath
Realtor
RE/MAX Connected Realty
748 N. Pleasant-Coates Rd.Benson, NC 27504
(919) 815-1356 Cell
(919) 209-9784 Fax
http://www.lisakuyath.com/

I look forward to helping you with your real estate needs!

5 Factors That Decide Your Credit Score

Credit scores range between 200 and 800. Scores above 620 are considered desirable for obtaining a mortgage. These factors will affect your score.

Your payment history. Whether you paid credit card obligations on time.

How much you owe. Owing a great deal of money on numerous accounts can indicate that you are overextended.

The length of your credit history. In general, the longer the better.

How much new credit you have. New credit, either installment payments or new credit cards, are considered more risky, even if you pay promptly.

The types of credit you use. Generally, it’s desirable to have more than one type of credit—installment loans, credit cards, and a mortgage, for example.

For more on evaluating and understanding your credit score, go to http://www.myfico.com/.

6 Creative Ways to Afford a Home

If your income and savings are making homebuying a challenge, consider these options.

1. Investigate local, state, and national downpayment assistance programs. These programs give loans or grants to cover all or part of your required downpayment. National programs include the Nehemiah program (http://www.getdownpayment.com) and the American Dream Downpayment Fund from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (http://www.hud.gov).

2. Get the seller to provide financing. In some cases, sellers may be willing to finance all or part of the purchase price of the home and let you repay them gradually, just as you do a mortgage.

3. Consider a shared-appreciation, or shared equity, arrangement. Under this arrangement, your family, friends, or even a third-party may buy a portion of the home and thus share in any appreciation when the home is sold. The owner/occupant usually pays the mortgage, property taxes, and all maintenance costs, but all investors’ names are usually on the mortgage. There are companies that can help you find such an investor if your family can’t participate.

4. Get help from your family. Perhaps a family member will loan you money for the downpayment and/or act as a cosigner for the mortgage. Lenders often like to have a cosigner if you have little credit history

5. Lease with the option to buy. Renting the home for a year or more will give you the chance to save more toward your downpayment. And in many cases, owners will apply some of the rental amount toward the purchase price. You usually have to pay a small, nonrefundable option fee to the owner.

6. See if you can qualify for a short-term second mortgage to give you the money to make a higher downpayment. This may be possible if you have a good income and little other debt.

Happy Fouth of July!

Tips for Holding a Yard Sale

Hold a yard sale to reduce the clutter in your home and get rid of items you don’t want to move.

1. Check with your city government to see if you need a permit or license.

2. See if neighbors want to participate and have a “block” sale to attract more visitors.

3. Advertise. Put an ad in free classified papers, and put up signs and balloons at major intersections and in stores near your home.

4. Price items ahead and attach prices with removable stickers. Remember, yard sales are supposed to be bargains, so don’t try to sell anything of significant value this way.

5. Check items before the sale to be sure you haven’t including something you want by mistake.

6. Keep pets away from the sale.

7. Display everything neatly and individually so customers don’t have to dig through boxes.

8. Have an electrical outlet so buyers can test appliances.

9. Have plenty of bags and newspaper for wrapping fragile items.

10. Get enough change, and keep a close eye on your cash.

How Big a Mortgage Can I Afford?

Not only does owning a home give you a haven for yourself and your family, it makes great financial sense, too.

This calculation assumes a 28 percent income tax bracket. If your bracket is higher, your savings will be, too.

Rent: _________________________

Multiplier: X 1.32

Mortgage payment: __________________

Because of tax deductions, you can make a mortgage payment—including taxes and insurance—that is approximately one-third larger than your current rent payment and end up with the same amount of income.

For more help, use Fannie Mae’s online mortgage calculators at
http://www.fanniemae.com/homebuyers/calculators/index.jhtml?p=Resources&s=Calculators

8 Steps to Getting Your Finances in Order

Develop a family budget. Instead of budgeting what you’d like to spend, use receipts to create a budget for what you actually spent over the last six months. One advantage of this approach is that it factors in unexpected expenses, such as car repairs, illnesses, etc., as well as predictable costs such as rent.

Reduce your debt. Generally speaking, lenders look for a total debt load of no more than 36 percent of income. Since this figure includes your mortgage, which typically ranges between 25 percent and 28 percent of income, you need to get the rest of installment debt—car loans, student loans, revolving balances on credit cards—down to between 8 percent and 10 percent of your total income.

Get a handle on expenses. You probably know how much you spend on rent and utilities, but little expenses add up. Try writing down everything you spend for one month. You’ll probably see some great ways to save.

Increase your income. It may be necessary to take on a second, part-time job to get your income at a high-enough level to qualify for the home you want.

Save for a downpayment. Although it’s possible to get a mortgage with only 5 percent down—or even less in some cases—you can usually get a better rate and a lower overall cost if you put down more. Shoot for saving a 20 percent downpayment.

Create a house fund. Don’t just plan on saving whatever’s left toward a downpayment. Instead decide on a certain amount a month you want to save, then put it away as you pay your monthly bills.

Keep your job. While you don’t need to be in the same job forever to qualify, having a job for less than two years may mean you have to pay a higher interest rate.

Establish a good credit history. Get a credit card and make payments by the due date. Do the same for all your other bills. Pay off the entire balance promptly.

10 Ways to Make Your House More Salable

1. Get rid of clutter. Throw out or file stacks of newspapers and magazines. Pack away most of your small decorative items. Store out-of-season clothing to make closets seem roomier. Clean out the garage.

2. Wash your windows and screens to let more light into the interior.

3. Keep everything extra clean. Wash fingerprints from light switch plates. Mop and wax floors. Clean the stove and refrigerator. A clean house makes a better first impression and convinces buyers that the home has been well cared for.

4. Get rid of smells. Clean carpeting and drapes to eliminate cooking odors, smoke, and pet smells. Open the windows.

5. Put higher wattage bulbs in light sockets to make rooms seem brighter, especially basements and other dark rooms. Replace any burnt-out bulbs.

6. Make minor repairs that can create a bad impression. Small problems, such as sticky doors, torn screens, cracked caulking, or a dripping faucet, may seem trivial, but they’ll give buyers the impression that the house isn’t well maintained.

7. Tidy your yard. Cut the grass, rake the leaves, trim the bushes, and edge the walks. Put a pot or two of bright flowers near the entryway.

8. Patch holes in your driveway and reapply sealant, if applicable.

9. Clean your gutters.

10. Polish your front doorknob and door numbers.

Does Moving Up Make Sense?

Answer these questions to help you decide whether moving up makes sense.

1. How much equity do you have in your home? Look at your annual mortgage statement or call your lender to find out. Usually, you don’t build up much equity in the first few years of paying a mortgage, but if you’ve owned your home for a number of years, you may have significant unrealized gains.

2. Has your income increased enough to cover the extra mortgage costs and the costs of moving?

3. Does your neighborhood still meet your needs? For example, if you’ve had children, the quality of the schools may be more of a concern now than when you first purchased.

4. Can you add on or remodel? If you have a large yard, there might be room to expand your home. If not, your options may be limited. Also, do you want to undertake the headaches of remodeling?

5. How is the home market? If it’s good, you may get top dollar for your home.

6. How are interest rates? A low rate not only helps you buy more home, but also makes it easier to find a buyer.

The Pros and Cons of Condos

Condominiums and townhouses offer an affordable option to single-family homes in most areas. But consider these facts before you buy.

Storage. Some condos have storage lockers, but usually there are no attics or basements to store belongings.

Outdoor space. Yards and outdoor areas are usually smaller in condos, so if you like to garden or entertain outdoors, this may not be a good fit. However, if you hate yard work, this may be the perfect option for you.

Amenities. Many condo properties have swimming pools, fitness centers, and other facilities that would be very expensive in a single-family home.

Maintenance. Many condos have onsite maintenance personnel to care for common areas, do repairs in your unit, and let in workers when you’re not home.

Security. Many condos have keyed entries and or even door attendants. Plus, you’ll be closer to other people in case of an emergency.

Reserve funds and association fees. Although fees generally help pay for amenities and provide savings for future repairs, you will have to pay the fees agreed to by the condo board, whether or not you’re interested in the amenity or not.

Resale. The ease of selling your unit is more dependent on what else is for sale in your building, since units are usually fairly similar. Single-family homes usually are more individual.

Freedom. Although you have a vote, the rules of the condo association can affect your ability to use your property. For example, some condos prohibit home-based businesses. Others prohibit pets. Read the covenants, restrictions, and bylaws of the condo carefully before you make an offer.

Proximity. You’re much closer to your neighbors in a condo or townhome. If possible, try to meet your closest prospective neighbors before making a decision.