However, America’s housing crisis has increased distressed sellers and distressed properties in our Raleigh, Cary and Research Triangle market areas.  Unemployment, divorce, death, bankruptcy, short sales, foreclosures and REO properties equal emotional pain not the American dream.

In Proverbs, the writer tells us “Hope deferred makes the heart sick”  There is a place in life where life becomes so discouraging and hopeless that we lose all hope, and it can actually make us sick. I have been at this place and I am sure you have too; it is a scary condition. It brings you to the edge of despair.

When a mother gives birth, that child is delivered into this world through much pain. However, with that pain comes great joy on the other side. Every mother will say it was worth it because of the exceeding joy that child brought in the midst of the pain.

If you, or someone you know is in despair or feels hopeless, they need a reminder that this emotional event is temporary. Help them to see the other side and find what is good by the lessons learned in their pain. They need hope. They need help making clear decisions. They need a future after this real estate home sale is behind them.  Please join me in helping families in Raleigh, Cary, or around the world walk through their pain with dignity, health and a future full of joy on the other side. Share this blog with anyone who needs encouragement today.

Bloomberg announced today that Raleigh topped the list for the best places to live in the US.   We could not agree more and believe that is why so many people relocate to the Greater Raleigh area.  If you are interested in learning more about why Raleigh is so special be sure to check out our Raleigh Area and Raleigh Relocation pages on our real estate website.

Many Raleigh home buyers believe to get the best mortgage rate they need to shop around lenders. However, this can be an exhausting and frustrating time wasting experience because it is a lot like driving all over town trying to find the cheapest gas at the pump. The reality is that gas prices at every pump are all within pennies of each other. Gas prices like mortgage rates are based on the price oil sells for per barrel.

To get the best mortgage rate you need a lender that knows how to advise you when to lock the interest rate and time the market based on Wall Street trading. This is why our Team carefully screens mortgage lenders and develops relationships with the best in Raleigh.  Lowest interest rates, on time delivery, and no surprises at closing is what you will get from our proven lender referrals. To get the best home mortgage rate and service call us for a reference. We close hundreds of house per year and know who delivers what they promise and who doesn’t.

When you work with a RateAlert guided Loan Originator,  Andy Borter at Primary Residential, you are working with someone that you can trust to look out for YOUR best interests – and interest rates!

Are Buyers Really in the Market?

The answer may surprise you, but yes!  Many buyers choose the Christmas Holiday Season to relocate from other states or move in general because they have more time off from work and can do so.   These buyers are normally pretty serious and are looking for a transaction that will be smooth and close on time.   Will it be your home?   Be ready and available to approve showings- you never know if your home will be the next one sold.

If you would like to find out more about what makes our real estate team different here in this Raleigh Real Estate Marketplace feel free to give us a call at 919-235-6301.

If you have any other questions about updating your home, please feel free to give Linda a  call at 919.235.0007.

If you have any other questions about moving to the Greater Raleigh Area, be sure to visit our relocation pages on our real estate website, www.LindaCraft.com

Have a great Monday!

Hedingham is an established golf community here in the Greater Raleigh Area and offers a quick commute to many areas in the Triangle.  If you would like more information about neighborhoods in Raleigh or Homes for Sale in the Greater Raleigh Area please contact our team at 919.235.0007 or visit our Raleigh Real Estate Website, www.LindaCraft.com

My neighbor rented a house through a real estate agency in the area however the new tenant is not mowing the grass and it is driving me crazy.   What do I do?  I have left a message with the real estate company.

Thanks, 

John  

Hi John,

Thank you for contacting me and I know that the grass must be very frustrating.  Normally it is the tenant’s responsibilty to cut the grass and most of the time it is stipulated in the lease.  Here is what I recommend:

1.   If you are able, talk to the tenant.  Maybe something is going on health wise that for some reason they cannot cut the grass this month.

2.  Contact the real estate company.  Find out if they are managing the property or if they only helped the owner lease it.

3.  Contact the owner.   You can normally find information through tax records or through google.

4.  Contact Your Home Owners Association President or Management company.  Many subdivisions have rules and regulations about grass and lawn care.  They should have the owners and tenant’s information on file and can contact them.

5.  Contact the City.  City officials can help if the property is a safety issue to other homeowners.

I hope that this helps,

Linda

 7 Deadly Sins of Overpricing

Most experts would advise that the best way to increase your odds of a successful sale is to price your home at fair market value. But, as logical as this advice sounds, for many sellers it is still tempting to tack a few percentage points onto the price to “leave room to negotiate”. To avoid this temptation, let’s take a look at the seven deadly sins of overpricing:

1. Appraisal Problems

Even if you do find a buyer willing to pay an inflated price, the fact is over 90% of buyers use some kind of financing to pay for their home purchase. If your home won’t appraise for the purchase price the sale will likely fail.

2. No Showings

Today’s sophisticated home buyers are well educated about the real estate market. If your home is overpriced they won’t bother looking at it, let alone make you an offer.

3. Branding Problems

When a new listing hits the market, every agent quickly checks the property out to see if it’s a good fit for their clients. If your home is branded as “overpriced”, reigniting interest may take drastic measures.

4. Selling the Competition

Overpricing helps your competition. How? You make their lower prices seem like bargains. Nothing is worse than watching your neighbors put up a sold sign.

5. Stagnation

The longer your home sits on the market, the more likely it is to become stigmatized or stale. Have you ever seen a property that seems to be perpetually for sale? Do you ever wonder – What’s wrong with that house?

6. Tougher Negotiations

Buyers who do view your home may negotiate harder because the home has been on the market for a longer period of time and because it is overpriced compared to the competition.

7. Lost Opportunities

You will lose a percentage of buyers who are outside of your price point. These are buyers who are looking in the price range that the home will eventually sell for but don’t see the home because the price is above their pre-set budget.

Most buyers look at 10-15 homes before making a buying decision. Because of this, setting a competitive price relative to the competition is an essential component to a successful marketing strategy.

If you have questions about pricing  your home correctly in today’s Greater Raleigh Area Real Estate Marketplace feel free to give me a call at 919-235-0007.

Have a great week,

Linda