Taxes are confusing, which is why many people in the U.S. choose to hire an expert to do their taxes for them. After all, there are so many numbers to know, forms to have ready, records of income and expenses, W-4s, 1099s, 380-Ts—we could’ve just made that last one up, and there’s no way of […]
Tag Archives: First Time Home Buyers
Saving up for a New Home? Here Are All the Costs You Need to Know
Once you’ve found the perfect home and secured the loan, all that’s left to do is start chipping away at those mortgage payments…right? In actuality, there are a handful of other, often-overlooked expenses that come with buying a home, but as long as you know what you’re getting into, they’re plenty manageable. Take a look […]
First Comes Love… then Comes Your First Mortgage Payment!
Every year, the National Association of Realtors® conducts a survey to determine the profile of home buyers and sellers across the country. The 2018 profile is interesting because the majority of recent homebuyers (a whopping 63%!) are married couples! The Majority of First-Time Buyers are Married Couples It’s true! According to the NAR, 54% of first-time […]
How Homeownership Makes the Biggest Difference
If you’re looking for the most surefire way to build your wealth, become a homeowner. We’ve blogged about this in the past, but it really is one of the most effective (and simplest) ways to build your wealth for the long term. The majority of homeowners take out a mortgage loan to buy their home. […]
The Pros & Cons of a Buyer’s Letter: Standing Out in a Busy Market
Imagine, after weeks of searching, that you’ve finally found your dream home. It’s in the perfect location with the right features and exactly the amount of space you need. But after requesting more information, your agent informs you that there are already several offers made on the house. How do you stand out in a […]
How to Buy a Home in One Year: A Step-by-Step Guide
Let’s start the new year off right. If you’ve been dreaming of a new home, it’s time to get started. Here’s a month-by-month guide to planning for and buying a new home. It’s about time to set your new year’s resolution, right? January: Brush Up on Your Market Knowledge The best way to get started? […]
Why You Should Buy a Home During the Off Season
Your personal home-buying schedule doesn’t have to correspond with the real estate market! In fact, buying during the “off season” can yield tremendous advantages. The “off season” differs depending on your specific location, but always refers to the period of time during a calendar year when both inventory and competition are low. Usually, this corresponds […]
Full-Service Real Estate – Linda Craft & Team, REALTORS® and Craft Commercial
We are all very fortunate to live in an area where the entrepreneurial spirit is very much alive and flourishing. Raleigh and the Triangle area continue to be a hotbed for creative new business owners with fabulous product ideas they want to introduce to the world marketplace. Because of this unique market, it makes sense […]
Home Buying Terminology: A Cheat Sheet
Buying a home shouldn’t be rocket science. You find the perfect home, make an offer to the seller, pay a couple of fees, and bam! You just bought a home. However, buying a home actually has a lot of moving parts which include a number of funny real estate terms you’ve probably never heard before. […]





