For our Friends, Customers, and Clients...here are some stats to assist you in understanding what's happening in Wilmington, N.C. housing wise the last 2 months for which stats are available (i.e., Sept. and Oct.).

Housing Conditions:

Total Units... Sold in Sept. 396   Sold in Oct. 447   (+ 12.9%)

Average Sales Price... Sept. $264,340   Oct.  $237,998   ( - 9.9%)

Median Sales Price... Sept. $185,000     Oct.  $187,500   ( + 1.3%)

Total Dollars ...   Sept. $104,678,770     Oct.  $106,385,203  (( + 1%)

DOM  ...    Sept.   135                         Oct . 143  

New Listings ... Sept.  886              Oct .  861   (-2.8%)

My Analysis: Credit markets must be watched as underwriting guidelines continue to tighten. Units continue to sell, with the assistance, presumably,  of the "First Time Buyer Incentives" and Investor demand. Home Builders having some difficulty competing with the supply of resold homes on the market, creating excellent buying opportunities for Buyers ready to act now!

Attention Buyers, don't miss out on great opportunities to Purchase your next home. 13 Single Family Homes in the Wilmington, NC area have just been Sold. wrar.rapmls.com

Looking to Purchase a home for $300,00. Here's what you can buy in the Wilmington, NC area for that price. There are 19 homes for your consideration. Many have been substantially reduced! wrar.rapmls.com

When we have Buyer Clients visiting Wilmington, Carolina Beach, Mayfaire, Kure Beach, or Brunswick County we try to emphasize the opportunities for fun and learning experiences here in the Cape Fear region while they are searching for properties.

What's paramount for most are stick built Single Family Residence properties $250,000 to $275,000 with 3 bedrooms in top neighborhoods.

Here's what they are looking at now.

5 Star Real Estate, Joe Pascal, Broker/Owner/Realtor

Call to Action

Real Estate Professionals are keeping their fingers crossed that conditions in the housing market are stabilizing, marking the end of a slump that has reduced home building to its lowest level since 1940. However, we will soon be losing one of out most effective selling tools when the $8,000 federal housing tax credit expires later this year on Nov. 30. Despite recent gains, builders have reason to worry that business generated by entry-level buyers will sputter out once the credit is no longer available.

CONTACT YOUR MEMBERS OF CONGRESS TODAY TO ENCOURAGE THEM TO KEEP THE MOMENTUM GOING BY:

1) extending the tax credit for an additional year and 
2)making it available to all home buyers

Bills are pending on both the House and Senate side of Congress that would facilitate the extension and the increase. These actions would spur more than 383,000 additional home sales, and generate the production of 80,000 more homes as the inventory of unsold homes is depleted. It would also provide the U.S. economy with what it needs most, creating nearly 350,000 jobs.

Housing is one of the few sectors that can quickly put America back to work. Restoring the health of the housing industry and the flow of credit needed by both home buyers and home builders is a crucial first step in leading the economy to higher ground.

If you are planning to look in Wilmington, NC for new homes for sale, you should know where and how to find the deals. Not all new homes are readily apparent without knowing a few tricks.

The most forgotten about thing to remember first is that you really should use the free services of a buyers agent who knows the Wilmington real estate market very well. A buyers agent offers their services at no cost to the buyer! That is an awesome deal.

Make sure that you only work with an agent who really knows the area as well as how to make a good offer in Wilmington. Otherwise, it can cost you time and money in the long run. The North Carolina real estate contracts are detailed and can be complex. Working with a highly trained, experienced agent will be important.

With the current real estate market in the Wilmington area, the deals are numerous, which is great news. Because of the recent nationwide increase in the number of foreclosures, many home builders were taken by surprise and have a lot of standing inventory left.

What does this mean to you as the homebuyer?

Well, first, it means that builders are typically much more willing to negotiate than in previous years. Builders need to get these homes off their books by the end of the year, so they will often negotiate a great deal with you or extra incentives.

Next, you might find a builder who is having financial trouble and will be ready to give a steep discount on the price. Perhaps the builder’s lender will work on a short sale which can further drive down the price.

Again, an experienced agent will know exactly what questions to ask in order to make the best offer for a buyer. The vital components are knowing where to look for these homes, what questions to ask, how to negotiate properly and how to get the transaction closed.

When we have Buyer Clients visiting Wilmington, Carolina Beach, Mayfaire, Kure Beach, or Brunswick County we try to emphasize the opportunities for fun and learning experiences here in the Cape Fear region while they are searching for properties.

What's paramount for most are stick built Single Family Residence properties $250,000 to $275,000 with 3 bedrooms in top neighborhoods.

Here's what they are looking at now.

5 Star Real Estate, Joe Pascal, Broker/Owner/Realtor

Getting a mortgage loan these days can be a slow and frustrating experience.

Here are some things that buyers should know as they go through the application process:

• Ask for the "Good Faith Estimate" early. It won't be released until it is officially "complete" and all the questions are answered. Push applicants to find answers right away to all the lender's questions.
• Suggest they read and ask questions about the fine print. Identifying and negotiating all the fees and charges can cut an applicant's costs.
• Shop title insurance. Point buyers toward Web sites like Closing.com, where they can comparison shop.
• Get a commitment. Insist that the lender or loan broker agree that there won't be any other charges on the HUD-1, which most borrowers don't see until they are at the settlement table. "If [the lender] won't agree to that, you have to be a little suspicious," says Claire Fennessey, senior vice president of Entitle Direct.
• Question flood insurance. If a property requires flood insurance, point buyers (and sellers) toward a civil engineering firm with experience with the Federal Emergency Management Agency's resources to ensure that they aren't paying too much. Eligibility for a preferred risk policy can cut costs substantially.

Source: Chicago Tribune, Mary Ellen Podmolik (07/05/2009)