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first time home buyer: Townhome in Ballantyne for Sale & Rent - 07/26/10 04:34 PM
Which ever happens first folks, now is the time to Buy or Rent this townhome in Ballantyne for $129k (for sale) or $900 (for rent)! PRICE NEGOTIABLE!!!
If you have credit issues, and still want to rent this unit before you decide to buy, that is fine. Owner says "Do what it takes" so they are willing to sell or rent at $900 per month.
Price on the rental, and sale are negotiable. They are Motivated Sellers!!!
If you'd like to learn more about this 2-story, End-Unit 3 bedroom townhome with Private side and backyard, please contact me as soon as … (0 comments)
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first time home buyer: Ballantyne Area Market Update - May 2010 - 06/04/10 10:25 AM
Its that time again. My monthly report on areas of Charlotte that I specialize.
Here is the market update for the month of May for the Ballantyne area:
64 Properties SOLD!
Average Square Feet = 2710
Average # of Bedrooms = 3
Average # of Bathrooms = 2 Full
Average List Price = $303,981
Average Sales Price = $291,436
Average Days On Market = 96
Last year 2009, the Average Sales Price for this area was $379,823, with 33 properties SOLD!
That's a 23% decrease!
Also, I have an exclusive 2-story, private end-unit Townhome listing in the Ballantyne Area for $129,900!!! If … (0 comments)
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first time home buyer: Under Contract...Now What? - 05/14/10 10:06 AM
So you've found that perfect house for you and your family, and negotiated great terms with the seller (whom, by the way, is also excited to finally have a buyer, and is ready to move on). But wait, this is not an ordinary sale. This is a dreaded "short sale" deal, which again, the homeowner's bank has final say as to the sales price. Remember a "short sale" is a sale in which the current owner owes the bank more than what the house is worth, and the bank must approve the owner and the new buyer's contracted agreement.
Here we go...
You've gone into just … (0 comments)
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first time home buyer: IRS 1031 Tax Exchange...How Can It Work For Buyers/Investors? - 05/13/10 11:39 AM
This Internal Revenue Code 1031 is an awesome thing to think about utilizing when selling your investment property. Whether it is a business, rental property, or raw land, the 1031 Tax Exchange is something to seriously consider. It allows the seller to defer paying taxes on the sale proceeds, so long as the money gained at the sale is re-invested into another investment property.
The 1031 tax code allows you to sell your previous investment property, gives you 45 days after you have sold the property to identify the new, or "like-kind" property. In other words, if you sell a rental property like a single-family … (0 comments)
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first time home buyer: So You Want a House...With "Good Schools and in a Good Neighborhood" - 05/11/10 10:50 PM
Well guess what? As a licensed Realtor, it is not good practice to assume responsibility of what constitutes "good" to any buyer! Believe it or not, It is not the Realtor's job to find a home in a "good neighborhood" with "good schools," it is the buyer's job! What you are doing by asking your Realtor to send you homes with these criteria is setting you and your Realtor up for possible ramification and liabilities if her "good" is not your "good."
If you are in the market to buy a home and you have school aged children, wouldn't you agree that it should be … (8 comments)
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first time home buyer: No Hard Feelings, I Work For The Buyer! - 04/01/10 10:32 PM
All home buyers are very aware that signing contracts is part of buying a home, either with a builder or home owner. It is inevitable that the agent working with a buyer will know the level of their excitement. The buyer will literally say it, or their actions will show.
As an agent working with a buyer in a "fiduciary" relationship, the buyer's trust is at stake. Protection of that buyer should come first. No matter how nice a builder's sales representative, or a seller's agent representing a home owner may seem, our job as buyer representatives is to educate the buyer BEFORE they give their earnest money deposit, and enter into an … (28 comments)
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first time home buyer: And Then There's Closing... - 03/31/10 09:30 PM
After finding the house of your dreams for you and your family, negotiations, inspections, loan processing, under writing, repairs and requests, you are finally ready to close the deal...sign on the bottom line, and MOVE IN!
Here are reminders:
1) Switch utilities in your name.
2) Change locks on all exterior doors.
3) Deep clean carpet and entire house.
4) Install security system.
5) Let family and friends know your new address.
Oh, and most importantly, TELL LISTING AGENT TO COME GET LOCKBOX OFF YOUR FRONT DOOR! (some tend to let lockboxes linger for a day or two...when it should be … (1 comments)
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first time home buyer: $100 Down...have you seen these signs? - 03/28/10 10:57 PM
They're yellow with black letters, HANDWRITTEN, and ask you to call them to buy a house for $100 down.
If you are someone thinking about buying a house for you and your family to live in, would you really want to buy a house from someone who hand wrote their message on a flighty sign, no company logo or contact info, that sits in the middle of a highway?
Buying a house is more serious than responding to a handwritten sign on the side of the road. Purchasing a home should not seem comparable to getting a bargain at Macy's, or a discount at … (4 comments)
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first time home buyer: First Time Buyers and Builders - 03/08/10 04:43 PM
I know its tempting to stop into a new community when you see those signs on the side of the road, but you must understand, the representative works for the builder. Her primary objective is to sell a house to you so her boss, the builder, can stay in business. And so, it would behoove you to get representation for you!
I recently went to a builder because a young lady I've been working with, but had credit issues, decided to look for a new house. She immediately fell in love with the model home...as expected. At some point the builder rep … (0 comments)
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first time home buyer: What About Credit? - 03/06/10 09:17 AM
Credit is so important in today's American economy. You see commercials telling you there is an Obama stimulus plan that addresses helping those with high credit card amounts to call for debt assistance. Why? Because, in America, as we all know, Credit is King!
If you are contemplating buying real estate, your credit is one of the things that gets you qualified for a loan. Today, in order to qualify for a low down payment loan program, like an FHA loan, you must have at minimum a 580 credit score. Now I'll be very honest with you, that may be the … (1 comments)
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first time home buyer: When Homeownership Is Right - 03/03/10 07:03 PM
So you've thought about buying a house over, and over again. Your mom told you that now is a good time to buy. Your best friend bought her first house. You envision, time and again, living in your own home with a backyard, upstairs and downstairs, and pulling into your garage. So what's keeping you from jumping onto your path of homeownership?
If you're second guessing whether you should take advantage of today's real estate economy, ask yourself any of these questions: Will there ever be another time in American history where interest rates will be as low as they are today? Will I ever … (1 comments)
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first time home buyer: When Buyers Have Home Inspections - 03/02/10 03:05 PM
So you've found your dream home, negotiated a purchase price, and now its time to have inspections. What now, you ask? Well, if you have an inspection company that you are familiar with, or one that a friend or family member used in the past, that's your starting point. If you do not know of any, asking for a recommendation from your Realtor is also another option. But keep in mind, this is YOUR home that you are inspecting...not your Realtor's.
I tell all my buyers up front, "Its not important for me to attend your inspections. What's important is for YOU … (2 comments)
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first time home buyer: When Low-Income Residents Are Not Welcome - 02/23/10 09:53 PM
So, you know I had to follow up with part 2 of the Ballantyne and low-income apartments saga. Last night, I went to the community meeting at the Harris church to see how it would all play out. I went early just to grab a seat close to the front so I could hear everything.
It was a good presentation, as far as the developers having a little powerpoint presentation on the 2 screens they provided. Little did they know they were about to be toast. I don't think they had any idea what they were in for because they started out … (0 comments)
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first time home buyer: How To Buy A Home - 02/22/10 02:56 PM
Most Buyers, when they are ready to buy a house, are very excited. However, as a buyer, you must learn "buying etiquette" in order to make the process of finding your next home alot easier on you, and your Realtor.
Almost all buyers think finding the house is the biggest deal in the process. Understand that finding the house is really just a portion of what else needs to be done in the homebuying process. There is still plenty of work to be done, and so, knowing where you want to be make the difference.
Here are a few Tips to get you … (2 comments)
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first time home buyer: When Affordable Housing Is UnWanted - 02/21/10 02:34 PM
Currently, the Ballantyne Area of Charlotte these days is in an uproar. Apparently some company feels the area is too posh, and doesn't have lower-income level individuals and families in it, and things should change.
Right at the heart of the Ballantyne corporate area, just down the road, on Providence Road West and Johnston Road, is the proposed site. And people, I can tell you, it may not be a situation that will easily go away. Why do I say this? Well, because I live in the area and can tell you, from what I'm hearing from the people in the communiyt, they clearly don't think its … (0 comments)
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first time home buyer: What is a Short Sale? - 02/20/10 11:47 AM
Buyers are now coming out, afterall, it is buying season. And the number one question I get is "What is a Short Sale, I heard they were bad." Well, in some cases they can be bad, and that's in reference to the approval process. And in other cases they are good, because you get a house for a deep discount.
Short Sales are pre-foreclosure homes. The owner is in the foreclosure process, but the bank is willing to not let it go to auction, they'd rather take a short on what's left on the loan, oppose to letting the house go … (1 comments)
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first time home buyer: Buyers and Good Customer Service - 02/19/10 06:26 PM
"All real estate agents are the same." This is what I've heard overtime from buyers, and some sellers alike. When I hear this, I automatically think, That statement is part true. In some aspects we are. But in others, we are not!
Granted, real estate agents pretty much function generally the same. We can help buyers locate properties, help negotiate a price that seems fair, and go to closing to seal the deal. However, there may be some things more valuable to a buyer that one agent has, and another agent doesn't. And it can be something as simple as good customer … (0 comments)
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first time home buyer: When Things Go Wrong, What's a Buyer To Do? - 02/17/10 01:11 PM
In any transaction, anything can go wrong, not just in real estate. The only alternative is to resort to some sort of mediation, be it legal or arbitration with the governing board.
As a Buyer, when under contract with a Builder or seller, and you are not able to get financing, guess what, you cannot buy! Now if you really want that house, your obligation is to that seller, or builder. Immediately you are to notify them, in writing, that you were unable to get financing from your lender, and that you would like to look for another lender. However, you do not … (2 comments)
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first time home buyer: BEFORE You Go See That Builder... - 02/16/10 04:24 PM
Today I went on one of those tours a builder in my area conducted, and it was nice. What I've noticed, across the board, is builders are definitely serious about selling their homes. They are adding nice upgrades at minimal cost, to entice the buyers to buy. Makes me excited about showing their properties to my Buyers.
On the other hand, history has proven that a new home bought is like buying a new car. The minute you drive it off the lot you've lost value. I've heard many cases of buyers of new homes being so distraught over the fact that their new home … (0 comments)
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first time home buyer: Buyer Agents...What are they? - 02/13/10 08:51 PM
Someone that is down for the buyer! Period. There is no other way of explaining that but getting straight to the point.
To my surprise, there are buyers, with an agent, or has had an agent, that still do not know the different relationships they can have with a Realtor. All they know is they have to "sign something" with an agent, and they're not quite ready for that. Most buyers are apprehensive in the beginning, because they've been told alot of bad stories about "real estate agents and their contracts."
Well, when you sit and talk with me you will know everything you need to, as … (1 comments)
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Raine Spivey, REALTOR
Charlotte,
NC
More about me…
REIGN REALTY
Address: 15720 John J. Delaney Drive, Charlotte, NC, 28277
Office Phone: (704) 935-5292
Cell Phone: (704) 931-8133
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