Yes I Want to Sell My House, Would You Like to See it 3 Weeks from Thursday? - 11/30/10 08:43 PM
Yes I Want to Sell My House, Would You Like to See it 3 Weeks from Thursday?As a REALTOR® in the Hickory NC market, I do something that a lot of other agents may not do on a regular basis.  I call For Sale By Owner (FSBO) listings in my farm area (my specialty area, if you will).  Yes, I'd really like to list their home for them, but that's not the reason for my call.  I call because I want to know about every home for sale in my area.  That way, I'll know if something is out there that … (6 comments)

NC Foreclosure Help - NC Foreclosure Prevention Fund - 11/29/10 06:53 PM
NC Foreclosure Help - NC Foreclosure Prevention Fund
If you're a resident of North Carolina and are unemployed or facing a financial hardship and are at risk of falling behind on your mortgage payment or have already fell behind on it, you may qualify for help from the NC Foreclosure Prevention Fund.
If you qualify for these zero interest loans, you may be able to receive up to $36,000 for up to 36 months to help you pay your mortgage.  These loans are available in our area, which includes Alexander, Catawba, Caldwell and Burke counties.
This is being offered by N.C. … (2 comments)

Temptation at the Cash Register. Ho Ho Ho ... You Just Lost the Chance to Close Your Loan - 11/29/10 05:34 PM
This is Big, I mean REALLY BIG!  It should be shouted from the rooftops so every buyer can hear it.  Especially in this market, where getting a loan is tough enough even with great credit.  Applying for any new credit before your loan goes through may totally derail your home buying process.
If you're considering any purchase that may even remotely require a credit pull, don't do it until AFTER you've closed your home purchase.
Article Courtesy of Gene Mundt
Via Gene Mundt (Chicago Bancorp):
    
    
    
     You're out doing your holiday shopping. It's 11:45 pm .. and you're in … (2 comments)

NC Mountain Land For Sale - Taylorsville NC - Barrett Mountain Acreage - 11/29/10 11:52 AM
NC Mountain Land For Sale - Taylorsville NC - Barrett Mountain Acreage
NEW PRICE:  $655,000!  Make an offer on some prime mountain acreage TODAY!
LOVE THE MOUNTAINS?  Why not own a piece of it yourself?
Approximately 119 (+/-) acres of prime mountain acreage on Barrett Mountain, located in Alexander County, NC.
This acreage has some great potential homesites, some awesome views and deer and wildlife calore!  There is a major stream running through the plot with several smaller off-shoot streams.  Acreage can be subdivided into 10 acre tracts as well, so you can buy now, pick your dream site and sell … (0 comments)

There is No Such Thing As a Crazy Offer - 11/26/10 04:18 PM
An Active Rain blogger recently wrote a member's only post about "Crazy Offers" and how agents should handle them.  (If you're an AR member, you can click here to see the post) Brian Rugg's comment to this post seemed to really cut to the chase, though (it's comment #30, btw).  In it, he said, "There really is no such thing as a crazy offer, just an offer." WOW! Did that hit home.  Hey, I admit, I've seen some real doozies of offers.  Truthfully, I've made a few on behalf of clients as well.  "Crazy" isn't always the first term that came … (10 comments)

One Family Can Make a Difference - Happy Thanksgiving - 11/25/10 08:35 AM
Way back in 1990, Al and Debbie Bandy, of Newton, NC, started cooking a Thanksgiving day meal for the community.  They served about 125 people that first year.  Today, with the help of volunteers, they expect to serve over 500 people.  And they deliver, too! The dinner is held every other year (and this is the year!) at First United Methodist Church, located at 300 North Main Ave, Newton, NC. Takeout is from 11:00 am to 12:00pm today and dine in is from 11:30am to 12:30pm today. So, who do they serve?  Anyone!  "It's for people who don't want to cook, … (2 comments)

Why Do I Need to Get Pre-Approved Before You Show Me The House? - 11/24/10 03:40 PM
Why Do I Need to Get Pre-Approved Before You Show Me The House?
This question has come up a number of times in recent weeks, so I thought I'd write about it here.

Some buyers today seem to really get offended if they are asked if they've spoken with a lender yet or if they've been pre-qualified for a mortgage for the dollar amount of the house that they are inquiring about.  What I usually get is a gruff, "No I haven't!  But I'm more than qualified to get a loan!  And I want to see this house TODAY!" … (6 comments)

Need A Quickie? Quick Tips to Staging Your House to Sell - 11/15/10 07:09 PM
Need A Quickie?  Quick Tips to Staging Your House to Sell If you've even considered selling your house in today's market, you've probably already heard about staging.  Want a great example of a perfectly staged home?  Visit a few builder open houses, or better yet, take a tour through a few model homes on a manufactured home lot!  Those mobile home people can really stage a house! Still, many people who or trying to sell, or considering selling, don't know a good staging professional or simply don't want to, or feel they can't,  afford to hire a stager to make their … (12 comments)

To Make an Offer on My Listing, Please Provide Me Your First Born! - 11/15/10 04:53 PM
To Make an Offer on My Listing, Please Provide Me Your First Born! At least that's the way it seems to me lately.  I have a few investors as clients, so I get to make a lot of offers on bank REOs (real estate owned). For years, REOs have always been more difficult than a "normal" closing.  The banks would generally require the buyer to completely fill out all new purchase contracts that grossly favored the bank/seller. Now, it seems that the real estate agent/companies that are handling the REO listings for the banks are making their own 'requirements' as well, … (53 comments)

The True Costs of FSBO vs Hiring a REALTOR® - 11/08/10 07:26 PM
The True Costs of FSBO vs Hiring a REALTOR® Most FSBOs (For Sale By Owners) begin marketing their homes themselves in an attempt to "save the commission."  Unfortunately, very few of them ever really compare the true costs of selling FSBO to the costs of hiring a REALTOR®. Assuming that you've correctly priced your property for the current market (let's say $200,000 is the 'right' price) what is the true cost of selling one vs. the other. If sold at full price, and the REALTOR® and you agreed to a six percent commission, the cost of selling would be $12,000. By … (8 comments)

Please Remove Shoes Before Entering the Home For Sale - 11/01/10 04:54 PM
Please Remove Shoes Before Entering the Home For Sale I'm wondering if this is just a trend in the Hickory NC real estate market or if it's something that's hitting other places, too.  It seems that the newest thing in listings around here is the new added phrase in the agent only remarks section that goes something like, "please remove your shoes before entering home. Booties are provided just inside the door." Really?  I mean, REALLY? This one really gets me, I gotta admit.  As a seller, you generally want to make showings on your property as easy as they can … (14 comments)

It's Time to Make a Difference, It's Time to VOTE! - 11/01/10 08:17 AM
Tomorrow is November the 2nd, Voting Day.
For those of you that have already voted via early voting periods, Great!  You've done your part.
If you haven't voted yet, make time to do so, tomorrow, November 2nd, 2010.
It doesn't matter if you're a Democrat or Republican.  If you're an Independent or Tea-Party member or whatever.  The important thing is that you cast your vote for someone, anyone.
You Matter In This Election.
I know what many of you are saying.  I can't make a difference.  YOU CAN.  I don't like anyone running.  I think they're all crooks!  SO WHAT!  Vote … (7 comments)

 

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