home buyers: Why Interest Rates Shouldn’t be Scaring Homebuyers - 08/22/23 10:33 AM
Here are 3 reasons why high mortgage interest rates should not be scaring homebuyers:1) Prices are continuing to increase in the Triangle NC area. Home values have been appreciating in 2023 and are expected to continue at a modest rate. There is no price crash coming in the NC housing market. People waiting for the market to correct or go down are making a mistake.
2) Waiting to save money toward a home purchase doesn't work right now. Rents are very high, and even if you have a free place to stay, you may be paying to store your furniture, and you … (2 comments)

home buyers: Interest Rates are Not Slowing Down Buyers in NC - 04/12/23 08:27 AM
Interest Rates are Not Slowing Down Buyers in NCPredictions were that rising mortgage interest rates would slow down buyers in 2023. Interest rates have actually fallen over the last few weeks of March, and as of mid-April, rates are between 5% & 6%. Most buyers in the Cary and Durham, NC, area are seeing listings sell very quickly and are encountering multiple offer scenarios. This is happening at all price points. Personally, I’ve had clients encounter this at $400,000, $550,000, and $800,000, including over the holiday Easter weekend.
Why is this happening, you ask?Two things – Buyers do not want to pay … (3 comments)

home buyers: Tips When Rates are High - 10/06/22 10:15 AM
Tips for buying a home when rates are over 5%.Tips When Rates are High – While mortgage interest rates are higher than they were a few years ago, they are still historically low. Between 1971 and 2020, average rates on a 30-yr mortgage were close to 8%. Higher rates are generally associated with periods of economic growth, lower unemployment, and wage growth. It may cost you more to purchase a home right now than a year ago, but it is still a good time to purchase.
Look beyond the 30-yr fixed rate mortgage.There are a variety of mortgage loans available, which can be … (3 comments)

home buyers: 1406 Mahonia Ct Raleigh NC Home for Sale - 06/08/22 06:54 AM
Desirable N. Raleigh End-Unit Townhome 1st-floor owner suite 2 spacious bedrooms upstairs with a shared bathroom Updated laminate flooring Stainless appliances Separate dining room 2-story living room Front porch Covered rear deck Walkable distance to Sola Coffee, Gonza’s Tacos, and Kai Sushi Target, Home Depot, and grocery stores are just a short drive away See more here: 1406mahonia.com
Want to tour this great home for sale in Raleigh, NC? Call or text Amy at (919) 818-5001 or Contact Amy Shair here.
Follow Amy Shair on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AmyShairRealEstate
(4 comments)

home buyers: Should You Buy Now or Wait? - 01/18/22 08:49 AM
Should You Buy Now or Wait? – Are you thinking the housing market may slow down? Trends and recent data show that now is the time to purchase your home rather than waiting to save more money or wait for house prices to stabilize.
Here are the facts:
Interest rates are starting to riseNovember 1, 2021, the average 30 yr. fixed mortgage rate was 3.35% and as of January 17, 2022, that has increased to 3.87%.New Construction inventory remains very lowBuilders are still experiencing supply chain issues which have caused delays and a lower number of new homes being sold each month. Many … (1 comments)

home buyers: Using Equity Out Of Your Current Home To Buy A New Home - 07/21/21 07:20 AM
Buying a new home before selling your current home is a real possibility in 2021. As the real estate market has heated up, deposits are increasing, so to buy a home in the Triangle area will require you to have a higher amount of cash upfront when you make your offer instead of most of your down payment being paid at closing. Buyers are basically paying most of their down payment to the seller as a non-refundable deposit at the time the offer is accepted.
Get an equity line on your current home
If your down payment is mostly the equity in your … (0 comments)

home buyers: Why Buying is Still the Ideal Option, Even in a Seller’s Market - 05/17/21 01:36 PM
Why Buying is Still the Ideal Option, Even in a Seller’s Market – I’m sure that by now you’ve heard over and over how we’re dealing with a seller’s real estate market. That phrase might create some hesitancy when considering purchasing a home right now and could be keeping you in a rental.
Buying a home is certainly not a small expenditure. Thinking about recurring property taxes, insurance payments and upkeep can become overwhelming. There are pros and cons to every decision we make. So, I am going to share with you some reasons why buying a home might be a better option for … (1 comments)

home buyers: Top 4 Things Buyers Look For In a Kitchen - 02/16/21 09:28 AM
Top 4 Things Buyers Look For In a Kitchen – When I am working with buyers, they almost always have a wish list that includes an upgraded kitchen. When working with sellers, one of the first questions I am asked is which kitchen upgrades are most important to make. So, I am going to break down what kitchen features buyers are looking for that will get the best return on your investment.
The Top 4 Things Buyers Look For in a Kitchen:
Wood floors Island and solid surface countertops Stainless steel appliances Kitchen Storage Wood Floors
Starting off with wood floors, they can … (3 comments)

home buyers: The Amy Shair Guide to Triangle Relocation 2021 - 01/14/21 07:02 AM
Planning a move to the Triangle?
The Amy Shair Guide to Triangle Relocation 2021. Relocating in 2021 is different than it was in 2019 and early 2020 (pre-COVID). The 2 biggest reasons for relocating-buyers moving now are 1) a new job or improved job security with a new employer and 2) making an improvement in their lifestyles which they had been procrastinating to make for more than a year.
Previously people looking to relocate were shopping for the perfect job or calculating the perfect time to relocate and now that there has been a worldwide reminder that time is precious; buyers are realizing … (0 comments)

home buyers: New Construction Update Summer 2020 - 08/11/20 11:12 AM
Timely information on the Triangle real estate market is critically important. Here is the New Construction Update Summer 2020:
The COVID-19 pandemic has affected the 2020 Triangle real estate but maybe not in the way you think.New construction starts (aka permits) slowed or stopped in late March through April; meanwhile, builders continued to finish houses that were in process. Construction was considered an essential industry in NC so builders kept vendors working as much as possible. Once the shutdown was lifted in NC, building starts picked back up. Builders discounted homes that were complete to get them sold but as soon as … (0 comments)

home buyers: What Exactly is a Home Inspection? - 02/25/20 10:38 AM
Home InspectionThere are lots of things called an inspection when you are buying a home – termite inspection, home inspection, final inspection, city/county inspection, radon inspection, the pre-drywall inspection, well and septic inspections, heating and air inspection, and yes, there are more inspections that can be done.
The inspection that covers the most items on a property you purchase is called a home inspection (aka private home inspection). In NC you should hire a licensed home inspector. In 1994, North Carolina established the North Carolina Home Inspector Licensure Board (NCHILB). There are professional associations for home inspectors such as ASHI and InterNACHI and they are … (1 comments)

home buyers: 5 Reasons to Work with a Buyer’s Agent on New Construction - 05/23/19 08:11 AM
New construction is absolutely booming in the Triangle area.With new homes sales going at a brisk pace, some buyers are worried they will lose their favorite lot or miss out on the one house under construction that meets all of their needs. However, it is in the buyer’s best interest to not rush into a new construction purchase without the assistance of a real estate agent.
Here are 5 reasons why having a buyer’s agent is a must when purchasing new construction:  
The builder’s representative is often not a licensed real estate agent but an employee of the builder. Their legal obligations … (0 comments)

home buyers: How Buyers Can Get a Leg Up in a Seller’s Market - 04/03/19 07:11 AM
Spring is in the air – the weather may be just starting to warm up, but the real estate market is already hot! Spring has proven year after year to be the season in which the real estate market takes off. Buyers are out in droves, trading cabin fever for open houses, and their house hunt usually starts with a goal of closing on a home and having time to get settled in before fall. Spring tends to bring more listings to the market, but on the flip side, it also brings more competition between buyers. In the spring market, it … (1 comments)

home buyers: Buying vs. Renting in the current market - 01/11/19 01:30 PM
What are the benefits of buying versus renting in the current market? There is a lot of information online about apartments being built. With interest rates on the rise, many people are wondering if buying still makes sense or if they should continue to rent.
Here are my top reasons that renting right now is probably not best for most people. Avoid rent increasesThe number one benefit of homeownership is that you’re not subject to the arbitrary price increases from a landlord. If you’ve rented, you know that at the end of the year you’re inevitably going to get a letter that says … (1 comments)

home buyers: Not Happy with the Housing Market? Time to Check Your Expectations - 12/14/17 08:59 AM
A great obstacle to happiness is to expect too much happiness.
– Bernard de Fontenelle
We live in a world where 24 hours a day you can watch any number of television shows that tell the story of buying a fantastic home—all in a matter of 50 minutes! A lovely couple looks at three homes, picks one out, and is happy for life. But this constant stream of nicely packaged home buying experiences gives real-life homebuyers unrealistic expectations.
Going into the home buying experience with unrealistic expectations leads to frustrations, disappointments, and discouragement. It can create fights between you and your partner or … (0 comments)

home buyers: Impervious Soil and Surveys – What a Buyer Must Know - 02/02/16 12:36 PM
Impervious Soil and Surveys – What a Buyer Must Know Posted on January 6, 2016 by Amy Shair When you are buying land, a townhome or a detached home it is important that you get an updated survey before closing.
Buyers sometimes think they do not need one because it is obvious where the property lines are located or they have a copy of an older survey.  In the Triangle area there are restrictions on how much you can build on a property.
There are building setbacks that tell you how far from the property lines a house or garage … (2 comments)

home buyers: Home Location, Location, Location: How Important is It? - 02/02/16 12:34 PM
Home Location, Location, Location: How Important is It? If you’ve spent any time in the real estate market, you have heard the old phrase, “Location, Location, Location.” Yet, this adage is often applied to sellers, but just how relevant is location to the buyer? Actually, choosing a home with a good location is almost more important to you as a buyer than it would be to a potential seller. Here are some factors to consider.
Proximity to Work
Long commutes are sometimes a necessity, but in reality no one enjoys them. Consider choosing a home in a location that is close … (0 comments)

home buyers: A Buyer's Top Desires for a Real Estate Agent - 01/03/15 12:16 AM
 

Today’s Homebuyer is looking for certain characteristics in their Real Estate Professional.  All of the points below are what I am seeing as I work with buyers.
 
1.  Brutal Honesty:  The Buyer in today’s market is looking for guidance and support.  Often this means that they want to hear the truth of a situation (even if it is hard to hear).  They want to get to a resolution quickly and most effectively reach the desired goal.
 
2.  Exceptional Service:  Today’s Buyer is looking for top level service.  They desire an expert in a desired area who can answer … (0 comments)

home buyers: Do It Yourself Paint Tips - 01/03/15 12:04 AM
 

Whether you just bought a house or are getting ready to re-arrange a room, touch-up painting is inevitable.  Even if you just had your house painted, small marks can show up from additional work that was done or re-positioning your furniture back into the rooms.
All of us have gone into a home where you can see every spot that was touched up because the paint didn’t quite match or you can see the brush strokes or roller lines along the wall.
Here are tips to make sure no one can see you touched up
Use flat paint – Flat paint is … (1 comments)

home buyers: 5 Tips to Make Your Offer Stand Out in Multiple Offer Situation - 12/11/14 09:47 PM
5 Tips for Buyers to Make Your Offer Stand Out in Multiple Offer Situation  
The Triangle real estate market has been very busy since 2012. The number of properties for sale that have received multiple offers continues to be high in areas that have a shortage of what I call “quality inventory”.
Quality inventory means homes that are updated and staged properly and are priced competitively.
Multiple offers are when the seller has more than one offer to negotiate at the same time.
Buyers can put their best foot forward by understanding the things that may make their offer stand out to … (1 comments)

 
Amy Shair, Award-Winning Agent 25+ Years (Cary Apex Durham NC Referrals - eXp Realty)

Amy Shair

Award-Winning Agent 25+ Years

Duke University, NC

More about me…

Cary Apex Durham NC Referrals - eXp Realty

Address: 51 Kilmayne Drive Suite 100, Cary, NC, 27511

Office: (919) 469-6539

Mobile: (919) 818-5001

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