Karen Lorenzo's (classickl) Blog

Fonville Morisey A Better Choice

Karen Lorenzo (Fonville Morisey & Barefoot) — Sat, 14 Feb 2009 01:59:07 -0800

Bigger Market Better Choice Serving Clayton, NC and the Triangle Area Fonville Morisey Lead the Triangle Market in Resale Listings at 14% We have an Award winning Relcoation Dept. In-House Morgage Company Exclusive Warranty Program Free with all Listings I don't just List homes I sell them 85% of all Buyers start their search on the Web My website comes up #3 on Google for Johnston County Relocation (organically) www.classichomesnc.com

GOTTA LOVE MY POINT 2

Karen Lorenzo (Fonville Morisey & Barefoot) — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 14:24:35 -0700

Thats it! gotta love it!

E-Commerce, Business and Marketing online- NC Real Estate Partners -KLO

Karen Lorenzo (Fonville Morisey & Barefoot) — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 14:02:52 -0700

WHAT IS E-COMMERCE? You would be surprised but when asked most people don't really know what e-commerce is and its really just merely Business and Marketing online.Over the years since the technology boom e-commerce has emerged as the leader in business and marketing mainly because everyone who has a business also has a website. And with the start of E-bay many years ago e-commerce became the wave of the future. If you look on E-bay today you can find anything and everything being sold. And now with the change in the Real Estate market it has become the biggest tool that Realtors have to sell their listings. Craigs list has become a popular place to upload listings as well as websites like this. Who would have thought 20 years ago we would be selling homes over the internet, or cars. It used to be in the early 90's that it would be anything that could easily be drop shipped or put in a box and shipped UPS.Along with the business side you must be able to Market your business and it doesn't mean you just pick any web design company and throw up some graphics and text. The average website visitor will make their decision in the first 30 seconds of a website visit whether or not a site is user friendly and if yours isn't, that visitor is likely to move one to the next. After all, we only have to put in a few search terms into google and viola' we have a number of choices. Most of us will choose the site with the best marketing and the one that is the most user friendly. Try it, search the internet and view webpages, when you find one that won't load quickly because there is too much Flash or one that is so confusing once you get there that you can't find what your looking for let me know how long it takes before you move on to the next. And when you find one you like and you find your self roaming the pages, pay attention to what you like about it, and try to emmulate that in your webpage.Also google Robin Williams Web Design she has some great tips on placement and how your eye views webpages. SURFS UP!

YES ITS A BUYERS MARKET BUT YOU HAVE TO HAVE THE POWER!

Karen Lorenzo (Fonville Morisey & Barefoot) — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 14:20:09 -0700

OK SO WE KEEP HEARING ON THE NEWS ALL ABOUT THE BUYERS MARKET YES WE KNOW, WE IN FACT AFTER ALL ARE REALTORS, HOWEVER YOU CAN'T EXACTLY HAVE THE POWER TO BUY UNLESS OF COURSE YOU DO TWO THINGS FIRST. I HAVE HAD MANY BUYERS LATELY THAT WANT TO LOOK AT HOMES BECAUSE ITS A "BUYERS MARKET" UNFORTUNATELY WHEN I LEARN MORE ABOUT THE PROSPECT I FIND THAT THEY DO NOT HAVE THEIR CURRENT HOME LISTED AND THEY ARE NOT PRE-APPROVED. ALTHOUGH WE ARE IN A GREAT BUYING MARKET THE FACT IS LENDERS ARE NOT IN A "GIVING MOOD" AND YOU MUST HAVE ALL YOUR DUCKS IN A ROW SO TO SPEAK OR WHEN YOU FIND THAT HOME THAT YOU "LOVE, LOVE, LOVE" YOU WON'T BE IN ANY POSITION TO BUY, BUY,BUY UNLESS YOU HAVE DONE TWO THINGS. ITS GREAT TO DO YOUR HOMEWORK BUT THERE IS ALOT OF MISINFORMATION OUT THERE ABOUT BUYING AND SELLING HOMES AND OF COURSE WHERE THE MARKET IS. ONE THING I WOULD RECOMMEND IS THAT BEFORE YOU GO OUT SEARCHING HAVE YOUR HOME LISTED CONTINGENCIES ARE NOT IDEAL SITUATION AND UNLESS YOUR UNDER CONTRACT (AND EVEN THEN) YOU MIGHT NOT GET YOUR OFFER ACCEPTED. ALSO UNDERWRITERS ARE VERY CAUTIOUS AT THE MOMENT AND RIGHTLY SO...SO GET YOUR AFFAIRS IN ORDER WITH REGARDS TO LENDING AND GET PRE-APPROVED FIRST. IF YOU HAVENT' DONE THESE TWO THINGS THEN YOU DON'T REALLY HAVE AS MUCH BUYING POWER AS YOU MAY THINK!

Preparing your home for the Buyer

Karen Lorenzo (Fonville Morisey & Barefoot) — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 11:59:30 -0800

Curb AppealOne of the most important things in selling a home is first impressions and theres no better way to make a first impression than by making your home appealing from curbside.Lanscaping Planting a few flowers or plants can do a lot to a front yard.Pull dead plants and trim overgrown ones. Water and Feed also Get rid of Brush leaves and junk Plant fresh flowers and keep watered.Now is a good time to have a yard sale, get rid of those items that you don't planto take with you. Do this before you put your house on the market to greatly reduce the "cluttered look".Start packing away little things that you don't use everyday.Recycle magazines, newspapers, bottles, cans and old toys.A freshly cut lawn is very appealing and Lime is one of the best ways to green up a lawn.If you have vinyl siding pressure wash at least the front of the home. Paint the trim on the windows and clean the windows.Inside make it fresh and new again!Inside, everything should be spotless.Spending some money to have someone do heavy "spring cleaning" if needed can bring a return many times over in the sales price and time on the market.A fresh coat of light colored paint on the walls is always recommended.Painting only the trim and the doors will add a lot.Check to see that all doors open and close freely. Oil any squeaky doors.Replace any burned out light bulbs. Brighter lights enhance many rooms.Steam clean the carpets if new carpeting is not possible and to help eliminate any pet odors. Wash and wax linolium floors. Repair or replace damaged or missing tiles.Bathrooms should sparkle. Remove soap scum and mildew. Replace old looking toilet seats. Kitchens should be clean and bright. Clean oven and stove top. Exhaust fans should be free of grease and dust. Clear all unnecessary objects from the countertops.Keep curtains and blinds open and interior lights on for a bright warm cozy feeling.Store clutter in boxes or storage units or a relative until the closing.Buyers react most strongly to kitchens, and master bedrooms and baths so it pays to concentrate your efforts here. Shampoo Rugs or replace if need be.Try switching out to some new pillows and switch plates add a couple ceiling fans. Replacing new shower curtains and a few new throw rugs can always spruce up a room.Preview the competition's open houses to see what you are up against in both pricingand condition. Potential buyers will be previewing these and more.I always try to view a home as if I were going to buy it what would I want to see and how would I want to feel when I open the door and step in side.

The Hamptons and Hasentree

Karen Lorenzo (Fonville Morisey & Barefoot) — Sat, 09 Feb 2008 02:29:01 -0800

Hi I just had to talk about two Beautiful Properties in Chatham County. This area is growing very fast and I had the wonderful opportunity to visit these properties yesterday with a good Friend Andy May who is a lender in the Raleigh Area. he organized a Bus Tour of this area with luncheon and it was fabulous. The first is The Hamptons a 182 acre community in Chatham County. Wow is all I can say what a beautiful piece of property being developed by Windjam lots are being sold in the 200K to 350K range and homes will start I believe at 900K to over 2Million. Rolling hills abound in Historic Pittsboro, NC. This property was owned in the 1800's by a doctor and still has the original property that he lived and worked in then with its original stone well that the house was built around it is gorgeous. If you have not had a chance to visit this its a must see. Also a great golf community is Chapel Ridge 31 different builders and great Golfing designed by Fred Couples. Another great property we saw was Hasentree in Wake Forest Area which is a Premier Golf Community. Almost 1000 acres of European style homes with Endless Amenities and they just also hired an Activity Coordinator to keep your kids busy as well as give everyone something to do. There is a Fitness Club , Golf Walking ,trails etc. Resort style living 24/7 365 days a year is what you will get here at Hasentree. The Golf course was designed by Tom Fazio and is set back from the homes. We visited one of the homes for sale by one of the Builders which was priced at 4.4 Mil..it was breath taking with its Endless Pool and Waterfront View. Everything you could possibly want in a luxury home. I would recommend visiting either one of these properties and I would be happy to Take you there I enjoyed myself. What a nice area!

Really Its just a Joke!

Karen Lorenzo (Fonville Morisey & Barefoot) — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 13:27:03 -0800

A guy from New York dies and is sent to Hell. He had been a horrible man his entire life. The devil puts him to work breaking up rocks with a sledgehammer. To make it worse, he cranks up the temperature and the humidity. After a couple of days, the devil checks in on his victim to see if he is suffering adequately. The devil is aghast as the New Yorker is happily swinging his hammer and whistling a happy tune. The devil walks up to him and says, "I don't understand this. I've turned the heat way up, it's humid, and you're crushing rocks....Why are you so happy?" The New Yorker, with a big smile, looks at the devil and replies, "This is great! It reminds me of August in New York -- hot, humid, a good place to work. It reminds me of home. This is fantastic!" The devil, extremely perplexed, walks away to ponder the New Yorker's remarks. Then he decides to drop the temperature, send down a driving rain and torrential wind. Soon Hell is a wet, muddy mess. Walking in mud up to his knees with dust blowing into his eyes, the New Yorker is happily slogging thru the mud pushing a wheelbarrow full of crushed rocks. Again, the devil asks how he can be happy in such conditions. The New Yorker replies, "This is great! Just like April in New York It reminds of working out in the yard with spring planting!" The devil is now completely baffled but more determined to make the New Yorker suffer. He makes the temperature plummet. Suddenly Hell is blanketed in snow and ice. Confident that this will surely make the New Yorker unhappy, the devil checks in on him. He is again aghast at what he sees. The New Yorker is dancing, singing, and twirling his sledgehammer as he cavorts in glee. "How can you be so happy? Don't you know it's 40 below zero??!?!?!??" screams the devil. Jumping up and down, the New Yorker throws a snowball at the devil and yells, "Hell's frozen over!! This means the Giants won the Super Bowl!!"

Basics of Contract Law

Karen Lorenzo (Fonville Morisey & Barefoot) — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 12:42:23 -0800

Unilateral Contract vs. Bilateral Contract.A real estate sales contract is a "bilateral" (two-way) agreement. The seller agrees to sell, and the buyer agrees to buy. Compare this with an option; an option is a unilateral (one-way) agreement in that the seller is obligated to sell, but the buyer is not obligated to buy - it is his option to do so. A bilateral agreement with a "liquidated damages" provision has the same result if the buyer fails to close escrow then the seller keeps the buyer's earnest money and (most likely they argue over who is right and whos is not so the courts keep it anyway.)Basic Legal Requirements of a Real Estate Contract.There are some basic requirements that must be present to make a real estate contract valid:Mutual Assent. As stated earlier, there must mutual agreement or "meeting of the minds."In Writing. With few exceptions, a contract for purchase and sale of real estate must be in writing to be enforceable. Thus, if a buyer makes an offer in writing and the seller accepts orally, then backs out, the buyer is out of luckIdentify the Parties. The contract must identify the parties. Although not legally required, a contract commonly sets forth full names and middle initials (it helps the title company in preparation of the title commitment). Identify the Property. The contract must identify the property. Although not required, the legal description should be set forth. A vague description such as "my daddys farm" may not be specific enough to create a binding contract.Purchase Price. The contract must state the purchase price of the property.Consideration. A contract must have consideration to be enforceable. Consideration is the benefit, interest or value that induces a promise; it is the glue that binds a contract. The amount of the consideration is not important, but just that there is consideration at all. Signatures. A contract must be signed to be enforceable. The party signing must be of legal age and sound mind. If you are entering into a contract for purchase of a home and do not understand hire an attorney. It will probably be the best $400 you ever spend.