nc: Cary NC Real Estate Adventures: Closing Coordinator Keeps Grateful Agent On Track!
- 01/19/08 10:50 AM
Yep, that's right. Claire Hanes helped me slip out of the transaction strait-jacket. It helps me be a better agent. And that is what I owe my clients, continuously improved agency. I'm a little bit of a control freak, so sometimes it is hard to let go of details. And I would be pulling my hair out with a few transactions going at one time, and trying to stay on track with buyer or seller, dates and places, vendors and closing attorneys. Recently our Keller Williams, Cary, NC, office was blessed that Claire Hanes offered to begin contracting to coordinate closings. I knew it was a good … (4 comments)
nc: Cary NC Real Estate, Wake County Public School System Reassignment...
- 01/16/08 01:12 AM
With the dynamic growth of Wake County, NC, providing seats in schools is a difficult task for the Wake County Public School System. WCPSS is subject to criticism because of the nature of the beast. Too many kids are added faster than facilities can be provided. This is compounded by a policy of attempting to achieve an economic balance in schools, that schools across the county have similar levels of Free and Reduced (F & R) Lunch recipients. Magnet schools are historically desirable for the opportunities they offer, and this persuades some higher income families to apply for the lottery to get into the magnets. Magnet schools … (2 comments)
nc: Cary NC Real Estate, "Please don't eat the REALTOR!"
- 01/15/08 10:56 PM
Too much variation in Realtor quality? Too many business approaches that confuse the consumer? A new day is dawning. Ripped from the headlines in today's New York Times: "FDA says Cloned Food is Safe!" Jon Foster's quote is the clincher, "When you buy a box of Cheerios in New York and one in Champaign, Illinois, you know they are going to be the same. By shortening the genetic pool using clones, you can do a similar thing." I don't know why some cement industry guy's opinion is relevant but I can see the FTC just jumping on that bandwagon, cloning Realtors. To wit: "When you engage a real estate … (14 comments)
nc: Cary NC Real Estate: Internet presence. Design for current and future users or dial-up?
- 01/15/08 10:18 PM
Scrolling through the Real Estate Agent Web Design Tips group postings this morning, I came across this post by Agent Web Design about designing for screen resolutions to cater to as many users as possible We are being dragged kicking and screaming into a broadband/widescreen world. I understand the inclination and relative desirability of designing for the median or lower common denominator of technology, but now $599 computers coming with widescreen monitors and wireless internet access is widely available to near broadband service speeds. And Cary and Raleigh, as well as the surrounding Wake County, NC, areas are fairly well wired, with DSL and Cable access most common. I'm leaning towards … (0 comments)
nc: Cary and Raleigh, NC Real Estate: News and Observer gets one right! No need to buy foreclosure lists!
- 01/10/08 11:08 AM
The Raleigh News and Observer seldom misses an opportunity to get real estate facts twisted. But today, they got one right, pointing out that foreclosure lists are free, and there is no need for the average person to pay for those lists. "Ads sell foreclosure info that's free" on the front page of today's Business section brought that point home fairly well. They quoted a broker at a local firm who correctly mentioned the lack of margin in most foreclosure listings. This is interesting to me. Recently, the requests for foreclosure listings in Cary, Raleigh, Apex and other areas in and around Wake County, NC, has peaked again, … (5 comments)
nc: Cary NC Real Estate Adventures: Foggy windows
- 01/04/08 12:20 AM
Double pane windows are standard on homes in the Wake County, NC, area since the 1970's. Unfortunately, they are built to different quality levels. Some just fail before others, and it is not uncommon to walk into a 15 year old Cary or Raleigh home and see multiple windows with fog, or even dripping water, between the panes. Buyers and Sellers can get heated over the issue after a home inspection. Well, it isn't the end of life. The entire window usually does not need to be replaced. It is usually possible to replace only the two glass panes, with a new glazing package that has a new … (9 comments)
nc: Cary NC Real Estate, How to avoid selling your home: Aggravate the Buyer with weird negotiations.
- 01/03/08 02:53 PM
Three weeks before Christmas in Cary, NC.... Me: Buyer will go $108,000. LA counters at $119,000 from list price of $120,000. Buyer says whoa. Just doesn't want to push nickels back and forth to get there. No deal. No problem. It happens. They can't all be deals. Three weeks pass. LA calls me. LA: "Seller will do the deal at $114,000." I talk to my Buyer. Me: Buyer says $112,000. We'll close by the end of the year. LA: OK. Great! I get the offer together, make a run to Raleigh for signatures and initials, send it over. LA: Oh, He won't pay for the home warranty. Too good a price. I … (12 comments)
nc: Cary NC Real Estate, How to avoid selling your home: Backyard Dog Bombs are NOT "Upgraded Features"
- 12/08/07 02:37 PM
What can I say beyond the title? What do I need to say. Apparently something should be said to someone. Two homes today where we couldn't see the exterior. We were too busy looking where we were walking. I swear, that one house had to be home to two 600 pound mutts on high-fiber kibble/bit diets. And there had to be an easy week's worth of dog bomb inventory in the grass. After dodging one pile, I nearly stomped another, lost my balance and then I was doing the "Dog Bomb Shuffle." Looked like a '60's football player high-stepping through tires. What's up with that innovative little … (25 comments)
nc: Cary, NC Real Estate: MLS Upgrade coming in 2008! Better client service on the horizon.
- 12/07/07 03:28 PM
While the Triangle MLS TEMPO system is obviously antiquated, we have been given some hope for 2008. What I want from an MLS solution is easy access to current and historical data, and a platform to organize data, store it, and ship it to my clients and prospects. We will be upgraded from TEMPO version T3 to versionT5. I'm not sure precisely what that means, but it seems to me to be a later version, and I am quite optimistic that that alone is an improvement. Our T3 version shows a 1997 copyright. Ouch! In "MLS Years" that is about as old as Methusalah. Currently, the … (2 comments)
nc: Cary NC Real Estate: Local Real Estate Expert located by National Press through ActiveRain! Hi, Mr. Inman!!!
- 12/06/07 11:20 AM
I got a call from Glenn Roberts at Inman News today. Yessireee, he found this humble Cary, NC, real estate agent through ActiveRain. He found my blog on AR and interviewed me about my opinion of the subprime mortgage bailout.The quotes aren't perfect, but they work for me... This is the 2nd time in 2007 that blogging, AR blogging to be specific, has given me exposure in arespected national publication.Last spring it was BusinessWeek.com I think this exposure promotes me as a "Local Expert" in Wake County, North Carolina, better than any self-servingclaim I could concoct for myself.What Fun!!Blog On!!!!!!!!! And have your talking points ready. You just might be next! … (18 comments)
nc: Cary NC Real Estate Adventures: We'll go around the world to get the comps we want!
- 12/04/07 11:34 PM
We popped into the townhome, and my client said she could be interested in it, although it needs heavy redecoration. But it was priced about 11% high, well above anything that has ever sold in this Cary, NC, complex. Calculating values in townhome complexes is not too hard when only a few models and elevations comprise the community. There just isn't a lot of variation. And this complex is a typical example. So, I call the Listing Agent, and I ask about the List price vs. comps. Her, "Yeah, we couldn't find what we wanted in XYZ, so we went down the street to ABC and that's … (4 comments)
nc: Wake County North Carolina Property Tax Assessed Value vs. True Sales Value. The Missing Link is.......MISSING!
- 12/03/07 10:53 PM
Now that we have our new Assessed Tax Valuations in Wake County North Carolina, we are seeing the usual suspects come out of the woodwork in and around Cary and Raleigh, and other areas. Already real estate agents are huffing and puffing about assessed tax value, hoping to mislead people regarding the market value of property. They are playing on homeowners' fears regarding higher real estate taxes. "$10,000 below Tax Value!!!!" absolutely does not make a property a bargain. If that is all the market will support, it is likely that an appeal is in order to get the tax value reduced so it is in line … (2 comments)
nc: Cary, NC Real Estate Adventures: Full-Service Agent crawls under House. Buyer Client follows. What fun!!
- 12/03/07 01:17 PM
You read it right. Belly-crawling it was. We've toured the home twice, and my clients want to know what the potable water supply piping system is. In this area, built in 1995, that is quite likely to be polybutylene, with copper risers, a common method with local tract builders in the 1990's in Wake County, NC. The North Carolina Property Disclosure form is marked for copper and plastic. Hmmmm... I called the Listing Agent who called her clients. She then told me, "Mike, he should have marked "No Representation." He really isn't sure about the main system. He thinks it MIGHT be polybutylene." All we … (8 comments)
nc: Restrictive Covenants: No rendering plants, No trucks, "No person of any race other than the Caucasian race..."
- 11/25/07 02:15 PM
"No person of any race other than the Causcasian race shall use or occupy any building or any lot, except that this covenant shall not prevent occupancy by domestic servants of a different race domicilied with an owner or tenant." Seriously. A walk down Memory Lane. Not a particulary proud or joyful walk, either. This quote was taken from the recorded covenants of a Raleigh, Wake County, NC, subdivision where I wrote an offer for Buyer clients this weekend. I have heard of little notes like this, but it was the first time I have pulled something like this up myself. I … (15 comments)
nc: Wake County North Carolina Property Tax: How to submit your Re-Assessment Appeals
- 11/21/07 01:11 PM
With the average reassessment increasing property tax valuations 40% on average across Wake County, The first reactions of many people, after a little shock, was "How do I get THIS fixed." Well, don't rush the Wake County Courthouse with torches and pitchforks... It is well-secured. Wake County, NC, Courthouse: You won't get in with a pitchfork... You can enter an assessment appeal by following the instructions that came out in today's mail with the reassessment notice. Your best tool will be the price realized by Sellers in your neighborhood. Good data is your friend. Not sure how to proceed? I have posted a link to the instructions … (12 comments)
nc: Vanity License Plates...Who's got 'em? Who has the best one?
- 11/20/07 11:16 AM
Some agents use magnetic sign panels, car wraps, or lettering to notify the public they work in real estate. I have a license plate frame with my name and phone number on it. Also, I have a vanity plate on my truck that says: ELEVATE! I like it. It's simple, conveys my optimism, and is also part of my erstwhile motto: "ELEVATE YOUR GAME!" I'm probably going to pop 30 Bucks to the North Carolina DOT to transfer it to the car that I drive daily. I just couldn't believe it was available, without having to abbreviate or use an "8," or something Before I got … (25 comments)
nc: Cary NC Real Estate, Picardy Village: Wooded Lots and Custom Homes
- 11/19/07 02:02 PM
Picardy Village entrance sign Picardy Village is a cozy neighborhood of custom-built homes in Cary, NC. Picardy Village is off the west side of Lake Pine Road, between the Cary Parkway and US 64. Picardy Village is adjacent to Picardy Pointe. Click here to view currently available Active Listings in Picardy Village. See the Picardy Village photo set on Flickr. Downtown Raleigh and NC State University are about a 15-20 minute commute from Picardy Village. The Research Triangle Park, "RTP," is about 25 minutes. Heavy drive-time traffic can increase those commute times.
Picardy Village was developed in the mid-1990's by MacGregor Development Company. Mostly 1.5 and two-story homes comprise … (9 comments)
nc: Wake County North Carolina Property Tax Re-Assessments go public today. Average 40% increase!
- 11/19/07 12:51 PM
Sounds bad, right? A 40% increase in assessed Tax Values in Wake County, NC real estate tax values for 2008. There's a little more to the story, as well-reported by WRAL-TV. 1. The property tax bills will not increase by 40% immediately. The Wake County tax rate will be reduced to prevent a massive increase in County revenue. 2. Property tax assessed values are only tenuously linked to market value. 3. Rates are set annually, but assessments are only updated every eight years. Assessments are NOT updated when a home is sold. 4. The current Wake County rate is .678 mills. It will be reset at … (4 comments)
nc: Cary NC Real Estate, "Remove shoes?" My reply: "Please turn up the HEAT!"
- 11/19/07 06:45 AM
Sure, I press my clients to remove shoes in a nice clean home, when the Seller makes the request. It is courtesy, and reasonable. And some cultures just do not wear shoes in the house. Respect. I'm all for it. But we are approaching winter in North Carolina. NC winter is not Arctic, but it does get cool. So, the first two homes I showed on Saturday were vacant. One had laminate floors. The other had a lot of hardwoods. And the heat was OFF in the first one, and very low in the second one. I was in the company of a young … (12 comments)
And it is the time of year when furnaces come on for the first time in months. Also a great time to have an inspection performed on an older unit, to make certain it is ready for another heating season. The most common furnace safety issue in Cary, Raleigh, and all of Wake County, NC, is the failure of the heating unit's "heat exchanger." The heat exchanger is a chamber, or series of tubes, through which … (8 comments)
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