Real estate blog entries tagged with raleigh by Mike Jaquish, 919-880-2769 Cary, NC, Real Estate (Realty Arts)

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raleigh: New Home Search Solution. Same friendly service! - 04/21/09 04:01 PM

My clients have another tool in their toolbox. I have signed up with IDXBroker for their MLS Search solution, and my friend Hal took it live tonight. Good job, Hal!
It is a first-class deal for clients and Realtor, offering the ability to search for homes within several parameters I did not have to offer before.
And the user interface is simple and intuitive.
Now visitors to my site can search via Google Maps, neighborhoods, City, Zip Code, and drill down to main floor master suites and fenced yards. Schools are also available search fields, too.
And they can search the MLS … (2 comments)

raleigh: Condominium or Townhome? Can you tell? - 03/31/09 03:30 AM

The distinction between condominiums and townhomes escapes a lot of folks. And many North Carolina agents, too. So I did a little Real Estate Show test from photos of buildings in Raleigh, Cary, and Apex, NC.
Play the real estate show below and on a piece of paper indicate whether each of the 15 structures in the photo is a condominium or townhome.
See, you can't really tell by looking at a building.
You MUST look at the legal description to determine whether you are looking at a condominium or a townhome.
The difference is not the … (6 comments)

raleigh: First-Time Homebuyers: $8,000 is not enough to make a stinky deal worthwhile! - 03/30/09 06:06 AM

So, every agent in Cary and Raleigh and Wake County is trumpeting the $8,000 first-time HomeBuyer's Tax Credit. And we are all reaching out to first-time buyers to help them.
Well, the Tax Credit is great for Buyers who need to do something this year. It can make buying more palatable in a tough market, amongst incredible doom and gloom.
But, $8,000 is NOT a good enough incentive to get into a bad deal. $8,000 is not enough money to compensate for poor real estate advice from a professional Realtor who is supposed to represent you as a fiduciary.
First-Time Buyers, … (4 comments)

raleigh: Wake County, NC: Property Tax Relief Information Sessions Scheduled - 03/04/09 04:07 AM

Sessions start March 9, 2009 in Raleigh, NC, and then will be held in Zebulon, Holly Springs, and Wake Forest through April.
Wake County Property Tax Relief is aimed at elderly, the disabled, and disabled veterans, with a cap on income to qualify.
The second link above also offers contact information to gain more information from the Wake County Revenue Department, a link to an application form, and charts with examples of the programs' savings based on income and home value.
… (0 comments)

raleigh: Craigslist Rental Scam - 03/02/09 12:24 PM

The neverending list of scams in the Raleigh area real estate section in CraigsList is quite impressive.
Renting someone else's home out to an unsuspecting sincere prospective tenant just to steal the deposit money is another new low.
Actually, this happened to a coworker in our Cary Keller Williams Realty office. We found her rental home listed on Craigslist where the scammer had copied and pasted the photo from Rent.com.
The email address was apparently real: her full name and a yahoo email address. And when she was painting at the house in Raleigh, and cleaning up the yard, she noticed that people were driving … (6 comments)

raleigh: How I choose home inspectors and other service professionals to recommend to clients... - 02/28/09 11:17 AM

It seems so evident that a Realtor would recommend top quality service professionals to clients. Yet it is common to see advice to "Never use the people recommended by the Realtor." Home inspectors come to mind immediately.
Who better to recommend a home inspector for a Home Buyer? The Cary Realtor who has seen innumerable inspection reports by local guys, or your co-worker's brother in law, who had one guy do one inspection a few years ago in Raleigh?
Liability? Can we avoid all liability and still act in a fiduciary role? Aren't we being paid to face down liability?
I … (6 comments)

raleigh: Good news! LADOM and CDOM come to the Triangle MLS today! - 11/11/08 07:56 AM

What a welcome addition in Raleigh-Cary, NC, area Real Estate!
As of today, we have two Days On Market details in the TMLS:
"LADOM" and "CDOM."
LADOM is for "Listing-Days-On-Market" and will tell us how many days that specific MLS number has been Active.
CDOM is for "Cumulative-Days-On-Market" and will tell us how many days that specific property has been Active, across all the MLS numbers. Buyers routinely ask for DOM when considering the Sellers' level of motivation.
So, if relisting is done with a new agent, CDOM reflect the entire time that it has been on the market. And if pulled and relisted by the … (11 comments)

raleigh: Foreclosures are for Rich People, Redux with video - 10/27/08 11:55 AM

A while back I wrote about how first-time buyers and others on a shoestring budget in the Raleigh Cary NC area may be in error if they concentrate their home search on foreclosures.
"Foreclosures are for Rich People"
I believe that thought to be timely yet, and made it the topic of my first video blog.
Just riffing about first-timers and foreclosures...

… (4 comments)

raleigh: Flickr? Well, Friendly Folks Find Fine Photos on Flickr - 10/16/08 07:58 AM

I got an email from Megan Cytron, Editor-at-Large, for Trazzler, some folks with a huge team of writers who write neat stuff about travel, food and other good things in life.
Megan wanted to know about using a photo of Stephenson's Barbecue, for an article in their ongoing series, "Following the North Carolina Barbecue Trail," and of course I said, "Sure!" Stephenson's Barbecue is located just about 20 miles south of Raleigh, and is a great lunch drive through the country from Cary, NC.
Map of Stephenson's Barbecue location.
Anyway, I got a byline that links to my website, and the word … (6 comments)

raleigh: BestHomePro search goes LIVE on MikeJaquish.com today! - 10/08/08 03:21 PM

Using "Find Your Home" on my site, MikeJaquish.com to search for a home in the Raleigh Cary area, just got better!
Today, Hal and the guys at Goodtree & Co. took my new IDX real estate search solution, BestHomePro, "Live." Hubba Hubba!
The user interface is revolutionary among third party search providers. It is map-based, and uses Microsoft Virtual Earth as the mapping solution. Microsoft Virtual Earth offers aerial photo views, Microsoft 3D images, and "Bird's-Eye" views. Birds-Eye views make me feel like I am right in front of the home, and then allow me to circle the home by pressing the rotation arrows. One fact I … (4 comments)

raleigh: Fiduciaries, "Creating Urgency," and Concerns about focus - 10/02/08 02:14 PM

I have heard a lot lately about Realtors "Creating Urgency" in prospective Buyers.
I don't like it. At all.
I don't like the concept, that someone should be pushed by a real estate agent to commit to being a Buyer. Why? So I can pocket a little more cash? Is that being a strong fiduciary? I think it seems too often to be self-serving.
My Buyer Clients are folks who have already made the decision that they will be homeowners, whether first-timers, move-up Buyers, or folks relocating to the Raleigh-Cary, North Carolina area. They will create their own urgencies, from their own lives. … (2 comments)

raleigh: Buyers' Agent Bonus and Additional Compensation Disclosure Redux: Questions North Carolina clients might ask - 10/02/08 12:43 PM

Having established that North Carolina Agents will need to disclose Additional Compensation, agent bonuses, and legal kickbacks and valuable awards from third parties when showing homes, I think there are several great questions for smart clients to ask. I would ask them if I were a prospective Buyer in the Raleigh Cary area.
See, the new North Carolina Agency Fee Disclosure rule operates at the Managing Broker or Firm level. Technically, that is the level at which the client engages agent services. The Client is technically not hiring the specific person, the "Individual Agent," but is actually engaging the firm. So disclosure is intended to clarify … (6 comments)

raleigh: Buyers' Agent Bonus and Additional Compensation Disclosure? Oh, Yeah! We got that and more in North Carolina! - 10/01/08 02:30 PM

What fun! A hearty welcome to NCAR Form 770!
Often when I see a group of people squirm, I start to grin, and I had that opportunity over the last couple of months when contemplating the new NCREC rule regarding Additional Compensation Disclosure.
Squirm.... Squirm... GRIN! GRIN!
Gosh, what a low blow! Now an agent has to disclose in writing (writhing?) any co-broke or agent bonus above a negotiated "baseline" prior to the client entering the decision-making process on a property. This mostly impacts Buyers' Agents, due to the nature of co-brokes and bonuses. It is uncommon, although possible, for the Buyer to … (9 comments)

raleigh: Raleigh, NC 27612, 3 BR, 2.5BA, .36 acre lot, with GREAT studio! PRICE REDUCED! - 09/17/08 03:29 AM

OPEN HOUSE, 2-4PM, 11/29 Classic Split Level in fine location! 5034 Hollyridge Drive, Raleigh, NC 27612 View Map This classic split level is well placed on a sloped lot to offer great curb appeal, a huge fenced back yard, and mature trees. The location is unbeatable, on a quiet street within a mile of Crabtree Valley Mall. The 15 x 20 foot studio in back can be an artist's delight, teen retreat or serve as a workshop. Inside there are new Stainless Steel appliances, fresh paint, gleaming hardwood floors, a wood stove insert in the masonry fireplace, and new windows throughout … (5 comments)

raleigh: Raleigh NC Real Estate: Avallon offers luxury and is "Close to Everything." - 06/23/08 12:46 PM

Avallon is a custom home community by Drees Homes in a prime Raleigh, NC, location just off of Edwards Mill Road.
Click here to view current Homes For Sale in Avallon.
View Larger Map
Very close to major shopping areas and the I-440 beltline, this community is a great option for anyone wanting luxury living combined with the convenience of still being in close proximity to all major Raleigh attractions. A commute to Cary, for work or shopping is also easy.

Residents in Avallon enjoy cul-de-sac homes where yard maintenance is included in your homeowner’s fees. The homes are … (4 comments)

raleigh: Raleigh and Cary, NC: Another Boost from Kiplingers! - 06/23/08 02:39 AM

Walkable cities indeed! #2 city in the USA!
Raleigh and Cary, NC, are featured in this video from Kiplingers.
It is SO easy to be a local booster when one routinely has news like this promoting the area.
And it sure helps the practice of real estate, when relocatees have had access to great stories like this. The video supports the affordable nature of housing in the region, showing existing homes available in the $250,000 range. It also celebrates the budding of renaissance in Downtown Raleigh.
Nice way to start the week!
… (4 comments)

raleigh: Raleigh NC Real Estate, Rue Sans Famille, Affordable enclave in desirable spot! - 06/21/08 03:35 PM

Located within close proximity of I-440, and Glenwood Avenue, is Rue Sans Famille, an older established neighborhood.
Click here to view currently available Rue Sans Famille homes.
View Larger Map
Rue Sans Famille is close to major shopping areas like Cameron Village or Crabtree Valley Mall; a fine medical facility, Rex Hospital, and is literally a jump away from the highway if you are commuting to RTP, or Cary.

The neighborhood was developed in the late 70’s and early 80’s. Rue Sans Famille homes sit upon heavily wooded lots and the architecture ranges from typical ranch style homes to … (0 comments)

raleigh: Raleigh, NC, Real Estate: Meredith Townes, Wonderful, affordable location! - 06/21/08 02:51 PM

Located along one of the major arteries of Raleigh, NC, Meredith Townes is a townhome neighborhood quietly nestled on wooded lots, in a prime location near the I-440 beltline, Rex Hospital, and other Triangle amenities.
View Larger Map
Click here to view currently available Meredith Townes homes.

The residents of Meredith Townes get to enjoy the convenience of Crabtree Valley Mall, Cameron Village, North Carolina State University, North Carolina Museum of Art, and downtown Raleigh. This heavily wooded area was developed in the late 60’s and early 70’s and most of the properties have 3 bedrooms, 2 full baths … (2 comments)

raleigh: Cary NC: Seasonal blooms vividly decorate our properties! - 06/21/08 02:22 PM

It seems like something is always in bloom in Cary, NC. The Raleigh area of central North Carolina is a vast gardener's opportunity. I love the opportunity for abundant color, with species following species right into the summer. We are having a bonanza so far this year, following the drought of last year. The flowering plants are much happier!
Right now the gladiolus are coming into play:

They join the long-blooming crape myrtles:

We have already seen the daylilies:

The spring azaleas are behind us:

The wildflowers along the interstates are out in force:

The invasive pest … (4 comments)

raleigh: Got "Blogger's Block?" You don't have to hit a home run every time! - 06/20/08 03:10 AM

Every Blogger gets a case of writer's block from time to time. Every one. Some recover faster than others, and some suffer tremendously.
I had about a 6 week episode recently where I couldn't do much of anything on my blogs, and it was driving me nuts. I propose the following self-taught lessons may help with Blogger's Block:
Lesson 1: As in Baseball, you don't have to hit a home run every trip to the plate. Just make contact, and it can be very satisfying and productive. A short blurb can be great. Yes, some folks raise the bar extremely high, with … (55 comments)

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