and what does that mean for you when buying or selling real estate in Raleigh and the surrounding Research Triangle area?

Now instead of various dates to obtain financing, negotiate home inspections, obtain surveys, get appraisals, etc.  there is a due diligence period for all your investigation to be performed and negotiated. The due diliengence fee which the buyer gives to have the option of performing his due diligence is optional although I would think most sellers would want it because it is nonrefundable and because the wording in  the new offer per an  attorney I spoke with allows the purchaser to terminate during the due diligence period for a reason or no reason. If that occurs then at least the seller gets the due diligence fee.  The earnest money is another issue.  Attorneys have told me that if you terminate the contract before the end of the due diligence period your earnest money would be returned but if you  terminate after the due diligence period, your earnest money is at risk unless the seller doesn’t honor the contract.  Why is all this important to you as a prospective homebuyer or seller? It means there now is a definite timeline to follow unless both parties down the road decide to renegotiate that time. This will require all parties to have done their home work  in advance of buying or selling a home. For the buyer you should start with becoming preapproved not just prequalified to purchase a home with a lender and for the seller, you may want to consider having the property inspected before putting it on the market and you want to be sure to check your old survey for possible encroachments that  could add a snag at closing.

It is a new way in buying a home or investment property in RaleighNC but lucky for you there are professionals, trained in listing and selling real estate using the new forms to guide you through the process.  You don’t have to go it alone.  Happy real estate hunting!

This is a test to see if it will work

Now is the time to get off the fence if you’re planning to invest in real estate. Between the supply of foreclosures, short sales, builder inventory and other real estate properties in the Raleigh NC area and the rise of current mortgage rates, you can no longer afford to put off purchasing a home or investing in Raleigh real estate. Those who know me heard me say more than once last year that all predictions I heard from economists at National Association of REALTORS meetings and RE/MAX International meetings was that beginning 2011, rates would start to rise and would continue through the year. That time has arrived in the Raleigh/Durham/Chapel Hill market as rates have moved over 5% and show no signs of returning to the lows experienced last year. The good news is that these are still great rates from when I bought my first house at 13.25%, thrilled the rates had dropped that low. You also can choose from more reduced price inventory of houses, townhomes, condos, vacation properties than in the past. Contact a local lender and get prequalified today. Meet with a real estate agent like myself who has the experience and knowledge to make your real estate purchase a seamless transaction. So what are you reading this blog for? Times a wasting!

A real estate agent can serve a number of purposes. It does not matter whether you are buying or selling a home. If you are going to be purchasing a property it can be extremely important to make sure that everything is in line with city and state code. The realtor can help notify you of what exactly that city and state code is.

Realtors tend to have very updated lists. Even if you happen to do your own research the list of properties and prices available in the given area where you live are not likely to be as up to date as they can be. Some real estate agents are not actually realtors because they are not actually registered with the National Association of Realtors. It is a good idea to recruit someone who is a realtor for a number of reasons.

There is a lot of formal paperwork that can be associated with the financing of a home sale. A home buyer often can not handle all of this paperwork on their own. The realtor can take of these formal aspect of the sale for you.

There are a lot of aspects about closing costs that can be quite complicated with a home sale. The realtor can make sure that the closing costs happen to be dealt with and that you can move on to actually being inside your home. The most important thing that a realtor can do for many people is to set up a time for them to go visit a home that they may have interest in buying.

If you’re looking to buy or sell in Raleigh, North Carolina, contact me and let me and my team of agents help you!

The purpose of selling a house for most people, is to command the highest price that they can, which in turn will allow them to move on, either to a new home or some other type of investment. Careful planning and a little elbow grease can have your home in the best possible shape to be shown.

Listed below are 5 Tips to Prepare Your Home to Sell in Raleigh, North Carolina
1) Disassociate yourself from your home. It does not matter if this is the first home you ever bought, or your childhood home. Once you make the decision to sell, you need to focus on the things that are going to produce the best value, and not remain attached to memories.

2) Have a friend whose opinion you trust, walk through and give you feedback on what they find appealing and unappealing about your home. Remember they are there to help you, and sometimes we need a fresh set of eyes.

3) De-personalize your home. Remove the clutter, and personal items that many people feel make it home. You want the buyer to be able to envision their possessions within the home.

4) Clean the home from top to bottom. Have the carpets and even the drapery clean. Clean and straighten closets and cabinet. Don’t forget to clean the appliances, inside and out.

5) Ensure that the yard and outside of the home presents the most attractive view that it can. Cut the grass and trim the shrubs. If it is the right season, plant some color.

Many prospective buyers have already made an impression before they enter the door. Let it be a good impression.  For more a detailed checklist of tips for selling your home, or to talk with a professional, please give me a call!