I have had the honor to work closely with a family that has made a couple of real estate purchases here in Fayetteville. They are from NY and most recently they purchased a short sale and it was in really bad condition. The house itself was well made and structurally sound. The issues were extensive cosmetic ones inside. The buyers were able to see beyond the issues and they came up with a plan to renovate the house and resale it. They opened the space up by removing a wall, closing in an outside door and installing a window. Everything in the house is new. Upgraded kitchen and bathroom cabinetry, new tile, carpet and laminate floors, new plumbing fixtures, new HVAC system and new windows. It is not just the fact that it was remodeled, but the quality of the work is outstanding. This house, listed for $108,000, is an absolute bargain with the number of upgrades that were added to it. If you are interested in learning more about this house, visit our website at http://www.debbiewaitleyrealtor.com and search for 905 Hunters View Drive, Fayetteville, NC. The pictures will amaze you and you will be on the phone, calling to schedule your private showing.
Exit Realty
Lots of Space in Hope Mills, NC
I have a great house for sale in Hope Mills, NC. It is in a great location, in the back of a neighborhood, with the yard backing up to a wooded area. I really would like to get some potential buyers out to look at it. Like most properties, it does have pros and cons and I would like to take a few minutes to take you on a tour. It starts with location, which I have already described. It has a sloping back yard, which a lot of people do not like. But this gives the opportunity for a high deck that overlooks the wooded area behind the house, giving it a kind of resort feel. There is a nice, spacious dog run in the corner of the yard that stays. There are also several fruit trees planted in the backyard. The front of the house has a large, deep porch, perfect for multiple rocking chairs. Inside the house, you enter by way of a foyer, which leads into the great room. The great room is large enough for your big furniture and the fireplace is the focal point. The eat in kitchen also has a dining bar, which adds space to your dining area. The kitchen is roomy with a bay window that lets in a lot of light. The master and two bedrooms are downstairs. Upstairs is a great surprise! At the top of the stairs is a wonderful, large landing with multiple built in bookshelves. Everyone can use extra storage!! There is a forth bedroom, plus a bonus room. The children’s bedrooms are brightly painted in their favorite colors. Some people do not like the colors, but really, for the competitive price that this house is listed at, plus a painting allowance, can you not have the house painted before you move in?? The house, with four bedrooms, plus a bonus room, at 2300 square feet, is only listed at $169,000, well below other houses of this size in Hope Mills. So, if you would like to take an actual tour and see this house, contact me and I will be glad to arrange it.
Reliability of Real Estate Information
As I work with a lot of home buyers and sellers, I can constantly see the effect of the HGTV network and the internet. These are great forums and buyers and sellers are coming to the table much better informed than they were 5 to 10 years ago. My word of caution to you is to realize that real estate, like many economic issues, is very geographically specific. It is true that there are general trends that affect everyone, such as tighter credit criteria, more foreclosures, lower housing prices and lower interest rates, that still varies greatly from one locale to another. When I have someone come into the Fayetteville market and expect to be able to buy a foreclosure at 1/2 the asking price, because that is the way that it happens on television, I have to explain to them that is not the reality in our market. Also, as I was getting ready for work this morning, I had HGTV on (yes, I love their shows), but the couple trying to sell their home and discussing their options had a calendar hanging on their wall for 2010, three years ago. A lot changes in three years and from place to place. So my advice to you is to learn what you can from television and the internet, but find a very good real estate agent that you trust and then let them guide you through the process. They are the expert in your local market and they will be able to give you the best advice.
Should I Get a Building Permit?
To Stage or Not To Stage
We had a great meeting today at our Real Estate Office with Abracadabra Home Staging of Raeford, NC. We are constantly trying to improve the service that we give to our clients. With so many houses on the market today, we need to make sure that the houses that we list highlight their best features and stand out among the masses. Thus, we called on the expertise of Tameka, the home staging magician. She gave us a lot of good advice and information today that will help us help our sellers. I intend to hire her to help me improve the marketability of a house that I recently listed. The house has so much potential and Tameka will go in and work with the home owner to showcase that potential. I know that the work that she will do will greatly improve my chances to help the owner sell her house sooner. I’ll keep you informed on our transformation of the target house and our results. Contact me if you want Tameka’s contact information.
Fannie Mae HomePath Renovation Mortgage
We have discussed loan programs for home owners and renovation loans, but I have several investors that are searching for loans that will cater to their needs. This week I had a great preliminary discussion with a local lender, Thelma Underwood of Prospect Mortgage, here in Fayetteville, NC. We were discussing the Fannie Mae HomePath Renovation Mortgage. This loan is available for owner-occupied primary residences, second homes and investment properties. It would give investors the opportunity to get renovation loans if they were to purchase HomePath homes. Contact me if you would like more information and I can also put you in contact with Thelma if you would like to speak with her about your options.
What is My House Worth Today?
I love working with sellers. I like helping a seller market their house so that they can sell it in a timely manner. A lot of people are currently considering whether they can sell their home for a price that they are comfortable with. Unfortunately we all know that there has been a negative inpact on the value of our homes in the last several years. I frequently am asked to provide someone with an analysis of what their house is worth. This can range from a fairly simple process for some houses to a very time consuming task for others. What I am able to provide is a comparative market analysis, backed by data, that shows you what your house should be worth in the current market. I can also help you to figure out how to take that number and back out the expenses of selling it so that you can derive your net profit. I am not here to tell you whether you should sell your house or not. I am here to provide you with as much accurate information as I can to help you make the best decision that you can. So, if you are considering a move, whether in the next couple of months or longer, please contact a real estate professional and ask them to provide you with a CMA and Net Profit Worksheet to assist you in your decision. Use our expertise to your advantage.
Our Debut into Video
Well, you should have been a little fly on the wall in our office today at Exit Realty 1st Class II in Raeford, NC. We got a call a little after lunch and our BIC, Candi, asked us would we all be available at 3:30 in the afternoon. With trepidation, we agreed, except for Shannon, who needed to pick her truck up. You never want to agree to something if you don’t know the full details. Well, that proved true once more. After we had committed ourselves, Candi informed us that there was a videographer coming from our other office to make a video of us. Okay, an advertisement video to put on the website, no prior knowledge, no preparation. Not good! We really didn’t take it too serious, but then here he comes, camera and microphone. So Candi, who is the lest shy member of our entourage, jumps in front of the camera. Thanks to Dixie, Candi’s hair is combed and she has lipstick on, ready to go. The videographer says go ahead and Candi is off, full steam ahead. I know that she talked a full 2 minutes and never took a breath. She is so passionate about her company. And that was the highlight of the video. Next came Merassa, Dixie, Katie and myself. We were all petrified, unprepared and uninspired to say the least. The videographer, to his credit, suggested kindly to Candi that he come back another day, when we had time to prepare and perhaps even gather a little enthusiasm for the job to project onto the camera. I really appreciate his honesty and consideration. I work with the best group of people and we all love what we do. It would really be a shame not give us another chance to portray that enthusiasm. Stay tuned for our video debut, coming to a computer somewhere near you in the near future!
Exit Realty
I usually try to keep this real with thoughts and tips for home buyers, sellers and investors, but I have to take a little different turn today. I don’t want to sound like a commercial, but I really feel like I made the right choice when I chose Exit Realty to be affiliated with. The Exit name may not be as well-recognized as some of the other real estate firms, but there is absolutely none that surpass the customer service attitude that Exit has and encourages in its agents. That is the one thing that is so lacking in the business world now. Yes, we are in business to make money. I do not go to work everyday to volunteer my services to you. But, I truly enjoy what I do and I honestly want to help buyers and sellers make the right choices. I enjoy the problem solving that goes into the deal. Properties will continue to be bought and sold. The difference that we can make is the experience of knowing that you go into that transaction with someone on your side, someone in your corner advocating for you. I am very lucky to be able to work with a group of people who are encouraged to have this attitude. That is one of the many things that I am thankful for this year.
Fort Bragg Homes 