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Highlights Create and stick to a budget Consider factors associated with a mortgage Buy homeowners insurance Ask the seller about past utility bills and property taxes Start a fund for maintenance and remodeling costs The price of homeownership is made up of recurring expenses that aren’t always obvious. It’s a good idea to create a […]

RALEIGH – “How is the real estate market?” It’s the question I get asked daily and it always gets my blood pumping with excitement to openly chat about real estate. Seasoned Realtors used to have their “elevator speech” ready to go but those days of a standard reply are officially long gone. “The market” is […]

Selling your home with the holidays on deck means you may need a crash course in how to decorate your home for the holidays without turning off buyers. Unless you’re a total Scrooge, it’s hard to argue with the fact that glitter lights and colorful accents make a home look more cheerful and inviting. But you […]

Pssst … wanna know how to buy a house for just $10,000 upfront, max? No, this isn’t a scam, or a ploy to lure you into purchasing some rickety shack in the middle of nowhere. We’re talking about a nice house in a nice neighborhood—for no more than a hundred Benjamins. We get why you’re skeptical, given […]

How to Choose a Place to Live Begin by determining what is most important to you and your family. If you’re single, living in a bustling city might be an ideal choice for your next home. If you have a family, on the other hand, a small town offers amenities that your kids will love. […]

This is a question that gets asked a lot in real estate sales. If you have a dog or cat, chances are you love your pet. While some home owners have strict outside pet rules, most allow their animals inside their homes as part of the family. But, while pets are great for your emotional […]

Thinking about selling in the Spring, do Fall maintenance now.  You’ll be thanking yourself later! Here’s a checklist of fall preventative home maintenance steps that every homeowner should follow. Gutters and Downspouts  Clean gutters and downspouts frequently throughout fall to prevent build up of leaves and other debris. Neglected gutters can lead to wood rot […]

Even if you are not looking to build a new home, the Parade of Homes can be a great way to get your home prepped to sell during the fall market. Likewise, for those looking to buy a home that may need some work, the Parade of Homes can give you new ideas on utilizing […]

Ever pined to buy something that, once you finally got your hands on it, wasn’t all it was cracked up to be? This disappointing reality check can hit big time during the home-buying process. Oh, the rosy glasses we wear when house hunting! So watch out: If you’ve dreamed of having a home with a big yard, […]

Landscaping Can Improve Your Home in More Ways Than One Good landscaping is one of the key components of your home’s curb appeal. Beyond that, it can actually add value to your home — value that you can enjoy while you own the home, and value that you can cash in on should you choose to […]