Archive for Tips

FICO: Credit score advice for home buyers

FICO, or Fair Isaac Corporation, is the leading credit scoring system provider. Mortgage lenders obviously rely on your credit score as a large part of their approval process and I want to share some tips with you that I have learned over the years:

What’s in your credit score? Payment history (35%), amounts owed (30%), length of [...]

Location or house? Which philosophy is better in Raleigh?

Location, location, location. You’ve probably heard it before and if not, you will. Location is a leading factor driving real estate values everywhere you turn, not just around Raleigh. What happens if you can’t find the house you need or want in the location you want? Should you sacrifice your house or location?
Many real estate [...]

FHA 203k Loans: Buy it, fix it and finance it all in one

I read a great news article on RISMedia earlier and if you are considering a home purchase, you MUST read this:
Changing the Way People Buy Homes: Using the 203k Program to Purchase ‘Dream Homes’
In many cases, homes that would qualify for the 203k loan are in nice areas but have aesthetic problems. This program—because the [...]

What does your front door say about your home?

We southerners love our front porches like we love our crazy cousins that we ain’t so sure ’bout. My folks always preached to me that our front porch is a reflection of who we are and that if you want folks to come visit, a front porch is your invitation.
I vividly remember the front door of our [...]

Relocating and Estate Planning

Just a quick comment to anyone moving from one state to another: Do you have a will? I learned a long time ago that different states have different laws regarding wills and estates and if you are moving, I recommend you have a NC attorney review your will and any trusts you have established to [...]

Selling your home? Consider a Pre-Inspection Home

I tell my clients that if you stick somebody on price, good luck sticking them with repairs and I’m sure I’m not the only agent espousing this. Wouldn’t you rather be ready for a buyer that’s trying to convince you to sell for a lower price based on the fact that they are afraid something MIGHT be wrong?

We are available to handle short sales

We keep promoting what a great opportunity this market is to home buyers but what if you are at the other end of the spectrum? If you’re on the other end and you need to sell, we can help.

A few Raleigh real estate tidbits

Did you know the annual, average appreciateion rate for a detached, single family home in Raleigh is about 3%?

Next Page »