What you need to know about credit if you're thinking of renting or buying a house!

Your credit score has a critical impact on your housing options, and healthy credit is essential to buying a home or renting one. “An important step to finding a home, whether you’re renting or buying, is ensuring that you have a good credit history,” says Frank Keating, president and CEO of the American Bankers Association (ABA). “A strong credit score can open doors to better homes and lower mortgage rates.”

Because the first step to homeownership is getting prequalified with a mortgage lender.  We work with several awesome lenders, who all do credit counseling to help buyers become more credit worthy before committing to a mortgage!  Want to know more about the home buying process?  Click HERE!

To build a good credit history, the ABA recommends adopting these habits.

1. Request a copy of your credit report–and make sure it is correct. Your credit report illustrates your credit performance, and it needs to be accurate so that you can apply for other loans, such as a mortgage. Everyone is entitled to receive a free copy of his or her credit report annually from each of the three credit reporting agencies, but you must go through the Federal Trade Commission’s website at www.AnnualCreditReport.com or call 1-877-322-8228. Note that you may have to pay for the numerical score itself.

2. Set up automatic bill pay. Payment history makes up 32 percent of your VantageScore credit score and 35 percent of your FICO credit score. The more you pay your bills on time, the better your score. Avoid missed payments by setting as many of your bills to automatic pay as possible.

3. Keep balances low on credit cards and ‘revolving credit.’ Racking up big balances can hurt your scores, regardless of whether you pay your bills in full each month. You often can increase your scores by limiting your charges to 30 percent or less of a card’s limit.

4. Apply for and open new credit accounts only as needed. Keep this in mind the next time a retailer offers you 10 percent off if you open an account. If you need a new line of credit, don’t jump at the first appealing offer; compare rates and fees offered through mail solicitation, on the Internet or at your local bank.

5. Don’t close old paid off accounts. According to FICO, closing accounts can never help your score and can in fact damage it.

6. Talk to credit counselors if you’re in trouble. Using legitimate, non-profit credit counseling can help you manage your debt and won’t hurt your credit score. For more information on debt management, contact the National Foundation for Consumer Credit by visiting www.NFCC.org.

If you would like to chat more about how credit can effect your ability to buy a home or rent in Jacksonville, North Carolina, give us a call!  910.707.4636

Top 12 things homebuyers should know about homeowners insurance!

When purchasing a home, homebuyers will need to start looking for homeowners insurance.  Where to start?  There is a lot of misconceptions when it comes to homeowners insurance policies- what you need, what you don't need, what would be a really good idea to have, how much it affects your monthly payment, and so on.  Even something as simple as understanding the lingo can be confusing!  Check this website for a complete list of definitions!
Insurance salespeople have one of the easiest sales jobs in the world: they’re selling fear. Selling an emotion is incredibly profitable, and fear is an incredibly strong emotion. However, a lot of times that fear is real, especially when it serves to protect one of the biggest investments you’ll ever make: your home.
Although no one likes to dwell on the “what ifs,” it’s important to protect yourself against the unexpected. Feeling the security that comes with knowing your home is insured is worth a lot more than a monthly payment.

Here are the basics Fox Business reports every homeowner should know about home insurance:

1. Make sure you not only shop around for a policy, but for the best agent too. Insurance agents can help you get back on your feet after a disaster or make the situation feel even more impossible.
2. A typical policy covers damage to your property and possessions in the event of theft, fire, or vandalism (even if the possessions are outside of the home) and provides liability coverage if someone is hurt on the property and sues. It also covers shelter costs, meaning if you’re displaced you won’t have to pay a lot of money out-of-pocket for your temporary residence.
3. A standard policy doesn’t cover earth movements (earthquakes, sinkholes, landslides), war, nuclear hazards, power failure, faulty zoning, government action, defective maintenance, bad workmanship, faulty repairs or flooding. In general, water damage from above (think rainwater or a burst pipe) is covered, while water from below (think flooding) isn’t.
4. You may need to get supplemental coverage if the region you live in is prone to natural disasters like earthquakes, flooding, hurricanes or tornadoes.  In Onslow County, North Carolina, it's required to have a separate wind and hail policy as well as a homeowners policy.
5. Understand the difference between market value and replacement cost. Before deciding which type of policy to purchase, understand what you’re paying for. Market value is how much a buyer would pay for your home in its current condition (after a natural disaster, fire, etc). Replacement cost plans cover the repair or replacement of your entire home.
6. Reduce premiums by installing working smoke detectors, deadbolts, a burglar alarm system, a pool cover, and a fence around the pool. Reducing liability equals a reduced premium.
7. Bundling your home insurance with other policies like your life or car insurance can also save you money.
8. Make sure to take note of the time limits to report a claim. If something happens, make sure to get your claim in on time or else you risk being ineligible for benefits. Furthermore, waiting may make the problem worse.
9. Keep records of all claims. Document everything that occurs during a loss to mitigate a claim being denied or not being paid in full. Save contracts, appraisals, and receipts and document phone calls.
10. Keep an eye on your systems. Have routine check-ups done on major systems. If you’re able to make a smaller fix due to your early detection and prevent a bigger claim, your insurance company will most likely reward you.
11. Note your policy’s limit on jewelry. Get an appraisal for how much your jewelry costs, and then consider buying a supplementary policy to cover what your home insurance doesn’t.  In North Carolina, you automatically have a higher coverage limit on firearms than you do on jewelry.  If you own more valuable jewelry, it might be worth discussing getting an additional policy to cover it.
12. When in doubt, file a claim. The worst that can happen is it gets denied. This best is that you get a new roof because of a windstorm and a few missing shingles. Don’t file frivolously though, only file claims you’re certain and on the fence about, because filing needlessly could lead to an increase in your premium.  Your insurance agent can help guide you through this process, as well as help you determine if it's worth it or not.

Although thinking about everything that could go wrong with your home can be overwhelming, it’s necessary. Protecting your biggest investment is one of the best decisions you can make; after all, once a house becomes a home, it’s priceless.
When purchasing a home, our team can share with you several reputable insurance agents' information so that you can confidently shop around and have a thorough understanding of what your homeowners insurance policy covers, and what it doesn't!

Price, Shmice. Why looking for a 'good deal' isn't always the best way to buy a house.

When buying a house, price is always a factor.  Always.  But at what cost will you chase 'the good deal' in lieu of finding the perfect home?

Sometimes price isn't king for many home buyers.  Not to say that you should throw money at the first house you love.  However, when shopping for a house, it's never a good idea to rule out a home that you might love simply because there is another house with a better price.

"A house affects so much of your life," said Will Lipovsky with First Quarter Finance. "Living in a beautiful house improves my mood quite a lot.  Excellent location, fine craftsmanship, and plenty of space...it's worth spending a few extra dollars in my opinion."

Affordability

I will certainly never suggest living outside your means, or committing to a mortgage on a house twice your budget.  But upping your budget to cater to better location, better amenities that cater to your lifestyle, bigger floorplan to grow into can make a huge difference without causing financial ruin.


Consider this:

Principal and interest (P&I) on a $200,000 house at four percent is $954.83 per month. Raise that budget to $250,000, and the P&I goes to $1,193.54. Will that $50,000 make the difference between a starter home and a dream home? Maybe not. But in a first-time buyer market, it can greatly improve the location, the space, or both, and all for $238 a month.

P&I on a $400,000 house at four percent is $1909.66. Opt to buy a $500,000 house instead, and you'll pay $2,387.08 per month. The $477 increase in your monthly payment can make a world of difference in the house you buy, and how you feel about it.

The term 'house poor' sounds awful, because it is!  You certainly don't want to over buy, and you certainly still want to make a solid financial choice that will allow you to eat more than cereal and ramen noodles everyday.  But in this instance, isn't a home that you can be happy in and excited about, worth forgoing a Starbucks run a couple times a week, or brown bagging it to work, rather than hitting the drive thru?

There are many ways to find extra dollars to go toward your home.  Here are some options that can make an impact.

Eating Out.
A night out in a restaurant is no longer a novelty.  "Sales at restaurants overtook spending at grocery stores...for the first time ever, according to Commerce Department data released [in April 2014] for the first time since 1992," as reported by Bloomberg Business.


What does that translate to?  More than $6,000 a person for the average American. For many home buyers in the Jacksonville area, $12,000 is their annual mortgage expense.  Dinner out with your spouse could equal owning your home.

According to Forbes, "Americans go out for lunch on average twice a week and spend $10 each time. That means they're spending $936 annually." Between two adults, you just found almost $2,000 a year just by bringing your lunch. Will that buy you the estate with the view? Nah. But it'll get you closer to owning a home, which is the first step to financial freedom and wealth.

Check Out Your Ride.
Are you driving the latest model with all the bells and whistles?  If the answer is yes, you're likely paying close to $700 every month for your vehicle.  Which could translate to a monthly payment on a home priced around $120,000, depending on loan type and fees.  You don't need to necessarily get rid of your ride.  You could possibly trade it in for the next lower model type, or perhaps negotiate a lower interest rate on the payments if you've been current and on time.  Or, even, go with a hybrid.  There's a couple hundred dollars a month in gas, saved!

Declutter and Downsize.
Antique furniture sitting in the corner of the garage, old electronics collecting dust in the attic, and old handbags you're never going to use again can make you money. Check sites like Huffington Post and Country Living to get an idea of the worth of things like antiques and collectibles. Other things might be eBay worthy. Mashable has a list of the "9 Valuable Things You Didn't Know Are Lying Around Your House." (Pokemon cards? Really?)

Crowdsource It.

Have a birthday, wedding, or anniversary coming up? Let your loved ones contribute to your down payment.
Need more ideas? The Simple Dollar has 100 - yes, 100 - more ways you can cut back and save money. Soon, that dream house will be right around the corner!
 

What's going on in Jacksonville?

This weekend, May 2nd-May 3rd, you can hop over to the Jacksonville Commons and take part in the Jacksonville Jamboree.  The jamboree started as a basketball tournament and has grown to include rides, vendors, musical talents, and plenty of food for everyone.  It's shaping up to be a beautiful weekend, which is perfect to walk around and see what the Jacksonville Jamboree has to offer!

Spring has sprung in Jacksonville!!in this summer!  Jumping into May, residents of Jacksonville and the surrounding areas can take part in everything from the Jacksonville Jamboree to the Pirate Fest and Strawberry Festival!

 

If the Jamboree doesn't strike your fancy, suit up and go play with pirates at the Pirate Fest in Swansboro, 'The Friendly City By The Sea.'  Bring 'yer mateys down for a black powder demonstration and a treasure hunt!! 


Next weekend the Strawberry Festival in Wallace kicks off with the 5K, Golf Classic, and strawberries of course!  

 
After the Strawberry Festival, how about camping out?  Onslow Pines Park in Jacksonville is hosting "Park After Dark!"  You can set up your own campsite, take part in a scavenger hunt, and watch movies in the park!

Onslow County Parks and Recreation is planning a plethora of events and fun things to do in and around Jacksonville this summer.  Keep an eye out and start planning your fun weekends!!  Please share any other events that are upcoming and pass this along to others to find what's going on in Jacksonville.

 

311 Exmoor Drive, Jacksonville, North Carolina 28540. SOLD in 65 Days! Call Amanda Parmer for more details! 910.707.4636

311 Exmoor Drive, Jacksonville, North Carolina has sold in under 65 days!  This gorgeous four bedroom, three bathroom home has been immaculately kept and updated.  

Tons of storage and closet space, a private home site, and updates throughout make this home truly inviting and a lucky home buyer was able to take advantage of the great buyers market Jacksonville is currently in by purchasing this home!  To check out other homes for sale in the area, check out our website!  It's updated daily with all the homes on the market!

View a tour of this home here!  There are more homes for sale in this neighborhood, which is minutes away from Meadowview Elementary School and all the new shopping in Jacksonville, North Carolina.  Shetland Farms offers roomy homesites that are semi-private and allows residents to enjoy the established community that is close to everything Jacksonville has to offer.  

With only three showings, 311 Exmoor Drive, Jacksonville, North Carolina went under contract.  If you're interested in selling your home in the Jacksonville area, please give me a call so we can help!  I'd love to discuss how the real estate market is doing in the area, and how it effects your home's value and selling.  You can also check out this super helpful post about what sellers in the area NEED to know!

Walmart in Richlands, NC! Coming Soon!

For everyone in the western part of Onslow County who have been waiting with bated breath, Walmart in Richlands, NC really is coming soon!  In fact, they've all ready begun the hiring process!  

The Richlands Walmart is planned to have a full market section, as well as normal shopping items, optometry, banking accessibility, and a gas station.  Of course, with the opening of this giant center of commerce in our small, but mighty, town of Richlands, will also bring over 300 jobs!  According to Fortune's recently published article, Walmart is raising their pay scale to above minimum wage and introducing an initiative to help veterans, which will be heartily received in our veteran saturated area!

Many homeowners in the Richlands area will be happy about the increased traffic and commerce that Walmart will bring.  In fact, Walmart employees from other areas have all ready begun looking at real estate in our area.  

Typically, from what I've seen, whenever Walmart moves into an area, so do other stores and shops.  Which can only mean one thing- more growth!  Commercial growth always instigates residential growth.  Many of the 'big builders' have all ready moved their business out of Onslow County completely, and others are shifting their building in different directions.  The continued growth of Richlands, coupled with the slow down of new construction is a strong indicator that residential real estate in Richlands will begin to creep up and stabilize.  


With more jobs coming into the area, and more commerce, the housing market will eventually rebound.  Right now there are tons of great homes on the market in Richlands and interest rates are still relatively low, creating a great opportunity for home buyers who may be thinking of purchasing in the area.  Ever heard the term, "Buy low, sell high?"  This appears to be that opportunity.  Before Walmart is established in Richlands and the market is able to correct itself or skyrocket, buy homes in the Richlands area now.  Sell in the next few years when values are up.

Keep your eyes peeled, when driving down Hwy 24 in Richlands.  You'll see the great big building under construction that can only be a Walmart!  If you have any questions or would like more information, give me a call!  I'd love to chat about the growth and expansion in the Richlands area, and most especially, homes!  

2628 Idlebrook Circle, Jacksonville FOR SALE! Minutes to the gate, schools and shopping!

Did you hear?  2628 Idlebrook Circle is on the market, and it's move in ready!

This home has had lots of updates, and you really need to see it to believe it.  Homeowners in this neighborhood are only minutes to the Piney Green gate of Camp Lejeune and will be minutes from the new Walmart Neighborhood Market that's currently being built on Piney Green!

2628 Idlebrook Circle is a three bedroom, two bathroom home with a fenced yard and a shed.  The roomy living room has vaulted ceilings and flows easily into the dining room and kitchen.  Each bedroom is spacious and the owner's suite features double closets and a personal bathroom!
If you're looking for well maintained, tastefully updated, and move in ready, then 2628 Idlebrook Circle is the house for you.  Priced to sell, this home is more affordable than renting!

For more information on this home, or others like it in the area, please call us!  910.707.4636.  For a list of homes like 2628 Idlebrook Circle or other homes in the area, click here.

Best Homes In Jacksonville for $100,000 or less!

It's true!  You can own a home in Jacksonville, NC for $100,000 or less.  Many of these homes are move in ready, three bedrooms, two bathrooms, and convenient to everything Jacksonville has to offer!

469 Hunting Green Drive is a PERFECT example and has been recently renovated and updated to offer a "LIKE NEW" home!  The roof, windows, heat pump, flooring, kitchen, appliances, and more have all been remodeled and replaced.

The benefits of purchasing this existing home that's been remodeled vice a new construction home are many, such as:

• Established community
• Tax Value is less than new construction, resulting in a lower monthly payment and lower insurance
• Included features all ready installed:  blinds, established yard, fence, warm neutral paint included, wood burning fireplace instead of propane, ceiling fans installed
• 10'x10' tiled sunroom with attached patio

469 Hunting Green Drive is just one of many homes on the market in Jacksonville, NC for $100,000 or less.  If you have been thinking of home ownership, now is the perfect opportunity while interest rates are still low and homes like these offer low monthly payments!  Call us or check out our website to discuss your options!

2015 BAH Rates in Jacksonville, NC

Here we are, at the end of 2014, and the question on everybody's minds is, "What's my BAH going to be in 2015??"

Well, good news, BAH rates have increased for 2015 across the board!  Some by as much as $40, some as much as $115!  And, by the way, BAH is the acronym most military personnel have become accustomed to using which simply stands for Basic Allowance for Housing. 

Military members who are assigned to a permanent duty station within the 50 United States, and are not furnished with government housing (whether due to availability or by choice) are eligible for BAH, based on rank, dependency status and permanent duty station zip code.  Some units have local rules about eligibility as well.
Another fun fact, BAH is tax free income.  Which means, for instance if your pay grade is E-4 or below and you're stationed aboard Camp Lejeune in 2015, you can receive $948 a month (unless you have dependents, then it's more!) to cover the cost of rent, tax free.  Sometimes you may incur out of pocket expenses if your bills are more than your allowance.  Budgeting can help alleviate that though!
So now, you're planning to live "out in town" or "off base" and you're receiving $948 every month (or  $11,376 a year!) to cover your living expenses.  What if you used this TAX FREE money to purchase a home, instead of renting?  Let's face it, you're going to be paying someone's mortgage, whether you're renting or buying, right?  So what would it look like, if you allowed the military to purchase your house for you?  It's the same amount of money every month, except by purchasing, you're making your money work for you by investing it in your own home.  With the current interest rates (as of today, December 22, 2014,) $948 a month will afford you about a $145,000 home, depending on taxes and insurance.

The reason I suggest this course of action, is mostly because I've done it, and I was able to invest, re-invest, and earn passive income (that's money I get every month without working, because someone is paying me to live in one of my houses!) ten years later, simply by buying a house using my BAH.  (True Story!!)

If this sounds like a sales pitch, I apologize.  It isn't.  It's only a word to the wise.  I have seen too many young service members in the last 15 years blow their money and have nothing to show for it by the time they're 30 years old.  And I want to help educate and help prepare for the future.  
If you are not living in the barracks or in base housing, you are getting at least $11,000 a year for living expenses.  Use it wisely or pay someone to live in their house.  
The choice is yours!
We'd love to help you, whether you decide to rent or buy and you can check out available homes here!  Give us a call for a free consultation to explore your options and talk about the home buying process, the Jacksonville real estate market, or investing in real estate!  910.545.0450  Click here to see the new BAH Rates for 2015!

**Just an update- had some questions about who will be receiving an increase in BAH and some discussion about certain service members not because of time in service.  According to this DOD bulletin, the BAH change is across the board.  Obviously the amount is dependent on location, rank, and whether the service member has dependents or not.

Williams Farm- Exclusive Living in Jacksonville, NC!

Welcome to the exclusive community of Williams Farm in Jacksonville, NC!  This community offers custom built homes that are sure to please with the finest amenities such as gourmet kitchens, home theaters, in ground swimming pools and more!




Homes in this neighborhood have been designed for the utmost grandeur and southern living.  The professional landscaping throughout the community perfectly compliments the architecture that defines Williams Farm.  I was showing homes to some lovely buyers this week from Virginia and they absolutely fell in love with the atmosphere and design of the neighborhood.  They complimented how clean and neat everything is and really liked how spaced out the homes are.

 They specifically wanted to find a home with at least 4,000 heated square feet, 5 bedrooms, large master bathroom, lots of garage space and kitchen to entertain.  We were lucky enough to find several homes that fit this bill and they found the perfect home, with the best spot for their Christmas tree!   

Residents enjoy the convenience of living in Jacksonville and short commutes, as well as privacy and open spaces.  The gated community offers homesites as big as two acres!  Horse lovers are welcome to the stables included in the home owners association.  
Homebuyers interested in building their own custom estate in Williams Farm have several homesites to choose from.  Make your dreams become a reality by designing your own home and enjoy the luxurious living Williams Farm has to offer.  For your personal tour of Williams Farm in Jacksonville, NC, give me a call!  910.545.0450 I'd love to show you around and find the perfect home for you in this exclusive neighborhood!

"We're closing on our house next week, let's go shopping!"

Congratulations!  You're closing on your new house!  But you haven't "closed" yet, so please, for the love of all that's neat and orderly in the world, DO NOT go shopping!

Here's why!
•If you've financed your home purchase, your lender is going to do a double check of your credit before closing.  You DO NOT want to make them redo anything, or make them mad! 
•If you're not financing your home purchase, and paying cash, the funds need to be verified before closing and any large transactions will look a little strange.  

For instance, if there is a washer/dryer set on sale, and you just have to have it!  Please wait.  That could be several hundred dollars (maybe even thousands....) that could make or break the transaction.

Here's what will happen.  If you finance the washer/dryer (say, using a Lowe's credit card,) that automatically creates more debt and changes your debt to income ratio, which can affect your interest rate, and quite possibly make your lender crazy.  They'll have to redo everything.  Is the new washer/dryer important enough to delay the closing, and sign more paperwork?  
Many lenders will require a certain amount of money "in reserves" when you're purchasing.  After all, you're asking them for hundreds of thousands of dollars, right?  They want to make sure you have at least the first mortgage payment in your bank account before they give you the money!  So if you pay cash for this washer/dryer, it could affect the amount of "assets" or "cash in reserve" that you have to bring to the closing table.

Additionally, don't expect to be able to paint, make repairs or changes, or move in furniture prior to closing.  Sometimes sellers will allow this under the right circumstances and it can be negotiated.  But standard practice is, whoever owns the house gets to make those decisions.  Turn the tables and look at it differently.  Would you allow someone to come in and paint your house, or replace your flooring, or move their stuff in, before you've officially sold it to them?  Probably not.  Better safe than sorry!

So the moral of the story is, please, please, wait until you've closed on your house until you go shopping, make changes or move in to your new home!  For a complete list of homes for sale in the Jacksonville, Richlands, Sneads Ferry, or Hubert areas of North Carolina, click here!  If you or anyone you know would like to chat about purchasing or selling a home, give me a call!  910.545.0450.  I'd love to help, and can explain more about why you should wait until after you've closed and where you can find the best deals to go shopping!!

TOP 5 Reasons Your Home Expired On The Market

This top 5 list will hopefully help those sellers out there whose home has expired on the market.  An "expired listing" is a home whose listing agreement has come to an end and the home is no longer being marketed for sale.

1.  Overpriced?
Sad, but true.  80% of marketing is pricing effectively.  Market price doesn't have any correlation to how much a person actually paid for their house a few years ago.  Ideally, market values go up and homeowners enjoy increased equity, sometimes though, that's just not the case!  Buying and Selling houses is the same as any other market.  For instance, if a gallon of milk cost 4.59 at Wal-Mart, and 2.39 at Food Lion, you'd probably buy your milk at Food Lion.  The same goes for pricing homes- you have to be priced in the market to be considered.

2.  Who was your REALTOR®?
Was your REALTOR® market savvy?  Did they understand the market trends?  Were they internet savvy?  Use social media?  Most homebuyers (92%, according to National Association of REALTORS®) begin their home search online.  So internet presence is a big deal!

3.  Competition?
What was your competition?  What was the speed of the market?  Did your REALTOR® share an absorption report with you?  An absorption report is a great tool to determine the level of competition and the tempo of the market.  This is helpful so that you know how to price your home and when to put it on the market.

4.  Showings
How available was your home for showings?  Did you decline or try to reschedule showings?  When a showing is declined or rescheduled, it almost never works out in the sellers' favor.  How did your home look when it was shown?  Was it clean, neat, decluttered and easy to show?  That's a key to selling your house.

5.  Feedback
From the showings you had, what was the feedback?  Did your REALTOR® discuss the feedback with you and suggest improvements to make it more appealing?  Or, did they negotiate with the buyer's agent to change the home to increase the chance of an offer?

It may be some, or all of these factors.  And sometimes, even the best homes don't sell the first time they're on the market.  I specialize in getting homes sold when they didn't sell before.  If you'd like a free consultation, click here, or give me a call!  910.545.0450.

I'd be happy to discuss with you how to sell your home and help you get a plan in place to get it SOLD.  Don't let your home be victim to any of these top 5 and become expired.  Let's get it SOLD.

What Sellers in Jacksonville, NC NEED to Know!

The current market conditions in Jacksonville, NC have fluctuated from what they have been, leaving sellers with a big question mark over their head.  This is a list of what sellers need to know!

1. Your Goal
First, figure out what your goal is.  Do you want to break even?  Make money?  Just get out from under it?  Move up?  Move down?
Understanding this will help put things in perspective and from there we can develop a plan to meet your goal!

2.  What the current market conditions are
In the past few years, new construction has dominated and saturated the market.  That's just not the case anymore, but it's easy to blame the way things are, on the way things have always been.  That's why you need a recent market analysis.  Sellers also need to see and understand the current market trends.
3.  What your competition is
Long gone are the days where you can base your selling price on what you paid for your house or what your neighbor sold their house for last month.  It might give you a ballpark, but it won't give you any clue as to what buyers are looking, or where.  Sellers need a report like this to help understand how much buyer activity has been in the area and in which price range.
4.  How long it will take

To develop a realistic plan, sellers need to know what the absorption rate is.  "Absorption rate" is a fancy term that means how long it will take something to sell based on how quickly things have been selling.  I use this to help sellers understand how to price, how aggressive to be, and how much competition there is.
5.  The process
No one is born with the knowledge of buying or selling a house.  That's why I'm here.  Sellers need to know the process from beginning to end with updated communication and conditions so that they can make the most informed decisions to get their house sold.

As a seller, what else do you think you need to know to sell your home in the Jacksonville, NC area?  Want an updated market analysis to understand how it effects your home's value?  Click here!  I love a good reason to get out and meet more sellers in the area and help them understand the current market in Jacksonville, NC.

TOP 5 Things FSBOs in NC Don't Know!

Working with many homeowners in the Jacksonville, NC area, I've come across dozens who are deciding to either list their home with me or sale via For Sale By Owner, aka, FSBO.  This is a list of the TOP 5 things that most FSBO homeowners don't know about selling their home!

1.  Residential Property and Home Owners Association Disclosure Statement.
This form is required by NC law to be completed by any homeowner selling a home or land in NC and provided to any potential buyer.  The instructions to complete the form, are pretty simple.  You simply choose the answer that best fits the situation, either yes, no, or no representation.  The details are listed on the form.  But the most important thing to know is, that by law, homeowners are required to provide this to potential buyers.  Even homeowners who choose the FSBO route.

2.  How many showings the competition receives.
REALTORS® in the Jacksonville, NC area have a tool to show our homeowners how many showings they can expect per week, and how many other homes were shown in comparison to theirs.  FSBOs have access to the statistics provided by the websites that they've paid to advertise on, but that doesn't include REAL market data.

3.  What typical closing costs are.
I'm going to use the analogy of the wife going grocery shopping vs the husband going grocery shopping.  Typically (in most cases, especially mine!!) the wife knows about how much ground beef, for example, to buy in a months time, and just about how much it will cost.  Send the husband to the store, he might come back with one pound of ground beef and may or may not have paid the correct price, because he might not be as familiar at purchasing groceries.  If he is, chances are he doesn't do it with regularity so he's not accustomed to the typical price to pay, where to shop for it, or how much he should buy.  The same goes for FSBOs and estimating closing costs.  There are two types of closing costs- buyer's closing costs and seller's closing costs.  The amount you paid when you purchased the house, probably isn't the same when you sell it.  Unless you're familiar with the 'going rates' and who provides the services, you might not be getting the best deal you can get.

4.  Which attorney to use....among other services.
Unless you're intimately acquainted with your attorney, or familiar with the real estate industry in Jacksonville, NC, you may not even know of an attorney that handles real estate transactions regularly.  And there is a difference between a family law attorney and a real estate attorney.  As well as title services, termite companies and repairmen.

5.  How To Negotiate Due Diligence.  
Or, for that matter, what due diligence consists of.  All to often, once we're under contract, the agreed upon terms change due to discoveries during the due diligence period.  (Say that five times fast, I dare you!!) Whether it's because the buyer's rate changed before they locked in, repairs that need to be completed prior to closing, the appraiser determines value differently, and the list goes on.  Negotiating this part of the contract can literally make or break a deal.  FSBOs that go into this blindly often walk away with less money than they anticipated, or lose the buyer.

If you're considering FSBO in the Jacksonville, or surrounding area, give me a call!  910.545.0450 I'd love to discuss your options and help you set up a successful plan to sell your home!  You don't know what you don't know!

Foreclosure Homes at the Beach!

Have you checked out the foreclosure homes at the beach lately?  Not too shabby!  I mean, if you're going to choose a home, why not a beach home.  And if you're going to choose a beach home, why not choose a foreclosure home?
The fact is, there are a ton of homes on the market in our area, and the reality is, a lot of them are foreclosures.  From a buyer's perspective, it's kind of a win-win!  A beach home + low monthly payment + possible equity + possible income producing property + (did I mention you'd be living at the beach???) = Awesome!

The home buying process doesn't change a whole lot from a conventional purchase to a foreclosure.  Buyers still have the opportunity to do their due diligence before purchasing, there may be some 'sweat equity' involved, and there is usually always the opportunity for equity in these situations.
If I told you, you could OWN a beach home for around $1500 out of pocket, would you call me crazy?  Probably, but maybe for different reasons!  But it's the truth.  And if I told you that there are some hot deals out there to keep your payment reasonable, would you believe me?  Maybe not.  And that's exactly why I'd love to show you!
If you have an afternoon in the next couple weeks, we'd love to sit and chat with you to show you that you can certainly purchase a foreclosure home at the beach and enjoy the sunrise and dolphins playing in less than two months.  True story.  Wanna know more about buying your beach house?  Call us today!

JacksonvilleNorthCarolinaHomes.com and all that jazz!

Hi!  I wanted to do a quick blog and let everyone know about our super cool new home search site:  www.JacksonvilleNorthCarolinaHomes.com!  We've put a ton of time into the creation of this website, and we're still adding stuff to make it super fly.  Our goal is for this to be the number one resource for our clients in the Jacksonville, North Carolina area.
Home buyers, renters, investors, and looky-loos can rest easy and search no more!  This site is stacked with homes of every size, shape, color and price.  What's even cooler is that you can customize your own search and set yourself up for automatic updates.
Wanna talk to a real live person from right here in the good 'ole U.S. of A.?  No worries, we're right here!  The phone number on our webpage will send you straight to either me or John.  Both of us are breathlessly awaiting your phone calls and questions!  We LOVE talking to home buyers who may be thinking about purchasing, just looking, or ready to buy today, as well as people ready to rent a home!
What's great about us is that we are not your average "pop-tart" REALTORS.  We actually care about you.  We want to know what you're looking for, how we can help your family, how we can save you money, and most importantly to us, we want to educate you on the process and the market in Jacksonville, North Carolina.

We have found that the best thing we can do for our clients is teach them what we know about the market, investing in real estate, and the smart way to buy and sell homes.  Consider our website a fancy storefront for an awesome team of REALTORs that are eager to help.
www.JacksonvilleNorthCarolina.com also features a lender we've partnered with, Troy Williamson with Towne Bank Mortgages.  Troy is very detailed and loves to educate his clients like we do, so it's a win-win.  
Here's the thing we've come to realize, buying a house and creating a home with your family is the most important thing you can do for your financial pictures.  We don't take that lightly and we're honored to be a part of it.  We're not satisfied just showing you houses.  We want you to understand what you're getting into, and make sure you're comfortable with it.
If there's any real estate needs that we can help you with, anywhere in the world, please just let us know.  Like I said, we're breathlessly awaiting your phone call.  Check our our snazzy website!  www.JacksonvilleNorthCarolinaHomes.com

Best place to buy ball gowns in Jacksonville, NC??

Military ball season is underway in the Jacksonville area and tons of ladies (myself included!!) are looking for great deals on gowns!  Having been in the military, and also attended Marine Corps balls as a civilian, I've seen my fair share of the good, the bad and the ugly!

I'm hoping to impart some of my experience to help others understand what the military ball is for, what to do and not to do, and even find some great deals!
In the past, I've usually tried to hit the gym and the tanning bed so that I look perfect next to my honey in uniform.  What I've found is, it's not as much about you, as it is about him.  So my biggest tips are spray tan, spanx, and have fun.
There aren't many venues in the Jacksonville area, so we've gone to balls in New Bern, Raleigh, Wilmington, and Greenville.  All within a couple hours, but it makes it much more enjoyable if you can stay the night of the ball.  If you end up driving to any of these locations, keep in mind you may have to park and walk to the ball- it may be a good idea to bring shoes to walk in and change later.  Or even change into your gown there!

Your date for the night will be in uniform, so anything black, blue or red will go great with their Marine Corps duds.  Silver and gold are also great choices to match with their medals and awards!  Typically, you can expect a cash bar, dinner and dancing after the ceremony.  

The Marine Corps is steeped in history and tradition so the ceremony consists of a message from the commandant, as well as a birthday message to the Marines.  Remember, the ball is about the Marine and the ceremony is to honor the tradition.  Don't bring your drama.  The distiguished guest will impart some of their experience and knowledge to the crowd and it's a very honor filled moment for all involved and typically includes several toasts.  The cake cutting is usually performed by the oldest and youngest Marine and cake is served!
This is generally the sequence of events, and remember, many people did a lot of work (mostly your FRO!!) so make sure you thank them.  It will go a long way!  Military balls are kind of the grown up version of prom.  
If you keep your dress simple and elegant you can't go wrong.  It's usually a good idea to go floor length and not expose too much of "the goods," as well as cover up tattoos, if possible.

I hope this helps clear up any questions or confusions as to what to wear, and what you can expect.  Let's talk about getting a great deal on a dress!!
I've reworn and recycled several of my dresses in the past, and have always gotten compliments.  Let's face it, you're going to wear the dress for a few hours, one night a year.  There's no reason to go crazy with it.  I always recommend for ladies to check out the thrift stores in the area as well as the dress events which your FRO can help you with.
If you're an active duty female, reading this blog for your male date, a tux is appropriate.
Classics and J. Nicholson are dress boutiques in Jacksonville that provide gorgeous options, just keep in mind what you're going to do with the dress after you've spent the money on the dress.  Lejeune Yard Sales has a lot of groups with ladies swapping dresses and reselling them as well.  So check those out!

Please post any comments or advice out there and share away!!  As always, if there is anything I can help with in the real estate world- whether you're looking to buy, sell, rent or invest in real estate, please just let me know!

Amanda Parmer
REALTOR
910.545.0450
www.JacksonvilleNorthCarolinaHomes.com

Wanna help homeless veterans, women and children in Jacksonville, NC?

Of course you do!  And you can!  Sign up for the Jacksonville Board of REALTORS® 3rd annual Run For a Reason 5K and all the proceeds will go toward helping homeless veterans, women and children in Jacksonville, NC!

The run starts promptly at 8am on October 18th at the Jacksonville Commons Middle School.  Recipients of the proceeds include Family Endeavors, Zing Zumm Childrens Museum, and Onslow County Ministries!  Your registration can make the difference!

Click here to register!

Top 5 Things To Consider When Selling Your Home

When you've decided to sell your home, the process can seem intimidating and your "honey-do" list starts to grow.  Keep it simple with this quick list of the top 5 things to consider when selling your home!

1.  Are you selling your home, or your house?
As simple as it seems, this is one of the very first things to wrap your head around.  For many people, selling your home stimulates an emotional tie to the home, and in a lot of homeowners minds that means an increase in value.  In reality, you're selling a house.  Buyers are buying a home.  So you need to eliminate as many emotional ties to your home as possible and as soon as possible.  This includes decluttering, taking down children's artwork, removing family pictures from the home and other staging techniques to make your home as show ready as possible.  It also means understanding the market trends and how your house stacks up to other relevant properties for sale.  For an updated market analysis, contact me.  I'd be happy to sit down with you and discuss the market and how it affects your house.

2.  What are buyers looking at?
The National Association of REALTORS® publishes an annual report chocked full of data and statistics based on buyer trends, what they like, what they don't like, what they want to change in homes they buy, their experience, demographics and more.  Using this tool, as well as local showing reports, I can better help you understand what buyers are looking for when shopping for a home and what they buy.

3.  Homebuyers are educated.
There are TONS of tools online for home buyers and they come to the table very educated about what is on the market, what they can ask for, and more importantly, what things cost.  Additionally, there are a host of classes in the Jacksonville area for buyers to take advantage of that discuss the home buying process, mortgages, and investments.  Tack on an experienced Buyer's Agent who professionally represents and negotiates for the homebuyer, and you've got a "professional home buyer" looking at your house.

4.  Exposure.Top 5 things to consider when selling your home
How is your house getting seen?  What is it saying when it's getting marketed?  How available are you to show your house?  Are you measuring your results for marketing?  Who are you showing your house to?  What feedback are you getting with your marketing and showings?  Many homeowners I talk to that choose to sell by themselves rather than hire a REALTOR® to sell their home ask me about marketing strategies.  Our marketing exposes our listings to millions of people worldwide through over 900 websites and we can measure the clicks and inquiries on almost all of them.  We can see what's working and what's not to adjust our strategy to reach the most qualified home buyers in the quickest amount of time, which ultimately leads to SOLD.  We only show homes to qualified home buyers and recently, security is a higher priority, so we have a plan in place to protect ourselves, as well has our homeowners.  Our feedback system prompts for immediate feedback from showings so we know how well the showings went and so do our homeowners.

5.  Time.
Selling a home can be a time consuming task, but it doesn't have to be.  From staging, to marketing, to showing, negotiating, pre qualifying buyers and transaction management, you can have weeks invested in selling your home.  How much time do you have to carry out all of these jobs?  Our team has systems in place or people to manage them.  

If you're considering selling your home, talk with me. 910.545.0450  Let's discuss the process, the market trends and let me help you become as educated as you can be to sell your home!