Think Green! Saving Energy Saves Money Too!

Most of us have heard about the  "Go Green Initiative."   Goals include providing resources to homes, schools and business to create a culture of conservation by education and awareness.  

Like all things, it starts at home!  And if you can also save some greenbacks in the process, it's a win-win situation.  I've included some tips in this blog how to begin to lessen your impact on the environment while significantly saving money.  The tips included will not solve the world's energy crisis, nor will it change your tax bracket.  But hopefully it will help in even a small way!

The average household spends on average $1900 every year on energy bills!  Making standard energy efficient changes can save as much as 30%!  Some of these include:

• caulking cracks 

• insulating around outlets and light fixtures

• seal windows and doors

• installing draft snakes

• adding attic insulation

• replacing old bulbs with CFL bulbs

• use power strips to reduce "phantom loads"

But how do you know which improvements are most cost-effective for your home? Do a home energy audit, or hire a contractor to perform one for you. Check with your local utility or state energy agency, because there are incentives that will significantly cut the cost of such an assessment for most homeowners.  Residents of Onslow County can either check with Progress Energy or Jones Onslow Electric Membership Cooperation.  Both companies offer energy saving tips, rebates and assessments for the customers to check their payback.  The IRS is still offering credits for some home energy efficiency improvements which you can find here.  

I'm happy to help with all of your real estate needs!  Call me today so we can get started!  910.545.0450

I Want To Buy A Foreclosed Home!

Who wouldn't?  Foreclosed homes, also called real-estate owned (REO) homes, offer bargains, often not available in the purchase of a "non-distressed property."  It can be an exciting and sometimes overwhelming process to find and purchase a home.  You want to ensure the home you purchase is right for you and that you have a qualified real estate agent to help guide you through the process.

Negotiating the purchase price and terms of a foreclosed home may take a little longer than a typical real estate transaction because the process may require multiple levels of approval. First, the bank will have to approve the offer. In some cases, an investor may own the property and will have to provide approval as well.

Pricing for a foreclosed home is typically set at market value in an effort to move the property quickly. You will want to submit a fair and reasonable offer, as most banks will list properties at a fair price.

There are several considerations to keep in mind when purchasing an REO Property:

• Unknown property condition

• Given that the bank has not maintained or had first-hand knowledge of the foreclosed home prior to acquisition, there may be no record of property repairs or maintenance that would assess the true property condition. As a result, the bank is often unable to verify the condition of the property or complete a Seller’s Disclosure.

• Buyers are allowed and encouraged to complete professional home inspections on the property.

• As with a typical real estate transaction, out-of-pocket expenses can occur before and after an offer to purchase a property has been submitted. These out-of-pocket expenses may include lender required documentation such as an appraisal or home inspection and bank-required minimum earnest money. Earnest money is a “good faith” deposit demonstrating the buyer’s interest in the property and may be an indicator of how much money will be deposited as a down payment.

• Prior to closing, a buyer should work with their agent to coordinate the date on which they may take possession of the property. Title issues may be discovered during the closing process and will need to be addressed and resolved, along with completion of all necessary paperwork to support the transaction. An extension of the close date may be requested by the seller if these issues cannot be resolved by the contract close date. Because of this, the buyer should allow adequate time after the scheduled contract close date to schedule movers, furniture deliveries, utilities, etc.

A home inspection is almost always encouraged to address any hidden defects.  Most REO homes are sold as-is, where-is.  But forewarned is forearmed!  It's better to know what you're getting into before you potentially invest hundreds of thousands of dollars. 

If you or someone you know might be interested in purchasing a foreclosure home in the Jacksonville, North Carolina area, please give me a call.  

I would love to help!  I've taken the extra steps to become designated as a Certified Distressed Property Expert (CDPE) and a Short Sales and Foreclosure Resource (SFR), in order to better help not only distressed sellers, but also buyers who are interested in investing in these homes.  And, I'm never too busy for any of your referrals!

If it's too good to be true, it probably is!

So you've been scouring the internet trying to find the perfect home to rent.  We've all been there!  You need a three bedroom/two bathroom home in a nice neighborhood with good schools and close to base.  And don't forget Fluffy!  The home must be pet friendly and have a fence as well, right?  

Well be careful!  Internet scams are hitting the real estate world too!

Typically scammers will copy pictures from the internet of a home, that may or may not be for rent or sale, and post them on free classified sites like craigslist with a description matching just what you're looking for.  But wait, the only problem is that they have to mail you the keys after you send your deposit.  Sounds legit right?  Not so much.

On the other hand, let's say you're trying to sell your home, or even a timeshare, and you get an unsolicited phone call from a representative promising a quick sale- often 60-90 day turnaround and add urgency to the situation by telling you that they have a buyer in their office all ready.  Sounds legit right?  Not so much.  The FBI posted information about this scam on their website with instructions on who to contact if this happens to you.

Remember, if it looks too good to be true, it probably is!  Do yourself a favor and ask some questions.  For more information, or for consumer alerts, check out this website!

I would love to help you with all of your real estate needs!  Call me to take a look at homes for sale in Onslow County!  And I'm never too busy for any of your referrals!

Take the Bus!! Jacksonville Transit's got you covered!

Stuck on base?  Car broke down?  Your ride running late?  Don't worry!  Just take the bus!  

Did you know that Jacksonville, North Carolina has a public transit system??  It’s true!  One more benefit to Onslow County residents.  You may have seen the bus stops like the one on Henderson Drive!

Conveniently, Jacksonville Transit provides daytime service runs from 6:00am to 6:00pm, Monday through Friday to accommodate most work schedules.  The price of fares are more competitive than paying for a taxi, and most of the time, cheaper than filling up the gas tank!  Below is a Jacksonville Transit schedule.  Be sure to note that Friday and Saturday evening service is available to Camp Lejeune, Camp Johnson, and New River Air Station for $3!

For more information, routes and fares, check out the website or call (910) 938-RIDE.

And as always, I would love you help you or someone you know buy or sell a home!  Check out my website for easy home browsing and valuable information!  I'm never too busy for any of your referrals!

Hot Summer Nights!

Summer nights would not be complete without a few backyard bonfires. Whether you’re entertaining friends or relaxing with your family, bonfires are a great way to wind down the lazy summer evenings. Make your backyard bonfire experiences better with these tips and treats.

You don’t want to spend more time making the bonfire than you do enjoying it. We aren’t on Cast Away here, so stop rubbing sticks together and grab a starter log.  Use dry firewood to feed the fire—this will last much longer than leaves or newspaper.

There are many different ways to position logs to create a small backyard bonfire. My favorite is the grid. This technique is when you lay the firewood on top of each other in a tic-tac-toe formation as you go up. Usually three or four layers of wood will suffice. Another way to position the firewood is the teepee. This is when you make a little teepee with the firewood. Try to make the firewood as secure as possible so that the flaming logs do not fall over and hurt somebody.

Bonfire Treats

S’mores are the go-to backyard bonfire snack, but year after year of plain s’mores can get a little bland. Some of my favorite ways to jazz up the original S'more is to switch out the classic Hershey bar for a Reese cup or Kit Kat!  Get even crazier with a scoop of Nutella.  Or, while you are roasting your marshmallow, lay the graham cracker with your chocolate on it near the blaze so your chocolate gets nice and soft. Try throwing some fruit in the mix. Strawberries and bananas are great fruit that pair perfectly with chocolate. Instead of a plain graham cracker, get the chocolate covered or cinnamon flavored kind. Or use your family’s favorite cookies.

Although all other bonfire treats live in the shadow of s’mores, they are still worth trying. Take an apple, core it, then fill it with your favorite ingredients like peanut butter, Nutella, raisins, cinnamon or sugar.  After stuffing the apple, wrap it in aluminum foil and let it bake in the hot coals for about 15 minutes. Just be sure to be careful when you are unwrapping the apple so that nobody gets burned.

Grilled banana boats are another popular bonfire treat. Leave the banana in the peel and slice it lengthwise about a half an inch deep, leaving a little space at both ends of the banana. Open the pocket and stuff it with chocolate chips, marshmallows or any other topping you want. Wrap the banana in aluminum foil and place it on the hot coals for five minutes. Once all of the toppings have melted, unwrap and dig in!

Remember to always keep safety in mind when you have a bonfire. Never leave the fire unattended and be sure to explain fire safety to young children.

With these backyard bonfire tips and treats you are well on your way to a roaring fire with delicious snacks.

I'm never too busy for any of your referrals!

Re-Introducing Ashbury Park!

Welcome to Ashbury Park, a growing community in Richlands, North Carolina!  Located minutes from Mike's Farm, Ashbury Park offers affordable home ownership away from the hustle and bustle of Jacksonville!  You will find quality new construction with floor plans starting at $109,900!  Demco Builders includes a privacy fence in the backyard, sod in the front yard, mini blinds in the bedrooms, garage door openers and 2% of the buyer's closing costs!  All lots are semi-private with existing trees and landscaping.  We're opening up the last phases in the community, so the homesites won't be available for very long!


With mortgage interest rates at a historical low, the cost of home ownership is far lower than renting!    You can build your home from the ground up at Ashbury Park and select colors for your carpet, vinyl, cabinetry, countertops, vinyl siding and shutters to really personalize your home!  Call me today at 910.545.0450 to take a look at some of the floor plans that will fit your needs!

I'm never too busy for any of your referrals!!

School is starting soon for Onslow County, NC!

Where did the summer go??  The lazy days of summer are coming to an end and it's time to start gearing up for school!  Good news though- this helpful website gives parents some great tips to save money for back to school shopping!  North Carolina is offering two tax-free shopping weekends in 2012.  The back to school tax free shopping weekend will be August 3-5, 2012.  Parents will be able to bargain shop, tax free, for clothing, shoes, school supplies and some computer equipment!

The official start date for Onslow County schools this year is August 27, 2012!  Students will start back to school bright and early Monday morning!  For a complete list of Onslow County schools and how they stack up, click here.  

"As long as there are tests, there will be prayer in schools." - Author Unknown