Top Ten 4th of July Pet Safety Tips!

No July 4th celebration would be complete without fireworks, festivities, BBQs or beach days!  While we are enjoying and celebrating our freedom with loud noises, pyrotechnics, flashes and bangs, many times our pets feel the opposite way.  July 5th is reportedly the busiest day of the year for the American Humane Society.

In an effort to curb this statistic and help keep our furbabies a little less stressed and safer, here are the Top Ten 4th of July Pet Safety Tips!

10.  Keep your pets inside as much as possible.
  This might seem obvious, even if pets are used to lots of activity and loud noises.  However, a panicking pet might be inclined to run for safety or break restraint.
9.  Don't use insect repellant on pets that isn't pet specific.
  The same goes for sunscreen.  Some products for people are actually toxic for pets, so err on the side of safety and only use recommended pet specific products.
8.  Alcoholic drinks are actually poisonous to pets,
  Fermented hops and ethanol is toxic to dogs and cats and can cause respiratory failure, coma and death.
7.  Going to a Fireworks Display?  Leave your pets at home.
  Not only may the fireworks upset your pet, but you never know who is in the crowd and could be allergic, or who may have brought their own pet who isn't as nice to others as yours is!
6.  Have your pet properly identified.
  Whether that's with a tag on their collar, a microchip, or a sign that says, "Please return to..."  Make it easier for them to get back home.
5.  Glow toys and glow jewelry is not man's best friend's best friend.
  If ingested, gastrointestinal irritation, excessive drooling and blockages can occur.  They're easier to look at on the outside than the inside, if you catch my drift!
4.  NEVER use fireworks near pets!
  Not only can the pet possibly be burned, but fireworks contain toxic materials such as potassium, nitrate, and other heavy metals.
3.  Don't encourage feeding "table food" to your pet.
  While you may know what they're eating, other people may follow suit and unknowingly give your pet something bad like chocolate or beer!
2.  Lighter Fluid and Matches are harmful to pets
  Skin irritation could lead to licking which can lead to ingestion and even kidney disease!
1.  Citronella Insect Repellant is also harmful to pets.
  The result from inhalation can cause pneumonia and eventually death if the pet is in close proximity of the repellant.

Make it a safe and fun holiday, and keep your pet safe with these tips this 4th of July!

Four Bedroom Home For Sale in The Commons of Jacksonville!

This four bedroom home for sale in The Commons of Jacksonville is perfectly located minutes from everything with all the convenience and amenities that The Commons has to offer!

This home offers a great open floorplan for entertaining, with a large living room with a fireplace and windows overlooking the backyard.  The flow leads easily into the formal dining room and eat in kitchen.  The kitchen features tons of cabinet and counter space as well as a massive pantry and access to the great backyard.  You'll have plenty of privacy in this yard with the trees and landscaping strategically placed for maximum comfort and ease of maintenance!

 

Upstairs you'll find four bedrooms and two bathrooms.  The owner's suite is impressive with soothing designer colors, ample closet space and a bathroom made for relaxing!  The large soaking tub will be calling your name at the end of the long day of work.  Dual vanities and an oversized shower make sharing a bathroom less inconvenient.

The second, third, and fourth bedrooms are all generously sized and offer plenty of closet space as well with closet organizers all ready installed.  This home is move in ready and features many conveniences that might other wise be an afterthought!  Blinds are all ready installed, the home is tastefully painted throughout, easy to maintain vinyl siding and gutters all ready installed and the landscaping is also low to no maintenance as well!
Situated in The Commons and within walking distance to shopping, Commons Elementary, Middle and High Schools, this four bedroom home is very desirable and priced to move.  Call Amanda for your personal viewing!  910.545.0450.

Better Than New Homes for Sale Near Camp Lejeune!

As a consumer, it's easy for me to fall prey to the "shiny new things," when in actuality, some of the same things, with a little a little age are better than new!  Homes for sale near Camp Lejeune are much like that!  Not to say that some of the new construction homes aren't phenomenal, however, many of the "resale" homes offer more for the value.  
The upgrades have all ready been done, and essentially, the sellers know they have to be competitive with their pricing in order to sell in today's market.  
For instance, this home at 406 Dylan Court, Beulaville, NC is located about 20 minutes from Camp Lejeune, area beaches and is in the Richlands school district.  It was built in 2011 and sold for $166,900, according to the tax records.   

The sellers have since, replaced the downstairs carpet to hardwood flooring, had the home professionally painted, installed additional smoke detectors, installed surround sound throughout the home to include the back patio, fenced the backyard, installed blinds in all the windows, and tons of other little touches. 

  

Got a number in mind for how much all of this cost?  Upwards of $10,000 would be accurate.

This "better than new," updated and upgraded home is for sale for $160,000 and they're offering to help with the buyer's closing costs as well!

For more "better than new homes" for sale near Camp Lejeune, Contact us!  We'd love to help you find the right one for you!  And if you have a "better than new home" that you might be thinking about selling, we can help with that too!

RARE Brick Ranch Home in Maysville for sale!

What makes this brick ranch home for sale so rare and unique?  The list is endless!  Not only does it sit on over an acre and a half of mature, landscaped acreage, but the home itself is over 3400 heated square feet.  Located about 20 minutes from Camp Lejeune, 20 minutes from New Bern and 20 minutes from Jacksonville, this home is close to everything but offers the small town, peaceful feel!The home has been upfitted with dual power source so that in the event the electric goes out, you can simply switch to gas, and if that fails, there is a generator hook up!  So, no worries when the storm comes through!  There are two hot water heaters installed in the sprawling home, one on either end, which eliminates the wait for hot water!  

                                              

The gourmet kitchen features cabinets for days and double pantry space, as well as gas cooktop, granite countertops and stainless steel appliances.  Additionally, there is a separate summer kitchen- perfect for large meals, entertaining, canning from the mature vegetable garden and more!  You'll also find that the home has been wired with an intercom system.  This is especially helpful for safety and makes communication easier from one side of the home to the other!

Double hardwood floors throughout the living areas and bedrooms, ceramic tile in the kitchens and bathrooms.  There are two full size wood burning fireplaces- one in the formal living room, one in the family room.  The master bedroom is airy and spacious and features a gorgeous closet and master bathroom.  The built-in shelving and desk makes the second bedroom darling!  The third and fourth bedroom downstairs are both large and feature ample closet space as well!

Upstairs you'll find tons of open space for anything your heart desires.  Separately controlled by it's own thermostat and featuring tons of extra storage, the upstairs also has hardwood floors and could be used for more bedrooms, office space, play room, or whatever!Outside, the backyard is fenced  and a wired shed is all ready installed.  The side load garage has lots of storage cabinets all ready installed as well as the hookups for the generator!  Mature landscaping, gardens and trees decorate the property and the sweeping front porch is the perfect finish to this sprawling ranch style home.This home really is a one of a kind find in the Jacksonville area and needs to be seen to be appreciated.  For more information about this brick ranch home in Maysville, or others in the area, call us!  We'd love to help!

Amanda Parmer 

Keller Williams Realty

910.545.0450

Thinking of Selling Your Home??

If you've been thinking of selling your home, it's important to understand the market conditions and what everything means!  There's a lot of lingo that REALTORS® use and sometimes it can be a little overwhelming.  For an optimal selling price, check here, or give me a call and I can show you the current market trends and conditions! 910.545.0450

Buyer's Market vs Seller's Market

A “Buyer’s Market” is characterized by a period of oversupply and falling prices. Oversupply means there are many substitutes, so many sellers are chasing only a few buyers. Falling prices means there is no urgency for buyers. During a Buyer’s Market, the buyer holds the power and can negotiate from a position of strength.

A “Seller’s Market” is characterized by a period of undersupply and rising prices. When supply is short there are more potential buyers than there are properties for sale. This forces prices up and gives power back to the sellers. Sellers can hold out and ask for full list price.

What do the "Comps" look like?

“Comps” are properties that are comparable to each other – substitutes.  Brokers can create a Comparative Market Analysis (CMA) that compares properties that have sold recently that are similar to your home.

When selling it is important to always factor the comps into your decision making process. Comps will show you approximately what price to list your home for sale.

Always consider Active, Pending and Sold properties. Active listings are those that are currently listed on the market for sale. Pending sales are those which are under contract to close. Sold properties are those which have closed escrow and are now possessed by the new owner. These three types represent various stages of a real estate transaction (start to finish) so they can give you a gauge of where pricing is possibly moving.

How many “Days on Market” have the properties been listed for? If properties have been listed for an average of several months or years it means they have been difficult to sell. If properties are selling with only 30-120 Days on Market it means they selling relatively quickly. Days on Market are a good gauge of demand within a given market.

Sometimes foreclosure sales and short sales have to be included in the comps.  Which can alter the days on market, demand and of course value.  That's when I would incorporate other tools and factors to determine a fair market value and optimum selling price for a homeowner.  Analyzing the market is different than providing a CMA, so it's in the homeowner's best interest to work with a REALTOR® that really understands the market.  For more information on selling your home, give me a call 910.545.0450!  I'd love to help!

 

What is my home worth?

A lot of homeowners are curious about their home's worth and often don't get reliable answers!  You can check zillow, you can check the tax office, and you can see how much your neighbor's house is selling for.  But how do you get an accurate idea of market value for your home?

A Comparable Market Analysis is a tool that REALTORS® use to determine how much a home will sell for in the current market.  For instance, a homeowner called me this week and wanted to know what her home's value is because her neighbors had been thinking of selling and she didn't think she'd be able to.  I put together some numbers for her and was able to easily explain the current market conditions and how her home stacks up.  She had no intention of selling, and that's perfectly ok.  With the Comparable Market Analysis, she was able to better plan what she wanted to do, and have accurate information about her home!
A Comparable Market Analysis can come in handy for many reasons- looking to refinance? Take out an equity loan? Sell in a year?  Possibly buy another home?  This will allow you to make a more educated decision and take some of the questions out of the process.  You can check your home's value here. Or give me a call- 910.545.0450, and I'll happily provide a comparable market analysis to show you what your home is worth!

How Much Do Mortgage Interest Rates Affect My House Payment?

There's been a lot of attention on mortgage interest rates and home affordability in the news lately.  Basically, without all the economics jargon and mumbo jumbo, the Fed is tapering bond buying.  Which means that there is not as much government money floating into the mortgage industry.

Mortgage interest rates have all ready risen 1% from the all time low, one year ago.  Analysts are expecting them to raise about another 1% by the end of this year!  The difference in home affordability and how it affects a new home buyer's house payment is best demonstrated with this picture.

Basically, with a one percent increase in interest rates, it decreases the affordability by ten percent.  For instance, if a buyer is considering a $200,000 home today at the current interest rates, that same house payment will be about $150 more per month and the affordability will be about $20,000 less with a one percent mortgage interest rate increase.  Make sense?  Said another way, a buyer prequalified at $200,000 today, will be able to afford a home at $180,000 when the interest rates go up 1%.

Many buyers who are on the fence, and waiting for the prices or rates to go down need to get off the fence, put bluntly.  Rates are not going to get lower than they were a year ago, and are not likely to get back to there.  Home prices have all ready started to rise and there are many markets that are low on inventory, making it a seller's market, rather than the buyer's market we're used to seeing.

For more information on the impact of mortgage interest rates on house payments, or homes for sale in the Jacksonville area, give me a call!  I'd love to help!