Should I buy new construction or an older home in Jacksonville, NC?

Home is where the heart is!  But does that mean it needs to be in a home with new stainless steel appliances and energy efficient heating and cooling, or a home with more charm, a brick fireplace and original hardwood floors?

There are many advantages to either option.  But first ask yourself some questions:
In an older home, are you comfortable with the cost of maintenance and repair?  You may need to factor in newer electrical wiring and plumbing, or even just new light fixtures and windows.
Do you have time for maintenance?  Is a "fixer-upper" worth your evenings and weekends?  There will be little projects that will be necessary along the way.
What style do you prefer?
Many of the older homes offer gabled roofing, bay windows, unique trim details and other characteristics.  In newer homes you'll find clean straight lines and open floorplans.  Which would you prefer?
How about location and space?
A lot of the time, older homes were cheaper to construct, and often the land was gifted to the homeowner.  Which meant more land, back in the day.  More recently, neighborhoods are designed for quantity and community so the homesites are significantly smaller.  

Home buying is a process, and sometimes the answers will come easily.  Sometimes the answer deserves some thought and consideration.  Call Amanda for all your home buying needs!  She would love to walk you through the entire process! 

910.545.0450  www.JacksonvilleNCHomeSeller.com

Wanna See Foreclosures in Jacksonville, NC??

Join me this weekend!  Saturday, November 16, 2013 at 11:30 am!

We're going to take a look at all the great foreclosure deals on the market this week, one by one!  We can compare foreclosure homes to other homes that are in the immediate area so you can see what kind of deal you could be getting.  It's a great opportunity to get an inside scoop on the market and get first dibs on any of the great foreclosure deals in Jacksonville, NC!

Call Amanda to reserve a spot!  The caravan leaves at 11:30am!!  Don't miss it!!

910.545.0450    www.JacksonvilleNCHomeSeller.com

Foreclosures in Jacksonville, NC and surrounding areas!

Click here for a complete list of foreclosure homes in Jacksonville, NC and surrounding areas!

Have you been thinking of buying a foreclosure, to fix up, gain equity, and later sell?  Now might be the time to do it!  Interest rates are still very low, and there is a surplus of foreclosures on the market- but they sell fast!  

Truly, the really great homes don't last for more than about a week on the market.  To avoid missing out on the good deals, we've begun a "Foreclosure Caravan!!"  Once a week we tour homes from our exclusive "Best Buy" list so that we have first hand knowledge of foreclosure homes in Jacksonville, NC and surrounding areas!  

For more information on our exclusive "Best Buy" list or the "Foreclosure Caravan" contact Amanda Parmer at 910.545.0450!  Our "Best Buy" list is a list of homes that will sell within two weeks and is put together by REALTORS® with over 20 years of experience and updated weekly!

If you've been waiting to buy a house, your wait may be over!

If you've been waiting to buy a house, your wait may be over.  Buying a home before 2014 may be in your best bet in the long run.  For instance, if you could buy milk and eggs at today's prices for the next thirty years, would you agree to it?  Of course you would!  These are necessities in most people's homes and would it be nice to avoid inflation and hedge against the rising cost of goods.

The same goes for housing.  A 30 year fixed rate mortgage at today's rates will protect your mortgage and housing expenses from inflation.  When inflation takes hold, it will eat up more of your income, which is why a fixed rate mortgage will be helpful.  Call Amanda for more information about buying homes in the Jacksonville and surrounding areas!  It's time to stop waiting to buy a house and start looking!

Call Amanda Parmer for all your real estate needs!  If you're buying or selling a home in the Jacksonville or surrounding area, Amanda is your REALTOR®!  910.545.0450

Click here for a complete list of foreclosure homes in the Jacksonville area.

Write The Best For Sale By Owner Ad!

As a For Sale By Owner, you'll want your description to make a very significant first impression.  It's your first opportunity to make a potential buyer contact you!

Writing a real estate for sale by owner ad can be difficult, despite the fact that most publications and sites have a strict word limit.  There are several important things you need to say and a few tricks that will help you make the real estate ad text more exciting.

Flashy Title
Usually the first thing a homebuyer sees when searching is the title of the listing and the photos.  These two factors will determine whether or not they click thru or keep looking at yours.  Your catchy title should include the location, price, and briefly, the features.  Squeezing that much information into a title can be challenging.  However, your title can sell your for sale by owner property.
No cliches and Be specific!
Look at other real estate ads- notice the repeated phrases?  Don't use those.  They're safe and easy, but no one gets excited by it.  And be specific!  Don't say "modern bathroom."  Instead, describe what makes it modern.
Write a Little Bit About the Neighborhood
You have an advantage over most Realtors because you can personally account for what the neighbors are like and share details about the community.  What makes your neighborhood special, and worth relocating to?
Encourage Potential Buyers to Ask Questions!
Provide a few communication options.  Texting, emailing and chat are very popular possibilities.  The perfect for sale by owner listing is difficult to create. But keep it original and fresh.  Be specific and descriptive.  Spending some time on writing a house listing that stands out can help you sell your house faster.  The results are worth the effort!  Contact me today for more information on selling for sale by owner.  I'd love to help!!

303 Quail Ridge Road FOR SALE! 3bed/2ba in Jacksonville, NC

Check out this home for sale in Jacksonville, NC!  Three bedrooms, two bathrooms, minutes from Camp Lejeune!

303 Quail Ridge Road, Jacksonville, NC 28540 has been renovated and is MOVE IN READY!    You'll love the NEW carpet, NEW kitchen, NEW paint, and tons of other features in this super cute home.

Call Amanda for a personal viewing!  Priced to sell and ready for it's new family!

Amanda Parmer, Keller Williams Realty  910.545.0450

Homes for sale in Jacksonville, NC

How Do I Sell My Home?

If you're thinking of selling your home, whether with a REALTOR®, or for sale by owner, you'll need this valuable information to understand the mechanics of how it all works!  Real estate is a market, like any other commodity, however, each location has it's own nuances and specifics, depending on location.

For instance, sellers in the Jacksonville, North Carolina area understand that it is primarily driven by buyers using the VA loan.  There are certain contingencies and conditions that are presented with using this particular loan program.  Knowing who you will most likely be selling to allows you to market it properly and understand how the rest of the experience will go.
So first, do your homework and clean up after yourself!  
Get your home in "show room" status.  Selling a home right now is a beauty contest and a price war!  Be proactive and get it looking good for those buyers you've all ready identified!
Next, Stage That House!
This simply means, get it clean, declutter and consider moving the furniture!  You live in your home differently than how you sell your house!  You don't have to hire a professional stager- you can simply move your furniture and possibly declutter to make it feel more inviting and brighter.  Ask your listing agent for help with this, and don't be offended if they give their honest opinion and advice!
Listing and Marketing
Figure how much your home is worth by checking comparable homes in the immediate area that have sold recently.  Comparable equals same age range, size range and features!  Immediate area is as close as possible!  Be reasonable and don't factor in personal details.  Overpricing your home is never a good idea.  Overpricing your home by as much as 10% will shut out over 50% of potential buyers!  
Consider if you're going to want internet advertising and/or print advertising.  Consider professional photography!  There is a world of difference between a good photo and a good photo that sells a home!  How about an open house?  There is a right way to do it and a wrong way!  Be sure to study up on the art of an open house.
Selling Your House
This can be tricky if you choose for sale by owner.  Much easier, usually, with a professional REALTOR®.  You'll need a place for the key, and you need to be gone for showings!  No one would feel comfortable viewing a home if the owner were lurking over their shoulder during the viewing or talking incessantly about the improvements they've made.  Leave!  It's the best way to show your house!  Consider each offer carefully.  Never reject an offer- if someone took the time to make an offer, take the time to counter it.  Most people want to get the best deal possible, so be reasonable, even if the offer isn't.
A Proper Closing
Typically, a buyer will want to do a home inspection, appraisal, septic inspection and perhaps a survey.  In the Jacksonville, NC area, the seller typically gets a pest inspection prior to closing.  Make time allowances for these instances and plan to be away from the home.  If you're using a REALTOR®, they will be organizing closing with the closing attorney, title company, lender and other agent.  If you go it alone, make sure you know who the experts are in your area for all of these. Once all of these items are completed and everything is negotiated, it's time for settlement with the closing attorney.  
This very basic overview of the home selling process is meant to answer questions, however, things always come during the process.  And if you need assistance, you can always hire a REALTOR® or a real estate attorney to help you with the experience!
It isn't hard to find tips on how to sell a home in today's market.  The difficult part is keeping it all in line!  If you could skip the hassle and sell your home today, would you?  Call Amanda to find out how!  910.545.0450