Chapel Hill Durham Real Estate

You may have heard that home sales are slower in the fall.  Well, this is typically true, and sometimes this can be good.  For instance, if you want to buy and are just beginning to look, the spring market can be overwhelming:  houses selling in just a few days, multiple offers, all of which can pressure you into acting faster or making a higher offer than you’re comfortable with.  The fall market often presents extra good deals for buyers, especially on a house that for one reason or another is “left over” since the summer– perhaps it was initially overpriced, or a previous contract fell through.  Whatever the reason, many sellers are extremely motivated in the fall to sell before winter sets in, especially on vacant houses that they will have to heat throughout the winter. 

Sellers don’t have as many advantagves in a fall market, but houses do sell all year long just the same.  Perhaps the best advantage to fall sellers is that there are fewer competing homes on the market–less competition– although there are less buyers for those competing listings.  While over-pricing a home always results in longer time on market, that is houses rarely sell above fair market value, fall is certianly no time to first reassure oneself that they haven’t under priced their home by testing the waters with an inflated price. To sell your house in the fall, you will need strong marketing, excellent “staging” and proper pricing. 

Interest rates are still holding steady and remain quite low considering the big picture, a huge benefit to both home buyers and home sellers.  Think selling or buying a home now may be the right decision for you?  You can learn about services offered by Great Triangle Homes - The Shuping Advantage Team at Keller Williams Realty for both sellers and buyers at www.GreatTriangleHomes.com.  As team leader and a leading real estate agent in the area, I will offer you honest advice that best fits your situation and help you make the best decision for your circumstances.  Visit my website or call me at 919-951-1945 to obtain answers to your questions about the fall market. 

If you have been in your house for more than a few years, this may be the time to reevaluate your homeowner’s insurance policy.  Improvemnts such as adding a deck or screened porch, finishing an attic or basement, etc. add value to your house that should be reflected int the amount of your insurance.  If you have lived in your house for more than five years, the value may have increased to the point where your original “replacement cost” insurance amount is no longer sufficient.  Also, adding a security system or even deadbolt locks reduces your premium, so you’ll want to notify your agent is you have made those improvements. 

When purchasing or refiniancing a home with a mortgage, your mortgage company will require that you maintain insurance on your proeprty, their collateral.  When a home is purchased with cash or the mortgage paid off, you yourself need to remember to maintain adequate insurance.  Protecting your home is one place you don’t want to skimp!

When buying a home, there are several inspections you should have performed before committing to such a hefty responsibility.  One of the most essential inspections I recommend is the general or structural Home Inspection.  A Home Inspection allows you to become more familiar with your new home, identify problems to be corrected on the home prior to closing, and be more informed about your purchasing decision.  The home Inspector’s job is to visually examine the home’s structural components and systems, providing information about their condition and functionality at the time of the inspection.  Here are a few guidelines to follow:

• Hire only an Inspector that is state licensed and a member of a professional organization such as the American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI)
• Ask your Inspector to provide you not only with a detailed written report regarding the findings of the inspection on your home, but also a more complete reference manual that explains your home’s components, maintenance tips, & other useful infomation
• A thorough inspection, depending on the size of the home you select, should take 2 - 3 hours; be wary of quick or “walk-through” inspections
• Your Inspector should be wlling and able to explain, evaluate and demonstrate issues that he finds with your home, and should be willing to answer questions for the agent working with the seller of the home you have chosen
• Try to attend the inspection yourself, so the Inspector can demonstrate any issues he finds with the home and discuss them with you there on site 
• Make sure the Seller clears access in advance to all areas you want to be inspected; this ensures the Inspector spends his time productively on the structure and minimizes the chance that important issues are missed because of obstructed areas

When you use Great Triangle Homes - The Shuping Advantage Team at Keller Williams Realty to assist you with your home purchase, we will arrange for your home inspection.  We are committed to providing Buyers with only the most professional service providers in the area - so you can rest assured that your real estate transaction is as smooth and hassle-free as possible.  If you are thinking of beginning the search for your next home and want professional guidance each step of the way, as well as expert negotiations to save you money, give us a call at 919-951-1945 or contact us at GreatTriangle Homes.com. You can learn about our services and how we benefit home buyers on our website at www.GreatTriangleHomes.com 

When looking for homes to buy, Hillsborough offers many attractive neighborhoods and easy access to I-40 and I-85 so that commuting to Research Triangle Park and Burlington is equally convenient.  The town of Hillsborough offers restaurants, lots of historical houses and small museums, and town activities such as the annual “Hillsborough Hog Day” in June.

One of the neighborhoods with all of these enefits is Old Heritage Pointe, a nine-lot neighborhood offering a quiet paved cul-de-sac street, just one mile from I-40 access.  A couple of attractive street lights– old fashioned post style– decorate Old Heritage Court, and an attractive brick entrace sign displays the neighborhood name.  All lots are about an acre in size, so one enjoys the sense of community with neighbors yet maintains privacy on their own large, wooded lot.  The natural landscaping means no huge lawns to mow, although each home is surrounded by a small lawn area and attractive landscaping.

A new listing in Old Heritage Pointe has just come on the market!  to see pictures and other information about 118 Old Heritage Court, follow the link to the Great Triangle Homes webstie for details:

http://www.greattrianglehomes.com/listings/118OldHeritageCourt.htm

Today most home buyers will want to consider the efficienty of heating and cooling their home due to the high cost or energy and especially home heating fuel.  One of the advantages of living in the Orange, Durham and Chatham County areas is that here in North Carolina, we typically don’t experience extreme cold weather.  In fact, our cooling costs should be just as much a consideration as heating since we experience long hot summers.

Here are some tips, many from the current Piedmont Electric Membership Corporation  “Pipeline” newsletter, one of the power companies in the area based in Hillsborough, North Carolina.  Besides the “usual” suggestions you’ve probably heard before, there are some new ideas and intesting statistics:

1) Typically 44% of your utility bill is for heating and cooling costs

2) Clean or replace your return duct filter and any other filters once a month or more if necessary (extra dirt, pet hair, etc)

3) Use your bath, kitchen and any other ventilation fans only as long as needed– it only takes 1 hour for these fans to suck the warm or cool air from your home!

4) A well insulated home’s greatest energy loss is usually through its windows; when using your heat, keep drapes, shades and blinds open on the south (sun) side of the house during the day; keep drapes, shades and blinds closed at night to help insulate the cold air outside

5) When using your air conditioning, use your drapes, shades and blinds to close out solar heat generated by the sun

6) Choose energy efficient equipment and appliances - those “energy cost” labels really do matter!

When purchasing a home, Great Triangle Homes- The Shuping Advantage Team at Keller Williams Realty will assist you in getting all the information you need to help you make a wise decision.  We’ll even help you find a passive or active solar house if you like.  Right now we are offering a large passive solar home on 2 acres in Chapel Hill, 7217 Crescent Ridge.  You can view pictures of this and our other area listings at www.GreatTriangleHomes.com.