Raleigh Residential Real Estate Blog

Raleigh Residential Real Estate – Looking to invest in Residential Real Estate? Raleigh, NC was named #2 by Money Magazine in its list of Best Cities for Bargain House-Hunters

If you are thinking of snapping up a bargain buy in the current real estate market downturn you should recognize that timing a market is risky and prices alone may not be the best way to determine a good opportunity.

Money magazine recommends that you consider the market where you purchase. “They’d be smart to look for markets where job growth is strong, foreclosures are relatively low and inventory is high. With these factors in place, buyers can still dictate terms of sale and negotiate prices, but aren’t as exposed to the economic and lending risk problems that have sunk many markets around the country.” Then they say, “What you need is a buyers’ market, where there is healthy job growth and more houses available than people to buy them. This is not due to foreclosures and economic downturn, but to overbuilding that should balance out in time.”

Read the full article: Best Cities for Bargin House Hunters

The current Raleigh, NC residential real estate market matches these criteria and it is a good time to purchase a home. Interested in investing in a home? Give the PolingTeam a call and we will help you through the process of identifying and finding a good investment.

Raleigh Residential Real Estate - Home selling strategies should always be carefully tailored to meet the current Raleigh, NC area market realities. Here are 7 things to keep in mind if you’re planning on selling your Raleigh area home in 2008.

1. Get a Home Inspection: In a buyer’s market, it pays to be pro-active. Home defects or outdated systems can hold up a sale or result in price reductions later on. By getting a home inspection before putting your home on the market, you’ll be able to address problems that might otherwise turn off knowledgeable buyers. Contact us about our free home warranty program that may help with the cost of repairs.
2. Set Pricing Accurate to the local Market. Setting a realistic asking price is the best way to ensure a timely sale. It’s no longer enough to simply check current comparable listings in your area and match their asking prices. It is necessary to research both the price and the time on the market of the current comparable listings. It is important to study the absorption rate (comparing the number of homes on the market verses the number of homes sold in the last year).
3. The PolingTeam pays close attention to any properties that have sat unsold for an extended period of time and we study statistical data on local home buying trends.
4. Depending upon the location, the PolingTeam might even recommend hiring a professional appraiser to give you more definite idea of your home’s value.
5. Keep your mind open to the possibility of a future price reduction should your initial listing not generate the kind of response you desire. You do not want to constantly be behind the market. In a strong buyers market, it is important not to make the price reduction too small if the market prices are dropping.
6. Consider waiting on listing your home if you are in an area with high inventory and if you have the time to wait. Yes, I really did say potentially wait - even if it means we don’t have the opportunity to list your home now. We always recommend what is best for our clients.
7. Call the PolingTeam to obtain our professional advice with absolutely no obligation.

Raleigh Residential Real Estate – More Positive News for Raleigh, NC area home buyers and sellers.

Two reports today offer some positive news for the future of this year’s real estate marketplace. Since the major news media often is negative news, I thought it important to report good news in our blog. The first comes from the Jumbo lender Thornburg Mortgage Inc. reported Tuesday that the company bounced back from a billion-dollar third-quarter loss to return to profitability in the final quarter of 2007. In the company press release, the company states, “that we expect our portfolio margins and spreads to continue to improve in the near term.”

In addition, according to a release from Business Week yesterday, the Shares of Thornburg Mortgage Inc. rose Wednesday after Jefferies & Co. analyst Richard Shane Jr. upgraded the stock to “Buy” from “Hold,” saying the lender’s liquidity position has improved.

Also today, the National Association of Realtors® reported that it expects “A continuation of soft market conditions is forecast for existing-home sales in the months ahead, with improvement expected by the second half of this year if loan limits are increased.” They also reported, “Areas with a high prevalence of subprime lending will continue to feel downward price pressure. Where builders have cut construction sharply, and in most areas with improving affordability conditions, we’ll generally see moderately higher home prices,”

Try out our new home search tool BestHome Pro on our website at http://www.PolingTeam.com

Raleigh Residential Real Estate – Some more good financial news for Raleigh, NC home owners

The main financial event of last week was the lowering of the Federal Funds Rate another .50%, on top of Federal Reserve’s surprise .75% cut just eight days before. This brings the Fed Funds Rate down to 3.00% and will lower rates for business and consumer loans as well as Home Equity Lines of Credit and Adjustable Rate Home Loans.

This is good news for Raleigh area home owners with those Home Equity Lines of credit. It is still uncertain how this will affect long term mortgage rates, but most of the lenders that we work with are recommending moving forward with a refinance or locking in a loan now.

Please give the PolingTeam a call or click Contact US to discuss how this may help you.

Raleigh Residential Real Estate – Good news for Raleigh, NC area home owners – Taxes may be less than expected.

The News and Observer reported on Saturday that the property tax rate could drop below the anticipated rate of 53 cents per $100 home valuation to a “revenue-neutral” rate of 50.8 cents per $100 valuation.

“If commissioners do not lower the property tax rate to make the revaluation revenue-neutral, property tax bills will jump sharply. Last week, county commissioners voted to lower the tax rate to the revenue-neutral amount for upcoming tax bills. The current rate is 67.8 cents per $100 of value.”

The reason for the consideration in rate change is because fewer appeals were made to the average 43% increase in tax value of Wake County properties. The increase brought the total value of all Wake County real estate and personal property that is taxed to $116 billion.

The PolingTeam encourages you to contact your county commissioners to request a revenue-neutral rate. It will help all of us.

Raleigh Residential Real Estate – Important Information for Raleigh, NC home buyers – Beazer Homes is closing its mortgage unit and exiting 5 markets

Market Watch reported today that Beazer Homes is quitting the mortgage-origination business and that the embattled builder is closing its mortgage unit, exiting several housing markets.

While they are not currently planning on leaving the Raleigh, NC area, they are quitting the home building business in Charlotte, NC. It plans to complete all homes that it is currently building in those five cities and will determine how to dispose of its land holdings in those markets.

In addition, Market Watch reported,” The builder said it found evidence that workers in its mortgage business violated Housing and Urban Development regulations. Its probe also uncovered evidence of other accounting irregularities that will lead to expected restatements. It has negotiated waivers of default from its lenders due to its failure to report financial results on time.” Read the article: Beazer Homes

This is disturbing news, but represents the challenges faces by new construction home buyers that do not have the assistance of an experienced real estate agent.  It is important that home buyers understand that Builders & Developers have agents on site who represent the Builders & Developers and many times these representatives are not licensed real estate agents. Builder representatives by definition represent the seller or developer. As a real estate professional we recommend that every buyer have their own professional representation when purchasing any real estate property. 

Check out The Poling Team Realtor® Services for New Construction Home Buyers by clicking here: Services for New Construction Home Buyers