What does “cost of living” really mean, and how does Winston-Salem stack up.
Let’s face it. Everything seems expensive these days. From home prices, rent, to gas, electricity and groceries, prices seem exorbitant. Through all of this, we keep hearing that Winston-Salem is affordable. What does the “cost of living” really mean, and how does it affect our housing market? Investopedia defines the cost of living as “the […]
First-Time Home Seller?
The best phone call that an agent can make to a seller is to inform them that your home is officially “under contract” Although a signed contract was THE goal when the For Sale sign went up, sometimes this incites panic among sellers. Now that we have a signed contract, what happens next? 1. Be […]
Tax vs Market Value
TAX VALUE Amount that the county assesses the land and improvements for. Easy answer is no. In this market, thank goodness. MARKET VALUE How much a buyer is willing to pay for the land and improvements. 2023 tax bills come out in August, about a month earlier than normal. Maybe the county wants to give […]
What the Hail!
Even though our spelling and grammar have gone way downhill in the last few years, no that is not a typo! I mean really, what the hail? For real estate transactions in NC, per the contract, we have a timeline to follow. First, the signed contract, followed by a negotiated due diligence period, followed by […]
Which Inspections are required and which ones are customary?
In a seller’s market, there are a lot of agents (and the media) who suggests that buyers should waive inspections in order for a buyer to “win” a bidding war.Clean offers, with few or no contingencies, typically are the most competitive offers. Will “waiving” inspections help buyers get a house in a challenging market? In […]
Can New Construction Pull Winston-Salem Out Of The Inventory Crisis?
Some “home buyers” and outsiders looking in are surprised to hear that the number of homes for sale in the Triad market is STILL critically low. Wasn’t the housing shortage, or “inventory crisis”, so 2022? No. As a matter of fact, the housing crisis is getting worse. In Winston-Salem, right now, there are 69 homes for sale […]
Should I sell my rental home in 2023?
I love talking with my clients about many different real estate scenarios! A client posed this question to me last week, and the answer is…….maybe. The right investment properties make excellent college funds! Basically, the tenant should be paying enough rent to cover the mortgage with insurance and taxes, as well as provide enough funds […]
State of the Market -February 2023
Hi Friends! Wow! What an incredible 2 days of weather here in NC- feels like spring. Of course, that means golf season, and typically more homes for sale! I thought it would be a good time to give you an in depth look at the local real estate market. Like you, I hear the […]
2023 Word of the Year
The forbidden phrase of the last 2 years is “what will I get for my money”? Between inflation and supply chain challenges, we have been advised to “just say yes, and say yes quickly”. In this upcoming year, consumers WILL continue to pay 2023 prices but want to know what they are getting for their money. […]
Real Estate or Ping Pong!
The 2022 real estate market was like watching a game of ping pong. There were so many back and forths and confusing messages that it is easy to look back on the last 12 months and say “what just happened”? So, wading through the distractions, here IS what happened: Interest rates rose quickly- […]