Real Estate Search tools
Posted by Cary_Agent
If you haven’t ever visited Zillow.com or haven’t been buy recently, you should take another look. This site has evolved into a very usefull home search tool.
This is a must have in your arsenal of house hunting tools. On first perusal of the site, you’ll appreciated the satellite images of the neighborhood you direct it to. The home value estimates on top of each roof top are quick handy as well.
But this is just half of the impressive features of this site, so don’t surf away before getting the detail on a particular home. In the screen shot below, you will see the close up satellite image of the home you are interested in.
You can rotate the image, thus seeing all four sides of a partucular property.
Tips for Buying Homes in a Tight Market
Posted by Cary_Agent
Cary , NC has some markets that are fairly tight, especially in the 180k to 300k price range. Following a few easy tips will help to ensure that you will get your dream home, even in the tight market of today. These tips include:
• Before you starting looking for homes, get pre-qualified for a mortgage. This way you will be able to make a firm commitment to buy the home making your offer more desirable. 
• Find out first about new listings that come on the market by staying in close contact with your Cary real estate agent. Be ready to go see the house on the first day that it is being shown.
• Look on the Internet, in newspapers, and drive by the neighborhood of your choice to keep on top of new listings yourself.
• Spend time in advance deciding what you do and do not want so that when you find the home of your dreams you will be ready to make an offer.
• Make your bid realistic and competitive. Just as you wouldn’t want to bid at the top of your budget, you don’t want to go too low either and lose out on a prospective home.
• Keep your bid as desirable as possible by keeping contingencies to a minimum. Restrictions such as selling your home before the closing or delaying closing until a certain date will make your offer unappealing to the seller. If your house does not sell on time then talk to your lender about getting a bridge loan to cover both mortgages until it sells.
• Don’t get caught up in the competition of buying your new home. You shouldn’t buy just anything just because it is a good deal. Don’t neglect important aspects of home buying such as inspections to make your offer more attractive.
Buyer tips10 Questions to Ask a Home Inspector
Posted by Cary_Agent
When looking for a home inspector it is best to be prepared with questions that you want to ask them. You want to make sure that they are qualified to do the job right. Home inspections are necessary for the purchase of the house, as well as deciding the price so you want to make sure you have a reputable professional that you are dealing with.
Here are 10 questions to help you get started:
1. What kind of qualifications do you have? Are you a member of the American Society of Home Inspectors or the National Association of Home Inspectors?
2. Are you currently licensed in the state of North Carolina? Are you required to be licensed in this state?
3. How many inspections do you do each year, and are they similar to this house?
4. Can you provide references?
5. Do you have professional errors and omission insurance that I can have a copy of?
6. Do you provide a guarantee of any kind?
7. What will the inspection cover?
8. What type of report is produced after the inspection and how long will it take?
9. How long will the inspection take?
10. What are the costs involved in the inspection?
Buyer tips Home Inspection Real Estate5 Reasons You Need a REALTOR®
Posted by Cary_Agent
1. Real estate transactions can be very complicated. There is a lot of paperwork involved that you may not have knowledge of such as disclosure forms, inspection reports, insurance policies, deeds, mortgage documents, and multi-page government mandated settlement statements. A realtor can be a very knowledgeable guide to avoid the complexity of all these transactions. 
2. Even in this strong market, selling or buying a home can be very time consuming. Many homes stay on the market for many days or even months. It also takes an additional 60 days or so for the transaction to close after an offer is accepted.
3. The language of real estate is complex and difficult to understand if you have no experience. If you don’t know what a CMA or a PUD is then you can understand why it is important to work with someone who does.
4. REALTORS® have done it all before whereas you may have just bought and sold a house just a few times in your life. Also, because there are a few years in between each you may not be aware of new laws and regulations. Having an expert on your side to update you on these laws is crucial when you are making the biggest purchase of your life.
5. REALTORS® provide objectivity when you might not have any. A home purchase is often more than just four walls and the roof to you. It symbolizes family and security. It is more emotional for you whereas a third party such as a realtor can look at everything objectively and keep you focused on the business side of the deal.
Buyer tips10 Tips for First-Time Homebuyers
Posted by Cary_Agent
1. Do not be unrealistic. No home is perfect but that doesn’t mean you can’t get most of what you want.
2. Decide what features you are looking for in a home before you start looking. Convey this to the agent that is helping you to avoid seeing homes you are not interested in.
3. Get your finances such as your credit report, closing costs, and down payment in order before you start house hunting. 
4. Talk to a lender and get pre-qualified for a mortgage loan before you start looking to avoid having to do it after you have already found your new home. If you need a good recommendation for a good lender in Cary, NC, just let me know!
5. If you need second or third opinions just as 1 or 2 people versus everyone who knows you. It will just drive you crazy because they all might have different ones.
6. Deciding when you can move is important before you start the process. Find out when your lease is up, if you can sublet, and how tight the rental market is.
7. You need to consider long term options such as if you are buying a starter house with the intention of moving again soon, or do you want something long term. This will help decide the mortgage options as well.
8. Don’t let yourself be house poor by maxing yourself out on buying the biggest house you can afford. You need money to afford decorating and maintenance once you move in.
9. Don’t be naïve by avoiding the home inspection. Insist on one and if possible get a warranty from the seller to cover defects within one year.
10. Consider hiring a REALTOR® as a buyer’s representative to get the help you need. A buyer’s representative is working only for you whereas a listing agent is more concerned with the seller. Often, buyer’s reps are paid out of the seller’s commission payment