The Greenville "DIRT"
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I Love New Agents?I do!
I love new agents, I truly do. And I’m happy to tell you why. New agents are like the rising 4th graders I used to get each September so many years ago. Those students were bright, excited, open minded and ready to learn something new. Just like Brand New Agents. And they usually don’t have [...]
Ther Devil?s In the Details! Or, What I Learned at Parris Island
As the helicopter mother of one son I planned his graduation in detail…the young men in crisp school blazers, dappled sunlight under the towering oaks of the lawn, the muted voices of the families as they waited for the ceremonies to begin. Alas, this was not to be. Number one son decided he wanted to experience [...]
Welcome to the
One of the by-products of working with buyers is finding great homes…for someone else. So I have decided that each Friday I will compile a “good buy” list to share with ya’ll. These are homes that are priced really well, have unique floorplans, unexpected updates to the interior, wonderful yards or locations, or a combination [...]
Be One of the Village People!!
That’s Davencroft Village, actually. Tucked in behind Davencroft and Sterling Trace, through a raised berm and decorative fence, and sided by a rolling meadow is a fourty lot neighborhood of craftman style homes. Each unique house has a combination of stone and siding, architectural roofs, mission style windows and doors, double garages and covered porches. At the end [...]
Where Are the Best (retail) Deals in Greenville, NC?
Okay, one of the joys of my life is selling a home to a new family/person. It’s like fitting that last piece in the jigsaw puzzle…it just feels good. The other joy is finding a great bargain and sharing the news with someone else. There are those who, when complimented on an outfit or shoes, just [...]
Everyone Needs a Break?Tax Breaks, That is!!
Taxes this year will be more complicated than unusal due to new deductions and tax credits created last your. Many of the new tax breaks are credits and those reduce your bottom -line taxes dollar for dollar. Here are a few to keep in mind as you prepare your taxes. 1. Haiti Donations: Money given to [...]
Where Do Buyers Come From?
Are you tracking your leads? Do you really know where your money is coming from? Are you spending your energy on the top 20% of activities that bring you happiness and wealth? Look back over the past 12 months and write down where every closed buyer and seller came from. Look at the patterns. Does [...]
Everything Old is New Again
Ten ways the new economy will look different: 1. Value is the new virtue. Out with the expensive “extras” and in with the discounts. Looking for and asking for discounts is now cool. 2. The return of the Tightwad! Out with entitlements and in with the discerning shopper. Discount stores such as Marshalls and TJMaxx are booming. [...]
What You Don?t Know CAN Hurt You
Most people purchase or sell a house only a few times in their life so we should not expect our clients to be mind readers. It’s our job, our fiduciary duty, to tell people what’s coming next. By doing this we can keep a mole hill from becoming a mountain. The following is a list [...]
This Month in Real Estate
Spring Has Sprung (Somewhere), The Grass is Riz?So Get That House Spruced Up!!
Let’s put the question to rest once and for all. “Yes! Yes! Yes!!” This is the best time to buy a house since Elvis was alive and singing in the dark! The reasons are this: historically low interest rates and incredible TAX CREDITS. Those last two words mean GIFT. Rates will evenutually rise, the feds will take [...]
Good Morning America?Got It Wrong!!
On a recent GMA sound bite it was suggested that the seller be available (as in on site) during showings of their home so they could answer questions. The reporter stated, “after all, no one can sell your home as well as you can”. I could feel the hair raising on the back of my [...]
Oh Where, Oh Where, Did The Easy Stuff Go?
Forget the heady days of 2005 and 2006 when buyers fell from the trees and sellers could expect automatic appreciation of their homes. I don’t think we’ll be seeing that again any time soon…and maybe that’s just fine. I hope we’ve learned a few lessons from this market shift. The winds have blown away the [...]
You Cannot Sell From an Empty Wagon!!
I awoke in the middle of the night with this question on my mind, “How do I spread the word?”. Blast emails? Radio? How about an airplane banner flying over Pitt County? The “word” is that we are running out of new construction inventory!! In 2008 we had 900 building permits approved…less than a third of [...]
Great Neighborhood in Greenville, North Carolina
My favorite neighborhood is….Oak Hill Farm. That’s probably because I live there, the house was custom built and we have a private rear yard which is home to many birds, including wood peckers and owls. And we have great neighbors. After all, that is what makes a community…the people. While sitting on the front porch [...]
