Real Estate Decoded

I thought they all still lived at home? Turns out our vision of millennials may be changing. Some of them, after all, are 35 years old. More and more we are hearing about Millennials and how traditional and optimistic they are. It is refreshing to see a younger crowd that believes in homeownership. Maybe they are not all wanting to live in a rented 500 square foot apartment after all. Here is an article that was written this year by:  Eric Rosenbaum  of CNN Millennial money myths: The truth about homes, cars and ownership Eric Rosenbaum When it comes to trying to get inside the head of millennials, don't buy the buzz about the "don't own" economy. The success of start-ups like Netflix, Spotify and Uber have led to predictions that future Americans will choose not to own and drastically shape the future consumer society. But when it comes to big purchases — the kind that can be very good or very bad financial decisions — millennials are not that di

The 5 Phases of emotions when buying a home go something like this... Stage 1: “We are so excited!!!” You are past the part where you figure out how much home you can afford and now it is time to shop! The budget and the money are all set.  While you’re busy on Instagram and Pinterest feeling euphoric and there are sugar gumdrops all over the place in your head. Stage 2: “Wait...this is a lot to think about.” Unfortunately, there’s a lot of deciding involved with buying a home. In a market like ours you have figured this out fast!  All of a sudden you feel like you’re drowning in decisions and to do lists!  Buying your first home is feeling intense. Stage 3: “We are the happy hunters” With help from your real estate broker, you are making a lot of progress. You are seeing some homes you like and things are feeling a lot less overwhelming as you now have a guide to lean on and ask questions. Stage 4/5: The Freak Out and The Feet up. Everyone freaks out.

Have you been spring cleaning? Maybe now you're ready for a garage sale or a yard sale? Check out the video below from Robeson Design on throwing a Garage Sale: Image Source here Image Source here Summer is a popular time to move for many, with May being the official start of moving season. According to a recent study, more than half of moves occur during May through September. Image Source here The Spruce says moving into a new home should be done during the summer! Why? They list: The weather Great time for garage sales Good time to sell your home Kids and school Moving for work Students moving to college When are people moving? Check out the statistics from last year and even 2015 from My Moving Reviews: Image Source here Image Source here Moving to North Carolina? Or maybe you already live in North Carolina, but you are considering a new city? Moving.com listed these 10 cities to consider moving to: ASHEVILLE Estimated population:

It's a new month! And spring is here, with summer soon approaching! I've compiled a few of my favorite ways to get your home ready for summer! 1. Turn your ceiling fan to counter-clockwise. There are a lot of great resources that explain the benefits and the concept of changing the direction the fan blades move. Have any of you experimented with the directions and noticed any cost savings? Image Source here 2. Adjust the temperature settings on your programmable thermostat, for when you're home or not. 3. Replace old weatherstripping on doors and windows. Image Source here  [Tim Barron Architect] 4. Check water settings. By this I mean, check your hose connection for any leaks or damage. And indoors, consider using cold or warm water when using the clothes washer. Also, consider lowering the temperature setting on your hot water tank. 5. Revisit your windows. Change out your curtains and use SolarShield® curtain panels or thermal insulated blackout c

Do you love visiting homes and seeing how it's decorated or staged? I've had the pleasure of viewing a few homes over the past few weeks, and I can agree with the articles below on some of the trends. Wood floorings have been in almost every home I've seen. I've also seen wood ceilings and ceilings bringing attention to beams, which I love! I love that people are paying attention to their ceilings! I've also seen a lot of the light blues, light greens, light gray, dark gray, maroon, and corals. And everywhere I look, I see wicker and adirondacks. What trends have you spotted? Inspiration for your home decorating or projects: Image Source here   Image Source here Image Source here Image Source here Top 5 Home Design Trends for 2017 National Design Trends Get Southern Twist Why Southerners Have Always Loved Wicker Flooring Options for Southern States Considering moving within the next year? Check out these other articles from us to help yo

Today's theme for this post: greenery. And no, I'm not talking about Pantone's Color of the Year, Greenery. It's Spring! And many of you are making changes to your home, both inside and outside. I've seen people painting the walls in their home, and I've seen people outside planting trees and flowers and mulching. With Earth Day coming up this Saturday, it's important to bring awareness to environmental concerns, and it's also encouraged to save energy in any way. I recently saw a home in Raleigh with solar panels on their roof.  I later discovered it was installed by Sun Dollar Energy, LLC .  If you are thinking about making changes to your roof or perhaps installing a new roof, consider adding solar panels or solar shingles, if it's in your budget.  The home I saw installed 625 sq. ft. and the estimated project cost was $28,000.00.  You can also consider a ground mount system as another option.  Just make sure you do your research to find out

Thinking about updating your home? Or are you buying a home and wondering what exterior siding material you prefer? I've shared some popular home exterior siding materials in North Carolina from Stanton Homes as well as tips and trends for updating your space! POPULAR EXTERIOR SIDING: Image Source here Vinyl Exteriors HardiBoard/Fiber Cement Exteriors Stone Exteriors Brick Exteriors Stucco Exteriors Board and Batt Exteriors Shake Exteriors TRENDS: Five trends new-home builders are seeing in the Triangle! SMARTER  - It's all about automation and finding smart devices to activate sprinklers or set security systems! GREENER  - Water conservation is a high priority and buyers are more conscious about product choices when it comes to paint and flooring. SMALLER  - The smaller home trend is strong this 2017! The open space concept and having rooms serve as more than one purpose is also important to home buyers. CLEANER  - Clean and sleek lines are trending in