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. E...

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 ...

Image Source here It's a new month, and we observe a lot in April! Here's a brief description of each: NATIONAL FAIR HOUSING MONTH In remembrance of the assassination of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in 1968; sponsored by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD); efforts to end housing discrimination KEEP AMERICA BEAUTIFUL MONTH Celebrates all we can do to make our country a more beautiful and better place; three basic missions: reduce waste, prevent litter, beautify communities LAWN AND GARDEN MONTH The time we clean up our lawns and prepare it for summer NATIONAL DECORATING MONTH We focus on home decorating NATIONAL GARDEN MONTH Gardening improves our attitudes toward health and nutrition, kids perform better at school, community spirit grows Image Source here NATIONAL LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE MONTH Efficient and creative design is recognized from walkways, playgrounds, neighborhoods, and roadways; use #WLAM2017 on social media wh...

Are you a visual learner? If you're selling your home or considering it, check out the link below from Realtor.com of before and after images of virtually staging a home. Staging a home can help buyers visualize what it would look like for them to live in your home. Realtor.com - What is Virtual Staging? A Way to Stage Your Home Out of Thin Air Image Source here If you're buying a home and aren't sure about how to arrange your furniture, consider using an app or online program to plan your layout ideas. My current go to program is floor planner , but the following two links have other programs I'd consider trying and using, like Autodesk Homestyle or Home Design 3D. Apartment Therapy - 10 Apps for Planning a Room Layout Image Source here Freshome - 10 Best Free Online Virtual Room Programs and Tools Image Source here And if you're not selling or buying a home, perhaps you want to refresh your space? I'm loving these " Quick Style B...

Spring is finally here! While we are in the spring real estate market, I thought you may want to review some housing terminology. As one source says, "Buying a home is like being in a different culture, complete with its own language." I recently heard the word, "elevation" come up while I was getting my hair cut. And then I was speaking to a Realtor ® , and she was speaking about elevations. When it comes to hair and when it comes to a home, the same word has two different meanings. Elevation in cosmetology terms: the level at which the hair is lifted away from the head Elevation in real estate terms: the exterior view of the home; the position of the home in relation to the grade of the land; an orthographic (non perspective) drawing of a property from the front, rear, or side that illustrates how the planned or existing structure is situated topographically Here are four sites with useful terminology and definitions: 1. Work Life - Real Estate Te...

We've mentioned before that the spring real estate market occurs from March through May, but could start as early as February and end as late as June.  Today, I'm giving you a recap of what we've mentioned before in regards to making a decision to list or not list, things to consider when selling your home, and things to consider when you're going through the buying process. Takeaways: To List or Not to List? Look at your current conditions and make a judgment call rather than gambling. Look at buyer behavior. Listing when buyers outnumber sellers could yield a profit. Image Source here Things to Consider When Selling Your Home 4 things to be aware of: Cost may equal value to you , the seller. Spring buyers are typically already out buying a few weeks before spring actually starts. Price your home based on what the market is indicating you can sell it for. There are several liability risks when you list your own home yourself. Image Source here ...

With spring being less than two weeks away, what are your exterior and outdoor plans for your home? As the temperatures get warmer, and the soil temperature gets warmer, it'll be time to start taking care of your lawn.  Make sure to check the condition of your lawn mower and sharpen blades, service motors, change the oil, etc. Below, I'm including some articles that may be useful or informative on lawn maintenance and a little bit about what the link or article covers. Image Source here Image Source here 7 TIPS FOR PREPPING YOUR RALEIGH LAWN FOR SPRING Test your soil's pH Consider aeration Do not put down insect control Go easy with the mower Now is the time for seeding! Get a jump on crabgrass Tune up your equipment Image Source here A PRACTICAL GUIDE FOR MOWING YOUR LAWN (9 Common Questions Answered) When should I start mowing, aerating, and seeding my lawn? When should I stop mowing my lawn in the fall (or winter)? When should I resume ...