Finding your dream home with your realtors help.

Finding your dream home is probably the most important purchase you will make in your life. The best way to do this is to get the help of a realtor to make sure the purchase goes as smoothly as possible.

 

In order to help your realtor find your dream home, you will need to know what you want. In order to tell your realtor what you want, you need to know what you want. In order to find out what you want you need to go over the basic needs and wants in your family and then decide what you need, and what you just want.

 

Here are some questions to ask yourself:

 

How much room does your family want, or need?

How many rooms and bathrooms do you want or need?

What appliances, amenities, and extras do you want?

What area or neighborhood do you want to live in? Allow for a few miles variance so not to limit your findings.

Did you want a house that was completed, or did you want something that you could fix up your way?

What can you afford?

Did you want to be near a freeway entrance, or a school, or any other businesses that would make your life easier?

 

After you know what you want and need, you can tell your agent or realtor. This will enable them to find listings through many listing services, homes they are specifically assigned to, and other realtors they know.

 

Now you can start the process of finding your home. This may take a little time, however given the chance; your realtor will make sure you have plenty of homes to choose from.

 

Another area that your realtor will make sure that your dream house is not going to be a money pit, is that they will get the completed inspections needed, and they will review them with you. That way you will know the purchase will be made with full knowledge of the homes condition. You will also be made aware of any damages that are irreparable or issues that affect the overall value of the home. This would be like a cracked foundation, or location in a less than favorable area. Including being by a train track, major free way, or dump.

 

Next your realtor will make sure that the house is listed at a price that is accurate for that home in that area. The way this is done is by reviewing a market analysis. If you have a realtor that knows the area you are looking in, you will find that the realtor will know what you can expect to pay right off the bat, or at least a good estimated price.

 

Finally your agent will make sure your dream home is yours with all legalities and contracts signed and completed. This is probably the most difficult part of the process of buying a home. Your realtor will make sure that all the fees, charges, and loans are set up correctly and that you will only be charged what is fair.

 

The relationship you build with your realtor and the trust you install into the business negotiations through your realtor will help you to be able to obtain the best deal on the dream house you want.

 

Tina Abraham is a powerful <a href="http://www.tinaabraham.com/">Wilmington 
North Carolina real estate broker</a>. Whether you're looking for <a 
href="http://www.tinaabraham.com/">luxury real estate, waterfront homes, 
historic Wilmington homes or a quaint little cottage</a> Tina can knows the 
market and can get your the best home to fit your unique needs. To learn how 
Tina can help you find your dream  
http://www.tinaabraham.com/     North Carolina home 

here or call us at (910) 619 8931

 

Tips for purchasing commercial real estate

When you are looking to purchase some commercial real estate, there are tips available to help you get the best deal.

 

Commercial real estate is any real estate that is more than the standard single family home. Usually this means an office building, a rental property with two or more facilities, a retail business, a gas station, a restaurant or any other property that is used for income.

 

1. When you are looking to purchase commercial real estate, you need to know what you are looking for. It is your money you are investing and therefore you want to make sure that your money is getting used in the ways you want it to be. If you do not want to take the time to manage a 10-unit commercial apartments building, then you want to look for something a little smaller like a 4-plex. If you do not like to do repairs and renovation, you will need a location that is already fixed up. However if you like to paint and have little projects, a fixer upper is a good idea for you. Know what you want to purchase before you go looking.
2. Financing is a main requirement for the purchase of commercial real estate. Take the steps of getting pre-qualified for your loan before you look around for the right property. This way you will look for the commercial property that you can afford.
3. Now finding your commercial real estate is the next tip. There are many sites on the Internet that you can use to locate the most up to date commercial real estate for sale in the area you want. Here are a few sites that you can search through.

 

1.  
   • http://pages.ebay.com/realestate/
   • http://www.lease2purchase.com/links_list.php?id=5
   • http://www.business.com/directory/real_estate_and_construction/finance_and_investments/commercial_real_estate_financing/
   • http://www.vandema.com/Sponsors.htm
   • http://www.costar.com/Products/CommercialMLS/?src=ppcg

 

1.  
   • When you are looking for commercial real estate property, you can also look in the newspaper from your area, this can be done on the Internet by simply going to the web site of the newspaper and going to the real estate section.

 

1.  
   • There are also listings for commercial property at the MLS web site. http://www.mlsaccess.org/. The options you can see are for purchasers, and you would likely need to contact a broker to look at the property. However this is not a bad idea.

 

1. The documentation involved along with the legalities is sufficient reason to negotiate your purchases through a real estate seller agent or broker. The fee you would pay is usually a fair fee, for the trouble it will save you.
2. Know the specifics. This will empower you to be able to complete your commercial real estate purchase with confidence.

a.      Make sure there is a clear title to the property

b.      Get title insurance

c.       Negotiate the price

d.      Are there any covenants, codes or restrictions that you need to be aware of

e.       What type of deed will you receive for the property

 

Purchasing commercial real estate is a great investment that could create a long-term income. When you purchase the commercial real estate, you open the door to many options for business. Purchasing the commercial real estate will also give you equity, and therefore will increase your overall net value.

 

Knowing is everything. Take the time to do your homework, research your options, the seller and the property itself and empower yourself to make an educated decision. After all, it is your money.

 

Whether you want to create an income through a rental property or just build equity with a commercial property, the investment if done right is a great idea and can be a great deal.

 

Tina Abraham is one of the most popular <a 
href="http://www.tinaabraham.com/">realtors in Wilmington, NC</a> 
specializing in selling homes in Wilmington, Greater Wilmington, Pender 
County and Brunswick County, some of the highest demand homes in the world. 
Visit us for http://www.tinaabraham.com   Wilmington NC homes for 
sale or call (910) 619-8931 for more information on how Tina can help 

you sell your house or buy the home of your dreams.

Ways to make more money selling your house by using a realtor.

Making the most money when you sell your house is the overall goal. By using a realtor you will be able to make the most from your real estate transaction.

 

Choosing the right realtor will make a world of difference when it comes to the money you will make with the transaction of selling your home.

 

When you are setting up and interviewing realtors or real estate agents, keep in mind that you need this person to be able to communicate, and negotiate in a way that will bring you the most profit possible.

 

When you are conducting the interviews, you will want to ask a few specific questions that will help you find the agent or realtor you are looking for.

 

1. Can you get references from s few of the last real estate transactions that the realtor completed?
2. What experience do they have?
3. What licenses do they have?
4. What will they do as far as advertising to help sell your home?
5. What are their commissions they require?
6. Will they negotiate the commissions?
7. What is the time frame that they feel it will take to sell your home?
8. What other steps will the realtor take to sell your home. Including, open houses, flyers, and listings on the Internet, television, magazines and newspapers.
9. When will the realtor and or agent be spending time and how much time on selling your home?
10. What are the terms of the contract, if any, and can there be a set time limit.

 

It is important to choose a local realtor. A local realtor will know the area, connections, listings in the area, and will be familiar with the markets ups and downs in that specific area.

 

One of the best ways to make the selling of your home more profitable is to save money by selling the home quickly. The money you will save is on the carrying costst, mortgage payments, and other ownership costs.

 

There is also a great deal of inconvenience in showing your home to sell it. This includes keeping the house spotless for shows, making arrangements for appointemtns, and also child care arrangemtns. The result is that it is better to have a good plan set up for the successful sale of your home with your realtor.

Part of creating a successful sale is to list the home at a fair price. The best ways to find out what a fair price is will be to have your agent or realtor set up both a Market Analysis and a house inspection that will set up a realistic price for an easy sale.

 

With a home set at fair market value, your home will be set up for availability to a variety of incomes. If a home is set at a ridiculously high price will not only limit but also possibly eliminate the purchase of the home. This will slow the purchase process to a stand still.

 

When the price is set right for the sale of your home, you will also increase the enthusiasm of your realtor or agent. This is because they will know it is a deal they can get for you and for them. Therefore increasing profit for both of you. If a home is sold faster, the realtor makes the money faster also. Take into consideration that a realtor is paid usually on a commission basis.

 

This means that if your home sold for $200,000 your realtor gets usually half of the $12,000. That also means that if a house sells for $205,000 your realtor only gets half of $12,300. If it takes 15 more days to sell that house at $205,000 then the realtor worked that 15 more days and the daily rate they get paid for those days is $20.

 

That really does not make it worth the time of the realtor for that additional time. Therefore it is beneficial to your agent to sell the home as quickly as they can. This also makes sense when it comes to the amount of money you pay out in payments, fees and charges with the home being unsold for another 15 days. It all ads up, then the $5,000 more in profit all of a sudden is spent on expenses.

 

The best way to make money when selling your house is to find a good realtor, and trust them to sell your home for the best price as quickly as possible.

 

 Tina Abraham is a leading real estate 
broker in Wilmington, North Carolina. Tina specializes in selling homes 
in Wilmington, Greater Wilmington, Pender County and Brunswick County, which 
are some of the highest demand homes in the world. Visit us for more 
information on Tina and how she can help you buy or sell http://www.tinaabraham.com NC real estate, or call 

(910) 619-8931.

The Week in Review Wilmington NC August 23, 2008

The Week in Review

…..your Wilmington Connection

August 23, 2008

Wilmington this week we had UNCW start their classes with the rush of school starting their are so many things to think about. School supplies, clothes and more importantly where are you kids staying while in University? Did you know by paying a monthly rent you are losing money in more ways than one. Why not buy and investment home for your student and that way you can make a return on it when they finish college. Let me know if this is something you would like to discuss.

Real-estate appraiser regulation is a failure

As soaring home prices set the stage for America’s great housing meltdown, a critical step in making sure those home sales were a fair deal – the real estate appraisal – was undermined from within.

After the nation’s last major banking disaster, Congress set up a system to catch rogue appraisers. Their game: inflating the value of homes at the direction of equally unscrupulous real estate agents and mortgage brokers, whose commissions are determined by the size of the deals.

But a six-month Associated Press investigation found that the system is crippled by both the bumbling of its policemen and their inability to effectively punish those caught committing fraud.

And despite ample evidence appraisers are pressured into inflating home values – sometimes to prices in support of loans that are more than buyers can afford – the federal regulators charged with protecting consumers have thus far made a conscious choice not to act.

Wilmington council approves higher buildings downtown

The north side of downtown Wilmington could one day be home to skyscrapers that dwarf PPD’s headquarters, according to regulations approved Tuesday by the Wilmington City Council.

But new buildings in the city’s historic core would remain on the current scale, or smaller.

The changes were part of wide-ranging revisions to the city’s downtown development regulations.

Under the new rules, developers can generally build higher than has been allowed provided they offer community benefits such as public parking, park space or even wireless Internet access.

The greatest height could be reached in the area north of Red Cross Street where buildings could top out at 240 feet, 28 percent higher than is currently allowed.

By contrast, the PPD building, the dominant feature in downtown’s skyline today, is just over 190 feet tall, said Kay Graybeal, the city’s planning director.

But while some limits rose, the maximum height dropped in some of downtown’s most historic and well-traveled areas. South of Market Street, for example, the maximum height fell from 62.5 feet to 50 feet.

The change is designed to reduce pressure to redevelop historic structures by offering the less-storied North End as an alternative.

“If there’s the desire to build a really tall building, they have the ability to do that in the North End where it won’t affect the historic context of the city’s core.

Wilmington area home sales

Home sales rose in July to 507 from 441 in June, according to data from the Wilmington Regional Association of Realtors, whose multiple listing service covers New Hanover and Pender counties and parts of Brunswick, Onslow and other area counties.

But that still was 17.5 percent lower than in July 2007, when 618 homes sold.

....until next week in The Week in Review

Tina

The Week in Review August 9, 2008 Wilmington NC

The Week in Review

..….your Wilmington Connection

August 9, 2008

Summertime in the port city is a wonderful time. So many things to do, and with the beach here you feel like you are on vacation all year long. Thinking of relocating? Contact me and I can get you a relocation package out in the mail. As you can see Wilmington is a growing city with house prices holding pretty steady now.

 

Wilmington’s home equity ranks high in ‘Forbes’ list

If the local housing market has got you down, take some heart from another of Forbes’ lists of superlatives and negatives.

 

Wilmington ranks No. 20 in the magazine’s list of cities with the most home equity. Home equity as a percent of home value was 61 percent in Wilmington, or $117,470, Forbes said, down from 64 percent in 2007.

The drop in year-over-year figures was true most places, but Wilmington’s and others stood in stark contrast to Sacramento, Calif., and Grand Rapids, Mich., where home equity is 28 percent, falling from 57 percent and 46 percent, respectively, two years ago, Forbes said.

Southern cities dominated the top 20 list. The city with the most equity was Beaumont, Texas, 75 percent at $76,458; followed by Corpus Christi; Gulfport, Miss.; Charleston, W.Va.; and El Paso.

But cities outside the South also were on the list: Honolulu; Utica and Binghamton, N.Y.; Allentown and Scranton, Pa.; and Atlantic City.

Forbes used data from Moody’s Economy.com on the country’s 200 largest metro areas. Housing values have dropped 7.7 percent nationwide since last year, according to the National Association of Realtors.

 

 

Belville’s mixed development project plan

Belville | The old downtown on the Brunswick River looks as it did a year ago, when bulldozers had brought down its abandoned Cookery and a motel of questionable activities.

According to Michael White, partner in the downtown Belville redevelopment plan, a lot of work is being done and hundreds of thousands of dollars are being spent to prepare that area for change. Boutiques, condos, a marina and a boardwalk will eventually replace that faded landscape off N.C. 133, but it’s a long, complicated process until then, White said.

The study shows that the revamped downtown – which White expects to be completed within 10 to 15 years – “can compete really well with the riverfront” in Wilmington, consultant Erica Champion said.

Belville’s mixed development project would allow people to live and shop in a waterfront district without the traffic congestion of the Wilmington area.

Developer wants to build across river from PPD tower

The study shows it would be possible to build 338 condos, each at 1,070 square feet and going for $330,000; 70 waterview condos at 1,480 square feet and $523,000; and 70 waterfront condos or penthouses, at 1,980 square feet for a pricier $793,000. A hotel could also go in, along with a combined 281,700 square feet of retail and office space, the study says.

But whether plans to build an 11-story condominium tower can overcome problems, namely the lack of utilities, that have derailed other high-profile projects proposed for that side of the riverfront remains to be seen.

Taking advantage of New Hanover County’s newest zoning district, the developers of Harbor Landing are proposing to cluster 108 condominiums in an 11-story building just south of the existing Point Harbor Marina.

The county Planning Board on Thursday unanimously approved the rezoning of the roughly 5-acre parcel from industrial to riverfont mixed-use, and the county commissioners will now take the issue up next month.

The mixed-use designation, which is allowed for about 130 riverfront acres stretched between the Cape Fear Memorial and Isabel Holmes bridges, gives developers the option of adding density in exchange for protecting public access to the water and retaining open space.

Planning officials hope it also helps promote new projects in riverfront areas where the legacy of Wilmington’s marine past, along with environmental concerns and that the land is mostly in the 100-year floodplain, makes redevelopment difficult and expensive.

Along with the 144-foot building, which would encompass some commercial uses and three levels of parking, the proposed project would include a riverfront boardwalk, docks and 120-foot pedestrian pier.

 

.…until next week in the Week in Review

Tina

 

The Week in Review Wilmington NC August 2, 2008

The Week in Review

…….you Wilmington Connection

August 2, 2008

Whew! it’s hot here in Wilmington…..cooling off at the beach or on the boat is the answer. The Real estate market has seen quite a bit of activity considering the media claims we are in such a “Glum state” although as I have said before the real estate market varies nationaly as real estate is local. Drop me a line if you want to talk about what has been going on here. Currently there are 2885 homes on the market here in Wilmington and the Greater Wilmington area, in the last six months 1523 have sold and homes are averaging 95% list to sell price. How long it takes to sell your home depends primarily on price, marketing ability of your Realtor and of couse how many homes are on the market in that price range. Let me know if you would like to find out how many homes are on the market in your price range.

 

North Carolina Ranked Second

 

North Carolina, Texas and Georgia have the best business climates among the 50 states, according to a recent survey of executives by Development Counsellors International. North Carolina ranked second among the 281 respondents, with 30 percent saying the state has the best business climate.
http://www.bizjournals.com/charlotte/stories/2008/07/28/daily8.html

President George W. Bush signed into law a housing stimulus bill This is expected to bring greater stability to housing markets nationwide. The bill, strongly supported by the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®, will help some 400,000 home owners refinance into affordable, government backed loans and offer a temporary first-time home buyer tax credit, which is expected to serve as an attractive incentive to buyers and help reduce high inventories of unsold homes.
http://www.realtor.org/RMODaily.nsf/pages/News2008073001?OpenDocument

Chandlers Wharf…Deomolition?

The owner of Chandler’s Wharf, a popular tourist destination along the Riverwalk, is asking the city’s Historic Preservation Commission for permission to demolish the main building at the corner of Ann and Water streets. It does not include the shops and restaurants south of Ann Street.

John Lennon, president of Prudential CRES Commercial Real Estate, made the application on behalf of the Bullock family.

“The family has owned the property for a very long time and obviously done a lot to it since it is one of the primary assets that they have,” he said. “That being said, the land value is greater than the improvements that are on it, so they are taking the necessary steps to protect the value they’ve accumulated.”

Owners of two other structures in the city’s Historic District also have applied for demolition permits. Those buildings are the old Taste of Country house at 226 S. Front St., part of which old New Hanover County insurance policies show was built before the Civil War, and the World War II-era McEacherns Sons produce warehouse at 121 S. Front St.

The commission will consider the requests at its Aug. 14 meeting, where it can order a delay of as long as a year.

But unlike the other two structures, Chandler’s Wharf is a focal point of the city’s thriving riverfront and is popular with tourists.

 

………..until next week in The Week in Review

Tina