I meet many sellers weekly in my travels around Lake Norman, NC and particularly Denver, NC. Not picking on any one person! Everyone thinks what their personal taste in color, furniture arrangement, pictures, etc are the best way to get their home sold fast! Guess what? They are better… for you. We need to make them better for a buyer to feel themselves living in your home, because you proclaim not to want to live there anymore! (All in good fun!)
I am one of the few agents in the Lake Norman, NC area, that personally pays for a professional to stage your home. Not only that, but I have a storage unit full of accesories for you to use. All of this is FREE to you, when you list with me. Why? I know for SURE a staged home sells faster and for more money than one that has not been staged.
Why hire a professional? Yes, I once had the staging designation and I think it is a great core course for all real estate agents, but I can’t stay on top of the best staging techniques and assure your home has the utmost print and web presence, perfect pictures, fabulous descriptions, exceptional marketing material, etc!!
Melinda Smith, with Balance and Harmony, has been my first choice for Staging a Home for Sale for years. She brings with her a fantastic attitude, excellent work ethic and most importantly the ability to get the job done – Stage it to Sell!
I ran across this video on Realtor.org and I think it is a helpful way for you to see in just a few clips what a difference staging can make to a home.
If you have more questions, feel free to visit the staging section of my website or to visit Melinda’s website at www.balanceharmony.com/.
Lincoln County, NC – Dr. David Martin, Lincoln County School’s Superintendent Contract Up for Renewal
As you have likely read and heard around Lincoln County, NC is the controversy over Dr. David Martin’s contract as Lincoln County Schools Superintendent with the Lincoln County Board of Education has reached a critical point this week.
I personally have received many e-mails and read many bits of information and I felt it was necessary to get this information out to our Lincoln County Residents.
I have two children attending Lincoln County Schools currently. One of the reasons we moved to the area was because of the great schools and small town atmosphere. I meet many buyers every day that choose Lincoln County as there home for the same reasons.
I believe most parents want Dr. Martin’s contract to be extended. I feel he has not only maintained our great schools, but also improved them and I also believe there will still be many great things to come.
After listening to President Obama’s State of the Union Address last night, I have continued to ponder today the need for our children to have improved educations and the ability to attend college regardless of the parent’s salary. I guess this is really the reason I have chosen to step up today and voice my opinion.
So here is the deal as I understand it….
The superintendent’s initial 4-year contract has not been extended leaving only 1+ years remaining for him to serve our children.
The Board of Education has never taken a public vote to extend (or not) the superintendent’s contract.
The BOE has not formally and in writing shared any professional concerns with the superintendent related to his performance.
The BOE’s annual rating of the superintendent is 3.8 of 4.0.
News@Norman also provided this additional information…Dr. Martin has done an exceptional job in running our school system:
* Our schools met the state’s Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) requirements in 98.1% of school subgroup targets.
* Our schools exceeded the state average in reading, math, science, end of course (EOC) composite, and graduation rate.
* 17 of 24 schools achieved “high academic growth.”
* We had seven “Schools of Distinction.”
On January 26th, many Lincoln County Residents showed up at the BOE meeting with expectation of this contract issue to be sorted out. It has now been postponed til tomorrow, Friday, January 28th, at 5 pm. The meeting will again be held at their main office on General’s Boulevard.
To help, you can attend that meeting, as many others will, to show your support for Dr. Martin. There has also been a Facebook page set up for supporters of Dr. Martin’s contract extension. You can find it by typing “Support Dr. Martin-Superintendent of Lincoln County Schools” in Search.
I leave you with this thought….What is right for the children is more important than the good ole boys network and politics!
As part of its plan to stimulate the U.S. housing market and address the economic challenges facing our nation, Congress has passed new legislation that:
- Extends the First-Time Home Buyer Tax Credit of up to $8,000 to first-time home buyers until April 30, 2010.
- Expands the credit to grant up to $6,500 credit to current home owners purchasing a new or existing home between November 7, 2009 and April 30, 2010.
Here is more information about how the Extended Home Buyer Tax Credit can help prospective home buyers become part of the American dream. If you have specific questions or need additional information, please contact a tax professional or the Internal Revenue Service at 800-829-1040.
Who Qualifies for the Extended Credit?
- First-time home buyers who purchase homes between November 7, 2009 and April 30, 2010.
- Current home owners purchasing a home between November 7, 2009 and April 30, 2010, who have used the home being sold or vacated as a principal residence for five consecutive years within the last eight.
To qualify as a “first-time home buyer” the purchaser or his/her spouse may not have owned a residence during the three years prior to the purchase.
Which Properties Are Eligible?
The Extended Home Buyer Tax Credit may be applied to primary residences, including: single-family homes, condos, townhomes, and co-ops.
How Much Is Available?
The maximum allowable credit for first-time home buyers is $8,000.
The maximum allowable credit for current homeowners is $6,500.
How is a Buyer’s Credit Amount Determined?
Each home buyer’s tax credit is determined by two additional factors:
- The price of the home.
- The buyer’s income.
Price
Under the Extended Home Buyer Tax Credit, credit may only be awarded on homes purchased for $800,000 or less.
Buyer Income
Under the Extended Home Buyer Tax Credit, which is effective on November 7, 2009, single buyers with incomes up to $125,000 and married couples with incomes up to $225,000—may receive the maximum tax credit.
These income limits have changed from the 2009 First-Time Home Buyer Tax Credit limits. If the Buyer(s)’ Income Exceeds These Limits, Can He/She Still Get a Credit?
Yes, some buyers may still be eligible for the credit.
The credit decreases for buyers who earn between $125,000 and $145,000 for single buyers and between $225,000 and $245,000 for home buyers filing jointly. The amount of the tax credit decreases as his/her income approaches the maximum limit. Home buyers earning more than the maximum qualifying income—over $145,000 for singles and over $245,000 for couples are not eligible for the credit.
Can a Buyer Still Qualify If He/She Closes After April 30, 2010?
Under the Extended Home Buyer Tax Credit, as long as a written binding contract to purchase is in effect on April 30, 2010, the purchaser will have until July 1, 2010 to close.
Will the Tax Credit Need to Be Repaid?
No. The buyer does not need to repay the tax credit, if he/she occupies the home for three years or more. However, if the property is sold during this three-year period, the full amount credit will be recouped on the sale.
Resource: NAR
I was recently sent an e-mail that touched me and I am now sitting here considering participating. This year I have seen many families that were potentially going to lose their home and shown many foreclosures. Where can you go locally when you need help? I considered this often. I had never heard of this effort, so I wanted to share this with all of you. I imagine it requires a lot of volunteers to make it work. I want to go tonight! Want to go with me?
Here is some information that I found about Hesed House online. Their website is http://www.hesed-lincoln.org.
“Lincoln County Facts on Homelessness:
■In the 2007/2008 school year, 59 children in Lincoln County were classified as homeless
■Homelessness in Lincoln County has at least doubled from 2006 to 2008
■Make-shift shelters in the woods are increasingly found by police
On January 1, 2008, the Lincoln County community came together in a remarkable way to open the county’s first roving shelter for individuals with no home to protect them from cold weather. Over 100 area churches, community organizations and individuals gave their time, money and food to house a total of 29 individuals, the youngest of whom was six years old.
Our organization, still in its infancy today, has the vision to become a strong, viable charity that reflects the great spirit of hope and generosity that binds our community. Our goal is to give shelter to those in need, lifting individuals up out of poverty and into self-sustained, healthy living whenever possible. Raising the funds and volunteer support to build a permanent shelter is the first major step.
Fundraising progress for construction of the new permanent shelter. So far, $110,000 has been raised! We need your help to make it possible to break ground in 2009!
An intake process helps to make sure our shelter is a safe place for people of all ages. Shelter guests must be alcohol and drug free. Community wellness programs support individuals in turning their lives in a positive direction so that they may eventually become independent.
Hesed House of Hope is currently run entirely by volunteers. To organize, provide intake, feed, shelter and supervise guests for one week, an average of 77 volunteers are required. Volunteer support is the beating heart inside our efforts to shelter those with no home.”
This all started with an e-mail I recieved throught the Licoln County Board of Realtors…
“As volunteer coordinator for Hesed House, I’m asking for volunteers. We’re starting up as of January 8th and plan to go until March 31. We need help in two main catagories:
– Intake, which is where we screen clients for drugs, alcohol, and criminal records. Everybody has to be clean and sober to be in our shelter. Intake training will occur January 4 and 5 at the Citizens Center at 7 p.m. Attending either night is sufficient.
–Staying overnight at the shelter. The Fire Department has asked us to let them give us training in fire safety and CPR January 4 and 5 at 7 p.m. at the downtown Fire Station, downstairs in their training room. Again, only one night is necessary.
Our schedule is for intake to go from 5:30 – 6:15 each night, 7 days a week. The clients are then taken to the place where they are to sleep. They are fed a hot meal, watch a little TV, then go to sleep. They awake at around 6 a.m., eat breakfast, then are transported from the facility before 7 a.m.
Our center could never operate without volunteers. They make everything work for the homeless, so I hope you will sent folks an e-mail asking them for help. We’ve had our difficulties getting started this year, but this bad weather really underscores the need.”
Please note that you must act quickly to be a volunteer. Good work Hesed House!
REALOGY SUPPORTS NEW BI-PARTISAN SENATE BILL TO EXTEND FIRST-TIME HOMEBUYER TAX CREDIT FOR 6 MONTHS
CEO Richard A. Smith Applauds Proposed Extension as
‘An Important Next Step’ and will Continue Efforts to Expand the Tax Credit to All Homebuyers
PARSIPPANY, N.J., September 17, 2009 – Realogy Corporation, a global provider of real estate and relocation services, today announced its support of a bi-partisan Senate bill (S. 1678) introduced last night that would create a six-month extension of the $8,000 federal tax credit for first-time homebuyers and move the current expiration date forward to June 1, 2010.
“This is an important next step for maintaining positive momentum toward a recovery in the housing markets and the overall U.S. economy,” said Realogy President & CEO Richard A. Smith, who also serves as chair of the Business Roundtable’s Housing Working Group. “While we applaud this effort and support passage of this prudent and necessary legislation, we also want to make it clear that we will continue to work with Congress to broaden the scope of the credit.
“Specifically, Realogy supports expanding the existing first-time homebuyer tax credit to all homebuyers of a principal residence, increasing the size of the tax credit, and eliminating the existing income eligibility caps, all of which we believe are critical to the ‘move-up’ or repeat buyers who we expect will drive the essential second phase of a housing recovery.
“We believe that stimulating demand for housing – particularly in the repeat buyer or ‘move-up’ market – is the most effective way for Congress to truly accelerate a broader economic recovery,” said Smith.
The bill was introduced last night by U.S. Senator Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD), along with Senators John Ensign (R-NV), Harry Reid (D-NV), Johnny Isakson (R-GA) and Debbie Stabenow (D-MI). The current tax credit provision for first-time homebuyers, passed as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, expires December 1, 2009. According to the most recent data from the Department of the Treasury, nearly 530,000 Americans have applied for the tax cut to help them purchase their first home. About 40 percent of all homebuyers this year will be eligible for the tax credit.
About Realogy Corporation
Realogy Corporation, a global provider of real estate and relocation services, has a diversified business model that includes real estate franchising, brokerage, relocation and title services. Realogy’s world-renowned brands and business units include Better Homes and Gardens® Real Estate, CENTURY 21®, Coldwell Banker®, Coldwell Banker Commercial®, The Corcoran Group®, ERA®, Sotheby’s International Realty®, NRT LLC, Cartus and Title Resource Group. Collectively, Realogy’s franchise systems have approximately 14,400 offices and 270,000 sales associates doing business in 93 countries around the world.
Compliments of LKNfun.com…
Pavilion at the EpiCentre
Thursday, July 23, 2009 – Ladies night with $5.00 Specialty Martini’s and Karaoke – The Dirty Martini – Come join some of the hottest ladies and men on the lake for a night of fun. $5.00 specialty Martini’s and some fun shots…
Thursday, July 23, 2009 – ROBIN BURKE PERFORMING LIVE!! – XO TAPAS WINE BAR – Join us for our Thursday Night Live Performances as this week we welcome ROBIN BURKE. Robin Burke gives you a great mix of Classic…
Thursday, July 23, 2009 – Alive After Five At EpiCentre with Shuttle from LKN – Pavilion at EpiCentre – Join us for “Alive After Five At EpiCentre” with Blue Dogs from 5:00pm – 9:30pm. Ragin’ Uptown and LKNfun present: Lake Norman to the Epicentre Alive…
Thursday, July 23, 2009 – Cruisin’ Cornelius – Visit Lake Norman – Join Visit Lake Norman for Cruisin’ Cornelius! Take the hometown tour to find out why our visitors love to cruise Cornelius! Meet at Visit…
Friday, July 24, 2009 – Rusty & Mike from Part-Time Blues Band – Lake Town Tavern – 11am-3pm there are 16 different choices off the menu for $4.99. 3pm-2am Fish-n-chips for $7.25 Dine In Only. All Day $2.50 Corona & Corona…
Friday, July 24, 2009 – All Are Invited to Rusty Rudder For Happy Hour – Rusty Rudder – Join us for another great night with our New Happy Hour! If your new to the lake or looking to get out of the…
Friday, July 24, 2009 – Karaoke Contest!! Cash Prizes!! Cozmic Bowling!! – Northcross Lanes – “Northcross Lanes Brightest Star 2009″ – Sponsored by Miller and All Star Entertainment
Karaoke Contest every Friday Night! Sign Up’s are from 9pm-10pm and contest…
Friday, July 24, 2009 – Happy Hour Menu – Drink Specials – Late Night Fun! – XO TAPAS WINE BAR – Each Friday Night, XO Tapas Restaurant – Wine Bar brings you the the Lake’s Most Fun Filled Friday Nights. The night starts out with…
Friday, July 24, 2009 – Blue Monday – Queens Landing – Come see Blue Monday at Queen’s Landing Amphitheatre from 7pm until 11pm…
Saturday, July 25, 2009 – Part Time Blues Band – Queens Landing – Come enjoy the music of the Part Time Blues Band at Queen’s Landing Amphitheatre from 7pm until 11pm…
Saturday, July 25, 2009 – SANGRIA SATURDAYS!! – XO TAPAS WINE BAR – Come Join Us Every Saturday for Lake Norman’s Best SANGRIAS….Red, White, Peach and Blackberry. Also, Check Out Chef Kyles’ Menu Specials to Compliment SANGRIA…
Saturday, July 25, 2009 – Christmas in July + Full Racing Program (OWM) – East Lincoln Speedway – Christmas in July + Full Racing Program (OWM). Gates open at 5:00 and Races start at 7:30…
Saturday, July 25, 2009 – Aquapalooza – Midway Marina – Combining the resources of Sea Ray of Lake Norman and our key partners, Midway Marina & Lancaster Docks – this year’s event will truly…
Saturday, July 25, 2009 – 96.1 The BEAT is BACK! With a Vengeance! – SYNERGY NIGHTCLUB – Join the all NEW Synergy Nightclub and 96.1 The Beat each and every Saturday for the return of Lake Norman’s HOTTEST party. 96.1 The…
Saturday, July 25, 2009 – Live Music: Coconut Groove Band and Drink Specials – Midtown Sundries at Lake Norman – Join us for Live Music with Coconut Groove Band starting at 10pm! Bud Light Lime Bottles & Bud Light Pints $2.50, Three Olive Monster Bombs $5.00 Grape, Cherry, & Green…
Saturday, July 25, 2009 – National Jet Ski Racing Tour Stop – Beatty’s Ford Park – The APBA today announces the final tour stop on the 2009 HYDRO-TURF APBA Watercross National Tour. Surf and Turf Promotions will be producing the…
Saturday, July 25, 2009 – Jill Dineen Band tonight – Lake Town Tavern – $5 WooWoo & Jolly Rancher Shots, $2 Select bottle beer specials, and $5 Loaded Nachos & Chix Quesadilla’s…
Saturday, July 25, 2009 – Ragin’ Uptown Shuttle to Epicentre – Pavilion at EpiCentre – Ragin’ Uptown Party Bus Charters and LKN Fun present Every Saturday Lake Norman to the Epicentre in Uptown Charlotte Party Bus Shuttle! Departs Birkdale…
Saturday, July 25, 2009 – Anchor Bar Live Music Yacht Party - LKNfun.com – Anchor Bar Live Music Yacht Party Every Saturday! Brought to you by LKN Fun, Kiss 95.1, Budweiser, 3 Olive’s Vodka, Tommy Bahama Rum, and…
Sunday, July 26, 2009 – National Jet Ski Racing Tour Stop – Beatty’s Ford Park – The APBA today announces the final tour stop on the 2009 HYDRO-TURF APBA Watercross National Tour. Surf and Turf Promotions will be producing the…
Signs of Stability: Housing Market Shows 12th Consecutive Monthly Decrease in Number of Listed Homes
The Bluffs at Waterside Crossing - A Denver, NC Townhome Community
RISMEDIA, July 21, 2009-The U.S. housing market continues to show signs of stabilization with a drop in the number of Multiple Listing Service (MLS)-listed homes for the twelfth consecutive month. The number of single family homes and condos listed for sale according to MLS data decreased in June 2009 from May by 2.1%, bringing the total number of active listings in 28 major U.S. markets to 696,858, according to national real estate brokerage ZipRealty.
Additionally, ZipRealty tracked an increase in the median list price in the 28 markets to $270,440 in June from $270,027 in May. Despite the sequential increase the median list price still decreased 2.72 percent when compared to June 2008.
Other highlights from ZipRealty’s Housing Inventory Index, compiled from local Multiple Listing Service (MLS) data, for June 2009 include:
-Las Vegas, Los Angeles and Phoenix all recorded a decline in inventory which may have contributed to some homes receiving multiple bids.
-Median list prices have flattened or increased in Las Vegas, Phoenix, San Francisco Bay Area and Los Angeles, pointing toward stabilization in those areas.
-While South Florida has substantially fewer homes for sale than last summer, housing inventory there is plentiful. For example, Miami has 27.1% more homes listed for sale compared to Los Angeles even though Miami has a significantly smaller population than Los Angeles.
-California is seeing the most dramatic inventory declines with massive year-over-year inventory reductions: Los Angeles saw a 53.9% decrease year-over-year while Bakersfield/Fresno tracked a 56.2% decrease.
-Several major metros that have been hit hardest by foreclosures had limited inventory in June 2009, which is at levels not seen or experienced in years.
“‘Affordability’ has been the buzz word in real estate this summer, and with a significant number of listed homes bank-owned, we’re seeing instances in some areas of banks dropping prices to generate more offers from buyers,” said ZipRealty President and CEO Patrick Lashinsky. “If the number of home listings continue declining and buyer interest and activity remains strong, we should see sales prices and home values increase as we head into the fall.”
Here at Lake Norman we have continued to see little to no showings and sales in the upper price ranges. I found this article particularly helpful. The loans are available.
$1,350,000 on the Shores of Lake Norman
Bank of America has cut interest rates on jumbo mortgage loans in the hopes of expanding its share of what the bank sees as an underserved market for loans too big for purchase or guarantee by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
Not everybody will qualify for the 30-year, fixed-rate loans of up to $3 million that Bank of America has been offering at reduced rates since January, with interest rates currently in the high 5 percent range.
In order to qualify, borrowers will need strong credit (a 720 FICO score or above), down payments of 20 percent or more, documented income, full appraisals, and assets sufficient to cover six months of payments, said Bank of America product management executive Vijay Lala.
But Bank of America thinks its fixed-rate jumbo loans will prove to be attractive to qualifying borrowers, because many competitors will be hard-pressed to match its rates.
Jumbo loans have become more expensive and harder to come by since September 2007, when rising delinquencies gave investors who fund most home loans through the purchases of mortgage-backed securities cold feet about “private label” securities that don’t carry the backing of Fannie and Freddie.
Unlike some lenders who must securitize and sell the loans they originate, Lala said Bank of America has plenty of room on its balance sheet to fund jumbo loans and hold them for investment, and is “putting the pedal down on our pricing and going after this market.”
Lala said Bank of America and Countrywide Financial Corp., which it acquired last year, funded $16.12 billion in jumbo loans in 2008. Although jumbo loan funding dropped to just $2.4 billion in the fourth quarter, Bank of America is already seeing “very nice volume” since introducing its more aggressive pricing.
Bank of America will only offer the loans directly to consumers — and not through independent mortgage brokers — through retail bank branches and Countrywide Home Loans (which will be re-branded Bank of America Home Loans on April 22). Lala said he expects many borrowers will be existing Bank of America customers.
The loans are aimed not only at homebuyers, but homeowners with adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM) jumbo loans who are looking to refinance at better rates. For both purchases and refinancings, the loan-to-value ratio can’t exceed 80 percent on loans up to $1.5 million, or 70 percent on loans up to $3 million.
While some other national lenders, such as ING Direct, offer jumbo loans, in many markets small community banks that lend against local deposits have been the main players, said Dan Green, a Cincinnati-based loan officer for Mobium Mortgage Group Inc.
Many of those lenders are able to aggressively price jumbo ARM loans but may not offer fixed-rate jumbo loans at all, Green said, because they are more sensitive than Bank America to changes in interest rates that affect lenders’ own funding costs.
Although niche lenders are offering rates on 3-year or 5-year jumbo ARM loans of around 4.5 percent that carry significantly lower monthly payments at the outset, some borrowers may prefer the certainty provided by the higher rate offered by Bank of America on its 30-year fixed-rate loans, Green said.
“It’s nice there’s an outlet, and I suspect there will be competition soon,” Green said. He said Bank of America’s underwriting standards “aren’t the loosest or the strictest — they’re right down the middle of the road.”
After the secondary market for jumbo loans seized up in 2007, lawmakers raised the loan limits for Fannie, Freddie and FHA loan guarantee programs. For most of 2008, the $417,000 conforming loan limit was allowed to stretch to 125 percent of the median home price in high-cost markets, with a ceiling of $729,750.
Assuming that the jumbo loan market would be on its way to a recovery by now, Congress mandated the limits would step back down to 115 percent of median home price on Jan. 1, with a ceiling of $625,500.
The $787 billion economic stimulus bill passed by Congress in February, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, restored the limits in place during most of 2008 for the remainder of this year.
By Matt Carter, Friday, March 20, 2009.
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RISMEDIA, July 8, 2009-Wherever one looks, there are exciting things to see and do in New York City’s Times Square. But it is not every day that consumers can actually interact with a company through a billboard. From July 6 through August 2, Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC will be hosting an interactive billboard in Times Square that displays requested home listings in real time.
The Coldwell Banker® billboard featured above the W Hotel in Times Square encourages people to use their mobile phone to text the word “homes” and any zip code to the number, 30241. Within moments, the billboard will display the highest-, median- and lowest-priced properties in that area. They will also receive a text from Coldwell Banker Real Estate directing them to a link with more information. To see how the interactive billboard works, please visit http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TEVs1ANgXvI .
“Times Square represents the epicenter of creative marketing, and as people from around the world take in the bright lights of the big city, they can also send a simple text to get real estate information that’s relevant to them,” said Michael Fischer, senior vice president of marketing, Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. “Consumers want quick access to online listings and this campaign reinforces how easy it is to find listings and information, anytime, anywhere.”
Coldwell Banker Real Estate also incorporated elements from its “Portraits” Campaign into the campaign, which features portraits of the company’s dynamic (albeit deceased) founders, Colbert Coldwell and Benjamin Arthur Banker, who started the company back in 1906. The founder portraits will offer humorous quips on the Big Apple and modern-day technology, mirroring the commentary they provide in current Coldwell Banker commercials.
The unique, interactive billboard is the most recent undertaking in a series of industry “firsts” Coldwell Banker Real Estate has initiated. In September 2008, Coldwell Banker Real Estate became the first full-service national real estate brand to launch a customized online platform for iPhoneTM users. They continued to steadily pave the way in innovation by also being the first to launch an application for Microsoft Surface (March 2009). In May they became the first real estate company to launch a branded YouTube channel, Coldwell Banker On Location.
For more information, visit www.coldwellbanker.com.
