Amy Shair's Blogs

I'm talking with Ben Clifton from PNC Bank about PNC's loan programs for first time home buyers. Watch to learn who is considered a first-time buyer and what programs and incentives are offered to those who qualify.  Visit AmyShair.com 

New construction is absolutely booming in the Triangle area.With new homes sales going at a brisk pace, some buyers are worried they will lose their favorite lot or miss out on the one house under construction that meets all of their needs. However, it is in the buyer’s best interest to not rush ...

Spring is in the air – the weather may be just starting to warm up, but the real estate market is already hot! Spring has proven year after year to be the season in which the real estate market takes off. Buyers are out in droves, trading cabin fever for open houses, and their house hunt usually ...

Ben Clifton from PNC mortgage and I had the opportunity to talk about jumbo loan programs recently.There has been a lot of talk about jumbo loan programs in the market and I thought it would be great to get some answers.How much is a jumbo loan?According to Ben, a jumbo loan is exactly $484,350 a...

What are the benefits of buying versus renting in the current market? There is a lot of information online about apartments being built. With interest rates on the rise, many people are wondering if buying still makes sense or if they should continue to rent.Here are my top reasons that renting r...

Do buyers care about school districts even if they do not have school-aged children living in their homes? How important is it for buyers to live close to where they work? Is the old real estate saying “location, location, location” still accurate? You bet! NAR’s 2018 third quarter Housing Opport...

As a resident and business owner here in the Triangle, I am always mindful of how my spending and shopping habits can contribute to the community. One of my favorite ways to support small business is to shop at my local farmers market! Doing so not only supports local and regional farmers but al...

Thinking about buying your first home?The prospect of a home-search can be exciting, but many first-time buyers get ahead of themselves. Before you start bookmarking your favorite listings and spending every weekend at open houses, pause and take note of these first-time buyer mistakes and how yo...

A great obstacle to happiness is to expect too much happiness. – Bernard de Fontenelle We live in a world where 24 hours a day you can watch any number of television shows that tell the story of buying a fantastic home—all in a matter of 50 minutes! A lovely couple looks at three homes, picks on...

Shopping for a home is a daunting task. You have a list a mile long of what you want. So does your spouse. Add some kids in the mix and the list grows longer. At first, you set out to get everything on your list and assume that new construction or a newer home is going to do the best job at givi...