Home inspection for new construction.  You bet!  That's the way I feel now that I'm back in general brokerage.  That's not how I felt when I worked for builders.  When I was on the other side of the fence, I thought it was a waste of time and the buyer's money.  After all, we built a perfect house.  Or, so I thought. Now that I am working with buyers, I see the advantage of a home inspection.  Today, I saw the perfect example.  While helping another agent do a walk though, I was present for a home inspectors initial report.  There was nothing I would consider major, but a handful of items that needed to be addressed.  The two main issues were a drain pipe from the master bath leaking into the crawl space and a couple of hot and cold lines reversed.  Both items will be easily and quickly... 12/28/2009

This is the Million Dolllar Question lots of people are asking themselves now. Although no one can predict the future, this we know for sure. Currently, rates are hovering just under 5%. Historically, this is an extremely low rate. You would have to travel back in time to the 1940s to see rates this low. Rates have been inching up slightly over the last few weeks. In addition, many experts are predicting that the rates will continue to rise in 2010. What do you say?  Will rates keep at this level or steadily increase? 12/24/2009

Merry Christmas! To all of my co-workers and everyone here at activerain. I wish all of you a very Merry Christmas and hope all are able to spend it with their families. To any of you that may have freinds or relatives in Afghanistan or Irqaq, we are thinking of them and wish them the best. In the words of Tiny Tim, "God bless all of us". 12/24/2009

We are really thrilled to announce that yet another of our listings has sold super quickly during this traditionally slow time of year.  Our listing at 1004 Cleborne Street, Greensboro, NC went under contract in one week.  Better still, the offer was over the asking price!  If you are considering buying or selling a home, please give me a call or drop me an email.  I can show you how to get your home sold when others aren't selling! The agent you use really does matter. For more information about buying or selling a home in Greensboro, NC or throughout the Triad, please contact one of the members of Team Leung at 336-508-1111 or email us:  Andy Leung, Lisa Postlmayr, Kelly Walters or Heather Dodson.  Visit our website at www.GreensboroAreaHomes.com. 12/23/2009

How do we get buyers and sellers to think about real estate right now?  It's two days before Christmas.  Many people are traveling, preparing food, baking cookies, last minute shopping.  So, my question to all of you is, can we get people to think about real estate right now, or is it something that's just not important to them right now?  Is it something they will deal with after the holidays?  After the Super Bowl?  After the winter weather?  After tax time? What can we do to motivate people right now?  Of course, low interset rates, tax credids, plenty of inventory all play into it,  but none of that seems to be at the top of most folks list right now. So bring on the ideas.  Let's help each other out! 12/23/2009

Don't miss the spectacular lights in the Sunset Hills neighborhood here is Greensboro, NC.  What is it?  Every year, neighbors throughout Sunset Hills put out an amazing display of handmade Christmas lights.  Constructed from the modest materials of chicken wire and inexpensive string lights, the chicken wire is formed into a ball about the size of a basketball and then the lights are wrapped around and around.  During the day, it looks like nothing more than some rough wire and green cords hanging high in the trees.  But once the sun goes down, the neighborhood is aglow with a beautiful display.  My children love it!  During any given December, we drive up and down the streets of Sunset Hills more often than I can count!   More and more families participate in the festivities every yea... 12/22/2009

From an article by Donald W. Patterson, in the Greensboro News and Record When it comes to cities that offer bang for the buck, Greensboro and High Point might not be among those that come to mind. But Forbes begs to differ. In a list called America's Best Bang-For-The-Buck Cities, the magazine recently ranked the Greensboro-High Point area as the 30th best in the nation. That's out of a survey of the country's top 100 metro areas. The Raleigh-Cary area ranked 21st, and Charlotte came in at 56th. Greensboro-High Point tied with the Albany, Schenectady and Troy, N.Y. area. "(The) end result is we are not a flashy market but one ... built on a reasonable foundation," Keith Debbage , a geography professor at UNCG, wrote in an e-mail. "We just have to stop comparing ourselves to the more sk... 12/22/2009

Winding down, or winding up for the new year.  It's that time of the year where everything seems to get crazy and to become very quiet at the same time.  The work phone barely rings.  The only folks coming in to the office are dropping off holiday treats.  Everyone is talking about crowded malls, cookie recipes and the recent snow.  There's not much work related talk at all. Some agents have left for trips back home to see their families.  Some just stay home and prepare for the holidays.  Some are busy, typing away at their laptops.  Blogging, tweeting, sending holiday greetings and a few are posting new listings. I am somewhere in the middle today.  I'm working from home, wrapped some presents earlier and now, here I am blogging.  I'm a little sad the snow is melting away.  It would h... 12/22/2009

Ten days ago, I wrote a blog about why December is a great time to list your home for sale.  Now, I am pleased to report that our listing at 105 Irving Park Court, Greensboro, NC is under contract, after only 16 days on the market. Congratulations to these happy sellers who are glad they ignored the naysayers and decided to list their home just before Thanksgiving.  12/21/2009

Homes sold in Greensboro, NC has increased by 53% compared to the same month last year.  Every month, I put together these real estate market reports for Greensboro, NC and this month, we have seen some real improvements in the data, especially homes sold. This was anticipated because homes under contract was up significantly last month.  But before we get too exuberant, let's look closely at all of the data.  The following Greensboro, NC housing data was retrieved from the Triad MLS on December 7, 2009 and focuses on Greensboro, NC Single Family Real Estate Home Sales in November 2009.  Active Homes for Sale: The number of Greensboro Single Family homes for sale:  2,328 Median Price: $165,378 Average DOM (Days on Market):  154               Comments:  The number of active homes for sal... 12/18/2009

  ONE STORY RANCH HOME FOR SALE IN PLEASANT RIDGE, GREENSBORO, NORTH CAROLINA.  TOTALLY RENOVATED INSIDE AND OUT. 100% FINANCING AVAILABLE!  QUALIFY FOR $8000 TAX CREDIT!  HIGHLY DESIRABLE SCHOOLS! PEARCE ELEMENTARY, KERNODLE MIDDLE, NORTHWEST HIGH.   Scroll down for more photos.   4408 Eagle Rock, Greensboro, NC 27410 $159,900.00 This one story ranch home for sale is available today!  The ready to move into 3 bedroom, 2 bath, single story home has just been totally renovated for that brand new feel without the price!  1570 sq.ft. of open living space. Handy 2 car attached garage holds tools, vehicles, bikes and so much more!  Your one story ranch home for salewas built in 1993 for today's lifestyle. Come see this home for yourself!  New flooring throughout.  New paint inside and out.  ... 12/16/2009

Construction of new homes, helped by better weather, rebounded in November following a setback in the previous month. The gain is a hopeful sign that the housing recovery is continuing, a development viewed as critical to lifting the overall economy out of recession. The Commerce Department says construction of new homes and apartments rose 8.9 percent in November to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 574,000 units. The gain represented strength in all areas of the country although the increase was slightly lower than economists had expected. Applications for new building permits were also up, rising 6 percent to an annual rate of 584,000 units, a stronger showing than economists predicted. 12/16/2009

Guilford Hills, Greensboro, NC Real Estate Market Information as of 12/7/2009 Active Homes For Sale in Guilford Hills: Number of homes for Sale: 11 Average Asking Price: $140,782 Average Days on Market:  121 Pending Homes in Guilford Hills: Number of Pending Homes:  1  Sold Homes in Guilford Hills Since January 1, 2009 Number of Homes Sold: 36 Average Asking Price: $139,325 Average Sold Price: $134,494 Average SP/LP ratio (what % of asking price did homes sell for): 96.5% Average Days On Market: 69 For the complete report and charts plus reports for other neighborhoods and the entire Greensboro area, please visit www.greensboro.featuredblog.com All data gathered from the Triad MLS 12/7/09 and is believed to be correct.  Some For Sale By Owner purchases and sales have not been included i... 12/15/2009

Kirkwood, Greensboro, NC Real Estate Market Information as of 12/7/2009 Active Homes For Sale in Kirkwood: Number of homes for Sale: 13 Average Asking Price: $211,377 Average Days on Market:  144  Pending Homes in Kirkwood: Number of Pending Homes:  3 Sold Homes in Kirkwood Since January 1, 2009 Number of Homes Sold: 20 Average Asking Price: $243,745 Average Sold Price: $237,870 Average SP/LP ratio (what % of asking price did homes sell for): 97.5% Average Days On Market: 55 For the complete report and charts plus reports for other neighborhoods and the entire Greensboro area, please visit www.greensboro.featuredblog.com All data gathered from the Triad MLS 12/7/09 and is believed to be correct.  Some For Sale By Owner purchases and sales have not been included in this report. 12/15/2009

Lindley Park, Greensboro, NC Real Estate Market Information as of 12/7/2009 Active Homes For Sale in Lindley Park: Number of homes for Sale:  14 Average Asking Price: $181,250 Average Days on Market:  133 Pending Homes in Lindley Park: Number of Pending Homes:  2 Sold Homes in Lindley Park Since January 1, 2009 Number of Homes Sold: 36 Average Asking Price: $180,354 Average Sold Price: $173,025 Average SP/LP ratio (what % of asking price did homes sell for): 95.9% Average Days On Market: 70 For the complete report and charts plus reports for other neighborhoods and the entire Greensboro area, please visit www.greensboro.featuredblog.com All data gathered from the Triad MLS 12/7/09 and is believed to be correct.  Some For Sale By Owner purchases and sales have not been included in this r... 12/15/2009

Stay focused!  It's easy to say, but harder to do, especially this time of year.  We are surrounded by social events, office parties, holiday planning, shopping, etc.  It's so easy to lose focus on your goals now.  You may think, "Oh, no one's thinking about buying or selling a home now.  It will get busy again after the first of the year".  So, you spend a few more hours catching up on your Christmas shopping,  shooting the breeze in the break room,  joining friends for a holiday drink, or just going in to the office less. Well, guess what.  Someone is buying a home this week.  Someone else is putting their home on the market.  Someone just found out they are being relocated to your town.  Interest rates are still historically low.  Now, more people than ever will be eligible for tax c... 12/15/2009

Stay focused!  It's easy to say, but harder to do, especially this time of year.  We are surrounded by social events, office parties, holiday planning, shopping, etc.  It's so easy to lose focus on your goals now.  You may think, "Oh, no one's thinking about buying or selling a home now.  It will get busy again after the first of the year".  So, you spend a few more hours catching up on your Christmas shopping,  shooting the breeze in the break room,  joining friends for a holiday drink, or just going in to the office less. Well, guess what.  Someone is buying a home this week.  Someone else is putting their home on the market.  Someone just found out they are being relocated to your town.  Interest rates are still historically low.  Now, more people than ever will be eligible for tax c... 12/15/2009

Here is the latest real estate market report for the Starmount neighborhood in Greensboro, NC as of 12/7/2009: Active Homes For Sale in Starmount: Number of homes for Sale: 35 Average Asking Price: $525,588 Average Days on Market:  150  Click Here to see a complete list of the Homes For Sale in Starmount Pending Homes in Starmount: Number of Pending Homes: 0 Sold Homes in Starmount Since January 1, 2009 Number of Homes Sold: 35 Average Asking Price: $309,646 Average Sold Price: $296,257 Average SP/LP ratio (what % of asking price did homes sell for): 95.8% Average Days On Market: 77 Click here for a complete list of all homes sold in Starmount in 2009 See Also: Search Homes for Sale in Starmount, Greensboro, NC Sell Your Starmount, Greensboro, NC Home All data gathered from the Triad ML... 12/14/2009

It's time for all of us to give.  Now that the holidays are here, it's time for all of us in this business to give a little back. Even if many of us have had a slow year, we are still far more fortunate than many around the world and even here in our own country.  So many hard working, middle class Americans are in dire straits this year.  Many are homeless, who never imagined them selves in that position. At Christmas evety year, I like to pick four charities to give to.  My choices generally include a couple of local charities, which help the homeless and hungry, as well as a couple that benefit children.  I'm sure we all have some favorite causes we can contribute to.  many of our real estate firms also give to various charities at this time of year, which I applaud.  But, go the ext... 12/14/2009

Sunset Hills, Greensboro, NC Real Estate Market Information as of 12/07/2009 Active Homes For Sale in Sunset Hills: * Number of homes for Sale: 11 * Average Asking Price: $319,418 * Average Days on Market: 99   Pending Homes in Sunset Hills: * Number of Pending Homes: 2   Sold Homes in Sunset Hills Since January 1, 2009 * Number of Homes Sold: 19 * Average Asking Price: $247,506 * Average Sold Price: $232,358 * Average SP/LP ratio (what % of asking price did homes sell for): 93.8% * Average Days On Market: 97 Click here for a complete report, including a list of all homes currently for sale, pending and sold in Sunset Hills in 2009. For more information on Sunset Hills or any area in the Greensboro, NC or Triad real estate market, please contact Andy Leung at Keller Williams Realty: 336... 12/13/2009