Who does Raleigh real estate market favor in June 2013 –buyer or seller?  Media sound bites are normally national in scope.   Here’s Raleigh, NC trends. What are media comments based on?  In my experience, it's usually a comparison between the current month and the prior month or the current month compared with the same month a year ago.  More comprehensive data is needed by those who will actively participate in the real estate market.  In response to that need, I present you the following market analysis. Market divided into four segments: Red Line: Represents Top Market Segment - Most Expensive HomesGreen Line: Represents Upper Middle Segment of MarketOrange Line: Represents Lower Middle Segment of MarketBlue Line: Represents Least Expensive Homes Because all real estate markets are ... 09/05/2013

  Building a Business 6 Core Skills Listen to my invitation   Cost:  Nada - Gratis Nothing being sold. Accept Invitation and we'll see you Tuesday @ Noon   08/30/2013

Breaking News! Yet Another Home Sold by Craig Rutman, Your Raleigh, Cary, Apex area Real Estate agent! This beautiful home in Raleigh, NC is now sold. But don't worry folks. Even though this one is no longer available, YOUR new Raleigh, Cary, Apex area home is out there. If you're looking to buy or sell a Raleigh, Cary, Apex area home, you're just a click or a phone call away. 919-349-9530 is the number! Prefer to click? www.justNChomes.com is your one stop resource for all your Real Estate needs in the Triangle area. I'm here and I'm ready to help you get your home sold, or to help you begin the search for your new Raleigh, Cary, Apex area home.   About The Author Craig Rutman is a North Carolina Residential Real Estate Specialist that can assist you with the purchase and/or sale of re... 08/29/2013

The Federal Housing Administration (FHA) 203k loan allows buyers to wrap repairs/upgrades into their mortgage.  Make sure you avoid this FHA 203k deal killer. Actually, the 203k streamline program includes a refinance option.  This program poses an increased risk for lenders and FHA.  Special appraisal process used to control this risk. Previous blog provides more details.  I will focus today on how FHA calculates the maximum amount and how to avoid this FHA 203k deal killer. In addition to maximum loan amounts set by FHA (varies by county and its $295,000 in Wake County NC) these criteria apply: = Rehab cost limit: $35,000 = Loan amount cannot exceed purchase price + rehab costs = Above limited to 110% of “after improved” value This last requirement (110% of after improved value) is in... 08/29/2013

INSIDE THE BELTLINE RALEIGH   Inside the Beltline Homes inside the Beltline are those skirting the inside of the I-440 and I-40 forming an imaginary "belt line" around the City of Raleigh. It is made up of diverse neighborhoods, with real estate prices varying from luxury homes in the millions to condo's and town homes at a more affordable price.   There are numerous parks, greenways and country clubs with hiking and walking trails within the Raleigh Beltline, which is a huge attraction for the locals, who value the convenience of Raleigh and the business districts and yet have the feeling of open space on their doorstep.   There are wonderful restaurants and shopping inside the beltline. Business is also relocating into the beltline area - creating a great appeal for folks to move back... 08/27/2013

People are attracted to VA and FHA loans since they’re designed to make it easier to purchase a home.  The surprise comes when home is appraised.  Why?  How? I’ll deal with why this is true first.  VA and FHA assume the borrower is a first-time buyer and requires an additional layer of protection.  So loan qualifications guidelines and down payment requirements make borrowing easier, but the house faces stiffer level of scrutiny. How do VA and FHA appraisals differ from normal appraisals?  The list is long, but here are some examples: = Electrical and plumbing in good repair with usable life remaining and meet current standards. = Heating adequate and safe. = Roof sound with usable life remaining. = Water:  Safe drinking, safe sewage disposal and hot water. = Structurally sound. = Suita... 08/26/2013

Buying your first home?  IRS tax credit helps first time home buyers and you may be eligible to save up to $2,000 a year every year.  Here’s how it works. I’ve recently been approved by the North Carolina Housing Finance Agency (NCHFA) to provide home buyers with access to tax credit.  Only approved loan officers can assist buyers obtain a Mortgage Credit Certificate (needed to claim tax credit). Purpose of this program is to make buying a home more affordable by putting more money in your pocket.  Where does this ‘money’ come from?  The IRS tax credit helps first time home buyers by providing eligible buyers with up to $2,000 cash money.   Before going any further, let me clarify the difference between a tax ‘credit’ and a ‘deduction.’  = Tax deduction of $2,000 puts $300 in your pocke... 08/19/2013

Wouldn’t it be great if when you walked into a listing presentation or met with a buyer they said: “I feel like I already know you.” Wouldn’t that a beautiful thing.  The sale would be half made before you even said a word.   Reserve Your Seat That my friend is the power of video marketing. Last week we covered the mind set of video marketing, finding viral videos and the video sandwich. This Tuesday we create a video live while you watch.  We will… = Record the intro = Find a viral video = Record the call to action = Put it together using APE = Share it with the world   Don’t come late - this is a good one. Reserve Your Seat As you can see we have a lot to cover so don't be late.  Let's make some money.  See you there. This is a brand new class that you won't want to miss.  Be there li... 08/16/2013

Prospects don’t hear a word you say until they trust you. Prospects want to know:  Who are you and why should I trust you? They won’t ask you.  You could reassure them if they did. So how do you overcome that and have people feeling like they already know, like and trust you when they call the first time?   Reserve Your Seat   We are going to share Video marketing basics How to become the local celebrity How to start the day of the class How to use the equipment you already have Why this works so well Why not doing it is costing you millions Why you have no competition (Really) If you are looking to close 1, 2 or even 3 more deals a month, this class is for you.   As a friendly reminder nothing is being sold. Reserve Your Seat As you can see we have a lot to cover so don't be late.  Let... 08/09/2013

You found a house you want to own, what’s next?  A difficult decision faces aspiring home buyers.  Nobody pays sticker price, but how do you know what to offer? In real estate negotiation is still expected.  Even if you’re a repeat buyer, it’s been years since you last purchased a home.  This doesn’t inspire confidence that you know the market stone cold.  Where do you turn for help? Your real estate agent can be of great assistance.  Knowing certain facts about the current real estate market conditions helps in the discussion with your agent.  First order of business is to find out if the belief that sellers overprice their homes is an urban legend.  The numbers indicate that it’s not an urban legend, it’s a fact.  Do we know how overpriced? Statistics tracking the relationship between... 08/08/2013

Agents, appraisers & loan officers like me smile again.  Why? Market reports show home sales surge in Raleigh Triangle, but whose buying?  Is this important? First let’s review the numbers.  According to the Triangle MLS through June (which includes Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill, Cary and a number of smaller towns and cities) closed sales have increased 25.5% for 2013 compared to same time span in 2012.   Chart shows that home sales surge in Raleigh Triangle, but whose buying?  Should we be concerned?  We don’t want to be.  Heck we’ve only just started smiling again.  But here’s the deal: New research from Morgan Stanley has predicted massive growth in the buy-to-rent sector.  The research indicates that large companies will buy up properties as rental investments, effectively pushing up... 08/05/2013

It would be a complete understatement to say that most of the country was and is relieved that the Real Estate Market turned around this year.  But just how much did it turn around and how long will this last? Several factors right now are brewing and mixing together setting us up for a strange next few months: Interest Rates - First of all, interest rates have started to inch up.  While, yes, they are still historically low what needs to be understood is that as they inch up a large portion of the buyer pool goes away.  What a buyer could afford at a 3.5% interest rate may very not be reasonable to that same buyer at a 4.5% interest rate.  For instance, did you know that for every .5% the interest rate increases on a $300,000.00 home purchase there is an increase of approximately $100.... 07/22/2013

The Real Estate Market Statistics are out for June 2013 and once again there are many positive trends.  For North Raleigh the number of Closed Sales was up +15.9% when compared to the same time period in the year 2012.  The total number of Closed Sales was 320.  The inventory of homes for sale was down -9.3% however.  The total number of homes for sale in North Raleigh in June 2013 was 1293.       The Absorption Rate for North Raleigh pretty much held steady at 5.1 which indicated a Sellers Market.  This statistic shows a -28.8% drop from the same time period last year.  Please keep in mind this statistic is ONLY for North Raleigh and different areas of the Triangle are experiencing different markets.  For more information regarding the Absorption Rate, what it means and how it effects... 07/20/2013

What happens when your prospect is on your website and thinks “OK, I want to list my home so where do I enter my information?”  Are you ready? Two weeks ago we shared an amazing strategy from Jill Denevan on how to get more listings.  Last week we shared how to set up your free website for this Home Prices Strategy.  Just one more step. Reserve Your Seat Now let’s capture your client’s information.  Convincing prospect to list is NOT ENOUGH; we want prospect to list with you. Tuesday we share how to capture your prospects information on your website by using Google Drive forms. You will be able to use these forms for many other strategies and websites too.  This is just ONE way. Hope you can make it.  P. S.  Need to see the previous two classes in the trilogy?  Just let me know.  I’ll p... 07/19/2013

There are so many ways to connect with Raleigh Red!   A great way to keep up with local Raleigh NC Real Estate news is through my Facebook Page.  I also post recent real estate market statistics, local news and events, information on area schoosl, parks, restaurant reviews and so much more!  If you really pay close attention you might just catch one of my many contests!!  ;) I'd love to see you on my Facebook Page so come on over!   If you are another agent and would like to connect please send me a private message and I'll gladly reciprocate the LIKE.     07/18/2013

And Yet Another Home Sold by Craig Rutman, Your Raleigh, Cary, Apex area Real Estate agent! This beautiful home in Raleigh, NC is now sold. But don't worry folks. Even though this one is no longer available, YOUR new Raleigh, Cary, Apex area home is out there. If you're looking to buy or sell a Raleigh, Cary, Apex area home, you're just a click or a phone call away. Prefer to click? www.justNChomes.com is your one stop resource for all your Real Estate needs in the Triangle area. If you prefer to call, 919-349-9530 is the number! I'm here and I'm ready to help you get your home sold, or to help you begin the search for your new Raleigh, Cary, Apex area home. About The Author Craig Rutman is a North Carolina Residential Real Estate Specialist that can assist you with the purchase and/or ... 07/16/2013

Life in North Carolina is Great! It's as True Today as it was in 1939... This ad which appeared on page 75 in LIFE magazine's July 24, 1939 issue depicts what I've been saying since the day I moved here back in 2001. But, why vacation here when you can live in the Raleigh, Cary, Apex area and have all these wonderful vacation spots right in your own backyard? And then, you too can say, "Life in North Carolina is great!" About The Author Craig Rutman is a North Carolina Residential Real Estate Specialist that can assist you with the purchase and/or sale of real estate in the Raleigh - Cary – Apex metro areas; or any place else in the country by connecting you with a relocation professional in your destination of choice. To find all available homes for sale in the Triangle area of North C... 07/11/2013

Our clients often ask us, “what are the Things to Consider When Considering Owning an Investment Property”? Within each of the 6 criteria below, there are a whole host of other concerns and challenges that should be addressed.  Each property has its own unique set of circumstances too, as does each investor. Here are 6 things to consider: 1. Buy a Property in an Area with Strong Rental History. A good Realtor can help you research different areas to determine rental history, going rates and available properties to consider. If you want to buy a single family home, consider the schools in the neighborhood. Often that is a determining factor for tenants. Or research other draws to certain neighborhoods, like proximity to major employment or transportation. If you are considering a condo o... 07/11/2013

June -2013 Housing Trends - Raleigh Durham Region What to know what's happening in the Raleigh, Cary, Durham, Chapel Hill and surrounding Areas? Get the Insider Scoop on The Latest Housing Trends for Raleigh - Durham and surrounding areas. JUNE - 2013 Newsletter Housing Trends eNewsletter Welcome to the most current Housing Trends eNewsletter. This eNewsletter is specially designed for you, with national and local housing information that you may find useful whether you’re in the market for a home, thinking about selling your home, or just interested in homeowner issues in general. The Housing Trends eNewsletter contains the latest information from the National Association of REALTORS®, the U.S. Census Bureau and Realtor.org reports, videos, key market indicators and real estate sales ... 07/09/2013

Student loans can stop loan applications cold.  This about how Raleigh gets rid of student loans without paying them off than the mortgage approval process. Can this impact the housing market?  You tell me.  The situation:  37 million owe nearly a trillion (with a ‘t’ folks) dollars in student loans.  All debt affects the mortgage application approval process.  What can be done when you can’t just pay them off?   There’s hope.  Let me reassure you on that point.  My research shows there are basically four ways: 1.  Forgiveness for doing x 2.  Forgiveness due to your income 3.  Discharge 4.  Bankruptcy Let’s look closer at how Raleigh gets rid of student loans without paying them off.  The four avenues: 1.  Forgiveness for doing x deals with programs that reward you for something you do.... 07/08/2013