Last week I posted the chart below to show that interest rates are truly at an all time low.  With rates as low as they are, this is the time to take advantage by either refinancing your home or purchasing a new home.  Please note that if you can reduce the rate on your mortgage by a full point, it is really worth considering refinancing.  Mortgage Rates - A 10 Year History Here are todays updated mortgage rates:  CONFORMING                                                        JUMBO (Over $417 Loan Amt) 30 Yr Fixed    4.25%                                                  30 Yr Fixed   5.375% 15 Yr Fixed    3.75%                                                  15 Yr Fixed   4.875% 30 Yr Fixed (FHA)     4.25%                                     7/1 Arm         4.75% 7/1 Arm           ... 08/16/2010

Things to do in Raleigh - Are you looking for something fun to do with the whole Family?   Why not head to Durham and take in a Durham Bulls AAA Baseball Game at the Durham Bulls Athletic Park.  The Durham Bulls are the AAA affiliate of the Tampa Bay Rays and the 2009 Triple A National Champs! Tickets can be purchased for individual games for around $9 and ticket packages are available for multiple games. Enjoy a great day out for the entire family!   07/28/2010

    It's Hot outside and the mortgage interest rates posted below continue to sizzle. Contact me to get a pre-approval and to begin your Triangle area home search...I can help. TRIANGLE AREA MORTGAGE RATES AS OF 07-23-2010 ALL QUOTES WITH 1% ORIGINATION FEE OR LESS. RATES VARY ACCORDING TO DOWN PAYMENT AND CREDIT SCORE  _________________________________________________________ CONVENTIONAL 30 YEAR FIXED 4.375% CONVENTIONAL 30 YEAR FIXED-NO ORIG 4.625% CONVENTIONAL 15 YEAR FIXED 3.875% JUMBO 30 YEAR FIXED 5.125% JUMBO 5YEAR ARM 4.00% FHA 30 YEAR FIXED 4.25% FHA & VA 5 YEAR ARM 3.50% VA 30 YEAR FIXED 4.50% NC HOUSING BOND 4.75% 07/24/2010

Small habits can add up to big savings when it comes to electricity. As the summer heat soars, so do many homeowners' electric bills. Here are some savvy tips on how you can start saving both your cash and the environment. 1. Get Unplugged. You may think that simply turning a device or appliance off is enough to stop the flow of electricity, and the subsequent flow of money out of your bank account, but any item plugged in to an electrical outlet is drawing a small amount of electricity. So, unplug all of your items. 2. Swap it Out. Replace conventional incandescent light bulbs with Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs (CFL) and save yourself in the long run. Energy Star reports that a CFL will save "about $30 over its lifetime and pay for itself in about 6 months. It uses 75 percent less en... 07/11/2010

Closed sales in the first quarter of 2010 were up 9.7% from the same period in 2009. This trend continued into April and May as sales were up 13.8% in April and 14.8% in May respectively over the same months in 2009. Showings in Durham County were down 33% in May, however, as buyers rushed to contract before expiration of the tax credits as buyers had to be under contract by April 30 to qualify for the credits. That left a void in motivated buyers.The Durham residential real estate market begain showing signs of recovery in the 4th quarter of 2009 after experiencing significant declines over the previous two years. Homes sales in Durham County were up 27.8% in the 4th quarter after showing period over period declines in each quarter beginning the second half of 2007. A big reason for t... 06/26/2010

A few weeks ago I posted the blog below about Important new rules that could severely affect buyers and sellers. Today one of our associate brokers reported that a client's credit was re-pulled a couple days before closing with the new rules that went into affect June 1st....  Just 1 little slip up caused a chain reaction that affects a heck of a lot more than just the buyers credit score! The wife missed a $10 payment to Ann Taylor which caused her score to drop by 100 points. Since the credit score was now lower, the buyers no longer qualified for the same interest rate. Now the buyers interest rate would be .25% higher than they'd expected or to keep the old rate they would have to pay $4700 in higher fees. So now they have to wait to close since the APR(Annual Percentage Rate) will ... 06/22/2010

As your advocate during the home buying process, a buyer's agent can help your transaction come off without a hitch and as smooth as possible. Here are 10 great reasons for using a buyer agent.   1. FREE: In almost all cases involving the sale of a home, the seller will always pay the fee for your representation. This is a perhaps the most overlooked part of the home buying process by buyers. If your buyer agent is going to be paid for representing your interests, why not commit to working with an agent?   2. AREAS: Your buyer agent will consult with you to determine the best areas for you.   3. ACCESS: Your home buyer agent can show you all of the properties for sale in the Triangle Area, including For Sale By Owners. Dream Living Realty agent also has access to some of the best forec... 06/11/2010

Radon gas can be found all over the country and is all around us. It is invisible and odorless and comes from the natural (radioactive) breakdown of uranium in soil, rock and water. Radon gets into the air you breathe and can get into any type of building including homes, offices, or schools - and when allowed to accumulate can result in a high indoor radon level. Families are most likely to get their greatest exposure at home, where most of their time is spent. Why should Radon accumulation be concerning? Radon is believed to cause many thousands of deaths each year. The EPA estimates over 21,000 lung cancer deaths annually. In fact, the Surgeon General has warned that radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States today. Only smoking causes more lung cancer deat... 06/10/2010

  Emorywood Estates and Emorywood Orchards subdivisions located in Southwest Durham just off of Riddle Road are two neighborhoods in one. The Estates section began construction beginning in the late 60's with some homes built as late as the mid 90's. The Orchards section broke ground in late 2007 and continues through 2010. Architectural styles are varied in the Estates section with lot sizes typically close to 1/2 an acre or more while the Orchards section has a more uniform feel with homes on smaller lots of .15 acres to .33 acres. The American Tobacco Trail runs right past the front entrance of the subdivisions. Below are photos of the neighborhoods and a few examples of the types of homes that can be found in Emorywood Estates and Emorywood Orchards. American Tobacco Trail. Bike Rou... 06/07/2010

Located in Southwest Durham and sandwiched between the neighboring communities of Lyons Farms, Fairfield  and Grandale Place, The Grandale subdivision features a grand main entrance, clubhouse, community pool and playground, undeveloped green spaces and a pleasant rolling landscape that is fun to explore. Developed by Centex Homes now Pulte Homes, residences start in the $280's -$600's with a number of different elevations, floor plans and architectural  variations. The Subdivision is conveniently located close to I-40, Research Tringle Park(RTP), UNC, Duke, NCCU and major shopping centers like Southpoint Mall. Below are photos of the front entrance, clubhouse, pool and a few examples of the homes you will find in the Grandale subdivision. If you'd like to learn more about the Grandale... 06/05/2010

Grandale Place is a community of approximately 120 homes located in Southwest Durham in close proximity to Southpoint Mall, Research Triangle Park, Duke University and Duke Hospital, and the University of North Carolina and Hospital system. The community was developed by Centex Homes beginning in 2000 and completed in late 2004. Homes range in price from the high $230's to the mid 400's depending on upgrades, lot size and type, and square footage. Below are photos of the neighborhood playground and a sampling of the types of homes that you'll find in the Grandale Place Community. If you're interested in learning more about this subdivision or want to view the homes that are presently being offered for sale in Grandale Place. Contact me, I can help. 06/04/2010

SUBMITTED ON BEHALF OF: Pastor Gordon Myers, The Church of the Abiding Savior, Durham, NC "On Saturday May 29, The Church of the Abiding Savior  with CAARE and The Durham Committee on the Affairs of Black People hold a FREE HEALTH SCREENING event at the church from 9 am  -  3 pm.As you are aware, many within our community suffer disproportionately from preventable and treatable illness.   This screening is intended as our gift to the community and a way to support them in their pursuit of better health.  It is also another part of our effort to build relationships with the community and let them know that our congregation is committed to both preaching the Gospel and living the Gospel in serving our community.All the tests are completely free." REALTORS®, please pass this information to... 05/21/2010

Map of Homes - Durham County  5th Annual Triangle Green Home Tour It's the "Parade of Homes" for green building, and you'll be pleasantly surprised at what you find!  Thousands of North Carolinians and visitors will tour thirty "green certified" homes during the weekends of May 15/16 and May 22/23.  Raleigh's annual Green Home Tour is a free, self-guided event that allows homeowners and potential homebuyers to see a wide variety of green building features in new homes. A certified green home can look exactly like the home across the street at first glance, so some of the homes on the tour will only be partially finished.  This allows tour attendees to see "inside the walls" at framing techniques, insulation and other features.  All entries must be enrolled in the GHBT or NAHB green cert... 05/13/2010

Thinking of selling your Chapel Hill, Durham or Raleigh North Carolina area home? Think your home is in good condition? When was the last time you ventured under your homes crawl space or climbed into the attic areas?  Are your GFCI's working properly, have you recently installed a new hot water heater or HVAC system and was it installed according to your local building codes? Have you or previous owners made improvements to the property like adding a deck or a room or have you finished previously unfinished space and if so were building permits issued for the work?  Do you maintain a termite bond? If not, when did you last have a termite inspection? Is your central air conditioning unit leaking Freon or is your heat exchanger cracked?  I could continue with many more questions that may... 05/10/2010

This post covers some of the critical deadlines and required items within the Offer to Purchase and Contract form used to buy residential property in North Carolina. Offer to Purchase and ContractThe form is one of several that are typically submitted when an offer is made on a property. The form is jointly approved by both the North Carolina Bar Association and the North Carolina Association of Realtors®, Inc. It has 28 sections. Though all are important, some are critical to the transaction in terms of deadlines.The form gives the buyer a certain amount of time to inspect, apply and get approved for financing, submit repair requests, etc.Some of the items required when submitting an offer:A pre approval or pre qualification letter from your lender stating that you are eligible to borr... 05/07/2010

I showed this home today being offered as a short sale and located in a great Southwest Durham subdivision, Grandale Place. This home features 2,626 sq. ft. with 4 bedrooms, 2.5 baths and a bonus room. It's located in a cul-de-sac on a .33 acre lot with a list price of $235,000. Interested in finding out more about short sales and foreclosures in the Durham, Chapel Hill and Raleigh areas. Contact me. I can help. 04/22/2010

The recent article in the NY Times has blazed its way through the local scene and cybersphere. Big congratulations to Matthew Beason, also known as Matty for his feature in the NY Times! Matthew BeasonMatthew Beason is a Durham native who has over a decade of experience working in Triangle restaurants. He is the former co-owner of Pop’s and Rue Cler, and former general manager of Nana’s.       Six PlatesThe restaurant is informally swank, elegant, yet comfortable. Leather sofas and majestic chairs are spread throughout. You can have your meal on the patio, or in one of the many interesting seating areas, where two people can share an intimate meal, and open areas that provide a great conversation zone for larger groups of people. MenuSix Plates offers six small plates of food (imagine a... 04/22/2010

Here are some good uses for your tax refund from House Logic, National Association of Realtors® website.1. Low flow shower heads. Did you know old shower heads (pre 1992) can pump out 5 gallons of water per minute? The latest low-flow showerheads use up to 50% less water than even newer shower heads, which use about half of the old shower heads. That's a lot of water savings! The latest shower heads run about $50-$200. The savings can be about $150 a year, depending on usage. Low-flow toilets can save an additional $90 per year!               2. Heating and cooling efficiency. If your like me, you'd want to conduct your own DIY "energy audit". Visit House Logic for more info. Sealing up those gaps around windows, doors walls, and attics can go a long way to saving on your energy bills. ... 04/14/2010

  In joining the Dream Living Realty team with Ray Williamson and Jaime Dawson, their team brings over 8 years of Real Estate Service, Experience, and Knowledge to allow me to exceed your expectations as your Real Estate Consultant for Life! It occurred to me that my friends and family members may not be aware of just exactly what a real estate consultant does differently from a traditional salesperson and how that benefits the people you refer to me. Traditional real estate agents spend the majority of their time soliciting the general public looking for their next client, which leaves little time to personally see to their current clients’ needs. As By Referral real estate consultants, The Dream Living Realty Team is 100 percent focused on the needs of our clients, keeping their best... 04/09/2010

This delightful brick ranch is a foreclosure property that I showed this afternoon in a Southwest Durham subdivision called Parkwood. The home featured wood floors throughout, 3 bedrooms and a large fenced back yard that backs up to a community playground with swing sets, see-saws, sand boxes, jungle gym , badminton or volleyball area and a wide open field for any other outdoor activity that you desire to engage in. This is just one example of the potential deals that could be yours in the Chapel Hill, Durham and greater Raleigh area. Are you interested in finding great foreclosure and short sale deals in the Chapel Hill, Durham, Cary, Raleigh and greater Triangle North Carolina area..I will provide this info free of charge..My only requirement is that you provide a valid email address... 04/02/2010