For Most Buyers, the Mortgage Market Is HealthyThe widespread notion that the entire mortgage market is in crisis is just plain wrong, say lenders in various parts of the country.The majority of mortgage products have been unaffected by troubles in the subprime segment. Interest rates for 30-year, fixed-rated loans remain in the low 6 percent range for people with reasonably good, though not necessarily perfect, credit records, according Kenneth R. Harney, managing director of the National Real Estate Development Center and syndicated columnist.While there is plenty of money to lend, Harney says underwriting standards are more strict than they were a year ago. Jumbo loans, for example, often require two appraisals - one by an appraiser selected by the lender and the other by one working... 10/08/2007

We are now offering 100% USDA Financing in Allen Ridge! This is a GREAT deal for all buyers. If the property appraises for more than the sales price, USDA will also finance closing cost. Give me a call for more details, we offer both single family homes and townhomes in this new subdivision just minutes from the medical district. Thanks,Jessewww.JesseAllenRealty.com  09/18/2007

Nathan Neale posted a blog recently called Manufactured Homes versus Modular Housing.  I wanted to take it a step further and give you some problems that I have personally dealt with on building mods. Issues with Modualrs:1.  The marriage walls...they restrict where and how you can move the interior walls of the house.2.  Changes....make sure that your client makes all changes on the engineered drawing.  Even little changes can equal big problems.  For instance, we built a modular duplex in Emerald Isle.  The client did not like the bathroom layout.  Easy fix right? WRONG!  where they wanted the bathroom fell in the marriage wall.  Chasing the plumbing is a big issue.3.  Limited choice in mouldings, doors, plkumbing fixtures.4.  Want to upgrade your appliances?  You are better off telli... 09/12/2007

Home buyers in today's tight mortgage market need better everything to qualify for a mortgage with the best terms.Here's what it takes to impress a lender:1. Better credit. To get the same interest rate as just a month ago, borrowers need a credit score that's about 50 points higher, says Clay Edwards, a mortgage consultant and real estate specialist with the Fireside Mortgage network. Edwards says he's seen plenty of lenders reject an application for a $600,000 loan when the borrower's credit score was about 785.2. Down payment. The market has all but evaporated for 100 percent financing. Most loans have at least 10 percent down, and lenders prefer 20 percent down.3. The right lender. Using a high tech broker who can electronically distribute the borrower's application broadly can up t... 09/11/2007

10 Tips for Buying a Fixer-UpperBuying a basically sound house and updating the cosmetics is a profitable thing to do in almost any market. But be careful what you buy or it may end up costing you later on.Here are 10 things to consider when selecting a fixer-upper:1. Purchase homes that are at least 30 percent below the market value of comparable nearby homes.2. Choose a location with a low crime rate, good schools, and quiet streets. There isn't anything you can do to cure a poor location.3. Choose a house with three or four bedrooms. Smaller homes are unlikely to have enough buyer appeal.4. Avoid homes that need major unprofitable repairs, include wiring, major plumbing, foundation repairs, major kitchen and bathroom renovation, room additions, and/or a new room. Spending money on th... 09/11/2007

September 6, 2007Congress Ready to Tackle Subprime LendingCongress returned from vacation this week ready to propose a variety of mortgage borrower protection legislation. On Wednesday, Sen. Christopher Dodd of Connecticut, chairman of the Senate Banking Committee and a candidate for the Democratic presidential nomination, announced plans for a bill that aims to curtail predatory lending by prohibiting prepayment penalties on subprime loans, making it illegal for lenders to write subprime mortgages for prime borrowers, and banning yield-spread premiums on subprime mortgages.Democrats on the House Financial Services Committee - Chairman Barney Frank of Massachusetts and North Carolina Reps. Melvin Watt and Brad Miller - plan to introduce a bill that is likely to mirror Dodd's in most re... 09/11/2007

 As you already know, we have been representing homebuyers and sellers for quite some time, and we are very excited about the results that are being generated by our marketing systems. If you are contemplating a move, here are a few important considerations to keep in mind: 1. Choose a Real Estate professional and ask them for a detailed step by step process of what they are going to do in the buying and selling process and when each step would be implemented. 2. You will want to make sure you have a competitive offering price to that of other properties in your local area. If you would like a FREE home evaluation of your home with no obligation, visit our site. 3. There are often many hidden costs that you, as the home seller, or at times the buyer, are responsible to pay when you buy ... 09/10/2007

     Automated Home Feedback System GUARANTEES to keep you informed! Our VIP Seller Service provides you with timely, online, direct feedback from prospective buyers -- Your home will sell FASTER and for MORE money! Let me share an ugly truth about selling real estate.  Most real estate agents are usually far more concerned about generating new listings than they are about selling the homes they've already listed.  After you list your home with them, they become much more difficult to contact.  The time it takes for them to return your call goes from minutes to hours or days (if you're lucky).  Providing you with timely feedback on the progress they are making is a very low priority item.  If they're not making progress on selling your home, you're the last person they want to talk with... 08/29/2007

  When looking to buy or sell a house, many people try to go without a real-estate agent. This decision may seem like a "money saving" step, but it could actually end up costing you thousands of dollars in the end, even though you feel like you're saving money. An agent could also save you from making severe mistakes or stressful situations caused by contract negotiations, contingencies, and other situations that you are not prepared to deal with. A real-estate agent will handle the following issues when you are buying or selling your home, as well as handle many other duties, that should make your buying or selling of a home, easier on you.Buying a HomeYour agent will:- help you in finding your range that you, as a buyer, will be comfortable in purchasing. They will look at the amount ... 08/29/2007

I was a little worried that moving would get rid of the "quaintness."  I went the other night and it was fabulous.  You forget that you are in Greenville!From the Daily Reflector: Finelli's Cafe has opened in its dramatic new home at 511 Red Banks Road, but owner David Finelli said some things remain the same. "It's like we took the restaurant and just moved it across town, back to where we started," said Finelli, a former partner in Stacatto's, the restaurant that last occupied the space in Lynndale Shoppes. The menu, at least initially, features exactly the same Italian dishes Finelli has been serving successfully for the past nine years at his recently shuttered Finelli's Café on Fifth Street. The food is prepared by the same chefs, including Finelli (albeit with a bit more space in... 08/22/2007

Available this week at The Pitt County Farmers' Market, 4560 County Home Road: string beans, pole beans, bush beans, eggplant, Swiss chard, Japanese radishes, kohlrabi, pumpkins, collards, turnips, cucumbers, red tomatoes, green tomatoes, roma tomatoes, onions, carrots, peppers, a variety of squashes, sweet potatoes, new potatoes, butter beans, peas, kale, peanuts, peaches, watermelons, cantaloupes, plums and grapes. Fresh herbs and local honey also are available, along with molasses, sorghum, pear preserves, organic goat cheese and fresh eggs. The Pitt County Farmers' Market is open from 8 a.m.-1 p.m. Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays and from 8 a.m.-3 p.m. Fridays. A food demonstration, from 9 a.m.-noon Saturday, will feature Dr. Kristen Borré from Growing Up Fit and the East Carolin... 08/22/2007

How To Get Your Agent to Work Twice as Hard Our Team of Professionals The fact is, there isn't much more to the average agent than the agent themselves. Most agents operate a one-person show - and they're probably breaking their backs trying to do a good job for their clients. Most agents couldn't really work any harder than they're already working. We know, because we used to do it this way. But we don't anymore because we found that our client's suffered from our good intentions. The fact is, you may be sympathetic to the fact that your agent is working as hard as humanly possible, but if the quality and profitability of your home sale suffers as a result of them trying to do everything themselves . . . well, . . .you have a right to feel cheated The simple explanation is that we bui... 08/13/2007

Pitt County Hospitals Team Up to Fight Heart Disease Pitt County Memorial Hospital is experiencing a surge in cardiovascular-related admissions. Eastern North Carolina is famous for many things‚ from barbecue to baseball to beaches. But it’s also known as a hotbed of heart disease‚ a distinction officials at Pitt County Memorial Hospital and East Carolina University are determined to eradicate. Groundbreaking for the new East Carolina Heart Institute took place early in 2006‚ and by the end of 2008 eastern North Carolina will be served by one of the leading-edge cardiovascular treatment and research facilities in the nation. “In one place we’ll have a great research and medical practice aimed at understanding‚ preventing and curing heart disease‚” says ECU Communications Director John ... 08/13/2007

I just read this on Reflector.com.......maybe they can beat the phone company and cable company. Greenville Utilities is looking at whether to provide customers with infrastructure for high-speed, broadband Internet, perhaps using technology that pipes the data over power lines. Earlier this year, the city of Wilson announced plans to bring broadband service to residents through fiber-optic cable run into homes, said Tony Cannon, assistant general manager of Greenville Utilities. That caught the attention of the utility's board of commissioners. The staff hired Greenville, S.C.-based Palmetto Engineering and Consulting to provide "an update on the market (for high-speed Internet) and what customers demands were and how they were being met," Cannon said. Palmetto presented that report Tu... 07/19/2007

One of my favorite restaurants BW3's, which is short for Buffalo Wild Wings will be relocating.  The move will be from its small downtown building to a large new location at 426-B E. Arlington Boulevard in Arlington Shoppes, Arlington Shopes is near the corner of Greenville and Arlington boulevards across the parking lot from PetSmart. The new manager said that the new location boasts 6100 square feet and is three times the size of the old location.  The entire restaurant is nonsmoking, and there is a dedicated area for curb-side carry-out and for placing take-out orders. The nonsmoking bar and dining room offers seating for 250 people at booths, tables and the bar. There's a video-game area near the bar.  I am excited about the kid friendly atmosphere!  My three children cannot survive... 07/11/2007

"Barefoot In the Park" is being presented this week by the East Carolina Univeristy (ECU) and Loessin Summer Theatre.  Tickets are $20 to $30.  Call (252) 328-6829.  Show times at McGinnis Theatre are July 10 through July 13 at 8 p.m. July 14 at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. For more information or tickets visit http://www.ecu.edu/studentlife/mcginnis/OnStage.cfm. To view homes for sale in the Greenville area, including near the campus of East Carolina Univeristy, visit www.pittcounty4you.com. 07/10/2007

Greenville, North Carolina has been recognized by the Sierra Club as a Cool City.  A ceremony was held July 10th at 10:00 to honor the city.  Cool Cities have made a commitment to stop global warming by signing the U.S. Mayor's Climate Protection Agreement.  Congratulation Greenville, North Carolina! For more information on the North Carolina Chapter of the Sierra Club go to http://northcarolina.sierraclub.org/ Visit www.pittcounty4you.com to access all of Greenville, North Carolina Homes for sale. 07/10/2007

Visit Uptown Greenville for the "Umbrella Markets." This is an opportunity for local shops to highlight some of their products in an outdoor market. Also, for the community to see Uptown Greenville, North Carolina. Since the relocation of Jefferson’s Florist www.jeffersonflorist.com at the old Blount-Harvey Building, Uptown Greenville has experienced an evolution. I love to stroll the shops and see what is new. My new obsessesion is The Cottage Loft located above Jefferson’s. She has the most adorable things! Visit Emerge Gallery (www.emergegallery.com) for local artist exhibits and sales gallery. I have not made it to the Fourth Street Wine Bar, but I hear it is excellent! www.4thstreetwine.com. Come to Uptown Greenville and see what the buzz is about! Future dates for the market are ... 07/09/2007

Reading in our local paper today that tobacco production was up in the state of North Carolina.  It seems as I ride around town, the farms are few and far between.  Pitt County ranked 6th in the state in 2006 with just half the farms before the "tobacco buyout." That is how my husband made a living when I met him!  His family farmed in Farmville his entire life.   It is amaxing to ride past Pitt Memorial.  It is now smoke-free.  That means that all the smokers "hang out" on the sidewalk because it is considered DOT property.  It is great to ride my clients past our "first rate' facility and see 30 people smoking, including employees.   So....the only thing that slows me down now are school buses not tractors and I drive a little faster past the hospital!     07/02/2007

Whether you are buying your first home, or your fifth, the process of buying a home is a detailed, time-consuming venture. At the same time, it's an emotional period laden with difficult choices. You want to ensure that the home you purchase meets your family's needs now, and in the future. Each of these decisions often involves money. When you consider all that money represents, you'll want to ensure that you don't pay too much. This article helps you become a savvy buyer, by pointing out some of the pitfalls inherent in the home-buying process. These include such things as knowing what you want before you begin shopping, taking your time to shop, choosing the right realtor, and remaining objective while viewing potential homes. With this information, you'll be closer to finding your i... 06/11/2007