I'm sitting in the Sheraton Hotel on Canal Street in New Orleans patiently waiting until it is time to leave to catch my flight home.  I've been in New Orleans attending the United Country Real Estate Convention and I've come away with a lot of knowledge and some new friends.  I look forward to attending again next year! This convention just affirms my happiness with my decision to purchase a United Country Franchise.  I love the culture at United Country! A lot of very friendly down to earth people and our management team is great.  We have a very supportive, approachable, and highly qualified home office that supports their affiliates.  For those of you wanting to just visit New Orleans I have a few tips and information concerning my trip.  My stay at the Sheraton on Canal Street was ... 02/28/2010

Last Friday night I did an auction for the Perquimans County Athletic Boosters Club.  I was approached by a member of the group a couple of months before the auction and I attended a meeting to help plan the auction.  They typically offered 14-20 items at live auction and had a reverse raffle on top of selling tickets to the fundraiser dinner.  I learned that 6 of the items were tickets to Perquimans County High School Athletic events and a money bag.  The other 14 items included a variety of items: an antique homemade coca cola wagon, Jim Catfish Hunter framed Sports Illustrated Cover (Hertford, NC and Perquimans County is the home of Jim "Catfish" Hunter) passes to play golf at Sound GolfLinks in Albemarle Plantation, a wooden plaque of Jim "Catfish" Hunter baseball cards, different f... 02/19/2010

Albemarle Plantation is an established gated residential golf and marina community located on the waterfront of beautiful Albemarle Sound in Hertford, North Carolina. Albemarle Plantation Info - Bordered by the waters of Albemarle Sound and the mile wide Yeopim River is the world-class,1,200 acre, golf and boating community of Albemarle Plantation. Its location is perfect situated between historic Edenton and Elizabeth City. The pace of life in this pre-Revolutionary area of Eastern North Carolina encourages a laid-back, small town atmosphere, reminiscent of simpler, easier going days past. However, an hour's drive north is Tidewater Virginia with all the advantages provided by a large metropolitan area. Additionally, the area enjoys a temperate, four-season climate and is within a day'... 11/27/2009

They say (whoever "they" is) that every storm cloud has a silver lining. And so it is true with the slowly passing housing market crunch. For example, prices which had been going absolutely crazy have now settled to modest levels. In fact, one home builder I know is building new ranch style, 3 bed, 2 bath homes with attached double car garage and frog on half acre lots for $165K to $185K. Wow! A new home for $165K!! These are quality homes and yes, they are selling! A second silver lining is that first time home buyers have been courageously taking the plunge and buying homes. Personally, I have worked with five since the beginning of the year and as buyers they have been great! One survey showed that 43% of all buyers have been first time home buyers! Then, finally, there is a greater ... 07/31/2009

For sale by owners usually prove why real estate professionals are needed.  Yesterday I met with a for sale by owner in Hertford, NC, he is one of four brothers who inherited their mother's home after she passed away in June 2008.  They have been trying to sell the house for $120,000, but the home is appraised at only $110,000.  I explained that the most they could possibly sell the home for is $110,000 as a bank will not lend more than a home is worth.  I then went on to explain the difference between an appraisal and market value and that the home's market value was between $80,000-$90,000.  Fortunately for me I was talking with the brother who says he's been telling his siblings that the home was overpriced.  He's ready to put the home on the market for a reasonable listing price and... 05/05/2009

We just conducted a successful estate auction this past Saturday.  We sold a 3 bedroom 3 bath home, an additional lot, and personal property in Plymouth, NC.  The seller approached us a couple of months ago and wanted to sell his mother's personal property and list the house for sell.  However after talking with him and learning of his desire to price the property correctly and move the real estate as soon as possible I mentioned he should consider an auction.  He promptly informed me he didn't want to give it away, but after explaining the auction method of marketing he quickly agreed to give the auction a try.  On Saturday we where successful selling both the house and lot at auction.  To give you a some background on why this was such a success the house is located in Plymouth, NC, w... 04/28/2009

With buyers being few and far between, at least in my locale, I am continually fighting the complacency battle.  You know, doing the things I know I need to do just because I am a professional and it is who I am. Things like contacting my clients, sending cards and keeping my expenses straight.  Here's what I've found to be helpful in maintaining the above during the doldrums. First, have your systems in place.  Your prospecting systems, lead generations systems, marketing systems, etc.  If you don't, now is the time to get them in place. Two,  work intensely for short periods.  Break your day or week up into blocks for each system.  Then when you go to the office, close the door, turn off the phone, sit down and work intensely prospecting, updating your website or whatever your task is... 11/18/2008

I am not sure which created which, did current market conditions create this animal or did this animal help create the current conditions?!  You decide.  Here's what I'm finding, I have buyer clients who actually have money - there's a switch.  And not just money in the form of decent credit, but cash - yes it's true!!!  Clients with cash who are looking for waterfront property.  I have been working with them since June and we have looked at somewhere between 16-20 properties.  I have logged several hundred miles on my car and bought several lunches during our time together.  I enjoy these clients and they are good people, but here's the rub - they want to buy $600K homes for $100K under list price. I have taken the time to educate them, show them comps (of which there haven't been many... 11/17/2008

Conforming Loan Limits up in High Cost areas - Darren Stewart OakStar Bank (edit/delete) The conforming loan limits have moved up in High Cost areas, we now have available conforming financing up to loan amounts of $729,750.00. If you have a mortgage that is currently over $417,000 and if your county is in a high cost area, chances are that it will save you money to refinance  your mortgage. To find out an available rate or to see if refinancing what used to be your non conforming loan to a conforming loan please feel free to contact me at either 417 447 7927 or dstewart@oakstarbank.com. There is no COST and NO Obligation for me to analyze the situation to see what benefit there is to you!  We are a bank headquartered in Springfield, Missouri but able to do conventional financing anywhe... 04/04/2008

Realizing that technology is how more and more people are communicating and seeking information I am taking the plunge and beginning my first blog.  This is another tool in my Realtor tool box and an effective avenue to reach out and offer my help and services to those who are looking to buy/sell property.  I welcome responses and questions about my market area which include Chowan, Perquimans, Bertie, and Washington Counties.    04/03/2008