Category: Buying

If you’ve never purchased a home before, the thought of buying your first home can seem like a daunting process. In 2018, we saw low housing inventory levels coupled with buyers’ insatiable demand for affordable housing create a pretty strong seller’s market. Experts are predicting a more balanced market for 2019, citing rising new housing construction to help create a more favorable housing landscape. So how do you navigate the road to home ownership? Here’s everything you’ll need to know about how to buy a house in 2019: Review your credit score Unless you’re paying all cash for your new home, mortgage lenders will want to see a copy of your credit report. Why? Because your credit report is a pretty clear indicator of how responsible...

Owning a home is a big responsibility but also an exciting endeavor. So when you find that house, how do you know you're ready to buy that house? Here are eight signs to help you know if it's a dream or a reality. 1) You’ve got your financial act together. Clean credit report, check. Little or no debt, check. And, there are other ways your financial house should be in order before you can make your move. Do you make enough money or have income from other sources that make the house affordable? Do you have funds for the downpayment and closing fees? It all adds up. Can you cover it? 2) You’re ready to settle down for a while. Before you tour the house that’s...

Cold enough for ya? Well, don’t worry, you’re in the Carolinas, and it’s unlikely to last. We just hope for enough cold in the winter to keep the bugs down in the summer. So why, I was wondering, are Carolina homeowners reluctant to list their homes in the winter? I put the question to Allen Tate Realtors President, Phyllis Brookshire, who gave me the answer, along with ten darn good reasons to list now, before Jack Frost gives way to Peter Cottontail. 1. Low Inventory From July 1, 2016 to July 1, 2017, North Carolina’s total population increased by nearly 117,000 individuals. This number surpassed last year’s total population increase, and marks the largest single year increase in the state’s population since 2010. In...