by Pat Olmert, First Financial Services and Barbara Gressens

The toughest part of moving waiting for someone to buy your home. But there are times when you cannot wait for your home to be sold and yo have to be at your new destination by a certain date. What are your options for finding a new place to live?

One option would be to rent at your new destination until your home has sold. The rental market and rental fees are on the rise from buyers waiting for their homes to be sold and from a previous group of home buyers who no longer qualify for a home purchase loan.

Another option is to use the equity in your current home to purchase your next home. When your home sells, you can use the proceeds from the sale to pay down the new home loan and alter the loan payment without refinancing your loan or paying expensive closing costs. This is called recasting your loan.

Pat Olmert, Loan Officer for First Financial Services, explains further:

What is a RECAST or REAMORTIZING feature? It is when a mortgage customer requests to apply a large principle only payment to their mortgage balance and reduce the amount of future monthly payments. This is important if you have equity in a home but are having difficulties selling the home and using that equity for the down payment. You may get as high as a 97% loan on the new home with the hopes of decreasing the loan balance and monthly payments when you ultimately sell your old house with this feature. NO need to refinance, which is especially nice if the rates have increased since the date of your closing.

How?

1. The principle balance curtailment must be 10% of more of current outstanding principle balance
2. Modifies the principle and interest portion of the payment, not the rate, maturity date or escrows
3. A nominal fee of $250 to process

There are many programs available, which are rarely discussed in the media, to deal with your specific home purchase situation. We, at Buyers Advantage Group Realty, are committed to the best interests of our buyer clients by introducing them to professionals with proven track records of excellent service. Every client’s home purchase is unique and requires an agent with the experience and knowledge to deal with your specific home purchase requirements. As exclusive buyer agents, we specialize in one side of the home purchase transaction-the buyer side. If you are looking for an experienced real estate agency whose focus has always been the buyer, call Buyers Advantage Group Realty.

The Buyer’s choice to be the Buyer’s voice!

Tags: General Category, Triangle Real Estate, homes and community by Janelle - 2 Comments »

by Marge Bish, Broker/Owner

You’ve done a good deed, gone to the local shelter and adopted a pet for your kids. They love the dog or cat and in spite of promises to take care of it most of it has been left to Mom or Dad and you’ve become very attached to.

Things aren’t going well at the company and your job ends with no new one in sight. Bills pile up and the budget is tight. Next thing you know you are facing foreclosure with the only possibility may be living with a family member for a while until you get back on your feet.

Moving day looms. The kids are crying as you pack up to leave and the last thing you are thinking about is the dog or cat. You know that you can’t take it with you, but you just can’t’ stand to take it back to a shelter where it came from.

Wait-the neighbors all know our pets-maybe they will adopt them- or maybe not. You just leave them. They are alone, no food, no warm bed or a too hot-area to sleep with no shelter.

It’s a sad but true fact that foreclosure crises affect thousands of pets each year. There are some options for you and for you pets, however.

1. Ask your friends and neighbors if they are willing to adopt your animal.
2. Contact a breed-specific organization if you have a pet that qualifies.
3. If you do not know who to contact, call the county animal control shelter where you live. They have contacts with all breed specific groups and some that are not breed-specific and operate no kill shelters. In Wake County, you may contact Nancy Clemmons, who is the Wake County Community Outreach Coordinator at 919.250.4474. Also feel free to visit and/or contact the Wake County Animal Care, Control & Adoption Center.

If all else fails, PLEASE, PLEASE turn in your pet to the shelter. Do not leave them on their own to deal with death by vehicles, starvation, attack by other animals, sickness or misuse by unscrupulous people.

No one wants to think of a pet being euthanized, but isn’t it better for them not to suffer a worse death on the street?

For more information about Raleigh real estate, contact Buyers Advantage Group Realty today!

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by Kathryn Dunkle, Client Coordinator

This segment of our blog will introduce you to products and features in homes that raise the WOW factor in a house. That special feeling of excitement you get when you see something new or experience a commonly seen product used in a new way. That “oh my God” thought that gets you thinking in a new direction and spurs on creative energy. Every month on our blog, you can gleam design ideas and innovative products that will add sparkle and improve your lifestyle. Every day, our agents at Buyers Advantage Group Realty see the wows that work and the wows that don’t work as we search for that special home for each of our customers. Our creative energy really flows when we are working with our new construction customers to take their 2-dimensional dream on paper into a 3-dimensional dream home. We want to share these experiences and pass on the good ideas that have made our customers so happy. Have fun dreaming of where you can add WOW to your home; and share with us the ideas you have implemented into your home that gives you that WOW feeling. Whether you are building a new home from an idea in your head or you are looking for that dream home already built, Buyers Advantage Group Realty has the knowledge, experience and passion to help you find your next dream home!

Bathroom Sinks That Glow?

We have all seen the new sinks which are made of glass, porcelain, or stone-mounted under or on top of a counter. Here is a way to take a stone sink a step further for a special effect. Using an onyx one piece sink, mount a light under the sink basin. Because of the onyx’s properties, the light will glow through the stone, allowing the sink’s hues and patterns to come alive. If you wire the light to a wall switch, you can use it as a night light for your guests, who will appreciate the sinks beauty as well as the warm glow! WOW!

Shower Head: Seen it, Done it. But Have You?

A simple change to an everyday function can bring big changes to the start of your day and your mood. Moving a shower head off the wall to the ceiling changes the way you use a shower. For a tall person, this change is tremendously helpful to ensure you don’t ever have to stoop under a shower again. Positioning a new shower head can be added to any existing home with the help of a professional or you can change out your existing shower head for a new wall style that will give you similar benefits. And don’t forget, when building a new home, don’t let the small decisions to make the ordinary special pass you by! Planning and working with someone who can point out the little changes in order to create an everyday WOW will help you move into a dream home beyond your imagination.

360-Degrees Duplex Rotating Outlet

With personal electronic devices ruling our daily lives, here is a product that helps you keep the connections neat and orderly, reducing the need for extension cords. Allowing our desire for homes with the open floor plan to stay open and uncluttered. Fifteen-Amp rotating Duplex outlets allow you to plug in more than one large plug into an outlet. The individual sockets rotate as needed. The outlet fits into a standard size wall box, is rated 15-125V, and comes in white, ivory, almond and black with snap-on covers. Click here for more details on where to buy.

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by Kathryn Dunkle, Client Coordinator

You are unique. Your needs and lifestyle are like no other. As you consider a move to the Durham or Raleigh areas of North Carolina to serve your residency in one of the area’s renowned university medical facilities, you will want to make the right choice of where to live. You also have special lending challenges that we are prepared to solve.

We have helped many residents cut through the complexity of this process. Buyers Advantage Group Realty understands your on-call requirements and the fact that you may not have a lot of time to make a decision on whether to move to this area or not, so you will need expert guidance-fast!

You also will want to select a Raleigh real estate agency that you can trust, one with plenty of experience in the Triangle area. Buyers Advantage Group Realty offers experienced agents and integrated relocation services that provide one-stop shopping for the most critical home buying services, such as legal representation, mortgage services, inspections, and homeowner insurance.

You won’t have to worry about any potential issues because our agents have seen it all and are experts in providing remedies to any situation. In addition to reducing your stress, they will offer a broad selection of inventory and save you money. Exclusive buyers’ agents at Buyers Advantage Group Realty will work as your unbiased educator, personal consultant and advocate throughout the entire buying process and beyond.

We also offer buyers a web site with vast resources about Triangle living. We will provide you and your family a personal tour of the area, including visits to and through neighborhood communities.

We understand that you want to be productive as soon as possible. Getting you up to speed quickly, in a large part, depends upon the difficulty of the move. We try to minimize outside distractions and reduce the trauma that sometimes comes with a move into a new area.

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by Kathryn Dunkle, Client Coordinator

The Greater Raleigh Chamber of Commerce reported recently on the state of the labor market in Raleigh:

A recent study ranks Raleigh’s labor market No. 1 in the country for people ages 18 to 34. G. Scott Thomas conducted the survey. Thomas is a researcher with American City Business Journals, parent company of Triangle Business Journal.

The Survey examined 10 factors, including growth rates of employment and per capita income, unemployment, percentage of people holding bachelor’s degrees and median rent in the nation’s 67 largest metropolitan areas.

The Triangle’s diverse industries attract a variety of people each year. Raleigh’s many new and flourishing companies and attractive nightlife also lure young adults to the area.

Rapid expansion and a growth rate ranked fourth best in the country contributed to Raleigh’s first-place finish. Our three major research universities–North Carolina State University, ???????? ????? ????????University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Duke University also contributed to the ranking, as many students remain in the Triangle after graduation.

Raleigh adds this most recent honor to its credits–along with a second straight Forbes magazine ranking as the best place for business and careers.

For more information about real estate in Raleigh, NC, contact Buyers Advantage Group Realty today!

Tags: Triangle News, Triangle Real Estate, homes and community by Janelle - 1 Comment »

by: Kathryn Dunkle, Client Coordinator

I’d like to share this article from the National Association of Realtors with all of you who may be questioning whether the Raleigh real estate market is still vibrant! We’ve made #2 on the Kiplinger Personal Finance magazine’s list of:

10 Best Cities to Live, Work, Play

Where are the best cities in the country to live, work and play? Kiplinger did its best to answer that question in its 2008 Best Cities report.

Kiplinger says it looked for strong economies and abundant jobs, a resonable cost of living, and lots of fun things to do.

Kevin Stolarick, research director at the Martin Prosperity Institute, a think tank that studies economic prosperity, worked with the magazine to make the top 10 selections. He went on to state:

Our formula highlights cities not just with strong past performance, but also with all of the ingredients for future success.

Here is the list of cities that were selected and how they ranked:

1. Houston, TX
2. RALEIGH, NC
3. Omaha, NE
4. Boise, ID
5. Colorado Springs, CO
6. Austin, TX
7. Fayetteville, AR
8. Sacramento, CA
9. Des Moines, IA
10. Provo, UT

Source: Kiplinger (07.01.2008)

For more information about real estate in North Carolina, visit Buyers Advantage Group Realty today!

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by Kathryn Dunkle, Client Coordinator

As real estate professionals we, at Buyers Advantage Group Realty, are constantly working with other who provide professional services to homeowners and homebuyers. Over the years, we have developed a strong network of Preferred Partners. We are happy to recommend these partners to our valued clients, friends and family because of the commitment to quality customer service which they have consistently delivered and because we share the same belief that all homebuyers deserve professionals who will work as an unbiased educators, personal consultants and advocates through the entire buying process and beyond.

From time to time, I’d like to share with you the information, tips and trends our Preferred Partners share with us. I hope you find the information to be helpful and I encourage you to share it with whomever you know who might benefit.

The Summer Home Maintenance tips that follow are provided courtesy of our friend Patty Collins. Patty is a Senior Account Executive with Old Republic Home Protection, a home warranty plan provider. We value our relationship with Patty because she understands, as we do, that the only way to earn customer loyalty is by providing great customer service experiences by offering fast, friendly and efficient service. That keeps her clients coming back year after year!

It’s a good idea for you to regularly inspect your home and Patty shares a strategy that will help you do that this summer. Patty recommends that you:

• Inspect the roof for damaged, loose or blistered shingles. Have damaged shingles replaced if they’re on less than 20% of the roof. Re-roof if damaged shingles cover more than 20% of the roof.
• Examine flashing around chimneys, vents, and roof edges.
• Remove debris from gutters and downspouts and patch any holes. Make sure the downspouts direct water at least five feet away from your foundation.
• Examine fascia of soffit boards. Replace if they are soft or rotting because they may allow rain into your attic.
• Trim branches and shrubs that are touching your home which can provide a pathway for bugs or excess moisture to enter.
• Remove dead branches that may fall on your home. Snap!
• Clean up fallen limbs, branches and other debris around the home to discourage wood-eating insects. Termites=bad.
• Clean out basement window wells.
• Inspect/replace caulk on windows, doors, and other penetrations, such as dryer vents and cable wire holes. Inspect and repair caulking where two different materials meet, for example where wood siding joins the foundation’s wall or at inside corners.
• Touch up any exterior surfaces that need paint before they deteriorate further. Inspect bricks and concrete blocks for cracked mortar or loose joints.
• Inspect grading around the house to be sure water drains away from the foundation on all sides.
• Make sure that your lawn sprinkler heads do not spray the walls of the house. Water=bad.
• Check your inside and outside foundation walls and piers for termite tubes and damaged wood.

Information is provided courtesy of Patty Collins, Old Republic Home Protection Warranty Company. For more questions about home warranty protection, email Patty at PattyC@orhp.com.

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In honor of fathers everywhere who will be remembered on June 15th, Fathers Day:

All we have of freedom–all we use or know–this our fathers bought for us, long and long ago.

Rudyard Kipling, 1865-1936

British Author of Prose, Verse

For more information about Triangle real estate, visit Buyers Advantage Group Realty today!

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by Kathryn Dunkle, Client Coordinator

There has been a marked increase in the number of single women purchasing real estate in the Raleigh/Cary/Durham area.  Whether buying a home as their primary residence or as an investment opportunity, Buyers Advantage Group Realty recognizes the unique characteristics and preferences of this savvy group.  The kitchen is not the only focus for women buyers.  We understand what is important to women homebuyers and we are uniquely positioned to address their needs by partnering with them and empowering them with the knowledge they will need to realize their objectives.

For the most part, researchers have failed to recognize this significant segment of the real estate market.  There have been few studies that identify their distinct characteristics and motivations.  Here, at Buyers Advantage Group Realty, we not only understand our female clientele, we appreciate them.  We recognize that they are the fastest growing segment of the home-buying population, increasing their share by 50% in less than 8 years!

Generally speaking, the female home buyer is more likely to be a minority member, unmarried, younger, have lower income than her male or married counterparts- yet, she will finance less of the cost of her home.  She is also less likely to purchase a new or highly priced home.  In reality, single women homebuyers are a diverse group, including women of all ages and races-from single mothers, young singles, middle-aged divorcees, widows, seniors-they may live alone or with other adults.  Buyers Advantage Group’s female clients, in sharp contrast to Madison Avenue’s depiction of emotionally charged air-heads, are extremely intelligent, focused and decisive consumers.

For more information about Raleigh real estate, contact Buyers Advantage Group Realty today!

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What’s that? Raleigh Television Network (RTN) is the city’s new information resource designed to serve the people of Raleigh and citizens on the local franchise system that it serves. If you want to be throroughly informed about your city and county governments, enjoy community events, and inform your neighbors about your non profit group or concerns then RTN has all that you need.

RTN provides four channels of operation to serve the individual and community needs of Wake County:

RTN 10 Community: is the public access channel. This channel features programming that is produced by citizen producers. The programming runs the entertainment and information gamut with live and taped shows to the Classical Arts Showcase.

RTN 1, Government Access Channel: features local governments in action and in detail. Includes meetings of the Raleigh City Council, the Wake County Board of Commissioners, the Wake County School Board, the City of Raleigh Planning Commission, the Raleigh Telecommunications Commission- plus monthly shows on city initiatives, exciting entertainment and specials on newly implemented programs or matters of concern or interest.

RTN 18, Educational Access Channel: is your source for distance learning and is provided by the Cooperating Raleigh Colleges: Meredith College, North Carolina State University, Peace College, Shaw University, St. Augustine’s College and St. Mary’s School.

RTN 22, Informational and Inspirational Channel: Tune into RTN 22 for the City View Calendar to keep in the know on news, events and meetings happening in Raleigh and throughout Wake County as well as to watch local faith-based organizations. RTN 22 is also the source for providing information to the visually impaired via Triangle Reading Service.

If you are interested in promoting your organization or even getting your musical group on TV, you need to explore the possibilities at RTN. You must make formal application and establish community producer certification to use the equipment properly.

RTN is located at 310 W. Martin Street| Raleigh, NC 27602 | Phone: 919.831.6278 | www.raleighnc.gov/rtn | email: community.television@ci.raleigh.nc.us

Take advantage of these wonderful resources that our community offers, and keep informed about what is coming up in the future of your neighborhood.

For more information about Raleigh real estate, contact Buyers Advantage Group Realty today!

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