by Kathryn Dunkle, Client Coordinator

North Carolina is proud to implement this program in time for the 2008 General Election. The Vote in Honor of a Veteran Program provides North Carolina citizens an opportunity to pay tribute to those that have served this country and protected our freedom. You can honor a Veteran this upcoming General Elections by requesting a button and/or sharing a story that may be posted on the North Carolina State Board of Elections website.

Each button will be personalized with the name of the Veteran that you wish to honor. Only one button is allowed per person. The button is a way for you to show your pride in a veteran or active duty service member on Election Day. Please make your request by October 15, 2008 to ensure delivery by the General Election. These buttons are being provided free of charge by the North Carolina State Board of Elections. You can request a personalized button by emailing a request or printing out a request form and mailing it in. Another way to honor the military members that are important to you is to share a story. For full details, visit the NC State Board of Elections web site.

For additional information about Buyers Advantage Group agents or to begin the process, call Katie at 919.573.6150 or chat with her online at www.buyersadvantagegrouprealty.net. She is standing by to help you, on your terms, in your time frame!

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Tags: General Category, Triangle Events, Triangle News, homes and community by Janelle - No Comments »

Triangle area residents, especially seniors, will be interested in this announcement from Raleigh Community Services regarding the Senior Resource Fair. In addition to information about various resources for seniors, visitors can have Flu & Pneumonia vaccines*, blood sugar & blood pressure screenings, learn about community services for health, wellness, care, and financial planning. Refreshments will also be served.

For more information, call Trenna Perkin at 919.847.4047 or email her at tcperk3@nc.rr.com.

*small fee, Medicare eligible

Where:

Saint Andrews Presbyterian Church | 7506 Falls of Neuse Road | Raleigh, NC

When:

Saturday, October 11, 2008 | 9am - 1pm

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

photo credit: preciouskhyatt on Flickr

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Tags: General Category, Senior Real Estate, Triangle Events, Triangle News, homes and community by Janelle - No Comments »

Raleigh’s Homes by Dickerson has gone green. As of July 1st of this year, all homes have incorporated the Energy Star certification. Some of the features in a home built by Homes by Dickerson will include the use of Energy Star-qualified lighting fixtures and appliances, additional ventilation fans, high performance windows with protective coatings that block damaging UV sunlight and helps reduce energy costs along with additional insulation.

Buyers Advantage Group Realty understands the new construction process and can help you make the right decisions to get your dream home from imagination to move-in. Call Katie today to find out how to take your first step toward living in your dream home. Ask about our Guide to New Home Construction. Call us today at 919.573.6150.

Homes by Dickerson

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by Kathryn Dunkle, Client Coordinator

On Friday, September 12, 2008, Mars Petcare US announced a voluntary recall of products manufactured at its Everson, Pennsylvania facility. The pet food is being voluntarily recalled because of potential contamination with Salmonella serotype Schwarzengrund. This voluntary recall only affects the United States.

The company stopped production at the Everson facility on July 29, 2008 when it was alerted of a possible link between dry pet food produced at the plant and two isolated cases of people infected with Salmonella Schwarzengrund.

Even though no direct link between products produced at Everson and human or pet illness has been made, Mars Petcare US is taking precautionary action to protect pets and their owners by announcing a voluntary recall of all products produced at the Everson facility beginning February 18, 2008 until July 29, 2008 when they stopped production.

The company is continuing to work collaboratively with the FDA to determine the nature and source of Salmonella Schwarzengrund at the Everson facility. Since it has not yet identified the source of the Salmonella Schwarzengrund at the Everson facility, Mars Petcare US does not plan to resume production out of a commitment to the safety of our pet owners and their pets, customers, and associates.

The top priority of Mars Petcare US has always been and continues to be the health and welfare of pets and their owners. Consumers can continue to have confidence in the quality and safety of the products produced at other Mars Petcare US facilities. Only those products which were produced at the Everson facility are impacted by the voluntary recall.

Many of the brands involved in the recall are national brands produced at multiple facilities. Mars Petcare US will work with retail customers to ensure that the recalled products are not on store shelves. These products should not be sold or fed to pets. In the event that consumers believe they have purchased products affected by this voluntary recall, they should return the product to the store where they purchased it for a full refund. Specific product details and other information can be found at www.petcare.mars.com.

Contact an Exclusive Buyer Agent REALTOR at Buyers Advantage Group Realty, one who can help guide you through the process and take the stress out of homebuying.

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Creedmoor Partners’ Hasentree, a luxury new home community in Raleigh, has been named a Certified Gold Audubon International Signature Sanctuary. Fewer than 75 communities have been awarded this prestigious designation nationwide, and Hasentree is one of only five in North Carolina participating in the program.

Buyers Advantage Group Realty is dedicated to knowing the best communities the Triangle has to offer. Contact Katie to find out about more of Raleigh’s top neighborhoods and how you can see these beautiful homes. Call 919.573.6150 today!

The Hasentree Community

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by Katie Dunkle

If you have or will soon have a child attending college, no one knows better than you about the rising cost of a college education! One related cost is student housing, but let’s face it- if your child is accepted into his or her dream school, will you let student housing issues get in the way?

The College Board reports that the average cost of room and board for the 2007-2008 academic year for a public college or university has risen 5.3% to $7,404. At that rate, you could spend over $41,000 on room and board in five years, the average time to complete an undergraduate degree today. It makes sense for you to consider alternatives. Forward thinking parents see the benefit of purchasing a modest home for their child to live in during his or her time at school. With more students than ever taking 4+ years to complete their degrees, it makes sense for parents to consider the advantages.

How does one determine if it is right to forego the dorm experience and make a real estate investment that will help meet both short and long term goals? First and foremost, think about the child. Is homeownership a good alternative for him or her? Homeownership requires a level of commitment to maintain and protect the investment. Parents and their children need to fully accept that commitment. If they do, the next thing to consider is the local housing market and conditions.

Compare the cost to own vs. the cost to rent. Could your student get a roommate to share the costs? Next, consider how long you are likely to hold the property. If your student intends to graduate in 6 years or attend graduate school, the rate of return could be very attractive, especially if a roommate has been paying for 1/2 of the mortgage.

After graduation, you may want to consider renting the property to other students. If that is the case, you would want to weigh the options between being a college town landlord and having a property management company handle the marketing and leasing arrangements for you. If you do decide to hold on to the income-producing property as an investment, you should factor in whether the market will support short or long-term leasing when calculating your overall rate of return.

The desire to downsize is quite common for empty nesters looking to simplify their lifestyle with a smaller home and enjoy the vibrant community and amenities often found on or near college campuses. Some parents will purchase their son or daughter a townhome, condo, or single family residence for the child’s use whil completing his or her education with the intention of moving into the home themselves as their retirement nears. This is particularly appealing if the parents are alumni themselves.

Finally, if after consideration, this is something that a parent sees value in, the next step would be to consult their child. Would he or she be comfortable with the arrangement? One should also check with the school to make sure there are no rules prohibiting a student from living off of campus. Many colleges and universities require their freshman live on campus.

The agents at Buyers Advantage Group Realty are knowledgeable about alternative student housing options in and around all of our local college campuses:

• North Carolina State University (NCSU)
• Peace College
• Meredith College
• Shaw University
• North Carolina Central University (NCCU)
• Duke University
• University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC)
• St. Augustines College
• Campbell University

Call us if you would like to learn more about investing in student housing opportunities.

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by Kathryn Dunkle, Client Coordinator

Buying a home should be fun, not stressful. As you look for your dream home, keep in mind these tips for making the process as peaceful as possible.

1. Find a real estate agent who you connect with. Home buying is not only a big financial commitment, but also an emotional one. It’s critical that the REALTOR you choose is both skilled and a good fit with your personality. You will also appreciate the assurance that the agent you select has your best interests at heart. This is a guarantee if you choose an exclusive buyer’s agent.
2. Don’t try to second-guess interest rates or the housing market by waiting longer. If you find a great home now, you could risk losing out on the home of your dreams. The Triangle housing market doesn’t change fast enough to make that much difference in price, and a good home won’t stay on the market long.
3. Don’t ask for too many opinions. It’s natural to want reassurance for such a big decision, but too many ideas from too many people will make it much harder to make a decision. Focus on the wants and needs of your immediate family–the people who will be living in the home.
4. No house is perfect. If it’s in the right location, the yard may be a bit smaller than you had hoped. The kitchen may be perfect, but the roof needs repair. Make a list of your top priorities. You and your exclusive buyer’s agent can focus in on the things that are most important to you.
5. Remember: a home doesn’t exist in a vacuum. Don’t get so caught up in the physical aspects of the house itself-room size, kitchen, etc.–that you forget about important issues such as noise level, location to amenities, and other aspects that also have a big impact on your quality of life. Buyer’s Advantage Group Realty Agents are very knowledgeable about environmental issues in the Triangle area.
6. Plan ahead. Don’t wait until you’ve found a home and made an offer to get approved for a mortgage, investigate home insurance, and consider a schedule for moving.
7. Despite what you may hear, Buyer’s remorse is not inevitable. Buyers Advantage Group Realty Agents pride themselves on educating their clients- before, during, and after the sale. Our clients go through the entire home buying process confident in the choices they make.

Contact an Exclusive Buyer Agent REALTOR at Buyers Advantage Group Realty, one who can help guide you through the process and take the stress out of homebuying.

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by Katie Dunkle, Client Coordinator

What makes a home a home? The answer will vary depending upon who you ask. For active adults and seniors, the answer is often good friends, family and neighbors. Most seniors have lived in their current homes for 25 years or more. Some prefer to “age in place.” Others embrace the life opportunities that allow them to relocate to the Triangle and enjoy better access to amenities that interest them, recreation and leisure activities, health care facilities, and a great climate.

Seniors relocating to the Triangle area will find those as well as lower home maintenance alternatives, new friendships, and great entertainment options from the performing arts to gardening. Two important things that retiring or relocating seniors should consider before making their move are (i) working with a Senior Residential Specialist in planning their relocation and (ii) gaining an awareness of the community services that are available for them to become highly involved in their new community.

Senior Real Estate Specialists are REALTORS qualified to address the needs of home buyers age s 50+. Marge Bish and Barbara Gressens have each demonstrated the necessary knowledge and expertise to counsel their age 50+ clients through the major financial and lifestyle transitions involved in relocating. Each has received special training and each is well prepared to offer the options and information needed in making life changing decisions.

Contact Marge or Barbara and let them put their expertise to work for you or for someone you know!

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by Katie Dunkle, Client Coordinator

The Hedingham neighborhood in northeast Raleigh continues to be a very popular neighborhood among families moving into and within the Triangle area. As a matter of fact, it was the top selling neighborhood for the first half of 2008. It is easy to see the attraction. With amenities such as: an 18-hole golf course with a club house, putting green and driving range, tennis court, a 9,000 square foot athletic center with gym, exercise area and nursery, 2 swimming pools, stocked lakes which are open to non motorized boats, and walking trails- there truly is something for everyone in the family to enjoy!

There are also many planned community events throughout the year that give residents the opportunity to meet their neighbors. Another reason for the popularity of this planned unit community is its easy access to I-440, I-540, and U.S.64. Whether you are looking for a townhome, patio home, or single family home, Hedingham may be the perfect fit! Single family homes range from approximately $130,000 to $290,000 and in size from about 1000-2700 square feet. If you’d like to learn more about this community, give Buyers Advantage Group Realty a call today!

For additional information about Buyers Advantage Group agents or to begin the process, call Katie at 919.573.6150 or chat with her online at www.buyersadvantagegrouprealty.net. She is standing by to help you, on your terms, in your time frame!

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[source: National Association of Exclusive Buyer Agents (NAEBA)]

Home buyers who want to tap the total home selling market must also focus their attention on the for sale by owner homes as well as the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) homes which supply approximately 80% of the real estate home sales each year.

Buying a for sale by owner (FSBO) home does not require you to ‘go it alone’; however, because exclusive buyer’s agents (EBA) have been helping home buyers buy FSBO homes with success for many years, an EBA can provide protection for issues related to value, defects, hazards, easements, financing, disclosures, contracts and inspections. In some of the busiest real estate markets, it is necessary to consider the FSBO homes to increase the inventory of possible new homes from which to choose.

Check out local papers and web sites (national and local) for ‘house for sale by owner’ ads and rely on the same due diligence and advice from your buyer’s agent for striking a deal with the home owner. The majority of FSBO home sellers welcome brokers and offer a cooperating fee that is typically half of a traditional full-service listing commission. Many of them also use flat-fee MLS placement companies to post their FSBO homes in the MLS to attract home buyers working with agents.

Your exclusive buyer’s agent can help you research the public records and property value, write an offer and assist with negotiation, mortgage and home inspection arrangements and get both parties to the settlement table.

Working with a NAEBA-member exclusive buyer’s agent ensures that you’ll receive top quality research for homes of the type you are looking for, no matter where or how the houses are listed. NAEBA is synonymous with reliable home buying representation.

Contact Buyers Advantage Group Realty at 919.573.6150 today for help with buying a for-sale-by-owner home in Raleigh/Durham/Cary and surrounding areas.

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