If you are in the market for a home in the Raleigh area then you are in for a big surprise. There are many homes for sale in Raleigh and in just about every Raleigh community including The Bluffs, Cary Park, Weldon Ridge, Legend Oaks, Trinity Ridge, and may other communities within the Raleigh area have beautiful homes for sale. There are homes to meet everyone’s financial needs with some starting at around $100,000 for a 1600 sq ft home with 2.5 baths to a four bedrooms, 2.5 bath, and sprawling 3,000 sq ft house for around $400,000. The possibilities are virtually endless.

Once you start to look into the communities, you will find traditionally single family homes, excellent amenities, and great public school systems, close proximity for shopping and nearby access to the interstate exchanges. The neighborhoods are clean and very safe plus the city of Raleigh boasts many activities and sites to keep just about anyone happy. These homes are well crafted and always built to accommodate your lifestyle. There are also many to choose from so that you are assured that you get exactly what you are looking for whether this is your first home purchase or your fourth.

Raleigh is a very distinct community in North Carolina and it is booming with growth. Raleigh is also a place that will never leave you bored as there are numerous parks, greenways, and historical government buildings lining the heart of the downtown area. It is a beautiful city to live in. Perhaps you are already a member of the Raleigh community or maybe you are relocating from another area but regardless you will not regret your decision to join a community that has so many wonderful things to offer. That could also be the explanation for why so many new families are deciding to make Raleigh their home for many years to come.

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Tags: Raleigh homes for sale, Senior Real Estate by Adam - No Comments »

As kids grow up and move away, it may be time for a smaller home! There are lots of charming, smaller square footage homes in Raleigh, Cary, Durham, Chapel Hill, and throughout the Triangle area. But if you’re moving from a larger home, you may be worried about feeling cramped in a smaller space.

With a few well-placed windows and built-ins, it is possible to make more of less! There are ways to use illusions to make you feel as though your house is larger than it really is. A recent article on MSN had these suggestions:

To add space . . . add a wall?

It’s intuitive to assume that to maximize space one would take out walls — but you can lose comfort in that spaciousness. Don’t chop up rooms a la old tract homes, but consider adding a wall that slightly breaks up a room, or putting a freestanding bookcase in the middle of a room, to make a space seem bigger.

Vary ceiling height

Altering the height of the ceiling, even within one room — lower at first, higher as one proceeds — creates a sense of entrance and welcome. A simple cloth hanging over a bed creates a different feeling of space and makes the area more intimate.

Layer your area

Though it’s counterintuitive, adding different elements in the middle-distance of a room — a pillar, a low bookcase — can act rather like punctuation marks in a sentence, slowing down the eye, and letting it experience the space.

Think like a sailor

Architects often refer to their smaller creations as sailboats, which have no wasted space. Look for opportunities for built-ins, such as bookshelf opportunities in staircases, cool cabinet possibilities, drawers under beds, etc.

Remember: Glass is good

In addition to letting in light, which is crucial to lending a house an airy feel, well-placed windows steal space from the outdoors and give it to the house. For a horizon view, place windows together at a corner of the house. Windows placed high on the wall so that people can’t see in also act to make space feel bigger, while bringing in natural light.

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Tags: Senior Real Estate, Triangle Real Estate by Adam - No Comments »

A recent article on MSN said that baby boomers are choosing larger houses rather than downsizing. This behavior sort of bucks the stereotype that empty-nesters look for smaller homes to conserve costs.

So why is this happening? Are seniors today simply wealthier than their counterparts 30 or 40 years ago? That is definitely part of it. Another reason is that housing in general has gotten larger. Homes now include a lot of extra spaces (like home offices) that were once considered only optional.

Other reasons include:

People are Living Longer

Many baby boomers are faced with the challenge of taking care of their own parents. Even if it isn’t to that point yet, many choose to build or purchase larger homes that could accommodate elderly parents moving in at some point.

The Home Office

Once retired from typical desk jobs, a large percentage of baby boomers are still not finished working. They are starting their own small businesses or focusing on a hobby. This means there is a need for one (or possibly two!) home offices. A hobby could necessitate the need for a studio or workshop as well.

Grandkids Welcome

Many boomers are building or buying with grandchildren in mind. One couple featured in the article bought a home that in addition to the master bedroom suite, the upstairs included three more bedrooms, plus a bonus room that also functions as a playroom.

This trend also extends to retirees moving to desirable places that their kids and grandkids would want to visit. If you are looking for more space in the Raleigh area, the Triangle Real Estate experts at Buyers Advantage Group are happy to help you find the perfect home for your needs!

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Tags: Senior Real Estate, Triangle Real Estate by Adam - No Comments »

Increasingly more people are finding themselves in a bad financial situation with regards to their credit history. That doesn’t mean that they are not in a position to buy a home, though. Although house buying does become trickier, not to mention more expensive if your credit rating is high, it is possible to purchase a home without having good credit.

The first thing you need to do is to find out what your credit score is. The higher the credit score, the higher risk a potential lender will see you, and consequently you’ll be charged a higher interest level. If possible you should try to lower your credit score before going into the house buying marketplace, but if that’s not financially feasible, then make sure you investigate what several different financial institutions will charge you to borrow the same amount of money.

You should then check out what’s available to you in terms of government funded finance. If you fit into one of the categories of people or situations that your local or even the federal government is trying to help, you may find that your repayments will be considerably lower. Programs are often available through the Federal Housing Association (FDA), as well though your State offices, and the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Find the number for your nearest HUD Housing Counseling Service and contact them to find out what may be available to you and who you should contact about it.

Once you secure a home, don’t just assume that the finances are done. Always keep in mind that your loan will be at a higher than average rate of interest because of your bad credit rating. Work at bringing your credit rating down – even making your regular mortgage repayments on time will help to do this over time – and then once you have a better rating and meet any time restraint that your current financer may have inserted into the financial contract, start to investigate refinancing your home so that you bring the level of monthly repayments down, and so increase your monthly disposable income.

If you want to buy a home and you know your credit rating is bad, don’t let that put you off. Take a look at what’s available to you in the way of financing, and then see what you can get for that kind of money in the area you want to live. You might be surprised!

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Tags: Senior Real Estate by Adam - No Comments »

A buyer’s agent is a real estate agent who exclusively represents the interests of the estate buyer. This real estate buyer’s agent is contracted and paid for by the estate buyer and has only the buyer’s interests in mind during any property transaction.

The best way of finding a buyer’s agent is by asking friends and family for referrals. If you know someone who’s recently bought a new home would be in the best position to tell you who’s good and who to avoid.

Another good source would be to check on the Internet as well as newspaper ads for buyer’s agents who are listed in the area you are looking for. However, whether you find your buyer’s agent through a known or an unknown source, it is essential that you make a checklist of questions to ask the agent in order to ascertain that you feel comfortable with the agent, and more importantly, to ensure that the agent can indeed deliver what you are looking for.

Determine your budget and make a list of features that you are looking for in your new home. Show the details to the agent and ask questions about how he intends looking for the perfect home for you. Find out how many houses you are likely to see that meet your budget as well as our requirements. Ascertain exactly what services are included in your contract and those that you are expected to pay extra for. Also find out if the agent will handle the negotiations on your behalf. Getting references and contact numbers of previous clients gives you the opportunity of checking on the agents past records.

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Tags: Senior Real Estate by Adam - 2 Comments »

A real estate buyer’s agent represents the person who is purchasing property in any real estate transaction. The buyer’s agent spends time evaluating the estate buyer’s requirements and preferences and has the buyer’s best interests in mind right through the entire process. One of the defining characteristics of real estate buyer’s agents is that they are not sellers of real estate and not in any way connected to real estate sellers or developers.

The buyer can expect his chosen agent to provide an all inclusive-service, right from finding the most suitable property and determining its accurate market value to negotiating the best possible terms, conditions and buying price.

Some of the services provided by a real estate buyer’s agent include:

• Locating appropriate properties after having evaluated and determined the specific needs and wants of the buyer.
• Providing assistance in viewing properties which includes previewing the properties on the buyer’s behalf and accompanying the buyer upon identifying appropriate properties.
• Conducting a thorough research into the background of the short-listed properties in order to identify any existing inherent problems.
• Advising the buyer on the different payment options available and presenting the offer to the seller on the buyer’s behalf.
• Negotiating with the seller in order to get the best deal for the buyer.
• Providing assistance with obtaining the optimum financing for the property.
• Recommending qualified service providers that the buyer may require such as carpenters, plumbers and movers.

Studies have shown that when prospective buyers used the assistance of a real estate buyer, they are likely to find an
appropriate property at least one week faster than those who didn’t. What’s more they got to evaluate and compare far more properties too, increasing their chances of finding one that was perfect for their needs.

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Tags: Senior Real Estate by Adam - 1 Comment »

SRES is an acronym for Senior Real Estate Specialist, a designation awarded to qualified agents by NAR, the National Association of Realtors®. In order to earn the designation, agents must complete classes that focus on topics such as:

• Distinguishing characteristics and trends related to the 55+ population
• Housing, finance, and retirement income considerations of the 55+ population
• Counseling strategies to help clients and customers plan ahead for life transitions
• The ins and outs of reverse mortgages
• How to use pensions, 401k accounts, and IRAs in real estate transactions
• How Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security affect real estate decisions
• How to recognize loan scams targeted at the 55+ real estate buyer

The goal, opportunities, and challenges of those purchasing real estate in their retirement years are very different from those purchasing their 20’s or 30’s. If you’re a senior, it’s important to work with an agent that understands your needs and is trained to handle situations that arise.

Though there are more than 4,000 real estate agents in the Raleigh area, only around 70 of those agents have earned the SRES designation. Of those, Buyer’s Advantage Group is one of the only agencies that is a true buyer’s agency – meaning that we do not list homes and serve only as an advocate for the buyer.Â

No matter which agency you choose in the end, we advise seniors to research potential real estate agents thoroughly before making a decision. Looking for the SRES designation is an ideal place to begin to narrow the selection.Â

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We live in a society where “bigger” equates to “better” – big automobiles, big yards, and big houses represent status in most people’s minds. With all this pressure, it can be difficult to think about downsizing to a smaller house. But do you really need or want to maintain square footage that you don’t really need?

But downsizing your home size doesn’t have to mean downsizing your lifestyle – in fact, it can be just the opposite!

However, there are important things to consider before you do so. If you’ve got a lot of equity in your home, should you some of the new home’s purchase and have some additional cash on hand, or should you pay for the home outright if you can? These are important questions to ask and the answers may not be as clear in the beginning as they are for someone who as been through the process.

Buyer’s Advantage Group offers a home downsizing boot camp that answers and things to consider around these types of questions and more such as:

• Your particular downsizing goals
• Longer term loans vs. shorter term loans based on those goals
• Types of loan programs to consider
• What to look for when hiring a listing or buying agent
• Home inspections
• Closing attorneys

Buyer’s Advantage Group is a Buyer’s Advocate, so you won’t get some schpeil and be talked into listing your home. This boot camp is for people who want to downsize and need solid, factual information upon which to move forward.

Downsizing can be a pretty exciting thought… you may want to trade in all of that yard work for a condominium with a professionally landscaped common area, pool, sauna, and gym. Or perhaps start a fresh new look by redecorating a newer, smaller space. If you’re thinking along these lines, this boot camp is a great place to start moving forward!

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Tags: Senior Real Estate by Adam - No Comments »

   There is a new housing product that is targeted towards buyers called empty nesters, baby boomers, 55+, mature Americans, or as you may call them Mom and Dad. We have all known that the Triangle has been a favorite of the AARP constituent as a retirement location but our market has not catered to this buyer until now. Finally new communities are underway that are specially designed for the 55+ buyer. Buyers Advantage Group Realty has been voicing a need for this type of housing product and our voices have been heard!

   Currently there are six new communities around the Triangle exclusively for the 55+ buyer. What is a 55+ community you ask? They are neighborhoods designed to the needs and desires of the 55+ buyer and you must be 55 or older to live in the communities usually. The floor plans are created for the down sizing buyer but the amenities are anything but down sized. Usually there is a community club or center that has planned activities within and outside the neighborhood. Combine the specially designed communities with our terrific weather, the wonderful cultural centers of downtown Raleigh, Durham, and Chapel Hill, and all the college and university activities and events and you get the perfect mix for retirement life. Buyers Advantage Group Realty has agents specially trained to meet the needs of the 55+ buyer. They carry the designation of Senior Real Estate Specialist and offer experience in handling the lifestyle issues of transitioning seniors. These specially trained agents can help with financial and legal planning that go along with the decision to move and start the next phase of their lives. If you are 55+ and are considering a move please contact us for valuable information on the best places to look and how to protect your rights as a senior buyer.

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