List Wise Blog

If you are moving to the Triangle, you are probably asking yourself several questions. One question we often hear at Listwise is the one that goes like this; “if real estate sales are down in Raleigh, Cary and the surrounding areas and the supply of homes on the market is high, why aren’t Triangle home values crashing through the floor?“  Great question! The law of supply and demand should kick in gear. The simple fact of the matter is that some how through all the turbulent economic times this year Triangle home values have held up pretty well.

What Gives with Today’s Triangle Real Estate Market?

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One of the lingering questions we hear Triangle home sellers often ask during this time of the year is the one that goes like this; “can I decorate my Triangle home as I normally do for the holidays?” That depends on your definition of “normal”. If that means an elegant (or playful) Christmas tree and simple festive decorations of pine roping and wreath, sure you can decorate your Triangle home for the holidays. For others, decorating for the holidays takes on a life of it’s own.

Deck those Halls of Your Triangle Home!

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Higher Triangle Real Estate Property Taxes are on the Way!

Even in our current economy, people are still relocating to the Triangle for many great reasons. If you’re contemplating a home purchase once you arrive in the Triangle, be prepared to dig a little deeper not only at the closing table but also every July when you receive your Wake County, Durham City and Raleigh City property tax bills. Both entities are getting ready to whack our wallets (as if that wasn’t happening often enough!).

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Female Home Buyers - Be Smart, Be Safe!

If you’re a single woman living in the Triangle and you’re ready to begin your Triangle house hunting excursion, we have outlined a few helpful reminders to help you stay safe and be smarter about ways to shop for your next home. A little common sense coupled with these home buying tips will go a long way in helping you locate that special Triangle area home.

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The Triangle Home Search is Easier

The way Triangle home buyers approach their home search has radically changed with the advent of real estate Web sites and the Internet. Plus, for the most part, today’s home buyer desires to have greater control of the home buying process. Not many years ago, buyers sloughed through endless print ads (with tiny photos - if you were lucky) in the Sunday paper calling agencies about potential Triangle homes for sale. That model has radically changed in light of today’s real estate Web tools.

Today’s web-savvy buyers easily eliminate homes that fail to meet their home search criteria allowing the buyer to save time and gain a unique perspective on the local market.

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Triangle Homeowners Remain Upbeat About Local Home Values

While one could debate whether or not the poll was the most scientific, the Triangle Business Journal recently ran a survey in which its readers were asked to answer this question; “Has the market value of your home gone down in the last year?” Respondents participating in the poll could select from the following answers:

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While attending this past weekend’s Southern Ideal Home Show at the N.C. State Fairgrounds, there was a noticeable shift in the type of home improvement/product providers from previous home shows. Sure there were your usual players like exterior siding vendors, play-set salespeople and more above and below ground pools and hot tube products than water available in Raleigh to fill them (although we did receive some much needed rainfall!). Speaking of water, there was one niche that seemed to attract a whole new cottage industry. This niche also attracted some interest by the attendees as well.

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Unless you’re a hermit and you have been living under a rock or in a cave, Raleigh’s drought has been the hot subject of much conversation and many debates in the Raleigh City Council Meetings recently. The primary water source for the city of Raleigh and surrounding towns is the Fall Lake Reservoir and as we all know, the Falls Lake levels have diminished severely in recent months. While we have experienced some much needed rainfall earlier this month, our water supply remains perilously low.

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Triangle Home Evaluations Prove Helpful

Here at ListWise Realty Services, we evaluate many homes in the Triangle real estate market. Before we list any home for sale, we provide the seller valuable feedback about their property. We begin each discussion by pointing out positive features and characteristics about the home that would be attractive to any qualified buyer. Because honesty is always the best policy, we also offer suggestions for the seller to consider to make their home more marketable before the home is actually listed for sale. We also recommend the seller have a friend or relative come and inspect their home and provide feedback as well.

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You’ve decided to ignore the headlines of the doom and gloom (opportunistic buyers do that!). You have good credit and you’ve saved up some earnest money, a down payment and even have some cash for closing cost. Many really smart Triangle home buyers even go the extra mile by getting pre-approved for a home loan before seriously starting their home search. This question is this - do you have a plan for what you want in your next Triangle home?

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