For Triangle, North Carolina and Raleigh realtors, the last few years have not been pretty and while we did see good glimpses of real estate recovery, the good begat the bad and it has often been down right ugly. We all knew that the expiration of the home buyer incentives in April would bring a drop but predetermining activity on North Carolina homes for sale and Raleigh homes activity is much like playing the stock market; there are economic principles involved but human behavior and reaction is not predictable. In May and June of this year, we saw the low showings numbers and the fewer pending sales but were encouraged by the number of home closings in June. But just like when any retail business has a “sale”, more sales are expected and following the sale, the shoppers decline. If your home is on the market and you’re becoming frustrated at the lack of activity, picture yourself as a store in the mall and it is mid-January; the women’s clothing at Hudson Belk is still just as nice today as on Black Friday, the tools at Sears are just as heavy duty, the cosmetics at Macy’s just as fragrant and the Build-A-Bear still has a heart. Simply put, homes were no longer $8,000 off and the shoppers’ excitement has subsided. The majority of homes on the market right now are very nice homes and three great listings that I have here in the Triangle 6502 English Oaks Drive in Raleigh, 7 Peridot Place in Durham and 6729 Middleboro Drive in Raleigh, are three of the most beautiful Triangle North Carolina real estate listings on the market.

When I say “simply put,” that’s an understatement because tax credits and prices, while significant, are only a small part of the country’s economic problems; unemployment and uncertainty are key issues that only time will adequately address. While NC’s jobless figures fell in July, the news was less than encouraging; there’s even news that NC’s true unemployment rate tops 17.8 percent. The lack of both jobs and consumer confidence led to a very cool summer for Raleigh homes sales and the Triangle real estate market. While the average price of re-sales increased 7% and the overall average sales price increased 6%, area Raleigh re-sale listings increased 20% compared to this time last year and are at their highest level within the prior 4 year period; 55% of the Raleigh Durham area has an oversupply of housing. Now, add that July pending sales were down 32%, showings were down 23% and closings were down 33% and what you have is a picture of very sluggish sales.

Residential real estate often drives the economy but now, the economy is driving residential real estate. This all goes back to a blog I wrote many months ago about the role jobs play in realty. If I were to end this article now, I would be doing you a disservice because the brightest news in all that is going on now is that “homebuyers who qualify to buy can get a great buy.” With the number of homes on the market today and the lowest mortgage interest rates in decades, if you’re looking to make a real estate purchase, let’s get your home search started today.

Rick Freeman has been practicing Raleigh real estate since 2001.

A residential broker with the Carolina’s number one real estate firm, Allen Tate Realtors. 

Search Raleigh Homes Online!

For Triangle, North Carolina and Raleigh Realtors, the last few years have not been pretty and while we did see good glimpses of real estate recovery, the good beg at the bad and it has often been down right ugly. We all knew that the expiration of the home buyer incentives in April would bring a drop, but predetermining activity on North Carolina homes for sale and Raleigh homes activity is much like playing the stock market; there are economic principles involved but human behavior and reaction is not predictable.

For the full story, visit my GuideMeHome2Raleigh-Durham Blog!

For the full story, visit my GuideMeHome2Raleigh-Durham Blog!

Most real estate agents split their time between working with buyers and working with sellers. Yet today, many of us find ourselves, due to the economic swing of the real estate market, spending more time marketing our listings. With more homes on the market and fewer buyers in our cars, The Freeman/Davis Home Team with the Wolborsky Group at Allen Tate Realtors is looking at new ways to set our listings apart from the competition. One of those ways is with The “Talking House” system.

For the full story, visit my GuideMeHome2Raleigh-Durham Blog!

Get my full story, Hot NONE In the Summertime…Real Estate Sales on Vacation, online.  Find more timely statistics on Raleigh Durham and search the great Raleigh homes for sale and buyer’s market incentives on Raleigh real estate at www.HomeSearchRALEIGH.com.

It’s more value-added information from your Raleigh realtor, Rick Freeman and the Freeman/Davis Home Team.

Check out my blog post at Rick Freeman’s DayTripping Series – Mayberry, NC – It’s For Real and In Living Color. See more things to do in Raleigh Durham and search the great Raleigh homes for sale and buyer’s market incentives on Raleigh real estate at www.HomeSearchRALEIGH.com.

It’s more value-added information from your Raleigh realtor, Rick Freeman and the Freeman/Davis Home Team.

It’s more value-added information from your Raleigh realtor, Rick Freeman and the Freeman/Davis Home Team.

Check out my blog post at Rick Freeman’s DayTripping Series – Tax Free Weekend. See more things to do in Raleigh Durham and search the great Raleigh homes for sale and buyer’s market incentives on Raleigh real estate at www.HomeSearchRALEIGH.com.

It’s more value-added information from your Raleigh realtor, Rick Freeman and the Freeman/Davis Home Team.

on our website at

DO: Find an independent agent that will allow you to get quotes from several insurance providers.

DON’T: Buy the first policy you are offered with when shopping.

DO: Contact an insurance agent in person to tailor your policy and make sure you’re getting the best and most adequate coverage for the money you pay.

DON’T: Drop home insurance or necessary types of coverage altogether just to lower the costs.

DO: Review your deductibles and adjust them if needed to relate adequately to your financial abilities if an insurance situation takes place. Remember that higher deductibles will lower you rates.

DON’T: Raise your deductibles to the amount you will find hard to pay in case it comes to filing a claim.

DO: Speak to your insurance agent to learn if there are any homeowner’s insurance discounts provided by your insurer you are eligible for.

DON’T: Forget about updating your insurance coverage after adding square footage to your house, performing important modifications (installing ventilation or security systems), or buying expensive things that are to be kept on your property.

DO: Find a provider that will carry more types of insurance rather than only homeowners insurance.  You can receive substantial discounts by having your auto, life and home insurance policies with the same carrier.

DON’T: Drop substantial amounts of liability coverage in order to save money because some day it can be really helpful and your savings can lead to serious losses if you do not have enough liability coverage.

DO: Renew your policy and avoid cancellations because it will get more expensive to renew it or get a new one if your policy was simply void without any reason.

DON’T: Drop your homeowners insurance policy in case your mortgage lender doesn’t require it anymore or you have paid off your loan.

Try to employ as many of these tips as possible and you will see that having good homeowners insurance with low rates and adequate coverage is really possible. Keep in mind that having cheap coverage can turn around to be very costly when facing an insurance situation. So try to get adequate coverage while still having your family budget in mind. Shop around and find the best policy out there to keep your house protected no matter what.

The City of Raleigh Police has send us an advisement on some things you may think about that burglar’s are looking at or thinking.  Check this out, read and heed!  It is stuff you may never think about before it is to late.

Things Your Burglar Won’t Tell You:
 
1. Of course I look familiar. I was here just last week cleaning your carpets, painting your shutters, or delivering your new refrigerator.

2. Hey, thanks for letting me use the bathroom when I was working in your yard last week. While I was in there, I unlatched the back window to make my return a little easier.

3. Love those flowers. That tells me you have taste … And taste means there are nice things inside. Those yard toys your kids leave out always make me wonder what type of gaming system they have.

4. Yes, I really do look for newspapers piled up on the driveway. And I might leave a pizza flyer in your front door to see how long it takes you to remove it.

5. If it snows while you’re out of town, get a neighbor to create car and foot tracks into the house. Virgin drifts in the driveway are a dead giveaway.

6. If decorative glass is part of your front entrance, don’t let your alarm company install the control pad where I can see if it’s set. That makes it too easy.

7. A good security company alarms the window over the sink. And the windows on the second floor, which often access the master bedroom-and your jewelry. It’s not a bad idea to put motion detectors up there too.

8. It’s raining, you’re fumbling with your umbrella, and you forget to lock your door-understandable. But understand this: I don’t take a day off because of bad weather.

9. I always knock first. If you answer, I’ll ask for directions somewhere or offer to clean your gutters. (Don’t take me up on it.)

10. Do you really think I won’t look in your sock drawer? I always check dresser drawers, the bedside table, and the medicine cabinet.

11. Helpful hint: I almost never go into kids’ rooms.

12. You’re right: I won’t have enough time to break into that safe where you keep your valuables. But if it’s not bolted down, I’ll take it with me.

13. A loud TV or radio can be a better deterrent than the best alarm system. If you’re reluctant to leave your TV on while you’re out of town, you can buy a $35 device that works on a timer and simulates the flickering glow of a real television. (Find it at faketv.com.)

14. Sometimes, I carry a clipboard. Sometimes, I dress like a lawn guy and carry a rake. I do my best to never ever look like a crook.

15. The two things I hate most: loud dogs and nosy neighbors.

16. I’ll break a window to get in, even if it makes a little noise. If your neighbor hears one loud sound, he’ll stop what he’s doing and wait to hear it again. If he doesn’t hear it again, he’ll just go back to what he was doing. It’s human nature.

17. I’m not complaining, but why would you pay all that money for a fancy alarm system and leave your house without setting it?

18. I love looking in your windows. I’m looking for signs that you’re home, and for flat screen TVs or gaming systems I’d like. I’ll drive or walk through your neighborhood at night, before you close the blinds, just to pick my targets..

19. Avoid announcing your vacation on your Facebook page. It’s easier than you think to look up your address.

20. To you, leaving that window open just a crack during the day is a way to let in a little fresh air. To me, it’s an invitation.

21. If you don’t answer when I knock, I try the door. Occasionally, I hit the jackpot and walk right in.

Sources: Convicted burglars in North Carolina Oregon California and Kentucky, security consultant Chris McGoey, who runs crimedoctor.com; and Richard T. Wright, a criminology professor at the University of Missouri-St. Louis, who interviewed 105 burglars for his book “Burglars on the job”