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3 Areas of Assessment When Buying a Home As-Is

Vectorolie, fdp 1For many home buyers in the area, from Cary to Durham to Apex, the real estate market can be very intimidating and challenging. There are so many factors to consider like school districts, mortgage rates, relocation, and the overall investment of home buying in the Triangle.

Interestingly, there is also a growing number of bank-owned and foreclosed properties listed to sell “as-is” across the region. Usually the seller is either unable or unwilling to pay for repairs or deficiencies in the home and it goes for sale in this category. The good news is that this doesn’t necessarily mean it is a deal-breaker or a “stay away from” for home buyers, especially here in the Triangle area. At Flat Fee Realty, our real estate experts are here to help buyers in Raleigh, NC and surrounding areas make these types of investments and to do it right.

The Triangle real estate experts at Flat Fee Realty suggest three areas of assessment when purchasing a property “as-is”:

  • Consult local realtors in the know like Flat Fee Realty: Listing a home to sell with the “as-is” clause means that the home seller isn’t obligated to pay for repairs. The home sellers are also not legally liable for any unfortunate events that may occur after the close. Since many sellers are financial institutions, these banks, credit unions, and loan offices may not be fully aware of the property’s condition. It is very important to consult real estate experts like Flat Fee Realty for guidance during home buying process.
  • Use the Due Diligence Period. Although not mandatory, the due diligence period for home buyers is ideal for conducting home inspections. The buyer has the advantage here, as they can cancel the contract at any time before the home is closed. This is a good time to survey the neighborhood and have the property evaluated in order to ensure a wise investment.
  • Budget for Repairs. After inspections, all required repairs will be brought to the attention of the buyer. However, many Triangle home buyers are usually happy with their considered purchase since most repairs are relatively minor; regardless, plan to budget for maintenance when considering a home listed “as-is”.

Home buying doesn’t have to be a daunting process, and we have our local team of specialists here to help! Contact the Triangle’s Real Estate Experts at Flat Fee Realty today and experience buying the perfect home.

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This post on selling and buying a home in the Triangle is brought to you by the team at Flat Fee Realty and is intended for informational purposes only.

The Future of Real Estate!

Flat Fee Realty

919 342 5230

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Terry@FlatFeeNC.com

Photo: Vectorolie, freedigitalphotos

4 Factors to Consider When Buying a Home in the Triangle

1-31-15 3The Triangle and Raleigh real estate market is a very strong seller’s market as we head into the summers months of 2016. The market seems to be improving in the seller’s favor everyday due to lack of available homes for sale. Flat Fee Realty knows the challenges for first time home buyers as they look for a nice home in a new location. Many prospective home buyers are uncomfortable in any type of bidding situation and many just will wait for the climate to change. 

When purchasing a home here in the Triangle, there are many factors that must go into the decision to buy an existing home or build a new one.

When considering a newly built Triangle home or a pre-owned home, Flat Fee Realty offers four important factors to consider:  

  • Warranty: New homes will come with warranties that cover appliances, plumbing, heating and more. When purchasing a pre-owned home, buyers can negotiate a home warranty into the sales price of the home, but it may have a large fee and a high deductible and it might not cover as much as a new home warranty.
  • Home design: A great upside of purchasing an existing home is the ability to see how the previous homeowner laid out the home with furniture; Raleigh home buyers can even negotiate the furniture into the sale price of the home. With a newly built home in the Triangle, there are a lot of decisions to be made in reference to brand new construction, from flooring to windows.
  • Out of pocket costs: When purchasing a pre-owned home, there are probably less out of pocket costs associated with the purchase. In a newly built home, a local home builder will most likely require a big deposit down on the home for any add-ons that must be paid for before the build begins or just before closing. A pre-owned home will allow for more negotiation of fees into the closing costs.
  • Floor plan options: Newly built houses are typically the most up-to-date with trends consumers want in 2016, from energy efficiency to open floor plans.

In this hot Triangle and Raleigh real estate market, it can be challenging to make the right decisions. It might be a great time to sell a home, but how can anyone buy a new home? Call us with questions about the options of purchase here in the Triangle. We know the market well. Contact the team at Flat Fee Realty today for more information.

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Photo: IMUSM

This post on selling and buying a home in the Triangle is brought to you by the team at Flat Fee Realty and is intended for informational purposes only.

The Future of Real Estate!

Flat Fee Realty

919 342 5230

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Contact Us

Terry@FlatFeeNC.com

 

 

 

4 Top Reasons Why Some Triangle Home Buyers Should Look at New Homes

Ponsulak new houseThe real estate market in the Raleigh and Triangle area is red hot, and one of the strongest in the U.S. at the moment. Flat Fee Realty has noticed that many area home buyers must now compete for a shortage of existing houses. And many of these homes are being sold well above asking price. A lot of offers are simply not being accepted and are rejected for more money. Savvy buyers who don’t want to compete against others looking for houses often can turn to new construction.

Flat Fee Realty presents the top four reasons why some Triangle home are considering purchasing new homes instead of existing properties:

  • Home warranties: The warranties that come with a new home cover all major appliances such as the structure, HVAC system, plumbing and more. In an existing Triangle home, there may be costly issues that may need to be addressed, such as updating the roof or replacing the HVAC system.
  • Saving money: There are many ways that new homes can save money; most new houses are more energy efficient than existing ones in the Triangle. Energy efficiency can save a lot of money on utility bills.
  • Brand new: The ability to design a home from the foundation up ensures that it is exactly the way the home buyer wants it to be. Everything is planned into the new construction meaning there are no surprises.
  • Innovation and technology: Homes in the Triangle and Raleigh proper are indeed much more efficient that those built in the late 1990’s and older. New homes often have the best features that all Raleigh home buyers are looking for, like nine foot ceilings, open floor plans, and a great use of space. New homes being built in the region are up to date in many ways.  

Readers of this blog post, who want to view all of the communities in the Triangle area including new construction, can contact our team at Flat Fee Realty today to get information on new construction communities in the Triangle. 

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This post on selling and buying a home in the Triangle is brought to you by the team at Flat Fee Realty and is intended for informational purposes only.

Photo: Ponsulak, Freedigitalphotos

The Future of Real Estate!

Flat Fee Realty

919 342 5230

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Contact Us

Terry@FlatFeeNC.com

 

 

 

4 Important Steps That Can Sell a House Fast in the Triangle Market

FFR- Jan 19 Pic- Stuart MilesThe Triangle has consistently ranked as one of the top places to live and work in the country. This is great news for anyone in the Triangle who is considering selling a home this spring. In 2016, Triangle real estate is indeed in a seller’s market, and it can be very financially favorable for people in the Triangle trying to sell a home. A true benefit of a seller’s market is that listings can often sell very quickly, especially when following the advice of our expert team at Flat Fee Realty. If there is an interest in selling a home in Apex, Cary, and Holly Springs and beyond, there will always be questions that need professional answers. The home selling process can be complicated, and homeowners need to do to get ready for the buyer. Spring is here.

Our team at Flat Fee Realty offers four important steps that can help Triangle home sellers sell in this exciting market:  

  • Do inexpensive home improvements and housework: This is often suggested by experienced realtors, and it is very true. For example, thoroughly cleaning and depersonalizing the home can make a big difference to potential buyers.  
  • Choose Flat Fee Realty: Some local area homes are selling quickly, but if a home is priced too high than it will not sell. At the same time, if a home is priced too low, the homeowner might not receive full possible value from the investment. A very good strategy is to get good information on pricing through the MLS, which can be accessed through Flat Fee Realty’s innovative product.
  • Know the market, the neighborhood, and the typical sale: In business, companies have to figure out who will buy their product and then they market to those potential customers. The Triangle real estate market is no different. A big step in selling a Triangle house quickly is figuring out the demographics of the likely buyer. Will it be a family, a newlywed or retiree? Knowing these answers can help Flat Fee Realty to sell the home quickly and for the best price.
  • Get the house on the market: The best way to sell is through the multiple listing service, also known as the MLS. This tool is used by almost every realtor and through Flat Fee Realty any listing will be uploaded to all of the popular listing websites, enabling maximum coverage.

Looking to sell a Triangle area home? Contact the Flat Fee Realty experts for more information about the Triangle home market and how we can help sell a Triangle home. Call us at Flat Fee Realty today at 888-649-9488 or visit our website for more information about home selling and buying in the Triangle.

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This post on selling and buying a home in the Triangle is brought to you by the team at professional Flat Fee Realty and is intended for informational purposes only.

The Future of Real Estate!

Flat Fee Realty

919 342 5230

Find and like us on Facebook!

Contact Us

Terry@FlatFeeNC.com

Photo: Stuart Miles, freedigitalphotos.net

5 Important Reasons Home Buying is Better than Renting

ddpavumba, fdpAs we rapidly approach the spring season of buying and renting homes in the Triangle, it is important for both potential buyers and renters to be educated on benefits. There are a various factors to consider when the decision is made. Thankfully for Triangle residents, the real estate experts at Flat Fee Realty have taken the time to compile a decision making guide for the spring 2016 season.

Here are the five most important aspects of decision making when choosing renting or buying:

  • Tax benefits: It is well documented that there are significant tax breaks that come with buying a house; stability is important when living and investing in the Triangle area.
  • Home equity: The question of equity is an important one. Every month of rent is yet another 30 days of paying the landlord.
  • Assessing the future: If one will likely be moving away from the Triangle in the next year, renting is probably a good choice. Individuals who plan on living in the Triangle for a longer term need to consider buying property.
  • Home ownership as a goal: A recent survey found that 94% of renters strongly desire to own a home in the future. It makes sense that, in 2016, this could be the right year.
  • Maintenance: One of the important aspects of renting is the challenge of getting repairs and updates done to the home. It is usually up to management to react and improve a situation, and often it is handled to the benefit of the owner, not the renter. Buying a home ensures that the right decisions are always made for the benefit of the owner.

Now, who is ready to start shopping for a Triangle home?

Contact us at Flat Fee Realty for more information about the Triangle home market and how Flat Fee Realty can best help throughout the home buying process. Call us today at 888-649-9488 or visit our website for more information about home buying in the Triangle.

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This post on selling and buying a home in the Triangle is brought to you by the team at Flat Fee Realty and is intended for informational purposes only. Call us with all your home buying questions.

The Future of Real Estate!

Flat Fee Realty

919 342 5230

Find and like us on Facebook!

Contact Us

Terry@FlatFeeNC.com 

Photo: ddpavumba, freedigitalphotos.net

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