The numbers of people with homes to plunder has risen fast in recent years. But police and security experts say robbers are hitting homes more because their traditional targets — banks, stores and offices — have been hardened with closed-circuit video surveillance, alarms and guards. By comparison, security at many private homes remains lax, they say. Indeed, in several high-profile crimes, assailants gained access through unlocked doors. In other cases, home-alarm systems apparently weren’t turned on. Security and alarm experts say this is a surprisingly common mistake: Many homeowners lock their doors and set alarms only when they are away. (more…)

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Beautiful Wilkes County NC Timber Frame Home and Mountain Property.

MLS Number: 51166, List Price: $898,500

2 Bedrooms, 2 Baths, 2 half baths, 2 car attached garage, full basement, and a barn on 5 acres of land.

These terms are used to describe thousands of homes and yet some things just can’t be described, they have to be experienced. This is one of those homes that really has to be seen to be appreciated.

This majestic Timber Frame home of the Bob Timberlake genre is not just another house, it provides a feeling of home that is not about walls and floors and windows and doors. It creates a feeling of the flow between your outdoor and your indoor environment that is seamless. Everywhere you look there is a view. Everything you touch feels natural and beautiful in a way that cannot be described, only owned.

Contact Elizabeth Carter, 336.973.5594 or Greg Stikeleather, Broker, 704.880.5247 or email eacarter@charter.net

click here for more information

These days, with so much turmoil in the home sales marketplace, sellers are not automatically turning up their noses at offers that come in far below their asking price. However, buyers who do ask for deep discounts still risk offending sellers to the point where they quash any deal. So before making an aggressive offer, real-estate professionals advise that some homework is in order. Also, buyers need to effectively explain why the price of a home should be lower. Certain sellers are going to be more willing than others to negotiate a low offer, and there are several giveaways that might indicate more leeway on the issue of price. For instance, if the sellers have already purchased another home and that sale has closed, they’re likely to be more willing to make a deal. (more…)

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The recent fires in southern California have resulted in more than 1,000 claims from policyholders. While the fires are a continent away from our locale, we use them as an example of the need for a timely filing of insurance claims. While claims often don’t need to be filed immediately after the damage has been done, homeowners’ insurance companies encourage homeowners to file soon. The sooner the better can get your life back to normal as quickly as possible. Insurance companies understand you have to find a place to live and make sure family is safe and make sure they’re settled. But there can be a time limit on filing claims, and it’s important to call the insurance company as soon as you know there is damage. (more…)

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The idea that the mortgage availability problem is somehow a “subprime” issue, involving only those with minimal credit, is just not so. Why then have foreclosure numbers exploded? The answer doesn’t just concern subprime loans, it concerns the entire mortgage system, a system where loan officers are not required to get the best rates and terms for borrowers, overcharging borrowers is perfectly lawful and federal regulators failed to protect the public interest. As the Federal Reserve has just reported, it’s not just subprime loans that have caused lenders to scurry. Look what the Fed says is happening with jumbo loans, big mortgages for those with solid credit. The bottom-line reality is that we have a lending system which needs to be modernized. Bills now moving through congress would require loan officers to be licensed, loans to be documented, lenders to be responsible and borrowers to be informed. Most importantly, lenders would finally have an obligation to work for the best interests of borrowers. (more…)

search for : subprime, subprime loans, Federal Reserve

“When you’re buying a home you are buying the trees and shrubs,” says Neil Sexton, sales director for Horticultural Asset Management, Inc. He’s talking about the price of curb appeal and understanding exactly how to quantify it in dollars. “When some people make an investment of 50, 100,000, 200,000 or 300,000 dollars worth of landscape assets over time or at one time five years ago, they should be able to, if they take care of them, benefit from highlighting the value of those when it comes time to sell,” explains Sexton. When you video tape your home and all its assets, knowing the value of your trees, shrubs, and lawn is equally important. (more…)

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Many parents find that buying a house or condo for their college kids makes sense, both as an investment and in giving their kids a convenient (and quiet) place to succeed in their education. Parents who are financially able to do so are choosing to invest in real estate close to campus for their college bound offspring. In many cases, it’s preferable to dormitory fees or apartment rent. For students, a campus house or condo can offer greater freedom, a choice of roommates and more amenities, including a full kitchen, private bath, deck and hot tub, cable and Internet connectivity, and covered or enclosed parking. For parents, it offers a chance to not only recoup some of the skyrocketing cost of the aptly named higher education but, if approached correctly, can even launch their baby birds into the world with something college can’t provide: a good credit history. Even parents of limited means can derive many of the same benefits by co-owning a campus house with other parents.

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