A study released Monday by Consumer Reports found 71 percent of sellers who negotiated for lower commissions with their brokers were successful. But only 46 percent of sellers surveyed tried.Those who paid commissions of 3 percent were just as satisfied with their broker’s performance as those who paid 6 percent, the study found.

Those who paid higher commissions were more likely to have regrets about the selling experience. Nearly one-third of them said they should have been more aggressive in negotiating a fee. Sellers were most likely to get lower fees from independent and RE/MAX brokers, said Mark Kotkin, director of survey research at Consumer Reports. (more…)

Laurel Springs is in the high country of beautiful Alleghany County, near the Eastern Continental Divide and between the towns of Jefferson and Sparta on Highway 18 near the Blue Ridge Parkway,

At over 3,000 feet elevation, this community is famous for it’s abundance of North Carolina Christmas Tree farms. Laurel Springs is a vacation and retirement paradise with motorcycle riding, hiking, canoeing, fishing, swimming, mountain biking, horseback riding, skiing, golf and much more.

With both the the New River and Mt. Jefferson State Parks nearby, visitors to Laurel Springs come to experience cool summer breezes, spectacular mountain scenery and outdoor recreation.

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

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Mortgage scammers took advantage of loopholes in New York State lending laws to defraud homeowners and lending institutions all over the state, according to a new report released Thursday.

The New York State Commission of Investigations reported that the state’s mortgage borrowers need more regulatory protection from predatory lenders. It also linked subprime loans closely to New York’s growing foreclosure problem; in 2007, 59% of all foreclosures statewide involved subprime loans. (more…)

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