Mike Kelly Jr. of CENTURY 21 American Homes has earned the EcoBroker Certified^® designation, having successfully completed a unique and informative training program on the energy and environmental issues that affect real estate transactions. He is the first REALTOR® in Hickory to achieve this certification as he joins the movement of professionals pushing the real estate market toward energy-efficient, sustainable, and healthier design/features in homes and buildings. The "performance home" movement is getting a boost thanks to this type of high quality real estate professional earning the EcoBroker designation. EcoBrokers^®, like Mike Kelly, throughout the country are forging this market and creating competitive advantages for their customers. With national surveys indicating that 80% of consumers consider themselves "green-minded," real estate professionals with the EcoBroker designation are in a better position to serve the real estate consumer.

EcoBroker International's education and designation program is designed exclusively for real estate professionals who care about the environment EcoBroker provides a complete curriculum of energy and environmental training to licensed real estate agents. Real estate professionals must complete the extensive EcoBroker curriculum and training and fulfill additional program requirements to become Certified EcoBrokers^®.

You can contact Mike at www.MikeKellyJr.com

In the world of real estate, there seem to be basically two types of markets that fluctuate with time. These are the sellers market and the buyers market. If you lived through the housing boom of the early twenty-first century you will be familiar with a sellers market, a time when there are more home buyers than sellers and plenty of competition for properties. Prices tend to be elevated and homes sell very quickly, sometimes even within hours of a listing. But what is a buyers market and how can you make the most of it?

A buyers market occurs when there are more home sellers than there are buyers. This means that there is an excess of inventory on the housing industry with longer selling periods. Consequently, sellers must compete against each other and new home builders for precious buyers. This means prices generally tend to be lower and very negotiable. It is a buyers market because the home buyer has plenty of options at very affordable costs.

So if you are a buyer and happen to find yourself in this place, congratulations! A good deal is still not guaranteed though. Here are some smart tips for making the most of a buyers market.

First, pick an area that has a solid economic status. During a housing boom, most prices will drop, but they may drop for different reasons. Some areas experience price decreases and increasing inventory because their economies are failing. Stay away from these areas. This will be a bad investment in the long run because there will be no industry and business to attract life to the area in the future. Other areas see price decreases because of overbuilding and the trading zone is correcting itself. Try to find these areas, where the home prices have generally seen healthy rates of appreciation. Do some research to make sure the home you are buying has a value roughly equal to the homes offered around it.

Second, do not be afraid to use your bargaining power to the fullest. The sellers are eager and sometimes desperate to strike a deal. This means you have the power to negotiate for a lower price, or other deals like upgraded features, extra landscaping. (Make sure you only get incentives that will add value to the house, not things like flat screen TVs or cars or cruises.) You can also ask that the seller pay your closing costs or points or provide money for the taxes or insurance. All of this can save you a ton and allow you to get a better rate on a loan with a larger down payment. And if the idea of bargaining scares you, don't worry! Your real estate agent will do it all for you, working to get you the best deal possible.

Finally, be thorough in shopping around for a good loan. Even in a buyers market, you need to make your money count by finding the best interest rate available. This will make your purchase even more worthwhile. Shop around by getting quotes and good faith estimates from several different lenders, checking out the annual percentage rate or APR on each loan for effective comparison.

Buying in a buyers market is certainly ideal, but make sure you make all the right moves to score yourself a purchase that will provide lasting savings and satisfaction.

Buying a house and relocating is exciting. There 's just something about those first weeks of exploring your new neighborhood. It 's just one of the many things the adventure of house buying offers.

Location is important, and it 's one of the first things you should think about when choosing a home. Of course, the value of the property is an important consideration with location, but where you live is just as important as the property itself. So, the first thing you should ask yourself is, "Where do I want to live?"

The City, The Country, Or Somewhere In Between

Your number one consideration is whether you're a city dweller or a country lover at heart. Don't let romantic ideas cloud your vision; you have to live here for a number of years to come.

The city is convenient, but it has its crowds and problems. The country is beautiful and relaxing, but it 's far away from the city 's conveniences.

Luckily, there are the suburbs. Here, you can enjoy the city life and country life as well. The only downside is that some people find the suburbs to be dull, and you have to remember that even the quietest suburb has a tendency to grow over time.

When deciding whether to go urban, rural or suburban, keep in mind what you see yourself doing ten years down that road. Let that help you decide.

Is It A Good Neighborhood?

For you and your family 's safety, this is the most important consideration. You can get a feel for a neighborhood by simply going there and walking around.

What kind of reputation does the neighborhood have? And what about drainage problems? Or the amenities the neighborhood offers ... pool, sports areas, sidewalks?

These are questions your real estate agent should be able to help you with. You can always ask around too, and see what other people are saying.

Getting To Wherever You Need To Go

Commute time should be a major consideration. Five minutes longer to work may not seem like much, but it can really add up over weeks and weeks.

You should also think about traffic. You don't want to be stuck in a commuter traffic jam everyday.

On the other hand, if you take mass transit to work, you'll want to look into your bus or train commute. How far is your new neighborhood from bus routes and stations?

What Is There To Do?

Next, think about your lifestyle. What do you like to do? Do you enjoy having a bit of nightlife or are you a homebody?

If you like going out, you may want to make sure there are some nice restaurants or bars in the area. If you like shopping, you'll want someplace to go nearby. If you have an active lifestyle, you'll want some parks and scenery nearby.

Look For The Things You Need

If you have kids, think about school districts. What school will they be going to and will it be easy to get there? Kids have to commute too!

Hospitals are another thing to look for. How far are you from the nearest medical facility? And, would you be alright in case of an emergency? This is especially important to think about if you want to live in a rural area.

Your real estate agent will be a big help in getting you the location you want. They are knowledgeable about the areas where they do business. You can always ask them your location questions.

It was a great weekend in the Hickory area as the owners of the new Century 21 American Homes office in Hickory NC opened its doors to the public for the first time. There was food, giveaways and lots of fun to be had at this wonderful celebration. Mayor Rudy Wright and the Catawba Valley Chamber of Commerce held a ribbon cutting ceremony to mark this great event on Friday evening and the party continued through Saturday.

Hopefully this will be a great location for us since the new office is strategically placed on US HWY 70 in Hickory close to I-40. The office is located right across from the Olive Garden and next to the "famous" Hickory Furniture Mart"

If anyone is in the area and would like to stop by feel free to check out this great new facility.