Just a little Point-CounterPoint to round out a Tuesday night...Ken Tracy, a fellow Realtor from Naperville, IL, just offered up a post about why he is moving forward with buying a new home for his family. Go For It Ken! (Just so nobody thinks I would actually try to talk him OUT of it!) But much as I envy him the excitement and the opportunity, I will NOT be availing myself of a similar one. Not that I didn't think about it...oh, I did...long and hard....the first time interest rates dipped to 4.5%.
Seriously, how could a REAL ESTATE AGENT not think about it!? I mean all we do ALL day long is tell other people how they will be missing a ONCE IN A LIFETIME opportunity...as Ken points out, low interest rates, fantastic inventory ON SALE, FREE money from the government, for cryin' out loud!
But here's the deal. I already live within my means. I already have a great house with equity ( I bought in 1994) and best of all great neighbors. I'm within walking distance of Carrboro, which, is a must have for many folks in my area. Sure, I have my wishlist of things I want to do to my home to make it even more perfect. But that's a plus for me. I don't need the instant gratification of selling and trying to buy my dream home already finished. It gives me something to look forward to, to budget for, to dream about.
Maybe this is what age has bestowed upon me: the ability to see that I have what I need and I don't need more. That doesn't make it any less fun to help others accomplish their dreams. Give me a first time homebuyer and let me explain the gift they are about to receive in this market. I LOVE it! Nothing better than hearing from the parents of my first timers...they are so happy their kids get to achieve the American dream. And I get to talk to them about what the awesome responsibilty of homeownership means while their folks nod and smile.
Nope, I don't NEED or even want a new house. But I do want to share what I have learned and give advice to those who haven't gotten where I am yet. I just can't help being a little teeny tiny bit wistful about my part in how proud my first timers will be when they tell their kids in 20 years about how they were smart enough to take advantage of a once in a lifetime opportunity when they got their first home!
(Just so you know...I did buy a new car...have you SEEN the deals they are making?!?!?!)
If your kids are foodies and you would love to help them polish their skills while becoming locavores, then this years C'est Si Bon Teen Chefs Residiential Cooking Camp could be just the ticket!
Dorette Stover, the chef owner of C'est Si Bon will offer two sessions this summer, June 22-28 and June 29 - July 3, called Carolina On My Plate, at Fickle Creek Farm in Efland. Aspiring teen chefs from all over the country will combine hands on cooking classes featuring local specialities with field trips to Orange County farms as well as trips to both the Carrboro Farmers Market and the Southern Village Farmers Market.
Celebrity Dairy, famous for its local goat cheese, Cane Creek Farm, local producer of ossabaw pork and Maple View Farms, the counties favorite local ice cream are all on the schedule.
“It’s a great time to buy” isn’t just a boring slogan you keep hearing from real estate agents. It’s also true. Not only are interest rates currently below 5% for the first time in a generation but first time homebuyers or those who have not owned a home for 3 years can qualify for a tax credit up to $8000 for purchases made through December 1st, 2009.
You don’t qualify for the tax credit? The low interest rates alone should entice you to at least think about making a move. Why? Because the combination of the exceptional deals available and low interest rates means you could be getting a home you just recently could only dream about.
Think you’ll wait for ‘the bottom’? Don’t…it’s the combination of price AND payments that makes this a golden opportunity. Let me show you what I mean:
Your Dream Home is on the market today for $400,000. You put down 20% and finance the rest over 30 years at 4.5%. Your monthly principal and interest payment is $1635.
You’d rather wait to see if prices drop further? OK. Six months from now your Dream Home is on the market for $380,000. You put down 20% and finance the rest over 30 years but at 5.5% because the rates, which have been held down artificially by the government, are naturally trending back up. Your monthly principal and interest payment is now $1737!
Would you like to learn more about why waiting isn’t necessarily the best option for you as a buyer OR as a seller? Contact me. I am always available to answer any questions you might have regarding any aspect of residential real estate in North Carolina.
First you're going to watch Carolina win and then you're going to watch Duke lose, right? But what if Carolina loses doesn't win?
You might consider checking out the DSI Comedy Theater in Carr Mill Mall! Tonight at 10 p.m. Carolina 
comedians will have a shot at beating Duke comedians in the Regional Rival Competition of the 2009 National College Comedy Competition.
And if Carolina wins you can still head to DSI..why not make it a two-fer?
University Lake, located off Jones Ferry Road in Carrboro, will open for water fun this weekend!
Boaters can rent flat bottom boats or canoes for use at University Lake or bring your own. The lake is owned by OWASA, the Orange County Water and Sewer Authority, and supplies our local drinking water so it is no surprise that there are regulations in place to protect it. That’s why you can only use electric motors or elbow power to troll around the peaceful lake. But that shouldn’t stop you from coming out for a peaceful afternoon floating around with a fishing pole. The lake is stocked and open to fishing, assuming you have a valid state license.
There is a small fee for use of the lake, cheaper if you live in Orange County, and life vests are available at no charge. But feel free to picnic, go birding or sunbath as the mood strikes at no charge and the lake provides handicap accessible docks.
The lake will be open Friday through Monday 6:30am to 6:00 pm starting this Saturday until November 8, 2009.
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With over 60,000 hours of practice in NC real estate, SarahGray offers knowledge, skill and professionalism that will earn your trust when buying or selling homes in Raleigh Durham or Chapel Hill, NC.
I have over 60,000 Hours of real life, real estate experience helping your friends, family and neighbors buy and sell North Carolina real estate and I am NOT afraid to use it for your benefit!
Leverage isn't just for Wall Street...consider having my years of experience and knowledge at your finger tips when you need help to accomplish your home ownership goals!
Find me the way you want to connect by clicking the ADD ME button below ...I'm ready to begin the conversation!
* Highly Skilled Negotiation
* State of the Art Marketing Techniques
* First-Time Home Buyer Representation
* Relocating Buyer Representation
* Existing Home Valuation and Preparation
* New Construction Purchases
* Senior Relocation Needs
* Investment Evaluation and Purchase
A strong advocate of realtor education, SarahGray has earned the SRES, GRI, CRS and ABR designations and served in prominent Realtor trade organizations from the local Board of Realtors to President of NCREEF.
SarahGray has also served her community by holding every office from Committee Chair to President of her local United Way. She currently enjoys serving as President of Paws4Ever, the APS of Orange County, a position her two tuxedo cats are proud of their mom for accepting!
Committed to understanding and using today's technology to best advantage, SarahGray's marketing strategies are based on knowing how and where today's Buyers and Sellers look for information. She also spends many hours a week keeping up with the huge amount of information available to keep her clients abreast of national, regional and local housing issues and trends as they change. SarahGray has significant experience with a variety of successful real estate transactions. She is proudly associated with Allen Tate Realtors, the #1 name in Carolina realty, which allows her access to many exclusive opportunities which she offers to her clients; like special financing opportunities and programs for buyers and sellers, connections with other experienced professional Realtors around the globe; professional insurance advise and coverage tailored to your needs and most recently, an exclusive association with MDS, Motgage Debt Services, LLC, a 20 year provider of professional foreclosure prevention.
Choosing to work with SarahGray ensures you will have an experienced negotiator on your side and a clear picture of the entire transaction.
"SarahGray is an outstanding real estate agent. I am an inquisitive person by nature and SarahGray was there every step through my new home purchase ready to answer all the questions that I had. I found her industry knowledge was exceptional and she was able to guide me to the best purchase for my financial requirements and in terms of an investment opportunity. She came highly recommended to me from one of my co-workers as one of the best realtors she had experienced and I would agree with her wholeheartedly." Kevin Tull 7/09 on LinkedIn ~ SarahGray's Top Qualities: Great Results, Expert, High Integrity
"My wife and I were recommended to SarahGray in 2005 when we were buying our first home. We had a difficult home closing in June of 05 since the sellers did not do what they said they were going to do. SarahGray stepped up, took full control of the situation and helped resolved the issues right then. We were so confident in SarahGray that we asked her to be our selling agent this year. SarahGray sold our house in just over 3 weeks in a very difficult housing market. I fully recommend SarahGray. My only advice would be to listen to what she says and take her advice because she knows what she is doing.” Joseph Saig 7/09 on LinkedIn ~ SarahGray's Top qualities: Great Results, Expert, High Integrity
"Hi buyers and sellers of real estate! I want to share what a great experience we have had with SarahGray Lamm. She was referred to us by a Realtor that worked with me at my job in RTP. We have had the privilege of working with SarahGray in a house sale in Chapel Hill and a townhouse sale in Durham in the last year. It is amazing the level of comfort you have with SarahGray as your Realtor. She definitely goes above and beyond what one would expect. She is so very experienced and so innovative in finding ways (even in this challenging market) to sell your property. My husband and I are thrilled to now be in Florida with the two sales behind us. What (a year ago) seemed too much to expect has become a dream come true. SarahGray has some great ideas, and I feel the secret is listening to her and acting on her suggestions. The trust we quickly felt with her was such a blessing." Sharon Wick 7/08
"She's great. We've loved her. We used her as a buyer's agent in 2003 and now as a seller's agent. We put our house on the market in late March just after the match and Sarah's been supremely helpful in arranging and coordinating the repair and painting services for us (no small task). She's extremely thorough, thoughtful and diligent. When it comes to economic issues, she works with your interests and gets you a great place and a great price (both as a buyer and as a seller's agent). I couldn't recommend her more highly." Jon George - Duke Medical Resident
"Thanks so much for such a wonderful tour, you really know your stuff and are willing to put up with a lot of grief from the toddler crowd :-). We really understood the neighborhoods after traveling around with you, and the next day were able to get ourselves around to review some of the places you showed us. I think after talking a lot about it in the last few weeks, we are going to focus our search on (another) area. But who knows - when we sell in a year or two, that might change, and should we find ourselves making the move to Chapel Hill, you will be our first contact. And we will certainly pass your name along to anyone we know in that area who is looking - you are obviously the person to see when it comes to Chapel Hill real estate! Thanks so much for everything." Susanna Baird
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