Doretha Caldwell

A broker was dismayed when a brand new real estate office much like his own opened up next door and erected a huge sign which read ‘BEST AGENTS.’

He was horrified when another competitor opened up on his right, and announced its arrival with an even larger sign, reading ‘LOWEST COMMISSIONS.’

The broker panicked, until he got an idea. He put the biggest sign of all over his own real estate office. It read: ‘MAIN ENTRANCE.

You got to say he was definitely thinking outside of the box.

Most of us buy only a few homes in our lifetime and it is usually one of the biggest investment being made. This often becomes a very scary and emotional thing for many people. The List below can help you to take some of the scariness out of it. By employing some of the steps listed below you can overcome the fear and are able to think more clearly and make sensible decisions in your homebuying efforts.

1. Find a real estate professional who’s sympathetic to your needs and concerns. Homebuying is not only a big financial commitment, but also an emotional one. It’s critical that the practitioner you choose is both skilled and a good fit with your personality.

2. Remember, there’s no “right” time to buy, any more than there’s a right time to sell. If you find a home now, don’t try to second-guess the interest rates or the housing market by waiting. Changes don’t usually occur fast enough to make that much difference in price, and a good home won’t stay on the market long.

3. Don’t ask for too many opinions. It’s natural to want reassurance for such a big decision, but too many ideas will make it much harder to make a decision.

4. Accept that no house is ever perfect. Focus in on the things that are most important to you and let the minor ones go.

5. Don’t try to be a killer negotiator. Negotiation is definitely a part of the real estate process, but trying to “win” by getting an extra-low price may lose you the home you love.

6. Remember your home doesn’t exist in a vacuum. Don’t get so caught up in the physical aspects of the house itself—room size, kitchen—that you forget such issues as amenities, noise level, etc., that have a big impact on what it’s like to live in your new home.

7. Don’t wait until you’ve found a home and made an offer to get approved for a mortgage, investigate insurance availability, and consider a schedule for moving. Presenting an offer contingent on a lot of unresolved issues will make your bid much less attractive to sellers.

8. Factor in maintenance and repair costs in your post-homebuying budget. Even if you buy a new home, there will be some costs. Don’t leave yourself short and let your home deteriorate.

9. Accept that a little buyer’s remorse is inevitable and will probably pass. Buying a home, especially for the first time, is a big commitment, but it also yields big benefits.

10. Choose a home first because you love it; then think about appreciation. While U.S. homes have appreciated an average of 5.4 percent annually from 1998 to 2002, a home’s most important role is as a comfortable, safe place to live.

This one had me in tears, I had to share it. I hope you enjoy.

One Sunday afternoon a couple sees an ad in the paper. They can't believe their eyes. There is a house in the paper for $1000 that is in the nicest part of town. We are talking about a Highland Park mansion for $1000. They think this has to be a misprint, but decide to call anyway.

They say to lady the who answers we saw your ad, and realize it is a misprint correct. She tells them no it's not & you are actually the first ones to call.

They decide to go look at the house. They race over as fast as they can. They pull up to the most beautiful house on the block.

In front of the house is a fountain that cost at least $30,000. They ring the door bell & the lady answers. She starts showing them the house. They realize this house is over 5000 sq ft and it is obvious that expense was not a problem in building this house. The house had marble imported from Italy & a chandelier imported from France. The landscaping was breath taking & the house had a great pool & a nice tennis court.

The couple said to the lady this is the most beautiful house we have ever seen, what's the catch? The lady assured the couple there was no catch.

The couple wanted the house for $1,000 but was leery of doing the deal. Finally the lady said you seem like a nice couple, so I'll let you know the truth.

She told them this house is completely paid for, and not a penny is owed against it. Well, last week I got a call from my Husband. He informed me he is leaving me for his secretary. He then told me I could have everything we own as long as he could have the proceeds off the sale of the house. I agreed and he asked me if I could sell the house while he & his new girlfriend hung out in the Caribbean?

A very common question asked by those who are thinking about Moving-Up would be " Is the Time Right for Me to Move-Up." According to NAR ( The National Association of REALTORS) the following are questions to ask when you are trying to evaluate whether a larger home or to a more desireable location is right for you now. If you can answer yes to most of them, this could be a strong indication that the time is right.

1. Have you built substantial equity in your current home? Look at your annual mortgage statement or call your lender to find out. Usually, you don’t build up much equity in the first few years of your mortgage, as monthly payments are mostly interest, but if you’ve owned your home for five or more years, you may have significant, unrealized gains.

2. Has your income or financial situation improved? If you’re making more money, you may be able to afford higher mortgage payments and cover the costs of moving.

3. Have you outgrown your neighborhood? The neighborhood you pick for your first home might not be the same neighborhood you want to settle down in for good. For example, you may have realized that you’d like to be closer to your job or live in a better school district.

4. Are there reasons why you can’t remodel or add on? Sometimes you can create a bigger home by adding a new room or building up. But if your property isn’t large enough, your municipality doesn’t allow it, or you’re simply not interested in remodeling, then moving to a bigger home may be your best option.

5. Are you comfortable moving in the current housing market? If your market is hot, your home may sell quickly and for top dollar, but the home you buy also will be more expensive. If your market is slow, finding a buyer may take longer, but you’ll have more selection and better pricing as you seek your new home.

6. Are interest rates attractive? A low rate not only helps you buy a larger home, but also makes it easier to find a buyer.

You have made the decision to sell your Fayetteville, NC home and feel like you have done everything to make that happend. Weeks, months, and more months have passed and nothing, not even a peep of a showing. The local market is hot, so what could be wrong? Well, it is possible that you could be the culprilt in sabotaging your own goals and not realize it. Have you put enough effort and thought into these areas listed below. If not, the sad result could be you preventing your home from selling. Put the time and effort into these areas and avoid this from happening to you.

PRICE IT RIGHT: Pricing a home is sort of a Science. In its simplest form, the Market price is set by what a buyer is willing to pay and a seller is willing to accept. This transaction done many times over make up the market. Price it right from the very beginning and save yourself the time and money that it will cost you in doing otherwise. Remember a house priced correctly will sell.

MAKE A GREAT FIRST IMPRESSION: Curb appeal is one of the number one factors that people look at when they begin to look for homes on the market. You only get one chance to make a first impression and the curb appeal is what buyers can see first and foremost. The sidewalks should be as clean as possible in front of your home, the driveway might need to be re-sealed or paved, and the paint on your home shouldn’t be incredibly chipped that it would cause the overall look to be sacrificed. The hedges and grass should be trimmed.

DECLUTTER, DE-PERSONALIZE and CLEAN: The vast majority of buyers cannot visualize what a home can be. They only see what is in front of them and if its cluttered, dirty and outdated that’s all they see. Also note that if they can see what it can become, the seller is going to be penalized in their mind for the work and cost it will take to get it into what they visualize it to be.

BE FLEXIBLE: Allow your Fayetteville home to be available for as many showings as possible. Sure, this sometimes can be a challenge (ex. you currently have tenants that require a 24-48 hour notice) but certainly not impossible. The key is try to be as flexible as possible . You should remember that each opportunity of a successful showing is also an opportunity of an offer leading to a successful sale. After all, that is the goal, a successful sale and as Quickly as possible.