Liz Freeman

If you are thinking of buying Greenville NC real estate and making it a rental property, there are a number of things to consider when choosing the property:

1. Location

If you will be renting to a year ‘round tenant, look for a property convenient to major employers, schools, shopping facilities, transportation.

2. Price

If you hope the rental income will be more than the cost of the monthly mortgage, insurance and taxes on the home, you should be careful to invest no more per month than the local rental market can bear. If your goal for rental income is to "break even" or even to have a negative cash flow, price becomes somewhat less important.

3. Resale

Consider the long-term resale value of the property. If you buy in a fast growing area, the resale value will be greater further down the road. If you buy is a slow growth area, your resale value will be less, but there may be a better rental market.

4. Neighboring homes

Are the neighboring homes well-maintained? If not, they will drive down your property values.

5. Solid construction

Look for solid construction. Tenants tend to put more wear and tear on a home than owners. Find a low-maintenance property suitable for renters. For example, white carpeting will have a much shorter life than something more neutral.

6. Do it yourself

If you live nearby, it can be relatively simple to stay in touch with tenants, and to keep an eye on your investment. If you lack the time, or your property is some distance away, you may wish to work with a property management firm.

Learn more about Greenville NC real estate by visiting LizFreeman.com and LizFreemanHomes.com.

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According to Realestate.com, buyer's remorse is one of the top ten mistakes made when purchasing a home. Finding the perfect home and making the decision to buy a home are not easy tasks. First, you spend hours on the computer researching Greenville real estate and neighborhoods, perfecting your search criteria on MLS websites, and viewing many virtual tours. Then, you begin making appointments to go take a look at the ones you think stand a good chance at being the future home of your family. As you walk through the house you envision the happy life you and your family would live and the future décor for this room and that room. You see houses that "require too much work," "don't have enough storage," ones that are "too small" or maybe even one that is "do-able but not perfect." Finally after weeks or even months of searching, you find "THE house." Now you send in a promising offer and anxiously wait for feedback. You and seller come to an agreement and the offer is accepted. Once the papers are signed you can relax and enjoy the excitement, right?

Wrong! Shortly after signing the agreement many people experience buyer's remorse. When a person begins to have feelings of doubt about their decision it is known as buyer's remorse. The feelings of doubt are also accompanied by stress and anxiety. What if this is not the right decision? Am I getting a fair deal? Is this the right house for me and my family? What if there is something better out there? Questions start invading the committed buyer's mind causing them to become hesitant and loose confidence in their decision. This worrisome state of mind, known as buyer's remorse, is becoming more common in purchasing Greenville real estate.

There are several ways to avoid buyer's remorse when purchasing Greenville real estate. The biggest worry people have when experiencing buyer's remorse is finances. Buyer's often worry about whether they will be able to comfortably afford their soon to be home. In order to prevent this from being a problem make sure that you have chosen a good price range that takes all of your other expenses into consideration. The appropriate price range may not include the maximum amount you are approved for; however it is very important not to exceed your set amount. The second biggest part of buyer's remorse is being satisfied with the house. People experiencing buyer's remorse second guess their choice in a home. They begin to believe that the chosen home may not be the best one that is out there. Before you started looking for a home you probably made a list of things you were looking for. Take this list of things you were looking for in a home and see how many of the things match up with the characteristics of the house that was purchased. If most of the things match up, especially the most important ones, then there shouldn't be any second guessing. If they aren't comparable, then try to figure out why the compromises were made and if they still make sense.

For more ways to manage buyer's remorse and tips for home buying visit LizFreeman.com and LizFreemanHomes.com.

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Finding ways to deal with small spaces in your new Greenville NC home can be tricky. Everyone likes the place they call home to be somewhere they can kick back and relax. However, it is hard to relax in areas that are cluttered and uncomfortable. Strategic interior design can make a big difference when dealing with small living spaces. Colors, lighting, organization, and décor can make spaces appear smaller or larger. Here are some solutions to make your Greenville NC home look and feel cozier.

Organization is the first thing to be conquered when transforming a small living space. Getting rid of clutter and maximizing the use of storage space are the keys to success. Clutter will make any space appear smaller than it really is. Eliminating excessive knick-knacks is one way to reduce clutter. Multiple pieces of small, scattered furniture can also make a room look jumbled. Using a couple pieces of slightly larger furniture leads to a less cluttered look. Every inch of storage space should be taken advantage of in small living areas. Planning out storage space will allow for more walking room, functional closets, and more productive space. Use multipurpose furniture like ottomans, which can be used for storage and seating. Try installing an organizational system in the closets. These systems usually provide a perfect spot for everything.

Colors, lighting, and decorations also affect the appearance of your Greenville NC home. Colors play a big role in creating illusions of size. The color scheme of small living spaces should consist of light hues. Although white can be a boring color, it will ultimately maximize the illusion of a bigger space. Other colors that tend to open up space include beige, neutrals, and pastels. It is important to avoid contrasting colors. The furniture, especially larger pieces like the couch, should be in the same color family to match the color of the walls.

Lighting makes a big difference in small spaces. Take advantage of as much natural light as possible by avoiding heavy curtains and window treatments. Although natural lighting is always the most ideal, it isn't always available. Track and recessed lighting work well as alternatives for lighting up the space.

Décor should not take over small spaces. Using medium sized pieces of furniture can do a lot for small rooms versus one big piece or a bunch of cluttered small pieces. Mirrors compliment small spaces perfectly. Mirrors reflect light and color, creating the illusion of more space. Mirrors can be found in all shapes and sizes, with and with out frames. One large mirror or several small mirrors collaged on a wall can make a big difference in a small living area. There are tons of solutions to make a small area more livable.

Learn more about being a Greenville NC home owner at LizFreeman.com and LizFreemanHomes.com.

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Many Greenville home sellers look at the first offer on their home as just that, the First Offer with many more to come. You know what they say, ‘A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.' And in the current Buyers Market, offers are few and far between. Greenville home sellers will want to consider the first offer very seriously. Here are reasons why:

• An early offer (if you're lucky!) doesn't necessarily mean buyers are lining up to follow suit. It could just mean that your home meets the needs or preferences of that one particular buyer who made the offer.
• Your home will get the most interest from buyers just after it goes on the market. The longer it stays on the market, the more "desperate" buyers will think you are, prompting lower and lower offers.
• Even if the first offer is thousands lower than your list price, consider carefully whether it might be enough -- in terms of price and contract terms -- before rejecting it out of hand. After all, the longer your home is on the market, the more it costs you in mortgage payments, taxes, insurance, upkeep and sheer inconvenience.
• If the offered price and contract terms are less than ideal, start negotiations by making a counteroffer, being as flexible with the terms as possible. It isn't uncommon for buyers to offer a price below what they are truly willing to pay, sometimes much below, just to see if they can buy under market.

An offer indicates serious interest in your home -- don't underestimate that but don't take it for granted, either.

Thinking of selling your Greenville home? We'll be happy to work with you to fine-tune your home's listing price so it fits our local market. We can also advise you on what would make your home more saleable at low cost to you. Most importantly, we can put our expertise to work for you when it comes time to negotiate with potential buyers. Learn more about us by visiting LizFreeman.com and LizFreemanHomes.com.

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Greenville foreclosure activity in Juneshowed us that the rising numbers of foreclosures aren't going away anytime soon. Current economic conditions are causing more and more distress situations for Greenville home owners. There are options other than foreclosure, however. A short sale may be the answer to saving you, your family and your home.

Listen, while Distressed Property Institute CEO Alex Charfen explains the three must-have qualifications for a distressed Greenville home owner to qualify for a short sale. Learn what most banks and servicers are looking for when considering this option.

Are you or someone you know behind on your mortgage payments and facing a Pitt County foreclosure? You do have options. A short sale may be the answer to saving you, your family and your home. I am a Certified Distressed Property Expert (CDPE). Give me a call for a private consultation.