Marc Iafrate, MBA - Raleigh NC Real Estate

A great place to start is the www.FightNCForeclosure.org website which provides a lot of tips to avoid foreclosure, what all of the many letters you will receive mean, how to avoid scams, frequently asked questions as well as the phone number to local HUD approved counselors that provide Free foreclosure counseling.

I know that this can be a very difficult, stressful and just plain scary situation but if you are knowledgeable, willing to help yourself, and consult with the right professional then you may have a very good chance of coming out of this in a much better position that you would have ever imagined.

If you would like to discuss your particular situation then just give me a call at (919) 314-7797 and I would be happy to see if I am able to help.

Call us at (919) 314-7797 or visit our website at www.SearchRaleighRealEstate.com for more information.
__________________________
Marc Iafrate , MBA
Coldwell Banker HPW Broker, Trusted Advisor
(919) 314-7797
www.SearchRaleighRealEstate.com

We hope you enjoy this blog as much as we enjoy bringing it to you. We welcome your comments. If you are planning on buying or selling a home in the Raleigh area, we have you covered. We have all the resources and knowledge to make your real estate transaction worry free!

The following list contains items that you should keep in mind if you currently own a home, provided you want to get top dollar when you sell!

1. This seems very simple, but I cannot tell you the number of homes that I walk into that are very dirty and have unpleasant odors. All you have to do is keep your house clean and it will make it much more appealing to all buyers. When buyers see that a home is very dirty then they immediately think..."what else is in need of repair?"

2. Increase the curb appeal since the first impression is the most important and when a buyer drives up to your home, you want them to want to walk in the door.

3. Update the paint and carpet in the home. This is usually not very expensive but has an incredible effect on the buyer's attitude toward the home. It makes everything look and feel new.

4. This is much more expensive but worth it if your current needs are such that you want additional square footage. Provided that the work is done to a high quality standard and matches the rest of the home, then this is a great way to attract buyers and possibly get more money in the process.

5. Add built-ins to the garage to store all of the stuff that you have. From lawn equipment to garden equipment and the kids toys, everything looks tidy when it is placed on shelves and in cabinets out of the way. Garages can really attract buyers when you have plenty of storage space set up for them.

6. Think twice before you add that pool. Pools are expensive to maintain and can represent a great amount of labor to keep it looking good. Most buyers look negatively on a pool so your total number of possible buyers is reduced.

7. Location, location, location...what else needs to be said?

Call us at (919) 314-7797 or visit our website at www.SearchRaleighRealEstate.com for more information.
__________________________
Marc Iafrate , MBA
Coldwell Banker HPW Broker, Trusted Advisor
(919) 314-7797
www.SearchRaleighRealEstate.com

We hope you enjoy this blog as much as we enjoy bringing it to you. We welcome your comments. If you are planning on buying or selling a home in the Raleigh area, we have you covered. We have all the resources and knowledge to make your real estate transaction worry free!

For all of you fellow iPhone users out there, I'm sure that you already have known and been waiting for the new 3.0 OS release, well, wait no longer. It is here! I am very happy with the update that I had performed today. It adds the needed functionality that I have wanted from the beginning such as a global search for appointments, contacts, notes, etc. It also includes a voice memo application and the best feature...cut, copy & paste! With the number of email messages that I type on my phone every day, this was a great feature to add.

The new iPhone 3G(S) will be released shortly and will have additional hardware upgrades such as a video camera and a built in compass as well as voice control not to mention that it is twice as fast. This is definitely something I will consider upgrading to in the future. Have fun and be productive!

Call us at (919) 314-7797 or visit our website at www.SearchRaleighRealEstate.com for all of your real estate needs.
__________________________
Marc Iafrate , MBA
Coldwell Banker HPW Broker, Trusted Advisor
(919) 314-7797
www.SearchRaleighRealEstate.com

We hope you enjoy this blog as much as we enjoy bringing it to you. We welcome your comments. If you are planning on buying or selling a home in the Raleigh area, we have you covered. We have all the resources and knowledge to make your real estate transaction worry free!

The US Department of Housing and Urban Development developed a program that allows borrowers to use the first time home buyer tax credit for a down payment or closing costs. This is a significant achievement since it reduces the amount of out of pocket money is required for closing.

This added benefit makes it even more appealing fo first time home buyers! Only FHA insured mortgages qualify for this incredible program. This is a significant step forward and lenders are currently developing the details so that this program can be rolled out as soon as possible.

Remember, the required minimum 3.5% down payment may also be a gift from a family member, employer or nonprofit, charitable organization.

Call us at (919) 314-7797 or visit our website at www.SearchRaleighRealEstate.com for more information. __________________________
Marc Iafrate , MBA
Coldwell Banker HPW Broker, Trusted Advisor
(919) 314-7797
www.SearchRaleighRealEstate.com

We hope you enjoy this blog as much as we enjoy bringing it to you. We welcome your comments. If you are planning on buying or selling a home in the Raleigh area, we have you covered. We have all the resources and knowledge to make your real estate transaction worry free!

Green Building

You have probably been hearing a lot about "green" building and wondered what the big deal is. Well, green building not only results in a positive effect on the environment but also a positive effect on your bank account.

The benefit to green building is reduced energy consumption, making a "green" home less expensive to own and a better investment. Many environmentally friendly builders use high performance air conditioning, sealed ductwork, and Energy Star appliances. Not only does this represent an ongoing benefit today and every day that you live in the home, but this can also be a resale benefit so that your home will be more attractive to buyers.
Here are some things that you need to know:

• SEER Rating (the higher the number, the more efficient the system is which means less money out of your pocket)
• High efficient furnace (the higher the efficiency, the less energy cost to operate)
• Low-E glass (windows are a big energy loss source, low-E glass will reflect more rays from the sun)
• R-Value (the higher the number the better insulator the wall is)
• Low VOC paints (paint gives off volatile organic compounds, low VOC paint and help maintain better indoor air quality)
• Vented cooking spaces (kitchens that have vented cooking spaces remove moisture and fumes by venting the cooking surfaces directly to the outside)

Call us at (919) 314-7797 or visit our website at www.SearchRaleighRealEstate.com for more information.
__________________________
Marc Iafrate , MBA
Coldwell Banker HPW Broker, Trusted Advisor
(919) 314-7797
www.SearchRaleighRealEstate.com

We hope you enjoy this blog as much as we enjoy bringing it to you. We welcome your comments. If you are planning on buying or selling a home in the Raleigh area, we have you covered. We have all the resources and knowledge to make your real estate transaction worry free!