Erica McClenny

Great article for nervous first time home buyers, people considering selling a home in Raleigh, Cary, Durham or Wake County.

We live in a solid area that is still growing. I'm watching comments across my TweetDeck and I'm happy I live here!

Raleigh-Durham, N.C.(14.7 percent, up 3.6 points). A mix of government jobs, higher ed, healthcare, and technology has helped this progressive area pull off a neat trick: Population is growing at a healthy 3 percent rate, but the unemployment rate remains one of the lowest in the state. Vacancy rates will rise slightly in 2010 and some tenants will get a break on rent, but metro area residents may soon be wondering, what recession?

http://www.usnews.com/blogs/flowchart/2009/08/11/10-cities-primed-for-a-real-estate-recovery.html

http://activerain.com/blogsview/1175553/listing-get-packing-and-prepping-part-1

So I had some requests to write about tips to sell you home. Above was Part 1...here goes Part 2!

You've done your best and taken a good look around while cleaning and decluttering. Did you find anything good? I'm sure those old yearbooks were a hoot at the top of the hall closet. Did you remember who the class clown was...memories!

Now it's time to pick up the phone and call in a Realtor for their opinion and evaluation. How do you choose someone? If you've heard from your last Realtor they might be a good start, if you were happy the first go round. If not, do a little Google search. See who's online and talking about topics that are similar to your home, maybe that person has a slight clue about the market. I would also suggest finding a second or third source. Personally, I commend sellers for taking time to interview and check on a few agents opinions. Listing a house in the Raleigh, NC area can be tricky. You need to make sure you're getting the proper advice.

Mr. or Ms. Realtor shows up and wants to sit down at the table. Here's a tip for you...if they do not ask to see your home, how can they give you a valid price range? I've had several sellers recently tell me that Realtors aren't looking around! WHAT??? That's nuts!

If they do ask to walk around, please let them. Mr. or Ms. Realtor might not be nice but you do need to hear what a fresh set of eye's to "see" your home.

Wait, my phone just rang for a new client meeting...I gotta run, more to follow

Well, this could be a loaded topic but a past client asked me to give a little push to some of the single buyers out there. She just took the dive herself recently and is happier than ever!

I myself am newly single so I suppose I can have a say-so on this topic. Also, Raleigh, NC is ranked one of the hot spots for singles(really?) so there must be many first time home buyers or divorced folks looking to buy a home in Raleigh, Durham, Cary or Wake County. Hey Ya'll!

My first notion is to tell the "single world" buy something that you can rent out as an investment property easily in the future...but not everyone wants to be a real estate guru. I personally would like to "collect" about 50 homes as rentals, but my three year old wouldn't appreciate moving every 18-24 months into mommy's newest deal! So that being said, you still need to look ahead to your future.

Just because you're currently single and only need room for your toys or Fluffy's litter box doesn't mean life won't change. What happens if Mr. Right or Ms. Oh My Goodness walks into your life a week after closing? If you've bought a 700 sq. ft condo and he or she moves in...that's going to be mighty tight with two people's stuff.

Look at buying a home, condo or townhome that gives you a little expansion space. I don't mean buy a 2000 sq foot single family home, but 2 bedrooms or even better, 3 is much easier for resale down the road.

If you've been used to apartment living, don't buy a single family home with an acre lot. Start smaller and lower maintenance. A townhome will give you the feel of your own space, but you're not required to spend Saturday's mowing the lawn. Also, you've have significantly lower maintenance since the HOA does cover exterior issues(most of the time). Now some buyers hound me on HOA dues, but think about the overall time savings on the yard on top of a new roof or siding repair. It's covered for you.

The idea of a fixer upper or slightly distressed sale is a GREAT one, but don't do it if you do not want to sweat. It is a time and effort investment too. If you are handy, this can be a wonderful launch to some extra money down the road.

So single folk...buy and quit throwing away money on rent. You have alternatives. Step One: Ask some of your other single friends who did just make the jump, who they used to buy. I'm sure they'll have an opinion about their experience.

Now here are some interesting stats on singles buying homes...

• More than one in five home buyers is a single woman.
• Twice as many unmarried women are buying homes than single men.
• Single women make up more than one-third of the growth in real estate ownership since 1994.

OH YES...DID I FORGET TO MENTION AND $8,000 First Time Home Buyer Tax Credit!! That is reason alone and could buy me a lot of shoes if I didn't already own a home, bummer!

I'm trying to be more aware of the choices I make in my home. Every small update or energy saving tips can help my pocket book and the earth.

I ran across this website http://life.gaiam.com/gaiam/p/id/CAT00004 and thought it was very helpful. Some of the idea's were things I knew but I didn't realized they made such a significant impact.

1. Change your Air Filters Often...your HVAC system will run more efficiently costing you less each bill. I know many First time Home buyers ask me simple questions about maintenance. This is a really good tip.

2. Make sure all your windows and doors are sealed up well and closed tight! I checked around my home and found two window's that were "sort of" shut. Loss of heat and a/c plus, that just ain't safe for my family!

3. Finding a comfortable temperature and using a programmable thermostat. Now if you're renting a home or apartment, this might be tough to do. You're not going to change this out, most likely. However, you can keep the house a little bit warmer in the summers and cooler in the winters. If you leave the house for work, turn it up a couple of degree's while you're gone. I saved over $50 on my electric bill here in Raleigh, NC last month just by doing that!

4. Put a couple of rocks or a brick in your toilet tank...Excuse me? This one just made me laugh out loud. I would have NEVER thought this was wise. It will off set the water usage and save your water bill though. I think about how often my 3 year old "needs to go" and wow...this could save me gallons everyday.

5. Last but not least, vacuum your fridge coils! That dust build up can save you up to 6% off you annual power bill.

Who knew some of this stuff worked! So if you're in the position to move, think about idea's that can save you money...even if you're looking at older homes. First time home buyers, sellers who are trading up and investors all need to consider that living greener is the future. If you have the opportunity to build a new home here in the Raleigh, Durham, Triangle, NC area...ask for green options. It will save you in the long run.

I've been working with many families relocating to the Raleigh, NC area. The question about schools and purchasing a home is always a sticky one! Wake County is notorious for re-arranging kids all over the place. I personally know a family who's son has been moved to 4 different schools in 6 years! It's amazing and they've been fighting hard just to keep some normalcy in that little boy's education.

So, the questions arises...do you look at private schools as an alternative?

Keep in mind, not all private schools break the bank. There are often ways to supplement tuition's with grants too.

If you'd like a full list of private schools, feel free to email Erica McClenny with eRealty at erica@triangleliving.com or call my office at 919-844-4686. I'm happy to send it over.

You can also visit my website at www.movetothetriangle.com

Good luck with your move and "HAPPY HOUSE HUNTING!"