Thinking about buying or selling a home this year?

During her guest appearance on WCNC-NBC’s Charlotte Today, Nancy Braun, owner and broker-in-charge of Showcase Realty, talked about how the real estate market will look like in 2019.

Nancy started off with a description of the real estate market last year, highlighting that it was a strong market. However, there were actually fewer homes on the market at the end of the year as compared to 2017.

She then went on to explain that for 2019, buyers and sellers should anticipate a continuation of shortage. She also mentioned that there will be some affordability issues because of the expected increase in interest rates. Because of this, what buyers can qualify for is going to change, it’s gonna go down. And the ones who will be greatly affected are the first-time home buyers. She explained that they may have to reduce their qualification - how much they can afford to buy.

The good news is, Nancy’s company, Showcase Realty, offers help to first-time home buyers. Nancy and her team work with really great preferred lenders who know all the different programs that are out there, such as forgivable down payment assistance programs.

Nancy also talked about the pitfalls that buyers and sellers should steer clear of this year. She cautioned home sellers of the dangers of overpricing their homes.

Whether you're looking to buy or sell a home this year, it helps to know what you're up against.

Eugene Robinson: If you’re thinking about buying or selling a home this year, it’s important to know what Charlotte real estate market will look like in 2019.

Colleen Odegaard: Here with more is Nancy Braun. Nancy’s the owner of Showcase Realty. Nancy, great to see you. Thanks for coming today.

Nancy Braun: Good morning.

Colleen Odegaard: Okay, first off. Let’s start with this. How did Charlotte do in the real estate market last year?

Nancy Braun: It was a strong market. We saw a shortage of the inventory which means we had greater amount of buyers than there was homes to sell to them. And, we still saw some multiple offer situations and prices kept on going up. So we do see an appreciation which also can affect affordability. So, it ended strong but we actually had less homes on the market at the end of the year than we did in the previous year.

Eugene Robinson: So what is the expectations for 2019, Nancy?

Nancy Braun: So, we anticipate a continuation of shortage, and we also expect some affordability issues coming up because interest rates will probably rise, maybe 1 or 2 more times. And they’ve already risen since last year, so we’re now hovering on just under 4 ½%. We anticipate possibly going as high as 5% on a conventional.

Colleen Odegaard: Okay, so with that being said, what does that mean for buyers, sellers and investors?

Nancy Braun: Right, so as prices keep going up but wages stay flat, and interest rates go up, now, what buyer can qualify for is going to change - obviously it’s gonna go down. So, if interest rates keep rising and inventories still out there, we might not see a continuation of home selling for a lot more than they had been. If you look back to 2014, some homes in Charlotte have doubled. You know, we’ve seen such enormous price gains, and, how much more are people really making today than they were in 2014? It’s actually not matching up.     

Eugene Robinson: Well how would this impact first time buyers?  

Nancy Braun: It impacts them the most, cause they’re usually just qualifying barely for certain amount. So they may have to reduce their qualification - how much they can afford to buy. Maybe instead of a hundred and eighty thousand, they can get a loan for a hundred and fifty thousand. Well we all know, it’s barely anything out there in the Charlotte inner city area for a hundred and fifty. So that means they might have to go out further into the suburbs, which is what we’ve seen.

Colleen Odegaard: So what is Showcase Realty, your company, doing to help these first time home buyers?  

Nancy Braun: So, our first time home buyers, we have really great preferred lenders that we work with, and they know all the different programs that are out there, including forgivable down payment assistance programs. So you can have someone who has great credit, graduated from college, but not a lot of money saved; you know, they just came out of college. So we can find them a program that can give them the downpayment assistance, and then we can ask in the offer for the seller to pay closing costs. So in certain situations, they can come into this with $500 and buy house.

Colleen Odegaard: That’s great.

Eugene Robinson: So what mistakes should buyers and sellers avoid this year?

Nancy Braun: Well, overestimating your value. There are a lot of sellers, when they keep on hearing that prices are going up, prices are going up, they’re gonna think their house is worth a lot more than it is. And if you overprice, overshoot the market, you’re inevitably going to have to drop your price over time, and end up selling your house for a lot less than had you sold it in the very beginning. Cause the first two weeks of your marketing, that’s when you really wanna get your offers. So if you’re not getting showings, or you’re not getting offers, it’s down to price.

Colleen Odegaard: You have to price it right. Yes, cause the biggest question on everybody’s minds: are we heading for a real estate bubble again?

Nancy Braun: Well, I don’t know. I’m not an economist, but, there’s such strength in Charlotte’s market, we see cranes all over the city, in the suburbs. Everything’s growing, growing, growing, lots of companies are moving here. I don’t anticipate a bubble, but maybe a softening of this, increase in prices. And, we certainly aren’t seeing multiple offers in the level that we used to see. Those investor hedge fund groups that were coming in right after 2014 and just, taking half the market up, they are really in play right now. They’re kinda holding still until prices drop again. So we’re not competing with the huge amount of hedge funds that have unlimited cash. So it’s more of a traditional market, I would suppose.

Colleen Odegaard: Nancy, great information. Thank you so much. To learn more, Nancy has a free report called “What’s Ahead For Real Estate in 2019?” Visit CarolinaPropertyReport for your copy, CarolinaPropertyReport.com is the website to go to. You can also call Nancy directly. It’s 704-488-3109. Again 704-488-3109. Nancy Braun, thank you.

Nancy Braun: Thank you.

​It’s not only buyers, sellers, and homeowners who are impacted. The real estate market plays an integral role in the overall U.S. economy.  Fortunately, key indicators point toward a stable housing market in 2019 with signs of modest growth. However, shifting conditions could impact you if you plan to buy, sell, or refinance this year.


HOME VALUES WILL INCREASE

The value of real estate will continue to rise. Freddie Mac predicts housing prices will increase by 4.3 percent in 2019.1  While the rapid price appreciation we witnessed earlier in the decade has slowed, the combination of a strong economy, low unemployment, and a lack of inventory in many market segments continues to push prices higher.

"Ninety percent of markets are experiencing price gains while very few are experiencing consistent price declines," according to National Association of Realtors (NAR) Chief Economist Lawrence Yun.2

Yun predicts that the national median existing-home price will increase to around $266,800 in 2019 and $274,000 in 2020. "Home price appreciation will slow down—the days of easy price gains are coming to an end—but prices will continue to rise."

What does it mean for you? If you’re in the market to buy a home, act fast. Prices will continue to go up, so you’ll pay more the longer you wait. If you’re a current homeowner, real estate has proven once again to be a solid investment over the long term. In fact, the equity level of American homeowners reached an all-time high in 2018, topping $6 trillion.3


SALES LEVELS WILL STABILIZE

In 2018, we saw a decline in sales, primarily driven by rising mortgage rates and a lack of affordable inventory. However, Yun isn’t alarmed. "2017 was the best year for home sales in ten years, and 2018 is only down 1.5 percent year to date. Statistically, it is a mild twinge in the data and a very mild adjustment compared to the long-term growth we've been experiencing over the past few years."2

Yun and other economists expect home sales to remain relatively flat over the next couple of years. Freddie Mac forecasts homes sales will increase 1 percent to 6.08 million in 2019 and 2 percent to 6.20 million in 2020.1

“The medium and long-term prospects for housing are good because demographics are going to continue to support demand,” explains Tendayi Kapfidze, chief economist for LendingTree. “With a slower price appreciation, incomes have an opportunity to catch up. With slower sales, inventory has an opportunity to normalize. A slowdown in 2019 creates a healthier housing market going forward.”4

What does it mean for you? If you’ve been scared off by reports of a market slowdown, it’s important to keep things in perspective. A cooldown can prevent a hot market from becoming overheated. A gradual and sustainable pace of growth is preferable for long-term economic stability.


MORTGAGE RATES WILL RISE

The Mortgage Bankers Association predicts the Federal Reserve will raise interest rates three times this year, resulting in a rise in mortgage rates.5 While no one can predict future mortgage rates with certainty, Realtor.com Chief Economist Danielle Hale estimates that the rate for a 30-year mortgage will reach 5.5 percent by the end of 2019, up from around 4.62 percent at the end of 2018.6

While mortgage rates above 5 percent may seem high to today’s buyers, it’s not out of line with historical standards. According to Hale, “The average mortgage rate in the 1990s was 8.1 percent, and rates didn’t fall below 5 percent until 2009. So for buyers who can make the math work, buying a home is likely still an investment worth making.”7

What does it mean for you? If you’re in the market to buy a house or refinance an existing mortgage, you may want to act quickly before mortgage rates rise. To qualify for the lowest rate available, take steps to improve your credit score, pay down existing debt, and save up for a larger down payment.


AFFORDABILITY ISSUES WILL PERSIST

Although the desire to own a home remains strong, the combination of higher home prices and rising mortgage rates will make it increasingly difficult for many first-time buyers to afford one.

“Buyers who are able to stay in the market will find less competition as more buyers are priced out but feel an increased sense of urgency to close before it gets even more expensive,” according to Hale. “Although the number of homes for sale is increasing, which is an improvement for buyers, the majority of new inventory is focused in the mid-to-higher-end price tier, not entry-level.”6

What does it mean for you? Unfortunately, market factors make it difficult for many first-time buyers to afford a home. However, as move-up buyers take advantage of new high-end inventory, we could see an increase in starter homes hitting the market.


MILLENNIALS WILL MAKE UP LARGEST SEGMENT OF BUYERS

“The housing market in 2019 will be characterized by continued rising mortgage rates and surging millennial demand,” according to Odeta Kushi, senior economist for First American. "Rising rates, by making housing less affordable, will likely deter certain potential homebuyers from the market. On the other hand, the largest cohort of millennials will be turning 29 next year, entering peak household formation and home-buying age, and contributing to the increase in first-time buyer demand.”4

Danielle Hale, chief economist for Realtor.com, predicts the trend will continue. “Millennials are also likely to make up the largest share of home buyers for the next decade as their housing needs adjust over time.”6

What does it mean for you? If you’re in the market for a starter home, prepare to compete for the best listings. And if you plan to sell a home in 2019, be sure to work with an agent who knows how to reach millennial buyers by utilizing the latest online marketing techniques.


WE’RE HERE TO GUIDE YOU

While national real estate numbers and predictions can provide a “big picture” outlook for the year, real estate is local. And as local market experts, we can guide you through the ins and outs of our market and the local issues that are likely to drive home values in your particular neighborhood.

​If you’re considering buying or selling a home in 2019, contact us now at 704-997-3794 to schedule a free consultation. We’ll work with you to develop an action plan to meet your real estate goals this year.


Thinking about buying a home in NC or SC? Save your time and money by using these valuable insider secrets to buy your dream home. Written by award-winning nationally recognized Broker who has assisted thousands of home buyers and investors, Nancy Braun, "The Ultimate No Holds Barred Guide to Buying and Selling A Home in the Carolinas” ($24 Value) is FREE to you.  Get your copy now for real guidance and real VALUE.  CLICK HERE.

START PREPARING TODAY

If you plan to BUY this year:

Get pre-approved for a mortgage. If you plan to finance part of your home purchase, getting pre-approved for a mortgage will give you a jump-start on the paperwork and provide an advantage over other buyers in a competitive market. The added bonus: you will find out how much you can afford to borrow and budget accordingly.

Create your wish list. How many bedrooms and bathrooms do you need? How far are you willing to commute to work? What’s most important to you in a home? We can set up a customized search that meets your criteria to help you find the perfect home for you.
Come to our office. The buying process can be tricky. We’d love to guide you through it. We can help you find a home that fits your needs and budget, all at no cost to you. Give us a call at 704-997-3794 to schedule an appointment today!

If you plan to SELL this year:

Call us at 704-997-3794 for a FREE Comparative Market Analysis. A CMA not only gives you the current market value of your home, it will also show how your home compares to others in the area. This will help us determine which repairs and upgrades may be required to get top dollar for your property, and it will help us price your home correctly once you’re ready to list.

Prep your home for the market. Most buyers want a home they can move into right away, without having to make extensive repairs and upgrades. We can help you determine which ones are worth the time and expense to deliver maximum results.

Start decluttering. Help your buyers see themselves in your home by packing up personal items and things you don’t use regularly and storing them in an attic or storage locker. This will make your home appear larger, make it easier to stage ... and get you one step closer to moving when the time comes!

Sources

​1. Freddie Mac Economic & Housing Research Forecast – 
http://www.freddiemac.com/research/pdf/201811-Forecast-04.pdf
2. National Association of Realtors 2019 Forecast –  
https://www.nar.realtor/newsroom/2019-forecast-existing-home-sales-to-stabilize-and-price-growth-to-continue
3. Bankrate 2018 Year in Review – 
https://www.bankrate.com/mortgages/year-in-review-for-housing-market/’
4. Forbes 2019 Real Estate Forecast – 
https://www.forbes.com/sites/alyyale/2018/12/06/2019-real-estate-forecast-what-home-buyers-sellers-and-investors-can-expect/#a98b80a70d9a
5. Mortgage Bankers Association Forecast – 
https://www.mba.org/2018-press-releases/october/mba-forecast-purchase-originations-to-increase-to-12-trillion-in-2019
6. Realtors.com 2019 National Housing Forecast – 
https://www.realtor.com/research/2019-national-housing-forecast/
7. FOX Business – 
https://www.foxbusiness.com/personal-finance/where-mortgage-rates-are-headed-in-2019

Your Charlotte NC home-selling journey ends at the closing. You are probably looking forward to it, thinking of how much profit you’ll reap from the transaction. Before you get carried away computing your returns, don’t forget that you have to pay the seller’s closing cost.

Whether you are selling or buying a home in Charlotte NC, there are always closing costs associated with any real estate transaction. Closing costs are the amount required to pay for the assistance of any third party in your home selling process. Closing costs vary depending on your location, but generally, it’s about 7% - 8% of the home’s final price.

That’s a huge amount taken off from your profit. However, buyers pay a bigger closing cost. You as the seller, on the other hand, have less closing cost to pay but will have to pay the agent’s commission which is 4% - 6% of the home’s settlement price.

Here are the fees included in your closing cost:

• Attorney closing fee - This is the cost you have to pay the attorney you used for settlement. In some cases, buyers and sellers have separate legal representatives, but in most cases, only one attorney is used.
• HOA Transfer fee - If the home happens to be a part of a homeowner’s association, you’ll have to deal with the transfer fee. This fee covers the management’s time, document preparation and distribution of the subdivision’s rules and regulation. This is going to be prorated between you and the buyer.
• Escrow fee - This is the fee that goes to the third party that helps mediate or hold the fund. There is no set amount for the escrow fee as it usually depends on the company.
• Title Insurance - This is the fee for the owner’s title policy. The buyer will have to pay for the lender’s title policy.
  

• Prorated Property Taxes - This is the tax you pay for the days you owned your home. It is computed at the end of the year, so your payment is dependent on the date your home is sold. It is prorated between you and the buyer.

• Mortgage Interest - If you took out a mortgage to buy the home, chances are you haven’t paid it fully. You’ll be required to pay the balance due on your mortgage.

• Miscellaneous Fee - This is also sometimes known as the recording fee. It is a combination of the different payments for the government transactions, courier fee, etc.

• Commission - The biggest chunk of payment goes to the seller’s agent. It ranges from five to eight percent, usually averaging at six percent. If your home sold for $350,000, you’ll have to pay your agent the commission of $21,000.

These are most of the fees you have to pay at closing of the sale of your home in Charlotte. In most cases, your agent will take the time to sit and discuss it with you at the beginning of the transaction so there will be no confusion or surprise when the time comes. 

You don’t even have to worry about bringing cash to the closing. All these fees will be taken off your profit.

Call me, Nancy Braun, at (704) 997-3794. Let me help you have a successful estate home selling transaction.

When you’ve decided to sell your Charlotte home, did you brace yourself for future concerns and challenges? The travails of many home sellers are well-documented online, and if you happen to be fond of reading about it, it can be easy to be overwhelmed by it all. No wonder many dread selling their home. 

Selling your home does not need to be complicated nor difficult. You don’t even have to experience the same challenges and mistakes other sellers did. Here are the top mistakes many home sellers commit, intentionally or unintentionally, along with suggestions on how to avoid them.

1. Overpricing the home. Among the most common home selling mistake I see is selling the home beyond its market value. Maybe some home sellers decide it is a good selling tactic, maybe it’s because they are hoping for a higher profit, or maybe they think their home is worth more. Whatever their reason is, the home is overpriced, and it has not moved from the market for five months.

Finding the right price for your Charlotte home for sale is crucial if you want to sell it successfully. A home priced right will sell fast, but an overpriced home is likely going to stay on the shelf for a long time. 

Why? Because an overpriced home is unable to meet the features and amenities homes at that price range offer. Remember, buyers these days are equipped with the Internet, so they can conduct their research and will know if the home is overpriced.

Price your home right, and watch it sell fast!

2. Not preparing the home to sell. Once you’ve decided to sell, you should start clearing out your things, cleaning the house and fixing what needs to be repaired. Many home sellers only begin doing these things when it’s time to take photographs for marketing, or when the open house is coming. Insufficient preparation time leads to a botchy job, so when buyers come around, the home is in a disappointing state, and buyers leave uninterested.

Decluttering, cleaning, and staging are necessary home preparation processes when you to sell your house. These steps make the house to look its best to become more appealing to buyers.

Home buyers love bright, spacious and inviting homes. Get your home in Charlotte to a picture-ready state and buyers will come knocking on your door.

3. Taking bad photos. I’ve seen beautiful homes stay on the market for a long time because their marketing photos don’t do them justice. Around 90% of buyers start their home search online. When they see pictures of your home which when compared to professionally taken photographs look dark and cramped, they’ll be uninterested.

Your home’s photos are one of the best marketing tools to use in selling the house, so you need to maximize it. Get a professional photographer to take pictures of your home. They know the right angles to show off your home’s best looks.

First impressions count! Use only the best photos for your home’s marketing.

4. Ignoring the curb appeal. Unkempt front yard, toys all over the porch, are chipping paint on the door and sidings are just a few ways to ruin your home’s curb appeal. No matter how great the home’s interior is, when the curb appeal is not well-taken cared of, you won’t get interested buyers.

We all love homes with a great curb appeal. It doesn’t have to be ornate either. A clean, healthy and trimmed front lawn with a few pots of plants, and a mailbox are good enough. A freshly painted porch, siding and front door will make your home look new again, and attracts buyers.

Never discount the factor of curb appeal, it gets buyers through the door.

5. Not seeking help from an experienced agent. Your home is an asset, probably your most valuable one. As such, it deserves to be sold at its best price, and this does not happen when you decide to sell your home on your own, or with an inexperienced agent.

You do yourself and your asset a disservice when you don’t give it the best help and support before selling.   When you want your Charlotte NC home sale-ready, seek the help of an experienced real estate agent.  

Make your home selling journey mistake-free. Call me, Nancy Braun, at (704) 997-3794. Let my experience and skills work for you.

We believe in supporting America’s veterans!

On November 8, 2018, the U.S. Department of Labor recognized Showcase Realty as one of the recipients of the 2018 HIRE Vets Medallion Program Demonstration Award during an award ceremony at the U.S. Department of Labor.

The Award recognizes leadership in recruiting, employing, and retaining our nation’s veterans. Recipients of the 2018 HIRE Vets Medallion Program Demonstration Award demonstrated a commitment to veteran hiring and retention, and provided veteran-specific resources, leadership programming, dedicated human resources, and compensation and tuition assistance programs.

Showcase Realty joins 239 recipients of the 2018 HIRE Vets Medallion Program Demonstration Award ranging from small businesses and community-based non-profits to leading Fortune 500 companies from 42 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico.

The HIRE Vets Medallion Program is the only federal-level award that recognizes job creators who successfully recruit, hire, and retain America’s veterans.

We’re proud to be recognized with this award, and hope you share in our excitement. We invite you to join us in sharing this news with your family, friends, and colleagues.

For more information about the HIRE Vets Medallion Program, please visit www.HireVets.gov.

Getting ready to sell your house?

During her guest appearance on WCNC-NBC’s Charlotte Today, Nancy Braun, owner and broker-in-charge of Showcase Realty, talked about the most important things a seller needs to address before listing a home.

Selling a home successfully takes more than just planting a "For Sale" sign on your front lawn. To immediately gain a buyer’s attention, you need to make sure that even the least considered tasks are taken care of before you open the home for showings.

Today’s buyers are very selective, and they have high expectations. They want well-maintained move-in-ready homes, usually with stainless steel appliances. Nancy Braun reminded sellers about the importance of checking that often overlooked tasks like the condition of appliances, the furnace, and water heater in top working order. These tasks are essential to prevent any issues later during an inspection report.

Nancy also pointed out that home sellers should maintain and winterize their sprinkler system to make sure that it doesn’t freeze. She also advised sellers to have the fireplaces and chimneys cleaned out, and occasionally checked for possible damages.

Another important fact that Nancy highlighted was the necessity to disclose any known malfunction or defect in the home. Home sellers should familiarize themselves with North Carolina housing laws to ensure they understand what is expected on a disclosure agreement to avoid and future legal obligations -- which can even happen after the sale.

Lastly, Nancy stressed that sellers need to create a clean palette where buyers can easily envision themselves living in the home. That’s why sellers should get rid of personal items that might distract buyers.

Colleen Odegaard: Homeowners who are thinking about selling have a checklist of things to do before putting their home on the market. But there are key tasks that can be overlooked, things that are important enough to make or break a sale.

Eugene Robinson: So welcome Nancy Braun, award-winning RealtorⓇ and owner of Showcase Realty to the show to help us navigate and walk through this one. Hello! How are you doing today?

Nancy: Good morning! Good! Thank you.

Colleen Odegaard: We’re glad you’re here today! Okay Nancy, buyers are savvy. You know that. We all know that. And if they’re using an experienced RealtorⓇ like you, like yourself, there will be a thorough inspection of course, and assessment before they buy. What is the most important thing that a seller needs to address before listing their home? Or what are the most important things?

Nancy: Well, they must check all of their appliances, and check all of their furnace, their water heater, making sure they’re all operational, that they’ve been serviced recently, that their filters have been changed, that their light bulbs are working. All of those things are gonna come up and, as possible issues on the inspection report, which they could be a non-issue. An inspector might think that the light fixture is broken just because the light doesn’t go on and it’s just a matter of turning the light bulb a little more or switching it out. So we wanna make those non-issues right at the beginning.

Eugene Robinson: So let’s drill down a little bit. What should their plans be? What types of shapes should they be in?   

Nancy: Well, buyers are very picky today. They have really high expectations. HGTV has really changed the world! So, they want move-in ready, they want it really gorgeous, they want it sparkling clean, and they’re expecting all their appliances to be stainless steel today, and newer. They’re really afraid of having to have unexpected expenses when they move into a home and have to replace things. And they’re higher standards because of the remodel HGVT kind of effect. They think that their home should be as beautiful as what it is on TV. Yeah.

Colleen Odegaard: Okay, so that’s for sellers to think about. Let’s talk about the sprinkler system. That can be an easy thing to overlook. Is it critical for the seller to make sure that the sprinkler system is in perfect working condition?

Nancy: Yes! It’s a simple, easy thing to do, but a homeowner might have that inspected. So, we’re supposed to be winterizing our sprinkler system now to make sure that they don’t freeze so, make sure you call your irrigation company and have that addressed. And then you’re gonna have it de-winterize in the spring. And at the time that they do that, they’re gonna make sure all of those naturals of sprays are working. So, simple fix. Don’t make an issue of it if you fix it upfront.

Eugene Robinson: Well, what about here? Fireplaces, chimneys, I’ve even called a chimney sweep now to clean up my chimney, you don’t need to clean up the fireplace. What do I need?

Nancy: Yeah. It’s a great idea. I think it’s so overlooked. No one thinks about it. So if you actually have a wood-burning fireplace, absolutely call up one of those companies that have the ability to go in and clean it out. And just do a check. Because you could have cracks in the mortar, and that can be really dangerous. So, you wanna make sure you have that checked maybe every five years. Make sure that it’s, you know, no real issues.

Colleen Odegaard: How much of a disclosure are we talking about?

Nancy: Okay. So, under North Carolina law, and South Carolina law, you really have to disclose any known malfunction or defect to your home. So, it could be as simple as an electrical socket. You know it doesn’t work. But later on if you didn’t disclose it and you knew it wasn’t working, you’ve really violated that rule. So you do have to disclose anything that you knew about. It’s some things that could come up to bite you after you close on the house. Even after the buyer has done their due diligence and done all their inspections, and they bought the house at its present condition. But if they later buy the house, and then a neighbor runs over and says, “Hey, Sally! Welcome to the neighborhood! Did your seller tell you about the drainage issue they have in the backyard? The standing water? Did they mention that, you know, their AC unit needs to have freon charge? Every summer I see that truck pull-up.” Well now, that seller who thought they washed their hands off that house and walked away, is under a legal obligation. So it could come back to bite them later. So, over-disclose is better, even if you know that there’s a potential problem, or an issue. It’s better to disclose because, you don’t wanna have to look back later.

Eugene Robinson: So what are some other tasks that the seller needs to address? And what I am thinking about are merely, you always have a lot of personal items, and personal pictures when you’re trying to sell your home. Is that a good thing to keep those things up? Or not keep those things up?

Nancy: Well, I’m not a big stickler on that unless it’s just overkill. You know if, there’s way too many wedding photos, way too many kids photos that it’s distracting to the house, then I’m gonna ask that we have them removed. So, you know, we certainly don’t wanna have anything distracting from, someone envisioning themselves in the house.

Eugene Robinson: So you want a clean palette for the most part?  

Nancy: Yeah. Ideally. Ideally. And if anyone’s been to a new neighborhood, and gone into a model home, that’s like, you know, the perfect scenario of course people live in this home so you’re never gonna get to that level. But sparse is always critical and neutral tones are very good. Smell is, you know, real deterrent. So if there’s scents in the house that might deter someone. If there’s a smoker in the house that’s certainly gonna be an issue. All of those things you just have to think about, what, you know, animal smells, pet smells.

Colleen Odegaard: Lots to think about for sure. Nancy can help you with all of this. By the way, for free copy of Nancy Braun’s report on the “8 Seller Tasks That Can Make Or Break A Sale”, visit ReadyToSellNC.com. ReadyToSellNC.com. You can also call Nancy at 704-488-3109. 704-488-3109. Nancy Braun thank you very much.

Eugene Robinson: Alright.

Nancy: Thank you.     

Nancy Braun with Carolina Property Management shares valuable insights on why you should consider hiring a property manager.

It is a great time to be in the residential business service because the rental market is growing. In fact, at present, renting is happening across a wide range of demographics.

While property management can seem like an exciting task, it also has the potential to give you a lot of problems. Being a landlord is not a walk in the park. Although it can be financially rewarding, managing a property also requires the commitment of time and effort.

This is where property management firms, like Carolina Property Management, come into the picture.

Working with a rental property management services provider can help you make the most of your property while also maximizing your time and money.

Carolina Property Management, LLC is a subsidiary of award-winning Showcase Realty, LLC. They have built their business and their reputation by providing exceptional service for both their tenant customers and their investment property owner clients.

They work with a variety of rental property owners and tenants in connecting them for a mutually beneficial relationship. If you want help in reducing your hassles of being a landlord, improving your ROI, and eliminating your headaches and stress, you should seriously consider working with Carolina Property Management. They can help you manage your property, keep your tenants happy for a long time, and leave you with fewer vacancies.

Eugene Robinson: Managing rental property is a big responsibility, but you don’t have to do it alone.

Colleen Odegaard: Nancy Braun with Carolina Property Management has your Realty Reality Check!

Nancy: The reality is the rental market is booming. Millennials are renting longer, GenX makes up a 3rd of the market, and Baby Boomers are the fastest growing group of new renters. They’re all high-tech savvy, and want to make payments and maintenance requests online. If you’re a property owner, you know how hard that can be to keep up with. That’s why you should consider hiring a property manager. They can help you manage your property, keep your tenants happy for a long time and leave you with fewer vacancies. Therefore, your rent revenue will increase. I’m Nancy Braun with Carolina Property Management.  

During her guest appearance on WCNC-NBC’s Charlotte Today, Nancy Braun, owner and broker-in-charge of Showcase Realty, shared valuable insights on the current condition of the Charlotte real estate market and what it means for home buyers and sellers now as we enter the winter market.

With hot real estate markets like Charlotte primed as the preferred destination for Millenials, Downsizing Empty Nesters, Relocators, Executives and others, Nancy expressed that it’s important to use an experienced and knowledgeable real estate agent to help make an informed decision on when to sell or where to buy to fit in with your specific needs.  

At present, the Charlotte market is at an all-time high, however, there are fewer homes for sale right now.  There are several reasons for this, including the fact that millennials (the present generation of potential first time home buyers) are delaying buying their first homes. As a result, there are just a few move-up buyers.  What is interesting, according to Nancy, is that Millenials are buying higher priced-homes after saving up, and are skipping the lower cost starter homes. This fact is apparent in the reduction of home inventory for move-up buyers.

Nancy mentions that there are fewer homes to sell at present. And with buyers looking to relocate, there’s bound to be some competition. Aside from the millennials, the baby boomers are also in the market as they seek to downsize.

For sellers, Nancy recommends that it’s best not to wait for spring before listing a home for sale. It’s better to put it on the market now because of the low inventory. For buyers, she suggests that they should pay more attention to interest rates because it’s the one thing that really drives the cost to the house. In fact, it’s more relevant than the actual purchase price because it affects how much the buyer is going to spend on the purchase in the long run. Although interest rates are still historically low, buyers should act fast because they have been gradually rising, and are expected to continue to do so.

Nancy also offers a Home Buyer Guarantee. If you purchase a property with her team and within 12 months you decide you don’t love the home, then they’ll sell it for free. Get in touch with them today to know more about the Home Buyer Guarantee and the conditions that apply.

If you’re looking for real estate experts who know the ins and outs of the Charlotte real estate market, there’s only one team you can trust — Nancy Braun and her team of agents at Showcase Realty.  Call them today at 704-488-3109 and experience unparalleled real estate service.

Eugene Robinson: Well Charlotte’s Real Estate market is booming. In fact, it’s at an all-time high. So what does that mean for buyers and sellers? We welcome Nancy Braun with Showcase Realty to the show. Hello, Nancy! How are you doing?

Nancy: Good morning!

Eugene Robinson: Well good! Okay, let’s talk about the market is really at an all-time high, the economy is growing right here in Charlotte. However, why are less and less homes on the market right now?

Nancy: This is a quagmire for the entire country. We don’t have enough homes to sell, and it’s causing a lot of troubles for buyers, because there’s tons of buyers out there. Tons of people moving to Charlotte, the economy is very strong, but we just don’t have the inventory, so a lot of different factors are in play, the millennials kinda held out. They didn’t go ahead in buying their first time homes, so there. We don’t have the move up buyers, we have the people that are just kinda hovering and so, they’re not selling those homes - those initial, first time homes cause they never bought them. So a lot of hedge funds came in during recession, bought a lot of first time homes, they’re holding on to them, they haven’t sold them. So we’re missing the inventory, which is really affecting our real estate market.

Eugene Robinson: But this is not, this is not the exact size at all? It’s just like, you kinda don’t know what to expect in that?

Nancy: No, we don’t know, but there’s, you know, everywhere I go, people always ask me, “How’s the market?” That’s the cocktail question of the day when you’re a Realtor®. Everyone says, “How’s the market?” And the market in Charlotte, except for the recession, has always been extremely strong, and it’s just been growing and growing since the recession. It’s been, really, really hot. But the reason why we’re selling less homes is cause there’s not much to sell.

Eugene Robinson: Okay, but here, does buyers still looking to relocate there, right?

Nancy: That’s right. There are buyers that are looking to relocate. The millennials are coming back into the market now. But they’re actually looking at their second-home price range, as opposed to looking in the first time home price range, cause they waited, at least six years than, what is normally the factor. We also have, this is really common for me right now, is people that are trying to downsize. The baby boomers are trying to get rid of that mammoth home, get rid of some of the obligations of a large home, the maintenance of a large home, the large land. They want a smaller home, one story, so they can go travel. They don’t have to be, you know, burdened by maintaining a big house so, they are also in the market.    

Eugene Robinson: Yeah, but that is one of the misnomers because I’ve always thought this. That you have to wait for springtime to go ahead and sell your home, but you’re saying that’s not true based on the landscape you just showed me.

Nancy: No, I would absolutely not wait for the springtime. And I’ve actually been proponent of listing homes to now. The market is very, very strong, and there’s less inventory out there. Typically it’s less inventory because people wait till the spring. But if you’re waiting till spring, when you’re waiting for all the flowers to bloom, you’re gonna actually put your house in the market when everyone else does. But the buyers are always there. So won't you rather be the one that puts your house in the market when there’s less inventory than have all that competition?

Eugene Robinson: Oh, absolutely I wanna have less inventory and all that competition I wouldn’t see. Okay what about the interest rate? The interest rate right now is low and that governs a lot based on what everybody does, based on interest rates. So what does that mean for buyers and sellers and what does that mean for the future?

Nancy: Right. So, it’s interesting when I’m working with the buyer. They’re so focused on getting their price. So they might be worrying about a couple thousand, five thousand or ten thousand dollars off the price. But they don’t focus on the interest rate. The interest rate is the one that really drives the cost to the house over the thirty years or however long you’re gonna live there. It’s much more relevant than the actual purchase price because it affects how much you’re gonna be spending on that purchase. So, the interest rates are still, historically low, but they are, they have been gradually rising.

Eugene Robinson: So they’re moving up gradually?

Nancy: They have been moving up and, all the economists are anticipating that interest rates are gonna continue to rise. So, if you are thinking about buying, I would suggest you buy sooner, cause that affects your buying power, how much you can afford on a monthly basis.

Eugene Robinson: And what does that buying power, typically here in Charlotte, what does buying power look like right now for people?

Nancy: So, the buyers are, it settled down a little bit. It’s not as crazy as spring where we’re getting 20 offers on a listing and, you know, people were just, overbidding. Now it’s kinda calm down a little so it’s better for buyers and, they just have to be patient and wait for the right house to come up because, it might not be right there, right then. But it’s certainly, if I were in the market to be buying and I’m using a mortgage I would say, “I’d rather buy with a lower mortgage rate than wait for the mortgage rate to go up.” Cause we know it’s gonna go up.

Eugene Robinson: That’s why we need somebody like Nancy who can go ahead and go through all the nuances, all the details, look at the, all the different comps, the inspections, due diligence, all the stuff that you don’t think that you need to know about, she knows about. Nancy also has a book, that answers all these questions, all your questions, that’s called the No Holds Barred Guide to Buying and Selling Your Home in the Carolinas. I love that. For your free copy, and I said free copy, visit ExpertHomeHelp.com. Or, this is what you need to do. You call Nancy. Give her a call at 704-488-3109. I’m saying the number again, 704-488-3109. There’s a lot of things that you don’t know that she does know, and you need her brain to get that. Thank you very much, Nancy.

Nancy: Thank you. Thank you so much.