Life & Real Estate in the Triangle

I Was Framed

2010-09-06T10:37:00.001-04:00

Good ol' Labor Day weekend. I took the opposite approach this year; stayed at home, relaxed and caught up on work. I've been on the run & out of town so much lately it was nice to stay settled and not worry about plans. I'm heading over to Umstead State Park this afternoon so I will feel like I'm out of town, at least every few minutes until a plane from RDU flies directly over.

Although I had a nice weekend, I did miss the home opener of my Alma mater ECU. I'm happy they won such and epic game but dog-gone-it I wish I had been there. I know another ECU alum that wasn't at the game yesterday, my sister Kelly. She is due this coming Friday and I'll be an Uncle for the fourth time and have a third niece, very excited about it. Here is a cool blog post my sister made recently.

With sellers scoffing at their projected sale prices lately, I've been contacted about renting their homes out for them more and more recently. I've taken on a few properties and it's been a difficult task to manage compared to selling homes. Finding tenants and showing rental homes can be time consuming with little reward.

I often kick myself for not taking on property management earlier in my career. I'll just try and forget all the rentals I've passed on over all these years and start fresh. The goal for me is to take on what I can manage and treat it as a learning experience as it grows. One thing about residential sales is you can never know it all, I'm sure the same applies to property management.

So last week I had a fun debacle. I'll start with a warning, those licence plate frames like the dealer puts on your car: well they are now illegal in North Carolina. I was the lucky recipient of a ticket for this after being stopped in Jacksonville, NC. Not just a fine, but a court appearance was required. See here.

I drove down early Tuesday and get their about 8:45am, I get to see the DA at 11:15am. He dismissed the charge, probably because I had a suit on and may have been the only one in that courtroom who even showered that day. One guy approached the DA with his hat and sunglasses on, I'm sure that went well for him. Let this just be a heads up to everyone, $100 fine and $150 court costs can be your next headache too if you don't remove that frame tag.

That is a disheartening story about my ride home from the beach, but this is a much brighter one and a great idea to boot. When my family visits the beach we pack the fridge like the world is ending. Way too much food is a requirement of any vacation though. That is why this man's idea of collecting items for a local Food Kitchen is such a great idea. The cars are jammed up trying to get off the island and presents the perfect opportunity. Good for that guy, his story here.

Well I'm off to get a long trail run in at Umstead Park. I hope everyone has a great short week. This Sunday, September 12, keep Chris Raynor's family and loved ones in your prayers as we celebrate his life one year after he passed.

Family Tides

2010-07-23T09:53:00.003-04:00

Coming to you from Emerald Isle. I'm down with the family for our traditional summer beach week. There's twelve of us, including two nieces, a nephew, and I can't forget about a third niece on the way. Somehow I landed the bedroom directly underneath the playroom, I have just pretended sleeping in during vacation was overrated this week.

Here's Most Of The Family At The Waterpark For The Day

I brought an old box of home videos from storage that I'm excited about watching with everyone tonight. After some previews last week, it's so embarrassing to think my sisters & I would bring prom dates to the house and instantly have a film crew in our face. It was also alarming to see some of the foods my sister would feed me during the blind "taste testing game". Not sure how I ever got talked into playing that.

In real estate, The Wehmann Team had a great first half to 2010. Since the tax credit left the market, it would appear that buyers followed suit. In hindsight, a gradual reduction of the credit would of been a much more sensible approach for lawmakers to have taken. Alas, The Wehmann Team continues to list homes and anticipates the return of the buyer as summer progresses. With interest rates hovering around the low end of 4%, it shouldn't be long before they do.

My company Howard Perry & Walston is in the news again. We ranked as the #1 Real Estate Company in the Triangle and one of the top firms in the Nation. You can read more about it here on the HPW Blog.

So today is our last chance to catch a tan (or worse sunburn in my case), our time is up and it's back to reality tomorrow. We've been spending our days down at the beach. You can see from the picture, when there are kids around I have a hard time resting. These castles don't last too long before the tide comes in our my nephew Wyatt runs in to "smash it up".

With some good friends of mine living up in Morehead City for the summer, my girlfriend JoBeth and I took some time away from the family to go visit them yesterday. We had a great dinner up at the Chefs 105 Oyster Bar and enjoyed some drinks over at Jack's Waterside Bar. We also spent time at their home where we got to enjoy the company of their 140 pound bloodhound, Ori.

Well I'm going to grab the shovel and get to making big castles in the sand on my last day. I hope everyone has a great weekend, thanks for reading.

Adult Swim

2010-06-10T13:58:00.010-04:00

The one bad thing about summer is almost every day's a pool day & we have to work most of them. At least for the meantime I've put all my buyer clients under contract and will have a free upcoming Saturday or two. Pools without diving boards are such a tease to me. How many flips can I do off a pool side with no spring action, 1, maybe 1 1/2? Bring on the high dive and I won't leave that pool till it closes.

My family went out to the swim club on Memorial Day and it was a blast. My one niece Lily had yet to jump off a diving board so I got her to take her first leap. It's harder than it looks to catch a kid and swim to the side without appearing to be drowning. I also took an elbow to the head in the men's beer bobbing contest and was whistled for running only once.

Since my last blog the tax credit has wrapped up and I haven't heard of any new homebuyer credits in the works. Over the run of the credit I worked with 16 buyers who received over $125,000 in government tax credits. I imagine the government will take a step back and evaluate the effect these credits had and go from there. Even with the tax credit gone, there is still plenty of buyer advantages out there. Lot's of eager sellers and low interest rates should continue to drive the market through summer I hope.

So a couple weeks ago I found an old disposable camera that dated back to my ECU days. I couldn't tell you the excitement I had to get those developed. It made my day to be honest and I wished I had more, unfortunately I didn't. That is until my last trip to Charleston when I forgot my camera and got another disposable. I'm tempted to save it 10 years just to be able to have that excitement over seeing some photos again. Speaking of 10 years later, while in Charleston I got to meet up with one of my best friends from summer camp thanks to facebook. I miss ol' Camp Thunderbird.

This Friday my friends will be returning to downtown Raleigh to play at the Berkeley Cafe. Nick & The Babes are a 5 piece band (no babes, sorry guys) featuring my good friends Nick & Graham Bailey. Nick has been quite busy making music outside the band also and has been featured on some TV shows it's likely you've watched. You can read more about their group here, and Nick actually wrote the tunes that play on my website. These guys have a great sound, keep your eyes and ears out for them in the future.

F-R-E-E That Spells FREE

2010-04-28T09:22:00.001-04:00

To set the record straight about my last blog, I wasn't attacked by squirrels or skunks. I guess I need to make my April Fool's blogs a little less believable. I had people asking me for months about horse racing last year after I wrote about being selected to train as a horse jockey. Speaking of, I still need to find a Derby party this weekend where I can sip on some mint juleps.

The tax credit deadline is 2 days away and I've had a swarm of 1st time buyers to work with lately. A good education on the buying process is important, but your in good hands once you hire me. It's the financial preparation I find is the most important aspect.

Fix your credit score in advance! You would be amazed at the money you will save and how much more you can afford with a better score. Get some credit score tips and advice on improving it months in advance at least. One important thing to avoid is new lines of credit before you get approved for a mortgage. You will see below some things I would encourage NOT buying before applying for a loan; unless you are paying cash.

It's been a crazy couple months of work and I'm excited to have a free weekend or two coming up. My days all seem to run together lately as a Realtors' job can be 24/7 sometimes. I'm looking forward to taking a trip to Charleston with some friends here in just a couple weeks. It's been a while since my last visit there and I'm all set up staying with a friend right downtown.

I've had the pleasure of spending lots of time with my family lately. We all got together Monday afternoon for a visit to a Durham Bulls game. Aside from having his eyes glued to the man with the cotton candy tower, my nephew Wyatt was lucky enough to score himself a foul ball. I still have a few of those saved from when I was younger, things like that are golden when you are a kid.

Well I'm off, have to go pick up an offer from another 1st time buyer, talk about last minute with only 2 days left. Everyone have a great week and weekend.

Crazy Critters

2010-04-01T07:13:00.003-04:00

Well I experienced one of the wildest Mondays in recent history. Most of you know I am a bit accident prone and this week has done nothing to dispel those assumptions. While inspecting a narrow crawl space in a Durham home I came across some unsuspecting house guests. I had to glance twice when my flashlight came across what looked to be a group of squirrels. They didn't take my presence cordially and rushed at me pretty quickly; like some sort squirrel mafia.

I've never seen squirrels behave this way. Like most of you, I'm used to seeing them scatter away up a tree when you come within 10ft. Heck, I've almost wrecked my car on several occasions trying to avoid them in the road. Well after sustaining some minor bite and scratch wounds to my legs I was able to scuttle out of there & immediately called animal control. They discovered over 12 squirrels that had been nesting in there and what they estimated was over 25lbs of assorted nuts. I gathered them up and will likely give them to the buyers as a closing gift.

It was hard explaining my days' events to clients I was meeting later that day. They are working on a short timeline however and weren't letting my squirrel bites get in the way of seeing a few homes that evening. At our last stop of the tour, we venture out in the backyard to peer in this large rustic shed. As I peel the barn style doors open, I'm hit with a spray that had an indescribably awful smell. I catch a glimpse of a little skunk running off and the damage was done. My clients who were right behind me at the time were now almost to the car at full sprint.

I was lucky that the spray hadn't gotten on my skin sparring me the ketchup bath, but it did lay some good coverage on the suit I was wearing. The only solution at that point was quite unfortunate for me. After a quick discussion with my clients from across the yard, I dumped the suit in the trash bin and made the awkward drive home in my boxer shorts and undershirt. If your looking for a Brooks Brothers suit with a slight odor, let me know & I'll get you the address.

I'm hoping my future showings are less adventurous and don't involve hostile little critters. I hope you have a great week and of course, don't let yourself get tricked today, it's April Fools.

Here Comes The Sun

2010-03-08T07:19:00.002-05:00

The first real signs of Spring have arrived this week and my favorite time of year is almost upon us. Good ol' daylight savings starts Sunday. That means the light doesn't start peering through my blinds for another hour in the morning and when I run in the evenings I can lose the 5lbs of reflective gear my Mom bought for me to wear.

Speaking of running, I am on the Board of Realtors committee that has put together a 5k Run/Walk on March 27th. It will be hosted in the Winmore neighborhood of Chapel Hill, first 100 to sign up receive free t-shirts. It's only $15 and you can sign up through this link. We'll have face painters and bounce houses for this kids, plus the full size Re Max hot air balloon will be on site taking passengers on short rides into the air. If you think I'm full of hot air, come see for yourself.

I've been in real estate over 5 years now, and one thing I've found is buying a home isn't the best thing for everyone. It can be smarter to rent sometimes, if you're unsure of job status, family plans, or just happy as could be with the place your in. But most people don't know I help with rentals too. I have a lot of experience working with some great rental companies, and some of the worst. I know ways of getting deposits back, finding the deals and negotiating some cheap rents.

Now I can't spend an entire weekend showing out of towners rentals, but I am more than happy to get these folks some local information, set them up with a good rental company, and point them to all the good rental searches online. Most of the hidden gems are on local sites, don't fight the mass at craigslist. So what do I get from all this? When that renter sees how hard I work for them and gets a taste of my local knowledge, they will no doubt come back to me when they are ready to buy or know someone else looking for a great Realtor.

Work has consumed me these past few weeks, all my first time buyers are scrambling to get that tax credit before the April 30 deadline. I have had some time for things of my own, for one I starting doing is reffing for Rainbow soccer, a Chapel Hill league I grew up playing in. I had my first game on Saturday and avoided being yelled out for any bad calls. I hope to find the time in coming years to coach a team but it's too much time commitment, for the time being I'll spend Saturdays blowing the whistle.

For all of you reading, enjoy all the extra sunlight we'll be seeing from now on. I know I'll be out & about, maybe I'll even dust off my old rollerblades. OK maybe not.

Getting My Kicks At Dorthea Dix

2010-02-03T23:12:00.000-05:00

My fondest memories of growing up are of snow days in the neighborhood. From trotting around in my over sized cross-country skis to building jumps that would leave us bruised and battered. Nothing some hot chocolate and another day off school couldn't fix, but these days are different. I'm self employed; snow prevents me from working and explaining a broken bone as result of a "sick jump" is hard to tell my clients.

It is hard for me to hide the kid inside sometimes. I found a few good hills on my days off, and Dorthea Dix took the cake. I found myself surrounded by a bowl of hills with a grinning face. My girlfriend JoBeth seemed amused by my excitement, and as a school teacher naturally had more fun watching all the kids than sledding herself. It brought back old memories and I rediscovered that although another year older, sledding is still as fun as it ever was.

All the homes I was scheduled to show my clients this weekend got postponed, I've been trying to get everyone caught up this week. One client I have wants to be convenient to everything, but not right in the middle of downtown. I pointed her to this site, http://www.walkscore.com/ It rates your address to what is in walking distance, from grocery to bars to eateries, then pushes out a score. It can be useful when relocating to an unfamiliar town, or looking to move within your own city. They also have an iPhone app called Walk Score that calculates your area's walkablity and shows the nearby amenities.
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One home I showed yesterday had a little scare tactic planned. Unfortunately it was intended for mice but got the best of me. They put a fake rubber snake in front of the refrigerator to scare off mice, but it had me running straight for the door. My clients weren't far behind once I told them what the snake was there for. Not the best marketing piece I've ever seen for a home.

There are lots of deals on the market right now, but the best I can find for you is $10. You might need a little luck with that $10, but that will get you a shot at a Chapel Hill town home and a donation to The Parker Reese Foundation. With a second prize of $50,000 and third place $25,000, this is one raffle I think I'll give a try. Check out the website here, if you win and don't want to move, don't fret, I'd be glad to sell the town home for you.

I hear in the Triangle we should be getting some more snow this week. That will probably generate some moans from residents here, the kids aren't even back to school yet here. I wonder if the slow street clean up has to do with department budget cuts. I can imagine if their department wants to express frustration over these cuts, a slow clean up is a good public demonstration. Enough of my street sweeper theories though, it's time for me to head over to Chapel Hill for a lunch appointment.

Freddie Mac indicated rates could climb to 6% by the end of 2010 or sooner. Right now they are hovering around 5%, so if your thinking of buying get on the ball. Don't wait for higher rates and the tax credits to expire. Thanks for reading!

The Running Realtor

2010-01-15T15:03:00.004-05:00

Right now I am sitting at the front desk of the Coldwell Banker office and the phones are ringing again! I've been getting referrals left and right these past couple weeks and can feel this real estate market coming back from the depths. I'll have less competition this year too, many agents couldn't survive the crash and moved on to new careers. Not the Wehmann Team, we set records for 2009 and plan on dominating in 2010.

Outside the office I am making big changes for myself in 2010 too. There are several things I'm set out to do in 2010 I've never done before. Here is a look at just a few, I'll let you decide which ones I'll be taking seriously:

So I couldn't of chosen a worse time of year to train for a marathon, I'm convinced of that much. This cold has been relentless, I've been looking forward to the forecast of it getting up to the 50's this weekend. I survived my longest run of the training so far, a twelve miler this past Sunday. The nice thing about the cold is I focus more on my frost bitten limbs than the fact my knees are giving out with each stride.

In the glamourous world of real estate, I have sat down with too many sellers latelty who want to move, but they bought in 2007 and their values have dropped or stayed the same. "I can't afford to lose $10,000 on the sale, I'll wait until next year once the market has recovered." This has been the reality and many listings I have to walk away from. But not before I give these home owners a realistic option.

Take a look at how low interest rates are now and how soft the market it. Say you are moving up, selling your $200,000 home to buy a $300,000 home. You don't want to take a price cut of $10k so you'll wait until next year. But let's say next year the market's recovered, buyers aren't getting the same kind of deals and interest rates are back up. So much for that $10k you "thought" you were saving. Here's a look at the math:

Loan $300,000

Today's Rate: 4.875% 30 year

Monthly Payment $1,589

But you wait until next year and the interest rates are up-

Loan $300,000

Possible Rate: 6.0% 30 year

Monthly Payment $1,798

With these comparisons, you are paying $75,969 more in interest over the life of the loan. That isn't factoring the deal you can get in todays market, or the $8,000 or $6,500 tax credits available. You don't need to see much more to know that NOW is the time to buy, even if it means selling for less than you want. Thank you to Susan Trimmer for these #'s.

If you have read this far, you might be in luck. The first person to answer this question correctly and post the answer in the comment section below gets a $10 Starbucks gift card sent to you, by me.

Q: What James Taylor song reminds first-time buyers to obtain hazard and flood insurance?

Ho Ho Home for the Holidays

2009-12-23T13:34:00.011-05:00

Happy Holidays everyone! I'll start you off with a little poem I wrote about the weather this week in the Triangle:

I feel like we got robbed this week in our State.

It's been raining for weeks. It's more than we can take.
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Then, the weatherman said "We'd see some snow-

an inch or twelve", he didn't quite know.
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The stores were soon packed - milk & bread quickly bought,

"I think I just saw a snowflake" or so they'd all thought.
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I soon located my sled and headed for the hills,

but with this "speckle" of snow, I couldn't catch any thrills.
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It snowed for a minute and then turned to rain.

Once more, I thought to myself - not more of this again.

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The Northeast was buried. They got a day off work,

Here "O'Fishel" can't leave his house for being called a "jerk".

---

Winter is just starting, so I'll still make this wish,
Soon I'll be downhillin' on my neighbors satellite dish.

I will be spending the holidays here with my family in Chapel Hill. I've been in the office a lot for December, a typically slow month for real estate. I have been Triangle wide this month; a new listing in Raleigh, buyer under contract in Chapel Hill, and working with flippers to get a home ready for sale in Durham. That and getting all my New Years calendars ready to send out to you all.

2009 has been a roller coaster between work and life. The market went bust but it was another record year for my sales, my Dad and I joined up to form The Wehmann Team, and I got to see my nieces and nephews get one year older. I saw friends get married, have kids and start new lives, I had a best friend who's life was taken just as it was getting started. I hope that through all the madness of this past year you made it out the other side a brighter person.

In the spirit of old Saint Nick, I thought I would cover a home maintenance topic often overlooked until December: The Chimney. You don't want Santa shaking off all that soot in your living room, so think about getting it cleaned and inspected. It is recommended by the Chimney Safety Institute you have yours cleaned once a year, but that is a lot to ask of any homeowner.

When the soot starts to build up inside a chimney, there are more hazards than a smelly home. This soot can ignite up inside your fireplace, making it's way through any cracks that may exist causing a home fire. Build up in narrow pathways through fireplace, such as birds nests, may block the smoke then circulating carbon monoxide back into your home. This goes for gas fires too. So if it's been a while, have your chimney swept and inspected for your homes health.

Have a fun and safe New Years eve, and here's to a great 2010. Thanks to everyone who brought me business and referrals this year, and to all of those that read my blog I really appreciate it. I started this blog with a poem, might as well end it with a joke:

What did one snowman say to the other?

"Does it smell like carrots to you?"

Going The Distance

2009-11-24T19:01:00.004-05:00

Gobble Gobble y'all, it's that time of year again. Work potlucks, tacky sweaters and road trips back home. I personally enjoy all of those things, and everything else that goes with the holidays. Many of you will be out hitting the stores this Black Friday, I personally avoid it. Although I do like the competition aspect of it. Storming to the back of a Home Depot at 5:45am to get my hands on one of ten graphite broom handles for only $4.99!

Running has never been a thing I've enjoyed, so no telling why I started training for a marathon. Maybe because I'm not a big fan of the gym, I seem to spend more time getting ready than I do in there. I've picked out a novice training program although it doesn't feel that way. The longest run I've had to endure so far is 6 miles, I ran 3 today in just under 24 minutes. Getting onto the sofa even feels like a strain afterwards, but I'm sticking with it. 16 more weeks to go!

Another part of the holidays is the real estate market slows down. This year is a little different than last however, October sales Triangle wide were up 26% from last year. These increases are good news for the market, but it should also be considered October 2008 was just about the complete bottom of the market. We also have the tax credit working to our advantage, helping existing and new home buyers now.

Many people don't want their home being showed over the holidays for good reason. Let's take a look at the other side of that, some advantages to listing this time of year:

1. The buyers looking this time of year tend to be more serious.

2. There are fewer homes on the market, less competition means more money for sellers.

3. Many people will buy before the end of the year for tax purposes.

4. Sell your home now so you have time to buy and take advantage of the $6,500 tax credit!

Since we are on the topic of Thanksgiving and delicious food, I'm glad to see a Trader Joe's has opened up near me. It would have been safer running through traffic than making your way through there on Opening Day, I tried. But when it settles down, get your hands on some of those appetizers. Most I've tried are delicious, and the Two Buck Chuck isn't too shabby either. I'm sure quite a few of you will be having a glass over the holidays.

I'm looking forward to my high school 10 year class reunion this Friday. Geez how time flies. It's being held over at The Station in Carrboro, I hope there's enough room. It's a combo reunion of both high schools since many of us from East Chapel Hill High once attended Chapel Hill High. I'm sure people will still be arguing over which one is better.

I'll be pulling for East Carolina to win their division this Saturday and host the C-USA title game, either way a solid season from Skip Holtz and the Pirates. It's also important to note this is the most dangerous holidays for driving and there are a high rate of accidents. Drive safe, take it slow and enjoy your Thanksgiving weekend.

To the Max!

2009-11-02T11:43:00.000-05:00

Halloween is just the best, do I really have to wait another year for it? My sister Carrie put her seamstress skills to work and fixed me up with this "Max" costume from Where the Wild Things Are. Of course the year I wear a thick fabric suit it was 80 degrees out. Franklin Street was a good crowd even though the town is trying to close that chapter of Chapel Hill tradition. I'm sure this video kept a lot of people from joining the festivities, haha. My only regret is that I missed this flash mob that gathered for a Thriller rendition.

My blog domain name is ringing even truer these days. Per my home showings this Saturday, I began in Chapel Hill and ended in Garner. It's only right I had made the switch from TarHeel Broker to Triangle Broker a few years ago, I am covering all sides of the Triangle on a regular basis. I am consistently educating myself on all areas of the Triangle so I can be a good resource of information to my clients.

Over at my main website, http://www.liveinthetriangle.com/ has been invoked with a little bit of sound. Friend & musician Nick Bailey prepared a track he thought would be fitting and I think it does just the trick.

The decisions made in Washington this week could have a large impact on my business. I'm crossing my fingers that the tax credit extension is passed. This has proven to make an impact on home sales this past year and certainley on my business. The extension would include a new credit, if you have owned a home for 5 of the last 8 years you would be eligible for a $6,250 credit. The first time buyer credit of $8,000 would remain. Just waiting on the politicians in Washington to put their ink on it.

If your thinking to yourself, "I can't afford a house because I spend all my time & money on golf", don't worry. You aren't to be left out. Many have discovered the loop hole in the tax credit now being dubbed "Cash for Clubbers". Consumers are getting golf carts qualifying as street legal for almost free through the loophole in legislation. Ironically those people getting these free carts and playing golf frequently are not the targeted recipients of the governments bailout money. Somebody has to be yelling "fore" over this in Washington.

Local elections are underway and the streets of Chapel Hill are littered with signs. I'll be ready for these to be over so 1.)my For Sale & Open House signs can get some recognition again 2.)we need some better candidates involved in the Town Council. I'm endorsing Jon DeHart for this position. The last cycle of Council members issued themselves lifetime health coverage. Nice move during a recession guys. Matt Czajkowski was the only Council member to protest it, that will probably be enough to get him the votes for the Mayor position he looks to fill.

This week as I try to cope with my favorite holiday being over, I look forward to a Christmas full of egg nog and tacky sweater parties. There will be a holiday that involves lots of food and plenty of homes to show in the Traingle until then. After four years as a Realtor I'm used to work slowing down as we move towards winter. This year is turning out to be different, my Dad and I are both outfitted with clients and look to end our year strong. The amount referrals I have recieved this year from friends and past clients has been flattering. I appreciate everyone that trusts in the level of committment I give to my clients. Have a great week.

Tickled Pink

2009-10-02T15:03:00.002-04:00

I know you are probably thinking, "Wow, another blog already? But he just wrote one." Well I am crazy...crazy for blogging. Ok moving on, I'm looking forward to another weekend and the last wedding I will be attending this year. That is pending none of my friends elope and ask me to attend, I have never known anyone to do that. Such a free country we live in.

It's been busy around our office this week preparing for Tickled Pink. Our group gets very involved with breast cancer awareness in October, this is one local event that we are involved with here in Chapel Hill. Some agents here spent many hours this week preparing this scene out front of our office. The pink pumpkins were painted that color, otherwise I'd be winning a ribbon at the fair with one of those.

So I'm going to give a brief snapshot on how the Triangle market has fared this year so far. We have seen our sales returning from 2008 albeit at a slow pace. The average sales price has only reduced 6% Triangle wide compared with 2008. Some areas like Chapel Hill have even seen a 12% rise in sale price. These are not bad numbers given that closed sales are down over 20% on the year.

The numbers show more homeowners have decided to stay put this year, with new homes on the market down 19% over 2009. With even less inventory the homes are still averaging 14% more days on market. A continuing trend into 2009 is the lower end homes are selling much better. The high end home market has been slower and spending even more time on the market. This trend is likely caused by the tighter lending limitations on the high end and great rates and a tax credit benefiting the low end market.

The market from my perspective has been great for my buyers. My dad and I have had 5 closings in the past 20 days alone. This next few months will be a real scramble as my first time buyers rush to get under contract before the end of the month. Most of my clients have been getting FHA loans, only requiring 3.5% down at a great rate. Many of them have used Whitney Long at Carolina Home Mortgage who has prepared their loan packages in less that 30 days.

I am glad to see my favorite band Widespread Panic is making it's way into the Carolinas. It's been a while since I've seen the boys. I am debating on heading up to Portsmouth, VA this Wednesday but will 100% be at the Raleigh show next Sunday.

I've been thinking a lot of my friend Chris since he passed a few weeks ago. Some days it still doesn't feel real. It's hard to think of going to concerts and tailgates this fall with out him around. I know he is missed very much by everyone.

Hope you all have a safe & relaxing weekend. Thanks for reading my blog on your Friday, hope you get to leave work early today.

Bright Side of the Road

2009-09-23T15:25:00.002-04:00

I've been enjoying my new location downtown Raleigh lately. I fancy a nice bike ride or evening stroll, with lots to offer in the immediate area it's been quite dandy. A bike ride up to the Cameron Village Harris Teeter is much more enjoyable than fighting that cramped parking lot mess. A jog down to Five Points is the perfect run if you're like me and keep it under a mile. Or walk down to the new pizza place Sauced for a late night slice.

I work between Raleigh & Chapel Hill so the I-40 drive can be a bit tedious. As long as you don't get the mobile secretary driving 55 in the far left lane it goes by like a breeze though. That is one reason the Triangle keeps getting rave reviews and top rankings by so many publications. There is so much to offer in each town, from Raleigh to Durham & Chapel Hill; if you aren't enthused by one town you can skirt on down the road to the next.

I'd have trouble calculating the tax dollars going towards programs that so many people can't even access. $8,000 for each first time homebuyer, $4,000 for every clunker turned in. So here is a look at other programs that will help you get your piece of the pie while making your home more efficient.

Cash For Appliances

There is a federal program available this fall allowing consumers to get cash rebates when they buy new, energy efficient appliances. There will be $300 million in funding with rebates ranging from $50-$200. Lower your bills & spruce up your home at the same time. Remember, appliances are personal property & are not considered part of the sales price unless specified. You can always take these with you on your next move.

Efficiency Rebates

The government is rewarding homeowners that make their homes more efficient in other ways as well. From windows to roofs, insulation to water heaters. You can receive up to $1,500 in credit for installing eligible HVAC units right now. Make sure when purchasing any of these products you are educated in what qualifies for the credit. For those homeowners that will have to replace any of these in the near future, better act now before these credits expire.

It's no secret though there is talk about extending & increasing these credits, most importantly the home buyer credit. Tim Geithner acknowledged last week they would be looking into this. It's no gurantee though, so don't get caught looking if the put the brakes on the program. Maybe they'll do a clunker home trade in program. Matter a fact some builders in the Raleigh area are doing just that, allowing you to trade your existing home for one of theirs, plus the difference of course.

Well the football season is off to a fast start, just like ECU's loss column. That 1-2 record is good evidence how we appear to be playing though. Despite losing to UNC this weekend I had a great time at the game. You certainly get your money's worth of exercise tracking friends down at a UNC tailgate though, climbing parking deck stairs is a lot different than crossing the flat terrain of Greenville. An ECU football alum made headlines on theOnion.com last week in this article . Most of you ECU grads should get a kick out of it.

Chris Raynor Oct.20 1980-Sept.12 2009

Obituary

"If I had one gift that I could give you, my friend, it would be the ability to see yourself as others see you, because only then would you know how extremely special you are."~B.A. Billingsly

I'll always miss you Big Cat

Getaway's & Giveaway's

2009-08-21T10:33:00.005-04:00

This week has been a bit crazy for me trying to get all caught up. I was out of town last week & a sure fire way to become busy as a Realtor is to go on vacation, it happens every time. Luckily my Dad & business partner was here to pick up all the slack. During the time I was gone he put our new listing under contract and wrote two offers for my first time homebuyer clients. Only 100 days left on the tax credit so lots of these folks I'm working with are starting to feel the squeeze.

The past week I spent down in St.Thomas with my girlfriend JoBeth. It was an amazing place and I'll miss the poolside drinks & that crystal clear water. What I found funny in the Virgin Islands is the law prohibiting you from driving with your shirt off. They'll slap you with a quick fine for that, but it's totally legal to tote an open beer while driving. If you see someone doing both at the same time you probably just pulled across the border into Georgia, now head on back to NC ya hear.

So one thing I've really enjoyed since making the move to Coldwell Banker is all the tools they make accessible for us. The entire way people start their home search is moving towards the internet and they realize that. New tools like this iPhone app give the property I sell much more exposure while being a great search tool for consumers at the same time.

This coming weekend will be a busy one with about 14 showings, a home inspection and a Sunday Open House. There I can at least look forward to eating my Ben & Jerry's, I can never give it away! Who would of thought passing off single scoop cups of ice cream on a hot day would be difficult. Maybe they don't want the added pressure of buying the house that comes with eating the agents delicious treats. There is however no commitment to buy after treating yourself to a scoop of my Chunky Monkey.

Well other than the busy forecast I'm hoping to get in some fun this weekend. I'll probably head to Carabba's for dinner one night with the gift card I won. Usually I win based on luck, but this was a home pricing competition and I came out on top. My market knowledge was strong that day. Anyways I hope that all of you have a splendid weekend. Download the new CB app on your iPhone and find a home I can show you next weekend!

SPF 8,000

2009-07-29T16:38:00.018-04:00

It's 5:00 somewhere, thankfully right now that place is Emerald Isle. My family is down for a week and right now we're awaiting some house guests coming over for cocktails & hors d'oeuvres. The weather has been great for us this week and I've taken on a bright shade of red. SPF 6 was a bold move for my first full day of sun.

Duty has called and I have to return back to Raleigh for work tomorrow unfortunately. I shouldn't complain , it's nice to have so many clients and to be this busy right now. I turn right back around and head to Tampa for a bachelor party on Friday. That kicks off a 2-month spree of one wedding after another. Throw in a trip I'm taking with JoBeth to St.Thomas in August and it makes for lots of traveling but lots of good times ahead.

The recession seems to have done most of it's damage on the real estate market. The # of sales around the country are picking back up although sale prices still seem to be down. In some markets these prices are picking back up quickly. I am skeptical of anything that happens quickly in a real estate market. The Triangle was slower to react to the slump and I see a benefit to it rising at the same pace.

While the # of sales in the Triangle is down about 14%, the average sales price is only down about 9% from the last year. This is a good sign homes are holding their values a little better than other areas. These low interest rates coupled with the valuable tax credit available to first time buyers should keep our local market headed in the right direction. Don't forget, only 124 days left to get your $8,000 tax credit.

Well I'm posting on Twitter now, you can follow me @JohnnyWehmann. It seems like just yesterday I was refusing to join Facebook, my how times change.

Well that cocktail hour is sneaking up here so I better wrap up. Here's a quick look at some of the fun my family has been having here at the beach. My nieces & nephew are at a great age right now and keep their Uncle Johnny quite busy. Thanks for reading - Adios!

Kelly & Wyatt after a go-kart ride, he definitely thought he was driving!

Carrie & Lily floating in the surf

Giving Wyatt some surfing lessons

Light Fuse, Get Away

2009-07-02T16:06:00.002-04:00

The rubber is really hitting the road this weekend, everyone I know seems to be making their way out of town. Most folks are heading to the coast, including myself. I was wondering if I would ever get a weekend off this summer, turns out I will after all. We'll be shacking up down at Oak Island for some sun & relaxation.

If you are making your way down I-40 take a look at this ridiculous thing off the Cary exit. I just noticed it for the first time the other day. It is a cell phone tower that residents were complaining over, apparently it's ugly and unbearable. They have since revised it to look like a tree. Albeit a tree 60 feet higher than any surrounding trees. Personal opinion=way tackier.

Instead of pushing everyone to get their first home & $8k in tax credit, I'll offer up some household tips for those that have already done so.

Refrigerator

Clean it our every few months, you know who you are. You should also be cleaning the coils on the back every year. This can easily be done with a vacuum cleaner attachment. If you want to check that you have a good seal on the door, it should be able to hold a dollar bill in place when you shut it.

Air Conditioning

If you are using the traditional fiberglass filters you should be changing it monthly. Who really does that you wonder? Maybe no one, but it will keep your system running much more efficiently. Want to go green? They make reusable filters that require a monthly clean.

Washer/Dryer
Does it sometimes sound like the washer is a bucking bronco? Whoa cowboy, adjust the legs on that thing. Turn these legs clockwise to lower them all to the same level. It's also a good idea to check the supply houses for wear & tear. A busted hose when your out of the house can cause major problems.

Disposal

Give it a good clean by running a tray full of ice cubes through there while flushing with cold water. Throwing your extra lemon wedges in there can help the smell too. To prevent it from getting clogged, run the water for at least 20 seconds after use.

Billy May's passed away this week, but his products live on. Pick up some Oxy products to clean up your household. But it was the Michael Jackson coverage that dominated the news recently. I'd guess to say Michael Jackson was the most famous person on the planet. He seemed like an odd character to me, but I love his music and I may have been the only person who bought his last CD he put out. Yes people do still buy CD's.

I hope everyone has a safe and fun holiday weekend. Let's not forget what we are celebrating and the troops who are fighting for us. And let my accident in 2003 be a lesson to everyone that the instructions on firework labels should be followed. Thanks to the ECU burn clinic you'd never know it, thanks y'all!

A great place to visit but a better place to live...

2009-06-08T16:41:00.002-04:00

A couple times a year I find I overlook the importance of sunscreen. Today I'm paying for it as my face resembles a red delicious apple. Adding insult to injury I incurred the burn sitting through two ECU losses to UNC in baseball this weekend. The Tarheels really got the best of my Pirates, we chose a bad time to go cold as some UNC players came through with great performances. Oh well, there's always football season.
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This past Friday JoBeth & I were invited along with other guests to the G105 studio and surprisingly got some air time on Bob & The Showgram. I was caught off guard when they put us on the spot with an ambush of relationship questions. It was a fun experience though that I'll be able to look back on and laugh about. You can hear it here, starting on Seg 9 @ 4:49 & continues through Seg 11.

We won tickets to see The Hangover movie while we were there. That has to be the funniest movie I've seen in years and I'm anxious to get back and see it again. The folks sitting behind us did feel the need to laugh uncontrollably loud and repeat lines out loud and excessively. They were one kick of the back of my seat away from getting a drink in the lap, and I don't like wasting expensive movie sodas.

So the Triangle area received more great press recently. Our market #'s are looking great going into the summer and that has been reflective of my business as well. On the Today Show recently the Raleigh area was rated as the #2 market in the country predicted to rebound from the housing slump. Factors such as our early foreclosure rates, jobs here in RTP, and relocation were used in our ranking.

Forbes also just recently ranked Raleigh as the #1 place folks are relocating in the country. Charlotte was #3 behind Austin, TX so we are looking good in the Carolina's. Men's Journal just named Durhams' Watts-Hillindale as being one of the top 30 coolest neighborhoods in America. Alas the News & Observer didn't like the trend I suppose, so they continue to run negative front page housing articles like this that feed the fears of the public.

Well I'll need to find something else on Tuesday evenings to keep me busy these days, our kickball season is officially over. We were all disappointed to lose our first playoff game to a team we had already beaten in the regular season. I'll miss hanging out with the team each week but I'm sure lot's of the same folks will be ready to play next season. I'll personally name Mike, pictured here, our team MVP for his kickball skills and post game attendance.
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I'll be having my first Ben & Jerry's open house this weekend. If you're in Chapel Hill stop by my new listing at 1112 Willow Drive and have a scoop.

Two Scoops of Real Estate

2009-05-14T15:36:00.000-04:00

I just realized I've been blogging for over a year now. First getting started I had no idea how to even write a blog, many of you may still agree with that.

I have gotten plenty of questions this year about how my business is doing. Well it's truckin' along, working with a lot first time home buyers. Quite frankly if you're in the business of listing high priced homes you'd might rather be in my shoes, those homes just aren't selling right now. With home values low, an $8k tax credit, and a darn good Realtor if I might add, it's no suprise so many folks are going from renters to homeowners with my help this year.

Here's a look at why some homebuyers have chosen to work with me....

These last few months have been great working at HPW and teaming up with my Dad. We have some new marketing pieces coming out soon, even have a photo shoot set up this week. I may need to swing into Supercuts prior to that, it's hard to have helmet head & look professional at the same time.

We are also seeing great success over at the Chapel Hill BNI group where I serve as President. This past Tuesday we had over 40 guests visit us. It was there I met the manager of Ben & Jerry's and created a new concept. Instead of cookies & soda at an Open House, why not delicious ice cream. I meet with him next week to work out a plan for doing so, I just know that advertising Ben & Jerry's at my Open Houses' is going to bring me more traffic than the place next door.

Days like this coming Saturday I feel fortunate all my family lives here in town. First I'll be out of the house bright & early to help my sister set up for a garage sale. Growing up I used to love hoping around to yard sales early Saturday with my Dad, I'm sure this will bring back good memories. I may even gather a few things of my own to sell, I'm really not sure when I'm going to wear that piano key necktie anyways. Then I'm off to my niece Sarah's dance recital. If she can match all her dancing moves she and her sister show off in the playroom at home then it will surely be a success.
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And here's to the Hurricaines pulling out a win in Game 7 tonight, I want more hockey! Let's Go Canes!

Fire Sale

2009-04-21T15:14:00.009-04:00

It's always nice to get back to my Alma mater East Carolina. I was back this past weekend for the SigEp Alumni Golf Tournament. I didn't make it any easier on my pairing that's for sure, my golf game has been in decline since playing Nurf Putt-Putt as a kid. The event was designed as a fundraiser, and what better way to get checkbooks out than to serve $1 beers on the course all day.

The fundraising was much needed, our back fraternity house recently burned down because of a faulty electrical outlet. It was scary to see the place I lived for a couple years charred to the ground, especially since there was no fire alarm system in place during that time. Everyone made it out safely though and the rebuild should be starting soon.

Right now in real estate I have quit a few folks looking to buy. Those that see the real opportunity right now don't want to miss out. We are currently seeing an inflated inventory of homes and a true buyers market. You won't find desperation from every seller, but deals are on the doorsteps of many homes currently on the market. Interest rates are in a great place right now, I have a client closing on a FHA 3% down loan and a UNC medical resident getting 100% financing.

Too many folks right now are making the mistake of believing these programs are washed up. The national headlines sure make it seem that way. I wish they'd shed more light on the $8,000 homebuyer tax credit rather than the dried up lenders making news. There are great incentives right now for first time homebuyers, which includes those who haven't owned a home in the past 3 years. For them, they will receive and $8,000 tax break if closed before December 1st. Don't owe that much in taxes? They'll send you a check for the rest.

I'm glad it's that time of year for live outdoor music. This Friday in Chapel Hill marks the start of Fridays on the Front Porch downtown at the Carolina Inn. The great food & hopping bluegrass makes a good start to any weekend. Over in Raleigh, the Beach Music Series has begun at North Hills Mall. Thursday evenings you can pull up a chair or dance on your feet to some of the best beach music acts in the Carolinas.

Over at the big music venue Walnut Creek, Jimmy Buffet is putting on a show this week. Unfortunately I can't go this year, but even better I'll be babysitting for this guy. My nephew Wyatt is closing in on 2 years old and sprouting up fast, I think I may have been his same height at age 7. You can check in on Wyatt's adventures right here on my sister Kelly's blog.

Hope everyone is having a swell week so far. Tell any friends or family you have renting to get off the fence and give me a call, the window of opportunity is open.

Horsing Around

2009-04-01T08:42:00.003-04:00

Well this past Sunday sure took an interesting turn. I made a trip up to Virgina for a visit to the Colonial Downs horse track. I've had some luck with horse betting in the past, so I felt good this particular Sunday. A friend of mine got us onto center field to chat with some regulars, then even back to some of the stable areas. I guess it was then I was "spotted" by a local horse owner.

According to him I've got the perfect stature for a jockey. I did some training exercises later that day and seemed to pass the test, it had been a while since I'd been on a horse too. I head up Thursday for 3 days of training before race day on Sunday. I couldn't be more nervous about it though, the horse I'm riding is a young 1 1/2 years old. Her name is Martina McRide, after the country music star I suppose. I'm just hoping to finish a lap while staying on the saddle, but would love a win my first race.

So growing your business as a Realtor is all about exposure in the community. That's why I've decided to start my own cause & event this year. After learning that 3 people were attacked by rabid dogs in my neighborhood alone this year, I'm putting on the 1st annual Run For Rabies. I'm working on the Animal Shelter being a co-sponsor but they are so difficult to hear on the phone, too much background noise.

It will be a 100 yard dash only so won't need a huge commitment from participants. We'll have both cute adorable dogs on hand, as well as those exposed with rabies. A quick tutorial on identifying the symptoms will be held before the race. I really think it's a good theme for an event because it will teach prevention and rabies doesn't have a lot of public exposure right now.

Well the NCAA Final Four upon us and I am still leading all the pools I've entered. With only 1 wrong pick so far in the tournament how could I not be!!!! I didn't even put much thought into my picks so it's pretty crazy, I only wish I had entered more pools. I'm just hope those awesome Tar Heels cut down the nets!

Today is also April Fools so hopefully you didn't take much(any) of this seriously. Be sure to check in next time for some "real" blogging.

Fear & Loathing in America

2009-03-09T18:48:00.006-04:00

In this economy we could all use some extra savings. And we got it in the best form on Saturday night, Daylight Savings. I love the longer days, especially with weather as good as we're having now. Who doesn't like more daylight? Maybe drive thru movie operators. To take advantage of it I got out for some frisbee golf on the UNC campus yesterday with my Dad. He hasn't played in over a year and beat me at my own game, how does that happen?

Following his win my Dad was off to our yearly company banquet. Now someone forgot to look at a calendar when scheduling that event, they put it right in the middle of the Duke vs UNC game. I decided to skip it myself, there are a few things I can't miss every year and that game is one of them. Plus I've only been with the new company a few weeks now; if I was getting an award already then someone must of screwed up somewhere.

All the economic news is increasingly unfavorable these days, I'll try to find some positives to report here. The Triangle Business Journal recently reported on some encouraging data for us here in the triangle. Our market has completed a tricky task in 2008, with the number of sales down for the year; average home prices still gained ground. Major areas of the Triangle saw a 2-3% rise in home prices, going strongly against the national grain.

If Realtors Decided Movie Titles

Nationally the FHFA reported nationwide a fall of 4.5% in home values for '08. Some 20% of mortgages nationwide are going under, leaving the banks really sucking wind. Most economic outlooks are looking grim for 2009, let's hope these low rates can hold for a while. I just hope the Triangle market can continue to hold strong while the kinks get worked out of our nations economy. If it could take on 2008 I have confidence in our markets future here in the Triangle.

So my business networking group is taking off in Chapel Hill. We recently had our Visitors Day which was a big success. We are at 14 members right now and one of the fastest growing chapters in the area. At $430 a year people aren't flocking to join, but the ones that see the real value join and inevitably grow their business exponentially. Right now I have those 14 members working like a sales team for me, just like those reading my blog. Right?

Well it looks like I'm off to the brewery. It just opened about a stones throw from my house and I am quite excited about it. It's large deck overlooks the Raleigh skyline and has a good neighborhood feel. The beer I've tried so far has been delicious and the food not too shabby. Ok enough blogging I'm getting down there, until next time.

Dude, where's my bailout?

2009-02-19T13:15:00.018-05:00

Time for the weekend, I've been positively busy these past couple weeks and finally getting caught up. I've been eligible to substitute teach but still haven't had a free day to do so. I'm hoping to get a shot next week, I'll be starting with Elementary. Twenty kids for 7 hours should be a piece of cake, right? I'm really hoping there will be an opening for a P.E. class. I'll have to avoid all temptation of jumping into the dodgeball game, I know it already. I hope a student brings me an apple, that would make a great first day.

So lots of things have happened since last time I posted. For starters, I'm over at a new office, Coldwell Banker HPW. Since being here I've started a team with my Dad which I'm really excited about. This gives us the ability to give clients better service on every level. With him on board, I now increase my client list and get a helping hand with all of my current business. We put our first c0-listing on the market yesterday, priced at $285,000 in the new Powell Place development in Pittsboro.

The President has just unveiled his bailout plan to fight home foreclosures. The $75 billion dollars will aim to keep people from losing their homes with several strategies. Helping people refinance and giving lenders incentives not to foreclose are all part of his plan, while putting money into Freddie & Fannie to demonstrate to the public we have a strong financial backing and money to lend. This along with the new tax credits that were unveiled will hopefully add a boost to the US housing market and the economy.

While housing market decline seems to headline the national news, we're seeing the other side of it in my business. My Dad and I have had a rush of clients to start this year, it makes us realize the fortune of being in an area like the Triangle. I've encountered several multiple offer situations already this year, a lack of inventory for some clients, and a lot of buyers looking to take advantage of all these current incentives like low rates and tax breaks.

I've got plans to hit the basketball court over the weekend, I haven't picked up a ball in years though. All these games on TV recently have given me the itch to play, I just hope I can still hit the rim. I've never been much of a dunker which is wild, I know. Mugsy Bogues always gave me hope growing up, but that dream sort of faded when I didn't make the middle school team. I'm organizing a Duke vs UNC pick-up game for March 8 before the real matchup, I'll have to really work on my cross over before then.

Chilly today, Hot tamale

2009-01-26T14:40:00.006-05:00

This past weekend was spent west in Blowing Rock with my family. It was my parents anniversary but they wanted to get everyone out there together. Winterfest was running so the town was bustling with events and tourist filled sidewalks. Over at the Chetola resort I took part in the "Polar Plunge", what the video below doesn't show is the 75 year old couple going in after me.

I didn't have time to stick around for costume awards as I rushed over to the chili cook-off. With over 50 chili's and many cook-off veterans in the hunt for a $500 first prize, it was my "Chapel Chilli" that was off to an early lead. It wasn't meant to be however, the unexpected 900 hungry attendees cleaned out my big pot just an hour in. With two hours left and no more chili to serve, I saw my lead fade quickly. Trying to round up votes with charm and an empty pot proved a waste of time, these folks were hungry for some spice.

Back in the Triangle I am trying to get all the loose ends tied for a client closing this Friday. This owner will be left dealing with a tax value problem seen across the country as of late. Many devalued homes are now stuck with very high tax values. During the boom many homes across the country were overvalued and the tax assessments are a reflection. Properties with tax values of $250k are selling for $200k. Who wants to pay taxes on an extra $50k in imaginary value?

One solution is having a new appraisal completed to reflect the homes current value. Get this down to the tax assessors office and state your case, there are ways of appealing. In some states folks are lobbying their state legislature, in some law makers are calling for property tax reform. During a time many towns will have budget shortfalls, less property tax is an issue that may cause problems for both sides in the future.

Once you've saved yourself thousands in taxes, go spoil yourself with one of these. We took an hour long Segway tour recently in downtown Raleigh. They are amazingly simple to ride and got a high entertainment rating from me. The guide puts on a good history lesson without putting you to sleep, but is also quick to call you out for riding too recklessly.

I'm ready for the Superbowl but don't' have much vested interest in either team this year. Since Arizona is the underdog I'll be cheering them on I suppose. I'm more excited to hold my Annual Paper Rock Scissors tournament this year. After a first round elimination last year, I'm determined more than ever to win. Time to practice.

Resolutionary

2009-01-09T14:12:00.002-05:00

Welcome to 2009, glad you could be here. All that holiday eating and relaxing was most enjoyable, but if feels good to be back into the regular routine. I really like my job so it's nice getting back in the swing of things. Pretty slow business wise during the holiday season, I did get one home under contract though. Aside from a home inspection on Christmas Eve the break proved pretty work free.

I went down to Long Beach for several days over new years. It was nice being on a secluded beach with no agenda whatsoever, just a fridge full of food & drinks with good weather to go along. The only disappointment was the fact I lost every single board game we played, biggest fluke ever I suppose. Driving through Southport and down the coast, it was surprising to see so many building projects put on hold. Appeared many builds shut down half way through, made me grateful our market is holding on as strong as it is.

So new years is the time of making resolutions. I'm great at that part, it's sticking with them that's more difficult. Here are a few I'm shooting for:

Dressing for the Occasion

I mean putting a tie on everyday. Whenever I wear ties into the office, I always seem to get the "what are you all dressed up for?" "Because I'm at work" would be the obvious answer, but my profession has become so casual it seems to catch everyone off guard. I want to be known as an expert & professional so I'll dress like it. I get to make plenty of first impressions every week, I'm hoping this improves each one of them.

Substitute Teach

I completed an application in November down at the headquarters and have yet to get started. Teaching would be a rewarding profession I imagine, my Mom sure enjoyed it for almost 20 years. I really want to make time for one or two days a week to get in there. I am lucky to have a schedule that is flexible enough to do such a thing, so I'll try and take advantage. Looking forward to being back at my elementary seeing all my old teachers.

Philanthropy

I'm ashamed to say every time I see that word on a form I don't know what to put next to it. Last time I really volunteered it was at The Boys & Girls Club in college. I've passed on a few mentor programs in the past few years because of my schedule, I'd like to try and make time for something along those lines. I certainly don't want to commit to something beyond my means so I'll have to find the right opportunity. Send any ideas my way if you'd like.

Outside of writing blogs and making new years resolutions, the year has started quite busy for me. That's a great sign as 2008 ended quite slow. These low interest rates keep bringing buyers out of the wood works and gotten me quite busy. I'm glad it's Friday however and I'm ready for the weekend. I think tonight has some beer & bowling in store for me. If you have not finished making your weekend plans, find a theatre near you playing Slumdog Millionaire. As many movies I've seen over the past month it had to be the best. Until next time, make sure to keep up with all your resolutions.

The Grinch who Stole Equity

2008-12-15T13:10:00.000-05:00

Not to be rude, but I'm really hoping carolers don't stop by my house this year. It's always so awkward; me standing on the porch humming along while strangers sing to me. During the coldest time of year at that. Maybe I'll just start checking through the blinds before I answer. I'm guaranteed to walk right back inside should this crew show up.

It's easy to go meal to meal never getting hungry this time of year, that's what I'm thankful for. Finding food in our real estate office is quite possibly easier than finding coffee in the pot, so this time of year it gets on the verge of poisonous. You could sift through all the gift baskets to find the exotic chocolates of your liking, or just grab the brittle from the basket closest to you. All on your way to the computer of course. If you know where to submit the record for the fastest a Honey Baked Ham was ever consumed, please inform me. I timed and witnessed it today.

As we aim to enjoy the holidays, it's hard for the position of the economy to be ignored. So let's take a look. When things such as prices go down, consumers are merry. Except when it's a product they're selling, right? For most of our country, that cheer is stemming from our super low gas prices and bargain interest rates. That pain, well it's generated from the not so appealing lower figures. Like the fact only 20 homes inside Chapel Hill city limits closed in November. Or maybe it's from the 500k in job losses our country faced in the month of November. The economy has to be The Grinch of Christmas '08.

So what is the fed doing to improve the housing market? It has been told we may see mortgage rates drop to as low as 4.5%. This comes as the Treasury continues to halt foreclosures and attempts to revitalize the countries housing market. Low rates and government bail out don't mean immediate changes to the market. The folks getting these low rates have excellent credit history and money to put down. Problem being this is not most people, and certainly not the same people banks were loaning to during the boom. Let's take a look at what goes into a credit score.

As you can see, many first time home buyers and those with poor credit have no avenue left for purchasing property. With all the foreclosures recently, maybe that is the way the system should be designed. I personally hope that alternate but responsible avenues of credit are created, as that gives more opportunity to the lower income home buyer and average American.

With some brief news on my Alma mater, ECU won the Conference USA Championship and is off to play Kentucky for the Liberty Bowl in Memphis on January 2. I don't think I'll be making the trip, but I still don't have plans for new years. I've seen Widespread Panic play in Atlanta for every new years as far as I can remember, which I'll miss as they are out in Denver this year. I'm envisioning something low key though, as a crowded bar or party is not where I'm looking to be when the ball drops.

Tomorrow night I'll be watching the finale of The Biggest Loser. Please cheer on as friends Heba & Ed complete their journey and vie for the $250,000 first prize. I hope everyone enjoys their holidays. I myself am looking for a little snow to fall this year, as sledding never gets old. Catch back up in 2009 and we'll take a look at the year ahead. Happy Holidays!

All Aboard the Gravy Boat

2008-11-25T17:49:00.000-05:00

I'm down at Emerald Isle now having gotten a jump on my Thanksgiving break. We have a whole lot of family down for the week and a house that accommodates. We've been doing some boating & fishing so far but I can't seem to get a fish on the end of my line. It's kind of nice that things are slow with work right now. Every family beach trip I can remember has involved me scrambling to find a fax machine and impromptu trips back home to get a contract signed.

Since I'm on vacation, my blog will take a little vacation from the normal real estate scoop as well. The current market combine with this time of year doesn't leave much to be discussed. For those waiting on the market to hit bottom, well your time may be up around here. The rates today hit an incredibly low 5.25%. I for one am looking forward to a promising 2009 market. It should be interesting competing with my Dad this coming year too, who's now licenced and ready to sell.

The house we are staying in is called "One in a Million", which it really feels like. It's on the channel right next to the inlet, making for some good boating and hopefully more successful fishing. I'm pretty bummed about the heated pool out back, it's not working and Mr. Fix It from the rental office can't seem to get it going. I've been planning on spending half my week in that thing. There is a hot tub that will have to make due, although my sisters were laughing so hard in there earlier I'm not so sure it's safe to get in anymore.

It's been a blast having my nieces & nephews around here to entertain. During low tide we have all this beach to go play on right next to the house. My sister took this picture while we were out there yesterday.

Back in Chapel Hill last week, there wasn't a moment when I didn't have a Turkey lunch or dinner to attend. Whoever said there is no such thing as a free lunch obviously never sold real estate. I did find a break to volunteer with the Fix-A-Home project put on by the Chapel Hill Board of Realtors. The homeowner couldn't of been a sweeter old lady who showed her appreciation by the expression on her face every moment we were there. She did have a dog penned up in the smallest cage ever out back, I wish we could of spent half the day fencing in her back yard for it.

I hope you all have a great Thanksgiving. If your hitting the road, Travel safe. And if you get to choose pick fried turkey over baked. Mmmm I can taste it now.

Campaign '08

2008-11-03T10:39:00.000-05:00

If your looking for my opinion in the race for the White House, you won't find it here. Staying neutral on issues like politics have been a very important aspect of running my business. A party sticker on my car is going to alienate one client of mine or another, it's just not worth it. Voting is tomorrow however, and I encourage everyone to get out and cast theirs.

A recent survey taken by Zillow.com shows that one candidates supporters have more confidence in their home values than the others. Their survey also concludes 74% of homes have lost value across the nation in the past 12 months. 49% surveyed think their home has increased in value, so like Mark Twain said, "Denial ain't just a river in Egypt". Triangle agents are seeing their listing agreements expire day after day, with many not selling simply because of unreasonable expectations.

This is why I am campaigning for these expired and withdrawn listings. Many agents compete for a listing by trying to put the biggest price tag on it, an unethical and narrow-minded way to approach selling a home. I am working to get these sellers down to earth, put a reasonable price tag on the home and adjusting their inflated expectations. This is just one reason I consider myself a "consultant" rather that a "salesman". I want to give these sellers a realistic education on our market and let them make educated decisions. If they prefer to list with another agent who will price the home beyond the value I see, so be it. I prefer not to have my sign sit in a yard for 180 days anyways.

Because of the Triangle's strong Economic foundation, I don't think a lot of the disillusion is coming from here. Although for the first time in decades we are a "buyers market" with 15% more inventory than last years, that is gradually changing. Our market is not full of over-priced homes, but the ones expiring are good evidence of some that are. Over the next several months I am hoping my campaign will capture some of this business from sellers who are now deciding to take a more realistic approach.

Hi dee ho Neighbor! I hope everyone had a great Halloween. Chapel Hill scaled back it's festivities this year, but it sure felt the same. I was dressed as Wilson, the friendly neighbor from Home Improvement. I received some recognition, however I heard guesses ranging from "defense" to "Are you on the fence about voting?"

I hope lines at your polls are short, and that your candidate wins. Until next time...

Carolina On My Mind

2008-10-20T19:17:00.000-04:00

I took a trip to the State Fair yesterday. The weather could not have been better and the crowds weren't as bad as expected. I won this big ol' moose by throwing a ring around the neck of a bottle, piece of cake. We went on plenty of rides and saw sights like the eight-legged spider woman, who weren't all that weird in comparison to some of the folks you'll see at the fair. The food was good as always, I even went as far as trying the fried Snickers which was a delectable treat.

The rest of the weekend seemed to fly by. Saturday I spent watching some ECU football and it's good to see they are back to their winning ways. That evening we went to a haunted house put on by the Raleigh Jaycees. It had it's moments and was worth the admission, even someone as big & tough as me flinched a few times. After that it was off to a surprise party for my friend Chris Raynor. We had a swell time and even ended the night with a limo ride thanks to Chris' girlfriend.

So one question a lot of agents have been getting asked recently is "what are you doing to keep yourself busy?" It's a valid question, as the number of buyers and sellers is down significantly. Other than keeping my current clients as happy as can be, I've been working a million different ways to improve my business. I'll give you a look into just a few of the things I've been working on.

New Look for my Business

So I'm finally making my way out of the standard issue products everyone uses here at my office. That ranges from our company issued business cards to photography I use for marketing. I'm working on branding myself a little more, taking the focus off "Fonville Morisey" and putting it on myself. I've recruited the help of John Paredes, a graphic designer and photographer in Chapel Hill. He has created a design that looks great and I'm really excited about. With that & my new photographs he took I'm looking forward to having a new image for my business.

Building Relationships

Knowing people in the community has to be the most important part of building a referral business. Lately I have been trying to get my tail to every networking event I can. I have been building my BNI group, which has grown beyond everyone's expectations so far. You'll find me at the local Chamber leads group and every Business After Hours event they host. I am attending all the Realtor workshops, serving on our boards' membership committee and planning young Realtor events. If there is someone out there I don't know, it will only be a matter of time.

Discovering New Products

New real estate products are coming in everyday, most of them web-related. Our IT department has been great in helping me target these new sites. I have been looking into all the sites that get the most consumer traffic, creating profiles and posting my listings there. This gives me and my homes the extra exposure I can use. For example I recently joined Zillow.com, which has some great tools for me as an agent. Millions of consumers are using this site to search for real estate, and even though I find their "zestimates" to be very flawed information, it helps to put these consumers and agents like me together. Now when I sit in for a listing appointment, are you going to list with Billy Bob who advertises in the paper or an agent that will spread your listing across all the major real estate sites?

So that's just a glance at some of the things I'm doing to improve business, I can't have you knowing everything I do. Plus I need to pack my things and head up to the UNC campus soon. James Taylor is playing a free concert this evening I'm pretty excited about. Live music has to be one of my favorite things, I can't imagine life without it. It surely wouldn't be as sweet.

Economy Woes & TV Shoes

2008-10-01T22:21:00.000-04:00

Howdy everyone. I hope your having a great day. I have been so far, just got done playing a round of golf at The Governors Club with my boss and some other agents. It has to be one of the nicest courses I've ever played. I am pretty darn bad at golf but I enjoy playing. I trumped my normal goal of getting one par on the day, with a whole two pars. That called for some celebrating at the clubhouse after the round.

Speaking of achieving goals, many of you know my friends Heba & Ed are on The Biggest Loser this season. I went to the viewing party they hosted Tuesday and got to see them win an RV! I think everyone see's them as a big threat for how many challenges they have been winning, let's just hope they can keep it up. Tuesday nights at 8:00, make sure you are cheering on the orange team.

So last time I wrote I was going on about ECU football. Well that has taken a turn for the worst if you hadn't noticed. I really hope we can get it together and win the rest of our schedule, I'd hate for us to be some early season flash in the pan. I had to skip the game in Greenville this past weekend. Between showing houses and dog sitting for my old pal Delilah I couldn't make the trip. I was living with my friend Matt at the time he got her and for 2 years after, so it was fun getting to spend a weekend with her.

Right now my business is still moving, but the market is not making it an easy job. I am working with one buyer at the moment looking at foreclosures. There are plenty of these on the market right now, with a handful of them being good opportunities. The home we ended up pursuing is a short sale. The way a short sale works is a bank owes more than they are selling it for, they simply want to cut their losses. These tend to be better investments than other foreclosures. There are lots of situations where banks have given 1st & 2nd mortgages for close to the value of the home. When prices were increasing, this made sense. Now with prices stalling or falling, there is no way for the banks to recoup all their money; with no real investment opportunities in these homes they will sit on the market with the rest.

With all the money banks now have tied up in these homes, there is a limited amount of funds to lend. With the economic bailout plan set to be voted on today, the goal will be to put these funds back in place for the American consumer to borrow. It is a harsh reality to see now what has occurred, and the economy has learned a tough lesson. I suggest reading this article from 1999, which shows some seeds being planted that spurned this mortgage crisis.

I have seen some pretty creative ways to sell a property in recent months. Real Estate raffles seem to becoming quite popular with homeowners. I may buy a ticket for this house, $50 seems like a good price for a waterfront home. Other homeowners who can't sell will have to face the reality of foreclosure. I've sat with many of these homeowners where there is no solution in site. I find most people are more concerned with what their neighbors think thank their own financial future. In other news of note, I've recently put in my application to do some substitute teaching. I have a pretty flexible schedule so I look forward to being able to do this once or twice a week. I went by my old elementary the other day and let all my past teachers know, I'm pretty excited to be going to back to Ephesus Elementary now and then. Have a great weekend.

Purple Haze

2008-09-09T19:42:00.000-04:00

Well I couldn't of predicted this a couple weeks ago. Two of the best football games I've ever attended were back to back, and the Pirates came out on top of both. Holding the #8 team in the country WVU to 3 points was something special, but the excitement of the last minute win against Virginia Tech was exciting as it gets. The Pirates now hold a #14 ranking in the AP Poll and Coach Skip Holtz has just signed on to another six years at East Carolina!I have to admit, it sure was fun to be back in Greenville. I've got some friends that still live there that are nice enough to put us up for the weekend. With the success of the football team this year, the hotels are getting booked faster than the ECU students who rushed the field.

So when I haven't been engulfed in football this past couple weeks I've been working. My BNI group I wrote about last week is taking off, we had 7 new visitors this week that are all interested in joining. One moving to the area so hopefully we'll be out looking at some homes soon. It really is a great time for people to be home shopping, the interest rates just made another drop as well.

But what do you do if you are stuck in a home that just won't sell? There is something you'll see more of in the future, but it's been around for ages, Auctions. I don't want to call it a trend or say this form of selling real estate will take over, but I do feel there are properties out there that will benefit more from this type of sale. In some countries this is the primary means of selling real estate. I've seen some around Chapel Hill recently, so I signed up and took a course offered by Auction First North Carolina, Inc. It was a 4 hour course on just the fundamentals but what I learned was really eye opening.

First of all, it is amazing the response a AUCTION sign gets over the regular listing sign. As well as the online response from all over the world, auctions seem to attract a whole different breed of buyer. A home on Franklin Street here in Chapel Hill was listed with 3 agents over two years and no sale. They hired an auction company and were offered over their last listing price, and the buyer was from China! I really feel that real estate auctions will only find success in hard to sell and unique homes, but it is a great option to have for my buyers and sellers. Regular real estate licencees such as myself are working with buyers and sellers in these auctions, now I too am armed with all this information. I'll be interested to see where auctions go in the future, but with homes sitting on the market so long here in 2008 don't be surprised to see a sign near you.

I'm currently serving on the membership committee for the Chapel Hill Board of Realtors. My responsibilities are to head up a social function or two through out the year. I'm in the process of planning the 2nd Annual Young Realtor event to be hosted by The Franklin Hotel in downtown Chapel Hill. Last year the 35+ crowd felt a bit left out, so this year the theme will be more based on if you "feel young". I do, so I'll be there. I also have my friends Whitney Long & Rob Hale sponsoring the event, it's easier to attract a crowd when you're giving out a few free drinks.

Kicking Up Business

2008-08-24T22:58:00.000-04:00

Almost a month since my last update on here, there's no excuse. Maybe I've been watching just too much of the Olympics which is finally over. August has moved pretty fast for me, I kicked off the month with a birthday. I'm 27 now, I can already tell I'm looking much older than when I was 26. I've started playing in a kickball league this month. That's right, kickball. Raleigh has an organization for adults that runs co-ed sports from flag football to dodgeball. I would rate it better than finding a slinky on top of a tall staircase.

I've spent this past weekend working with some old friends from high school. They are living up north but see the opportunity for investments here in the Triangle. They are Chapel Hill guys, so trying to show the places I liked in Durham was a hard sell. I think they agreed after seeing downtown that there is too much revitalization going on to be ignored. The growth in Durham and it's support from it's neighbors will only help our area as a whole. Durham has a stigma that for some people is hard to shake, but I feel I'm doing a good job of disproving it with every client I get out.

As a self employed professional you have to always be looking at ways to improve and grow your business. Networking is a key to being successful in real estate, if no one knows you then good luck drumming up a sale. I've been attending the local Chamber events and visited their leads group on occasion, but never got the feel it was greatly improving my business. Two minutes with someone drinking a glass of wine at a 6:30pm Chamber event is not catapulting my career. The odds are they will talk to 8 other Realtors before they leave too, we seem to be everywhere.

I was recently invited to a Durham BNI leads group as a guest of another Realtor. She was the only Realtor there, in fact there was a rule that limited it to one person from each field. This was a leads group that met for an hour once a week. They passed referrals back and forth, one after the other. They had gotten to know each other well and were comfortable with who they were giving leads to. The agent I attended with does several transactions a month from her group alone. That's all I needed to hear and see, I along with a friend have the ball rolling on our own, and the first, BNI group in Chapel Hill. We have about 10 members and they are a really good group of folks. I was somehow appointed President so I'll be busy increasing the size of our group and my business over the next few months.

I'm very much looking forward to this Labor Day weekend. As many of you know I'm an ECU grad and they will be playing football in Charlotte this weekend against Virginia Tech. I'll be staying with a friend there who just got a new boat, which means Sunday will be spent on Lake Norman. Hopefully the weather will hold out for us as I'll be outside 90% of the weekend. I got season tickets this year, which translates into several trips back to Greenville. It's nice to have gone to school so close, I always look for excuses to get back for a weekend and now I've got 3 or 4 of them. Go Pirates!

How Free It Is

2008-07-29T10:44:00.000-04:00

I am moving in on my favorite days of the week, finally. I have a closing at noon today, which kick starts my weekend on the right foot. Last week I was on vacation but that didn't stop me from having to work quite a bit. My family had taken a week off down at Emerald Isle, it was nice to relax and play with my nieces & nephew. We also got the good news my Mom & Dad both passed their real estate exams. They have no plans to use them as of now, but I know first hand how hard that darn test is so I was proud.

I had to rush home from the beach Thursday to get back into the office. I was really looking forward to that weekend as my good friends Matt & Andrea would be getting married. We got in a round of golf with the groomsmen Friday, then it was off to the rehearsal dinner. It was held in the Pope Box above Kenan football stadium. The music, food, company and view made it a great event. They tied the knot Saturday, had a grand reception at the Farrington House and are enjoying a honeymoon in the Mayan Riviera as I type.

My clients that have a closing today asked me a funny question a few days ago. We are looking over the closing statement and they asked, "Where does it say what we pay you?" I was working with them as buyers and they fell under the misconception I've dealt with many times before. "You don't owe me a dime" I said. They gave me a funny look like I had screwed something up so bad I was not charging them, luckily that wasn't the case.

In most cases, the seller is paying both sides of the commission. When an agent lists a home for sale, that commission they charge is going to be split in two. The agent selling the home will receive half, the agent who brings the buyers will receive half. Now this isn't the same in all areas, or with For Sale by owners for example, but this is the common practice. It is something the public should be more educated about, how many buyers drive around aimlessly looking for homes when they could be riding with an agent for free?

Although I should always make that clear on day one of working with a buyer, I've yet to have someone complain when they find out at the end. I know the folks today will be happy to write a smaller check. After today's closing I have to return this guy pictured below. Sammy here has been staying with me for the week while his family is off on vacation. I'll miss having her around, I've been wishing I could get my own dog. I'm just out of the house too much that I think it would be unfair.

Even though we have my favorite days coming up, it's mostly work for me this weekend. Going to see the new Batman movie at the iMax theatre tomorrow night which I'm looking forward to. Sunday is looking pretty good as well, get to see the Embers play live while I float around a pool, not bad. Somewhere in the middle of all that I'm putting two new homes on the market as well. Don't forget it's my birthday next Friday, you may send any gifts to 1520 E. Franklin St, Chapel Hill, NC. Have a great weekend.

Good times aren't far away

2008-07-15T18:03:00.000-04:00

Howdy, I hope everyone survived their Monday. It has to be my least favorite day of the week, as I'm sure is everyone else's. This is a week of getting organized for me. When I am busy concentrating on my current clients, the rest sits in the shadows a bit. I'm essentially running my own business, so being on my own I can get backed up with all the little things at times. My parents are taking their real estate licensing tests next week, so maybe I'll have two new assistants :) They'll have to pass the test first!

So the new iPhone was released just a few days ago, making my original even more ancient. Luckily the phone loaded the new software when I plugged into itunes, so I've been distracted with it all day. The 100's of applications they make available are amazing. It has to be the best business tool ever invented, I could go camping for a week and still get all my business done with that alone. I'm getting addicted to applications like these, Learning Rocks!

So if you haven't heard the bad news about the economy right now you may as well be living under a rock. There is one factor that is really slowing the housing market, the mortgage crisis. The government is now bailing out Fannie Mae & Freddie Mac, which are private companies but with big government ties. They account for about $5 trillion in loans, many of which should have never been given out. Chances are when you got your loan, Freddie Mac or Fannie Mae bought up this loan. If they were to go under, hardly anyone would be getting a home loan and the economy would sink deeper. Luckily the government is smart enough to prevent this from happening.

A large effect this is having is how it's portrayed in the media. It scares consumers into buying homes, more scared to have to sell their home. What the mortgage fiasco has essentially done is supply loans recklessly for the past several years, and it's all catching up now. There are still great loans available, you are just going to need better credit and more money down. It probably is a good thing the days of 100% financing is over, as we have seen many of these homeowners fall into foreclosure.

I've spoken with many people recently who are looking to buy a home but want to put it off. There is a lot of fear in America's consumers right now. I have read articles recently telling homeowners to take any offer they can get, reduce their prices to what they can afford to lose. The market isn't in shambles around here, so I won't be telling my sellers that anytime soon. The economy and housing market could use a nice boost though, and neither of those historically seem to happen quickly. Let's just hope it's sooner than later.

In better news, I'm excited to be heading up to Portsmouth, VA to see Widespread Panic this Saturday night. The pavilion there has to be one of my favorite venues. It's all general admission so you can easily get right up front, it's right on the water and they even have water taxis over to the show. This makes my 5th time seeing them play there, and at least the 30th+ time I've seen them altogether. It gets better just about everytime, especially because it's not quite as often these days. I'll be sad to miss their 2 night run in Charlotte next weekend, but I imagine I'll be having a better time at friends Matt & Andreas wedding here in Chapel Hill. Until next time...

Breaking Stereotypes

2008-07-03T10:36:00.000-04:00

The 4th of July is just but a day away. I'll be heading towards the coast for a few days of vacation. My clients who planned on coming in for the weekend have opted not to come until Tuesday, so I couldn't be happier about that. I'm sure I'll still be busy on my phone & laptop, but at least it will be in the sun. The destination is Topsail Beach, then a day or two of Wilmington to visit a friend.

I've been staying pretty busy for the season. The summer is typically a bit slower for most agents, but then again the past year has been too. With 2 closings already scheduled for July and a full month ahead, I'm feeling great about the second half of this year. During my final stay at our companies kiosk, I actually managed to pick up some good leads. I'm still feeling a bit odd about sitting in the mall though, so I plan on keeping myself off the schedule.

Kelly & my nephew Wyatt stopped by for a visit, then back to shopping

I was never too aware of the stereotypes associated with real estate agents until I got started. Many of them are exaggerated, especially in films like this, but I wanted to touch on just a few that affect me. The median age of a Realtor is 52, exactly double my age. Many folks are out of their corporate jobs taking a chance on real estate. Right away they are labeled with more experience because of their age, when I have sold two or three times as many homes.

I have been told on several occasions, "we really like what you offer but have decided to go with someone a bit older." In some cases they have just chosen someone who works "part time", may follow up on a call from the sign out front, and if you are lucky get an ad in the local paper. I am available 24/7 for my clients, I follow up every lead, and I'm proficient in the internet where 95% of homebuyers are starting their search. The list goes on, but this may give you an idea. It feels like being the best player on the team but starting behind the coaches son.

The only other stereotype I'll have time for is that real estate agents "only care about making a sale". There are agents out there like this, which helps in feeding the stereotype. A new agent just retired from the corporate world, wants more time with the kids and will sell a house from time to time. This is what hurts our image the most; a home will be most folks biggest purchase in a lifetime, and there are some incapable agents out there looking to "sell you a house and get their check."

I have dealt with a few agents who return calls 2 days later, ignore multiple offers at the thought of all that work, and overprice a home just to get the listing. All these things I have picked up on the past few years really irk me, but they help me in improving my business. I get a thrill in negotiating the best deals for my buyers, and getting the most for my sellers. It makes it that much easier when on the other side may be a part time realtor looking to make a quick sale. Now don't get me wrong, there are lots of great agents out there, many of whom I learn a lot from each transaction. However the amount of incompetency in this business can be a little bit scary, something my clients won't ever have to worry about.

I hope everyone has a great 4th of July weekend!

It's good to be #1

2008-06-17T12:08:00.000-04:00

Well it sure was nice to be home this past weekend. After several weeks on the road I finally got to stay put and spend some time around Raleigh. It's nice living in a town so close to where I went to school, in only two nights I saw a lot of faces that I haven't seen in a while.

This past Saturday was our season ending Lawn Wranglers cookout. That's the softball team I was playing on for those wondering. At first I was pretty disappointed I couldn't be in attendance because of a day long open house. In a way that couldn't of worked out any better, I got the house sold on Friday and was back in control of my weekend.

Shannon had some mint growing in her garden so we drank mint juleps, cooked on the grill and played some yard games. We also surprised Lars with a gift the girls made him for coaching this season, a gold shiny cape. He will certainly be the only pitcher wearing one on the mound next year, but after this season it will be tough surprising any teams with our dress code. From BK Knights, to jean shorts & yellow jump suits, we may not have been the best team but it sure was fun.

Over at the office, a Triangle newspaper recently had it's readers vote Fonville Morisey as the #1 real estate company in the triangle. It was no surprise either that Kiplinger's has just rated Raleigh as the #2 place to Live, Work, & Play. Their rankings involve criteria like local economy & activities, but also what potential they see in a city. With all the downtown revitalization going on it is clear why it made the list. I was a little skeptical of it all when I saw Fayetteville at #7, but I'll give them the benefit of the doubt.

I have seen our local market making some nice improvements over the last few months. The average home is selling in a weeks less time than when the year started. As other markets have battled depreciation and foreclosures since 2007, we have seen about a $6,000 increase in the average sale price. However, in May of last year about 1,000 more homes were sold, and in 10 fewer days. There is plenty of room for improvement and I see these changes starting to happen. I can say that I am open and ready for business, and glad to see it's coming in.

I wanted to say congratulations to good friends James & Brooke Kirkpatrick who were recently married. They had a splendid wedding & reception in the bride's hometown of Wilmington, Delaware. Best wishes to you both.

For those of you wondering where the koozies are, don't fret. They got off the press as of about an hour ago and should be arriving in you mailboxes in no time at all.

Fore!

2008-06-02T16:08:00.000-04:00

Hope everyone is doing well. It's time to get back to work for me. I've had the benefit of being able to visit the beach the past couple weekends; it's so hard to get in the car and leave on Sundays. I'm usually with clients on the weekends so it's nice to get some time for these things. This past weekend I was down in Myrtle Beach with a group of friends and I spent Memorial Day weekend down at Topsail Island. Talk about two different places.

We had perfect weather for golf this past weekend. The squirrels at this course were especially friendly, this guy rode in our cart for the back 9. I've played quite a bit of golf lately, I hit an eagle a few weeks back and thought I was on my way to being a decent golfer. I proved to myself this weekend that I was mistaken.

We had our company golf tournament not too long ago and it was a blast. There were plenty of trophies given out, but none to our foursome. All the proceeds for this event went towards MS.

So here is the new place, a good size bigger than the old cottage. I've got a lot of work along with a lot of moving to do this week. We got the truck unpacked on Wednesday but took off for the weekend so the place is still a mess. It doesn't quite feel like I moved yet, I've barely spent anytime there so far. I will say it was nice to go 1 minute up the road for Char-Grill burgers & shakes the other night, food doesn't come much better than that.

Up until now, I've spent plenty of time in Raleigh but this is my first time living here. I'm excited to start spreading out my business. I'm going to remain based out of the Chapel Hill office for the time being. I really like the people there, and we have 13 other Fonville Morisey offices I can use. I'll have to tour some of the other offices soon and see which one I'd like to make my regular stop. My goal for the time being is to learn a little more about the Raleigh market, and just how to get from place to place for that matter.

I wanted to also give a quick mention to my new roommate and attorney at law Rob Hale. I had a closing scheduled with him last week and the lender botched things beyond belief. We thought the closing was never going to occur, but Rob got us in his office last minute and made it happen. It was the type of service I couldn't have gotten anywhere else, so he'll be getting a lot more of my business in the future.

Oh, almost forgot, I'm at the Kiosk today. Maybe it's just a slow day, but I'm pretty sure this was a waste of time for me. No one even seemed to approach the darn kiosk, oh well.

Attention Shoppers...

2008-05-12T11:34:00.000-04:00

Welcome back. This past weekend seemed to fly by as usual, it always seems to when there's a lot going on. My folks took off for the beach Saturday, so I spent Friday with Mom & the rest of the family. The rest of the weekend was spent showing houses and celebrating some friends' graduations. Congrats again to my friend Andres, good luck out west!

So my company has decided to get a kiosk over at Southpoint Mall. Of course I signed up at the first opportunity, I think I'm going to be there for some 3-6 afternoon sessions in the coming weeks. I'm not sure what to think of it, but I figure it's worth a try.

Just so I'm not next to the kiosk where they try and re-use that sand stone on your hands when you walk by. Otherwise I will be forced to voice my opinion on the sanitation issues related with their whole marketing strategy. The folks at the massage kiosk seem pretty dedicated to their craft. Maybe I'll be next to them.

I talked in the last blog about listings & having home owners wondering why in the world their place won't sell. Aside from the fact that showings are down, I feel many agents are actually expecting the same thing. Put the house in the MLS, let it show & sell. I don't feel there is ever a time for that, especially now.

You could sell real estate for 40 years and have trouble explaining exactly what sells a house. I was selling one home some folks came to see & passed. The owners put in new s witch plates all over the house in the time being. When the buyers came back a couple weeks later they decided to make an offer, "because the recent upgrades looked great" their agent went on to say.

This is what makes selling homes such a challenge and each one unique. For the long list of strategies I use and all the different marketing I'll put out, you rarely know what exactly captures each buyer. This is one way I've been trying to separate myself from the competition. I'm using every tool I have to market my listings and reaching out to every buyer that walks through that door.

As for the Land Transfer Tax I urged you folks in Orange County to vote against, well the results are in and it was overwhelmingly rejected. Still shaking my head that the council spent $100k of our tax dollars promoting it. http://wral.com/news/local/politics/story/2830778/

Unfortunately I will be ending on a sad note. Our family dog Murphy passed away recently, she was a week shy of 15. We are all grateful she

lived such a long & happy life. She truly was a miracle dog that gave us a few good scares over the years but just kept on truckin'.
You'll be missed Murphy.

A Blog is Born

2008-04-29T11:35:00.000-04:00

Well hello there. Here goes my first blog, even though I'm not quite sure what a "blog" is supposed to be. I know with the industry I work in it is highly encouraged, anything to get peoples attention I guess. Hey and if your reading this, I guess that's a good start.

I'll try to catch you up on my year so far. I've been living in a one bedroom cottage right in downtown Chapel Hill. It's the first time I've lived alone, and it's not as bad as I anticipated. I thought it may be a bit boring, but I think it actually forces me to get out a lot more. For example, last year I went to the gym maybe 3 times. So far this year I've been running & at the gym about about 3 times a week. Truth be told, my real motivation has been to hit a homerun in our co-ed softball league. Sadly, I don't think this is going to happen. Our record is 1-5, so I probably need to just try and get some base hits.

2008 started quite slow for a lot of Realtors. Our market has seen good numbers in 2007 while other markets tumbled, however 2008 has started with one of the worst first quarters in over a decade. Some way or another during this time I became busier than I have been in the past couple years. I have been listing homes here in Chapel Hill, but a large portion of buyers I have been working with are in the Wake County area. That trend along with a need for some change has led me to plan on a move to Raleigh. Don't get me wrong, I love Chapel Hill and anticipate a return in the not so distant future.

There is a phrase in real estate that "If you list you last". In my opinion, right now if you list what you have is a lot of sellers getting impatient and not a lot of answers. The inventory is growing, and the number of showings & closings is lower. Our area home prices are staying strong however, increasing in many areas of the Triangle. We have an increase in job growth here, and the interest rates are low, so why aren't homes selling?

In my opinion these other markets are the factor. You bought a house in Depreciationville, FL and you are dying to move to our area, you've heard so much about it. But wait, the house you paid $525,000 for is listed at $500,000, it's been on the market 5 months and you haven't received an offer. I could list many reasons, like the fact we'll be facing $4 a gallon this summer, but home sales outside our market play a big factor. So pat your local realtor on the back for pricing homes with some sense over the years, providing our market a long history of solid but steady appreciation.

You can vote early, so please do.
In Orange County, please Vote No on the Transfer Tax. http://www.newsobserver.com/news/orange/story/1048063.html This tax would force very few to pay for the benefits of so many. It has strongly been opposed, but the City Council has an agenda of it's own I guess. I bet the guy who steals my business cards off the table at Peak Fitness will vote yes, because he obviously isn't thinking clearly (don't let me catch you guy).

Should have a new entry every couple weeks, thanks for reading.