Author: Dianne Goode
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The Curious Psychology of Multiple Offers
Lay people think multiple offers on a property are great for sellers because they drive the price up. And they’re right, sometimes. But not always. Some buyers respond aggressively to a multiple offer situation — they strategize their offer to win. They will go over asking price if they think they have to. They’re the…
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For Sellers: The Three Imperatives
When I go to list a house, the sellers’ to-do list can sometimes seem endless! Tidy and trim the yard .. paint the front porch railing .. repair that rotten siding on the chimney .. declutter the whole house .. replace the old storm door .. repaint the orange bedroom .. and on and on.…
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Who Ya Gonna Call?
I sent the MLS listing to a buyer who had found the home online. On the listing she saw that “Seller” was given as “Trustee.” “Does that mean the owner has died?” she asked me. “That’s kind of creepy.” I assured her that it didn’t mean anyone had actually died in the house, but I…
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A Sad Story
I first met Tony (as I will call him) about a year ago. He asked me to come talk to him about listing his house. I calculated that the house would sell for around $170,000. Tony said that wasn’t enough. “I need more than that,” he said, and he listed his house with another agent…
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ISO Homebuyers
Although the economy in general feels stronger, housing continues to struggle. The first quarter results here in the Triangle show sales down 8% from a year ago. That’s not terrible. But showings are down 20% from a year ago, and that is terrible. We have 20% fewer buyers out there looking. Pending sales in the…
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The Long and Short of Short Sales
Even though home prices in the Triangle haven’t fallen nearly as much as the 1/3 national average, there are still significant numbers of homeowners in our area who owe more than their home is worth. Some of them are “underwater” because they purchased at the top of the boom. Others took their equity out…
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Hey, Boomers! This One’s for You
Yesterday I attended a Broker Luncheon, deliciously catered, for the launch of a new subdivision near Briar Creek. With me in the photo is my friend Cathy Michelena, who is going to be one of the on-site agents for the Four Seasons at Renaissance, an “Active Adult Community” just over the Durham County line off…
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The Triangle on the Grow
The 2010 census data shows that the Triangle Area experienced amazing growth during that decade just past. Raleigh added 127,000 new residents, a 46% increase, and several of the small towns of Wake County doubled in size. Even during these three recession years, our area has continued to grow, albeit more slowly. Population growth fuels…
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Long-Term Relationships
After 13 years in real estate, I have some pretty long-term relationships among my closed clients. Some of them are people who have come back to me for a second or third purchase, so that we have had more than just one transaction. In the past week, however, I had lovely long chats with two…
ADVENTURES IN REAL ESTATE 