ADVENTURES IN REAL ESTATE

Author: Dianne Goode

  • On the Same Page with Planet Money

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    Dianne Goode
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    It’s nice to be on the same page as NPR’s Planet Money.  In my last post, I predicted we would continue to see fewer buyers, which of course bodes ill for sellers.  At the end of the day, it’s always about Supply and Demand.   In today’s Planet Money post on housing, people more expert…

  • Looking Ahead to Fewer Buyers

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    Dianne Goode
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    The percentage of Americans who own their own home is down to 66% from the recent historic high of 70%, and falling.  Several factors will combine to make it fall farther in the years ahead:    1)  Risk-averse banks are imposing tighter credit requirements and asking for higher down payments, keeping many people out of…

  • ITB Chickens: Very Chic Chicks

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    Dianne Goode
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    Last summer I had a client with an unusual requirement:  the back yard had to be suitable for chickens.   I had already encountered urban chickens in my own neighborhood, so I wasn’t totally surprised.   There’s a whole movement toward pet poultry, and why not?  According to their advocacy group (urbanchickens.org) backyard chickens produce…

  • Become Your Dream

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    Dianne Goode
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      I just got back from a few days’ visit to New York City.  My son Lance had back surgery and his doctors told him to get out and walk, so I went up to walk with him.  It was cold with a lot of snow on the ground, but we had fun through Central…

  • Encouraging News!

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    Dianne Goode
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    Instant view: New home sales surge in December (NEW YORK Wed Jan 26, 2011) Reuters reported that new U.S. single-family home sales in December rose to their highest level in eight months and prices were the highest since April 2008, raising cautious optimism for a housing market recovery. The Commerce Department said sales jumped 17.5…

  • Carolina Dreaming?

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    Dianne Goode
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    I’ve restarted an occasional photoblog called “Carolina Dreaming?” for people who are considering relocating to the Triangle. The format is an interesting photo and a few lines of text about some local item of interest. For example, I just sent one out with the photo above. It’s one of several outdoor sculptures at the NC…

  • Waiting for Snow

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    Dianne Goode
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      We’ve been waiting for snow all day.  This will be the fourth snowfall of the winter, after an unusually cold and snowy December that culminated in six inches Christmas night.  This photo was taken the next day.  The Raleigh area doesn’t usually get  much snow, which is good because we don’t handle it well.…

  • Changes in the OTP

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    Dianne Goode
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    We  live in interesting times.  I spent four hours in CE (Continuing Education) class this morning —  the mandatory update class on the new Offer to Purchase effective 01/01/11.  Realtors take 8 hours of CE every year; four hours update and any approved four hour elective.  The update always includes changes to forms but this…

  • Behind the Statistics

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    Dianne Goode
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    Mark Twain famously said that there are three kinds of lies:  Lies, Damn Lies, and Statistics. Numbers don’t really mean anything; they just are what they are.  Then along comes human intelligence trying to attach meaning to the numbers.  That’s where it starts to get sticky. The News and Observer had an article today that…

  • Uncharmed and Unhappy

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    Dianne Goode
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    An encounter today proved my point about the pitfalls of buying from the onsite agent without a buyers agent involved. I was out with my clients at a new home subdivision.  We were in the sales center, helping ourselves to coffee and hot chocolate, when a couple approached me.  “Are you a lawyer?” they asked.…