ADVENTURES IN REAL ESTATE

Category: Real estate

  • The Long and Short of Short Sales

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    Dianne Goode
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    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…

  • Hey, Boomers! This One’s for You

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    Dianne Goode
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    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…

  • The Triangle on the Grow

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    Dianne Goode
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    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…

  • 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…

  • 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.…

  • Lipstick, pigs, and foreclosures

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    Dianne Goode
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    Not every foreclosures is a bargain, and not all bargains are foreclosures!

  • Downunder Prices are Up

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    Dianne Goode
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    A trip to Australia and New Zealand has left me convinced that our housing market is a bargain. Even before the recent Troubles and resulting price drops, a bargain. The home pictured here belongs to friends who live in Strathfield, a Sydney suburb. They’ve been offered $900,000 for this home — for 1500 sq. ft.,…