Tag Archives: Real Estate

Highlands Real Estate Deserves New Year’s Resolutions, Too!

12-30-15-resolutions
It’s hard to even think about New Year’s without the word ‘resolutions’ popping into your head—not to mention that it’s nearly impossible to go to any kind of Highlands New Year’s Eve get-together without the topic coming up. In the realms of diet and exercise, New Year’s resolutions are highly relevant, and the pledges made on their account are the most likely to be followed religiously (at least until the Super Bowl parties put an end to them).

You might think that the field of real estate (even Highlands real estate) would be unlikely to inspire any resolute oaths for the coming year, but that proves to be an incorrect assumption. A quick survey of real estate new year’s resolutions yields any number of lists of recommended pledges. There are 6 of them at the Bankrate mortgage site; another 5 at AOL; and a whopping 10 at both the Realtor® and Houselogic websites!

Whether or not you feel duty-bound to put any of these pledges into your own personal action queue on January 1 is up to you­­—but these are among those that are repeated most often:

  • Get Your Financial House in Order. This is actually a good one, for a couple of reasons. First, no matter what you do in 2016, any and all transactions that have a monetary dimension can’t help but go smoother when they fit into a well-ordered financial picture. Second, once you’ve followed it, there’s very little involved in following through. This resolution doesn’t need to have anything to do with Highlands real estate to be a good idea, either.
  • Sellers: Resolve to Think of Your Home as a Product. This is cheating: it’s nothing like a real New Year’s resolution—but a darned good idea, anyway. The downside is that it’s only applicable if you are going to sell you area home in 2016. It’s probably not a joyful idea to think of your home as a product when its single purpose is to shelter your family.
  • Protect Yourself with Insurance. This one was prominent in a National Association of Realtors list, and although it was aimed at new home buyers, it has wider utility. When you take care to confirm that you’re neither over- nor under-insuring the key areas that require protection, peace of mind is a guaranteed byproduct. This New Year’s resolution also needs very little additional effort throughout the coming year­—so it ranks near the top of the RLK Scale (Resolutions Likely to be Kept).
  • Buyers: Resolve to Start Feeling Out the Market. This one might is a smart resolution for anyone planning to buy a Highlands home any time in the coming year. Getting a bead on the market ahead of time can help you recognize sooner rather than later when you come across the right Highlands home for sale.
  • Buyers and Sellers: Resolve to Engage a Real Estate Agent Now. This is one Highlands real estate new year’s resolution I can heartily endorse for both buyers and sellers (it appears on almost all the lists). A truly grand resolution!

Highlands Real Estate Watchers Note Strong National Upswing

4-1-15-realestateHighlands real estate trends don’t always trace patterns that are precisely identical to those in the rest of the state or nation, but sooner or later the local market almost always responds similarly. That’s because there is a certain amount of momentum—positive or negative—that is automatically spawned by the good or bad real estate market news reported in the mass media.

So when last week’s Commerce Department report on new residential home sales was released, Highlands real estate watchers had reason to smile. Delightedly.

It wasn’t just that the bottom line number for February’s new home sales was substantial (estimated at 539,000, seasonally adjusted annual rate); it was how all the other stats supported them. Forbes headlined that February’s numbers hit a 7-year high. The financial web site Calculated Risk observed that although the report contained only two months’ worth of this year’s data, “Sales in 2015 are off to a solid start.”

In fact, just about all the accompanying details were heartening. The monthly new home sales are always revised several times as final real estate figures become available, and this time ‘round, January’s already-strong numbers were revised further upward. And the Census Bureau also tracks not seasonally adjusted sales (NSAs)—and so far this year they are up a full 19% above the same beginning months a year ago. For February alone, sales were up 24.8% year-over-year.

So, does that mean we should assume Highlands’s real estate sales are certain to jump by a full 24%, too? That would be terrific—but let’s not get carried away. For one thing, the new home sales statistics are a lot more volatile that real estate sales as a whole (new homes comprise less than 20% of the overall market). And the technical way the Commerce Department samples makes it prone to error. They put the margin of error at 15%, which makes for a lot of wiggle room.

Yet the sheer size of the sales increase makes it pretty unlikely that the trend won’t be borne out. Per Forbes, this report’s results are “viewed by economists as a measure of economic momentum and an indicator of future consumer purchases…” Those purchases are in furniture and appliances which traditionally accompany strong home sales.

Forbes’ “solid start” is exactly what we would hope for—especially since it tracks activity that was taking place even before the spring selling season got underway.

It’s getting started in earnest right now, so if you are interested in establishing your own Highlands real estate trend, this is the right time to give me a call!

Discover Whether You’ve Just Found the Highlands, NC Area Home of Your Dreams

Home buying in Western North Carolina can definitely be a stressful process for a lot of people.

After all, this is potentially one of the largest investments you’re ever going to make! You (understandably) want to make the right choice.

As your Highlands area real estate agent, I’m here to tell you that home buying doesn’t have to be as stressful as it seems.

So long as you’re working with an experienced Western NC REALTOR and you’re listening to your inner guidance, you can rest assured that you’ll be satisfied with any decision you make on the local housing market.

Continue reading to learn about some signs that you should keep out for as a Highlands area home buyer. These signs will let you know whether you have just found the home of your dreams or not!

Investing in Highlands, NC Real Estate

How will you know if the home you’re touring is the perfect fit for you and your family? Here are some indicators:

  • You see the home on the outside and immediately want to go inside. Don’t understand the power of curb appeal. If there’s something about this home’s exterior that draws you to want to go inside, that’s a good indication.
  • You’re amazed with the home as soon as you step through the door. It doesn’t take long for home buyers to get a positive or negative vibe from a home. If you’re pleased with the home’s interior as soon as you walk in, take note.
  • You’re already planning where your furniture could potentially go in the home. If you don’t just like the home but could actually see yourself living there, that’s a great sign. Take note if you’re already planning where your favorite piece of furniture will go in the home.
  • You have a feeling that the home would fit your family’s lifestyle well. Does the home have the appropriate number of bedrooms for you to live comfortably? Does it have the extra amenities that you were hoping for, such as an extra study or a bonus room? These logistics matter just as much as your initial impression of the home.
  • You don’t even feel like touring other homes anymore. If you’ve subconsciously already committed to the home you just looked at, you won’t likely be as excited as before about touring other homes in the area. That’s a strong indication you may have found the home for you.
  • You can’t wait to tell your friends and family about the home. As mentioned above, if you’ve subconsciously already decided on making an offer on the home, you likely won’t be shy about telling your loved ones about the new home that could be yours soon.

Homes for Sale in Western North Carolina

As I mentioned above, as long as you listen to your heart and work with a knowledgeable Highlands NC REALTOR, navigating the market as a home buyer won’t be nearly as stressful!

While I just helped you with the first part, I am here to tell you that I can also help you with the second part.

As an experienced REALTOR, I have worked for years on such local markets as:

To learn more about how my years of experience on the Western NC housing market can benefit you as a home buyer, contact me, Dorothy Swearingen, today!

Until next time,

Dorothy

Top Ways I Help Cashiers Area Home Sellers

For Western North Carolina home sellers, the first couple of weeks after you list your home on the market are critical when it comes to attracting Cashiers area home buyers.

That’s because home buyers in the Cashiers area love to hear about new listings on the local housing market.

Thus, it’s imperative for home sellers to seize on all the attention early on. Otherwise, home buyers’ attention will shift to the next new listing on the market in a couple of weeks.

As your Western North Carolina real estate expert, I understand just how important it is to attract home buyers immediately.

That’s why I launch an aggressive marketing campaign on your Cashiers area home for sale as soon as we start working together.

Continue reading to learn about my exclusive and comprehensive marketing plan for Western NC home sellers like you.

Homes for Sale in Cashiers, Highlands and Surround Area

Here are the top ways in which I get the word out about your new listing on the Cashiers area real estate market:

  • I include both interior and exterior photos of your home on your listing page. Nowadays, the majority of NC home buyers search for homes on the Internet before ever contacting a REALTOR. I make sure these home buyers develop a good idea of what your home has to offer by including several interior and exterior photos of your home. These photos emphasize your homes uniqueness as well as its spaciousness.
  • I develop virtual tours of your home. To further help the home buyer envision living in your Cashiers area home for sale, I often include virtual tours of your home online. This help the home buyer feel like they’re right there, walking through your home one room at a time. Many REALTORS agree, the virtual tour is a viable way of attracting prospective buyers to your home.
  • I utilize a diverse range of print and online advertising to market your Cashiers area home. The best way of finding the home buyer who will ultimately purchase your home is to cast out a large marketing net. That’s why I advertise your home in a variety of publications – from real estate magazines to online newspapers to everything in between!
  • I provide plenty of attractive and effective outdoor signage. While many home buyers prefer to search for their next home online, there are some who will drive around area neighborhoods looking for homes for sale. To attract these types of buyers, I place effective outdoor “For Sale” signage in your yard, which provides all the pertinent information such as contact information.
  • I hold Open Houses whenever feasible. Depending on the location of your home, open houses can be an effective marketing strategy for your Cashiers area home. We’ll discuss together if a Open House is the best way to use time and energy resources. At the very least, it may serve as a vehicle to increase exposure of your Western North Carolina home for sale.

List Your Western North Carolina Home for Sale Today!

While I’ve just mentioned the top ways in which I help home owners sell their homes quickly, it’s really just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to my home selling marketing plan.

Contact me, Dorothy Swearingen, to learn more about how I can help you sell you home for top dollar in a relatively short amount of time.

While you’re at it, please feel free to browse some of these helpful home selling resources that I offer:

Until next time,

Dorothy

Highlands Real Estate Market Report for February

The month of January continue to be a great month for Highlands area home buyers, based on the most recent data from the real estate website Trulia.

Not only did the average price per square foot decrease significantly but so did the median sales price!

Continue reading to see just how much of a buyer’s market it is right now in the Highlands, NC area – and how you can directly benefit as a home buyer.

Western North Carolina Homes for Sale

Here’s an overview of the current state of the Highlands real estate market, based on the most recent market data:

  • Currently there are 743 resale and new homes on the market, including 2 in some stage of the foreclosure.
  • Between October and December, the average price per square foot for Highlands homes was $378, down 33.9 percent from the same period in 2010!
  • During that same period, the median sales price was $285,000, which was based on 17 home sales.
  • When compared to the same period in 2010, the median sales price has decreased by 32.9 percent.
  • In 2010, the median sales price was $425,000.
  • Here’s how neighboring North Carolina communities compared in terms of median sales price:

Scaly Mountain: $172,500
Otto: $135,000
Franklin: $120,000
Clayton: $140,000

  • Meanwhile, the number of home sales increased by 142.9 percent between 2010 and 2011.
  • During the week ending on January 25, the average listing price for Highlands homes was $838,958, up 0.2 percent from the week before.
  • During that previous week, the average listing price was $837,281.
  • During the week ending on January 25, the average listing price for a 1-bedroom Highlands home was $375,148
  • The average listing price for a 2-bedroom home was $481,827
  • And the average listing price for 3- and 4- bedroom homes in Highlands were $611,270 and $1,142,152
  • Here’s how neighboring communities compared in terms of average listing price:

Scaly Mountain: $578,104
Otto: $242,429
Franklin: $226,985
Clayton: $214,410

Investing in Highlands, NC Real Estate

With decreases in median sales prices up to nearly 33 percent, it clear that it’s definitely a buyer’s market right now in the Highlands, NC area.

If you’re an interested home buyer looking for a fantastic deal on a beautiful Highlands area home, contact me, Dorothy Swearingen, your Highlands area real estate expert.

You can even start searching for your next Highlands home now by using some of my pre-defined home searches:

Until next time,

Dorothy

 

Historic Trail in the Highlands, NC Area to Receive $500,000 Worth of Improvements


Western North Carolina
is well known for celebrating and preserving its natural beauty.

And that reputation was solidified recently when Dry Fall Trails in Macon County  received $446,000 to stabilize and reconstruct the entire walking path.

While $208,000 came from the Federal Highways fund, about $258,000 came from matching agency funds.

Continue reading to learn more about this new development in Western North Carolina, and how it will improve the quality of life in the area. Continue reading

Lake Glenville Real Estate Market Report for January

It was a fairly good month for home buyers in the Lake Glenville, NC area.  After all, the average listing price on homes in the area decreased and remained relatively low compared to neighboring communities.

If you’re an interested Lake Glenville home buyer, I recommend you continue reading in order to get a good idea of current market activity.

This knowledge will prove invaluable when it comes time for you to negotiate a buying price with a home seller in the area.

Lake Glenville Properties for Sale

Here’s an overview of the current state of the market in Lake Glenville, NC:

  • Currently there are 194 resale and new homes on the market.
  • During the week ending on December 28, the average listing price for Lake Glenville homes was $619,138, down 3.5 percent when compared to the week before.
  • During that previous week, the average listing price was $641,677.
  • Here’s how neighboring communities compared in terms of average listing price:

Highlands: $851,961

Scaly Mountain: $592,172

Franklin: $233,977

  • Back in Lake Glenville, the average listing price for a 2-bedroom home was $391,241 during the week ending on December 28.
  • The average listing price for a 3-bedroom home was $544,767.
  • And the average listing price for a 4-bedroom home was $844,056.
  • Here’s how neighboring communities compared in terms of median sales price:

Highlands: $250,000

Scaly Mountain: $172,500

Franklin: $120,000

Investing in a Home in the North Carolina Mountains

Unlike some of the larger mountain communities in the area – such as Cashiers and Highlands Lake Glenville has managed to keep  a relatively low profile.

If you want to live in a quiet community where neighbors know each other by name, you may consider investing in Lake Glenville real estate.

For more information on available listings in Lake Glenville, be sure to contact me, Dorothy Swearingen.

I also recommend you check out some of our pre-defined Lake Glenville search options, which will make navigating the market easier for you and your family.  Using this feature, you can:

Until next time,

Dorothy

Sapphire, NC Real Estate Market Report for January

It was a fairly steady month on the Sapphire housing market, according to the most recent real estate data from Trulia.

For instance, the average listing price remained fairly level week-over-week.

Continue reading to learn more about recent market activity, and how it may affect you as a Sapphire home buyer.

Sapphire NC Properties

Here’s an overview of the current state of the Sapphire real estate market:

  • Currently there are 580 resale and new homes on the market.
  • During the week ending on December 21, the average listing price for Sapphire homes was $486,525.
  • When compared to the week before, the average listing price has increased by 0.8 percent, from $482,798 the week before.
  • The average listing price for a 1-bedroom home in Sapphire during the week ending on December 21 was $107,241.
  • The average listing price for a 2-bedroom home was $253,180.
  • And the average listing price for 3- and 4- bedroom homes in Sapphire were $480,082 and $889,926, respectively.
  • Here’s how nearby cities compared in terms of average listing price:
    • Highlands: $853,103
    • Scaly Mountain: $583,519
    • Cleveland: $166,500
    • Otto: $245,843

Investing in Sapphire, NC Real Estate

Sapphire is a charming mountain community affectionately referred by many as “Little Switzerland.”

Yet this N.C. Mountain community sure does pack in a lot of natural beauty.  From the world-class fishing to the beautiful hiking trails, this is definitely the kind of community that will leave you breathless every time you look out your home window.

If you’re ready to take the next step toward owning your own Sapphire home, then contact me, Dorothy Swearingen.

As your N.C. Mountain real estate expert, I’ll be happy to answer any questions you may have as well as provide you with such helpful home buying tools as:

Until next time,

Dorothy

Highlands Real Estate Market Report for January

December was an exceptional month for home buyers on the Highlands real estate market, based on the most recent market data.

During those last few weeks of 2011, the home sales price decreased – as did the total number of home sales.

Continue reading to learn more about recent Highlands market activity and how it is proving to be advantageous to home buyers just like you.

Highlands Properties for Sale

Here’s a look at the latest Highlands market activity, based on the real estate website Trulia:

  • Currently, there are 745 resale and new homes on the market, including 2 in some stage of the foreclosure process.
  • Between September and November, the median sales price for Highlands homes was $325,000, which represents a 39.8 percent decrease when compared year-over-year.
  • Here’s how nearby N.C. communities stacked up in terms of median sales price:
  • Scaly Mountain: $172,500
  • Otto: $170,000
  • Franklin: $127,500
  • Clayton: $144,000
  • During that same period in 2010, the median sales price was $539,500.
  • During the week ending on December 21, the average listing price for homes in this N.C. Mountain community was $853,103, up 0.3 percent from the week before.
  • During that same week, the average listing price for 1-bedroom Highlands homes was $343,322
  • The average listing price for 2-bedroom homes was $469,420
  • And the average listing price for 3- and 4- bedroom homes in Highlands, NC was $615,158  and $1,130,927, respectively.
  • Here’s how nearby N.C. communities stacked up in terms of average listing price:
  • Scaly Mountain: $583,519
  • Otto: $245,843
  • Franklin: $238,849
  • Clayton: $212,255

Relocating to Highlands, NC

The discounted prices on Highlands NC homes lately are simply phenomenal!  Home buyers really do stand to get a fantastic deal on an excellent piece of Western North Carolina real estate.

If you’ve been thinking about making the Highlands area your permanent home, contact me, Dorothy Swearingen.

I’ll be happy to help you find your dream home by offering you such helpful tools as my pre-defined searches, which allow you to search for homes by price range:

Until next time,

Dorothy

 

 

5 Factors to Consider When Applying for a Highlands, NC Area Home Loan

So you’ve decided to invest in a home in the Highlands, NC area.  Now what?

While some interested Western NC home buyers like to start by browsing available homes on the market, I recommend that you first determine how much money you’re going to be able to borrow.

This early footwork will end up saving you both time and money because you’ll just be focusing on homes that fit your price range.

So what exactly do bankers consider when determining how much money they’re willing to loan you?

Continue reading to find out!

Investing in Highlands, NC Area Real Estate

Here are some of the main factors that bankers consider when offering you a loan:

  • Monthly Income. One of the first things that a bank will ask about is your monthly income.  They’ll likely request to see paycheck stubs from the last couple of months to verify your average wages.  They’ll also want to know about any additional sources of income you may have.  Recently change jobs? The banks may weigh your last income tax return more heavily than your recent wages.

Bottom line is, the higher your income, the more likely you’ll be qualified for the loan you need to purchase a Highlands area home.

  • Monthly housing expenses. Next, the banker will likely ask about all of your regular housing expenses, which will then be subtracted from your monthly income. Bankers know that there are more expenses to home ownership than just the initial purchase of the property.  These may include home insurance, real estate taxes, and even home owner association fees.

There’s also specialized housing costs, such as mortgage insurance.  Banks may require that home buyers purchase this if they’re borrowing more than 80 percent of the value of the home. This protects banks from the possibility of you defaulting on your home.

  • Additional monthly expenses.  Usually, a banker will also ask you about your other financial obligations, such as credit card debt, charge accounts, car loans, student loans, etc.

The bank will likely ask you about the total balance due and the minimum monthly payment for each of these items.

By subtracting these expenses from your income (as well as your estimated housing expenses), the bank will know your disposable income.

This figure is important because that’s the money you’ll have available for your house payment and everyday living expenses (such as food and fuel).

  • Ratio of debt to income. Next, the bank will calculate the ratio between  your total monthly payments on debt to your monthly income. Ideally, no more than 36 percent of your gross income  is going toward your total debt.  Although some lenders are more flexible, 36 percent is generally the industry standard.

Thus, if your total gross income is $8,000 a month, the bank would like your total monthly debt to be no more than $2,880.

  • Calculating your loan payment. Learn more about how to calculate your potential mortgage payment by checking out my comprehensive Mortgage Information page.  By doing some homework before meeting with a banker, you’ll be able to get a pretty good idea of the kind of mortgage for which you’ll qualify.

Highlands, NC Area Properties for Sale

I hope you found the above information helpful as a potential Highlands area home buyer.

Trust me, entering the Highlands area real estate market as an educated buyer is critical to how much success you’ll enjoy on the local housing market.

For more invaluable tips about how to navigate the market as a home buyer, contact me, Dorothy Swearingen.

I also recommend you check out some of my helpful home buying tools, such as:

Until next time,

Dorothy