A Realtor to client relationships are an important thing you want when dealing with selling or buying your home. You want a realtor with connections to make the process go as smoothly as possible. How it can help On my way to work late last week my truck started overheating. I made it to work and called John The Automan to see if he could help. We've been taking our cars to John for a couple years now and I hoped he could take care of me because of a trip I had to take over the weekend. The … Continue reading...
Winter Carolina ReView
Here is another Carolina winter ReView, winter in the OBX has been an unusual once this year. From just before Christmas to the end of January we had freezing temperatures and a few snow storms. Outer Banks real estate is looking pretty good despite the cold weather. Read about other interesting and good things happening on the beach in our latest newsletter. Two new grocery store chains will be opening on the Outer Banks shortly and the new Oregon Inlet Bridge is scheduled to … Continue reading...
Negotiating OBX Home Inspection to a Win-Win
We found their OBX forever home. Love the location! Love the layout and lot size! The house obviously needed TLC and updating (paint, flooring, and a new kitchen) but still satisfied almost all of Mr. & Mrs. Buyer’s check boxes. After considering recent sale comps, my clients and I negotiated a fair sales price plus some closing costs. This kept this home within these buyers’ budget. (Did I mention that my clients love this house?) Due Diligence The fun part is over, now the … Continue reading...
What does sold “as-is” mean”?
“As-is” can mean numerous things in an Outer Banks real estate transaction. It could relate to the condition of the home but also it could relate to an encomberance or an encroachment. Most commonly means that the seller will not make any repairs. This frequency of this type of sale waxes and wanes with Outer Banks market conditions. Almost all distressed sales are sold this way. Banks rarely want to make repairs to a property and sellers of short sales don’t have the cash to make any repairs. … Continue reading...
Maintenance Issues in OBX Homes
OK you’ve narrowed down your list of wants and needs for an Outer Banks property and you have found some homes that meet the key criteria of location and size. It is time to go view homes! Below I will provide a list of things to check when viewing OBX homes. What to do before viewing a property Prior to viewing Outer Banks property it is a good idea to make a list of those items you want to check while in the property. The more time and money spent after the purchase getting the house right, … Continue reading...
Simplify your OBX Home Search
My experience in showing people Outer Banks real estate is that finding ways to simplify your OBX home search is a huge help and makes the process much smoother. Most times buyers don’t find a house that is in perfect condition and meets every last one of their wants and needs. Buying a home is like buying a car. You may find one that gets great gas mileage but it may not be strong enough to tow a boat or big enough for your entire family. When looking to purchase an Outer Banks … Continue reading...
9228 South Old Oregon Inlet Road
Situated adjacent to the Cape Hatteras National Seashore and just one lot off the Atlantic Ocean, this house is a great vacation rental or primary residential home. Each of the three bedrooms on the top floor have their own private bath. There is also a game room, a family room and a formal dining room. Renters love this one! It alread has generated $37,000 in income this year! This is our listing and is priced at $399,000 … Continue reading...
What should I expect when negotiating on a vacation home in the fall?
It's common sense that sellers should be more anxious to sell their house in the fall than in the middle of the busy summer season. Negotiating on a vacation home during the spring or summer eliminates a seller's summer rental income. They also will miss out on using the property during those great summer beach days. With winter around the corner it makes sense that sellers would not be interested in paying the bills for a house they are not using very much. Trying to quantify what would seem to … Continue reading...
When is the best season to buy a rental home?
Conventional wisdom is that the best time to purchase a vacation rental home on the Outer Banks is in the spring or summer. However there are other factors to consider when making a buying decision. Here are some pros and cons of purchasing in the different seasons. Spring: Besides getting instant rental income purchasing in the spring also allows you to use it in good weather. Usually the Outer Banks has great weather in May and June. Also, you may be able to reserve it a week or two by … Continue reading...
Choosing an Outer Banks Home Inspector
Choosing the right Outer Banks home inspector is critical to the success of your home purchase here. Since the Outer Banks is surrounded by water, wind, rain and humidity affect Outer Banks homes more than inland. Therefore, hiring a local home inspector who is familiar with the effects of this environment could save you thousands of dollars. North Carolina has a good brochure available that will help you set expectations. Here are three things to look for in a local home inspector. Licensed … Continue reading...