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Archive for the ‘Wilmington’ Category

Why live in Gated Communities

Thursday, February 12th, 2009

.Driving down a lush and grassy street, passing by many familiar faces that wave happily at you, pulling into your driveway and being greeted by your dog-what’s not to love about that?

More and more families have been recently flocking to gated communities. The promise of safety, comfort, and close-knit neighborhoods are the main appeal for most, and not without reason. Because of the similar pricing and looks of housing within the confines of each gated communities, families tend to find neighbors with similar values, politics, economic stances, and tastes. Families may be more inclined to move to a location as such for that reason, as it guarantees close proximity to people that are most like them. Kids will have an easier time finding others in their age-group, and will also most likely attend the same schools together.

Most gated societies offer luxurious benefits, such as ponds, lakes, bike and running trails, pools, golf courses, tennis courts, basketball courts, parks, and clubhouses. It is the modern day throwback to homely communities of decades past, with an emphasis on families and “it takes a village to raise a child” mentality. The secluded aspect of these communities makes heavy and racing traffic less of a concern, and ensures a quieter and safer location for children to play, wonder, and roam.

Additionally, these communities are able to decide together when they want their trash picked up, snow plowed (snow we don’t get snow in Wilmington), security increased, streets cleaned, etc. They usually hold monthly board meetings which help to include most of it’s inhabitants and help keep them satisfied.

Security is a rising concern for many families, and the majority of gated communities have a good amount of security guards and neighborhood watches in place to ensure a certain quality of living. Because these communities are private, it is extremely difficult and rare for them to be penetrated by outsiders. Likewise, door-to-door salesmen and other solicitors will have an especially hard time trying to come through, which is another bonus for families who live within their gates.

The types of locations vary based on taste, budget, and geographical place. Some of these communities are on waterfronts, while others can be found nestled in the mountains. More expensive ones sport large housing units with plenty of land, while other more affordable options are simply a concentrated neighborhood of modest ramblers and split-level homes.

The uniformed code that these communities enforce oftentimes result in high and increasing value of the homes within. More and more families are seeking a traditional look which strays from the gaudiness of recently built homes, and are willing to pay more for a humble, albeit tasteful home in a gated community.

 

Posted By Nilesh Jethwa Wilmington, NC Real Estate  Nilesh Jethwa is a local real estate agent in Wilmington, NC. To contact Nilesh Jethwa please click here! Here are a few gated neighborhoods in the Wilmington area Landfall and Waterford of the Carolinas……….

The top reasons why your home as not sold Wilmington, NC

Wednesday, February 11th, 2009

Mortgage interest rates are near a record low and people are buying homes every day. So, why is it that some home sell right away while others sit on the market for months and  months.?
 
1. Overpricing. The number-one reason a house or condominium does not sell is because it is over-priced. If you listed your home with the real estate agent who recommended the highest list price, they probably “bought” the listing. Now, they may be reluctant to admit that your home is over-priced.
 
Do you wonder why you’re not getting any offers? Today’s savvy home buyers will either not look at over-priced properties, or when they do, they make offers that are much lower than the market value. Home buyers are very smart and they often know more about home values than real estate agents. If your home has been on the market for more than 30 days, it’s time to review a new market analysis to check the list price against other active listings and recent sales. Then, adjust your price accordingly.
 
2. Condition of the home. The second major reason homes do not sell is their physical condition. Few home buyers want to purchase fixer-uppers. Most want a home to be in near-perfect, “model home” condition. Does your home need a fresh coat of paint or new carpeting? Is your yard and landscaping appealing? Are the windows sparkling? Is the garage clean? Have you put off making needed repairs? Take time to put your home into tip-top condition, so that all a buyer has to do is turn the key in the front door and move in.

3. Bad location. No matter how appealing a home might be, if it’s in a bad location it will not sell, or it will sell for substantially less than comparable homes in good locations. Negative location factors include bad schools, busy roads, high crime areas, poorly maintained neighboring homes, lack of public transportation, poor shopping, power lines and poor parks. The only way to compensate for a bad location is to reduce the price.
 
4. The listing agent. Few sellers realize that their listing agent could be the reason their home does not sell. Some agents are known among their colleagues as “difficult agents.” The result is that other agents do not want to show the listings of those agents unless there is nothing else to show prospective buyers. Sellers may never know that their listing agent is not liked by other agents and is hurting the home sale. Experienced, cooperative, friendly, enthusiastic and accessible listing agents are a major asset to their clients.
 
5. Poor marketing plan. Some real estate agents get the listing agreement signed, put it into the MLS and sit back to wait for other agents to bring a buyer. That’s not enough to sell a home. The best agents have a written marketing plan and they follow it to be sure the property sells.
 
Although the MLS is a powerful sales tool, other resources are essential. The best agents have Internet sites to market their listings. They also arrange broker tours, advertise each listing regularly, send out “just listed” announcements and actively network their listings with other agents. Contact Nilesh Jethwa for his marketing plans.
 
6. Difficult to show. A common saying in real estate is “If you can’t show it, you can’t sell it.” The more a home is shown, the faster it sells. And, usually the quicker the sale, the higher the selling price. The message is clear, make your home easy to show by installing a lock box. If a lock box is not feasible, ask your real estate agent to set up a procedure that will make it easy to show your home.
 
SUMMARY:  The key reasons some homes do not sell, even when the real estate market is doing very well, can be overcome with savvy marketing. Real estate agents like to show listings that are priced right, in good condition and easy to show. If your home is not selling, talk with your agent to find out why. Have your agent ask other agents who have shown your home what they think of it. For example, a modest price reduction might be all your home needs to convert it from “for sale” to “sold.”

 Posted Nilesh Jethwa Wilmington, NC

Nilesh Jethwa is a local real estate agent in Wilmington, NC. To contact Nilesh Jethwa please click here!

Negotiating Tips For Sellers, Wilmington NC

Tuesday, February 10th, 2009

Negotiation is an important tool of the real estate business. To be a successful home seller you should have a basic understanding of negotiation methods, knowing the motivation of the other party and adapting to their style. You can strengthen your position as a home seller, by following these four negotiation tips.
 
1. Get your home into top condition. If your home is on the market with obvious defects such as paint, repairs, cleanup, carpets and landscaping, you can be certain prospective buyers will either not look at it, or if they do and they make an offer, it will be low.
 
Examine your home carefully. If you spot anything that a buyer can criticize, your negotiating position will be weakened. For example, if your home has peeling paint, you can be sure buyers will lower their offer by much more than a paint job would actually cost you. To negotiate from a strong position, always get your house painted inside and out before putting it on the market. See Nilesh Jethwa’s  
home staging program for more information on preparing your home for sale.
 
2. Know the market value of your home. After getting your home in the best possible condition, improve your negotiating position by determining the true market value of your home. One way is to hire a professional appraiser to evaluate your home and provide an expert opinion of the market value. The cost will be several hundred dollars for a complete appraisal, depending on the size of your home and the difficulty of appraising it. Choose an appraiser who is properly licensed and is experienced in your area.
 
Another way to determine the market value of your home is to interview several real estate agents about listing it for sale. As part of their listing presentation, each agent will prepare a written “comparative market analysis.” This report will show the recent sales prices of similar nearby homes as well as the list prices of other homes currently on the market. By comparing the reports submitted by the agents, and by checking out the comparables they use, you’ll be able to determine the market value of your home. Be sure to throw out any inflated price opinion given to you by an agent who is trying to “buy” the listing.
 
3. Relax and be patient. Another way of stating this rule is, “The one who cares the least, wins.” For example, if you must sell your home quickly because of a job transfer or to avoid a pending foreclosure, buyers will take advantage of your vulnerable situation. Give yourself plenty of time by putting your home on the market early. Sellers who get the top prices for their residences are those who have their homes in excellent condition and who do not have to sell it by a deadline.
 
They can afford the “I don’t care” attitude, so they only have to sell if they get the price and terms they really want. A good real estate agent will support you when you take this position even if it takes a little longer to sell your.

 

Posted by Nilesh Jethwa Wilmington, NC Real Estate

Nilesh Jethwa is a local real estate agent in Wilmington, NC. If you would like to contact Nilesh Jethwa or receive his free monthly market reports please click here!

Wilmington, NC 15,000 Tax Credit Update

Thursday, February 5th, 2009

Last evening the United States Senate unanimously passed a bipartisan amendment, offered by REALTOR® Champions, Senators Johnny Isakson (R-GA) and Joe Lieberman (ID-CT) to the Economic Stimulus Bill creating a $15,000 tax credit to individuals who purchase a home in the next year. 

Specifically, the Isakson-Lieberman amendment to the pending economic stimulus bill would provide a direct tax credit to any homebuyer who purchases any home. The amount of the tax credit would be $15,000 or 10 percent of the purchase price, whichever is less. Purchases must be made within one year of the legislation’s enactment, and the tax credit would not have to be repaid.  The amendment would allow taxpayers to claim the credit on their 2008 income tax return. It also seeks to prevent misuse by only allowing purchases of a principle residence and by recapturing the credit if the home is sold within two years of purchase. The amendment would sunset the current $7,500 housing tax credit on the date of enactment. 

While the final details of the Stimulus Bill are still being debated, this amendment represents a tremendous step forward in NAR’s efforts to stabilize housing markets around the nation.  Because of the efforts of REALTORS®, we expect the final Economic Stimulus Bill will contain several major housing provisions.  We will continue to update you as the bill progresses through the legislative process.  *This is not formally approved, but yet a significant improvement 

Posted by Nilesh Jethwa Wilmington, NC Real Estate

 

Nilesh Jethwa is a Local REALTOR in Wilmington and the Leland area. To contact Nilesh Jethwa please Click Here!