Online Real Estate Bashers, Please State Your Name. Wilmington, NC

It really bothers me when someones goal is to just bash the real estate profession and realtors and not respect different opinions or advice. There are websites out that aim to assist the general public with all kinds of real estate matters. Then there are people who set out to hassle anyone that tries to answer a question or give advice on those sites. The worst part is that most of these pathetic bashers choose to stay anonymous. Also, if you are so set on those beliefs than why remain nameless? Let us know who you are and then speak your mind. It will have much more credibility. If you would like to voice your opinion or disagree with me please let me know at JessicaRiffle@SeaCoastRealty.com or comment below.

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Pre Approval First Step When Purchasing Home

When you are thinking about buying a home most people get excited and start looking and searching before talking with a lender. The general thought is that you talk to a lender after you find the perfect home. This is totally wrong. You should speak with a reputable lender and get pre approved and pre qualified to get a loan. That lender needs to run your credit, verify income, etc so that you know how what price range you are approved for, what your monthly payments will be, and what your down payment will be. It is amazing sometimes how far off some are when thinking of a price and then actually speaking to a lender. You may think that the price they would qualify for would go down, but often it does go up! With interest rates and different loan programs available sometimes people are able to get more house for less money down or per month than they thought. Also, it is the buyer's agents duty to make sure that their buyers are qualified to purchase the homes they are showing them. If you were a seller you would want the same. So, talk to a lender, run the numbers, get approved...before you start looking at homes.

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Contact Jessica at 910-352-1043 or email JessicaRiffle@SeaCoastRealty.com.

Is Print Advertising Dead? Web 2.0 and Social Media Marketing in Real Estate

As a Real Estate Broker and Realtor it is extremely important to keep up with the latest marketing trends and technology. I need to make sure that I am serving my sellers and marketing their homes in the best way possible. I need to be sure that by doing this we are getting those homes in front of buyers. As technology changes the way real estate is advertised I have to ask..."Is print advertising dead?" If over 84% of buyers start their home search online and if a buyer is 900% (9 to 1) more likely to find their home on the internet rather than in a newspaper, should Realtors be advertising homes there?

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UNDER CONTRACT

7102 Medallion Place is now Under Contract In Only 14 DAYS!










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To find out what your home is worth visit www.myhomevaluenc.com!

Contact Jessica at 910-352-1043 or JessicaRiffle@SeaCoastRealty.com

Current Market Activity Very High

Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Realty is rockin and rollin this April. Last week we had just under 25 million in contracts turned in! This is awesome. The market is shifting. The numbers are showing it and you can see it. My listings are getting more showings, more agents are meeting with clients, homes are going under contract and selling! This is great for everyone. The market in Wilmington is picking up and the excitement is in the air. If you are a buyer, get in the game before you realize you missed an awesome opportunity.

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Contact Jessica at 910-352-1043 or JessicaRiffle@SeaCoastRealty.com

OPEN HOUSE EXTRAVAGANZA!

Wow! Check out Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Realty's Open House Extravaganza going on all weekend long! There will be over 100 homes open today and tomorrrow across the Wilmington region. I have a few featured listings that are priced to sell and will be open this weekend. I have included these below. For a complete list of all open houses this weekend, click here!

If you see something you are interested in, have more questions, or want to make an offer please contact me at JessicaRiffle@SeaCoastRealty.com or 910-352-1043.

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1307 Portside Drive ~ $325,000

OPEN Sunday 1-4

More Info!

1303 Kingfisher Court ~ $390,000

OPEN Saturday 10-12 and Sunday 1-3

More Info!

225 Oakhurst Road ~ $245,000

OPEN Sunday 1-4

More Info!

Home Warranty Extra Peace of Mind

Sellers often offer a Home Warranty to the buyer when selling their home. Buyers often don't realize how beneficial this is to them when purchasing a house. The buyer will be covered, usually for a year, on things such as HVAC, plumbing, electrical, etc. This means that is soemthing goes wrong the warranty company pays for it to be repaired and if it can't be repaired the will replace it! It is great added peace of mind when purchasing a home.

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Contact Jessica at 910-352-1043 or JessicaRiffle@SeaCoastRealty.com

No Increase Beach and Fair Plans

Below is a web posting from the North Carolina Insurance Underwriters, dated 4/15/09, that the previously state wind/hail increases will NOT go through.

This is great news for everyone: home owner, buyer, and seller!

A legal challenge to increases in certain Beach and FAIR Plan deductibles and surcharges approved by the Commissioner of Insurance in November of 2008 is underway. The commissioner approved these changes to be effective February 1, 2009. On March 20, 2009, the Wake County Superior Court stayed the Commissioner’s approval of these changes and remanded the matter to the Department of Insurance to conduct proceedings to develop findings to support the Commissioner’s decisions and create a record for appeal.

Pending final resolution of the legal challenge, the Beach and FAIR Plans are proceeding to implement a roll back of the deductibles and surcharges to the levels that existed prior to the effective date of the Commissioner’s approval of these changes. Staff is working with the Department of Insurance to accomplish this roll back to explain and implement all premium, deductible, and claims adjustments that are required.

This roll back does not apply to the NC Rate Bureau’s homeowners rate revision, which is to take effect May 1, 2009.

If you have insurance questions please feel free to contact Karen Shanley with Nationwide Insurance at 910-202-3676 or shanlek1@nationwide.com.

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Real Estate for Money, Never Good

Thinking of getting to Real Estate. Think about your motives, desires, and goals. There is often a lot more to real estate and being a successful broker than what the public sees on a daily basis. If you look at the top real estate agents in any marketplace, those that are successful are those that are passionate. It is not an easy business, but can be a great one if your heart is in the right place!

Looking, Waiting for Bottom

When someone is always waiting for the bottom or top of the market they will always miss it. You cannot know when the bottom is until it has passed. Just like you cannot know when the top of the market is untii it has passed. To be successful in real estate you must jump in when you see an opportune time. Now is that time. If you wait and then say, oh, now I am ready the bottom has passed you will have less inventory to choose from, more competition from more buyers in the market, and possibly higher prices. You can't wait and if you do you will never time it perfectly. If you disagree with me or have any comments, please email me at JessicaRiffle@SeaCoastRealty.com.

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Wilmington Ranked 13

Forbes.com has ranked the best places in the U.S. for business and careers and Wilmington, NC is ranked number 13!

Wilmington, along with a few other, Tar Heel cities have been top rated on this list. You may be wondering why I think this is so awesome if other cities outrated Wilmington...The answer is simple. Most of the cities on this list are not also listed on multiple "best of lists" for places to vacation, invest in property, best retirement cities, and top universities. Wilmington has it all and has been ranked highly and at the tops of lists in all these categories.

Just another reason why I believe Wilmington, NC is the place to be!

Read the Article here!

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Detroit, Final Four, and Real Estate

Right now I am in Detoit, Michigan for the NCAA Final Four. Go Heels! While here it is obvious to see how much Detroit is economically suffering. The people are friendly and the city is in much need of the tourism here for the weekend.

Foreclosed homes in Detroit are selling from $1.00 to $10,000 and foreign buyers are snapping them up, according to a report in the Chicago Tribune. Real estate agent Michael Shannon recently sold 30 homes in one day to one buyer. A trio of U.K. investors has bought a half-dozen and plans many more. "I thought it would be quite good fun to have a look," said Darren Veness, an investor from Brighton, England.

Detroit has been hit hard by the economic downturn and currently has one of the lowest home ownership rates in the country. Veness and his colleagues "have considered other U.S. cities," says the report, "but so far Detroit is it. For them, it's simple: The homes are cheap and plentiful."

....source realtor.org...

GO HEELS!!!!!!!!!

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Crime and Schools

When it comes to crime and schools your Realtor cannot comment. Log on to multiple sites to find the information you are seeking without an opinion bias.

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Email me at JessicaRiffle@SeaCoastRealty.com