Birkdale Village Real Estate - D-Day for Low Mortgage Rates?

Experts are predicting that interest rates will begin to rise in March of 2010. Why?

The first concern is that our government is having trouble selling Treasury's. This lack of demand will probably force the government to raise the rate of return to attract buyers for our debt. When these costs increase, buyers experience them as an increase in the interest rates. When rates go up, the number of buyers who can afford your home decreases.

According to Mainstreet.com

Next, because the private sector has shied away from buying mortgage backed securities, the FED provides support to mortgage lending and housing markets and to improve overall conditions in private credit markets, the Federal Reserve will purchase a total of $1.25 trillion of agency mortgage-backed securities and about $175 billion of agency debt.

In order to promote a smooth transition in markets, the Committee will gradually slow the pace of its purchases of both agency debt and agency mortgage-backed securities and anticipates that these transactions will be executed by the end of the first quarter of 2010.

If the Fed follows through on its promise to close the program down in March 2010, and lean on the private sector to pick up the slack, that could well leave a huge hole in the mortgage-backed securities marketplace. If the economy doesn’t cooperate, and sends private investors into the mortgage marketplace to plug the gap (a good bet right now), then look for interest rates to rise.

The Fed may not do deadlines, but it’s not above firing a warning shot to the American consumer. If you want to buy a home, do it in the next three or four months. After all, the difference in monthly mortgage payments of 5% or 6% can be measured in tens of thousands of dollars over the life of the loan.

Information taken from an article at Mainstreet.com

With all the inventory in the Birkdale, Birkdale Village and Huntersville, NC area, there is a clear indication your buying power might be at it's height now.

Birkdale Village Area Real Estate-Real Living Just Got Much Bigger

Great news for our Birkdale Village Area Customers! Even more exposure and opportunity to buy or sell your home!

November,11 2009, Real Living will formally announce that Real Living Network Services, the franchisor subsidiary of Real Living, Inc. is merging with GMAC Real Estate, fulfilling our mission to grow Real Living and increase investment in the people, tools and technology that will assure our success well into the future.

GMAC Real Estate is one of America’s leading residential real estate franchises, and combined with the Real Living Network, we will have over 600 office locations, 10,000 plus agents and more than $20 billion in annual home sales. Together we will become a bigger, bolder company, offering a strong appealing, consumer-focused brand, with a suite of industry leading tools and technology that will power us forward in the years ahead.

The new organization was created after Brookfield Residential Property Services, the owner of GMAC Real Estate, acquired Real Living Network Services, and merged the two companies under the Real Living brand name. As we move forward, the Real Living agent-centric and consumer focused philosophy will continue to drive our decision-making and investment strategies.

We am pleased to let you know that Real Livings, Harley Rouda Jr. will lead the new organization as President. Kaira Sturdivant Rouda, will continue to oversee the brand and provide the marketing leadership she has shown in the past.

As we make the transition, Real Living will focus on excellence in five key areas: technology, sales, marketing, training and business planning. These are areas that we will invest in to make our combined organization into one of the most sought after brands in the business. Our primary goal will continue to be to help our agents, offices and franchisees grow their business.

Contact your Lake Norman Real Living office at 704 746 3937

Birkdale and Birkdale Village 2010 Outlook

Congress has extended the first time home buyer tax credit. Please review the First Time Home Buyer Frequently Asked Questions .

This is great news for those thinking of buying and selling a home in 2010.
On November 4, 2009 the FED reiterated its intent on keeping interest rates low, another good sign for home buyers and sellers. However, other financial experts believe that the FED will have to raise interest rates to stave off inflation. For those thinking of selling, this is one area to keep a close look. We will also be watching this closely for you.

Lenders are going to continue to tighten up its underwriting and foreclosures are predicted to continue at a high rate in 2010 because of unemployment.


Some 2009 Statistics for Birkdale and Birkdale Village:

1. The average days on the market in 2009 for homes that sold are 124 Days.

2. 40 homes had their listings expire in 2009.

3. There are 51 homes currently listed for sale with average days on the market of 122.

4. 54 homeowners withdrew their homes from being listed with an average days on the market of 123 days.

What does this mean to you?

1. Choose an agent that will work with you on all facets of the sale. From commissions to staging.

2. Make sure your home shows like a model. Competition is fierce.

3. Realistically price your home and choose an agent that stands by his analysis.

4. Choose an agent that is technology savvy. Blogging is critical in today’s market!

5. If selling be prepared for the long haul, homes are not moving as quickly as we are used to.

6. If buying, be patient and try not get emotionally attached to one home. Negotiations depend on it.

7. Do not take any offer personally. Low offers are the norm in today’s market.

Birkdale Village Area Real Estate- Newly Passed First Time Home Buyer Tax Credit FAQ

NAR Frequently Asked Questions Homebuyer Tax Credit Changes

Here are some of the most frequently asked questions on the changes to the Homebuyer Tax Credit.

Question: Existing homeowner credit: Must the new house cost more than the old house?
Answer: No. Thus, for example, individuals who move from a high cost area to a lower cost area who meet all eligibility requirements will qualify for the $6500 credit.

Question: I am an existing homeowner. On October 25, 2009, I signed a contract to purchase a new home. I have lived in my current home for more than 5 consecutive years and am within the new income limits. I will go to settlement on November 20. If President Obama has signed the bill by the time I go to settlement, will I qualify for the new $6500 tax credit?
Answer: Yes. The existing homeowner credit goes into effect for purchases after the date of enactment (when the bill is signed). There is no reference to the date of contract for the new credit. The provision looks solely to the date of purchase, which is generally the date of settlement.

Question: I am a firsttime homebuyer but was not within the prior income limits at the time I entered into my contract to purchase on October 30, 2009. I will be covered, however, by the new income limits. If the new rules have been signed into law by the time I go to settlement, will I be eligible for a credit?
Answer: Yes. The new income limitations go into effect as soon as the President has signed the bill. The income limit and other eligibility rules will look to your status as of the date of purchase, which is the settlement date. So if the new rules have been signed when you go to settlement, you should be eligible for the credit (or a portion of the credit if you're within the phaseout range).

Question: I am an eligible existing homeowner. I have a fair amount of equity in my home. I have found a home with a nonnegotiable price of $825,000. Will I be able to use any of the $6500 tax credit?
Answer: No. The $800,000 cap on the cost of the purchased home is firm at $800,000. Any amount above $800,000 makes the home ineligible for any portion of the credit. The $800,000 is an absolute ceiling.

Question: I owned my home for 10 years, but sold it two years ago year and have been renting since. If I purchase a home, will I be eligible for the $6500 tax credit if I meet all the other eligibility tests?
Answer: Yes. Because you lived in the home for more than 5 consecutive years of the previous 8, you will qualify for the $6500 credit. For example, Say John and his wife bought a home in 2000 and lived there until 2008 when he got a divorce. Whether John has been renting or bought in the interim, he WOULD INDEED be eligible for the credit because he owned a home and occupied it as his principal residence for 5 consecutive years out of the last 8 years. The keyword here is "consecutive." As long as he lived in that house for 5 years straight what he did since 3 years doesn't impact eligibility.

Question: I am an eligible firsttime homebuyer. I entered into a contract to purchase on November 1, 2009. Do I have to go to closing before December 1? How does the extension date affect me?
Answer: You do not have to close before December 1. Once the legislation has been signed, it will be as if the Nov 30 date had never existed. Therefore, so long as the contract settles before April 30 (or July 1, worst case), the purchaser will be eligible for the credit.

Huntersville NC Real Estate;Preparing A Home For Sale

Selling Your Birkdale Village Area Home, First Impressions Are Everything

The lawn: Common sense tells you to keep your lawn mowed and edged, but does it look like a green desert…with no pizzazz? Let’s go shopping and add some. Visit your local nursery and bring your checkbook. We are after greenery, concrete and other things.

Consider your entryway… Assuming your lawn is not already landscaped; consider putting 2 to 4 – 18 inch to 24 inch pot plants along the entryway. This will give a welcoming atmosphere. Also, consider an attractive concrete birdbath “close to the front entry”.

The driveway: Plant 2 – 18 inch to 24 inch shrubs on the entry to your driveway. The Mail Box: Whether it is located near the entrance or on the curb, if it is not new…replace it. The preferable color is black with gold trim or whatever type you Huntersville NC community requires.

The Entryway/Porch: In addition to removing the cobwebs, consider new paint, preferably a light and inviting color.

The Front Door: Common sense says paint it…but l’ll go a bit further, replace it. This is the most important decision you will make. A bland looking front door gives the impression that the interior will also be bland
and set the tone for the home tour. It is human nature.

I suggest a top half, leaded glass door beautifully stained and varnished.
You will be surprised at the difference this will make in the mental tone this will set, even in yourself.

Some of these suggestions may seem a little extreme, but with years of experience in the Real Estate industry, I have seen these tips work with much success. When you can look at your home and objectively say…Yes, I would buy it! You are ready to place your For Sale sign in your yard.

Spruce Up Your Birkdale Village and Huntersville NC area Home With These Cheap Landscape Ideas

This article is about cheap landscaping ideas

One of the main hassles of landscpaing is not planting or creating, but weeding. Weeds grow with remarkable speed and can quickly overtake a yard or garden. Using a poison or herbicide like roundup is not recommended as you might kill your plants. I know that the manufactors claim the product breaks down in the soil very quickly but I find with my lawn edges after a second dose of roundup no grass is growing there six months later.

In moving into a new home and beginning to weed, you will quickly get sick of it and maybe quit. Big mistake, there will now be more weeds than ever.

So here is a cheap mulching option, that would look good, work, but not cost too much.

Chose three basic supplies, newspaper -the local rags free and it doesn't take long to build up a stock pile of papers, sugar cane mulch - its comes in a big bags and is cheap, and finally a few bags of bark - not so cheap, but as you will see its used to give colour not as a mulch so only a little bit is required.

Step One:-
Prepare the garden, yes this means a huge effort and weed the whole garden by hand. Rake over the soil so its nice and smooth and then apply the newspaper. The thicker the better.
Min. six sheets thick. Spread it out and then with a hose wet it all down so it soaked. The now heavy paper won't blow around in the wind and will mold better to the grounds surface.


Step Two:-
Next spread out the sugar cane mulch. If you cant access cheap sugar cane mulch, try straw, but ensure it has no seeds in it. Make sure all the paper is covered. It doesn't have to be deep, just enough to cover all the paper. Once again apply water to damp down the mulch. Once watered it takes on a lovely golden colour.


Step Three:-
Now apply the bark. Just grab handfulls and throw it around. You don't want to totally cover the yellow mulch, the barks mainly to give colour and to contrase with the mulch.


This is found this to be a very effective mulch. A year later and few weeds can get through. The beautiful browns and golden colour unfortunately fade under the harsh sun, but by that time you should have plenty of flower to make up for it. Best of all - NO WEEDING, yes.


For more Landscape ideas check out:

Landscaping Ideas 4 Home

Northstone Golf Club- Huntersville NC Homes For Sale

Northstone Country Club Huntersville NC Homes For Sale

Taken from the Northstone Club Website:

NorthStone Country Club is a private club located in Huntersville, North Carolina in the center of the NorthStone housing community. Convenient to Charlotte and Lake Norman, NorthStone Country Club is situated on 237 artistically landscaped acres. The P. B. Dye signature course was rated "Number One" by Charlotte's Business Journal. The course will impress the very best players with its strategically placed bunkers, G2 bent grass greens, and Meyer Zoysia fairways. Featuring an endless variety of strategic angles of play from multiple tee boxes, the NorthStone golf course will encourage good course management yet tease the more adventurous golfer.

Your Link to see all the current: Northstone Country Club in Huntersville Homes For Sale.

To set up an appointment contact your Huntersville Area Agent at 704 451 7051