What Happens in Vegas...

I had the privilege over the last week of attending the Leading Real Estate Companies of the World yearly conference (The Summit) in Las Vegas.  Allen Tate Companies graciously sent their top 5% producing agents out there to learn, network, and relax.  While I greatly enjoyed the room service and quiet solitude of a single occupancy hotel room (remember, I am a mama to 2 little ones whom I love dearly.... but man are they LOUD sometimes!), my favorite part was definitely meeting agents from other parts of the country.  We attended educational breakout sessions, and there were numerous networking opportunities.  I am usually not the person who gets into "networking" so to speak (so why in the world am I in real estate??), but it honestly just happened naturally.  I was able to question agents from Arizona, California, Hawaii... even other Taters in other markets... about how inventory looked for the Spring, current buyer hot buttons, staging trends, etc.  It was almost overwhelming the wealth of knowledge contained in that one place! 

Anyway, my point in writing this is mainly to let you know that when I say "I know a great agent in that market", I mean it!  If you are moving or even thinking of moving, chances are I have a personal contact from your destination who will be more than happy to connect with you and help you in any way they can.  They can provide neighborhood research, school info, etc.  Even in markets where I don't have a personal contact, I can find you one... but to be able to say "I personally know such and such" is to me just a very cool thing and yet another example of how Allen Tate agents really are your trusted advisors! 

The Shore Team

I know I have mentioned and hinted relentlessly, but I am so excited to now say it's official!  The Shore Team has grown!  Ellen Mulheron has joined our team, and we couldn't be more thrilled.  Her enthusiasm, work ethic, and attention to detail are unparalleled (and I speak from experience -- our desks have been beside each other for weeks now so I have seen firsthand that the woman is just RELENTLESS!).  Whether a first time buyer or luxury seller, she offers insight and life experience from prior careers that really make her an asset to our team.  Read about ALL of us at www.TheShoreTeam.com!  We are ready to go in 2014, so please contact us today for ALL of your real estate needs in the Triad!

Carolina's Market Report

Allen Tate's COO Pat Riley gives some insight into our local market.  Good news!

http://youtu.be/XcIDfD9MC7U

What NOT To Do...

Today's post on the Allen Tate blog is very timely in general but for us specifically as we had just this issue delay a closing recently.  It offers great advice for anyone under contract to purchase a home.  To see the whole post, click here, but the main points are as follows:
-- Don’t open any new credit accounts before or during the mortgage loan application process
-- Don’t move money around in your checking/savings accounts
-- Don’t change jobs or the way you are compensated

Happy buying!

LEAP Realty Joins Tate!

I am very excited about a new addition to our Allen Tate office here in Winston-Salem.  LEAP Realty has joined us, and while we often have agents from other companies come aboard, this one is particularly exciting to me. 

Let me say first -- I am not a stereotypical tree hugger!  I typically vote Republican, have been known to throw an apple core out the window (but only if in the passenger side of the car so as not to lure animals -- whom I WILL brake for -- out into the road), and I don't keep peanut butter canisters for recycling at home because they are just nasty no matter how many times you wash them.  But, I do try to do little things -- I don't throw my batteries in the trash, I will carry a plastic water bottle in my bag for 2 days just so I don't have to throw it in a trash receptacle, and my kids used cloth diapers (at least until crawling!).  Part of that is because of where I live, which is extremely rural.  We don't have trash pick-up -- we can't even PAY for it, so we take our trash to the good old county dump.  After doing that the first few times, I was just grossed out by all I saw, so I decided that I at least, would do a few small things to decrease my family's contribution to all that odor, unsightliness, and waste.  Thus began the education on cloth diapers, newspaper recycling, and glass jar use.

So, back to LEAP Realty.  According to their company website, they are "a green-minded real estate firm answering the need of buyers and sellers looking for better options in real estate.  Our main focus is to enhance the lives of our clients through better homes and better living." I realize not everyone cares at this point about the type of insulation used in their homes from an environmental perspective, but I DO think we have a duty to care for our wonderful surroundings to the best of our abilities.  I don't worship Mother Nature or Father Time, but my Heavenly Father has provided me and my family with a wonderful spot on Earth to call home, so I would like to show my appreciation by caring for it.

Geez... this is getting all philosophical, huh?  In a nutshell, I am excited to see what changes will be taking place in our office, if nothing else so that I don't have to carry my water bottles around for 2 days!  It will please me greatly to see a recycling effort here for all of our superfluous paper and drink cans.  And yes, for you skeptics, when it's possible I don't use a plastic bottle at all... but there is only so much reusing a germaphobe can do!

Market Trends Videos

Once again, Allen Tate has outdone itself by offering consumers another phenomenal tool to educate and prepare them for the local real estate market.  Click here to go to a 60 second snapshot video highlighting local trends for your specific area.  I just posted the one for Winston-Salem on my Facebook page Amanda K. Shore Broker/Realtor.  While you are at it, please follow this blog and "like" my page for sometimes helpful... always random... and usually entertaining tidbits!

Notes from a Sales Meeting...

We were privileged in the Winston-Salem, NC Allen Tate office to have our COO, Pat Riley, with us today at our sales meeting.  He brought home the point that so many of us have been trying to convey for a while now... Yes, Mr. Seller, you may get more for your home in 5 years than you will now.  But, interest rates will rise, and you WILL pay more for the home you end up purchasing than you would today.  This must explain why Lisa and I are so slammed with new listings... the savvy are catching on!  Call us today for a comprehensive marketing plan for your property -- we utilize enhanced and out of the box features to make our homes stand out.  Visit our website by clicking here!

Mobile Phones are Everywhere...

According to a new study by the National Association of Realtors, home buyers in this "digital era" utilize their mobile devices - i.e. smartphones - even when at home to search for properties. What does this mean to you? If you are selling your home, you really need to think seriously about what kind of marketing different companies do. Do they rely on newspaper ads and reputation to draw traffic to your home, or do they stay cutting edge and offer a mobile site that users can navigate simply and easily to see details, photos, etc.? Another reason I am proud to be with Tate... visit m.allentate.com! We are the #1 company in the Carolinas because we utilize ALL types of media and our agents embrace new trends. Statistics from the study: Places where new home buyers use their mobile devices  77% – At home  31% – At work  28% – While waiting in line  27% – At a restaurant  26% – At someone else’s home Lisa and I realize the importance of this as well. You may drive past a listing of ours and see a brochure box out front ("old school"), but when you get out to get a flier you will also see a QR code for that specific property on it. We realize that not everyone shops for homes the same way, so we haven't ruled out print ads altogether. We do, however, try to incorporate the "old" with the "new" in everything we do. Call/tweet/text/email us today for some examples!

Why Independent Brokers Matter

There is a wonderful post on the Allen Tate blog today (click here for the full post). A snippet of it is as follows: When it comes to insurance, there are captive agents who represent just one company; direct writers who work the phones and e-commerce with only one product to sell; and independent agents like Allen Tate Insurance, who represent an average of eight companies and product lines. This allows us to review loss records, terms, prices and products, and offer you the very best coverage at the best possible price. NAR statistics show that the majority of home buyers prefer one stop shopping, i.e. they want their real estate company to offer mortgage, title, and insurance services simply because of the convenience. Our President and COO explains, though, that it isn't just about convenience. Independent brokers CAN get you a better deal. Just ask my stepdad -- he's opposed to change of any kind, but after speaking with our local Allen Tate insurance rep (linda.hahn@allentate.com), he is switching some of his policies. You may not know him, but trust me, that is QUITE an endorsement!

Another FABULOUS Tate tool has been unveiled... if you are like me, seeing something makes it so much more clear than hearing it or reading it. Well, voila! A Carolinas Market Report via video! http://athome.allentate.com/2012/07/stay-in-the-know-with-video/

3.8% Tax -- the Facts

Phyllis Brookshire wrote an EXCELLENT post on the 3.8% real estate tax and its implications for our industry and specifically for sellers of real estate. Click here to see it -- it really is informative, well-written, and explains that the tax is not the bear some claim it to be.

3 Questions You Must Ask...

The KCMBlog had a great post for anyone considering purchasing a home. Click here for the full article, but the 3 questions are: 1 -- What are the experts recommending? 2 -- When will I begin to see an appreciation if I buy now? 3 -- Why am I buying a home in the first place? Number 3 is particularly important. Forget the financial aspect and think about what your "picture" of homeownership includes -- a fenced backyard where your kids can play? somewhere you can paint a different color every week? Regardless, Lisa and I have extensive experience in working with both empty nester buyers, first time buyers, and all types in between. Contact us today!

Why Choose an Independent Insurance Agent for your HOI?

Your Independent Insurance Agent:
• Is a licensed professional with strong customer and community ties.
• Gives you excellent service and competitive prices because he can access the insurance coverage from more than one company.
• Unlike other agents, he is not beholden to any one company. Thus, you do not need to change agencies as your insurance and service needs change.
• Assists you when you have a claim.
• Is your consultant, working with you as you determine your needs.
• Offers you a choice of insurance plans and programs.
• Is a value hunter who looks after your pocketbook in finding the best combination of price, coverage and service.
• Offers one-stop shopping for a full range of insurance products - home, renters, auto, business, life, and health.
• Can periodically review your coverage to keep up with your changing insurance needs.
• Customer satisfaction is the key to an independent agent's livelihood. Therefore, serving you is your independent agent's most-important concern.

Thank you Blake Honeycutt with Allen Tate Insurance fo rthe info! If you'd like to speak with Blake, contact him at blake.honeycutt@allentate.com.

Rehab, Update, or Expand!!

http://carolinarehabloansbydon.tumblr.com/

Click the link above to get exciting information about Allen Tate's recent partnership with RebuildUSA and Lowe's Home Improvement. Did you know there are loans out there that allow you to borrow enough to rehab an existing home? It's a great way to expand your possibilities!

Adventures in HomeBuying -- THE END!

Genevieve and Amy wrap it up with the final installment of the Allen Tate Company's "Adventures in Home Buying" series on YouTube. If you don't have time to watch the video, here are some pointers to remember:

 Talk with a Realtor®.
 Keep an open mind.
 Check your credit score.
 Do the white glove test.
 Location affects price.
 Check out the area.
 Get pre-qualified.
 Better safe than sorry.
 Insurance isn’t one-size-fits-all.
 Offer is more than price.
More information can be found on these on the Allen Tate blog athome.allentate.com.

I'd definitely encourage you to view the videos... viewing something makes me much more likely to remember it, and I fgure many of you are the same. Just go here to see them, and if you decide to embark on step #1, call us today!

What Can $10 Get You These Days?

Have you heard of the Habitat for Humanity ReStore? It is a wonderful concept where great deals abound... and it's all for a good cause! Right now 8 local design teams are competing for the Community Choice Award. Click here to vote for your favorite designer (of course, the one paired with Allen Tate Realtors is my personal fave :-)!). All votes are tax deductible ($10 each), and it's a great way to support not just Allen Tate but a wonderful community organization AND a grassroots business. My grandpa passed away a few weeks ago, and one of his favorite charities before Alzheimers took him was Habitat for Humanity, so this one is near and dear to me as well...

The Clock it is A-ticking!

Almost the end of October... hmmm, with loan processes taking longer now, that means there isn't a lot of time left to get in your new home by Christmas! Gone are the days of 30 days from contract to close -- even folks with substantial money down just aren't getting pushed through that quickly. So, if you have a pre-Christmas goal, better buckle down! Call your WinstonSalemTeam today!

They Feel Your Pain!

I know from experience that real estate transactions are stressful -- I often tell people "you aren't buying a sweater... you can't take it back." BUT, believe it or not, kinks in your plans will often remedy themselves if you just take a step back, sleep on it (or toss and turn relentlessly on it), and look at the big picture. Still, it's nice to know others may have experienced or are currently experiencing the same trials as you, right?

Well guess what? Allen Tate has a wonderful new video series about buying a home. It follows the journey of 2 first time homebuyers and shows the good, the bad, and the ugly as they look, investigate, and learn. I must confess that I just recently took the time to watch the videos, but I would absolutely recommend you do it now. I can't wait to see what the final decision will be! Click here to watch "Adventures in HomeBuying."

Patience is NOT Always a Virtue

"If you are thinking of selling, it would be wise to put your house on the market before prices fall again."

Read why here!

Info taken from KCMBlog.com

WHOO HOO Way to go Winston-Salem Taters!

Our broker just released our August numbers here in our Winston-Salem, NC office. I am proud to be associated with such a productive bunch of people! We are not a mega-office either, so these numbers (especially the closed one considering the doom and gloom in today's market) are especially impressive. Lisa and I had several ourselves... :-)

Listings --- 74
Sales ------ 80
Closed ----71

So, as I have asked before... do you want your property listed or do you want it sold??