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

Picking the Right Agent

Steve Harney once again gives great advice to both buyers AND sellers on his KCMBlog. Read about why you need not just any agent but THE agent here.

Mixed Media Signals

"According to the latest S&P/Case-Shiller home price index of 120 major cities, prices rose 0.9% in July compared with June, but they're still 4.1% lower than 12 months ago."

This statement was made by cnn.money.com... and it will cause problems. Folks will see the first half and stop, feeling they can price their homes higher based on the 0.9% rise.

A rise is good, of course, but we must still look at the big picture. Prices are still DOWN from 12 months ago. Pricing aggressively is still an absolute must!

Best Buy in Clemmons West!

We have a new listing in Clemmons West, and it is priced RIGHT! Lovingly maintained by the long time owners, it overlooks Tanglewood par 3 and sits on a half acre corner lot AND in a cul-de-sac to boot! This all brick home features 4 bedrooms, 2.1 baths, a lower level playroom, and abundant fruit trees in the backyard. Click here for a photo tour... this home is an excellent opportunity for someone to get into Clemmons West at an affordable price!