Now is the time to buy!

Real estate is taking a turn for the better! With the warm weather right around the corner, summer only months away, and the potential for a whole new life only a few clicks away, real estate search engines are seeing a huge increase in activity!

Whether you are looking for a seaside escape ..

A city with so much to offer ..

A cozy  neighborhood ..

There are plenty of options to find for you next chapter. Contact us for more information on what we have available and how fast we can buy your home to get you started on your next adventure!

All Cash Making A Mark

The results are in and according to CNN money the stats are showing that cash deals are making a hit on homes this year! Partially due to investors but also due to the fact that cash deals look pretty great right about now. With the economy taking longer than expected to pick back up, it's not a surprise cash is making a mark.

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With the banks already hurting, this is going to make it a little harder for the banks to hang on to loans. Which would you prefer, all cash or a bank loan?

Wholesale Birch Ave, Glen Burnie

We have a wholesale offer you won't want to miss in Glen Burnie, MD for $116,000!

Enjoy The Day

Wishing everyone a wonderful July 4th!

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Big Homes Getting Bigger

According to CNN - America's homes are getting EVEN BIGGER! With the younger crowd getting pushed out of being able to buy new homes, the record high for larger homes being sold can pretty much be accompanied by the fact that previous home owners are still upgrading.

In some places like DC, Maryland, and Northern Virginia, mini mansions are still popping up all over the place!

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So if you aren't one of these previous home owners that can afford an upgrade at the moment, what are you supposed to do? Our suggestion - find that gem of a home that might not be a new build, and might need a little TLC but can still give you exactly what you are looking for.

Home Inspiration

One thing that I absolutely love about older homes is finding those built in shelves that have been a part of the homes character from the beginning! Although some might not be as stunning when you see them at first, it doesn't take much to make built in's stand out and shine!

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You'll notice most placements of built in's in older homes have amazing placement like the one above. It's a great use of what might otherwise be a wasted space.

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At first glance those built in's might not seem as amazing as they are cracked up to be, but a quick coat of paint can make an amazing difference.

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They also serve an awesome purpose as well! Although it may not seem apparent that open shelving great storage, there are great ways to store items without them being a distraction to an eye. A cute basket can be great visually and also hide away things!

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Can you afford a new home?

There's been news around the world stating that it's too hard for the Millennials to purchase a home because of debt, not having enough credit, and/or not being able to come up with the heft down payment it takes to get your foot in the door! Many of these young buyers are being squeezed out of the market by those who have what it takes to impress the banks and the sellers. Even though many people state that the Millennials enjoy renting instead of buying due to constantly being on the go and moving around often, according to a Fannie Mae survey - 90% say they'd rather own then rent!

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So can you afford a new home? The best place to start is by gathering up your finances. Make a spreadsheet of what goes in and what comes out. Figure out how much you are paying for rent and see if that's enough to cover your monthly payments for a home. If you're not sure how to figure out what home you can afford there are plenty of mortgage calculators online to help you out with that.

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If you feel like you can't come up with a hefty down payment, there are options! There are plenty of government programs that will get you into a home with a low down payment or no down payment cost! Do your research and come prepared when talking to a bank about a loan. Look up sites like FHA and HAMP to see what they can offer you when purchasing your new home and know that just because you are getting an FHA approved loan does not limit you to what neighborhoods or areas you can purchase in.

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Most Millennials debt is due to student loans which can get pretty large if you went for your masters. Don't let these debt's hold you back from owning a new home. While the Real Estate world is working on a system to make this process a little easier to get a loan without crashing the market, there are also government programs to help consolidate and loan forgiveness options to make sure you aren't paying more than what your income can handle. Although this won't take the debt away, it will help lower your payments which can give you a little more room in your monthly payments towards a new home.

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If you are one of these young buyers who is interested in purchasing a home, don't let this process scare you out of purchasing. Get organized, get informed, and be one step ahead of the banks. A new home might not be that far away!

Thanks to CNN Real Estate for information on this post!

Hardwood vs Laminate

One of the must haves on our list when we are updating a home is hardwood floors. If the home currently has hardwood floors than it's just an easy refinish, but if it doesn't then it's on our list o be put in! While most renovators would choose a laminate due to it being budget friendly, we prefer hardwood. Here's a few reason's why:

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Although laminate is cheaper and easier to install, hardwood floors are easier to repair. So if any damage were to happen afterwards, it's not the end of the world! It's a pretty easy fix and most homeowners can easily do it themselves which will save some money when it comes to labor.

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It will last you a lifetime. Literally, hardwood floors life expectancy is up to 75 years where laminate may last you about 20. For a difference in around $3 per square foot, I think it's worth the end result to put the extra money out there and get hardwood upfront. It'll help with resale value as well.

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They are beautiful! Even the cheaper hardwood floors are gorgeous and there are plenty of choices. You can choose between solid wood, engineered wood, unfinished, prefinished, and that doesn't even cover the types of wood.

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You can hear it in the footsteps. Most laminates, even with padding, make creaking plastic noises. Older homes with hardwood floors have the possibility of noise as well but when you are walking across it, you can definitely feel and hear the difference.

Pre-Approval Importance

Today I wanted to share some tips with you I found from Zillow on why it's so important to get a pre-approval and how it's going to keep you from getting in the front door without one!

Fast paced market:

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With everything online and so many resources available, like social media, it's not hard to get find properties anymore! You can even text a realtor on the spot and see homes within that same day! Home shopping has become a lot easier and a lot more efficient which means a home can be listed for sale, and sold within that same day before you even got a chance to notice it.

What you can afford vs. what you think you can afford:

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It used to be that you planned on staying in a home for a while, but with moving around often becoming more typical these days people are less focused on long term investments and more focus on the here and now, meaning they want the lowest monthly payments as possible. Knowing all your options and what monthly amount you can afford really makes it easier to know your over-all limit on a home.

Competition can be rough:

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Now a days if you don't have a pre-approval in hand, your offer might not even be looked at! Most sellers don't want to take a chance on an offer falling through because you don't really know what you can afford, plus that's extra time after of the offer is accepted that you'll have to take to get pre-approved and get the process moving. Time means everything in the housing market and being ahead of it makes you a better buyer.

Time for Some Change!

Research is showing that people are ready to make some changes and try living in a new area. Change is the air and I have to agree, picking up and finding a new place sounds so exciting and fresh!

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According to Gallup, 49 percent of all Connecticut residents want to change state! They aren't the only ones ready to pack up a moving truck and get on the road, a good amount of the norther eastern seaboard is ready to go too! As you may have guessed there are some that aren't ready to go - but who are those lucky few?

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 That's right! People living in the exciting and luxurious areas like Montana, Hawaii, and Maine! I'm sure if I lived there, I wouldn't want to leave either! It's so intriguing to think about what life would be like in a new place, a new town, a new neighborhood! For some of us that can seem a bit overwhelming and scary but I don't think we've lost all sense of adventure. It seems like the younger generations have taken up the idea of traveling and moving more often much like the former generations once had!

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It's time to pass down those suitcases and get moving! It's fascinating how many people are unhappy where they currently are. Especially since research shows that Amercains may have stopped changing states at the worst possible time! During and just after the recession the moving rate dropped and those are the best opportunities to make the change with the housing market prices low and moving expenses much cheaper!

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Most of the excuses were lack of jobs but with the recession in full swing there weren't jobs anywhere so it wouldn't have mattered where you were! People often move to where the jobs are but that's also where most of the higher costs of living are. To get ahead of the game, buying a lower cost of living area with the potential when the housing prices pick back up again.

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This leaves so much opportunity when there is a promising sign of a economic boost coming! Are you feeling the itch to move? If so I would pick up before housing prices go up any higher! A big thanks to vox.com for sharing some great information with us.

More Choices for Spring Buyers

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According to Reatlor.com the spring home buying season is off to a great start compared to last year! The price increases have been gradually rising and the amount of homes for sale are giving buyers options. More homes on the market make it easier for new buyers to move up and the affordable prices are perfect for those first time home buyers.

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“Bidding wars in many markets last year frequently elevated offer prices beyond the reach of first-time buyers who could scarcely save for the down payment,” said Steve Berkowitz, CEO of Move, Inc. “While inventory is still low, the continuing annual lift in the number of homes on the market that we’ve seen over the first months of 2014 is an indicator that buying conditions this year may be notably improved from the frenzied pace of last spring.”

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Here's to hoping spring brings in a great real estate year for everyone!

What Buyers Want

Realtor.com just came out with a list of things that is seems buyers want these days! Most builders are focusing on convenience and energy efficiency these days and according to a survey by the National Association of Home Builders, there are more amenities that were found as key selling points! Check out what the survey says we want:

A Kitchen Island:

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Great Room:

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Double Sinks:

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Granite Counter tops:

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High Ceilings:

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Open Floor Plan:

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Laundry Room:

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Outdoor Lighting:

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They also listed game room as a high priority for buyers but I'd like to assume that's more of an extra room or den spot! What do you think of the survey? Are these must haves on your list?

170 Wolfpoint Rehab Update!

Drywall in progress!

Most of the basement drywall is finished and some is already painted!

The closet in the tile is installed.

Painting has begun! We are working on a few accent walls that are really making a difference in the rooms!

We've also started adding new fixtures, plate switches and covers, and updating the bathrooms!

More pictures of the rehab to come soon. Stay tuned for the big reveal of this gorgeous house!

140 Meadow Reno HVAC & Entryway

There's a lot going on around here! We've been updating the HVAC through out the house and adding a new entryway to 140 Meadow Rd, Pasadena MD.

There are some serious perks to having a brand new HVAC system in your home. HVAC installation isn't cheap but it will save you in monthly cost due to energy conservation. The power will only be used when needed which will save you a ton of money. Since this is already being put in the home, that's one less cost you'll have to worry about and savings you can't beat!

You'll also get better air quality! Ill circulated air can be a serious issue for a home. Having a new HVAC can ensure that your air is clean so pollutants and allergens remain outside of the home.

Most people don't think of moisture control as something your HVAC can do for you but it is! Keeping moisture out of your home can save you from mildew, mold, and other costly fixes. This is one less thing to worry about when you purchase a newly renovated home like this one!

We did a major makeover for this front entryway. Since this is the first thing you are going to see, it's important to have a good appearance!

New siding, new windows, and a new concrete sidewalk was a must on our to do list.

It's amazing what a new entrance can do to the curb appeal of a home!

3429 Gales Drive Complete!

We have finished the work at 3429 Gables Drive, Fayetteville NC and have some great pictures to show you!

This completely renovated 3 Bed/2.5 Bath, 2 story home with garage is located in well established neighborhood.

All new Frigidaire stainless steel appliances, new granite counter top in kitchen, custom ceramic tile back splash.

New tile floor in kitchen, baths, and upstairs laundry room.

Hardwoods on main level, and a cozy fireplace in great room.

All baths completely redone with new granite vanities, tile floors, light fixtures, and toilets!

Master en-suite bedroom upstairs with walk in closet.

New carpet, ceiling fans, & light fixtures.

Deck in back is great for entertaining!

Call Ben at 850-933-6450 for info or Heather at 910-920-3030 for a showing.  This amazing house could be yours for $169,900. Are you ready to move in?

Survey: Homebuyer Demand Bucking Seasonal Decline

Late-season home buyers are being drawn into the market, with buyer demand outperforming typical seasonal patterns, according to the real estate brokerage Redfin's Demand Pulse, which analyzes the housing market based on home tour and offer data in 22 top real estate markets. Survey: Homebuyer Demand Bucking Seasonal Decline.

140 Meadow Rehab Update!

Our rehab at 140 Meadow is moving along smoothly! Demo is complete and new framing is in progress!

Mortgage Rates Fall to Lowest Levels Since June

For the second consecutive week, fixed-rate mortgages declined, lowering borrowing costs and helping alleviate some signs of softening in the housing market, according to Freddie Mac's weekly mortgage market report. Mortgage Rates Fall to Lowest Levels Since June.

Aging Homes May Present Big Bargains

More than 70 percent of the U.S. housing stock was built prior to 1990, and an aging housing stock may present more opportunities for buyers searching for a bargain, according to RealtyTrac's Aging Home Analysis. Aging Homes May Present Big Bargains.

Rehab Update

Our rehab project in Pasadena, Maryland is going great! Demo is complete! We have designed an excellent open floor plan with a large kitchen, dining room, and 1st floor master suite!  This house is going to be awesome!