Peak selling season is here. Each year the number of sales that close in the month of June are the highest of any other month of the year! As an experienced broker, I am ready to help you determine what your housing options are.
With inventory still at a low, this is one of the best seller’s markets we’ve had in years. Do you know what your home is worth? Call me at 919-882-6005 today for a Free No Obligation Home Valuation.
You also can’t go wrong with my guarantee to get your Home SOLD at a Price Acceptable to You, GUARANTEED or
I Will Sell it for FREE.
If you are ready to buy a home, don’t be put off by the fact it is a seller’s market. There are some very good deals out there and with mortgage rates still very low, now is the time to make your move.
If you are considering a move, now really is the time to get your plans in place. Check out the resources I have available at www.Gregsvideoblog.info for some great information and tips.
Have questions about today’s market? Call me today at 919-882-6005.
Sincerely, Greg
*Some restrictions apply. Call me for more info. Continued on Page 2…
JUNE 2017
“Team Work from the Team that Works”
Sell Your Home for More Money in Less Time! Insider reports are available that will show you how to sell your home fast and
for top dollar. These reports are a FREE, no-obligation service.
Visit www.GregIsmay.com to get your report or call Greg at 919-882-6005.
We are here to help!
Check out what others have to say about us at www.gregismay.com/gold_testimonials.asp
HEY MILLENIAL, GO BUY A HOUSE! 9 REASONS TO STOP PAYING RENT by Jaymi Naciri for Realty Times
Still unsure about whether or not you should buy a house? It's a big commitment, obviously, and not just from a financial standpoint. But the rewards generally far outweigh any potential downsides for those who take the plunge. Need more convincing? How about the fact that: You're already paying a mortgage That money that comes out of your account every month? It's going right into someone else's account. Doesn't that make you just a little bit mad? To be clear, that someone else is making money off you How about now, when you think about the fact that real estate continues to appreciate and you're not getting to appreciate that appreciation. "The national median existing single-family home price in the first quarter was $232,100, which is up 6.9 percent from the first quarter of 2016 ($217,200) and the fastest growth since the second quarter of 2015 (8.2%),"
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said the National Association of REALTORS (NAR). Aren't you tired of watching someone else make money while you sit in the place they own and try to figure out how to get ahead? You need to express yourself Not being able to put a coat of paint on the walls or hang some wallpaper or enjoy the countertops, cabinets, or flooring you picked out because your landlord won't let you make any changes is not cool. Sure, there are some temporary solutions to make your place look better, but nothing compares to having the freedom to do what you want, when you want, with your space. It doesn't cost as much as you think it does In fact, you may be paying more in rent right now than you would be for a house payment. A new NerdWallet analysis "showed that a majority of millennials would prefer owning to renting, but they appear to be postponing homeownership because of real and perceived difficulties in affording it." But, a report from Investor's Business Daily shows that, "Paying a mortgage is cheaper than renting in 42 states." Hardly anyone pays a 20 percent down payment anymore Were you under the impression that you had to come up with a huge stack of cash to buy a house? Federal Housing Administration (FHA) loans are among the most popular options for all homebuyers, and for first-timers, they make a lot of sense. First, because the credit requirements are less stringent than other loans - in many cases, you can have as low as a 620 score. Also, you can qualify with as low as 3.5 percent down. On a $250,000 house, that's only $8,750. "For home buyers, FHA mortgages require a 3.5 percent down payment with the fewest ‘strings' attached," said The Mortgage Reports. "This makes the FHA mortgage one of the most lenient mortgage types available nationwide. There are very few credit restrictions with the FHA loan and the agency allows your 3.5% down payment to comes as a gift from a family member, employer, charitable organization or government home-buyer program." Rates are still ear their lowest
Out And About In Raleigh
There is just no place like home and the Raleigh area is the best place to live. There is always something going on no matter your age or taste in food and entertainment!
June 3 Apex Latino Arts and Culinary Festival at Halle Cultural Arts Center
June 3-4 Old North Sate Antique Gun & Military Show at State Fairgrounds
June 4 Afton Music Showcase at Lincoln Theatre
June 4 Family Renaissance Fair at North Carolina Museum of Art
June 4 Ironman 70.3 Raleigh in City Plaza
June 5-17 Finding Patience Holy Springs Cultural Center
June 5-11 Triangle Restaurant Week 2017 Downtown Raleigh
June 7 Holly Springs Salamanders vs Fayetteville Swamp Dogs
June 10 NCMA Summer Film Series: Arrival at North Carolina Museum of Art
June 11 Downtown Raleigh Food Truck Rodeo
June 15 Lady Antebellum at Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek
June 16 Movies By Moonlight: Secret Life of Pets at Koka Booth Amphithetre
June 18 Father’s Day at the Capital Grille
June 21 Happy Dan The Magic Man at Wake Forest Renaissance Centre
June 23 Starlight Concert Series: Celebration of Bluegrass at Page-Walker Arts & History Center
To view a full list of events, ticket prices and more info scan the QR code or visit http://tinyurl.com/pqq2xz5
Get Free money-saving home tips at www.IsmayRealtyGroup.com
ALAMO DRAFT HOUSE IS COMING TO RALEIGH
A new craft-beer-selling, indie-film-screening theater is coming to town.
Alamo Drafthouse Cinema on Tuesday announced its plans to open an 11-screen theater, bar and restaurant in the Longview Shopping Center at the corner of New Bern Avenue and King Charles Road in east Raleigh.
Alamo is known for its theater recliners and “zero tolerance policy” for moviegoers who disrupt films with talking or texting. Its theaters show new releases, indie, foreign and classic films on 35mm projectors, according to the company.
Read more here: http://www.newsobserver.com/news/business/article150737322.html
Check Out The Video!
http://tinyurl.com/y9r9m2us
Paul A. Specht | newsobserver.com
Get Free money-saving home tips at www.IsmayRealtyGroup.com
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point ever Yes, they've gone up a bit recently and are currently sitting a bit above four percent. But when you think about the fact that a decade ago they were over six percent and in the 1980s they were almost 18 percent, four percent looks a lot better, no? Dogs are cool Living in an apartment that doesn't allow animals? That's pretty common. Trying to find a rental with a generous pet policy is near impossible. If you do find one, you can usually expect to pay a hefty pet deposit and monthly pet rent. Your student loan debt isn't as big a deal as you think If you have student debt, mortgage investor Fannie May's new rule changes "should make it easier for you to purchase a first home," said the Chicago Tribune. The rules include: A change in how student loan affects debt-to-income (DTI) ratio calculations if you had payments reduced through an "income-based repayment" plan. "If your payments were originally supposed to be $500 a month but you've had them reduced to $100, only the $100 will be added to your monthly debts for DTI purposes," they said. "Previously lenders were required to factor in 1 percent of your student loan balance as your monthly payment on the student loan, even though you were actually paying a fraction of that. As a result, many borrowers' debt ratios were pushed beyond most lenders' underwriting limits." Debt ratios can also improve if you have other outstanding debts that are being paid by someone else. "Say, your parents pay your monthly credit card balances - these no longer will be included in your DTI computation, provided the payments have been made steadily for 12 months. This should improve the debt ratios of young buyers who are still getting a little help on their cash flows from Mom and Dad." Everyone's doing it Are your millennial friends starting to buy houses? They're part of a sweeping national trend. "Get ready to see more
Spotlight On Taylor Flooring
Kevin Taylor and Taylor 1 Flooring are one of our most trusted vendors.
Kevin has been in the flooring business for 27 years and his company services all areas of Raleigh. There are three projects in particular that he has done for us recently that really stand out.
The first is with a home that had carpet and old laminate wood throughout. He ended up tearing up the whole floor and replacing the carpet with a nice, hand-scraped oak wood that significantly improved the value of the home.
Next, we had a carpeted living room that the owner wanted to match to the wood in the kitchen and the entryway. Kevin was able to find a wood that was very close to the color and quality of the rest of the floor for a lower price.
Finally, a leaky bathroom meant Kevin had to tear up a shower and find the source of the leak. He did, sealed it, then installed a brand-new shower and bathtub.
These are just a few of the times where Kevin has really been able to help our clients out. If you have any questions for us about Taylor 1 Flooring or anything else, give us a call or send us an email and we’d be happy to answer it for you or refer you to someone who can. Check out the interview and see some of Kevin’s work at http://tinyurl.com/yagjkh85
You don't have to replace your old stuff. With the right color and a deft DIY hand, you might be surprised how good a made-over piece can look, and how it can liven up a tired room. For the best results, you'll need to prepare your surface well by sanding and removing any dirt or other residue, patching any areas where there are nicks or wood missing, priming, and making sure you're using the right products for your piece. Here are 6 color options to consider. Royal blue Not dreamy like sky blue, not trendy like navy, royal blue gives you the punch you need to bring new life to an old piece, and to your space. Yellow Yellow brings the same kind of pop as royal blue but keeps it in the warm family, which may work better in certain decor schemes. Yellow has also been shown to improve your mood. The color is "Associated with joy, happiness, intellect, and energy," said Color Psychology. It "produces a warming effect, arouses cheerfulness, stimulates mental activity, and generates muscle energy. Bright, pure yellow is an attention getter, which is the reason taxicabs are painted this color." Metallic Metallic paints are better than ever and can turn and an eyesore into a showstopper. The best we've ever used? Modern Masters Warm Silver, which transforms old, ugly, or ordinary pieces into something stunning. Black Nothing brings the drama like the darkest of hues. If you have a piece that's in need of freshening up, black can do the trick without extending your color scheme or requiring you to go too far out of your comfort zone. For a truly "wow" look, go glossy. "Glossy black paint always looks fantastic on curvy furniture such as French bombe chests or serpentine dressers," said French Provincial Furniture. "Glossy finishes will pick up every imperfection which is even more magnified when you use any type of gloss finish, so fine sanding is imperative if you choose to go this route. Stripes or chevrons Who says you have to stick to one color? Add a little excitement to your decor by creating a focal piece with pattern. Some striped looks are perfect for a kid's room… While sophisticated chevrons create a piece that can't wait to show off in your living or dining room. White You can get a sleek look by painting white in a lacquer finish, or you can get the French country finish Joanna Gaines (and her legion of fans) is so fond of by distressing the piece. There are a number of different techniques, but this one using chalk paint, wax, and a couple of secondary colors to add depth and patina provides an authentic look.
6 Paint Colors To Freshen Up A Piece Of Furniture
See all listings at www.searchhomesinraleigh.com!
Disclaimer: The information contained in this letter is intended for informational purposes. It should not substitute as legal, accounting, investment, medical or other professional services advice. Always seek a competent professional for answers to your specific questions. This letter is not intended to solicit real estate properties currently for sale.
Ismay Realty Group
808 Salem Woods Drive Suite 204 Raleigh, NC 27615
THANK YOU for reading our newsletter. We wanted to produce a newsletter that has great content and is fun and valuable to you. Your feedback is always welcome.
AND…whether you’re thinking of buying, selling or financing real estate, or just want to stop by and say “Hi,” We’d love to hear from you…
Greg Ismay
919-882-6005 www.IsmayRealtyGroup.com
Raleigh, NC
first-time home buyer clients. In the first quarter of 2017, the number of new-owner households was double the number of new-renter households," said the National Association of Realtors (NAR) in the most recent edition of their Realtor magazine. There were about 854,000 "new-owner households" during the first three months of this year, which is more than double the 365,000 "new-renter households in that period, according to U.S. Census Bureau data. What's more, it's the first time in a decade that new buyers outpaced new renters." First-time buyers also account for 42 percent of homebuyers this year, up dramatically from 31 percent in 2011, which was the lowest point recorded by Fannie Mae.
NEW LISTINGS!
808 Neuse Ridge Drive Clayton
5 bed | 3.5 bath
Spacious 5 bedroom 3.5 bath basement home on the 13th hole of The Neuse Golf Course! Home Features 2-Stroy foyer, gleaming hardwoods, crown molding & office with french doors. Kitchen with island, custom fridge & built-in oven! Cozy breakfast area with 2 sided fireplace. Generous master suite with reading nook, walk-in closet, his & her sinks and sep tub/shower! Fabulous rec / multi use space in the basement features a wet bar! Home even has a 3 car side entry garage & circular driveway!
10909 Magic Hollow Court Raleigh
5 bed | 5.5 bath
Custom 5 bed 5.5 bath home in Bedford Estates! Located on a cul-de-sac, this fabulous home features hardwoods on 1st floor, 1st flr guest rm w/bath, formal dining w/wainscoting, & a mudroom off the garage! Gleaming kitchen w/subway tile, pot filler, 6-burners, granite, & eat-at island! Beautiful mater suite w/sitting area w/fireplace & built-ins, large en suite & HUGE walk-in closet! Finished 3rd floor Bonus Room w/wet bar! Lovely screened Porch overlooking your fenced back yard w/expansive patio!