Carve a Crystal Coast, North Carolina Pumpkin!

Happy Halloween from the Crystal Coast! Are you carving pumpkins today? Or simply want to decorate your Coastal Carolina home with seasonal decor? Below are some ideas for adding Halloween flair to homes in Atlantic Beach, Morehead City, Emerald Isle that you can keep around for the rest of fall— coastal pumpkins are the best!

When you're purchasing a home on the Crystal Coast, from the moment you begin your search for homes in North Carolina, your real estate agent will have the best insight into the area. Contact Gena Gilbert Real Estate today to discuss your options for buying your next Coastal Carolina home or selling your current home.

Gena Gilbert

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New-Home Sales Rising Fast, News for North Carolina Homebuyers

Just as every other factor in local real estate has been rising— mortgage rates, housing prices, inventories, buyer and seller confidence— so to have new-home sales. These are all great signs of the real estate recovery which is especially promising news for North Carolina homebuyers. 

According to the National Association of Home Builders, sales of new single-family homes posted gains in May for the third consecutive month, rising 2.1 percent.  

"Builders are reporting increased demand for new homes as buyers seek to take advantage of historically low mortgage rates while they remain so favorable," says Rick Judson, National Association of Home Builders chairman. "Consumers in markets nationwide are definitely becoming more confident about making a home purchase as firming prices and tighter inventories provide further evidence of the ongoing housing recovery."

With inventory also rising, Crystal Coast homebuyers and sellers are becoming increasingly confident that now is the time to take advantage of the real estate market. The economy is improving and economists are predicting more increases ahead as housing likely remains a consistent driver of growth this year.

Although spurring housing price increases, the tight inventories that came to define the housing market in previous months are now lifting and in turn, have urged the construction of more homes. According to Realtor Magazine, builders began work on more than one million homes in March, again highlighting that buyer confidence is on the rise. 

Are you ready to count yourself among the Crystal Coast homeowners and purchase a Coastal Carolina property? Let's chat to discuss your wants, needs, and options and move forward to act on your real estate goals. 

Gena Gilbert

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Going Green in Your Coastal Carolina Home

You've heard the term "going green" countless times and now that you're considering bringing your Crystal Coast beach home into the eco-friendly era, you're wondering what that really means. It seems everyone is jumping on the green train in real estate and the good news is it's not just a trend. Many potential homebuyers are searching for homes with that eco-friendly factor and find it essential for their future homes to follow the lifestyle too.

So what does it really take for your Coastal Carolina home to be green?

According to Zillow, the standard for going green is LEED, or Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, a system of the U.S. Green Building Council. LEED buildings are specifically designed to conserve resources, reduce waste, lower costs, and keep both you and your family safe in terms of a healthy living environment.

But you don't have to build a new home to be a LEED-inspired home. The standards can be applied to new construction or existing homes in the Crystal Coast area. You don't need to go so far as to obtain LEED certification for your home, but the principles can be applied quite easily.

1. Switch to low VOC (volatile organic compound) paint.
2. Use fluorescent light bulbs or LEDs (light-emitting diodes) instead of incandescent lights.
3. Install low-flow toilets and other energy conserving appliances and fixtures.
4. Install rain barrels at your downspouts.
5. Switch your laundry to cold water instead of hot.

It doesn't take a lot of work to make your North Carolina home eco-friendly for your family. Going green at home is so great many celebrities are implementing upgrades in their homes as well. Think Harrison Ford, Brad Pitt, and Cameron Diaz, to name a few. With just a few tips and some standard home supplies, you too can be on your way to a greener, healthier lifestyle in your Crystal Coast home.

Gena Gilbert

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Preparing to Sell Your Crystal Coast Home

With recent studies suggesting the housing market has returned, consumer confidence is higher than ever, and more and more mortgage applications being filed, it's a great time to think about placing your North Carolina Crystal Coast home up for sale. The following tips can help you determine if you're ready to sell your home and if so, how to ensure buyer's they are getting the best possible deal on the local real estate market.

Are you ready?
This is the first question to ask yourself in the home selling process. You'll want to think about what you would want to see in the home if you were making the purchase. The goal is to show that your home looks attractive, maximizes space, and attracts buyers by making any necessary repairs, painting, or adding updates to give your home an edge.

When to Sell
The weather has a lot to do with when buyers search for homes and when they are more apt to buy. The Crystal Coast real estate market may be hotter in the summer when families have more free time to look at potential properties with children out of school and more properties tend to be on the market at this time. Home prices also tend to have more to do with demand patterns rather than the time of year— so with inventory higher in the summer months, home prices will reflect that.

Improving Value
Buyers often choose the least expensive home in the best neighborhood they can afford. They want the best deal and improving the value in your Atlantic Beach home can help them make the right decision. You'll want to show your home as the best in the area, a great deal while not over-improved. Cosmetic improvements are a great place to start: replacing windows, adding new coats of paint, and putting your time and energy into landscaping. These improvements are good investments that you can earn back with the sale of the home. Mechanical repairs to make sure all appliances and systems are in good, working condition are also required to get a top price.

The goal of preparing your North Carolina home for sale is to ensure it is competitive with other homes on the local real estate market. As buyers tour numerous homes on their search, you'll want yours to stand out as both a great deal and ideal property.

Gena Gilbert

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Understanding the Crystal Coast Buyer

Choosing a home along North Carolina's Crystal Coast isn't always just about considering price, condition, and location. Today's market is throwing home buyers a curve and some are no longer so certain a home purchase is a great investment.

If you're a home seller, the key to helping the right buyer find your home is in understanding what they face on today's Crystal Coast real estate market, so you ultimately can make the right moves to lead to the long-awaited purchase.

Price to Sell
Buyers always begin the search for homes with prices. While they may scour neighborhoods or take a look at homes out of their price ranges, buyers know their price and use it when it comes to serious shopping for their future home.

Walking through homes, buyers will make fast decisions based on size, condition, and location as compared to the listing price. Ask yourself, as the seller, does your home offer the buyer enough bang for their buck?

Stage to Sell
Buyers have a wealth of resources to compare Crystal Coast homes and will use them when on the house hunt. With videos, virtual tours, photos and feature sheets, buyers can quickly sort through homes to compile the shortlist of what really interests them. Be sure to de-clutter, clean, update, and stage your home to allow it to stand out among the rest.

Just as you researched before placing your home for sale, so have the buyers. They know which homes are overpriced and may make the assumption that the seller is unmotivated or has unrealistic expectations. If you place yourself in their shoes, just think— the buyer will make an offer on the home that offers the most for their money and the one that appears most reasonable to an offer. Does your home suggest that you're closed to negotiation? Ask yourself and use your answer to better determine if your home is priced, and staged, correctly.

The Buyer and the Bank
If buyers are serious about purchasing a home, they will not wait for long. They will share their financial information with banks and get prequalified with a lender who will tell them exactly what they can afford. However, applying for mortgages and obtaining loans is not as easy as it used to be. They now require stricter proof from buyers that they are able to repay their loans, which then qualifies them at much lower levels. Ask yourself, as the seller, are you willing to help the buyer purchase your home by paying aspects of the sell?

If you've asked yourself the necessary questions and are ready to work with buyers on the Crystal Coast real estate market, then you are that much closer to making the sell. Ready to purchase your next home? Let's chat!

Gena Gilbert

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6 Common Tax Mistakes Coastal Carolina Homeowners Make

As you prepare your tax returns this year, consider each and every home tax deduction and credit you are (or are not) entitled to by owning a Coastal Carolina home. By overlooking these common home-related tax mistakes, you may end up paying more out of pocket than necessary. Below are six common tax mistakes for you to watch out for and avoid.

Property Taxes— Deducting the Wrong Year
You only take a tax deduction for property taxes in the year that you (or the holder of your escrow account) actually paid them. Some tax authorities work a year behind— meaning you are not billed for 2013 property taxes until 2014.

Enter the amount you actually paid in 2013, no matter what date is listed on the tax bill. In the past, homeowners mix up payments for different years and end up claiming the wrong amount.

Escrow Amount— Confusing for Actual Taxes Paid
If your lender escrows funds to pay your property taxes, don't just deduct the amount escrowed. The amount you pay into escrow each month to cover your North Carolina Crystal Coast property taxes is most likely a bit more or less than your total property tax bill. The lender will adjust the amount every so often to realign them. Deduct only what the actual amount is. For instance, if your tax bill is $1,200, but your lender collected $1,100 or $1,300 in escrow, deduct only the $1,200. Don't just add up the twelve months of payments.

Refinancing— Deducting Points Paid
This deduction is complicated and often doesn't amount to much of a deduction. It also has to be recaptured if you turn a profit when you sell your Coastal Carolina home. Be sure to only claim it if it's worth those drawbacks.

Home-related Expenses— Failing to Track
The truth is, many homeowners forget to track their home office, home maintenance, and repair expenses. Remember to file documents as you go and as you purchase them. This way, you won't be scrambling when the IRS comes knocking at your door.

Mortgage Interest Tax Deduction— Claiming Too Much
You can only deduct mortgage interest of up to $1 million of mortgage debt. If you have more than that, only deduct the mortgage interest up to the first $1 million.

Energy Tax Credits— Filing Incorrectly
If you installed improvements like energy-efficient windows and doors in 2012, or will in 2013, you may be eligible to take a 10% tax credit up to $500. But if you claimed the credit in recent years, you're done. For this, fill out Form 5695.

By paying close attention to these common tax mistakes made by the owners of Coastal Carolina homes, your tax return should go as smoothly as possible.

Gena Gilbert

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