Anna Wilson Marketing Manager for the Jim Allen Group, Coldwell Banker Howard Perry and Walston.

RALEIGH, NC-  The Jim Allen Group, Coldwell Banker Howard Perry and Walston are pleased to announce that Anna Wilson has joined their team as their Marketing Manager.  Anna, a Raleigh native began her real estate career in Charlotte, NC.  Before functioning as the Marketing Manager for the Jim Allen Group, Anna also worked for the new homes division of Coldwell Banker Howard Perry and Walston.  Anna has won numerous local, state, and national awards for her marketing excellence.
 “We are delighted to be able to welcome Anna to our team and are confident that with her experience she will be an invaluable asset,” says Jim Allen, President of The Jim Allen Group.

About The Jim Allen Group
The Jim Allen Group is comprised of 16 Buyers Agents, seven office staff, and Jim Allen, the #1 Agent in the Triangle since 1996.  For more information about Jim Allen and his team, please call The Jim Allen Group at 919-845-9099 or visit their website at www.JimAllen.com . Sales and marketing by The Jim Allen Group, Coldwell Banker Howard Perry and Walston, 5509 Creedmoor Road, Raleigh, NC 27612.

Moving to the Raleigh, NC area is a joyful time, but it can still be very difficult on kids- especially if they are of school age, with friends, favorite teachers, and class activities that they are having to move away from.

Make Your Relocation to Raleigh NC With Children Easier

Though the move may be hard for kids in general, the part most parents dread is the drive to your new home. Unless you are staying in the same city, or an area close by, you will probably end up with more than a few hours of driving to reach your new Raleigh area real estate all the while dealing with a grumpy child in the backseat. What are parents to do? Never fear, I have a few tricks I have learned over the years as an expert North Raleigh real estate agent:

Learn More About Relocating To Raleigh

Are you Relocating to the Raleigh, NC area? Be sure to ask for our FREE personalized Raleigh Area Relocation Guide to get all the businesses, Raleigh area schools and other local Raleigh activity informaiton make the area of Raleigh one of the greatest places to raise a family. All our tips will help you get settled quickly and to prepare even more for your move, read up on our Raleigh moving tips.

If you are ready to search Raleigh homes for sale, or would like to browse the Pittsburgh MLS, then contact me, Jim Allen, your expert Raleigh Realtor.

Until next time,

Jim

If you are in the position to buy a Raleigh NC area home, and the time is right for you to buy North Raleigh property, then you have a little over a month left to take advantage of the $8,000 first time home buyers tax credit.

But wait, you say? We have until Nov. 30, 2009, right?

Yes and no. You have until Nov. 30th to be closed on a Raleigh property.

That means you have to find a North Raleigh home for sale, make an offer (or two or three counter offers), get inspections, get the Raleigh real estate appraisal (which might come in low, probably sending you back to the offer table), check Raleigh property titles (perhaps clear titles), get your Central NC real estate loan approved, get the loan money on time, and get all problems found during the inspection fixed. All before Nov. 30th.

By Nov. 30th, you must have the house keys in your hand in order to take advantage of the tax credit, so the sooner you start the Raleigh home buying process, the better.

Search Raleigh Homes for Sale

An expert Raleigh, NC Real Estate Agent will try to foresee all the potential problems that could arrise in the process of buying a Raleigh home, but there always things that could arise that are beyond anyone’s control. Overall, the more time you allow for buying a Raleigh NC Home the better chance you have of closing in time for the credit.

Because though you shouldn’t be buying a home just for the credit, it would really stink to close on Dec. 1, 2009 and miss out on an $8000 tax credit.

If you have questions about Raleigh Real Estate or want to browse the Raleigh MLS home search, then contact me, Jim Allen, for all your Raleigh first time home buying tips.

Until next time,
Jim

The number of foreclosures across the nation, sadly, continures to rise and set records. In the Raleigh real estate market, we are lucky to not have as many foreclosed homes as other areas of the nation, but foreclosure is still very much a reality.

Surpisingly though, the hardest hit group of people?

Renters.

It is horrible, but some homeowners are allowing their North Raleigh real estate fall into foreclosre, sometimes in an act to save their primary residence. What does that mean for the people renting the home? What kinds of rights do you have, as a renter?

Renting North Raleigh NC Property

Under the new federal law that took effect on May 20, 2009, the bank generally must honor the tenant’s lease.

Is there an exception? If the bank sells the home to a Raleigh home buyer who will use the home as a primary residence, the bank can then furnish a 90 day notice of eviction to the tenants.

Landlords-you could now be held liable for your tenants’ monetary damages- like higher rent and moving expenses inccured because of the early termination of their lease.

Renting property in Raleigh

Would you like to keep an eye on your landlord? Make sure they are paying the mortage of the home your family is renting? Check out LemonLandlord.com, where you can actually monitor whether or not your landlord is in foreclosure.

Buying Raleigh Real Estate

Should you find yourself getting evicted because your landlord is facing foreclosure, this could be the perfect time for you to buy your own North Raleigh home! There are wonderful deals on homes for sale in Raleigh, and the Jim Allen Raleigh NC Real Estate Team can help advise you every step of the way to owning your own North Raleigh area home.

Contact North Raleigh NC Realtor

Simply contact us, the Jim Allen Group, to learn more about the Raleigh NC home buying process.

Until next time,
Jim

In the video below, New York Real Estate Strategist Barbara Corcoran list the top 5 real estate markets positioned for growth. Ms. Corcoran stated the following key drivers that will “heat up” these markets. These factors include:

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I’m always intrigued by the Friday and Saturday real estate section of the N&O. Last month the paper ran a syndicated article (as they do each Friday and Saturday). The October 24th paper offered this article: “Finding an area with most appreciation potential“. The advice was excellent with the columnist advising local home buyers to look for communities that are most prone to better than average appreciation values. In today’s Raleigh real estate market, home buyers know they are buying a community or neighborhood as much as they are buying a home. That being said, I always say partner with a local Raleigh real estate expert and choose your property wisely. I would even go so far as to say use the suggestions syndicated columnist Ms. Martin offers below:

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In addition to providing the Residential Lead-based Paint Hazard Disclosure (for all homes built prior to 1978) and the Residential Property Disclosure Statement, did you know it is required of every condo seller/owner in the state of North Carolina to provide the buyer a “Condo Resale Certificate” before a contract is signed by a prospective buyer? So what is a condo resale certificate and what information is required to be made known to the prospective buyer?

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If you are thinking about selling your existing Raleigh home, condo or townhome, you are required to provide the buyer a copy of your Residential Property Disclosure Statement. It makes no difference if you are selling your existing home, condo or townhome yourself or hiring the services of Raleigh REALTOR.

The Scope of the Residential Property Disclosure Statement

In case you are wondering what the Residential Property Disclosure form covers, below is quoted section from the state of North Carolina for the items covered in the form for existing  single-family homes, condos and townhomes:

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This is the first of a series of post on the types of property disclosures you must receive from a Raleigh home seller. And remember this important point, it makes no difference if the home, townhome or condo is being sold by a Raleigh real estate agent or a for-sale-by-owner (FSBO), everyone must comply with the law. Some of these disclosures apply only to condos (built on/after Oct. 1, 1986) like the Condo Resale Certificate while others are applicable for homes built after 1978 (lead-based paint disclosure). Every Raleigh home buyer must receive the Residential Property Disclosure Statement (does not include new homes but does include single-family homes and dwellings up to 4 family units).

The three (3) primary disclosures that I will cover in this series includes the:

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Turn Your Rent Checks Into Raleigh Home Equity!

So you’ve been renting your space for a while writing check after check with nothing to show for it except for a draining bank account. Sure, there are some benefits to renting. You can forget about maintaining a home, and the mowing of the yard. Plus, if you have a short-term lease, you can up and move if you don’t like where you live. Just keep this thought in mind, it’s possible you could pay about the same in a monthly mortgage for a Raleigh home for what you are currently paying in a monthly rent payment AND you get the tax benefits of home ownership too. Plus, there’s one more bonus – be smart and you could begin to build equity in your new Raleigh home. Now that’s something to think about!

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