Doug Patterson ABR®, SFR REALTOR®: North Carolina: Winston-Salem

HOMES FOR SALE WINSTON SALEM TRIAD NC

Remodeling in preparation to sell your home can be a fun experience if you have the right contractor.  It can also be a disastrous ordeal for with the wrong leadership too. 

Let me introduce you to Fred Oskin, owner of Kitchen Saver of North Carolina located on Stratford Rd, in Winston Salem.   That name, Kitchen Saver,  is a little misleading, because they also do bathroom remodeling, laminate and tile flooring, as well as many other  home remodeling tasks that you can come up with! 

My personal experience with Fred Oskin, has been the remodeling of two kitchens.  One was in my personal home, and another in an investment property.   Fred is highly experienced, pleasant in nature, and easy to work with, from pricing the job to the finishing touches.    He has a good handle on what works and what doesn't, for your particular budget.  Impressive is the work, but let me stress the point that "his crew cleans up every single day...and leaves no dust, debris, or tools for you to be concerned with.  It's part of his well managed "production!"  Even my dog, "Winston", was treated with love and respect during the job!

The first kitchen started out with this dated look of the mid-70's.... with "White Bathroom Tile" counter tops... need I say more!....  

 

 

 

 

            

 

 

...And ended up looking like this...  Corian, smooth finish counters, under cabinet lighting (as well as strategic accent "can style" ceiling lighting , all with adjustable dimnmer switches, for setting just the right mood...

The cabinets were solid wood, so those were sanded inside, then stained lightly, giving new life to strong wood. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This next kitchen needed "Kitchen Savers" desperately.  The "Pass-thru" design provided no counter work space. Take a look at these"Before and After" photos:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 No Pass-thru....just open space and more room to prepare food or to just socialize while enjoying the fireplace!

 If you are in the Triad Region, I highly recommend working with Fred and his team, Matt and Dayna, (as well as others) to achieve your redesign goals.  

I would like to help you reach your real estate goals.   Please visit our website at Park Place Real Estate . Perform FREE SEARCHES with your own free account with Listingbook, or  (MLS) Multiple Listing Searches of homes for sale in Winston Salem and the Greater NC Triad Region.  There is never an obligation to ever purchase or sell any real estate by using this free services.  

 I'd love to hear from you and answer any questions you may have about real estate! Thanks for stopping by and please...  EMAIL Me Today with any comments or questions you may have.

                                                                                                                            

       

IS NOW THE TIME TO BUY A HOME FOR SALE IN WINSTON SALEM AND GREATER TRIAD NC ?

Well, let's analyze that and see it if is or not!  Only you can determine if the stars are in alignment for you personally to make a smart decision to buy a home for sale in Winston Salem or to wait.  With that said, let's look at other factors that could influence you to buy now as opposed to later. 

As we approach the new year, we all start looking at our record keeping. If you have an accountant doing your taxes each year, you have probably received a reminder of sorts about starting to organize your files and receipts to get a jump on "their tasks" of providing accurate tax returns.  If you've had a decent year, you may expect to pay some taxes when April 15th rolls around.  How would a $6,500 or $8,000 tax credit help you this year? 

If you answered like most of us, it would be great to have such a credit.  That may be available to you, if you act now. 

The basic rules are that you can't be earning over $225,000 as a married couple, or $125,000 for singles.  The tax credit will be up to $6,500 for married couples if you are selling a home that you've lived in for 5 consecutive years.  First time home-buyers will receive up to $8,000 (married couples) and $4,000 married, filing separately.   The limit on the purchase price of the home is $800,000. 

Did you know that in the Winston Salem, Triad area, home values have held upbetter that other parts of the country?  The reason why, is that we've never really "over-stated" our home values here, being the wise folks we are!  Therefore, we have sustained good value in our home ownership.  That's not to say, however, that prices are not down for a purchase, because in many circumstances, they are down. Job losses have contributed to that.   If your job is secure, you've got the advantage. 

Property Tax Values in Forsyth County were just appraised.   They do this every four years, therefore property taxes will remain as they are for awhile. Great care was given this time by our county officials, to reflect our values correctly during a down national economy.  I own several properties here and all of them went up in value.  Another good reason to buy a home for sale in Winston Salem and the Triad now.   

Currently, home mortgage interest rates are hovering at 4.75% for a 30 year fixed rate and 4.25% for a 15 year fixed rate, and with "no points" to buy!    Some lenders can also "lock in" these low rates before you even begin looking for a home!   So, if they do go up in a month or so, you will be protected!  

Other promising news includes:

• Mortgage rates are expected to remain low for an extended period
• Retail Sales were up in November, as we head into the holiday season
• Unemployment claims fell to the lowest level since February
• The net worth of US households rose 5% during the third quarter
• Oil prices fell to $70 per barrel from recent prices above $80 per barrel

If you have been "thinking about it"...Now is the time to act because to get the tax credit, you must be under contract to buy a home for sale in Winston Salem by April 30, 2010 and close on that purchase by July 1, 2010.  (First Time Homebuyers and now extended to include All Homebuyers!)

We are here to help you locate a Home for Sale in Winston Salem.   Visit our website at Park Place Real Estate .    If you're a  BUYER  or a SELLER you can sign up to search for homes for sale in the Winston Salem and Greater Triad Region for free.  There is never an obligation to ever purchase or sell any real estate!  

We'd love to hear from you!   EMAIL Me Today.

     

 

 

 

NEW TAX CREDITS AVAILABLE FOR HOMES FOR SALE IN WINSTON SALEM NC

The President will be signing into law the new First time homebuyers AND Existing homebuyers tax credit stimulus!    The National Realtors Association has been vigorously pushing for an extension of this much needed boost to the housing market, because in recent months, the growth in housing sales throughout the country has been viewed as one of the most positive steps in our overall economic recovery.

The $8,000 first time homebuyer tax credit for Homes for Sale in Winston Salem  was due to expire on November 30th!

Eligibility of First Time HomeBuyers is the same as before, in that they can not have had an interest in a principal residence for 3 years prior to purchasing.   The tax credit is the same as before, $8,000 for a married couple filing taxes together.  If filing separately, it is $4,000. 

 

Eligibility for Current Homeowners is that they must have used the home as their principal residence consecutively for 5 of the previous 8 years. Income limitations are $125,000 for single persons and $225,000 for married couples.  The tax credit is $6,500 for a married couple filing together.  If filing separately, it is $3,250 for those couples.

If the buyers income exceeds these limits, some buyers may still be eligible for the credit.

According to the National Association of Realtors,  "...the credit decreases for buyers who earn between $125,000 and $145,000 for single buyers, and between $225,000 and $245,000 for home buyers filing jointly. The amount of the tax credit decreases as his/her income approaches the maximum limit. Home buyers earning more than the maximum qualifying income - over $145,000 for singles and over $245,000 for couples - are not eligible for the credit."

The only "home price"  limitation placed on this extended Tax Credit, is that the home purchase price must be less than $800,000.      

To learn more about the affect these tax credits have on our national economy please watch this video presented by the National Association of Realtors.  Bear in mind that, although the mumber of "home sales" are down in our area, "home values" have remained relatively strong in homes for sale in the Winston Salem and the greater Triad Region, as compared with many other regions, nationally.

Homes For Sale In Winston Salem, Triad NC First Time Home Buyers!

Is the Recession over yet?  I'm no economist, but I've been reading everything I can get my hands on concerning "the worst recession since the 1930s".  It appears that we are heading in the right direction, FINALLY.   Homes for Sale in Winston Salem and the North Carolina Triad are our speciality!

I say this with exuberance!  Leading economic indicators are positive!.  One such indicator is The Conference Board's Index of Leading Economic Indicators (LEI for short) which was designed to anticipate changes in our economy by three to six months out.  Their recent report indicates that the economy rose 0.6% in July, for its fourth consecutive GAIN!  This LEI has an impressive record for predicting economic times, just as the stock market reports do, which is another economic indicator.   Speaking of which, the stock market has already rebounded 50% from its March lows, according to my reports from Edward Jones Investments. 

 

Global economies are recovering!  Thirty three countries have reported an increase, according to The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).  

Expectations for continued growth on into 2010 include a recent survey by the Wall Street Journal that said 80% of economists believe the recession either has ended or will end by September 2009.  The stars are aligned now making this the time to purchase homes for sale in Winston Salem and the North Carolina Triad.

The International Monetary Fund forcasts the world economy will expand 2.5% in 2010, compared with its April projection of 1.9%.  Manufacturing in the U.S., Europe, and China is on the upswing.

According to the National Association of Realtors (NAR), sales of existing homes here in the U.S. jumped more than expected in July to the highest level in almost two years, indicating that the "housing recession" has bottomed and the correct time to begin purchasing those homes for sale in Winston Salem.  Purchases climbed 7.2% to a 5.24 million annual rate, the most since August, 2007.  This increase is attributed to:  

• Lower home prices, because of foreclosures, 
• The first-time home buyer credits
• The low interest rates for mortgages.

So, I encourage all "First Time Home Buyers" to begin your MLS home searches now!  Go to www.callDOUGnow.com and sign up for a free MLS search account. The $8,000 Tax Credit should be YOURS and we can show you how!  It makes sense.  November 30th is the last day.  And remember, to be a first time home buyer, you just can't have owned a home during the last 3 years!  It doesn' mean that you have "never" owned a home! 

You need to be under contract by October 15th to insure you will be able to make the First Time Homebuyer November 30th deadline!  Email me today at dpatterson1@triad.rr.com for more information about homes for sale in Winston Salem and the North Carolina Triad Region!  

First Time Homebuyers in Forsyth County, NC $8000 Tax Credit Deadline Approached!

Whatever monitoring device you use, such as Microsoft's Outlook Calendar, Facebook's CountDown Feature, or just a plain old "Wall Calendar",

                                      

NOW is the time for First Time Homebuyers to mark the ending date of NOVEMBER 30th.   There are efforts being made by The National Realtor's Association to impress upon our government to extend that cut-off date, but if it is not extended, First Time Homebuyers are encouraged to locate the home they wish to purchase and "get under contract" with the seller prior to October 15th.  By heading towards October 15th, the first time homebuyer will be in position to have the sale closed by the November 30th DEADLINE!

To qualify for this tax credit, a First time homebuyer  and spouse must not have owned a home during the three years prior to the purchase.  That's the definition of a "First Time Homebuyer".  (You may have owned a home prior to those last three years)  If the Buyer is single, his or her income must be $75,000 or under.  If the Buyer is married, the combined incomes should not exceed $150,000, and taxes need to be filed jointly.  

Another earning scenario is that if an unmarried Buyer is earning between $75,000 and $95,000, that Buyer could qualify for the tax credit at a reduced amount.  For the married buyer with the earnings range of $150,000 and $170,000, they may qualify at a reduced amount also.  The tax credit decreases as the buyers income approached the maximum limit.   First time homebuyers over the $95,000 for single persons and over the $170,000 for married couples will not qualify for the tax credit.  

There is another important situpulation to receiving any of these first time homebuyer's tax credit.  If the buyers do not occupy the home for at least 3 years and the house is sold during the 3 year period, the credit they had received will be recouped at the closing of the sale. 

This is an interesting scenerio.  If a single person (A) qualifies as a first-time homebuyer at the time he/she purchases a home WITH someone (B) that is not a first-time homebuyer and then later that year they marry each other, the tax credit for the single person (A) stands good.  The reason is that the first time homebuyers tax credit is determined at the date of the closing of the sale.  If they marry later, the single person (A) doesn't lose the tax credit.

With all this data, if you are planning to purchase a home this year and you are a first time homebuyer, now is the now to get off that sofa and hustle.  If your team is playing ball...put it on "record game", and together let's start looking for that new home!!

                                    

To learn more about how I can help you find your new home,  please go to my website at www.callDOUGnow.com or email me directly at dpatterson1@triad.rr.com for an appointment to discuss all the possibilities!    I look forward to helping you reach your real estate goals!