We understand that buying a home can be a confusing and intimidating experience.  You want to make sure you get the right home for you without any hidden surprises that can really cost you down the road.  The answer to your prayers is a Realtor.

A realtor with Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Realty is here to help you.  So the questions arises,  “Why use a REALTOR®?”

• Your REALTOR® can help you determine your buying power.
• Your REALTOR® has many resources to assist you in your home search.
• Your REALTOR® can assist you in the selection process by providing objective information about each property.
• Your REALTOR® can help you negotiate.
• Your REALTOR® provides due diligence during the evaluation of the property.
• Your REALTOR® can help you in understanding different financing options and in identifying qualified lenders.
• Your REALTOR® can guide you through the closing process and make sure everything flows together smoothly.
• When selling your home, your REALTOR® can give you up-to-date information on what is happening in the marketplace and the price, financing, terms and condition of competing properties.
• Your REALTOR® markets your property to other real estate agents and the public.
• Your REALTOR® will know when, where and how to advertise your property.
• Your REALTOR® can help you objectively evaluate every buyer’s proposal without compromising your marketing position.
• Your REALTOR® can help close the sale of your home.

In fact in many cases using a Realtor for Buyers is actually FREE.  Did you know that?

*Why use a realtor provided by Realtor.com (http://www.realtor.com/basics/allabout/realtors/why.asp)

Today’s real estate market can be a confusing sea to navigate without a qualified Realtor to look out for your best interests.  The family of Realtors here at Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Realty are here to help you through the process to the American dream of owning your own home.

Its always important to address certain Real Estate myths for both Home Buyers and Home Sellers.  There are several myths that keep fears running rampant on both sides of the market.  Barbara Corcoran, a real estate expert for NBC, did a wonderful job covering a few of these myths recently on the Today Show with Matt Lauer.

10 real estate myths for buyers and sellers

Buyer myth No. 1: The longer the house is on the market, the more you can negotiate.
When buyers ask, “How long has this property been on the market?”, they think “six months” means they can negotiate the price down. It more often means the seller is stubbornly holding on to their price.
Buyer myth No. 2: The sellers today are desperate.
Most aren’t. Always ask why the sellers are selling. It’s the key to finding how motivated and anxious they are. “I’m being transferred to Dallas” is a very different answer than “We’d like to find something bigger.” The first homeowner is hot to trot.
Buyer myth No. 3: You can’t buy a home today with less than 20 percent down.
FHA loans require only 3.5 percent down, and you can even ask the seller to pay the closing costs.
Buyer myth No. 4: You need good credit to get a good loan.
Once again, the FHA to the rescue! They’re happy to lend money to buyers with bad credit.
Buyer myth No. 5: You shouldn’t buy before prices have bottomed.
You can’t sharpshoot the real estate market. Once you identify the “bottom,” prices have already moved up.
Seller myth No. 1: Now’s the absolute worst time to sell.
Not necessarily. It depends upon where you live. Many of the worst hit markets, like Las Vegas, Phoenix or San Diego, are already beginning to turn around. And if you’re a homeowner who wants to trade up, the loss you’ll take on your current home will be more than offset by the bargain you’ll get on the next one.
Seller myth No. 2: Never respond to a low-ball bid.
All buyers today feel obligated to put in low-ball offers to see if the seller bites. If you respond with a reasonable counter offer, most buyers can be convinced to come up in price and make the deal.
Seller myth No. 3: The first offer is never the best offer.
Most sellers believe that it’s smart to hold out for something better. But four times out of five, the first offer is the best you’ll ever see.
Seller myth No. 4: ‘I can always reduce my price later.’
Sellers often price their home high for a few weeks just to test the market. But buyers shop by price bracket and if your house is in the wrong one, you’ll just help sell everyone else’s home while yours sits there overpriced. And reducing your price later in small increments puts you in the position of chasing the tide as it goes out.
Seller myth No. 5: Before you refinance, shop around.
You can if you want, but you’ll usually get the best deal from your current lender. And you’ll be able to negotiate your closing costs.

Courtesy of Barbara Corcoran, MSNBC

Did the bottom of the real estate market just pass us by?  Today the National Association of Realtors shocked the market in reporting that “sales rose unexpectedly while inventory declined…”  Existing homes sales jumped a whopping 6.5% while existing home inventory plummeted. All very promising housing indicators.

Now is a fantastic time to purchase a home in Southeastern North Carolina. Don’t be kicking yourself that you waited too long on on purchasing a home and missed out on the best available price.

The agents with Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Realty are here to serve you. We have agents that can help you with all your real estate needs in Jacksonville NC Real Estate, Hamptead NC, Wilmington NC, Leland NC, Southport NC Real Estate and every area in between. Please contact one of our Realtors at www.SeaCoastRealty.com today.

The cool thing about Oak Island homes is that they are near so many wonderful attractions. One of those is Bald Head Island. If you like nature, particularly nature that is near the water, then this is a place you need to visit. It’s a great place to watch a sunset, or enjoy open sky and greenery. Wilmington real estate is alsonear a lot of interesting places and attractions, especially if you enjoy museums. Across the river from downtown, you can even visit—and board—the the Battleship North Carolina.

If you are searching for a place to buy a home, and you enjoy camping with your family, then it’s time for you to consider some Sneads Ferry real estate. You will have access to Surf City Family Campground, which is a wonderful place to spend a weekend, or a week. There is also Fulcher’s Landing Campground. Leland homes are a good bet because they are also near some great places to enjoy nature, like the Ev-Henwood Nature Preserve, which is actually right there in Leland.

Topsail Island real estate is a good bet, whether you are looking to buy a home for yourself and your family, or whether you are looking for a great place to purchase rental property. Either way, this and surrounding areas like Carolina Beach real estate, is a good bet because people want to be there. They can be out in nature, near the water and near several wonderful attractions. It’s just a great place to live or visit.

Looking for houses to purchase as investment opportunities? Southport homes are a good bet. Visit the city and check out what draws people there. See how the economy is and whether jobs are coming in or disappearing. That’s a good way to determine whether you should purchase there or whether, say, Jacksonville real estate would be a better bet. There are plenty of great places in North Carolina and plenty of reasons to move there or purchase real estate there.

According to the third-quarter survey released by the Federal Housing Finance Agency, 273 of the 292 metropolitan markets measured showed positive net home values in the last five years. Wilmington, N.C. was named among the top six markets that gained the most over that specific period of time.
http://www.realtor.org/RMODaily.nsf/pages/News2008120902?OpenDocument

Looking for a place to move? Why not check out a few Wilmington homes? This is a lovely place to live, near plenty of nature- and water-based activities. If that is your kind of thing, you will love it and that is the main thing to think about. If you can’t find a home in that area that you like, then it is a good idea to look at the Wrightsville Beach homes as well. There are many neighborhoods in this area that enjoy the same benefits. You are sure to find something you like.

Many times if you find property you like, Oak Island real estate for example, but you can’t really find anything there you can buy or you can’t commit to the area, you can find something similar. For instance, if you like Oak Island, you may enjoy Hampstead real estate as well. There are plenty of similar areas that are just different enough to make a difference, whether that’s price or just the feel of the neighborhood or actually finding something for sale.