All potential home buyers in Charlotte, NC should be well-informed about property tax responsibilities when entering the real estate market. Property taxes are a crucial aspect of homeownership, and it's important to understand how they are managed during the buying and selling process in this area. Property taxes in Charlotte are typically paid twice a year, due on the first day of March and the first day of September. Many homeowners choose to have their property taxes and homeowners insurance included in their monthly mortgage payments, creating an escrow account that takes care of these b ..read more

4 helpful tips for having a great relationship with your buyer’s agent It's one thing to find a buyer's agent to show you homes, help you fill out paperwork, and walk you through the steps of the home-buying process but when you find one that you truly have a great experience with, it takes your home-buying journey to a different level. Here are 4 good tips for having a great relationship with your Buyer's Agent.  How You Communicate Matters Let your buyer's agent know early on what type of communication style is best or easiest for you such as text messaging, phone calls, or emails. Als ..read more

What is a buyer agency agreement? A buyer agency agreement is a contract between you and a real estate firm in which you are agreeing to be their client and they are agreeing to represent you and your best interests. This contract will spell out certain things such as the duration of the agreement, their responsibilities to you, your responsibilities to them, what commission or fee they expect to receive in return, and other details and legal jargon.  Signing a contract of any type can sometimes feel intimidating for some because of the legalities involved, the commitment factor, and won ..read more

10 signs you may have found the right buyer’s agent  If you’ve been considering buying a home and have already spoken with one or more real estate agents but have not yet committed to one yet, how do you know if you’ve found the right one? Here are 10 signs or indications that you may have already found the right real estate agent to serve you. They spend more time listening to you than talking about themselves (this process is about you, not them). They ask you open-ended questions about your needs and desires and motivations (indicating that they want to dig deeper to find out more abo ..read more

What questions should I ask when interviewing a real estate buyer’s agent? I was on the phone recently with a couple looking to relocate to the Charlotte area. They were asking the typical questions that someone relocating to Charlotte might ask but they were also ‘interviewing’ me. Most of their questions were ones that I had heard and answered many times before but the one question that actually stumped me a little was, “What questions SHOULD we be asking you?” That was the first time a customer had ever asked me what I felt they should be asking me. I’m glad they asked because it prompted ..read more

Charlotte Housing Market The Charlotte Housing Market has been one of the hottest in the nation for many years now and will likely continue to be based on many reasons, from the lower cost of living to professional sports, being a large banking city, nice food scene, proximity to the beautiful NC mountains as well as many beaches, etc. Viewing the live graphs below lets you get a good feel for how the Charlotte housing market is doing. We'll start with a graph showing the average sales price in the entire Charlotte region. From there, I'll show you some graphs showing 4 of the most popular are ..read more

Will I get a better deal on a home if I go directly to the listing agent? If you’re searching for a home to purchase and have ever wondered whether or not you can save money somehow or get a better deal if you reach out directly to the listing agent, I’ll comfortably and confidently tell you that it’s highly unlikely. You might even end up paying too much for the home or, alternatively, have a more difficult time getting past any obstacles that may come along during the transaction (inspection issues, encroachments on the property, appraisal issues, etc.). Let me explain… The listing agent on ..read more

Can I work with more than one Realtor when buying a house? If you’re shopping for a home or even just looking around and getting your feet wet, you may have wondered whether or not you can work with more than one Realtor at the same time. There are times when that would certainly be expected and other times when you might just be shooting yourself in the foot.  If you’re looking in two or more different regions or states, you will obviously need and want a Realtor for each of those areas.  If you’re focused more so within one particular region, such as the Charlotte NC area with 8-9 ..read more

Are buyer’s agents worth it? If you’re buying a home and are wondering if it’s worth it to have a buyer’s agent representing you through the process, the answer is a resounding YES!! First of all, buyer’s agents have an understanding of contract law, understand the procedures and practices for submitting offers on homes, have the ability to gain access to and show you available homes, and are legally and ethically bound to protect your best interests. They understand the home-buying process from beginning to end and much more. Additionally, in almost all cases, they are compensated by the lis ..read more

What makes a Good buyer’s agent? If you’re under the impression that real estate buyer’s agents don’t do much more than ‘show homes’, fill out some paperwork, and then collect a check at the closing table, then you’ve never had the pleasure of working with a truly good buyer’s agent. Here are a 6 important characteristics that set a good buyer’s agent apart from the rest. A good buyer's agent will do a better job helping to find the right home for you because they’ve taken the time to get to know you and understand your desires and needs and motivation. They often understand what you’re looki ..read more