Month: March 2015

It’s All About The View

/ Clay Team - Looking Glass Realty / 1 Comment

When we first started talking about moving to North Carolina, I would have been happy with a little house tucked deep into the woods. But once we got here and I became more embedded into the area, I gained a better understanding of why homes with a view are so prized.

There is a lot to be said for a cabin in the woods and I’m not knocking it at all but there is just something about looking out the windows and seeing the mountains, the valleys, or the string of mountain tops strung together in a long range view. Sometimes, if you’re lucky, you can find the trifecta and enjoy all three. Even with close in views, it’s mesmerizing watching the clouds rise up, seeing weather systems as they roll in, and it’s especially great to be able to watch the seasons unfold before your eyes.

That’s why I wanted to share two homes with you today. Both of these homes have spectacular views.

The first home is at 100 Sunflower Lane in Pisgah Forest Estates. It’s all one level living, has two workshops, and is perched on a point that gives you a wide view all the way to parts of South Asheville. And…it happens to include the jacuzzi!

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The second property is 1037 Glen Cannon Drive, also in Pisgah Forest. This is an estate size home with over 4,200 square feet of living space.  It has been recently updated with hard wood floors, a new master suite, and it has countless features that make it an energy efficient home to live in year round.

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Year Round Long Range Views

 

 

 

 

 

 

These homes are located just minutes from the beautiful mountain town of Brevard, North Carolina.   If you’d like more information call me at 828-551-6290 or drop me an email at carol@clayteamrealestate.com

 

Five Things You Can Do To Help Sell Your Home This Year.

/ Clay Team - Looking Glass Realty / Leave a comment

Winter is just about over and most people I know are looking forward to the color and warmer temperatures of spring.  It’s also about the time of year that people start thinking about putting their homes on the market.  Typically, our peak season runs from Memorial Day through Thanksgiving.  So, for anyone thinking about selling a home this year, now is the time to get serious about it. There are things that you can be doing now to maximize your chances of selling so when the season starts, you’ll be at the head of the class.screwdriver

So where do you start?  

What needs repair? Fix anything that drips, squeaks, or doesn’t work the way it should.  It could be something simple like tightening up a loose door knob, repairing some screening, or figuring out why that one door always sticks.   Other things like electrical and plumbing may require a professional.  If you don’t think you can be objective enough, ask a friend to go around your home with you to help you see things as a potential buyer would.  Take a walk around the outside of your home as well to see what may have been damaged during the winter months. Look for things like damaged siding, cracks in the driveway, loose or missing shingles on the roof, and peeling paint.

Are all systems a go?  Make certain that your HVAC system has been serviced and in good working order. Check your water heater to make sure there are no leaks.  Replace all filters.

Freshen up a bit.  In most areas it may be too cold to paint outside, but if the inside of your home needs freshening up, this is a good time of year to do it. If you decide you want to repaint, Rustic_Flower_Pots_zpsc9258b10keep it neutral. You may be mad for magenta, but your potential buyer probably isn’t.  Clean your carpets and give your hardwood floors some love. Don’t forget the outside of your home. When temperatures are right, take a hard look at your decks and see if they could use a fresh stain or a coat of paint.  Give your front door some extra attention too.  A great many of us enter our homes through our garage and rarely do we enter through the front door so it’s an area that be easily overlooked. If it’s been a while, give it a fresh coat of paint or stain. Consider adding a seasonal wreath or fun door knocker for some interest. Replace that worn out door mat while you’re at it. Then when all those gorgeous spring flowers start showing up in your favorite garden center, create a pot or two to put by your freshly painted front door.

One thing I can’t say enough about is how important it is to have clean windows. I know. Cleaning windows isn’t my favorite thing to do either. But trust me when I tell you that cleaning your windows will make an enormous difference.  While you’re at it, be sure to get rid of cob webs, dead bugs, leaves or anything else that has found a home on your sills, and don’t forget the screens.  If you can’t reach your windows or simply don’t have the time, hire someone to do it for you. It will be money well spent.

Clear out the clutter.  Face it, most of us just have too much stuff.  As winter winds down, take stock of your closets and storage areas.  Consider donating or disposing of anything you no longer need or haven’t used in the last year.  Clutter is something that can stop a buyer in their tracks because they struggle to see the unique character of your home when there is “stuff” everywhere.  Clutter is also a signal that there may not be sufficient storage….something most buyers covet.

Consider a pre-emptive approach.  In North Carolina, once you enter into a contract with a buyer, they are given a period of time to do their “due diligence”. This is when they perform any and all inspections on your home.  If there are lots of things that need repair it’s likely they will come back and ask you to make those repairs or provide them with a credit.  One approach that some sellers take is to have a home inspection done prior to putting their home on the market so that any issues can be identified and taken care of ahead of time.  The cost is typically $350-$500 or more depending on the size of your home. A licensed home inspector will identify issues with plumbing, electrical, HVAC, water leaks, termite damage, faulty construction and a whole lot more.

For more helpful tips on getting your home ready to sell this year, call the Clay Team at Looking Glass Realty in beautiful Brevard, North Carolina.  Visit us online at BrevardNCProperty.com, or give us a call at 828-551-6290 or 828-551-6291.

 

 

February Market Report

/ Clay Team - Looking Glass Realty / Leave a comment

SI ExifBy the time March rolls around, I’m ready for spring.  I love winter and this year it was milder than expected even though we managed to have enough snow for a week or two to make it interesting and feel like winter. But now, I’m ready to see some daffodils and budding trees. I’m also ready to gear up for the buying and selling season.

The February real estate report brings us a good uptick in residential sales over the same time last year.  In February 2015 there were 27 homes sold in Transylvania County compared to 19 the year before.  That puts us only 2 homes ahead for the year, but we’re just beginning the traditional season for buying and selling so all indications are that we will have a great year.

While it may sound like a broken record, our “sweet spot” continues to be in the under $300,000 price range.  Last month the lions share of homes sold in the $150,000 to $250,000 range. During that same time last year, the majority of homes sold in the $150,000 and under range.

As a general rule, we are seeing a settling out in prices.  Sellers have adjusted to the fact that they may not be able to sell their homes for as much as they would like and buyers are beginning to realize that most sellers are not desperate and homes are priced fairly.  For buyers, homes are selling somewhere in the range of 95-97% of the listing.  To further reinforce the strength of our market, homes that are priced properly as selling more quickly and multiple offers have once again become part of the landscape.

Land continues to lag behind home sales. There were only 12 properties sold in February compared to 15 in 2014. There are plenty of fantastic opportunities for anyone wanting to buy land. The catch is the cost of building and the holding costs for the land.

If you would like more information about the Transylvania County market, sign up for our monthly e-newsletter. For more information about the neighboring markets of Henderson and Buncombe, just give us a call.