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5 Advantages of Buying a New Construction Home

So you’re looking into buying a new home and wondering what the differences are between buying a new house vs buying existing home. Buying a new home, in general, is never easy--you are trying to find the perfect location, the right size house, and you are trying to figure out what is an absolute must have and what you can do without, all while negotiating prices. 

To ease your thoughts and help make your property search a little easier, we have made a list of some pros and cons of buying a new construction house. This is important to take a look at if you are interested in buying a new construction home in Wilmington, NC or the surrounding areas. 

1. New, new, new!

I mean…do we really have to say it? We do? Okay. Well, the first advantage to buying a new construction home is that it is brand spankin’ new. You get to love it first, spend time in it first, make the first memories in it—it’s brand new and it’s all yours! Buying a new construction home means no repairs from other lazy homeowners and no remodeling to correct someone else’s design choices. It's yours and you get to make it your own, from the beginning.

2. Customization

Speaking of making it your own--buying a new construction home means gaining some wiggle room for customization depending on how early you buy the property under construction. Have a specific paint color that you want to use for your kitchen? New construction houses offer the potential to some of your own personal touches from the start. The earlier you buy a new construction home, the more possibility you have for control of the finishes of the kitchen, baths, carpet versus hardwood, etc. Keep in mind, however—the more customization equals more potential for an increase in sale price.

3. Less maintenance

Whereas buying a resale property comes with its own advantages, many of the times, there may be some maintenance that you would need to tend to yourself. New homes come with brand new appliances, plumbing, heating, and air, which means you should be good to go for at least a few years! This is not just a benefit for time purposes but is also a financial benefit.

4. Save energy

Whereas older homes may not lend to a more energy efficient household, newer homes are usually more energy-efficient. I scream, you scream, we all scream for the chance to have a lower utility bill!

5. There's a builder's warranty

Many new construction homes are covered with a builder’s warranty; if the builder does not personally offer a warranty, they may hire an independent company to take care of those kinds of tasks. With that, however, you should definitely be asking what is and what isn’t covered.

However, with the advantages come the disadvantages.

1. For instance, you may not have much time to wait for a new construction home to finish. The average time to build a house in the U.S. is six months, which is quite a wait for the homebuyer that’s ready to take the dive into owning a home immediately. So if you don't have much time to spare, it might not be the most sound idea. 

2. New landscaping that will take a few years to develop. You don’t get that mature landscaping that comes with an established neighborhood.

3. If you’re a person who cares about the “character” of a home, new construction is not for you! And that’s okay. Older built homes, while they have their own disadvantages, tend to have those interesting features that make it stand out from the crowd of other homes! They’re the homes that are more creative—with a design that you only will be able to have. 

Now that you are aware of the advantages and the disadvantages, maybe you have some questions about new construction or you are wondering what kind of questions you should be asking. To read our blog on questions you should ask before buying a new construction home, click here. 

We Can Help!

Are you looking for the best real estate agency in Wilmington, NC? When choosing a real estate agent, be sure to go with someone who has expert knowledge of listings and selling a property.  The Regina Drury Real Estate Group has that and more.  We are a Full-Time real estate company in Wilmington, NC; our crew can provide you with all of our expert knowledge and focus on maintaining a high degree of customer service that will leave a lasting impression.  Contact us today to talk more about your Wilmington, NC Real Estate needs. 

Contact Us

You Can Sell Your House Without an Open House

Open Houses are an old fashion form of marketing. Years ago there was no internet to see photos or videos of houses.  In fact, years ago the only way to know what was for sale was to contact a Real Estate Agent and look through a big fat book of all the homes for sale. If you drove by a House For Sale, there were no cell phones to call the Agent and ask to see it right away.  You had to call their office and make an appointment to see it.  Now, you see a house online or drive by a house for sale and can use your cellphone to schedule a tour to see the home within an hour. 

In fact, more than 90% of buyers start their search for homes online.  Buyers like to see the photos, virtual tours, and research more about the school districts, price history of the property, and ask their friends and family on social media about the neighborhood. When buyers want to go in to see the house, they want to see it on their schedule, not on an inconvenient Open House schedule.

There are very few benefits to Open Houses and in fact a lot more disadvantages to them.  Very few Real Estate Agents will tell you this, but it's the truth. Why won't they tell you this? Because it's a source of future business for them and a way to brand themselves to your neighbors. In fact, they will say they sold a few this way.  But truthfully, it's a waste of your time and puts your personal items in unnecessary jeopardy.  

You won't go out on the street and invite a stranger in your home to look around so why would you do it just because it's for sale? How do you know they are qualified to buy a house? How do you know they have a job, a bank account, and good credit? How do you know they aren't a thief?

Who goes to Open Houses?

Can anyone go to Open Houses?  Yes!  In fact, I know of a time when a neighbor was walking down the sidewalk coming back from the community pool and popped in to walk around the Open House in their dirty, wet, barefoot feet.  Worse part is the Agent let them walk around because they didn't want to hurt their feelings and stop them at the door. The neighbor left and the Agent was left with dirty foot prints throughout the home.  So who goes to Open Houses?

Neighbors - Neighbors are the #1 source of Open House visitors.  They pop in to see how you decorate, what your floor plan looks like, and simply because they have a few minutes to pop in and they're curious to see inside.

Curious People - There are people that look online or in the newspaper every week that spend their Sundays popping in to Open Houses.  They have no interest in moving or buying a house but like to see homes.

People Passing by - Have you ever been driving down the road and see an Open House sign and stop to take a peak inside?  We've almost all done it at some time or another.  Simply because we had a few minutes and wanted to see if it's as cute inside as outside or just because.  Again, no interest in buying but just want to see inside.  A few years ago I was on vacation in Hawaii and we had rented a car for a drive.  We passed by an Open House and stopped to take a look inside.  We knew we had no interest in buying but we were curious about the house and how much it was. 

Future Buyers - These are buyers that plan to buy in a few years but want to get an idea of what they like.  They are also many times looking at houses outside of their future price range.

Bad Credit Buyers - These are people that pop in to look at houses but mention they prefer to rent to own because their credit score is in the low 500's and they know that it will take years to improve their credit score.    

Robbers and Thieves - Yes, robbers and thieves love Open Houses. It gives them an excuse to check out your house.  They don't need an appointment and they don't need to show ID to anyone when they show up at the door.  If a few people go in to the Open House at the same time, it's hard for the Real Estate Agent to keep an eye on everyone and everything.  For instance, there have been local news stories regarding prescription pills missing from homes after open houses.  Things can be stolen during an Open House and/or after the Open House when they return once no one is home.  It's a bad idea to do an Open House and open your door to complete strangers that no one knows anything about.

Who Benefits from Doing Open Houses?

Not the seller!  Real Estate Agents use Open Houses to Prospect for Potential Buyers and to Network with Future Sellers in the Neighborhood.  They put their sign in front of the house to Brand themselves and invite the neighbors in.  Open Houses are most popular with newer agents, lower producing agents, and teams that put buyers agent team members there.

Serious buyers will set an appointment with their Real Estate Agent to see the house.

Why do Agents Promote Open Houses?

1) Prospecting for Future Clients

They put their sign outside and invite the neighbors in so they can meet them in hopes that they will pick them to sell their home in the future.  They also hope a future buyer will pop in so they can start building rapport with them so that when they do buy in a few years, they will choose them as their Agent.

2) Branding to the Neighbors

Their sign has their Company Name on it and many times their Team or their name.  They want the neighbors to see that they are there and working on selling the house.  Again, they are marketing the brand and hoping when the neighbors want to sell they will pick them.  On a side note, it's the same reason why they mail "Just Listed" and "Just Sold" postcards to announce what they just sold.

3) Double Siding the Sale

They hope that a buyer walks into the house that saw the house online and hasn't called another Real Estate Agent about the house yet.  They want to write the offer and represent both the seller and buyer so they can get paid for both sides of the sale.  If you didn't do the Open House, the buyer probably would have called another Real Estate Agent to show them the home and then the listing Agent would have only gotten paid for one side of the transaction.  There's a lot of debate on whether it's in your best interest to have a Dual Agent representing both you and the seller.  We won't discuss that here but it's a topic I'll discuss in another blog.

Get An Instant Property Value Of Your Home Now!

You Can Sell Without Open Houses!

Hire a Full Time Real Estate Agent Pro - When selling your house it's usually the most expensive asset you own.  When hiring someone to get you maximum money for it, you need the best in the business.  This is not the time to hire your family, friend, or the lady you met at church.  It's not the time to pick your Real Estate Agent based on how nice they are.  You want to hire a go-getter with creative ideas--someone who is full of energy and comes with a team of experts to help them on all the details your house sale deserves. To learn more about how to pick Wilmington's Top Agent as your Agent, click here. 

Creative Marketing Plan Tailored to Your House - 90% of the buyers use the internet to search for their future home.  They are looking for great photos, virtual tours, area information, school info, and they want to know immediately if they can qualify for the mortgage.  Buyers are asking their friends and family and social media groups for their opinions about the neighborhood.  An exceptional, super star Real Estate Agent leverages the modern ways to market in order to reach the largest audience.  Why market to a few neighbors and passing cars when you can market to thousands in minutes?

Phone Prospecting - Out of thousands of Real Estate Agents in the area, only a few pick up the phone and call around neighborhoods asking who knows someone looking to move.  Phone prospecting is the fastest way to find a buyer for your home.  Would you prefer someone to put a sign out in front of your house and wait for someone to show up or would you prefer an Agent working for you calling 50+ people a day to ask them who they know that wants to buy a house?

To learn more about other mistakes to avoid when selling your home, click here! 

We Can Help!

Are you looking for the best real estate agency in Wilmington, NC? When choosing a real estate agent, be sure to go with someone who has expert knowledge of listings and selling a property.  The Regina Drury Real Estate Group has that and more.  We are a Full-Time real estate company in Wilmington, NC; our crew can provide you with all of our expert knowledge and focus on maintaining a high degree of customer service that will leave a lasting impression.  Contact us today to talk more about your Wilmington, NC Real Estate needs. 

Contact Us

For more information like this, check these links out: 

• How to Pick Wilmington's Top Agent as Your Agent?

• 8 Mistakes When Selling Your Home

• Regina Drury Real Estate Group Best Real Estate Agency

How to Maximize Your Time with Your Real Estate Agent

Are you looking to buy a new home in Wilmington, NC? Are you looking to hire a top real estate agent in Wilmington, NC? Before you choose the best real estate agent for you, there are some things that you can do to make sure you are maximizing your time with your real estate agent and meeting them halfway. This working relationship will be an important one--who you choose will (hopefully) guide you to the home that you will make memories in for years to come. Making sure you are on board and ready to go with the process--and prepared yourself--will be important too.

1. Do Your Own Research

In order to make the process even a little easier, knowing what you want is key! Realty services will have more access,  but you can still get an idea of the market yourself by doing your own research online. Are you looking for homes for sale in downtown Wilmington NC? Do you want to live closer to the beach and are looking for homes for sale in Wrightsville Beach NC or homes for sale in Carolina Beach NC? Wherever you think you may want to move, knowing what you want and what you're willing to compromise on is important before you spend all the time and money. By starting the search for home prices and having a good idea ahead of time, you can go ahead and have that conversation with your real estate agent and they will know where you stand immediately. Communication is important in all aspects of life, but in the real estate business is super important!

Things to pay attention to: while you are on your search, please keep in mind that some online sites will also show you properties that are already under contract, so while doing your own research is a great start, your real estate agent will be able to help you with making sure that the properties you look at are not under contract and ready to be bought. 

2. Know Where You are at With Finances

Have you spoken with a lender and gotten pre-qualified? Do you know what your maximum budget is? These are some of the first questions that your buyer's agent is going to ask you once you reach out to them looking to buy a home, so why not beat them to the punch? Understanding your finances and knowing what kind of budget you can ultimately work with will help narrow down your options from the beginning; it will also help you when it comes to working with a real estate agent. 

3. Be Available for Quick Communication!

Remember what we said earlier about communication? When working with a top real estate agent, they will know about properties that are about to be put on the market or even homes that are likely to sell super fast, so being able to be on top of your communication game is important! In the real estate market right now, homes are selling just as quickly as they are being listed, so if you are not making sure you are available at least by phone call, you may miss a home that you would potentially like if you are not in quick communication with your agent. The same thing goes once you make an offer--puzzle pieces move quickly, so be able to play the game! 

4. Know When You Want to Move

Key factors like this are also important. Typically closings take about 30 days once you put your house under contract, so knowing when you need to (or want to) move will need to be communicated to your real estate agent, so they can work to make sure you get the closing date you need. 

We Can Help!

Are you looking for the best real estate agency in Wilmington, NC? When choosing a real estate agent, be sure to go with someone who has expert knowledge of listings and selling a property.  The Regina Drury Real Estate Group has that and more.  We are a Full-Time real estate company in Wilmington, NC; our crew can provide you with all of our expert knowledge and focus on maintaining a high degree of customer service that will leave a lasting impression.  Contact us today to talk more about your Wilmington, NC Real Estate needs. 

Contact Us

Home for Sale in Leland, NC

Check out this lovely 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom home in Leland, NC in the Lanvale Trace subdivision. 

To view all the details of this property including more photos and information, click here!

Facebook Live House Tour Video

Take a peek at 1112 Ashcroft Drive with our Facebook Live House Tour.

What are the features of 1112 Ashcroft Dr NE Leland, NC 28451? 

• 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom

• 1-car garage

• Split Floor Plan

• Spacious Living Room with Hardwood Floors

3 bedroom, 2 bathroom home in Leland, NC

This cute 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom home has a one-car garage and is great for any interested homebuyer who is looking to be a little on the outside of all the hustle and bustle.  

Plenty of Natural Light 

Walk into a home full of natural light from the large windows and screen doors. Vaulted ceilings in this living room make this room feel more open and airy as well. Laminate hardwood floors throughout kitchen and living room. 

Check Out This Master Bedroom 

This master bedroom is split from the other 2 bedrooms in the house and has its own entryway to the backyard. There is also a master bathroom within the bedroom and a walk-in closet. 

Ample Sized Fenced in Backyard

This backyard is perfect for the furbabies! There's a gate on the left side of the fence for entry from the side into the backyard as well. Relax out in the backyard during the summertime!

3 bedroom

2 bathroom

One Car Garage

Natural Light Throughout Home

Vaulted Ceilings in Living Room

Spacious Living Room

Laminate Hardwood Floors in Living Room and Kitchen

Carpet in Bedrooms

Master Bedroom with Walk-in Closet

Split Floor Plan

Fenced In Backyard

*May be eligible for USDA financing

Schedule a private showing of 1112 Ashcroft Dr NE Leland, NC 28451. Contact Regina Drury 910-232-4919.

To search more Homes for Sale in Leland, NC, click here.

For a market report on Lanvale Trace, click here.

Wondering what your home could sell for? Click here for a Free Instant Home Value Report.

To view all the details of this property (including more photos), click here.

We Can Help!

Are you looking for the best real estate agency in Belville, NC? When choosing a real estate agent, be sure to go with someone who has the expert knowledge of listing and selling property.  The Regina Drury Real Estate Group has that and more.  We are a Full-Time real estate company in Wilmington, NC; our crew can provide you with all of our expert knowledge and focus on maintaining a high degree of customer service that will leave a lasting impression.  Contact us today to talk more about your real estate needs. 

Contact Us

Home for Sale in Belville, NC

Plenty of space in this 4 bedroom, 2 bathroom home in Belville, NC in the River Ridge subdivision. If you are looking to be a little on the outside of Wilmington city limits, this house is in a prime location!

To view all the details of this property including more photos and information, click here!

What are the features of 628 Pine Branches Circle, Belville, NC 28451? 

• 4 bedroom, 2 bathroom

• 2-car garage

• High-end Bamboo Floors in Common Areas

• Split Floor Plan

4 bedroom, 2 bathroom home in Belville, NC

This gorgeous house with a 2-car garage backs up to a nice wooded area for privacy. The fourth bedroom is on the second floor and is quite a large space. 

Kitchen Equipped with Plenty of Cabinets and a Pantry

Look at this beautiful kitchen, with its white cabinets, stainless steel appliances and how it peeks out to view the backyard. 

Serene View of Backyard

Beside the kitchen is a corner built for the relaxed reader! Imagine laying on your own daybed or recliner reading a book from the comfort of this cozy home! 

Master Bedroom with All the Works!

Check out this ample sized master bedroom with a window bench seat and vaulted ceilings. The master bedroom has two closets and is joined by a master bathroom with a dual sink and tub/shower combo. 

Beautiful Flooring Throughout Common Areas

These hardwood floors are actually high-end bamboo and are throughout the common areas. Well-kept carpet is in all the bedrooms. 

Bonus (4th Bedroom) Upstairs

Look at how spacious this fourth bedroom is upstairs--it could be used as a bedroom, a game room, or anything you'd like really. 

NO HOA DUES OR RULES

4 bedroom

2 bathroom

Dual sink in master bathroom

Master bedroom has two closets

Laundry Room

Wooded Backyard For Extra Privacy

Split Bedroom Floor Plan

Vaulted Ceilings in Living Room

High-End Bamboo Floors

Close to Downtown Wilmington

*May be eligible for USDA financing!

Schedule a private showing of 618 Pine Branches Circle SE, Belville, NC 28451. Contact Regina Drury 910-232-4919.

To search more Homes for Sale in Belville, NC, click here.

For a market report on River Ridge, click here.

Wondering what your home could sell for? Click here for a Free Instant Home Value Report.

To view all the details of this property (including more photos), click here.

We Can Help!

Are you looking for the best real estate agency in Belville, NC? When choosing a real estate agent, be sure to go with someone who has the expert knowledge of listing and selling property.  The Regina Drury Real Estate Group has that and more.  We are a Full-Time real estate company in Wilmington, NC; our crew can provide you with all of our expert knowledge and focus on maintaining a high degree of customer service that will leave a lasting impression.  Contact us today to talk more about your real estate needs. 

Contact Us

House for Sale in Hampstead, NC

This beautiful 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom home located in the Ridgefield subdivision in Hampstead and has lots of space for your future family! 

To view all the details of this property including more photos and information, click here. 

3 bedroom, 2 bathroom home

This home is large, large, large with 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms. The master bedroom boasts a walk-in closet, with a master bathroom that has both a separate tub and a shower. 

Check out this Beautiful Sunroom!

Enjoy a nice evening of relaxation out in this beautiful sunroom that overlooks the large backyard.

Large Backyard with Storage Shed

Stepping out of the sunroom means stepping into a huge fenced in yard complete with a 12x15 storage shed. This backyard would be a perfect spot for your pets to roam around and have plenty of room to play!

Dining Room Right Beside Kitchen

Take a look at this beautiful dining room beside the kitchen. Great for entertaining guests! 

Large Living Room Can Fit Large Furniture!

Step through the archway to enter the living room with its wood laminate floors (these wood laminate floors are also throughout the rest of the house other than the kitchen). This living room is built for big furniture if you can't tell; a sectional would work great in here.

3 bedroom

2 bathroom 

Large Rooms

Wood Laminate Floors

Arched Doorway into Living Room

Master Bedroom with Walk-in Closet

Split Floor Plan

Beautiful Sunroom

Large Fenced-in Backyard

Storage Shed in Backyard (Measures 12x15)

HVAC Replaced in 2010

One Mile from Boat Ramp

Schedule a private showing tour of 228 Lewis Road, Hampstead, NC 284433. Contact Regina Drury at 910-232-4919.

To search more Homes for Sale in Hampstead, NC, click here. 

View the market report to see what's under contract and sold in the neighborhood by clicking here. 

To view all the details of this property including more photos and information, click here. 

We Have You Covered! 

Are you ready to hire a professional? Are you looking for the best real estate agency in Wilmington, NC to help you? We can help you with all of this and more. When choosing a real estate agent, be sure to go with someone who has the expert knowledge of listing and selling property. The Regina Drury Real Estate Group is a full-time Real Estate company in Wilmington, NC; our crew can provide you with all of our expert knowledge and focus on maintaining a high degree of customer service that will leave a lasting impression. Contact us today to talk more about your Wilmington, NC Real Estate needs. 

Contact Us

Land for Sale in Wilmington, NC

Located at 3400 Masonboro Loop Road, this land is just under 2 acres total and is in a prime location in Wilmington, NC near the Courtyard at Masonboro and also located close to the highly desirable Andrews Reach neighborhood.

School districts near this land are Parsley Elementary, Roland Grise Middle School, and Hoggard High School. 

1.9 acres of land for sale in Highly Desirable Area

This land right now is both 3400 Masonboro Loop Road and 3380 Masonboro Loop Road, with each lot amounting to just under 1 acre of land--together totaling 1.9 acres. These lots together are selling at $425,000 but they can be sold separately. The left lot is selling individually for $210,000 and the right lot with the mobile homes is selling for $215,000.

Subdivision Possibilities

This lot as it stands could be divided into a mini-subdivision. Right now, on the property stands a 2 bedroom, 1 bathroom house (3400 Masonboro Loop Road) and 2 mobile homes (3380 and 3390 Masonboro Loop Road), but the land itself has a ton of potential for development.  

Take Advantage of a Huge Opportunity

With all of its boom and all the new projects around town, this town is running out of land for sale in Wilmington, NC. These lots can be sold as individual lots or you can buy both and build from there.

Masonboro in Wilmington has grown over the years and it will keep expanding! Don't miss out on your chance to own highly coveted land for sale in Wilmington, NC! Masonboro is minutes away from shopping, restaurants, medical facilities and is in a good location between both of our area beaches: Wrightsville Beach and Carolina beach.

We Can Help!

Are you looking for the best real estate agency in Wilmington, NC? When choosing a real estate agent, be sure to go with someone who has expert knowledge of listings and selling a property.  The Regina Drury Real Estate Group has that and more.  We are a Full-Time real estate company in Wilmington, NC; our crew can provide you with all of our expert knowledge and focus on maintaining a high degree of customer service that will leave a lasting impression.  Contact us today to talk more about your Wilmington, NC Real Estate needs. 

Contact Us

Home for Sale in Wilmington, NC 

Spacious four bedroom, two bathroom, ranch style house, with plenty of closet and storage space, centrally located in desirable College Acres subdivision of Wilmington!

To view all the details of this property including more photos and information, click here. 

Have you visited our Facebook page yet?  Like us on Facebook to see all of our posts about properties we list! We also like to do live tours of our listings so make sure you check us out!

4 bedroom, 2 bathroom ranch style home in Wilmington, NC 

This roomy home is located just doors away from the new College Acres Elementary School. The home is also located just a short distance from shopping, dining, UNCW, and minutes from Mayfaire, Wrightsville Beach, and downtown Wilmington. Hard to beat the location on this house! 

A Kitchen for A Chef

Okay, we are definitely obsessed with this kitchen. Custom designed, professional caliber kitchen includes six burner gas stove with dual electric ovens and a professional food service faucet/sprayer with two deep sinks, and countertops galore. Stainless steel! 

Rooms with Hardwood Floors And Customized Shelves

Check out the bookshelf that one of the bedrooms has with the wooden desk! Throughout most of the house, there are also oak hardwood floors as well. 

Huge Den with New Carpet

As if there wasn't enough space in this house, there's also a den with newly replaced carpet and a fireplace. 

Detached Garage for the Handyman

Another feature of this particular property is the detached handyman's garage wired for 220-volt service; it includes workbenches along two walls, cabinets, and pegboard storage. 

House has full attic for storage also! 

This property is definitely a must see!

4 bedrooms

2 bathrooms

Professional caliber kitchen

Stainless steel kitchen appliances

Cabinet and storage space galore!

Large master bedroom

Custom bookshelves in some of the rooms

Oak hardwood floors

New carpet in den area

Extra playroom inside of house with laundry area

Huge front and back yards on this corner lot

Perfect location

Near UNCW

Minutes away from Wrightsville Beach

Schedule a private showing tour of 5020 College Acres Drive, Wilmington, NC 28403. Contact Regina Drury at 910-232-4919.

To search more Homes for Sale in Wilmington, NC, click here. 

View the market report to see what's under contract and sold in the neighborhood by clicking here. 

To view all the details of this property including more photos and information, click here. 

We Have You Covered! 

Are you ready to hire a professional? Are you looking for the best real estate agency in Wilmington, NC to help you? We can help you with all of this and more. When choosing a real estate agent, be sure to go with someone who has the expert knowledge of listing and selling property. The Regina Drury Real Estate Group is a full-time Real Estate company in Wilmington, NC; our crew can provide you with all of our expert knowledge and focus on maintaining a high degree of customer service that will leave a lasting impression. Contact us today to talk more about your Wilmington, NC Real Estate needs. 

Contact Us

Four Questions Not to Ask Your Real Estate Agent

In the real estate business, we get plenty of questions ranging from:

How fast can you sell my home to Can you help me buy the home I'm looking for?

Of course, we can answer these general questions, but as you continue through your property search, even more questions will come up as they apply to what you personally need or are looking for answers concerning properties in the desired area. 

Will you Lower your Commission?

First of all, an agent who lowers their commission probably doesn't have a marketing plan tailored to your property. They most likely will just put it on the market for sale by putting it in the MLS, on some websites, and hope for the best. 

If the agent is so easily willing to lower their commission, will they stick by you in regards to your price? Or are they just going to encourage you to lower the price of your home? If they don't stand by their own worth, then they won't work hard to get you top value for your home. 

Do You Do A Lot of Open Houses? 

No, and there are a few reasons for this. The first reason we don't do open houses is that open houses let strangers in that no one knows--and we want our clients and their homes to feel comfortable. By allowing agents in with interested buyers, it provides more of a secure way of knowing who's coming in and out of the house. Additionally, with open houses, more than one person comes in and then the agent can't watch both, so it just makes it better when there's more of a system for knowing who's viewing the property. 

With all that even being said, most people are looking for properties online via photos and video tours.  Having great photos and a visual tour of the home is a big plus.  

Do I Have to Leave My House When It's Shown?

Yes! A buyer is most comfortable when the seller is not around. When they come in to check out a home, they want to check out where their furniture is going to go, what color they are going to paint the walls. The rule of thumb is that the longer the buyer is inside the house, the more they are emotionally attached to it. 

Do you Sell a Lot of Houses in this Neighborhood?

A lot of times people choose their agent based on the signs in the yard. Be careful about picking an agent because you see their signs in the yard!  It could be that you are seeing their signs in the yard because they haven't been sold yet. You want to choose an agent who sells their houses and they sell them very quickly because that probably means they have a good marketing plan. They are also probably available quicker to answer questions and even to negotiate offers much faster.

Whereas some might think that more signs from a particular agent are a good thing, you don't want to choose an agent just because you see them all over your neighborhood. And you don't necessarily need to choose an agent who sells a lot of houses in your neighborhood because if you have an agent that sells houses all over the place, the advantage of that is that when they have a buyer that's interested in one particular area that agent can mention another area that they have other homes available that's comparable. 

For Tips on How to Pick an Agent:

Here's a link to an article on How to Pick a Top Selling Agent as Your Real Estate Agent.  It will give you things to think about so you're next purchase or sale is a smooth experience.

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Are you looking for the best real estate agency in Wilmington, NC? When choosing a real estate agent, be sure to go with someone who has expert knowledge of listings and selling a property.  The Regina Drury Real Estate Group has that and more.  We are a Full-Time real estate company in Wilmington, NC; our crew can provide you with all of our expert knowledge and focus on maintaining a high degree of customer service that will leave a lasting impression.  Contact us today to talk more about your Wilmington, NC Real Estate needs. 

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Is Renting Out a Beach Home a Good Investment?

Are you thinking about investing in a vacation home near Wilmington? Is it even a good investment? While the thought of waking up to the smell of the salty air and the sounds of the rushing waves may sound like a brilliant idea in theory, there are a lot of tips to know before taking such a big life step.

1. Choose your Location Wisely

When investing in a vacation home, do your research when you’re shopping. Vacation homes are meant to be just that—vacation homes. And if you are purchasing one, there’s a chance that you don’t actually live in the area that you’d like to purchase in, so when you choose, you should know exactly why this home is the one that you want to purchase. What do you like about it? Is it going to meet all of your desires? 

2. Rent Before You Purchase

Why should you rent a beach home before you purchase it? Well, simply put, you want to be sure this investment is a good fit for you in all aspects. In order to be sure that it’s the right fit, one visit won’t do the trick. You may want to check into not only the property, whether it’s a beach house or a condo, but the surrounding aspects as well—restaurants, entertainment, and the overall environment of the home you are purchasing. Is it crowded during the summer season? Do you hate crowds and dealing with tourists? You may want to find a home that’s a little further from all the craziness.

3. Choose a Budget and then Buy Under It

The goal here is to eliminate stress as much as possible. It’s a vacation home after all; while there are important factors that you have to consider when investing, a vacation home is supposed to help you relax, not cause more problems for you. Buying under budget will help alleviate some of the worries of the monthly payments and extra costs, but it will also actually give you some room for the extra costs that come with managing a property, whether you manage it yourself or hire a property management company. If you're looking for homes with a Bargain, check out our page on Beach Front Properties that come at a steal, or look at Beach Homes for Sale Under 500K!

4. Consider other Finance Options

Did you know that you can buy Real Estate Investments inside of your Retirement Account?  If you are looking to leverage your IRA this might be a good option.  Plus you don't need all the money to buy the property.  There are great finance options that allow a non-recourse loan inside of your IRA.  SO your IRA makes the monthly payment.  Also another option is you can be a part owner with your IRA.  For example you can own it 50% in your IRA and 50% with a friend.  We help clients all the time with purchasing investments with their IRA.  Click here to read more about How to Buy a House with your IRA.  

5. Make Sure the House and the Location are a Good Rental

If you’re looking to turn your vacation house into a rental property and make the most of the investment, you’ll want to also make sure that you’re not the only one who likes it. Being able to rent out your property easily will also alleviate some of the financial stress that comes with being a property owner. Down the road, if you’d like to upgrade, that is always an option.

6. Calculate all the Costs

After you’ve calculated how much you will be paying for the second home’s mortgage, go back and check out all the extra expenses of the house, such as taxes, insurance, maintenance, and utilities. These are what you will at the very least be paying for in addition to the mortgage. If you are living more than an hour away from your property, then you may want to highly consider hiring someone else to take care of the property for you. Beyond all of these costs, then you have to take it even one step further and think about hiring a cleaning company to take care of the property between renters and ensure each renter comes into a sparkly clean vacation home to enjoy during their stay. These are all just the basics of the costs that are associated with buying a beach rental property.

7. Work with a Real Estate Agent Who Knows the Area

We can’t say this enough. Whenever you are choosing to invest in a new home—whether it is going to be your primary residence or a vacation home that you want to convert into your safe haven for rainy days—you always want to hire the best of the best to ensure that you get what you are looking for. Knowledgeable real estate agents know the market, the best locations, the worst locations, and can tell you the ins and outs of all the tiniest details. Click here to learn more about how to pick the best Real Estate Agent.

We Can Help!

Are you looking for the best Real Estate Agency in Wilmington, NC? When choosing a Real Estate Agent, be sure to go with someone who has expert knowledge of listings and selling a property.  The Regina Drury Real Estate Group has that and more.  We are a Full-Time Real Estate company in Wilmington, NC; our crew can provide you with all of our expert knowledge and focus on maintaining a high degree of customer service that will leave a lasting impression.  Contact us today to talk more about your Wilmington, NC Real Estate needs.

Contact Us