Wilmington homes on the first floor

There are many nice things about having a home on the first floor. There are no stairs to deal with, which means it can be easy to come and go from your home or condo. It also makes unloading groceries eaiser as well.

There are many homes and condos in Wilmington that are on the first floor. If you are interested in purchasing a 1st floor home in the area please let us know. You can also search for available Wilmington real estate by looking at the link below.

http://www.coastwalkrealestate.com/search/advanced_search/

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Provided by Justin Donaton

I list and sell homes in Wilmington NC. I specialize in the beach towns of Carolina Beach, Kure Beach and Wrightsville Beach.

Even though the buyer pays for an inspection during the purchase process, it’s a good idea to have a pre-sale inspection if you’re the seller. Here’s why.

Why a Pre-Sale Home Inspection is Good Protection

Yes, it’s true-- your buyers are going to have to pay for an inspection, so why should you? The truth is, there are many good reasons to spring for your own home inspection before listing your home. Here’s why:

Ignorance isn’t a good defense. Many sellers are afraid they’ll discover defects they’ll have to disclose to buyers when the time comes. While it’s unethical and illegal to omit known issues from buyers, the truth is that understanding these issues up front can save you a lot of time and money:

First, you’ll have the opportunity to fix the problems before listing the home. Second, condition issues will help you price the home accurately for sale. And third: Buyers who are informed of condition issues up front will be much less likely to pull their contract than those who get nasty surprises down the line.

You’ll have your own estimate for repairs. When it comes to estimated repair costs (or price concessions), which would you rather have? Only the buyer’s inspection report, prepared for the buyer, or both your inspection report and the buyer’s? It’s also an issue of repair quality: Some inspectors will propose high-end fixes while others may propose more modest, but reasonable repairs. It’s handy to know the range!

You have a credible tool for negotiating issues. Again, when it all comes down to the buyer’s inspection, you won’t have one point of view on the topic. It’s also nice to present buyers with your own home inspection report as a show of good faith. It starts things off on the right foot when you say, “Listen, I’m sure you’ll want to have your own inspection, but before I decided to list my home, I wanted to know what any potential issues might be. Here’s what I found.”

It helps protects you from non-disclosure accusations. It’s hard for a buyer to say you tried to dodge repair or maintenance issues later when you can prove you paid up front to have your own inspection done. “He knew about this, but didn’t tell me!” is a tough case to make when you’ve invested in home inspection protection.

I’m happy to connect you with home inspectors I use and trust! Drop me a line today:

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Take a look at some beach homes in Wilmington NC, click here

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I list and sell homes in Wilmington NC. I specialize in the beach towns of Carolina Beach, Kure Beach and Wrightsville Beach.

Provided by Justin Donaton

Carolina Beach Homes for Sale with Ocean Views

Here is a super home in Carolina Beach for sale with ocean views. It has an elevator as well. You have views of the ocean and can walk to the beach and he North End:

For more information contact Coastwalk Real Estate in Carolina Beach at 910-458-9119.

Here are more homes with ocean views in Wilmington NC:

http://www.coastwalkrealestate.com/oceanview-homes/

Provided by Justin Donaton

The days of the buyer’s market are rapidly fading all over the country. Multiple offers and sales above list price are on the move. How can you shop smarter in a hot market?

Tips for Buyers Home Hunting in a Hot Market

We’ve come a long way since the darkest hours of the bottom of the home market. Now, buyers are finding the competition for homes surprisingly stiff. The days of touring twenty homes and deliberating over the tiniest details have slipped away.

So what can you do to increase your odds at landing a home you can love? Here are a few tips to help as you navigate this increasingly active market:

1. Get pre-approval for a loan before you begin shopping. Browsing without the power to buy is a recipe for heartbreak now.

2. Be clear about the neighborhoods you’re interested in before you shop. Understand what the recent trends have been in terms of sales and competition for those sales if possible.

3. Be prepared to lose out on some homes. Yes, it’s likely that one or two great candidates will get away. Mentally prepare yourself for the possibility of being outbid or not getting an offer written in time.

4. Have your agent familiarize you with multiple offer situations. Ask specific questions about how it works and what to expect.

5. Get cutting edge MLS information and/or information on homes not yet on the market. Hot sheets and inside information on potential new listings can position you for first in line. Work with an agent who has access to the latest information and a solid network of connections in the community.

6. Make offers on multiple properties and see which gets accepted first. If you have four homes which meet your criteria, don’t go round robin on the offers. Write four and see what shakes out.

I’ve seen what it takes to win a great home in a booming market, and would be glad to guide you through the experience. And sellers, this is also a great time to get in touch and list your home!

View our rockin' Coastwalk Real Estate website blog, click here!

Take a look at some beach homes in Wilmington NC, click here

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Provided by Justin Donaton

I list and sell homes in Wilmington NC. I specialize in the beach towns of Carolina Beach, Kure Beach and Wrightsville Beach.

3 Seldom Seen Selling Techniques

How do I advise sellers to help market their home in seldom overlooked ways? Here are three tips that help buyers see the property in a new light.

These Selling Tips Help Adjust Buyer (and Seller!) Mindsets

Selling your home soon? It can be hard for sellers to come up with the details that make their home unique and appealing to buyers, especially since they’ve decided to move up or move on.

I like to offer these three selling perspectives that help encourage sellers to see their home in a particularly favorable light. Ask yourself these questions and see if you don’t begin to see your listing with fresh eyes:

1. 1.  Where are the little luxuries in my home?

Don’t think big, think small: Did you have a professional organize your closet storage systems last year? Are there built-in items in the garage which make it a natural home for a future handyman? Did you weatherproof and tune-up the storage shed out back to double as a home office? Do the kitchen cabinets have slide-out shelves or other small luxury amenities? It’s not all about whirlpool bathtubs and brand new appliances... look for little wins that a lot of buyers will appreciate.

2. Why does your home beat apartment or condo living?

Many first-time buyers will have reached their limit with neighbors, noise, and cramped quarters. Sell your home on its merits compared to the “shared space” life. Is your neighborhood quiet? How big is the lot? What’s parking like at your house?

3. What’s fun nearby? (Even if you don’t think it’s fun.)

Even if you’re not a golfer, weightlifter, or theater-goer, those activities nearby can be a nice plus for potential buyers. With a new home comes the hope for personal growth and change, and playing up any activities that may catch a buyer’s eye are well worth mentioning. Have you become blind to activities nearby, simply because they’re not for you? Look again!

Of course there’s more to selling a home than these three tips, but hopefully these will get you thinking. For a more comprehensive sense of how I get my clients top dollar for their house, get in touch today: 

View our rockin' Coastwalk Real Estate website blog, click here!

Take a look at some beach homes in Wilmington NC, click here

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Provided by Justin Donaton

Please consider sharing this article from the NC Association of REALTORS® with others in your office. The residential forms changes which take effect on July 1 will address this issue.

Changes to North Carolina Lien Law Take Effect April 1st

Effective April 1st, a significant change to North Carolina’s mechanics’ lien law took effect. The change will affect projects to improve real property for which the anticipated cost of the project at the time the building permit is issued is $30,000.00 or more. However, the new law will not apply to improvements to an existing single-family residential dwelling unit that is used by the owner as a residence.

This purpose of this article is to bring the existence of the new law to the attention of the real estate brokerage community and to give a very general overview of how it will work. A real estate agent should become generally familiar with the new law; however, the identification and proper handling of potential liens on property that is the subject of a real estate transaction has been and will continue to be the responsibility of the closing attorney.

As a short refresher, the mechanics’ lien laws permit persons who supply labor, materials or certain services to property that is being improved to file a claim of lien on the property to secure payment of what is owed to them. These liens can be filed after a property is transferred and yet “relate back” to a date before the transfer that the labor, materials or services were first provided. Thus, such liens may be “hidden” and not show up on a title search. As a result, a seller is required to furnish at settlement an affidavit verifying that any person entitled to claim the benefit of such a lien has been paid in full.

Title insurance policies have typically provided coverage against such liens, and for many years the title companies paid off occasional mechanics’ liens as a cost of business. However, when the recession hit the construction industry, title insurers experienced a significant increase in title insurance claims resulting from hidden liens. As a result, the title insurance industry successfully lobbied for changes to the lien law.

The new law is designed to protect buyers and title insurance companies from liens filed after a title policy is issued and the property is transferred by requiring potential lien claimants to provide notice of their involvement on a project before the property is transferred. Notice must be given to a “lien agent” who must be designated by the owner of the property being improved. The lien agent will be a title insurance company chosen from among a list of registered lien agents that will be maintained by the Department of Insurance. The title insurance industry in North Carolina has collaborated on the development of a web site which will enable a lien agent to be designated online. The owner will be required to give notice of the lien agent’s contact information, either by posting the information on the project site or by providing the information to a potential lien claimant on request.

The attorney closing a transaction subject to the new law will be able to search the web site to get the names of any persons who have notified the lien agent of their potential lien. The attorney will require all such persons to sign a lien waiver confirming that they have been paid in full. The claim of any potential lien claimant who refuses to sign a lien waiver will need to be addressed before the closing can take place.

The great majority of real estate transactions that will be subject to the new law will involve sales of new construction and sales by investors who have purchased and made significant improvements to the property being sold. Although, as noted above, the new law will not apply to improvements to an existing single-family residential dwelling unit that is used by the owner as a residence, it is important to understand that the existing lien law will continue to apply to the sale of such dwelling units. Specific questions about whether the law will apply in a particular situation and how it will work should be answered by a North Carolina real property lawyer.

Work is currently underway to identify and address any changes that may need to be made to NCAR’s standard forms as a result of the new law. Any changes likely will become effective this coming July 1st. Additional information will be made available on any changes that may be approved as soon as possible. Any questions should be addressed to Kay Bailey in the NCAR Legal Department at 800/443-9956 or kbailey@ncrealtors.org 

View our rockin' Coastwalk Real Estate website blog, click here!

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Provided by Justin Donaton

I list and sell homes in Wilmington NC. I specialize in the beach towns of Carolina Beach, Kure Beach and Wrightsville Beach.

Real Estate Corner…

Q.  What are some mistakes I should avoid when I invest in real estate?

A.  Even smart investors make mistakes.   Here are three common mistakes and what you should do instead:

• Not Doing Your Homework.  Evaluate your financial situation and understand the right numbers to calculate.  Learn the basics about cash flow, appreciation, and loan amortization. 
• Not finding the right property.  Do a thorough search, including “off MLS” deals and best buys, to find the right property for you.  Work with a REALTOR^® who is an Investor Specialist.  He or she can help find a  good investment property.  
• Failing to get a professional inspection.  You need to know if there have been problems with the property and that they’ve been properly addressed.

To learn more about owning investment property, call and ask for my Free Consumer Report called “How To Avoid 8 Dumb Mistakes Even Smart Investors Make.”  I’ll be glad to send a copy right to you.

Do you have a real estate question you want answered?  Feel free to call me at 910-352-0998. 

Coastwalk Real Estate

Provided by Justin Donaton

View our rockin' Coastwalk Real Estate website blog, click here!

Take a look at some beach homes in Wilmington NC, click here

If you enjoy my posts, please add me to your Google+ Circles

If you enjoy my posts, please add me as a Facebook Friend

Let’s Network more, here is my LinkedIn Profile

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Provided by Justin Donaton

I list and sell homes in Wilmington NC. I specialize in the beach towns of Carolina Beach, Kure Beach and Wrightsville Beach.

Homes with elevator Wilmington NC

A good investment in real estate includes buying a home with an elevator. With the aging pupulation, a home ith an elevator or elevator shaft can be a wise move.

While you likley will want to use stairs as long as possible, elevator homes are a great choice.

AN elevator can add an additional $20,000 to $40,000 to a home. Another option is building a home with an eleavtor shaft, allonig you to add the elevator at a later time.

Homes in Carolina Beach with elevators are popular for rental purposes. It also makes carriyng luggaeg upstairs a breeze.

There are homes with elevators in Carolina Beach, and Wrightsville Beach elevator homes are available as well.

Below is a list of homes with elevators in the Wilmington area.

Here are some homes in Wilmington that have elevators.

There are just too many advantages of using an elevator. The elevators are very convenient in making easy access to different floors of a building. Especially the people who are physically disabled find it very easy for them to move from one floor to the other which otherwise would have been impossible. It is also used for carrying heavy materials and goods up and sown the building very easily. Similarly a pregnant woman or an elderly person who is facing difficulties to climb up the stairs would probably take the elevator as a messiah in their lives with the help of whom they are being able to move about the building and without whom it would not have been possible. For the building makers or the building constructors it may act as a strategy to make more profit as it increases the floor area of the building and thus they can charge more while selling it and have quite a bit of extra profit. With increase in the rate or price of land the constructors use another strategy of installing elevators, as adding floor upward would be very cost effective rather than constructing it outward. So they tend to make more profits.

Stumped as to which home upgrades make sense? Interested in renovations for value, but you’re unsure what to tackle? I have a few simple guidelines I use to help clients narrow their scope and focus on the right choices.

Question #1: How long will you live in your house?

If you’re hunkering down for the next decade or two, don’t hesitate to do what you would most appreciate in your home. This is especially true of cosmetic changes, when appealing to potential buyers is a non-issue. After a decade or two, your upgrades might need upgrades, so go with projects that make the most sense for your taste and the way you prefer to live in your home.

Question #2: What have the neighbors done?

There’s wisdom in getting an idea what the surrounding homes look like. On one hand, you may get inspiration from ways in which your neighbors have transformed homes which are probably similar to yours. On the other, you’ll get an idea how much renovation you can get away with in your market. Upgrade to hard and heavy and you might not be able to get any of that money out if you’re going to sell, since the home will need to be listed far above market comparables.

Question #3: What’s a hassle in your house?

If something in your home is a hassle, it’ll probably bug prospective buyers as well. Is there limited storage space? Nowhere for guests to stay? An old-fashioned bathroom with a funky layout? There’s good reason to handle these headaches. You’ll not only enjoy the upgrade while you live in the home, but you’ll improve it for buyers when the time comes to sell.

When you get down to actual projects, there are details to consider, such as budget, timing, and design choices, but these three questions go a long way to getting your upgrade ideas organized.

I’m also available to offer my professional thoughts on possible upgrades. Get in touch if you’d like me to stop by for a walk-through of your home. I’ve seen hundreds of homes and would love to provide a helpful perspective:

View our rockin' Coastwalk Real Estate website blog, click here!

Take a look at some beach homes in Wilmington NC, click here

If you enjoy my posts, please add me to your Google+ Circles

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Provided by Justin Donaton

I list and sell homes in Wilmington NC. I specialize in the beach towns of Carolina Beach, Kure Beach and Wrightsville Beach.

Two Tools to Help You Foster Good Financial Habits for Home Ownership

I often field questions from people who are thinking about buying their first home. Many are very early in the process, some in college, some working their first jobs. Many want to know what they need to do now to one day be able to have a place of their own.

Part of being ready for home ownership means having the discipline to make personal and financial decisions which put you in a good position when the time comes. A lot of this means sound habits, such as saving cash for a down payment, reducing debt, and maintaining good credit. Many people have yet to form these habits.

There are strategies to help you stick to your habits, such as telling people about your goals, writing down your goals and posting them in prominent places around your house and car, and breaking your goals into small, reasonable "mini goals," but sometimes what you really need is a little external accountability.

HabitForge.com and Stickk.com are two web-based tools which help you stick to changing your habits. HabitForge operates on the premise that it takes 21 days to form a new habit. To use it, you simply provide a goal or desire, and the service sends you email each day to check in and see if you've kept up. A simple "yes" or "no" click tracks your commitment.

Stickk.com is a little more involved and perhaps a more powerful option. Stickk was developed by Yale University economists who tested the effectiveness of Commitment Contracts through extensive field research. Years of economic and behavioral research show that people who put stakes - either their money or their reputation - on the table are far more likely to actually achieve a goal they set for themselves. Stikk.com allows you to select a goal, get the "stakes," get a referee to judge your compliance, and add friends for social support.

If you’re trying to clean up your financial house before you make that first big investment in your future, you might consider exploring these tools to help you create the solid habits you’ll need to get the loan, make your down payment, and ultimately take care of your home. I hope you find them helpful.

View our rockin' Coastwalk Real Estate website blog, click here!

Take a look at some beach homes in Wilmington NC, click here

If you enjoy my posts, please add me to your Google+ Circles

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Provided by Justin Donaton

I list and sell homes in Wilmington NC. I specialize in the beach towns of Carolina Beach, Kure Beach and Wrightsville Beach.