Cashiers NC Real Estate, Meadows Mountain Real Estate

Mortgage rates have been staying low which is great for Cashiers NC real estate. It has now been 8 weeks in a row that rates have stayed below 4%, an amazing and unheard of feat. Real estate data around the country appears to be more positive yet rates will most likely remain low until recovery has truly permeated all corners of the US, which is great for Cashiers real estate.

There are many opportunities in Cashiers NC, whether you be looking for a primary residence or a vacation home. These opportunities are enriched by low rates which can save a great deal of money over the lifetime of a loan and make monthly payments significantly less.

This past week mortgage rates were averaging 3.98% for a 30 year fixed rate loan, a benefit not to just home buyers but a benefit to owners of Cashiers real estate who wish to refinance their current loans as well.

Now is a great time to consider whether refinancing or buying Cashers real estate is right for you. Contact us today to learn more about Cashiers NC real estate, we know lenders and can help introduce you to one who will make buying your dream home a reality.

Click here to read “Mortgage Rates Reverse Course on Positive Housing Data”, from Realty Times.

For more information about Highlands and Cashiers North Carolina, and for access to the HighlandsNC/CashiersNC MLS, contact Meadows Mountain Realty today, 866-526-3558 or email us today at info@meadowsmtnrealty.com.

If you have been looking to buy Cashiers NC real estate or a home in nearby Highlands, look no further we have a stunning home listed for sale. Located in the Mountaintop Golf and Lake Club, this wonderful mountain home boasts new construction that includes 5 bedrooms, 4.5 bathrooms, privacy, outdoor living space and so much more. There could not be a better time to buy Cashiers real estate and the buyer of this home is securing a lifetime of memories in the making.

Some of the highlights of this Cashiers home include a well planned kitchen begging for someone who loves to cook or entertain, a master suite complete with its very own fireplace, a wonderful library that doubles as a study, and a media room. Outdoors this Cashiers property has a covered deck with a fireplace and 1.8 acres that offer privacy and solitude.

Cashiers North Carolina offers an idyllic setting, perfect for getting away from it all! Contact us today to schedule a showing of this Cashiers home or any other real estate that is listed for sale in the Highlands/Cashiers area.

For more information about Highlands and Cashiers North Carolina, and for access to the HighlandsNC/CashiersNC MLS, contact Meadows Mountain Realty today, 866-526-3558 or email us today at info@meadowsmtnrealty.com.

If you own Cashiers NC real estate do not forget to pay attention to fall lawn care steps. Your lawn is no doubt one of the greatest assets of your Cashiers property and keeping it looking its best is of the essence. Before we know it temperatures will drop and snow will blanket our green outdoor carpets, and preparation today will lead to a greener spring.

Mowing, aerating, and fertilizing are just a couple of steps that will insure a healthy lawn come spring. Get out and mow your Cashiers lawn one last time, before putting it to bed for the winter.

Aerating is an important step as it creates more space for roots, and allows for plenty of room for new growth. This is typically a step that homeowners prefer to hire a lawn care specialist for but can certainly be completed on your own as well.

Fertilization is a great step to take before snow falls. Consider this food for your Cashiers lawn, a way for nutrients to get absorbed into the soil and promote growth an health when the spring finally arrives.

Call us today to learn more about taking care of your Cashiers real estate. We have access to a variety of lawn care professionals and would love to help you find the right person to help your Cashiers property.

Click here to read “Fall Lawn Care: 4 Ways to Say G’Night For The Winter” from House Logic.

For more information about Highlands and Cashiers North Carolina, and for access to the HighlandsNC/CashiersNC MLS, contact Meadows Mountain Realty today, 866-526-3558 or email us today at info@meadowsmtnrealty.com.

Most people will never venture to the local building department; much less submit themselves (and their blueprints) to the bureaucratic process of obtaining a building permit, scheduling periodic inspections and complying with building codes.

That, of course, is a builder’s job… and one that construction professionals take pride in making efficient and hassle-free for their clients. To be sure, working through the red tape takes experience, savvy and patience. Those who know the drill are able to navigate the approvals and inspection process with confidence.

Consider the potential mine field of regulatory issues that most contractors must map out and manage to ensure their projects are in full governmental compliance.

Plan Check. Before a set of blueprints or house plans can be used to build or remodel a house, the building department must review them to make sure the drawings comply with applicable building codes. The plan checker looks at structural design, weight loads, plumbing, heating, and electrical layouts and specifications, and other details in the plans. If everything is in order, the drawings are approved for construction.

Prior to plan check, however, an experienced and professional builder will review the drawings and make any adjustments to speed the process. Before submitting the plans, he or she may contact trade contractors or building materials suppliers for their input, as well. Such refinements and attention to detail help avoid “red-lining,” causing a return of the plans unapproved and marked by the plan checker (in red pen) for necessary changes … thus delaying the building process.

Permitting. A building permit — a required document in most municipalities for almost any construction project — is the document that a building inspector will review and refer to when he or she visits the building site as the project progresses toward completion. The building department will only issue a permit for an approved set of blueprints or plans, and the inspector will rely on the permit and plans on the job site to compare what’s drawn (and approved) to what’s actually being built. It is imperative, then, to submit a complete and comprehensive set of plans for approval and permitting … and then follow those plans to the letter to avoid confusion, questions and potentially costly compliance issues that can stop the job cold until they are resolved.

Inspections. Inspections at key points of a project’s construction are necessary to make sure the approved plans are being built as drawn. Professional builders and remodelers have a talent for managing their own work crews, trade contractors and suppliers. They seek to keep the project on schedule. A tight schedule, in turn, reliably and accurately pinpoints those key milestones so that an inspector can be called with plenty of time to schedule his or her visit and, once on site, make a thorough review of the progress and approve it to continue.

Other red tape. Increasingly, builders are required to submit reports regarding the environmental impact, energy use, zoning or land-use variances, and other regulatory compliance issues. Professional contractors are familiar with what’s current in this respect, and can shepherd clients and their projects through the red tape to make sure their vision for their home becomes a reality.

This post was contributed by Zac Koenig of Koenig Homebuilders in Highlands NC.   

When it comes to Highlands and Cashiers Real Estate, is now the time to buy a vacation home?  Leading indicators say that it just might be.  An article in Saturday’s Wall Street Journal, “Vacation Homes: Why It May Be Time to Buy” by Jessica Silver-Greenberg, demonstrates that while vacation areas may be far from boom time activity there is movement.  The article points out that desirable areas represent areas where real estate is moving, less desirable areas not so much.  Highlands real estate and Cashiers real estate has a lot to gain from this simple factor, after all where is there a more desirable place to call “second home”?

Factors that make it a great time to buy a Highlands vacation property or a Cashiers vacation home include affordability, inventory, and timing.  First and foremost it is a buyers market and buying real estate in Highlands and Cashiers today you can be assured that you are not buying at the height of the market.  In addition, taking advantage of today’s low mortgage rates can save a great deal of money over the lifetime of a loan, adding to a home’s affordability.

There are some great values with regards to vacation homes in Highlands and Cashiers.  Please contact us today if you have been dreaming of owning a second home in our unique area.  We know the local real estate market, where homes are selling, where the best bargains are located, and can help locate a Highlands property or Cashiers property that best suit your needs.

Click here to read “Vacation Homes: Why It May Be Time to Buy” by Jessica Silver-Greenberg, from the Wall Street Journal.

For more information about Highlands and Cashiers North Carolina, and for access to the HighlandsNC/CashiersNC MLS, contact Meadows Mountain Realty today, 866-526-3558 or email us today at info@meadowsmtnrealty.com.

We have reached the midway point of the year.   Today, we want to look back over the first six months and give you what we believe were the five items that have had the biggest impact on the real estate industry so far this year.

The Government Wants Out of the Mortgage Business   From the original outline of the Dodd-Frank regulations to the talk of closing Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to the proposed Quality Residential Mortgage (QRM) guidelines, the government has made it very clear that they want to dramatically limit their involvement in the mortgage industry. What will come of this? Will private industry step up and fill the void created? What will be the increased cost to the consumer? Only time will tell.

Despite Early Headlines, Sales are Increasing    Headlines earlier in the year announced the total collapse of the housing market. To those in the know, it was obvious that comparing sales numbers in the first four months of this year to the same period last year made absolutely no sense. The largest tax credit ever given to home buyers expired on April 30, 2010. Large numbers of transactions were dragged forward last year so buyers could take advantage of the credit. Pending home sales (transactions going into contract) on the other hand have done quite nicely and many institutions (ex. Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, NAR and Moody’s Analytics) are projecting good sales numbers throughout the rest of the year.

Amid Warnings of a ‘Double-Dip’, Prices Began to Stabilize  Prices continued to retreat for the first few months of the year and brought the bears out. Some called for another major fall in prices (15-20%) and almost all recalculated their projections to show continued depreciation. Just as these new projections were made available, some pricing indices announced that values actually increased (though by a rather minimal percentage). Again, those with the best understanding of the market were quick to explain…

Foreclosures Were Delayed Longer Than Originally Projected   Distressed properties (foreclosures and short sales) have a major impact on the values of all properties in an area. Because of paperwork challenges, the flow of these properties to the market was virtually shut off. At the beginning of the year, most experts believed the banks would correct these challenges by the end of the first quarter. That didn’t happen and therefore many of these properties were delayed coming to the market. This is a major reason why prices seemed to recover: there were fewer discounted properties available for sale. Most now believe that the banks are within 60-90 days of releasing this inventory and that prices will again begin to soften.

Main Stream Media Begins to Announce “Now Is the Time to Buy!”   With prices and interest rates at historic lows and the chance that mortgages will become more costly as the private sector steps in, many in the main stream media are announcing that buying a home now makes sense. In the last 45 days, the Wall Street Journal, Forbes Magazine, National Public Radio (NPR) and CBS Money Watch have all ran articles calling for the readership to consider buying now!

If you would like more information on real estate in Highlands or Cashiers NC, give on e of the brokers at Meadows Mountain Realty a call today at 828-526-1717 or send us an email to info@meadowsmtnrealty.com.

Rarely in Highlands can you find a mountain cottage under $500,000 with a Whiteside Mountain view.    Although this delightful home was originally built in the early 80s, the past two owners have completed renovotions including a new kitchen.  The greatroom features a floor to ceiling stone fireplace and vaulted wood ceiling.   There are wood floors throughout the cottage, new vanities in the baths and a one car carport.   The owners have also completed an extensive makeover of the low maintenance landscaping.  

Imagine your mornings with a cup of coffee watching the sun rise over the mountain and enjoying the crisp air and the sound of birds all around.   If the morning air is a bit too chilly (even in the the summer months), there is a fireplace on the screened porch to warm your bones!!    In the evening this will also be the perfect spot for entertaining family and friends.     .

Located in Apple Mountain, this two bedroom, two bath cottage is only 4 miles from Main Street Highlands and just moments from three of Highlands best country clubs.   The neighborhood boasts a common area with a playground for children and residents can enjoy launching their canoe on Lake Ravenel.   

For more information on this great mountain home, view the visual tour at http://tours.tourfactory.com/tours/tour.asp?t=757496 or visit http://www.meadowsmtnrealty.com/default.asp?f=listing_details&listingid=259842&listingtype=1. or call 828-526-1717.    Reach us by email at info@meadowsmtnrealty.com or visit our website at www.meadowsmtnrealty.com for a complete list of properties for sale in the Highlands and Cashiers area.    

We have all heard the main stream media reporting on the dismal real estate market as though it were on a non-stop audio loop.  Despite these continuous reports, four major media outlets have come out this month with the same advice: if you are ever going to buy a home, now is the time! 

Here are the four articles each from respected news sources along with a summary of why their advice makes sense.

The Wall Street Journal:  Why It’s Time To Buy

CBS Money Watch:  Why The Time To Buy Is Now

Forbes Magazine:  9 Reasons To Buy A House Now

National Public Radio:  For Many, It’s Still A Good Time To Buy A Home

Considering that most news reports are saying home prices continue to depreciate in most regions of the country, you may be wondering why these four media outlets are suggesting that now is the time to buy.  Well, one of the things that each of these entities recognize is that the price of a property is not as important as the cost.  Even as prices fall, the cost of a house can actually increase.  Unless you are paying cash for the particular property, you must consider the expense of financing when calculating the full cost. 

Interest Rates:

Interest rates for home mortgages are currently at historic lows.  That being said, Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, PMI and the National Association of Realtors are all projecting a 1% increase in those rates over the next year.  It is important to keep in mind that a 1% increase in mortgage rates negates a 10% decrease in prices!

Lending Standards

While we are speaking about mortgages, we also need to know that the government as proposed a tightening of the lending standards referred to as Quality Residential Morgtage (QRM).  If these changes are accepted as proposed, it will mean two things to the average home buyer:

1. Qualifying for a loan will become much more difficult
2. The cost of a loan will increase

The government has proposed a tightening of lending standards called Quality Residential Mortgage (QRM). If accepted as proposed two things will happen:

Bottom Line

So the bottom line for people currently on the fence about jumping in and purchasing a home is that now is definitely the time to buy.  The cost of purchasing a home is about to increase even if prices continue to fall.

For more information on the market conditions in Highlands or Cashiers NC, contact any of the professional brokers at Meadows Mountain Realty at info@meadowsmtnrealty.com or by calling 828.526.1717.

1. Get help from a short sale expert

Not all real estate agents today have worked with properties that are offered as a short sale. An agent experienced in short sales can identify which homes are being offered as short sales, help you determine a fair purchase price, and advise you on what to include in your offer to make the lender view it favorably. Ask agents how many buyers they’ve represented in short sales and, of those, how many successfully closed the transaction.

2. Build a team

Ask agents to recommend real estate attorneys knowledgeable in short sales. Your attorney can do a title search to identify all the liens attached to any property that peaks your interest. You must understand that because each lien holder must consent to a short sale, a property with multiple liens, like first and second mortgages, mechanic’s and condominium liens, or homeowners association liens, will be harder to purchase. Although you will have to pay for the title search up front, but it can also help weed out less desirable properties requiring multiple approvals.

3. Know the home’s fair market value

By agreeing to a short sale, lenders are consenting to take a loss on the loan they made to the sellers to purchase the home. The goal of the lender is to keep those losses as low as possible. If your offer is substantially less than the home’s fair market value, it may be rejected. Your agent can help you identify the price that’s good for you. The lender will determine whether approval is in its best interest.

4. Expect delays

There are two stages to a short sale. First, the sellers must consent to your purchase offer. Once you have come to an agreement with the seller, then they must submit it to their lender, along with documentation to convince the lender to agree to the sale. The lender approval process can sometimes take weeks or months, even longer if the lender counteroffers. Expect bigger delays if several lienholders are involved; each can make a counteroffer or reject your offer.

5. Firm up your financing

Lenders will weigh your ability to close the transaction. If you have a pre-approval letter from your lender for a mortgage, have a large downpayment, and can close at any time, they’ll consider your offer stronger than that of a buyer whose financing is less secure.

6. Avoid contingencies

If you must sell your current home before you can close on the short-sale property, or you need to close by a firm deadline, your offer may present too many moving parts for a lender to approve it. Also, consider ordering an inspection so you’re fully informed about the home. Keep in mind that lenders are unlikely to approve an offer seeking repairs or credits for such work. You’ll probably have to purchase the home “as is,” which means in its present condition.

The brokers at Meadows Mountain Realty have the knowledge and experience to help you with a short sale.   Give us a call today at 828.526.1717 or send an email to info@meadowsmtnrealty.com.     For a list of short sale and foreclosure properties in Highlands, Cashiers, Sapphire and Glenville North Carolina, visit our website.    

This article includes general information about tax laws and consequences, but isn’t intended to be relied upon by readers as tax or legal advice applicable to particular transactions or circumstances. Consult a tax professional for such advice.

In this day and age, people often ask if they need to hire a real estate agent to sell their home or if they should try it on their own as a For Sale By Owner (FSBO).  With the volatility we are seeing in today’s housing market, we feel this is an easy decision: you need an experienced professional!

An experienced agent can be your guide in this uncertain market

Whether it is giving you an honest assessment of where your home should be priced or it is finding a buyer who is willing to pay fair market value for your home when there are many competing short sales and foreclosures, an experienced professional can steer you through many of the pitfalls that exist in real estate today. 

A skilled negotiator is invaluable

In today’s market, having a skilled negotiator on your side during a real estate transaction could save you thousands of dollars.  Not only do you need someone who can keep the deal together until it closes, you need someone who can provide you with trusted advice and assistance from the initial offer right through the inspection and appraisal.  Until a deal closes and you have your money in hand, an inspection report or a financing hiccup can cause it to take a nose dive quickly.  An experienced agent can direct you through these situations and help you get your home sold even when issues arise.

When an agent is negotiating their own commission with you, remember that they are actually negotiating their own salary.  This is the salary that pays their bills and keeps a roof over their heads.  If your agent was quick to back down and take a lesser commission when negotiating with you for your listing, you should see that as a red flag.  If they would not negotiate well for themselves, what makes you think they will negotiation well for you? 

Bottom Line

As with anything else, you get what you pay for.  A good real estate agent, like a good attorney or a good accountant, will save you money not cost you money.     The Brokers at Meadows Mountain Realty are experienced and can help you get the most for your property in today’s tough real estate market.    Give us a call today at 828.526.1717 or email us at info@meadowsmtnrealty.com.