Selling your home can bring up a lot of questions. What’s a fair asking price? Should you make repairs first? And how do you compare offers when the numbers aren’t the only thing that matters? In a more balanced market, buyers often have time to compare homes and think carefully about value. That ma

When you’re deciding between a newly built home and an existing one, the price on the listing is only part of the story. Your monthly payment, likely repairs, commute, move-in timing and the feel of the neighborhood all matter too. In Raleigh and the greater Triangle, you can find both new communiti

What you'll walk away withWhy financing and taxes differ for investment propertiesThe numbers to run with your lender, CPA and attorneyLandlord and fair housing duties you take on as an ownerIn this guide1. Decide what "success" means for you2. Understand that financing is different3. Run the real n

What you'll walk away withYour right to choose your own providersWhat RESPA says about referral fees and kickbacksQuestions that reveal who is right for youIn this guideYour right to chooseWhat federal law says about referralsHow to compare providersQuestions to ask any provider A home purchase invo

What you'll walk away withThe seller-paid state excise tax on deeds, and how to calculate itThe costs buyers commonly payHow your due diligence fee and earnest money are creditedIn this guideThe seller-paid deed excise taxWhat buyers commonly payCredits you may already have paidWays to lower cash to

What you'll walk away withA 6-to-12-month planning timelineThe tradeoffs of selling first, buying first or coordinating closingsMoney questions to take to your lender and CPAIn this guideStart about 6 to 12 months outSort before you stageSell first, buy first, or at the same time?Prepare the home yo

What you'll walk away withWhat the due diligence fee actually buys you, and where the money goesWhy extensions must be in writingA practical inspection and paperwork checklistIn this guideHow the fee and the period fit togetherWhat happens when the period endsExtensions must be in writingWhat to ins

What you'll walk away withThe protected classes under federal and North Carolina lawWhat to expect from me: equal service and no steeringWhere to file a complaint, and the deadline to keep in mindIn this guideWhat is protectedWhat it means for how I workTips for sellersTips for renters and landlords

What you'll walk away withThe North Carolina terms that trip up newcomers: due diligence fee, earnest money and attorney closingsThe five steps from pre-approval to keysWhich deadline to put on your calendar firstIn this guide1. Get your financing in order2. Understand the two payments that are uniq

What you'll walk away withWhat the key market statistics measureFive traps that make reports misleadingHow to use a report to ask better questionsIn this guideThe numbers, in plain EnglishFive traps to avoidWhat to do with it Market reports are everywhere, and the headline numbers can be misleading.

What you'll walk away with What conventional, FHA, VA and USDA loans are, in plain English Fixed versus adjustable rates and why mortgage insurance matters How to compare official Loan Estimates from more than one lender In this guide The four main loan categories Fixed or adjustable? Mortgage insur

What you'll walk away withThe 60-day NCDMV deadline for your license and vehicleWhat to verify before you commit to a townThe first-week tasks after closingIn this guideWithin 60 days: license and vehicleBefore you buy or rentAfter you closeMoving from out of state? Relocating to the Triangle? Here

What you'll walk away withHow the Triangle’s towns differ in personalityTips for long-distance moversWhere to go next for neighborhood-by-neighborhood detailIn this guideIf you want walkable and urbanIf you want amenities and a planned feelIf you want a small-town downtownIf your life revolves aroun

What you'll walk away withWhich disclosure forms you will complete, and what "No Representation" really meansHow offers should be compared beyond the headline priceThe seller-paid excise tax you should plan forIn this guideStep 1: Price and prepareStep 2: Your disclosure formsStep 3: Market, show, n

What you'll walk away withWake County: next revaluation January 1, 2027, then every two yearsDurham County: current reappraisal January 1, 2025; next scheduled for 2029How to estimate your own annual property taxIn this guideWake CountyDurham CountyCurrent rates (fiscal year 2026-27)What this means

What you'll walk away withWhat the "Working With Real Estate Agents" disclosure is, and what it is notWhen you must receive it and why you are asked to sign itQuestions that tell you whether an agent is right for youIn this guideWhat it isWhen you get itWhy it mattersHow I handle it Early in a North