Planting The Perfect Spring Container Garden

Spring is a wonderful time to plant container gardens around the outside of your home to add some color and curb appeal. After the winter season is complete, it’s refreshing to see bright colored flowers and watch things grow! Container gardens are great for all types of homes, but they’re an especially excellent option if you live in an apartment or home with limited yard space. Here are some tips for creating the perfect container gardens for spring.

Pots – The possibilities are endless when it comes to pots for your container garden. Your local home improvement store or plant nursery is likely to have an abundance of different pots from which to choose. Additionally, recycled items from around your home can make fantastic containers. Anything that has space for compost will work — including cans, buckets, fruit trays and colanders. If you choose something that doesn’t have holes in the bottom, use a drill to create some drainage holes before you begin planting.

Plants – Choosing a variety of colors, textures and heights is important when creating a container garden. Ideally, you would like a plant tall enough to hang over the edge of the pot, and something with a pop of color for the center. Be sure to consider how much light your container garden will receive, and then choose your plants accordingly.

Soil – Choose a good potting soil from your local home improvement store or plant nursery. Also choose a fertilizer. Add some rocks to the bottom of your pot for drainage, and cover with soil. Once the soil and plants are in the container, continue filling in until the soil reaches an inch from the top of the container. Be sure to pack the soil lightly, as it will continue to settle as the plant grows.

Contributed by Ashley McKenzie-Sharpe  

Phone: 336-748-4599    |    ashleym@fairwaymc.com

Home Inspections: What to Expect

So you made an offer, it was accepted, and now your next task is to have the home inspected prior to closing. Oftentimes, agents make your offer contingent on a clean home inspection.

This contingency allows you to renegotiate the price you paid for the home, ask the sellers to cover repairs, or even, in some cases, walk away. Your agent can advise you on the best course of action once the report is filed.

How to Choose an Inspector

Your agent will most likely have a short list of inspectors that they have worked with in the past that they can recommend to you. HGTV recommends that you consider the following 5 areas when choosing the right home inspector for you:

1. Qualifications – find out what’s included in your inspection and if the age or location of your home may warrant specific certifications or specialties.
2. Sample Reports – ask for a sample inspection report so you can review how thoroughly they will be inspecting your dream home. The more detailed the report, the better in most cases.
3. References – do your homework – ask for phone numbers and names of past clients who you can call to ask about their experiences.
4. Memberships – Not all inspectors belong to a national or state association of home inspectors, and membership in one of these groups should not be the only way to evaluate your choice. Membership in one of these organizations often means that continued training and education are provided.
5. Errors & Omission Insurance – Find out what the liability of the inspector or inspection company is once the inspection is over. The inspector is only human after all, and it is possible that they might miss something they should have seen.

Ask your inspector if it’s okay for you to tag along during the inspection, that way they can point out anything that should be addressed or fixed.

Don’t be surprised to see your inspector climbing on the roof or crawling around in the attic and on the floors. The job of the inspector is to protect your investment and find any issues with the home, including but not limited to: the roof, plumbing, electrical components, appliances, heating & air conditioning systems, ventilation, windows, the fireplace and chimney, the foundation, and so much more!

Bottom Line

They say ‘ignorance is bliss,’ but not when investing your hard-earned money into a home of your own. Work with a professional who you can trust to give you the most information possible about your new home so that you can make the most educated decision about your purchase.

Data Says May is the Best Month to Sell Your Home

According to a newly released study by ATTOM Data Solutions, selling your home in the month of May will net you an average of 5.9% above estimated market value for your home.

For the study, ATTOM performed an “analysis of 14.7 million home sales from 2011 to 2017” and found the average seller premium achieved for each month of the year. Below is a breakdown by month:

ATTOM even went a step further and broke their results down by day.

Top 5 Days to Sell:

• June 28th – 9.1% above market
• February 15th – 9.0% above market
• May 31st – 8.3% above market
• May 29th – 8.2% above market
• June 21st – 8.1% above market

It should come as no surprise that May and June dominate as the top months to sell and that 4 of the top 5 days to sell fall in those two months. The second quarter of the year (April, May, June) is referred to as the Spring Buyers Season, when competition is fierce to find a dream home, which often leads to bidding wars.

One caveat to mention though, is that when broken down by metro, ATTOM noticed that while warmer climates share in the overall trend, it turns out that they have different top months for sales. The best month to get the highest price in Miami, FL, for instance, was January, and Phoenix, AZ came in with November leading the charge.

If you’re thinking of selling your home this year, the time to list is NOW! According to the National Association of Realtors, homes sold in an average of just 30 days last month! If you list now, you’ll have a really good chance to sell in May or June, setting yourself up for getting the best price!

Bottom Line

Let’s get together to discuss the market conditions in our area and get you the most exposure to the buyers who are ready and willing to buy!

Just Listed!

Charming home in a great neighborhood on a cul-de-sac. Great room with vaulted ceiling and wood floors. Beautiful chef's kitchen for entertaining! Bright and sunny dining area. Master bedroom on main level with trey ceiling. Relax on the screened porch overlooking a great yard with woods! 

http://bit.ly/195CobaltCt

How to Clean and Inspect Your Gutters

During a downpour, a clogged gutter can send substantial amounts of water down the side of your home, damaging the siding, foundation and landscaping. Thoroughly cleaning and inspecting your gutters every spring and fall will help to keep them in good working condition.

To clean gutters, climb a ladder and remove all the large leaves and debris that may be sitting in them. This can be done with a trowel or small shovel. Pay close attention to the area around the downspout. If there is clogging, it won’t drain properly, which can cause your gutters to sag.

The decomposed debris that you remove will make great mulch or compost for your garden. To remove finer materials, flush the gutter with a hose — starting at the opposite end of the downspout. If the water isn’t draining properly, recheck the downspout to be certain nothing is clogging it.

Most gutters are held onto homes by using a metal spike and ferrule. Check all the spikes that are meant to go through the gutter, the fascia board and into the rafter behind it. If the gutter spikes are in questionable condition, it’s a good idea to invest in new ones to ensure that the gutters are securely fastened.

Inspect gutters for holes and cracked caulking that could cause leaks. If the caulking needs to be replaced, use a chisel or metal scraper to remove the current caulking and then thoroughly dry the area. Replace with a new caulking sealant and follow the suggested drying directions.

Contributed by Ashley McKenzie-Sharpe  

Phone: 336-748-4599    |    ashleym@fairwaymc.com

Open Houses for Sunday April 29th

Open House for Sunday, April 29th 254 Shell Lane | Winston-Salem, NC You're invited! Tour this beautiful home Sunday or check it out now: http://bit.ly/254ShellLn

104 Brampton Court | Winston Salem
Open house Sunday, April 29th from 2pm to 4pm!
Come visit us! Learn more at:http://bit.ly/104BramptonCt

JUST LISTED!

JUST LISTED! 1968 Friedberg Church | Winston Salem

Lovely renovated 2 BR/ 2 BA home on 3.5+ acres with a creek on the Forsyth/Davidson county line! Home features refinished hardwood floors, new carpet, large renovated white kitchen with new stainless steel appliances, fresh paint and more! TONS of storage! Large main level master bedroom and attached garage. Secondary garage is perfect for a mechanic!

http://bit.ly/1968FriedbergChurch

Thinking of Selling Your Home? Why You Need A Pro in Your Corner

With home prices on the rise and buyer demand strong, some sellers may be tempted to try and sell their homes on their own (FSBO) without using the services of a real estate professional.

Real estate agents are trained and experienced in negotiation and, in most cases, the seller is not. Sellers must realize that their ability to negotiate will determine whether or not they get the best deal for themselves and their families.

Here is a list of some of the people with whom the seller must be prepared to negotiate if they decide to FSBO:

• The buyer who wants the best deal possible
• The buyer’s agent who solely represents the best interest of the buyer
• The buyer’s attorney (in some parts of the country)
• The home inspection companies, which work for the buyer and will almost always find some problems with the house
• The termite company if there are challenges
• The buyer’s lender if the structure of the mortgage requires the sellers’ participation
• The appraiser if there is a question of value
• The title company if there are challenges with certificates of occupancy (CO) or other permits
• The town or municipality if you need to get the CO permits mentioned above
• The buyer’s buyer in case there are challenges with the house your buyer is selling
• Your bank in the case of a short sale

Bottom Line

The percentage of sellers who have hired real estate agents to sell their homes has increased steadily over the last 20 years. Let’s get together and discuss all we can do to make the process easier for you.

Luxury Stunner in Winston Salem!

1385 Pheasant Lane  |  Winston Salem

Absolutely stunning estate home sits on almost an acre in the prestigious Mill House Place gated community. Walking into this palatial home feels like one is stepping into a luxury resort, perfectly appointed, and features: 14 foot coiffured ceilings, a phenomenal chefs kitchen, main level master suite with spa-like amenities including his/her closets,temp-controlled bath floor, 3-car main level garage. Other distinctive traits include: an incredible lower level terrace equally as lovely as the main level.

http://bit.ly/1385PheasantLn 

Just Listed in Crow Hill!

5305 Mercia Court  |  Winston Salem

Majestic brick 2 story home in Crow Hill! Located on a large wooded lot, close to shopping, restaurants and only minutes to downtown Winston Salem! Stunning open and airy rooms flow perfectly for entertaining. Chef's kitchen with double ovens and stainless steel appliances. Amazing main level master with sitting area! Attention to details with  built-ins, mouldings, tray ceilings, plantation shutters and so much more! Main level 3 car garage. Relax on the comfortable deck overlooking a park-like setting! 

http://bit.ly/5305MerciaCt 

Spring Cleaning Organization Tips

As you clean your home to prepare for the spring season, you may be feeling overwhelmed. Organizing the process can alleviate your angst as well as streamline the process to finish quickly. Follow these simple tips to organize your spring cleaning efforts.

Create a kit – Fill a bucket with basic cleaning essentials such as all-purpose and glass-cleaning sprays, sponges, towels and other items you might find useful. This will allow you to transport all your supplies around your home as you clean. 

Use a checklist – Create a checklist for the spring cleaning tasks that you wish to tackle. This will not only prepare you to complete your cleaning in a timely manner, but it will also help you understand everything that needs to be done. 

Determine focus areas – Determine focus areas to clean. These can be tasks such as decluttering or dusting, or cleaning surfaces such as textile furniture or countertops. Creating these focuses will allow you to streamline your cleaning efforts for a faster finish.

Contributed by Ashley McKenzie-Sharpe  

Phone: 336-748-4599    |    ashleym@fairwaymc.com

Rising Prices Help You Build Your Family’s Wealth

Over the next five years, home prices are expected to appreciate, on average, by 3.6% per year and to grow by 18.2% cumulatively, according to Pulsenomics’ most recent Home Price Expectation Survey.

So, what does this mean for homeowners and their equity position?

As an example, let’s assume a young couple purchased and closed on a $250,000 home this January. If we only look at the projected increase in the price of that home, how much equity will they earn over the next 5 years?

Since the experts predict that home prices will increase by 5.0% in 2018, the young homeowners will have gained $12,500 in equity in just one year.

Over a five-year period, their equity will increase by over $48,000! This figure does not even take into account their monthly principal mortgage payments. In many cases, home equity is one of the largest portions of a family’s overall net worth.

Bottom Line

Not only is homeownership something to be proud of, but it also offers you and your family the ability to build equity you can borrow against in the future. If you are ready and willing to buy, find out if you are able to today!

A Tale of Two Markets

Some Highlights:

• A trend that has been emerging for some time now is the contrast between inventory & demand in the Premium & Luxury Markets vs. the Starter & Trade-Up Home Markets and what that’s, in turn, doing to prices!
• Inventory continues to rise in the luxury & premium home markets which is causing prices to cool.
• Demand continues to rise with low inventory in the starter & trade-up home markets, causing prices to rise!

What Is Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI)?

When it comes to buying a home, whether it is your first time or your fifth, it is always important to know all the facts. With the large number of mortgage programs available that allow buyers to purchase homes with down payments below 20%, you can never have too much information about Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI).

What is PMI?

Freddie Mac defines PMI as:

“An insurance policy that protects the lender if you are unable to pay your mortgage. It’s a monthly fee, rolled into your mortgage payment, that is required for all conforming, conventional loans that have down payments less than 20%.

Once you’ve built equity of 20% in your home, you can cancel your PMI and remove that expense from your mortgage payment.”

As the borrower, you pay the monthly premiums for the insurance policy, and the lender is the beneficiary. Freddie Mac goes on to explain that:

“The cost of PMI varies based on your loan-to-value ratio – the amount you owe on your mortgage compared to its value – and credit score, but you can expect to pay between $30 and $70 per month for every $100,000 borrowed.” 

According to the National Association of Realtors, the average down payment for all buyers last year was 10%. For first-time buyers, that number dropped to 5%, while repeat buyers put down 14% (no doubt aided by the sale of their homes). This just goes to show that for a large number of buyers last year, PMI did not stop them from buying their dream homes.

Here’s an example of the cost of a mortgage on a $200,000 home with a 5% down payment & PMI, compared to a 20% down payment without PMI:

The larger the down payment you can make, the lower your monthly housing cost will be, but Freddie Mac urges you to remember:

“It’s no doubt an added cost, but it’s enabling you to buy now and begin building equity versus waiting 5 to 10 years to build enough savings for a 20% down payment.”

Bottom Line

If you have questions about whether you should buy now or wait until you’ve saved a larger down payment, let’s get together to discuss our market’s conditions and help you make the best decision for you and your family.

Spring Cleaning Tips for a Sparkling Home

Spring is here, and there is no better time to break out those cleaning supplies and give your home a deep scrub. Spring cleaning is a terrific way to revitalize your home’s interior! The best first step is to declutter all areas and throw away or donate things that you no longer need. Follow these simple spring cleaning ideas that will leave your home sparkling:

Cabinets – Over time, your kitchen and bathroom cabinets can collect buildup from grease, hair products and other residue. While you may not be able to see this buildup, you will certainly be able to tell a difference when it is gone. To safely clean your cabinet doors, use a “cabinet cream” that will remove grime and leave the wood moisturized.

Refrigerator – If you have a stainless steel refrigerator, use a wax-based aerosol spray to make the surface shine. For the interior, remove all shelving and clean with soap and water. Use a sponge or warm cloth to wipe down all interior surfaces that can’t be removed, and then put all shelves back in their place. This will give you a good opportunity to organize the contents of the refrigerator and maybe even discover some things you didn’t know were hiding. A box of baking soda will help neutralize any odors, as well.

Oven – Begin by removing any loose pieces of burnt food that may be stuck to the interior of your oven. For any pieces that cannot be easily removed, try spraying them with ammonia. For the interior surfaces, sprinkle baking soda and add a small amount of vinegar. Then, let the mixture bubble, and remove with a sponge.

Hardwood Floors – While many people mop their hardwood floors weekly, this can actually damage the floors. Every month, try using a wet mop. Dry cleaning methods such as sweeping and using a Swiffer should be utilized weekly. For a deep clean of your hardwoods, use a wood-cleaning product, but make sure to dilute according to the directions.

Carpet – Begin deep cleaning your carpets by vacuuming to remove any dust and dirt particles. Next, you will need to shampoo using a carpet cleaner. These can be rented hourly from most local hardware stores, or you can hire a professional to come in and clean.

Tiled Surfaces – Bathroom floors, showers, kitchen backsplashes and other tiled surfaces can become grimy and accumulate mildew. Tile is best cleaned with a cleaner labeled as “neutral pH.” For grout, use a water and baking soda cleaning solution.

Contributed by Ashley McKenzie-Sharpe  

Phone: 336-748-4599    |    ashleym@fairwaymc.com

Boomerang Buyers: Most Qualify for Financing in 2-3 Years

According to a new study from Lending Tree, Americans who have filed for bankruptcy may be able to rebuild enough credit to qualify for a home loan in as little as 2-3 years.

This is in stark contrast to the belief that many have that they need to wait 7-10 years for their bankruptcies to clear from their credit reports before attempting to apply for either a mortgage or a personal or auto loan.

The study analyzed over one million loan applications for mortgages, personal, and auto loans and compared borrowers who had a bankruptcy on their credit report vs. those who did not to find out the “Cost of Bankruptcy.”

The study found that 43.2% of Americans who filed bankruptcy were able to repair their credit back to a 640 FICO® Score in less than a year. The percentage of those who achieved a 640 FICO® Score increased to nearly 75% after 5 years. The full breakdown of the findings was used to create the chart below.

Americans who were able to repair their credit scores to a range of 720-739 within three years of filing were able to obtain the same financing options as those who had never filed bankruptcy.

According to Ellie Mae’s latest Origination Insights Report, 53.5% of those who were approved for a home loan had FICO® Scores between 600-749 last month. This is great news for Americans who are looking to re-enter the housing market.

Raj Patel, Lending Tree’s Director of Credit Restoration & Debt-Related Services had this to say:

“People may think that filing a bankruptcy would put you out of the loan market for seven to ten years, but this study shows that it is possible to rebuild your credit to a good credit quality.”

“LendingTree’s research found that very few bankruptcy filers have a harder time [obtaining a mortgage] than those who have not filed for bankruptcy.”

Bottom Line

If you are one of the millions of Americans who has filed for bankruptcy and think that you have to wait 7-10 years to make your dream of returning to homeownership a reality, let’s get together to find out if you qualify now.

Just Listed in Kinderton!

164 Brookstone Drive  |  Bermuda Run

Amazing offering in Kinderton! This stunning home located on a prime large cul-de-sac lot with a water view - located near Davie Medical Center, shopping and restaurants! Open floor plan flows perfectly for entertaining. The spacious main level master bedroom has a lovely tray ceiling and fireplace! New carpet in master, new HVAC system. Relax outside in the backyard gazebo or use the pool and other neighborhood amenities! This is the one you have been looking for!

http://bit.ly/164BrookstoneDr 

Just Listed in Greenbrier Farm!

110 Wing Haven |  Winston Salem

Elegant 4 BR/4.5 BA home in beautiful popular Greenbrier Farm offers charm and class from the moment you arrive.  Home features generously sized kitchen and great room, main level master bedroom, craft room, walkout basement. Stunning mechanic's garage! Relax on the screened-in porch overlooking amazing professionally landscaped backyard or enjoy the amenity of the neighborhood pool.

http://bit.ly/110WingHavenCir 

Under Contract!

1025 Fallbrook Lane  |  Lewisville

Lovely 2-story home in popular Arbor Run presents a warm and inviting place to call home. Features include elegant living and dining areas, recently updated kitchen, spacious master suite with gorgeous trey ceiling and master bath w/jetted tub and separate shower. Gorgeous millwork and mouldings throughout. Walk up attic for extra storage! Finished basement area would make a great recreation room, playroom or office. Relax on the back deck overlooking a beautiful backyard with fence!

http://bit.ly/1025FallbrookLn 

145 North Field Drive |  Bermuda Run

Adorable meticulously-kept 3 BR / 2 BA ranch located close to hospital, restaurants, and the bustling town of Clemmons! Abundant natural light accents the bright & airy open living area with vaulted ceilings. Open kitchen with lots of storage! Snuggle up in front of the fireplace on cool nights or relax outside in the beautiful private patio area on those warmers days. 

http://bit.ly/145NFieldDr

Just Listed!

145 North Field Drive |  Bermuda Run

Adorable meticulously-kept 3 BR / 2 BA ranch located close to hospital, restaurants, and the bustling town of Clemmons! Abundant natural light accents the bright & airy open living area with vaulted ceilings. Open kitchen with lots of storage! Snuggle up in front of the fireplace on cool nights or relax outside in the beautiful private patio area on those warmers days. Hurry! This one won't last long!

http://bit.ly/145NFieldDr