Trent Woods Homes

Trent Woods Times - March 2010

Good wishes to all my Trent Woods Neighbors!

We finally have the month of February behind us. The snowfall was beautiful but I am glad that is behind us as well! We can now look forward to the “Ides of March” and then the magnificent explosion of spring!

Nothing says spring quite like a daffodil, crocus or tulip and the beautiful scents that spring delivers! Nothing is as sure to bring a smile to any face as the site of the first blooms on a flower in the spring. It is the affirmation of spring! Springtime is such a wonderful time of new beginnings and passionate dreams of the exciting days ahead!    

I look forward to seeing each of you out and about as you enjoy our beautiful city in this wonderful re-awakening of not only spring, but also the celebration of our history and hopefully, our new bridge! The market in Trent Woods, like all the markets across the country, has continued to allocate surprises. This month, we sold one home in our beautiful neighborhood and the amount of days the listing was on the market significantly decreased to 43 days. We continue to see a positive change in the interest of New Bern properties and we are seeing much more traffic in the showing of homes. This is a positive sign in our real estate community.

Remember that the tax credits are still available for first time home buyers as well as repeat home buyers however; the time is getting close so if you are in the market to buy a home now is the time to make the investment. Interest rates were the lowest they have ever been in 2009 and still remain very low. With low interest rates and additional tax credit it makes sense to capitalize on this opportunity if a new home is in your future.

HAPPY SPRING!

 

Trent Woods Times, February 2010

This very cold winter season has certainly made us long for the warm days of summer. If you are like me I am ready for daffodils and crocus and the smell of fresh cut grass in the air! The ground hog Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow on February 2nd so I presume we have 6 more weeks of winter to endure.

In light of the cold temperatures and as a reminder in preparation for the dread of April 15th, there are many tax breaks that you can take advantage of on your taxes if you winterized your home last year. The cost of certain high-efficiency heating and air conditioning systems, water heaters and stoves that burn biomass all qualify for a tax break, along with labor costs for installing these items. In addition, the cost of energy-efficient windows and skylights, energy-efficient doors, qualifying insulation and certain roofs also qualify for the credit, though the cost of installing these items does not count. Eligible homeowners can claim these credits when they file their 2009 federal income tax return. Because these are credits, not deductions, they increase a taxpayer’s refund or reduce the tax he or she owes. An eligible taxpayer can claim these credits, regardless of whether he or she itemizes deductions on Schedule A. Use Form 5695, Residential Energy Credits, to figure and claim these credits. The form is available on www.IRS.gov.   As always be sure to check with your professional CPA for further information.

The housing market continues to amaze us. The nationwide market is acquiring momentum, recording a solid increase of 15% over December 2008, and for the first time in three years the national average price of homes sold went up – that’s right, actually increased by 0.6%. Every area of the country (except the Northeast) was up in home sales and had a gain in average price. The cyclical downturn that began in the summer of 2005 is starting to run out of gas! Yes there will continue to be downward pressure on prices but unit sales, boosted in the first half by the tax credit and the continuation of high affordability factors, will be better than 2009. We are very optimistic that 2010 will be a very good year; it has already conveyed those positive signs!  Your personal Realtor can “consult” you on the best housing deals out there and the strategy on how to make it happen.

The market in Trent Woods has picked up significantly in the month of January. While one month does not a trend make, it surely makes a positive proclamation! There were 6 homes sold in January in Trent Woods and the average sale price has doubled! Those kinds of “stats” give us all a positive feeling and start the year off in a positive direction! Below you will find graphics showing January ‘09 through January ‘10 stats for the Trent Woods area only. We have stayed ahead of the curve in all areas of the national statistics with a lot of energy to continue on for you; our neighbors and customers! Now, let’s pray for spring!

Download Trent Woods Times Feb 2010 Statistics

 

Trent Woods Times - May 2009

I couldn't think of a better time of year to discuss a growing new trend in market --  Going GREEN in Real Estate!!

We have all heard bits and pieces of this new mindset but what actually is driving this new healthier consumer?   As we show houses today we are getting a strong sense that people want more efficient homes. We get questions like "Are these windows double paned?”  “Can you get me copies of last years utility bills?”, and so forth.

The average American home size has doubled since the 1950's.  Today an average home size is 2349 square feet, with huge master bedrooms, walk-in closets, offices, and media/play rooms.  Why the trend toward larger houses when families are getting smaller???  Large homes use more resources, wood and building supplies.  They also consume more energy to heat and cool.

United States Emissions alone represent 22% of the world’s total.  17% of greenhouse gases are residential, 18% are commercial, and 36% are industrial with 28% being transportation.  (Inman News May 2009).

The term “going green" refers to recyclable or renewable resources and the conservation and controlling of those resource costs.  The growing trend is toward homes nearer to work, shopping, and leisure, in more walking-friendly environments.

An agent with a "Green" certification or a certified EcoBroker is a specially trained real estate agent who can answer client questions about costs related to energy -efficient features.  Whether solar panels, low E glass, or the new spray foam insulation instead of the traditional kind, Realtors® today are staying up on the latest "green" trends.

Although the green movement is catching on and people are becoming more aware, some consumers are still distracted by the glitz and glamour of their dream homes and cars.  You will see, though, that the trend of the future is "Less, Not More" and”Give me enough".  The McHomes will fall out of favor as the current economy drives home "wants versus needs."

So be on the lookout for new information about keeping our world healthier.  As more and more people jump on this bandwagon, you will see that we really can make a difference!

Trent Woods April 2009 Real Estate Update
(From Neuse River Region Board of Realtors® New Bern MLS System)

Homes for Sale:  64
$100K-$199,999 – 13
$200K-$299,999 – 14
$300K-$399,999 – 18
$400K-$499,999 – 9
Over $500,000 – 10

Homes Sold (Pending):  7
$100K-$199,999 – 1
$200K - $299,999 – 4
$300K-$399,999 - 1
$400K-$499,999 – 1

Homes Sold and Closed: 2
$100K-$199,999 - 2

Average Sale Price - $147,000
List to Sale Ratio - 94%
Average Days on Market - 33
(April 1-30, 2009)

April Trent Woods Times

Hello, Trent Woods Neighbors,

Is this pollen for real?   We have never seen anything like this as it swirls through the air.  My husband says it's a good sign but he didn't say of what....perhaps fertility, bounty, or abundance?

In any event, it is a constant reminder that Spring is here and that change is imminent.  The present economy brings us back to a simpler time and slows us down to think rather than to react.  Impulse buying seems to be a thing of the past as people carefully weigh "what's really important...”

The buzz in the real estate community centers on the 2009 Homebuyer Tax Credit.  It is said that the Gen X and Y (ages 18-43) buyers will save this housing market.  As they enter into the housing market, they don't have a home to sell first.  This is the kick that the experts hope will get the housing market back on track.

I went to the North Carolina Association of Realtors^® website for the most frequently asked questions about this homebuyer tax credit. I’ve provided them here so you too can be well informed.  Always remember, when making one of the single most important investments of your life you should consult a local Real Estate professional as well as your other trusted advisors such as your CPA and Attorney.  

March Trent Woods Times

Hello, Trent Woods Neighbors!

If we had no winter, then spring would not be so pleasant: If we did not sometimes taste adversity, prosperity would not be so welcome. -  Anne Bradstreet

Happy Spring!

It is safe to assume that all of you, like me, are ready for the warmth and sunshine that the longer spring days will bring.  There is always something very hopeful about this time of year that brings out the best in all of us. Even in the midst of our current recession, we all know we have so much to be thankful for.
And now to the housing market -- What can we expect in 2009?  The experts are telling us that it is crucial to our economy that housing sales get back on track in 2009.

January Trent Woods Times

Happy New Year, Neighbors!

Well, 2008 is over!  While the real estate year was challenging along with the economy in general, Eastern North Carolina stayed strong as a contender for most favored place for families relocating for better quality of life, for retirees, and for second home buyers.  We continue to get requests every day for information about New Bern, but the story is often , “We have to sell our house first”……

On the bright side, there is a large inventory of homes on the market to choose from and interest rates are at record lows. If you are a buyer or considering a second home or investment property, this is definitely the market you have been waiting for.  That’s why they call it a BUYERS MARKET!

December Trent Woods Times

Hi Trent Woods Neighbors!

 

Holiday excitement is in the air.  In good times and bad times we find that friends and family bind together to help each other out.  We are seeing more and more multi-generational households, whether it be seniors moving in with family or twenty-something’s coming back home to save some money by living with Mom and Dad before buying their own home.

 

If you think about it, this is the way it used to be before we all “had to have our own space”.  We also are seeing more and more families moving closer to their extended family. Are there vacant houses in your neighborhood?  There are some great deals right now and this might be the perfect spot for your loved one!  Or maybe there’s a home that would be perfect for you AND you older of younger relatives.

November Trent Woods Times

Hello, Trent Woods Neighbors!

Do you feel a sense of relief the last few days?  People always adapt better to the known than the unknown - that is a proven fact.  The election is over and whether your candidate won or not, we’ll have a NEW President come January!

Also, the sense of change is in the air. The economy seems to be leveling out.  We are seeing some good indicators in the Real Estate industry that I wanted to share with you. 

1. Home sales are up by 1.4% according to the National Association of Realtors®(NAR)
2. Affordability is up by 17% this past year
3. Mortgage rates remain low at around 6%
4. NAR reports three months of declining inventory from 11 months supply of available homes, then 10.4 months supply, and now 9.9 months of inventory.  This supply and demand shift will gradually bring affordability back on track.

Do you know how many ways the Real Estate Market in your hometown affects your local economy?

 

October Trent Woods Times

Hello, Trent Woods Neighbors!

Wow, when they called today’s real estate market a “shifting market”, they were right on target.  It keeps shifting, and shifting, and shifting….. Every time we turn on the news we have a new latest development that affects our economy and therefore affects the buyer’s ability to “buy”, and the seller’s ability to “sell”.

I promised you more from the best selling real estate book, SHIFT: How Top Real Estate Agents Tackle Tough Times by Gary Keller, founder and chairman of the board of Keller Williams^® Realty, Inc.  Gary opens the book with this paragraph: “The Real Estate Market has shifted drastically and dramatically. Sales volume and the number of transactions have dropped significantly. Inventory has reached an all-time high. Buyers have never been more reluctant. Fear is rampant, anxiety is high, and people are getting out of the business left and right. Sounds familiar? Sure it does. The year was 1979 and that’s what was happening all around me.” (SHIFT, p. 1).

September Trent Woods Times

Hello, Trent Woods neighbors!

If you have just awakened and realized that the real estate market has "shifted," let me explain why this happens. "Real Estate is a cyclical business. What goes up must come down. And what is down won't stay there. Shifts are never unexpected but rarely predictable. You know one is coming. You just don't know when. They are, in fact, inevitable - shifts happen." (Pg.7 of The Shift by Gary Keller, Dave Jenks and Jay Papasan.)

Having just returned from a week-long seminar for top real estate agents, I now have a better understanding of what is going on in our country in real estate, but better yet in our hometown. Real estate agents everywhere are experiencing a different market and it is their responsibility to educate their clients about what is happening and how best to tackle this shifted market.

Most buyers today are bombarded by the media, well-meaning family and friends and are letting others do their thinking for them. Although these trusted sources have been time tested, one thing is obvious.  They are not real estate experts and everyone has a different take on what to do with this market.