Front Porch Realty - 1st Q 2018 Market Update

1st Q 2018 Market Update

By now, you’ve heard Front Porch Realty’s exciting news; we have elevated our brand and we have a new custom website! We are still the same “Front Porch Realty” you have known for years but have begun to concentrate our business in Fuquay-Varina and Holly Springs. We are already the #1 Independent real estate office in these two towns and our goal is to become the #1 real estate company overall. We want to become top of the mind status for you and all things real estate! Here is our quarterly 1st Q 2018 snapshot of our local housing inventory. We are still deep in a seller’s market, especially for re-sale homes; new home inventory is up 17% across the Triangle while re-sales inventory is down 15% from the 1st quarter of 2017, according to our Triangle Multiple Listing Service 1st quarter market stats. This imbalance of supply is causing record increases in sales prices; average sales price of new construction is up 9% and average re-sale homes sales prices are up 10%. Inventory is still low on our end of the county and demand is high. As we can see from our 1st quarter local data, months of inventory are very low at most price points at less than 2 and units sold have increased across both markets. We are here to help you, your relatives, co-workers, employees, and neighbors. Please consider Front Porch Realty as YOUR LOCAL real estate professionals!

If you ever use free online photos, here’s a great new tool!

Would you like to add photographic flair for free, use Unsplash!

Here at Front Porch Realty we’re always on the lookout for new sources of free photos; we use photos in newsletters, blog posts, social media and presentations. We are happy to find Unsplash and introduce you to a service which offers fantastic, crowd-sourced photos that can be downloaded and used in your own projects. They offer beautiful, free pictures in the categories of Business, Nature, People, Technology, Food, Travel, and so many more! Best of all, Unsplash’s photos don’t look like stock photos. While their inventory isn’t especially deep (yet!), there are still lots of hight-resolution images with truly eye-catching, creative views. Save yourself some cash and grab some great pics here at their website: https://unsplash.com/ We’re sure that no matter what your picture needs are, you’ll find something to use with this great and free tool!

What does that mean anyway: Real Estate Lingo

Real Estate brokers have sometimes been accused of “shortening our words” or using terms that we think everyone already knows! So, here’s a little helpful guide, if you have trouble navigating real estate terminology! What it says versus What it means conveys with sale … it will STAY with the home EIK … eat in kitchen SS … stainless steel HDW, HWF, Hdwd ….. hardwood floors WIC …walk-in-closet FDR ….. formal dining room MLS...multiple listing system FSBO ….. for sale by owner Pre-approval … based on information you are able to provide to the lender. This will look much better than a pre-qualification to the seller. Pre-qualified …. based on a 5 minute phone call to the lender and only on what you tell the lender. This is needed in order to even make an offer on a home. due diligence funds …the funds the buyer gives the seller at time of contract to “buy time” off the market while they do their due diligence due diligence or DD…all of the inspections and loan process, etc a buyer can exercise on a prospective home during their due diligence time period Due diligence money- is non-refundable The good news is the money is typically credited towards the purchase of the home at closing. Earnest money is “good faith” money. The buyer is showing the seller they are serious about buying the home. contingency … a contract on a home that is dependent on you selling your existing home 3 BR/2BA 3 bedrooms and 2 baths *************************************************************************************************************************** I’m sure we’ve missed a few, feel free to leave comments with any you might still be wondering about and we’ll do our best to define them. We are here to help you navigate your real estate needs and ALL the terms that come along with that! Welcome home!

Our Schools Need Us!

Fuquay-Varina Bengal Proud!

I was recently asked to speak to a group of local Fuquay-Varina Middle and High School students as a business owner in the community. I wanted to share my experiences, in hopes that more business members in our community would be inspired to volunteer. Each activity took me less than an hour. I know that hour could lead to a big impact on these young adults as they begin to think about their future. As always, I know I got more out of it than they did! My friend, colleague, and educator, Mr. Rodney Jenkins, is the Career and Technical Education Coordinator for Fuquay-Varina Middle School. He recently approached me and asked if I would speak to his entrepreneurial class. My topics included: why I started my own business, what’s involved with owning my own business, the hardest part, the easiest part and more. I brought along my company’s advertising goodies like stadium cups and pens, and tossed some candy to the students that participated. The students had awesome questions and provoked my own thoughts on why I do this. I was overjoyed to hear the students decided they are going to arrange a “field trip” to visit our office sometime soon. I can’t wait to see them again! There are so many opportunities to get involved with students in Fuquay-Varina. I was also asked to address the first Fuquay-Varina Youth Leadership Group conference. This initiative is the first of its kind for Fuquay-Varina and the students selected to participate. I was asked to speak about Front Porch Realty’s application process and how I determine good candidates for our firm.

Laura Moody recently addressing both students and staff.

These bright, energetic high-schoolers had so many great questions for me! They are eager to learn how to make a difference in our town and they are striving for greatness. I commend the staff of Fuquay-Varina High school for working so diligently to start this leadership program and make a difference in these student’s lives. Imagine all the lucky businesses that get to hire these young folks someday! If you are interested in helping any of our community schools in ANY way please contact our office or join the FV Business Alliance. Our next meeting is coming up soon!

Seller’s Market: Inventory still low across the Triangle

FRONT PORCH REALTY has exciting news; we are the #1 LOCAL Independent Real Estate firm in southwestern Wake County! See our 3rd quarter local real estate market snapshot . It is no surprise that we are still in a seller’s market; inventory is still extremely low across the Triangle. Know that in this competitive market, Front Porch Realty brokers are equipped with professionalism and the expertise to help both our seller and buyer clients navigate multiple offer situations. If we can be of any assistance to you or someone you know, rest assured they will be extremely satisfied. Please watch our website, Facebook, and Instagram for all housing, and other local news around town and to see our new listings as soon as they hit the market. If you would rather receive this report either by email or snail mail please contact Laura .

Inventory is low, it’s a great time to sell.

Happy fall! Laura Moody Broker/Owner Front Porch Realty www.FrontPorchRealtyNC.com

The Importance Of Homeowners Insurance

STATE FARM HOMEOWNERS PROTECTION FOR YOUR HOME, YOUR PROPERTY, YOURSELF.

Front Porch Realty recently sat down and spoke with Corey Mullen, at Clay Hamilton’s State Farm Insurance in Fuquay Varina, about the importance of having homeowners insurance and how it works. Your home is your refuge after a long day of work. It’s the hub of everything that really matters, where you can relax with your family. So you shouldn’t trust just any company to protect it. You should go with an insurer with the financial strength to cover a wide variety of losses, trusted by more homeowners than any other insurer. That’s State Farm®. When the unexpected hits home, a good neighbor can help. Continue reading →

And the Agent of the month is….

Congratulations to Teresa Ennis, Front Porch Realty’s Agent of the Month – July 2017

Teresa has been a Triangle real estate agent for more than 30 years! She delivers top notch professionalism and service to all of her clients, 100% of the time and this is evident with her booming referral business.

Continue reading →

Quarterly snapshot shows Triangle shortage!

Here is Front Porch Realty’s quarterly local real estate market snapshot. Mortgage interest rates and Triangle demographics are still causing a major shortage of homes in the Triangle as well as our end of the county. Sales prices are up a healthy 6-7 % across the Triangle with our average sales price about $300,000 and average days on market 36 days. We are still experiencing frustrated buyers in the under $300,000 price range at our end of the county with days on market being reported in hours, not days. Check out our 2nd quarter numbers here: 2nd Quarter 2017 Continue reading →

What It Means To Bank Local

What It Means to Bank Local

We chatted with Janice Durham, VP, Branch Manager of the Fuquay-Varina First Bank location, about what it means to bank locally and keep your dollars not only in state but right in your own hometown. Banking local and shopping local share the same goal: to ensure your dollars have the largest impact on your community. Reports show that of every $100 spent at locally owned businesses, $68 goes straight bank into the community (compared to $43 when shopping at a large chain). Similarly, by choosing a local bank over a large, national bank means that your dollars stay here for investment in small business development; in the organizations that lend and provide services to your friends, family, or neighbors; and in the community itself. What Makes a Community Bank Different? Continue reading →

Where To See Independence Day Fireworks!

Come on out and celebrate Independence Day!

There are several locations locally that will be having Independence Day Celebrations with fireworks. Be sure to check out the Dates, Times and Info below.

July 3

Fuquay-Varina – Gates to South Park open at 6 p.m. and a free concert featuring Spare Change begins at 7. There will be fireworks, inflatables and food vendors. Bring a blanket or chair to watch the fireworks. Alcohol is prohibited. Info: bit.ly/2rTCVl. Garner – Featuring performances by the NC Symphony and Bull City Syndicate, the celebrations kick off at 5 p.m. at Lake Benson Park (921 Buffaloe Road). The evening will end with fireworks. There will be concessions provided by local non-profit organizations, as well as crafts and inflatables for children. Alcohol and glass containers are prohibited. Info: bit.ly/2rTO7hJ.

July 4

Apex – The annual Olde Fashioned Fourth of July runs from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. with a Parade of Wheels at noon, which children 12 and under can take part in. Other activities will include inflatables, karaoke, face painting and sno cones. Pets are not allowed. Info: apexnc.org/532/Olde-Fashioned-Fourth-of-July. Benson ––Benson’s July 4th Celebration takes place at Benson Singing Grove (400 E. Main St.) from 5:30-9:30 p.m. They’ll have food, games, entertainment, and live music, raffle and fireworks. Info: 919-894-5117. Cary – From 3 p.m. to 10 p.m., the town of Cary will be having its Fourth of July celebration in Koka Booth Amphitheatre. There will be watermelon eating contests, a ferris wheel, a scavenger hunt and music provided by the NC Symphony and the Cary Town Band. Fireworks will start after the NC Symphony’s 7:30 p.m. performance concludes. The event is free, save for some of the amusement rides and 4-seat pub tables. Pets, hula hoops and weapons are prohibited. Info: boothamphitheatre.com. Clayton – Catch food vendors, raffles, basketball competitions, cornhole and inflatables at Municipal Park (325 McCullers Drive) starting at 4 p.m. Fireworks will start after dark. Live music, inflatables and rides will continue running after the fireworks are over to provide an alternative to sitting in traffic. Info: bit.ly/2tbFC5n. Lillington – The fun will begin on Tuesday, July 4th, at the river (beside Howard’s BBQ 100 Main St., Lillington, NC) from 2-6 p.m. We will have a DJ, food and drink, inflatable water slides, our second annual duck rodeo, and our annual duck derby. The fun will continue at Lillington Park (Lillington Ball Fields 405 S. 1st St., Lillington, NC) from 5-9 p.m. with a DJ, food and drink, and much more. Our annual fireworks display will begin at dusk. Info: http://tinyurl.com/yb8ophcu

July 5

Holly Springs – From 5 to 9:30 p.m. at Jefferson L. Sugg Farm at Bass Lake Park, there will be patriotic festivities including fireworks at 9:15, face painting, live music and inflatables. Friendly pets on leashes are welcome. Bringing your own fireworks, including sparklers, is prohibited. Info: hollyspringsnc.us/358/July-5th.