210 Weathervane Dr.

Located in the Cedars at Bolin Forest, 210 Weathervane Dr. is a pretty nice home. Listed at $349,900, it is 1700 sq/ft, additional 450 unfinished attic space. 3Beds, 3Baths, a private balcony off of the master and a screened in porch and patio. The inside finish is quite lovely and the floorplan is what us REALTORS like to call 'open'. (meaning the living space isn't cut up with unnecessary walls)

So why hasn't it sold? At $205 a sq/ft it seems pretty reasonable (perhaps a bit high), but the home really is nice. The market doesn't always go the way you think it should, but trust me--someone will put this under contract this spring.

FSBO

FSBO? What is a FSBO?

FSBO stands for For Sale By Owner. Basically, a home owner (seller) wants to sell their home, but for one reason or another they have decided not to have a REALTOR of their own. More importantly, you may ask-how does this effect a buyer?

The first difference is that a FSBO home is not listed on the Triangle MLS. Thus, the seller does not get the benefit of hundreds of REALTORs showing their home to thousands of clients. Also, the home may or may not be priced correctly. I have seen FSBO's priced either too high or too low. Of course, too low is never a bad thing, but without a REALTOR it can be hard to get the FSBO seller to understand and accept a fair price for their home.

One noteable, current FSBO is in Roberson Place. It is a 4 Bed, 2.5 bath home, about 2200 sq/ft and an additional 1000 sq/ft of unfinished basement. The floorplan and the floorplan are both good. The location is excellent. Why hasn't it sold? Perhaps it priced a bit high at $340,000. Or maybe it is because the seller is looking for a late May/June moveout date. Either way, this is one to check out if mid-three's is your price range.

No New Listings?!?

So if you have been following this blog, you'll notice the last couple of days I haven't mentioned any new listings. That's because there aren't any! Like I said before, Jan, Feb, and part of March is pretty slow (in the real estate world), but you can expect things to pick up soon. And of course, I'll be right there to tell you all about it.

Carrboro Annexation

FYI- Last Tuesday, the Carrboro Board of Aldermen voted to annex the following neighborhoods and surrounding area into Carrboro town limits: Fox Meadow, The Highlands, Camden, and The Highlands North.

What this means is that in about a year, property owners will officially become residents of the Town of Carrboro. There has been a lot of controversy. One of the main reasons being that these residents will have to pay the higher Carrboro tax rate. Of course, they also get to be a part of Carrboro- and who doesn't want to be a Carrboro-ian.

Either way, I welcome our soon-to-be new Carrboro residents. If you want more information about the annexed areas, give me a call (919) 423-1072 or email me Kandyce@CommunityRealtyNC.com and we'll go over everything in detail.

Real Estate Education for All

"My job is not to sell you a home, but to help you make the most educated decision possible."

This is what I tell all of my clients because I believe every person who goes through a real estate transaction should be knowledgable about the what's going on. In reality, someone buying a home (especially a first-time home buyer) can't learn everything, but that's why you have me, your REALTOR, to guide you through the process.

Whether you are buying or selling a property, don't be afraid to ask questions. Learn all you can and become an active decision maker. That is the only way to make sure, you get the most of this experience.

Condos and Townhomes

Three new listings in Carrboro today-none are detached homes. Just for the record, as a REALTOR I believe a townhome or condo can be a great investment. If you don't want the hassle and responsiblity of yard work, pays HOA dues so someone else can do it is great. And for you mis-placed Northerners a townhome or condo can feel little bit more like life in the big city.

One noteworthy townhome development is Glen Ridge Townhomes at Lake Hogan Farms. Glen Ridge offers a spacious, quality new construction townhome at a reasonable price (starting at about $250,000). Give me a call (919-423-1072) and I'll show you exactly what I mean.

The Cost of Carrboro Real Estate

Of the 12 detached homes being offered for sale in the Triangle MLS, the average price per square foot is $149 per square foot. The average house size is over 2000 square feet and the average price for a home available today in the Carrboro real estate market is $298,000.

Does a family really need 2000 sq/ft to 'roam' in their home? Personally, I feel if 2000+ sq/ft is what your family feels comfortable in-go for it. In fact I love a home with a open, spacious master bedroom with a walk-in closet and fabulous master bath.

Is a home in Carrboro really worth $149 a square foot? Sure. In fact, lots of people spend lots of money for the opportunity to live in our town. What's not to love? The Chapel Hill/Carrboro Schools are excellent, our local co-op grocery is the best place to spend a Thursday night, and our downtown is full of local business you can't find anywhere else in the state.

So as you continue the hunt for a home in Carrboro, don't lose sight of one of the most important goals throughout your real esate transaction: to become a member of our Carrboro Community. Trust me, once you move in, you'll be glad you did.