Have you ever put two bones in front of a dog? What does it do?

If you’ve done this before you’ll know that the dog goes crazy.

He sniffs back and forth between the two bones in utter confusion.

If you give a dog one bone what does he do?

He plays with it and then he buries the bone.

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Good news for North Carolina Realtors…

North Carolina is the No. 1 future retirement choice for Americans between the ages of 41 and 49, according to a recent study. For those between 41 and 69, the state was the No. 3 retirement destination, behind Florida and Arizona, the study says. The Del Webb Baby Boomer study was commissioned by Del Webb, which develops communities in the U.S. for consumers older than 55. Del Webb is owned by homebuilder Pulte Corp. “This trend should help fuel the real estate market in North Carolina for the next 20 years,” said Dan Owens, president of the Carolinas Active Retirement Association.

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As if a professional realtor hasn’t beem aware of this…

Many FSBO sellers will “test” the market themselves, and then if after a couple of weeks they have no serious buyers, they then hire a real estate agent. Sellers might waste valuable market time by failing to sell the house, but the thinking usually goes something like, “If I can save the Realtor commission by selling it myself, then I’m money ahead.” However, there’s a big hole in that logic.

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Over on Mortgage 101 a poster asked this interesting question :

My wife and I bought our home a little over three years ago. According to the listing, it is supposed to be 2,083 square feet. The data was supplied by the realty agent. But the public records, confirmed with the county tax assessor’s office, show the recorded square footage is only 1,889. That’s quite a difference. Do we have good cause for legal recourse and damages because the square footage was misrepresented by the seller and/or realty agent? Should we have the house professionally measured? Should our agent have checked the square footage prior to the sale? – George W.

click here for the answer

Prepayment

A privilege in a mortgage loan contract that permits the borrower to make payments in advance of the due date.

Usually used to reduce interest charges.

No Need to Click Here – I’m just claiming my feed at Feedster

How are we doing in North Carolina? First the bad news. North Carolina is still a poor state. Household income has fallen, the number of uninsured people is growing, and the high school dropout rate remains high. Smog is a problem, and housing is becoming less affordable. There is also good news. North Carolina’s children are doing better in the classroom; it’s relatively easy to find a doctor; violent crime is declining, and the state has a good business climate and modest taxes. (more…)

NFL star taking up real estate In Weddington, Nickersons target athletes, execs Former NFL linebacker Hardy Nickerson hung up his pads after 16 years, but he’s still using his playing skills — in real estate. Nickerson and his wife, Amy, have just formed Nickerson Realty Group in Weddington. He is president and CEO of the residential agency. She is vice president. It’s not unusual for professional athletes to open nightclubs, put their names on auto dealerships or launch broadcasting careers. For ex-football players, real estate is a popular option. (more…)

David H. Murdock is offering hope to forgotten people in a forlorn town. The billionaire owner of Dole Food Co. promises to revive Kannapolis, built by a textile mill and rocked in 2003 by the state’s worst-ever layoffs. Nearly $1 billion of investment will build a sprawling research campus, he says, at the site of the now-silent mill. A hundred companies will come. Plus 35,000 jobs. Politicians have rallied to support him. Residents hope he succeeds. (more…)

I’ve had my house on sale for close to five months. We’ve had some traffic but no offers. The feedback we received from our agent and potential buyers has been positive. What could be the problem? Does the real estate market usually pick up after summer? (more…)