Communication is the key component of a real estate transaction. Whether you are purchasing a house for sale in Weddington for your family or an investment property, you will likely face communication obstacles of some kind. However, with an excellent agent on your side, you will find that these are easily overcome and you won’t feel the pressure of these glitches. Read this article to for tips on how to solve real estate communication barriers and have fun purchasing the home of your dreams!

Status Updates

The most common communication gap that can occur at any point in real estate transactions are unknown status updates. There are so many emails and phone calls that at points, home buyers and sellers can feel like they don’t know exactly where the process stands at any given time.

With the prominence of social media, consumers really do want to know exactly where they are in the process so that they can tell their friends all about buying their beautiful Tega Cay home for sale. It is therefore a necessity that agents use technology to their advantage, while always remaining available and ready to answer specific questions at any time!

Closing Confusion

Confusion during closing is very common in a real estate transaction unless you have a stellar agent such as those at Homes By Cross! There are a lot of moving parts to keep track of in order for everything to go smoothly. For instance, if for any reason there are delays with the inspection paper work, it is important that this is communicated right away to the loan officer so that there aren’t loan delays as well!

In order to help decrease these communication mishaps, it is best to invest in a system that delivers instant alerts to all parties involved in the purchase of a house for sale in Providence at the same time. This removes the game of phone tag that so often results in miscommunication and time delays.

Do you have additional tips on how to solve real estate communication barriers? We would love to hear about your logistical fixes!

Chic Decorating Tips on a Tight Budget

If you are getting ready to put a Mint Hill house for sale on the market, staging is very important especially if you are looking to sell fast. However, no one wants to spend oodles of money trying to make their house look put together just for showings. Read this article for chic decorating tips on a tight budget. Whether you are selling your house or just looking for affordable and beautiful decorating for your current home, these tips are sure to impress!

Consider the Layout

The first step to tying together your home decorating in a house for sale in Marvin is to consider the layout. The goal is to optimize the flow and feeling of each room.

For instance, find a focal point in a room such as a large piece of art or a fireplace mantel. You may also want to choose a large window if you have a stunning view. Arrange your seating around your focal point of choice. This will make your decorating look purposeful and well thought out.

Revamp What You Already Have

Instead of purchasing new items to match your new decor style, revamp what you already have! For example, you can sand down wood furniture to bring out any interesting architectural elements. Paint and distress your old furniture for a new look. If you want to really take the budget-friendly route, take a chance on the “oops” paint in your local hardware store.

Incorporate Plants

Plants always add a fresh feel to any home. If you are on an especially tight budget for your home for sale in Dilworth, buy a bunch of smaller plants and display them at different heights. If possible, opt for some big plants with a splash of color to add interest.

When selling a house, you can’t go wrong when you incorporate a bit of nature into your home decor.

Do you have more chic decorating tips on a tight budget? We would love to hear your creative ideas!

When you buy a Charlotte lake house for sale, you can be sure you’ll have beautiful views and plenty to do. However, purchasing a waterfront property has it’s own special requirements that buyers should be aware of. Read this article to learn tips for buying a waterfront property so that you are sure you are making a sound purchase!

A Thorough Inspection

A very detailed home inspection is absolutely essential with homes for sale in Lake Norman and other waterfront properties. Water presents gorgeous views, but it is very hard on buildings. You should check for potential problems such as mold and mildew from the extra moisture in the air or other water damage issues.

Additionally, you should look into special inspections such as surveys, elevation certificates, water quality tests, among other inspections. Waterfront properties simply have additional demands when compared to a regular house.

Walk the Property Carefully

With a waterfront property, you are buying the water too so make sure to get it right! Walking the property carefully is important to make certain that you have everything you desire. For instance, you may have a beautiful view, but do you have easy access to the water? You can’t change your shoreline like a regular backyard, so make sure it’s exactly what you want.

Hidden Costs

When purchasing a home for sale in Lake Wylie, make sure you know about all of the additional costs. Ask questions such as; What are the water and sewer rates? Are they much more expensive than inland homes? What are the boat dock and lift fees? What does the septic tank and well keep up look like? These are all potential costs that buyers should check in to before purchasing a waterfront property.

Look For a Deal

Finally, keep your eyes peeled for a deal. A waterfront property is a dream-come-true for some. For others, they want out, which can create some especially motivated sellers. Therefore, makes sure you find a Homes By Cross agent who knows how to negotiate!

Do you have any tips for buying a waterfront property? We would love to hear about your personal experience!

Everyone loves spring time in Charlotte with the blooming trees and warm weather. However, most dread the gigantic task of spring cleaning houses for sale in Troutman. Luckily there are some tips and tricks that can really cut down on time and increase efficiency and outcomes. Read this article to learn about genius spring cleaning hacks to make your house sparkle and sell in a snap!

Smudgy Windows

If you have small children or pets, you are all too acquainted with nasty and slobbery windows. You also likely automatically grab the window cleaner in the cleaning aisle and accept the fact that you’ll be battling streaks. Good news. There’s no need! Save yourself time and money and clean your windows in your Sherrills Ford home for sale with just a microfiber cloth and water.

Remove Pet Hair

If you are working to put your Charlotte golf course house for sale on the market and you have a pet, removing all pet hair is essential. You need your property to be absolutely spotless (and hair-free)!

In carpeted areas, do the job right by first vacuuming with a professional grade vacuum complete with a HEPA filter. Next, grab your tape roller and lightly roll it back and forth over those especially hairy areas. You will glean better results by doing this instead of simply going back and forth over the same spot with your vacuum.

Hard Water Stains

Any of your home’s glass and ceramic surfaces are prone to hard water stains, and they are normally super difficult to remove. Not anymore! Get this. All you need is some apple cider vinegar and those tough stains will be gone in no time.

You can also use this completely natural product to effectively clean bathroom counters, cabinets, sinks and many other surfaces!

Do you have any more genius spring cleaning hacks to make your house sparkle? We would love to hear them!

Living in a loft such as a Center City home for sale is contemporary, fun and unique. However, depending on the type of space you purchase, you could be faced with an interior design challenge. Lofts are often open concepts with interesting features throughout. Utilizing the space in an effective and stylish way is the challenge. Read on for tips on how to decorate a loft to create a cozy home you will adore!

Define and Divide

The first step to decorating a home for sale in NoDa is to define the space. Figure out where the best place is for your sleeping quarters, living room and dining room. This is best figured out based on where the kitchen and bathrooms are located and the placement of the windows throughout your loft.

Next, you want to stylishly divide the designated living spaces. If you want to maintain an open concept, this is best done with beautiful furniture pieces such as bookcases and tables. If you want certain spaces such as your bedroom to have extra privacy, you can opt for room dividers or fabric screens.

Deciding on a Style

Some lofts in houses for sale in University City fit best with a sleek and modern style. However, if your loft is part of an older building with tons of history, you may want to lean toward a more antique style. The key is to stay true to the architectural elements that are already present in your home.

High and Low

Lofts tend to feature beautiful high ceilings. However, you want to maintain that cozy feel despite any exposed ductwork. Painting the ceiling a darker shade may help with this. Additionally, crown molding can add a classic element, while bringing the height of the ceiling down a bit.

Additionally, opt for taller pieces of furniture such as bookcases and armoires. You may even be able to go bold with bright and large pieces of artwork!

While you’re at it, don’t forget to warm up the floor. Many lofts boast hardwood or cement flooring. They are gorgeous, but cold when you first wake up in the morning.! Remember to purchase a few large, plush and stylish rugs to make your loft extra cozy on those cold mornings!

Do you have more tips on how to decorate a loft? We would love to hear your ideas!

Tax Season is right around the corner, and there are many tax breaks to weed through so that you owe less to Uncle Sam. Of course, as a homeowner of a Belmont home for sale, there are always tax breaks to watch for. But did you know, if you are a pet owner too, you may have even more tax breaks? Read on to learn about tax breaks for pet owners to know about so that you can save more of your money for home improvements this spring!

Moving Expenses

If you are moving your pet to a new house for sale in Matthews, it is possible that you can deduct the expense of transferring your pet to your new home! There are a few requirements you have to meet in order to get this deduction.

First, your move needs to be closely related to the start of your work. Additionally, you have to meet a certain distance and time requirement. If you’re moving to Charlotte from a different state, you can most likely capitalize on the moving expense of transferring your pet!

Service Animals

Medical expenses for service dogs are tax deductible if you itemize. You can also include the cost of purchasing, training, grooming your service animal and more, whether they live with you in your Weddington home for sale or not.

In order to claim this deduction, you must get a prescription from your doctor that proves your need for a service dog. You can also take advantage of this deduction if you are raising service dogs for a charitable organization too!

There are several other possible pet owner deductions related to fostering animals, show animals, cats used as pest control and guard dogs. However, some of these deductions can be a bit trickier to take advantage of.

Are you going to take advantage of any of these tax breaks for pet owners?

Charlotte home prices are continuing to rise, while inventory remains low. Deals are admittedly hard to find, and home buyers are wondering how to land that dream home for a fair price. We are in a competitive seller’s market, but home buyers can still find deals if they look in the right places with a clear plan. Read this article to learn how to find a deal in the Charlotte housing market on a house for sale in Southpark and other sought-after neighborhoods.

Find a Local, Tried-and-True Buyer’s Agent

When housing inventory is low, it’s common to see houses for sale in Plaza listed above market value. In this situation, it’s a good strategy to find out about homes before they hit the market. You can only do this with a well-connected buyer’s agent such as those at Homes By Cross.

Agents who are pros at networking often hear of the deals before they are on the market, and can tell you about them so you can snatch up your perfect home that fits your budget!

Consider the Terms

Thinking outside the box with the terms of a real estate contract can win you a deal. These include price, earnest money, due diligence fee, closing date, type of financing, appraisal and much more!

Again, having an agent that does his or her research and knows what is important to the seller will be your best bet at landing a deal on a University City home for sale. This is all part of finding someone to represent you who is an artful negotiator. You must find that angle that will make the seller want to choose your offer.

Bet on the Right Fixer-Upper

Purchasing a fixer-upper can possibly save you tons of money. The key is to find a property that has major cosmetic issues, but minor structural issues. You can always change up the paint color or rip up the carpet in favor of hardwood. Sacrificing these luxuries upfront will save you big bucks on your new home!

Do you need an agent to find you deals in the Charlotte housing market? Call Homes By Cross today! We are local, well-connected agents with pro negotiation experience to get you the deal you’ve been looking for!

Huge news for the Charlotte area. The 2018 World Equestrian Games will be held at the Tyron International Equestrian Center in Mill Spring, North Carolina! It will take place from September 10th through 23rd and is projected to have a $400 million dollar economic impact! It is huge international events such as these that make houses for sale in Ballantyne even more sought after. Read on for details on how the World Equestrian Games is coming to the Charlotte area this year!

What To Expect

You can expect to see riders, fans and media from over 70 countries at this major event! The best riders in the world will be featured and competing in show jumping, dressage and para-equestrian dressage, evening, driving, endurance, vaulting and reining. Imagine it…just around the corner from your home for sale in NoDa will be a world famous event!

Cost of Tickets

Tickets are quite costly, but for the horse lover, it’s well worth it! Tickets range depending on the type of pass you choose. For example, All Session Day Passes start at $100. Some week long passes are around $675. An All Games Pass, which covers all sessions, start at $1,380.

Will you be attending the World Equestrian Games this year? If you are a Charlotte horse lover, this is the chance to attend an international equestrian event close to your house for sale in Lake Norman. Please share your plans and why you are excited about this amazing event!

In a recent survey by the National Association of REALTORS (NAR), 83 percent of millennials are delaying buying a home by an average of 7 years! The reason? The heavy weight of too much student loan debt. Many millennials are having trouble keeping up with their bills, and their debt-to-income ratio is destroying any hope of becoming a home owner of a house for sale in Stallings. So what can be done? Read on for details on how to help millennial home buyers and the problem of student loan debt.

Filing Bankruptcy

Bankruptcy can seem like an intimidating option for millennials drowning in debt. Since 1998, student loans were not eligible for discharge through bankruptcy. However, in 2005 Congress added an “undue hardship” condition, which makes bankruptcy a possibility for student loans.

The U.S. Department of Education recently announced that it seeks to clarify the definition of “undue hardship,” with the goal of giving more student borrowers the opportunity to apply for bankruptcy or take advantage of other loan forgiveness options. Perhaps this will give millennials to opportunity to buy their dream home for sale in Concord sooner than later.

Home Buying After Bankruptcy

Most people who file for bankruptcy have to wait a minimum of 2 years before they can be considered for a home loan. Depending on the individual’s personal circumstances and loan type, some may have to wait for up to 4 years.

For those filing for bankruptcy, it is best to look at FHA and VA loans, as those tend to be more lenient on bankruptcy restrictions. With the increase in eligibility for bankruptcy for those with burdensome student loan debt, you may see more millennials in the market for houses for sale in Fort Mill.

What is your take on millennial home buyers and the problem of student loan debt? Please share your thoughts!

Technology is constantly changing the real estate sector from how we buy and sell houses for sale in Southpark to client-agent interactions. Nothing is untouched and more change is imminent. Understanding these tech trends will hopefully help real estate companies and professionals be prepared to meet new client needs in a seamless way. Read this article for details on real estate tech trends in watch in 2018 to make yourself the very best for your customer base!

Transaction-Engagement Tech

One change to look for in real estate is a shift from traditional transactions to more online transaction experiences when purchasing a Waxhaw home for sale. An example of this is the real estate platform, Compass.

Compass connects real estate agents with technology with the goal of making the search and transaction process easier and more convenient. It comes down to your personal preferences as the client. Do you want to experience the Pinterest of real estate or would you prefer traditional human interaction?

Chatbots

Chatbots are becoming more and more common in the real estate industry. The goal of this technology is to revolutionize customer service. Most often, they are encountered in the initial stages of contact between agents and clients.

They are supposed to be more efficient in making sure potential customers are responded to immediately when expressing interest in a Center City Charlotte house for sale.

What Are Your Thoughts?

We would love to hear your thoughts regarding the increase of technology in the real estate sector. As a home buyer or home seller, do you embrace these practices? Do you prefer more focused human interaction? What do you think is the right balance?

Please share what you think about these real estate trends to watch in 2018! Homes By Cross cares immensely about what our clients want in their home buying and selling experience.