Are you tracking your leads? Do you really know where your money is coming from? Are you spending your energy on the top 20% of activities that bring you happiness and wealth?  Look back over the past 12 months and write down where every closed buyer and seller came from. Look at the patterns.  Does your business come from past clients? Sphere of influence? Open houses? Networking?  Only you know....so figure it out and then spend your valuable time where you received the most return .  While considering that, keep in mind what the NAR has learned about the origins of buyers. According to their surveys only 1% bought the Open House they saw.  Three percent bought due to a combination of reasons, and an additional 3% bought due to an advertised property.  Seven percent of buyers came ... 03/11/2010

  Taxes this year will be more complicated than unusal due to new deductions and tax credits created last your.  Many of the new tax breaks are credits and those reduce your bottom -line taxes dollar for dollar.  Here are a few to keep in mind as you prepare your taxes. 1.  Haiti Donations:  Money given to Haiti prior to March 1st 2010 can be deducted on your 2009 itemized tax return.  This applies to cash donations, not food and clothing. 2.  Making-Work-Pay Credit:  This applies to people within certain income limits and involved authorizing your employer to deduct fewer taxes from your pay. Check with your tax preparer regarding the amount of taxes to withhold. 3.  Home Buyer Credit:  This is the Golden Egg of tax credits!  For first time home buyers or those who have not owned a ho... 03/11/2010

Okay, one of the joys of my life is selling a home to a new family/person. It's like fitting that last piece in the jigsaw puzzle...it just feels good. The other joy is finding a great bargain and sharing the news with someone else.  There are those who, when complimented on an outfit or shoes, just accept the praise and move on.  Not so with me!!  I want you to know where I got it and how it can be yours.  And that's why you should know about the TJMaxx in Greenville, NC.  They currently have an incredible selection of salon shampoos and conditioners (the same brands I see on the shelves where I get my hair colored and roots hidden), designer fragrances, french milled soaps, hair sprays and "shine -0- rama" spritzers. PLUS, face creams and nail polishes with fancy names. They also have... 03/11/2010

Greenville NC-The Greenville-Pitt County Home Builders Association is Sponsoring the Home Expo 2010 this weekend March 5th & 6th.  Take your FREE tour of the Expo Saturday from 10-5 or Sunday from 12-4 and check out the latest trends in New Construction and remodeling.  Here you will get to talk directly to contractors and company professionals specializing in remodeling, lawn and garden, kitchen, bath, home security, home theater, flooring and much more.  For more home information visit:  www.eastcarolinaliving.com 03/04/2010

Greenville, NC- Greenville-Pitt County Home Builders sponsor the Greenville Home EXPO 2010 this weekend March 5th & 6th. Come out to the Greenville Convention center on Saturday 10-5 or Sunday 12-4, admission is FREE. Register to Win $500.00 sponsored by Lee Warren Homes. Get the lasted and up-to-date information on products and designs for your building, remodeling, home decoration, landscaping, energy efficiency and more. For more home info in the Greenville area visit: www.GreenvilleHomeTeam.com       03/04/2010

To ALL that must pay taxes: (Agents & Consumers Alike) I just figured I'd share this with everyone!  I'm always looking to save some money in these harder times and this was great.  It's TAX Time - UGH - But it's part of life!  I'm still a very hands-on person and I like doing my taxes myself.  I think the Turbo Tax and H&R Block type software has made it so easy to skip right over the accountant.  That being said, they have their place in our business as well.  If you have a lot of rental properties, complicated LLCs or such, I'd suggesting sticking with your accountant.  But for us agents and consumers that can handle the burden, this will help!  Instead of paying $99.99 for your Turbo Tax Home & Business 2009 return (online pricing w/ state return included) - you can get it for 35% o... 02/27/2010

We want to share with all our buyers and sellers here in the Greenville NC area that we now have our own You Tube channel to share info on. Check out our new page to view the most recent listings and help videos on buying and selling real estate in todays market. Visit us at: http://www.YouTube.com/user/GreenvilleHomeTeam     02/23/2010

Time is running short for people who want to take advantage of the homebuyer tax credits.  There are two homebuyer federal income tax credits: the first-time homebuyer tax credit of up to $8,000, and the move-up homebuyer tax credit of up to $6,500. Both come with deadlines.  To collect either tax credit, buyers have to have homes under contract by April 30. That means that both buyer and seller must have signed the purchase contract by that date. After that, there's another deadline: The transaction has to close by June 30.  If you want to collect the tax credit, don't wait until the last half of April to begin looking for a house. Yes, it's possible that you could do it all in a couple of weeks: find a house that you like, negotiate a price and secure mortgage financing. Possible, bu... 02/18/2010

Greenville Wine & Stein Festival that will be on Sunday, March 21.  It is going to be a great event with wineries, breweries, and distributors pouring tastings and local restaurants serving samples.  There will be live entertainment as well. For more information, visit www.greenvillewineandstein.com .       Tickets are available at the Greenville Convention Center or by calling 252-321-7671.  There will be a VIP hour that will feature more upscale food and premium wines, and less people will be tasting at this time. VIP tickets are $50 in advance ($60 at the door if available).  General Admission tickets are $35 in advance ($40 at the door).    Discounted tickets ($5 off) are available for groups of 20 or more.  02/09/2010

EXPLORE NEIGHBORHOODS IN THE PITT COUNTY AREA WITH GREENVILLE MOVE! SIMPLY CLICK LINK ABOVE OR CLICK HERE SIMPLY CLICK ABOVE FOR THE DREAM HOME FINDER OPTION OR CLICK HERE 01/22/2010

The Federal Housing Administration (FHA) insures about 30 percent of new loans, and its health is vital for the housing market.  But as foreclosures have risen, the government agency has seen its losses rise and its reserves sink below the minimum level required by Congress.  According to the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) more than 18 percent of FHA borrowers are at least one payment behind or in foreclosure, compared with 14 percent for all loans. In addition, some unscrupulous operators have shifted their business to the FHA after the subprime business went bust. Last week, the FHA served subpoenas on 15 mortgage companies with suspiciously high default rates for FHA loans, part of a broad crackdown on dubious lenders. To address the problems, the FHA announced policy changes des... 01/20/2010

There has been a price reduction on 2547 Lance Drive Greenville NC 27858. The new price is $274,900.   For more details and a visual tour visit our website www.besthomesingreenville.com 01/06/2010

12/22/2009

Search the SUBDIVISION GUIDE to find your favorite location! Are you curious about what your neighbors home sold for?  Statistics show that you're more likely to sell when others around you are for sale as well!  Now, you can stay up to date with a list of all the homes that have sold around you.  Simply CLICK HERE for our FREE service. 12/22/2009

Greenville is the county seat of Pitt County and principal city of the Greenville, North Carolina Metropolitan Statistical Area. Greenville is the health, entertainment, and educational hub of North Carolina's Tidewater and Coastal Plain and in 2008 was listed as the Tenth Largest City in North Carolina, as well as the fastest growing city within ALL of North Carolina. In January 2008, Greenville was named one of the nation's "100 Best Communities for Young People" by the America's Promise Alliance.  In March 2008, Greenville was ranked in the top ten of the nation's "Best Places For Business And Careers" by Forbes Magazine.  In 2004, Greenville was named Sportstown USA for the state of North Carolina by Sports Illustrated and the National Parks & Recreation Association.  The city is a... 12/22/2009

Before You List Your Home With an Agent....Find Out What Your Home is Worth Online!      Knowing your home's value is important information for anyone considering selling their home. Through this online service you will receive information on what comparable homes have sold for in your neighborhood and which homes are currently listed , how long they have been for sale and their prices.    Based on this information, you will know what your home is worth. This Complete Confidential Market Analysis is absolutely FREE!     For a Free, Quick online Home Evaluation visit: http://www.greenvillehometeam.com/page--7.html         12/08/2009

For more details on this visit our blog at:  www.GreenvilleHomeTeam.com       11/30/2009

HOME ENERGY EFFICIENCY IMPROVEMENT TAX CREDITSConsumers who purchase and install specific products, such as energy-efficient windows, insulation, doors, roofs, and heating and cooling equipment in existing homes can receive a tax credit for 30% of the cost, up to $1,500, for improvements "placed in service" starting January 1, 2009, through December 31, 2010. See EnergyStar.gov's Federal Tax Credits for Energy Efficiency for a complete summary of energy efficiency tax credits available to consumers. For more real estate tips for buyers and sellers vist us at www.JesseAllenHomes.com     11/19/2009

Federal Housing Tax Credit $8,000 First-time Home Buyer Tax Credit at a Glance The $8,000 tax credit is for first-time home buyers only. For the tax credit program, the IRS defines a first-time home buyer as someone who has not owned a principal residence during the three-year period prior to the purchase. The tax credit does not have to be repaid. The tax credit is equal to 10 percent of the home's purchase price up to a maximum of $8,000. The tax credit applies only to homes priced at $800,000 or less. The tax credit now applies to sales occurring on or after January 1, 2009 and on or before April 30, 2010. However, in cases where a binding sales contract is signed by April 30, 2010, a home purchase completed by June 30, 2010 will qualify. For homes purchased on or after January 1, 20... 11/09/2009

A relief for us Realtors who were just beginning to see an increase in business could be here.  I am hoping for myself (and my buyers, especially the ones on the fence) that this holds to be true.  Also, for move-up buyers, this could mean $6,500 in their pockets too!  CNN reported today that a compromise proposal based on bills that have already been introduced could pass the Senate as early as this week (assuming that it is attached to a bill to extend unemployment benefits). The compromise bill would likely open the program to some existing homeowners. The expiring tax credit is limited to buyers who have not owned a home for at least two years. According to a CNN.com story today: * First-time buyers could continue to claim up to $8,000. But existing homeowners who have lived in thei... 10/28/2009