Should You Rent or Should You Buy? Things being equal it's almost always better to own your home rather than to rent. After all, you build equity and get to write off your mortgage interest. And if you meet the guidelines, when you sell you'll be eligible for one of the best tax breaks around. There are many issues that influence whether buying or renting is right for you. That said, home ownership has a significant tax advantage. When you sell married couples can earn up to $500,000 in gains on home sales tax-free, while singles get $250,000. The chart below demonstrates the amount of accumulated money renters are paying that could be building equity in their own homes. WARNING!!! Renting Is Hazardous To Your Wealth! LOOK BELOW! To see how much you are losing every year! Your Monthly R... 02/05/2008

Dave Recker Recognized as Contributing Author to Real Estate in 2008 Book of Top Ideas for the Challenging Market of 2008Dave Recker, one of the premier Realtors in Rocky Mount, NC recently joined hundreds of top agents as a contributing author to Real Estate in 2008.Rocky Mount, North Carolina - January 31, 2008 - Dave Recker, a top Realtor in Rocky Mount, NC joined with hundreds of top real estate agents around the country to write Real Estate in 2008 in less than a month.  Real Estate in 2008 (http://www.realestatein2008.org/) helps buyers, sellers, and agents succeed in a challenging 2008 market by providing hundreds of ideas from top agents.  Chapters include ideas on how to find motivated buyers, how to convince buyers to buy, how to get sellers to price/position their homes and c... 01/30/2008

Dave Recker Recognized as Contributing Author to Real Estate in 2008 Book of Top Ideas for the Challenging Market of 2008 Dave Recker, one of the premier Realtors in Rocky Mount, NC recently joined hundreds of top agents as a contributing author to Real Estate in 2008. Rocky Mount, North Carolina - January 31, 2008 - Dave Recker, a top Realtor in Rocky Mount, NC joined with hundreds of top real estate agents around the country to write Real Estate in 2008 in less than a month.  Real Estate in 2008 (http://www.realestatein2008.org/) helps buyers, sellers, and agents succeed in a challenging 2008 market by providing hundreds of ideas from top agents.  Chapters include ideas on how to find motivated buyers, how to convince buyers to buy, how to get sellers to price/position their homes and... 01/30/2008

Here are many reports and articles about the subprime mortgage crisis. However, many consumers simply don't understand what it's all about. Why? The news media is too busy creating an atmosphere of crisis to slow down and do a simple explanation. Click Here for the entire article. About the AuthorDavid C. Recker is a Top Producing Realtor licensed in North Carolina. Dave works at RE/MAX Point East and serves Edgecombe, Nash, and Wilson counties in North Carolina. Dave's website, http://www.ncrealestateweb.com/ , is one of North Carolina's top real estate websites and you can read frequently posted Articles and Blogs by Dave at NCRealEstateWeblog. 01/28/2008

There are many things that determine if and when a house sells. However, three things stand head and shoulders above the rest. They are price, condition, and marketing. Lets take a look at these:Price - Your home must have a reasonable and justifiable price. A good buyer's agent will look at comparables to determine if your house is priced correctly. Therefore, it must be priced within the range that comparable homes have SOLD for (reasonable) and the condition and/or unique features must justify your specific price. Price is controlled by the market.Condition - The condition of the property must support the price. The higher you are within the selling price range the better condition your house should be in.Condition is controlled by the seller(s).Marketing - It takes more than a yard ... 01/23/2008

There are many things that determine if and when a house sells. However, three things stand head and shoulders above the rest. They are price, condition, and marketing. Lets take a look at these: Price - Your home must have a reasonable and justifiable price. A good buyer's agent will look at comparables to determine if your house is priced correctly. Therefore, it must be priced within the range that comparable homes have SOLD for (reasonable) and the condition and/or unique features must justify your specific price. Price is controlled by the market. Condition - The condition of the property must support the price. The higher you are within the selling price range the better condition your house should be in. Condition is controlled by the seller(s). Marketing - It takes more than a y... 01/22/2008

In 2007 many things became apparent to me as I continue to work as a Realtor in the local Rocky Mount, North Carolina, area. Many consumers are listening to the National news media about the real estate market and assuming that it is an accurate reflection of what is happening here locally. Nothing could be further from the truth. All real estate is local.This report focuses on what is happening locally and will hopefully serve to clarify events and reasons for local facts and trends.Click Here to read this report in it's entirety. 01/16/2008

In 2007 many things became apparent to me as I continue to work as a Realtor in the local Rocky Mount, North Carolina, area. Many consumers are listening to the National news media about the real estate market and assuming that it is an accurate reflection of what is happening here locally. Nothing could be further from the truth. All real estate is local. This report focuses on what is happening locally and will hopefully serve to clarify events and reasons for local facts and trends. Click Here to read this report in it's entirety. 01/16/2008

The following report is provided as a public service by David C. Recker, Realtor, RE/MAX Point East, Rocky Mount, North Carolina. The following are indicators of the Greater Rocky Mount Area Real Estate Market. These statistics were gathered from data contained in the Rocky Mount MLS system and predominately cover Nash and Edgecombe Counties in North Carolina. Active residential listings totaled 999 properties. This is a decrease of 59 properties, or 6%, from 1058 in November. Inventories typically fall during the winter months because the number of new listings also slows.      Newly listed properties totaled 100. This is a decrease of 25 new listings, or 20%, from 125 last month. Sold properties totaled 70. This is an increase of 5, or 7%, from last months total of 65 residential prop... 01/09/2008

The following report is provided as a public service by David C. Recker, Realtor, RE/MAX Point East, Rocky Mount, North Carolina. The following are indicators of the Greater Rocky Mount Area Real Estate Market. These statistics were gathered from data contained in the Rocky Mount MLS system and predominately cover Nash and Edgecombe Counties in North Carolina. Active residential listings totaled 999 properties. This is a decrease of 59 properties, or 6%, from 1058 in November. Inventories typically fall during the winter months because the number of new listings also slows.      Newly listed properties totaled 100. This is a decrease of 25 new listings, or 20%, from 125 last month. Sold properties totaled 70. This is an increase of 5, or 7%, from last months total of 65 residential prop... 01/09/2008

The following report is provided as a public service by David C. Recker, Realtor, RE/MAX Point East, Rocky Mount, North Carolina. The following are indicators of the Greater Rocky Mount Area Real Estate Market. These statistics were gathered from data contained in the Rocky Mount MLS system and predominately cover Nash and Edgecombe Counties in North Carolina. Active residential listings totaled 1058 properties. This is an increase of 5 properties, or 0.5%, from 1053 in October. Inventories can rise during the fall and winter months because of slower sales.     More...About the AuthorDavid C. Recker is a Top Producing Realtor Licensed in North Carolina. Dave works at RE/MAX Point East and serves Edgecombe, Nash, and Wilson counties in North Carolina. Dave's website, http://www.ncrealest... 12/12/2007

Just this past month I listed a home that had been on the market 2 years ago and never received an offer.  We place that property on the market and within the first week the property received 3 offers and one offer was accepted and has just closed.  This particular property set on the market for a long time before because you could not see the home for all the over growth of trees, shrubbery, leaves and trash.  If a seller would only take a moment of their time and go outside of the home and look at their house for the exterior.  What are there pluses and minus.  Making a home buyer friendly is extremely important and it takes effort to attract a buyers in this market.  There are many other things that can also be done.  If I can answer questions with relationship to marketing a home in... 12/12/2007

The following report is provided as a public service by David C. Recker, Realtor, RE/MAX Point East, Rocky Mount, North Carolina. The following are indicators of the Greater Rocky Mount Area Real Estate Market. These statistics were gathered from data contained in the Rocky Mount MLS system and predominately cover Nash and Edgecombe Counties in North Carolina. Active residential listings totaled 1058 properties. This is an increase of 5 properties, or 0.5%, from 1053 in October. Inventories can rise during the fall and winter months because of slower sales.     More... About the AuthorDavid C. Recker is a Top Producing Realtor Licensed in North Carolina. Dave works at RE/MAX Point East and serves Edgecombe, Nash, and Wilson counties in North Carolina. Dave's website, http://www.ncreales... 12/11/2007

Before You LookIt is important that you understand how much you can afford or are willing to pay before you go out and look for a new home. But what do you do before you are ready to speak with a Realtor and/or mortgage professional? Simply, you can use a mortgage calculator to play with the numbers to get a good idea of affordability based on your specific circumstances. My website, http://www.ncrealestateweb.com/, offers a "Calculator" for just this purpose. Feel free to use it as often as you like. You will find it in the navigation bar or you can simply Click Here. Working With A RealtorOnce you contact a Realtor one of the first things is to get "Pre-Qualified". Pre-qualification ensures, at a minimum level, that you have the capacity to purchase in a certain price range. Pre-quali... 12/04/2007

Looking for homes for sale in the greater Rocky Mount, North Carolina area?  http://www.ncrealestateweb.com/  is the most complete source of homes for sale in Nash, Edgecombe, and Wilson counties.This site is your online guide for buying a home, selling a house or home, buying a house for investment, or relocating to North Carolina. Search homes for sale on our website and/or search entire local MLS.  Please visit http://www.ncrealestateweb.com/ and return as often as you like.About the AuthorDavid C. Recker is a Top Producing Realtor Licensed in North Carolina. Dave works at RE/MAX Point East and serves Edgecombe, Nash, and Wilson counties in North Carolina. Dave's website, http://www.ncrealestateweb.com/ , is one of North Carolina's top real estate websites and you can read frequently... 11/21/2007

Looking for homes for sale in the greater Rocky Mount, North Carolina area?  http://www.ncrealestateweb.com/  is the most complete source of homes for sale in Nash, Edgecombe, and Wilson counties. This site is your online guide for buying a home, selling a house or home, buying a house for investment, or relocating to North Carolina. Search homes for sale on our website and/or search entire local MLS.  Please visit http://www.ncrealestateweb.com/ and return as often as you like. About the AuthorDavid C. Recker is a Top Producing Realtor Licensed in North Carolina. Dave works at RE/MAX Point East and serves Edgecombe, Nash, and Wilson counties in North Carolina. Dave's website, http://www.ncrealestateweb.com/ , is one of North Carolina's top real estate websites and you can read frequent... 11/20/2007

All Real Estate Is LocalOne of the key factors experienced Realtors consider when pricing and listing a home is the current housing absorption rate. The absorption rate is critical in determining an areas housing supply because it is based on what is actually happening in the local housing market. Sellers are bombarded with locally irrelevant information from the various news media. These reports tend to be national, state, or regional in nature. Although it is always good to know and understand what is happening around us, these trends tend to have minimal impact on the local real estate market. Current Housing SupplyBased on local data for the 12 month period ending October 31, 2007, the current absorption rate for the Rocky Mount, North Carolina area is 114 homes SOLD per month. Now,... 11/15/2007

The following report is provided as a public service by David C. Recker, Realtor, RE/MAX Point East, Rocky Mount, North Carolina. The following are indicators of the Greater Rocky Mount Area Real Estate Market. These statistics were gathered from data contained in the Rocky Mount MLS system and predominately cover Nash and Edgecombe Counties in North Carolina. Active residential listings totaled 1053 properties. This is an increase of 12 properties, or 2%, from 1041 in September. Inventories can rise during the fall and winter months because of slower sales.     Newly listed properties totaled 195. This is an increase of 1 new listings, or 1%, from 194 last month. Sold properties totaled 103. This is an increase of 2, or 2%, from last months total of 101 residential properties sold. Pen... 11/14/2007

The following report is provided as a public service by David C. Recker, Realtor, RE/MAX Point East, Rocky Mount, North Carolina. The following are indicators of the Greater Rocky Mount Area Real Estate Market. These statistics were gathered from data contained in the Rocky Mount MLS system and predominately cover Nash and Edgecombe Counties in North Carolina. Active residential listings totaled 1053 properties. This is an increase of 12 properties, or 2%, from 1041 in September. Inventories can rise during the fall and winter months because of slower sales.     Newly listed properties totaled 195. This is an increase of 1 new listings, or 1%, from 194 last month. Sold properties totaled 103. This is an increase of 2, or 2%, from last months total of 101 residential properties sold. Pen... 11/13/2007

The holidays are quickly approaching and sellers always want to know if they should keep their home on the market. In short, YES.If you search the internet looking for articles about this topic you will overwhelmingly find people who say the opposite. They go on to list many reasons why you should pull your listing until after the holidays.If you are the one who decorates to excess, and has a house full of family and friends for a couple of weeks than you probably DO want to temporarily take your house off the market for these couple of weeks. However, this is not most people.Holiday SeasonIn Edgecombe county, the changing seasons and weather have little effect on buyer demand. The local climate does not change enough to deter those with a real estate need to continue looking and ultima... 11/07/2007