According to a recent study prepared for the Department of Housing and Urban Development,the mortgage industry continues to take advantage of consumers’ confusion to charge some people much higher mortgage fees than others, The study found that loans arranged by brokers typically carried higher fees than those obtained directly from lenders.

Lenders typically make better offers to borrowers in neighborhoods with higher general levels of education. Total fees paid to the lender and broker averaged nearly $3,400 on loans with an average initial principal balance of $105,000, the report said. For brokered loans, the average fees were $4,000, compared with $3,150 for loans made directly by the lender.

Those fees are a combination of upfront charges and additional funds brokers and lenders get for selling loans with relatively high interest rates. (more…)

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Beautiful Wilkes County NC Timber Frame Home and Mountain Property.

MLS Number: 51166, List Price: $898,500

2 Bedrooms, 2 Baths, 2 half baths, 2 car attached garage, full basement, and a barn on 5 acres of land.

These terms are used to describe thousands of homes and yet some things just can’t be described, they have to be experienced. This is one of those homes that really has to be seen to be appreciated.

This majestic Timber Frame home of the Bob Timberlake genre is not just another house, it provides a feeling of home that is not about walls and floors and windows and doors. It creates a feeling of the flow between your outdoor and your indoor environment that is seamless. Everywhere you look there is a view. Everything you touch feels natural and beautiful in a way that cannot be described, only owned.

Contact Elizabeth Carter, 336.973.5594 or Greg Stikeleather, Broker, 704.880.5247 or email eacarter@charter.net

click here for more information

Real estate investment requires taking stock of your financial goals, planning and lifestyle before taking the plunge. The techniques of successful investing are pretty much like buying any property. If you’ve got the time, the money and the lifestyle that lends itself to managing a real estate investment, you are just about half way there.

A thorough knowledge of the principles of real estate investing is a must if you are going to be a success. Places to turn to are the Internet, libraries of books by reputable authors, successful, credible investment groups, college and university level courses, even your state’s real estate license program.

Become your own expert. You aren’t required to sell homes just because you have a real estate license, but what you’ll learn getting one will certainly give you a leg up on your investment moves. (more…)

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Beautiful Wilkes County NC Log Home and Mountain Property.

MLS Number: 50863, List Price: $359,900

Bedrooms: 3, Full Baths: 2, Half Baths: 0, Est Total SqFt: 2600, Type/Style: Log Home, Area: Area 6, Middle School: Cntrl Wlks, High School: Wlks Cntrl, Construction: Log

Foundation: Combination, Roof: Metal Roof, Floors: Carpet/Hardwood/Tile, Garage/Carport: None-Garage, None-Carport, Interior Features: Master Bedroom, Main Level, Large Master Bedroom, Walk-In Closet(s), Hardwood Floors, Fireplace(s), Great Room, Exterior Features: Double Pane Windows, Wooded Lot, 1-5 Acres, Hot Tub, Subdivision: N/A, Lot Size: 2.47, Apx SqFt: 2600 - 2800 SF, Basement: None

Contact Elizabeth Carter, 336.973.5594 or Greg Stikeleather, Broker, 704.880.5247 or email eacarter@charter.net

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Those getting ready to sell their home or just want to spiff it up inexpensively for their own enjoyment may need suggestions on the best remodeling tips for the money. This article will attempt to give you a few good strategies for you to consider. The actual cost and payback for each project can vary, depending on both your home’s condition and overall real-estate market values in your region.

First, since the kitchen is still considered the heart of the home, potential home buyers make a beeline for this room when they first view a home for sale. Make sure your kitchen looks clean and reasonably updated. For a few hundred dollars, you can replace the kitchen faucet set, add new cabinet door handles and update old lighting fixtures with brighter, more energy-efficient ones.

Also, next to the kitchen, bathrooms are often the most important rooms to update. They, too, can be improved without a lot of cash. Even simple things like a new toilet seat and a pedestal sink are pretty easy for homeowners to install, and they make a big difference in the look of the bath.

If your tub and shower are looking dingy, consider re-grouting the tile and replacing any chipped tiles. A more complete cover-up is a prefabricated tub and shower surround. These one-piece units may require professional installation but can still be cheaper than paying to re-tile walls and refinish a worn tub. (more…)

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$5,850,000

MLS Number: 50913

City: Valle Crucis, NC
Stories: 2
Bedrooms: 4 Baths: 4.5
Area: Boone-Blowing Rock, NC
Year Built: 1990
Plus Five fully furnished 1,400 sq. ft. Rental Cottages. Each built in 1996 on approx. 1/2 acre sites. Current cottage average annual rental income $150,000.

39.4 acres with 360 degree view of Blue Ridge Mountains.

5,200 sq. ft. main house built in 1990 on 1.24 acres.

No restrictions and no zoning offer many other options:

* Family compound
* Corporate retreat
* Religous retreat
* Horse farm / Dude ranch
* Recording studio
* Cottages can be sold separately
* Land can be further subdivided if desired

Contact Elizabeth Carter, 336.973.5594 or Greg Stikeleather, Broker, 704.880.5247 or email eacarter@charter.net

click here for more information

search for : Valle Crucis, NC, Blowing Rock, NC, Blue Ridge Mountains

Taking the real estate investment plunge requires taking stock of your financial goals, planning and lifestyle before taking the plunge, pretty much like buying any property. If you’ve got the time, the money and the lifestyle that lends itself to managing a real estate investment, you are just about half way there.

One market’s bubble could be one investor’s boom and another investor’s bust. A home in one market could give you vacation rental income in a half year sufficient to cover the cost of principal, interest, taxes, insurance, home owner association dues, upkeep and other costs, but still not appreciate.

Another home in another market may not bring you sufficient rent in a year’s time to cover the cost of owning the property, but might appreciate more than enough to make up for your carrying costs over the long term.

The key to making big profits in real estate is to go against the traditional wisdom. When the masses are buying, it’s often time to sell. When everyone is selling, there are huge bargains to be found.

In Multi-Family Millions, contrarian real estate investor Dave Lindahl shows you how to read the market cycle, and explains why now is a great time to get started investing in apartment houses—even if it’s your first time investing in real estate and you have no money for a down payment. (more…)

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WEST JEFFERSON NC MOUNTAIN PROPERTY

87.5 +/- Acres Available For Residential Subdivision Mountain Development, 7 miles from West Jefferson, NC

Paved Road and Bridge Built To State Specifications.

Average of $23,000 per acre.

This Property Should Retail For Approximately $50,000 to $60,000 per acre.

ALL PROPERTY HAS LONG RANGE MOUNTAIN VIEWS

Contact Greg Stikeleather, Broker, 704.880.5247

or

email Greg at grstike@charter.net

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According to a recently released study, foreclosure filings in the first three months of 2008 rose more than 112% over last year.

Real estate information firm RealtyTrac reported that nearly 650,000 foreclosure filings - which include notices of default, auction sales and bank repossessions - were issued in the first quarter. That represents 1 of every 194 households and marks a 23% increase from the last quarter of 2007.

The news comes despite increased foreclosure prevention efforts by lenders and community organizations. Hope Now, the coalition of mortgage lenders, servicers investors and community groups, announced Monday that it helped over a half a million home owners avoid foreclosure during the first three months of the year. (more…)