Peytons Ridge Hubert NC

Peytons Ridge Hubert NC

Homes for sale Hubert NC

Peytons Ridge Hubert NC...look no further.

Peytons Ridge is Hubert NC hottest new community with homes ranging from the $175's upward. Peytons Ridge is conveniently located; 7 minutes to Marine Corp base Camp Lejeune back gate, 15 minutes from the heart of Jacksonville NC, and minutes from beaches in the area. As you enter the community you are greeted by beautiful stonework entrance and two large lakes with fountains. This community features a children's playground, walking path around the lake, separate enclosed dog park area and picnic table.  There will be about 416 homes in this community and we are currently finishing Phase II and will soon be accepting contracts on Phase III. The lots are large, mostly around an acre, with some lots over 3 acres. Another great thing about Peytons Ridge is the community has kept as many trees and wooded areas as possible; rather than an empty new construction community.

 The current Home Owners Association Dues are $150.00 per year.  They currently cover the real property taxes on the commons areas, casualty/liability insurance on commons areas, legal and accounting, common area maintenance, and storm water maintenance/drainage/ponds. There are also no start up fees or no transfer fees associated with the Home Owners Association.

Currently there are five Builders in Peytons Ridge: American Homesmith, 70 West Builders,Hardison Builders, Horizons East, and Nolan Builders. The great thing about having several builders in the community is all the options for the buyers. Floor plans go from three bedrooms with bonus rooms, four bedrooms, five plus bedrooms and some plans even come with a third floor if you need the space. Most homes in the community also feature engineered hardwood floors, granite, back splash, stainless steel appliances, fireplace, and beautiful stonework on the front of the home; all of which are included with the home, not as an extra. There are several floor plans currently featured Abbington, Alleyna, Avalon, Beaufort Cottage, Berkley, Blue Ridge, Hatteras, Jefferson, Grove Park, Live Oak, Macleod, Otter, Oxford, The Morehead, Riverhill, Summer Breeze, Williamsburg II, Vienna w/Bonus Room. For other floor plans matching your personal criteria, contact me so I can get those to you.

Right now take advantage of our Preferred Lender paying all your closing costs above $99.00. 

All the homes come with a one year builder warranty, with all builders standing behind their product, before and after closing. 

Peyotns Ridge is in Swansboro school district and you can see the current up to date information at the following links; Great Schools and NC Report Card.

To schedule a personal tour of this community contact me directly. If you are not local to this area, I would also be happy to provide you with videos or additional photographs, specific to your wants and needs in a home.

Like this community, but want to see other comminites in Hubert/Swansboro area...do a free search on all homes for sale in the area, based on your criteria. I look forward to hearing from you soon when you are looking for your new home in Peytons Ridge Hubert NC!

Katie Jones                                              

Broker/REALTOR®       

Keller Williams Realty

Direct 910.650.9598

Email Katie.Jones01@yahoo.com

www.JacksonvilleNCLiving.com

Original Content from Active Rain, posted by Katie Jones.

- See more at: http://activerain.com/blogsview/3635935/peytons-ridge-hubert-nc#sthash.0rVNgiMp.dpuf

Carolina Plantations Jacksonville NC 

Jacksonville NC Homes for sale

Carolina Plantations Jacksonville NC 28540

                                         

                    

Carolina Plantations Jacksonville NC is one of Jacksonville NC's hottest new communities in the area.  Still growing, this community features sidewalks, beautiful landscaping, it's own private waste system, public water, and NO city taxes. Located in the heart of Jacksonville, Carolina Plantations has several different sections within it self: Barlett Square, Bristol Heights, Crown Park, Great Neck. Monarch Meadows Regal Hill, Ryker Trace, and The Burroughs. See all active homes for sale currently in Carolina Plantations.

Currently there are 6 premier builders in this community: A.Sydes Construction, Caviness & Cates Builders, DMS Construction, Nolan Commercial Contractors, Northstar Capital Group, and Wynn Construction.  All are award winning builders who stand behind their product and provide Buyers with a one year builders warranty.

Single Family homes in Carolina Plantations range in the $160's to $300's. Townhomes in Carolina Plantations @ The Burroughs start at $114,900. Each home and each Builder has different options and upgrades but the one thing they all have in common is they quality craftsmanship, customer service, and the fact they stand all behind their product.

There are several floor plans to choose, whether you are looking to purchase a home already built or building a home to your specific wants and needs. Some of the most popular floor plans from all builders are: Ashmore, Athens B, Birch, Brantford, Catalina, Cedar Hill, Denali, Dover, Emily (Townhomes), Evergreen, Grant, Haywood, Hillcrest, Herndon U, Kayley, Larkhaven, Laura, Lockhart, Sonoma, Stansbury II, Sydney, Taylor, Waterford. Please feel free to contact me for additional floor plan based on your specific criteria. 

The home owners association in this community are fairly low at $200.00 per year. The Home Owners Association dues cover the maintenance of all the common areas in the community. There are also, no transfer fees or start up fees associated with the home owners association. Along with the HOA (Home Owners Association) this community has restrictive covenants for each area. All subdivisions/communities have restrictive covenants, whether they have an HOA or not. Restrictive covenants are just rules and regulations of the community, that homeowners are to follow and abide by. You can click on the links below to view the restrictive covenants for each location in Carolina Plantations. Carolina Plantations Main Covenants, Bartlett Square, Bristol Heights, Crown Park, Great Neck, Monarch Meadows, Regal Hill, Ryker Trace, and The Burroughs.

Located right across the street from the main entrance is the elementary school. Carolina Plantations school districts are as follows: Carolina Forest Elementary, Jacksonville Commons Middle School and Northside High school. You can look up the latest school information a the following links; Great Schools and NC Report Card.

If you are considering this community and would like a tour of what Carolina Plantations has to offer I would be happy to schedule a tour to introduce you. Also, I would be happy to send you additional information on Carolina Plantations from floor plans, price charts, standard features, upgrades, plot maps, and whatever you might need to help. Please feel free to contact me anytime. Thank you for reading my blog and I hope you have found this information informative. I look forward to hearing from you soon and showing you this great community Carolina Plantations Jacksonville NC.

Katie Jones                                              

Broker/REALTOR®       

Keller Williams Realty

Direct 910.650.9598

Email Katie.Jones01@yahoo.com

www.JacksonvilleNCLiving.com

Orginal Content From Active Rain. Posted by Katie Jones

- See more at: http://activerain.com/blogsview/3650515/carolina-plantations-jacksonville-nc#sthash.P8SzruvE.dpuf

Jacksonville NC Homes for Sale: New Construction and Resales

Jacksonville NC Homes for Sale: New Construction and Resales, both play a big part of Jacksonville's ever growing community. This post will walk you through each new construction community and what that community has to offer you; from area, pricing, floor plans, and an active list of current homes for sale in each community. Only thing left to do is call me to schedule your appointments. So in no particular order...drum roll please!!

Carolina Forest

Located in the heart of Jacksonville NC this community features beautiful landscaped entrance with street lights and sidewalks through out, community pool and community center. Homes in Carolina Forest range from townhomes to single family homes with over 3000+heated square feet. Pricing in this community starts at $125's to $290's. The Home Owners Association dues in this community are $350.00 per year, a steal for all that is desired in Carolina Forest.  Carolina Forest is in the city and minutes from a brand new movie theater complex, shopping, grocery stores, parks and much more.  The current schools for Carolina Forest are as follows: Carolina Forest Elementary School, Jacksonville Commons Middle School, and Northside High School. You can visit the following links for the latest up to date schooling information, Great Schools and NC Report Card. Whether you are looking for something moderate or over the top, Carolina Forest will not disappoint.

  

Carolina Plantations 

Near by Carolina Forest is one of the fastest growing, hottest communities in Jacksonville NC, Carolina Plantations. With pricing starting in the $170's to the luxury side starting at $300's and up, there is something for every buyer looking to purchase. Best of all, Carolina Plantations is not in the city, so NO city taxes. When you enter this community you are greeted by a grand entrance with two small lakes with fountains, beautiful landscaping and stone work.  This community features hundreds of homes and is divided in several sections; Bentley Park, Bartlett Square, Bristol Heights, Ryker Trace, Regal Hill, Crown Point, Great Neck, Monarch Meadows and The Burroughs.  Each section features a specific style and size home, which is a stand alone feature that Carolina Plantations offers.  The Home Owners Association dues for this community are a modest $160.00 per year and there are no transfer fees are start up fees associated with the Home Owners Association. Being that Carolina Forest and Carolina Plantations are right next to each other, almost like sister communities, they are in the same school districts. Jacksonville NC is at your fingertips to play or explore. Both offer great choices for the first time buyer or the buyer looking to upgrade into something a bit bigger. Don't wait and set up a showing for you of this great neighborhood in Jacksonville NC.

 

Williamsburg Plantation

Welcome to Williamsburg Plantations. With several hundred homes and two new sections, now open; this community is defiantly a contender. Williamsburg Plantations is a great place to add to your list of home to view. Williamsburg Plantations offers a community playground, sidewalks, well lit streets, and established trees and landscaping; so you get new construction and the established community feel all in one. There are currently two new sections of Williamsburg Plantations; St. James Park and Emerson Park. Pricing starts at the mid $170's to the mid $230's. Jacksonville NC Homes for sale: New Construction and Resales...Williamsburg Plantations has them all. There are several homes standing to walk thru and several home sites available if you wanted to build your own home. With everything only minutes away, and shopping within walking distance, this is a great area, in the city, to build or purchase a home. The community is about 12 minutes from MCAS New River Air Station and about 20-25 minutes from the main Gate at Camp Lejeune. The Home Owners Association dues range from $176.00-$194.00 per year. The schools districts are as follows: Summersill Elementary School, Northwood Park Middle School, and Jacksonville High School. You can click on the following links for the most accurate information on schools; Great Schools and NC Report Card. This community definitely deserves a look and you will be glad you did!

  

The Bluffs on the New River 

Looking for a home with a large lot and away from town but only by about 10 minutes...than look no more, The Bluffs on the New River has it all!  This premier community is near its final phase and there are only a few home sites and homes left. This community features a 50 acre man made lake, a large natural lake, community area, walking path, access to the New River for boating or canoeing, and is a great community. Homes remaining are staring in the $210's to $300's, but do not wait too long to check it out, there are only 8 homes remaining. Most of the lots remaining are almost 1 full acre and cleared. So if you need room and do not want to feel like you are on top of your neighbors, than the Bluffs might be the place for you.  Home Owners Association dues are low for everything included, at only $300.00 per year. The school districts are as follows: State Side Elementary School (Brand New, less than 2 years old), Trexler Middle School and Richlands High School. For current ranking of these schools please visit the following links: Great Schools and NC Report Card. This community has a special place in my heart as I was the On-site Agent there last year, until we wrapped up on our site division, as we sold out. If you would like a private tour to see everything that The Bluffs on the New River has to offer, I would love to show you this great community.

Towne Point

Located on the Piney Green side of Jacksonville NC, Towne Point is one of the hottest new communities on that side of Towne. Only minutes from Piney Green Camp Lejeune Gate and Camp Lejuene Main Gate this community is it; especially if you are looking to be close to work!!  Towne point will be a long project with hundreds of homes to be built. Currently they have opened up their third phase and things are selling fast. New construction homes in Towne Point range from $175,000-$260,000. Great thing about Towne Point is there are so many homes to choose from. Big, small, one story, two story, up and ready, or pick a lot and build a home...you have the choice when it comes to Towne Point.  Home Owners Association dues in Towne Point are $252.00 and they help maintain the beautiful common areas and front entrance.  The school districts for Towne Point are as follows: Silverdale Elementary School, Hunters Creek Middle School and White Oak High School. Again, you can go to the following links for the most up to date and reliable information on schools, Great Schools and NC Report Card.  If you would like to see if this community meets all your wants and needs contact me today for a free tour of this community or any others.

Hidden Oaks at Hunters Creek 

Looking for a great starter home? But still want the most bang for your buck? Than Hidden Oaks at Hunters Creek is the place for you. Homes starting in the mid $150's going to mid $190's this community has all the wants and needs of a first time home buyer.  Located off Piney Green Road, Hidden Oaks in nestled into a well developed neighborhood, Hunters Creek. As you enter the Hunters Creek subdivision, you will go to the back right, near the water, and there is the new construction community of Hidden Oaks. Only minutes from Camp Lejeune and about 15-18 minutes from MCAS New River Air Station, this community is on the East side of Jacksonville and is minutes away from restaurants, beaches, shopping, activities, parks, and much more. The current school districts of Hidden Oaks at Hunters Creek are: Hunters Creek Elementary, Hunters Creek Middle School, and White Oak High School. All schools are less than 2 miles from the community. The Home Owners Association dues are $100.00 per year, which is extremely low for the great new construction neighborhood. If you want to take a tour of this community please let me know, and I will be happy to set that up for you!

 Holly Grove at Rock Creek

Welcome to Holly Grove at Rock Creek. Located next to Rock Creek Golf Course this community is just what you have been looking for. With under 75 homes it has that neighborhood feel but a sense of intimacy.  Holly Grove is currently on there first Phase with Phase Two a few months away.  Homes in Holly Grove come with privacy fences or a golf course view with no lot premium! Did I mention that homes start in the mid $170's and go up to $196.  Its a great price for new construction and with all the incentives the builder is putting into the home, you will not want to miss this!! And better yet, there is NO Home Owners Association, so no yearly dues. But if you want to be part of something you can apply to be part of Rock Creek and pay their HOA fees and get access to their community pool and clubhouse, as well as, some discounts on joining the Rock Creek Golf Course. For more details about this please contact me so we can further discuss your options.  The school districts for this community are as follows: State Side Elementary School, Trexlar Middle School, and Richlands High School. You can go to the above links for up to date school information. If you need current floor plans or would like to take a tour of this great up and coming community, contact me today!

Thank you for viewing, and hopefully reading, my blog post for today! I feel that the more information and knowledge I can spread to future home owners the better. Please note, that I specialize in military relocation, first time home buyers, and our luxury market.  I am a full time Buyers Agent and my services to buyers are FREE!! If you would like to meet with me for a consultation or would like to see any of these homes, communities, or any others; please do NOT hesitate to contact me or visit my Website at www.KatieJonesHomes.com. All of my contact information is located below. Thank you again and I look forward to hearing from you soon for all your needs with Jacksonville NC Homes For Sale: New Construction and Resales!

Katie Jones                                              

Broker/REALTOR®       

Keller Williams Realty

Direct 910.650.9598

Email Katie.Jones01@yahoo.com

www.JacksonvilleNCLiving.com 

Original Content from Active Rain. Posted by Katie Jones

- See more at: http://activerain.com/blogsview/3661915/jacksonville-nc-homes-for-sale-new-construction-and-resales#sthash.bcZzpoCE.dpuf

Why hire a Rockstar Realtor in Jacksonville NC

Before the Internet became widespread, real estate listings were not available freely online. Instead, local offices of real estate agents would subscribe to thick books replete with the latest listings, weekly or fortnightly. Agents would go over the properties listed in the books to find a fit for their buyers. They would then contact their clients and ask them to drive by the house to look at it. They might even fax the listings. The bottom line is, the power was in the hands of real estate agents. This information was not available publicly and freely and real estate agents had the upper hand.

However, today, this information is available easily online. Buyers can even look at the history of the listings to obtain information about the purchase of the property and how long it has been listed on the market. They can even compare properties to gain an idea of the approximate value of homes in the local market. In this scenario, one might question the very need to even have a realty agent.

Below are three reasons why agents are still important in the new scenario.

The Agent Will Know the Market

Dealing in realty business requires a fair deal of effort and time. Real estate agents treat it as a full time job and are required to know the condition of the local market. They are well aware of the market conditions in the past five years. They repeat the process of buying and selling property again and again as it is their livelihood.

This alone gives the agent a special and unique insight into the real estate of the area. They learn what kind of inspectors to avoid, how to navigate through delicate situations at crucial points of the deal and how to put a good price on a house. They can immediately spot a good deal when they see one, yet they are also insightful enough to smell something fishy when they think they have a deal that is much too good to be true.

Interpretation of the Information

While the Internet offers a bevy of information, it would be of no use, or of even harm if one didn’t know how it would affect the investment.

For example, if a buyer found a property they really liked. They might find a comparison with another similar property that sold for a significantly lower amount. They might be tempted to wait or to lowball, in the hopes that they might get a better deal. However, a real estate agent would know that the second property actually had a whole deal of problems with carpeting and paint that the new owner would have to pay for. A buyer who did not consult a real estate agent might then miss out on his dream home, not knowing why the other home sold for less.

An agent gives confidence and advice about real estate decisions.

No Room for Mistakes

The past few years have shown just how unpredictable and unstable the real estate market is. While earlier, realty business was on a steady, slow growth, today it has become unpredictable. The loss of job security and a change in values also makes real estate a risky investment.

In such volatile conditions, an agent can help buyers to avoid mistakes that they might regret later. He can help them to make a responsible and well-informed purchase.

Katie Jones
Broker/REALTOR®
Keller Williams Realty
Direct 910.650.9598
Email Katie.Jones01@yahoo.com
www.KatieJonesHomes.com
Jacksonville, NC real estate areas I specialize in: Carolina Plantations, Towne Point, Peyton’s Ridge Richlands & Jacksonville.

Helpful Tips for Seller having an Open House or Showings...Jacksonville NC Realtor Katie Jones

One of the biggest blunders home sellers make is showing their house to the potential buyers without preparing it. To make the buyers fall in love with your house at the very first sight is not a cinch. For this, you must know how to prepare your property for open houses. Home showings are an important part of the selling process and cannot be overlooked. Listed below are some handy tips on how you can do up the exteriors and interiors of your house to make it spectacular during the open houses.

* To boost up the curb appeal of your house, mow the lawn and tidy up the flower beds before the buyers come over. Clean the gutters. Also, make sure that there are no little plants or shrubbery peeking from the roofline.

* Not everyone loves animals. Even the pet lovers might not like to have a cat or dog greet them when they visit the place. However, shutting the pet in any room of the house and asking the potential buyer not to enter into that room does not sound a wise move. Every buyer wants to check out the entire house, no matter what. So, the best would be to either crate them or drop them at a close friend’s place for some time. In addition, it is also important to corral their playthings, empty the bowls in which they eat and ensure all litter boxes and containers are clean.

* There is not any house where creepy things like insects are not present. However, as a seller, giving the illusion that there are no insects or bugs in your house should be one of your major goals. You can place an insect bail trap below the stairs, under the refrigerator and behind the cabinets. If you still fail to get rid of bugs, then call a good pest control firm to deal with the problem.

* A dark, clammy and damp basement can give an impression of a leaking foundation. While the reason for this could be just that the foundation is sopping up rainwater which must have been deflected elsewhere, the buyer is most likely to take it as a leakage in the foundation. So, next time when it rains, just go outside to make sure the gutters are unclogged, downspouts are running in the right direction and underground drains or pipes are open.

* If you have preschoolers, toddlers or a newborn, it is obvious to have a good number of baby paraphernalia and toys piled up in the house. If you wish to sell your house, stash away all this before the showing. You can use a large chest or closet to hoard the stuff.

In addition to all these things, be ready to make some alterations in the house as well. For instance, if you have dim bulbs, replace them with the bright ones so that your house can give an impression of a brighter and bigger space.

Katie Jones
Broker/REALTOR®
Keller Williams Realty
Direct 910.650.9598
Email Katie.Jones01@yahoo.com
www.KatieJonesHomes.com

Jacksonville, NC real estate areas I specialize in: Carolina Plantations, Towne Point, Peyton’s Ridge Richlands & Jacksonville.

Is there a fungus among us?....Mold in Real Estate

Until recently, mold rarely factored into real estate transactions. Thanks to a growing awareness of the different types of mold and how they can contribute to ill health, this has changed. Although mold occurs around us naturally, leaks, poor flooring and other structural issues have contributed to a growing awareness of mold in the home. As a result, it has begun to have a negative impact on real estate transactions.

Why is mold in the home a problem?

Mold in the home has the potential to cause health problems. It is usually the case that these issues are restricted to those who suffer from respiratory conditions, but certain types of mold have reputedly contributed to health complaints in individuals who are otherwise healthy. This has become a particularly big concern for parents, who worry that their children could suffer as a result of mold exposure in the home. The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has recognized these issues, and now provides advice to homeowners as a result.

How does mold impact real estate transactions?

Aside from the human health risks, mold is also an indication that a home may not be healthy. The EPA states that the key to mold control is moisture control, and appraisers are beginning to assume that the presence of mold means that a house is not well constructed. The most common source of mold is water problems, such as leaking pipes and poor ventilation in bathrooms, laundry rooms and kitchens. If mold continues to grow unchecked and gets out of control, it has the potential to cause damage to a house that can be expensive to repair.

As more buyers, lawyers, appraisers, and home inspectors are aware of the implications of mold, its presence has begun to impact sales transactions. Mold litigation is now on the rise, which means more people know that there are health risks associated with it. Buyers are also aware of the fact that mold in a new home could mean it is not as well-built as it looks, and they also know that they may have to shoulder the burden of cleaning it up when they move into their new home. These things combined mean that the presence of mold acts as a deterrent when it comes to purchasing a home. This problem has now grown to the extent that some realtors are requesting that home owners declare mold to potential buyers.

The key issue surrounding mold in real estate transactions is the way it will affect financing. If an appraiser or home inspector detects the presence of mold and declares it, a bank will not finance the purchase. This is to the detriment of the buyer as well as the seller, but will ultimately place more pressure on the person selling the home. A bank will only consider financing the house once the mold has been removed by a professional mold remediation company. In addition to this, the bank will want to know that the appraiser is satisfied that the moisture causing the mold has been addressed.
How can the mold issue be addressed?

To an extent, it is not possible to avoid the growth of mold. However, there are problem areas that could be addressed to make sure it does not impact a real estate transaction. If rooms that experience water flow and condensation are not well-ventilated, they are at risk of mold. Addressing ventilation issues with adequate systems and extractor fans can prevent mold from becoming endemic across the house. Clearing heating ducts and maintaining HVAC systems on a regular basis can also address mold issues. Getting to the root of mold sources while using products designed to remove it can help prevent it from impacting areal estate transaction.

Katie Jones
Broker/REALTOR®
Keller Williams Realty
Direct 910.650.9598
Email Katie.Jones01@yahoo.com
www.KatieJonesHomes.com

Jacksonville, NC real estate areas I specialize in: Carolina Plantations, Towne Point, Peyton’s Ridge Richlands & Jacksonville.

Don't go at it alone...Hire a Professional

Home buying is a wonderful experience. To make this journey of home buyers as smooth as possible, real estate agents play a crucial role. However, most first timers treat it as nothing more than a needless expense. This often leads them to make wrong decisions, while purchasing their dream home. To clear this misconception, listed below are some major benefits you can have by enlisting professional services of a realtor.

* Avoid being tricked by the seller – Every seller wants to sell his property at a price as high as possible. For this, he may highlight only the good aspects of his property and completely hide the problematic issues. He may not reveal it to you that the roof of the house leaks, whenever it rains. It is very much possible for you to miss the telltale signs indicating seepage and leakage, if the seller keeps you engaged in something else. For instance, you may remain busy in appreciating the color of house walls and miss to note the roof leakage signs. The seller can even recommend a home inspector or a lender toassist you in finalizing the deal quickly. This, however, does no good to the home buyer. The experts you choose on the recommendation of the seller often may not offer you impartial advice and can drive you towards a wrong decision. It is only a professional real estate agent, who can save you from all this. These professionals work in the best interest of their clients by providing independent advice.

* Comprehend your own requirements properly – Usually, first time home buyers are not clear about what they exactly want. Some of them even go wrong while making correlation between all their needs and their current financial capacity. Professional realtors deal with a number of home buyers everyday and therefore, they can fully comprehend the needs of a first time buyer, better than himself. They can assist you regarding whether the kind of house you want would suit your budget or not. If not, then they would provide you with other similar options, but with a lower price tag.

* Enjoy an extensive range of options – For most first time home buyers the idea of seeking a house is restricted to just talking to a few friends, relatives, colleagues and spreading the word, so that all your acquaintances get to know that you want to buy a new house. On the contrary, a professional realtor would have an extensive database of houses available for rent and sale. Rather than searching for houses at random, it is best to adopt a smarter approach and enlist the services of a professional real estate agent. A professional would focus on your budget, specific localities and features that you want to have in your new home.

Above all, a realtor can help you put intelligent reasons in front of the seller, for reducing the property price. Working with a good professional would also help you in learning various nuances of evaluating a property. This would be particularly good for those who would like to buy a house again in the future.

Katie Jones
Broker/REALTOR®
Keller Williams Realty
Direct 910.650.9598
Email Katie.Jones01@yahoo.com
www.KatieJonesHomes.com

Jacksonville, NC real estate areas I specialize in: Carolina Plantations, Towne Point, Peyton’s Ridge Richlands & Jacksonville.

Buying and Investments Jacksonville NC Homes for Sale

www.KatieJonesHomes.com  Katie Jones

Your home is probably your biggest investment. To manage it, create a financial plan that takes into account repairs, upgrades, mortgages, insurance, and taxes.

Use a home financial plan budget worksheet, and start by writing a list of expenses, such as:

• Mortgage
• Taxes
• Home insurance, including liability
• Repairs and maintenance, such as new furnace, roof, painting
• Voluntary upgrades, such as a swimming pool, a premium range, a new powder room

What will you learn from this home financial plan weekend exercise?

• How much you have to spend
• How much you need to allot in the short- and long-term for necessary maintenance and voluntary improvements

With this newfound grip on your home’s expenses, you can create a home financial plan that’ll help you there for years with maximum enjoyment and minimum anxiety.

Here’s how to manage other aspects of your home finances:

The mortgage: Pay it — and then some
Insurance: Protect your property
Repairs and renovations: By choice or necessity
Taxes: (Almost) no way around them
The mortgage: Pay it—and then some

Yup, you already shell out a lot for your mortgage, but can you pay more? Even a little extra each month can add up to an earlier payoff. Let’s say you have $200,000 in outstanding principal and a 20-year fixed-rate mortgage at 5%. Your monthly payment is $1,319.91. But if you can manage to pay another $100 a month, you’ll save $14,887 in interest.

Run the numbers yourself for your home financial plan.

Advantages of an early payoff, says Alan D. Kahn, a financial planner in Syosset, N.Y.:

• Less debt means more money to spend later.
• It feels darn good to own your house outright as soon as possible.
• Minimal tax loss. Toward the tail end of the life of a loan most of your payment goes to the principal, not the interest, so you’re getting only a small tax break anyway.

Of course, if you’re still saving for retirement, put the 100 bucks elsewhere:

• A retirement plan
• An account for the inevitable home repairs
• An account for discretionary improvements, which can raise your home’s value

Insurance: Protect your property

Your vegetable garden is pointless without a fence to keep out rabbits; likewise, your home financial plan will come to nothing without an insurance “fence”:

Homeowner’s insurance. Basic coverage for your home and everything in it. The average cost is $636 per year but this varies widely by state.

Liability coverage. Protects you from a lawsuit if someone gets hurt on your property, for example. Your best bet: An umbrella policy. For about $300 a year you can by a typical $1 million policy.

Various disaster insurance policies. Optional policies cover flood, earthquake, and hurricane damage. As part of your home financial plan, you have to research to see what disaster coverage, if any, you need in your area, and what your standard policy already covers. For $540 a year you can buy flood insurance, for example.

Don’t under- or overbuy insurance

For your basic policy, get homeowners insurance with full replacement coverage in case your house burns to the ground.

That sounds simple, but heads up on calculation. Remember that you own a house as well as the land on which it sits. So even though you bought your home for $300,000, it may cost only $100,000 to rebuild it. Your policy limits should reflect this. This difference will vary widely by region.

Another heads up: Don’t make the common and potentially disastrous mistake of thinking that because your home has fallen in value you need less insurance. If you bought a $1.2 million townhouse in Florida during the boom, it’s true it now may only sell for $600,000. But the replacement cost of the townhouse hasn’t changed much, so you can’t improve your home financial plan by cutting insurance costs that way.

Other ways to cut your insurance budget:
• If you make structural improvements, such as adding storm shutters, your insurer may give you a break.
• If you belong to certain groups, such as AARP or veterans’ organizations, your premiums may be lower.
Repairs and renovations: By choice or necessity

You own a home, so you’ll be spending money on everything from a new faucet to — surprise! — a new roof. Freddie Mac and other authorities say as part of your home financial plan, you should be prepared to spend 1% to 3% of the market value of the home annually on maintenance. To be extra-prudent, open a savings account and make regular payments until your account reaches 1% to 3% of your home’s current value.

To help you budget:

Start with the inspection report you received when you bought the house. Did the inspector indicate that you would need a new roof in five years? A new furnace in 10?

Keep a log of your major appliances’ age so you can estimate when they’ll need replacing. Some estimated life spans:

• Roof: 20-25 years
• Heating systems: 15-20 years
• Range/ovens: 11-15 years
• Water heaters: 8-13 years

Then get estimates on what replacements will cost and start saving.

Consider ongoing non-emergency maintenance, too. Do you live in New England? Price a snow blower and get bids from plow services.

Resist the siren call of the home equity loan to take care of everything. That just defeats your efforts to pay off the mortgage early.

Separate out what you want from what you need. Does it make more sense to do a $50,000 to $60,000 kitchen remodel, which recoups about 69%, or a minor remodel, which recoups about 75%, according to Remodeling magazine’s 2013 Cost vs. Value Report?

If you can afford to redo, go for it. Just don’t confuse your necessary repairs (new oil furnace — about $4,000) with your discretionary upgrades (Viking range — $6,000 and up).

Taxes: (Almost) no way around them

Even if your lender handles your property taxes from an escrow account, you need to budget for them in your home financial plan. They creep up almost every year, it seems. Take responsibility for tracking the changes in your area: Look over past tax bills to get a sense of how quickly they’ve risen in the past.

Or if your lender handles escrow and you haven’t saved your bills, ask for an accounting. The median annual property tax payment is $1,812, but that hides the enormous range in medians from state to state.
You can generally deduct property taxes on your federal return. A tax pro can tell you how much of a tax break you’ll get, to help you fine tune your home financial plan.

You may be able to reduce your tax burden by getting a reassessment. Do your homework first: Are comparable houses taxed less than yours? Ask the local assessor what formula is used to set tax rates. You can challenge the assessed value and get yourself a rollback.

If you’re in a special group, you might get some help from state or local programs. Check around to see what’s available in your area. New York State, for example, has its Star Program for giving senior citizens some relief from school-related property taxes.

Katie Jones
Broker/REALTOR®
Keller Williams Realty
Direct 910.650.9598
Email Katie.Jones01@yahoo.com
http://newconstructionjacksonvillenc.com/

Jacksonville, NC real estate areas I specialize in: Carolina Plantations, Towne Point, Peyton’s Ridge Richlands & Jacksonville.