Tom's Blog

While most know the general parameters of the current first time home buyer tax credit that is set to expire this November 30th, not every one is aware of what is in the works. According to reliable sources the bill which will be voted on in less than a week has the following provisions for home ...

Since last writing I've been busy with a closing and lots of showings.  I also helped one of my buyers, who moved here from the state of Washington, unload their moving truck.  Now that my back is stiff and sore (they had some monster furniture) I thought it might be a good time to catch up on my...

Everyone who is even somewhat interested in real estate wants to know if the market is up or down??  When I walked into the coffee shop a week or so ago one man saw me and said,"Hey real estate man the market is up right?!"  While it was a leading question, the answer was still "no." Sorry! To f...

Friday night, September 11th was picture perfect!  Perfect for eating!!!!  This was my second time attending what is commonly known as "The Taste of Edenton." The "Taste" is an annual event held on the waterfront of Edenton Bay next to the historic Barker House (if you visit Edenton be sure to to...

Sometimes you just have to laugh!  How many times in the past two and one half years have we heard "it's a buyer's market"?  More times than I can count and yes, it is true.  But what exactly does that mean??  In a recent conversation with one of my buyer clients I discovered his definition of a ...

This past Labor Day weekend found me showing property for five and a half hours on Saturday and then again late Sunday morning.  So by Monday, the holiday, I was tired. It didn't help that when I woke up Labor Day morning it was raining.  What do you do on a rainy holiday with two small children?...

With recent news reports that the housing market is improving and prices are increasing I thought it might be good for someone in the trenches to weigh on the current status of the housing market.  At least how it is playing out in northeast, NC. I've been in real estate since June of 2005 and be...

The quality of a location has a lot to do with what that "location" has to offer.  For example, would you want to live in a location where there are few if any good restaurants, no movie theaters, no navigable water and heaven forbid, no golf courses?!!  Of course not!   Edenton, however, has a l...

Off and on I have been reading a book by (I've forgotten the author's name) about Starbucks and their operating philosophy.  One of their principles is that of making each Starbucks location a "third" place.  In other words, a place where you like and want to go to hang out or relax.  The other t...

They say (whoever "they" is) that every storm cloud has a silver lining. And so it is true with the slowly passing housing market crunch. For example, prices which had been going absolutely crazy have now settled to modest levels. In fact, one home builder I know is building new ranch style, 3 be...