Perfect Starter Home in Historic Haymount!

This adorable ranch just came on the market!  Located in the highly desirable Haymount area of Fayetteville, this home is the perfect starter.  It has tons of character with original hardwood floors, great fireplace and lovely built-ins throughout.  This two bedroom, one bath home is situated on a spacious corner lot and has a one car attached garage.  The Haymount school district is also highly desirable.  You can verify the schools at Cumberland County's "Find Your School."  The location is great...close to downtown and only minutes to shopping and restaurants.  112 Pinecrest Drive Fayetteville would be an awesome first home or a great investment opportunity.  For more information or to schedule a showing, contact Terri Petrie at 910-580-0802.

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New Home Sales are Up in the Fayetteville Housing Market

Good news in the local housing market! The Fayetteville Observer reported this week that new home sales were up in April in the Fayetteville / Fort Bragg area. Eleven more new homes sold in the Cumberland County area in 2012 than during this same period last year. Getting in to a new home has never been more affordable than it is right now. Mortgage rates are lower than ever, Ft Bragg NC BAH rates are up, and new homes are plentiful. Many builders are sweetening the pot with upgrades, incentives and paid closing costs in an effort to draw buyers from existing homes. Resales have been a bit slower to rebound here locally, but a report from the National Association of Realtors shows that existing home sales were up 3.4 percent across the country in April. You can search all available Fort Bragg NC real estate listings for both new construction and existing homes at pcsPads.com.

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Why Should You Get Pre-Approved for a Mortgage?

If you find yourself with PCS orders or an upcoming job transfer yet again, then you'll be getting ready to start the research project that goes with every move.   What is the new state or duty station like?  What does the surrounding community have to offer?  Where will my kids go to school?  Most importantly, where am I going to live?  Whether you choose to live on post, rent in the community, or take that BAH and invest it in buying your own home, there are a lot of questions and a lot of prep work needed to get ready.   If you're headed here to Fort Bragg, NC then you will have all kinds of options available to you. If you're ready to buy, then we at pcsPads.com are ready to help you out!  You may be anxious to schedule that house hunting trip, but there is a step you should consider taking before you load up the car or hop on that plane.  Consider getting pre-approved for a mortgage as soon as you've made the decision to start looking at homes.  There are a few key reasons for this.
First, getting pre-approved for a mortgage helps you know exactly how much home you can afford.  A great mortgage broker can provide you with a quote that will estimate your monthly payments and closing cost expenses.  Having that knowledge will empower you to find the right home for you and your family.
Second, you want to set yourself up for success for when you actually find that dream home.  The Fort Bragg real estate market is an active one.  Sellers are looking for qualified buyers, and want to limit their risk of running into financing snags.  They are more likely to be willing to negotiate if they know that you have already taken the steps to prove that you are a serious and fully-qualified buyer.
Also, you may actually give yourself an advantage if you're pre-approved.  If you find yourself in competition for the home you want (and it does happen, even in the current market), having that paper stating that you've been pre-approved by a mortgage lender will give you a boost over a buyer who hasn't taken that step.  Sellers prefer going with a sure-thing, and may even choose a lower offer from the buyer with a pre-approval.
The home buying process can seem confusing, but doing your homework and setting yourself up for success early is key.  When you work with a knowledgeable lender and an experienced Fort Bragg real estate agent, they can help guide you and simplify things considerably.  Getting that mortgage pre-approval is your first step to a successful home buying experience.

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Great New Listing in Jack Britt School District!

2153 Baywater Drive Fayetteville, NC
Very affordable two story home in highly desirable school district -- Arran Lakes West subdivision.  Spacious corner lot with fully-fenced and concrete patio.  Many trees keep cooling costs down.  This home features large living room with wood burning fireplace, formal dining room, eat-in kitchen with new stainless glass top stove and dishwasher.  Separate laundry room has built-in cabinetry.  Washer & dryer are included, along with stand up freezer and extra refrigerator in garage.  Half bath on main floor and 2 full baths upstairs.  Downstairs has newer laminate flooring, and carpet upstairs.  The bedrooms have large, spacious closets.  The attached two car garage has a separate storage/workshop area.  There is additional storage in the pulldown attic in the garage.  The neighbors take pride in their neighborhood and it shows!  The metal roof, vinyl siding, heat pump, water heater and garage doors have all been replaced in the last seven to nine years.  Contact Terri Petrie at 910-580-0802 or HomeProTerri@gmail.com for more information or to set up a showing!

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How to Get a Great Deal on Fayetteville, NC Real Estate

Everyone knows that the housing market has taken a hit in recent years.  Not a day goes by that there isn’t a news report on one aspect or another of the mortgage crisis, short sales, foreclosures and the affect on our economy.  It may sound like a lot of bad news and  can often scare many first-timers away from the market entirely; however, a down market can actually present an excellent opportunity to get some great deals.  

The Fort Bragg/Fayetteville market is no exception to this.  Fayetteville has been been somewhat insulated from the drastic highs and lows of the real estate crisis thanks to the influence of Fort Bragg and the effects of BRAC on the local economy.  2011 saw an exceptional boost with the arrival of Forces Command (FORSCOM) and the Army Reserve Command.  This BRAC realignment brought about 3,000 new personnel to Fort Bragg, which is already home to the 82nd Airborne Division and Special Operations Command, among others.  

These changes have resulted in the Fort Bragg BAH rates seeing a significant rise for 2012.  On average, the rates rose about 9.5% in January.  There continues to be a large inventory of homes available in the greater Fayetteville area, making it a buyer’s market.  This can be used to your advantage when considering a real estate purchase, and it is important to do your homework.  A Fort Bragg area real estate agent can assist you in your research of homes for sale.  There has been much made of short sales and foreclosures, and deals can definitely be found there.  Savvy buyers may be able to look a little closer to find some great deals without the complications that can come with distressed properties.  With the help of your REALTOR®, you can find hints that a great deal might be possible by closely examining real estate listings for certain key words or phrases or signs that a seller might be willing to negotiate on price.  Terms such as “motivated seller” and “below appraised value” can tip you off to a potential deal.  If a home has been on the market for months, is sitting vacant or has had a number of price reductions, these might be signals of a possible bargain in the making.  Your agent can assist you with identifying these potential signs and then negotiating to get you the best deal.  They can often negotiate to get all closing costs covered by the seller as well.  

The Fort Bragg area includes Cumberland, Harnett, Hoke and Robeson counties, which include the cities of Fayetteville, Spring Lake, Hope Mills, Raeford, Sanford, Lillington and Cameron.  There are homes available in these towns in all price ranges, and deals can be found in any category.  Finding a great home at an equally great price will set you up for future success as well.  When it’s time to move on, the savings up front will make it easier to sell your home to a new buyer.  With so many homes on the market, the opportunities have never been greater.  

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