Free and Fun things to do in New Bern

DON' T MISS THE 2009 FESTIVAL OF FUN (NEW BERN)- This year will mark the ninth year for Eastern North Carolina ' s best children ' s festival, the Festival of Fun. This year 's Festival of Fun is right around the corner, so mark your calendar for April 18 (no rain date). Join us at Union Point Park in downtown New Bern from 10am-3pm for a day full of games, arts & crafts, educational information, and fun. Back by popular demand, we will feature inflatable rides, flex flying, carnival food, games and more . Join us on April 18 , and enjoy the best Children ' s Festival in Eastern North Carolina! For more information, call (252)639-2902.

Spring is here in New Bern

Today is April second and when I just looked outside it is like all of a sudden my dogwoods and azelea's woke up and zap, almost full bloom and absolutely beautiful.

This is my favorite time of the year and I look forward to it each year and soon to follow will be boating weather. My wife and I boat at least once a week during the warm weather as it is our stress reliever. You just can't worry about your problems while on the Trent or Neuse River.

I'll take the hot weather over cold anytime. So here is to my good friend Mr. Spring and hope to see you on the water.

New Bern NC Real Estate Sales

For the week 3-23 through 3-29 there were 20 residential properties sold in Craven and Pamlico Counties. Currently there are 1513 properties listed.

That is quite a lot of inventory, about a year and a half worth. Definitely a buyers market so if you are selling you better price it right or your house is likely to sit for a long time.

Some of the ecomonist are projecting the real estate market will bottom out in the first quarter of 2010. If I am a buyer I would not try to time the bottom as it is not worth the risk of missing out on the attractive interest rates.

New Bern Habitat for Humanity Fundraiser

Craven County Fairgrounds Yard Sale to benefit habitat for Humanity

Don't throw it away. We need it.

Please donate your treasures, junk to support this worthy charity. All proceeds will benefit Habitat for Humanity.

This is an indoor yard sale at the fairgrounds. Rain or shine.

April 4, 2009 Saturday

7am till 12 noon

Craven County Fairgrounds Highway 70 East

Garage sale items can be dropped off at the Keller Williams Realty Office.

Support this worthy cause and clean out your garage.

First Time Homebuyers

I have blogged about the tax credit for new home buyers before but need to clear up a few issues. As you know first time home buyers are eligible for a tax credit of 10% of the purchase price of a home up to a maximum of $8000.00. Something I just learned about is that you will get the full $8000 tax credit even if you do not pay $8000 in federal income tax. Even more reason toget out there and buy that first house.

New Bern NC Home Sales

For the week of 3-16-3-22 there were 7 residential closings. Prices ranged from $119,000-$285,000. During this same time frame there were 23 homes that went under contract at an average price of $155,000.

Let's face it. It is a tough market, especially in the above $250,000 price range.

In today's competitive real estate market you need to have an experienced real estate broker working for you. You need the Tyson Group. Call us today, 252 514 9157.

$1,000 Staging. Done Right or Done Wrong?

When a home stager is hired one of their primary responsibilities is to stage the property in a manner that best solves problems or perceived issues sellers may have with it. Unfortunately this may not always happen.

CASE IN POINT: Recently I received an Email  from Adam in Chicago asking for advice over a dispute he was having with his stager regarding the worked she had preformed. Adam wrote…

Hello Craig,

My name is Adam and I am having a disagreement with a stager I hired.

I am trying to sell a 2-bedroom condo in Chicago and recently hired a professional to stage the empty condo. The property is unique in that the living room is very long and narrow, which is why my realtor and I thought it was important to stage it to show its potential. This is the only living area of the property so it has to look like a living room.

We've since (the staging) had ten showings without an offer.

I had two friends over… both of them said is "this room looks like a hallway". They also said that the way it's staged does not show the potential of the living room.

I called the stager… and she maintains that the room is properly staged and that I need to respect her professional opinion. She discounts these opinions because she says she's the professional.

Do you have any tips on how I could deal with my stager?

Thank you very much,
Adam

So that you have a complete picture of all that was done and how Adam's $1,000 was used to stage his property, I have created this short video show.



So... now that you have a more complete picture, I have a few final questions for you to consider.

1. Given the budget, Adam’s instruction, and the style of the home, did the stager stage the home correctly?
2. Did the stager provide a good solution for the problematic living room?
3. If Adam feels the solution provided does not solve the living rooms problem, what should he do?
4. What actions do you suggest the stager take to solve the problem?

Whether you are a seller, stager or realtor... I  am curious to know what you think.

Craig