Real Estate Right Now

This week on Real Estate Right Now, we're diving into the exciting world of smart home technology and custom AV solutions with a true industry leader. Join us as we welcome Michelle Vedder, owner of Synergy Integrated Systems in Raleigh, NC. Michelle brings years of expertise in audio, visual, and home automation systems designed to transform everyday living into extraordinary experiences. In this episode, we'll uncover how Synergy Integrated Systems is reshaping the way homeowners and real estate professionals think about technology in the home. From integrated lighting and climate control to state-of-the-art home theaters and whole-house audio, Michelle will share how her team customizes smart home solutions to meet[...]

This week on Real Estate Right Now, we're diving into one of the hottest topics in the housing world—mortgages, markets, and the shifting policies that are changing the game in real time. Join us as we sit down with none other than Christopher Coy, Senior Loan Officer with TowneBank Mortgage. With years of experience navigating the ever-evolving lending landscape, Christopher brings expert insight you won't want to miss. The real estate market has been anything but predictable lately. From fluctuating interest rates to tightening lending standards, buyers and sellers alike are trying to make sense of it all. Christopher will break down the latest federal and institutional policies that are[...]

The commercial real estate landscape is shifting, and if you want to stay ahead of the game, you won't want to miss this episode of Real Estate Right Now! This week, we sit down with Baxter Walker, Principal at Avison Young, to dive into the State of the Union of today's commercial real estate market. Whether you're an investor, developer, or just curious about where the industry is heading, this conversation is packed with valuable insights you can't afford to overlook. With rising interest rates, changing work environments, and economic uncertainty, navigating the commercial real estate market has never been more complex. Baxter Walker brings his expertise to break down[...]

There's nothing quite like the excitement of purchasing a brand-new home. The fresh paint, the untouched appliances, and the opportunity to make it truly your own—it's a dream for many buyers! But before you sign on the dotted line, there are key things you must know to avoid costly mistakes and make the best decision for your future. This week on Real Estate Right Now, we're talking all things new homes with Tony Fink, Listing and Buyer's Expert with Linda Craft Team Realtors. We'll dive into the advantages of buying new construction, the hidden costs buyers often overlook, and how to negotiate with builders to get the best deal. If[...]

  Taxes can make or break your real estate strategy, and most people miss out on huge savings. In this episode of Real Estate Right Now, expert tax advisor Bill Bourbonnais reveals the key tax strategies that homeowners, investors, and real estate professionals need to know. From deductions to loopholes, we're breaking down how to maximize your benefits and avoid costly mistakes. Real estate is one of the most tax-advantaged industries, but only if you know how to use it. Bill will cover Section 121 (home sale capital gains exclusion), 1031 Exchanges (deferring taxes on investment properties), and tax-saving strategies for agents and brokers. If you're in real estate, you[...]

Trends come and go, but if you're in real estate or looking to refresh your home, knowing what's in (and what's out) can make all the difference! On this episode of Real Estate Right Now, we welcome back design expert Rhonda Benvie Plummer, owner of Help Me Rhonda Interiors, to reveal the hottest home trends for 2025. From color palettes and textures to must-have design elements, Rhonda shares what's making waves in the world of interiors—and what's officially on its way out. Whether you're staging a home for sale, revamping your space, or just want to stay ahead of the curve, Rhonda's insights will help you make stylish, smart choices.[...]

  In this episode of Real Estate Right Now, we dive into a topic that every homeowner, buyer, and seller should understand—home warranties. Joining us is Laura Wilt from First American Home Warranty, an expert in the industry who breaks down everything you need to know about protecting your home and budget from unexpected repair costs. If you've ever wondered what a home warranty actually covers, how it differs from homeowners insurance, or whether it's worth the investment, this is the episode for you. Laura sheds light on common misconceptions, and how to choose the right home warranty plan for your needs. She also explains what's typically included (and excluded),[...]

When it comes to residential real estate and times of the year, there are some myths. One of them is that real estate is “slower than molasses in January”. That's not exactly true. In fact, January's can be a very productive month in real estate. The holidays are over, people are now looking at purchasing a home. True, there are fewer buyers in the market, but those buyers are extremely active. So, is it a good time to put your house on the market for sale in January? Is it a good time to buy? Does a change in a president make a difference? Well, to discuss these matter and[...]

So many changes have happened from 2024 to 2025. We have a new President and a new administration. We have interest rates stabilizing. The stock market appears to be soaring. We also are experiencing changes in the real estate markets. Inventories are increasing. Companies are placing more demands on their employees to RTO (Return to the Office) versus WFH (Work from Home). All of these things had a direct impact on the market. Is there any way we can predict how these factor and more may affect the real estate market in 2025? The answer is…maybe. That's not a cop out, it's just that if we have learned anything, nothing[...]

A question we get asked from time to time, what are some of the difference if you are purchasing a second home or investment home at the beach. While there are many similarities, there are some differences. There is also the question of how to choose to invest in the property. Will you be living in it? Will you rent it? If so, how do you rent it? What should you know about renting beach property? How do you make sure you have the right tenants? Then there is the issue of the ocean, how does being at the ocean affect the upkeep and maintenance, if any? In this episode[...]

We don't think about it very often, but water is essential. We drink it, wash with it, clean with it, use it for all sorts of things. Water can be like breathing, we only notice it when something is wrong with it. Water stains, poor taste quality, etc. Every city wants their citizens to believe they have “great” water. But is that really true? What is in your water? And whether your water comes from the city or you have your own well, water issues will and often arise. How do we handle them? In this episode of Real Estate Right Now, Vicky Hortman of Aqua Solve NC joins us[...]

We all get excited about the day the house closes. When you are handed those keys you realize you now have a home. However, the closing process in North Carolina is a bit unique compared with other states. Even if you live here there are some things you may not know about the closing process that will make it easier when you do close on your home. In this episode of Real Estate Right Now, Closing Attorney Scott Silvers of Hilton, Silvers, and McClanahan PLLC joins us to help you understand how the closing process works on the day you get to close your home. This show is certain to[...]

As many of you know there has been a change in the way Residential Real Estate is being conducted as a result of the NAR settlement. A few of the changes include that the MLS (the system that houses the listing inventory) is not allowed to post anything in regard to who is paying a commission to the buyer's agent. Or anything about commissions. Another change that we have seen across the country for most states is that the potential buyer must sign a buyers' agency agreement most of the time agreeing to pay the commission, or portion of the commission, to the buyers' agent if the seller is not[...]

To say that things are strange in the Real Estate market right now is an understatement. And if you ask the mortgage industry professionals they will tell you the same thing…things are changing and it is a bit unusual. So what are some questions that people often ask about the mortgage industry that we have not addressed or need more clarity on. For example, what are partnerships in the mortgage and real estate industry? What is the role of an “annual Mortgage review”? Should we be refinancing in the current market? What advice would a mortgage lender give a first time homebuyer? Why would mortgage rates move up when the[...]

There comes a time in everyone's life where we realize it is just time to downsize from where we are living. It doesn't matter the reason, you simply recognize that you just do not need all the space you are currently living in, and it is time to become more economical living space. The problem for most people is, and we all know this is true, we have quickly accumulated so much “stuff”! What do we do with it all! This is when we need an expert to help us. So on this episode of Real Estate Right Now, CEO and President of Show Homes Raleigh, Fred Pierson joins us[...]

Here we are in the beginning of the fall season, and that means taking care of our property starts to change. What do we do with our lawn? What treatments should you be doing this time of year? If you are looking to dress up the outside of the house, what are the best things to plant? And how about your trees? Are there treatments that you should be enlisting right now to ensure their health? What about preparing for the winter? In this episode of Real Estate Right Now Michael McCarthy from Yardology Landscaping Service returns to join us address all these questions and more! Linda Craft Team, Realtors,[...]

When it comes to real estate, so often we deal with numbers on what have already happened, and we try to make sense of the future. But what about predicting the future? True, we do not have a crystal ball, but we do have some numbers that are reliable for us to make some pretty good predictions about the real estate market. Part of that prediction process is understanding the current market dynamics. In this episode of Real Estate Right Now Listing and Sales, Real Estate Expert Tony Fink of Linda Craft Team Realtors, pulls the numbers to help you make more sound predictions of the real estate market for[...]

Many people love the thought of investing in real estate. However, there are risks with any investment. Should real estate be part of your investment strategy? How might it fit into a portfolio? What are the challenges when it comes to using real estate as part of your financial plan? Is real estate a better investment plan? How does it compare to other investments? In this episode of Real Estate Right Now Adam Whitesell, CFP®, CRPC™, APMA™, CEP®, Private Wealth Advisor, Managing Director at Inspired Capital joins us to talk about how real estate can be a part of your financial future.   Linda Craft Team, Realtors www.LindaCraft.com Linda Craft[...]

The home computer. Very few of us can remember a time we didn't have one. Whether it be stand alone, the laptop, the tablet, etc. The home computer is part of the home. And with the home computer has come computer viruses, phishing attempts and more. What should you do to protect yourself? And how do you protect your family? Today, many of us work from home, and because of that the computer that we use can be more subject to possible threats than behind a work firewall. What is the best way to protect your work information. In this episode of Real Estate Right Now, Bayne Shulstad, Owner and[...]

As we approach the 2024 Presidential Election, there are rumblings in the mortgage market. Will this be like every other election year that right before the election, interest rates “magically” decline? We shall see. Because mortgage rates have been higher than in past years, are there new programs that you may be able to take advantage of? Then, with the recent National Association of Realtors settlement that is affecting buyers more specifically, how does the mortgage industry react for the first time homebuyer and VA loans? Senior Lending Officer with Townebank Morgage Chris Coy joins us on Real Estate Right Now to answer these questions and more! Linda Craft Team,[...]

http://www.realestaterightnowshow.com We cannot talk about real estate and neglect the Commercial Real Estate world. The fact is commercial real estate is connected to residential real estate. So what is going on in the commercial market? Are prices going up? Are there certain sectors in the market that have value for you? Have you considered commercial real estate as an investment? We have heard there are some vacancies in commercial, especially in the office space sector, what does that mean? Could that be an opportunity? To answer those questions and more we at Real Estate Right Now bring back Baxter Walker Principal with Avison Young to give us the State of[...]

With more homes on the market right now, making sure that your home stands out is an absolute must. So how do you “stage” your house in the summer months? What should you do to add little nuances that may make your home the bigger winner when it comes to winning the buyer over? In this episode of Real Estate Right Now we are joined by the return of Kristy Slater of Show Homes of Raleigh joins us to give us her staging insights. By the way even if your home is not going on the market, her ideas make your home more inviting even if your having a summer[...]

To say we have been going through a heat wave is an understatement. Temperatures have climbed into the triple digits. Let's face it…It's hot! While you and I can escape the heat by going into the airconditioned house, what about your lawn, trees, and shrubs? Is there something you can do to help protect your lawn and plants? What options are available? And what are the dos and don'ts in the summer when it is this hot? Well on this episode of Real Estate Right Now Michael McCarthy with Yardology Landscaping joins us to help you keep your yard and plants from becoming extinct due to the heat. Yardology is[...]

  At some point we are going to deal with mold. It is a given if you live or have a business anywhere, but especially in the Southern Atlantic States. But often times we purchase older homes and commercial buildings that we have plans to renovate only to realize that we may have issues of not only mold, but perhaps lead, asbestos, or something else. How is this remediation handled? Is there a right way and a wrong way to handle these remediations? And are there other things we should consider as well. In this episode of Real Estate Right Now Owner and President of Carolinas Environmental, LLC Paul Oxendine[...]

When you are selling or buying a home there is also the thought of how you are going to move your belongings from one place to another. Even the most seasoned buyer or seller will tell you that moving their possessions are not the easiest of the most fun. And then there are considerations about how long the move will be. It might be one thing if you are moving across town, but what if you are moving across the state or the country? And what about children? What should you consider when it comes to moving them? And what about preparation? What are your options? It is these questions[...]

When it comes to changes to the way residential real estate will be conducted in the not too distant future. Things are moving very quickly. Already in the state of North Carolina, as in many states we are seeing changes to the forms that will be used for both buyers and sellers. What is more there also appears to be some additional complications that will possibly come out of these changes. To help us gain some clarity of what is coming and what may come, 2023 President of the North Carolina Association of Realtors, Leigh Brown joined us in studio to talk about how the NAR settlement is going to[...]

What can a general contractor/builder tell you about building? A whole lot. Things that you probably are not thinking about. And when it comes residential homes or commercial properties the things you should know about building are vast. And what about renovations? What are the most common?  Are they worth it? How about building an Addition? Should you do it? Should you wait? What does a GC/builder say? Have you thought about building at the beach?  Is it the same as building anywhere else?  Things that you should know. Well in this episode of Real Estate Right Now we are joined by Founder, Owner, and President of RCC-Carolina, Inc-JCV Construction[...]

It is that time of year where we do our midyear “State of the Union” address on residential real estate. The fact is things have changed. The market is rapidly changing.  Housing inventory, mortgage rates, and more! Things are confusing out there right now. So we need some help. In this episode of Real Estate Right Now Dwayne Reece Senior Listing and Buyers Expert with Linda Craft Team Realtors talks with us about the “Trends” he is seeing in this mid year market. Things like, rising housing inventories and what that means, the volatile interest rate situation, builder confidence, and the idea the today's market is like a dance. Are[...]

If you are in the market to buy or sell a home hopefully you have been keeping an eye on the NAR settlement. Many people believe that the settlement will only affect real estate professionals, but that simply is not true. In fact, when the dust settles from the settlement (pun intended) buyers may find that they will be paying out of pocket costs that they simply did not have to pay before. In this episode of Real Estate Right Now, Senior Listing and Buyers Expert Kim Crump with Linda Craft Team REALTORS joins us again to help us understand how borrowing money may change as a result of the[...]

I remember growing up my aunt and uncle had a multi-story home where my aunt's parents also lived. I guess you could say it was a multi-generational home. Today however, multi-generational homes are actually a class of homes that are being built for this generation. A number of years ago you may have heard of the phrase the “in-law suite”, but today they are actually building at times separate residence for that parent who wants some independence, but at the same time desires to be near the family. In this episode of Real Estate Right Now Tony Fink, Linda Craft Team Realtors senior Listing expert talks about generational homes from[...]

If you talk to anyone about real estate, it is inevitable that the conversation will come around to interest rates. And Interest rates have not moved much in the past few months.  If anything they seem to have increased. We are nearly half way through May of 2024. Interest rates have been the talk of the country. What should you know as we head into summer of 2024? The state of the mortgage industry has been a little crazy to say the least. The rates have stayed high relative to the 3% interest rates we knew just a couple of years ago. Well to answer all these questions and more,[...]

Thanks to our awesome viewers and listeners they provided us with some really great questions to do an entire second show.  Thank you we truly are grateful. On this episode of Real Estate Right Now, Senior Selling and Buyers Real Estate Expert Steve Kruger joins us again to talk about a couple of questions that you think about but have not asked. One of those questions is about a pool and a pool house.  Pretty relevant summer questions.  Join us right here for the show.  It promises to be a real estate eye opener! Linda Craft Team, Realtors for more than 39 years their customers call their customer service “legendary”. Linda[...]

You may not know much about commercial real estate. And yet we cannot live without commercial real estate. Every store, every office, every restaurant is commercial real estate. The fact is it affects each and everyone of us every day. If you have not paid attention, then you should know that if commercial real estate has a collapse it will negatively affect residential real estate. So what should you know about the current commercial real estate market? On this episode of Real Estate Right Now we are joined by veteran commercial broker Baxter Walker of Avison Young to help us make sense of the current market and teach us a[...]

We are grateful for all our DBTV viewers and podcast listeners.  Because we have some of the best listeners and viewers in the world, we reach out them to ask them what questions they would like to have answered. Well you did not disappoint!  You gave us a lot of really great questions.  In fact, so many we needed to do 2 shows to answer a good number of them. Who could handle answering these questions?  Well, we thought that none other than senior listing and buyers real estate expert Steve Kruger should sit down and answer those questions. So join us on Real Estate Right Now for part 1[...]

As we are into full Spring for many of us the yard we have at are home is looking pretty good. But it will not be long until the heat will come rolling in and that beautiful yard is…well…not so beautiful. What things should you be doing to take care of your yard? What should you be preparing for during the summer coming up? Then there are questions of what should be looking for in your yard that should be of a concern? And how should you treat it. In this Episode of Real Estate Right Now Chris Williams of the Landscaping Company Yardology joins us to help you with[...]

There are many people who would like to buy a home, but they don't…So, what's is a home buyer who can afford to buy thinking when it comes to buy a home? Does having a lower interest rate really on their current home keeping a buyer from buying a home, knowing that they are going to have a higher interest rate? How much of a factor is it? Does the lower home inventory keep a home buyer out of the market? How much of an impact does that have on their decision? In this episode of Real Estate Right Now we are joined by Judd Weisgal who currently owns a[...]

As the National Association of Realtors settlement draws nearer and changes will inevitably be made to real estate in the summer, the question looms how will these changes affect you? Fortunately, if you are living in North Carolina, because of their proactive nature, there will be change, but probably not as dramatic as the rest of the country. But there is still some panic, uncertainty, and misinformation about who will be affected, how dramatic it may be, and how will real estate be conducted. In this episode of Real Estate Right Now Veteran Sellers and Buyers Expert Kim Crump of Linda Craft Team Realtors joins us to give us a[...]

What Does The NAR Lawsuit Real Mean for Real Estate? The news has been all over the fact that the National Association of Realtors has settled to pay hundreds of millions of dollars on a law suit. What was this lawsuit really about? Is every state affected the same way? But what does this really mean to the future of doing real estate? How does it affect consumers? And how does it affect real estate professionals? Well time will ultimately tell, but there are some things we do know for sure will need to change as this may not be all that great for the consumer. In this episode of[...]

If you live in Wake County in North Carolina you saw your home values increase according to the most recent assessments. For some that increase is rather significant. But hold on! It may not be as bad as you first thought when you saw the huge increase in your assessed home value. Also, you can dispute the increase, but that may not always be in your best interest. So how should we approach these increases? Well in this episode of Real Estate Right Now, Paul Fitts, Senior Loan Officer from Advantage Mortgage joins us to help you understand the ins and outs of the assessment. Linda Craft Team, Realtors for more[...]

When you get ready to close on your home, you will be presented with the Home Disclosure Statement. It is going to have a bunch of dollar figures on it, and many of them are not going to make sense. In fact, you may ask, “What am I paying all this for?” And those are great questions. You may also ask, “Why is there an Escrow account?”, “How much is lender making on the load?”, “What do you mean I have to pay taxes before they are due?” and probably many more. When you purchase a home, the home closing disclosure can look very confusing not to mention intimidating. On[...]

Well, it's almost here. You have negotiated that house that you always wanted, you have done the inspections. You have negotiated the inspections. And now you are getting ready for closing… But wait! What is this document that has all these numbers and figures on it. They used to call it a HUD? You don't understand. And what do all these numbers mean. There is some terms and terminology that doesn't make sense. And why is this money going to these certain line items? It's all so confusing. In the next two episodes of Real Estate Right Now Senior Mortgage Loan Officer with Townebank Chris Coy helps us understand the[...]

Every business starts with an idea. And as that idea keeps getting more and more detail the business starts to move into some sort of reality. Maybe it starts in your garage or basement, but there will come a time it needs to move into a commercial space. Now what do you do? You are a business. You have never purchased or leased commercial real estate, what do you really need to know? Where do you start? How do you know if your getting into is the right price? What else should you know from a business stand point. On this episode of Real Estate Right Now we bring on[...]

I have said that getting into real estate is like Denny's…”You don't make a reservation to go there, but after a few drinks it's where everybody seems to wind up.” Well maybe that is not exactly true, but fact remains that many people have the thought about getting into real estate. And by the way there are all generations of people who are interested in it. And they get interested in it for a variety of reasons. In this episode of Real Estate Right Now, Sophie LaPierre a new real estate professional with Linda Craft Team, Realtors joins us to talk about her experience joining a new real estate team.[...]

With interest rates coming down, some of you are considering purchasing a home. Typically, people who purchase a home need a mortgage. Most often people will start their home purchasing process by speaking with a real estate professional. But a great real estate professional will tell you to start your home purchase with a mortgage lender. The reason being seller's want to ensure that you can obtain a mortgage before you can purchase the home. So now you set up a meeting with a mortgage lender, what should you expect? What should you be prepared for? Do you need to bring anything with you? In this episode of Real Estate[...]

We often talk about first time home buyers. Because after it all it is more than likely the single largest personal purchase you will make in your life. But what we don't talk about is selling your first home. When buying your first home you wanted to get the home for the least amount of money. But when selling your home you want to get the most amount of money. How is it even possible for a buyer and seller get together?  Some how how they do. So, when it comes to selling your first home, what should you know. How does the process work. What should you do and[...]

What is a Community Bank, and How Can They Help You with Your Next Home Purchase? We hate to say we told you so, but we told you so. We at Real Estate Right Now have said for the last 12 months interest rates would start dropping when we got into 2024 as we get closer to an election year…they seem to magically drop. And guess what? They did!! As more home buyers get into the market you should consider your lending options. And one such option is the community bank. Wait…what? What is a community bank you may eagerly ask? Well rather then spell it out here, on this[...]

For those of you who do are not from the Research Triangle Park in North Carolina. This area is made up of three cities with three major Universities, Chapel Hill (University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill), Durham (Duke University), and Raleigh (North Carolina State University). This area makes up a triangle that house hundreds of major businesses known around the world. In this episode of Real Estate Right Now, Owner, Creator, of the T.A.R.R. Report (Triangle Area Residential Real Estate) Stacey Afindsen joins us to give us an update of all kinds of critical data that affects the Triangle area. We talk what he sees as far as housing[...]

DIY or “Do It Yourself” shows are extremely popular. They are watched on TV with regularity. What is more when it comes to doing work in a home, many people will go to the “University of YouTube” (as I like to call it), and learn how they can take on those home projects themselves. But when it comes to “Doing It Yourself” it's not all what the TV shows like to show you. What really happens when someone decides to DIY? this episode of Real Estate Right Now, Kim Crump, Listing and Buyers Expert with Linda Craft Team, Realtors joins us. Kim is a DIYer. And she recently redid one[...]

Technically winter does not start until later in December. However, if you ask most people, they will tell you winter is already here. We are experiencing cold and in different parts of the country extreme cold and snow and other elements. That means that your heating system is going to be put under pressure. And most of the time we just make the assumption that is going to work. And as long as we feel heat, we feel that everything is okay. But is it really? On this episode of Real Estate Right Now, Brad Biggs, President of Biggs HVAC, Electrical & Plumbing joins us to talk about a few[...]

Holiday season is upon us. You can't avoid it. The Christmas seasonal stuff was already coming out in September! Seriously!? And when are being bombarded earlier and earlier with holiday things to add to our homes to decorate them to the hilt. But what are really some of the decorating trends? And can there be a point when decorating gets to be too much? And what if you are in the middle of selling your home? How much should you decorate? Well on this episode of Real Estate Right Now, Kristy Slater joins us to talk about home holiday decorating, and gives all of us some great advice on what[...]

“I will wait until interest rates go down.” We have heard it said. You may have even said it yourself. But as we have seen interest rates have not gone down, and the cost of housing has increased. Now what is the strategy? Is now the time to wait out the market? For many it is still I will wait, but what factors are you not considering by waiting? Could it be in reality costing you more? That dream house you have had your eye on…is it getting more expensive? In this episode of Real Estate Right Now Seller and Buyer Expert Dwayne Reese with Linda Craft Team Realtors joins[...]