Date Archives: July 2019

Being your own boss and building your own business is one of the most satisfying things you can ever achieve. When the long hours and hard work pay off, you are most likely going to want to invest the spoils of your labor into one of the many fabulous Southport homes for sale. While you're no doubt eager to start reviewing listings, the first thing you should take care of is securing mortgage pre-approval. For the self-employed, this critical approval is easier when you take the following steps.  

1. Document Your Income
   It's crucial to document your income and establish that you have sufficient resources to make mortgage payments. To do this, you'll want to provide at least two years of tax returns. It's also a good idea to prepare a profit/loss statements since the lender may ask for this. Further, if you have been self-employed for a few years, you can use your income records and profit/loss statements to establish patterns in your business profile.
   
   Conversely, if you have been self-employed for less than two years, you can provide one year of W-2s if you worked in the same field as your current enterprise. You should note that when you do this, it's essential that you can show the same amount or greater income from your business when it's compared to the W-2. You should also prepare a quarterly statement for your asset accounts, including all bank accounts, CDs, IRAs, stocks, etc.

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People often ask our REALTORS® if it's a better idea to list their Southport homes for sale after everything has been moved out and it's vacant. The reality is that homes can sell just fine either way. Sometimes the seller's situation requires one choice over the other, and there are advantages and disadvantages to both. If you're not sure what might work for you, consider these pros and cons.

Reasons for Selling a Home Vacant

There are a lot of reasons selling a vacant home might be the best or only option for a seller. These are just a few of the reasons a home might be vacant:  

• Relocation out of town or out of state
• Elderly homeowners that have had a sudden change in their living situation
• Home that needs major renovations before selling
• Homeowner has health problems, mobility issues, or a disability that would make it difficult to leave for showings

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Summer will be here before you know it, and our REALTORS® are excited about all the possibilities that warm weather brings to the Brunswick County, NC area. This quiet, picturesque region along the Carolina coast offers ample opportunities to experience the outdoors. 

If you're looking for some fun in the sun this season, start with one of these Brunswick County Parks. They're some of our favorite places to enjoy the outdoors, and since July is National Picnic Month, you might want to bring some friends and family along—not to mention some hamburgers and hot dogs!

1. Waterfront Park – 146-176 E. Bay St., Southport, NC
   The name says it all. This 9-acre park just a few blocks away from numerous Southport homes for sale is the ultimate place to enjoy the sights and sounds of Brunswick County's waterfront. Waterfront Park overlooks the Intracoastal Waterway and the Cape Fear River, making it a mecca for fishing, as well as watching the fishing boats coming and going from port. Ample picnic tables, park benches, picnic shelters, and grills make it a perfect picnic spot as well, and with a little luck at the park's fishing pier, you might just find yourself catching lunch.

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Congratulations! You've found the house after looking at many wonderful Southport homes for sale and made it to the final walkthrough. You're about to officially become a homeowner! You're probably excited to get into your new home, but take the time to make sure everything is right before you sign the papers and get the keys. Our REALTORS® recommend you look for these five things on your walkthrough.

1. Verify repairs. Many people request repairs after a home inspection. Bring along your inspection report so that you can confirm repairs were made and done to your satisfaction. The seller should have provided documentation as well, and you'll need that in case you would have a problem covered under the contractor's warranty policy. Construction debris and materials should have been cleaned up.

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