See You at the Carolina Wedding Fair!

 
 

West + Main Homes NC will be one of 35 specialized vendors at the Carolina Wedding Fair taking place on March 19th from 12-6pm at Carolina Home & Garden.

A local real estate agent will be available to answer questions regarding our current market. West + Main Homes NC offers several First Time Home Buying classes throughout the spring + summer months, guests at this event will have the opportunity to be the first to sign up.

We will be showcasing current + upcoming listings in Carteret County + short term beach rentals for bridal/wedding parties or honeymoon vacations. Fun giveaways, including a free night at a local beach house getaway + a gift card to The Island Grille will be gifted to one lucky couple.

You can purchase tickets here, guests will receive a glass of prosecco entering the fair + a gift bag of goodies.

Reach out to Gray at gray@westandmainnc.com with any questions about this event.

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Carteret County Real Estate Market Report from February 2023

 
 

The Carteret County real estate market continues to stabilize, leaving buyers and sellers looking ahead to the spring selling season to provide insights into how the rest of the year will unfold.

Buyers are watching rates closely and patiently waiting for new inventory to hit the market. They are more discerning about home prices, less willing to compete and will only jump into a bidding war if the house is move-in ready and suits their needs. If a home has been sitting on the market or has recently experienced a price reduction, buyers are more inclined to negotiate a rate buy down than a reduction in the purchase price. As buyer activity increased in February and more homes hit the market, the average close price for a detached home rose 13.45 percent to $ 586,673.

New listings, pending sales and closed sales all trended upward month-over-month for attached and detached homes. The average days in MLS for single family homes rose from 57 days in January to 68 in February.

While activity in the market is on the rise, buyers are eager for more choices. At the end of the day, Carteret County still has an inventory problem. New listings for both detached and attached homes are the lowest we have seen in a long time.

The source for more inventory lies with potential sellers who are contemplating a move; however, if these sellers need to buy another home, they are between a rock and a hard place. Their home is no longer working for their lifestyle, but facing an interest rate that may be more than three percent higher than their current rate is a hard pill to swallow. The good news for sellers is that we are still primarily in a seller's market. Buyers are paying what sellers are asking.

Buyers are actively looking and the majority of the market still favors sellers. Homes may not sell in the first week-end, or even the first 30 days, but they are selling and prices are staying strong. As we enter Carteret County’s spring market, which traditionally starts this month, there is still much to love about the 2023 real estate market.

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If there is a home that you would like more information about, if you are considering selling a property, or if you have questions about the housing market in your neighborhood, please reach out. We’re here to help.

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6 Plants That Definitely Belong in Your Bedroom

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Houseplants can be great for mental health — in fact, studies have shown that having plants and flowers in your space can ease pain and anxiety.

But whether or not they belong in the bedroom remains a matter of debate. Many feng shui practitioners say their vibrant energy is all wrong for a restful space, while some landscaping experts say plants in the bedroom can actually be soothing and sleep-inducing.

If you do put plants in your bedroom, you just need to choose the right ones and make sure they get the TLC they need. “All plants need sunlight, good airflow, water, etc., no matter where it lives,” says Lisa Griffin, the greenhouse horticulturist at Filoli, a historic house and gardens in California. “Choosing the right place for your plant should be based on its light requirements,” adds author Sarah Gerrard-Jones, known as The Plant Rescuer on Instagram.

So if you want to breathe new life and color into your sleeping quarters but aren’t sure where to start, here are six plants that experts say will make beautiful additions to your bedroom. 

Snake Plant

 
 

The snake plant is a welcome addition to the bedroom, especially if you have more intense light coming in through your windows. This durable plant holds up well to brighter light conditions and comes in a variety of heights, colors, and leaf shapes, says Griffin. She often adds snake plants near west-facing windows, where they’ll thrive on sunny afternoons, although she refrains from putting them directly in the beam of light, which could harm the plant. Snake plants also reproduce and can be split up into other pots if your plant starts to outgrow your windowsill.

Pink Pinstripe

When you need a bit of encouragement to drift off to sleep, take a cue from pink pinstripe, which is also known as calathea. “This plant signals that it’s time for bed as it folds its leaves upward,” says Debbie Neese, a horticulture expert at Lively Root. “It shows off under the pinstriped leaf to reveal a purple underside, which is like having two plants in one.” Calatheas are also an easy plant to take care of, as they love medium light and prefer to be on a pebble tray to encourage humidity as water evaporates, which keeps the leaves from turning brown.

ZZ Plant

 
 

If you’re looking for an appropriate bedside companion, try the wonderfully low-maintenance ZZ plant. Although the acronym comes from its scientific name, Zamioculcas zamiifolia, its nickname makes it a perfect match for your bedroom. ZZ plants are also great for first-time plant owners as they will flourish with little care. “They thrive in about any light you put them in and don’t need a lot of attention, either,” says Neese.

Gerrard-Jones recommends finding the dark cultivar of the ZZ plant. “The new growth is particularly striking due to its lime green appearance, which makes a dramatic contrast to the almost-black mature leaves,” she says. In addition, the darker plant with pops of lime green can be a beautiful accent to a bedroom color palette. 

Peace Lily

Peace lilies are a popular plant as their name evokes a sense of calm and rest. You can choose several species for your bedroom, such as the domino, which has variegated leaves. Griffin enjoys utilizing them both at her home and office. “Peace lily is my favorite plant for poor growing conditions,” she says. “They come in various sizes and a few different leaf colors.” For open spaces, she tends to use the traditional larger form, and for narrow areas, she says medium and small cultivars are best.

Philodendron

 
 

When plant experts weighed in, one plant was mentioned repeatedly: the philodendron, which has more than 450 varieties. The imperial green has wide leaves, creating a lot of surface area. “Its large, deep green leaves are adept at harnessing light, making it a good choice for an area with lower light,” Gerrard-Jones says. Just be sure you give this philodendron ample room as it grows, she says, as it can get big.

Have a ledge or shelf for a trailing plant? The velvet leaf and sweetheart vine philodendrons are lovely to hang in front of a window or place on a dresser. Gerrard-Jones says the velvet leaf can have tendrils up to 6.5 feet long indoors, so make sure you have room. Sweetheart vine, also known as lemon-lime, is tolerant of low to medium light and perfect for beginners. “Its trailing vine is a multi-lemon-chartreuse-green leaf version that will spill over your bedside table quite romantically,” adds Neese. 

Kentia Palm

For more of an island flair, the Kentia palm adds a tropical touch to any room. “It will survive in lower light than many of its counterparts,” says Gerrard-Jones. Although it’s a tolerant tropical plant, it still needs a bit of bright light, so place it by the window if possible. These plants grow slowly, but it’s best to make a long-term plan to move them outdoors as they can grow quite tall over time.

Get more like this on Apartment Therapy.

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If there is a home that you would like more information about, if you are considering selling a property, or if you have questions about the housing market in your neighborhood, please reach out. We’re here to help.

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Equity Gains for Today’s Homeowners

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Today’s homeowners are sitting on significant equity, even as home price appreciation has eased recently.

If you’re a homeowner, your net worth got a boost over the past few years thanks to rising home prices. Here’s what it means for you, even as the market moderates.

How Equity Has Grown in Recent Years 

Because of the imbalance between how many homes were for sale and the number of homebuyers in the market over the past few years, home prices appreciated substantially.

And while price appreciation has slowed this year, that doesn’t mean you’ve lost all the equity in your home. In fact, the latest Homeowner Equity Insights report from CoreLogic finds the average homeowner’s equity has grown by $34,300 over the past year alone.

And if you’ve been in your home longer than that, chances are you have even more equity than you realize.

While that’s the national number, if you want to know what happened in your area, look at the map below from the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA). It shows on average how much home prices have risen over the past five years, which has been a major driver behind equity growth.

 
 

Why This Is So Important Right Now 

While equity helps increase your overall net worth, it can also help you achieve other goals, like buying your next home. When you sell your current house, the equity you’ve built up comes back to you in the sale, and it may be just what you need to cover a large portion – if not all – of the down payment on your next home.

So, if you’ve been holding off on selling, it may be time to find out how much equity you have and how it can help fuel your next move.

Bottom Line

Homeownership is a long game, and if you’re planning to make a move, the equity you’ve gained over time can make a big impact. To find out just how much equity you have in your current home and how you can use it to fuel your next purchase, connect with a local real estate professional.

Read on.

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If there is a home that you would like more information about, if you are considering selling a property, or if you have questions about the housing market in your neighborhood, please reach out. We’re here to help.

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How to Keep Your Hardwood Floors Looking Their Best

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Hardwood floors are an investment in your home, and they should be taken care of accordingly.

With the right maintenance and cleaning routine, you can keep your hardwood floors looking beautiful for years to come. Here are five tips you can use to care for your hardwood floors.

Sweep or Vacuum Regularly
One of the most important steps in caring for your hardwood floors is keeping them free of dirt and debris. A simple broom or vacuum cleaner will do the trick. Be sure to use a soft-bristled broom or brush attachment on your vacuum to avoid scratching the wood. Additionally, make sure that you clean up any spills immediately using a soft cloth.

Clean with Mild Soap and Water
If you need to deep clean your hardwood floors, try using a mild soap diluted in warm water. Avoid using harsh chemicals, as these can damage the finish on your flooring over time. Once you’ve cleaned with soap and water, dry off any excess liquid with a soft cloth or towel. If there are still spots remaining, use a little bit of vinegar on the spot and let it sit for 15 minutes before wiping it away with another damp cloth.

Use Furniture Protectors
Using furniture protectors is an easy way to protect both your flooring and furniture from scratches and dents. Place furniture protectors underneath all legs of heavy furniture such as couches, tables, chairs, etc., so that they don’t scratch or scrape against your floors when moved around. Hardwood floors are particularly vulnerable during times of renovation or construction; if possible, cover them up with plastic sheeting during these projects as well as when painting walls nearby.

Avoid Exposure to Sunlight
Direct sunlight can cause fading on any type of wood surface over time due to ultraviolet radiation contained within the light itself. Whenever possible, try to keep curtains closed over windows that get direct sunlight throughout the day so that fading is minimized. In addition, move area rugs around occasionally so that no one spot gets more exposure than another; this helps even out any potential discoloration due to sunlight exposure over time (and also keeps one side from becoming too worn down).

Refinish Every Few Years 
Refinish your hardwood floors every few years (approximately three times per decade) so that their shine stays intact without losing durability from everyday foot traffic wear-and-tear . Because refinishing is somewhat involved process—it requires sanding down existing layers of finish before applying new ones—it’s best left up to professional contractors who know what they’re doing and have the right tools necessary for job completion safely and effectively.

Taking care of hardwood floors may seem like an intimidating task at first, but it doesn't have to be! With regular sweeping/vacuuming combined with occasional deep cleans using mild soap and water solutions (followed by drying!), along with adding furniture protectors and avoiding direct sunlight exposure wherever possible, taking good care of your hardwood flooring becomes much easier over time. Additionally, make sure you're getting them professionally refinished every few years -- this will help maintain their beautiful luster while also preserving their longevity. Following these steps will ensure that your hardwood floors stay looking beautiful for years to come!

Get more like this on RIS Media.

Related Links

If there is a home that you would like more information about, if you are considering selling a property, or if you have questions about the housing market in your neighborhood, please reach out. We’re here to help.

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