Last April, my daughter and her boyfriend adopted two Australian Shepherd puppies from the Newberry County Animal Shelter. The puppies, purebred, cost them a total of $85 in adoption fees. Now compare that to the nearly $1,000 they would have spent at a pet store or a breeders, they hit the jackpot.

Money aside, these dogs are the sweetest, most loving, and SMARTEST dogs I’ve ever known. I’ve heard it a hundred times, but these two little Aussies have made a believer out of me: Rescues are the way to go.

With estimates between 6 and 8 MILLION dogs and cats entering shelters nationally every year, and nearly 25% of them purebred, there is a huge opportunity for us to rescue animals. As of right now roughly half of those animals are adopted every year.

From a health standpoint, having pets can add years to your life. Studies show that adults with dogs (especially) are more active than adults of the same age that aren’t pet owners. Pets decrease loneliness, increase laughter and social contact; even just petting a dog or watching a fish tank can lower your blood pressure.

So next time you’re looking to make a furry addition to your family, check out your local humane society. You just might find your new best friend!

Renee Infinger

www.reneeinfinger.com

renee@reneeinfinger.com

704.609.4241

On this Fourth of July, take time amidst the fireworks, hotdogs, and picnics to remember those who fought for the freedom that we celebrate today. Although today marks our independence as a country from tyrannical rule, as Americans, every day we experience the freedom and liberty that our forefathers envisioned for us.

photos by: Allison Infinger

Have a happy and safe Fourth of July, and let freedom ring.

Renee Infinger, Realtor/ Broker

Charlotte, NC

(704) 609-4241

renee@reneeinfinger.com

As a native South Carolinian and mother to a USC alum, this has been a special week in my family. The Gamecocks have done it! They have earned the title of National Champions two years in a row. BACK2BACK!

photo courtesy of collegebaseball360.com

Renee Infinger, Realtor/Broker

(704) 609-4241

soldonweddington.wordpress.com

Real estate is a funny business in that Realtors are independent contractors. Some Realtors own their own companies while other Realtors work under the “umbrella” of a larger company.  As independent contractors, we are paid ONLY when we settle the transaction of the sale at the attorney’s office. The Professional Fee (aka commission) is split 4 ways.  Half of the fee goes to the listing company and the other half goes to the selling company. The listing company then pays the Realtor whatever split their agreement specifies. The same goes for the selling company and the buyer agent.

What do you get from your listing agent? Do they just fill out the paperwork and then stick the sign in the yard? Maybe sprinkle a little fairy dust on it?

Charlotte Regional Realtors Association has compiled a list of 180 things that you should expect from a listing agent. I would be glad to share some of them with you. Also, does your agent do social media marketing? I DO!!!

How can I help you?

Renee

www.reneeinfinger.com

renee@reneeinfinger.com

704-609-4241

One of the advantages of putting a home warranty on the property that you are selling is that you as the seller are also covered during your listing period. If your home sells during the listing period, then you pay for it at the closing or at escrow. If your home doesn’t sell or if you change your mind on selling, you do not pay for the warranty. Also, what happens if you had a repair need while you had your home on the market? You still don’t pay for the warranty. It’s a win- win for you.

The warranty is fairly simple. You can call in and enroll , you can enroll  on the internet or you can have your Realtor enroll you. You only have to pay a service fee when a repairman is called to your home. The warranty can cover items such as your heating, cooling, dishwasher, plumbing, electrical issues plus a lot more. You must call the warranty company and use one of their preferred providers or the warranty company won’t cover the appliance.

A typical water heater could cost $ 587 to replace and the average repair cost could be $ 104. With a warranty, you would pay $ 60 for a Trade Service Call Fee.

This is all free for you as a seller while your home is for sale. You must agree to extend it for one year for the buyer at a fee of ~ $ 505.00 for one of the warranty companies.

So, why would you decline this service as a seller? Anyone can add a warranty on a home even if you aren’t planning to move.

If you have any questions, please feel free to email me or call me and I will give you the names of a couple of warranty companies.

Renee Infinger, Broker/Realtor

704.609.4241

www.reneeinfinger.com

renee@reneeinfinger.com

According to sources, Steve Harney of KCM( Keeping Current Matters) , states that media will be reporting two different ideas like comparing apples to oranges.

The NAR ( National Association of Realtors) will be releasing numbers based on “pending ” home sales and ” closed ” or ” existing ” home sales. Pending home sales are homes that have a signed offer to purchase but has not finalized the closing of the sales which typically will take place in a month or two.  Existing home sales are homes that have completed the process and will be reported as single family homes, condos, townhouses and co-ops.

Also in the reporting will be month over month ( m-o-m) and year over year(y-o-y) reporting. In the past, we would look at year over year reporting but home sales increased last year with the First Time Home Buyers Credit in the first 4 months of 2010.

Although an increase is expected in sales this year, more homes will be added to the inventory due to foreclosures and short sales. Supply and demand will determine prices and the market should normalize again. Appreciation in the current market will occur later this year or early 2012.

Renee Infinger, Realtor/Broker

704-609-4241

www.reneeinfinger.com

renee@reneeinfinger.com

by The KCM Crew on February 1, 2011

We found this past weekend’s New York Times article, You Don’t Have To Pay It, very interesting reading. It was a piece on whether it makes sense to pay a 6% commission to your real estate agent in today’s market. In the article, there are sellers, buyers and even agents debating what is the right number that should be charged to assist a consumer in completing a real estate transaction. We would like to add our two cents to the debate.

Forget what the actual amount of the commission is. The bigger question is whether you should pay a ‘full fee’ when hiring a real estate expert to guide you through the complexities of today’s rapidly changing housing environment. If a full fee was the rule in 2006 when completing a deal was so much simpler, why would you now consider cutting the fee of your agent in today’s tumultuous market? You are depending on this person to help you reach your goals in a sale or purchase.

In 2006, buyers were willing to pay almost anything to a seller just to get into a home. Banking entities seemed to be willing to mortgage any property for any buyer. The process was rather simple.

Today, a person looking to buy or sell should be willing to pay a full fee for two reasons: You need an expert guide if you are traveling a dangerous path The field of real estate is loaded with land mines. You need a true expert to guide you through the dangerous pitfalls that currently exist. Finding a buyer willing to pay fair market value for your home at a time that there are mass inventories of foreclosures and short sales will take a true real estate professional. Finding reasonable financing can also be tricky in today’s lending environment.

Experts in any profession, do not discount their fees; especially when the job is becoming much more difficult. You need a skilled negotiator

In today’s market, hiring a talented negotiator could save you thousands, perhaps tens of thousands of dollars. Each step of the way – from the original offer, to the possible re-negotiation of that off after a home inspection, to the possible cancellation of the deal based on a troubled appraisal – you need someone who can keep the deal together until it closes.

When an agent is negotiating their commission with you, they are negotiating their own salary. The salary that keeps a roof over their family’s head. A salary that puts food on their family’s table. If they are quick to take less when negotiating for themselves and their families, what makes you think they will not act the same way when negotiating for you and your family?

If they were Clark Kent when negotiating with you, they will not turn into Superman when negotiating with the buyer or seller in your deal.

Bottom Line We believe that famous sayings become famous because they are true. You get what you pay for. Just like a good accountant or a good attorney, a good agent will save you money…not cost you money.

Reprinted with Permission.

Renee Infinger, Realtor

www.reneeinfinger.com

renee@reneeinfinger.com

Call or text :704. 609. 4241

I had in my mind that I would only spend a certain amount on each of them but between the malls trips and of course the outlet mall in Gaffney, SC, I wound up spending a lot more than I had planned.

One of our favorite places to eat when we go to SouthPark Mall is a quaint little restaurant on the lower floor of Belk. It is a family owned business that has been operating for 35 years. Arthur’s has great sandwiches, salads and burgers priced extremely reasonable.

They have plain salads along with Caesar, chicken,tuna and egg salad. Also, special sandwiches such as Reuben, grilled cheese, BLT, veggie pitas and hot dogs. One of my favorites that I almost always order is the Loaded Hot Pepper Cheesesteak.

Everything that they serve is excellent and prices vary from the mid $ 4.00 to high $ 6.00′s.
The next time that you are shopping at SouthPark Mall, I would highly recommend that you eat at Arthurs’s on the lower level of Belk.

Renee Infinger
Realtor/Broker
www.reneeinfinger.com

With all of the cold, wet days that we have had, buyers are less motivated to get out to look at homes. That coupled with the fact that we are one week away from Christmas, showings tend to slow at this time. Even with interest rates still very low, according to the local MLS, Charlotte currently has over 18,000 single family homes on the market.

If you are an owner of one of the homes that is lucky enough to have a showing, here are some tips to make sure that your home is in the buyers top 3 choices.

The outside of your home should be tastefully decorated by keeping in mind that sometimes less is better. One piece of advice that I like to emphasize to my clients is that they take off their “seller” cap and put on their ” buyer ” cap. What would they like to see in a home that they were considering as a purchase? A simple wreath on the front door is like the bow on a present. It should blend in and add appeal to the outside exterior of your home. You may want to use some branches from your tree and add some ribbons and bows. Being from the south, myself, I made an arrangement one year from Southern Living magazine with magnolia leaves, apples and a pineapple in the middle as a welcome wreath.

Once the door is opened to the inside and the gift has been opened, it is important that buyers can still see the features of your home. Overwhelming a buyer with too many decorations and ornaments can shift their minds to a ” shopping for Christmas decorations” and not to purchasing your home. Rooms that are oversaturated with decorations can stop the buyer from being able to visualize their own furnishings in your home. Follow the same decor throughout and be especially conscious to the fact that all reds don’t match.

The last point to consider is the smells and aromas of Christmas. You want to appeal to your buyer’s senses. What are our five senses? Sight, Sound, Smell, Touch and Taste.

We have already talked about sights but just be sure that the lighting casts a certain glow and that all light bulbs are working. The sound can be some CD quietly playing some Christmas carols. I have found that instrumental works best because you want to sing or hum to the music. Please make sure that it is a lower volume. I have found that if it is too loud, you can’t talk to each other and I have actually had to turn some systems down. Smells are so important in a home.

I have a strong sense of smell and one of my friends cannot smell at all. She loved for me to show her homes because I would tell her if it smelled like pets or especially cat urine. Christmas smells of orange slices, cinnamon or cloves simmering make people want to hang around the home a little longer.

Touch is another sense that is so important to us although we probably don’t want people touching all of our things. Some fluffy towels and decorative pillows will add the softness to all of the hardwood floors and ceramic tiles and granite countertops. Taste is the last of our senses.

Make sure that you can contribute to their sense of taste by cooking something. After all, your buyer’s are your guest in your home so offer some cider or fresh baked cookies.

Although there are less buyers right now, homes DO SELL during the holidays. Taking a few extra steps to help them remember your home can pay off.

Happy Selling!!!

Renee

www.reneeinfinger.com

renee@reneeinfinger.com

704.609.4241

With all of the frigid temperatures, the fireplaces will be working over time either with gas fireplaces or wood burning fires. I love a real fire but I am always a little worried about the sparks. Then there is the issue of the stockings hung by the fire waiting for ole St. Nick. Who doesn’t love the smell of candles with all of the scents that are available now? Cranberry, cinnamon, Christmas cookies, evergreen and the list goes on and on. I particularly like the Christmas cookie aroma. One of my favorite things is the Swedish Windmillthat is powered by the flickering and heat of candles. Another fire hazard.

 If you are like my family, we love the smell of a freshly cut Christmas tree. I found a beautiful Frazier fir tree on Sunday at the Providence Volunteer Fire Dept. It is so tall that it was scraping our 10 foot ceiling in the family room.

Some safety tips for indoors:

• Inspect holiday lights strings and discard those that are frayed or worn.
• Use special hangers to string lights and never staple or tack them up.
• Never leave the house without unplugging the lights on the tree or the Christmas villages.
• Do not use open flames near trees, wreaths or paper decorations.
• Use certified LED holiday lights around the home as they are more energy efficient and longer lasting than traditional lights. Have a carbon monoxide monitor installed on every level of your home.

Outdoor lighting tips:

• Make sure that all of the lighting used outdoor as specified as outdoor use.
• Keep electrical connectors above ground away from water sources, snow or metal gutters.
• Again, use insulated fasteners such as tape or plastic fasteners instead of staples or tacks.
• Use a timer to switch lights on and off.

Have a Happy Holiday and safe holiday. More reminders from Underwriter Labs.

Renee Realtor/Broker

www.reneeinfinger.com 

Email:renee@reneeinfinger.com

704.609.4241