Change is Coming

If you are still searching for your new home in the newspapers, you are one of the remaining few. According to the National Association of Realtors, over 85% of people are beginning their home search online.

With the advent of Realtor.com, IDX websites, Yahoo Real Estate and the numerous other websites that show homes for sale, newspapers have almost become obsolete.

With that in mind, we are going to be down sizing our company ad in the both the Chapel Hill Real Estate section and the Durham Real Estate section of the newspapers. This change will be pushing people to the website to view more information on homes.

Keep watching for this exciting change.

New Website up and Running

After months of work The Home Team's new website is up and running. We feel that we are providing buyers and sellers in Chapel Hill, Carrboro, Durham, Chatham County, Hillsborough and surrounding areas with more information than ever before to help them with their real estate needs.

Some of the great features include:

Our Atlas Search allows you to search by maps of the area. You will be able to see properties that are on the market as well as distinguish which are new in the last 7 days. This feature is great if you know the boundaries in which you want to live.

You can still search for properties based on certain criteria you provide on our property search page. Just put in the parameters of what you are looking for and search.

You can sign up to receive emails when properties that meet your criteria become available, when there are changes to properties or just to save the listings you like.

Sellers can request a Market Analysis of their home. This is a great feature for someone looking to sell real estate in Chapel Hill, Carrboro, Durham, Pittsboro or Hillsborough.

Year Round Water Conservation in Chatham

Chatham County Board of Commissioners adopted a revised water conservation plan. All residents and businesses will now be under year round water restrictions to ease the water shortage problems. They are hoping that with year round restrictions in place, as the the water returns, the problems we are facing today will not be as bad.

See the attached article for the full story and schedules.

County Commissioners decide to put Transfer Tax to Vote

Despite overwhelming opposition, Orange County Board of Commissioners agreed last night to put the .4% Land Transfer Tax (to be paid on the sale of real property) on the ballot for the May 6th primary. They decided not to put the .25% Sales Tax option on the ballot, citing they felt it was "regressive" although this is a tax that would be shared by everyone.

This Tax being added to the ballot is just one more reason to make sure on May 6th that you go out and vote.

Orange County Tax Increase

From the Chapel Hill/Carrboro Chamber of Commerce

In order to increase revenue the Orange County Commissioners are considering putting 2 tax increase options on ballot for May 6th. The first is for a .25% sales tax increase and the other is a .40% land transfer tax.

The sales tax would restore the local sales tax to 7% on most purchases within the county except food, drugs and some other items. The land transfer tax would be levied anytime real property is sold.

The Commissioners can only choose one of these methods after the May referendum if either or both passes; they could also choose not to levy either.

The Board of Commissioners will hold a meeting on February 19 at 7:30pm (Southern Human Services Building in Chapel Hill). There are 2 ways for you to express concerns:

1. Speak before the Commissioners at the Meeting on the 19th.
2. Email or call your commissions, contact information for each commissioner is listed below.

• Barry Jacobs, Chair 732-4941 barryj@earthlink.net
• Valerie Foushee, Vice Chair 942-2661 vfoushee@co.orange.nc.us
• Moses Carey, Jr., Commissioner 929-8513 mcarey5@nc.rr.com
• Alice Gordon, Commissioner 933-0550 gordonam@mindspring.com
• Mike Nelson, Commissioner 749-6155 mikenelsonnc@aol.com

The Chamber's Government Relations Committee feels that neither tax increase should be put on the ballot.

Quick tips for preparing your home for sale

As the spring market moves ever closer, the time when rain showers occur, flowers and trees bloom and many people decide to sell their homes is right around the corner.

Here are 11 tips of easy things to do prior to or after putting your home on the market:

• Clean up the yard and front porch. Make sure the front door is clean and repainted if necessary. First impressions are everything.


• Wash the windows and clean/dust the window coverings. This allows more light into your home.


• Do any painting that needs to be done prior to putting your home on the market, especially in kitchens and bathrooms.


• Make your bathrooms sparkle by scrubbing, replacing shower curtains if necessary, any general maintenace to make it shine.


• Make sure all light bulbs are replaced.


• Once the house is on the market, make beds, put away items and keep the house neat and uncluttered.


• Keep pets out of the way during showings. If you have indoor pets you may want to consider cleaning the carpets prior to marketing.


• Leave the house when it is being shown. The buyer needs to see the house for themselves and imagine their family living there.


• Let your agent discuss things with the buyers and/or their agents. Your agent is the negotiator and you do not want to say something that will harm the negotiations.


• Never apologize for appearance, this usually will just accentute the problem.


• Pack away valuables, extra furniture, knick-knacks, guns and medicines. Regardless of how save and secure we try to keep things, these are strangers that are entering your home.

When looking at your home, do so objectively. Pretend you are a buyer, walk in their steps and see what they would see. Your agent can help you stage your home so it will be seen in the best light.

You only have one chance to make a good first impression!