The National Association of Realtors recently settled a lawsuit filed by homeowner’s in other states that claimed unfair practices related to commissions. North Carolina is a flagship state for demonstrating how professional real estate agents are to behave in a fair and ethical manner, however the settlement has imposed some new rules on NC agents.

NO MORE ORAL BUYER AGENCY

In the past, your agent was able to show you homes and have discussions with you about the market and your transaction prior to signing any agreements and making offers. Today, we must have a written and signed Buyer Agency Agreement in place before showing any homes or discussing your transaction.

COMMISSIONS NO LONGER ADVERTISED ON MLS

In the past, listing agents whose sellers agreed to allow them to share their commission amounts with cooperating firms (buyer’s agents) would do so by advertising the shared commission amount on MLS. Buyer agents would then be able to see that they were going to be paid at closing by the seller and listing agent. Today, that will no longer be advertised on MLS.

The main reason for these changes is to facilitate up-front conversations about how commissions are to be paid in a transaction. In our Buyer Agency Agreement the language clearly states that the buyer is responsible for paying their agents commission. But in the past agents have not mentioned this to their buyers because the listing firm was clearly advertising some amount of compensation on the MLS listing.

Moving forward, sellers will have three options when it comes to commissions:

1. Agree to pay a commission to their listing firm that is intended to be shared with a cooperating firm (buyer’s agent).

2. Agree to ONLY pay their listing firm a commission and to separately agree to providing some amount of closing costs credit to potential buyers, a credit that they may use to pay for their agent.

3. Agree to ONLY pay a commission to their listing firm and pay nothing for the buyer.

Each scenario will have a big impact on the transaction so it’s important to discuss with your agent before deciding. Buyers may need to prepare to pay for your agent at closing either in cash or additional financing.

For more information please review these resource documents from the National Association of Realtors!

Her 8 years in Real Estate (both residential and commercial) have allowed her to experience the entire lifecycle of the industry from construction and design to marketing, project management, and buying and selling. This unique background paired with a lifetime passion for the trade has given her a critical eye for function and detail. She holds her Real Estate license in both North Carolina and Washington State, with six years of experience in New Construction, making her highly educated in the art (and science) of Real Estate.

Welcome Allie!

Let’s have a look at three move-in-ready homes walkable to downtown Pittsboro! They range in price from $345,000 to $519,000. Which one is your favorite?

Let's have a look at this totally unique, totally Chapel Hill, mid-century renovation by our friends at Pro Finishes NC, Nicolle and Luis Valencia! Listing Courtesy of Paula Hodge with Inhabit Real Estate.

We raised $3,560 for A Note In The Pocket! That’s a full winter wardrobe for 25 kids in our community who need our help. Thanks to all who donated and came out to say hi, we had a great time at the happy hour. Stay tuned for our next event!

Click to watch our raffle drawing!

A Note in the Pocket believes that it is unacceptable that children are limited in their educational and social development because they do not have appropriate clothes for school. They provide quality clothing to homeless and impoverished children and families with dignity and love.

They receive and processes lots of generous donations throughout the year but there are always some items that need to be purchased like underwear, socks, shoes etc. They also have a healthy annual operating budget that includes 10 full-time workers. We want to raise money through donations to help support that budget this season.

We are partnering with our preferred lender Dan Woodard and The Woodard Mortgage Group to host a HAPPY HOUR with drinks, food and a prize raffle to facilitate donations.

Friday January 28, 5-7p at WXYZ Lounge in the Aloft Hotel on Hillsborough St

As COVID restrictions lifted in the spring of 2021, buyers got back out there. Demand was overwhelming and there was very little supply. Hear about some of the challenges we faced and our goals for a new year as we give a big THANK YOU to our clients for their trust and business!

We hosted a company dinner this week to celebrate some recent successes— Hilary is our first Million Dollar Agent, Spencer has demonstrated outstanding growth and development for a new agent, and Trevor has completed his first real estate development deal! Here’s to success in 2021!

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We’re hosting a holiday brunch and design at the Wine and Design studio at Union Station in downtown Raleigh and you’re invited! Sat Dec 12 from 11-1 we’ll have brunch with mimosas and paint a Raleigh holiday themed painting that you’re definitely, almost positively, going to want to frame afterwards.

Grist Realty partnered with Tobacco Road Tours and invited past and present clients, vendors and friends to join us on a 1.5 hour guided ghost walk in Downtown Raleigh on Saturday 10/17. We had prizes for the best spooky photo and costume, but only Hugh was in costume… ghostly newsie from Raleigh Times’ days gone by.

It’s demo day at our latest North Raleigh renovation, 6724 Ridgecroft Ln. We plan to be ready to show mid Oct so stay tuned! Check out this sneak peak, be warned this recording is highly caffeinated—

Showing activity dropped 60% after the governor enacted stay-at-home orders in March. Inventory in the mid-market (4—600k) price points dropped off and contracts paused even as rates were at their lowest. Two months and one flat curve later, it does appear that we’re flowing again. Showings are almost back up to normal volume and every day more listings are hitting the searches. We are moving forward with new listings now - we’re ready if you’re ready!

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Raleigh Kiwanis visited the Urban Ministries of Wake County HQ on Capital Blvd last summer to meet the staff, learn the mission, and tour the facility. They provide healthcare aid, maintain a safe and clean women’s shelter, and manage Wake County’s only client-choice food pantry. This year the impacts of COVID -19 were felt throughout the community and the demand for assistance was even greater than before. Urban Ministries was not allowing physical donations or volunteering to the club organized a virtual food drive for the month of July. Urban Ministries is able to purchase food from the NC food bank at $.19/lb which roughly translates to a family eating for a week on just $25— so cash goes a long way.

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In previous years our donation record was around $6,000. This year we set a push goal of $7,500, and Raleigh Kiwanis stepped up every week with enormous gestures of generosity. Our result was unprecedented:

• $12,000 in donations

• 480 families received a week’s worth of emergency groceries

Big thanks to all who contributed!

On Saturday after Valentine's Day our group met up at Raleigh Union Station for coffee and doughnuts and photos, then we rode the rails to downtown Durham for lunch at Clouds Brewing. After delicious brunch and a spin with the check-out drama we hustled back to the station in Durham then rode back to Raleigh. We had a gift raffle and a really fun time. Stay tuned for our next group outing, I think we’re either going to shoot for a Saturday morning Brunch & Paint or a disco roller skate session.

Our events are managed through the Grist Realty Facebook Page so click the button below to connect and follow.

Buyers tend to tell us that one of their purchase goals is to build equity and they want to make sure they are making a good property choice to that end. We have seen extraordinary growth in the Triangle Area over the last 5 to 10 years, but not every property is as connected, improved, or affordable as we’d like. Click here to see a few tips that will help build home equity no matter which property you choose.

We found a newly renovated home for a buyer client this week and after doing a thorough walk-around we noticed some inspection red flags. Every surface and room had been updated… new kitchen and baths, deck, paint, flooring, roof, etc, and it was far enough along that we should have seen insulation in the attic. Alas, we did not, and a quick record search showed that the contractor had not opened any permits for the work. When asked to explain, the listing agent replied that the builder was a licensed general contractor and had done all of the work himself so that should be good enough, and that “…agents tend to make a big deal about permitting.” 👀☠️Meanwhile the framing was rotten, no insulation, drainage issues, deck is a maybe… Unbelievable.

Shameless plug— With our construction and renovation experience you won’t get caught losing money on a bang-job with us on your side, that’s a promise.

10 Arros was awarded this year’s Sir Walter Raleigh Appearance Award in the Residential category. The jury stated that in addition to the community’s thoughtful design it made a big impact on the corridor, reinforced the sense of community, developers overcame site planning obstacles, and the scale of the elements and massing, the verticals, and shadows set up a good rhythm within the context. Developer Stuart Cullinan and Architect J-Davis accepted the award… Proud moment for Grist Realty!

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Hilary just closed two purchase transactions in a different NC market and we’re still trying to figure out exactly what’s going on over there. 👀 Let’s just say we have a whole new appreciation for our fair and honest style up here in the Triangle— seems like we really do know how to handle multiple offers, disclosures, and internet marketing.