Real Estate Right Now

Ever notice how a house can feel bigger the day after you clean out a closet? That isn’t your imagination. Clutter doesn’t just take up space in your home; it takes up space in your head. And when it’s time to sell, move, or downsize, all that “stuff” can turn an exciting new chapter into an overwhelming one. In this episode I’m sitting down with Deborah Zechini, Professional Organizer and owner of Owner in the House, on Real Estate Right Now. Deb doesn’t just tidy up rooms. She works hands-on with people to figure out how they actually live and builds an organizing system that fits them, not a magazine picture. She’s also a certified Organizer Coach and has a real heart for adults with ADHD, which means she understands that getting organized is as much about how your mind works as where your things go. We’re going to talk about what really happens when you try to list a home that’s full of decisions you haven’t made yet: the garage, the attic, the paper piles, the “I’ll deal with it later” boxes. Deb will share how to start when you don’t know where to start, how to let go without guilt, and how to unpack in your new home so you don’t recreate the same chaos you just left behind. Whether you’re thinking about selling, just bought, or simply want to walk into your kitchen and breathe a little easier, this is a conversation you need. Linda Craft Team, REALTORS, for more than 40 years the choice of thousands of buyers and sellers when it comes to real estate. And regardless of where you live, you can meet with them…even virtually! They have been on the bleeding edge of technology and AI, and yet their focus is taking a human approach to helping people around the world find the very best professionals to help sell or buy a new home. And if you live in the Greater Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill, and Research Triangle Park area of North Carolina you can get the one-on-one, face-to-face service that has made Linda Craft Team Legendary! Their clients call Linda Craft Team customer service “legendary”.  Find out why by going to www.LindaCraft.com

Finding the right property is one of life’s greatest milestones—a vibrant chapter filled with dreams, anticipation, and the thrill of building a future. True pride of ownership goes beyond falling in love with an open kitchen or a sunlit backyard; it comes from knowing, with absolute certainty, that your sanctuary rests on a solid foundation. Real confidence transforms the buying experience from a stressful leap of faith into an empowering celebration, giving you the clarity to invest your heart and resources with complete peace of mind. That clarity is exactly what Jarret Vogler delivers. As the founder of Legacy Home Inspections and an elite Certified Master Inspector® (CMI®), Jarret brings the dedication and precision of his U.S. Coast Guard background to every property he evaluates. Armed with advanced diagnostic tools like thermal imaging and aerial technology, Jarret approaches every home not as an obstacle, but as a trusted guide and educator. He champions buyers, sellers, and real estate professionals by translating complex building systems into clear, actionable understanding—turning curiosity into unshakeable confidence. In this uplifting episode of Real Estate Right Now, Jarret reveals how a master-level inspection serves as your greatest asset on the journey to homeownership. We explore how understanding the heartbeat of a house empowers you to make wise, forward-thinking decisions, appreciate the craftsmanship behind the walls, and unlock hidden value for years of lasting equity. You’ll discover how the right insights take the guesswork out of the transaction, helping you celebrate your home’s unique strengths and plan your future with optimism and vision. Step into your next real estate adventure with knowledge, enthusiasm, and total clarity. Tune in live tomorrow, September 24th, at 12:30 PM to join the conversation and ask Jarret your questions in real time. If you cannot join the live stream, be sure to catch the replay on the Real Estate Right Now podcast—and discover just how inspiring, seamless, and joyful the path to your dream home can truly be. Linda Craft Team, Realtors no matter where you live in the world, The Linda Craft team can help you find the best professional in your area to help you sell or buy your next home. While most real estate professionals belong to a nationally affiliated company where they are obligated to use the people in their company’s network. The Linda Craft team are privately and independently owned and operated. That means they can find the absolute best professional from ANY company to ensure you get the best agent objectively for your house buying or selling needs. Located in the Raleigh Research Triangle Park of North Carolina…they can help you anywhere you live.  Learn more  by going to Linda Craft Team, Realtors  www.LindaCraft.com

Today on Real Estate Right Now, we’re tackling the number everyone’s talking about — and nobody’s happy to see. Mortgage rates just crossed 7% for the first time in over a year, capping four straight weeks of increases. My guest is Paul Fitts, senior lending officer at Advantage Lending, and he’s here because he’s been in this business long enough to know that headlines and opportunity are two very different things. If your gut reaction to “7%” is to freeze, this episode is for you — because we’re flipping the script on what this number actually means for you as a buyer. Let’s be straight about the facts first. The 30-year fixed rate is sitting at its highest level since 2025, and yes, that changes your monthly payment math. But here’s what the panic headlines leave out: a rate spike like this cools demand fast. Fewer buyers can stomach the higher payment, which means the bidding wars, the ten-offers-in-a-weekend chaos, and the waived-inspection desperation of the last few years start to fade. Paul sees this from the inside — loan officers watch buyer traffic in real time, and right now it’s thinning out. That’s not bad news if you’re the one still standing in the room. That’s the real opportunity: less competition means more leverage. Sellers who priced their homes expecting a bidding war are now negotiating on price, covering closing costs, and offering rate buydowns just to keep a deal alive. Paul’s going to walk us through exactly how buyers are using that leverage right now — things like 2-1 buydowns, seller credits, and ARM structures that soften the entry point. And here’s the mindset shift I want you to sit with: you marry the house, you date the rate. Rates move. They always have. If you wait for the “perfect” rate, you’re betting against history — because a refinance is a phone call away when rates drop, but the house you love and the equity you start building today don’t wait for anybody. So tune in as Paul and I break down what a 7% market really means, why it might be the window serious buyers have been waiting for, and how to walk into this market with confidence instead of fear. This isn’t about ignoring reality — it’s about seeing the opportunity everyone else is too scared to look for. That’s what we do here on Real Estate Right Now. To Reach Paul to discuss your individual situation, email him at: [email protected] Linda Craft Team, REALTORS® when you are looking to sell your home or buy a new home for more than 40 years Linda Craft Team, REALTORS® is there to help you! Their thousands of clients call them “The Legends of Customer Service”.  They will also tell you that the relationship is their first priority. Whether you are in the Greater Raleigh Research Triangle Park area of North Carolina or anywhere in the world, they can help you with your home dreams.  Contact our friends at the Linda Craft Team at www.LindaCraft.com

Everyone’s got an opinion on the Triangle real estate market right now. Tony Fink doesn’t do opinions — he does data. In this episode of Real Estate Right Now, I’m sitting down with Tony Fink, Listing & Buyers Expert with the Linda Craft Team, REALTORS®, to break down his August “Fink’s Facts” — and the numbers tell a story you need to hear before you make your next move. A few that jumped off the page: $1.341 BILLION in closed volume — 2,576 homes sold Median sold price: $419,900 | Average: $520,432 Homes are averaging just 29 days on market Sellers are getting 98.8% of list price Only 3.98 months of inventory — still tilted toward sellers So what does that actually mean if you’re thinking about buying or selling in the next 90 days? That’s exactly what Tony and I are unpacking live. Whether you’re a buyer wondering if you’ve missed your window, a seller trying to time your listing, or just someone who likes knowing what’s really happening in the market (not what you saw on the news) — this is the episode for you. Don’t miss it — bring your questions for Tony.  Just go to [email protected] Linda Craft Team, REALTORS –www.LindaCraft.com Linda Craft Team Facebook Page – Click Here For 40 years helping people all over the world make a transition in life.  They take the stress out of the home selling and home buying process. When you are looking for consistent, top of their game, professional real estate service with a track record of successfully helping 1000’s, check out Linda Craft Team, REALTORS.

Everyone keeps saying “the market has changed.” Fine — but changed for whom? Because “the market” isn’t one thing. It’s a negotiation happening in real time between buyers who suddenly have leverage and sellers who aren’t used to sharing it. Today on Real Estate Right Now, we’re putting that question on the table: Real Estate Has Changed — Who Has the Advantage Now? And we’re not guessing at the answer. We’re getting it from someone who’s in the trenches of Raleigh real estate every single day. My guest is Kim Crump, Listing and Buyer’s Specialist with the Linda Craft Team, REALTORS®. Kim doesn’t do theory — she does transactions. She’s the person buyers and sellers call when they need a straight answer instead of a headline, and that’s exactly the energy I want for this conversation. You can contact Kim by emailing her [email protected] Here’s what we’re getting into: what actually surprises people who haven’t watched this market closely in a couple years, whether “prices are dropping” is even the right way to frame it, what buyers are successfully negotiating beyond just the price tag, and the biggest mistake sellers are making right now without realizing it. We’re also going myth-busting — one thing buyers believe that isn’t true, one thing sellers believe that isn’t true — and I’m asking Kim point-blank what she’d say to the buyer who’s “waiting for rates to come down.” Her answer might not be what you expect. If you’re buying, selling, or just trying to make sense of where the Triangle is headed, this is the episode to catch live so you can drop your questions in real time. See you there. Linda Craft Team, Realtors for more than 40 years their customers call their customer service “legendary”. Linda and her team built their business on building relationships and understanding your home is full of memories that are important to you! It is about the relationship, not the transaction. So if you have a question, want a free market analysis of your home just click on over to www.LindaCraft.com and Check out their Facebook Page