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Honoring North Carolina’s Veterans—Today and Every Day

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As a REALTOR® with the Military Relocation Professional (MRP) certification, serving the real estate needs of those who serve our country is more than a professional specialty—it’s a personal commitment. Although Veterans Day has passed, the gratitude and respect I have for our military community extends far beyond one day on the calendar.

North Carolina is home to one of the largest veteran and active-duty populations in the nation, shaping every corner of our state with their leadership, service, and resilience. A recent report from Business North Carolina highlighted just how significant this community is:

  • 618,846 military veterans call North Carolina home—approximately 8% of our state’s population, placing us eighth nationally.
  • 12% of North Carolina’s military veterans are women, a powerful and growing demographic whose contributions deserve expanded visibility and support. This compares with women making up 17.7% of active-duty military personnel nationwide.
  • Our state is also home to more than 91,000 active-duty service members, ranking fourth in the U.S. for active-duty military population.

These numbers reflect more than statistics—they represent families relocating between duty stations, veterans transitioning to civilian life, and military spouses navigating frequent moves with strength and adaptability. Each deserves a real estate professional who understands the complexities of military life, VA loan processes, timelines, and the resources available to them.

My commitment as an MRP-certified REALTOR® is to help streamline that process with compassion, expertise, and advocacy. Whether it’s coordinating a cross-country PCS move, navigating a competitive market on a tight timeline, or helping a veteran achieve their dream of homeownership using hard-earned benefits, serving military families is an honor I’m grateful for year-round.

To every veteran, active-duty service member, reservist, and military family in North Carolina and beyond: thank you. Your service shapes our communities, strengthens our state, and inspires my work every day.

If you or someone you know in the military community has questions about buying, selling, or relocating, I’m here to help with guidance tailored to your unique needs: 919-229-9725 or Lisa@InvestinHerRealEstate.com.

Honoring Service: National Veterans and Military Family Month at Invest in Her Real Estate

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November is a month of gratitude, and as we honor National Veterans and Military Family Month, Invest in Her Real Estate is thrilled to share some exciting milestones and heartfelt reflections. This annual observance reminds us to celebrate the sacrifices and contributions of our nation’s military members and their families, whose dedication often extends beyond the battlefield into every aspect of life.

Supporting Military Families Through Real Estate

Military families face unique challenges, especially when relocating. Frequent moves, often tied to service assignments, mean finding a home isn’t just about location—it’s about community, stability, and navigating transitions seamlessly. At Invest in Her Real Estate, we’re honored to help ease this process. Recently, we proudly assisted three Raleigh-area military families in finding their perfect homes, ensuring their relocations were as stress-free as possible and serving as their trusted local market experts.

A Commitment to Serve: MRP Certification

Our founder, Lisa Jeffries Nobling, REALTOR®, has furthered her dedication to military families by earning her Military Relocation Professional (MRP) certification this month. (Fitting timing, no?) This specialized training equips agents with the expertise to address the unique needs of military clients. From understanding VA loan benefits to navigating the nuances of military relocations, the MRP certification is a testament to Lisa’s commitment to serving those who serve our country.

Gratitude and Giving Back

As we reflect on National Veterans and Military Family Month, we express profound gratitude for our military community and their sacrifices. Whether through advocacy, real estate services, or community engagement, Invest in Her Real Estate is passionate about supporting those who have given so much. Each year, we are proud to make donations to military-minded non-profit organizations, such as Wreaths Across America, furthering our support beyond real estate services.

We’re committed to continuing our mission of making relocations easier, more accessible, and tailored to the needs of our military families. If you or someone you know is navigating a military move, we’re here to help with a depth of expertise and a heart for service.

Let’s celebrate our veterans and military families this month—and every month. Thank you for your service, we’re honored to be a small part of your journey!

Snapshot: What Is a “Buy Box” in Real Estate Investing?

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A “buy box” is a crucial concept for real estate investors, acting as a personalized framework that outlines the specific criteria for the types of properties they aim to purchase. Think of it as a filter that helps you identify deals that align with your investment goals while avoiding those that don’t. A buy box typically includes parameters like location, property type, size, price range, and potential returns. By defining these parameters upfront, you can streamline your decision-making process and focus your energy on finding properties that truly fit your investment strategy.

Why Is a Buy Box Essential?

Opportunities abound in the always-on world of real estate investing, but not all are worth pursuing. Without a buy box, it’s easy to become overwhelmed by the sheer volume of listings or distracted by properties that might not align with your goals. (Hello, shiny objects! ✨) A well-defined buy box helps you stay disciplined and efficient. It acts as a compass, ensuring every deal you consider meets your minimum investment criteria. Over time, this approach saves you time and effort and increases the likelihood of achieving consistent and profitable results.

How to Develop Your Own Buy Box

Creating a buy box begins with clearly understanding your investment goals. Are you focused on long-term rental income or short-term flipping profits? Once you know your objectives, you can set criteria like target neighborhoods, property conditions, and price ranges. For example, if your goal is to build a portfolio of rental properties, your buy box might include single-family homes in appreciating neighborhoods with good school districts, priced below $500,000, and requiring minimal renovations. The key is to make your buy box specific enough to filter out unsuitable deals while remaining flexible to adjust as market conditions or your goals evolve.

Fine-Tuning and Sticking to Your Buy Box

A buy box is not a rigid checklist but a living document that should adapt to your strategy or market changes. Regularly revisit and refine it to ensure it continues to serve your goals effectively. Additionally, stick to your buy box criteria, especially when emotions might tempt you to stray. Patience and discipline are vital in real estate investing, and a well-honed buy box is one of the best tools to help you build a profitable and sustainable portfolio. By leveraging this strategy, you’ll be well-equipped to seize the right opportunities and avoid costly mistakes.

Ready to Build Your Buy Box?

Give me a call (919-229-9725) or send me an email today (Lisa@InvestinHerRealEstate.com) and let’s discuss your criteria. We’ll look in real-time at properties on the market that could check all the boxes, and you’ll be well on your way to investing in yourself… and real estate!

Things I Learned at the NCDOI 2024 Flood Insurance Protecting Consumers and Agents Conference

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I’ll be the first to admit, my typical approach to flood insurance has been, “what does my insurance agent recommend or does the carrier require for this property?”. When I found out the North Carolina Department of Insurance was planning to host a four-hour virtual conference on the topic, that counts toward four hours of my annual continuing education requirements here in North Carolina, I thought this would be a great opportunity to learn more. (Bonus: This access was provided free to attending adjusters and agents!)

For those who know me personally, early mornings are not my brightest time to shine, but since I could take Chiquita an abbreviated version of our regularly scheduled morning walk and jump on this 8:30 a.m. event from the comfort of my home office, I’m here to live document my learnings today as we go… yes, before 9 a.m. 😜

The program has opened with sharing news and social media coverage of past floods in our state, and beyond, to remind us of how real the threat of flood damage is to our property.

Some Surprising Stats on NC Floods and Coverage That I Learned About Today

Did you know that the Piedmont region is the home to the most common recurring flooding, not the Coastal Plain?

Flood Events by North Carolina Region

According to NC State, 84.5% of flood losses were outside high-risk zones from December 2006 to May 2020.

99% of the U.S. population has lived in a county that has experienced a flood disaster… you cannot simply “move to an area without flood risk”.

96% of homeowners do not have coverage for floods; only 25% of property owners have flood insurance in areas with MANDATORY coverage requirements; 97% of properties in North Carolina do not have flood insurance.

What qualifies as a flood?

“A flood is a general and temporary condition where two or more acres of normally dry land or two or more properties are inundated by water or mudflow.”

“Collapse or subsidence of land along the shore of a lake or similar body of water as a result of erosion or undermining caused by waves or currents of water exceeding expected cyclical levels.”

Let’s Talk About the Coast

  • Coastal flooding is the most expensive (FEMA paid losses–over $40B)
  • Hurricanes are less frequent than river flooding
  • Challenges for coverage: no additional living expense or loss of use coverage is provided

Do You Know Your Flood Risk?

Flood.NC.gov provides an easy-to-access online search tool:

Research your flood risk at https://flood.nc.gov/ncflood

That search tool provides more information by property address as to the data available via current flood models to help you evaluate your property interest.

Flood Inundation Mapping & Alert Network (FIMAN) also allows you to view current and forecasted flood conditions: https://fiman.nc.gov/ (Pro Tip: You can also sign up for alerts based on flood level at monitored gauges near you, like creeks and rivers. I just signed up for Moderate and Major Flooding alerts for Bogue Sound at Beaufort, near my own Carteret County property.)

Flood Map Limitations

A recent study by The Nature Conservancy and Arizona State University found that the flooding from Hurricanes Matthew in 2016 and Florence in 2018 impacted a footprint 23% greater than the 100-year floodplain and well beyond what flood hazard maps had predicted.

Property Management: Who Needs Coverage?

Always remember that owners need coverage for their property, and tenants need their own coverage for their contents.

Disclosure Requirements for Sellers

A member of legal counsel for the North Carolina Real Estate Commission noted in the event chat board that there are already questions on the current disclosure related to flooding and several additional questions on the new disclosure form required for use on and after July 1, 2024.

An owner is not required to disclose any of the material facts that have a “No Representation” option, even if they have knowledge of them. However, failure to disclose latent (hidden) defects may result in civil liability. The disclosures made in this Disclosure Statement are those of the owner(s), not the owner’s broker.

Homeowners can request rep loss data FEMA claims data by phone at 1-877-336-2627 or via email at FEMA-FMIX@fema.dhs.gov. This is helpful to have available during transactions!

Own a Coastal Home? Apply for a Grant to Strengthen Your Roof!

North Carolina Insurance Underwriting Association (NCIUA) is one of the first organizations in the nation to begin offering grants to help eligible policyholders in coastal communities better protect their homes against the threat of hurricanes. Through the Strengthen Your Coastal Roof program, eligible policyholders can apply for a grant up to $6,000 to go toward the installation of a FORTIFIED Roof.

The Strengthen Your Coastal Roof program covers areas above the Intracoastal Waterway. These counties include Beaufort, Brunswick, Camden, Carteret, Chowan, Craven, Currituck, Dare, Hyde, Jones, New Hanover, Onslow, Pamlico, Pasquotank, Pender, Perquimans, Tyrrell, and Washington.

Enter your NCIUA policy number and mailing zip code to see if you might be eligible for this program at https://StrengthenYourCoastalRoof.com/. (I didn’t know about this and have already started inquiring for my Carteret County home!)

Got Questions?

I’d love to share more of the resources I became familiar with today. Don’t hesitate to reach out so we can talk shop! 919-229-9725 or Lisa@InvestinHerRealEstate.com.

Lisa Jeffries Nobling Awarded Resort and Second-Home Property Specialist (RSPS) Certification by National Association of REALTORS®

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Morehead City, NC – Lisa Jeffries Nobling with Invest in Her Real Estate has been awarded the Resort and Second-Home Property Specialist (RSPS) certification. The RSPS certification is a nationally recognized certification awarded by the National Association of REALTORS® to real estate professionals who wish to demonstrate and promote–to consumers and their peers alike–their expertise in the resort and second-home specialty.

Lisa joins more than 4,000 real estate professionals who have earned the RSPS certification. REALTORS® who receive the RSPS certification have successfully completed the Resort & Second-Home Specialist (RSPS) Certification Course. She now joins other real estate professionals who specialize in buying, selling, or managing second homes in resort, recreational, and/or vacation destinations and properties for investment, development, or retirement.

Licensed since 2008 in North Carolina, Lisa is an experienced real estate broker and REALTOR®, as well as the founder of Invest in Her Real Estate. You can often find her diving deep into historic preservation opportunities or hunting for investments for our clients looking to put their money to work for them.