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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.

Thinking About Buying a Coastal Rental? Read This First.

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What Wilmington’s Rental Market Tells Us About Coastal Investing in the Post-Pandemic Era

A new article from May 2024 focused on Wilmington, NC, but if you’ve been watching coastal markets across the country, the story will sound familiar: short-term rental demand is down, and supply has officially outpaced it.

https://www.whqr.org/local/2024-05-23/wilmingtons-airbnb-stock-is-outstripping-demand

The WHQR piece highlights a sharp increase in the number of active Airbnb units in the Wilmington area—and not enough guests to fill them. That kind of oversaturation isn’t unique to Wilmington. We’re seeing similar patterns in many beach and vacation markets nationwide: too many listings, not enough bookings, and increasingly savvy travelers being more selective about where they stay.

So what does that mean if you’re considering buying a coastal property?

Coastal Buyers, Take Note: Short-Term Rental Trends Are Shifting

It depends on your goals.

If you’re aiming to run a high-occupancy, short-term rental business, you’ll need a strong plan and realistic expectations. The days of throwing a property on Airbnb and expecting it to book itself are behind us in many markets.

But if your goal is to use your beach home and rent it out occasionally to help subsidize your ownership costs—especially with mid- or short-term stays—there’s still a smart play to be made.

This model works especially well for buyers from the Triangle and beyond who want to enjoy the coast without the pressure of operating a full-time rental machine. And if you’re looking for easier management and more consistent income, long-term rentals are also worth a second look.

The bottom line? Coastal investing isn’t one-size-fits-all in 2024. Whether you’re looking at Wilmington or another waterfront market, now’s the time to get clear on your goals and align them with current market realities.

Let’s talk about how to make it work for you.

Contact Me Today: Lisa@InvestInHerRealEstate.com

“Study: N.C. has one of country’s highest declines in homeownership”

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Via Asheville Citizen Times by way of Business North Carolina’s Daily Digest,

This is definitely not the direction we want to move, North Carolina.

A study showed that North Carolina is No. 7 in the country for highest decline in home ownership. Real estate school and media company Agent Advice analyzed housing vacancy and homeownership data from government census numbers between 2014 and 2023. North Carolina’s 66.2% homeownership rate in 2014’s fourth quarter compared to 65.8% in 2023.

If you’ve been sitting on the fence waiting for interest rates to come down or are stuck on the spinning wheel of feeling like a lifelong renter, give me a call, send me a text, or toss me a quick email, and let’s connect to get you in the buyer’s lane! 919-229-9725 or Lisa@InvestInHerRealEstate.com.

No matter where you want to call home, we can work together to design an achievable plan to accomplish your goal of home ownership.

Image Credit: Ketut Subiyanto via Pexels

Considering Home Improvements? Think Twice About Upgrades That Don’t Add Value

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Zillow recently shared a lineup of home improvement projects that aren’t high on the list of appealing upgrades for would-be buyers. Do you recognize any of these projects on your upcoming home improvement hot list? If you’re doing it for your enjoyment with no plans to sell in the near future, then we say, “Go for it!” (especially the walk-in closet), but if you’re considering a sale in the next few years, keep in mind that your investment may be better spent on that pesky “honey do” list instead, as a “well-maintained home can sell for about 10% more than a similar home in average condition,” according to the story.

The projects that don’t deliver a dollar-for-dollar return include:

  • All-white kitchens
  • Walk-in closets
  • Decks
  • Converting garages to bedrooms
  • In-ground swimming pools
  • Poorly done DIY projects
  • Wall-to-wall carpeting
  • Bamboo flooring
  • Laminate countertops
  • High-end fixtures

Dig into the story to read about the reported sales metrics for each project if you’ve been considering investing in one of these home improvement projects this year!

“Welcome to Dating in the Age of the Housing Crisis”

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From The Guardian:

Exploding mortgage rates, average house prices at almost 10 times the average salary and rents at an all-time high: the crisis is leaving its mark on every stage of millennial relationships. It’s there on dates, with the need to find someone to buy with (or just split the rent with) as ever-present as glasses of bad wine. It’s pressing fast forward on the relationship itself: a 2022 SpareRoom survey found that nearly a quarter of respondents would consider moving in with a partner earlier than planned to save money. It’s trapping an estimated one in 10 people in relationships they aren’t happy in because they can’t afford to move out. And it hangs around even after the breakup, forcing some exes to live together for years on end.

‘We could soon see a Jane Austen-style marriage market’: how the housing crisis is turning modern dating on its head – Barbara Speed, The Guardian

I thought this was a really interesting read for everyone… single, dating, married, separated, and beyond. Although the stats and point of view are based in the UK, the situation mirrors what we’re seeing here in the United States, as well.

I take great pride in my professional experience of having worked with many single and non-married couple renters and buyers and would love to talk with you about your specific experience, where you are today, and where you see yourself in the future… and how real estate plays an important part in those lifestyles. I also look forward to hearing your thoughts on the linked article, too! 🥸