Real estate questions,
answered straight.

Less than most people think, and the two numbers that matter are not the same thing.

You need enough cash on hand for the due diligence fee and earnest money at the moment you go under contract, which are due immediately, and enough for your down payment and closing costs at the closing table weeks later. Talking to a lender first tells you both numbers before you fall in love with a house.

Read more in 7 Mistakes First-Time Buyers Make.

Yes. In North Carolina you sign the Working With Real Estate Agents Disclosure at first substantial contact, and a written buyer agency agreement before an agent can show you homes and represent you.

This changed how buyer agent compensation is handled, and I walk every client through exactly what they are signing before they sign it.

See Form 220G Eliminated.

Due diligence is your window to investigate the property and decide whether to move forward.

You order inspections, finalize your loan, check permits, review the survey, and confirm anything else that matters to you. During that window you can walk away for any reason at all and get your earnest money back.

Full detail in What to Know About the Inspection Period.

Yes, during the due diligence period, for any reason.

What you do not get back is the due diligence fee, because that is what you paid for the right to walk. After the due diligence period ends, backing out gets expensive and your earnest money is at risk.

From accepted offer to closing, most financed purchases run 30 to 45 days.

Cash purchases can close faster. The house hunting portion varies enormously depending on price range and how specific your requirements are.

The seller pays it.

The rate is one dollar for every five hundred dollars of the sale price, or any fractional part of five hundred, which works out to roughly 0.2 percent. It is paid to the county Register of Deeds before the deed can be recorded, and it appears on the seller's side of the closing statement.

North Carolina sellers complete the Residential Property and Owners' Association Disclosure Statement and a separate Mineral and Oil and Gas Rights disclosure.

You may answer "no representation" to most items, but if you do answer a question, the answer has to be truthful. Knowingly hiding a material defect creates real liability.

Some, not all.

Anything that will show up in an inspection and scare a buyer is usually worth handling in advance. Cosmetic upgrades chasing a higher price often do not return what you spend. I walk the house with you and tell you honestly which is which.

Start with The Ultimate Home Selling Checklist.

The main line items are the excise tax, your share of the county property taxes for the portion of the year you owned the home, any attorney or recording fees on your side, agreed-upon buyer concessions, payoff of your existing loan, and brokerage compensation.

Ask for an estimated net sheet before you list so there are no surprises at closing.

Yes. North Carolina treats real estate closings as the practice of law, so a licensed North Carolina attorney handles the closing.

The attorney searches title, prepares the deed and settlement documents, and disburses funds under the Good Funds Settlement Act. This is not optional and it is not the same as a title company closing in other states.

The due diligence fee is paid directly to the seller and it is not refundable. It buys you the right to investigate and to walk away.

Earnest money is held by an escrow agent, applied to your purchase at closing, and refunded if you terminate during the due diligence period. Two different payments doing two different jobs.

Your assessed value is multiplied by the combined county and municipal tax rate, expressed as an amount per one hundred dollars of value.

A reappraisal changes your assessed value, and the county commissioners set the rate separately. Both numbers move, which is why a frozen value does not automatically mean a lower bill.

See Your 2026 Tax Bill Will Not Match Your Value Notice.

North Carolina homeowners insurance rates increased in 2026 under a statewide settlement, and it hits Triad homeowners along with everyone else.

It also affects what a buyer can afford, because the premium is part of the monthly payment a lender qualifies them on.

Full breakdown in Why Is Your Home Insurance Going Up Again This Summer?.

The Triad's entry prices are meaningfully lower than Charlotte or Raleigh while rental demand stays steady, which is the combination that makes the math work.

That does not mean every property pencils out. Run the numbers on the specific address, not on the region.

More in Why the Piedmont Triad Is a Great Place to Invest.

Investment property financing generally requires a larger down payment than owner-occupied financing, plus closing costs and a reserve for vacancy and repairs.

There are also owner-occupied strategies that let you start with far less if you are willing to live in the property first.

See How to Invest in Real Estate to Build Generational Wealth.

Both. I am an active real estate investor myself, so investor conversations tend to be about the numbers rather than the finishes.

The Piedmont Triad is the north central region of North Carolina anchored by Greensboro, Winston-Salem, and High Point, along with the smaller communities between and around them including Kernersville, Clemmons, Lewisville, Thomasville, Lexington, Asheboro, and Randleman.

It depends on commute, price range, and what you want your daily routine to look like.

Kernersville sits between Winston-Salem and Greensboro, which makes it work for households commuting in different directions. Winston-Salem and Greensboro each have distinct in-town options. I would rather ask you a few questions than guess.

Yes. Remote buying is a normal part of my work.

Video walkthroughs, detailed neighborhood context, and a clear read on the contract terms let you make a real decision without being here for every showing.

Kernersville is my primary market. I also work throughout Winston-Salem, Greensboro, High Point, Clemmons, Lewisville, Walkertown, Thomasville, Lexington, Climax, Yadkinville, Asheboro, and Randleman.

Since 2016. I am licensed in North Carolina under license number 290693 and I work with R and B Legacy Group in Winston-Salem.

It means the research, market analysis, and marketing behind your transaction move faster and go deeper than they used to.

It does not replace the part where a person picks up the phone and advocates for you. That part is still me.

A conversation with no pressure attached.

Knowing what your home is worth or what you can afford is useful information whether you act on it this month or in two years.