Realtor® Greg Rapp has a New Home Finder App For You ~ Try it Now!

If you always wished you could search the area's Multiple Listing Service with ease from your PC or mobile device...Greg Rapp has you covered!

Download this easy FREE app to your device ~ and away you go!

Go to your App Store, search for Home Scouting ~ and download the FREE app. It's as simple as that!

Android or Apple ~ Greg has your app waiting for you!

Once you've downloaded the app, you can:

• Find homes near your location
• See 100% of the MLS listings that are available
• View the complete MLS property details right from your car!
• Save your favorites for viewing later
• Post your favorites to Facebook and share with your family and friends

And the biggest advantage...Realtor ® Greg Rapp gets the notification in real time that you are interested in these properties ~ getting you the highest quality service you deserve!

When you download the FREE HomeScouting App, be sure to enter the code 7042136846 ~ and start searching for your new home!

Greg Rapp is the premier Salisbury/Rowan County area real estate agent for vintage homes and commercial properties.  Call Greg today to see the many fine listings in this area:  704.213.6846

You'll be on your way to your new home or business location in no time flat!!

Greg Rapp 
Wallace Realty Co. 
704 213 6846 Mobile 
704 636 2021 Office 
www.realestatesalisbury.net 

Preservation Opportunity! Free Lot in the North Main Historic District! (With a Catch!)

826 N. Main Street - For Sale - $65,000

Realtor® Greg Rapp is known for his prowess in selling and marketing historic homes in the Salisbury/Rowan County area.  Greg has several wonderful historic home listings right now in the North Main Historic District of Salisbury.  But this kind of unique opportunity doesn't come along every day!

Preservation Opportunity:

It's one heck of a real estate deal! 

A buyer can get a piece of property in a great location, not for a low price, but for no price. 

The Historic Salisbury Foundation owns the lot at 717 N. Main Street, and while the sign in the yard says “For Sale,” they will actually give it away, free.  

Free. . . if the buyer agrees to buy a house at 516 N. Main Street (currently Shulenburger Surveying) and move it two blocks to that lot.  The circa 1900 two-story building at 516 North Main will need to be moved soon or demolished, to make way for construction of the Salisbury-Rowan Central School Board Office. 

Architectural Rendering of the New Rowan-Salisbury School System Office at 516 N Main Street

 
Historic Salisbury Foundation will convey its vacant lot at 717 North Main Street to anyone who commits to relocating and rehabilitating the original 2-story home portion of the former circa 1900 home at 516 North Main Street, but it must be done very soon to avoid any delay to construction of the Rowan-Salisbury School System new central office building. The Foundation will donate the vacant lot if someone will pay the costs of moving 516 N. Main to the lot and rehabilitate it.  

The grass covered lot at 717 N. Main Street in the North Main Historic District, is just steps from downtown, it's level with a few nice trees, a sidewalk, city garbage and recycling, and of course, it's free for the asking . . .  if someone will pay the costs of moving the original two-story portion of the circa-1900 house at 516 N. Main St. to the lot and rehabilitate it.

The house at 516 N Main, and the structure next door that used to be the home of J & M Flowers, must make way for the new central office for the school system.  They could tear them both down, but Brian Davis, Executive Director of the Historic Salisbury Foundation, and the City of Salisbury, came up with something creative.  The City's Historic Preservation Committee approved demolition with the encouragement that they collaborate with the Historic Salisbury Foundation and work together to try and find an alternative . . . and it's worth a try.  The home, once moved, would be part of the NOMA (North Main) Neighborhood and be located within the North Main Historic District.

Challenge #1:

The house is only about two blocks from the lot, but a railroad crossing means moving the house will also take some creative thinking. Moving the home from A to B and putting it on a new foundation including site work, may cost in the neighborhood of $50,000-$60,000.  However, the new owner would be getting a two story house built about 1900 and a lot for that investment of $50,000-$60,000.

Challenge #2: 

Someone would have to step up in the next 2-3 weeks and say, "We want this house, we're going to take the lot, we're going to commit to making this happen.” Anyone interested needs to step up soon, like within the next 2-3 weeks, otherwise the house will have a date with the wrecking ball. The Rowan School System hopes to have the new Salisbury-Rowan Central School Board Office built and occupied by December 2015/January 2016 so plans are moving full-speed-ahead. 

Sanborn Fire Insurance Map from 1913, when the house was occupied by Martha & Joseph T. Carson.

Boston's Alley was an African-American neighborhood where several laborers and their families lived.

Benefits:

• If the house can be saved, it would be good for environment in that it would keep construction materials out of the landfill.  
• It actually could save the school board some money to have a two story demolition that is not in a land fill with land fill use fees.
• It's one heck of a real estate deal!

Anyone interested in the house and lot package or just wants to learn more, can call the Historic Salisbury Foundation at 704-636-0103.

Picture of 516 North Main from the 1940s. We're working to find someone to move the house before it would be demolished to make way for the new Salisbury-Rowan County Central School Board Office.

To see other homes for sale in the North Main Historic District of Salisbury, North Carolina, contact Greg Rapp of Wallace Realty.  Greg is known for his knowledge of historic homes and has sold many homes in the North Main district!  Call Greg today at 704.213.6846.


This article was adapted from David Whisenat's January 15, 2015 article,  "Foundation willing to give lot away for free, but there is one catch", from wbtv.com.

http://www.wbtv.com/story/27861118/foundation-willing-to-give-lot-away-for-free-but-there-is-one-catch

Greg Rapp 
Wallace Realty Co. 
704 213 6846 Mobile 
704 636 2021 Office 
www.realestatesalisbury.net 

Never Say These Things to a Real Estate Agent...and Here's Why...

By Mike Bell ~ The Lighter Side of Real Estate ™

"Let’s be clear on one thing: by nature, real estate agents are not fragile beings. They’ve heard it all. And for the most part, they have a great sense of humor about things. In other words, you can tell them virtually anything — in fact, you should if it’s pertinent to buying or selling your home.
It’s just that there’s a handful of things clients say that can rub agents the wrong way. These things aren’t offensive, per se’, and you probably mean no harm when saying them. But we need to discuss these things. Thus, this list. Let’s file it under “edutainment” — important enough to warrant a dialogue, but light enough for you to realize it’s not the end of the world if you’ve said these things to an agent in the past.

Here they are:

1. “I want to buy a home, but I don’t want to commit to one agent.”

Loyalty is a two-way street. If you want an agent’s help, understand that he or she will spend a considerable amount of time, money, and effort shuttling you from house to house, scheduling home viewings, and previewing listings on your behalf. The tradeoff for this hard work is to sign a buyer’s agency agreement, allowing them to formally represent you as a client (versus merely a customer). There are major differences between the two. Learn more about agency relationships here.

2. “Don’t show my home unless I’m available.”

Look down. See a hole in your shoe? That’s because you’re shooting yourself in the foot. Real estate agents are busy. Therefore, if you want to maximize your home’s exposure, you’re gonna have to be flexible (i.e., as “hands off” as possible). I get it, though. You cringe at the thought of muddy shoes dragging across your beige carpet (or whatever else your concern may be). You naturally want to be present to keep an eye on things, but try to control that urge. Buyers get uncomfortable with sellers standing over them while they view a home — and that’s if you’re lucky enough to draw the buyer inside in the first place,considering all the hoops created by stipulating that other people’s schedules must align with yours.

3. “But Zillow said…”

Stop listening to Zillow. Relying on Zillow to determine your home’s value is, at best, a crapshoot. Zillow itself even encourages buyers, sellers and homeowners to conduct other research such as “getting a comparative market analysis (CMA) from a real estate agent” and “getting an appraisal from a professional appraiser.” Sure, Zillow’s Zestimates® are quick, easy, and free… but so is dating advice from your thrice-divorced Uncle Larry. The point? Just let a local real estate professional (who will actually see your home’s unique features in person) determine its fair market value.

4. “I’ll get pre-approved for a mortgage later.”

This puts you at a huge disadvantage right out of the starting block. First, an agent worth his or her salt won’t agree to invest countless hours showing homes to someone who isn’t approved for a loan. Secondly, it’s an unfair burden on the seller to bring tire-kickers into their home (which is how you’ll be perceived). Therefore, listing agents and sellers will often require a pre-approval letter alongside your offer. This letter strengthens your offer by instilling confidence in all parties that you’re financially capable of purchasing the home.

5. “I don’t want to bother my Realtor®. Can you just show me the house?”

Not just no, but heck no. To be clear, you’re more than welcome to view it, but there’s a protocol in play here. Contrary to what you think, asking your agent to see a home is not “bothering” them. It’s their job. It’s how they get paid. It’s what they love doing. If there are extenuating circumstances preventing your agent from showing you a home, let him or her call the listing agent directly. Don’t worry, you’ll get to view the home one way or another. But if you’re already represented, then going straight to the listing agent is considered is a faux pas in this industry (and a bit of a slap in the face to your agent). Just don’t do it.

6. “Real-a-tor”

The correct pronunciation is Real-tor. No need to throw that extra syllable in there.

7. “Oh, you sell real estate? You must make good money.”

Hold your horses… not necessarily. According to NAR (National Association of REALTORS®), the median gross income of REALTORS® was $47,700 in 2013, and that’s before expenses like MLS fees, marketing, insurance and everything else. Also, keep in mind that commissions are split between the brokerages representing the buyer and seller. In other words, of that X% you paid your agent to sell your home, he or she saw only a tiny fraction of that.

8. “I’m planning to sell my home by owner. I just want to know how to do it.”

We all know that time is money, but so is knowledge. It’s not always free, and it certainly can’t be passed from one brain to another through osmosis — especially not how to sell a home. So if you ask this question to an agent, don’t be offended if you don’t get the answer you were seeking. It’s not that agents want you to fail… it’s just that advising you how to sell a home isn’t as easy as, say, forwarding a recipe for chocolate pound cake. I should know. Many people tried to replicate my grandmother’s chocolate pound cake. They even had the recipe. But they all failed miserably, every time. Bottom line? If you want to benefit from experience, be willing to pay for it (especially when it comes to real estate).

9. “I’ll only sell my home to a buyer who is (insert race, gender, religion, etc. here)”

This is a big no-no, and one that’s liable to get you sued (unless, of course, you list with a real estate professional who’d certainly know better than to discriminate). Federal equal housing laws were passed in 1968 in the wake of the Civil Rights Movement, and they prohibit renters and home sellers from discriminating against individuals on the basis of race, sex, religion and other factors. So in a nutshell: focus on getting your home sold, and forget about to whom.

10. “I’d love to get paid to look at pretty houses all day, every day.”

So would agents. “Looking at pretty houses” is only one of about 184 things real estate agents do for their clients."

*  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  * 

This article, written by Mike Bell, appeared in The Lighter Side of Real Estate™ and we couldn't resist sharing!  See the full article here:  http://lightersideofrealestate.com/community/featured-articles/10-things-never-say-real-estate-agent

Realtor® Greg Rapp has heard it all!  But Greg continues to be Salisbury Rowan County's leading real estate agent in historic homes, commercial property, and #1 in client relationships.  Call Greg today at 704.213.6846 ~  and it's OK ~ you can say what you want! 

Greg Rapp 
Wallace Realty Co. 
704 213 6846 Mobile 
704 636 2021 Office 
www.realestatesalisbury.net 

Classic Queen Anne ~ 2700+ Square Feet ~ Prestigious West Square Neighborhood ~ WOW!

Along a shady street in the prestigious West Square Historic District in Salisbury, North Carolina, shaded by two magnificent magnolia trees, sits 226 ELLIS STREET SOUTH Salisbury, NC 28144.  Built in 1900, this spacious home exudes the grace of the era at every turn. 

226 S. Ellis Street is a solidly built, turn-of-the-century, Victorian style home.  It is "Free Classic Queen Anne" style in massing, roof line and details, using classic columns and porch rails, and less gingerbread and patterns of earlier Victorian houses.   

First impressions count, and you'll be impressed by both the width and breadth of the deep, wrap-around front veranda that winds 3/4 the way around the home. A new metal roof on the veranda was installed in 2009 ~ and Southerners know there is nothing like falling asleep to the rhythm of rain on a tin roof! 


Step through the tall front door, with charming wood-screen door and handsome entry door, and you will find yourself in a spacious entry hall, complete with fireplace with original mantel and tiles, a sweet little under-staircase 'nook' that would be perfect for a writing desk, and the grand staircase to the second story.




To the right, you enter into the parlor, another grand room into which two fabulous picture windows stream daylight and offers views to the veranda, the magnolias, and the serene streetscape.  

Hardwood floors, all of the period mill work, and the original fireplace with columned mantel set off this beautiful room.  You'll note the radiators in both the

foyer and parlor...and yes, the home is heated with old-fashioned cast iron radiators.  

Down a center hallway you'll find the dining room to the left, and the master bedroom to the right.  The master bedroom was most recently used as an artists studio/library, and features floor-to-ceiling bookshelves and louvered shutters at the windows.

The 17' x 14' kitchen spans the rear of the home.  Large enough to hold a square-dance, this kitchen includes the dishwasher and vintage Whirlpool stove.  Lots of cupboard and counter space surrounds the walls, and and swings around to include a breakfast counter.

A small mudroom to the rear of the home leads to a graciously sized deep back yard.


The home's grand staircase, with newel post and balusters in perfect condition (freshly painted in 2012), leads you up to another grand hall ~ a large mezzanine that is easily served as another sitting or reading area.  From the mezzanine stretches a hallway that leads you to the upper three bedrooms, all nicely sized rooms at roughly 14' x 14' each!  

A charming step-down bath with neighboring linen closet serves the upstairs private quarters.

Well maintained, this circa 1900 226 S. Ellis Street home was in the same family for over 3 decades.  The front foyer, stairwell, upper mezzanine and hallway, and dining room were all freshly painted in 2012. The kitchen, although perhaps ready for your renovations and updating, is more than accommodating for today's cook.  

Founded in 1753, the City of Salisbury has 10 National Register Historic Districts. The Downtown and West Square Districts are featured in a walking tour which is very popular with visitors. The Hall House Museum in the West Square was the home of Josephus Hall, the physician who served at the Salisbury Military Prison during the Civil War. (http://www.downtownsalisburync.com/download/InformationPackage.pdf)   

The West Square Historic District is within the City Of Salisbury's Historic District Overlay, and some exterior restrictions may apply.  However, budgets permitting, the City frequently offers Historic Preservation Grants that help home owners in these districts with repairs and upgrades.  

(Contact Diana Moghrabi/City of Salisbury Planning Department @ 704-638-5240 for information and application forms.) 

The Historic West Square (also known as

the Salisbury Historic District) is supported by the Olde Salisbury Neighborhood Association, and the first neighborhood in the City of Salisbury to receive the historic designation.  One look at the plethora of gorgeously appointed homes from the late 1800s through the early 1900s will tell you why this pedestrian and family friendly neighborhood is one of the most coveted neighborhoods in Salisbury.

If 226 S. Ellis Street sounds like the home for you, do not hesitate to give listing agent Greg Rapp a call.  Greg can walk you through the expanse of this grand home and explain the benefits of living in both a historic district and the City of Salisbury, with its vibrant arts and culture scene, great local shopping, and wonderful locally owned restaurants.  226 S. Ellis Street is waiting for you to make it your home!  Call Greg Rapp at 704.213.6846 and get all the details!  


 

226 S. Ellis Street - circa 1900
Salisbury NC 28144
 


MLS #: R56682 
$200,000

 



Greg Rapp 
Wallace Realty Co. 
704 213 6846 Mobile 
704 636 2021 Office 
www.realestatesalisbury.net