Zillow Advice RSS: Question-Discussion-Guide,Local Topics,Chapel Hill- NC

Chatham passes liquor by the drink. What happens now?

Mon, 14 Sep 2009 18:14:00 GMT

Chatham County has passed liquor by the drink. So now what happens? Pretty much nothing, at least in the short term. It is true that some establishments in the county will start to serve mixed drinks. This will put those restaurants on an even keel with restaurants in neighboring counties. But I don't think we will see any major increases in patronage or in new establishments being opened.

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Buying or Selling Undeveloped Land in Chatham County, Part 1.

Mon, 14 Sep 2009 18:07:00 GMT

Part 1: The Perk Test

In this installment I'm going to spend some time on the process for buying or selling undeveloped land in Chatham County. This process is for undeveloped land and not improved lots that you typically find in a developed subdivision. With the case of improved lots, the developer or builder has done most of the work for you. But it is always a good idea to check with the County planning department or better yet, your Realtor to make sure all the requirements to build on the lot have been met. You may also find the process is very similar in other Counties.

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Chatham County Sales Still Slightly Lower, But Improvement Seen

Mon, 14 Sep 2009 18:02:00 GMT

Chatham County's home sales were off in August by 12% year of year from last August. In 2008, Chatham had 54 home transactions according to the Triangle MLS system. For 2009 that number was down slightly by 6 to 48 home transactions, indicating a slowing of the drop in year over year home sales. The news is still tough for area Realtors, though all are seeing increased activity and pending contracts.

Looking at the numbers in more detail, we see that the average home sold square footage dropped by 154 sq. ft. indicating a continuing trend to smaller homes as well. The average sales price in Chatham for August 2009 was $348,274, down $58,064 from $406,338 for last August.

The average days on the market was up slightly from 122 days last August to 154 days for August 2009 for homes that sold. Homes were selling for 4% less as a percentage of asking price, from 96% in 2008 to 92% this year.

There were pockets of better than average performance and pockets or worse than average performance. For the most part, homes priced correctly were selling in all price ranges. Homes in what would be termed "First Time Home Buyer" market were the most active on the market, followed by land, and finally by luxury homes.

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How to buy a house in Pittsboro and Chatham County, Part 1

Mon, 14 Sep 2009 17:46:00 GMT

Buying a house in Pittsboro or other parts of Chatham County is not unlike buying a house in any other part of the Triangle or the Country for that matter, with one exception. Chatham has in the past been one of the fastest growing Counties in the region, the Country even. So depending on your idea of the "perfect" home, one thing usually stands out when considering where to buy…location, location, location. And even though growth and development has slowed in Chatham, that trend is not likely to continue.

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The homes numbers on Simerville Road, Chapel Hill, NC are reversed from reality. How to correct?

Mon, 27 Jul 2009 19:29:00 GMT

If I use the location editor I can move the location of the house with my street address to my location but it has description of the wrong house. It would be best if Zillow would assign correct street numbers.

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Buying or Selling Undeveloped Land in Chatham County.

Wed, 22 Jul 2009 21:47:00 GMT

When buying or selling undeveloped land in the Chatham County area of Chapel Hill, it is important to understand the rules and what you can and cannot do.

Aside from a knowledgeable and local Realtor, a good place to start is the Chatham County planning department. There you can determine how the property is currently zoned and if that zoning meets your requirements. For the most part, we are talking about single family residential zoning which most of Chatham is already zoned for.

The next important question is whether or not you have a buildable lot. This is determined by first, finding out if the property perks. Perking is the process of testing the soils on the property for the installation of a conventional septic system. There is no County sewage system. The County Environmental Health Department is responsible for performing soil test to determine if the property is suitable for a septic system and what type of system may be used, preferably a conventional one. The County fees vary depending on the number of bedrooms you want approval for. The fees, along with a $10 flood determination fee are paid up front and there is no guarantee you will receive approval for a septic system installation.

Once you have paid your fees, had the County soil engineer out to test the soil, and received your improvement permit (perk test), you are ready to move on to the next steps of obtaining a well permit and your construction permits.

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