Deciding where to move can be a difficult choice to make. For some people, the decision is made for them – circumstances around work or family require them to go to one specific place. If that’s not the case for you, and you can pick from various places to call home, the many options available might be overwhelming.

This page is going to make the case for the Greensboro/Summerfield area as the ideal spot to settle down and plant your roots. If that is the decision you come to in the end, Smith Marketing would love to serve as your real estate agents in the process. Working with experienced Realtors can make all the difference, so get in touch now to learn more.

Many Economic Opportunities

Even if you aren’t thinking about moving to the Greensboro area to take one specific job, you will be happy to know that this is a great place to build a career. A big part of the strength of the Greensboro economy and job market comes from its diversity – there are many sectors represented here, and people in all kinds of different fields have a chance to make their mark and explore their professional opportunities.

Healthcare and education are two of the leading employers in the area, but they are far from the only games in town. There is also a strong foundation of companies in manufacturing and transportation that operate in and around Greensboro. Whether you already have your career on track and are looking for growth, or you are just getting started and need to find a direction, there is a good chance that Greensboro will have something that suits you nicely.

Affordable Yet Attractive

It’s not always the case that an area with relatively affordable housing is also an appealing place to live. Those kinds of places are hard to find, but Greensboro fits the description nicely. Housing prices and the overall cost of living are somewhat lower here than in other nearby locations – such as Charlotte – yet there are countless reasons to want to call Greensboro home. As a place to raise a young family, it’s hard to do better than this part of North Carolina.

Plenty of Housing Options

If you are thinking of moving here and want to explore what housing possibilities exist in and around the city, you are in luck – you won’t be stuck with just one type of housing to consider in your search. There are plenty of peaceful, attractive suburbs if that is the kind of lifestyle you seek, but there is also more modern, urban living available in the heart of Greensboro. And, given the popularity and many attractive features of the area, new developments continue to be completed, leading to an ever-expanding inventory of options to consider.

Education is a Priority

It tends to be the case that great places to live also provide residents with outstanding educational opportunities, for both children and adults. And yet again, we see another point that is in favor of moving to the Greensboro and Summerfield area. For kids, the Guilford County School system is considered an excellent one, and plenty of the schools within the system are highly rated and open up countless opportunities for young people.

At the same time, Greensboro is also a leader in higher education. Many institutions exist in the city including UNC Greensboro, the Elon University School of Law, Guilford College, and North Carolina A&T State University. It’s often the case that people come here to attend school and wind up staying because there are so many things to love about the region.

The Outdoors Await

It’s impossible to talk about life in Greensboro without mentioning just how appealing it is for people who love to be outdoors. This is simply a beautiful part of the country with weather conditions that are often ideal for spending time in nature. Within the city itself, there are many parks to explore, golf courses to try, trails for walking or running, and on and on. People who love water sports will appreciate the many lakes in the area, and it’s only a short drive to the coast for a day at the beach. Whatever it is you love to do outside, there is a good chance Greensboro and the surrounding area will deliver on those dreams.

A Sense of Community

You’ll find shortly after moving to Greensboro that there is always some kind of community event taking place. One of the biggest selling points for moving here – in addition to all of the things that have been discussed above – is the friendly nature of the people in and around the city. You can attend things like farmers markets and outdoor concerts to engage with your neighbors and grow relationships that may last for a lifetime. The area boasts a low crime rate, and with the sense of support that you will feel surrounding you, it’s likely to be where you want to stay for the long run.

Engage in the Culture

Finally, it should be mentioned that Greensboro also has a ton of outstanding cultural scene options that are great for new residents to explore. Some of those include the Greensboro Science Center, the Weatherspoon Art Museum, the North Carolina Folk Festival, the Greensboro Symphony Orchestra, The Civil Rights Museum, and more. Once you move in, pick out a few of these attractions to visit, and you will quickly feel like you are a local and are enjoying the best of what Greensboro has to offer.

A proven Allen Tate team with a long track record of quality performance in this market, Smith Marketing is ready to make your move to the Greensboro area a smooth one. The ball is in your court to reach out and learn more, so get in touch today and put the wheels in motion on this exciting process.

Greensboro is a wonderful place, both to live and to visit, and plenty of nice things have been said and written about the city. But there may be a few things that you don’t know about Greensboro, including the points listed in this article. Check out the content below and get even more excited about moving to or spending time in this part of North Carolina.

If you need a Realtor to help with a residential transaction in the Greensboro & Summerfield area, Smith Marketing is up to the task. As a proven Allen Tate team with a long list of satisfied clients, you are sure to be in good hands when you trust this process to the friendly professionals at Smith Marketing.

A Strong Civil Rights History

Greensboro, North Carolina, may not be as widely recognized for its civil rights activism as other Southern cities, but it has a significant and proud history in this crucial area. Notably, the sit-ins at the Woolworth lunch counter in 1960 marked a pivotal moment in the Civil Rights Movement, as local college students peacefully protested segregation and ignited similar demonstrations nationwide. Additionally, Greensboro played a vital role in the Underground Railroad, helping many individuals find freedom during that era. For those interested in delving deeper into the city’s civil rights legacy, the International Civil Rights Center & Museum is a must-visit destination, showcasing the rich history and ongoing impact of the movement.

A Hotbed of Sports

While Greensboro might not have a team in any of the major four professional sports in the United States, don’t make the mistake of thinking that the city is entirely left out of the sports scene. Far from it. Specifically, college basketball is particularly popular in the area, with Duke and North Carolina regularly fielding teams that are among the best in the country. The Greensboro Grasshoppers play their home games in the city as an affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates, and the Greensboro Swarm are a member of the NBA’s G League.

Major Furniture Player

The strong economy that is often enjoyed by the Greensboro area is owed in part to the city’s place in the furniture industry. This region is often called the Furniture Capital of the World, with one of the largest home furnishings trade shows – the High Point Market – taking place here in the Triad.

Deep History in the Environmental Movement

Where it is rather popular these days to be concerned with the well-being of the environment, Greensboro has a long history of taking such concerns seriously. For the last five decades, there have been ongoing initiatives in the city to preserve the beauty and ecology of the place.

Home to the Writer O. Henry

Henry was the pen name of a short story writer who was born William Sydney Porter. He was born in Greensboro in 1862, and there is now an annual festival to honor his impressive works and the legacy that he left in the city.

It seems that there is always something new to discover in Greensboro. Whether you are looking at some of the homes for sale in Greensboro, or you are getting ready to list your own property, don’t hesitate to get in touch with Smith Marketing. Now is the time to get started!

It is a wonderful luxury to own one of the countless beautiful homes throughout the Greensboro area, but you aren’t going to want to spend all of your time at home in this part of North Carolina. Specifically, you’ll want to spend at least some of your time enjoying some of the many incredible parks that the city has to offer.

If you are new to the area, or if you just haven’t spent much time exploring Greensboro’s parks, this post will help you get started. Pick one of the great options in the list below and find a nice day to stop by and explore. Soon enough, you’ll develop your own list of favorites, and going to the park will become a pastime that the whole family loves.

Are you soon to be moving to the Greensboro area and need trustworthy real estate agents on your side? Not to worry, you have already found the ideal partner in Smith Marketing. As Greensboro Realtors, Smith Marketing has built a strong reputation and will be able to guide you through the homebuying process in this city without any trouble. Call now to learn more.

Country Park

For families who want to get outside, explore the wonderful nature that Greensboro has to offer, and meet other families with kids, Country Park should be a primary destination. There is just so much to do at this location that you’ll find yourself coming back over and over again. Some of the many attractions that cause people to keep coming back to Country Park include the paved trails for walking and jogging, the many playgrounds and picnic areas, the off-leash dog park, and lakes for fishing. Don’t be surprised if this quickly becomes one of your favorite places to spend time throughout the entire city.

Hagan-Stone Park

Another of the great parks in Greensboro, Hagan-Stone also offers plenty of amenities. One additional feature here that isn’t seen at all of the other parks is the campground – if you would like to spend the night out in nature, you can reserve a site for your tent or RV. There are lakes here for fishing, like at Country Park, and you can enjoy the hiking trails and playgrounds under the North Carolina sun.

The Bog Garden

This is perhaps the most interesting park in Greensboro – and one of the most interesting parks anywhere, for that matter. It’s a seven-acre park that has an elevated boardwalk for visitors to explore. As you walk along, you’ll see the bog below and be able to watch the plant and animal life up close. There are many different living things that call the bog home, including plenty of birds and turtles. If you are looking for somewhere quiet and peaceful to get away for a while and just relax, The Bog Garden is hard to beat.

LeBauer Park

Where some of the parks on our list have gotten you out of the heart of the city, LeBauer Park provides a more urban feel while still delivering that connection to nature that so many people are seeking. In addition to green space and play areas, there are also public art installations at this park that you may enjoy exploring. On a nice day, you can be sure that plenty of activity will be going on at LeBauer Park.

Barber Park

Yet another park that is overflowing with attractions, Barber Park has an 18-hole disc golf course as one of its big features. There are also tennis courts, a sprayground to cool off the kids, and even an amphitheater where concerts are held throughout the year. More than just a place to get outside, this park is also home to an indoor sports pavilion, so there are always events being held here – even during the winter months when the weather is a little less than ideal.

Keeley Park

Biking is extremely popular in North Carolina and Keeley Park is a common destination for those who like to ride thanks to its BMX track. You don’t have to be on two wheels to have fun here, however, as you can also enjoy trying your luck in the fishing pond, taking the kids to one of the playgrounds or the sprayground, or stopping to eat lunch in a picnic area. Looking to get in some exercise? This is one of the best parks to do just that, as there is a large trail system where walkers and joggers are a constant sight. Keeley is just outside of Greensboro in Mcleansville, but it’s part of the Greensboro Park System.

Greensboro Arboretum

If your idea of a great park is one that connects you as closely as possible with nature, the Greensboro Arboretum is sure to be your favorite of all of the options on this list. At 17 acres, this is a large park that has a number of plant collections for visitors to walk around and explore. Not only will you get to spend time among incredible flowers and plants, but you’ll also leave with more knowledge of plant life than you had when you arrived. This might not be the right kind of park to visit for sports or to get in some exercise, but the Arboretum is not to be missed if you are a plant lover.

Bryan Park

Without a doubt, it is the two 18-hole golf courses that are the primary feature of Bryan Park. Golfers from around the area book tee times at these popular courses to test their skills and enjoy time outdoors in the beautiful Guilford County landscape. With that said, you don’t have to be a golfer to enjoy a trip to this part of the city. In addition to golf, there are volleyball and tennis courts, a playground, picnic shelters, and more.

The Allen Tate Greensboro Realtors at Smith Marketing would love to help you get started in this competitive market. As you browse homes for sale and start to think about visiting a few in person, get in touch with Smith Marketing to schedule an appointment and talk about your needs. The team is ready to help!

A big part of getting comfortable with completing a real estate transaction is simply knowing what everyone is talking about throughout the process. There are many terms involved in this industry, so it’s worth reviewing the list below to quickly get up to speed on as many of them as possible.

Of course, another way to get your feet on the ground is to work with the Tate Realtors at Smith Marketing. Leaders for years in Greensboro real estate, Smith Marketing will guide you from start to finish and answer every question you have along the way. Take a moment today to reach out and learn more.

Appraisal

This is a review by a licensed appraiser that will assign a fair market value to a home based on things like the location, size of the home, its condition, and the overall market.

Closing Costs

When a real estate deal closes, there are a variety of costs associated with finishing the deal and formally transferring ownership from one party to another. Those costs include things like title insurance and loan origination fees.

Down Payment

This is the money that the buyer puts down at the close of the deal to partially fund the purchase. Most home purchases are made through a combination of a down payment and a mortgage to cover the rest of the price.

Equity

After owning a property for a while, it’s often the case that you will have some degree of equity in the home. The term equity simply refers to how much value the property has after you consider the loan that is outstanding on it.

Fixed-Rate Mortgage

A loan that has a fixed rate is assigned a specific interest rate at the time of closing and that rate will not change for the duration of the loan.

Pre-Approval

Buyers in the real estate market will often go through a pre-approval process to have their credit reviewed and determine how much they can afford to spend on a new house. While a pre-approval doesn’t guarantee final loan approval, it does help to give sellers confidence that the buyer is qualified to make a serious offer.

Home Inspection

It’s considered a good practice to have a home inspection included as part of the terms of making an offer on a home. The inspection will check out the condition of the property in detail to spot any issues that need to be addressed.

Short Sale

When a property goes into the foreclosure process, it may wind up becoming a short sale – meaning it is sold off by the bank for more than is owed on the loan.

Mortgage Insurance

When a home buyer is going to put down less than 20% of the purchase price of the home, mortgage insurance is generally required to protect the lender in case of a default.

As a respected Allen Tate team with countless successful transactions completed, you won’t do better than Smith Marketing whether you are buying or selling a home in the Greensboro area. This journey starts with a simple phone call, so pick up the phone now and you’ll be on your way.

There is a lot to know when buying a home. That is particularly true when buying your first home, as the process can feel overwhelming, and you might be rather nervous about the whole experience. In this article, you can learn about the “4 C’s” of homebuying, which are points that relate to the mortgage process and should help to settle your nerves and let you know what the mortgage company considers.

Another vital element in this process is working with the right real estate agents. The Smith Marketing team has tons of experience pointing buyers toward the best Greensboro homes for sale and then helping them close deals on those homes. Take a moment to get in touch today and learn more.

An Intimidating Process

Before getting into the 4 C’s and what they mean for your home buying process, it’s important to discuss why getting a mortgage is so intimidating for so many people. Applying for a mortgage is often the biggest financial transaction many people make in their life. It is a thorough examination of your financial life, and you will need to have things in order if it is going to go well and end in a loan that you can use to purchase a home.

That previous paragraph wasn’t meant to scare or intimidate you so much as make it clear what you are getting into and why it needs to be taken seriously. As long as you have positioned yourself well to make this move, and you get things in order before getting started, you should be able to look forward to smooth sailing from start to finish.

Consider These Four Points

The four C’s listed below will help you understand how your lender is going to see your loan application. Understanding these points will allow you to get things ready for the application process and you’ll have a good idea of whether or not now is the right time to make this move.

• Capacity to pay it back. At the heart of the matter is the lenders need to know whether or not they can expect you to pay back the loan. This will be determined in part by your income and also by how much money you currently owe to other people.

• Another piece of the puzzle is how much money you have available in the form of capital, such as savings and investments that can easily be converted to cash.
• You might not think of it this way, but the home you are purchasing is seen by the bank as the collateral on the loan. In other words, if you stop paying the loan, they will take the house – and they want to be sure that the house is worth enough to protect them financially in that situation.

• Finally, they will be looking at your credit history to see if you have a record of paying things on time and in full.

Whether you want to shop the existing inventory in Greensboro or you would like to connect with great home builders to work on a custom project, Smith Marketing should be your first call. Don’t wait any longer to put this project in motion!

Decorating your home is a fun opportunity to put your stamp on what is basically a blank slate at the start. This is your space, after all, and where you will spend most of your time – so it should be decorated in a way that makes you feel comfortable and happy. This article will help you work on this project by highlighting a few decorating mistakes that could take your home back in time. Avoid these errors to love your decorating choices for years to come.

If you are in the market to purchase a home and need to work with the best real estate agents in the area, take a moment today to contact Smith Marketing for assistance.

Using All White

There is certainly nothing wrong with having white components within a room’s design, and you might even lean into that shade in some rooms more than others. But going too far in this direction is likely to give your space a dated feel. There was a time when using as much white as possible was considered stylish, so your décor may start to feel stuck in that era if you use too much white and fail to mix in other looks.

Going Too Far with Minimalism

It can feel great to use a minimalist approach to designing your spaces, as they will be free from clutter and may help you to relax and unwind. Those are all good things, but like anything else, you can even take minimalism too far. You might wind up with a space that feels dated and cold if you don’t add at least a few inviting elements. A good way to approach this type of design is to start with a very basic, minimalist décor and then gradually add one or two pieces at a time until it feels just right.

Matching Furniture Throughout a Room

While it’s certainly up to you to decide what types of furniture you want to purchase for your space, consider going against the notion of just buying one big set where all of the pieces match. This is another choice that can lead to a dated, tired feeling in your home. Try instead to pick your furniture one piece at a time in a way that allows them to work together while still bringing their own individual style and personality to the room.

Staying in a Single Era

One of the best ways to have your home feel current and not stuck in the past is to avoid designing it like it comes from one specific time in the past. In other words, don’t just use pieces or style choices from a single era, but rather pick and choose items you like from various different time periods to create something unique and surprisingly modern.

For Greensboro realtors who have a detailed understanding of the market and experience helping countless clients find the right home, reach out to Smith Marketing to chat about your needs. As Tate Realtors with a long history of performance in the Greensboro area, you’ll be in good hands.

When building a new home from the ground up, the sky’s the limit. There is almost nothing that is out of the question as you get into the design phase – as long as it fits in your budget, it can be added to the house. But what are the must-have elements that you don’t want to miss? This post is going to highlight some of the key elements almost everyone will want to include.

Are you looking for Greensboro Realtors who have the experience and knowledge to guide you through this process successfully? The team at Smith Marketing is your ideal partner. Working with this Allen Tate Greensboro team will put you at ease and help you get through the home building or buying process successfully.

Open Concept Design

This isn’t a particularly new trend, as open-concept homes have been popular for many years at this point. It’s still worth keeping this feature at or near the top of your priority list, however, as it is a great way to create a comfortable, flexible home. With plenty of open space and minimal walls, you’ll be able to use the house however you see fit for years to come.

Smart Home Technology

Something that is newer on the scene is smart home technology, and it’s another must-have. You’ll want to include various smart features in your house from the start so you don’t need to go back to add them later. This could be things like smart lighting, an advanced thermostat to control the HVAC system, security equipment, and more.

A Home Office

For most people, a home office has moved from the realm of luxury and into the category of necessity. Working from home is more common than ever before, and even if you don’t work from home, having an office space where you can set up a computer to handle bills and manage other parts of day-to-day life is something you’ll want to be able to do.

Outdoor Living

Technically, this next point isn’t “in” a new home, but it counts just the same. You’ll want to have somewhere around the house to get outside, relax, and spend time with family and friends. This could be a patio at ground level, an elevated deck on the back of the home, or some other type of outdoor living arrangement.

Tons of Windows

One thing you’ll never regret about your new home is having plenty of large windows to bring in as much natural light as possible. Even when the Greensboro weather doesn’t cooperate enough to enjoy the outdoor living space we discussed above, you can open the blinds or curtains and bask in the beauty of this part of the world.

If you decide to build a custom home, you’ll be able to pick and choose precisely the features you want to include, such as those listed above. Even if you opt for an existing home, you can use this list to help as you shop. Either way, Smith Marketing offers the real estate agents you need to make sound decisions and wind up in a home that you love.

There is just so much to think about when building a new house. At the start, the process can seem overwhelming, and while working with an experienced agent and builder will go a long way, it still can be stressful. So, this article is going to break down a few things you can learn from those who have gone before you, to help make the path easier and allow you to achieve an ideal result.

To find the Greensboro homebuilders right for you, reach out today to Smith Marketing. With tons of experience in Greensboro real estate, the Smith Marketing team can help you find the ideal builder to get this journey off to an ideal start.

Leaving Extra Room in the Budget is Important

At the start of the design and planning process, it will be tempting to account for every last dollar that you have available. This makes some sense, of course, as you want to get as much as possible out of the build based on your budget. There is only one problem – surprise costs are almost certain to come along somewhere during the project. So, rather than maxing out the budget from the start, try leaving at least 10% of additional space in the budget to cover cost overruns. This will make things far less stressful and will help you get the project to the finish line successfully.

Keep Things Simple

If you are building a custom house, you have some control over the design – which is great, but it’s easy to take it too far. If you go a little overboard in creating a unique layout, you might find soon after you move in that you wish you would have played it a little “safer”. That is an outcome you can avoid by sticking with proven types of layout choices that are going to leave you with more of a blank canvas inside the house. This allows flexibility over time and will enable you to use the home in many different ways as the years – and even generations – pass.

Let Go of Perfection

Since this is probably the biggest project you will take on in life, it’s easy to think that you are going to nail it perfectly right from the start – but perfection rarely exists in this world. Do your best to let go of the temptation to control every last piece of the project and instead embrace the fact that things will play out as they will, and the finished product will be beautiful regardless.

Pay Attention to the Outside

You don’t want to become so obsessed with the design of the house itself that you forget to attend to landscaping and outdoor living features on the rest of the property. Loving the outdoors as much as the indoors will make your home somewhere you want to spend as much time as possible.

Whether you are interested in custom homes or would like to review what is available in already existing homes on the Greensboro market, Smith Marketing is the right call to make. Take a moment today to get in touch and put the wheels in motion to finding or building your dream home.

As with all things, the trends in luxury home design and architecture change over time. What was once in style and popular may no longer be seen as desirable by home buyers and builders. So, what is currently trendy for homebuilders to include for their clients? This article will take a closer look.

If you are thinking about new home construction, working with the best Realtors Greensboro has to offer is a great starting point. Of course, this is also the right way to approach finding an existing home, so either way, your next step is the same – reach out to Smith Marketing today to learn more.

Smart Home Technology

This is a pretty easy choice to start the list – smart home technology is everywhere in new houses and is only getting more advanced and more accessible as time passes. Including as much modern tech as possible from the start is a great way to “future-proof” your house and make sure you don’t have to go back later and make major changes to catch up with the tech you’d like to use. From security systems and lighting to HVAC and more, smart home technology can make everything work better.

Wellness Spaces

A generation or two ago, it was more common to head to another location outside of your home to work on your health. While that still occurs, of course, more and more people are enjoying having a home gym, yoga studio, or some similar space included in the design of their home. This will save you time, be more convenient – meaning you’ll be more likely to stick with a workout routine – and will afford you some welcome privacy.

Minimalism

There has been a shift in home design toward minimalist aesthetics that emphasize clean lines and plenty of open space. At first, it might seem like you aren’t including enough features in your new home, and it may wind up feeling “boring”. That’s unlikely to be the case when all is said and done. Minimalist spaces are appealing to the eye and offer nearly endless design options once the structure is completed.

A Focus on Sustainability

There are many different ways to pay attention to sustainability when designing your new home. This can come in the form of the materials you select for the project, the types of landscaping you use around the outside, how you heat and cool the home, and more. There has never been a more important time to think about how all of your actions impact the world around you, and starting by paying careful attention to your home design and construction plans is an excellent first step.

Ready to check out some great Allen Tate properties that could serve as your next home? Smith Marketing is ready to help. Take a moment now to get in touch and you’ll be taking a big step closer to finding the ideal property for your family.

Making real estate decisions is never easy. If you own a home, it’s quite likely that your house is the most valuable thing you own – and choosing to sell is a big step in your financial life. If you have been thinking about going in that direction, you might be interested in looking at some of the primary reasons that other homeowners decide it’s time to sell.

Working with qualified real estate agents can make it far easier to make these important choices. Whether you are getting ready to sell or might be thinking about becoming a homeowner for the first time in the Greensboro real estate market, Smith Marketing is the right partner for the job.

The House is the Wrong Size

Without a doubt, this reason is right at the top of the list for people deciding to sell their home. As time passes, it’s common for a house to no longer work for a family in terms of size. This can go both directions, of course. In some cases, it will be the addition of children to a family that causes the house to no longer be big enough. Or, as the kids get older and move out, a home may suddenly feel way too big, and downsizing could be in order.

A Job Change

For some people, it will be a change to their employment that dictates the sale of a house. Their current employer might decide to move them to a new office in a different place, or they might find a new job opportunity that demands they leave where they are currently living. Either way, these types of home sales usually come up quickly and have to be completed in a hurry.

Getting Closer to Family

It might be that you want to sell your house because you don’t currently live near family or close friends and you’d like to change that situation. This is common when people move away from home for college, settle in that area for a few years after school, and then decide they want to get back home.

Cashing Out

Sometimes, the decision to sell a house can be based on nothing more than just taking the opportunity to cash out the equity that has been built. If there is a lot of equity available in your home, and you are thinking about moving to a more affordable area (or downsizing), selling to secure those profits makes all the sense in the world.

A Change in the Neighborhood

Communities are always in flux, and an area that was once desirable to call home may no longer be so appealing. If a neighborhood feels like it is going “downhill” for one reason or another, a homeowner may decide to sell and look for a more attractive place to live.  In some cases, increased traffic or rezoning to allow the encroachment of commercial development makes a neighborhood less attractive.

To work with an Allen Tate Greensboro real estate team that is always going to fight for your side of any deal, Smith Marketing won’t disappoint. Take a moment today to get in touch and learn more about what Smith Marketing has to offer and how you can get started.