My Wife and I were taking a stroll down memory lane (actually it was Carrington Drive) thinking about the past. We started reminiscing about the crazy time right before we were married. I was just starting my real estate business, we were planning a wedding and making the transition from being renters to buying our first home in Knightdale.  Fortunately my time as a renter was quick and painless. I rented a small farmhouse on Clifton Road from a very nice family. My experience as a renter in Knightdale was thankfully uneventful but I also know there are others who haven’t been so lucky. Let’s face it, the government is giving great incentives (and a boatload of cash) to first time home buyers right now but for some, buying their first home in a great town like Knightdale just isn’t in the cards. So while everyone is talking about buying, I thought I would offer this blog post as a resource for Knightdale renters who have not yet transitioned into home ownership. So often, the difference between a bad landlord / tenant relationship and a positive one is just a little bit of knowledge.

Knowledge? Yes. Legal Advice? No!

Before I get too far, I’ve got to lay down the typical legal disclaimer. So bear with me through this paragraph. After all, I’ve got to keep the real estate commission (and my real estate broker) happy. So without further ado: This blog post should NOT be construed as legal advice (in other words, No. I am not a lawyer)  This information is provided “as is” and with everything you read on the internet, you should confirm and check the accuracy of information presented.

Can My Landlord Kick Me Out of My Knightdale Home / Apartment?

I  don’t know how many times I’ve overheard landlords say “My tenant didn’t pay me so I changed the locks.” I shudder when I hear these words. Why? Because that’s actually illegal in North Carolina. That’s right, it’s called Peaceable Self Help Eviction. Basically it means that if you ,the tenant, breaches a lease in Knightdale, or any city in North Carolina, the landlord cannot force you out of the property. This includes changing the locks, turning  off utilities, or taking your personal property.

But don’t think you can quit paying for that Knightdale apartment or home and live rent free. While Self Help Eviction is illegal, Actual Eviction (sometimes called Summary Ejectment) is within their legal right. This is basically the judicial form of eviction.

I’ll Pay My Rent When You Fix The Heat!

But what about when the shoe is on the other foot. Perhaps your Knightdale landlord isn’t living up to their end of the bargain. The best piece of advice I can give you is don’t stop paying your rent. Renters often feel that their bargaining chips are the rent check. That’s actually the furthest from the truth. Basically, it boils down to this. If you stay, you pay!

If I Can’t Hold The Rent Check Hostage What Can I Do?

Constructive Eviction is basically you throwing yourself out of the home or apartment because your landlord violated your right to “quiet enjoyment of the premises. In other words, The landlord breaches the lease and you leave voluntarily.

My (not legal) Advice

Personally, I feel the best action is knowledge. Armed with knowledge, try to have a conversation with your landlord but know everyone’s rights.

Responsibilities of a Landlord

They must provide a habitable condition, make repairs, comply with building codes, keep common areas safe, repair electrical, plumbing, heating, AC and appliances.

Responsibilities of  a Tenant

You as a tenant must keep the leased property / premise safe and fit. You cannot deface or damage the premises. You must also comply with building codes and are responsible for damage of the property (except for normal wear and tear).

A Few Don’ts

• Don’t withhold payment in an effort to “force” your landlord to make a repair
• Don’t order repairs and bill the landlord.
• Don’t make repairs and then deduct the cost from your rent.

One Last Note: Security Deposits

If you do happen to make that transition from a Knightdale renter to a home owner. Getting your security deposit back is a nice extra bonus! A landlord can only use your security deposit for the following items

• Non-payment of Rent
• Damage (outside of normal wear and tear)
• Non-fulfillment of rental period
• Unpaid bills that become a lien against the least property
• Cost of re-renting (only after a breach by the tenant)
• Court cost

If they do happen to use your security deposit for any of the above items, they must provide you with an itemized statement of damages within 30 days of the termination of the tenancy.

For More Information

If you want to research more about your options as a renter in Knightdale, Check out the North Carolina Residential Rental Agreements Act. Or contact someone who can give you legal advice.

If you are thinking about buying a home for sale in Knightdale (or any where else in NC) and you refuse to sign a Exclusive Buyer Agency Agreement, watch what you say to a Knightdale real estate agent. Why? If you decide against signing an Exclusive Buyer Agency Agreement between you and a Knightdale real estate agent, that agent represents the best interests of the home seller. And the agent’s fiduciary responsibility is to the seller, period, end of discussion. That means the words that come out of your mouth can be (and most likely will be) used by the agent to secure the highest price and best terms for the Knightdale home seller.

Smart Knightdale Home Buyers Should Sign an Exclusive Buyers Agency Agreement!

Once you have been explained the various forms of agency relationships practiced by Knightdale real estate agents, and sign a “Working With Real Estate Agents” brochure which is required by the North Carolina Real Estate Commission, it is important you take the next step to have your Knightdale home buying interested protected! With your Exclusive Buyers Agency Agreement you can rest assured your Knightdale real estate agent will deliver the following fiduciary duties:

• complete loyalty to you, the Knightdale home buyer
• complete obedience from all subagents who work for the Exclusive Buyers Agent
• provide complete accounting and accurate records of all Knightdale real estate transactions involving you the principal and account to his/her for all funds in which the principal has an interest
• complete disclosure of all material facts about the subject property
• carry out with skill, care and diligence all duties on your behalf
• bound by agency law to help you, the Knightdale home buyer, secure the best price and terms on your behalf

Knightdale Home Buyers – Get it in Writing!

Exclusive Buyers Agency Agreements are “employment contracts”! The NC Real Estate Commission requires all Exclusive Buyer Agency Agreements be in writing no later than than the time that an offer to purchase is presented to the seller or seller’s agent. Every written Buyer Agency Agreement shall contain the following provision: “The broker shall conduct all his/her brokerage activities in regard to this agreement without respect to the race, color, religion. sex, national origin, handicap or familial status of any buyer, prospective buyer, seller or prospective seller.”

Questions About Knightdale Real Estate?

If you have any questions about buying your next home in Knightdale, now is your time to ask. Be sure to leave a comment.

Here are the current available listings for Priceton Manor neighborhood in Knightdale.

[rss feed=http://mls.knightdalehomesearch.com/results-rss/473 num=10]

I’m typically not one to “toot my own horn” but I just launched a new resource that I am very proud of. After months of development our new Knightdale Home Search tool is live. I feel this is going to be a great resource for not only current Knightdale Residents but also people looking to relocate to Knightdale, NC.

One Click Access to Knightdale Homes

Let’s face it, searching the MLS can be quite cumbersome. With this in mind, we created single click access points to search homes in Knightdale. This allows you, the home buyer, to access Knightdale homes for sale quicker and easier than ever before. Below are a few examples. To access all the Knightdale Quick Searches, simply visit the home page.

Knightdale One Click MLS Searches

Knightdale homes below $100,000 | $100,000 – $150,000 | $150,000 – $200,000 | $200,000 – $250,000 | $250,000 – $300,000 | $300,000 – $350,000

Property Tracker and Home Alerts

Have your eye on a particular neighborhood such as Princeton Manor? Now you can get instant notification every time a new home that fits your search criteria is added to the MLS. You’ll also be notified of price changes within your search.  Not only is this a great feature for home buyers, it’s also a great way for Knightdale home sellers to keep an eye on their “competition.” After all, as a seller, it’s important to know when new listings in your area enter the market.

Foreclosures in Knightdale

While every home is unique, foreclosed homes can often be listed below market value. Because of this, it’s important to be one of the first to know when a Knightdale foreclosure comes on the market. We have created a dedicated Knightdale Foreclosure page and given you the ability to receive email alerts as foreclosed properties are added to this page.

Beyond Knightdale Homes For Sale

While the main focus of this site is Knightdale Real Estate, we understand that your home search may take you beyond the city limits. Don’t worry, our MLS search actually tracks almost 18,000 homes for sale listed throughout the triangle area and beyond. And as always, you will have full access to all of this without having to sign up or disclose your email address.

How Can We Make Our Knightdale Home Search Better?

While I am proud of the features, I realize that this search tool will be continually evolving and growing with even more features. So feel free to chime in and give me your feedback. After all, this is a resource design for you!

Only a few years ago, Knightdale was not much more than a sleepy small town salt and peppered with starter homes and a few fast-food restaurants. Today, Knightdale real estate is teeming with life and energy.
Knightdale sat quietly by as Raleigh continued to see fast expansion in almost all areas except for east. All that has changed in recent years as national retail stores, and savvy investors dump millions of dollars in new commercial and residential real estate developments in the Knightdale area.

Putting Knightdale Real Estate into Perspective

At the time of writing, there are 236 Knightdale homes for sale in the MLS* (within the city limits of Knightdale). Of the 236 homes, almost 25% are above $300,000. This is quite a contrast considering that only 5 years ago, the average home price in Knightdale was not even $120,000. In those 5 short years, home prices in Knightdale has risen more than 70%*! Just a few years ago, ½ Million dollar listings were almost unheard of in Knightdale. Today, it’s rare to search Knightdale real estate and not see at least a handful of these listings. And with the many developments already planned or under construction, these luxury homes are sure to be even more common place for Knightdale real estate.

RTP Gets Closer to Knightdale

Much of this growth is spurred by the opening of I-540 and Highway 64 By-Pass. Knightdale was suddenly a viable option for employees of RTP and Raleigh to call Knightdale home. Instead of commutes filled with traffic jams and stop lights, Knightdale commuters can be in RTP or at the RDU Airport in 15-20 minutes. And at the end of the day, a short commute home brings them back to a small town that has seem to find that perfect balance of “small town” friendliness with big city amenities.

*source: Trulia and Realtor.com