First Flight Realty

10/26/2026

Is it a buyer's market or a seller's market? My student John asked me that last week, and you can check it yourself with one number: months of supply.

Cary is at about 3 months, which still leans toward sellers. Raleigh is at about 4.5, which is pretty balanced (Doorify MLS, Oct 25). Same Triangle, two different markets.

The full lesson, with the math and what it means for you, is on the First Flight Realty blog.

https://firstflightrealty.com/buyers-or-sellers-market-how-to-tell/

Buyer's market or seller's market? One number tells you. Here's what it says for Raleigh and Cary right now.

10/26/2026

Is it a buyer's market or a seller's market? My student John asked, and you can check it yourself with one number.

Months of supply = homes for sale ÷ homes sold last month. Under 4 leans seller, over 6 leans buyer. Cary: 426 active, 144 sold in September, about 3 months. Raleigh: 2,166 active, 477 sold, about 4.5 months (Doorify MLS, residential, pulled Oct 25, 2026).

Like and subscribe for a new lesson every weekday: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZNvFFKsiHNIm1Nhovl1nfA?sub_confirmation=1

Get Class Notes every Friday: https://firstflightrealty.com/class-notes?utm_source=social&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=2026-10-26-video

What's your home worth? https://firstflightrealty.com/home-value/?utm_source=social&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=2026-10-26-video

Full lessons at firstflightrealty.com

Mike Hall, The Triangle Real Estate Professor · First Flight Realty, Cary NC

10/25/2026

Dreaming of a purple front door? Read the HOA rules first.

Many Cary neighborhoods have an HOA. That can mean nicely kept common areas, plus dues and rules about fences, paint colors and parking. Read the HOA documents before your due diligence period ends, not after.

Full 9-minute lesson on living in Cary: link in bio and on my YouTube channel.

What's your home worth? firstflightrealty.com/home-value

Mike Hall, The Triangle Real Estate Professor · First Flight Realty, Cary NC

10/24/2026

Cary traffic at 5:15 will teach you patience.

Before you make an offer anywhere in the Triangle, drive your real commute at the real time. It's the cheapest homework you'll ever do.

Full 9-minute lesson on living in Cary: link in bio and on my YouTube channel.

What's your home worth? firstflightrealty.com/home-value

Mike Hall, The Triangle Real Estate Professor · First Flight Realty, Cary NC

10/23/2026

Cary market check, Friday edition: 435 homes for sale, 42 of them new, a median price of $600K, and a median of 43 days on market (ListReports market overview, Oct 23). Homes are taking a bit longer to sell than they did a week ago, so pricing right from day one matters. Curious where yours fits? First Flight Realty will give you a free broker's opinion of value.

https://firstflightrealty.com/home-value/?utm_source=social&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=2026-10-23-lender
(link in bio on Instagram)

10/23/2026

Your closing costs can't jump at the last minute. Here's why.

This week's Class Notes from First Flight Realty is out: what can and can't change between your Loan Estimate and closing, plus a new 9-minute lesson on living in Cary. It's a 60-second read.

http://sh1.sendinblue.com/7s1h2uith4c.html

Your Loan Estimate is a promise with rules. Federal rules put each closing cost into one of three buckets, and the bucket decides how much it can grow by the time you get your Closing Disclosure.

10/23/2026

Should you sell your house and rent in retirement? Selling frees up equity and ends the upkeep. Renting means rent can rise, a landlord can sell, and you stop building equity. Three questions to answer before you list, plus the options in between, like a smaller single-story home. A right-sizing checklist from First Flight Realty.

https://firstflightrealty.com/sell-house-and-rent-in-retirement/

Should you sell your house and rent in retirement? The trade-offs, three questions to answer first, and the options in between.

10/23/2026

Should you sell your house and rent in retirement?

Selling frees equity and ends the upkeep; renting means rent increases and no equity. Answer three questions before you list.

Like and subscribe for a new lesson every weekday: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZNvFFKsiHNIm1Nhovl1nfA?sub_confirmation=1

Get Class Notes every Friday: firstflightrealty.com/class-notes

What's your home worth? firstflightrealty.com/home-value

Full lessons at firstflightrealty.com

Mike Hall, The Triangle Real Estate Professor · First Flight Realty, Cary NC

10/22/2026

Living in Cary, North Carolina sounds perfect online. Here's what the glossy guides leave out.

In my new 9-minute lesson, I walk through the honest trade-offs: home prices, property taxes, HOA rules and rush-hour traffic. I also cover what Cary does really well, and the checklist I'd use before buying here.

Mike Hall, First Flight Realty, Cary NC

▶ Watch: https://youtu.be/odeDGpBwCaY

Living in Cary, North Carolina sounds perfect online. Here's what t...

10/22/2026

Moving up? Should you sell your old house or rent it out? Four questions first: do you need the equity, can you qualify for both mortgages, do you want to be a landlord, and what happens to your home-sale tax exclusion? Keeping a rental is like taking a second part-time job. First Flight Realty walks through all four.

https://firstflightrealty.com/sell-or-rent-old-house-moving-up/

Should I sell my house or rent it out when I move up? Four questions on equity, qualifying, landlording and taxes.