Home / Buy & Sell

Homes, lake property and land, done right

Buying or selling brings up a lot of questions about money, credit, timelines and paperwork. Erika answers them clearly, and when it's land you're after, she knows what to check before you buy dirt.

For buyers

Figure out what you can comfortably afford and get introductions to lenders you can compare (you're never required to use them)
Search homes, lake property and land
Tour and compare, with honest feedback on value and condition
Write a strong offer and negotiate repairs
Coordinate inspections, appraisal and closing

Start a home search

For sellers

Pricing based on real local sales, not guesswork
Advice on prep and repairs that are actually worth doing
Marketing to reach serious buyers, including MLS, online and social
Showings, offers and negotiation handled for you
Guidance through inspections, appraisal and closing

Request a market analysis

Land & acreage

Help with soil evaluations, surveys, access, zoning and utilities for buyers, and getting land market-ready for sellers.

Read the land guide

Residential & commercial

Condos, starter homes, luxury homes, fixer-uppers, investment property and commercial space. Whatever you're buying or selling, Erika can help.

Talk to Erika

Working with Erika

Start with a conversation

Call or text 980-282-0830. Tell Erika what you want, your timeline and your budget. No pressure.

Make a plan

Buyers get a search set up and a lender connection. Sellers get a pricing review and a prep plan.

Find the right deal

Tour homes or launch your listing. Erika negotiates on your behalf and keeps you updated.

Close with confidence

Inspections, appraisal, attorney and closing. Erika coordinates it all and stays with you after the sale.

What you can't see matters most

With a house, you can walk through and see what you're getting. With land, the important questions are underground or on paper: Will the soil support a septic system? Is there legal road access? What does zoning allow? Where are the property lines?

Erika helps land buyers ask the right questions early, during the due diligence period, while there's still time to walk away.

Selling land? Having a recent survey, soil or perc results and clear access documentation ready can make your land easier to sell and help it hold its value. Erika can help you get it market-ready.

Kinds of land Erika helps with

Homesites and building lots
Small farms and horse property
Wooded acreage and hunting land
Mountain land and view lots
Lake lots
Investment and development tracts

Seven things to check before you buy land

Septic: soil evaluation / perc test

If there's no sewer, the county health department has to approve the soil for a septic system. No approval can mean no house. Ask for an existing permit or make your offer contingent on one.

Legal access

Confirm the land touches a public road or has a recorded, deeded easement. A path people have "always used" isn't the same as legal access, and lenders know it.

Survey and boundaries

A current survey shows the real property lines, easements, encroachments and acreage. Old plats and fence lines can be wrong.

Zoning and restrictions

Check county zoning and any restrictive covenants or HOA rules. They can control minimum home size, mobile or manufactured homes, livestock, subdividing and outbuildings.

Utilities and water

How far away is power, and what will it cost to bring it in? Is there public water, or do you need a well? Is internet available?

Flood zones, wetlands and slope

Check FEMA flood maps and NC's Flood Risk Information System, look for wetlands or streams that limit building, and in the mountains, check the slope.

Financing and taxes

Land loans usually need a bigger down payment than home loans, and fewer lenders offer them, so line up financing early. If the land is in North Carolina's present-use value program for farm or forest land, find out what happens to the tax deferral when it sells.

Land FAQ

What contract is used to buy land in North Carolina?

Most vacant land deals use the NC REALTORS® / NC Bar Association "Offer to Purchase and Contract—Vacant Lot/Land" (Form 12-T). It includes a due diligence period, which is your window to do soil tests, surveys and other checks. Erika will help you set a realistic timeline and protect your earnest money.

How long does a perc test or soil evaluation take?

It depends on the county and the time of year. Some health departments are booked weeks out. Build that time into your due diligence period, and start early.

Can I put a manufactured home or tiny home on my land?

That depends on zoning and any recorded restrictions on the property. Check both before you buy.

Do I need a real estate agent to buy land?

You don't have to have one, but land deals hide a lot of risk in the details. A buyer's agent who knows land can help you price it right, write the right contingencies and coordinate surveys, soil work and closing.

This guide is general information. It's believed accurate but isn't guaranteed, and it isn't legal, tax, lending, survey, inspection or investment advice. Rules and facts change, so verify anything important with the county, an NC real estate attorney, a surveyor, an inspector or a lender. Area photos are representative and don't show specific listings.

Ready to find your piece of North Carolina?

Tell Erika what you're looking for. A quick call or text is all it takes to get started.

Call 980-282-0830 Send a message