Shonda Oakley, Real Estate & Local Living

10/09/2026

Rates went up again, and here's what that does to a monthly payment.

The AVERAGE 30-year fixed rate is now 7.40%, up from 7.28% last week. (Source: Freddie Mac, Oct 8, 2026)

Example: on a $286,990 loan, principal and interest at 7.40% is about $1,987 a month. Add $665.55 for taxes and insurance (an example amount, yours will differ) and the full payment is about $2,653.

If you're buying: small rate changes add up. Some buyers choose to wait and rent a bit longer.

If you own a rental: when more people hold off on buying, more keep renting. That can help keep demand steady.

The very low rates of a few years ago were well below the 30-year average. Waiting for them to come back may mean a long wait.

Either way, know your own numbers: what you can afford to buy, or what your home could rent for.

10/09/2026

Under the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act, an active-duty soldier with PCS orders, or a deployment of 90 days or more, can end a residential lease early without a penalty fee.

Here's how it works:

They give written notice and a copy of their orders.
With monthly rent, the lease ends 30 days after the next rent due date. Notice on October 10, rent due on the 1st, and the lease ends around December 1.

They still owe rent through that date, and any damage beyond normal wear.

You can't charge an early termination fee, and you can't hold the deposit to cover rent after they're gone.

The downside is on the owner's side. The home may sit empty sooner than you planned, and a lease isn't a guarantee for the full term.

10/08/2026

Sell, rent, or hold? Each one costs something.

Selling can mean leaving money on the table if the timing gets rushed. Holding means a mortgage payment while you're hundreds of miles away. Renting makes you a landlord, with a tenant, repairs, and a lease that has to hold up if the tenant's own orders change.

None of these is the wrong answer. Most of us just haven't seen what each one looks like on paper.

If renting is on your list, it helps to know what your home could rent for before you decide. You can request a rental analysis here: https://www.olivecopropertymanagement.com/pricing

And if you've been through a PCS with a house, I'd love to hear what you wish you'd known. The next family will read it.

Pinehurst property management at its best. Let Olive & Co. Property Management's experienced Pinehurst property managers care for your Pinehurst rental home.

10/05/2026

PCS orders came in and now you're stuck on the house part. Sell it, or keep it and rent it out?

Both can work. But renting from across the country comes with stuff nobody warns you about: months with no rent, repairs you can't see from another state, and a lease that has to protect you while you're gone.

I wore the uniform for 7 years. Now I manage rentals for a living. If you're weighing rent vs. sell, drop your question in the comments or message me. I'll give you the honest picture, including the parts that aren't fun.

10/01/2026

A tenant's security deposit isn't your money. It's theirs, held in trust.

In North Carolina, that means it goes in a trust account at an insured bank (or is covered by a bond), separate from your own funds. Within 30 days of the lease starting, the tenant has to be told which bank it's in.

When they move out, the clock starts. You have 30 days to send an itemized list of anything you kept, plus the rest of the deposit. If you can't total the damage yet, send an interim accounting by day 30 and a final one by day 60.

**Normal wear and tear isn't a deduction**

Most mistakes here aren't bad intent. They're a missed date, especially when you're managing from a few states away. Willfully skipping the rules can cost you the right to keep any of the deposit.

👉🏾 Renting? This is what you're owed.

👉🏾 Own a rental? Check today where your tenant's deposit actually sits.

09/23/2026

3 years in. 1st Realtor Rally😉

Longleaf Pine REALTORS

09/19/2026

Made a mistake this week. Created a bill in Rentvine for a repair — except the owner had already paid the vendor directly. So the system charged him for something he'd already covered out of pocket.

Not a fun email to open. He was asking for his money back, and for a second I didn't know what to do.

I reached out to my broker-in-charge. While I was waiting to hear back, I also reached out to the handyman who did the work. He understood immediately and said he could send the refund right then. I got him the info he needed, and he sent the money back to the owner.

The owner was relieved and appreciative that it got fixed fast. I was just glad it got fixed at all.

09/18/2026

😂😂🤣🤣🥲🥲Accurate or No??

09/17/2026

This week reminded me that property management isn't just answering calls when something breaks. Sometimes it's catching the problem before the tenant even knows it's there.

I was out programming garage door remotes — a routine task — when I noticed the opener wasn't working right. Turned out the chain had come off because a gear and sprocket inside had broken.

That led to getting someone out to look at it, getting a second opinion when the first one didn't sit right, and getting it actually fixed.

None of that shows up on a maintenance report as anything dramatic. It's just the work. Checking things nobody asked you to check, because if you don't, it becomes a bigger problem later.

09/16/2026

We all know and love our city, but I want to know your hidden gems.

What is your absolute favorite spot to visit around town? Whether it’s a quiet walking trail at the Cape Fear River Trail, a cozy coffee shop, a great local restaurant, or a fun weekend hangout—drop your go-to spot in the comments below!