Based on the most recent data from Redfin, U.S. housing prices were up 5.4% year over year in November. But, if you are looking to move to North Carolina or if you already live there and are thinking of buying a home in 2025, you will find the market a little better than the overall prices around the country.

According to Redfin, North Carolina home prices were up just 2.6% over November 2023, with a median price of $374,100.

Try Out: 25 Places To Buy a Home If You Want It To Gain Value

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Experts dispelled five common misconceptions about buying a home in North Carolina heading into 2025.

Myth No. 1: The Housing Market Will Slow Due to Hurricane Helene

The number of homes sold in November was down 2.2% year over year, and a common misconception is that the will continue to slow due to the damage to homes from Hurricane Helene.

What’s the Reality?

“The North Carolina housing market experienced a slight slowdown in the last quarter of 2024,” said Polly Leadbetter, the license partner of Engel & Völkers Foothills Lake James. “This was due to higher mortgage rates, the elections and Hurricane Helene.”

As interest rates continue to drop, experts expect the housing market in most of the state to return to healthy inventory and transaction levels.

“At this point,” Leadbetter added, “only specific areas of Western North Carolina have homes that are still significantly damaged.”

Also See: Renting Vs. Owning a Home — Which Will Be Cheaper in 2025?

Myth No. 2: Housing Prices Will Shoot Up

Another common myth is that housing prices are expected to increase in North Carolina with expected interest rate announcements and increased competition.

What’s the Reality?

Nathan Richardson, a real estate expert and founder of CashForHome, said, “It goes without saying that we have noticed an upward price in the housing market in some cities like Raleigh, Charlotte and Asheville. However, other areas in North Carolina still have a reasonable price guide for the buyers.”

Just because rates are expected to drop doesn’t mean that all housing prices will increase in the state. Real estate dynamics can be fairly complex, and there are no certainties when it comes to prices over an entire state.

Myth No. 3: Homebuyers Aren’t Required To Pay Any Fees

According to Leadbetter, a common misconception about buying a home in North Carolina is that homebuyers believe they’re not required to pay any fees at the time their offers are accepted.

What’s the Reality?

Leadbetter pointed out that two fees are due in North Carolina as soon as an offer is accepted. The first fee is a due diligence fee, which is similar to an option fee. It’s paid directly to the seller for the time spent conducting inspections, securing a loan, etc. This fee is nonrefundable because the buyer pays the seller to take the property listing off the market and not for the results of the inspections.

The second fee is the earnest money deposit, which is held in a trust account until closing and is refundable if the buyer cancels before the end of the due diligence period.

“Both fees are credited to the purchase price if the sale is completed,” Leadbetter said.

Myth No. 4: The Seller Is Responsible for Making Certain Repairs

Leadbetter noted another misconception in the North Carolina market, which is that the seller is responsible for repairing damages found during a home inspection.

What’s the Reality?

In North Carolina, homes are sold “as is.”

Leadbetter clarified: “While many sellers are willing to negotiate repairs, they’re not obligated to address damage or issues found during a home inspection.”

This is why it’s crucial that you have a home inspection conducted by an expert who can identify issues that aren’t easily noticed. If you don’t bring up the issues during negotiations, you may get stuck with expensive repairs when you take ownership of the property.

Myth No. 5: Property Closings Are Done By a Title Company

A common myth about buying a home in North Carolina is that a title company does property closings. However, the process is a bit different in the state compared to others.

What’s the Reality?

Unlike many other states, property closings in North Carolina are done by an attorney, not a title company.

Leadbetter added, “An attorney is hired by the buyer and they will research the title on the property as well as obtain title insurance, coordinate loan documents, and prepare all other documents that are needed to purchase the property.”

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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: 5 Biggest Myths of Buying a Home in North Carolina in 2025 — Dispelled by Experts

East Carolina and North Carolina State are separated by 83 miles. The ill will transcends the distance.

At the end of the Pirates 26-21 win over the Wolfpack on Saturday in the Military Bowl, all hell broke loose. A wild brawl.

MULTIPLE PLAYERS EJECTED following tense moments between NC State and East Carolina in the Military Bowl game.

Multiple fights broke out with just :38 seconds left in the 4th quarter. pic.twitter.com/MYcLubS7IE

— Aaron Thomas (@WRALAaron) December 29, 2024

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ECU dude #15 stole the NCST guy’s towel…

and it ignited a full field brawl where refs were cut & bleeding & 8 players were ejected pic.twitter.com/LpDSCq7Eil

— Warren Sharp (@SharpFootball) December 29, 2024

East Carolina player comes rushing up from behind to shove the NC State player, with the referee taking a helmet in the face

Ridiculous pic.twitter.com/8n6KDhyHri

— Trey Wallace (@TreyWallace_) December 29, 2024

Here is the key to the ugliness at end of ECU-NCST. ECU player takes a cheap shot at NC State player, shoves helmet from behind. The helmet hits ref in the face. pic.twitter.com/So8sOZCuAh

— Cork Gaines, Ph.D. (@CorkGaines) December 29, 2024

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An official wound up with a bloody face.

Brawl in the Military Bowl between East Carolina and NC State leaves an official bloody#Brawl #MilitaryBowl pic.twitter.com/iOH3oHiaog

— CFB Saturday Slate w/ Mick N Bus (@CFB_SatSlate) December 29, 2024

A ref took a helmet to the face during a scuffle between East Carolina and NC State. pic.twitter.com/SHbrvWvA9L

— ESPN College Football (@ESPNCFB) December 29, 2024

Rahjai Harris’ 86-yard run with 1:33 left was the difference in the game.

Rahjai Harris goes 86 yards and gives East Carolina the lead with less than two minutes left!#ECU #MilitaryBowlpic.twitter.com/0b2ssDdT0z

— CFB Saturday Slate w/ Mick N Bus (@CFB_SatSlate) December 29, 2024

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And if you are looking ahead, these schools open the 2025 season in Raleigh.

Daniel Mitchell, a former Federal Bureau of Prisons lieutenant, pleaded guilty earlier this week to a felony charge of conspiring to violate civil rights, according to a U.S. Department of Justice statement.

“Corrections officers work in dangerous environments with limited resources and deserve our respect and gratitude,” U.S. Attorney Michael F. Easley Jr. said in a statement. “But officers acting outside the law to injure an inmate erodes the rule of law, violates civil rights and puts other officers’ lives in jeopardy.”

An attorney who represented Mitchell declined to comment Saturday.

The beating happened at the Federal Correctional Institute Butner Medium II in the special housing unit in Granville County, which Mitchell supervised, authorities said. The prison houses more than 1,600 people, according to its website.

A correctional officer reported to Mitchell on Dec. 8, 2021, that the incarcerated man had exposed himself and “engaged in a sexual act” in front of her while she was doing rounds in the unit, investigators said. Mitchell then began discussing with another correctional officer about how to punish the man.

Neither the man nor the two correctional officers were named by the U.S. Department of Justice or court documents from the case. The department did not indicate whether the conspiring officer also faced charges.

Normally, the prison’s misconduct discipline process involves a writeup for violations. The writeup is then delivered to the person, which is referred to as “counseling,” according to court records.

Mitchell and the conspiring officer agreed traditional punishment methods wouldn’t work for the man, investigators said. While giving instructions, Mitchell allegedly told the officer to “teach a lesson” and “tune” him up — phrasing they both understood as physical punishment, according to court documents. He also ordered the officer to “stay away from face” while punishing him, authorities said.

The man was taken to another cell where the officer hit and kicked him until other correctional officers intervened, the department said. The man later had a medical emergency involving spasms after the beating aggravated his preexisting back condition, investigators said.

An eyewitness officer reported the beating, which prompted an investigation from the U.S. Justice Department’s Officer of Inspector General. Mitchell and the conspiring officer both admitted to investigators that they planned to physically punish the inmate as disciplinary action, authorities said.

Mitchell’s sentencing hearing is scheduled for late March, where he faces up to 10 years in prison.

This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.