Aug. 31, 2007 - Carpenter Village in Cary, NC

Carpenter Village in Cary, NC

City:  Cary

Location:  Between Davis Drive and HWY 55 off of Morrisville Carpenter.   

Carpenter Village is located in Cary, North Carolina on Morrisville Carpenter Road just west of the intersection of Davis Drive and Morrisville Carpenter Road. Carpenter Village is one of the closest Cary neighborhoods to RTP.

Neighborhood Facts:

• Price range is from the  low $200s -$800s
• Located in the fast growing Northwest Cary area.   
• Several options from Townhomes to Estate Homes

  Sections within Carpenter Village:

Estate Homes suited to grand entertaining and comfortable family living, situated on large homesites, offering 3 car garages and many with lake views.

Executive Homes These custom homes feature solid surface counter tops, spacious living and entertaining areas and 2-car garages, many with ally-way access.

Neighborhood homes are classical single family homes with grand gables, copper roofs protecting bay windows, classical pediments enhanced with dentils, elliptical fan lights and square mullioned transoms.

Charleston Homes are historically inspired, southern styled row homes, with verandahs, balconies, piazzas, and garages discretely tucked away and entered from the rear of the home. Several of the Charleston Homes have wrap around porches. 

Carpenter Village Townhomes

• Executive Townhomes have were built 2000 and later, have brick front elevations, and have lots of light, open, flowing, floor plans and generous storage space.
• Custom built townhomes by Impact Design-Build priced from the $170s with 2-Car Garages. 

Legacy at Carpenter Village.  Newest section of Carpenter Village North of Morrisville Carpenter Road.  Legacy at Carpenter Village offers a nostalgic streetscape of innovative townhomes and single-family homes. 

Builder Team in Carpenter Village:

Amward Homes
Cattano Construction, Inc.
Impact Design-Build
JamesTowne Homes
Richard Gaylord Homes
Upright Builders
Upton Construction
Wardson Construction

Key Neighborhood Highlights:

The Village Market Place 

The Village MarketPlace as a variety of merchants and services, all available within walking distance of the homes.  Some of the merchants include a dry cleaners, day care, salon, and music school.  In 2007 another building will be built with additional merchants to come.

Lake & Walking Trails

Carpenter Lake is a beautiful 22 acre lake with mature trees lining much of the shore. A canoe or small sailboat would be a perfect way to spend a mid summers day on the lake. Carpenter Lake offers walking trails that meander through the trees, along the shore line. The path is wide and paved and very inviting for an after dinner stroll.

Playgrounds 

The children's playgrounds are conveniently just a stroll away. Parents and children walk to the playground and enjoy the swings, slide and ladders.

Tennis and Volleyball

Tennis and Volleyball are part of the recreation area and can be utilized by all Carpenter Village residents.

Carpenter Elementary School

This is the neighborhood Elementary School which opened its doors in the fall of 2006. Carpenter Elementary School was recently recognized by the state as a School of Excellence for exceeding all educational goals for the year.

Western Wake Regional Library

Cary's newest library, which opened in the Fall of 2006, is located within walking distance of Carpenter Village.  The new library features 70 public computers, WiFi Internet access, conference room, six service desks, a drive-up book drop, study rooms, and a multipurpose room for kids' and adults' events. The library is situated with a view to a community lake. There are also many nearby walking and biking trails. 

This community was developed by the same award-winning team that is now building in Falls River in N Raleigh, Westin Oaks in Cary, and soon to be building in 12 Oaks in Holly Springs.  

For more information go to the Carpenter Village website or contact me directly for this neighborhood.

Aug. 29, 2007 - Cary NC Real Estate Blog 1 Year Blogging Anniversary

I hit my 1 Year Anniversary in Blogging about a week ago.  I decided I'd write a post about my experiences over the past year.  One year seems like a short time and the time past quickly I must admit. However,  I look back at all of the mistakes I made at the beginning.  I really didn't have a voice.   Here's what I do know:

• Blogging takes time and effort
• Due dillegence pays off - I promise
• Less than 4% of all Real Estate Agents are Bloggers
• I didn't have a clue what I was doing a year ago-but have come a long way since then
• There is a lot to learn and the learning curve is steep
• Write action packed posts with lots of pictures to keep your audience's attention
• Study the greats- there are a handful and they really know what they are doing
• As a newbie-find a mentor

I'm thankful to have plenty of real estate experience behind me.  On the other hand I truly believe it is critical to blend the old world of real estate with the new world of real estate.  On-line Marketing is essential to all real estate agents. 

- Realtor.com Recognizes Bloggers in August Edition

Blogging is finally getting the publicity it deserves!! The August issue of Realtor.com has a featured article about blogging called Step-By-Step Blogging.  It's the Readers Digest version on how easy it is to get started.  In the article they mention two of the services I use for my blogging - Internet Crusade which is the company that allows me to host my blog and the Activerain network.  

Did you know that only 4% of all Realtors have a blog? I'm boggled by this number.  I began blogging about a year ago and I'm amazed at how many clients find the information I post at my site invaluable.  For more information you can - Read the Realtor.com article here. 

- Mortgage Industry in Turmoil

Aug. 29, 2007 - Prestonwood CC in Cary to Host SAS Championship in September

Actually, this is the seventh year for the SAS Championship at Prestonwood Country Club.    This event has become one of the Champions Tour's top events.  In attendance this year will be nine of the yar's Top-10 players, 14 of the year's 16 winners, and 27 of the last year's Top-30 players.   Not to name names but why not--some of the big names will include defending champion Tom Jenkins and all pat Tournament champions, World Golf Hall of Famers Hale Irwin, Tom Kite, Lary Nelson, Curtis Strange, Nick Price and Bernhard Langer.   This will be Langer and Prices's first appearance at the Cary event.  In addition to Morehead resident Strange, Raleigh Native Scott Hoch, Fayetteveill Native Chip Beck and Wake Forest Alum Jay Haas give the field a North Carolina flavor. 

Parking will be just around the corner at Bond Park with easy access to shuttle buses to the event. I hope I see you out this year.  It should be a lot of fun. 

Aug. 20, 2007 - Lazy Daze in Cary -Coming Up August 25th!! Don't miss it!!

Have you ever been to Lazy Daze in Cary?  If you haven't you've been missing out for the past 30 years.  Each year the festival has grown and now attracts over 60,000 visitors in downtown Cary. I don't think I'll make it because I have an out-of-town buyer coming to visit but I've been several years in the past.  

Don't miss the areas best arts and crafts, food, and entertainment.   The festival also features entertainment on two stages, a variety of food, and civic group exhibits.  Over 400 vendors from 18 states will be participating. I've even heard they are adding a beer garden for the adults.  I know you've heard me talk about Rankings.  Lazy Daze ranked 30th in the Nation for Classic & Contemporary Craft Shows by Sunshine Artist Magazine. 

Aug. 20, 2007 - Annual Festivals in Durham - Fun For The Family

Durham has always been a mulit-cultural town.  It's time to get the word out about all of the neat things to do in Durham.  I thought I'd write today about some of the cool things to do annually in Durham.  We've missed most of these events this year but you can mark your calender for next year!

Aug. 10, 2007 - Raleigh NC Real Estate >>Why is the Triangle on Top?

Last week I wrote about Money Magzine's most recent article on the Best Places to Live in the US - like many other Activerainers wrote about their towns after the magazine came out with their rankings. 

In addition to the Money Magazine article, The Triangle News and Observer, our local newspaper,  published an article today on the front page of the Cary Real Estate section entitled, "Why is the triangle on top?"  The paper asked several agents around town what's drawing so many people to the area.  The responses were varied from jobs, quality of life, great singles town, and others.  One that I would like to add is that it's a great place to retire too. 

That said, I've compiled the 2007 Triangle Ratings so you can see all of the accolades the Triangle has received just this year.  As you can see the area is well recognized as a great place to live.  For many years this area has been the best kept secret.  It looks like the word has gotten out. 

# 12 Best Market (Raleigh) for Female Executives and Women Business Owners
Bizjournals.com, August 9, 2007

# 4 State (NC) for Biotechnology Strength in Drugs and Pharmaceuticals
Business Facilities, July 2007

# 15 City (Raleigh) for Most Educated Workforce
Business Facilities, July 2007

# 9 State (NC) in U.S. Biotechnology Breadth
Business Facilities, July 2007

# 22 Great American Town (Holly Springs)
CNNMoney.com, July 2007

# 14 Great American Town (Apex)
CNNMoney.com, July 2007

# 63 of America's Fastest Growing Suburbs (Apex)
Forbes, July 16, 2007

# 18 of America's Fastest Growing Suburbs (Holly Springs)
Forbes, July 16, 2007

# 20 of America's Fastest Growing Suburbs (Wake Forest)
Forbes, July 16, 2007

# 3 Best State (NC) for Business
Forbes, July 11, 2007

# 6 Top Market (Raleigh) Ranked for Small Business Growth
American City Business Journals, Inc., July 8, 2007

# 3 R&D Cluster Region (Raleigh-Durham)
Fast Company, July 2007

# 1 Top Home Sellers' Market (Raleigh)
Forbes, June 22, 2007

# 4 Best City (Raleigh) for Young Singles
Kiplinger's Personal Finance/Richard Florida, June 2007

# 16 State (NC) in Fairness of Its Litigation Environment
Harris Interactive Poll, 2007

# 3 Medium Market Best City (Raleigh) for Relocating Families
Bert Sperling's BestPlaces, 2007

# 3 Small Market Best City (Durham) for Relocating Families
Bert Sperling's BestPlaces, 2007

# 3 Overall Quality of Life Mid-Sized Metros (Raleigh-Cary)
Expansion Management's 2007 Quality of Life Quotient, May/June 2007

# 10 Top State (NC) for Recruitment and Attraction
National Policy Research Council, Expansion Management, May/June 2007

# 10 Top Large Metro (Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill) for Recruitment and Attraction
National Policy Research Council, Expansion Management, May/June 2007

5-Star Quality of Life Metros (Raleigh-Cary)
Expansion Management's 2007 Quality of Life Quotient, May/June 2007

# 8 Top Large County (Wake) for Recruitment and Attraction
National Policy Research Council, Expansion Management, May/June 2007

# 3 Best City (Raleigh) for African Americans to Work, Live and Play
Black Enterprise, May 18, 2007

# 2 Most Competitive State (NC)
The 2006 Competitiveness Award, Site Selection, May 2007

# 5 Hot Market State (NC)
Southern Business & Development, Spring 2007

# 4 Best Metro (Raleigh) Where Women Meet Men
Men's Health, April 2007

# 3 of America's Best Jobs in the Hottest Markets (Raleigh-Durham, NC)
CNNMoney.com, April 26, 2007

# 5 Top Knowledge Worker Metro (Durham)
Expansion Management's 2007 Knowledge Worker Quotient, April 12, 2007

# 7 Top Metro (Durham) for University R&D Spending
Expansion Management's 2007 Knowledge Worker Quotient, April 12, 2007

# 3 Top Metro (Raleigh-Cary) for College-Educated Workers
Expansion Management's 2007 Knowledge Worker Quotient, April 12, 2007

5-Star Knowledge Worker Metros (Durham & Raleigh-Cary)
Expansion Management's 2007 Knowledge Worker Quotient, April 12, 2007

# 10 Top Metro (Durham) for Scientists and Engineers
Expansion Management's 2007 Knowledge Worker Quotient, April 12, 2007

# 1 Best Place (Raleigh) for Business & Careers
Forbes, April 5, 2007

# 7 Best Place (Durham) for Business and Careers
Forbes, April 5, 2007

# 1 Best Cities for Jobs (Raleigh-Cary MSA)
Forbes, February 16, 2007

# 3 Best Places (Raleigh-Durham) for Value Vacations for 2007
Hotwire, January 2007

# 6 Top Tech Town (Raleigh-Durham)
Wired, January 2007