Aug. 19, 2008 - Things to do with the kids in the Triangle

 Cary 

• Bond Park is located just around the corner from my home off of High House Road. This stop is definitely on my list.   There is a great place to have a picnic in the Kiwanis Shelter.  Our next stop will be a trip to the Lazy Daze playground.  And, then we'll head over to the paddle boats, sailing, and canoes.  919-469-4100.
• Monkey Joes in Cary looks like another cool place to go to with the kiddies. It's in Cary near crossroads.  Great for the little ones and birthday parties  
• Dog park and Sk-8 Cary skateboard park.  I take my dog Maggie to the Cary Dog Park off of Maynard next to Godbold Park on a regular basis.  Admission is $40/year and great fun for kids and your pets.  Sk-8 Cary is a full fledged skate park for skateboarders! 
• Ice House I used to take my daughter here when she was little.  It's very close to Jellybeans and Bullwinkles.  919-460-2756
• Hemlock Bluffs Nature Preserve -   A great place to take a quiet and peaceful stroll through the wilderness, right in the heart of Cary.  2616 Kildaire Farm Road 919-469-4601
• Railhawks  Soccer Games.  The Triangle has its very own professional soccer team.  They play at the Wake Med Soccer Park in Cary from May through July.  Maybe I'll be able to take the boys next year.  201 Soccer Park Drive in Cary.   

Chapel Hill

Morehead Planetarium and Science Center Educational and entertaining programs for all ages that teach and explore the science of the universe.  250 E. Franklin St. 919-962-1247 

Durham

• North Carolina Museum of Life and Science is one of our personal favorites! They have a butterfly house, lots of real animals and of course, a museum packed full of fun things to do!  The Butterflies are released in at 11am and 3pm.  The butterfly conservatory is the largest on the East Coast. My sister's boys will love the daily feeding of spiders, poison dart frogs and others fed their daily meal.  433 Murray Ave 919-220-5429
•  Durham Bulls  If you want an inexpensive night out for your family, head to the park. There is plenty of entertainment in between innings and things for kids to play on during the game - rock climbing wall and big puffy slide to slide down. The tickets are inexpensive and the game is, well, just your regular all American baseball game. 

Raleigh

• Adventure Landing Miniature Golf, Laser Tag, Go Karts, Arcade, and Batting Cages.  Capital Blvd 919-872-1688
• JC Raulston Arboretum Part of the North Carolina State University, this eight-acre garden contains a wide variety of cold hardy temperate zone plants. 919-515-3132
• Pullen Park  A great place for young kids  with a beautiful old carousel, a train that goes through the park, a kiddie boat ride, and even paddle boats on the pond/lake. There's also a little concession area. It is spacious with lots of open space for running, playing ball, etc. There are two large playgrounds & several picnic pavilions, too.  Adjacent to Pullen Park is and Arts Center that often has displays and Pullen Pool (indoor, year-round aquatic center.) 4301 Beryl 919-831-6468
• Frankies Fun Park
  Jellybeans Super Skate Center  This is great fun for the middle school crowd.  Also a big hit for Birthday parties.  There are two locations in the Triangle.  One in Cary and the other in Raleigh. 
• Lake Johnson Park  I personally like to jog around this lake but it's a bit too long for the boys. Lake Johnson has plenty of other amenities including boating, picnic shelters, and a consession are for us to cool off from all of the fun in the sun.  4601 Avent Ferry Road 919-233-2121
• Marbles Kids Museum i s a hands-on, interactive destination that inspires children to be creative thinkers, active learners and confident individuals in today's world. There are five galleries, two outdoor areas, and plenty of activities.  Let's not forget about the IMAX Theatre which is the only 3D capable IMAX theatre in North Carolina.  I plan on taking the boys to see Bugs! which is playing.  They'll love it! I'm not sure I'm ready for "bugs" in 3D.  Raleigh 201 E. Hargett 919-834-4040 
• State Capitol - One of the claims to fame of the North Carolina State Capital Building is that it is the most haunted of all state capitals. Today it's the home of our governor's office.  1 E. Edenton 919-733-4994
• Umstead State Park Sandwiched between downtown Raleigh and the airport, this oasis of green features a stand of 300+ year-old hardwood trees, more than 32 miles of hiking, biking and horseback riding trails, camp sites and lots more for nature lovers. There is an entrance off of Harrison Avenue and another one on Glenwood Avenue.  8801 Glenwood Ave  919-571-4170  Marbles Kids Museum is a hands-on, interactive destination that inspires children to be creative thinkers, active learners and confident individuals in today's world. There are five galleries, two outdoor areas, and plenty of activities.  Let's not forget about the IMAX Theatre which is the only 3D capable IMAX theatre in North Carolina.  I plan on taking the boys to see Bugs! which is playing.  They'll love it! I'm not sure I'm ready for "bugs" in 3D.  Raleigh 201 E. Hargett 919-834-4040

North Carolina Museum of History  The trip to the History Museum will be the educational stop of our trip.  The museum focuses on pre-Colonial to the present-day with an emphasis on sports, folk life and women's issues. 5 E Edenton 919-715-0200

North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences off of West Jones Street in downtown Raleigh.  Free Admission.  The boys just love dinosaurs. The museum has the only-known fossilized dinosaur heart, some of the most complete dinosaur skeletons in the world, and much more.  This museum is also free!!! 919-733-7450

I'm off to plan out the schedule.  I hope I make it through the weekend!

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Aug. 19, 2008 - It's a Great Time to Buy a home in Apex, NC

I recently sponsored Apex, NC with Localism.com.  As a part of my sponsorship I think it's important to provide a few distinct elements for the community:

1. Area profile
2. Why should you choose Apex, NC for your next home?
3. A look at what's currently going on in the real estate market in that area.

I've taken care of the 1^st two items so now it's time to take a look at the real estate market in Apex. 

It's a great time to buy a home in Apex!  Homes are selling in Apex.  The current crop of sellers that are motivated have been more flexible on price.  Not like in other parts of the country but we are starting to see some wiggle room.  With the current level of inventory sellers that are eager to sell really have to have their homes in tip top condition and be prepared to negotiate a bit. What might be shocking to families coming from other areas is that our average List/Sales Price Ratio is still ~ 98%. 

That said, let's take a look at the current numbers in the area for Q22008:   

Price	Number of Listings	Q22008 Supply	Average DOM
0-149.9	6	5	50
150-199.9	27	5	39
200-299.9	84	4	74
300-399.9	47	9	88
400-499.9	15	7	94
500-599.9	11	10	120
600-799.9	10	15	219
800-999.9	0	n/a	0
1M+	6	n/a	0
Condo	10	24	182
Townhome	68	5	86

*The data above is based on market data for Q22008. 

The higher price ranges have really been hit with the slowdown in the market and the current mortgage crisis.  As you can see from the table above the current supply in the $500k plus range starts at 10+ months.

The market dynamics have shifted from a strong sellers market in 2007 to a buyers market in 2008.  The average supply of homes in Apex is 6 months and DOM at 86.  Although the inventory is up and sales are down (23% in Q22008) pricing is still holding to the current values.  The reason this is holding true is due to the fact that our area did not have the wild price fluctuations that other areas in the country have experienced. 

In general the Triangle area market is seasonal.  Many families interested in locating to the area move to the Triangle before school starts.  After that, the market slows down until the end of December and then we pick up again around the 1st of the year heading into the Spring Market. 

Besides the fact that the market has shifted there are a number of other reasons you should consider buying a home in today's market:

•  Great selection
•  Interest rates are at historic lows
•  Tax benefits of owning a home
•  Home Equity benefits
•  In a buyers market you are the driver
•  FHA financing programs available
•  By using an experienced Realtor you have the added benefit that can negotiate on your behalf.

For more information visit my website or contact me directly for more information. 

Aug. 19, 2008 - Jimmy V Ride for Research and Cary Cycling Celebration

Jim Valvano is a legendary icon in the Triangle.  Ever since he succumbed to cancer in 1993 his family has carried on his legacy raising awareness of cancer and cancer research.  Earlier this month I wrote about the Jimmy V Rackets for Research which is a great event and a tremendous success.  Tomorrow the Jimmy V fundraisers continue with the 3rd Annual Jimmy V Ride for Research and Cary Cycling Celebration.  They are expecting over 500 cyclists so watch out for traffic delays and cyclists near the Regency area tomorrow. 

Distances:

1. 25 miles (departs 10:00 a.m.)

2. 50 miles (departs 7:00 a.m.)

3. 75 miles (departs 7:00 a.m.; follows the 50 and 25 mile routes)

4. 100 miles (departs 7:00 a.m.)

   

   If you've been motivated by the Tour de France this year this event is a good option to grab a bike and head to the event!  It's great exercise and a wonderful cause to support. 

There are a number of options for the cyclists ranging from a 25 mile ride all the way up to a Century Ride.

Other options for family members include a bicycle rodeo for kids aged 6-12 and family fun tours in the afternoon. 

I hope you enjoy the fun!

Click here for a video about the event.

Aug. 19, 2008 - Why I love Cary NC!

I moved to the Triangle in 1991 and have lived in Cary since 1994. I'm practically a native.  I've watched Cary blossom  into and established and well planned community.  Here are some of the reasons I love to call Cary, NC home! 

Location & proximity to Research Triangle Park

Many of the Triangle area residents commute North into the RTP (Research Triangle Park) area rather than downtown Raleigh.  Now that the widening of two major alternative routes to I-540 (HWY 55 and Davis Drive) has been completed the commute into RTP is a quick 10-15 minute drive to the major employers in the area.  Cary is also a quick commute to the RDU Airport and the 3 Major Universities in the area.   

The Great Outdoors

Cary's land-acquisition ordinance requires builders to donate land to the city's Parks and Recreation Department based on the number of houses that will be built. Currently, Cary has 20 city parks, including the Fred G. Bond Metro Park and Hemlock Bluffs Nature Preserve. There's also the Kids Together Park with a large playground. In addition to community swimming pools, tennis courts and some of the finest golf courses in the area, these green spaces are what make people from all over the country want to call Cary home.  There are also plenty of public sports venues around town including Cary Tennis Park, Triangle Aquatic Center (TAC), and the USA Baseball Park. 

Highly Educated Community & Great Schools 

Cary has the highest median household income in Wake County ($89,623), and more than two-thirds of Cary residents hold a college degree.  Cary is also been touted as having the highest number of Phd's in the country.  Cary schools are a part of the Wake County Public School system and continue to rank as some of the highest rated schools in Wake County.  Many are still on the traditional school calendar also.  

Planned Community

Planning, planning and more planning is Cary's adage. It takes but one drive around the Maynard loop, which circles Cary, to understand the vision: planned neighborhoods with large homes, two-car garages and well-groomed lawns are scattered throughout the town.  National Geographic even wrote a great article on Cary a few years back titled "All roads lead to a cul-de-sac in this mushrooming high-tech hometown of transplanted Yankees. A friendly game of bunco, anyone?"  

Business

Cary is home to such leading companies as SAS Institute-the largest privately held software company in the World.  American Airlines and John Deere also have a big presence. However, unlike many towns, commercial development is regulated much the same as residential development. While other Triangle towns have rules governing residential neighborhoods, Cary insists on tasteful commercial buildings that match the surroundings. 

Downtown Cary 

Downtown Cary is undergoing a major revitalization over the next few years called Cary Streetscape.  The goal is to preserve the days gone past but bring in businesses and shops that allow residents to live, work, and play in the downtown area.  This is also where Lazy Daze Arts and Crafts Festival is held annually, which is considered one of the finest festivals in the state. Page-Walker Arts and History Center, formerly the Page-Walker Hotel, which was built in 1868 to serve train passengers is also located in the downtown area and a great destination point. 

Cultural & Performing Arts  

Jordan Hall Arts Center  features an art gallery for monthly exhibits that promote and support local artists. Studio time for potters, painters and portrait artists is regularly scheduled. The center is also monthly meeting place for The Fine Arts Leaque of Cary.  If you enjoy art on a larger scale the North Carolina Museum of Art, in Raleigh, is one of the finest art galleries in the Triangle.  For performing arts Koka Booth Amphitheatre is located in the Regency area of Cary, has regularly scheduled concerts and venues, and is a fantastic way to enjoy an evening outside in the summertime.   

Medical Care

WakeMed is Cary's top notch hospital and is located near Tryon Road and Kildaire Farm Road.  WakeMed has helped to serve the growing population's need for, and access to, convenient medical care. 

Accolades 

The list keeps growing every year.  Money magazine is in love with Cary and the Triangle in general.  Cary was recently named best place to live in the country and the hottest town on the East Coast.  Click here to watch Kiplinger's Video on why the Raleigh-Cary Area is ranked the #2 Best Place to Live in 2008. 

Growth of Cary 

Attention to detail has proved very beneficial when dealing with the population explosion in Cary. In fact, Cary has doubled its population every decade since 1960.  Cary is the seventh-largest municipality in the state and has grown from 43,000 in 1990 to more than 120,000 today.

To handle the expansion, city leaders and developers carefully control development and have built an infrastructure to absorb the growth. In fact, it wasn't until recently that the voice to slow down Cary's growth was heard. Lately, Cary officials have been developing innovative growth controls. Some of these include requiring developers to prove there are enough roads and classrooms to accommodate the newcomers, as well a $70 million expansion of the water treatment plant that serves Cary and nearby Apex.

If you are thinking of relocating to the area feel free to contact me or send me an email with any questions you might have on the area. 

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Aug. 17, 2008 - Beautiful Updated All Brick Home in Preston

Description Hard to find all brick low-maintenance ranch in the Preston area appropriately appointed with many updates. 3 Beds, 2 Baths, 2 Car Garage. Gorgeous private backyard w/stamped concrete patio is excellent for entertaining. Convenient to shopping, RTP, and the airport. Walk to the Preston club house! Welcome Home! Features Bedrooms: 3 Bathrooms: 2 Parking: 2 Year Built: 1988 Subdivision: Preston Highlands Lot Size: .23 Garage Size: 2 car School District: Green Hope Square Footage: 1950 Agent Name: Tracy Santrock/Sharon Kowitz Broker: Fonville Morisey MLS #: Coming Soon Location 114 High Country Cary NC 27513 Powered by vFlyer.com vFlyerId: 1850004