Raleigh, Durham, Cary, Apex, Holly Springs, Durham Real Estate Blog and Relocation Information
Aug. 19, 2008 - Things to do with the kids in the Triangle
My only sister, Jennifer, is coming to visit this week with her two little boys all the way from San Antonio, TX. Since I only have one daughter that's seventeen I thought I might need to check around to find out Things to Do with the Kids in the in Triangle. I'm a bit rusty in this department other than advising my clients where to visit while they are in town. One of the things I really like about the Triangle is that there are so many things to do outdoors, especially in the summer time. It's time to plan my week with the boys. It's going to be tough keeping up my business, visiting, and entertaining but it will be worth every minute.
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!
Jul. 6, 2008 - Bedford at Falls River – It's a wonderful life!!
I would say that this is one of the most charming neighborhoods in Raleigh. As a result, this planned community has received numerous awards and accolades from the National Association of Home Builders and others and is one of the reason this neighborhood has sold so well. There really is something for everyone in this neighborhood where prices start in the low 200s and peak at over $1M.
City: Raleigh, North Carolina
Directions:
From the Airport: Take US-70/Aviation Parkway West to I-540 East toward US-70. Exit Falls of Neuse Road(Exit 14). Take a left onto Falls of Neuse Road. Turn right into Bedford onto Dunn Road. Enter roundabout and take 3rd exit onto Falls River Avenue.
Recreation Center - Over 3,500 Square Feet with two sitting areas, a TV, VCR, and wireless Wi-Fi internet access throughout the building.
Pools at the Recreation Center - There's plenty of swimming in Bedford. The Recreation Center has two pools-a competition sized pool and a standard size pool. The kids favorite is Mt. Gushmore, the 110-foot long, 15-foot high mountainous waterslide!
Parks and Greenways - There are over 205 acres of parks, greenways and open spaces at Bedford, along with 26 miles of tree-lined sidewalks including Jellystone Park, Pottersville Park, Central Park and the Secret Garden.
Clock Tower - This is the center of Beford and the Town Square marked by the bold and beautiful brick Clock Tower.
The Shoppes at Bedford Square - Plan for a small commercial section in Bedford and sometime Farmers Market at the Square.
One of the neat aspects about Bedford at Falls River is its walk-ability aspect.Walkscore.com has done a study of the different aspects of a neighborhood to see how close amenities are to the neighborhood. Bedford scored well in terms of a central location near the library, grocery stores, coffee shops, gas stations, etc.
Here is a list of Builders and the communities they represent:
1st American Builders - Greenbrier Collection, Sonoma Collection, The Townes at Bedford Square
Check out Bedford's Interactive Neighborhood Website for more information or view my video tour below:
If you'd like more information on this community or information on relocating to the Triangle in general please visit my website or contact me via email by completing the contact form.
What a difficult task - Pick just 5 things to do in the Triangle area
I wouldn't have said that when I moved to the Triangle in 1991 but the Triangle has come a long way in such a short time and our area has so much to offer. The Triangle area is now consistently receiving national attention as one of the Best Places to Live for its revitalization of the downtown Raleigh & Durham areas, consistent job growth, highly educated workforce, major universities, cultural activities, great nightlife, and much more.
If you are planning to move to the Triangle area of North Carolina or your kids are considering attending one of the many universities in the area, I'm here to help you with a few things to do in the area. With that said, it's time to visit the Triangle Area.
Tracy Santrock's Top 5 Things to do in the Triangle
1. Visit one of the three Major Universities in the Area - A visit to the Triangle would not be complete without a visit to one of the three major universities in the area. North Carolina State University in Raleigh, Duke University in Durham, or the University of Chapel Hill in Chapel Hill. UNC-Chapel Hill is nestled in the quaint college town of Chapel Hill and the college is one of the top public universities in the country. A stroll down Franklin Street, a walk through campus, and a slice of pizza at Peppers Pizza downtown would make any tourists day complete. Duke Universities' gothic style campus is reminiscent of the Ivy League schools in the Northeast. While visiting Duke don't miss out on Duke Gardens, the Duke Chapel, or attendance at one of the many Blue Devil athletic events during the school year. NC State, home of the Wolfpack, is a public university known for it's outstanding Engineering programs. The campus is conveniently located in the heart of Raleigh close to downtown. With those visits out of the way I feel smarter already! There is no shortage of brain power in this area!
2. Take a tour of one of the many Triangle Museums - There are three you don't want to miss in the area in particular. Each of the choices will not disappoint. If you're in Durham visit the Museum of Life & Science which is a family friendly museum, bosts a 3-story tropical conservatory and a daily butterfly release for the children. If your on a budget the North Carolina Museum of Art is home to over 5,000 pieces of Art and us free to the public. Ackland Art Museum, at the base of the Univeristy of North Carolina, is considered to be one of the best small museums on any campus. If the kids are in tow go to downtown Raleigh to Marbles Kids Museum.
3. Spend some time outdoors -With four distinct seasons, over 222 Days of Sunshine, and an average temperature of 58 Degrees it's hard not to enjoy some time outdoors on your visit. Whether your plans are for a short jaunt or a long hike in one of the many state parks in the area no visit would be complete without some time outdoors. Here are a few of my favorites in the area-Pick one. Duke forest, Umstead Park, Eno River State Park, or the American Tobacco Trail. Umstead Park would be my top pick with over 30 miles of jogging and biking trails and a fanstastic central location make this park a step above the rest.
4. Play a round of golf -With over 100+ area golf courses to choose from it's tough not to have a great golf experience. If you're up for the best of the best head 50 minutes away to Pinehurst and challenge yourself on the famous Pinehurst #2 Golf Course. My local favorite is the Washington Duke Golf Course because I really enjoy dining at the Fairview Restaurant afterwards.
5. Don't forget the nightlife. What's a visit to any town without a night out on the town? Each of the Triangle Towns now has a great downtown nightlife. If your young and want the college atmosphere I recommend the nightlife in Chapel Hill. Downtown Durham, in the old Tobacco district, has a number of great choices. The NEW Downtown Raleigh has several restauraunts, bars, and fabulous venues. My favorite night on the town has to go to Chapel Hill with fabulous restaurants, charm, character, and excitement.
I hope you can see why I love to call the Triangle home! It's an active and thriving area with lots of choices. We hope you make it hear soon.
If you are thinking of relocating to the Raleigh-Cary NC area I'd love to help you find the perfect home. Visit my website at www.TriangleNCHomes4Sale.com for additional details and a free Relocation packet.
Duke Chapel Photo & Umstead Park photo courtesy of Flickr.
There has been a lot of discussion on the news recently about the infill issue and the City of Raleigh. Several of my coworkers attended the most recent city council and provided me with an update that I thought I'd share with you. Basically, the City of Raleigh was looking at placing blanket restrictions on certain zoning districts in Raleigh that would severely impact the ability of many residents to add on to their home or teardown an older home and rebuild. The proposed changes went to a public hearing on November 20th and was unanimously spoken against. Subsequently, the Raleigh Planning Commission denied the text change proposal and sent that recommendation to the City Council for their December 4th meeting.
The Raleigh City Council listened to the overwhelming public input and follow suit to deny the text change proposal. However, the infill/teardown issue is not gone. There are other proposals on the table. Please see the Option 2 and 3 below for a brief explanation of the other proposals that were sent back to the Raleigh Planning Commission for consideration at their December meeting. It will then go to the council at their January 8th meeting and likely to public hearing on January 22nd.
Option 2 -Proposes to adapt the existing infill subdivision standards to all new residential infill construction citywide. Administrative approval of new infill construction would be limited a 25% to 30% increase in square footage. Homes larger than this allowance would require Planning Commission approval. Variations of this proposal have been put forth, including one version from a member of the Planning Commission.
Option 3-Seeks to amend the existing Neighborhood Conservation Overlay District regulations to address the residential infill issue in a manner that is focused on the specific neighborhoods and requires input from the majority of affected property owners before final action is taken. Option 3 is a proposal to update Raleigh's innovative Neighborhood Conversation Overlay District provisions to better serve today's market and lifestyle demands while conserving the City's vital neighborhood assets. This proposal also seeks to fast track the creation of new Neighborhood Conservation Overlay Districts by shortening the entire process from 14 to 18 months to 4 to 6 months depending on the size and complexity of the area. This proposal could be a permanent solution and could be implemented as soon as a new text change is drafted and adopted by the City Council following a public hearing.
It is our understanding that something will be done regarding this issue and currently from all the information we have been able to gather to day, Option 3 is our best choice. It will be imperative that we express to the Planning Commission and the City Council our dislike of Option 2 and our support of Option 3 as it currently stands. The next Raleigh Planning Commission meeting is scheduled for December 11th at 9:00 a.m. in the Raleigh City Council Chambers. Please attend if you are able, or contact the Planning Commission members:
Nov. 25, 2007 - Tell me about the Luxury Home Market in the Triangle - What's up?
While the rest of the national real estate market is has taken a turn for the worse, the Triangle real estate market has continued to remain strong. Well, at least for the lower priced homes in the Triangle. Single Family Homes less than $300k all over the Triangle are in short supply-less than two months in most cases. On the other hand, high end properties have higher than average inventories compared to the rest of the US.
What if I'm interested in buying a luxury home in the Triangle - Is now the time to buy? If so, now would be a fantastic time. The Triangle luxury home inventory is very high, and, that makes for a great opportunity for buyers. The winter months are slow and builders are anxious if they have standing inventory. They are willing to negotiate during this time of year and, in the Triangle over the past several years, that has not been the case.
Let's take a look at some numbers and see why the opportunity is so great for buyers in the luxury real estate market in the Triangle.
Q32007 closings were 6% higher than seen in the third quarter of 2006 which means the market is growing
There are 37% more re-sale listings and 39% more new home listings since Q32006.
22% of all luxury home closed sale activity has occurred within the North Raleigh/Wake market. Cary/Apex/Morrisville is second at 21% and Chapel Hill/Carrboro is third at 13%.
Brier Creek in Raleigh attracted the most amount of luxury home buyers during the first nine months. The development was followed by Cary Park and Wakefield Plantation.
The overall market has a 5 month current supply, the luxury segment has a current supply of 11 months.
Current sellers are showing signs of flexibility on their price. For example, at the end of 3Q '07 there were 664 sellers who had dropped list price, compared to 389 at the end of 3Q '06.
The average re-sale house sells for 97% of original list price. The average luxury re-sale house sells for 89% of original list price. That's a big difference.
What does this mean to a buyer? Builders are sitting on the homes longer and having to reduce prices to compete with the expanding inventory. Since the timing is right one can find opportunities for the savvy buyer. Many buyers in this price point have bought and sold several homes and sometimes feel a Realtor isn't really necessary. To the contrary, an experienced Realtor is essential in finding, not only your dream home, but a home that will be a smart investment in the long-term.
That said, here are a few articles of reference for your review on our market:
Held for just two days during the middle of December(12/8 & 12/9), this tour may be your only chance during the entire year to take a look inside some of Raleigh's most beautiful and historic homes(unless you are a real estate agent like me). Homeowners invite you in to view festive holiday decorations and period furnishings and to share with you the history of their homes. This tour is not to be missed!
Sep. 8, 2007 - 2007 Wake County HBA Parade of Homes
It's my favorite time of year the Wake County
Parade of Homes. I
wrote about it last year and this years is setting the
stage to be the best yet and is scheduled for three weeks this
fall.
Dates for the 2007 Parade of Homes are:
September 29-30, October 5-7, and October 12-14
from 12:00pm - 5:00pm.
This year there are over 400 entries by top
local builders in the area ranging in price from $119k to $3M and a
record 29 homes priced at over $1M. As in years past its one
of the least expensive forms of entertainment (it's free) and you
get some great ideas for your home too. I've included
pictures of several homes for sale ranging in price during the
parade for your reference.
Please contact me if you would like anymore information on these
or other Triangle Parade of Homes entries or visit my website at
www.TriangleNCHomes4Sale.com
Sep. 6, 2007 - Update on the Hasentree Community in N. Raleigh
Hasentree is alive with activity as the vision of
creating the finest private club in the Triangle is taking shape.
The Golf Course is scheduled to open this
fall, the Pro Shop Cottage is nearing completion,
the Family Activity Center is well underway, and luxury homes are
providing a glimpse of life at Hasentree.
Tom Fazio Golf Course/Pro Shop Cottage
Grand Opening
A Grand Opening Celebration of the only Tom Fazio
golf course in the Raleigh area will be held on October 17,
2007, where Tom Fazio himself will make an
appearance. This celebration will also commemorate the opening of
the Pro Shop Cottage overlooking the starting and finishing holes.
The Pro Shop will ultimately connect to the Hasentree
Clubhouse.
Update on Community Activities
Family Activity Center
The Family Activity Center is under construction with an opening
scheduled for Spring 2008. The
Family Activity Center features 3 pools, a waterslide, 6 lighted
clay tennis courts, an adult fitness program and a Kids
Club. The Activities Director will offer a variety of programs
each month providing a place where kids of all ages can explore,
create, and thrive in a stimulating and encouraging
environment.
New Club Staff
The new General Manager for Hasentree is Jeff Peak
and Golf Pro Patrick Seither. Jeff Peak came
from the Ballantyne Club in Charlotte and Patrick Seither from
Kinloch Club in Virginia.
Parade of Homes Update
Hasentree will have 12 homes ranging
in price from $936,135 to $4,445,000 entered in the
Parade.
Welcome to my blog on Raleigh-Cary and the Triangle area of NC Real Estate. Here you can read current information on the Triangle area including neighborhood profiles, school information, taxes, market conditions, and even find things to do in the Triangle.
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TX. Since I only have one daughter that's seventeen I thought I might need to check around to find out 
919-872-1688
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 
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fantastic time. The Triangle luxury home inventory is very high, and, that makes for a great opportunity for buyers. The winter months are slow and builders are anxious if they have standing inventory. They are willing to negotiate during this time of year and, in the Triangle over the past several years, that has not been the case.
What does this mean to a buyer? Builders are sitting on the homes longer and having to reduce prices to compete with the expanding inventory. Since the timing is right one can find opportunities for the savvy buyer. Many buyers in this price point have bought and sold several homes and sometimes feel a Realtor isn't really necessary. To the contrary, an experienced Realtor is essential in finding, not only your dream home, but a home that will be a smart investment in the long-term.
are:
September 29-30, October 5-7, and October 12-14
from 12:00pm - 5:00pm.
