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.
But The North Carolina Foreclosure Prevention Project will help struggling families keep their homes.
In an effort to reduce the number of foreclosure filings in the state, North Carolina Governor Mike Easley signed into law three bills that will give homeowners a chance to win their struggles with foreclosure. The first bill established the North Carolina Foreclosure Prevention Project, a program under which homeowners as well as the bank commissioner of the state will enjoy a 45-day notice before the foreclosure filing. In addition, the bank commissioner can extend the notice by another 30 days if the case warrants.
During such time, the state will assist in the negotiations between the lender and the homeowner until a new payment arrangement and mortgage interest rate have been established. The said legislation will be able to provide help to over 25,000 homeowners.
The other bill tackled the issue of yield spread premiums, which it permanently eliminates after critics considered it as an incentive for mortgage brokers to charge borrowers with higher fees. The last bill requires all loan servicers in the state to register and submit reports to the bank commissioner.
All these new legislation will certainly help fight the spreading problems brought about by the foreclosure crisis. Considering that one of the reasons for the present mortgage mess in predatory lending practices, it will help that loan servicers are being monitored and regulated. Aside from this, many homeowners will benefit from the assistance since majority of them are not aware of the foreclosure process and can not make informed decisions because of this.
With the North Carolina state government extending its hand to these struggling homeowners, many families will be able to stay in their homes.
If you live in the Cary NC Real Estate area and are facing foreclosure please send me a private email or call me for a consultation. There are ways that Realtors can contact the banks to make private arrangements rather than go directly into foreclosure.
It's that time of year again - the time when the market slows down a bit, the kids are back in school, and we get to take a look at where the market has been and where it's headed.
What is going on with the real estate market in general?
Gas prices are at an all time high, lending institutions are in total disarray (most recently we can point to the bankruptcy of Lehman Brothers, aquisition of Merrill Lynch), the US housing market is in serious trouble in a number of areas in the country, and the stock market itself was expected to recover with the housing market and that just hasn't happened. Our residential real estate market depends upon the free flow of buyers and sellers. Our market is currently stuck as many inbound transferees cannot sell their out of state residences, many of our outbound transferees cannot sell their local residences and there is a crisis of confidence among a large portion of potential buyers which is playing a role in the ability to sell. While we continue to be praised nationally for strong job growth and a healthy economy the most recent update is that our market, especially in the high price ranges, has taken a beating.
How do sales this year compare to the banner years?
2006 was a banner year in Wake County. Sales were at an all time high. I thought I'd include numbers from the MLS that indicate the change in the market year over year for your reference. Comparing August 2006 numbers with August of 2008 numbers the changes are quite dramatic:
Supply of homes on the market is up 28%
Number of homes under contract is down 41%
Number of homes closed is down 44%
Average Days on Market are up 27% (83 DOM vs 65 DOM in '06)
Time Period
For Sale
Under Contract
Sold
August 2008
11,899
1,084
1,151
August 2007
10,861
1,474
1,022
August 2006
9,328
1,851
2,073
What about the supply of inventory for Wake County in particular?
The average supply in the Wake County area is running at 8.7 months supply. This is a significant change from the 3.7 months that we saw back in August 2006 - up 138% during this timeframe.
What about market appreciation?
Fortunately, in this area, we have not had the run up in prices experienced around the rest of the country which has helped maintain some stability in sales and pricing. And, appreciation rates have remained stable in Wake County at 4.5% vs. -4.8%% for the rest of the US in 2008.
Here are some additional market variables that a seller must consider before selling in the current market:
Higher inventory and fewer closings have produced an oversupply of inventory in all price points above $450k
Price reductions are up: There has been a 73% increase of sellers taking price reductions
Is there any good news in this segment?
As you can see from the change in price reducations recently it's clear that sellers are finally realizing that Wake County Real Estate is now a buyers market. Up until this fall I had a hard time convincing my sellers that the market had shifted and that, to be competitive in this market, you have to be priced in the Top 3 along with having all of the other wonderful attributes and updates needed to sell a home today. Hopefully the bailout of Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae and the competitive mortgage interest rates will help more Wake County home buyers step up and buy a few homes! Now is a great time to buy in Wake County.
Visit my website or Email me at Tracy@TracySantrock.com for more information on Cary NC Real Estate or the Triangle Market in general.
I believe Ratings are important and do give you a real sense of what's going on in the area. I've written several posts on the Raleigh-Cary, NC area because I absolutely love where I live, work, and play. Just last month I wrote about Why I love Cary, NC. And, here is a post I wrote earlier this year called 2008 Triangle Accolades - The list keeps growingabout the many accolades that have been bestowed upon the Triangle.
It looks like I'm not the only one singing the Triangle praises. The secret is out and the Raleigh - Cary area has been discovered. There are over 18,000 people moving into this area on a year-to-year basis. I decided to write this post today because The Milken Institute just released their Best Cities for 2008 and the Raleigh-Cary area came out #2!!! I'm not sure why they chose Provo, Utah as number 1 but I'll get over it. The list also puts Wilmington at No. 6 and Durham at No. 21. Among other North Carolina metros, Charlotte ranks No. 26, with Asheville No. 46, Winston-Salem No. 99 and Greensboro No. 141.
In my next post I'm going to write about the many things that my clients look for when they are moving to the area. I truly believe this area has it all. So, if you are considering a move to North Carolina or the Triangle area give me a call - we have a lot to talk about!
I recently wrote a blog to one of my clients that I have the house listed entitled, "Dear Mr. & Mrs. Seller Your House Hasn't Sold". The purpose of the letter was to let my clients know that the listing agent is ultimately responsible for the sale of the home but the seller also plays a role in making this happen as well. Even the best intentions won't pan out if the seller doesn't go along with the marketing plan. Thankfully, with the help of a post where I solicited advice from Activerainers called Need Listing Advice from opinionated AR Listing Agents-Are you one of them?, I shared the feedback with my client and their willing response to the feedback ultimately allowed me to sell this listing in less than 45 days. If you read the blog you would probably notice that this home sat on the market for over a year before I took over the listing.
I asked my client why he chose me to sell his home and he had indicated that he was incredibly impressed with my ability to get the word out through the internet. He wanted to know how I successfully continue to be listed at the top of the rankings in my area and have such high search results on the major search engines - Google, Yahoo, and MSN to name a few.
That said, I read a post byBrian Block's recent post"Preemptive Blogging.....Impress your Sellers with your SEO"and post by Broker Bryant entitled, If you really are "The Expert".....then show them. Push the juice. which has lead me to write my own blog where I show you how internet marketing and search engine optimization has helped me with my business and also pleased my clients. The bottom line - All agents are not created equal and it's an agents job to make sure that the home that your marketing doesn't blend in with all of the rest. You have to make sure your clients home gets the exposure and rises above the other homes in your market.
In addition, I've decided to write another letter that I will use with my sellers in my listing presentations that will demonstrate how successful my strategy has been. The results are out there - it would be CRAZY for me not to demonstrate my talents and marketing abilities.
Dear Mr. and Mrs. Need T. Sell,
It was a pleasure speaking with you earlier today and I am looking forward to meeting with you tomorrow to get your property on the market. I will send over a preliminary Market Analysis later but thought it would be helpful to you if you did a little research on me first. I just know that you're the type that does your homework. Here are some links that will give you a great idea of who I am and how I handle my business. They will also give you a sampling of how your property will be displayed on the Internet. So click away and enjoy. OK here goes:
Google Results for Cary NC Real Estate - The most searched term in real estate in the Triangle - I am generally regularly on the top 3 pages either through Activerain, Localism, my blog or one of my sites.
Only agents that buy an "Enhanced Listing" package are able to write descriptive information on their properties. I have the ability to Enhance My Listings, Ad Banners, and customize the content readers see online. Realtor.com is the #1 site for Homebuyers. Why go with an agent that doesn't offer this service.
If you are thinking about selling your house in the Triangle area in 2008 keep this in mind: Just think about the fact that over 80% of prospective buyers start their home search on the internet. If you sell your home with me you will receive maximum exposure on all the major search engines, Craigslist, and other mediums. In addition, I will make sure that all of the Marketing that I do on your home online will be syndicated to other content providers like oodle, vast, hotproperties, and others sen below. Your property will receive the exposure needed to sell your home in record time.
If you area an Activerain Member keep this in mind: In 2008 you will want to use the tools that you have learned through Activerain, ePro, and others to let others know the good news about you and your business.
Immaculate Executive Home in the best location in Cary!
Location: Glenkirk
This executive home has sophisticated southern charm and is located on a premium elevated lot. Gorgeous inside and out, a must see to appreciate its splendor. Spectacular luxurious MSTR suite w/nursery/fitness rm., gourmet kitchen w/all the bells and whistles, double covered porch.. Irr. system. Sold Furnished for $640k
Carolina Preserve by Del Webb at Amberly, a new Active Adult Community is located in presitigous Cary, North Carolina. Why live in Cary, NC?
Cary has earned numerous awards for its high quality of life and has been rated the #1 place to live on the East Coast by Money Magazine
It's ranked as the safest city in the South and the 6th safest out of 327 large cities in the nation
Location, Location, Location that's why!! It is located in th heart of the Triangle, adjacent to Research Triangle Park, and only minutes away from RDU International Airport, the state's capitial, and the burgeoning theatre and arts community in Chapel Hill.
Carolina Preserve is located a short distance from some of the best healthcare in the nation including:
Wake Med in Cary, Raleigh, and coming soon to Apex.
The University of North Carolina Wellness system has also agreed to partner with Carolina Preserve to provide their residents with fitness and wellness programs!
Carolina Preserve's grand opening celebration occurred July 15, 2006. At the opening, Del Webb unveiled nine model homes. The total number of lots will be rolled out in five phases with a total of 1,260 homesites.
Amenities & A Sense of Strong Community dominate Carolina Preserve
The hub of this active adult community will be its clubhouse and residents will have access to numerous activities. Planned for this premier community are an indoor year round pool, state of the art fitness center, billiard room, multi-purpose room and lounge area. There will be a second outdoor pool, tennis courts, bocce ball courts and picnic pavilion. Carolina Preserve is one of 7 neighborhoods in Amberly. Residents of Carolina Preserve will also have access to Amberly's clubhouse, pools and walking trails!
Arts, Culture, Sports & More are located near Carolina Preserve
The greater Raleigh area offers an abundance of educational, cultural and recreational opportunities. Enjoy a performance at the BTI Center for the Performing Arts featuring theater, ballet, the symphony and opera. Delight in outdoor performances at the Alltel Pavilion in Raleigh or the Amphitheatre at Regency Park in Cary. Raleigh provides numerous sports teams: The Carolina Hurricanes (NHL Hockey), Carolina Mud Cats and Durham Bulls (AA Baseball); and the great college sports including ACC NC State, UNC & Duke! Our area also features several major universities and community colleges to choose from including Duke University, UNC/Chapel Hill & NC State University that can offer you accredited courses for continuing your education or just for fun!!
What about golf? Is there are golf course too?
Located near the Carolina Preserve are several world-renowned championship golf courses that offer daily golf and Private memberships:
Prestonwood CC
Briar Creek CC
Lochmere
MacGregor Downs
Pinehurst, only a short 50 minute drive away offers over 100 public golf courses
Community Details:
Age Restriction: 55+
Type of Home: Single Family, Villa/Town homes
Home Sizes: There are Four Collection of Homes:
Cardinal Collection: 1103-1414 square feet
Dogwood Collection: 1590-1919 square feet
Emerald Collection: 2050-2597 square feet
Villas: Duplex units
Price Range: Base Pricing $210,000-$401,000
As your trusted real estate professional, I am committed to offering you specialized services that focus on your needs. I understand that the sale or purchase of a home is one of the biggest events in your life and potentially one of the most stressful events in your life. My goal is to use my skill and expertise to guide you step by step through the process making the transaction easier and more pleasant. I strive to provide patient, caring, professional support and excellent service that exceeds your expectations.
Update: The next delivery for homes in Amberly is scheduled for August 2008 except for a few homes in the Emerald Collection!! This neighborhood has sold quickly, so be patient if you want to buy in this area.
Click on the map to the left for driving directions or call me for additional information on the community.
The number one selling new home community in Wake County in 2006!! This planned community, when completed, will offer natural areas, retail space, shopping areas, 276 acres of common areas, miles of greenway trail and many exclusive amenities!
Amenities include a gymnasium, village green, event lawn, children's playground, Jr. Olympic pool, family fun pool, and residents club. Within the residents club you'll find a fitness center, aerobics room, children's play room, teen room, decks and patios and flexible meeting areas. With an abundance of amenities and an incredible location, Amberly is a must see community!
The two primary builders at Amberly are KB Home & Pulte Homes. At present, the prices range from the low $200's & $300's for KB's town home and single family home products, to the $500's for Pulte's Blackstone at Amberly Neighborhood.
The Peninsula - custom homes from the $400s to $800s, custom lot sales will begin in February from the $120s (very limited supply). Builders are 1st American Builders and Royal Oaks Building Group. Estate Home builders and prices to be announced soon.
Village Square - single family and townhomes from the $300s to $600s, built by the Bedford Builder Group (great variety of homes, including 3-story brownstone townhomes with elevators).
Blackstone - Pulte Homes from the $330s
Arlington Park & Lexington Park - KB Homes from the $200s
Amberly can now be accessed through Carpenter Fire Station or the newly opened McCrimmon Parkway.
One question that comes up often-Where will my children go to school with all of the growth? Not to worry. Panther Creek High School opened last year on McCrimmon Parkway. This high school will be grades 9-12 through the 2008-2009 School Year
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.
Today I met with clients to discuss Marketing their property. I must admit the home was absolutely fabulous(custom built in 2005) and they had done some incredible updates to the home such as:
Plantation Shutters
Added a coiffered ceiling in the downstairs formal living room
Wet bar in the bonus room
Dual Zone surround sound
Hired an interior designer and custom painted the walls throughout the home
Gourmet kitchen
Office on the 1st Floor
Added fabulous landscaping
10 Foot Ceilings on the 1st Floor
9 Foot Ceilings on the 2nd, except a 2nd bedroom w/12 foot ceilings
That said, my potential clients needed to understand the reality of the Triangle Luxury Home market. I have other Luxury Home listings currently and they are truely a challenge.
Why would this lovely home be such a challenge going into the peak selling season?
There are 33 Active Listings in the Neighborhood.The sister neighborhood has 26 specs going on the market just this month.
The New Homes are offering a $16,000 incentive for membership to Cary's premier Country Club
Inventory in this segment in Cary has grown over 30% in one year
Supply of homes between $500-$600k is 22 months and growing
Market share for luxury homes is substantially lower than N. Raleigh(32% vs 17% in Cary)
Pricing Discussion:
Because of all of the new construction there were plenty of comparables.
The clients big concern is that I didn't look at comparables on the side of the neighborhood that didn't back to I-540.
All of my comps were on the "resale" side which were substantially lower than the new construction.
My clients wanted to price their home at the same price with homes that had 500 square feet larger, have an extra garage, and an extra bathroom.
What would you do if you were in my shoes? Would you take the listing or wait until the home doesn't sell and let them call you for Round 2? Take a walk in my shoes for the moment.
I know this neighborhood all to well. I mentioned earlier this year that I moved to this beautiful neighborhood in my post Tracy Santrock's Moved On & Checking In w/Activerain. My family has loved every minute of our transition to the new neighborhood (ok, except unpacking the boxes).
I was a little concerned about being one of the last families to move to the neighborhood. To the contrary I've met so many of the neighbors and their children and everyone has been just spectacular. It's so nice to be a part of a community that has that warm, inviting appeal where everyone knows everyone's name. Since I've finally finished unpacking all of the boxes I thought it is time for me to write about the neighborhood.
Neighborhood Facts:
Price range is from the low $600s to over $1 Million
Two sections: Newest homes are in the back section; Other homes built in 2006
Approximately 100+ Executive Homes
Several basement homesites
Jogging trail, sidewalks, and bike trail
One mile from Bond Park and the Cary Community Center
Traditional Schools
Minutes from the grocery stores, Preston Walk, Inside Out Sports, restaurants, and convenience stores
Builder
John Wieland Homes is an established and renowned builder in the Southeast that has received several awards including:
• National Builder of the Year by Professional Builder Magazine
• National Housing Quality Award presented by the National Association of Home Builders Research Center
Key Neighborhood Highlights:
Glenkirk Club House & Swimming Pool
I'm lucky to live across from the Glenkirk Club House where there is plenty to do. We have a group of girls that gets together for Pokino. Other amenities include a pool with a childrens' play area, children's playground, picnic area, and a Basketball court too!
Preston Walk Shopping Center
Just around the corner from the neighborhood and a 10 minute walk is Preston Walk Shopping Center - Some of my favorite restaurants in town including Panera Bread, Stonewood, Biaggis, and Henrys Gelato. La Therapie Day Spa and Inside Out Sports and more....
Preston Corners Shopping Center
Just about all of the banks have a branch at Preston Corners. Other notable highlights include Fedora, Suncom, Preston Flowers, Lowes Grocery, a Mexican restaurant, coffee shop, and others. Across the street is La Farm Bakery, one of my personal favorites.
For more information go to the Glenkirk website or contact me directly for this neighborhood.
When clients are considering moving to Cary, NC there is so much I want to tell them about our wonderful town. I moved to North Carolina in 1991 and have been able to see the area grow and mature into a wonderful community. Several other agents within the Activerain network have written letters to their prospective relocation clients. I thought I'd join in the fun. This will help you get a better feel for the area in general.
I think once you see what we have to offer, you'll fall in love with North Carolina and Cary in particular. I hope that I can help you take a closer look at our community and you will be able to see all of the merits of our wonderful community.
I've included in this e-mail some links to articles that I have written about Cary NC and the surrounding areas as well as an all around description of the area.
As we discussed on the phone today I have gone ahead and set you up to receive automatic listings for the area so that when anything new enters the market that meets your criteria you will be notified automatically. In addition to the homes available for sale it gives prospective buyers an idea of "What you get for your money in Cary, NC" along with a feel for the different styles and architectures of the homes in the area.
You may also search all of the listings in the Triangle area by visiting my website and clicking on Search for Triangle Area Homes that will allow you to search all currently listed homes in Raleigh, Cary and the surrounding communities.
There is a lot of buzz around the United States about the growth of the Triangle area. Our community continues to be praised on the quality of life, education, job growth, and affordability. Click here to browse through the different accolades that have been bestowed on the Triangle. Even National Geographic recognized the potential in an article they wrote back in 2001.
In your inquiry you mentioned you were very concerned about the schools and wanted to make sure your children received the best education possible. The Wake County Public School System is now the largest public school district in North Carolina and had 134,002 students enrolled as of the 2007/08 school year. It ranks 19th largest nationwide. New schools are being built to handle the increase in student population and many of the schools have been converted to year-round programs. In addition to the growth the school system has received numerous awards including #1 School District in the Nation for Certified Teachers and a Gold Rating from Expansion Management's Education Quotient.
So, what should I tell you about my hometown of Cary, North Carolina? When I first moved to Cary from Chapel Hill in 1994 the town had just started to take off in growth. We really didn't even have grocery stores at the time. Just a bunch of single family homes on cul-de-sac lots.
Today Cary has grown to over 127,640 and is now the 8th fastest growing city in the United States according to CNN. One of the major reasons for Cary's popularity is the town's proximity to the Research Triangle Park and the proximity to the many biotech, pharmaceutical and high tech companies, making it an ideal location for people moving to the Research Triangle area for work. As such, Cary has been known to be called "Technology Town of North Carolina".
Yet even with all of the growth Cary has maintained character and charm. The town management in Cary developed PUDs (Planned Urban Developments) starting in the early ‘70s to create aesthetically pleasing neighborhoods. By planning for the future developers were able to strictly monitor zoning and also map out churches, schools, and other community amenities.
We also discussed your children's love for the outdoors and possible involvement in community activities. One of Cary's strength is that the town's Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources Department provides a massive offering of events and courses for kids and adults, everything from clown camp to ceramics to African drumming to first aid. In fact, the Robert V. Godbold Park is home to the 12,000-square-foot Sk8-Cary skate and BMX bike park.
If the kids like the outdoors there is plenty of room for them to play. Cary currently has 20 public parks, a greenway system of six park trails and ten greenway trails, three special use facilities and eight staffed facilities that provide a variety of programs and services for all ages.
During the summertime most of the neighborhood communities have community swimming pools and swim teams for the kids to join in the neighborhood. Since the weather is pretty mild in this area the pools are open from Memorial Day through Labor Day. And, the long awaited Cary NC Real Estate - Triangle Aquatic Center(TAC) opens today in Cary, NC opened in October of 2007 and is a public facility opened year-round to the public.
Cary's sports facilities are unique to those of most of the surrounding towns. The tax dollars have really been put to great use and most of the facilities that have been built are quite new.
WakeMed Soccer Park This 150-Acre soccer complex hosts professional, college, and high school tournaments.
Cary Tennis Park Is a public tennis facility with 30 Championship courts and one stadium court and was voted the Top New Public Tennis Facility in the Nation in 2006.
Triangle Aquatics CenterThe new facility has 3 swimming pools - a 50-meter Competition Pool, a 25-yard Training Pool as well as a warm water Instructional Pool
Hockey - Raleigh is home to the Stanley Cup winning Carolina Hurricanes. There are many private facilities in the area.
Area Golf Courses - The Piedmont Region of North Carolina is well known for its abundance of lush green golf courses. The Triangle Area alone has over 100 public courses. Or, if your adventuresome, you may want to take the short one hour drive to Pinehurst to play some of the World's Greatest Golf Courses.
What about cultural arts? Does Cary have an artistic community? Cary has The Cultural Arts Division encompasses the Jordan Hall Arts Center , the Page-Walker Arts & History Center Newly opened Halle Cultural Arts center in Apex, NC. In addition, the Town of Cary has commissioned artwork that has been placed throughout the town which is aesthetically pleasing.
There are many popular community wide events throughout the year for families to enjoy. Some of the most popular include Lazy Daze in downtown Cary in the Fall and Spring Daze Arts and Crafts Festival at Bond Park in the Spring. During the summer months there are weekly concerts with the NC Symphony at the Koka Booth Amphitheatreto a free July 4th fireworks celebration.
The Cary NC Real Estate market has been incredibly stable relative to the rest of the US. While markets were declining throughout the US last year Cary experienced its highest appreciation rate on record. This year has slowed somewhat due to families having a difficult time selling where they are moving from. However, the Cary real estate market has a higher rate of appreciation relative to the Triangle and lower inventory making it a desirable community for resale in the future.
Cary's ideal location in the Piedmont Region of North Carolina is just 15 to 30 minutes from just about everywhere including Raleigh, the Airport, Durham, and Chapel Hill. It really couldn't get any better than the Piedmont Region where a two hour ride East will find you enjoyingWrightsville beach in Wilmington. Travel five hours West of Cary and you'll be in the heart of the beautiful Mountain Region of NC. Outdoor activities like camping and boating at Jordan Lake or golfing at one of the many renowned golf courses in the area are just minutes way.
This is a fantastic time to buy in Cary. Since inventory is up sellers are more willing to negotiate on the prices which was unheard of in last years market. We have a great selection of existing homes and new construction available for you to see while you're here. I've mailed you a relocation packet that includes a Cary Living Magazine, Maps of the Area, New Homes Magazine, and details regarding possible relocation(taxes, utility information, etc) that should come in handy.
I look forward to our meeting when you make it to Cary, but in the interim please explore my website, read my blogand get to know both me and Cary, North Carolina at your leisure. There is a wealth of information available and I am but an e-mail or phone call away to answer any questions that you might have.
I hope you've enjoyed your brief tour of Cary, NC. I'm convinced that Cary, NC will surely be everything you're looking for in a community for your family. Please feel free to call me with any questions you may have prior to our get together.
I absolutely love Sunday brunch - it may be my favorite part of the weekend. It's certainly my favorite weekend meal. At home or in restaurants, brunch memories are important to me.
What is it about brunch that arouses such warm feelings? Maybe it's the idea of the late morning meal itself; almost time for lunch so I'm good and hungry, but still legitimately morning, enough, to crack open some eggs and get some bacon sizzling. Ahhh, and the aroma of the freshly poured cup of coffee.
There's something almost primordially comforting about brunch. The savory smells of cheese melting into an omelette, with smokey ham or bacon layered in, can arouse my lumbering husband out of deep hibernation. And happily helping mix fresh berries into pancake batter clearly gets my family feeling that they're contributing to their contribution to the food pyramid.
I'd like to share that comfort with my family this Christmas. My parents are coming to visit for the holidays and they just love to dine. With that in mind, we've decided to treat them to brunch while they are here. We have several choices for brunch in the Triangle - some casual, some not. It's your choice to experience the different flavors of the Triangle so I've broken them into three categories:
Fearrington Market Cafe
1 Fearrington Post, Pittsboro, NC
More casual than the fancy Fearrington Restaurant, this quaint cafe doesn't skimp on style or flavor
Brigs Great Beginnings
8111 Creedmoor Rd Ste 169, Raleigh, NC
Specializing in gourmet omelets and golden hot cakes, this eatery raises the bar on breakfast food.
What a wonderful addition to the Triangle. Finally, a restaurant in the same class as restaurants in New York, Boston, and other top dining cities. The setting is spectacular and the location is convenient to all areas of the Triangle. I forgot to mention that the service and meal is in a different category than all other restaurants in this area.
Jazz Brunch is served on Sundays from 10:30am until 2:00pm. The setting is quite elegant, the decorations during the holidays are outstanding, the service impeccable, and the meal delectable.
And if you want to bring home breads for Sunday's breakfast my friends Missy & Lionel at La Farm Bakery (4248 Cary Parkway, Cary, 657-0657) will offer the best hot cross buns, yeast rolls, linzer challah, and a huge selection of tarts and breakfast stratas that are to die for. PS. They also provide bread to Herons at the Umstead too!!
You've bitten the bullet -there's no way around it-you're selling your home during the holidays. This time of year is unlike any other time of the year when I'm showing homes. Although my activity has slowed down from the summer season, the buyers that I've shown during the holidays are much more serious.
I noticed a recurring theme with the houses my clients liked this week - they were all warm, cozy, inviting, smelled nice, and, yes, they were decorated for the holidays. Based on my observation I'd like to give you a few pointers that are selling during the holidays:
Create an attractive environment that will allow buyers to view your home during this most hospitable of seasons.
Spruce up your home by cleaning and decorating to give your home that "picture postcard" look.
Make sure that your decorations are elegant and inviting and not intimidating or "over the top".
These are the types of things you need to check off for the holidays in your home:
A fresh coating of paint and a spotlight on the exterior door works wonders to create a cheery mood upon entering.
Keep in clean - clean daily, especially in high traffic areas.
Make your home beautiful and inviting by setting the stage with the correct lighting - High-watt bulbs show off a home better than low-watt bulbs.
Leave the radio on a station that plays Christmas music during the holidays. In my area 93.9 and mix 101.5 are two.
Make sure your home "smells" like Christmas - Insert plug-ins with a mild Christmas/apple/cinnamon scent.
Make sure that Christmas decorations don't interfere with the floor plan or spacing in the home.
For example, I showed a home last year where they tried to stuff their wall mounted fish next to the Christmas tree in a small dining room.
Keep Christmas decorations simple and elegant.
Keep the personal photos to a minimum so that buyers can see themselves living cozily in the home.
I know this isn't the silver bullet to selling a home. If I had one I certainly know I'd use it. However, keeping these simple tips in mind will be one more reason to keep your home in contention and to land a buyer.
Friday November 30th will feature several fun filled events including horse-drawn Sleigh Rides, a tree lighting ceremony at the Chamber of Commerce, and a Scrooge scavenger hunt. Let's not forget the Christmas Carolers too!
Saturday December 1st will definitely be a fun time for the kids - A pancake breakfast at the fire station and pictures with Santa. Top it all off with a Christmas Parade at 5pm.
Take a look into Christmas past during Apex Historical Society's Home tour. It will feature three homes, one cabin, the Depot, and the Maynard-Pearson House. A reception with refreshments will be held at the Maynard-Pearson House along with an Old Fashion Sweet Shoppe during the tour. I attend this event every year. It's one of my favorite. A lot of folks don't realize the rich history in Apex. This is your chance to learn more.
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:
I recently wrote a blog to one of my clients that I have the house listed entitled, "Dear Mr. & Mrs. Seller Your House Hasn't Sold". The purpose of the letter was to let my clients know that the listing agent is ultimately responsible for the sale of the home but the seller also plays a role in making this happen as well. Even the best intentions won't pan out if the seller doesn't go along with the marketing plan. Thankfully, with the help of a post where I solicited advice from Activerainers called Need Listing Advice from opinionated AR Listing Agents-Are you one of them?, I shared the feedback with my client and their willing response to the feedback ultimately allowed me to sell this listing in less than 45 days. If you read the blog you would probably notice that this home sat on the market for over a year before I took over the listing.
I asked my client why he chose me to sell his home and he had indicated that he was incredibly impressed with my ability to get the word out through the internet. He wanted to know how I successfully continue to be listed at the top of the rankings in my area and have such high search results on the major search engines - Google, Yahoo, and MSN to name a few.
That said, I read a post by Brian Block's recent post"Preemptive Blogging.....Impress your Sellers with your SEO" and post by Broker Bryant entitled, If you really are "The Expert".....then show them. Push the juice. which has lead me to write my own blog where I show you how internet marketing and search engine optimization has helped me with my business and also pleased my clients. The bottom line - All agents are not created equal and it's an agents job to make sure that the home that your marketing doesn't blend in with all of the rest. You have to make sure your clients home gets the exposure and rises above the other homes in your market.
In addition, I've decided to write another letter that I will use with my sellers in my listing presentations that will demonstrate how successful my strategy has been. The results are out there - it would be CRAZY for me not to demonstrate my talents and marketing abilities.
Dear Mr. and Mrs. Need T. Sell,
It was a pleasure speaking with you earlier today and I am looking forward to meeting with you tomorrow to get your property on the market. I will send over a preliminary Market Analysis later but thought it would be helpful to you if you did a little research on me first. I just know that you're the type that does your homework. Here are some links that will give you a great idea of who I am and how I handle my business. They will also give you a sampling of how your property will be displayed on the Internet. So click away and enjoy. OK here goes:
If you are thinking about selling your house in the Triangle area in 2008 keep this in mind: Just think about the fact that over 80% of prospective buyers start their home search on the internet. If you sell your home with me you will receive exposure on all the major search engines, Craigslist, and other mediums. Your property will receive the exposure needed to sell your home in record time.
If you area an Activerain Member keep this in mind: As we move into 2008 you will want to use the tools that you have learned through Activerain, ePro, and others to let others know the good news about you and your business.
If you like North Carolina Pottery you are in for a treat - The26th Annual Seagrove Pottery Festival is taking place tomorrow and Sunday in Seagrove, North Carolina. Since I live in Cary I wrote about taking a daytrip to Randolph County to visit the potteries, the Zoo, and the Richard Petty Museum in Seagrove Pottery and the Ashboro Zoo - A Raleigh Daytrip and Exploring North Carolina in the Fall with the Kids. This year I recommend a visit to The26th Annual Seagrove Pottery Festival.
I've always wanted to visit the potters in ACTION!! Seagrove is home to over 100 potters and each year they are kind enough to display their skills at the pottery fest. One thing that most North Carolina residents don't realize is that the best potters from the Carolinas have learned their trade through many generations of pottery making. I am also intrigued by the "folk" pottery tradition that has deep roots tracing back to the mid-18th century. The tradition grew up in Seagrove where folk potters still use local clays; ash, salt and alkaline glazes; and wood-fired kilns. It's really a throw back to another generation. Folk pottery designs include face jugs to butter churns to vases.
So what are face jugs anyway? Potters in Colonial America made moonshine jugs with ugly faces. The ugly faces were used to ward off evil spirits. I just love them.
Click here for more information on the potters and participants. Click here for details on the event. Seagrove is just an hour and fifteen minutes from Cary and an hour and a half from Raleigh.
So what makes the Triangle area so appealing for Active
55+ Seniors?
Great housing
Nice weather
Low crime rate
High standard of living
Great hospitals
Excellent transportation to the airport w/little
congestion
Interstate Highways
Amtrack railway system that connects the East Coast
Location, Location, Location - We are an our and a half to the
beach and the mountains are about three hours away
**Photo of Seniors in the Park courtesy of Flicker**
One
overlooked resource that helps keep Seniors active in this area and
is a huge benefit to the community is the CarySenior Center. The goal of
the Cary Senior Center is to provide quality leisure activities and
serves to all adult ages 55 and older. The activities are
designed to enrich, inform, entertain, and educate the lives of the
Town of Cary citizens.
The Cary Senior Center is located within
Bond
Park on High House Road. The facility is a 17,000
square foot building with a ballroom, courtyard gazebo, conference
room, classroom, an arts and crafts room an exercise room, and a
media room. This facility offers more than 1,500
programs for seniors!!!
If you're still interested read more about some of the local
communities geared toward Active 55+ Seniors in
Cary:
Carolina Preserve at Amberly - The amenity rich
community opened up just last Spring and has sold over 400 homes
with over 200 closed. Clients that I've taken to this
community are really excited about the sense of community.
The club house will be the central gathering place for the
neighborhood and is scheduled to open in late November. When
complete, the community will have about 1,200 homes. A Del
Webb community, they are now pre-selling for delivery in October
2008.
Searstone - This
community is located in the heart of Cary across the street from my
office!! This neighborhood will offer the New Urbanist
lifestyle that allows residents to be able to walk to restaurants,
shopping, health care, and more. The community is scheduled
to be completed between late 2009 and 2010.
Glenaire
- This retirement community is well established and offers
independent living, assisted living, and skilled nursing to its
residents. This facility offers a more traditional retirement
arrangement. However, Gleanaire offers lots of activities and
outings for its residents and even has an activities director
onsite.
The Village at Aversboro is an approved
Active 55+ community in Garner. Developer Douglas Ball has
received approval for a new subdivision in
Garner near the corner of Aversboro and Timber
Rd.
City: Garner
Directions: 70E to
Garner, turn right at Timber Dr., at 6th stoplight turn right
towards Lake Benson on Aversboro Rd.(at Walgreens), left onto
Minglewood Drive into The Village at Aversboro. Turn right on Easy
Wind
Neighborhood
Facts:
Price range is from the $260s- mid $300s
147 Single Family, all brick homes
Square footage: 1,600 - 2,600
Single story racnch floor plans
Located in a central location in Garner
Builder Team includes local custom
builders:
Terry Edmondson
Keith Manning
Tim Stevens
Chris Woodall
Floor Plans Include:
The Garrett 1,675 Square Feet $263,000
The Dalton 1,910 Square Feet $283,000
The Elliott 1,943 Square Feet $285,000
The Cranford 1,996 Square Feet $288,000
The Brentwood 2,024 Square Feet $290,000
The Alexander 2,084 Square Feet $295,000
Community Amenities
Exclusive community for those aged 55+
Community Clubhouse
HOA inlcudes lawn maintenence
For more information on other Active 55 plus communities in
the Triangle visit this link or you can visit The
Village of Aversboro website for more
details.
Construction is now underway with delivery in
Q22008.
For all
of you wine officianados out there I've got two great events that
will be held in the Triangle in the next few weeks.
The first has now become an annual
event called Celebrate
NC Wines at JC Raulston Arboretum in Raleigh,
NC. When: October 7, 2007 from 3pm until
7pm.
Participants will enjoy wines from
award-winning North Carolina wineries, as well as choice hors
d'oeuvres, live music, and the beauties of the garden in fall. The
event will also feature research exhibits and demonstrations by
CALS faculty, highlighting their work with this burgeoning
industry.
Here is a sampling of some of the
North Carolina Vineyards participating:
Triangle
Uncorked-at the Koka Booth Amphitheatre in Cary, NC
When: September 29,
2007 from Noon until 4pm
OVER
500 of the hottest, newest and most up-and-coming
wines from around the world will be poured. Great wines from
Australia, New Zealand, Italy, Spain, Germany, France, Chile,
Argentina, California, North Carolina, Oregon, Washington State
and more!
One way to keep up with all of the
great events in your area is to visit the website www.localwineevents.com.
They have tons of details for events not only in my area but in
your area too!!
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and we get to take a look at where the market has been and where it's headed. 
It looks like I'm not the only one singing the Triangle praises. The secret is out and the Raleigh - Cary area has been discovered. There are over 18,000 people moving into this area on a year-to-year basis. I decided to write this post today because 
House Hasn't Sold"
In addition, I've decided to write another letter that I will use with my sellers in my listing presentations that will demonstrate how successful my strategy has been. The results are out there - it would be CRAZY for me not to demonstrate my talents and marketing abilities. 
Luxury Home listings currently and they are truely a challenge. 
What would you do if you were in my shoes? Would you take the listing or wait until the home doesn't sell and let them call you for Round 2? Take a walk in my shoes for the moment.
wonderful community. Several other agents within the Activerain network have written letters to their prospective relocation clients. I thought I'd join in the fun. This will help you get a better feel for the area in general. 
In your inquiry you mentioned you were very concerned about the schools and wanted to make sure your children received the best education possible. The 
We also discussed your children's love for the outdoors and possible involvement in community activities. One of Cary's strength is that the town's 
tournaments. 
facilities in the area. 
Bond Park in the Spring. During the summer months there are weekly concerts with the NC Symphony at the 
Triangle. I forgot to mention that the service and meal is in a different category than all other restaurants in this area.
show off a home better than low-watt bulbs.
Christmas on Salem Street
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.
Seller Your House Hasn't Sold". The purpose of the letter was to let my clients know that the listing agent is ultimately responsible for the sale of the home but the seller also plays a role in making this happen as well. Even the best intentions won't pan out if the seller doesn't go along with the marketing plan. Thankfully, with the help of a post where I solicited advice from Activerainers called 
I asked my client why he chose me to sell his home and he had indicated that he was incredibly impressed with my ability to get the word out through the internet. He wanted to know how I successfully continue to be listed at the top of the rankings in my area and have such high search results on the major search engines - Google, Yahoo, and MSN to name a few.
I've always wanted to visit the potters in ACTION!! Seagrove is home to over 100 potters and each year they 
are kind enough to display their skills at the pottery fest. One thing that most North Carolina residents don't realize is that the best potters from the Carolinas have learned their trade through many generations of pottery making. I am also intrigued by the "folk" pottery tradition that has deep roots tracing back to the mid-18th century. The tradition grew up in Seagrove where folk potters still use local clays; ash, salt and alkaline glazes; and wood-fired kilns. It's really a throw back to another generation. Folk pottery designs include face jugs to butter churns to vases.
Click 
For all
of you wine officianados out there I've got two great events that
will be held in the Triangle in the next few weeks. .jpg)
more!
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