Raleigh, NC: A Great Place to Live, Play, Earn and Learn!Written by: When people think of Raleigh, North Carolina, their minds may drift to The Andy Griffith Show – and Mayberry. It is through this show that many around the country first became acquainted with the city. But let me tell you – Raleigh has come a long way since the days when the show first aired (1960 – 1968)! Often I hear from visitors to the Raleigh-Durham area that they are pleasantly surprised to see what it has to offer. Earlier this week while dining with friends in Downtown Raleigh, someone commented that when she first visited downtown, her initial reaction was, “You call this a downtown?” But she quickly fell in love with the city and the people who live here. (They’re the Salt of the Earth, I tell ya!) While Raleigh has a ways to go to compare with, say, New York City or Chicago, the city offers so much for newcomers and long-time residents, alike. Please allow me to share… As a native North Carolinian, I could go on…and…on…and…on about how wonderful life is here in this beautiful state – especially in the heart of it all – the Raleigh-Durham area, also referred to as the Triangle. I really could and should perhaps be working in public relations for the North Carolina Division of Tourism. One of the great things about here is that it truly is a great place to live – and consistently makes national lists, such as Kiplinger and Forbes) validating it. Here, we enjoy accolades such as:
Forbes.com even went as far as to call the Raleigh area “recession-proof”. Wow! With the median household income of more than $56,000, some would say that those in the Raleigh area earn a decent living, especially when there are, unfortunately, so many of our beloved citizens in the United States who live below the poverty line. Although there is reportedly quite a bit of disposable income here in the Triangle, the prudent thing to do, of course, is to try to keep as much as possible in our pockets, right? (We could all learn something from “The Millionaire Next Door.”) One of my favorite quotes is on page 29 of the book: “Being frugal is the cornerstone of wealth-building.” Period.
Maybe it’s just me – but I really enjoy sniffing out a bargain. Sometimes, I laugh to myself when I think about what one of my friends says about me all the time: “Girl, you can make a dollar holler and a penny scream!” Just call me the Queen of Free. Not only am I always on the lookout for bargains in my personal life – but I also work diligently to obtain the best prices for home Buyer and Seller clients, too. When clients move here from out-of-town, they’re often asking me, as their REALTOR®, about what to do. No worries, there’s plenty! And so much of the “good stuff” costs so little. The money saved can go towards building your wealth. Let’s get started…
THE ARTS Raleigh has been dubbed the Smithsonian of the South, with more than 20 free museums within the city. Yes, F-R-E-E! There’s something for everyone – from kids museums to art museums to those who are interested in visiting the world’s only Harley Drag Racing Museum. Also, the North Carolina Museum of Art offers outdoor films in the summer, which are $3 for general admission, and free for Museum members and children under 6 years of age.
NOTE: The Dead Sea Scrolls exhibit will be at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences June 28, 2008 through December 28, 2008. While all permanent exhibits are free, there is a charge to see this traveling exhibit.
The Sunday in the Park Concert Series No admission fee. Held at Fletcher Park (820 Clay Street, Raleigh, NC 27605). If it rains, the event will not be rescheduled. FREE FAMILY MOVIES Since 1991, each summer, Regal Entertainment Group has offered the Free Family Film Festival around the country on Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 10 a.m. during the festival. The festival begins on July 1, 2008 and concludes August 7, 2008. PARKS AND RECREATION
Greenways The city boasts a 54 mile, 3,000 acre greenway system that is ideal for jogging, hiking, bird watching, fishing, walking, picnicking, and lots of outdoor fun. Check out the Capital Area Greenway Map. Lakes
FREE Eats (or nearly free): Raleigh boasts more than 500 restaurants. And while eating out can be a real treat – and can add up quickly. There is some relief, however, at some local area restaurants which offer reduced and even free children’s meals when an adult meal is purchased. I don’t have kids, but when my niece and nephews come to visit, rest assured that I look for the places offering me a bargain! NOTE: I phoned these restaurants below - but you may wish to call yourself before visiting, as offerings may change. Also, there may be more than one restaurant in the Raleigh area; However, there is one listed only one here for your convenience. ANY NIGHT/Multiple Nights: Lone Star Steak House Mcallister's Deli SUNDAYS: The Twisted Fork Ragazzi's MONDAYS: Cici's Pizza Moe’s Southwest Grill Remington Grill TUESDAYS: Chick-fil-A (with the purchase of an adult meal) WEDNESDAYS: Fire House Subs THURSDAYS, FRIDAYS, and SATURDAYS: No restaurants to report. I suppose the “lesson” here is to eat out other days of the week. What Free Events are Happening This Weekend?
Additional Local Resources for Being Frugal in the Triangle:
As you can see, there is so much to do in the Raleigh area – and I’ve barely skimmed the surface.
Raleigh, NC: Richland Run - Light & Bright Condo in Great LocationCheck out the Virtual Tour
2521 Friedland Place, #101, Raleigh, NC
First Time Home Buyers - Using VA LoanWritten by:
When I saw that for this week's Makeover2Takeover Challenge Penny Robinson and I would be submitting a First Time Home Buyer's Packet-with a VA Loan twist-my heart literally filled with joy. Really, it did! Here's why...
Many Veterans have been helped by this program over the years, and had it not been for the VA laon, I'm not sure we would've been able to purchase a home when we did. We were young, newly married-with very little money to spare-and we were able to purchase a nice home in Cary, North Carolina with no money down. The Seller's paid a majority of our closing costs-leaving us an outstanding balance less than $200 to cover outstanding expenses to pay at closing (If I remember correctly, it was a land survey or something of that nature.) The closing attorney remarked that he thought he was going to owe us money back, LOL. What a sweet deal for us! We didn't really understand the ins and outs of the VA loan, but we're thankful that our real estate agent knew a mortgage broker who could make the loan work. (I believe that it's essential to have a mortgage professional who understands exactly what the Department of Veteran Affairs is seeking in the loan packet - and that everything runs like clockwork. Without that knowledge, a VA loan can turn into a disaster. I know-I nearly had one go South last year.) I love working with First Time Buyers because I know that I can be instrumental in helping them step onto the path of wealth-building through home ownership. I know of no other investment that allows one to: Put in so little of their own cash and sell it after as little as 2 years for a profit of $250,000 for singles and $500,000 for married couples-with no capital gains taxes. Wow! It's a great feeling to help change someone's financial future this way. I know that the decision to purchase the home literally changed our futures because it enabled us to begin living the American Dream and to begin building wealth. As real estate professionals-whether we realize it or not-we hold so much power in our hands. If we do our jobs correctly, we are able to make an impact on the world-not just in the present-but for many years to come. Real estate purchased today could mean wealth for generations to come. Penny and I look forward to submitting our First Time Home Buyer's packet - and once again, we are grateful to have the opportunity to compete against what we consider to be some of the most formidable real estate brokers in the business. We're humbled each week that we have the opportunity to put together a presentation.
REALTOR® on a Mission... NOT Just Seeking a Commission!TM Phone: 919.454.8864 Disclaimer: Opinions expressed by those who are part of the ActiveRain community, including those providing comments relating to this blog, are their opinions and their alone - and do NOT reflect the opinions of Darleen McCullen and Keller Williams Realty. Darleen McCullen and Keller Williams Realty are not responsible for the accuracy (or lack thereof) or content provided by others. Super 8 MeMe - It's Time to Tell It All :-)Written by: When I first received the requests for the Super 2008 MeMe from Cynthia Tilghman and Bonnie Westbrook, I immediately thought about this song about Toby Keith, "I Wanna Talk About Me". Don't ask me why! I guess it's that music is such a part of my life that I associate so much of what happens with particular songs or particular events in life. (Is that weird?) Maybe...but it's a perfect segue to the first question on the list... 1. Who's your favorite musical artist? I absolutely love music - so I don't think I have a favorite. (I wake up listing to it and it's sometimes the last thing I do before going to sleep.) Let's try this - how about I attempt to narrow it down by favorite artist by genre? J Here goes:
2. Who is your favorite artist? I'm not sure that I have a favorite artist - but I tend to be drawn to the unknown artists who usually will set up shop the local art shows. My favorite local artist is my 11 year-old niece. She has always had such great talent - and from the age of about 3 or 4 years-old, I recall her sketching whatever interested her. A few weeks ago, her art teacher entered her into a county-wide contest - and she was one of three children chosen from the 5th grade to be published in local art book. 3. Who is your favorite blogger? That's difficult. There are so many wonderful bloggers here on ActiveRain that I read - so I guess I should NOT name names, if you know what I mean! Let's keep that a secret. 4. If you could meet anyone (alive or dead), who would it be and what is the most interesting thing about them? Another tough question. :-) I have several people I would love to meet. One person is Dr. Wayne W. Dyer, a very inspirational person, whose books, DVDs, and CDs I list to regularly. He's funny, but always has a positive word to share. 5. What did you want to be when you grew up? I changed my mind so many times that it's not funny. I used to tell my friends that I was going to be a movie star and a politician. For my birthday one year (7th grade I believe), one of my friends wrote in a birthday card (that I still have, by the way) "Ms. Political Movie Star..." Like many children, I was fascinated by the glamorous lives of the stars - but I also became quite interested in the political process quite early in life. I think I always wanted to do something to make a difference in the lives of others - and perhaps I thought if I was famous AND a politician I could do a lot of good. 6. What is the most interesting piece of trivia you know? I'm not sure if this is "interesting" or not - but it's surely useless. You know how people say "dot every "i" and cross every "t"? Well, did you know that the little "dot" over the "i" is called a tittle? 7. If you could live in any point in history what would it be and why? I'm not sure that I would want to go backwards - but would really like to live way into the future. Why? Well, I keep thinking about the really cool things that have yet to be discovered. Look at the way that things are now. For instance, who would've thought that the Internet would've been such a huge part of our lives? Not me! In 1994 when I first started learning to program Web pages, I had no clue that I would be blogging - and using such cool Internet tools such as LinkedIn, Plurk, and thinking of using Twitter. Who knew?? 8. What is the most interesting job you have ever held?
Let's see who the next special MeMe "Chosen Ones" should be: Hmmm... How about these Super 8: 1. Penny Robinson - My partner for the MakeOver2Takeover Contest 3. Toni Ellis 4. Fran Gaspari 7. Loreena Yeo 8. Ed Nailor We look forward to reading all about you!
REALTOR® on a Mission... NOT Just Seeking a Commission!TM Phone: 919.454.8864 Disclaimer: Opinions expressed by those who are part of the ActiveRain community, including those providing comments relating to this blog, are their opinions and their alone - and do NOT reflect the opinions of Darleen McCullen and Keller Williams Realty. Darleen McCullen and Keller Williams Realty are not responsible for the accuracy (or lack thereof) or content provided by others.
Why Can't "Professionals"Do What They Say They're Going to Do?Written by:
I'm not sure why I continue to be surprised when speaking with clients and potential clients - and they say things to me like: "Thank you so much for calling me back when you said you would." OR "You have a high level of professionalism." OR "My last real estate agent stopped returning my calls after we closed the sale." OR "If you don't know the answer to my question, you actually say 'I don't know' and go find out for us - instead of pretending to know and giving false information." What's going on here? I, a conscientious real estate professional, find that I am constantly apologizing for the lack of professionalism in the ranks. For instance, last summer, when my niece was visiting, I met a gentleman while we were waiting for the children to be dismissed from day camp. We had a nice conversation - up to the point when he asked what I do for a living. Then, the conversation went South - quickly! At a minimum, as professionals in this business, we should do what we say we'll do - when we say we'll do it. Under promise - over deliver! I don't rant very often, but it felt good to get it out! Thanks for reading! And let's all strive to do exactly what we say we're going to - so that we can help raise the Public's perception of us as professionals.
REALTOR® on a Mission... NOT Just Seeking a Commission!TM Phone: 919.454.8864 Disclaimer: Opinions expressed by those who are part of the ActiveRain community, including those providing comments relating to this blog, are their opinions and their alone - and do NOT reflect the opinions of Darleen McCullen and Keller Williams Realty. Darleen McCullen and Keller Williams Realty are not responsible for the accuracy (or lack thereof) or content provided by others. Why I've Been Missing in Action - We're in the Makeover2Takeover Contest!Written by:
It has been awhile since I've posted a blog here - 18 days to be exact - but there is a good reason, I promise. Over the past few weeks, I've been busy working in my business, as well as volunteering for for Keller Williams Gives Back Yard Sale being held on June 7th in Raleigh. It feels so good to do something for others. Also, my friend and colleague at Keller Williams, Penny Robinson and I were chosen to participate in the ActiveRain MakeoverToTakeover Contest - and we're soooo excited!! ActiveRain chose 16 teams - and each week one team will be eliminated until three (3) teams remain. The winner will be crowned at 2008 Inman SF Connect! Today, we submitted our first challenge - relating to Penny's data base. We gave it our best shot - and we're hoping to move on to Week 2. (We'll find out on Monday, May 26th via the Official ActiveRain Blog. Please send us your best wishes!) Here's a picture of the first day we got together to work on our submission. We thought that food would help boost our brain power. :-)
REALTOR® on a Mission... NOT Just Seeking a Commission!TM Phone: 919.454.8864 Disclaimer: Opinions expressed by those who are part of the ActiveRain community, including those providing comments relating to this blog, are their opinions and their alone - and do NOT reflect the opinions of Darleen McCullen and Keller Williams Realty. Darleen McCullen and Keller Williams Realty are not responsible for the accuracy (or lack thereof) or content provided by others. Do You Commit Random Acts of Kindness? (Raleigh, NC)Written by:
I have absolutely fallen in love with North Carolina's State Farmers Market in Raleigh. A few Saturdays ago was the first time I'd been in awhile, and the place was so lively! As a real estate broker, it seems that I am always on the go - and had gotten into the habit of eating out more than I should. So...as part of my re-commitment to my health (and waistline!), I've started eating better - more fruits and veggies. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Raleigh
In addition, situated in Northwest Raleigh is an etnrance to the 
Central A/C
The last summer before I graduated from high school and 2 summer in college, I worked at a pickle factory near where I grew up. The shifts were long - approximately 10 hours a day/6 days a week. The first year, my job was to pack pickles into the jars as they came around on the conveyor belt. The second year, I packed the gallon jars of pickles. And my final year, I tested the syrup that goes into the pickles and actually makes them turn green. (I became so "green", in fact, that each summer, I had to trash any clothes I wore to work because they were so stained!
WARNING: This is a RANT- because I'm frustrated with the total lack of professionalism amongst some in this industry! (Not all - but some!)
