Spooktacular's Back in Downtown Morganton NC - Halloween Afternoon - 10/31/11 11:17 AM
 

Time to join the zombies, superheroes  and princesses at the annual Spooktacular Halloween Carnival and Trick or Treating event in  Downtown Morganton, NC on Monday, October 31st, 2011.This annual event is sponsored by the Morganton Downtown Development Association, with the help of the City of Morganton Recreation Department.
The merchants downtown offer candy - lots and lots of candy! - to trick ot treaters from 3 to 5 pm. After trick or treating, there will be free hayrides, bounces (sponsored by Journey Church) and free games (compliments of the city Rec Department).
There's also a children's Costume Contest, which opens … (4 comments)

Top 10 Halloween Safety Tips - 10/31/11 10:28 AM
It's always good to remind ourselves about Halloween safety tips, so here'a a list provided by my colleague, Peggy Yee. Also, it's going to be COLD here in Morganton NC tonight, so don't forget, warm clothes under the costumes! Have fun, everyone!
Via Peggy Yee - Search Vienna Homes For Sale - Northern Virginia Real Estate (Stanley Ranch, LLC / Realty Direct, LLC):
Top 10 Halloween Safety Tips
Trick-or-treating can be one of the most fun Halloween events for your kids. However, it can also be potentially dangerous because it happens outside in the dark. Here are some Halloween safety tips to make … (0 comments)

C'mon, Burke County NC, We Can Fill These Shelves! - 10/30/11 01:11 PM
                                                
 
Call it ignorance of the problem, call it lethargy, call it the economy, but all three major food pantries in Burke County NC are low or out of food to feed our neighbors in need. Understanding this, the Morganton Main Street Office is sponsoring a Food Drive during the Halloween Spooktacular and Trick or Treating event  on Monday, October 31, 2011.
 
There is a  food donation truck parked on S. Green Street in downtown Morganton, beside  Courthouse Square and across from Marquee Cinemas. Residents … (4 comments)

Lowball Offers are Wild Pitches in Real Estate Negotiations - 10/28/11 11:42 AM
Bleary-eyed from watching the World Series? Check out this excellent analogy, written by colleague Annie Holdreith, of real estate offers and baseball pitches - what a clever way to think of this!
Via Annie Holdreith (Daniel Gale Sotheby's International/Manhasset, New York):
Let's say you are a buyer and you have found a house that meets your needs and its listing price is in your financial comfort zone.  You have reviewed recent comparable sales for like properties.  You have established what you think the value of the home is.  You are armed with a pre-approval if you are going to seek financing or have … (2 comments)

Charming Cape Cod - Mineral Springs Mountain Community of Valdese NC 28690 - 10/27/11 05:48 PM
Charming Cape Cod near Valdese NC $119,900 … (4 comments)

Empty Shelves in Food Pantry - Food Drive in Downtown Morganton, NC - 10/26/11 09:24 PM
     The Morganton Main Street Office is sponsoring a Food Drive this weekend during two downtown events. The Food Drive will help fill food pantries in outreach centers in Morganton and Burke County.
 
On Saturday Oct. 29, during the October Oyster Outing, and Monday Oct. 31, during the Halloween Spooktacular and Trick or Treating event, the Main Street Office will have a food donation truck parked on S. Green Street. The donation truck will be parked beside the Courthouse Square across from Marquee Cinemas and residents will be able to drive up, drop off donations and drive on.
 
… (2 comments)

Stephanie Blahut Tenery's Artwork on Display in Morganton, NC's MESH Gallery - 10/26/11 05:08 AM
I love, love , love the local art scene,  and, even though I'm not an artist, I do appreciate the works of those who can translate this area's local beauty to canvas!

A favorite artist is Stephanie Blahut Tenery, and she'll be featured in the next exhibit at the MESH Gallery here in Morganton, NC., starting soon!
  The show will run from Tuesday, November 1st through Friday, December 30th, 2011, with an opening reception for the artist to be held on Friday, November 4th from 6:00-9:00 pm.  The reception will also feature a live acoustic performance by the Brother Dave Band. 
… (0 comments)

5357 Knollview Drive,Lake James, NC: Southern Living - at its best! $875,000 - 10/13/11 03:52 AM
Lake James: Southern Living - at its best! $875,000 … (5 comments)

Buyers - Some of the Reasons Deals are Not Going Through! - 10/08/11 05:00 PM
If you're a first-time buyer, read this! If you haven't bought a home in the last few years, read this! There are many reasons why purchases don't go through these days, and here are three of the most common according to my colleague, Michael Caruso...
Via Michael Caruso Real Estate Group:
So I didn't really "kill" anything. But, Real Estate deals get killed all the time, and buyers can't relax until they have keys actually in hand.  Here are three of the most common real estate deal-killers that I have come across, and some steps buyers can take to deactivate them.Appraisal too … (4 comments)

Kin2Kin Japanese Restaurant and Sushi Bar, Morganton NC 28655 - 10/08/11 04:51 PM
Love sushi, rolls of all kinds, and hibachi entrees? You've got to try Kin2Kin Restaurant right on the Courthouse Square in downtown Morganton NC!
My husband Andy and I could eat sushi for breakfast, so we try to head to Kin2Kin often! It's located right next to the Marquee Cinema, which we also love, so we ate there after seeing Moneyball. (If you don't know how much I loved that movie, see my blogs, Real Estate and Baseball and Moneyball and ActiveRain, and Real Estate and Baseball and Moneyball and ActiveRain, Part II!)
When we're not ordering one of the special rolls … (0 comments)

I Don’t Have To Sell. By Dan Polimino. - 10/05/11 11:16 AM
Times are tough, and we're going through a major correction in real estate pricing nationwide. As a listing agent, it's my responsibility to lay out the pricing facts as I see them in this market. That's why you see me come armed with data and more data, plus some local anecdotes!
My colleague, Dan Polimino, has written an interesting blog on the importance of pricing - seems to be a topic that resonates no matter what market you're in nowadays!
Via Daniel Polimino (Fuller Towne and Country Properties):
Many times, I would go on a listing appointment to talk with a potential seller … (0 comments)

Let's not Panic! Is the Economy as Bad as "Experts" Say? - 10/04/11 03:28 PM
First of all, I'm not an economist - far from it. I am somewhat of a "news junky," though. Must've been that liberal arts education my parents paid so dearly for... .
But I do love it when ideas from folks I trust come together - makes me believe that there must be something to them.
Today I've been "attending" the Fortune magazine virtual summit, The Most Powerful Women, going on today and tomorrow. No, I haven't closed down my office and glued myself to the computer screen, but I have been listening (and sometimes watching) as time has allowed. A … (9 comments)

Proper Pricing is Crucial - 10/04/11 02:52 PM
In this time of economic uncertainty, price is KING! Poor pricing (also called overpricing) is a recipe for heartache for sellers. Here are some excellent reasons why proper pricing is crucial. Thanks to my colleague, Sandy Shores, for putting this together.
Via Sandy Shores - Melbourne FL Real Estate ,Realtor®, M & M Real Estate Inc. (Brevard County Real Estate/ Melbourne & Palm Bay Real Estate):
It's a question that we get on a regular basis...how much is my house worth in today's market?  Today, the pricing of a house is one of the largest determining factors on how quickly a house will or will not … (2 comments)

What A Realtor Will Do For You - 10/03/11 08:56 PM
There is a difference between being licensed to sell real estate and being a REALTOR: you must be a licensee to sell real estate, you choose to be a REALTOR! Read about the Code of Ethics all REALTORS pledge to follow...
Via Lauren Krady Lancaster PA Realtor (Coldwell Banker Select Professionals):
If you are looking to buy a home you may be wondering what a Realtor can do for you.  Well, besides helping you find a home that fits your needs, there is a Code of Ethics that we must follow.  Here is a great summary from the National Association of Realtors.  This … (2 comments)