raleigh: Raleigh Metro Area in the News Again - 03/18/12 11:52 PM
As local residents, we all know that the Raleigh Metro area is a great place to live, so it’s great to see our area recognized nationally too.  For years this area has been consistently rated in the top 5 best places for a wide variety of reasons.
Here are two recent articles where the Raleigh Metro Area was rated #1 and #3.
Raleigh #1 – Fastest Growing City for Tech Jobs - 2012
Raleigh #3 – Most Optimistic US Metro Area – ABC News - 2012
Other mentions include:
Raleigh #1 – 10 Real Estate Markets to Watch in 2012 – Inman News
#1 … (0 comments)

raleigh: Things to Do Spring 2012 in the Raleigh and Cary Metro Areas NC - 03/16/12 12:59 AM
Flowers blooming, birds singing; this is a great time of year in the Triangle.  Although this Winter was very mild, it’s still exciting to anticipate the arrival of Spring. 
Here are some local events in the Triangle this Spring 2012 that you won’t want to miss!
Saturday, March 17th - Arbor Day Tree Planting, Cary Town Hall 
Spruce volunteers will plant an honorary dogwood tree at Town Hall on March 17. Citizens are encouraged to join us from 10-11:30 a.m. to pot their own free dogwood tree to take home. Our Certified Arborist will be on hand to teach about … (1 comments)

raleigh: The Links Golf Course Resort Living - 12/06/11 03:49 AM
Well cared-for 1-BR Condo at The Links! Open Floor Plan. Large Living Room, bright and sunny! Spacious Bed Bath w/Garden Tub & Walk-in Closet. Gorgeous Water View from the Private Deck. Amenities include Indoor/Outdoor Pool, Tennis, Volleyball, Clubhouse, Fitness Ctr, RGA Golf Course! Easy Access to I-40/440, NC State, RDU, RTP! Minutes to Downtown & a few short miles to Cary! Perfect second home or golfers getaway. … (1 comments)

raleigh: Why Choose the Triangle NC to Live and Work? - 11/07/11 04:07 AM
The Triangle area is centrally located in North Carolina and offers a wide variety of things to do locally and many options for local travel to beaches, mountains, charming small towns and more. The mild weather also makes outdoor activities abundant. Cities and towns in the RTP (Research Triangle Park) area include Cary, Raleigh, Morrisville, Apex, Holly Springs, Durham, Wake Forest, Fuquay-Varina, Garner, Carrboro, and Chapel Hill. Local Counties include Wake, Chatham and Orange Counties.
With three major Universities (UNC, Duke, and NC State) and hundreds of large and small national and international companies in the RTP (Research Triangle Park) … (0 comments)

raleigh: Buy Local - Building Communities One Product at a Time - 06/15/11 04:47 AM
With the convenience of all of the big box stores out there, sometimes we forget to think about buying products locally made and food locally grown.  There are many entrepreneurs, family farmers, and lots of passionate & creative folks right here in our area that have a wide variety of products to choose from.  Here are a few that we know of.  If you know more, please share!
Azurelise Gourmet Chocolate Truffles
Cary Gallery of Artists
Chatham Hill Winery
Escazu Artisan Chocolates
Just Neem
Oh Wow Premium Lipbalm
Mooddance Soaps
NC General Stores
Red Light Chocolates
Another great place to find … (1 comments)

raleigh: Shopping, Dining, Entertainment & More – It’s all Here in Cary, NC! - 05/23/11 02:43 AM
Growth in local commercial business ventures generally indicates a stable economy.  Major retailers and developers conduct extensive and in-depth research years before committing to development projects.  Especially in today's economic climate, it's a testament to our area's vitality that several local shopping centers are being revamped and built to meet the growing demand for more conveniences and retail establishments and large scale ventures are in the works for the coming years.
Park West Village - Morrisville
NOW OPEN!!  Scheduled for a Fall/Winter 2011 opening, this 100-acre mixed-use project is located at Cary Parkway and NC 54/Chapel Hill Road in Morrisville, North … (1 comments)

raleigh: I’m a Real Estate Broker not a Brain Surgeon. - 12/22/10 03:53 AM
As the internet began playing a greater role in the real estate industry, many people in the business feared that it would eliminate the need for Realtors all together.  In some respects that's true.  It eliminated the need for Agents whose only service capability was to provide listing information.  The age of the guarded listing book is ancient history; in fact most agents in today's market don't even know what that is!
Now over 85% of home buyers first see the home online that they eventually buy.  They find a home themselves and then contact an Agent.  Most buyers and sellers are … (1 comments)

raleigh: Rebuilding Your Investment Portfolio to Include Real Estate - 11/17/10 05:00 AM
For many people feeling the pain of this economic downturn, investing is probably the last thing on most people's minds.  Many of us got burned in real estate and most people who were invested in the stock market, whether in individual stocks or with 401K investments, also felt the pain. 
Although this recovery will be slow, there is hope.  Markets are cyclical and what went down, will go up.  Now is the time to start positioning yourself to rebuild; or at the very least start thinking about your new and improved investment strategy and positioning yourself to get back in the … (2 comments)

raleigh: The Triangle - Best Place to Invest in Real Estate for Many Reasons - 11/12/10 04:32 AM
Given the downturn of the economy, many people who were once homeowners have now become renters and for many others, with more stringent lending practices, loss of savings, and job insecurity the hope of homeownership may be years away.  But this isn't necessarily a bad thing. 
Financially it makes more sense, just from a monthly budget perspective, for many people to rent.  The days of paying 66% more per month, just to say you own a home, are long gone.  People are more cautious about their spending and the bursting bubble of the housing market was also a bubble burst for fantasies … (0 comments)

raleigh: Going Urban in NC - 06/25/10 07:39 AM
Many of my clients, including first time buyers, downsize buyers, and investors, are finding buying opportunities in urban areas. 
There has been a recent trend in today's market to become more 'urban" and less "suburban".  With rising fuel costs, commuting has become less desirable and what was once a middle class migration to the suburbs, known as urban sprawl, has shifted in conscience as more people become aware of sustainability issues and prefer to work and live in close proximity.
Urban living has become more attractive as the revitalization of downtowns has gained resurgence in recent years.  Older homes in established areas offer convenience to … (0 comments)