Another thing I like about living in North Carolina is that just about anyone can afford a home.  You can find decent starter homes for a little over $100,000 or you can find some great luxury homes for $1,000,000 and over.  I like being able to tell someone who doesn't think they can afford a home that they actually can.  As a matter of fact, rent and house payments around here are not far apart if you shop carefully for a home.

It's nice to know that with all of the universities in the area that graduate students who may only be here for 2-3 years actually want to buy a home, knowing that they can afford it and will be able to sell it again later.

The diversity here is great; not only in terms of culture, etc., but also the diversity of age groups.  Right now I have two clients who are on opposite ends of the spectrum.  One is a young couple looking for their first home, the other is a couple with adult children, looking for a second home near the airport.  They live a distance from Raleigh, travel a lot and want a place to stay when they need to get to the airport and back.  People come here to start their lives and to retire.  They come here to raise a family and enjoy good schools and to enjoy social networks that are so easy to tap into.

This blog might sound mundane or like Any City USA.  But really, it feels different.  People are friendly and want to share their lives - not just make a living.  I hope it doesn't change and I think that it won't.  It isn't just about the location, but about the lifestyle - it's a way of thinking and being within your surroundings.