nc: Shred your Personal Documents in Cary and Raleigh NC this Saturday! FREE! - 04/07/11 08:25 AM
Got a ton of paper to unload but are worried about your personal information getting out?
 
photo © 2007 Mike Haw | more info (via: Wylio)
Raleigh NC Shred-It
Protect yourself from identity theft and help the community! Bring your sensitive documents out to the NBC-17 Shred-It Event. Saturday, April 9, from 10am - 2pm Shred your personal documents for free!
Carolina Pottery in Cary
1801 Harrison Avenue, Cary, NC 27513View Larger Map
Sir Walter Chevrolet in Raleigh
8501 Glenwood Avenue, Raleigh, NC 27612View Larger Map
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nc: Thinking of Relocating to Raleigh or Cary NC? Great Choice! - 04/02/11 12:49 AM
Relocating to the Triangle Area? 

 
Raleigh-Cary was voted the Healthiest Market in 2011!


I live in Cary with my husband and two sons and we love it in the Triangle! We relocated 6 years ago from Long Island, NY. We were looking for a family-friendly town with great schools and universities, excellent job opportunities, affordable housing and a better quality of living. Cary offered that and so much more! I understand the relocation process as I lived it myself. I have helped many clients move from where they were to where they wanted to be...in Cary or one … (1 comments)

nc: Raleigh-Cary Ranked #1 for Healthiest Markets in 2011! - 03/31/11 03:42 AM
Raleigh-Cary Ranked #1 for Healthiest Markets in 2011!
Housing markets in the Carolinas, where homes are relatively inexpensive, and where price appreciation didn't get completely out of control during the housing boom of the last decade, continue to remain at the top of the list.

#1 Raleigh-Cary, NC
Market Health Indicator: 86.9
2011 Building Permit Forecast: 9,604
Percent Change in Building Permits: 90%
Raleigh builders sense that their market may be in for something big--building permits increased 85% last year to 8,600, with much of the strength on the multifamily side. But single-family permits increased as well as builders took stock of improving market conditions.
The market indicated … (0 comments)

nc: Two Cary Farmers Markets Open for the Season this Saturday April 2nd - 03/31/11 03:10 AM
Cary's TWO Farmers Markets open up for the season this Saturday, April 2!

Cary Downtown Farmers Market
Chatham Square Shopping Center744 East Chatham Street, Cary NC
Check out the farm fresh produce including lettuce, cabbage, radishes, arugula, collards, sweet potatoes, peppers, cucumbers, hydroponic tomatoes and so much more!
Hours: Saturdays 8 AM - 12.30 PM and Tuesdays 3 PM - 6 PM
Western Wake Farmers Market
Carpenter Village1225 Morrisville Carpenter Rd, Cary, NC
Saturdays 8 AM - 12 PMTuesdays, Beginning May 3rd: 3:30 PM - 6:30 PM
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nc: Make time for YOU! - 03/19/11 11:43 PM
THE HAPPY HOBBYIST

The beauty of adolescence is finding thrill in simplicity. Remember when time after school was dedicated to swimming class, soccer practice, choir, and other creative endeavors? Remember living for your passions? Remember waking up knowing that today you were going to do something that you loved, just for you? No matter how fulfilled you are personally and professionally, it can be challenging as an adult to make time for the types of simple pleasures known as hobbies. But by making just a few adjustments in your day-to-day lifestyle, your favorite free-time pursuits will be within easy grasp.
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nc: Happy St. Patrick's Day! St. Paddy's Day Party at Rally Point Sports Grill! - 03/17/11 12:48 AM

Happy St. Patrick's Day!
Wishing you all the luck of the Irish today and always!
 
Looking for a place to party tonight? Head over to RALLY POINT SPORT GRILL in Cary for their
 ST. PADDY'S DAY PARTY
with the band
A FIFTH OF BLUES  7pm - 11pm.
This band rocks so come on out and celebrate!
RALLY POINT SPORT GRILL
1837 North Harrison AvenueCary, NC 27513-2408
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nc: Beautiful Home with 1st Floor Master and Updated Kitchen in Apex - $285,000! - 03/16/11 05:43 AM

 
Amazing 4 Bedroom, 2 1/2 Bath Home with 1st Floor Master, 1st Floor Office, Updated Kitchen with Vaulted Ceilings and New Tile Floor and Large Secondary Bedrooms! New Laminate Floor in Foyer, Family Room, Office, Dining Room and Powder Room. Large Private Fenced Corner Lot with Deck! Extensive Moulding Throughout this Beautiful Home. Great Apex School. Low HOA Dues include Pool! Wonderful Family Neighborhood.
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nc: Showings Start March 16th! Wonderful Home in Apex with 1st Floor Master, 1st Floor Office and New Floors! - 03/08/11 10:10 PM

Showings Start March 16th! Amazing 4 Bedroom, 2 1/2 Bath Home with 1st Floor Master, 1st Floor Office, Updated Kitchen with Vaulted Ceilings and New Tile Floor and Large Secondary Bedrooms! New Laminate Floor in Foyer, Family Room, Office, Dining Room and Powder Room. Large Private Fenced Corner Lot with Deck! Extensive Moulding Throughout this Beautiful Home. Great Apex School. Low HOA Dues include Pool! Wonderful Family Neighborhood.
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nc: Gardens without Greenery - 03/04/11 11:20 PM

If you are an unconventional gardener or lack a finely tuned green thumb, you might want to deviate from typical arrangements and transform your backyard into a visual playground with unusual metal sculptures, exotic rocks, or miniature trees. Traditional Gardending with typical greenery is not the only option. Consider the following options when planning your personalized nontraditional garden space.
To read the Full Artcicle, Click Here
As Seen in my Monthly Home and Lifestyle Magazine

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nc: Tax Benefits of Homeownership - 03/03/11 11:18 PM
The tax deductions you're eligible to take for mortgage interest and property taxes greatly increase the financial benefits of homeownership. Here's how it works.
Assume:
$9,877 = Mortgage interest paid (a loan of $150,000 for 30 years, at 7 percent, using year-five interest) $2,700 = Property taxes (at 1.5 percent on $180,000 assessed value)______$12,577 = Total deduction
Then, multiply your total deduction by your tax rate.
For example, at a 28 percent tax rate: 12,577 x 0.28 = $3,521.56
$3,521.56 = Amount you have lowered your federal income tax (at 28 percent tax rate) 
 
 
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nc: Selling Your Home: Where to Begin? - 03/03/11 11:12 PM
First Impressions
Remember what first attracted you to your house when you bought it? What excited you about it most? When deciding how best to present your home for sale, it is helpful to try to get back into that buyer's frame of mind.
A spruced-up house makes a great first impression on potential buyers. An attractive property grabs their attention and makes them excited about finding a house that looks and feels well cared for. Because buyers believe they'll encounter fewer problems if they buy it, your house becomes more appealing and stands out from the competition. So if you … (0 comments)

nc: GREENSCAPING Becoming All the Rage! - 02/25/11 11:32 PM
An Increasing Interest in Living Green Makes Sustainable Gardening Practices All the Rage!
For generations, noteworthy landscapes have been defined as those with lush, sweeping lawns and an immaculate planting scheme devised to showcase a diverse array of bright, beautiful plants from near and far. But in our increasingly eco-conscious times, such picture-perfect gardens are being replaced by landscapes that better serve the earth. Welcome to the era of the sustainable garden.
To read the Full Artcicle, Click Here
As Seen in my Monthly Home and Lifestyle Magazine

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nc: Stunning Home in Preston with 1st Floor Master, 1st Floor Office, Updated Gourmet Kitchen and Custom Screened Porch Overlooking Backyard Oasis! - 02/21/11 11:31 PM
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nc: QR Codes Rock! When other agents get that AHA moment...PRICELESS! - 02/16/11 10:34 AM
I taught a class today with Beth McKinney, a fellow RE/MAX United agent on QR Codes...
We answered the questions:
What are QR Codes? Why use QR Codes? How do you create QR Codes?  How do you put QR Codes on all of your real estate marketing. Beth's Excitement was Contagious and we were both pumped up about QR Codes.
When we were done several people asked "Is that it?" ... "It's so quick and EASY"
When agents get that AHA moment...  PRICELESS!
photo © 2008 Peter Jackson | more info (via: Wylio)



 

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nc: Character Builders - Architectural Elements Add Personality to Your Home - 02/12/11 11:20 PM

Not every house comes with desirable details like crown molding and trim. If your rooms seem to lack character and show no sign of finer features, there are many ways to make a change in the right direction. In fact, starting from scratch can be a big advantage. When you design your own architectural elements, you put your personal stamp on your home. You might even surprise yourself by becoming a DIY expert in the process.
To Read the Full Article, Click here 
As Seen in my Monthly Home and Lifestyle Magazine
 

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nc: REDUCED! Beautiful Bungalow in Scotts Mill Subdivision - 02/08/11 10:54 PM
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nc: It's a Great Time to Buy a Home with Prices Down, Interest Rates Low and the Tax Benefits of Home Ownership - 02/05/11 12:34 AM
The tax benefits of buying a home:
Home mortgage interest deduction: The interest paid on a mortgage or mortgages of up to $1 million for a principal residence and/or second home is deductible as an itemized deduction. In the early years of a home loan most of the payments consist of interest, so this deduction is particularly substantial during the first years of homeownership.
Depending on the state a buyer lives in and his or her tax bracket, this deduction can reduce the cost of borrowing by one-third or more.
Home equity loan deduction: Homeowners can borrow up to $100,000 against … (1 comments)

nc: Get Fit From Home... - 02/05/11 12:07 AM
A Slew of At-Home Workout Programs Offers Variety and Convenience

As enthusiasm for a fresh start in the New Year inevitably fades, so does commitment to the gym. The cold winter mornings beg for a cup of coffee in bed instead of a trek across town to spend an hour on the elliptical machine. If your schedule, motivation, or physical limitations make working out a chore, you will want a simple, accessible, and affordable way to get fit in the comfort of your own home.
To Read the Full Article, Click here 
As Seen in my Monthly Home and Lifestyle … (0 comments)

nc: Closing Costs Are Negotiable? - 01/31/11 11:34 AM
It is so important to realize that closing costs are negotiable and that there are definitely parts that can be lowered to make the deal happen. Ask the lender where there is play and what is a firm fee. Sellers are also much more willing in the current market to pay a portion of the buyers closing costs and should be negotiated up front.

Many customers don’t realize that closing costs are negotiable, mortgage experts tell The New York Times. “There’s a lot of room for negotiation in the costs of closing and consumers should examine every charge and not … (2 comments)

nc: 5 Things to do Before Putting Your Home on the Market - 01/30/11 11:06 PM
1. Have a pre-sale home inspection. Be proactive by arranging for a pre-sale home inspection. An inspector will be able to give you a good indication of the trouble areas that will stand out to potential buyers, and you'll be able to make repairs before open houses begin.
2. Organize and clean. Pare down clutter and pack up your least-used items, such as large blenders and other kitchen tools, out-of-season clothes, toys, and exercise equipment. Store items off-site or in boxes neatly arranged in the garage or basement. Clean the windows, carpets, walls, lighting fixtures, and baseboards to make the house … (3 comments)