raleigh: Dog Bombs, the Sequel: Passive Crime Deterrent, like Lojack for trespassers...
- 01/11/08 01:05 PM
Just when you thought it was safe.... A guy can't make this stuff up. Straight from the Raleigh News and Observer: 18 year old kid quaffs a couple of cold ones and manages to park poorly in Durham. In this other feller's front yard. Miscreant dismounts his ride and makes a run for it on foot. Durham's finest come by and track him down. See, he parked in the front yard of a feller who keeps about a quarter-ton of dogs, with the two largest making regular and generous deposits in the front yard. The gendarmes see a footprint in one of the deposits, and a trail … (18 comments)
raleigh: Cary and Raleigh, NC Real Estate: News and Observer gets one right! No need to buy foreclosure lists!
- 01/10/08 11:08 AM
The Raleigh News and Observer seldom misses an opportunity to get real estate facts twisted. But today, they got one right, pointing out that foreclosure lists are free, and there is no need for the average person to pay for those lists. "Ads sell foreclosure info that's free" on the front page of today's Business section brought that point home fairly well. They quoted a broker at a local firm who correctly mentioned the lack of margin in most foreclosure listings. This is interesting to me. Recently, the requests for foreclosure listings in Cary, Raleigh, Apex and other areas in and around Wake County, NC, has peaked again, … (5 comments)
raleigh: Cary NC Real Estate: So, the law says I have to convey all offers to my Seller? I really don't care!
- 01/05/08 01:49 PM
That's right, I don't care. Sort of. I was chatting with my friends Bill Fletcher and Michelle Roberts yesterday; talking low-ball offers. And wounded pride. A couple of Cary real estate war stories came up, and Bill says, "...I tell my Sellers that I must bring them all offers." Me: "Why?" Bill, a little taken aback: "I tell them the law requires me to present all offers." Me: "Bill, I would never say that!" Bill, more than a little taken aback, possibly shocked, "But that is the law!" I interrupted him, "You want to know what I tell them?" At that point he either saw the twinkle in my eye or my … (14 comments)
raleigh: Cary NC Real Estate Adventures: Foggy windows
- 01/04/08 12:20 AM
Double pane windows are standard on homes in the Wake County, NC, area since the 1970's. Unfortunately, they are built to different quality levels. Some just fail before others, and it is not uncommon to walk into a 15 year old Cary or Raleigh home and see multiple windows with fog, or even dripping water, between the panes. Buyers and Sellers can get heated over the issue after a home inspection. Well, it isn't the end of life. The entire window usually does not need to be replaced. It is usually possible to replace only the two glass panes, with a new glazing package that has a new … (9 comments)
raleigh: Cary NC Real Estate Adventures: Going to Elevate my photography Game!
- 01/03/08 03:50 PM
I bit. Everyone tells me I need a wide-angle lens to get the best shots of small rooms, or larger rooms even, for listings and flyers. Jeff Turner promoted the Kodak V705. Discontinued. I was stalking cameras on EBay, and up popped a used Kodak P880. 8 MP, 24mm-140mm lens. Several et ceteras. Wondering how it will work, wide angle and all, in my Real Estate Shows... Why is it when you buy something on EBay that you are awaiting with bated breath, it always seems to be coming from the other side of the country? Without fail. UPS Ground Tracking says delivery will happen on 1/9/2008. I should … (0 comments)
raleigh: Cary NC Real Estate, How to avoid selling your home: Aggravate the Buyer with weird negotiations.
- 01/03/08 02:53 PM
Three weeks before Christmas in Cary, NC.... Me: Buyer will go $108,000. LA counters at $119,000 from list price of $120,000. Buyer says whoa. Just doesn't want to push nickels back and forth to get there. No deal. No problem. It happens. They can't all be deals. Three weeks pass. LA calls me. LA: "Seller will do the deal at $114,000." I talk to my Buyer. Me: Buyer says $112,000. We'll close by the end of the year. LA: OK. Great! I get the offer together, make a run to Raleigh for signatures and initials, send it over. LA: Oh, He won't pay for the home warranty. Too good a price. I … (12 comments)
raleigh: Wake County North Carolina Property Tax Assessed Value vs. True Sales Value. The Missing Link is.......MISSING!
- 12/03/07 10:53 PM
Now that we have our new Assessed Tax Valuations in Wake County North Carolina, we are seeing the usual suspects come out of the woodwork in and around Cary and Raleigh, and other areas. Already real estate agents are huffing and puffing about assessed tax value, hoping to mislead people regarding the market value of property. They are playing on homeowners' fears regarding higher real estate taxes. "$10,000 below Tax Value!!!!" absolutely does not make a property a bargain. If that is all the market will support, it is likely that an appeal is in order to get the tax value reduced so it is in line … (2 comments)
raleigh: Restrictive Covenants: No rendering plants, No trucks, "No person of any race other than the Caucasian race..."
- 11/25/07 02:15 PM
"No person of any race other than the Causcasian race shall use or occupy any building or any lot, except that this covenant shall not prevent occupancy by domestic servants of a different race domicilied with an owner or tenant." Seriously. A walk down Memory Lane. Not a particulary proud or joyful walk, either. This quote was taken from the recorded covenants of a Raleigh, Wake County, NC, subdivision where I wrote an offer for Buyer clients this weekend. I have heard of little notes like this, but it was the first time I have pulled something like this up myself. I … (15 comments)
raleigh: Cary NC Real Estate, Picardy Village: Wooded Lots and Custom Homes
- 11/19/07 02:02 PM
Picardy Village entrance sign Picardy Village is a cozy neighborhood of custom-built homes in Cary, NC. Picardy Village is off the west side of Lake Pine Road, between the Cary Parkway and US 64. Picardy Village is adjacent to Picardy Pointe. Click here to view currently available Active Listings in Picardy Village. See the Picardy Village photo set on Flickr. Downtown Raleigh and NC State University are about a 15-20 minute commute from Picardy Village. The Research Triangle Park, "RTP," is about 25 minutes. Heavy drive-time traffic can increase those commute times.
Picardy Village was developed in the mid-1990's by MacGregor Development Company. Mostly 1.5 and two-story homes comprise … (9 comments)
raleigh: Cary NC Real Estate, I have no choice...It is going to be a GREAT day!
- 11/15/07 10:38 PM
Crystal clear blue sky. Stepped to the curb to pick up the paper. Might be a light frost in the next few minutes. Came back in from the chill and the warrm house smells like fresh bread baking, as the Ultimate Breadman bread machine is set to deliver a fine little golden brown loaf in a few minutes. M-m-m-m-m-MMM! Stopped by Jan Evett's post of the other day, What a Wonderful World, and played the YouTube Louis Armstrong clip. Always makes me smile to see how beautiful a sentiment is passed in such a simple song.. Sweetie has a four day weekend, which she has earned, and … (13 comments)
And it is the time of year when furnaces come on for the first time in months. Also a great time to have an inspection performed on an older unit, to make certain it is ready for another heating season. The most common furnace safety issue in Cary, Raleigh, and all of Wake County, NC, is the failure of the heating unit's "heat exchanger." The heat exchanger is a chamber, or series of tubes, through which … (8 comments)
raleigh: Cary and Raleigh, NC Real Estate: Is the all one-level, easy living, classic ranch house making a comeback?
- 11/14/07 01:32 PM
Is the ranch house coming back? Oh...you know: The classic '60's rancher. Single level living, with no stairs and low maintenance. Oakwood Heights, Cary, NC It seems to me that it is, and that spells good news for many Raleigh and Cary residents who should see great price support for their classic ranchers. Enchanted Oaks, Raleigh, NC My legs get tired chasing up and down the stairs in our pleasant, but decidedly TWO story home. And I have determined that those luxurious 9 foot ceilings serve to add a step or two to the climb to the second floor. Our main-level master suite helps, but … (12 comments)
raleigh: Cary NC Real Estate, Picardy Pointe: Custom homes on wooded lots in a tremendous Cary location
- 11/10/07 01:25 PM
Picardy Pointe entrance sign Picardy Pointe is a neighborhood of custom-built homes on the edge of Cary, NC. Many of the homes have a view of the Apex Community Park Lake. Click here to view currently available Active Home Listings in Picardy Pointe. Picardy Pointe is off the west side of Lake Pine Road, between the Cary Parkway and US 64. See the 47 photo set slideshow on Flickr.
Downtown Raleigh and NC State University are about a 15-20 minute commute from Picardy Pointe. The Research Triangle Park, "RTP," is about 25 minutes. Heavy drive-time traffic can lengthen those times.
Picardy … (4 comments)
raleigh: Cary and Raleigh, NC Real Estate: Fix and Flip? Don't skimp on "Fix!"
- 11/08/07 12:57 PM
Today I went with a Buyer client to his home inspection on a project home under contract, and we discussed some of the repairs and upgrades he could do on the home. It looks like there is enough margin in the job to really do a sharp job on the house, and make it very appealing. We talked about several items, and I developed a recurring response and input: "Eliminate items that may initiate discussions with potential Buyers." If you can foresee that an item may develop into an issue, take it off the table. Proactively avoid the conversation. Even if it is still working, is it worth it to … (7 comments)
raleigh: Cary NC Real Estate, A Visit to Royal Ridge
- 11/07/07 03:41 AM
We cruised through Royal Ridge in Cary, NC, last Saturday night to view the beautiful custom homes and the heavily wooded lots. Royal Ridge is a mature residential neighborhood in the center of Cary, NC. Royal Ridge is located off the Southwest Cary Parkway, between Kildaire Farm Road and Lake Pine Drive. See the Royal Ridge slideshow on Flickr.
Raleigh and NC State University are about a 15-20 minute commute. The Research Triangle Park, "RTP," is about 25 minutes. Heavy drive-time traffic can lengthen those times.
Royal Ridge was developed in the mid-1980's. Many pleasant classic 1.5 and two-story homes, and several contemporary styles comprise Royal Ridge, with … (4 comments)
Woods of Kildaire is a mature affordable neighborhood in the center of Cary, NC. Woods of Kildaire is situated off the SW Cary Parkway. Access to the neighborhood is also available from Kildaire Farm Road, and through MacGregor Downs. Access and egress to and from the neighborhood are convenient.
Raleigh and NC State University are about a 15-20 minute commute. The Research Triangle Park, "RTP," is about 25 minutes. Heavy drive-time traffic can lengthen those times. … (4 comments)
raleigh: Cary and Raleigh, NC Real Estate: Flood Plain Disclosure added to revised standard "Offer to Purchase and Contract" for 2008
- 11/04/07 01:14 PM
Flood Plain issues cloud many North Carolina real estate transactions. More often or not, all responsibility for determining whether a property was in a flood plain fell to the Buyer, and there was little remedy in the Contract if the property was determined to be in a flood plain. Now, the 2008 revision of the Offer to Purchase and Contract brings some clarity to the Seller and Buyer. In Section 6, the Contract requires the Seller and Buyer to agree that disclosure has, or hasn't, been made that any portion of the property is within a Special Flood Hazard Area. Let's say the Seller … (4 comments)
raleigh: Cary and Raleigh, NC, Real Estate: 2008 Standard forms: Offer to Purchase and Contract and governmental bodies
- 11/02/07 01:39 PM
We get into the changes in the 2008 North Carolina Offer to Purchase and Contract in the first paragraph: "NOTE: Government authority over taxes, zoning, school districts, utilities, and mail delivery may differ from address shown." It isn't a major change, nor is it an impediment to a smooth transaction. It alerts the Buyer in plain English that the address and the actual governing body and service providers may not be the same. We have "ETJ's," "Extra-Territorial Jurisdictions" in North Carolina. The Extra-Territorial Jurisdiction allows a town to control zoning and permitting in an unincorporated area. And that area may be in the mailing district of … (4 comments)
raleigh: Cary and Raleigh, NC, Real Estate: First frost this week, on top of the drought! Gardener Alert!
- 11/01/07 01:54 PM
How could there have been enough humidity to make a frost this week? We can't seem to squeeze out a few drops of rain dependably, but we can make the roofs white with frost. Hmmmmmm. I hope my plantings do all right. Gardening in Cary and Raleigh, NC is a delight and a torment. We have a long growing season, but one that can be a nightmare of drought and hardpan clay. We have a ton of opportunity for trying new things. We also can pay the price of frustration if we try to force Northern species to grow in this climate. After this … (11 comments)
Farren Forest is a mature affordable neighborhood in the center of Cary, NC. Farren Forest is situated off the SE Cary Parkway. Access to the neighborhood is also available through Stonehaven. Access and egress to and from the neighborhood are easy.
Raleigh and NC State University are a 15-20 minute commute. The Research Triangle Park, "RTP," is about 25 minutes. Heavy drive-time traffic can lengthen those times.
The neighborhood was developed in the mid-1980's-early 1990's. 51 pleasant classic 1.5 and two-story homes comprise Farren Forest, with home sizes ranging from 1500 to 2400 square feet. As the photos show, … (5 comments)
Just when you thought it was safe....
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