State of the Market

The Triangle market seems to be stabilizing at last. We have high hopes for 2011. It will be interesting to see what the Spring real estate market looks like with no tax incentives. Interest rates are still reasonably low hovering just under or at 5%, depending on which hour of the day you check.

Sellers have had to adjust to a “new normal” and the reality that we have seen a downturn in home prices. Many of us have seen drops of 8-10% in our home values since the downturn in our economy…some less, some more. As compared to places like Michigan, Florida, and Arizona we are very blessed. Thank goodness people still want to live and work in the Triangle. The rental homes and apartments are about 92% full; many of those people are just waiting for their homes to sell elsewhere so they can purchase.

The biggest concern seems to be the new wave of foreclosures coming on the market. Once again, we are blessed here because last year only about 9% of our closed sales were distress sales as compared to 50% other places.

During this downturn, 8.5 million jobs have disappeared; to date, only 1 million have been added. Until we see more job growth, the Triangle and the country will not see significant growth in real estate prices. By all reports we have hit the bottom on prices and the “wind is at our back”. Expansion continues and we are seeing a revival in economic growth.

Production is up; unemployment is down. Now we can start rebuilding slowly.  What are your thoughts on the state of our market?

More “Best Of” from Cary & Raleigh, NC

Let’s go shopping! We are so fortunate to live in such a diverse area. Did you know that 2.4 million people annually visit our Raleigh, NC flea market located at the N.C. State Fairgrounds? From  flea markets to fine furniture you should be able to find whatever you need in the Raleigh and Cary, NC area. Check out the best of shopping from Cary Magazine. Where is your favorite place to shop?

Best of Western Wake

The Cary Magazine recently published their annual list of winners and runners-up in many categories of services and activities in Western Wake – the 2011 Maggy Awards.  We are so fortunate to have a local magazine of the quality represented by Cary Magazine.  I’ll blog about each of the categories over the next few days, so have fun checking out the local favorites in the Lifestyle category!   What’s your favorites?

Making A Difference

People make a difference in the lives of others everyday in a myriad of ways. At the New Year, it would be wonderful if we could all focus each day on doing something special for another without expectation of reward or praise. Just because…

I have an example of that generosity of spirit right here in Cary, North Carolina that really touched my heart. I have a dear Jewish friend who for many, many years has baked trays of homemade cookies and delivered them on Christmas Day to the police and fire department personnel unlucky enough to be assigned Christmas duty. Roxanne started this practice while living in Maui; she and her sweet husband Tony made their merry rounds in Maui each Christmas. It brought smiles and happiness to so many that it became a tradition! So on Christmas Day while most of us were unwrapping gifts and eating fabulous food with family, my Jewish friend Rox and her husband were delivering homemade treats to our dedicated policemen and firemen right here in Cary!

Do you have an example of such goodwill to share with me and others? I would enjoy hearing your own personal stories or those of people you know.

My dear sister Terry in Smithfield, North Carolina, for example, plays the piano on Sunday mornings for the migrant workers at their Sunday School. Terry is a gifted musician and loves sharing her passion for singing and playing. The faces of the young people light up when she appears.

My dear husband Wayne loves playing Santa Claus each Christmas. He visits nursing homes and retirement centers , delivering cheer and candy canes. He comes home telling stories of the happy faces he sees when he delivers his own personal brand of holiday cheer. Even right here at home in Cary, North Carolina, Wayne plays Santa to children of our clients.each year. It is a tradition we have come to love and look forward to. We provide “Cookies and Cocoa with Santa. This year we had 25-30 youngsters sit on Santa Wayne’s knee and tell him their own personal wishes for gifts and toys. It touches our hearts to see the joy on children’s faces. One more example of making a difference with no expectation of reward or praise.

Once again, please feel free to share your personal story with me and perhaps together we can make a difference in this bright New Year 2011!

ONE OF MY HEROES HAS DIED – ELIZABETH EDWARDS

We lost a real hero among us on December 7 when Elizabeth Edwards passed away at age 61 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina surrounded by her family. Elizabeth had dealt with breast cancer since 2004 and impressed us all with her courage and strength. We have all heard of the family struggles that Elizabeth dealt with over the years…the death of her teenaged son Wade in the late 90’s; her husband’s infidelity that was disclosed just two years ago…and now this tragedy of passing away in the prime of her life and leaving behind three children.

My own sister was diagnosed with breast cancer about seven years ago. She lives in Rocky Mount, NC and is a fourth grade teacher. Susie went through a tough time in her late forties but was courageous in facing her illness. She found great family and friend support which helped her face the future bravely. We are so happy today to know that Susie is cancer free. Many women are not so fortunate so we all count our blessings and celebrate Susie’s good health every day.

There are not so many heroes among us anymore and Elizabeth Edwards was one for many of us. She held her head high even in her darkest hours. She remained close to and strong for her children…what an awesome role model. It is reported that in the past years she had created a “Dying Book” for her children to tell them things helpful in their lives to come. One example was “how to choose a mate”; Elizabeth certainly had experience in that regard and some wisdom from her own life experience with her estranged husband, John Edwards.

Elizabeth was a successful lawyer in the early days of her marriage.. She also was a successful businesswoman and opened her own furniture store in downtown Chapel Hill in recent years.

Elizabeth also was a published author and wrote at least two books, “Saving Graces” and “Resilience”.

How blessed her friends and children were to have such a vital, positive woman to admire and emulate. In these days where a sports figure and entertainer can earn millions each year and be lifted up by many as a hero, it is quite refreshing to have lived among a real hero who taught many of us about how to make each day count. As she said, we never know how many days we have left so we need to make today count.

Let’s not let Elizabeth have died in vain. Let’s renew our efforts to be kind, caring, and positive in our daily lives. And let’s make not each day, but each moment count!

Cary NC Named Second Safest city by Population in US

11-21-10 Cary, NC – “Remains safest in North Carolina, Southeast”.  The Town of Cary has been named the second safest in the nation among municipalities with populations of 100,000 to 499,999 by CQ Press, publisher of the annual “City Crime Ranking 2010-2011: Crime in Metropolitan America”; the town previously held the fifth safest city ranking in the same category in 2009.  This is Cary’s twelfth consecutive year on this list.  Only Amherst, NY ranked safer among municipalities with similar populations.  As of October 1, the Town’s estimated population was 142,176.

Once again, Cary remains the highest-ranked municipality in North Carolina and in the southeast among the nation’s safest cities overall.  This year, Cary ranked eighth safest overall when compared with every community of any size in the report.  The rankings are based on final 2009 crime statistics.

“Even though the population in Cary continues to increase, our safety ranking also continues to remain high,” said Chief Pat Bazemore.  “Keeping Cary safe goes hand-in-hand with keeping Cary one of the best places to live, work and raise a family, which is why we will continue to work with our citizens on preventing crime before it happens.”

Cary’s pick as a safe city came in an announcement from CQ Press, a publisher of books, directories, research publications and Web products on U.S. Government, world affairs and communication.  A city’s rank is determined by six basic crime categories: murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary and motor vehicle theft.  All communities with 75,000 or more populations that reported crime date to the FBI for the six crime categories were included. 

I have lived in Wake County since 1965 with a brief break to join my husband for a job at First Citizens in western North Carolina.  I have lived in Cary since 1982.  We are so proud of our quality of life and proud to once again be given the distinction of one of the country’s safest cities in which to live.  Day-to-day it is amazing to see how many folks are choosing to move here with no jobs just because they have done research to know how special our lifestyle is.  It is a privilege to work and live in Cary, North Carolina.  As we celebrate the season of thanks, at the top of one of my lists is the opportunity to live here!