Is Now The Time To Buy A Home?

Well, there's your answer! There is such a variety of homes on the market right now - assortment of styles and the prices are great! Below are statistics for Wake Forest - with a 15 month supply there is sure to be a home for you!

Active Listings:

*January Statistics run through February 15, 2008

There were 1336 active listings for the month of January 2008* which includes townhomes and condos. In comparison, there were 961 actives listing for the month of January 2007 (which were computed through February 15, 2007). A substantial increase of 39% is noted.

Closed Listings:

There were 87 closings for the month of January 2008 (computed from Jan. 1 - Jan. 31, 2008) in Wake Forest. Of those closings 17% had a price point of $400,000 or higher. The supply of homes in Wake Forest has jumped from a 7 month supply in the last report to a staggering 15 month supply. Wake Forest currently has the HIGHEST absorption rate in Wake County.
Average days on market for Wake Forest for the month of January was 111.

Additional Statistics: The top 2 subdivisions for listings in all of Wake County were located in NoRa and Wake Forest. They are Heritage (146 listings) and Wakefield Plantation (94 listings). There were 862 closings for ALL of Wake County for Jan. 08 compared to 1431 closings in Jan. 07.

Twelve Days of Christmas - Carolina Style! Day 8

Durant Trails - It was awesome! It had to be one of the most decorated areas that we have seen yet! There was one picture that I wanted really bad for on here and it just didn't turn out - Santa on a Harley! Pretty awesome!

Enjoy the pictures and be sure to catch the new ones tomorrow - Only 4 more days left!

Make an on-line slideshow at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Twelve Days of Christmas - Carolina Style! Day 7

Well, Santa didn't visit me with a new memory card but I NEEDED it.......Maybe Santa can hook me up with the new camera I want???

It was great last night - the closer Christmas is the more displays that go up.......These are from Tarlton and Prestwicke in Wake Forest.

I hope you enjoy what I got last night and on the way home I spied some more places to go tonight!

Make video montages at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Twelve Days of Christmas - Carolina Style! Day 4

Wow - we received some MUCH NEEDED rain last night! Hopefully it will continue through today. While it won't make my Open House easier (later this afternoon) we desparately need the rain!

Here are some pics from last night. I am surprised that they turned out at all given the rain, darkness (lot's of subdivision without street lights) and general operator shakiness trying to take pics, keep my assistant (8 yr old) involved, shift gears and avoid accidents because I am sitting awkwardly in the middle of an intersection! HAHA

Enjoy the pictures and I will try and get to Brier Creek Country Club area tonight. If not, it will be another area along the I-540 corridor as I make my way back from the airport to Wake Forest!

Make an on-line slideshow at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Twelve Days of Christmas - Carolina Style! Day 3

Wow - it was very hard deciding which pictures to use today! All of the homes were stunning! Tonight I will TRY to get some commercials displays that are around.....TRY! If not, you will definately get more homes tomorrow!

ENJOY!

Make video montages at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Wow - Talk About Creativity.....

Below is a link from an article I read this morning....It seems a couple in PA has become very creative is selling their home. The home, located north of Pittsburgh, has been on the market over a year and the sellers have decided to get creative to get it sold. Essentially, they are offering the buyers that bring them a full cash price offer a complete refund upon their death (the seller's death). In addition, should the buyers be willing to take care of the sellers when they get old the buyers would not only get the refund but an inheritance which would include the couples current second home in Arizona......WOW

Couple Offers Refund, Inheritance For Whoever Buys Home

My questions are......Can the seller provide a complete medical history on themselves along with the property disclosure? Can the buyer see the home in Arizona prior to making the offer at the sellers expense?

Very imaginative shucking.....

Wakefield Plantation - Do You Know What Goes On There?

I had the opportunity this past weekend to work with a wonderful couple moving from the New York area. They are very concerned about social activites and do not want to be in a neighborhood where there is nothing to do. We explored the different clubhouses at Wakefield Plantation and gathered much information on membership levels and activities.

I thought I would share some of the information for those of you that already live there and those of you that are contemplating a move there. I will not quote prices (as they are always subject to change) but will detail what each membership level entitles you to:

Charter Resident:
Membership Deposit Refundable Monthly Dues
Membership Deposit Non-refundable Monthly Dues
~ Clubhouse privileges for Member and family, including social, swim, tennis and full golf.
~ Access to TPC network of Clubs around the US.
~ Guest privileges include bringing or sending up to one foursome to the TPC at Wakefield Plantation per day.
~ Guest privileges include bringing or sending up to one foursome to any Club within the TPC Network.
~ Thirty day advance starting time reservation.
~ Special "extended family" guest fees.
~ Unlimited practice facility privileges and one locker in either the gentlemen's or ladies' locker rooms.
~ Payment option available.

Sport's Club Resident:
Initiation Fee: Monthly Dues:
~ Club privileges for member and family, including social, dining, swim and tennis.
~ Access to swim, tennis programs, including swim teams, tennis leagues and access to 9 hole golf course and fitness center.
~ Access to Clubhouse social events, such as Grill Nights, Holiday Brunches, Wine Tastings, Etc.

Social:
Initiation Fee: Monthly Dues:
~ Club privileges for member and family, including dining and social activites.
~ Access to clubhouse social events, such as Grill Nights, Holiday Brunches, Wine Tastings, etc.

I hope this helps in making your decision as to which membership is right for you! With each level there is plenty to explore in Wakefield Plantation! Let me know if I can answer any questions.

Shucking at the TPC.....

Very Successfull 2007 Parade of Homes

Did you make it out? Better yet, did you make it out alive?

Linville was swarming with people this past weekend! I felt somewhat sorry for the actual residents there. I arrived early both days and you could just see the full-time residents filter out of the neighborhood for the day to avoid the mass of people driving through and the tour buses on route. There was one bus with 43 people that showed up in Linville.

From my perspective it was a huge success! I had many people tour 11229 Conley Cove Court and they were in awe of the incredible craftsmanship, lavish pool and attention to detail that Pinnacle Construction Group is known for. Several had also visited Hasentree and said that it, too, was a zoo!

If you were one of my visitors this past weekend - THANKS for stopping by! It was great seeing you. If you missed it you can always give me a call and I can arrange a private tour of any of the homes that were on Parade.

Whew.....very sluggish shucking today.....

OPEN HOUSE! Last weekend of the 2007 Parade of Homes!

Linville, Raleigh - I cordially invite everyone to visit my open house at 11229 Conley Cove Court on October 13 and October 14 from 12:00 PM to 5:00 PM.

I will be holding this exquisite home open both Saturday the 13th and Sunday the 14th. Come tour one of the most luxurious homes currently on the market! Hope to see you then! Please mention that you saw my OPEN HOUSE mentioned here on The Pink Oyster to be registered to win a free gas card!

Property information

PODCASTS! PODCASTS! GET YOUR PODCASTS HERE!!!!!

Just a reminder! Please visit my podcast page

Raleigh Homes For Sale

for all of the latest podcasts on some of the greatest homes available in the Raleigh area! I will be continuosly adding homes as they are listed and updated as they go under contract. I hope you like the podcasts and if you have any questions or suggestions please feel free to pass them on.

Honestly, who thunk up the whole "podcast" name?

Just some old-fashioned shout-out shucking going on.................

Updates and Information on New Falls of Neuse Projects

I have many clients and friends in Wakefield Plantation that are curious as to the projects surrounding New Falls of Neuse Road. Progress has escalated dramatically over the road extension and that raises a few questions thoughout the neighborhood. I thought I would find as many links as I could to help answer some concerns and curiousity.

Falls of Neuse Corridor Plan

Neuse Detour is Topic of Hearing Today

Residents, Firefighters Worry over Proposed Bridge Detour

Bond Referendums

If you come across any interesting articles or news related to the project please feel free to share!

Just doing a little research shucking......

2007 Parade of Homes right around the corner.....

The 42nd Annual Parade of Homes is about to begin! What an extraordinarily exciting time! Builders will showcase the best of the best! Homes all over Wake County will be on Parade this year and I have been fortunate to preview some of the finest while under construction - simply breathtaking! The builders have pulled out all of the stops this year and the 2007 Parade will prove to be the best so far.

The following link is available to the public for previewing Homes that will be on Parade. Also, be sure to check out the News & Observer for the special Parade of Homes Preview that will be published September 29, 2007.

As always, should you have any questions regarding any of the homes that you see please feel free to contact me. I can help you with directions, builder backgrounds and prior accomplishments, private tours and detailed information!

North Carolina Build.com

Have a GREAT time at the Parade!

Leesa

Awestruck shucking.......

Out with the old, in with the new....

Hhmmm, just a few short weeks ago I had a fantastic couple out with me looking at properties. They were from the Chicago area. At one point, the wife spoke up and asked if Raleigh was following the current trend of tearing down old homes to build new which was the case in her father's neighborhood in Illinois area. I answered no and that I was very proud of how Raleigh is big into protecting and preserving older neighborhoods and that it wasn't very common here. Shortly after that there was an article in the News and Observer to quite the contrary. I was quick to email that link to them and let them know that I mis-spoke. Well, several weeks later there is yet another article regarding "infill". Apparently it wasn't enough for me to say I was srong - now I have to admit that I was REALLY wrong.....hey, I can do that!

588 New Homes Replace Teardowns...

Humble shucking.........




Workers intentionally drop three trees on top of a house being demolished to make way for a larger house.
Staff photo by Chris Seward

No more water under the bridge.....

For those of you local this certainly isn't news....however, if you are in another part of the country let me just say that we are experiencing a serious drought! If anyone knows a bonafide rain-dance please pass it on. Not only are we lacking rain but the heat has become unbearable. Yesterday set an new all-time high in the Raleigh-Durham area with a temperature of 105 degrees.

The City of Raleigh held a meeting yesterday to discuss the current water restrictions that we are under and the following link will take you to the new restrictions that are to take effect August 28. Please take heed! Fines are hefty and we need to conserve.

Raleigh Water Rules To Get Stricter

Water-conserving shucking...

Raleigh Makes Yet Another Elite List....

Raleigh just keeps popping up on lists! These are the lists we WANT to be on! Following is an article regarding the best places in the US to sell a home. Hhmmm.....guess who was number one?

The 5 Best Places To Sell A Home...

If you are hesitant about the Raleigh area and don't quite want to take one person's word for it - check out the articles that I provide - some good reading!

Some list-topping shucking going on......

Downtown Raleigh has seen the light...

Here is another great article regarding downtown Raleigh and the efforts to revamp, revitalize and make us an even bigger contender.....

Building Booms in Downtown Raleigh

Entrepreneurial shucking at it's finest....

McMansions, Estates and Lotsa Money

It seems that home sales are down in most of the country - you would agree with that, right? Well, not all home sales! Even in the Raleigh area the sales of luxury, high-end properties have drastically picked up. Following is a story relating the country as a whole.

Soaring Into The Stratosphere

As for Wake County here are some statistics that might surprise you.

In Wake County ONLY sales jumped from $546,765,433.00 in May to a whopping $601,819,487.00 in June. That is the highest monthly sales in over a year - now I ask you, are we in a slump? Keep in mind, that is WAKE county only. It does not include Durham, Chapel Hill, and smaller areas such as Youngsville and Franklinton. Pretty astounding.

The zip code with the highest amount of sales is 27587. That includes all of Wake Forest and part of Wakefield Plantation. According to statistics there were 198 home sales in the month of June for just that zip code.

If you would like monthly updates on statistics for Wake County and surrounding counties please just send me an email and I will be happy to oblige.

Some serious house-buying shucking going on.....

Like your momma said - Gettin' too big for your breeches....

Bound to happen! There is no more room in Wake County! Okay, not exactly true - but, I got your attention! Many smaller bedroom communities have experienced a boom in the influz of residents. Why, duh! First was Cary, Wake Forest, then came Zebulon, Knightdale and along came Holly Springs, Apex and "The Quay". If I left anyone don't scream and throw a fit - it wasn't intentional. Now, slowly creeping in is Creedmoor. Honestly, I am surprised that it took this long.

Wake Growth Spilling Into Creedmoor

from WRAL.com

Would you live in Creedmoor? (I would!) What do you think of the bedroom communities becoming mainstream?

Just a curious shucker....

How about a side of real estate with that? Smotherd and covered.....(thanks Waffle House!)

Oh, come on! You have all seen the red and white badge plastered all over my blog and website....you know you want to go. Don't be shy!

Free cup 'o joe, free pastries, free home tour, free advice - did you get the FREE! I am so excited for the first tour. I have quite a few that have signed up! Should be interesting how it all turns out. I have high hopes....For those of you that have signed up but not registered on the website will you please do so? It is so much easier to keep track of all of you that way!

Countdown begins -

T-minus 12 days and counting - Communications a go! We're rollin' her out to the pad....

Raleigh Bound....

Well, I have to say that CBS Early Show did a FANTASTIC job showcasing Raleigh and the Triangle area. They touched on everything from the southern charm, local wineries, local restaurants, research and BBQ. Applause! The ONLY thing that they touched on which really tripped my trigger was the year round schools. They had the two least equipped people to interview - it was awful! I don't know how they picked them. The gentleman on there was a School Board member and he was an opponent of mandatory year-round. Hey, everyone has an opinion. But if you are going to speak on a subject at least know what you are talking about. At one point he mentioned that with "tracks" you get two-week breaks throughout the year. Huh? Two-week breaks? Sorry, dude, it's 9 weeks on and THREE (3) weeks off. The other interviewee offered no information, insight or reasoning. She kept repeating something to the effect of "Education and growing". I am not sure what that meant. You could tell that Hannah was frustrated with her answers and kept deferring to the other guy. Oh well, maybe a more in-depth interview next time with educated guests both for and against!

Regardless, if I lived somewhere else and had seen the show - I would definately consider moving to Raleigh! Wish I had been there!

A few links:

Getting To Know Raleigh

Pigging Out on NC BBQ

Southern Spin on Summer Steak Salad

Dave Enjoys Raleigh NC

Raleigh's Southern Charm

North Carolina BBQ Capital

Happy shucking.....