Tuesday, September 24, 2013

Come to Downtown Raleigh this Fall 2013 for Some Fun Events!

Things to Do, Events, & Fun in Downtown Raleigh Fall 2013

Fall is one of our favorite times of year in NC.  What better way to get out and enjoy the weather than coming to downtown Raleigh for a fun event or weekend outing.  Even if there isn't a special event going on, come downtown for a bite to eat, have a drink, visit a museum or just take in the architecture while strolling around.  Don't forget about First Fridays held the first Friday of every month.  A great way to explore all downtown Raleigh has to offer.

Here are some upcoming events in downtown Raleigh.

Raleigh's Annual Irish Fall Music Festival, 2013

Moore Square Downtown - Saturday September 28, 2013

The Irish Festival - Featuring a diverse variety of entertainment for the whole family. Irish musicians, Irish bands, and Irish dancers will perform throughout the day. Irish and Celtic products, along with a great selection of area-produced gifts and crafts will be available for purchase. Children’s entertainment, and a wide variety of food and refreshments will be available as well.

Life in Color Raleigh Life in Color

Red Hat Amphitheater - Saturday October 5, 2013

Buy Tickets Now

After the sold out event last year, Life In Color returns to Raleigh for the Rebirth Tour! On Oct 5th, witness one of the most spectacular shows in dance music featuring world-class DJs, soaring aerial acts, stilt-walkers, contortionists, fire shows, and more. Experience Life In Color!

Downtown Raleigh Food Truck Rodeo

Sunday October 13, 2013 from 1:00 to 4:00 pm on Fayetteville St

Come downtown to enjoy the Food Truck Rodeo with over 40 trucks that have committed. There will be tables and chairs along the way for on-street seating. The City of Raleigh Museum will be open and hosting activities.

The Raleigh City of Oaks Marathon and Rex Healthcare Half Marathon

Sunday November 3, 2013

Registration Information

The start and finish of the marathon will be at Hillsborough Street at the Historic NC State University Bell Tower.


For more great events in Downtown Raleigh visit the Events Calendar.

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Location: Raleigh, NC, USA

Friday, September 20, 2013

When Selling Your Home - Paint Can Make All The Difference

Paint or Not – Then What Color?

A coat or two of paint can transform your home, both outside and inside. But if you’re selling your house is it a good idea to paint; and if so what paint colors should you choose?

Generally real estate agents agree that painting a home for sale is a good idea. But they also warn against taking anything but a conservative approach. While you might love bold, bright paint colors, or want to look as if you are aware of current trends in terms of paint colors, you should try and stick to neutral hues that will appeal to a larger audience. If you can choose trend-setting paint colors that are neutral, you’ll be on a winning streak.

Current Color Trends to Consider When Painting a Home for Sale

 Benjamin Moore Paints suggests four exciting paint color palettes for 2013.

1. Artisan Paint Colors in this palette include off-white (Monterey white), sand (pittsfield buff) and a hazy grey (sea haze) as well as a dark charcoal grey (silhouette) and tan-type brown (satchel). The off-white and “sea haze” grey are safe if you’re a seller wanting to transform your home; the others might be a bit heavy though the buff paint color could work in a large room.
2. Urbanite Paint Colors in this color palette also range from off-white (moonlight white) to a dark hue, but blue rather than charcoal (polo blue). There’s camouflage beige (called camouflage), sparrow brown (called sparrow) and a golden color (marblehead gold) too. Camouflage and moonlight white are safe, while the darker colors may not have the same wide appeal.
3. New Traditional Relatively safe neutrals – a pearly beige (seapearl), light rock color (rocky road) and light gold (golden straw) hue – have been teamed with more adventurous dove blue (evening dove) and a dusty pink (called dusky mauve). The blue and pink aren’t safe, even if you love these paint colors.
4. Coastal These paint colors were inspired by the sea, sky and sea, but again only the off-white (simply white) and paler grey (tranquility) hues are really safe if you are painting a home for sale. While the lemon yellow (lemon sorbet) is cheerful and the grayish (van Courland blue) quite quiet, there’s no guarantee they will appeal across the board. The blue-green (Stratton blue) included in the palette is also pretty, but not if you are aiming to transform your home for somebody you don’t know.

When choosing any color, try to keep the same feeling through out the entire home.  Don't do a few rooms coastal and others beige.  Stay consistent and match the style and architecture of the home.  Keep it clean, simple and neutral.  Neutral doesn't have to be beige and boring, just consistent and soothing to the eye.

If you are considering selling and would like some expert advice before you dive in and start painting, call our Team at Lisa Southern Real Estate.  We would be happy to come out and give you some advice and options to get the greatest return on your time and money.  We also have a large list of preferred vendors who can make the job a snap and save you some money.
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Location: Raleigh, NC, USA

Sunday, September 8, 2013

Strategies for Building Real Estate Equity

Strategies for Building Real Estate Equity

Investing in real estate is a great way to build wealth – if you get it right. It won’t turn you into a millionaire overnight, but if you’re looking for a strong long-term investment strategy, building real estate equity is the way to go. 
For most people, their first – and most often their best – investment is buying a house. Generally the motivation is to have a home to live in without paying rent to a third party. That’s good, except that many people aim to buy their dream home without considering its value in terms of real estate equity. In reality, your first home is likely to fall of any type of “dream home” status simply because the average first-time home buyer doesn’t have the budget to achieve their dreams first time around.
Instead, your first home should be a house that will make a good rental property in the future, allowing you to make and save money that you can use as a down payment on another house. Keep one as a rental and live in the other, and within ten years you’ll be well on your way to a good, solid nest egg. 
You Can Use Real Estate to Build Wealth
There is absolutely no doubt that a good real estate investment strategy will enable you to build wealth. By investing in rental properties, you can generate an ongoing income, and get very worthwhile tax benefits at the same time, particularly when you sell your home at a higher price than you bought it for. But most importantly, by maintaining the investment (buying again when you sell), you will build and improve your real estate equity.
Flipping property is another way to make money, but because you are simply buying and selling – and not renting out – profits are likely to be taxed as income. 
Tips to Help You Identify the Best Real Estate Equity Properties
Where and what you buy as an investment is essentially personal choice, though to develop a successful investment strategy and build wealth, you do need to have savvy. 
Generally, when accumulating real estate equity and aiming to build wealth, it’s best to look at reasonably new development areas, or neighborhoods that are being redeveloped. The best investments are those that boast a good location and are structurally sound, but look ugly and haven’t been managed well. A good location will grow your real estate equity and attract a better quality tenant, both of which are more likely to guarantee good returns on your investment. 
For investment purposes it’s makes good business sense to make a down payment of between 20 and 25 percent because it reduces exposure and short-term risk. You don’t want to pay cash – using other people’s money is good for a real estate investment strategy. But you don’t want to borrow too much of the total just in case the rental market turns. 
If you are looking for a good investment in real estate? Take a look and see what we can offer you.
Contact Southern Group Property Management for more advice on the Raleigh Rental Market.

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Location: Raleigh, NC, USA

Thursday, September 5, 2013

VIDEO - Downtown Raleigh Living

VIDEO - Downtown Raleigh Living

Watch this Video to Experience Life in Downtown Raleigh

At Lisa Southern Real Estate, we live and work in downtown Raleigh. We love being part of this growing and vibrant community. Downtown Raleigh isn't just for work anymore. More and more people are moving downtown and enjoying an exciting restaurant scene, a wide variety of events, clean and friendly neighborhoods, museums and great local shopping.

Take a look at some of the many reasons we love living and working in Downtown Raleigh.


If you would like more information about properties for sale in downtown Raleigh, contact Lisa Southern Real Estate - THE Downtown Raleigh Experts!  The downtown Raleigh real estate market is HOT. If you have been looking and haven't found the right spot, let us know.  We often know of listings before they hit the market.

Start your home search HERE

If you are looking for Rental Properties in Raleigh - visit Southern Group Property Management.


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Location: Raleigh, NC, USA
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