Tuesday, January 28, 2014

2129 Tibwin Drive Raleigh, NC 27606

2129 Tibwin Drive Raleigh, NC 27606

Timber Oaks Home for Sale

Gorgeous 4 bedroom, 3.5 bath home in Timber Oaks! Bright, open floor plan with wood floors throughout 1st floor. First floor master retreat.

Extensive trim work & crown molding throughout. Beautiful kitchen with custom maple cabinets, granite counter tops, tile back splash, oil rubbed bronze hardware, 4 burner gas cook top. Built-in shelving and cabinets & gas fireplace in family room.

Side entrance garage ads to the immaculate curb appeal of this home. Screened porch and large private deck overlook a park-like back yard. This home has everything a discriminating buyer wants. Won't Last Long!

Listing Details

View all Photos Here

To speak with us directly about this home or schedule a showing, call 919-800-0880

Monday, January 20, 2014

Best Neighborhoods in Raleigh to Walk to Shopping & Dining

Best Neighborhoods in Raleigh to Walk to Shopping & Dining

Walkable Raleigh Neighborhoods

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERAAlthough there are a lot of fantastic and affordable neighborhoods in Raleigh, finding one that is walkable, like in most growing metro areas, can be a challenge. In general the closer you get to the city center, the more chances you will have for walkability. Inside the Beltline of Raleigh, there are several great areas to choose from.

One of the most popular areas is Cameron Village. Conveniently located near NC State University and downtown Raleigh, this downtown Raleigh neighborhoods offers excellent walkability to most things you need for daily living. Of course this convenience comes with a price. Homes in this area can be pricey, but there are some excellent values for condos here. See Listings. With a Walkscore of 68, it's well above the overall Raleigh Score of 29.

Five Points is another walkable neighborhood. Although there are no major grocery or retailers nearby, you can easily walk to get a cup of coffee or a bite to eat at a locally owned shop. With a Walkscore of 49 it is somewhat walkable. Downtown Raleigh with a walkscore of 71 is the most walkable place to live in Raleigh. The Moore Square, Historic Oakwood and Glenwood South areas are walkable for boutique shopping, coffee, nightlife and dining options.  Single family homes in this area tend to be older, even turn of the century, and pricier than suburban homes of the same size. The are some new developments in the works and the majority of Luxury Condos are in these two areas. See Listings.

North Hills is a newly revived and somewhat Walkable Raleigh Neighborhood, although the walkable areas consist mostly of a luxury apartments. It is a nice place to call home if you are new to the area and want to get a feel for the City before you commit to buying. There is a movie theater, nice restaurants, major retail and grocery walking distance from some apartments.

If you are looking for a Walkable area that is more affordable and less urban, you could also consider downtown Cary, NC and downtown Apex, NC. Both are nice towns within the Raleigh metro area.

All in all, the Raleigh metro area is pretty much car dependent. The good news is that parking is rarely a problem here, except a few areas near the University. Even in downtown Raleigh the abundance of public parking garages makes parking a breeze. And traffic, outside of peak office hours, is fairly mild compared to many metro areas in the country.

If you have any questions about living and working in the Raleigh area, give us a call, we are here to help!

Saturday, January 11, 2014

Pros and Cons of Buying vs Renting a Home

Pros and Cons Rent vs Buying

When you own a home - you have a sense of stability. You take life more seriously and you put heart into your abode. It's an incredible feeling, being able to make a house a "home." You also have a sense of pride and a sense of security.

Is that a good enough reason to own?

You have heard it all before. You should own - you are throwing away your money. You are making a landlord rich… you know it.

Home ownership also comes with a lot more responsibility and commitment. Not just for upkeep but for how long you need to own to be able to recoup expenses.

Let's discuss why you should own or why not.

Pros of Owning a Home

✓ When you own a home your mortgage interest is tax deductible. As the mortgage repayment is made up of a large portion of interest, you get to claim a large portion off your federal taxes. Your rent is not deductible.

✓ Rentals increase regularly and generally by higher margins than a mortgage rate would. You can also fix a mortgage rate and have no fluctuations in monthly payments. That helps you manage your income accordingly.

✓ When you own a home, you can build equity over a period of time. When you rent, you are building the landlord's equity.

✓ You have the freedom to decorate as you wish to suit your own needs, not be dictated to by a landlord. You can plant a garden!

✓ You do not have to rely on someone else to do proper repairs and maintenance.

✓ Opens your line of credit with the bank and helps you build your credit.

Cons of Owning a Home

✓ Property maintenance is now your burden. Major unexpected expenses might arise.

✓ Less freedom to move when you want to and you have to consider selling costs. The less time you live there, the more that could eat into your equity.

✓  Property taxes & other expenses. Make sure you consider all taxes, insurance and maintenance costs, not just the loan.

At the end of the day, you have to be comfortable with your decision. When the time is right and you are seriously weighing your options, it would be a great time to talk to me. I would love discuss the Pros and Cons as they relate to your unique situation and help you to make the decision that is right for you. 

Friday, January 3, 2014

Are Raleigh Home Values on the Rise for 2014?

Raleigh Home Values 2014

Are Raleigh Home Values on the Rise for 2014?

All the indicators are here for rising home values. Our area luckily did not see the dramatic price increases in home values in the early 2000's like Las Vegas, California and areas of Florida. With dramatic increases, also came dramatic falls. Although our area had its share of short sales and foreclosures, it was mild compared to the harder hit areas.

That said, although prices will be on the rise, they will likely not be double digits. The good news is that of you are a seller, low inventory means the market is on your side. If you are a buyer, home prices are still well below those of 2008, when the area was at the peak - so good deals are still available.

Are you curious about Raleigh Home Values for 2014? Use this handy tool to determine your home's value in today's market. You can also use this tool as a Buyer to determine home values in your neighborhood of interest.