Top Must Haves For Buyers in Today's Raleigh Real Estate Market!

According to  a survey conducted by the Demand Institute of 10,000 households' current living situations, one in three households say they plan to move in the next five years. The location of the home will be driving most of those moving decisions — more so than the physical home itself.

The top reasons to move include:

• Desire for a safer neighborhood
• Being closer to family
• A change of climate
• Being closer to work
• Moving for a new job

For those wanting to move for a change of climate, the Western and Southern U.S. continue to be the top destinations.

The top location features include:

• Amenities/services in walking distance
• Good school district
• Close to work
• Diverse neighborhood
• Near public transit

More and more buyers are looking for walkable communities. There is an upturn in home price growth in walkable communities compared to less walkable communities, according to the Demand Institute's report. Those who reside in walkable communities report that their quality of life has improved in the past few years due to their change in residence.

Americans are looking for more amenities near them. The following places were identified as what home buyers would most like to have near their future home:

• Grocery stores
• Restaurants and cafes
• Parks and green space
• Healthcare services
• Retail

According to Jeff Speck, author of Walkable City, Downtown Raleigh has the bone structure to becoming a great walkable city. In 2014, 36 street level businesses opened their doors which are 95 percent locally-owned. Downtown Raleigh's green spaces are being upgraded and new ones will be added in the coming years.

 

Lisa Southern Real Estate, located at 15 E. Martin St, Raleigh, NC 27601, was founded in 2005. If you are looking to move to Raleigh, NC or the surrounding area, call us today at 919-800-0800 or start your home search by visiting our website! If you are interested in see how much your Raleigh, NC home is worth in today's real estate market, please fill out this form today!

Downtown Raleigh Alliance Annual Meeting Was a Huge Succcess!

The Downtown Raleigh Alliance (DRA) Annual Meeting was held in the Convention Center on February 19, 2015. There were over 2,000 attendees; a mix of business owners, residents, and local employees. The focus of the meeting was to recognize the accomplishments of 2014 and to set the vision for not only 2015 but for years to come.

 As attendees sat down, it became obvious that tables were decorated in different color tablecloths and there were street signs lining the perimeter of the room. It became appearant that the room was cleverly broken into a representation of downtown's five districts to demonstrate the smooth walkability of Downtown Raleigh.

 Thomas Hill, the DRA Board Chair started the evening with a snapshot of the organization's impact in 2014. Downtown Raleigh was kept attractive with the Ambassador Clean Team and new clean machines removing close to 70,000 pounds of trash. The Ambassador Safety Team spent over 7,000 hours patrolling parking decks, surface lots, and the streets to ensure a safe and friendly environment. A vibrant downtown atmosphere was created with activities with over 80% of downtown merchants benefiting from promotions such as First Friday Raleigh Art Gallery Walk, Downtown Raleigh Gift Card, Downtown Raleigh Restaurant Week, The Raleigh MIX, and Shop Downtown Raleigh. Downtown Raleigh saw 33 street-level business open their doors in 2014.



Keynote Speaker, Jeff Speck entertained us through his presentation of The Walkable City. He introduced us to The General Theory of Walkability, which states that in order to get people to walk, you have to give them a reason to walk. So, how do you get people to walk? There are four main ways, give them a reason to walk, a safe walk, a comfortable walk and an interesting walk all simultaneously. A reason to walk is to plan a downtown that has residential, business, schools, and worship close to each other. He authoritatively expressed that Downtown Raleigh has the perfect bone structure, and is heading in the direction of a truly walkable city. If we are cognizant to add bike lanes and use more two lane roads, Downtown Raleigh will be well on it's way to becoming a downtown that everyone will want to visit.

Lisa Southern Real Estate & Property Management is a true family owned business. We live and work in Downtown Raleigh.  Our offices are located at 15 E. Martin St in the heart of downtown Raleigh and we live on the top floors of the building. If you are interested in buying a property in the Raleigh area or selling your Raleigh area home, visit our website, give us a call at: 919-800-0800 or stop by our office TODAY! We look forward to meeting you!


       

Lisa Southern Real Estate is Growing!

Raleigh, NC (February 19, 2015) — Portia Springer has joined the Lisa Southern Real Estate Team in Raleigh, NC as their Marketing Director.

Portia Springer  has an extensive background in technology, online marketing and marketing strategies, and has been in the real estate industry for 4 years. Portia holds a Bachelor’s of Science in English: Literature from the University of CentralFlorida. She is an avid reader, passionate about growing her knowledge and staying on the edge of technology.  

“We are truly lucky to have Portia join us here at Lisa Southern Real Estate,” says Owner Lisa Southern. “Lisa Southern Real Estate offers its associates unparalleled career growth and lifelong learning opportunities in the real estate industry. We know that Portia will be a great fit and that it is our customers who will truly benefit from Portia joining us.”

“I chose Lisa Southern Real Estate because of its reputation for integrity and its customer service business model,” says Springer. “I am always looking to grow, and Lisa Southern Real Estate  provides the family atmosphere, training, and servant leadership that will help me reach my goals.” 

Lisa Southern Real Estate, located at 15 E. Martin St. Raleigh, NC 27601, was established in 2005 and has catapulted to the top in both residential real estate and property management.

To learn more about Lisa Southern Real Estate and how they can help you buy and sell your home, visit www.LisaSouthern.com.