Blog

Time to Get Your Home Ready for Fall!

August 27th, 2010
I was reading an interesting article by Paige Tepping that talked about getting your home ready this fall for our spring market. Many recent indicators that I have been hearing are stating that our spring real estate market should rebound above and beyond our expectations and take us out of the recession all together. Let’s hope! Anyway, I thought I would share some of her thoughts with those of you out there not only preparing your home for sale but also those who just want to make their place shine this fall.
Now that summer is beginning to wind down and cooler weather is on its way, it’s time to get some of the routine home maintenance out of the way before it gets too cold. If you don’t prepare your home in the fall season, and clean up the yard, when spring comes along, you could be left with an unsightly mess. But don’t start too early, we’ve probably got a little more warm weather on the way.
One that everybody puts off and hates to do but is so VERY important is to clean out the rain gutters.  If you have rain gutters on your home, fall is the best time to get them cleaned. Cleaning rain gutters isn’t that difficult of a task, it’s just a tedious and occasionally unpleasant one. The easiest way to get rid of the junk is to use a high pressure hose, and then use a small trowel to get rid of the rest of the debris. Once you have gotten rid of all the debris, give your gutters a final spray. And don’t let this go for too long. The longer you wait, the worse the clean up will be and you could cause serious damage to your siding and gutters.
Take care of your pots and planters. If you’re like most homeowners, you have some planters or potted plants sitting around the yard. Before it gets too cold, be sure to empty the dirt out of any pots or planters and put them in a place where they won’t freeze. If you don’t empty or store your planters, there’s a good chance they will either crack or fall apart.
Rake the leaves, all of them!  Keeping your yard free of leaves is an important task for homeowners and with all of the trees we are lucky enough to have in Raleigh…it’s a tough one. If you have numerous trees in your yard and piles of leaves that you don’t take care of, you might find that your grass is dead once spring arrives. Leaves can smother your lawn and replacing a lawn can cost a lot of money, so it’s a good rule of thumb to get rid of the leaves in the fall.
Weed and feed the lawn this fall. The best time to weed and feed the lawn is in the fall so get out there and do it. If you add weed killer in the fall, the weeds will store the poison in their roots during the winter season, and will prevent a breakout in the spring. By feeding your lawn with fertilizer in the fall, you are promoting healthy root growth, and this will help your lawn grow greener and faster in the spring.
Give your tools and storage area a tune-up. Once you have finished your fall maintenance chores, make sure you clean your tools and store them in a dry place so they will be in working order once spring arrives. Be sure to store metal shovels with the head upwards, as this will help detour rusting when it dries. Sheers need to be oiled up, wheel barrels should be left upside down and don’t forget to spray off the underside of the lawnmower. Clean and organize your garages and sheds. Take the time to make it look neat and it will pay off in the spring.
For other tips, ideas or information please email info@RtownLiving.com

The Hue, Open for Rentals?

August 26th, 2010

The Hue

Yesterday, afternoon after I left the RtownLiving downtown office, I decided to take a stroll over to The HUE in order to find out about the new set up as a Downtown Rental Condo Buiding.  As many of you know, The HUE closed its doors earlier this year and it was rumored that it would become a rental building.  Well it is true.  The HUE condo’s located at 300 W. Hargett St. in Downtown Raleigh are now called apartment homes and are available immediately for rent.  They actually just had the first renter move in this past weekend.  Advertised rental prices for The HUE rentals start at $995 +.  There are some current move in specials that were explained to me in order to jump start occupancy of the buiding.  With a great location in Downtown Raleigh only blocks from the Fayetteville St. District, The HUE is a great option for those that are looking to live in Raleigh’s growing and thriving downtown but aren’t ready to make that purchase yet.   If you want to get more information about The Hue and downtown Raleigh properties for rent, give your friends at RtownLiving a call 919-792-8201, or shoot us an email at info@Rtownliving.com!  We will show you your different rental options to see if The Hue is right for you.

F.A.C. Humble Pie

August 25th, 2010

317 S. Harrington St.

Wow what a fabulous turnout, and mother nature cooperated! Friday Afternoon Club infiltrated Humble Pie’s patio last week. There was about 50 of us, maybe it was timing with the start of school, or the great weather, could have been the location? Either way we had a great time! Humble Pie has an amazing outdoor space large enough to accomadate any party or evening cocktails with it’s own tiki bar. They shared with us spinach tarts, and delicious tuna, enough of a tease to make several of us order dinner. We ordered salmon, mahi, ribs, carmelized artichoke, and several other plates that were the perfect size to pass.  Our posted hours for F.A.C. are 5 to 8 P.M. but the weather was so nice most of us lingered later into the evening.

We added our F.A.C. events to the MeetUp site so that now all members can decide to join the professional group events or the social ones, but you will likely want both!  Find our events at http://www.meetup.com/raleighyoungprofessionals/ or on our website calendar for all downtown events www.RtownLiving.com.

Not ready to buy just yet? Talk to us about renting.

August 24th, 2010

So, as luck would have it, I was talking with yet another one of my good friends this morning at Rapid Fitness who had no idea that we could help renters with their search for new digs. And not just in downtown Raleigh… although that is our specialty we are EXPERTS in all areas of the Triangle. But how is that possible? How did he think we only sell homes in downtown? I am almost positive that whenever possible and work is brought up, I am talking about real estate to my friends. Probably more that I should be. I don’t even try any more…it just happens. Rental options must have come up at some point. No? Well…ok…we better discuss it now then. Everybody… listen up. Please :)

One benefit of a slumping real estate market due to the recession, if you can actually say something good has come from it, is that the rental business is booming and our real estate team, RtownLiving, has expanded our realm of services. We now are able to help, not only those looking for a new place to lease, but those looking for property managers to care for and lease their personal residences and investment properties. Before the recession, we were much more buyer and seller driven as that is what the market dictated but today we are seeing more and more renters and investors turn to real estate agents for help. And they should. After all, it can be confusing out there and there can be many more opportunities available to renters that they never realized. We are able to help search for homes, possibly turn for sale homes into for rent homes, set up and view homes, negotiate lease terms, coordinate and help facilitate the moving process, refer any home related services and much, much more. And all of this is at no expense to the renter. We are paid by the landlord or listing agent of the home which means a renter has all the luxuries of a real estate agent protecting their best interests at no cost to them. Not bad huh?

Now we realize that this is a new train of thought. In the past, those looking to rent a new place to live turned to Craig’s List or to their classified ads. But today, there are more options. You can get assistance from your friendly neighborhood real estate agents…ahem…RtownLiving and it will not cost you a thing. Plus you’ll be contributing to the business of people that you know, you like and you trust. And we thank you for that. :)

So, if you’ve decided that now may not be the best time to buy a new home or to sell your current home, and you’re looking at other options…give us call. We would be happy to discuss your specific situation and see if there is something that RtownLiving can help you with. And of course, if you are thinking that now is the time for a purchase or a sale, we would welcome the opportunity to earn your business.

First Time Homebuyer Questions

August 19th, 2010

In the past year first time home-buyers reached the highest market share on record at almost 50% of all home sales in the U.S. Government tax incentives, high affordability and pent up demand contributed to the surge. The average first time buyer over the course of last year was about 30 years old and purchased a detached single family home at roughly 1800 sq feet. The median price of the home was slightly less here in the South versus places in the Northeast and West. Over 80% of those buyers worked with a real estate agent.

I was having a conversation with a new client and fist time home-buyer the other day and it hit me how common many of the questions we were going over actually are. I started to think that although this has become “common knowledge” to me, it is actually pretty foreign to most people. I thought I would share some of the hot buttons we touched on.

Q: Why should I buy a home and give up renting? Renting is easy.

A: A home is more than a place to live, it’s an investment and home-ownership remains the main way that Americans build wealth. Owning a home allows the opportunity to build value over time through equity appreciation. Renting, on the other hand, does the exact same thing…BUT FOR SOMEBODY ELSE, the landlord. There are also many tax deductions available to home owners.

Q: Why do I need a real estate agent? I read a book once and my parent’s have sold like 2 houses before.

A: In most cases, real estate agents (like RtownLiving), will represent a buyer’s best interests at no cost to them. Typically, in our market, the seller pays the real estate commissions relieving the buyer of that expense and gaining an agent at no cost. Most agents (like RtownLiving) have an abundance of market knowledge, know current trends, neighborhood specifics and work diligently to protect their clients and continue their education. We are expert negotiators and have resources available to us that make the transaction smooth and worry-free.

Q: What kind of financing is available to me?

A: A quality real estate broker will work closely with quality mortgage lenders. Over the years we have built solid relationships with quality lenders who will work closely with, and help our client’s make good decisions.

Q: How much do I offer for the home? HGTV told me that “low-balling” was the way to go.

A: “Low-Balling” is rarely a good idea. A successful real estate transaction is one where both parties come away feeling like they got a good deal. Low-balling may lead to insulting the seller and therefore alienating the buyer from the transaction. Some sellers may have a personal reaction and refuse to do business with a low ball offer. We take the time to educate our clients on the national and local real estate market. That includes making sure the offer price is in line with recent comparable sales based on location and condition.

Q: Should I wait for home prices to drop further? I saw on CNN that we still have 19 years in this recession.

A: Ummm…no, you probably should not wait. If you are ready and able, you should be prepared to move forward quickly. Our local Raleigh market is heating up and homes are selling. We have a saying that is way too often correct and that is “as soon as you find the home that you love, somebody else will fall in love with it as well.” Excitement leads to offers and one offer will often lead to many. The real estate market runs in cycles and market conditions can change quickly. There are many advantages to purchasing now, including low interest rates and a slightly higher than normal inventory of available homes. Nobody ever knows when the bottom of the market has come, until we are on the way back up looking backward.

Whether it’s your first or twenty first time buying a home it’s a good idea to consult with a respectable and qualified real estate broker. If you have questions, please feel free to contact any of our RtownLiving staff and we will respond to you just as quickly as we can. Happy Home Buying!

Free Gift Cards to Downtown Hot Spots!

August 16th, 2010

Follow our RtownLiving Open House signs and you could win gift certificates to downtown Raleigh restaurants and bars.

That’s right…it’s that simple. We will be hosting multiple open houses all throughout downtown Raleigh over the upcoming weeks and months where you will have the chance to register to win gift cards to various downtown restaurants and bars. It’s easy. Just find one of our many RtownLiving signs scattered throughout Raleigh’s Inside the Beltline area, follow the arrows to the open house and then say hello. Not too shabby for the chance to win free gift cards.

We’ll be highlighing a different area of downtown Raleigh each week and our goal is to show more people the many benefits of living downtown and inside the beltline.

Recap: See Sign… This one here—–>

Follow it to an open house and say hello.

Win free food and drinks.

See you soon.

Downtown Raleigh Restaurant Week!

August 14th, 2010
If you haven’t heard yet, RtownLiving gets pretty excited about promoting downtown Raleigh. Seriously, it’s no secret any longer. We love this place and we couldn’t be happier to be a major contributor to the growth and development of our amazing city. Every day in downtown Raleigh provides something new and exciting. So what’s coming up next you ask? How about a chance to experience some of our most incredible downtown Raleigh restaurants on the cheap? You got it! And this is an order…Indulge your palate during the Downtown Raleigh Restaurant Week— a  week-long dining extravaganza showcasing the culinary talent in the heart of the capital city!
Select restaurants will offer tantalizing, three-course prix fixe dinners for either $20 or $30, depending on the venue. Savor the delectable dishes prepared by downtown Raleigh’s finest dining establishments from Monday, August 23 through Sunday, August 29.
Prices are $20 or $30, depending on the venue (tip, taxes and beverages not included). Reservations are strongly recommended.

For more information please visit http://www.godowntownraleigh.com/restaurantweek/restaurants.htm or call us for details and we’ll give you the inside scoop on where to go get your eat on.

Getting Professional at 42nd St

August 13th, 2010

                                                        

42nd Street Oyster Bar is a Raleigh Landmark, one of the oldest restaurants downtown it was the first place to serve draft beer after prohibition in the 1930’s. We would like to extend a big thank you to Hunter and his staff for helping put together this great event.

We joined 42nd Street in their bar area where they shared some great appetizers and beer specials. 42nd St always has a great variety of local and micro brew beers on tap. There were a lot of new faces joining us that evening. The Raleigh Young Professionals have provided an excellent avenue to those new to the area looking to network as well as learn more about downtown Raleigh.

One of our members, Kestrel, shared with the group the details of the upcoming SparkCon. SparkConis a 4 day event in September where people of the triangle will celebrate all the artistic creativity we can find. From music and poetry to graffiti and film, SparkCon will fill Fayetteville Street andperpetuate the non-profit’s support. The event will also bring encouragement and support for the emerging artists all around us.

We also discussed our continued efforts in the collection of old, used cell phones that we donate to the Wake County Women’s Shelter. Thank you to Ron Wen to bringing two cell phones to the event! Some of our other contributors have been Danya Bizzell and Chris Bradshaw. Please don’t forget to bring any old and unsed phones you may have to our upcoming events or drop them by our office at 404 Glenwood. We will be collecting the phones until the end of September.

Thank you to all who came out to 42nd Street Oyster Bar and welcome to all of the new members! We hope to see you all at our next event. For more details, check out www.RtownNetworks.com.

RtownLiving Helping The Community

August 5th, 2010

The Raleigh Young Professionals networking group, a division of RtownLiving, has partnered with the Raleigh Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) to be volunteers for their huge upcoming LockUp fundraiser. RtownLiving and the Raleigh Young Professionals ask for your support and any donation that you are able to provide. We understand that this is a difficult time financially for many of us, so any help you can contribute is greatly appreciated. Below is a note from the Raleigh Young Professionals group:

We’re excited to tell you that we have chosen to serve as an MDA Jailbird and are being Locked-Up…that’s right, We’re going behind bars to help Jerry’s Kids©.  In order to be released on good behavior, we need your help to raise our “bail.”

RYP’s bail has been set at $3,500.00 and if everyone we know makes a tax-deductible donation of just $30 we’ll reach our goal quickly!  $30 covers the cost of 1 flu shot for MDA families.

Just click here to make a secure, online donation before 08/12/10. This is a fun event benefiting individuals and families served by MDA who are affected by neuromuscular disease. RYP is honored to partner with MDA, and help this important cause.

Don’t hesitate to call or e-mail us with any questions.

Thanks in advance for your help. Together we’ll make a difference for local MDA families!

RYP

P.S. We’re counting on you, click here to donate.

If the link above does not work, please cut and paste the address below into the address bar of your Internet browser.
https://www.joinmda.org/telu2010lockup/chuck/

August First Friday in Downtown Raleigh

August 3rd, 2010

Join Us This Week at 404 Glenwood Ave