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- Real Estate Update
- Home & Family
- Buyers & Seller's Corner
- Home Improvement
- Wine 101
- New Movie Releases
- Travel Tips
- Technology Corner
- Forward to a Friend
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February 2012
2 - Groundhog Day
5 - Super Bowl XLVI
8 - Boy Scout Day
12 - Lincoln's Birthday
14 - Valentine's Day
20 - President's Day
21 -- Fat Tuesday
22 - Washington's Birthday
29 -- Leap Year Day
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2011 Year in Review and What’s Ahead for 2012!
Hello Friends,
Year-end reports have recently been released for 2011 and below are a few statistics. Funny thing is last year at this time I titled my e-newsletter with “Glimmers of Optimism” and I have the same sentiment this year yet with more to back up my gut feeling.
- Pending sales were up in 4Q by 16% which should produce higher first quarter closings for 2012
- Housing Affordability Index increased by 7.2%
- The Best Selling Price Point was $0-$149K across Wake County
- Monthly Inventory Supply dropped to 7 months (vs 8 months in 2010) - less supply - a good thing!
- Luxury Homes $500K and above: 14% drop in sales from prior year however the million-dollar point and higher saw an increase in closed sales.
Looking ahead to 2012, interest rates are forecasted to remain at current record low levels. Supply and demand…if demand remains at the same levels as seen in the past couple years, housing prices will eventually increase based on a reduction in supply, just basic economics. Check out the latest Market Trends report for more details.
And have you heard the most recent accolades for Raleigh? It was voted by BusinessWeek.com as the #1 Best Place to Live, the #3 Best Place to Raise a Family by 24/7 Wallstreet, and #1 on Inman News’ List of Top Real Estate Markets to Watch for 2012. With accolades like these, who wouldn’t want to live here!
Warm Regards,
Linda Trevor & Co.
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New Listing: Gleaming Hardwoods & Updated Kitchen!
- 3233 Arden Branch Ln, Raleigh (Willow Lakes)
- 3 BR, 2.5 BA, 1912 SF, .29 Acre
- Kitchen hosts Stainless Steel appliances
- All Hardwoods on 1st Fl, New Carpet on 2nd Fl
- Master has His & Her walk-in closets
- Priced at $180,000 MLS#1818324
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New Listing: Home with 3rd Fl Walk-Up Attic!
- 606 Flagstone Way, Durham (Stephens Woods)
- 3 BR, 2.5 BA, 2410 SF, .36 Acre
- Kitchen has Stainless Steel appliances
- Formal Living & Dining, Family Rm with Fireplace
- Master with His & Her closets
- Priced at $205,600 MLS#1814995
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New Listing: 1st Fl, One-story Condo!
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Under Contract in 3 Months-Luxury Home in Regency!
- 124 Highclere Ln, Cary (Renaissance at Regency)
- 4 Bedrooms, 6 Baths, 5245 SF, .41 Acre
- Gourmet Kitchen with Butlers Pantry
- 1st Fl Luxury Master with 2nd Fireplace
- Gallery, Bonus, Covered Veranda, Fenced Back Yard
- Priced at $850,000 MLS#1817339
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Under Contract: 3-Story Home with Updated Kitchen!
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Under Contract: One-Story, End Unit Townhome!
- 154 Sanair Ct, Apex (Heatherwood Townhomes)
- 2 BR, 2 BA, 1140 SF, .05 Acre
- Cathedral Ceilings in Living Room & Master
- Living Room has Fireplace & 2 Skylights
- Back Deck with Wooded Views & Nearby Walking Trail
- Priced at $119,900 MLS#1799491
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Featured Neighborhood: Inside Wade
Inside Wade is a popular new home choice as evidenced by its position as a Top 20 Selling New Home Development according to the Triangle Residential Realty Report. This new home community offers single family homes from the $240's and Townhomes from the $160's with six different collections to choose from. Contact Us Today for a list of available homes!
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The real art of conversation is not only to say the right thing at the right place but to leave unsaid the wrong thing at the tempting moment.
~ Dorothy Nevill
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Existing-Home Sales Continue Upward Trend
According to a recent report from the National Association of Realtors®, existing-home sales continued on an uptrend in December, rising for three consecutive months and remaining above a year ago.
The latest monthly data shows total existing-home sales rose 5.0 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.61 million in December from a downwardly revised 4.39 million in November, and are 3.6 percent higher than the 4.45 million-unit level in December 2010.
“The pattern of home sales in recent months demonstrates a market in recovery,” said NAR Chief Economist Lawrence Yun. “Record low mortgage interest rates, job growth and bargain home prices are giving more consumers the confidence they need to enter the market.”
For all of 2011, existing-home sales rose 1.7 percent to 4.26 million from 4.19 million in 2010.
The national average commitment rate for a 30-year, conventional, fixed-rate mortgage fell to another record low of 3.96 percent in December from 3.99 percent in November; the rate was 4.71 percent in December 2010, according to Freddie Mac.
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To invent, you need a good imagination and a pile of junk.
~ Thomas Edison
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Bowling: Fun for the Whole Family
If you're looking for some entertainment the whole family can enjoy, discover bowling. Whether it's just an afternoon game, a Saturday night out, or a weekend tournament, bowling offers many benefits. Following are just a few:
- You can bowl year-round; it doesn't matter what the weather's like. In fact, it may be the perfect rainy-day sport.
- Bowling is a physical activity that encourages flexibility, strength and eye-hand coordination. Plus, you'll burn a few calories while you're at it.
- Bowling is social. It's one of the few sports where you can share good conversation and laughter while you play.
- Unlike many sports, bowling can be played your entire life. As long as you can lift a ball, you can bowl.
- Bowling teaches strategy, patience, sportsmanship and teamwork. Math skills may be involved too.
- Bowling is fairly affordable and you can rent the equipment. If you really enjoy it, you can buy your own stuff.
- Bowling is fun (if you don't worry about the score). Whether you're 4, 40 or 80, it's fun for all ages.
- Bowling shirts!
To mix it up a bit, many bowling alleys offer special themes, such as costume night, family night, dancer bowling, wacky bowling, and glow-in-the dark bowling, among others. So, the next time you're all sitting around watching a bad rerun, go bowling instead.
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You can't build a reputation on what you are going to do.
~ Henry Ford
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Take the Time to Check Out the Competition
It's pretty much standard for the listing agent to prepare and present a home evaluation to a home seller before they place the home on the market. This evaluation often includes comparable homes for sale, pending and sold home prices, average number of days on the market, and more. While this evaluation is good, it doesn't always give you the whole picture.
So, before you put your home on the market, you may want to consider spending a weekend or two checking out the competition. This includes existing homes and new home developments. A good listing agent will be happy to show you a few "comps," and you can go to open houses on your own. You only need to see a few similarly-priced homes in similar neighborhoods to get a feel for your competition. You can preview new homes, of course, at the development during their regular business hours.
This research will help you determine the best sales price at which to list your home -- a key ingredient to get your home sold fast and at top dollar. You don't need to go out and buy new furniture to look like a model home, but it's important for you to see what potential buyers see.
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When we got into office, the thing that surprised me the most was that things were as bad as we'd been saying they were.
~ John F. Kennedy
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Clean Driveways Add Curb Appeal
If you have grease stains in your garage or on your driveway, chances are good you don't notice them since your car is usually parked over them. But, it's probably one of the first thing a friend, guest or prospective home buyer notices as they evaluate your property. While removing the stains is not a fun job -- it is a worthwhile endeavor.
To get it done: First, soak up the grease with some cat litter. Be sure to be generous and grind it in good. After removing the soiled litter, drench the stains with a highly carbonated beverage (soda water or a cola work well). Rub the soda into the concrete with a stiff bristle broom -- and once all the fizz is gone -- hose the driveway clean.
Next, mix up one cup powdered laundry detergent and one cup liquid chlorine bleach in one gallon of hot water (the hotter, the better). Pour this solution on the stain, and after letting it sit a bit, hose it down. Now, guests will be focus on your beautiful home instead of the stains on your driveway.
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In my many years I have come to a conclusion that one useless man is a shame, two is a law firm, and three or more is a congress.
~ John Adams
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Choosing the Right Stemware
Sure, there are times when you'll end up drinking wine from a paper or plastic cup -- but you better be on a picnic or at a tailgate party. But, if you really want to enjoy the true essence of a wine, using the right stemware will help you appreciate and evaluate the wine being served. Following are a few tips to help you choose the right stemware.
- Choose a wine glass that is made from crystal, half-crystal or high-quality glass. The base of the stemware should be sufficiently large with a long stem, so holding the glass will not affect the wine's temperature. The glass should be transparent with little or no decoration so you can clearly see the wine.
- White wine should be served in a small and narrow, tulip-shaped glass, and hold about 10 ounces. The narrowness of the glass helps the wine remain chilled because it has less surface area.
- Red wine glasses, on the other hand, should have a wider oval or egg-shaped bowl that narrows slightly at the top, and a taller stem. The wider bowl helps the wine "breath" and maintain a cooler temperature. The ideal red will glass will hold between 10 and 22 ounces.
- Champagne should be served in narrow, fluted and tall stemware. The flute shape helps maintain the bubbly, carbonated quality of a sparkling wine, while the long stem will keep your hand from warming it up.
- Serving tip: A wine glass should only be filled with about one-third of the total volume of the glass being used. While in a restaurant you may feel you're being cheated, this is the proper way to enjoy a fine wine. You may want to order a bottle so you can pour it yourself.
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Drama is life with the dull bits cut out.
~ Alfred Hitchcock
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February Movie Releases
- Feb. 3
- Big Miracle
- Chronicle
- The Woman in Black
- The Innkeepers
- Kill List
- Perfect Sense
- W.E.
Feb. 10
- On the Ice
- Journey 2: The Mysterious Island
- Safe House
- Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace
- The Vow
- In Darkness
- Rampart
- Return
- Feb. 14
- Feb. 17
- This Means War
- Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance
- The Secret World of Arrietty
- Feb. 24
- Act of Valor
- Gone
- Tyler Perry's Good Deeds
- Wanderlust
*Opening dates may vary depending on where you live.
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There's a fine line between fishing and just standing on the shore like an idiot.
~ Steven Wright
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5 Steps to Getting a Passport
If you plan to travel outside the United States -- and re-enter -- you're going to need a passport; a passport is a document that verifies the nationality and identity of its bearer. You'll need two 2x2-inch photos, proof of citizenship, proof of identity, passport application and money. Here's how to obtain a passport.
- Fill out the Application for Passport, Form DS-11. You can download this form online and bring it with you when you apply for your passport.
- Get two passport photos taken. The identical photos must be 2 inches by 2 inches. The pictures must offer a full, frontal view of your face, from the top of your head through your shoulders. The photo must be taken with a plain white background. Many post offices, mailing service stores and photographers will take passport photos for a small fee.
- Bring a previous U.S. passport, certified birth certificate, naturalization certificate or a certificate of citizenship to a Passport Acceptance Facility (often at your local court house or county administration office). You can find the nearest facility by inputting your zip code on the the U.S. Department of State web site (travel.state.gov).
- Bring proof of identity, such as a current driver's license, or government or military ID.
- You must pay both a passport application fee (about $140 for adults) and an execution/acceptance fee (about $25) to get your passport. You will pay the fees when you file your application. It takes about six weeks after filing to receive your U.S. passport. If you are traveling soon, you can pay an additional fee for expedited service (about $60 plus delivery) and get your passport within two to three weeks.
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The best minds are not in government. If any were, business would hire them away.
~ Ronald Regan
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12 Tips for Securing Your Wireless Network
If you've thought about working from home, especially with an internet-based business, you'll want to make online security one of your biggest priorities.
Having a secure wireless network is no longer an option -- it's a necessity! With identity theft on the rise, it's more important than ever to make sure your private data and financial information is safe and secure. You don't need to spend any money to make this happen, just follow the 12 tips below.
- Set up the wireless access/router point through a client that is hard-wired.
- Be sure to change the factory setting password to something that would be impossible or very hard for anyone else to guess. (Don't use "admin.")
- Use a 128-bit Wired Equivalency Privacy (WEP) encryption on your access point as well as your network card. Occasionally change the WEP key entries. Your hardware may not support a minimal of 128 bit WEP encryption. If it doesn't, it could be time to get rid of it and get an upgrade. WEP is the least minimal security precaution that's available. You'll want more, but it's better than nothing.
- Change the factory setting SSID on the access/router point into a confusing, hard-to-guess string. Make this configured SSID a default connection by your computer.
- If the setting is available, make the access point not broadcast the SSID.
- Block out internet requests and pings that are anonymous.
- Disable P2P Connections.
- MAC filtering should be Enabled.
- Turn on firewall on the network/access point while the zone function is demilitarized. Turn on client firewalls for every computer that is on the network.
- When updates for the router and access point firmware become available, use them.
- Hide the router itself to prevent anyone from altering the settings.
- Place the router in the middle of the building and away from windows to keep those outdoors from accessing the signal.
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RE/MAX United
51 Kilmayne Drive Suite 100
Cary, NC 27511
This eNewsletter contains information, facts and opinions from various individuals and organizations. This eNewsletter is provided on an "as-is" basis without warranties of any kind, either express or implied. I/We are not responsible for any errors or omissions. Consult with your doctor, fitness consultant, attorney, accountant, or other professional advisor when necessary. © 2012 eNewsletterSolutions.
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Linda Trevor
RE/MAX United
51 Kilmayne Drive
Suite 100
Cary, NC 27511
Phone: (919) 469-6543
Fax: (919) 469-8444
Email Me!
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