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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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October 2011
Oct. 10 -- Columbus Day
Oct. 11 -- Full Moon
Oct. 31 -- Halloween
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Autumn Festivities and Raleigh Accolades
Hello friends,
It’s hard to believe that fall is here already and with the changing of the leaves also comes new opportunities to help your community. As this year’s President of the Raleigh Regional Board of REALTORS®, I am excited to announce the Association's charitable arm, the REALTOR® Foundation of the Triangle, is teaming up with local restaurants such as 18 Seaboard, ZPizza, and Gypsy’s Shiny Diner, just to name a few, on Tues, Oct. 4 and Thurs, Oct. 6 to raise funds for Project Angel Tree, a holiday gift donation initiative for children in need. For an updated list of participating restaurants, hours and locations, click on DINE OUT!
Along with helping your community, be sure to check out our annual Fall Festivities, Pumpkin Patches, and Hayrides blog for a list of area activities. And if you have a stack of papers that need getting rid of, please visit our Cary office on Sat, Oct. 8 from 9am to 12pm, for a FREE SHRED-A-MAX event.
And now, on to the latest Raleigh news and market updates. The accolades keep on coming for our capital city – recently named by BusinessWeek.com as the #1 Best City and by the Wall Street Journal, Raleigh ranked #4 as one of the Best Places to Live. And for those of you who enjoy real estate news, be sure to check out the latest Market Trends report.
Warmest regards,
Linda Trevor & Co.
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New Listing: Ranch Home with Wooded Views!
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New Listing: Townhome with New Flooring!
- 106 Eldon Lane, Apex (Bradley Terrace)
- 3 Bedrooms, 2.5 Baths, 1470 SF, .03 Acre
- New Flooring in Foyer & Kitchen
- Master boasts a Vaulted Ceiling
- Patio with Privacy Screen, Community Playground
- Priced at $126,500 MLS#1803322
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New Listing: Country Home with Wrap-Around Porch!
- 33 Irene Lane, Raleigh (Waverly Pointe)
- 3 Bedrooms, 2.5 Baths, 2410 SF, .7 Acre
- Hardwoods in Foyer & Dining Room
- 1st Floor Master Suite with Luxury Bath
- Tiered Deck, Fire Pit, Fenced Backyard, & Wooded Views
- Priced at $240,000 MLS#1804106
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New Listing: 3-Story Home with Updated Kitchen!
- 103 Sable Court, Cary (Carrington)
- 4 Bedrooms, 2.5 Baths, 2405 SF, .14 Acre
- Updated Kitchen has Stainless Steel appliances
- Master Suite has His & Her Walk-in Closets
- 3rd Floor Bonus with Walk-in Attic
- Priced at $270,000 MLS#1800772
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New Listing: Townhome with Hardwood Floors!
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Under Contract: Home with Updated Kitchen!
- 2101 Echo Glen Lane, Apex (Walden Creek)
- 4 Bedrooms, 2.5 Baths, 2210 SF, .22 Acre
- Kitchen has New Floors & New Granite Counters
- Family Room has a Fireplace, Formal Dining & Living
- Master with Walk-in Closet & Updated Bath
- Priced at $249,990 MLS#1783327
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Under Contract: Home on Nearly 3/4 Acre!
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Featured Neighborhood: Kelly West
According the latest TARR Report, Kelly West is the most recent top appreciating neighborhood in the Cary, Apex, and Morrisville area. Located in Apex just off Olive Chapel Road, Kelly West offers single family homes priced in the low $200’s. The neighborhood has a volunteer group of homeowners who manage an association website (www.KellyWestHOA.org) which makes it easy for homeowners to find out the latest news and events near the community. Kelly West is convenient to shopping, restaurants, and Beaver Creek Commons.
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A people that values its privileges above its principles soon loses both.
~ Dwight D. Eisenhower
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August Existing-Home Sales Up Strongly from a Year Ago
According to the National Association of Realtors®, existing-home sales increased and monthly gains were seen in all regions during August, despite ongoing tight credit, appraisal problems, and regional disruptions created by Hurricane Irene.
Total existing-home sales rose 7.7 percent to a seasonally-adjusted annual rate of 5.03 million in August from an upwardly revised 4.67 million in July, and are 18.6 percent higher than the 4.24 million unit level in August 2010.
“Some of the improvement in August may result from sales that were delayed in preceding months, but favorable affordability conditions and rising rents are underlying motivations,” said NAR Chief Economist Lawrence Yun. “Investors were more active in absorbing foreclosed properties. In addition to bargain hunting, some investors are in the market to hedge against higher inflation.”
Investors accounted for 22 percent of purchase activity in August, up from 18 percent in July and 21 percent in August 2010. First-time buyers purchased 32 percent of homes in August, unchanged from July; they were 31 percent in August 2010.
“We had some disruptions from Hurricane Irene in the closing weekend of August, when many sales normally are finalized, along the Eastern seaboard and in New England,” said Yun. “As a result, the Northeast saw the smallest sales gain in August, and some general impact is expected in September with widespread flooding from Tropical Storm Lee. Aberrations in housing data are possible over the next couple months as markets recover from disrupted closings and storm damage.”
The national average commitment rate for a 30-year, conventional, fixed-rate mortgage fell to 4.27 percent in August, down from 4.55 percent in July; the rate was 4.43 percent in August 2010, according to Freddie Mac.
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Too often we enjoy the comfort of opinion without the discomfort of thought.
~ John F. Kennedy
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Fall Is Here: Why Do Leaves Turn Colors?
Fall is here -- and the trees in many parts of the country are changing colors quickly -- and are absolutely beautiful. But, do you know why they change colors?
A leaf's color comes from three different pigments: chlorophyll (green), carotenoid (yellow, orange, brown), and anthocyanins (red). All leaves have chlorophyll and carotenoid during the growing season, but the chlorophyll covers the carotenoid. This is why spring and summer leaves are green.
As Autumn comes and the hours of sunlight are fewer, the trees respond by producing less and less chlorophyll. Eventually, a tree stops producing any, which lets the carotenoid already in the leaves show through. The leaves become a bright rainbow of warm browns, yellows and vibrant oranges.
The red leaves are the ones that vary the most in color from year to year. Not all leaves have anthocyanins. Researchers have found that anthocyanins are produced as a form of protection for the tree. When a number of warm, sunny days and cool, but not freezing nights, come one after another, it's going to be a good year for reds.
In the day, the leaves can produce a lot of sugar, but the cool nights prevent the sugar sap from flowing through the leaf veins and down to the branches and trunk. The anthocyanins allow the plant to recover nutrients in the leaves before they fall off and give them brilliant shades of red, purple and crimson.
The best fall colors come when there's been a warm, wet spring, a mild summer, and a fall with warm, sunny days and cool nights.
P.S. Don't let all those leaves go to waste. After raking them up, use them to create Halloween decorations, such as a scarecrow or a garbage-bag tarantula.
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What matters is not the idea a man holds, but the depth at which he holds it.
~ Ezra Pound
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Understanding Loan Discount Points
Loan discount points are a one-time fee charged by the lender at closing in order to give you a lower interest rate on your loan. Each point is 1 percent of the mortgage amount; for example, one discount point on a $100,000 loan equals $1,000.
Each discount point paid on a 30-year loan typically lowers the interest rate by 0.125 percent. That means a 7.5 percent rate would be lowered to 7.375 percent if you purchase one point. Paying for points lowers your interest rate because the lender receives the income in a lump sum at closing rather than collecting the interest as you make payments.
Paying points to lower your interest rate is not always a good idea. While paying points is sometimes a good decision, many times the purchase costs you more than it saves. It's very important that you analyze the costs to figure out how many years you need to keep the loan to break-even on paying points. Sometimes it takes 10+ years to reach the break-even point. Do you plan to live there that long?
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Polished brass will pass upon more people than rough gold.
~ Lord Chesterfield
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Clean Your Screens Before Winter Hits
Many home owners remove and clean their window screens before storing them for the winter. This can prolong the life of the screen, and -- if you clean the windows too -- will make your winter view crystal clear. Here are a few tips to make the task easier:
- Remove the screens from the window frame, following the manufacturer’s instructions. Be careful not to bend or damage the screen.
- Put the screens on a flat surface, such as the driveway or lawn, and wet the screens thoroughly with water.
- Dip a scrub brush into a solution of 3 parts water to 1 part ammonia and apply to the screen using a very light scrubbing motion. Be sure you don't scrub too hard or push the fabric which can stretch or cause damage to the screen.
- Lightly brush both sides of the screen using overlapping, rotating strokes. In addition, clean the interior and exterior of the frame.
- Rinse the screens thoroughly with fresh water (preferably lukewarm) to make sure all cleaning solution is removed.
- Shake or tap the screen gently against the ground to remove excess water. Let the screens dry naturally, or give a quick wipe with an absorbent towel to speed up the drying process.
- Never pressure wash screens because the force will likely damage them.
- Cover the screens in plastic and store in an out-of-the-way place in an upright or flat position.
By cleaning your screens in the fall, you'll appreciate looking through clean windows all winter, and you'll have clean, ready-to-install screens next spring.
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Wisdom is knowing what to do next; virtue is doing it.
~ David Star Jordan, The Philosophy of Despair
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Popular Wine Varietals: Part 3 of 4
Last month we discussed Muscat, Champagne/Sparkling Wine, Gewurztraminer and Riesling. Following are three more well-know varietals.
- Zinfandel -- Primarily thought of as a Californian varietal (though recently proven to have originated from vineyards in Croatia), Zinfandel is a red wine with light to full body and berry-like or spicy flavors. Vintners use Zinfandel grapes to produce a wide range of wine styles including sweet White Zinfandels, light-bodied reds reminiscent of Beaujolais Nouveau, full bodied dry reds, sweet late harvest dessert wines, and port-style wine. Zinfandel is grown by over 200 producers and now accounts for over 23 percent of the total vineyard territory. The Red Zinfandel pairs well with moderately spicy meat dishes and casseroles. In addition, White Zinfandel has evolved in recent years to contain fuller fruit flavors and less of the cloyingly sweet flavors so reviled in the past.
- Pinot Noir -- Pinot Noir is a red wine of light to medium body and delicate, smooth, rich complexity with earthy aromas. They are less tannic than a Cabernet Sauvignon or a Merlot. Pinot Noirs exude the flavor of baked cherries, plums, mushrooms, cedar, cigars and chocolate. Pinot Noir grapes are grown around the world, mostly in the cooler regions, but the grape is chiefly associated with the Burgundy region of France. By volume most Pinot Noir in the United States is grown in California, with Oregon coming in second. Other regions are Washington State and New York. During 2004 and the beginning of 2005, Pinot Noir became considerably more popular in the U.S., Australia, New Zealand and Asia because of the movie "Sideways."
- Cabernet Sauvignon -- Cabernet Sauvignon is a red wine known for its depth of flavor, aroma and ability to age. It is mainly used for wine production, and is, along with Chardonnay, one of the most widely-planted of the world's grape varieties. Cabernet Sauvignon may have noticeable tannins. As a group, Cabernet Sauvignon wines are generally full-bodied and intense with a stronger flavor than Merlot and a smooth, lingering "finish." Cabernet Sauvignon has a well-defined aroma. In Old World wines, particularly those made in Bordeaux, this is characterized by a smell of violets, blackcurrant, cedar and spice. New World wines of this grape can often share the aromas of their Old World counterparts, but are more often dominated by aromas of chocolate, ripe jammy berries, oak, pepper and earth. In Australia, there is often a strong smell of eucalyptus, particularly in wines made in Coonawarra.
Next issue: Syrah/Shiraz, Petite Sirah and Merlot.
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What we are is God's gift to us. What we become is our gift to God.
~ Eleanor Powell
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October Movie Releases
- Oct. 7
- Real Steel
- The Ides of March
- Blackthorn
- Dirty Girl
- The Human Centipede 2
- The Way
- The Women on the 6th Floor
- Oct. 14
- The Big Year
- Footloose
- The Thing
- Chalet Girl
- Father of Invention
- The Skin I Live In
- Texas Killing Fields
- Trespass
Oct. 21
- Paranormal Activity 3
- The Three Musketeers
- Margin Call
- Martha Marcy May Marlene
- Oranges and Sunshine
- Snowmen
Oct. 28
- Anonymous
- In Time
- Johnny English Reborn
- The Rum Diary
- 13
- Janie Jones
- Like Crazy
- Outrage
*Opening dates may vary depending on where you live.
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Travel and change of place impart new vigor to the mind.
~ Seneca
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Look for Off-Peak Travel Deals in October
The summer weather is gone and the kids are back in school -- making October an affordable month to travel to many destinations. For example, lake resorts have cooled down, the mountains still don't have snow, and most amusement parks have really slowed down.
Most popular travel spots experience highs and lows in the flow of visitors. During the low periods, airlines, hotels, tour operators, and other travel companies are eager to attract paying customers by offering deals. Price-cutting, freebies, two-for-ones and special packages suddenly become common in places that wouldn't dream of offering discounts just a few weeks ago.
Keep in mind that destinations have a slow periods for a reason, such as weather, available activities, staffing or repairs/remodeling. Check with your local travel agent for the best deals on off-peak travel -- or visit an area's local tourist bureau online. Airfares tend to increase once the holidays close in, so do your traveling now and have some great pictures to share with your family on Thanksgiving Day.
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Some of the world's greatest feats were accomplished by people not smart enough to know they were impossible.
~ Doug Larson
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Importance of Keeping a Clean Registry
If you are a Windows' user, you've probably heard about your computer's registry, but may not know what it is -- or why it's important to keep it clean and running efficiently.
In short, the registry is a hierarchical database that stores configuration settings and options on Microsoft Windows operating systems. It contains settings for low-level operating system components, as well as the applications running on the platform: device drivers, the kernel, services, user interface and third party applications all make use of the registry.
Sometimes, errors occur in the registry. For example, when you uninstall a program, it's possible that corrupt, partial and useless files are left behind -- cluttering or leaving bad data in the registry. These errors makes it harder for the computer to find the information it needs and may cause the operating system or its associated applications to malfunction, slow your computer down considerably or even crash the entire system.
While you can edit your registry manually, using a registry cleaner utility is the most common way to solve registry errors, helping you avoid creating even worse registry problems -- or worse yet -- having to reformat your hard drive and reinstalling the operating system. This is why you want to keep the registry clean and error-free with a reliable registry cleaner.
It's best to install a registry cleaner before you have problems, because once your registry is corrupt, you may not be able to install any new programs. There are online registry scanners and cleaners, but you need to make sure they are a trusted source. It's much more secure to have your own registry cleaner, as most of them are free or cost very little.
Programs running slowly or freezing, frequent computer crashes and the "blue screen of death" are the most common problems associated with a registry that needs cleaning. By including a registry scan and clean with your ongoing maintenance routine, you can get rid of obsolete and corrupt files before they can cause problems.
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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. © 2011 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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