iRaleighRealEstate Blog

With the holidays just around the corner, you better get busy shopping. Here’s a short wish-list of this years must-have gadgets and gizmos for the home. These modern gifts are sure to get your motor running while also enhancing the functionality and livability of your household.

Wireless Home Security System
For about $200 you can bestow the gift of peace of mind. One of the great benefits of going with a wireless home security system is that it alleviates the issue of digging holes and drilling into walls which could be an issue if you’re planning a move in the near future. This allows a family to feel safe at home without doing any real damage to the home. The X10 Monitor Plus System offers three-way protection: a screaming siren, flashing lights, plus an emergency dialer. Maintenance of this system is minimal, including the monthly service charge of $20.00.

Keyless Home Entry
Is there someone forgetful on your list? Then you might want to consider the Keyless Pro Keyless Touchpad Lock. These locks are offered in several tarnish-free finishes, are easily installed and range in price from about $100-$280. Several codes can be accepted simultaneously and the codes can be individually deleted. This means your real estate agent or housekeeper can have a different code from your family. An added safety feature is the warning alarm which sounds after four failed entry attempts. This gift is tech-savvy, practical and very affordable.

Electronic Heater
This updated electronic heater will be as much of a conversation piece as it will be a source of warmth. The has a unique modern design which combines the look of an LCD display with the toasty heat of a space heater. The functionality and price of this product, just $242, is what really makes it nice. And the good thing about this “fireplace” is that it’s practically maintenance free and can be moved around the house as needed.

Robotic Vacuum
For the handy homemaker on your list the iRobot Roomba 510 robotic vacuum is a must-have. This little robot zips over carpets and other floor surfaces clearing them of debris and pet hair. The 510 is the newest generation of robotic vacuums offered by iRobot. There’s no need to worry about bumps to your baseboards or furniture, this rechargeable model has a very sensitive system in place to detect the proximity of walls, furniture and other obstacles. While the iRobot won’t replace your traditional upright vacuum, it’s a great value at $250 and can be used daily to help keep the home spic and span for open houses.

Robotic Lawn Mower
Its hard work to maintain great curb appeal, but you can make that task easier by giving the Automower solar-powered robotic lawn mower. The Automower is able to trim a quarter of an acre with 10 hours of charging. It even has built-in technology to avoid flower beds and potted plants, plus a feature that prevents it from harming pets and kids. For those seeking a green lawn but who are also green minded, the $3,100 price tag is worthwhile.

Jacuzzi Tub
There’s nothing wrong with a little bathroom remodel while indulging the one you love. The Jacuzzi La Scala Whirlpool tub is the ultimate in luxury and doesn’t just appeal to the ladies. In addition to the silent air induction system, adjustable directional jets and underwater mood lighting, it also features a 43″ flat-screen HDTV complete with a DVD and CD player, FM/AM radio, surround sound and a floating remote control. This is the ultimate addition to any master suite and can be purchased for about $34,000.

Smart Treadmill
If there’s a fitness fanatic in your life then you’ve got to check out the latest in home-gym technology. The Technogym Treadmill 700i isn’t your average treadmill. It’s got enough bells and whistles to keep you entertained even on the longest of runs. The 700i includes an iPod dock, touchscreen, television, radio, and software capable of automatically determining a workout regimen. The treadmill is pricey at $16,000, but it’s perfect for tackling those New Year’s resolutions.

And how about a place to put it all…. 
If a new home is on your ultimate shopping list, visit www.HomeSearchRALEIGH.com and www.FreemanDavisHomeTeam.com for direct access to every home listed in the Raleigh/Durham area.  Just point and click your way home.  We’re alway available to show you the homes that best fit what you’re looking for so schedule a showing online!

Here’s a surefire way to start an argument: Suggest that the housing market has reached bottom. While the near-term national outlook is still rather grim, there are signs that the overbuilding and speculative pricing that inflated the national housing bubble are working their way through the system. In October 2005, near the peak of the boom, the median sales price for a U.S. home reached 7.3 times per capita income; by this May it had fallen to 5.7, in line with historical norms. Nationally, the rate of decline in sales is slowing, and in some regions, including Raleigh, NC, sales numbers have actually perked up.

National sales figures that get so much attention are brought down by boom-and-bust markets like Las Vegas, Miami and Phoenix but if hard-hit states like California, Arizona, Nevada and Florida are taken out of the statistical mix, the picture is much more promising. Recent studies show that at least 65 percent of the nation’s 386 metro areas have a greater than a 90 percent chance of seeing higher prices over the next two years. What’s more, the government’s sweeping bailout of the financial sector could boost the housing market by making borrowing easier for buyers.

The publication “Smart Money” dug into those numbers as well as other forecasts and analysis to determine which markets are in the best shape for a rebound and also talked with housing experts to learn which kinds of neighborhoods and suburbs are thriving. Their search identified 25 metropolitan areas that look particularly promising, and of the “seven best-looking markets,” the Raleigh area once again has taken the spotlight.

The Raleigh/Durham area seems to have gotten a free pass where the housing slump is concerned. Prices have been buoyed by job growth in the Research Triangle and total sales in the first quarter of this year were the fifth highest on record. In some cities, suburbanites stung by gas prices are moving downtown in favor of walkable neighborhoods. Not in Raleigh. “People move here to get away from that type of living,” says local market analyst Stacey Anfindsen, only partly in jest. Although downtown Raleigh has added hundreds of condos and lofts, the real growth has come in suburbs like Cary, Morrisville and Apex, all on the western side of Raleigh, where home prices have risen steadily.

I recorded a voiceover for the current Coldwell Banker/Howard Perry and Walston radio commercial a couple of months ago.  It read, “The real estate market is a lot like a weather forecast…it’s doesn’t matter unless it’s local.”  The majority of news reports focus on the national real estate market which does not exist.  There is no “national market,” only an average of trends taken from individual markets all across the country.  Even our local media, in particular, the Raleigh “News And Observer” can’t figure that one out.  Bad news may sell newspapers and get Television ratings but in the end, the consumer suffers through misinformation and the economic fears that are a subsequent result.  It’s good to see that “Smart Money” has made the wise choice to recognize the positive and place their emphasis on relevant facts rather than negative generalities.

If you would like some specifics on your particular neighborhood, feel free to contact us at www.HomeSearchRALEIGH.com or www.FreemanDavisHomeTeam.com.  As always, we’ll give you the true story (be it good news or bad) and our goal is to offer you all the facts necessary for you to make a good decision.

By the way, of the seven brightest markets, where are the other six?

Recent graduates, young couples, relocating professionals and others have all asked themselves this question at one point or another. The decision to rent an apartment, condo or house as opposed to buying is complex and is based on a number of factors.

This special report includes background information, key points to study and helpful Questions & Answers. As always, every person’s situation will be different and these points should be combined with concise, data-driven insights.  The Freeman/Davis Raleigh real estate team welcomes your questions and you can count on us to give you the facts you need to make a good decision. 

As real estate professionals, we are often asked for our point of view on the decision to buy or rent. While buy-versus-rent calculators can be helpful, there are numerous factors beyond straight “economics” to take into account. So it is important for you to review the full range of available online and offline resources – including the information available directly from www.HomeSearchRALEIGH.com.

Here are several relevant URLs to consult as resources on this topic:

• HomeSearchRALEIGH.com – Information on the local real estate market and trends we see developing as we work daily with buyers and sellers in the Raleigh/Durham area.
• coldwellbanker.com – Information on resources for prospective home or apartment-buyers from a national perspective.  Here you’ll find helpful tips you should consider if you think you are ready for homeownership.
• For a calculated decision, you can request our handy rent-versus-buy calculator which will break down basic money questions
• Suggestions from the National Association of Realtors – NAR’s Web site has good suggestions on buying versus renting as well as numerous other resources
• Information from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development – The HUD Web site offers many insights about home owning and financing. Visit this site to receive credit reports and credit scores to help your understand your creditworthiness

This is the first in a series of posts dedicated to the question, To Rent…or To Buy…

Check back often and feel free to comment on any of the information you see here on www.HomeSearchRALEIGH.com and www.iRaleighBlog.com.

This Weekend, Oct. 7 through Oct. 9, is a tax-free weekend on Energy-Saving Appliances and covers items like washers, freezers, refrigerators and other appliances that carry the “Energy Star” label.

Remember, it must have the “Energy Star” label to be eligible for the tax-free incentive.

Whether you’re thinking of buying or selling real estate, The FREEMAN/DAVIS TEAM would love to help.  For more information, please visit www.HomeSearchRALEIGH.com