Cary Real Estate Blog

Meet the LG Real Estate Swat Team

One of the things I am most proud of is that our LG Real Estate listings have the reputation of showing in top condition. In today’s highly competitive market, agents can typically present a buyer with as many as 30 to 50 homes that fit their price point and location. That’s why I place a priority on ensuring our homes stand out; when they do, they get the showings and ultimately the offer and contract. As an agent, I work very hard educating and guiding my new clients about the expectations of their homes as resales in a heavily saturated market.

 HGTV has done wonders to educate and inspire homeowners to be creative and tackle many projects to make their homes special, comfortable and personal. Yet, when a home is on the market and needs to appeal to a broadcross-section of potential buyers, neutral is actually best. To give the best advice to our clients, my supporting staff-Lee Ann Crowder and Jennifer Grinter-are specially trained and equipped to help our sellers. Once I have all of the paperwork signed to market a home, Jennifer Grinter makes an appointment with our new clients for the SWAT Team visit.

Swat Team Visit

 Jennifer and Lee Ann arrive at your Cary home with notebook and pad in hand and a very keen eye for all of those things we each overlook as we are busy just living our lives. Not even a spider web is too small to be

Jennifer & Lee Ann

overlooked, but don’t worry: we don’t suggest more than is necessary. Our goal is to ensure the home’s exterior and interior is as clean as possible and all the features show in their best light. This may mean anything from suggesting that you repaint a bath to “pop,” trim those shrubs blocking the front of the house or move the sofa from upstairs in the bonus to downstairs in the family room to enhance the scale of the room.

Helpful Suggestions

 Both team members are very detailed and have experience and training in design placement and style. Jennifer takes the lead on documenting all of the home’s features and creating our executive home brochures. Lee Ann focuses on placing the furniture and ensuring the client’s home looks as neat and as peaceful as possible for potential buyers. It helps for clients to have somewhere they can store personal belongings until they move. Friends’ homes, donation locations and even recycling sites can be of assistance.

 Our SWAT team takes this job seriously, and we are always sensitive to each seller. As we say, no one really lives the way you need to while you are selling your home. You may have to live lightly for a while, but it will get YOUR HOME SOLD. If you are serious about selling your home, call us at 919-653-2647.

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Cary NC is a great place to raise a family and of course be a grandparent. Cary is a vibrant community of 132,000 (2008 count) located between The City of Raleigh and the Research Triangle Park.  The average age in Cary is 33.7 which means families, children, and of course lots of grandchildren.  There are wonderful parks, great schools, beautiful neighborhoods, and plenty of activities for children and grandchildren.

Allie & Ashley

We (Dave & Lenda Goulding) have 2 married sons that live in Cary and 3 precious little granddaughters.  Our oldest son Rex and his wife Lora live in the Preston area of Cary and have 2 daughters – Ashley age 6 and Allie age 4.  They love swimming at the Prestonwood CC pool and fishing in their backyard which is located on one of the Preston Lakes. 

Sadie

Our 2^nd son Ryan and his wife Dani live in the Weston Manor subdivision of Cary. They have a daughter, Sadie Claire, who will celebrate her 1^st birthday in a couple of weeks.  Sadie is now walking and loves to explore and play games with GG (Lenda) and G-POP (Dave).

Normally, we as parents follow and locate close to our children so that the grandkids are nearby.  We are very fortunate to run a business- LG Real Estate- in a town so inviting and conducive to young families.  Our oldest son Rex moved to Cary from Boston in 2003 and Ryan moved here from California in 2007. 

Cary Senior Center

So not only is Cary a terrific place to raise a family, it’s also a great place for grandparents to reside.  The parks, recreational, and cultural department of the Town of Cary operates the Cary Senior Center.  The Cary Senior Center is a 17,000 square foot recreation and education facility designed by and for the adults 55 and older in Cary.  The center sponsors such activities as the Senior/Teen Wii Bowling Challenge, Ice Cream Socials, Annual Evening Concert (free), Tai Chi and other exercise classes. 

 So grandparents come to Cary – the kids and grandchildren will follow!

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Last weekend, my husband Joe and I took our 1 1/2 year old mini labradoodle , Kanga Ru, for a short drive from our Preston neighborhood in Cary, NC to the American Tobacco Trail.    While Kanga had to be on her leash, per the trial rules, we all had a great time just enjoying our walk.  We accessed the path at the White Oak Trailhead just off of Green Level Church Road.  The actual address is 1305 White Oak Church Road, Apex, NC  27523.

Kangu Ru ready for her walk!

We passed a lot of bikers and walkers.  I think next time we will bring along some friends who have a labradoodle as well.  In our real estate business, LG Real Estate, plenty buyers are always asking about local things to do in Cary.  I can’t believe how long it has taken me to enjoy this option that is so close and accessable to our home.  Do you have any ideas for local outings?

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Wow!  Am I excited.  As what seems like a rarity, I am a local girl who grew up around farming and lots of fresh veggies.  Many summer nights were spent hanging out under a HUGE old oak tree while the family shelled beans and told great stories; often after a fun evening of baseball.  An all veggies dinner is still something that I love!

Veggies for Sale!

One of our favorite neighborhoods which we specialize in at LG Real Estate is Carpenter Village.  Just last weekend, they opened  a weekly Farmers Market which is open each Saturday until November from 8am- 12pm.  You can find out more about the amazing local vendors, fresh from their farms at www.westernwakefarmersmarket.org.  The address is 1226 Morrisville Carpenter Road.  Perhaps I’ll see you there!

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2009 Summerfest Series

The North Carolina Symphony moves outdoors to the Koka Booth Amphitheatre in Cary NC for the summer season.  Bring your neighbors and kids, pack a picnic and enjoy the festive atmosphere and vibrant sounds of the summer. You can wear your shorts and flip-flops, sit back on the lawn and enjoy the stars and the music.

11 Summertime events  

         There are 11 events scheduled on the Sunmmerfesr series and rickets are on sale at the Booth Amphitheatre box office and all Ticketmaster outlets. The complete schedule and pricing can be found on the Koka Booth Amphitheatre website.

4th Of July Concert

One of the highlights of the summer series is the July 4th Independence Day concert and fireworks display. My wife Lenda and I attended the July 4th concert our first year here in Cary in 1994. We were amazed at the number of families and young children enjoying the festivities, picnics and spectacular fireworks over Regency Lake.

Please enjoy the summer series and contact us with any questions about the concerts or real estate in the Cary area.

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 The Cary area downtown farmers market is now operating on Saturday mornings and Tuesday afternoons.  The hours are 8:00 -12:30 on Saturdays and 3:00 – 6:00 on Tuesdays.  The Cary farmers market has a new location at Chatham Square, 744 E Chatham Street.

VEGGIES AVAILABLE

A sample of veggies available include beets, cabbage, cucumbers, lettuce, mustard greens, onions, peas, radishes, scallions, spinach, sugar snaps, sweet potatoes, and tomatoes.  The Cary Downtown Farmers Market features only items grown within a 60 mile radius of Cary, NC.

FREE FACEAINTING ON SATURDAYS 

In addition to fresh fruits and vegetables, shop here to find pasture raised meats, cut flowers, crafts, pottery, artisan roasted coffee, and baked goods.

On Saturdays, the market also offers free face painting for the kids.

Hope you can drop by the market and enjoy the atmosphere and wonderful foods.  Call us or email for directions if you are not familiar with downtown Cary.

When you  visit the market, please send us a comment on how you liked the new location and amenities.

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Triple Tax Credit

The new stimulus bill, recently signed by President Obama, triples energy tax credits for energy efficient home improvements.

Now is the time to repair or replace old energy systems with new efficient systems that save monthly energy costs and provide a generous tax credit to boot.  When you invest in highly rated insulation, replacement windows, duct seals, or high-efficiency heating or cooling systems, you can now receive a tax credit worth 30% of the upgrade cost.  The maximum credit you can receive is $1500.

Additional Tax Credits From State of North Carolina

As a homeowner in Cary NC, you can further maximize your savings by choosing projects that also qualify for a State of North Carolina tax credit.  Current projects that qualify for NC tax credits are related to renewable energy sources.   For a list of qualified projects, please refer to this website: North Carolina Incentives for Renewable Energy.

Any energy improvement projects that you are considering need to be installed between January of 2009 and December of 2010.  Cary homeowners – you can then claim your tax credit when you prepare your income tax return for 2009 or 2010.  Here are the important records you should retain to verify your credit:

• Name and address of the manufacturer
• Make and model number of the component
• Statement that the component meets the energy efficient standards
• Climate zones for which the criteria is satisfied
• Declaration that the certification statement is true

List of qualified components and projects

To view a list of components and projects that qualify for the expanded federal tax credit, please visit the Energy Star website.  We would be happy to recommend qualified contractors in the Cary area who have worked with our real estate clients and done a fine job.  Please call LG Real Estate at 919-653-2647 or visit our website: CaryHomesNC.com

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FIRST-TIME HOMEBUYER TAX CREDIT 

Here’s a great summary of the first-time homebuyer tax credit provided by Debbie Owens, one of our home mortgage consultants at LG Real Estate.  Mortgage rates are at a historic low and inventory in many Cary neighborhoods is high.  So if you are a first time home buyer or have not owned a home in 3 years, give us a call.  Your timing is perfect!

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As we reflect on our daily trials and tribulations especially after reading the newspaper, here’s a nice recipe to follow today and everyday.  It was sent to us by a friend and we have endorsed the recipe as part of our LG Real Estate business plan for 2009.

1. Take a 10-30 minute walk every day. And while you walk, smile.
It is the ultimate anti-depressant.

2. Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day. Talk to God about
what is going on in your life.

3. When you wake up in the morning complete the following statement,
‘My purpose is to __________ today. I am thankful for _________’

4. Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less food that
is manufactured in plants.

5. Drink green tea and plenty of water. Eat blueberries,
wild Alaskan salmon, broccoli, almonds & walnuts..

6. Try to make at least three people smile each day.

7. Don’t waste your precious energy on gossip, energy vampires, issues
of the past, negative thoughts or things you cannot control. Instead
invest your energy in the positive present moment..

8. Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a
college kid with a maxed out charge card.

9. Life isn’t fair, but it’s still good.

10. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.

11. Don’t take yourself so seriously. No one else does.

12. You are not so important that you have to win every argument.
agree to disagree.

13. Make peace with your past so it won’t spoil the present.

14. Don’t compare your life to others. You have no idea what their
journey is all about.

15. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.

16. Frame every so-called disaster with these words: ‘In five years,
will this matter?’

17. Forgive everyone for everything.

18. What other people think of you is none of your business.

19. GOD heals everything – but you have to ask Him.

20. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.

21. Your job won’t take care of you when you are sick.
Your friends will. Stay in touch!!!

22. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.

23. Each night before you go to bed complete the following statements:
I am thankful for __________. Today I accomplished _________.

24. Remember that you are too blessed to be stressed.

25. When you are feeling down, start listing your many blessings
you’ll be smiling before you know it.

We hope this recipe works for you like it works for us.  By the way, this a great time to buy Cary real estate.  Interest rates are unbelievable low, inventory is high, and builders and homeowners are motivated to sell in most Cary Neighborhoods. 

Let us know what you think of the recipe.

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NEW! Are you frying a turkey this year or making some traditional recipes that call for frying?  If so, the Town of Cary will collect waste cooking oil and grease at the curb (minimum half-gallon) by appointment through January 30.  To participate in the program, citizens must call Public Works and Utilities Customer Service at 919-469-4090 to schedule a free curbside pick up.

Place the used cooking oil and grease in a sealed food container such as the original oil container, a coffee can or a soda bottle.  Have the container by the curb by 7am on the day of the scheduled pickup.  The collected cooking oils will be recycled into an environmentally beneficial bio-fuel.
Our team at LG Real Estate wishes you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

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