The holiday season kicks off this Saturday, November 21 with the Raleigh Christmas Parade!!  And it doesn’t end there – in the next following weeks, there will be all kinds of fun holiday events happening around the Triangle.

Be sure to check out these helpful links:

City of Raleigh

North Hills Holiday Events

Cary Jaycees Christmas Parade

Wake Forest Christmas Parade

Apex Christmas Parade & Holiday Events

Happy Holly Days Christmas Parade

The Chapel Hill-Carrboro Holiday Parade

City of Durham Holiday Parade

164 Greenmont Lane, Cary, NC

Best Location in Paxton!!  Welcome to this quaint townhome in the heart of Cary!  As you stroll up the walkway, you are greeted by brick steps that lead to a covered front porch.  The foyer is grounded with parquet flooring and surrounded by crown molding.  To the left, you’ll notice the kitchen and breakfast area bordered with crown molding and a chair rail, raised panel Oak cabinets, all white appliances, subway tile backsplash, laminate hardwood floors, and a triple window to let in lots of light.  Enjoy meals in the dining area that offers an updated light fixture, laminate hardwood floors, and chair rail.  The laminate hardwood floors continue on into the living room.  Here you’ll love sitting by the corner gas log fireplace on those chilly winter days.  A door with a decorative window connects to the back deck overlooking the wooded back yard.  Continue upstairs to the master bedroom that offers His & Her double door closets, crown molding, and an updated bath with a double vanity and tile floors.  The secondary bedroom is also spacious and includes a walk-in closet.  Finished with a neutral paint scheme, this townhome is move-in ready!  And be sure to check out the VISUAL TOUR!

MLS #1695434

Price $147,000

The Milken Institute has released its list of the 2009 Best Performing Cities and both Durham and Raleigh-Cary made the Top 10! Durham is up from number 21 in 2008 to number 6 in 2009 while Raleigh-Cary dropped from number 2 in 2008 to number 10 in 2009.

For a complete list, be sure to visit: 

http://bestcities.milkeninstitute.org/bestcities2009.taf?rankyear=2009&type=rank200

(Source: Milken Institute)

Have you ever wondered what the cost of living is in a particular city?  And what if you decided to move there, how would your living situation be affected – would your cost of living increase, stay the same, or decrease?

Here’s a handy tool to help you compare your current city to another…and it’s really easy to use.  Simply type in your current city, a city you are considering moving to, and your current salary.  A comparison chart pops up and you’ll be able to see how your current income level could change based upon where you live.

Give it a try:

http://www.bestplaces.net/COL/

(Source: Sperling’s BestPlaces)

I would just like to take a moment and Thank all the Veterans who have served, and those who are still serving, our great country. Many of us have family and friends, present and past, who have taken on this role with honor. Were it not for these brave soldiers, we would not be able to live in a country that enables us so many freedoms. Thank you and God bless you!

If you thought your time was running out to use the homebuyer tax credit, your luck just changed!  Today, President Obama signed the bill into law extending the $8000 first-time homebuyer tax credit.  In addition, this new law now includes a $6500 tax credit for buyers who are current home owners and have lived in their home for five of the past eight years.

The National Association of REALTORS® has created a simple and helpful CHART that showcases the modifications – for more information, click here

The “City of Oaks” accolades continue to build!  Relocate-America™ released its 2009 Top 100 Places to Live in 2009 and Raleigh ranked in the Top 10.   This is the twelfth year for the annual list with nominations accepted throughout the calendar year.  

For more details, visit: http://top100.relocate-america.com

Another hour of sleep – who couldn’t use that these days!  Daylight Savings Time ends this Sunday, November 1 at 2:00 a.m.  Remember to change your clocks one hour back before you go to bed this Saturday night and enjoy an extra hour of sleep on Sunday morning.

310 Kelly West Dr, Apex, NC

This lovely 2-story home in Apex greets you with a rocking chair front porch.  As you enter through the front door you are welcomed by the foyer with warm hardwood floors. Continue into the living room that is surrounded by windows and features a gas log fireplace with a slate surround, custom mantle with dental molding, and an entertainment niche. Enjoy cooking in the kitchen that offers 42” Oak cabinets, a pantry, hardwood floors, and tons of counter space. The dining room showcases crown molding, a chair rail, hardwood floors, an updated light fixture, and double French doors that lead to the screened porch.   Journey upstairs to the master suite that hosts a cathedral ceiling, His & Her closets, and a dual marble vanity.  The secondary bedrooms are a good size and offer double door closets.  The spacious bonus is very bright and could be used as a 4th bedroom.  The laundry closet is conveniently located upstairs next to all the bedrooms. With a newly painted interior, a peaceful screened porch, and a back deck perfect for grilling, this home is move-in ready!  And be sure to check out the VISUAL TOUR!

Price $230,000

MLS # 1691625

 103 Berrybrook Ct, Cary, NC

This beautiful cul-de-sac home welcomes you with keystone accents and a 2-story covered front porch with four majestic columns. The grand 2-story foyer showcases faux stone paint, chandelier, catwalk, and quarter inch maple hardwood floors that carry through the rest of the first floor living areas. The dining room has crown molding and two single windows to let in lots of light. The kitchen hosts 42 inch cabinets, tons of counter space, all white appliances, and connects to the breakfast area that showcases a large bay window and updated light fixture. Continue into the vaulted living room that includes a fireplace with marble surround, a custom mantle with dental molding, a ceiling fan with light, two arched entryways that lead to the kitchen, and a French door to the back deck. The first floor master suite also shows off a vaulted ceiling, a large bay window, walk-in closet, and master bath with His & Her marble vanities with updated fixtures, a garden tub, tile surround shower, and separate water closet. Journey upstairs to the three additional bedrooms that feature double door closets and laminate hardwood floors. The upstairs hallway includes a sitting/loft area anchored with Berber carpet. The back deck is perfect for grilling and overlooks the wooded and peaceful backward. Combined with a neutral paint scheme and tons of updates, this home is move-in ready!  Be sure to also check out the VISUAL TOUR!

MLS # 1691078

Price $250,000