15,000 graduated from college in the greater Triangle area this year.

15,000 graduated from college in the greater Triangle area this year.

Yes it's true, great schools like NC State, UNC at Chapel Hill, Duke, Meredith, Shaw, Campbell, graduated approx 15,000 students this year. Graduates in medicine, engineering, textiles, science, nursing, law, veterinary medicine, business, art, education, agriculture and so many more.

OK so lets get the negative stuff out of the way. They are straddled with debt! There aren't any jobs for them...Please! They can't afford to buy a house! They are adding to the jobless ranks!

On the plus side close to 15,000 students graduated from college and are about to make there way into the working world where they will get jobs, they will pay off their student loans and they will spend money. They might not buy a house but they will buy beer, clothes, cars, food, flat screen TVs, furniture, kayaks, etc. So we'll just have to sell houses to the people who make beer, cook food, and design furniture.

Now I'm not naive enough to think that everything is just fine out there but some perspective is called for. It can't be all doom and gloom other wise it will always be doom and gloom.

So with 15,000 new workers out there I asked myself, would now be a good time for somebody to buy a house?

Here in Johnston County, North Carolina the whole county qualifies for 100% financing through the USDA program, couple that with the $8000 in tax credit and low interest rates... there probably has never been a better time. Now if you fear for your job then all of this means nothing, but will things turn around and the economy start humming again, come December the tax credit's gone, interest rates are up and maybe you'll have to put some money down on that house.

I'm just saying!

Clayton NC homes for sale under $165,000 with 100% financing

Clayton NC homes for sale under $165,000 with 100% financing

Clayton North Carolina has a variety of homes in all price ranges in all types of communities. From ranch style homes on acre lots to luxury homes in gated communities. Clayton has great schools, good infrastructure, access to Raleigh, Durham, the mountains and the beach.

Clayton sits in Johnston County which the USDA has deemed eligably for 100% no money down financing for homes. Couple that with the $8000 tax credit for first time homebuyers and low interset rates and ou have he making of a good deal.

Clayton is about to get a new hospital when the beautiful new Johnston Health opens on Hwy 42. Clayton has many of the big stores we are all used to and some you have not heard of.

More to come about Clayton soon

Check out our website

http://www.davidorealtor.com/

Over an Acre in Raleigh for under $100000

Over an Acre in Raleigh for under $100000

This is a unique property located in Raleigh, North Carolina. It is actually the lot the house sits on, and the two adjoining lots. The property is being sold as is, but most of the big stuff is done already. New carpets, new heat pump/ac unit and it's a big one! New windows. some of the painting has been done, so finish the paint, install the appliances and you have a great rental property or, move in, do the necessary finishing touches, like the fence which the posts have been installed for, and you have the makings of a great home.

It is believed that one lot will perk for another home, so there is potential there, the middle lot will not. If you are looking for some land and trees and privacy and you are hands on, then come and check this gem out. Property backs up to land that was to be developed into a golf course.

The house and lots are listed for $89,900, it features three bedrooms, one bathroom, large eat in kitchen, big livingroom.

Building permits down 67 percent ... and this is a good thing!!!

I know, crazy fool! What is he thinking?
Well let me explain, I am talking about the figures just released from the town of Clayton, North Carolina where the building permits issued for new construction in the last fiscal year were 103, compared with 272 for the previous year. Not to single Clayton out but rather to use their numbers as an example of much of the area, in fact Clayton has done a very good job of managing its growth and looking to the future and will weather this storm in great shape.
How can this be a good thing? First of all, where would we put all those homes if the pace had kept up like that. How would all those people get to work? What schools would they go to? How many of those homes would go in cul-de-sac strips in the middle of a cotton field ( yep we still grow cotton down here).And how many of those homes would end up back on the market three years from now as a short sale or foreclosure.
The fact is, of course is that we would still be building like mad had it not been for the recession that came along to rain on the parade. So we are in a time out, when will it end...who knows?
We have homes sitting on the ground waiting for buyers. We have some homes that were built in 2005-2006 when there were 424 building permits issued for new construction appearing as short sales and foreclosures and complicating, to no end the process of selling homes. Homes that builders need to sell, that Realtors need to be paid on, that communities need to sell to complete their subdivisions,etc, etc.
So I'm all about selling houses, don't get me wrong but I am in Real Estate for the long haul and I want a regular pay check month in and month out, year in and year out.
Time and time again we have seen that a steady managable pace is a better long term approach to sustainable growth. So it's obvious, we need to move the homes on the ground, clear out the short sales and in tandem restore confidence in buyers... mmm. I don't know when all that will happen, but one thing we really need to do is get people off the notion that they are buying an investment!
It's a home! You pay for it, you can live in it!

Great home in Wyndfall Clayton NC

Great home in Wyndfall Subdivision in Clayton NC


This beautiful home sits on 1.29 acres in a secluded cul-de-sac in Wyndfall Subdivision in Clayton. It has three bedrooms, two and a half baths, large living room that is perfect for the flat screen and entertaining. It also has a separate dining room, a kitchen with 42 inch cabinets, upgraded appliances. The kitchen is adjoined by the breakfast room which features a bay window.

The master suite includes dual vanities, seperate shower, and large walk in closet. There are hardwood floors in the entrance hallway and dining room. The house has a detached two car garage with an epoxy floor, two work benches and loads of storage upstairs. The level lot features nice landscaping, a fenced in back yard which has a big shed, hardwood trees, very private.

The area of Clayton North Carolina is a growing community and this home is in Archer Lodge which is in the process of incorporating so currently you do not pay any city taxes. There are two new schools nearby Archer Lodge Middle which was just opened last year and Riverdell Elementary which has been open a number of years and is a great school with very dedicated staff (we send our boys there).

There are few homes of this size and quality for under $165,000 in this area, it is convenient to Raleigh, Smithfield, Wakemed, Rex Healthcare, Caterpillar, and Talecris. With the completion of the 540 bypass, a trip to the airport is a mere 40 minutes and you can be at The North Hills Mall in thirty minutes.

This great home in Wyndfall Subdivision qualifies for no money down 100% financing through the USDA, low interest rates and $8000 for first time home buyers, it really is the time to take advantage of the oppertunity to buy a great home.

Everyone is moving to North Carolina

It appears that North Carolina will be home to the infamous Bernie Madoff, who was delivered to the State Facility in Butner NC today July 14Th.

While I'm sure he had little say in the matter, there are worse places he could have gone and probably should have. So whats Butner NC like? I hear you ask!

Situated about 30 miles north west of Raleigh NC, it has a population of approximately 6000. It has a nice prison, and was once considered a contender by the Dept. of Homeland Security to build a $450 million 520,000-square-foot Bio- and Agro-Defense Facility. The median house value in 2007 was $135,264 while in North Carolina it was $145,700. It is right next to beautiful Falls Lake and probably 20 minutes to Durham.

While Bernie gets to live rent free in Butner, North Carolina is known for it's affordable housing which despite the easy money flying around in past years, did not experience the run up in prices that other places around the country did did.

We are however not immune from the fall out and the number of home sales compared to a couple of years ago is staggering.

The triangle area which now encompasses a lot of fast growing towns is still on the move, all be it at a slower clip. recently the town of Apex, North Carolina was ranked 3rd in the country of places to move to by Forbes magazine. Cary, North Carolina was the 3rd fastest growing city in the country from 2007-2008 while Raleigh came in 8th.

Again the factors that drive the growth are, good jobs, affordable housing, more house for your money, good schools. We have a lot of folks retiring here because of their kids moving here and because of the mild climate.

The triangle is mid way between the ocean and the mountains which makes it a great place to live also.

Beautiful condo in downtown raleigh!

Apex ranked third best place to move to

Forbes magazine has ranked Apex North Carolina third in it's list of best places to move to. Apex is located near Raleigh NC and has a population of approx 33,000 it has been growing along with most of the other towns in the area. Fueled by affordable housing, jobs, good weather, towns like Holly Springs, Fuquay-Varina, Clayton, Garner have all seen huge growth in the last number of years.

30 Mins to North Hills

So yesterday I drove from Southwick Farms in Clayton to North Hills and it only took 30 mins. I went at 3.30pm so traffic was not an issue but it just goes to show that you can live in a great subdivision like Southwick where homes are still reasonably priced - $150's to $220's, great schools etc. and still be that close to everything.

Clayton growing...

The town of Clayton NC has grown from an estimated 14,868 people in 2007 to an estimated 15,841 in July of 2008 according to the latest data from the census bureau. This is a 6.5 percent increase.
Clayton is the 11 th fastest growing municipality in the state of North Carolina.
Reasons for the growth, affordable housing, small town community, good schools, a working infrastructure. Among the major employers are Talecris Biotherapeutics a high tech manufacturer of pharmaceuticals. Novo Nordisk an international manufacturer of insulin and related products. Caterpillar and Johnston Memorial Hospital which is opening a new hospital in the fall of 2009 are also large employers.
The proximity of Clayton to Raleigh and Research Triangle Park a large source of jobs is another reason, not to mention you can be at the beach in a little over two hours from here.

Mudcats at Five County Stadium in Zebulon.

What a great night at the Mudcats last night. My father in law Jim , and my two boys Conor and Rory and myself headed off to the stadium. If you don't know where it is, it is literally thirty mins. from Archer Lodge, forty mins. from Clayton and from Raleigh you can be there in no time with the new highways.
Being Monday night we had our pick of the seats.. so we picked right behind home plate! You digging it? The weather was great, the game was exciting with the Mudcats beating the Tennessee Smokies 8-1 with the help of a couple of homeruns.
The Mudcats have great deals like $ hotdogs on Wednesdays and $ beers on Thursdays, here is a link to their website, check it out. http://carolina.mudcats.milb.com/index.jsp?sid=t249
It is a great time out and it won't break the bank. You can watch us here.
http://www.youtube.com/user/davidorealtor#play/all/uploads-all/0/32TM8jrBlkA

Archer Lodge July 4th Fun Day

We live in the soon to be incorporated town of Archer Lodge, we have a Clayton mailing address so most people are not aware of this amazing community
We went to their great parade which was followed up by Carolina bbq sandwiches from the pig cook off, bought our t-shirts, raffle tickets for a John Deere tractor (we did not win), headed home for naps and the pool at The Pineville Club which we just joined. At 8.30 it was back down to the community center for the fireworks, people come from all over for these fireworks as I believe they have been doing them for a while. We parked on the side of the road...everyone does and watched a fantastic fireworks display. We hopped in the van and we were home in 5 mins.
Great job Archer Lodge we had a great 4th of July... Thanks for all your work!
Video to follow.

The Conservative Wahoo: Annual Reading of the Declaration of Independence

The Conservative Wahoo: Annual Reading of the Declaration of Independence

Fastest growing cities...

In a government report released today New Orleans was the fastest growing city in America with a population gain of 8.2%. In third place was Cary, North Carolina which had a remarkable 6.9% gain which translates into over 8000 new people. Raleigh, North Carolina came in at #8 with a gain of 3.8% which is a gain of over 14,000 new people moving in in a year.
It shows that despite the downturn this area still attracts people in respectable numbers, brought by the weather, family , jobs, cost of living, affordable housing etc. It will be interesting to see the numbers for the surrounding towns of Clayton, Garner, Smithfield etc.