Wednesday, February 2, 2011

One Man's Meat is Another Man's Poison!



I was showing this custom home to a delightful family on Saturday, it's a magnificent home built by one of the area's top builders, Neil Jarman of Jarman Homes154 Sicily Dr. Clayton, NC 27527


I am always pleasantly surprised when I get a comment from a prospective home buyer that I never would have thought of.

What do you think was this lady's favorite part of the house?



It has cathedral ceilings in a living room with a wall of windows opening out to the three season screened and tiled porch. It could have been that!

Maybe it was the beautiful curved brick patio with gorgeous landscaping. The kitchen has granite, tile, stainless steel appliances...you think? Or the master suite which has a huge walk in closet with custom built shelves and a wall of shoe boxes. There is an oversize shower, dual vanities, ( they're not even beside each other) a jacuzzi tub. Skylights, tile, granite.





154 Sicily Dr. Clayton, NC 27527

It's very possible she was taken by the spectacular hardwood floors which cover the living room, kitchen, dining room, office. I'm sure she noticed the bonus room is wired for surround sound and the latest in technology and I know she liked the custom dual desks upstairs ready for computer hook ups and homework, they are a neat touch.

Her two daughters picked out their rooms with the Jack and Jill bathrooms.

She really liked the walk in pantry, and it was a must-have for her whether in this house or another.

So any of the above would work right? ......No!

This lady's favorite part of the house was this.......... The Cubby!

154 Sicily Dr. Clayton, NC 27527


Builders love to hear this kind of feedback!

Tuesday, December 14, 2010

Skylines Cafe in Clayton Has Some Fun Events Coming Up, Perfect Break From Holiday Stress!

Skylines Cafe in Clayton Has Some Fun Events Coming Up, Perfect Break From Holiday Stress!

First up, how about some gift ideas, buy $100 in gift certificates and get an extra $20 gift certificate ( you can keep that one).

This Friday and most Fridays at Skylines Cafe in Clayton there is a wine tasting from 6-7:30. Great night out or half a night, taste some awesome wines priced between $9 and $20. If you stay for dinner they work out a deal on the wine. They will have beers to taste also.

Like to shop and drink, well now you can, because on Saturday Tina Bolick will be holding a sale of unique handmade items from 12-3. You can purchase, hand painted wine glasses, bottle toppers, wine charms, handmade pens, aprons and jewelry. These items are all made by local artists and definitely better than anything you will find at ....you know where.


Skylines Cafe in Clayton is located at 8878 US  70 BUS HWY W Suite 100 in the Southern Village Shopping Center. (919) 550-7619

Four and a Half Bathrooms Outta Be Enough, You Think?

Four and a Half Bathrooms Outta Be Enough, You Think?

Four and a half bathrooms is what's going in this incredible home in Portofino, Clayton. The house is a custom built home being built by Johnny Adams Inc. It is approximately 3700 square feet and it will be somebodies dream home.





154 Vercelli Dr.
 It sits on a beautiful wide lot surrounded by pine trees on Vercelli Drive and is just down from the Estate Section of Portofino. The home has four bedrooms, two up and two down. Spacious Master Suite, Deck, Screened Porch, Huge Kitchen, an endless list of the most desirable features in a modern home you are likely to find anywhere. If you would like to take a walk thru I would be happy to show you the home. It is scheduled to be finished in January/February but the are making great progress with it.

Sunday, December 12, 2010

Looking For A Custom Home Builder In Raleigh And The Triangle

Looking For A Custom Home Builder In Raleigh And The Triangle

NC Custom Homes led by David Dozier has built some gorgeous custom homes in the Triangle of North Carolina. They are a Custom Home Builder that can work with your plans or they have many wonderful floor plans they can build for you.
They just finished this custom home in Portofino in Clayton and it is magnificent. It has about 3900 square feet of finished living space and an incredible 700 square feet of unfinished space that could handle all your storage needs or could be finished to almost anything.


The exterior is a combination of hardiplank and stone and the stamped concrete extra wide driveway leads to the three car garage. In this house it is actually a three and a half car garage with an area for a work shop.










So with a custom builder like NC Custom Homes you have the ability of  changing things like number of bedrooms, wall placement etc. important because what works for one family may not for another.
In this case there is only one bedroom downstairs, the master and two upstairs, but you could have all three downstairs if you wish.



















The many features in this custom built home included a state of the art kitchen, a three season room with cathedral ceiling and a deck overlooking the garden area. The upstairs features a weight room which could be a theater a large game room with wet bar and pool table.

Friday, December 10, 2010

Johnston County, NC Property Revaluation 2011, What Does It Mean For Your Tax Bill?

Johnston County, NC Property Revaluation 2011, What Does It Mean For Your Tax Bill?


The Time Has Come!!!

It has been eight years since Johnston County in North Carolina reappraised the property base and North Carolina Law requires that a reappraisal be done at least every eight years. Revaluation is done for all residential, commercial and structures on land. It does not include personal property such as boats, RVs etc.
The reason for a revaluation is to update the assessed tax value on property in keeping with the most recent market value of the property.

The assessed value of your property is multiplied by the tax rate of  the county, city the property is in and that amount is your tax bill.

The Market Value of your property is the price in dollars that the property would most likely sell for. It is not an average. The Tax Administrator works with property owners and real estate professionals to determine the market value of property and have been working on it for two years. In eight years the value of some property in Johnston County has sky rocketed and come back down to earth with a thud!! Other property has gradually increased in value over time and some property may actually have declined in value. Even still in eight years there will be property that will show no change in Johnston County.

Here are some important dates to remember.
December 2010 - Property owners will receive new assessment notices
Deadline for filing informal appeals - Within 30 days after receiving notice.
June/ July 2011 - County Commissioners and Town Boards set the tax rates.
August 2011 - 2011 real property tax bills mailed using new assessed values
September 1, 2011 Payment of 2011 taxes due.

What if you don't like the new assessed value on your property?

There is an appeals process but you will need to do your homework. There are certain items you will need to have in order to be successful in the appeals process.

You will need documentation that your assessed value substantially exceeds the market value of your property.
You will need documentation that the appraisal of your property is inequitable as it relates to the assessed value of comparable or similar properties.

If you have questions about your new assessed value you can call the

Johnston County Revaluation Office
Pearson Appraisal Services
(919)-934-0338
OR
The Johnston County Tax Administration
Pat Goddard, County Assessor
(919) 989-5130

If you would like to sell the property because of it's new assessed value, that's where I come in.
David O'Doherty
odohertyd@hpw.com
(919) 601-2268