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.