Cary NC Real Estate >> Raleigh & Cary NC Real Estate Blog

Forbes Magazine just released a report regarding the #1 Sellers Market in the country today.  I know I was a little bit upset that Nightline gave Charlotte top billing in my last post.  Thank goodness my market has been redeemed.  Well, not really, Nightline did say there are a handful of markets in the US that are doing well - Raleigh being one of them. 

So, why is the Raleigh, NC Real Estate market so strong? 

• A strong local economy continues to yield high job creation figures and migratory outsiders.
• Raleigh ranks fifth best in sales rate to inventory and eighth best in year-over-year tightening
• After record breaking sales in 2006(20% year over year) sales are still up at the end of May 2007!! Fantastic news! 

I'm not surprised.  Our community continues to be praised in the media for the right reasons.  Come to the Triangle and decide for yourself!!

This month Nightline ran a featured story about the Charlotte, NC Real Estate market.  I've attached the video for your viewing pleasure compliments of YouTube. 

Basically the show is saying what the AR bloggers have been indicating all along.  I also have been writing about the strong market conditions in the Cary, NC Real Estate and Raleigh, NC Real Estate markets.  The North Carolina real estate market is alive and well.  Although some parts of the country have been experiencing a downturn thousands continue to move into the State of North Carolina.  There are many reasons that families are relocating to the area:

• North Carolina surpassed Florida a few years ago as the #1 State to live in for retirees
• Families fed up with the Florida hurricanes that are originally from the Northeast are moving halfway back to New York.  We call these folks "half backs"
• Steady appreciation without the wild fluctuations of other markets across the country like in Florida, California, and Arizona. 
• Mild climate
• Strong economic growth coupled with low unemployment rates
• More cost effective cost of living than in other large cities across the US. 
• Educated population - the Triangle has the largest # of PHd's per capita in the US.

Although the Triangle was not the lead story Nightline did indicate there are a few markets in the US going strong including Houston, Austin, Seattle, and Raleigh NC Real Estate.

Each year Cary, NC  has quite a few festivities in recognition of the 4th of July holiday.  This year is no exception.  In a blog earlier today I wrote about the festivities in and around the Triangle. 

To be more specific, Cary has a three day celebration starting with fireworks on July 3rd at the Carolina Railhawks soccer game.    Fireworks will be set off at the conclusion of the game at SAS Soccer Park in Cary.   

Independence Eve Celebration at Sertoma
The first event on July 4th starts with the Cary Youth Theatre called Applause! and the Cary Town Band at 6:30pm at the  Sertoma Amphitheatre at Bond Park

So, what will the Applause! Youth theatre group present? 
Applause! Cary Youth Theatre presents "Faces of Freedom"
The Applause! Touring Troupe takes patriotism on the road with Cynthia Mercati's funny and touching play "Faces of Freedom" to tell the stories of young immigrants to America who, despite their differences, are united in their search for freedom.

The Cary Town Band follows the Applause! Cary Youth Group at 7:30pm. 
Independence Eve Concert with the Cary Town Band
Following "Faces of Freedom", the Cary Town Band will entertain the public with some old time patriotic music.

Independence Day Olde Time Celebration
The Bond Park celebration is an all day family event that starts with a parent-child fishing tournament, followed by a "Parade in the Park," a performance by Applause! Cary Youth Theatre, and a whole host of games and competitions from donut eating to watermelon seed spitting. This is the perfect way to spend the day before heading to Booth Amphitheatre for the Town's fireworks display. 

8-10 a.m.  Fishing Tournament (Waterfront)
Registration begins at 7:30 a.m. Prizes awarded for largest and smallest length fish and other categories.  Age groups: 0-10 yrs, 11-17 yrs, and 18 and older.

10-10:30 a.m.  "Parade in the Park" (Kiwanis Shelter)
Show your American Pride!!  Drive, ride or stroll and parade through the park to the Boathouse.  Awards will be given in various categories and age groups. Age Groups 0-10. Spectators of all ages are welcome to walk with your child or watch from the side. We will end at the Boathouse and Waterfront to start the remainder of the day's activities.

July 4th Celebration at the Koka Booth Amphitheatre
The celebration continues in spectacular style at the Koka Booth Amphitheatre for Cary's Independence Day concert and fireworks. Featuring patriotic music by the Cary Town Band and the North Carolina Symphony, this event is always a huge hit with the entire family. Tarps, blankets & chairs allowed within venue gates; staking and tents not permitted.

Ice Cream Social at the  Cary Senior Center Ballroom 
This annual event is tasty and fun for all! Not only do we get to enjoy delicious ice cream treats, but we are entertained by the Bond Park day camp children.

If you're looking for something fun to do on July 4th can choose from fireworks, music, baseball games, and more around the Triangle.  Here is a list of events in Raleigh, at the State Capitol, Durham, and Cary if you'd get out and enjoy the festivities planned by each town.

City of Raleigh State Fairgrounds: Fireworks and More
The City of Raleigh, Parks and Recreation Department will be holding their 4th of July Celebration on Wednesday July 4 at the North Carolina State Fairgrounds.  The North Carolina State Fairgrounds is located at 1025 Blue Ridge Boulevard.  This fun-filled family event will include interactive games, inflatables, pony rides, karaoke, live entertainment, and fireworks. Live entertainment will consist of Bluesville, Fettuccini Brothers, Michael Ken, and Mighty Lester.

City of Raleigh State Capitol Celebration
Visit Mordecai Historic Park's display at the 4th of July, NC State Capitol Celebration on July 4th from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.  Families are invited to  participate in the Mordecai Historic Park hands on artifact activity for your chance to win prizes. Then take a ride on the Raleigh Trolley to experience how citizens got around Raleigh long ago. Trolley Tickets are $5.00 for adults, $1.00 for youth and children (6 and under) are free.   There will be live music, vendors, historic displays, reenactors, and children's activities.

Durham Bulls Baseball & Fireworks
Nothing is more American than watching a baseball game and the Durham Bulls will be playing at home at the Durham Bulls Athletic Park on July 4th.
The Bulls will be playing USA Baseball vs. Japan on Wednesday Jul. 4 at 9:00 p.m. Gates open at 4:00 p.m.  A huge fireworks extravaganza is scheduled for after the game. 

Zebulon - Carolina Mudcats Game  This game will be played at 7:15pm in Zebulon featuring the Suns vs. Jacksonville.   Fireworks to follow the conclusion of the game.

Town of Cary Events & Firworks
The Town of Cary will have many events at the the Bond Park off of High House Road.  After the contests end, guests are invited to travel to Koka Booth Amphitheatre, 8003 Regency Parkway to enjoy the North Carolina Symphony, Cary Town Band and the Applause! Touring Troupe.  Back again this year is the "Family Fun Zone" where kids can enjoy water tag, pedal cars, obstacle course, moon walk, mechanical bull, and more. 

Chapel Hill Fireworks - Keenan Stadium

The Town of Chapel Hill's annual July 4th Celebration will be held at 7 p.m. Wednesday, July 4 at UNC's Kenan Memorial Stadium.   Live music - Top 40, Carolina beach music, R & B, blues and country - by Johnny White and the Elite Band starts at 8 p.m.  Fireworks are only visible from inside the stadium, so plan to arrive early to get a good seat. In the event of inclement weather, the fireworks show may begin earlier than scheduled.  Gates open at 7pm with fireworks starting at 9:30pm. 

Wake Forest Events

4th of July Celebration Tuesday, July 3, 6:00 PM - 11:00 PM Trentini Stadium at Wake Forest-Rolesville High School Fireworks, games, live entertainment, plus a whole lot more await you at the Annual Fourth of July Celebration.

The Triangle area has many celebrations planned.  I've attended all but the Wake Forest celebration in the past.  I especially like the NC Symphony at Koka Booth Amphitheatre if you can stand the crowds.

I'll be honest,  I received my SRES designation in September 2006.  Prior to 2006 I actually finished up my Certified Financial Planning designation at Duke which covers Taxes, Financial, Estate Planning, Retirement, and General Financial Planning issues.  It's a two year program and touches in detail the things we covered in the two day SRES class. So, when I get calls from Seniors planning on moving to the area they feel comfortable sharing some of their challenges - fixed income, retirement plans, medical directives, concern about medical facilities, medical care, etc.  The list goes on and on.... 

I found the SRES class to be a bit light on depth of material but great on Marketing Ideas.  Our class spent almost a day coming up with ideas on how to market to Seniors.  Fortunately for me, my market has been pretty strong and I really haven't had the opportunity to execute on some of the ideas.  At the time,  I hadn't even thought of pulling together some of the ideas I've shared on Active Rain. 

But now, IT'S TIME TO WALK THE TALK. 

So, with the collective audience of Active Rain Seniors Real Estate Specialists out there I'm going to post some of the Marketing Ideas I/We have thought of and would like to get your feedback on what you've done to take advantage of this designation. 

Marketing Ideas

• Devote a section of your website specifically to seniors that addresses their needs.  Provide them with valuable resources so that you are their "go to" person regarding the area and resources.
• Blog Away - I've been getting ideas from clients that have found me on the web.  They ask about gated communities, alternatives to Active Adult Living Facilities, continuing care facilities, and much more. 
• Use the internet to your full advantage - I actually had a call from the Public Relations person out at Del Webb in Cary request that I post a blog about their one year celebration.  They knew I had been writing about the area and wanted to get the word out!!  Excitement. 
• Teaming Arrangements - In todays competitive environment referrals are key.  Given I had gotten my Certificate in Financial Planning I decided to send a letter out to all of the CFPs in the area to discuss co-marketing.  There are only about 100 in the area - I received a call back from two and we are working on plans to enhance the relationship. 
• Reverse Mortgages - My SRES teacher works with a local guy here in the Triangle that handles only reverse mortgages.  He specializes in working with Seniors that are looking to utilze their estate to live comfortably on a fixed income over time.  I have his name in my back pocket and provide referrals when needed.
• Seniors Newsletter - SRES actually has a newsletter on their website that can be tailored to your clientle.  We have an Active 55+ community close to my office that I plan on sending this newsletter out Quarterly to let them know I'm closeby. 
• Advertise in the local Seniors Guide - This is a great marketing opportunity.  When you send out relocation packets the clients will see that you are an area specialist.
• Network - Visit the Seniors Communities in your area and get to know the Agents onsite.  Who knows they may even hand you a referral or two.  In our area there are a few neighborhoods under construction and they can't meet the timeframes for clients that want to move here.  I give them my card and we trade referrals back and forth  
• Network some more -The onsite agent tht I work with keeps me informed of the Seniors Fairs that are going on in the area.  I've hosted a table top at a couple of the events. 
• Stop by the Senior Centers and get to know the Management.  Support the local events. 
• Host a Seniors Seminar, advertise in the paper, provide food and beverages - Bring in all of your business partners to co-host the event with you.  Provide a Seniors Resource Team at their disposal - Certified Financial Planner, Tax Specialist, CPA, Lender, Attorney, and Realtor 
• Join a Seniors Networking Group -Here's one in my area.

Links to Seniors Resources for Your Reference:

• Seniors Resource Guide
• SAREC
• Long Term Care Planning - Price Quotes
• Medicaire
• AARP
• Talking w/Parents about Health Coverage
• Kiplinger's Your Family Records Organizer
• Area Agencies on Aging
• The Five Wishes
• Reverse Mortgage
• Helpful Seniors Links - Nationwide

So, You Tell me--

• How has the SRES benefited your business?
• What Marketing Tools have worked for you? 

Your input is invaluable to me as I head into the fall market I will have plenty of time to expand on this growing market segment that seems to be moving into my area - North Carolina. 

The Triangle is such an incredible place to call home!! We have arts, culture, education, outdoors, and athletics all in one town.  We're spread out a bit but that never bothered me. 

When you drive through the city you can see why the founding fathers nicknamed it "The City of Oaks."  Greater Raleigh Parks & Gardens have the unofficial motto, "Trees, Tees and PhD's," and for good reason. With more than 150 Raleigh, North Carolina parks, gardens, lakes and greenways in Raleigh alone, there are plenty of places to enjoy the scenery and see why the area was dubbed as America's No. 8 Great Garden Cities in an issue of Garden Design Magazine.  But the city's natural beauty is just one of many drawing cards that has transformed this once-sleepy southern town into one of the nation's most desired destinations for business, technology, culture and family life. In fact, Money Magazine named it the Best Place to Live in 2006 and Forbes Magazine named Raleigh the #1 Place for Job Growth in 2007.

The city of 320,000 residents boasts premier cultural centers, including the N.C. Museum of Art and the famed North Carolina Symphony. The museum houses paintings and sculptures representing more than 5,000 years of artistic heritage - from ancient Egypt to the present - as well as traveling exhibits, movies, lectures and workshops.  Others are impressed to learn that Raleigh has a ballet company.   There are several other museums in the area including the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, the North Carolina Museum of History, Artspace, and Playspace all in the same vicinity.  Exploris, a $40 million museum, uses interactive displays to explore other cultures - including an exhibit of a portion of the Berlin Wall.

From events such as Artsplosure, Oktoberfest, the International Festival and the State Fair to the multitude of college and professional sports, there's a wide array of choices for the young and old, the mellow and bold. Falls Lake provides swimming, boating and fishing opportunities year-round, and Umstead Park offers over 15 miles of woodlands for hiking, picnics and nature outings. Alive After Five brings local musicians to the center of downtown each summer, where Raleigh's nightlife has seen a burst of new restaurants, clubs and even several authentic Irish pubs especially in the Glenwood South area.

First Night Raleigh has become an annual family tradition for thousands of residents, who descend upon the Progress Energy Center for the Performing Arts and Lichtin Plaza each New Year's Eve to watch the giant acorn drop.

Some of Raleigh's most popular restaurants are located in the heart of downtown, from the upscale Second Empire - set in the historic Dodd-Hinsdale House - Cooper's Barbecue, serving up sweet tea and delicious Carolina barbecue since 1928. The Angus Barn steak house on U.S. 70 near the airport and Char-Grill (hamburgers and fries) downtown are considered local landmarks, and newer restaurants offering savory fare of all types can be found in shopping plazas throughout North Raleigh.

Entertainment options range from an evening at Charlie Goodnight's Comedy Club, which draws top-name acts from around the country, to live jazz concerts at Yancey's Juke Joint. Country enthusiasts can two-step on down to the Long Branch off Wake Forest Road for live entertainment and dancing. And theater patrons shouldn't miss the annual production of Theatre in the Park's "A Christmas Carol," a comedic interpretation of the Dickens classic that has become a Raleigh holiday tradition, celebrating 32 years in 2006.  Two summer time favorites include Walnut Creek Amphitheatre.  And, last but not least, don't forget Koka Booth Amphitheatre in Cary.  This gorgeous outdoor setting offers weekly symphony concerts in the summer with other headline acts. 

The 19,700-seat RBC Center, which is the home of N.C. State basketball and the National Hockey League's Carolina Hurricanes, creates plenty of excitement in Raleigh. Downtown, two additions next to the stately Memorial Auditorium have completed the Progress Energy Center for the Performing Arts complex.

It's easy to see why so many people are relocating to the Raleigh area.  The town is rich in History, Arts, and Culture.  It's a blend of old and new communities.  Take a stroll from downtown through Raleigh to get a glimpse of life in Raleigh. 

The Cotton Mill, located downtown off Capital Boulevard, is one of the hippest places to live, thanks to a renovation that turned this 130-year-old textile factory into 50 condominiums. Other condos and townhomes followed, including Park Devereux, 510 Glenwood, and Governor's Square. Thanks to the downtown revitalization new condo projects include Hudson, West, 222 Glenwood, and Dawson on Morgan to name the trendiest.

More condominiums are located near the lively collection of shops and restaurants known as City Market. Within walking distance are Moore Square (where the city's symbol, the giant acorn, resides) and the Moore Square Art District, where local artisans design and showcase their work at Artspace.

Historic Oakwood, Raleigh's prized 19th-century neighborhood, is within walking distance of downtown. Beautifully renovated Victorian homes in rainbow colors line the picturesque neighborhood's streets. The community is close-knit, with a strong association that conducts a popular Christmas tour of homes each year.

Historic Mordecai is within walking distance of the state government complex and Peace College. With its turn-of-the century bungalows, Mordecai may be the only place to find an older home at a bargain price.  In addition, you may have caught Mordecai on the Extreme Makeover show which aired in early 2007. 

The completion of a highway beltline (I-440) around Raleigh in the 1980s brought a new term for the city's residents when describing where they lived: "inside the beltline," otherwise known as Old Raleigh. The area offers a central location, neighborhoods with sidewalks and less traffic, and distinctive older homes with the charm of a bygone era.  Now that I-540 has been completed to the North of Raleigh it has opened up the North Raleigh homes "north of the outer beltline", Wake Forest, and Knightdale areas to the East of Raleigh.

Boylan Heights boasts early 20th-century large homes of diverse architectural styles. An added plus: the neighborhood is close to the State Farmers Market, where you can buy fresh fruits, vegetables and even seafood.

If you travel north on Glenwood Avenue from Hillsborough Street, you'll pass some of the most exciting development going on in the city. Here, old houses are being transformed into specialty shops, restaurants and antique stores. The neighborhood closest to all the action is Glenwood/Brooklyn, a merging of two turn-of-the-20th-century suburbs. The area includes homes that range from tiny bungalows to spacious two-story colonials.

As you travel farther north, you'll reach the popular area known as Five Points, a neighborhood with an eclectic village feel. The Five Points neighborhood surrounds a five-way intersection. It's an adorable neighborhood with exquisitely renovated homes in many diverse styles and sizes. Visit the Third Place coffee shop for the latest in lattes, or savor an old-fashioned cherry Coke at the Hayes Barton Cafe. The Rialto Theatre is a favorite for independent films and hosts film festivals and live concerts.

Five Points runs into the venerable Hayes Barton neighborhood, named after Sir Walter Raleigh's home in England. Developed in the late 1920s and '30s, this area is home to Jesse Helms, North Carolina's former but longtime U.S. senator, and many of Raleigh's older, established families. The architectural styles vary from stone manors to brick colonials.

As you continue northwest on Glenwood Avenue, the homes are newer. The Country Club Hills neighborhood, a luxury home neighborhood developed mostly during the 1950s, surrounds the prestigious Carolina Country Club. If you follow Glenwood northwest until you travel outside the beltline, you'll pass by Crabtree Valley Mall and enter the fast-growing suburban territory known as North Raleigh. On Leadmine Road, only a quarter-mile past Crabtree Valley, is a new community called Inman Park, which offers everything from estate homes to townhomes in a series of adjacent neighborhoods. Brookhaven, an older subdivision off Glenwood with large lots and many trees, used to be considered far outside the city limits, but now growth surrounds it.

The area that is considered true North Raleigh begins near Six Forks Road and is bounded by Capital Boulevard (U.S. 1) to the east and Falls Lake to the north. The North Ridge neighborhood off Falls of the Neuse Road is one of the premier luxury neighborhoods here.

As you go farther into North Raleigh, you'll be amazed by the numerous subdivisions from which you can choose a new home. Wakefield Plantation, 2,200 acres of various communities, is located in North Raleigh near the town of Wake Forest. Some of the larger and more popular North Raleigh neighborhoods include Stonebridge and Stone Creek off Six Forks Road; Stonehenge and Wood Valley off Creedmoor Road; Bent Tree near Strickland Road; and CrossGate, Durant Trails, Falls Village and Alyson Pond off Durant Road. Newer North Raleigh developments include Daltons Ridge off Falls of the Neuse Road, Norwood Crest off Norwood Road and Forrest Ridge off Purnell Road.

East Raleigh, stretching from Capital Boulevard near the I-440 beltline to New Hope Road, showcases many older homes in neighborhoods such as Hedingham. In 2006 the Hedingham Subdivision closed the most amount of resale homes in Wake County-314.  Most of East Raleigh's new development is occurring around Buffaloe and New Hope roads, and this area- between U.S. 1 North and U.S. 64 East - will give you the best deal for your buck when looking for newer homes. The opening of the Eastern section of I-540 is really having an impact on new construction in this area.   

West Raleigh is the area near Hillsborough Street and Western Boulevard and home to N.C. State University. It also offers Pullen Park, the crown jewel of the city parks, which houses the 1915 restored (and operational) carousel. There's a wide price range in neighborhoods such as those off Avent Ferry Road near Lake Johnson or farther out off Blue Ridge Road. Cameron Park, another early 20th-century neighborhood with many large two-story homes with front porches and gardens, is near the university. Within walking distance is Cameron Village, one of the nation's oldest outdoor "malls," with six blocks of shopping paradise for those with a taste for antiques and boutiques. 

Areas along U.S. 401 South toward Garner and U.S. 50 toward Wake Forest are gaining more popularity due primarily to the availability of more affordable housing. The Lake Wheeler-Penny Road area in southern Raleigh also is popular because of larger lots, a country atmosphere and easy access to both downtown Raleigh and Cary.

There are several ARainers that have written about Tenant Screening and Managing Tenants and investment properties.  They include Bonnie Erickson, Jessica Beganski, Chris Lengquist, and Ken Cook, among others.  I have a different perspective and would like your viewpoint. 

I work closely with Cary NC Real Estate investors that are looking to buy real estate in the Triangle market.  Given the market conditions are very strong (we actually had an increase in sales in May over a record breaking 2006(up 20%)) in this area investors are flocking to the Triangle to invest.   Given we are not traditionally considered a "flip" market most investors turn to the traditional real estate investment model- a positive Cash Flow and ROI.   As such, they must find tenants for their rental properties. 

In lieu of using a property management company I help investors by listing their rentals as a "Limited Service" broker. My service for rentals is similar to a "Limited Service" listing agency.  I provide the MLS rental listing and the investor takes care of interviewing, screening, and renting the properties.  It saves the investors time and money with the agreement that they will list with me when they decide to pull out of the market.  My success in this area is unmatched in the Triangle.  I have a 100% success rate of renting properties within 30 Days of Purchase. 

One thing that concerns long distance investors -Screening Tenants.  What is the best way to screen for prospective tenants?  The following items are a must when screening tenants:

1. Employment, income, and credit histories.

2.   Social Security and driver's license numbers.

3.  Past evictions or bankruptcies, if any.

4.  Work and personal references.

Before selecting tenants, a landlord should check out and verify previous landlords and other references; including employment, income and bank account information; as well as, obtaining a credit report. The last is especially important, because it informs one, whether the person concerned has a history of late rent and bill payments, or whether he / she has ever declared bankruptcy, or even been evicted, ever.  There are free services that provide tenant screening and credit reports for a nominal fee...Use them...

What is your opinion, if any, on providing this "Limited Service" rental service to my investors?  Am I putting myself at risk down the road because I provided the listing even though my client screened the applicants?  I'd be interested in knowing the communities opinions. 

Holly Springs is a town in Wake County with a population of over 15,000 and just received the title of "The fastest growing town in The Carolinas".  Triangle growth started heading South as Cary began to boom to the North.  From 1992 to 1998 Holly Springs grew from 900 to an estimated 6000 in 1998.

Holly Springs continues to grow and evolve as the town becomes more accessible for commuters into Research Triangle Park.  Road work that will make this possible includes the new 55 Bypass, widening of HWY 1, and access to the future extension of I-540.  The Town now boasts two public elementary schools a middle school, and the new Holly Springs High School. A Wake County southwest branch library and a cultural arts facility opened in early December 2006. 

One of the most recent focuses for the Town is the development of Commercial Growth in Holly Springs.  The Holly Springs Business Park and other retail establishments are beeing built on a regular basis.  On July 18, 2006, it was announced that the pharmaceutical giant Novartis would be building a manufacturing facility in Holly Springs employing approximately 350 to produce flu vaccines using new technologies. The manufacturing facility will go on 167 acres in Holly Springs Business Park off N.C. 55 Bypass. Construction will begin in early 2007, with the first phase scheduled for completion by late 2008. Novartis' investment would be at least $267 million and eventually could reach $600 million.

Now with a brand new High School, Holly Springs High School ,  Holly Springs has new room for growth. New neighborhoods are to be built near the school, and a strip-mall is being built because of it. Many of the students that attend Holly Springs High School live in the super neighborhood complex of Sunset Ridge , a now thriving home subdivision that has spawned its own private water park, a restaurant, and a whole host of other small businesses. The entire area of Holly Springs has grown tremendously between the years of 2004 and 2006. The town has received a new strip mall with an Ale House style restaurant, a Mexican Restaurant, a Lowe's Foods, a Dollar Tree, and several other fast food chains including Quizno's, and a Chinese food chain. In another area of town, off a main road (Holly Springs Road), a Harris Teeter strip-mall was built with other restaurants and stores opening. A new strip mall featuring a Wal-Mart Super Center is also being constructed off Highway 55. New growth has expanded the population, and growth yet to come will enlarge it even more. Holly Springs is one of the few municipalities that provide team sports directly by the town for residents including football, baseball (served by four professional fields), basketball and recreational soccer. There is also a non-profit challenge soccer league called the Holly Springs Futbol Club.

Holly Springs is truly one of the "fastest growing towns in North Carolina".

Click Here for more information on why Holly springs is the fastest growing town in North Carolina.

When I think about Idaho I think about the great outdoors.  Idaho is a lot like where I'm from - North Carolina.  Idaho is a hidden gem - and even kicknamed the Gem State because of its natural resources.  Most people think of Idaho as the potato state - but Idaho has so much more to offer.  Today Idaho is a thriving state with an increasingly diverse economy and population estimated at 1.4 million.  Idaho's diverse business and industry coupled with it's incredible beauty have made it a popular state for business and industry.  There aren't many cities in the US that can boast of mountains, lakes, fishing, boating, hiking, skiing, and other recreational activities. Idaho is even home to St. Chapelle Winery.  George Tallabas told me they even allow you to get Moose Permits during hunting season!!

Nampa, Idaho, the state's second largest city, has experienced particularly strong growth in recent years. According to census estimates Nampa has grown 22.1% to nearly 65,000 residents between 2000 and 2003. Growth of 5% or more over the same period has also been observed in Caldwell, Coeur d'Alene, Meridian, Post Falls and Twin Falls .  My friend George has real estate experience in all of these cities.

Idaho has yet another great resource known as George Tallabas. When you plan your visit to Idaho be sure to contact George with Remax.  George is licensed in Idaho and Oregon and serves the Greater Boise Idaho area including the major cities of Boise, Eagle, Meridian, Nampa, Caldwell and the surrounding Treasure Valley.

Whether you want to know the value of your home or you are looking for buyers resourses in Idaho, George will answer all of your questions in a professional, courteous manner

You can look at George's inventory of listings or wanting to search the entire MLS, George's consumer oriented site has plenty of resources. There are resources for schools, community information, and plenty of buyer and seller resources.

Visit George's website for more details on this wonderful community.  For anyone planning on moving to the Boise/Nampa Idaho area George Tallabas is YOUR agent!  Call George at (208) 880-2333 or contact him by e-mail.

View other agents comments about George on Active Rain - Cindee Haydon, Ashley Gephart, Paula Henry, Debi Braulik, Janie Coffey, and others.