This is me with the CEO of Coldwell Banker, Jim Gillespie and the CEO of Howard Perry and Walston, Don Walston at our sales rally this week.  Jim was once Rookie of the Year too and I was honored to receive a free registration to our international conference in Vegas next March!  Great sales rally! 

Carrie [...]

I have made a lot of changes to my website and social media sites recently, in an efffort to help my past, current and future clients.   I want to know if all of you find them useful.  On my website, www.CarrieSurti.com, you can search all the listings in the Raleigh/Durham area, get information on buying [...]

Yesterday, I heard Oprah say “What a week!”  And I thought, “how did she know it has been one of the best weeks I have ever had?” 
Of course, she was talking about the historical election in which America voted for its first African-American president.  What a week it was for our country, but what a [...]

When we watch or read local news, it seems we only find reasons to be depressed, but I need to find the news that backs up what I’m seeing in my own personal business.  Um, it’s “busy.”  So, I’m going to post every story I find that verifies what I’ve been saying all along, “Now [...]

So some potentially skewed unemployment numbers for North Carolina are out.  Don’t get down- check out all the ”accolades” Wake County has received lately.  It’s true- it’s a great place to live, work, and buy real estate!
 
http://www.raleigh-wake.org/files/Accolades.Flyer_1.pdf

See the link below about the Raleigh area being the #1 Metropolitan area in the United States for growth in 2008!  Wow!

http://www.wral.com/news/state/story/4769536/
 

Check it out! Forbes names Raleigh number one place to do business! And I think word is getting out that it’s the best place to buy a home as well!
http://www.wral.com/business/story/4826038/

Mortgage rates are at a 52 year low according to CNN Money.  I can get you in touch with a loan officer today.  Whether you are buying your first home, moving up or moving down, it doesn’t come any cheaper to borrow money than it does right now!
http://money.cnn.com/2009/03/26/real_estate/mortgage_rates/index.htm?postversion=2009032612

So I am now on Twitter.  I know, I know… it took a while.  I think I’ve got it under control, sort of.   I have added some updates, but I’m still not sure if I want all that stuff coming through my phone yet.   I’m quite proud of myself for learning so much about technology over the [...]

Green Spring Cleaning Tips- LiveEarth.org Spring has sprung in the North! This is the perfect time to start organizing and scrubbing down your home from top to bottom with some green spring cleaning. Small changes to green your cleaning techniques will have an impact on your health and the environment that can really add up [...]

Good News – Early Edition
WRAL-TV   New Home Permits Begin to Rebuild in Wake
 
http://www.wral.com/news/local/story/5005436/
 
NBC-17   Home Sales Grow Over First Period
 
http://wake.mync.com/site/wake/news%7CSports%7CLifestyles/story/32503/home-sales-grow-over-first-quarter

1.  If you or a spouse has not owned a home in the last years, you qualify for an $8000 tax credit.    If you do not owe any taxes at the end of the year- this is $8000 additional you will be refunded.  Quite a bonus!
2.  You have to pay to live somewhere.  You may [...]

More homes for sale are attracting multiple offers as buyers pursue lower-price homes and banks low-ball asking prices to attract competing bids on foreclosures.

So the FHA now says it will allow first-time homebuyers to use the $8000 tax credit as a down payment… up front… without having to wait to file. We are still awaiting more information on how this will be done exactly, but it’s very exciting news for those who thought they would never have [...]

According to the article below from Triangle Business Journal and new data from the Triangle MLS… we are down to a 7.5 month supply of homes in the Triangle.  That number has been cut in half over the last several months!  This is great news for the future of our housing market!
 
The number of Triangle [...]

Where’s the number one place to relocate?  The Raleigh area! Another accolade from Forbes magazine.  Check out the link below for more details.   What a great place to live and work!
http://realestate.msn.com/article.aspx?cp-documentid=19873357&GT1=35000

The FHA this week reversed its decision to allow first time homebuyers to use the $8000 tax credit as a down payment, saying it resembles the now illegal down payment assistance programs.   Some say the government will find a way to circumvent the new rules, but for now, the $8000 dollars can only be given [...]

Down payment assitance programs are no more and most 100% financing has gone away.   I say “most”- because there are still ways that you can get in a home with no money down.  The main way is to get a USDA loan.  The specific property has to be in a USDA eligible area and you [...]

Expert: Recession Over, Slow Recovery Ahead UNC Charlotte expert says the official ruling may be two years away, and that N.C.’s recovery will be slow, but the recession likely ended this spring.  I think we’ve already noticed this with stabilizing house prices and interest rates going up.   So as I’ve said before- you never know [...]

The N.C. Foreclosure Prevention Project has helped more than 1,000 homeowners in our state since its inception according to the article below from the Asheville Citizen Times.
http://www.citizen-times.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090616/NEWS/90616073
Foreclosures are not as rampant in the Triangle as they are in other parts of the country, but there is some help out there.   You may also be able [...]

The idea for this blog came to me from Christie Hyde on Facebook and some of my clients already have some good tips they threw in too!   It’s summer- a great time to be house shopping- but here in the South, it can get pretty darn hot!   So here are some ways to beat the [...]

Let’s face it- not all of us know what’s on our credit report.  And not everyone knows their credit score.   We just don’t think about it!  I found the article below on www.liveinformed.com.  I wanted to share it.  It’s important to get to know your credit, for a number of reasons- identity theft, peace of mind and decisions [...]

Since I am in the middle of creating a household budget myself- I thought it would be nice to share these tips for creating one.  I also have some more ways to save I might save for a later post.  If you are trying to come up with a budget- let me know how it goes and [...]

This is great!  Check it out! Want help moving to Apex or anywhere else in the Triangle, or country, for that matter? Call me!
http://www.forbes.com/2009/07/07/relocate-relocation-cities-lifestyle-real-estate-affordable-moving.html

This is great!   Iwas “googling” (is that how you spell I was looking for something on Google?)  blog topics because I was stuck on what to write this week.  I found this article entitled ”100 Blog Topics I Hope You Write Today.”  At number 43: :My Day Job Versus My Passion.”   Yes- this is what I have to write about.  
The great [...]

Ah… to be young again. Nearly 15 years ago, I was standing on my new college campus, in the midst of hundreds of freshman clamoring to get into dorm rooms with boxes and furniture. That first year, I thought it was great to take a shower caddy and flip flops into a bathroom shared by [...]

Since I am in the middle of a move, I thought it would be helpful to offer some tips on moving.  I found a great article (you can see the link below), but I thought I’d offer my own as well.
-The article mentions making a list for everything, but I have found labeling the boxes [...]

“Sometimes you gotta move, gotta get a bigger house. Why? No room for your stuff anymore.”- George Carlin
I was remind of this hilarious Carlin rant yesterday as I move into my new home.  I was so ready to get out of the last one- great as it was- because we no longer had room for [...]

             Last Friday, I saw some former co-workers I hadn’t spoken to in a while.  The amazing thing was, they knew everything that was going on with me.  The conversation didn’t pick up where we left off, it picked up off my most recent Facebook posts.   They were asking, “So, how’s the house? Did you [...]

 
 
The home pictured above at 3819 Poulnot Court is a perfect example of one that’s right for the first-time homebuyers tax credit.  Why?  It’s ready to move in now.  It is not a short sale, so you can close in about 30 days (maybe less).  It’s also in a great location and is in a first-time [...]

 
       Oh my!  What great news!   We’re just waiting on President Obama to sign off- but why wouldn’t he?  The Tax Credit Extension and Expansion is the best thing I have seen yet to stimulate this economy.   This time it doesn’t just include first-time homebuyers, but “move up” buyers too!   Nearly everyone has an advantage now.  
       [...]

Things are picking up for sure in the Raleigh housing market- yes even during the holidays.  I had no idea December would be so busy- but thank goodness it has been!   I have gotten one house under contract this week and hopefully two with all the traffic we’ve seen.  Buyers and sellers are out there- they just [...]

Looking for something to do in Raleigh on New Year’s Eve?  MSN City Guides offers several suggestions including the 19th Annual First night Raleigh.  First Night is family friendly and there will be lots to do- including karaoke on the courthouse steps!  Who knew?  And of course- you don’t want to miss the acron drop.
 There [...]

Wow… my 2010 has really started off with a bang!  It started off with a call from my hair stylist saying that I had won a drawing at my salon.   (Happy Belated Christmas to me.)  Then, great conversations with 2 first-time homebuyers who qualify for the tax credit and want to take advantage of it before it [...]

I have long practiced Hatha Yoga.  And… I have long wondered about Bikram Yoga, or hot yoga.   I would drive by exclusively “hot” yoga studios in different cities and check the prices, but I just couldn’t get up the courage to do it.  Until yesterday.
A co-worker and I decided to go together and try this steamy workout.    [...]

First-time homebuyers and those considering using a government backed loan to buy need to know this information put out by CNN today!  Your credit score could affect your down payment and it looks like all the fees will increase.    As always, if you think you are going to be affected by this news, please call [...]

                                                                              
This week, I donated two large bags of items to help victims of Haiti’s earthquake through the HPW Foundation.   The items I donated were mostly things I no longer needed at home- clean/used towels, clean/used blankets, easy to open canned food, water, Gatorade, and gauze.   Some of the items on the list of things [...]

Oh I have already had my 15 minutes of fame as a feature reporter in Florence/Myrtle Beach, SC.  I wouldn’t want to make light of the “serious” features I covered, so let’s just leave it at that.  Well- I did do one very serious story for an award-winning special I produced, but that’s really the [...]

Here are my HOT Property Picks of the week:
800 Moratuck Drive #302 in Atlantic Place.
Price: $115,000

Why is this my pick?  Price is right!  Only 3 miles from downtown Raleigh.  Secure Building.  Low HOA dues include insurance.  Get close to downtown without paying ITB prices- perfect. 
Next up.. another Atlantic Place hot one!   801 Moratuck Drive #308. 
Price: $129,900
  [...]

    I have gotten a lot of tax credit questions lately, and rightly so.  Time is running out and I think the message has NOT gotten out to a lot of homeowners that this credit is for them too!   It’s not just $8000 for first-time homebuyers, it’s $6500 for homeowners who’ve owned their home 5 [...]

 
Address: 5008 Quail Hollow Drive, Raleigh 27609
Price: $321,000
Why?   This is my pick of the week because it’s in a great Midtown location and the price is right!  Walk to the community pool or tennis and be minutes from North Hills.    The best part?  It’s been pre-inspected.   Let me know if you or anyone you know [...]

It’s snowing again. Still coming down here at our Coldwell Banker HPW office in Midtown Raleigh, but I am here working!
Carrie Surti
Trusted Real Estate Advisor
Coldwell Banker HPW
Text me: (919) 389-6676
Surtic@hpw.com
Follow me on Twitter @CarrieSurti

 
I don’t always have time to preview homes for buyers, depending on how quickly they want to meet and set up appointments to see houses.  But- I’ll tell you that this week I have had plenty of time to do that, as my buyers set our meetings far enough in advance.  It’s the best thing [...]

 
Address: 2405 Trellis Court, Raleigh, NC
Price:$329,000
Why is this my pick of the week?  Custom built home on over an acre of land.  Not easy to find around these parts sometimes!   It’s spacious in the inside too and has 4 bedrooms, one that can be used as a bonus.  Another great thing about it- NO city [...]

Sitting onsite today at Avalon Springs in Fuquay-Varina. Beautiful homes built by Homes By Dickerson starting under $200k.
Carrie Surti
Trusted Real Estate Advisor
Coldwell Banker HPW
Text me: (919) 389-6676
Surtic@hpw.com
Follow me on Twitter @CarrieSurti

     Sometimes I just don’t believe my own good fortune.    This weekend, my parents and I decided to take a trip to Shelton’s Furniture on Morgan Street downtown.   I go to Shelton’s a lot and furnished much of my new home with beautiful pieces from their store.
     Elvis’ “In The Ghetto” was playing and I went [...]

I don’t want to toot my own horn- but guys- you are reading an award-winning blog!
This week at the 36th Annual Coldwell Banker Howard Perry and walston awards ceremony, www.TriangleLiving.info won Silver for Blog/Social Media Presence!    I am thrilled, honored and humbled.   
Again, I don’t want to be self-aggrandizing, but I also won a few other awards- [...]

Here are some ways to help the environment and your pocketbook at the same time. Here are the Top 5 ways to save energy and money, according to Southern Energy Management.
1.Change your light bulbs. Making the switch from incandescent to compact fluorescent can get you instant savings on your energy. Though the compact fluorescents will be [...]

Really cool renovations at Rosengarten Park. The finished product is amazing!
Carrie Surti
Trusted Real Estate Advisor
Coldwell Banker HPW
Text me: (919) 389-6676
Surtic@hpw.com
Follow me on Twitter @CarrieSurti

There’s not much time left to take advantage of the homebuyers’ tax credit, but you still have a shot!    You need only be under contract by April 30th and you still have until July 1 to close.   It’s not just for first-time homebuyers.   Many move-up or move-down buyers are also qualified.   There will never be another time [...]

 
 
So there’s no more tax credit- now should you buy or sell a house?   Yes!   Why?  Here’s my Top 10 List!
1.  This is one of the best real estate companies in the country. 
2. Raleigh/Durham rank among the Top 20 cities most likely to bounce back from the recession:
http://finance.yahoo.com/career-work/article/109518/20-cities-surviving-the-recession
3.  Interest rates remain at an all-time low.
4. While housing prices [...]

Taking a break at the Boylan Street Brewpub then heading over to look at these great condos at the Bloomsbury across the street.
Carrie Surti
Trusted Real Estate Advisor
Coldwell Banker HPW
Text me: (919) 389-6676
Surtic
Follow Me on Twitter @CarrieSurti

It happens all the time and it’s happened to me and my clients- scammers taking legitimate internet postings of homes for sale and re-posting them for rent on Craigslist.  The scammers also ask for money to be wired!   Find out what you need to watch out for in this NBC 17 Consumer Alert!
http://news.mync.com/site/news/video/11098/

If you haven’t seen it yet- the amended plan for the new Buffaloe Athletic Park is awesome!  There will be an Aquatic Center with a competition pool and a dog park and most of the fields are already in place.   There is one neighborhood that literally has a walkway to the park. I have sold several houses there and have one listed [...]

   I think it’s so exciting to see the Raleigh Amphitheater open downtown.   I know this city has so much to offer, but this type of  outdoor venue kinda makes me feel like we’ve “made” it.   The whole City Plaza actually gives me that vibe.   It’s just my opinion!  
From the News and Observer: http://www.newsobserver.com/2010/06/05/515840/amphitheater-debuts-with-hometown.html
So go out [...]

This is a unique market which presents unique situations for buyers and sellers.   What if you need to move and your home isn’t selling?   Maybe there is a buyer who likes it but does not qualify to buy right now.   Is a lease purchase option right for you?
Let’s talk about what it is.  A lease [...]

You’ve heard it before- the Raleigh area is one of the strongest economic areas in the country.  Now Forbes says if you are looking for opportunity- it’s one of the BEST places to be.   Great news for people who live here and those who are planning to relocate!
http://www.forbes.com/2010/06/25/americas-recovery-capitals-business-beltway-recovery-capitals.html?feed=rss_europe
Let me help you answer any questions about moving [...]

Homebuyers will be allowed to take an extra three months to close on homes under contract during Home Buyer Tax Credit.  Some banks had made it difficult to get the closings done by June 30th.  Now there’s a reprieve.  
From the Associated Press: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5guZ2uxoyv-PmSFsGGANQP8oGSqmAD9GMFRH80
Also don’t forget that military families may have a year left on the [...]

Hope you all had a safe and Happy Holiday!
I wanted to share this good news about Triangle Real Estate!
http://www.metronc.com/article/?id=1940
As always, call me if you need me!
Carrie Surti
Coldwell Banker HPW
(919) 389-6676
Carrie@CarrieSurti.com
www.CarrieSurti.com

…you need to read this article from the New York Times.   It’s often frustrating when you have a lot of showings and everyone’s got an opinion on your house.  This article is a great reminder not to let it get to you to too much, take the feedback as positive criticism (and to do something [...]

… And I’m going out. Into a monster storm! I still loved the new Harris Teeter though!

Carrie SurtiTrusted Real Estate AdvisorColdwell Banker HPWText me: (919) 389-6676Surtic@hpw.comFollow Me on Twitter @CarrieSurti
– Sent from my Palm Pixi

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The 2-story Harris Teeter at North Hills. I’m goin’ in!

Carrie SurtiTrusted Real Estate AdvisorColdwell Banker HPWText me: (919) 389-6676Surtic@hpw.comFollow Me on Twitter @CarrieSurti
– Sent from my Palm Pixi

Posted via email from surtic’s posterous

My mom is painting her house in Resoration Hardware’s Silver Sage. It’s gorgeous! The new neutral! My house is next when I get rid of this nasty cold!

Carrie SurtiTrusted Real Estate AdvisorColdwell Banker HPWText me: (919) 389-6676Surtic@hpw.comFollow Me on Twitter @CarrieSurti
– Sent from my Palm Pixi

Posted via email from surtic’s posterous

via animoto.com

Posted via email from surtic’s posterous