About Durham County, NC

You need to sell your Durham home and you've been interviewing Realtors. Let me stick my neck out a bit and say you aren't exactly hearing what you'd like to hear...maybe it's what you expected to hear on some level but there was always that little glimmer of hope, right? Maybe, just maybe, you could hold out for a bit higher selling price than what you’re being told. After all we live in a wonderful, vibrant part of the country and of North Carolina. We have an enviable quality of life. We never saw the outrageous appreciation that some states saw so we couldn’t possibly be seeing the depreciation they keep reporting in the news. Surely there are folks looking to move here who understand this and will open up those pocketbooks a tad wider to accommodate the price you know your home is worth.

“What harm is there in trying it just for a while?” you ask. “Besides, don’t we need some negotiating room built in to the price? A little something to make the buyer feel like they got a good deal?”

You need to hear me say this: You are talking about over pricing and it is a very, very bad strategy. Here are the facts.

The red bars show the percentage of the original list price which was achieved at closing when the original listing price was the same as the final listing price at the time of sale for Durham County, NC homes. In other words, the listing agent and seller PRICED THE HOME CORRECTLY and did NOT have to lower the original asking price before accepting an offer.

The yellow bars show how much LESS homes in Durham County, NC sold for when the listing agent and seller OVER PRICED THE HOME TO START and were forced to LOWER the asking price before getting an accepted offer. The percentage achieved at closing was negotiated off the final list price, NOT the original list price.

The red bars show the average Days On Market for a Durham County, NC home when the original listing price was the same as the final listing price at the time of sale. In other words, the listing agent and seller PRICED THE HOME CORRECTLY, did NOT have to lower the original asking price before accepting an offer and the home sold significantly faster.

The yellow bars show how much longer it took to sell homes in Durham County, NC when the listing agent and seller OVER PRICED THE HOME TO START and were forced to LOWER the asking price before getting an accepted offer. The average Days On Market is significantly longer. Time is money and sellers who over price undoubtedly paid a few more mortgage payments than those who do not over price.

You can see that over pricing, as a strategy, has never been a good idea but in an unforgiving market like we are experiencing now it can mean the difference between the seller bringing money to the table or not.

The value of significant real estate experience can not be overstated in 2010. If you are serious about accomplishing your real estate goals, give me a call. I'll give you all the facts you need to make the right pricing decision.

~These charts reflect the latest data available from the T.A.R.R. Report. A subscription publication for Triangle real estate practitioners~

This weeked I decided to take some time to be a be a tourist in the Triangle Area and visit the Campus of Duke University in Durham, NC.

Duke University is one of the most prestigious Universities in the Country and we are certainly proud and honored to have it right here in our community.

Duke University is situated on nearly 9000 acres in Durham, NC. Durham is known as the City of Medicine since so many of the jobs in the community are associated with the health care industry.

Below are pictures of Duke Chapel located on Duke's West Campus area. The Chapel is designed in a Gothic style as is the rest of the West Campus buildings. Its tower is 210 feet tall!

Would you like more information on the Triangle Area, then just give us a call at (919) 314-7797 or visit our website www.SearchRaleighRealEstate.com
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We hope you enjoy this blog as much as we enjoy bringing it to you. We welcome your comments. If you are planning on buying or selling a home in the Raleigh area, we have you covered. We have all the resources and knowledge to make your real estate transaction worry free!

Marc Iafrate, MBA
Coldwell Banker HPW Real Estate Broker

5000 Falls of Neuse Road, Suite 100
Raleigh, NC 27609

Professional, Dependable Advisor

Direct (919) 314-7797
www.SearchRaleighRealEstate.com

Referral to your Friends and Family is the Highest Compliment I can receive !

Child Care and Preschools in Durham

Overview of Schools and Centers in Durham 27705

This is the southwest portion of Durham, near Chapel Hill and Hillsborough. Lots of options here! Click on the map to zoom in on any child care or preschool location.

Carolina Friends Durham Early School

404 Alexander Ave. Durham, NC 27705

Quaker affiliation. The Carolina Friends School has a lower, middle, and upper school in addition to the early school program. Summer programs available for ages 4 - 15 yrs.

Ages: 3 - 6 yrs

Hours of Operation: 8:15am - 5:15pm

Cost: $8,780 per year for half days. $15,830 per year for extended days. Financial aid available.

Contact Information: 919-383-6602. Campus Early School Head Teacher Libby Pittman Pendergrast lpendergrast at cfsnc.org. Admissions Coordinator Kathleen Davidson kdavidson at cfsnc.org or admissions at cfsnc.org. Visit the Carolina Friends website here.

Duke School

3716 Old Erwin Road Durham, NC 27705

Ages: 3 - 5yrs

Hours of Operation: 8am-3pm

Cost: $9,626 - $12,310 per year

Contact Information: Admissions: 919-416-9420. Lower School Division: 919-286-1866. Preschool and kindergarten program director Kathy Bartelmay. Visit the Duke School website here.

Durham Academy

3501 Ridge Road Durham, NC 27705

Durham Academy is NAIS accredited.

Ages: 4 - 6yrs

Hours of Operation: 8am-1pm

Cost: Fees vary. Yearly rates listed below. Financial aid available.

Pre-Kindergarten & Kindergarten - $11,640
Grades One through Four - $16,860
Grade Five through Eight - $17,240
Grades Nine through Twelve - $18,700

Contact Information: 919-489-3400. Visit the Durham Academy website here.

Gray Stone Christian Learning Center

2601 Hillsborough Road Durham, NC 27705

After-school, intersession, and school's day out care. Baptist affiliation.

Ages: 2 - 12 yrs

Hours of Operation: 6:30am - 6pm

Cost: $163 per week

Contact Information: 919-286-4698. Visit the Gray Stone website here.

Lerner Jewish Community Day School Early Childhood Program

1935 West Corwallis Road Durham, NC 27705

Ages: 2 ½ -5yrs

Hours of Operation: 8am - 5:30pm

Cost: $8,000 - $12,050 per year. Financial aid available.

NC Division of Child Development Rating: 5 stars

Contact Information: 919-286-5517. Jordana Brown, Director of Admissions, admissions@lernerschool.org. Carolyn Rogers, Director of Early Childhood, carolyn@lernerschool.org. Visit the Lerner website here.

McMannen UMC Preschool and Parents Morning Out

4102 Neal Road Durham, NC 27705

United Methodist affiliation

Ages: 1 - 4 yrs

Hours of Operation: 9am - 12pm

Cost: $60-$225 per month

Contact Information: 919-383-1263. Visit the McMannen website here.

Ninth Street KIN

1006 Broad Street Durham, NC 27705

Ages: 12 mos - 5 yrs

Hours of Operation: 8am - 6pm

Cost: Fees vary, Sibling discount.

NC Division of Child Development Rating: 4 stars

Contact Information: 919-286-7773, Director Kathie Stephens, bigkin@verizon.net. Visit the Ninth Street website here.

St. Luke's Preschool and Kindergarten

1737 Hillandale Road Durham, NC 27705

Episcopal affiliation.

Ages: 3-5yrs

Hours of Operation: 9am-noon

Cost: Fees vary, listed below.

Kindergarten: 5 yrs, 5 days/week: $2,430/year

Junior Kindergarten: 4 & 5 yrs, 5 days/week: $2,295/year

Pre-Kindergarten: 4 yrs, 3 days/week: $1,890/year

Preschool: 3 yrs, 2 days/week: $1,440/year

Contact Information: 919-286-2274. Visit the St. Luke's website here.

Relocating to the Raleigh Area? Here's a few more topics you may be interested in:

As a member of the Realtor community you know how important it is to have shelter over your heads. Helping the homeless and their children should be something that peaks your interest if you hear of an opportunity that comes your way. Well, here is one of those opportunities to get involved.

PLM Families Together (www.PLMFT.org) is helping many homeless families and their children reach independence by providing transitional housing to those who need it most. You can help get involved by either volunteering or donating some of your real estate commissions to this incredibly worthwhile cause.

In this struggling economy more and more of our family, friends and neighbors are having difficulty staying in their homes. For some the journey will lead them to a state of homelessness.

Some will not be able to modify their mortgages or take advantage of other government initiated programs through the Making Homes Affordable program (www.MakingHomesAffordable.gov). Others will not be able to "Short Sale" their home in efforts to avoid foreclosure. Still others will be taken advantage of by scam artists promising to help them stay in their home.

Do you know someone right now who is homeless? Have you ever come close to homelessness yourself?

YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE!

Any financial help that you are able to provide is greatly appreciated. Here are some ways that you can help suppot this special ministry financially. Please consider:

• Giving a financial donation with matching funds from Thrivent Financial for Lutherans®
• Joining Homeward Journey Society
• Designating PLM-FT on your United Way Payroll Deductions
• Purchasing items on the internet with The Yellow Brick Mall
• Purchasing household items at Food Lion
• Searching the internet with GoodSearch
• Support the development of a PLM-FT DVD

Volunteers are the lifeblood of this organization

PLMFT invites you to ignite your passion, and to bring your time, your talent and your treasure. They promise in return to honor your time, value your participation, seek out and listen to your feedback and appreciate the gifts you so generously share.

Contact their volunteer coordinator at volunteer@plmft.org.

Child Care and Preschools in Durham

Overview of Schools and Centers in Durham 27703

If you're thinking of relocating to Durham County, or if you are considering child care or half day preschool for your young children, here's some locations you should check out.

The Durham 27703 zip code is just west of RTP (Research Park Triangle), so is conveniently close for many working parents. There's easy access to downtown Raleigh, Chapel Hill, and RTP, which makes this area a good middle ground.

Bright Horizons @ Imperial Center

1012 Slater Road Durham, NC 27703

Part-time care is available. All Bright Horizons staff are trained regularly in CPR and First Aid. Snack and lunch served daily.

Ages: Infants, Toddlers, Twos, Preschool

Hours of Operation: 7am - 6pm

Cost: Contact the center directly for tuition information.

Contact Information: 919-941-6225, imp@brighthorizons.com. View the Bright Horizons website here.

Children Our Heritage Daycare

12 Lost Tree Ct Durham NC, 27703

PO Box 392 Durham NC, 27703

Ages: Infant - 12 years

Hours of Operation: Hours vary

Contact Information: 919-417-7268

Kids R Kids of RTP

2502 Presidential Drive Durham NC, 27703

Before and after-school programs. Summer camps. Parent Internet viewing

Ages: 6 wks - 12 yrs

Hours of Operation: 7am - 6:30pm

Cost: Fees vary. Financial aid available.

NC Division of Child Development Rating: 5 stars

Contact Information: 919-544-5050, info@kidsrkidsrtp.com. View the Kids R Kids website here.

La Petite Academy

4022 Wake Forest Hwy Durham, NC 27703

Before and after-school programs. Summer camps.

Ages: 6 wks - 12 yrs

Hours of Operation: 6:30am - 6:30pm

Cost: Fees vary based on age group

Contact Information: 919-596-9260, Director Kristina Coughlin. View the La Petite Academy website here.

Robin's Nest Daycare

205 N. Maple Street Durham, NC 27703

Before and after school care available.

Ages: 6 wks - 12 yrs

Hours of Operation: Operates 3 shifts

Cost: Fees vary. Provides free meals and accepts subsidy.

NC Division of Child Development Rating: 5 stars

Contact Information: 919-598-4156

Victorious Daycare and Preschool Academy

2116 Page Road Durham, NC 27703

Ages: 6 wks - 5 yrs

Hours of Operation: 6:30am - 5:30pm

Cost: Fees vary. Financial aid available.

NC Division of Child Development Rating: 4 stars

Contact Information: 919-957-7500. View the Victorious Daycare website here.