Statesville, NC

Tarheel Realty II and BB&T are in the game! Today we had a great time at one of the private schools here in Statesville. We sponsored an educational balloon event for the school for the elementary and middle schools at Statesville Christian School on heat transfer. The hands on experience was unbelieveable. The children filed out onto the field at 8:15 am all excited, barely able to contain their enthusiasm as the balloon team unfolded the 40 foot BB&T balloon onto the soccer field. Pilots Sean Askren, Kevin Flanagan and Marcia Treacy were wonderful handling the balloon in slight winds while keeping it from toppling onto the children, as we realtors and a few teachers held onto the basket to keep it landed. The wind picked up slightly and blew the balloon towards the children and they all squilled and ran for the sidelines, but the pilots were quick, fired the burners and lifted the balloon just in time. Of course the children all tried to touch it as it was just out of their reach. Needless to say, they all had a wonderful time.

Once the balloon was fully inflated the kids were able to walk up to the basket and look inside as the pilot, Sean Askren, explained how everything operated. Afterwards the pilots talked about heat transfer, and took questions from the students. There were a lot of very good questions to be answered. I was quite impressed with what a great education these kids are getting and how much they already knew. I think this will be an experience they will remember for quite some time. We were glad to be a part of this event and thank Stephanie Gill, a science teacher at Statesville Christian School for inviting us there to bring the balloon.

The Broker in Charge and owner of Tarheel Realty II helped to make this possible by calling Charles Sandridge of BB&T, both of whose children attend the school. Charles was able to coordinate with me and the pilot to have the balloon at the school. Without their help this would not have been possible. Thank you Charles and Suzanne. A big thanks to the Pilots, Sean and Kevin, for traveling such a great distance to bring the balloon and to Marcia Treacy, a pilot from Statesville, for being on hand to help. Thanks to the realtors and employees of Tarheel Realty II on hand to help with this event, Brent Mason, Michelle Welch, Suzanne Osborne. This was truly a great group of people from different businesses in the area coming together for an awesome community event.

For more information on this event, please contact Sherry Mills at Sherry@SherryMills.net

Play golf and live in the Country Club. Five bedroom, four bath home with beautiful layout. High ceilings, crown molding in formal rooms, gas FP in great room, gourmet kitchen w/ceramic tile, stainless steel appliances, solid surface countertops, & raised panel maple cabinets, gas cooktop! Guest bedroom on main level, office/study and formal dining, breakfast all on main level. Second floor has mastersuite w/two separate raised vanities and upgraded ceramic tiles. Three bedrooms and three full baths, plus large bonus room. Trees for privacy in back. Don't miss this one! www.SherryMills.net, Sherry@SherrMills.net or 704-902-7345.

February 29th found Tarheel Realty II at the Statesville Country Club on Deauville Rd. greeting and honoring it's past clients at the first annual Client Appreciation Party. Clients and sponors were enthralled with the enthusiasm and western theme presented to them that evening at 7:30. All the realtors of Tarheel pulled together and decorated the country club with western decor brought from their personal homes. Some of the items on hand were a Meadowbrook cart, picture spot complete with fencing, saddles, lariats, etc., cowhide wall hanging, steer skulls, old-time oil lanterns, and all the realtors dressed in western wear. The clients joined in the fun dressed in western wear and danced to the live local band. Barbeque was served as the evenings fare to complete the theme.

Clients were greeted at the door and all had the opportunity to have their picture taken while sitting on a saddle and having fun. All participated in the silent auction with donations from local vendors including an auction for a box seat at the Chicago White Soxs and dinner with the owner! Auction was held by owners of Tarheel Realty II, Larry Hedrick and Suzanne Osborne, Broker in Charge. The evening proceeded with a thank you to the clients, dancing, eating and networking. It was a huge success and plans are to repeat this honor to past clients on a yearly basis.

The City of Statesville has around 26,000 people in it. It is at the crossroads of two major interstates. It is surrounded on three sides by very large cities. This makes Statesville an excellent place to live. Just think about it. You can live in a city with very little traffic, quiet, peaceful neighborhoods and commune with people who still stop and say hello. It takes all of 15 minutes to drive to Mooresville and about 20 minutes to get to Lake Norman. 30 minutes you are at the "Furniture Capitol" of North Carolina in Hickory, 40 minutes and you are in Charlotte or Winston-Salem. How perfect can that be? Live in a peaceful community with just a short commute for those days when you feel like some major shopping or entertainment.

We do have cultural arts, fine dining and a Starbucks! We have lots of new neighborhoods from which to choose; nicely laid out country style communities with acreage! Or you can choose to live closer to town, walk to downtown and visit specialty shops, dine and chat with the locals. No chance here of getting run down by a speeding car, people actually stop for pedestrians here.

Best of all, homes sales here are still very reasonably priced. Some of the newer homes going up within the city are suprisingly affordable. For instance, Valleybrook has new homes with 2,000 square feet with a base price of $127,900.00. Of course, that price can go up depending on upgrades. But, not only can you afford to live here, but you will be most welcome and smothered with the hospitality of the Statesville citizens.

To get back to the city itself: The job market is still decent here. Dana has moved from Glenway Drive near Wal-Mart to downtown Statesville in the Wachovia Building. Doosan Infracore International bought the Dana building. Doosan manufactures and sells air compressors, light towers and portable generators. It is expected to have around 400 employees. That's not to shabby!

Go to my website > www.SherryMills.net to find out more about statesville. I think it is a pretty good place to live.

Daily routines are a natural fiber of life. Where did I hear that? But it is true. I wake up every morning to the sound of our cats meowing to be fed, our dogs barking to be fed and our horses nickering for their morning feeding. I slowing and carefully clamber out of bed to avoid the pain in my feet from years of running in half marathons and make my way to the kitchen for that ever wakeful cup of coffee.

Our two tabbies race to the kitchen looking at me as if asking what is taking me so long. Can't I see they are there already? Izzy and Jack dance and twist waiting to get out of their kennels to go outside after being cooped up 8 hours. Dashing out the door Izzy stops dead just outside the threshold and barks for me to follow him. But I'm not dressed for 29 degree weather and I haven't had my coffe yet! "Go do your business," I say and he runs off the deck to be back 2 minutes later barking to get back inside. He doesn't like the cold either.

CNN and the weather channel, then outside to the barn and kennels to fed the rest of the crew. Horses and dogs, that's all we grow around here but I love every minute of it. The sun is shining, the birds are singing, there is frost on the ground and it is the promise of a beautiful day here in little ol' Statesville, North Carolina. The weather man says it is supposed to reach 64 degrees today and it is only the 2nd of March. We have the best weather here and are usually protected from severe storms.

I will spend the morning cleaning house then go outside to exercise our many horses. My fat little quarter horse, Lakota, has to be ridden a few times a week to keep his mind straight about who runs the show. My daughters appaloosa mare, Eclipse, is in the process of learning to be a sweet ride with consistency. Our 1 1/2 year old TWH, Carolina Willie, is learning to give to the bit and longe before he reaches two in August. The rest of the crew just need to get exercise from lounging around most of the winter (really just a long fall).

This is my relaxation. This is my world away from work. This is what keeps me sane.

Now, I could easily have written a blog about why to use a realtor, how to sell your house yourself, what the market is like or any number of articles about real estate. But isn't is refreshing to know that your realtor is just as human as you and takes the time to kick back, relax and regroup in order to have a fresh perspective and clear mind for the upcoming real estate week. visit me at http://www.SherryMills.net.