Pat Hensley

Keep these Tips in mind as you House Shop:

•1. Location. You've heard it over and over again but it's worth repeating. Buy in the best neighborhood you can afford. When the market slows down, the best neighborhoods in town are always in demand.

•2. Good schools in safe areas are the number one reason an area of town is crowned "the place to live". Buy a home in the best school district and you will be able to sell your home in any housing market.

•3. Location within the neighborhood can add or take away value. If you buy a home next to a busy, noisy road, your home will be worth thousands less than the home a few blocks up the street on a peaceful cul-de-sac. Avoid homes backing to power lines, railroad tracks or commercial buildings.

•4. Single Family homes detached homes sell better in a down market over condominiums and townhomes. The best selling homes have at least three bedrooms, two full baths and a two car garage.

•5. Don't buy the most expensive home in your favorite neighborhood. The larger, more expensive homes bring up the values of smaller homes. The flipside...lesser homes subtract value from nearby homes. Buyers want the nicest homes they can afford in the best neighborhood available. If you own the best house in your neighborhood, chances are buyers will skip over your home for a less impressive home in a more prestigious neighborhood.

These are just a few basic tips I give my buyer clients when we start a home search. There are of course many other variables to consider. If you keep these five principles in mind, then you will be well on your way to securing a home that will gain in value over time.

Need help finding the right home in the Raleigh or Cary areas? Just send me a list of your criteria and I will give you a Free current list of homes to consider or go to www.4FreeList.com .

I tell my clients " I won't recommend a home purchase to you that I wouldn't buy for myself".

Visit us on-line at www.TriangleNC.com. 919-832-2102 www.4FreeList.com

As we look ahead to 2009, we want to make sure the updates we plan for our homes are in step with what today's and tomorrow's home buyers are asking for.

Studies have shown...A stylish and updated home will insure not only a faster sale but it will fetch a higher price than the lack luster house up the street.

Below is an article posted by "The Home" that I found very informative. I hope you will enjoy it as much as I did. The article discusses color and design trends to look for in 2009.

" Wall color is an essential element that sets a room's mood and serves as a backdrop for furniture and accessories. We're excited about Behr's color trends for 2009, which embrace eclectic interior designs and celebrate diverse cultural influences.

They'll help you transform lackluster living spaces into chic and comfortable interiors. Luckily, wall color is one of the most inexpensive ways to update a room, so you can have fun exploring these new color palettes!

	Behr Palette #1: Earthy & Exotic Rich, warm palette of earthy taupe and deep red tones Showcases cultural influences in accessories, art, and other items from faraway places Leather furniture and animal print accents This color trend is designed to display the special pieces you've collected in your travels or to showcase accessories that are inspired by your favorite locale.
	Behr Palette #2: Glamour Elegant, soothing palette of mossy greens and expressive browns with touches of pale ivory Features sleek ceramics and reflective metal accents, balanced by deep natural wood tones and fresh flowers Stylized furnishings...but not too "matchy matchy" This color scheme and the mix-and-match eclecticism of the room's furniture and décor strike the perfect balance between luxury and livability.
	Behr Palette #3: Global Easygoing, inviting palette of grassy yellows, sandy tans, and bright whites Makes the most of a single focal color - deep turquoise - for bold contrast Neutral and natural pebbles, grass, plants, wood, and shell accessories balance the room's intensely colored walls We may live in a global village, but you still want to express a unique personal style. This palette will help you blend worldly influences with your own fresh approach to complete a one-of-a-kind interior design scheme.

Looking for that perfect home in Cary or Raleigh?

You can customize your own Free Home For Sale Notification... updated dated daily and sent directly to your e-mail from our local MLS. Never miss a great deal again. www.4FreeList.com

We hate spam as much as you. This is for your enjoyment only and all information is kept confidential.

919-280-4567

Camden Forest is located just behind the Lochmere Golf Course in Cary. Highly sought after Stately homes with Grand appeal. Stop by today and view the only home for sale in Camden Forest.

117 Large Oaks in Camden Forest $435,000

Stunning, upscale All Brick 4/5 Bedroom Home. Large, vaulted 1st floor Master Suite. New interior paint, new carpets, newly refinished hardwoods, new ceramic tile flrs in kitchen and laundry room, new granite kitchen counters, All New high end Stainless Steel appliances including dishwasher, double ovens, refrigerator, cook top, and microwave oven. Open Sunny floor plan. Quiet, private cul-de-sac. Large Workshop off garage. Lots of walk in attic space.

Call today: 919-280-4567

www.TriangleNC.com

Cary NC Senior Housing for Active Adults

Carolina Preserve in Amberly in Cary is a Luxury 55+ Adult Active Lifestyle Community. The single family detached homes range in value from $250,000 to over $600,000. Living at Carolina Preserve is like living in a High Class Resort. The 3400 sq ft Clubhouse called Bradford Hall offers daily social activities, indoor and outdoor pools and a full workout facility. The well manicured lawns are maintained by the community association which leaves lots of time for leisure enjoyment.

Bradford Hall

Below is a hard to find 3 bedroom home with a full finished basement. What makes this home even more special, is the private backyard. Instead of backing up to your neighbor's deck, you have the peaceful quite view of a wooded buffer.

1018 Ventnor Place in Carolina Preserve Cary

Carolina Preserve $435,000. 919-280-4567

View all Homes for Sale www.TriangleNC.com

Yes, Real Estate in Cary and Raleigh NC is definitely the best place to invest your extra dollars. With today's gloomy news from wall street:

"Wall Street suffered through another traumatic session Monday, with the Dow Jones industrial plunging as much as 800 points and setting a new record for a one-day point drop as investors despaired that the credit crisis would take a heavy toll around the world. The Dow also fell below 10,000 for the first time since 2004, and all the major indexes fell more than 7 percent...."

Our Cary and Raleigh area investors are beginning to see that Real Estate is a much safer place to invest extra cash. Buy low and sell high ...is making some local investors rich.

The key is know which properties will give you the best return. It's not always foreclosure properties. Home Sellers have many reasons why they need to sell a home fast. I have found spectacular deals for my clients and most deals were not foreclosure related. The Home Sellers just wanted to move on...and move right now.

Have a little extra cash and you don't like the thought of stuffing it in the mattress?

Want to see your dollars double or triple in less than 6 months?

Contact us for a private, no obligation consultation. 919-832-2102

We'll teach you what and where to Buy the best residential real estate in Cary or Raleigh NC.

Most importantly, we'll show you what not to buy.

www.4FreeList.com