We had such a great time in downtown Raleigh this past week-end in spite of tropical storm Hanna coming to town. It was the be 3rd annual Raleigh Wide Open Festival complete with Fayetteville Street blocked off allowing food vendors, wine and beer tasting events, mimes, magicians and even live bands! It was a lot of fun for the whole family - no matter what age!
It also was a perfect back drop for the grand opening of our brand new Convention Center. It's beautiful and functional - the exhibit hall alone is 150,000 square feet! Something Raleigh can really be proud of. This year's "Raleigh World Wide Expo" inaugurated the Convention Center with all types of businesses and organizations on hand with valuable information. Even after living here 13 years I too picked up some new facts about Raleigh that I didn't know. And of course the ever popular "International Festival" delighted folks of all ages too with foods from around the world and ethnic entertainment!
Now for the pièce de résistance - our Shimmer Wall on the side of the new convention center....
The image is of an Oak Tree since Raleigh is often referred to as The City of Oaks. It took 3 years from conception to completion and was so graciously donated by CREE, Inc. It's 211 feet by 44 feet - a total of 9,284 square feet and consists of 79,464 aluminum pixels that act as flappers. There are 462 panels weighing about 40 pounds each. The flappers wave in the breeze creating a rippling effect as the image changes constantly. It was such a thrill to stand under it yesterday and watch it change. Almost as much fun was watching and listening to others around us. Everyone was impressed and excited. I've still not seen it light up - which I hope to get a chance to see as well soon.
So if you're considering a special place to for your next convention - now you can consider Raleigh too. You won't be disappointed!
Raleigh Realtor -Pamela St. Peter
This morning I was thinking about the Housing and Economic Recovery Act recently passed and it got me to thinking about when Lee and I bought our first home. We had been renting the first few years of our marriage in a suburb of Pittsburgh and we really couldn’t wait to own our own home. It was Lee’s VA eligibility that allowed us to even consider buying a home. I don’t remember how many homes we had looked at but when we found the one on Leon Drive it was perfect for us. With its 2 bedrooms and a bath upstairs – living room, dining room and kitchen on the main – we were so excited! There even was an unfinished basement where our washer & dryer was. Now anyone that’s renting or has rented knows what a joy and relief it is to be able to do your laundry without hauling it to the laundry mat! It even sat on ¼ acre mature lot that made Lee smile… what a very special time that was…
So let’s look at this tax credit that's available to any one that hasn’t owned a home in the past 3 years. You must be a 
U.S. citizens (of course you have to file taxes since it’s a tax credit). AND you must close on the property between April 9, 2008 and June 30, 2009.
There are some incredible benefits available to first time homebuyers. The amount of the tax credit is up to 10% of the qualified home purchase price up to a $7,500 maximum.
Now there are some income limits but they are fairly lenient ($75,000 adjusted gross income for an individual and $150,000 for couples filing jointly.) There’s even a partial credit if you make a tad more than that.
Remember the tax credit is refundable. Which means that the credit will reduce your income tax liability for the year you bought your home. Now here’s the real whammy – the credit can be claimed even if you have little or no federal income tax to pay! Meaning that if the amount of taxes you owe is less than this tax credit you’ll get a check back from the government for the portion or even all of the amount of the tax credit. Now the credit does carry a payback provision - $500 per year via your tax returns. But you don’t have to start repayments until two years after you took your credit.
What happens if you want to sell your home? The remaining credit would be due from the profit of the sale of the home. IF there is insufficient profit from the sale then the remaining credit payback would be forgiven!
I hope this helps explain the Housing and Economic Recovery Act Tax Credit. But you have to act NOW – so please tell every first time homebuyer you know… This is really worth using for someone that’s ready to buy their 1st home…and it is too good to miss out! It’s a $7,500 tax CREDIT.
Call us if you have any questions or just want to get started on finding your 1st home here in the Raleigh area! It’s what we love to do…
Raleigh Realtor – Pamela St. Peter
Have you ever wondered;
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Happy House Hunting!
Raleigh Realtor – Pamela St. Peter
I just finalized a home sale in Heritage Wake Forest this week. My delightful client is making the move here from NYC - Brooklyn to be exact - and just fell in love with the Townhome built by Jack Lichtner in the Links. And who wouldn't? Take a look at what's in her backyard... a golf course and a very relaxing lake view... There's also a new Wake Forest Greenway System just across the way as well!
Entrance to her new home - isn't it pretty!
She's not my first client to fall in love with Heritage. And It's no wonder with the fantastic master plan, variety of homes and prices, and activities available from golf, tennis, hiking and biking, and check out this pool and community center.
My clients have all said they love it there and can't image living anyplace else...
There's even a daycare center as you drive into the subdivision enter called Primrose. The new schools are coming along too - the new HS is just down the road. .
With all the retail shopping, great places to eat and convenience to downtown Raleigh (and even RTP with the 540) it's no wonder that Heritage is coming into its own. Call if you'd like more information on this great area - it would be a pleasure to chat with you.
Raleigh Realtor - Pamela St. Peter
I did something couple of days ago that I have never done before as a Realtor - actually two things... here's my story.
Lee and I were away for a few days on lovely Siesta Keys in Fl for the holiday this week with very dear friends of ours from Toronto. They have been going there for decades and frequently have invited us down for as long as we can get away. Well as everyone knows it's tough for Realtors to take time off - especially at this time of the year. But we decided it was long overdue for a mini-vacation so we went.
As Murphy's Law would have it - things heated up in our market while we were there and we both were kept busy with a few offers. Now one of the two things I've never done before (as I mentioned at the start of this) is I negotiated the sale of one of our listings while sitting on the beach!! I'd read about how other agents do this and that while on vacation and have to admit sometimes with a ting of jealously... But that was fun!
Now here's the second thing I've never done before... We have a great listing in an area where there are more homes for sale than activity for some reason right now. We've had showings before and to date stay the bridesmaid... So while away I get a feedback from one
of the showings that the buyers liked ours and it's one of three they have short listed. Now not wanting to sit and wait around twiddling our thumbs, the seller's and I wondered what could we do to entice these kind buyers to favor us??? When out of the blue Lee suggested why don't you make them an offer???
At first I thought it a tad strange but along with our sellers we put together a list of things that we thought the potential buyers might be interested in and I scripted out how I would present it... and we did. We made the BUYERS an offer! We knew that they had been living in an apartment so felt offering all the appliances might be a help. He is returning from Kuwait so we included the hot tub for him to relax in while enjoying his children playing on the playset. We included a monetary concession as well for them to use as they see fit. The other agent seemed surprised and said that her buyers would be overwhelmed!
Here's the hard part - we haven't heard back from the buyer's agent yet so I don't know if our creative, pro-active idea worked or not but at least we tried. Stay tuned and I'll keep you posted...
Raleigh Realtor - Pamela St. Peter
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Raleigh REALTORS® - Broker Team serving the North Carolina's Triangle area with decades of combined experience. Specializing in relocation, new construction, resales & online real estate information
Nothing is more important to us than our family and home, it always has been. It really is where the heart is. So we have dedicated our real estate careers to helping others connect with their dream homes. We are very passionate about making the home buying or home selling process here in the Raleigh - Cary area as enjoyable and smooth as we can for people. . . We work hard to try and create raving fans of our clients (read what our clients say about us). We love what we do and this may sound clichéd, but we both are in our dreams job.
Being in the real estate business as a Realtor here in the Triangle is really many jobs rolled into one...
But most importantly - we're human beings. We can't think of any other career where we get so very close with people in such a short period of time. And we can't think of any other business we'd rather be in than Raleigh Real Estate.
Our areas of expertise is simple - it's Raleigh Real Estate. Whether you are buying - selling - 1st time home buyer - or on the 12th home sale/purchase, we'll give you 100%. We are relocation certified & specialists. We have made our mark with numerous awards over the years as #1 agents at Prudential Carolinas Realty (a complete list of our accomplishments can be at RaleighHomesOnline.com).
We take the time to stop and learn - continuously. Real Estate is an industry that is constantly changing and we know it. Lee holds his GRI, CRS, ABR, e-PRO designations, and Pamela has her CRS, ABR and is e-Certified - she devours everything pertaining to the internet, and to the process they use to enhance their sales & listings.
Through the years we have taken great care to learn not just about one town/area but about all of Wake County and the surrounding counties to better help their clients make a choice in where they want to move to.
So if you're thinking about selling your home, buiding a new home, buying land or a re-sale home in any of the Triangle areas from Morrisville, Cary, Apex, Holly Springs, Fuquay Varina, Garner, Raleigh, N. Raleigh, Wake Forest, Wendell, Rolesville, Knightdale call us. We are your connection to success in Real Estate!
We are settling in the new home and are enjoying every moment of it...And we owe you immeasurable thanks in making this dream a reality.
Since the time we've known you, you have helped us in each step of the home-buying process. Like I always say, you are more than a realtor to us. You are a trusted friend and a ready-source of information.
And for my kids, "Pam is our best friend who always listens and makes us happy".
Your in-depth knowledge of the market and enthusiasm and systematic style has amazed us. We did see quite a lot of homes before we liked this one and we appreciate your patience and positive attitude. Never did you put pressure on us for compromising our wish-list or likes. Whether it is providing information about the zoning of any property, proposed developments or other nearby property, you've always kept us upto-date with everything and that too in a prompt manner.Your skill of negotiating is evident from the fact that we bought the house for a very good price. When there were hiccups just before our closing, if you had not interfered and talked to the bank, the closing would have been postponed to the following week. And it's again your thoughtfulness and genuine nature that you tried your best and got the closing date pre-poned from a Monday to a Friday so that we get the weekend for setting up the new home.
We will surely recommend only "you" to all our friends and family. And I will maintain this friendship with you always.
Thanks again...Good luck and our best wishes to you and your family.
Sincerely,
Suresh and Santhy Subramanian
I can't even begin to tell you how much Bob and I appreciate your help in finding our new home. Having just moved from Wisconsin, house hunting was a daunting experience just in itself but you made it fun, comfortable and as stress-free as possible right from the start.
You immediately put us at ease because of your openness and excellent knowledge of the market and area. Again, as new-comers to the area you really listened for what was important to us and focused in right away to possible matches. You were also very accommodating to our schedule and needs.
Once we found our new home (which, I might add, was in only about a month's time--much shorter than what we expected) you led the negotiations with ease and expert know-how that made us glad you were on our side. throughout the whole process you were a stellar advocate for us, the buyers, and not hesitant in the least to speak up for our best interests.
You'll be our first call when we start thinking about our next move.
Bob and I can't thank you enough! Now, can you help us hang some pictures. :)
Bob & Jeanne- Apex, NC
Lee I just wanted to take a moment to thank you for your assistance regarding the sale of our home.
As you know, our home had been on the market for 6 months prior to your services with another agency. We had no offers during such time. It was quite depressing and very unsettling.
When I inquired about Prudential, you were the listing agent that my husband and I wanted. We noticed you had sold other properties in our neighborhood that were on the market for a very short time.
You were very knowledgeable in your area of expertise. you told us facts and never "Sugar Coated" anything. We greatly admired that! Your marketing strategies, knowledge of the market, and selling techniques were outstanding.
When closing time finally happened, we were extremely impressed on how you walked us through the process. In just 3 1/2 short months, you did what we believed would never happen... placed a "SOLD" sign in our front yard.
I would also like to add a little bit of hidden information to those reading this letter. We were 725 miles away during this process and you were always only a phone call away!!
Many Thanks,
Catrina & Charlie - Cary, NC
We've worked with Pamela & Lee St. Peter on buying and selling our home in Holly Springs NC and we would highly recommend anyone looking to buy or sell in the Triangle to use their services. Our first experience with the St. Peter's was in 2003 when we were looking to buy our first house. We needed someone to trust and who would have the patience and knowledge to guide us through this process. They did not let us down, from signing the purchase agreement to closing day, they were with us every step and there to answer any questions.
Then, earlier this year (2008) we decided we were going to move back to NY and we asked them to sell our house. Our house sold in less than 4 weeks and we had a showing almost every day of those 4 weeks. Again they were there every step during the sale of our house and we never felt like we didn't know what was going on. Selling a home can be extremely stressful and their professionalism helped reduce the overall stress of the transaction. Thanks for making the process run so smoothly..YOU GUYS ARE THE BEST.
Sincerely,
Josh & Michelle Putnam -Webster, NY
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