Stu Barnes

Over the past few months you have probably heard all the talk on the news programs about the lending/credit situation and if you are currently working with a REALTOR they have probably told you things will get better shortly. Last week with news of the federal government swallowing Freddie and Fannie the rates dropped around 1%. This is a huge savings if you calculate your potential monthly payment with this new rate. On top of this the Presidential election is in a month and a half. I dropped this line because a current poll of home buyers read that: 50% of them are waiting or the election to make a move.

My take: Buyers go buy now. Sellers hang in there.

It is a very good time to buy now with the way rates are looking; IF you are qualified. If you are not qualified......do whatever your lender or credit counselor says to upgrade your buying power. The way things have gone this year so far I am still a little confused as to why buyers are still sitting on the fence because I don't think rates will drop too much more and in most parts of the country I think housing prices will start show a better appreciation rate as a whole. The only sure thing is something is going to happen in the next few months including having a new Presidency about to take office. No matter who wins, I feel confident in saying Americans will have a refreshed view of our housing market and economy as a whole. Whether you are buying or selling you should consult a REALTOR for an unbiased opinion on your Real Estate market.

Many people have heard the term/phrase "appreciation rate" associated with Real Property...ie: Real Estate. It can be deceiving it you just read one article or tidbit on what the "current" appreciation rate is because.....since all Real Estate is local, the appreciation rates vary from city to city; also from neighborhood to neighborhood.

In the Raleigh, NC area the appreciation rates have stayed steady over the years...especially in the early 2000's with the Real Estate Boom across the country. In a nutshell, the "bubble" you may have heard of is caused by appreciation rates rising too fast and then leveling off, then ultimately coming back down (depreciating) to where they should be. We have not had that problem because of our steady rates. A good rate is usually defined within 3-6% a year. That is healthy as well as a debatable number, but at any rate overall that is where our rates have been. With that said there are certain pockets/neighborhoods of our Triangle Areathat have seen higher rates, but not nearly in the double digits that got other states in trouble. If you are concerned about your home's appreciation rate or possibly depreciation rate you should contact a local REALTOR to perform a CMA (comparable market analysis) for you. For more information visit us here.

Lake Benson Park in Garner NC is an unbelievable site in southern Wake County that is truly what you can call a hidden gem. What is so amazing about this place is it seems like no one knows it exists because it is NEVER crowded....except during the 4th of July Fireworks Celebration. I usually run the trails there 2-3 three times a week and it is always a peaceful escape.

Located at Aversboro and Buffaloe Roads, you will find an incredible 64 acres of grass, trees, flowers, running trails, picnic areas and a shoreline to gaze at the lake. This property was part of an 840 acre land grant from King George II of England. In 1990 the Town of Garner purchased the land from the Buffaloe family and developed it into the family oriented park that it is today. The Inland Trail is 1.2 miles and there is a Woodland Trail of .6 mile which also contains a few playgrounds and grilling sites. One thing that you may notice off to the side of the trail on the northern end of the park is a memorial dedicated to PFC Henry Charles Sanchez, USMC. Henry was a 2003 graduate of Garner High School and use to run these trails to prepare to become a Marine. In July of 2006 Henry was killed in combat in Iraq serving his country.

If you live in the Raleigh area, Garner is 10 minutes from downtown Raleigh and is worthy of your visit to the park. Bring your dog, running shoes, blankets or whatever you usually do at a park and have a good time.

You may ask why I am writing about Charities on a Real Estate Blog Page. Well, why not? While Raleigh is one of the fastest growing cities in this part of the country, a lot of people that move here are not aware that there are a lot of smaller charities worthy of recognition. One that really does have something to do with Real Estate is the Center For Volunteer Care-giving. With a lot of elderly folks moving to be closer to their kin, this organization helps provide services to the elderly such as transportation to Doctor appointments, house cleaning, grocery shopping and many other things that are hard to do by yourself when you are older and live alone. Another one of my favorites is April's Angels. This one is by far one of the best and in most need of attention to the public. Victoria Bloise started April's Angels to give back to the community. April's Angels help chronically ill children in a way to improve their home life. An example is transforming a child's room into a magical land or a baseball stadium or a space ship.......or whatever that child wants; kind of like a miniature Home Makeover you see on TV, but localized to the child's bedroom. These and more local charities can be found here.

Without charities a lot of things would not happen. A lot of opportunities will be missed, a lot of smiles will never happen and a lot of life changing moments will be passed over. Donate, volunteer....Discover Giving.

With Raleigh NC becoming a more and more popular place to buy Real Estate, many people are now wanting to know what there is to do here. Even folks who have lived here for years are not aware of certain activities that exist in the Triangle Area.

The obvious and most advertised is the Carolina Hurricanes, but not many people realize we have a rugby team, two minor league baseball teams and a professional soccer team. The area boasts six major shopping malls/outlets, not to mention the ever so popular farmer's market which by the way, has the best and cheapest fruit and vegetables you will find anywhere around here. Aside from sports and shopping, museums is a popular draw for people of all ages. Raleigh has over 7 museums; and not many people that live here know that.

You can find out about EDUCATION, HOSPITALS, SPORTS, GOVERNMENT and just about anything going on in Raleigh by visiting our site. We hope this helps and hope to see you soon.