Raleigh NC Properties

Bringing Jobs to Raleigh at High Speed

February 27th, 2010

Jobs are coming to Raleigh, NC by high-speed train. Well, sort of.

Governor Bev Perdue recently announced that a high-speed rail project is expected to create or maintain 4,800 jobs in North Carolina. In addition, this new transportation mode will reduce traffic congestion and improved air quality.

“These rail projects are going to have far-reaching benefits for North Carolinians,” said Gov. Perdue. “They will put people to work while providing transportation, environmental and energy benefits through reduced congestion and improved air quality.”

The state of North Carolina is receiving $545 million from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act for further development of the Southeast High Speed Rail Corridor.

The corridor will include a 500-mile route from Charlotte, NC to Washington D.C. and will serve as a main street for East Coast travel. For business or leisure, the train will travel at an average of 86 mph, which allows patrons to get where they’re going fast!

Some of the projects will include improving stations, upgrading private crossings, constructing new highway bridges, purchasing and rebuilding locomotives and passenger cars and building more tracks.

The projects are located throughout the state of North Carolina, namely in Durham and Wake counties. Several of the projects will start within the next few months.

This is great news for the state of North Carolina – We look forward to seeing the economic and job boost.

For more information, go to www.bytrain.org.

Tags: Bev Perdue, Charlotte North Carolina, High-speed rail, North Carolina, North Carolinians, Rail transport, United States, Washington D.C
Posted in Economy, News, Raleigh, The Triangle, Why move to Raleigh | No Comments »

Raleigh, NC: One of America’s Best Kept Secrets

January 22nd, 2010

Wanting to learn about Raleigh, NC? Look no further!

Raleigh is the capital city of the state of North Carolina. Known for its exuberant amount of oak trees, it is often referred to as the “City of Oaks.” It is centrally located a few hours west of the coast and a few hours east of the Appalachian Mountains – both popular destinations for vacations. Raleigh’s beauty and stability make it the perfect place to call home.

The Raleigh-Cary metro area has been one of the fastest growing areas in recent years. Its population has grown to just over 1 million.

But what really makes Raleigh a magnificent city?

The “City of Oaks” is known for being a green and environmentally friendly city. The city boasts a 41-mile greenway and a network of public open spaces and recreational trails where residents and visitors jog, bird-watch, and fish. Various wilderness preserves and gardens, along with beautifully landscaped parks make Raleigh one of the greenest areas in the country.

Raleigh is also a city of vibrant nightlife, historic neighborhoods, concerts in the park, and Old World charm. It has also been referred to as the “Smithsonian of the South” for its large concentration of museums.

For the sports enthusiasts, Raleigh is home to the Carolina Hurricanes of the National Hockey League and the Carolina RailHawks of the United Soccer League. There are two minor-league baseball teams in the area, the Carolina Mudcats and the Durham Bulls (made famous by the movie Bull Durham).

However, the area is even more famous for its intense college basketball rivalries. North Carolina State University is located in the heart of Raleigh while Duke University and the University of North Carolina are located in nearby Durham and Chapel Hill, respectively.

A large contributor to the city’s economy is the Research Triangle Park, located between Raleigh, Durham, and Chapel Hill. This science hub, often compared to Silicon Valley, draws talent from the area’s major universities and is home to some 170 companies, most of which are involved in high-tech and biotech fields.

The city prides itself on its diverse economy, which has kept the entire area relatively stable throughout the economic downturn. As a result, real estate prices have remained equally stable and constant.

Additionally, Raleigh was recently named the third best area to launch a small business. This speaks largely of the current state of the economy. Small business success is often an excellent indicator of a city’s overall economic strength.

So if you’re looking for that perfect location, look no further. Raleigh offers all the amenities of a large city while maintaining the beauty and simplicity of a small town. The stable economy and steady real estate market are two major reasons why Raleigh is the place you’ll want to call home.

Tags: Bull Durham, Duke University, North Carolina, Raleigh, Research Triangle, United States, University of North Carolina, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Posted in Why move to Raleigh | No Comments »

Raleigh, NC : A Good Time To Buy

January 13th, 2010

People often wonder how a particular market is fairing in today’s volatile economy. Well, the answer is clear when it comes to Raleigh, NC. With interest rates at an all-time low, it is definitely a buyer’s market.

Over the years, Raleigh has demonstrated all the characteristics of a stable housing industry. Referencing the chart below, it is easy to see that Raleigh’s Home Value Index has remained much flatter than other comparable markets. This is an indication of a stable market. Price fluctuations have been minimal while still maintaining a positive gain over time.

Raleigh, NC Real Estate

Orlando is a prime example of a boom market. Much like many of the California markets, price fluctuations have been very dramatic over the years. These areas have experienced rapid value increase over recent years but are now experiencing the shocking downfall.

Midsize locations, such as Raleigh, Richmond and Charleston have remained relatively stable, with Raleigh slightly outperforming the competition. Since 2005, Raleigh has shown positive home value growth, a rare feat in today’s economy. This growth gives assurance to new homebuyers that their investment will continue to develop as a sound asset in the future.

There has been a lot of discussion surrounding today’s interest rates. So just how good are those rates? The chart below shows the average 30-year fixed rate by year for the past few decades. Rates are at their lowest since 1972, making today the best time to buy in 37 years!
Raleigh, NC real estate

Raleigh has continued to add jobs to support the rapidly growing population. Approximately 65,000 jobs have created since 2005. In addition, Raleigh experienced one of the top population growths of any metro market in the country over the past five years, growing an astonishing 5 percent annually. For these and numerous other reasons, Raleigh was named the No. 6 Healthiest Housing Market for 2009 in the country. Read the article here.

Taking all these factors into account, it is apparent that Raleigh, NC is one of the few markets in the country displaying continual growth. This translates into a vast amount of potential for the future. Home prices and inventories benefit buyers, as do the current interest rates.

If you want to take advantage of all the benefits buying a home in Raleigh will offer, give me a call today. I can help you find exactly what you’re looking for!

Tags: California, Economy, Interest rate, Population, Raleigh, Raleigh North Carolina, Real estate pricing, United States
Posted in Facts | No Comments »

Raleigh, NC: The Different Areas

January 5th, 2010

Raleigh, NC Triangle

Raleigh, NC is divided into seven areas, and each area offers something unique and different.

Downtown/Old Raleigh- If you’re downtown, you’re “inside the beltline,” which is the historic part of Raleigh. From the old Sir Walter Raleigh Hotel, the NC State Capitol and Shaw University, downtown Raleigh hosts a lot historical buildings as well as residential and commercial properties.

North Raleigh- A quickly growing suburban area with both established neighborhoods and new construction homes. There are a lot of shopping and commercial offerings and is typically considered the area north of Millbrook Road.

Midtown Raleigh- Just north of the I-440 Beltline and encompasses parts of North Raleigh. This is a residential and commercial area. (The term Midtown is typically only referenced for marketing purposes but still important to reference.)

East Raleigh- Encompasses Capitol Boulevard near I-440 to New Hope Road. Most of the developments run along the main corridors. East Raleigh hosts one of the oldest communities in Raleigh often featured as part of historical Raleigh.

Southeast Raleigh- Very diverse with new suburban areas and older inner-city neighborhoods. This area includes Rock Quarry Road, Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd and New Bern Ave. Time Warner Cable Music Pavilion, the area’s largest outdoor venue, is in Southeast Raleigh.

South Raleigh- Located along US 401 and along US 70 into suburban Garner. This is the most rural and undeveloped area of Raleigh.

West Raleigh- Home to NC State University, Meredith College and the NC Museum of Art, West Raleigh sits along Hillsborough Street and Western Blvd.

If you’re wondering which part of Raleigh best suites you and your needs, I’d happy to chat with you. Contact me today!

Tags: Interstate 440, Meredith College, North Carolina State University, Raleigh North Carolina, Shaw University, United States
Posted in Facts | No Comments »

Happy New Year!!

January 1st, 2010

Happy New Year Tracy Brennaman

It’s a new year, a new beginning. May you and yours have your best year yet!

Best Wishes,

~Tracy Brennaman

Coldwell Banker Advantage

Broker, Realtor, ABR, CNS, RELO

Phone: 919-889-5594

Fax: 866-674-3759

www.raleighncproperties.com

Posted in Personal | No Comments »

Raleigh, NC: About The Area

December 28th, 2009

Raleigh NC

When I say I love living in Raleigh, NC, I’m often asked about the infamous Andy Griffith Show. The show was shot in the 1960’s in fictional Mayberry, NC. Even though the city was made up, there are some definite similarities between Mayberry and Raleigh. There’s a small town, homey feel despite the diverse offerings. Even still, you can bet that Raleigh has come a long way since the days of Barney, Aunt Bee and Opie.

Raleigh is the capital city of North Carolina and is the second largest in population, behind Charlotte. We’re known as the “City of Oaks” because of all the beautiful oak trees native to the area.

You’ll often hear people reference the Triangle, which is the nickname for the three-city area: Raleigh, Durham and Chapel Hill. The nickname came from the 1959 Research Triangle Park, which incorporated the three major research universities in the area: UNC-Chapel Hill, Duke University and NC State University.

Most of Raleigh is located in Wake County with a smaller portion in Durham County. Some of the local suburbs and towns near Raleigh are Cary, Apex, Holly Springs, Fuquay-Varina, Garner, Clayton, Wake Forest, Knightdale and Garner.

Raleigh is constantly making national lists that highlight the best places to live, raise a family, build a career, retire … and just enjoy life.

I am very proud to call Raleigh home, and if you live in the Triangle, I’m sure you agree. There’s something enchanting about the area, and I would love to show you all that Raleigh has to offer!

Tags: Duke University, North Carolina, Raleigh, Raleigh North Carolina, Research Triangle, United States, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Wake County North Carolina
Posted in Raleigh | No Comments »

Welcome and Happy Holidays!

December 23rd, 2009

Welcome to my blog! This is a space where I will be writing on an array of topics — mostly Raleigh, NC and real estate related. As always, I would love to hear suggestions on what you’d like to see here.

Hope you and yours have a joyous holiday season. Blessings and more in 2010!