Posts Tagged ‘North Carolina’

Raleigh Hailed as One of America’s Best Cities

Monday, May 17th, 2010

Recent studies conducted by Forbes.com and RelocateAmerica.com revealed that Raleigh, NC is one of the best places to live in America. Forbes ranked Raleigh No. 3 in terms of best places for business and careers, while Relocate America ranked it No. 8 for top overall cities.

Forbes ranked America’s cities based various categories. Raleigh ranked in the upper tier in the areas of: Cost of doing business, Crime rate, Economic growth projected, Educational attainment, Job growth, Net migration and Subprime mortgages. Raleigh also ranked No. 1 on the Most Wired Cities list for 2010.

Raleigh is North Carolina’s capital and has the vitality and energy of a major metropolitan area. But what really makes it unique is its small town, friendly feel. It has continuously been ranked as one of the most livable cities and one of the top places to live, work and play.

The city is occupied by nearly 400,000 people and maintains one of the most stable and established economies of all U.S. cities. This beautiful city offers many alluring areas to live along with spectacular public parks throughout the metropolitan neighborhoods. Its schools are some of the best in the nation as well.

There is no better place to live and work than Raleigh. Give me a call and I’ll be happy to show you around the city you’ll soon be calling home.

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Living in Apex, NC

Thursday, March 11th, 2010

Conveniently located in southwestern Wake County, the town of Apex, North Carolina boasts a small town atmosphere despite its proximity to big city players Raleigh, Chapel Hill and Durham.

Apex is a charming blend of rich history and bright future, which is why it’s no surprise newcomers immediately want to put down roots. It’s not only a peaceful, friendly atmosphere, but many say it just feels like “home.”

Apex prides itself in family living and took the title of the “The Best Place to Live in the USA” by Money Magazine, “No. 4 Best Place to Live and Work,” “The Best Business Climate,” and “No. 3 City for Entrepreneurship” from the North Carolina Business Magazine.

Apex’s proximity to the Research Triangle Area makes it an incredibly desirable place to live. The area encompasses the research, technology and education corridor of North Carolina. World-class universities, health care and research facilities are the reason each surrounding town has seen an influx of professionals moving into the region over the past several years.

While Apex is positioned well for continued growth, city planners are working to ensure that the small-town character remains in tact.

There are currently just under 30,000 residents living in Apex with a median age of 32 years old. Residents tend to be highly educated, which explains the average household annual income of $70,174, well above the national average.

Potential homebuyers will find a wide array of housing options. About three-quarters of homes are single-family detached style with a nice selection of condos, town homes and duplexes as well. From sprawling estates to starter homes, the options in Apex are truly endless. Recent real estate reports indicate that the average purchase price of a home in Apex is currently $170,579.

Today, the Apex downtown district reflects the town’s historical beginnings and is highlighted by the 1914 Apex Union Depot. The restored downtown is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is definitely a sight to see. The quaint shops feature antique, gift and specialty, as well as an old-fashioned ice cream parlor, fine dining options and those modern day staples we’ve all come to love.

The town motto, “Peak of Good Living” was chosen because there are places along Main Street where the water that falls on one side of the street flows to the Neuse River and on the other side flows to the Cape Fear River.

First settled around 1867, Apex was named because the community was the highest point on the Chatham Railroad, which ran between Richmond, Virginia and Jacksonville, Florida.

A community quickly developed around the train station, and Apex was widely known as a booming trading and shopping center. Tobacco growing and production also became a popular staple to the Apex economy and quickly became known for the Wake County tobacco auction market.

Apex is truly an ideal hometown. With plentiful employment opportunities, a strong local economy and an impressive cost of living, residents enjoy one of the finest standards of living in the nation. If you’re interested in learning more about living in Apex, NC, contact me today.

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Bringing Jobs to Raleigh at High Speed

Saturday, 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.

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

Friday, 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.

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Raleigh, NC: About The Area

Monday, 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!

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