Cary NC - Real Estate Blog. Top home sale in Cary NC this year, $1,455,000. Mexican mogul Carlos Slim, who ranks number one on this year’s list of Forbes billionaires, has purchased the Duke-Semans Mansion on Fifth Avenue in Manhattan for $44 million, according to the The Wall Street Journal. The sale set the fourth highest price ever paid for a townhouse in NYC. By comparison, the most expensive home sale finalized this year in Cary, NC was the sale of 103 Charmwood Court, an 8,249 square foot new home built in 2008 for $1,455,000. The asking price was $1,700,000.
Located on Fifth Ave and 82nd Street in New York’s Upper East side (directly across from the Metropolitan Museum of Art), the turn of the century beau arts townhouse is not expected to be home to the world’s richest man. Instead, Slim’s spokesperson is quoted as saying that the billionaire purchased the home as an investment.
Cary NC - Real Estate Blog. Cary, North Carolina has been named the best place to live in the Southeastern United States out of more than 100 cities nationwide by Money Magazine. Cary is the only North Carolina community to make the Money Magazine Top 25 list; Chapel Hill, ranked at 40, was the only other North Carolina community in the top 100. Factors affecting the rankings included median income, population growth, unemployment rates, the cost of residential housing relative to local income levels, and percent of college educated working professionals. This is Cary’s fourth appearance on the Money Magazine Best Places to Live list in just eight years; the town has also been previously recognized by Forbes, and Frommer’s to name a few.
“Recognition is due to our residents, our Town staff and our partners--the Cary Chamber and our neighboring municipalities--who all work together to make great things happen in our area,” said Cary Mayor Harold Weinbrecht. “Moving forward, we want to make sure we continue to do those things necessary to make us worthy of this sort of recognition, and above all, keep Cary the kind of place our citizens want it to be.” This is great news for the homes for sale in Cary NC.
Cary NC - Real Estate Blog. These days, going green is all the rage. Not only do you reduce your impact on the planet, but you also save money in the process. A great way to join the movement is to install a geothermal system. The Town & Country team went to a green energy seminar recently. There, they received lots of information regarding geothermal energy, and are now convinced of the benefits. In fact, Louis Heating & Cooling Service, Inc. is installing the system for one of our buyers' homes in Rolesville, and they have been nothing less than wonderful. You may ask, "what made these people decide to install a geothermal system?" In summary of one of the flyers we received, geothermal boasts:
Cary NC - Real Estate Blog. The look of your home’s exterior can make a strong first impression, enhance curb appeal and help boost resale value, but choosing the right color can be tricky. The paint experts at Sherwin-Williams offer several helpful hints for selecting the best color for your home’s exterior.
First, examine homes in different neighborhoods to get an idea of how residents apply color to their own homes. Note the most appealing color schemes in the area and consider adapting them to your home. Choose a scheme that blends well with homes in your current neighborhood or subtly stands out.
Cary NC - Real Estate Blog. It can be easy for homebuyers to overlook home insurance costs. Most buyers tend to focus on factors such as quality of neighborhood, property taxes, school districts and available recreational and cultural outlets. But the seemingly mundane detail of home insurance can add up to a big investment. The size, location, construction and overall condition of a house can affect insurance cost, choice and availability, according to the Insurance Information Institute. When looking at prospective homes, the Institute recommends that homebuyers consider the following:
- Where is the nearest fire department? Houses located near a fire station usually cost less to insure.
- Are the plumbing and electrical systems in good condition? Poorly maintained, unsafe and/or outdated systems are more costly to insure than well-maintained ones.
- Is the home vulnerable to wind damage? A beach home may be more susceptible to wind damage and can be more costly to insure than homes located inland.
- Is the home at risk for flooding or located in a flood zone? Most standard homeowners’ insurance policies do not cover floods, so you may need a separate policy, which you can get through the National Flood Insurance Program, which is serviced by private carriers, or from a few specialty insurers.
- Is the home located in an earthquake-prone area? If so, earthquake insurance requires an endorsement or a separate policy.
- Is the house well constructed and well maintained? Homes built with disaster-resistant materials and designed to meet current building codes are more likely to withstand natural disasters.
Your home is your biggest investment. Make sure you protect it with the right type of homeowners’ insurance policy.
Cary NC - Real Estate Blog. Considering a move to a new city? Before you pack your bags and hire a moving company, be sure to research the potential price tag of relocating. It may cost more than you think.
Cost of living can vary greatly from town to town, so be sure to do some research before taking the plunge. Better Homes and Gardens recommends browsing the local newspaper for grocery promotions, ads, and other local news to track costs so you can put those figures into a worksheet and determine the income you might need. While several cost-of-living calculators are available on the Internet, they provide only general figures and don’t take into account specific housing needs.