Chapel Hill Durham Real Estate

With Christmas just 6 days away, it is time for Jim Watson’s 22nd annual Christmas Concert! First show starts on Thursday, December 20th at 8:30 pm. Admission is only $5 at the Cave which is located at 452½ W. Franklin St. in Chapel Hill.
He will also be playing a second show for those of you who cant make the first, and that show will take place Friday, December 21st at 7pm at the Leland Little Auction House in Hillsborough. Admission is $8 for adults and $4 for students in advance; at the door prices are $10 for adults and $5 for students.

All the Christmas cheer you need you’ll find at Jim Watson’s Christmas Concert. Come on down and join in the fun! You might even find a little mistletoe. See you there!

Last week, the Carrboro Fire Department was exceptionally busy. Fire-fighters responded to seven fires in a five day span.

Colder weather brings with it higher risk of having fire hazards in your home. Here are some tips to help avoid these unwelcome fires and have a safe and happy holiday.

- Avoid plugging too many things into one outlet. Even if you’re using a power strip, the more things you have drawing electricity from one place the higher the risk for an electrical fire.

- Be sure to have your chimney cleaned before warming up close to those crackling fires. Chimney fires are a lot more common than most people realize.

- Use a fireplace screen to avoid stray sparks from fires. Also be sure the flue is open whenever you start a fire.

- If your home does not retain an adequate amount of heat there are a few things you can try instead of using unsafe (and costly!) heating methods.

- Try sealing off windows during cold months by using clear plastic, double-sided tape, and a blow-dryer. Place tape along every edge of the window. Then, cover the window with the plastic, being sure to press the plastic along all sides of the window (on the tape). Finally, use the blow-dryer to “shrink” the plastic along the tape so it effectively seals out cold drafts.

- You can stop drafts from coming in through doors and windows by using weather-stripping.

- If a separate heating element is needed be sure to keep it at least 3 feet from anything that can burn. Also be sure that:

(1) the heater comes with a shut off valve so it automatically shuts off if it gets tipped over

(2) it is never left on in a completely enclosed room - have some type of ventilation so that carbon monoxide does not build up

(3) that children are not playing around the heaters

(4) heaters are never left on when no one is around

Avoid fires in your home this holiday season and keep your family safe!

The Orange County Fire Marshall reminds residents that the open burning ban is still in effect. Included in this ban are luminaries, a popular holiday tradition in which candles are placed in paper bags, and used to decorate driveways and walkways. Since the candles pose a fire hazard and given the current drought situation, battery-operated candles are recommended in place of real candles. By North Carolina State Law, the open-burning ban is state-wide.

Those who would like to use real-candle luminaries, there is hope. The Chapel Hill Fire Department is now accepting applications for luminary use. Applicants must also pass a site inspection with the Fire Department, and comply with basic safety regulations.

The Chapel Hill Fire Department would like to make it clear that they are not endorsing the use of luminaries, but wish to make sure that those who would like to use real luminaries are being as cautious as possible. Once approved, all registered areas will be patrolled to make sure that regulations are being followed.

For more information, including how to apply to use luminaries this holiday season, please call (919) 968-2781 or (919) 969-2006.

To learn more about Real Estate in Orange County, visit our website at www.GreatTriangleHomes.com

Have a safe and happy holiday!!!

The Site Formerly Known as University Inn 

If you haven’t already noticed, there are some serious changes being made to what used to be called University Inn off of Highway 54. 90% of the Phase One homes in this new community called East 54 have already been sold.

For the greater (and “greener”) good an estimated 900 tons of materials will be sorted, reused, and recycled in an effort to embrace environmental sustainability. University Inn’s brick, concrete and stone will be ground up to become East 54’s foundation.

Below you will find some pictures of the current happenings at the site.

To find out more about the future East 54, contact our Buyer Specialist Wilma Gunnesch who can give you up-to-date information on this new exciting community or visit their website to view floor plans, a virtual tour, and expanded information on amenities. 

Getting ready for the holidays? Planning a party? The Party Store can help! For Christmas, Hanukkah, New Years, birthdays, and so much more The Party Store has everything you’re looking for. 

The owners of The Party Store are long time local area residents and experts who are delighted to work with you to make your special occasion unforgettable.  The Party Store is located in the Willowdaile Shopping Center at 3823 Guess Road, Suite B. When in Durham, simply follow I-85 and take Guess Road North. 

The Party Store has convenient hours which include Monday through Thursday 9:30-7, and Friday and Saturday 9:30-8.

For more information about the store and their products and services call
(919) 620-6840.

I love to hike. When I moved to the Triangle my first thought was “Great. No trails, no where to hike.” But I was wrong.

After doing a little research I found out that there are more than 200 trails in the Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill area. One of the best sources for information on these trails is in a book called “Trails of the Triangle” by Allen de Hart.  His book describes trails ranging in length from the 92-yard Honeysuckle Lane Trail in Fuquay-Varina to the
26-mile Falls Lake Trail outside of Raleigh.  Information such as mileage, difficulty, local flora and fauna, and remarkably detailed trail descriptions are included in this wonderful book along with maps so you can easily find your way.

Author Allen de Hart will be at Townsend & Bertram in Carr Mill Mall in Carrboro on Saturday, December 1st, from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. to sign copies of his books.  He has written many guidebooks on trails that he has hiked - 53,000 miles in 48 states and 18 countries to be exact.

If you find the triangle as irresistable as I did, you’ll want to stop by Great Triangle Homes online today!

Mortgage Interest rates are currently at the lowest point they have been in two years. Due to the Feds lowering the prime rate, the stock market ticking down, and the declining price of the 10 year Treasury bill, lenders are seeing tremendous pressure to lower mortgage interest rates to stay competitive in the market.  That is great news for house shoppers.  To give you an idea of the savings that creates, three weeks ago a 30 year note on a loan of $180K, the principal and interest payment at 6.125% was $1,093.   Today the same note at our two year low interest rate of 5.500%, the P&I payment is $1022.   A savings of $71 per month or $852 a year!   On a loan amount of $400K, the P&I payment at 6.125% is $2,430.   The same mortgage at 5.500% is $2,271, a savings of $159 per month or almost $2,000 a year!   It is a great time to buy real estate and with the cost of borrowing money being so low, you can’t afford not to buy!  To find out how much you can save in your specific price range and down payment situation, contact the author Jim Bulbrook at jim@carolinahomemortgage.com  for a free no obligation consultation.  Jim is a loan officer at Carolina Home Mortgage.  Haven’t found your dream house?  Find out just how much house you can get in the current market–view homes on line or contact Great Triangle Homes - The Shuping Advantage Team for expert real estate assistance at no cost to you!

The median price of existing single-family homes has fallen only 2% over the past four quarters, despite a broad decline in sales, according to a National Association of Realtors quarterly survey of 150 metropolitan statistical areas. The national median house price was $220,800 in the third quarter of 2007, compared to $225,300 in the third quarter of 2006. The report shows that house prices fell in 54 MSAs but rose in 93 MSAs.  By region, prices of previously owned homes rose 3.2% in the Northeast and 0.5% in the Midwest, but fell 3.6% in the South and 3.8% in the West. Total existing home sales, including single-family homes, condominiums and co-ops, were off by 13.7% nationally compared to the third quarter of 2006. “The housing market correction is clearly focused on transaction volume and not in home prices,” said National Association of Realtor chief economist Lawrence Yun.