Chapel Hill Durham Real Estate

140 West Franklin

Daniel — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 16:33:54 +0000

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“140 West Franklin” is one-stop place for shopping, entertainment, and an exciting life style in the heart of down town Chapel Hill. Surrounded by restaurants and unique shopping opportunities, the 140 elite homes of this mixed use development offer the ability to experience the best that downtown living has to offer in one of America’s premier University communities. Numerous amenities include rooftop terraces with fireplaces, lounges, a fitness center open 24/7, private parking and concierge services that make life at 140 West Franklin luxurious and convenient. Have the benefits of an experienced Real Estate professional on your side to guide you through the home buying process within this new exciting community at “140 West Franklin”. With over 27 years combined experience, Connie Shuping, Wilma Gunnesch, and Jennifer Brewer will save you time and money with your real estate needs! Visit Great Triangle Homes online to learn more about The Shuping Advantage Team.

Best Places To Live

Tyla — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 15:45:27 +0000

Did you know that one of the best places to live is in the Triangle Area of North Carolina? Here’s what experts have to say:

In 2007, Forbes.com ranked Raleigh, NC number one for “The 25 Best US Cities For Jobs”! Forbes states that Raleigh has low unemployment, strong income & job growth and high incomes, yet maintains a relatively low cost of living, as well as having typically good weather and a highly educated population. Data was pulled from the largest 100 metropolitan areas per US Census and obtained data from Moody’s (NYSE: MC, Forbes News, Forbes People and Economy.com) to rank the cities.

In 2008 Kiplinger.com ranked Raleigh, NC number two for “2008 Best Cities”! Kiplinger says Raleigh is a “work in progress” with it’s recent population growth of 19.9% and income growth of 10.3% since 2000. Other interesting statistics are: 36.1% Percentage of Workforce in Creative Class, $56,150 Median Household Income, Cost of Living Index of 99 (100 being the national average), and Population of 995,662.

In 2006, Money Magazine’s CNNMoney.com ranked Cary, NC number 5 for “Best Places To Live” of the Top 10 Great American Towns that offer big-city opportunities and ammenities - with a lot more green space and a lot less stress. Comparisons were made for Financial, Housing, Education, Quality of Life, Leisure and Culture, Weather and Health.

Looking for a property in the Triangle Area? Click Here to start your search of all multiple listed properties in the Triangle.

Find out why more and more people are investing in real estate or relocating to the Triangle Area of NC and surrounding areas by contacting an experienced and educated agent on The Shuping Advantage Team. With proven experience since 1986, have a real estate expert on your side!

Sun exposure tips

Daniel — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 21:53:02 +0000

Summer Fun In The Sun - Tips For Not Getting Fried!

With summer on the way you should think about sun exposure.

As the years go by each summer seams to be getting hotter than the last years. The reason is because of global warming. It’s very easy to get burned just be being out in the sun for only a few minutes.

Here are some tips to keep you healthy in the summer sun:

Stay out of the sun when it is at it’s strongest (between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.)
Use sunscreen that has an SPF of 15 or higher
Wear protective clothing when out side
Wear wraparound sunglasses that have provide 100 percent UV ray protection

Remember to be safe when you are out having fun!

Swing Set Installation Safety Tips

Daniel — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 13:14:47 +0000

Kids love swings. Thinking about adding a swing set to your back yard. Here are some safety tips. Before you set your little ones loose on the swing set, be sure to check that:

1) Limit to 2 swings per bay (section between supports).
2) Swings should be 24″ apart.
3) Swings should be 30″ from support structures.
4) Swing seats should NOT be made of heavy, hard materials like metal or wood.
5) Make sure children aren’t touching or pushing one another when swinging.

Making sure swing sets are set up correctly is also important when trying to sell a home. Visit Great Triangle Homes online today to see how The Shuping Advantage Team can help you to find the perfect home, or to sell your present home quickly. Click here to search homes in the Triangle Area.

Cool Summer Camp!

Daniel — Fri, 30 May 2008 18:50:07 +0000

With school now out kids need something to do with their time during the day so that parents are not worried about them while they are at work. Here is an idea for something fun, safe and educational for them, the Museum of Life and Science Summer Camp! They offer dozens of fun, learning camp sessions for children from pre-school to 8th grade. They have two camp locations - the Museum campus in Durham, and Estes Hills Elementary School in Chapel Hill which offers before and after care for kids.

If you are in the area, whether you are just visiting or you’re a resident and thinking about buying or selling a house, visit Great Triangle Homes online today to see how The Shuping Advantage Team can help you every step of the way to find the perfect home, or to sell your present home quickly. Choosing The Shuping Advantage Team is the best real estate decision you can make - Have Experience on Your side!

Tips to Help Save Money On Gas

Daniel — Wed, 28 May 2008 13:23:26 +0000

Gas prices have you blue? Here are a few suggestions to shake the gas blues and keep the “green” in your wallet!

With Gas prices so high these days we are paying almost $4.00 a gallon at the pump. Here are a few tips for efficiently fueling your ride.

When you’re filling up do not squeeze the trigger of the nozzle all the way down. Let the gas flow slowly. If you look you will see that the trigger has three stages: low, middle, and high. You should be pumping on low speed, thereby minimizing the vapors that are created while you are pumping. All hoses at the pump have a vapor return. If you are pumping on the fast rate, some other liquid that goes to your tank becomes vapor. Those vapors are being sucked up and back into the underground storage tank so you’re getting less worth for your money.

Fill up when your gas tank is HALF FULL (or half empty). The reason for this is that the more gas you have in your tank, the less air is occupying its empty space. Gasoline evaporates faster than you can imagine. Gasoline storage tanks have an internal floating roof. This roof serves as zero clearance between the gas and the atmosphere, so it minimizes the evaporation.

Fill up your car or truck in the early morning when the ground temperature is still cold. Remember that all service stations have their storage tanks buried below ground. The colder the ground the more dense the gasoline, when it gets warmer gasoline expands, so buying in the afternoon or in the evening… your gallon is not exactly a gallon.

Of course there are other alternatives to driving:

Walking is great exercise and is can be fun but the weather doses not always cooperate.

Carpooling is always fun and a good way to save money on gas by splitting the cost with your co-workers.

If you live in or around Chapel Hill, the Chapel Hill Transit is a great way to get around and best of all its FREE!

You might also want to think about moving closer to your job in the near future. Visit Great Triangle Homes online today to see how The Shuping Advantage Team can help you every step of the way to find the perfect home, or to sell your present home quickly. Choosing The Shuping Advantage Team is the best real estate decision you can make - Have Experience on Your side!

Chapel Hill and Carrboro Salute Memorial day

Daniel — Thu, 22 May 2008 15:25:47 +0000

If you are looking for a place to celebrate Memorial Day here are two events in the Chapel Hill area you may want to consider:

The Orange county Peace Coalition will hold a commemoration honoring the victims of war. Held from 2pm until 3:30pm at the Carrboro Farmers Market at 301 W. Main St. The event will feature bugle taps, speakers, music and is free to the public.

The American Legion will be hosting several actives for Memorial Day. The events will include Memorial Day commemoration ceremony, hourly panel discussions with veterans, displays featuring memorabilia from World War II, free hot dogs, beverages, and free to the public. For a complete listing of all the days activities click here.

If you are in the area, whether your just visiting or you’re a resident and thinking about buying or selling a house, visit Great Triangle Homes online today to see how The Shuping Advantage Team can help your sell your home and/or buy a new one! The Shuping Advantage Team will help you every step of the way to find the perfect home, or to sell your present home quickly. Choosing The Shuping Advantage Team is the best reale state decision you can make - have experience on your side!

Fluorescent Light Bulb Safety

Connie Shuping — Wed, 21 May 2008 20:56:33 +0000

When compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) come to a normal end, they will charr around the base, producing smoke and a bad smell. This has concerned many people about whether or not they are safe. According to research, they are no more likely to be a fire hazard than regular incandescent bulbs. The fire safety of any light bulb is largely dependent on its manufacturing quality, so always buy from a reputable brand with the Underwriters Laboratory (UL) seal.

CFL bulbs should not be used in a fixture with a dimmer switch, or in a fixture with an enclosed globe due to heat buildup. If a CFL bulb is broken or cracked, caution and special care is necessary when disposing of it. This website from the state of Maine contains details you should know about when disposing of this kind of bulb. Int

Interested in CFLs for their “green” aspect? You can see an entire new house under construction built to “green” standards which will soon be complete and ready for occupancy on the Great Triangle Homes website. Click here to view details on this exciting new property!

Orange & Durham County Farmer’s Markets

Tyla — Tue, 13 May 2008 16:40:35 +0000

Eat Local! Support local farms and promote your family’s health. Locally grown foods preserve genetic diversity, gives strength to the local economy, benefits wildlife, supports a clean environment and delivers exceptional taste and freshness!

Farmers Markets locations and times:

Carrboro Farmers Market - 301 W. Main Steet, Carrboro, NC. Held Saturdays from 7:00 am to noon and Wednesdays 3:30 - 6:30 pm.
Chapel Hill Farmers Market also known as South Estes Farmers’ Market - 201 S. Estes Drive, University Mall parking lot near A Southern Season in Chapel Hill, NC. Held Saturdays 8:00 am to noon.
Durham Farmers’ Market - At the pavillion in Durham Central Park, corner of Foster St. & Hunt Ave., Durham, NC. Held Saturdays (summer through Thanksgiving) 8:00 am to noon and Wednesdays (5/7 thru 9/24) from 3:30 pm to 6:30 pm.
Hillsborough Saturday Farmers Market - SunTrust parking lot, 128 N. Churton St., Hillsborough, NC. Held Saturdays from 8:00 am to noon.
Hillsborough Wednesday Farmers Market - Between US-70A and I-85, just south of the new Cardinal Bank, 241 S. Churton St., Hillsborough, NC. Wednesdays 4:00 pm - 7:00 pm.
Orange County Farmers Market - At the Public Market House behind the orange County Sheriff’s office, 144 E. Margaret Lane, Hillsborough, NC. Held Saturdays 8:00 am to noon.
Southern Village Farmers Market - Market Street in Southern Village, Chapel Hill, NC. Held Thursdays 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm.

If you are intersted in buying or selling a home in the Triangle Area or in Orange, Chatham, Durham or Alamance Counties, have experience on your side! Visit www.GreatTriangleHomes.com to begin your home search and to learn more about The Shuping Advantage Team. Ask us about ”Local Farmers Markets” in proximity to where you may plan to relocate!

Tips To Green Your Kitchen

Tyla — Wed, 07 May 2008 17:46:47 +0000

Many have the desire to “Go Green” to benefit the environment. The kitchen is a great place to start. You don’t have to completely remodel your kitchen. Start small! You will be amazed how you can make a difference with some of these tips to help green your kitchen:

Use biodegradable garbage bags.

Use recycled paper products - napkins & paper towels.

Choose cleaning supplies with organic ingredients. Save time standing in line at the supermarket and make your own chemical-free cleaning supplies!

Dissenfectants can be made from essential oils - use 1/2 teaspoon of lavendar, thyme, eucalyptus, or tee tree oil mixed with distilled water and put in a garden sprayer.
For windows, mix 1/3 liquid castile soap or other liquid vegetable based soap, 3 tablespoons white or cider vinegar with 2 cups of water
To kill mold, use full strength vinegar
Clean musty smelling cutting boards with sliced lemons
Lemon juice can dissolve soap residue and help with hard water stains
Use washing soda to cut grease and clean tile (don’t use on aluminum)
To keep drains clear, pour 1/2 cup of baking soda down the drain then slowly pour at least 1 cup of white vinegar down the drain, continue adding vinegar until you don’t hear the fizz sounds … kids love the fizzy noises and foam
For greasy no-wax floors, combine 1 cup white vinegar, 1/4 cup washing soda, 1 tablespoon vegetable based liquid soap and 2 gallons of hot water and stir well to dissolve washing soda, then mop as usual
Clean Wood floors with a damp mop - make sure to wring out mop well as water can warp the wood - then dry with towel; for scuff marks, use a sprinkle of baking soda with a damp sponge and rub

If an appliance breaks and needs to be replaced, for these larger purchases, do your research and look for Energy Star efficient appliances. Consider that larger appliances will use more energy.