NATIONAL BOARD CERTIFIED TEACHERS TO BE HONORED (2-22-2007)

Superintendent Del Burns congratulated the latest class of WCPSS teachers to earn certification from the National Board of Professional Teaching Standards at a reception held for the teachers Feb. 21 at the North Raleigh Hilton. Burns held up a full page ad from the News and Observer that listed each of the 186 teachers who earned certification this year and told the teachers he was proud of their accomplishment and what it meant for teaching and learning in WCPSS schools.

WCPSS has more teachers and counselors who have earned National Board certification than any other school district in the nation. Dr. Joe Aguerrebere, President of The National Board for Professional Teaching Standards, spoke at the reception congratulating the teachers and the school district for such an accomplishment.

Dr. Aguerrebere told the teachers that as school leaders they can work with new teachers and in professional learning communities to strengthen their schools. He told them that you and your students are the proof National Board certification is having an impact.

Raleigh and Cary Ranked #1 as places to Live by Forbes Magazine. (2-19-2007)

The Raleigh-Cary area was just this week rated the #1 place for jobs (#7 last year) by Forbes Magazine. Our area was praised for having strong income, low unemployment, strong job growth, great climate, highly educated population thanks to our top rated universities as well as having a relatively low cost of living. Moving to the Triangle can certainly be a life-changing adventure and with spring just around the corner, the housing market is coming alive again. 

Moving? These Tips Will Make It Easier - (Courtesy of WRAL.com)

(ARA) - Moving should be an exciting time - you're off to a new apartment, your first home, maybe moving up to a larger home. But for many people, moving turns into a stressful, aggravating experience. It doesn't have to be that way. Some advance planning, a little research and the right attitude can combine to make your next move the best one ever.

Organization is key to a successful move, so lists are your friends. Keep track of all the details that need to be tended to, especially things that might fall through the cracks, like taking back your cable box. Include everything from renting a moving truck to forwarding your mail, and start doing anything on the list that can be tackled early. As you plan, keep in mind that many truck rental companies will give you a discounted rate if you move mid-week and mid-month instead of at peak times.

Speaking of getting a jump on things, start packing now. You can find all the supplies you need, such as boxes, bubble wrap, packing tape and more at truck rental outlets like Budget Truck Rental. The experts there can help you figure out how many and what types of boxes you'll need to protect your possessions. Whether you're moving in a few months or in a few weeks, you should be packing things you know you can live without for a while. This allows you to pack with care, and mark the boxes so you'll be able to find what you're looking for when you get to your new place. Leaving packing until the last minute is one of the biggest sources of stress for people who are moving.

About a month before your move date, reserve your moving truck. The company you choose makes a big difference. With 30,000 trucks nationwide, Budget Truck Rental has locations where you need them, and a great selection of trucks for every size move, whether it's a 10-foot truck (for studio apartments with one or two rooms), a 16-footer (for three to four rooms) or a 24-foot truck that can haul up to 8 rooms of stuff. They'll even give you expert tips on loading the truck. The trucks are easier to drive than you might think. All Budget trucks have automatic transmissions, air conditioning and are clean comfortable and well-maintained for safety and reliability.

If you're moving long-distance and need to tow your car, Budget offers two options: the car carrier, which carries your entire car on a trailer that attaches to the rear of your truck (recommended for four-wheel drive and all-wheel drive vehicles); or the tow dolly, which is recommended for front-wheel drive vehicles. The tow dolly lifts the front wheels of the car off the pavement and pulls it behind your truck.

Take care of mail and utilities. Stop by your local post office and fill out the form to forward your mail. You'll also want to change the address on any magazine subscriptions or other services you receive by mail, such as video rentals. You can take care of most of these changes online. You also need to contact all your utilities, both for the place you're moving out of and your new place. This includes local and long distance phone, Internet service, gas, electric, water and cable/satellite. Don't forget to update your renter's or homeowner's insurance as well.

Make sure you have a group of friends lined up to help you move. If you have followed your list and have everything packed and ready to go, loading up the truck should be a breeze. If you still have some boxes to pack, your friends can load while you finish up. Be sure to keep the moving crew happy by providing plenty of food and drink. Just save the beer for after the move is complete.

Copyright © 2006, ARA Content

Distributed by Internet Broadcasting Systems, Inc.

 

Get A Brand New Kitchen Fast Without Spending A Fortune - (Courtesy of WRAL.com)

(ARA) - If you're considering a kitchen remodel, you've probably done a lot of research. You've paged through home decorating magazines, toured model homes and even checked out the kitchen sections of the home improvement stores in town.

You know what kind of configuration you want (L-shaped, U-shaped or Galley) and have decided whether you'll be using your existing appliances or replacing them with new ones. You may have even started looking into your options for countertops, flooring and kitchen cabinets.

There aren't too many choices when it comes to flooring and countertops. You'll either pick laminate, tile or wood flooring - laminate, tile, granite or composite countertops. But there are so many choices out there when it comes to the most important part of your kitchen remodel - the kitchen cabinets - it can be hard to find the right ones.

"If you begin your search with the notion that picking out kitchen cabinets is a lot like buying furniture and you can't go wrong," says Steve Kaufer of Cabinet Express, a Pennsylvania-based woodworking company specializing in kitchen cabinetry. "You'll want to make sure the cabinets are made of good quality materials and that the company you purchase from provides you with excellent customer service and quick delivery of your order."


Copyright © 2006, ARA Content

Distributed by Internet Broadcasting Systems, Inc.

 

Housing Market Expected to 'Coast' into 2007 with Modest Price Gains   (Courtesy of RISMedia.com)

Although there will be some additional decline in the new-home market, NAR economist reports

RISMEDIA, November 13, 2006—Following a correction in home sales and prices in 2006, existing-home sales are expected to "coast" at roughly the same level next year, although there will be some additional decline in the new-home market, according to a forecast released Saturday at the National Association of Realtors(R) Conference & Expo in New Orleans.

Overall home price gains will be modest, said David Lereah, NAR's chief economist, and sellers are adjusting to the market transition. "Home sellers are becoming realistic about current market conditions and are now offering more competitive pricing, in addition to some incentives or concessions -- especially to help first-time buyers," he said.

"We now have the most favorable market for home buyers in several years, and most sellers -- who've been in their home for a normal period of homeownership -- are still seeing very healthy returns on their investment. Conditions for buyers have improved because sellers are flexible now and mortgage interest rates are near historic lows. The market promises to be more balanced between buyers and sellers by early spring, supporting future price growth," Lereah said.

Existing-home sales, expected to fall 8.6 percent to 6.47 million this year -- the third-best performance on record -- are projected to be essentially even in 2007 with a 0.6 percent decline to 6.43 million. New-home sales, likely to drop 16.8 percent to 1.07 million in 2006, are forecast to fall another 8.7 percent next year to 975,000, largely due to a significant reduction in construction by builders.

Total housing starts this year will probably fall 10.6 percent to 1.85 million units, and then decline another 11.8 percent to 1.63 million in 2007.

"Given the huge gains in home values during the housing boom, and this year's rise in housing inventory, overall price gains this year and next will be modest," Lereah said.
Even with temporary declines in some months, the national median existing- home price should increase 1.9 percent for all of 2006 to $223,700, then another 1.7 percent next year to $227,500. The median new-home price is expected to drop 1.1 percent to $238,400 this year before rising 1.3 percent in 2007 to $241,400.

The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage is projected to average 6.4 percent in the fourth quarter, and then rise to 6.6 percent by next spring.

The unemployment rate for 2006 is likely to average 4.6 percent, edging-up to 4.7 percent next year. Inflation, as measured by the Consumer Price Index, is forecast at 3.4 percent this year and 2.3 percent in 2007, while growth in the U.S. gross domestic product is expected to be 3.3 percent in 2006 and 2.7 percent next year. Inflation-adjusted disposable personal income should grow 3.3 percent this year and 3.5 percent in 2007.

Existing-home sales for October will be released November 28; the Pending Home Sales Index is scheduled for December 4 and the next forecast will be December 11.

Information about NAR is available at www.realtor.org.

RISMedia welcomes your questions and comments. Send your e-mail to: realestatemagazinefeedback@rismedia.com.

 

Study ranks Raleigh-Cary, Durham among Sunbelt's hottest markets

Triangle Business Journal - November 3, 2006 by Chris Baysden

CARY - It didn't take Tar Heel native Heather Bunn long to realize that she and her family share different backgrounds than their neighbors in Cary.

"We are the anomaly (in) that we are from North Carolina," says the 37-year-old Bunn, director of marketing at residential real estate firm Coldwell Banker Howard Perry and Walston. "To be a native in Cary is not normal."

Bunn, a Clinton native who is familiar with the Triangle from her days at Meredith College in Raleigh, and her husband spent the past six years living in Dublin, Ohio. While they liked the Midwest, they missed their family and found that they preferred the Old North State's mix of Southern charm, high quality of life and career opportunities. As all their relocated neighbors illustrate, the Bunn family certainly isn't alone.

A new study by American City Business Journals, the parent company of Triangle Business Journal, has found that the Raleigh and Durham metropolitan statistical areas are two of the top hot spots in the Sunbelt.

The Raleigh-Cary MSA ranked No. 3 on ACBJ's list of America's most attractive warm-weather metropolitan areas located below the 37th parallel. Numbers from Johnston and Franklin counties were embedded in the Raleigh-Cary MSA numbers.

The Bull City MSA clocked in at No. 8 in the study, which examined 77 MSAs with a population of more than 250,000. The Durham MSA also includes Orange, Chatham and Person counties.

Huntsville, Ala., was the top-ranked MSA, followed by Naples, Fla. The MSAs around Fayetteville, Ark., and Sarasota, Fla., rounded out the top five.

The study ranked the areas based on 10 economic and quality-of-life statistical indicators. Those factors included population growth, per capita income growth and employment growth from 2000 to 2005. Other factors examined were commute times, real estate taxes, education levels and the share of all jobs that are classified as management or professional.

Raleigh achieved its No. 3 ranking thanks to strong population growth, an extensive supply of management and professional jobs and a large share of adults - 38 percent - who hold college degrees. Durham's strengths also included a large share of adults (39 percent) with college degrees, a very good high school graduation rate and an extensive supply of management and professional jobs.

Michael Helmar, an economist at Moody's Economy.com, says there's a lot to like about the Triangle. The area has low business costs, especially when it comes to labor. It also features three major research universities that can provide new technology for commercialization and train workers for the technology and biotechnology sectors.

 

Daily Real Estate News  |  November 9, 2006

The Mortgage Bankers Association’s weekly survey of mortgage application activity rose 8.8 percent for the week ending Nov. 3. Volume rose to 620.9, up from 570.8 one week earlier.
The Refinance Index increased by 11 percent to 1897.9 from the previous week, and the Purchase Index rose 7.1 percent to 402.2.
The refinance share of mortgage activity increased to 46.3 percent of total applications from 45 percent the previous week. The adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM) share of activity increased to 26.4 percent of total applications from 25.9 percent the previous week.

30-Year Rates Unchanged

Meanwhile, the average contract interest rate for 30-year fixed-rate mortgages remained unchanged at 6.24 percent, with points decreasing to 1.08 from 1.09 (including the origination fee) for 80 percent loan-to-value (LTV) ratio loans.
The average contract interest rate for 15-year fixed-rate mortgages increased to 5.96 percent from 5.94 percent, with points decreasing to 0.97 from 1.03 for 80 percent LTV loans.
The average contract interest rate for one-year ARMs decreased to 5.89 percent from 5.93 percent, with points decreasing to 0.8 from 0.84 for 80 percent LTV loans.

— REALTOR® Magazine Online

North Carolina again wins Site Selection award

North Carolina's business climate was the best in the nation in 2006, according to the latest survey from Site Selection magazine.

The Tar Heel State earned top honors in the publication's 'Top Business Climate for 2006" survey, which is based in part on a survey of corporate real estate executives.

This is the second consecutive year -- and the fifth time in six years -- that North Carolina has earned the distinction. Texas finished second, ahead of Ohio, Georgia and Tennessee, respectively.

Corporate executives included in the survey cited North Carolina's "ease of doing business, work force and higher education resources," according to Site Selection.

The annual business climate rankings are determined by the state's performance in Conway data's New Plant Database, which tracks new and expanded business facility activity, and by a survey of corporate site seekers across the country.

Site Selection is published by Conway Data Inc., an international publishing and association management company based in Atlanta.

Daily Real Estate News  |  October 24, 2006