Raleigh North Carolina A Brief History and Why You Should Move Here!!!

The city of Raleigh, founded in 1587 by Sir Walter Raleigh, and known as the “City of Oaks” for its abundance of oak trees, is the is one of the most populous cities in all of North Carolina. With just over one million residents, it ranks second only to Charlotte.

Raleigh is the capitol of North Carolina and is one of the three cities that make up the “Triangle” (Durham and Chapel Hill are the other cities) metro region. The “Triangle” nickname originated when the Research Triangle Park was created in 1959. RTP, as it is commonly known, is home to over 170 research and development companies. Comprised of 4,400 acres, the RTP employs over 52,000 full and part time employees.

Raleigh, located in Wake County, has received numerous awards and accolades, and is considered to be one of the nation’s finest places to live, work and play!

Home to the NHL’s Carolina Hurricanes, a mecca for top ranked ACC College Basketball teams, the home city for the USA Baseball team, and just a short drive to NASCAR and NBA facilities, it’s no wonder everyone who visits the Raleigh area can’t wait to move here! Award winning schools, medical facilities and our great weather just add icing to the cake!

In the past few years, Raleigh has been named: #4 Major Market in the South, #3 Most Romantic City for Baby Boomers, #1 Best Place for Business and Careers, #2 Best City for Bargain House-Hunters, Best American City for Singles, #9 Best City for Jobs, Top 5 Strongest Real Estate Market, #1 Healthiest City for Men. And most recently, in Forbes magazine, Raleigh was named the #1 city in the nation where Americans are relocating to.

Raleigh’s surrounding towns of Cary, Apex, and Holly Springs, have also won many awards while still providing great access to our capitol city!

So, if you've been thinking about relocating to the Raleigh/ Cary/ Apex area, send me an email or drop me a line. I'll be happy to answer your questions and help you in the quest to find your new home!

About The Author

Craig Rutman is a North Carolina Residential Real Estate Specialist that can assist you with the purchase and/or sale of real estate in the Raleigh - Cary – Apex Metro areas; or any place else in the country by connecting you with a relocation professional in your destination of choice.

To find all available homes for sale in the Triangle area of North Carolina, please visit www.justnchomes.com

Call me TODAY at 919-349-9530

Email me with your Raleigh - Cary – Apex area questions

Rent vs. Buy - What Should You Do?

Should you continue renting or is now the time to fulfill the American dream and buy a home?

Ahh, that age old question!

The chart below might help you make a decision. The first time home buyer $8,000 tax credit might help you too.

We all know it's a buyer's market right now. Prices on resale homes have never been lower. Builder incentives on new construction homes are off the hook! Having a buyer's agent represent you here in North Carolina costs you nothing!

And that's where I come in!

As a full time Broker/ Agent, I want to work for and with you to help you find that just right home.

If you're sitting on the fence trying to wait for the market to bottom out, you're going to miss the boat. Interest rates have been climbing these past few weeks and what you're trying to save, may actually cost you in the long run if you wait it out.

Call me at 919-349-9530 or email me at Craig.Rutman@gmail.com and let me explain how I can be of service to you. I won't give you the hard sales pitch, or send you any emails without your permission. But I will work diligently to help you in your quest to become a homeowner.

As a North Carolina Residential Real Estate Specialist I can assist you with the purchase and/or sale of real estate in the Raleigh - Cary – Apex metro areas; or any place else in the country by connecting you with a relocation professional in your destination of choice.

Solar Paint? The University of North Carolina Leads the Way!!!

Not too long ago I came across an article that I thought was just so interesting I had to share it with my friends here in the Blogosphere.

Our local Raleigh area newspaper, the News and Observer, reported that one of our many fabulous universities had obtained a grant to create a paint that has the ability to power your home!

Yes, you read that right....Paint that can power your home!

Scientists at the University of North Carolina are working on this as I write! The first attempt at "solar paint" has already been created, but its cost, presently, is too expensive for most people.

Scientists and researchers from N.C. State, Duke, NC Central and the University of Florida will all collaborate to make solar paint a commonplace commodity.

Think of the possibilities if this solar paint becomes an affordable reality. Perhaps cars could be painted with a version of it reducing emissions and lowering the use of oil. Perhaps commercial buildings, in conjunction with solar panels, could become self sufficient.

With science and research leading the way, the possibilities are limitless.

About The Author

Craig Rutman is a North Carolina Residential Real Estate Specialist that can assist you with the purchase and/or sale of real estate in the Raleigh - Cary – Apex Metro areas; or any place else in the country by connecting you with a relocation professional in your destination of choice.

To find all available homes for sale in the Triangle area of North Carolina, please visit www.justnchomes.com

Call me TODAY at 919-349-9530

Email me with your Raleigh - Cary – Apex area questions

Yes, We Get Some Occasional Snow Here In The Raleigh Area!

Yesterday, as much of the east coast was being pummeled by a wintery blast, the Raleigh, North Carolina area received our share of the white stuff too!

On the average, the Triangle area (Raleigh/ Durham/ Chapel Hill), gets about 7 inches of snow. Typically we'll get two or three inches a couple of times during the month of January and come February, we'll start to see buds on the trees sprouting and the crocus beginning to peek their way out of the ground. And, by March, we're seeing 70 degree days.

But yesterday, that old adage, "March comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb" surely rang true!

Schools were closed, businesses, if they opened at all, were on a two hour delay and driving was not recommended.

But, since my daughter Laura had the day off from school, we just had to venture out. We found ourselves at the Hemlock Bluffs Nature Preserve in Cary, North Carolina. With over 3 miles of hiking trails, we had plenty of picture taking opportunities. It seemed as if we were the only ones there as much of the snow was untouched and the only sounds that were heard were the ones we made.

So, if you're thinking about moving to the Raleigh, Cary, Apex, or any of its surrounding areas, but don't want to be without snow, rest assured that we do get some......sometimes! Oh, and leave your shovels back where you come from. Our snow typically lasts a day or two and then it's back to comfy temperatures...The weather forecast for this weekend calls for highs in the lower 70's!

About The Author

Craig Rutman is a North Carolina Residential Real Estate Specialist that can assist you with the purchase and/or sale of real estate in the Raleigh - Cary – Apex Metro area; or any place else in the country by connecting you with a relocation professional in your destination of choice.

To find all available homes for sale in the Triangle area of North Carolina, please visit www.justnchomes.com

Craig Rutman & Linda Jandura. Call us TODAY at 919-771-7779

Email us with your Raleigh - Cary – Apex area questions

Why Buy A Home Now?

Why Buy A Home Now?

Three very important reasons to buy now are:

* Interest rates are near all time lows;
* Home prices have declined to levels not seen in years; and
* Qualified first-time home buyers are now eligible for up to an $8,000 tax credit.


One final point to consider. Even if you believe that home prices will continue to decline, it's very difficult to believe that interest rates will remain at these low levels.

Did you know that even if home prices were to decline 10% but also during that time, interest rates available for home loans were to increase by 1.00%, your monthly principal and interest payment would actually be higher? It's true. So, if you are thinking of buying or the end of your lease is near, get busy and get in the game.

Are you ready to start your home search? Pictures of homes are nice, but you can't buy a home on the internet. Who can you trust? Who should you call?

Why not start with us, Craig and Linda of the Rutman Jandura Team....

We know the area. We know the neighborhoods. We know where the hospitals, shopping and schools are. And, probably most importantly, we know our market.

One thing you will learn when working with my partner Linda and myself is that we will NOT sell you a house, but we WILL help you find a home.

We'll only show you what you want to see, we won't screen out any homes, nor will we steer you in any particular direction.

What we will do is give you our honest opinions of the homes we see and, when the time comes to put pen to paper, you'll know all that is possible to know about that particular home.

We can't stress enough that in North Carolina having a buyer's agent costs you nothing. If you call the number on the sign in front of a property, you're getting the seller's agent....the agent THEY hired to represent them, not you.

That seller has a team working for them. You should too.

We'd like to be that team.

To learn about me, my partner, and what you can expect from us, go to www.JustNCHomes.com
Please ask questions, give us a call or send us an email.
We're here to help.

Craig Rutman is a North Carolina Residential Real Estate Specialist that can assist you with the purchase and/or sale of real estate in the Raleigh - Cary – Apex Metro area; or any place else in the country by connecting you with a relocation professional in your destination of choice.

To find all available homes for sale in the Triangle area of North Carolina, please visit www.justnchomes.com

Craig Rutman & Linda Jandura. Call us TODAY at 919-771-7779

As If You Needed Yet Another Reason To Move To The Raleigh North Carolina Area

Recently Raleigh, North Carolina's capitol city, was named #6 in the country's Healthiest Housing Markets for 2009.

It's yet another in a long line of awards that the Raleigh, Cary and Apex areas have won in the past few years.

All three of these cities have been recognized by CNN, Money Magazine and Forbes on their annual lists of Best Places to Live. Click the links to see the awards!

Well, people, ESPN the Magazine has also recognized Raleigh in their February issue! Raleigh and the Triangle area (Raleigh, Durham and Chapel Hill make up the Triangle) were voted number 1 as The Best Place for a Sports Road Trip!

"North Carolina's famed Triangle (Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill) is the epicenter of the of the affordable sports universe. In one 15 day span last October, you could have seen six top-flight events for $133."

We're proud to be the home of the NHL's Carolina Hurricanes, a mecca for top ranked ACC College Basketball teams, the home city for the USA Baseball team, and just a short drive to NASCAR and NBA facilities.

Do you really need any more convincing as to why the Raleigh area is a wonderful place to live work and play?

Are you ready to start your home search now?

Do you have any questions about schools, shopping, medical facilities in the area?

Let us know! We're ready to help you with all your Real Estate needs in the Triangle area!

About The Author

Craig Rutman is a North Carolina Residential Real Estate Specialist that can assist you with the purchase and/or sale of real estate in the Raleigh - Cary – Apex Metro area; or any place else in the country by connecting you with a relocation professional in your destination of choice.

To find all available homes for sale in the Triangle area of North Carolina, please visit www.justnchomes.com

Craig Rutman & Linda Jandura. Call us TODAY at 919-771-7779

Ho Hum...Yet Another Award for Raleigh and Cary North Carolina!

I was born and raised in New York City. But all too often, I find myself bragging about my new hometown of Apex, North Carolina. It's pretty easy to do so as Apex has been named numerous times as one of the best small towns in the country to live, work and raise a family. The schools are wonderful, the weather is great, there's great access to the Research Triangle Park, downtown Raleigh and all the shopping you could ever do.

I've been here for seven years now and except for my local New York sports teams, I don't miss a thing!

Well, here's another reason I love living in the Raleigh area:

According to the Bureau of Economic Research, Raleigh/ Cary (Apex is a suburb of both) were just voted the #2 cities in the country for salary growth with an average annual salary increase of 8.7%! Number one for those keeping score at home was Provo, Utah...but who wants to live there?!!!

From the article:

#2. Raleigh - Cary

Population: 375,806
Avg. salary increase: 8.7%

State government employment gives this capital city a sturdy backbone for economic security. High quality educational centers (North Carolina State; University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill) inject creative brainpower into Raleigh’s thriving tech companies and its growing biopharmaceutical sector – all good signs for strength in the coming year.

Housing is still affordable here, taxes are low, the crime rate is well below the national average and Southern hospitality still exists here in the Raleigh area!

If 2009 is the year you're thinking of making the move this way, please visit my partner Linda and me on the web for all you'll need to know about the region.

Here you can create your own search for homes that meet YOUR needs, research the schools, and even compare where you currently live to our area!

And, please ask questions!

We check our email on an obsessive basis and you'll probably get an answer within a few minutes of asking your question!

To see the Raleigh - Cary - Apex area in pictures and to see some of the other awards our little patch of America has won recently follow this link:

Raleigh - Cary - Apex In Pictures