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

Eat a Peach for Peace - Happy Birthday Duane Allman

Duane Allman

Nov. 20, 1946 – Oct. 29, 1971

Duane Allman was born in Nashville, Tennessee on this day in 1946. He would have been 62 today had he not tragically been killed in a motorcycle crash on his way to his home in Macon, Georgia.

Arguably the greatest slide guitarist to have ever lived, Duane Allman was best known for his role alongside his brother Greg, in the Allman Brothers Band. Duane Allman was also a well respected studio musician having recorded with the likes of Clarence Carter, Aretha Franklin, Otis Rush, and most notably with Eric Clapton.

Derek and the Dominoes, a band that featured Eric Clapton and Duane Allman, produced Layla, one of Rolling Stone Magazine's "Greatest Songs of All Time", clocking in at #27. Duane Allman discography

While Duane Allman's life was sadly cut short, he left an indelible mark on the music world.

So, today my fellow Rainers, take a moment out of your busy day to watch the attached video and when you’re done, go out into the world and…

Eat a Peach for Peace

The Lights Dimmed on Broadway Today

In the true tradition of Broadway, when a great actor, director or composer passes on, they are honored by a dimming of the lights in the Theater District of New York City.

And although the lights may not dim this week for my cousin Millie, who passed away this weekend, Broadway will never be the same.

Millie, a life-long patron of the theater has left us after a brief battle with cancer. She was 82 years young when she passed; and although her eyesight had diminished throughout the years, her energy, her love for the theater and her passion for people remained strong.

Millie was sharp as a tack and taught me one of the most important life lessons I had ever learned. It proved to be a lesson that has helped me in every one of my endeavors.

She made everyone in her presence feel right at home simply because she listened to the people who she spoke with. She was never condescending, judgmental or one to point out a fault. She would find something, anything, that was a positive and she would expand upon it, causing whoever she was speaking with to open up and feel comfortable. She could speak on any number of topics, find some commonality or experience to relate it to, and engage in a full length, meaningful conversation.

I’m sure you can see the benefits of listening. Whether it’s to our clients, our children or our friends, listening to what they have to say can make or break the relationship. It’s something I’ve never forgotten and something I utilize on a daily basis.

I recently visited with Millie and had the opportunity to tell her how much she meant to me and how I learned this lesson from her. It meant a lot to me to let her know this and it meant a lot to her to hear it.

When I heard of Millie’s illness, I called her to see how she was doing and to let her know I was coming in to the city. I knew her time with us was fading fast, so I just wanted to take her to lunch or dinner and listen to her perhaps for the very last time. She immediately got out her little appointment book and wrote me in. She also insisted I stay at her place during my visit. But here’s the kicker. She told me to bring empty suitcases as she was “considering downsizing”! Once again, rather than make anyone (in this case, me), feel uneasy, Millie incorporated the old Real Estate term of “downsizing” and used it to make me feel comfortable.

It proved to be the last time we spoke. It also reminded me of the indelible lesson Millie has forever left upon me.

So tonight people, as you shut your lights for the evening, please consider it your own personal “Broadway dimming of the lights” tribute to Millie; and take her lesson with you wherever you go, no matter what you do.

The world was a better place because of Millie.

Rest in peace Millie.

Love,

Craig

The Castles of Cary and Apex North Carolina