Raleigh Realtors offer Advice to Help Your Lawn Survive the Heat
When temperatures climb to the upper 90s, your lawn will need a friend to help it survive. There are a variety of lawn care tips designed especially for the summer months to protect and beautify landscape. These are a few simple things you can do to proactively manage your lawn growth.

Summer's Lawn To-do List
. Mowing Height. 3 inches or higher is the rule of thumb. If you're unsure of your mower height, use the highest setting. This will keep scorching to a minimum and give roots the chance to hold more moisture.

. Irrigation. Early in the day is best. Watering deeply and infrequently will save water without drying out your lawn. Other watering tips include using an industry-approved sprinkler model (as shown on the packaging) and using recycled water if available.

Wait Until Fall For...
Fertilizing, seeding, thatch control, and applying weed killers. If you can hold off until August before completing these tasks, you can remove the summer sun from the equation. Also, allow as little traffic on your lawn as possible during the summer months to reduce the sun's damaging effects. Heavy foot traffic can damage growing blades.

While no one relishes the thought of slaving away in July and August, performing these simple lawn care tips can help keep your yard green and healthy throughout the summer months.

Stop by and see us on June 17th from 5:30-7:30 at the Fifth Avenue Shopping Center.  Food provided by Tookie's Restaurant and beverages by Harris Wholesale/Budweiser.

The Clayton Chamber of Commerce monthly "After Hours" was held Tuesday, May 11, at the Clayton East HTR Office located at 50-H Neuse River Parkway.  The gathering is an excellent opportunity for members to showcase their business as well as a perfect chance to network with other Chamber members in a relaxed atmosphere.
 
White Swan catered the HTR Clayton East gathering. Guests enjoyed chicken, barbeque, potatoes, slaw and banana pudding and had the opportunity to tour the HTR Clayton East office as well as meet the staff at the office.
 
The Clayton Chamber of Commerce offers a variety of services to both consumers and local businesses and works diligently to advance Clayton's economic vitality and enhance the area's quality of life. 
 
HTR Clayton East thanks the Clayton Chamber of Commerce and the members who showed up to support us and learn more about our services.

A local Raleigh Real Estate Agent, Teresa Byrd, recently attended legislative meetings in Washington DC.  "Attending the NAR Mid-Year Legislative Meetings was an awesome experience beginning with the networking opportunity with REALTORS from across the country," said Byrd.
 
Attending the REALTOR Summit and listening to current FHA Commissioner Dave Stevens; political experts Ed Gillespie and Terry McAuliffe, financial expert Ron Insana, and economist Diane C. Swonk provided valuable insight into the current role of the NAR in the financial reform package.

 
Wednesday was "Hill Day" when all attendees had opporunities to meet with their local Senate and Congressional leaders.  REALTORS  from NC were fortunate to have Senator Kay Hagan and Senator Richard Burr spend time with us listening to concerns affectimg the real estate industry here in North Carolina.  They are both supporters of the RE Industry and what it means to North Carolina's economy.  They met us in the Senate building at the Capitol.  Later that day we met with Congressman Bob Etheridge in the House building. 
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There is no doubt that the summit will have a huge impact on  financial reform. 
 
If you want to take an active role - visit NAR.org and check out the REALTOR PARTY and always - always participate in the TAKE ACTION campaigns.  It is as simple as the click of a button to communicate with our elected officials on certain issues affecting real estate.
 
It was a great experience to see NAR working for us!!!

Raleigh Realtors talk to homeowners all the time about which home improvements to focus on for the "biggest bang for your buck."  You'll want to choose home improvements that not only pay off in recovery of the money you spend, but also help you get a better price for your home when and if you sell it.

1. Kitchen Renovations.  New flooring, cabinets, countertops and appliances can be costly, but buyers typically look for updated kitchens.  You are likely to recover a large percentage of your kitchen renovation expenses on resale.  If your basic kitchen plan is good, you may not need a major remodeling.  Even a minor face-lift - painting, new floorcovering, new cabinet doors and hardware, for example - will pay off in a faster sale at a better price.

       TIP:  Best bets: light neutral colors, plenty of cabinet and counter space, new lighting fixtures, new energy-efficient appliances.

 2. Bathroom Addition.  Another bath is not only a convenience, it may sharply enhance the sale possibilities of your home.  Two and three bathrooms are standard fare in many neighborhoods.  Upgrading an existing bathroom is likely to pay off in both value and marketability, especially in an older home.

     TIP: Opt for good lighting, large mirrors, easily cleaned materials, plenty of storage space, neutral color.  Consider location and accessibility of an addition.

3. Room Addition.  Adding a new room is likely to pay off if the addition puts your home in the same class as others in yor neighborhood.  Family rooms, sun rooms and master bedroom suites are hot items now - and the extra space may be just what your family needs.

     TIP: Choose materials and style to blend with the existing home; consider traffic flow, accessibility to other rooms.

4. Deck or Pato Addition.  Decks make a home a home homier - as a gathering place to extend family life outdoors - for Saturday barbeques, Sunday brunches, mid-day respites.  Best paybacks: decks or patios off living areas (kitchen, family room, dining room), decks with a view or overlooking your own well-kept garden.

     TIP: Build deck of redwood, cedar or pressure-treated wood; design deck or patio to harmonize with the architecture of the home; consider a low-level deck for children's safety.

5. Energy Efficiency Improvement.  The major savings of improved energy efficiency will be in your fuel bills, but your energy-saving home will also likely pay off when you sell.  If existing windows are drafty or unsightly, consider replacing with insultated windows for heating/cooling efficiency and resale value.

     TIP: Minor energy upgrades are real winners: caulking and weatherstripping around doors and windows, attic insultation, set-back thermostat, ceiling fans for air circulation, good maintenane of heating/cooling system, a whole-house electrical surge-suppressor to maintain appliance efficiency and protect electronic equipment.  Many are do-it-yourself projects, which - if done correctly - bring the best payback.

To learn what your home is worth now, contact us.

Spring into Action
There’s a lot of money at stake when you are selling your house.  Your level of motivation will ultimately determine your success or failure at selling your house this spring.  For sellers who just want to sell and want a specific price for their house, then they’ll probably sit in inventory longer than a seller who needs to sell.   Sellers needing to sell could be to avoid a foreclosure and/or might be in a short sale situation, or have a job transfer.  There are many reasons to sell your home.

Supply vs. Demand
When the inventory of unsold homes increases, buyers can take their pick.  This is why pricing a home correctly becomes critical.  The inventory of short sales and foreclosures have flooded the market, taking sales away from re-sales.
At the end of March 2010, the new homes inventory has decreased while the resales have increased.  Since there are no economic reasons for the increasing amount of resale listings, sellers might be trying to sell to avoid a foreclosure or just testing the market.

Pricing it right
Some sellers undervalue their house to get it to sell fast, while some sellers overprice.  Predicting what a house will ultimately sell for down to the penny is like looking into a crystal ball and basically guessing.  Unfortunately the real estate market isn’t as predictable as the stock market, however, there is enough data of surrounding home sales to determine an acceptable range in home value. 
“Burton G. Malkiel, an economist, professor at Princeton University, and the author of A Random Walk Down Wall Street, dispelled the myth that individuals are able to predict the future based on historical trends.  Unfortunately, when prices decline, sellers often place too much emphasis on how much their home was worth before the market slowed down.  Psychologically, sellers have a tough time coming to the realization that their home is worth less, and they cling to the hope of finding a buyer - even if the home is priced out of the market.”

Ultimately, it’s the buyer who sets the value, not the real estate agent or the appraiser.  Forget about what your home was worth in the past, you need to focus on what the market will pay for the home today.

Downside to selling in the springtime is competition.  This is when your neighbors also are putting their house on the market. 
Ask yourself these questions: 
Are you competing against new construction?  If so, is your house up-to-date to compete with these homes?
How many houses are you directly competing against? 
How many houses are under contract? 
How many have sold in the past 3 months?  Of the sold houses, what was their list to sell ratio? 
This information will be invaluable when you are selecting your list price.

The biggest tip for correctly pricing your house against the competition is to act like a buyer and go check them out.  Have your agent take you inside as if you were a buyer and preview the houses that other buyers are also seeing.  Walk through open houses.  Take notes and compare the features they offer with your home.  With this information, you should be able to determine the fair price for your home.

Pros to Spring Selling

After being stuck inside all winter, people just want to get out and take a look at houses. They’ve been thinking all winter on moving and now they are ready to see what’s on the market.

Your neighborhood looks good with the flowers blooming and green grass.  Trees are blooming and everything starts to wake up. 

If you have been thinking of selling, let one of our agents explain our current real estate market and work with you to determine a fair selling price.  With our experience and local knowledge, we’ll take the guesswork out of pricing.

Are you looking for Clayton NC Homes for Sale in a Pool Community?  We have compiled a list of subdivisions that offer residents a community pool.  There are serveral different price points from the low $100's into the $400s.

Living in a pool community appeals to many people since you get the opportunity to meet your neighbors to socialize and enjoy cooling off without the maintenance of your own pool.

LionsGate, Tralee, and Riverwood are Fred Smith communities that also include gyms. 

Flowers Plantation has several sections such as East Lake, Walker Woods, North Farm, and Mill Creek West.  This planned area has walking trails, shopping, and an athletic center.

To find the best neighborhood for you, let one of our buyers agents assist you.  Contact a HomeTowne Realty Buyer Consultant.

HomeTowne Realty is marketing several new home communities around the Raleigh area.  If you are looking for a new home, check out our website newhomes.myhtr.com and see all the homes for sale.

We have 5 Active Adult Communities to choose from.  LionsGate, Woods at Glen Laurel, Moss Creek, and Bluffs at Portofino are in Clayton NC, while Summerwind Plantation is in the Cleveland area of Johnston County.  The locals call the area 40/42 because of the intersecting highways.

Homes under $150,000 are in Blaze Ridge, Charlestowne, Middle Creek, Northfield, and Williams Farm.

Fred Smith Company is offering homebuyers an extra incentive this spring.  Along with the federal government's $8000 tax credit incentive, homebuyers can also get an additional $4,000 in closing costs paid by the builder.  Buyers must be under contract by April 30th and closed by June 30, 2010 to receive the incredible $12,000 credit towards purchasing a new home.
LionsGate offers homeowners a pool with a lazy river, walking trails, playgrounds, onsite daycare, and fitness center.
Check out our new homes at LionsGate Community