The Durham, NC residential real estate market showed signs of recovery in the 4th quarter of 2009 after experiencing significant declines over the past two years. Homes sales in Durham County were up 27.8% for the quarter after showing period over period declines in each quarter beginning the second half of 2007. A big reason for this surge in sales, though, was the first time homebuyer tax credit, originally scheduled to expire on November 30, 2009 but extended by Congress through April 30, 2010. Home sales in October and November were up dramatically, but sales in December, after the scheduled expiration, were flat when compared to 2008. For the year, sales of residential properties in Durham ended down 7.8%. Home sales were down 18.1% through 3 quarters, falling 9.3% in the third qua... 02/24/2010

The City of Durham is a compact, 299 square-mile, single-city county with a population of over 200,000. Settled by the Scots, Irish, and British in the 1700s, Durham, known as the City of Medicine, has grown from a farm and textile based economy to one based on cutting edge research and development, technology, scholarship and medicine. Durham also boasts the prestigious Research Triangle Park, the world's largest university-related research park populated with major multinational corporations encompassing over 7,000 acres of North Carolina pine forest and has approximately 1,100 acres for development. It is home to more than 136 companies which employ 37,600 workers in a variety of industries. The combined annual salaries in RTP amount to over $2.7 billion dollars... Overall, Durham is... 02/23/2010

REALTORS and friends, join us this Saturday eve at Six Plates for a Haiti fundraiser. 100% donations go towards the Haiti relief effort.Nogui will be on deck spinning nothing but the cheesiest, cheekiest, jams from the 80s, so bring your red shoes and prepare to dance the night away!$5 donation encouraged. includes a “Heels for Haiti” wrist band Six Plates Wine Bar2812 Erwin RoadDurham NC 27705sixplates.com 02/22/2010

For all you people in Durham NC - Key Source Bank has just been approved to do 203k loans. Good job Don Newman. They will be having new seminars posted on my web site for March 2010. The first seminar he did a few months ago got a 50% success rate. If you want to see how e put deals together in the room you should attend one of our seminars.  My next one is March 11th in Roseville CA for you CA Realtors, contractors, buyers, investors, etc... yes I said investors. NO it isn't a 203k. We do have investor programs we discuss in these seminars and we programs to help buyers with less than Stellar Credit get into homes by utilizing our investor network. It is a Win-Win situation for all who attend. M 02/18/2010

If you were born and raised in Eastern North Carolina, as I was, you know how we got our economic start. We were a cotton and tobacco economy, pure and simple. As the child of a cotton merchant I dove off many a cotton bale into loose samples of cotton piled high in a warehouse. I know the smell of cured tobacco in an auction warehouse before it was moved to the cigarette factory. Durham meant tobacco. Block after block of red brick warehouses and plants, the first of which was built in 1874. The huge arched windows and smoke stacks that looked like cigarettes, the water towers bearing familiar brand logos and the railroad tracks weaving throughout told you exactly where you were. A few blocks up the road another red brick plant with palladium windows went up in 1900 so the Golden Belt ... 02/12/2010

Child Care and Preschools in Durham Overview of Schools and Centers in Durham 27705 This is the southwest portion of Durham, near Chapel Hill and Hillsborough.  Lots of options here!  Click on the map to zoom in on any child care or preschool location.   Carolina Friends Durham Early School 404 Alexander Ave. Durham, NC 27705 Quaker affiliation. The Carolina Friends School has a lower, middle, and upper school in addition to the early school program. Summer programs available for ages 4 - 15 yrs. Ages: 3 - 6 yrs Hours of Operation:  8:15am - 5:15pm Cost: $8,780 per year for half days. $15,830 per year for extended days. Financial aid available. Contact Information: 919-383-6602. Campus Early School Head Teacher Libby Pittman Pendergrast lpendergrast at cfsnc.org. Admissions Coordinator ... 01/15/2010

Child Care and Preschools in Durham Overview of Schools and Centers in Durham 27703 If you're thinking of relocating to Durham County, or if you are considering child care or half day preschool for your young children, here's some locations you should check out.  The Durham 27703 zip code is just west of RTP (Research Park Triangle), so is conveniently close for many working parents.  There's easy access to downtown Raleigh, Chapel Hill, and RTP, which makes this area a good middle ground.    Bright Horizons @ Imperial Center 1012 Slater Road Durham, NC 27703 Part-time care is available. All Bright Horizons staff are trained regularly in CPR and First Aid. Snack and lunch served daily. Ages: Infants, Toddlers, Twos, Preschool Hours of Operation: 7am - 6pm Cost: Contact the center direct... 01/09/2010

Child Care and Preschools in Durham Overview of Schools and Centers in Durham 27701 If you're thinking of relocating to Durham County, or if you are considering child care or half day preschool for your young children, here's some locations you should check out.  The Durham 27701 zip code is just west of RTP (Research Park Triangle), and adjacent to Duke University, so is conveniently close for many working parents.  There's easy access to downtown Raleigh, Chapel Hill, and RTP for parents splitting a commute.  Duke Memorial Weekday School 504 West Chapel Hill Street, Durham 27701 The Duke Memorial Weekday School has a Methodist affiliation. Tours are available: Two's on Tuesday's; Three's on Wednesday's; Fours on Thursday's; Kindergarten call for available days Age: 2yrs - K Hours of O... 01/05/2010

Child Care and Preschools in Durham Overview of Schools and Centers in Durham 27713 If you're thinking of relocating to Durham County, or if you are considering child care or half day preschool for your young children, here's some locations you should check out.  The Durham 27713 zip code is just west of RTP (Research Park Triangle), so is conveniently close for many working parents.  There's easy access to downtown Raleigh, Chapel Hill, and RTP, which makes this area a good middle ground.    Childcare Network 166 117 W. Woodcroft Parkway, Durham, NC 27713 Founded in 1992, Childcare Network currently operates 163 schools in eight states. Each school is community based. In Durham, Childcare Network is "The Working Parent's Best Friend." Some of the many options available for children at ... 12/30/2009

Raleigh Area Market Reports - Durham New Home Market Durham New Home Listings DOWN 31% Available New Home Inventory Decreasing Looking for a new home in the Durham area?  Thinking the choices have gotten a little thinner?  You're right.... New Home inventory in Durham NC was down 32% in November 2009 versus November 2008.  Durham is one of the more affordable areas of the Triangle, with more new homes available under $300K.   New Home Listings by Price Point in Durham  NC   There were fewer new home listings in Durham NC in nearly every price point. $200-299K Durham New Home inventory reduced by 45% $150-199K Durham New Home inventory reduced by 41% $300-399K Durham new home inventory reduced by 21% Townhome inventory reduced by the lowest percentage - only a 9% reduction was seen. Durh... 12/29/2009

The time tested real estate axiom is location, location, location. That's one of the great selling points for living in the Woodcroft and other nearby SW Durham neighborhoods.  With easy access to major job centers at Research Triangle Park, Duke University and UNC-Chapel Hill, plus easily accessible shopping, banking and medical facilities, SW Durham is a popular place to be. Another nice feature of the Woodcroft community, for those who want to reduce their carbon footprint is public transportion. Triangle Transit  (formerly Triangle Transit Authority or TTA) buses go right through the center of Woodcroft down Woodcroft Parkway.  Triangle Transit buses connect the Triangle area with routes connecting Raleigh, Durham and Chapel Hill.  Each of these cities has its own public transportat... 12/14/2009

                                                     The neighborhood with the most home sales in Durham in 2009 YTD is Hope Valley Farms, located between Hope Valley Road and Fayetteville Road in SW Durham.   Year to date through October 2009 there have been 108 closed sales.  The average sales price is $195,351.  The average sold home has 1,749 square feet and costs $115/square foot.  Hope Valley Farms was started in 1988 with Pulte Homes as the primary builder, but the townhomes and many of the single family homes weren't built until after 2000. Home prices range from $134,000 for a small 2 bedroom townhome to $367,000 for a 4BR executive home with over 3000 square feet.  Styles range from traditional to what we call "transitional" which typically looks traditional on the outside but... 12/08/2009

Another popular neighborhood in SW Durham in North Carolina is Woodlake, which is just across Fayetteville Road from Woodcroft about which I've written previously.  Like Woodcroft, the Woodlake community has a variety of home styles ranging from small single family detached homes of around 1200 square feet, including sought after one story (ranch style) homes, to larger homes to townhomes.  The subdivision gets its name from the lake which is a central focus of the neighborhood with over three miles of walking trails around the lake and through the community. Home prices in Woodlake range from $160,000 to $400,000+.  The average sales price for homes closed YTD in 2009 is $206,000.  Average cost per square foot is $121. Among the amenities in Woodlake, in addition to the walking trails,... 12/06/2009

     Where Great Things Happen! That's the slogan of the Durham Convention and Visitors Bureau.  And it's true.  There are lots of great things happening in Durham, North Carolina. In October 2008, bon appetit called Durham-Chapel Hill Americas Foodiest Small Town, paying tribute to the great variety and servings of locally fresh foods in the area. In March 2009, Forbes Magazine ranked Durham the #3 Best Place for Business and Careers.  In April 2009, Relocate America ranked Durham #5 on its list of Best Places to Live.  These are just a few of the accolades the area has recently received.       In the past year alone, the new Durham Performing Arts Center has opened to rave reviews and attendance above expectations.  The DPAC has brought Broadway shows and nationally known musicians of... 11/18/2009

The first thing to understand about mold is that there it's everywhere - indoors and outdoors. It's in the air and can be found on plants, foods, dry leaves, and other organic materials. It's common to find molds in homes and buildings as molds grow naturally indoors and can enter a home through heating and air conditioning systems,  doorways and windows. Mold spores also enter the home on pets, your clothing, shoes, bags and people. When mold spores locate excessive moisture in your home, they will grow. Problem sites include humidifiers, leaky roofs and pipes, overflowing sinks, bath tubs and plant pots, steam from cooking, wet clothes drying indoors, dryers exhausting indoors, or where there has been flooding. Materials chosen to build homes can provide suitable nutrients for mold, ... 11/18/2009

New Homes Durham NC Durham NC Relocation - Property Tax Rates in Durham How much will I pay in property taxes for my new Durham County home?  That's a very common question when considering purchasing a home in Durham County.  View updated North Carolina county property tax information   If you're considering relocating to Durham County, you may have a Raleigh, Durham, Bahama, Rougemont, or Chapel Hill street address. Find Out What District Your New Durham Home is Located In Ask your real estate agent what district number the property resides in.  Or click on the link below to enter the address and find out the tax district:  Durham County Address Check for Property Tax Rate. This chart shows the 2009/2010 Durham County property tax rates.  If you are relocating to a home inside a town, ... 11/12/2009

To everyone who wasn't in a position to take advantage of the First Time Home Buyer Tax Credit, you get another chance! Which means you can buy a home, furnish it and put a little money away for a rainy day! Other good news; the credit has been expanded to include current owners who are looking to purchase a second home or are looking to move into another home. In order to qualify for the credit, all contracts need to be in effect no later than April 30, 2010 and close no later than June 30, 2010. What is a tax credit? A tax credit is a direct reduction in tax liability owed by an individual to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). In the event no taxes are owed, the IRS will issue a check for the amount of the tax credit an individual is owed. Unlike the tax credit that existed in 2008, ... 11/09/2009

Woodcroft Neighborhood UpdateNovember 3, 2009 For the recent Active, Pending and Closed real estate transactions for Durham's Woodcroft neighborhood, click here: Woodcroft.  If you have any questions about any of these homes, please call or email The Rogers Team. Home Search: To set up an automated search for the home of your dreams, click Triangle Home Search and enter your dreams! Your Home's Value: If you are planning on selling your home, it would be our pleasure to provide a no-obligation valuation of your home.  Click Your Home's Value and enter the requested information.  Neighborhood Update: If you would like to receive email notification of real estate transactions in your neighborhood or other neighborhoods, click Neighborhood Updates and we will add you to the system.  You ma... 11/03/2009

Today I want to expand on the wonderful amenities and social opportunities in the great southwest Durham, NC neighborhood of Woodcroft.  Anyone looking at real estate in the Triangle area should take note. In addition to a beautifully maintained parkway running through the heart of Woodcroft, the 6 miles of walking trails are a primary attraction for many buyers looking to purchase a home in Durham near Research Triangle Park, Duke or UNC-Chapel Hill. These trails meander throughout the neighborhood, sometimes parallel to Woodcroft Parkway and at other times over the rolling hills and through the woods.  The walking trails are easily accessible from just about any residence within the community often as close as the edge of the lot.  At any time during daylight hours you will find dozen... 10/16/2009

Falconbridge Neighborhood UpdateOctober 15, 2009 Average Days on Market: 152  Inventory: 4 months For the recent Active, Pending and Closed real estate transactions for Chapel Hill's Falconbridge neighborhood, click here: Falconbridge.  If you have any questions about any of these homes, please call or email The Rogers Team. Home Search: To set up an automated search for the home of your dreams, click Triangle Home Search and enter your dreams! Your Home's Value: If you are planning on selling your home, it would be our pleasure to provide a no-obligation valuation of your home.  Click Your Home's Value and enter the requested information.  Neighborhood Update: If you would like to receive email notification of real estate transactions in your neighborhood or other neighborhoods, click ... 10/15/2009