In the world of real estate, every seller’s dream is to sell fast at top dollar and that’s exactly what the Chris Edwards Group delivers to their clients. This Cary, North Carolina agency is known for their impressive results and they aim to maintain their level of service by staying ahead of the latest real estate tools and making sure that each client is catered to uniquely. Buyers and sellers won’t receive the standard cookie cutter routine. With the Chris Edwards Group, you can expect to receive a plan built specific to your needs from day 1 with 24/7 availability.

As the managing broker, Chris Edwards leads the charge in delivering “Premium” service to every client he works with. We asked Chris to tell us about a client experience that stood out to him and this is what he shared:

“I represented a seller in a development and we were in a contract and a few days before closing, the law firm saw that the original developer from 1996 had not turned over the community to the county so they could maintain the streets and roads. It would have all been on the homeowners’ plate to maintain the roads and the buyers of my listing were getting a VA loan but they could not get the loan with that caveat. I actually found the developer and reached out to him, met with him, signed paperwork for him to turn it over to the county and we closed in two days.”

Wow, talk about above and beyond the expectation. Finding the right Raleigh area home starts with the premium service that Chris Edwards and his team delivers.  Chris believes that, “A good agent is a task manager and not just a real estate broker.” So whatever steps are needed to make your buying or selling experience the best possible, The Chris Edwards Group is there to handle anything that has to do with the process. As the New Homes Directory Fuquay Varina, Apex and Cary market expert, Chris regularly shares some of his real estate insights to inform buyers and sellers of the current market. With one-stop shop service and excellent results, it’s no wonder Chris Edwards and his team remain on top!

Buyers in the Raleigh real estate market, look no further than Spencer Properties for your next home purchase. Not only do Jennifer Spencer and her team offer attentive service to each and every one of their clients, they are also committed to their community. 

The holidays are here and for Spencer Properties that means extending a hand to those who could use a little extra cheer. This week, Jennifer Spencer and her team will be hosting a Pie Giveaway and for Christmas they will be purchasing gifts in support of the Angel Tree Program for children in their area. Talk about a great way to share some love with the community and it doesn’t stop there! Every quarter, Spencer Properties host a canned goods and supplies collection at their office to benefit the Raleigh Rescue Mission. The team is also a Wakefield High School Athletic Sponsor. 

Jennifer Spencer has set the tone for her company through her commitment to hard work and her efforts have definitely shown professionally. Jennifer was recently appointed to the Raleigh Regional Association of Realtors Board and she remains a part of the Top Producers Council which means she is among the top 1% of agents in the Raleigh area.

New Homes Directory.com is happy to have Jennifer Spencer as our Raleigh Real Estate Market Expert and we appreciate Spencer Properties’ dedication to hard work and serving the needs of those around them. 

If a progressive community that still retains its small population and rich heritage is your kind of town, look no further than Wake Forest, North Carolina. Thanks to the city’s small population and a vibrant downtown that is an officially registered historic district, homes in Wake Forest, NC are on the radar of many of today’s buyers. In fact, Forbes Magazine named the city as the 20th fastest growing suburb in America a few short years ago (and likely will recognize it again). And with easy access to Raleigh, the small town borders don’t hold anyone back from enjoying big city amenities.

So, where should someone seeking homes in Wake Forest, NC begin their search? Why not check out a community whose name features the name of the city? After all, it ensures that the neighborhood reflects the spirit of the city. In this case, it’s The Villas of Wake Forest, a community of 144 single story Wake Forest homes for sale. Here, all exterior maintenance is provided for you; you’ll have more time to enjoy the private clubhouse with pool and fitness center; and, a very active neighborhood social calendar is the hallmark of the community.

Of course, the homes are probably even more of interest to you than the lifestyle: Each of the five unique homes offers bright, open floor plans for relaxation and entertaining, two to three bedrooms, sunny verandas, tray and vaulted ceilings, private patios, attached two car garages, low E-glass windows, a high energy efficiency furnace, and more. In other words, these environmentally conscious homes is all the more a reflection of the progressive nature of this city.

And the prices are great as well, starting in the low $200's. For more information, contact the Wake Forest sales office at (919) 569-0043, or stop in to 1142 Bluebird Lane, Wake Forest, NC.

A tranquil, upscale Southern lifestyle where the green is king – that’s what Pinehurst, North Carolina offers its residents. The Pinehurst-Southern Pines area is home to world-renowned courses that host countless tournaments per year. What gold enthusiast wouldn’t love to live there? Fortunately, they can! Pinehurst condos for sale in the Mid South Club, a well-known, master-planned golf community, offer buyers the luxury lifestyle right off the green that they dream of, whether part time or year round.

Now, Epcon Communities has recently made their mark on the Mid South Club with Camden Villas. Camden Villas features 58 ranch-style condominiums situated on the highly acclaimed Arnold Palmer signature golf course. Surrounded by four holes of golf, this site offers dramatic views of the golf course, ponds, and the Mid South Clubhouse. For some, that’s reason enough to call this place home. However, you’d probably like to know a little more about what awaits inside.

At these two and three bedroom ranch-style condominiums with Carolina rooms and attached 2-car garages, exterior maintenance and lawn care is provided for the ultimate maintenance-free lifestyle. And although you’re likely to spend the majority of your time on the course, you may also enjoy the private fitness facility and designer-decorated clubhouse, which provide the perfect place for gathering with friends.

Carefree and sophisticated – isn’t that what the active adult years are meant to be? For more information, contact Camden Villas at Mid South Club by calling the clubhouse/office at (910) 724-9555.

Featuring resort-style Raleigh new homes for sale in the prestigious town of Cary, North Carolina, Harmony Reserve is a Pulte Homes community that provides its residents beautiful scenery, a convenient location, and an overall spectacular environment to call "home" at the end of the day. Mature trees and spacious yards surround the exquisite new homes for sale at Harmony Reserve, and with luxurious amenities like a community clubhouse, tennis courts, a pool, and a playground,  Harmony Reserve is the perfect place for you and your family to settle down in the Raleigh, North Carolina area.

A cozy but sizable town in Wake county, Cary was not too long ago named the 5th best place to live in the United States by Money magazine; Some local attractions include the Cary Ballet, as well as the North Carolina Symphony. For residents of Harmony Reserve who are more interested in the vibrance of a diverse metropolitan area, they need look no further than beautiful Raleigh. The state capital of North Carolina and lovingly referred to as the "City of Oaks," Raleigh is both a history lovers paradise, as well as the perfect place to experience the cutting-edge of modern culture and technology. The Raleigh area also offers a wide array of museums, including the NC Museum of Natural Sciences, NC Museum of History, NC Museum of Art, and the Marbles Kids Museum.

Some of the great features available at the Raleigh new homes for sale at Harmony Reserve include distinctive exteriors, a 3,000 square foot clubhouse, a junior Olympic size pool, as well as much more.

The wonderful Raleigh new homes for sale at Harmony Reserve are currently available in several great floorplans, ranging from 3,091 to 3,380 square feet. The new homes feature between 4-5 bedrooms and 2.5-4 baths, and are starting in price from around $385,900. For more information about one of these new beautiful new homes for sale at Harmony Reserve, please call 919-362-7363.

The most recent real estate figures on Raleigh, North Carolina, originally released on August 23, revealed a slight increase in the median price. Sure, this may come as a surprise – but don’t worry. Raleigh is still a buyer’s market. Let’s take a look at some figures.  

Up slightly from the previous month, the median home price in Raleigh for August was $299,758. However, there are still 3,064 homes on the market in Raleigh right now. With such a substantial inventory, prices of Raleigh homes for sale aren’t likely to increase significantly in the next few months. How is inventory an indicator of future home prices?

"Inventory" is simply real estate lingo for "the number of homes for sale." This stat shows you how much supply is available in the market you are researching. Inventory levels can ebb and flow frequently due to seasonal effects. There's usually more inventory on the market in the springtime, as the natural rate of real estate activity picks up during this time of year. Alternately, there's generally less inventory in the Fall or Winter as real estate activity slows. Okay, so those are the facts…but how does that affect the fluctuation of prices? Quite simply, actually. When activity slows in fall and winter, sellers aren’t likely to raise prices on homes that are already not selling. Makes sense, right?

Are there other statistics available? Sure. The market action index, which illustrates the balance between supply and demand using a statistical function of the current rate of sale versus current inventory, is 13.71 – this is what some experts use to determine, definitively, if an area is in a state of buyer’s market or seller’s market. This specific index indicates a buyer’s market in Raleigh.

Whether you’re interested in a townhome or a neighborhood of single family homes for sale in Raleigh, NC, you’ll find it in Stonebridge. An MI Homes community of beautiful, spacious single family homes and upscale townhomes, Stonebridge offers all the convenience today’s buyers are seeking.

For example, the restaurants and shops of Mill Pond Village are right at your doorstep. Newly built retail shops, an Urgent Care center and a proposed Harris Teeter are within walking distance. You have easy access to US-1 and I-40, providing a fast commute to RTP, RDU, Cary Towne Center and Crossroads Mall. No long, winding rural drives to get into town or commute to work; everywhere you need to be is right at your fingertips!

In both the townhomes and single family models, Stonebridge offers unmatched interior detail like hardwood floors, tile, granite, and maple cabinetry. Inviting exteriors include stone, brick, Hardiplank siding and shake finishes. With a variety of new home designs, including ranches and two story homes with first or second floor masters, Stonebridge surely has everything you’re looking for. With pricing beginning at $219,987 for the townhomes and $291,990 for the single family homes, Stonebridge is also an affordable option for upscale new homes in today’s market.

Plus, with MI Homes new promotion The Power of 8, first-time buyers have an even greater advantage: $8,000 in options on top of the government’s first-time homebuyer tax credit, which is ending soon. So, if new homes near Raleigh, NC of this caliber are of interest to you, the time to inquire is now!

Stonebridge is located at 4016 Franks Creek Drive, Cary, NC 27518. Information can be obtained by phone at (919) 387-9940 Mon-Fri, 11am-6pm; Sat, 10am-5pm, and Sun: 1pm-6pm.

As we’ve discussed before, there’s a difference between new home communities that claim to be sustainable or green, and those that are verified by an independent organization. Many states have said organizations for the purpose of making this distinction; for example, California. Another state concentrated group for green building is the Western North Carolina Green Building Council. By compiling information regarding green building in NC in one concise database, the WNCGBC is a service to builders and consumers alike.

What type of information can be found? To start, there are dozens of links to various informative documents; just a few topics that can be researched include green industry news, government resources, and common environmental concerns like water conservation and air quality. Resources for solar power and sustainable materials can be found as well; and, of course, information on green homes for sale in NC.

The WNCGBC was formed around a common desire to educate others on the health and environmental impacts of design and construction. Just as the California Certified Green Builder program was founded as an educational resource for builders, the North Carolina council offers classes, seminars, and presentations as well. If you’re a buyer seeking green homes for sale in NC, be sure to ask potential builders if they are familiar with WNCGBC. If they have worked with the organization, you can be assured of their green credentials!

A charming small community of homes nestled in Apex, one of the fastest growing communities in Wake County, is Epcon Communities newest homes for sale in North Carolina's newest prime location. This new community is The Orchard Villas.  The Orchard Villas is just minutes to Beaver Creek Commons which offers some of the most impressive shopping, dining, and entertainment that Apex has to offer.  Hospitals and medical facilities are also nearby along with Eva Perry library, the RBC Center, and Raleigh-Durham International Airport. For the more adventurous there is nearby golfing, Jordan Lake, historic Apex, as well as UNC-Chapel Hill, Duke University, and North Carolina State University were you can enjoy collage sports at their finest.

The Orchard Villas new homes for sale offers single story living, where all exterior maintenance is provided for you!  With maintenance free living you will have more time to enjoy the community’s private clubhouse, pool and fitness center. The Orchard Villas takes pride in offering a very active social calendar for the neighborhood.

North Carolina's, The Orchards Villas, homes for sale features five award winning home plans at this prime location! Floorplans range from 2 and 3 bedroom home designs starting in the low $200s. These vibrant new homes offer a surplus of included features like gourmet kitchen with granite countertops, upgraded Kenmore appliances, 42 inch maple cabinetry with crown molding and door hardware, tile backsplashes and hardwood floors.  At The Orchards Villas you can enjoy the benefits of energy star with the energy efficient constructed homes and products that not only help protect our natural resources, but save you dollars on your utility bills each month as well. 

 This affordable new community for sale is perfect for those ready to downsize or are just looking for a carefree lifestyle. Look closely at the one of its kind, single-story villa designs and you'll find form and function combined to offer easy living with traditional charm.

With the openness of the great room, that sets the tone for the entire floor plan, is to increase the concept of single-story living. The Orchard Villas new homes are renowned for their visually exciting interior and exterior designs. With superior construction materials and superior features normally associated with more costly homes, you will find value, comfort, and security in you new Epcon Communities home design. Whatever floorplan you choose, you will have the look and feel of a single family home with all the benefits of maintenance-free living in a small friendly community.

With so much success surrounding the 2009 NAHB National Green Building Awards, the organization is accepting submissions for 2010. Their theme, “Greening the American Dream,” embodies the concept of the honors themselves: excellence in green residential design, construction practices and outstanding green advocacy efforts.

Do you know of a green home builder who mirrors these qualities? Perhaps it’s the green home community in which you live, or one that you’ve researched in the early stages of your homebuying or construction process. If you admire their commitment to green homes, let them know by suggesting that they enter. Or, perhaps you are a builder who employs sustainable building practices. If so, nominating your firm may be a good way to gain the recognition you deserve!

Need something to jog your ideas? Consider these categories:

• Advocate of the Year: Builder, Remodeler, Individual, Group and State/Local Government
• Green Project of the Year: Single-Family, Remodeling and Multifamily
• Green Development of the Year
• Green Home Building Program of the Year

The 2010 awards will be held in Raleigh, NC; new homes for sale are plentiful and a buyer’s market is in full swing in this area, making it an appropriate location for a NAHB event. To inquire about the awards and entry process, contact Chad Riedy at greenawards@nahb.com prior to January 15, 2010.