Date Archives: September 2017

Congratulations are in order for Jim Allen and The Jim Allen Group once again!

The outstanding 44-person real estate team just added a Triangle Business Journal Fast 50 Award to its long list of accolades that this year included being named the top Coldwell Banker team in North America with a record-breaking 1,048 sales. 

"Fast 50 is a tremendous accomplishment for our entire team, a true testament to the high quality of service they provide," said Jim Allen, a long-standing Triangle real estate veteran and Coldwell Banker Howard Perry and Walston broker. "The Jim Allen Group has amazingly talented professionals in every department—closing, listing, marketing, administrative, management, and sales."

The TBJ selected winning companies based on an analysis conducted by PricewaterhouseCoopers that counted revenue growth and profitability over three preceding years (2013-2015). According to TBJ Publisher Jason Christie, "Beyond bolstering the top-line performance and a nose for profitability, this list of companies represents the dynamic economic fabric of the Triangle."

"Jim is the hardest working person I know, and that's not just in real estate," said Don Walston, Coldwell Banker Howard Perry and Walston founder and chairman. "Once he sets his mind to something, he gets it done. He sets goals and surpasses them; it's the Jim Allen way. He has a masterful understanding of the industry that has allowed him to nurture his team and lead them to great successes."

The Jim Allen Group operates out of Coldwell Banker Howard Perry and Walston's flagship office on Falls of Neuse Road in Raleigh. Led by Coldwell Banker Howard Perry and Walston Senior Vice President and Sales Manager Susan Holbrook, the office has been recognized as the top producing Coldwell Banker real estate office in the state for the past two years.

"We're on pace to break records again in 2017 and can already see that 2018 will be more productive than ever before. We've found our stride, and we're going to make the most of it," added Allen.

Get ready, home buyers—this weekend marks the start of the largest open house event in the state.

Not only will our Coldwell Banker Howard Perry and Walston real estate agents be hosting open houses, so will the 52nd annual Triangle Parade of Homes!

Triangle Parade of Homes 

Jointly presented by the Home Builders Association of Raleigh-Wake County and the Home Builders Association of Durham, Orange and Chatham Counties, the Triangle Parade of Homes event spans three weekends starting this Saturday, Sept. 30th.

Local home builders will be spotlighting more than 250 of the most beautiful new homes and exquisite properties in communities throughout our growing Triangle region to vie for your attention.

You can check out a complete list of all Parade of Homes houses here.

Parade of Homes dates and times:

Saturday, Sept. 30 and Sunday, Oct. 1 from noon to 5 p.m.

Friday, Oct. 6 through Sunday, Oct. 8 from noon to 5 p.m.

Friday, Oct. 13 through Sunday, Oct. 15 from noon to 5 p.m.

HPW Area Open Houses

Make sure to put some of our real estate agents' open houses on your must-visit list too.

From all-brick homes and downtown condos to ranch plans and three-story townhomes, they have listed some remarkable properties. One of them could be your next home.

Featured Open Houses

2008 Litchfield Downs Lane, Raleigh, NC 27612

$800,000

Sq Ft: 4,300 | Beds: 5 | Baths: 3 (full) 1 (1/2)

Open House: Saturday, September 30 from noon to 5 p.m.

2621 Ivory Run Way, Unit 105, Raleigh, NC 27603

$159,900

Sq Ft: 1,600 | Beds: 3 | Baths: 2 (full) 1 (1/2)

Open House: Saturday, September 30 from 1 to 3 p.m.

 5331 Shaker Heights Lane, Raleigh, NC 27613

$364.000

Sq Ft: 2,561 | Beds: 4 | Baths: 2 (full) 1 (1/2)

Open House: Saturday, September 30 from 1 to 3 p.m.

  3129 Curling Creek Drive, Apex, NC 27502

$699,900

Sq Ft: 3,592 | Beds: 4 | Baths: 3 (full) 1 (1/2)

Open Houses: Saturday, September 30 from noon to 4 p.m. and

Sunday, October 1 from 1 to 4 p.m.

 279 Serenity Hill Circle, Chapel Hill, NC 27516

$379,900

Sq Ft: 2,579 | Beds: 4 | Baths: 3 (full)

Open House: Sunday, October 1 from 1 to 3 p.m.

 3596 Bragg Valley Lane, Wake Forest, NC 27587

$479,000

Sq Ft: 3,232 | Beds: 4 | Baths: 3 (full)

Open House: Sunday, October 1 from 2 to 4 p.m.

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Home Builders Association of Raleigh-Wake County

Home Builders Association Durham, Chatham, and Orange Counties 

Music will fill the air in downtown Raleigh this Friday and Saturday at the annual Wide Open Bluegrass Festival. With more than 100 bands on seven city stages, you should get ready for some knee-slapping, foot-tapping fun!

Festival-goers can purchase general admission or VIP passes online to score seats at the Main Stage at Red Hat Amphitheater to see performances by the Steep Canyon Rangers with Steven Martin, The Infamous Stringdusters presenting the Wide Open Jam, The Travelin' McCourys, Bela Fleck & Abigail Washburn, and many more. 

In addition to the incredible banjo-wielding artist lineup, the two-day event will feature a free StreetFest on Fayetteville and Cabarrus Streets. Expanded from the previous year, the event will be filled with tasty food-truck treats, arts and crafts vendors, dancing, youth performances and a Kid Zone. Adult attendees will also enjoy visiting beer and wine tasting tents for sips throughout the day. 

The Whole Hog Barbecue Championship will kick off late Friday evening with pig cookers smoking through the night into Saturday morning for judging. Once the meat-master winner is named, the competitors' barbecue pork will be sold to StreetFest guests to raise money for the Inter-Faith Food Shuttle.

A short walk down the road, the International Bluegrass Music Association's World of Bluegrass Expo will also be taking place at the Raleigh Convention Center on Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Wide Open Bluegrass Festival event details:

Where:

Downtown Raleigh

Main Stage: Red Hat Amphitheater

When:

Friday, Sept. 29 and Saturday, Sept. 30 from noon to 11 p.m. 

Music Schedule:

Get the scoop on the bands and live performances before you go by downloading the Wide Open Bluegrass Festival music schedule here.

Image Credit: World of Bluegrass/Wide Open Bluegrass Festival 

It has been a great week in the greater Triangle region!

Knightdale and Morrisville scored a place on MONEY Magazine's 2017 Best Places to Live in America list, the Durham Bulls Baseball Team won the Triple-A National Championship, the Raleigh-Durham metro is vying for Amazon's second headquarters, and we continue to celebrate our new HPW.com website.

This week can be just as exciting for you too—you could find the home you've been dreaming of and make an offer. All you have to do is start your house hunt.

Our Coldwell Banker Howard Perry and Walston real estate agents will be hosting open houses this Saturday and Sunday in the communities, neighborhoods and school districts you desire. Consider visiting them to see the homes they've listed and speaking with them about their local market expertise.

Featured Open Houses

Take a look at our HPW Triangle area open houses online to see which properties you may want to visit this weekend.?

1340 Heritage Club Avenue, Wake Forest, NC 27587

$459,000

Sq Ft: 2,844 | Beds: 4 | Baths: 3 (full) 1 (1/2)

Open House: Saturday, September 23 from 10 a.m. to noon

156 Plantation Drive, Youngsville, NC 27596

$364,900

Sq Ft: 2,714 | Beds: 4 | Baths: 3 (full)

Open Houses: Saturday, September 23 from noon to 5 p.m. and

Sunday, September 24 from noon to 5 p.m.

 5408 Beardall Street, Raleigh, NC 27616

$275,000

Sq Ft: 2,276 | Beds: 4 | Baths: 2 (full) 1 (1/2)

Open Houses: Saturday, September 23 from 1 to 4 p.m. and

Sunday, September 24 from 1 to 4 p.m.

12025 Wicker, Chapel Hill, NC 27517

$475,000

Sq Ft: 3,431 | Beds: 4 | Baths: 4 (full)

Open House: Sunday, September 24 from 1 to 4 p.m.

507 South Bend Drive, Durham, NC 27713

$564,900

Sq Ft: 3,695 | Beds: 5 | Baths: 3 (full)

Open House: Sunday, September 24 from 1 to 4 p.m.

 2321 Wyngate Drive, Hillsborough, NC 27278

$357,900

Sq Ft: 2,700 | Beds: 4 | Baths: 2 (full) 1 (1/2)

Open House: Sunday, September 24 from 2 to 4 p.m.

 5033 Myrtle Oak Drive, Cary, NC 27519

$495,000

Sq Ft: 4,192 | Beds: 5 | Baths: 3 (full) 1 (1/2)

Open House: Sunday, September 24 from 2 to 4 p.m.

 8112 Knebworth Court, Raleigh, NC 27613

$345,000

Sq Ft: 2,296 | Beds: 4 | Baths: 2 (full) 1 (1/2)

Open House: Sunday, September 24 from 1 to 4 p.m.

621 Maylands Avenue, Raleigh, NC 27615

$285,000

Sq Ft: 2,425 | Beds: 4 | Baths: 2 (full) 1 (1/2)

Open House: Sunday, September 24 from 2 to 4 p.m.

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An event planned to celebrate the uniquely diverse Morrisville community, the East Meets West Festival is filled with delicious food, music, and live street performances spotlighting cultures from all over the world. You should attend! 

Not only is the annual festival one-of-a-kind in the Triangle area, but it has also earned acclaim nationally as well. This spring, the National League of Cities recognized Morrisville with its City Cultural Diversity Award spotlighting its diverse and collaborative community and East Meets West Festival. 

In an interview about the award, Morrisville Mayor Mark Stohlman said, "One of the most distinct features about Morrisville is its variety of cultures. The East Meets West festival is incredibly important to the town council as a means of connecting with the public and celebrating the cultures that make our town unique."

Organized by the Morrisville Innovation Foundation, the free event will take place this Saturday, Sept. 23 starting at 11 a.m. with arts and crafts vendors and area restaurants setting up shop along Town Hall Drive. 

Festivalgoers are sure to enjoy the opportunity to purchase an assortment of foods from all over including traditional Peruvian and Indian fare, Asian dishes and North Carolina barbeque. Performers include Bollywood and Middle Eastern belly dancers, yoga instructors, blues, reggae and bluegrass bands, and other exciting talents.

Young attendees will also delight in the Kids Zone as they get their faces painted and spend the day jumping in the inflatable bounce house. 

East Meets West Festival event details:

Where:

Town Hall Drive in Morrisville

When:

Saturday, Sept. 23 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. 

Directions & Parking:

Access driving directions and parking information here. 

Additional Information:

Town Hall Drive will be closed from Morrisville Carpenter Road through Jeremiah Street on Friday, Sept. 22 at 6:30 p.m. through Saturday, Sept. 23 at 11 p.m.

Image Credit: Morrisville Innovation Foundation/East Meets West Festival

Interested in settling down in one of the best places to live in America? Consider Knightdale or Morrisville for your next home.

MONEY Magazine just released its 2017 Best Places to Live list awarding the two growing Triangle towns a coveted spot among the top 100 cities and towns featured.

"Where you choose to live is an important decision, one that influences your life in every way," said Adam Auriemma, editor for MONEY.

Having compiled the much-anticipated list since 1987, we're confident in the trusted news source's methodology and accurate reports, especially since researchers brought Realtor.com's expertise into the fold this year. Altogether, MONEY's reporters collected and reviewed nearly 170,000 different data points about 2,400 places in the U.S. Consideration was given to each location's economic health, cost of living factors, ease of living, crime, public education, amenities, housing market costs and population growth rates.

Auriemma added that the list "represents the best of America's towns and cities: places that offer economic opportunity, a sense of community, and access to amenities that make life more enjoyable."

Knightdale, #76 Best Place to Live in America

Known by locals as a great place to "Start Something," Knightdale claimed the 76th spot on the list in the top 30 percent of all places surveyed.

According to MONEY, the town posted a projected job growth of more than 10 percent, a comfortable cost of living with a median home price of $267,350, an average 29-minute commute for residents and more than 215 clear-weather days per year.

About Knightdale 

Knightdale is located nine miles east of downtown Raleigh in Wake County. With a population of nearly 15,000 people, it is a town of growth and opportunity for young families and first-time homeowners.

Mayor James Roberson proudly talks about the fast-growing town saying, "Knightdale combines city convenience with Southern charm."

The town adds new businesses and retailers daily priding itself on attracting employers large and small. It has also become a beverage-lovers' destination with Oak City Brewing Company and Lassiter Distilling Company opening up shop within walking distance of each other on North First Avenue.

Knightdale's parks and greenway trails are another popular draw. Its 3.5-mile Mingo Creek Trail offers walkers, runners, and cyclists the opportunity to tour the town's scenic landscape and links them up with Raleigh's sprawling Neuse River Greenway Trail.

Morrisville, #90 Best Place to Live in America

This isn't the first time Morrisville has earned recognition on MONEY's national Best Places to Live list, and it certainly won't be the last.

Located an equal distance between Raleigh and Durham and a short drive from the Research Triangle Park, the town was excitedly named 90th out of the 2,400 places MONEY's researchers reviewed. 

The town posted projected job growth of nearly 11 percent, a median home price of $267,350, a median household income of $92,420, and commute times averaging 21 minutes. Like its list liaison Knightdale, the Triangle suburb also enjoys more than 215 clear-weather days annually.

About Morrisville

Morrisville is an ideal Triangle suburb for professionals with careers in Cary, Raleigh, Durham and the nationally recognized Research Triangle Park.

Focused on helping its diverse pool of residents to "Live connected. Live well.," Morrisville offers a high quality of life amid a small-town setting perfect for people in all stages of life.

Well-rated public schools and parks add to the town's family-friendly status. 

Home to Lenovo's U.S. headquarters, Credit Suisse, and numerous tech start-ups, Morrisville is committed to economic development and continued business growth to increase job and career opportunities.

Morrisville is also home to The Chef's Academy at Harrison College, a culinary school for those pursuing careers in the food industry.

Learn more about Coldwell Banker Howard Perry and Walston and the cities and towns our leading team of realtors and agents serve.

Image Credit: MONEY.com

Trying to decide if this will be the weekend you start your house hunt by venturing out to area open houses? We can answer that… yes, it is definitely time. 

With the launch of our completely redesigned HPW.com real estate website, you have more information than ever before only a mouse click away.

• Want to search for a home by school district? Go for it.
• Do you know which neighborhoods you may want to live in? Map them out to see what homes are listed.
• Eager to find out more about the popular cities and towns that make up the greater Triangle region? Read all about them.
• Want to find out more about the popular cities and towns that make up the greater Triangle region? Read all about them.
• Interested to know what your home may be worth? Get up to three home valuation estimates.

Coldwell Banker Howard Perry and Walston is the leading residential real estate company in the Triangle area and now we have the top website in the entire state and beyond.

Let us help you house hunt. Start today at HPW.com. 

Featured Open Houses

Access a complete list of our real estate agents' Triangle area open houses and map out your plan of attack to make the most of your time this Saturday and Sunday.

621 Connington Way, Rolesville, NC 27571

$425,000

Sq Ft: 3,200 | Beds: 4 | Baths: 3 (full)

Open Houses: Saturday, September 16 from 2 to 5 p.m. and

Sunday, September 17 from 2 to 5 p.m.

1217 Atticus Way, Durham, NC 27703

$499,991

Sq Ft: 3,494 | Beds: 4 | Baths: 4 (full) 1 (1/2)

Open Houses: Saturday, September 16 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and

Sunday, September 17 from 1 to 5 p.m.

8312 Castine Court, Raleigh, NC 27613

$359,900

Sq Ft: 2,284 | Beds: 4 | Baths: 2 (full) 1 (1/2)

Open House: Saturday, September 16 from 2 to 4 p.m.

517 E. Franklin Street, Chapel Hill, NC 27514

$1,495,000

Sq Ft: 4,255 | Beds: 5 | Baths: 4 (full) 1 (1/2)

Open Houses: Sunday, September 17 from 1 to 4 p.m.

621 Maylands Avenue, Raleigh, NC 27615

$291,500

Sq Ft: 2,425 | Beds: 4 | Baths: 2 (full) 1 (1/2)

Open House: Sunday, September 17 from 2 to 4 p.m.

6111 Valentine Street, Zebulon, NC 27597

$295,000

Sq Ft: 2,847 | Beds: 3 | Baths: 4 (full)

Open House: Sunday, September 17 from 2 to 4 p.m.

405 Deep Woods Trail, Wake Forest, NC 27587

$500,000

Sq Ft: 3,754 | Beds: 4 | Baths: 3 (full) 1 (1/2)

Open House: Sunday, September 17 from 2 to 4 p.m.

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Innovative. Accessible. Resourceful. Comprehensive. A Game Changer. 

Introducing the new HPW.com—the power of HPW exemplified in the Triangle region, the state and beyond.

"We did it. We created a vibrant, easy-to-navigate, consumer-centric website that offers an unmatched digital real estate experience," said Kent Hanley, CEO of Coldwell Banker Howard Perry and Walston. "Our new website is superior. It combines the best features of the national websites with the local market expertise and leadership that buyers and sellers trust. We've taken the power of HPW to another level to support our real estate agents, their clients and all people interested in buying, selling or renting."

A New Real Estate Website

Our HPW.com real estate website is much more than a compilation of homes for sale.

HPW.com is a dynamic collection of information today's home buyer wants and needs to know.

Our new, improved real estate website offers:

• Eight MLS data providers that showcase real estate listings from the coast to the mountains
• A Home Valuation Tool with access to every property in the United States
• Extensive lifestyle and neighborhood information
• Advanced luxury real estate searches and information
• Simple and easy new homes searches
• Agent expertise
• Open houses
• Up-to-date local market trends and data
• Relocation resources
• Mortgage calculators and financing information
• Insurance information
• Rentals and property management
• Commercial real estate 

"The new Coldwell Banker Howard Perry and Walston website stands alone in this market and throughout North Carolina," said company Director of Marketing Matt Horton. "We have positioned our real estate company and Realtors to be the best prepared to serve prospective buyers and sellers by far. Our real estate agents can now pair their keen expertise with the wide-spread digital capabilities of the national real estate aggregator websites to further their reach and lead even more people to real estate success."

Statewide Real Estate Listings

On the hunt for a second home on the Carolina coast? Perhaps the mountains are more your style? What about Lake Gaston? Start your hunt at HPW.com.

Our real estate website features property listings spanning the entire state of North Carolina. You now have access to view homes and properties listed for sale from Manteo to Murphy, in all regions of the state.

Home Valuation Tool

Wondering what your home is worth? You can find out at HPW.com.

A few keystrokes and clicks on our new site will lead you to a personalized home value report with up to three estimates including your property details, recent area sales, market trends, your home's sales history, and more.

We know the value of your home may be a deciding factor in taking the next step in your real estate journey. You now have the capabilities to gather that key information on our real estate website. 

Enhanced Searchability

Whether you want to search by zip code, school district, price range, neighborhood, town or city, you can find an array of listings for the homes you seek.

We've increased our home search functionality ten-fold.

Our new real estate search tools are designed with your interests, wants, and needs in mind. We want to help you find the right home, in the right location, for you and your family.

Extensive Lifestyle & Neighborhood Information

Our expert real estate team knows the Triangle region inside and out and top to bottom. You can too. 

Gain invaluable insight into the neighborhoods, communities, and suburbs that make up the prospering Research Triangle on our area webpages.

Find out what makes Cary great. Discover details about downtown Raleigh. Seek out info about Pittsboro. Uncover exciting things to do in Durham. It's all only a few mouse clicks or swipes away.

"This new website sets the stage for a high level of service that will carry on throughout the real estate experience from for sale to sold," added Hanley. "From the very start, the very first click, we are poised to be the very best real estate company to Help People Win."

Learn more about Coldwell Banker Howard Perry and Walston and the cities and towns our leading real estate team serves.

Just over a week ago, with heavy hearts for Houston and our Texas neighbors, we announced our HPW Hurricane Harvey Relief Drive.

With the generosity of our Coldwell Banker Howard Perry and Walston real estate team and the kind Triangle community, we were able to collect $3,600 and match it dollar-for-dollar through our HPW Foundation for an overall donation of $7,200 to benefit the:

• Houston Food Bank;
• The Salvation Army of Greater Houston;
• United Way of Greater Houston; and the
• Food Bank of Corpus Christie.

"Our HPW real estate team showed up to the plate for Texas and all those affected by Harvey," said Matt Horton, HPW Foundation President and Coldwell Banker Howard Perry and Walston Director of Marketing. "Their generous donations allowed us to raise more than $7,000 to help numerous nonprofit organizations continue their relief efforts."

Hurricane Irma

Today, we watch with great trepidation as Hurricane Irma approaches Florida with a projected path leading up through Georgia, Alabama and into Tennessee. We know this powerful storm will cause major destruction and devastation as it moves along leaving even more of our nation's neighbors in need.

Our HPW Foundation plans to meet those needs head on and will be announcing additional relief efforts after Irma departs. "We do our best to Help People Win in all ways, in all circumstances," added Horton. "Once Irma's winds settle, we will announce a plan to provide support to the communities and people who need it the most."

What do you get when you combine a reasonable cost of living, a multitude of career opportunities and immense livability? Introducing the Triangle—the perfect place to live, work and play, and home to three of the five North Carolina metro areas ranked on WalletHub's 2017 Best Real Estate Markets lists.

The personal finance website rated 300 cities and towns across the nation against 21 key indicators of housing-market attractiveness. Factors considered included affordability, economic development such as job growth and unemployment rates, and real estate market trends such as average days on the market for listings, number of rental properties, and home sales.

Consider Cary

After numerous accolades bestowed on the Western Wake County town throughout the year, Cary scored a single digit place on the top 100 list, ranking fourth with high marks for housing affordability, population and job growth rates and more. Compared to towns its own size, Cary ranked even higher taking second place in WalletHub's mid-size cities category.

About Cary

Cary is a great place to call home. Named among the safest cities to raise a child by SafeWise, one of WalletHub's top recommendations for first-time home buyers, and a popular choice for millennials as reported by SmartAsset, the Triangle suburb has a lot going for it.

Want a well-developed suburban community with commuter convenience? Seeking green space and parks? Want easy access to retail centers and restaurants? On the hunt for a home in a family-friendly neighborhood? You would be wise to add Cary to your list of places to live.

Decide on Durham

The bustling Bull City of Durham was also spotlighted on WalletHub's city compilations ranking eight on the mid-size cities list and 23rd on the overall list of 100.

About Durham

Probably best known as the home of the Duke Blue Devils, Durham is known nationally for its leading medical, research and educational facilities including Duke Medicine and Duke University. You should know that the revitalized tobacco town offers much more.

Named the "Hippest City in North Carolina" by Vogue Magazine, Durham has a flourishing cultural scene accented by top-rated restaurants and bars. In its American Tobacco Historic District alone, you'll find the acclaimed Durham Performing Arts Center, the Durham Bulls Minor League Baseball Team, a start-up incubator, and numerous tech businesses.

Relocate to Raleigh

Raleigh and its attractive real estate market also snagged a place on the "best of" list coming in ninth ahead of Charlotte among the large cities reviewed and 44th overall.

About Raleigh

There are only a few national "best of" lists that leave Raleigh off, and for good reason; the Capital City stacks up well against home buyers' must-haves and wants.

The city's ideal economic climate attracts companies, large and small, that bring high-paying jobs to town and the influx of professionals who follow.

Raleigh's livability is another asset that adds appeal. From miles of greenway trails and public parks to performance centers and cultural events, people of all ages and interests are bound to find something they enjoy.

"Raleigh and the greater Triangle area are experiencing rapid population growth due to the multitude of offerings within in our cities and towns," said Nancy Harner, senior vice president of the Relocation and Corporate Real Estate Services Division at Coldwell Banker Howard Perry and Walston. "We have the innovative jobs professionals want, the homes they seek for their families, and a desirable costing of living that makes relocating worth their while."

Learn more about Coldwell Banker Howard Perry and Walston and the cities and towns our leading team of realtors and agents serve.