North Carolina recently updated regulations pertaining to firms and individuals performing renovations, repair and painting for compensation, who disturb lead-based paint paint in housing and in child-occupied facilities built before 1978, to be trained and certified. To prevent childhood lead poisoning, they must follow specific lead-safe work practices when disturbing painted or coated surfaces containing lead.

Those individulas who perform renovations for compensation must also provide the pamphlet “The Lead Safe Certified Guide to Renovate Right” to owners, occupants, parents and guardians before beginning renovation work. The regulations apply to renovations in housing such as apartments, homes or in child-occupied facilities such as daycare centers, kindergarten and pre-school classrooms built before 1978

For more information on working with lead-based paint, finding a certified contractor performing renovation,repair and painting activities, contact the North Carolina Division of Public Health, Health Hazards Control Unit, Lead Based Paint Hazard Management Program @ 919-707-5950 or visit

Source : North Carolina Public Health

Many folks are going about the home finding process backwards. They go through the entire process of searching, evaluating, and writing an offer on their home, WITHOUT being financially prepared.

Doing a few things up front, BEFORE you go searching, will save you a lot of money, time and hassles. What are those things?

First, find a MOTIVATED lender. One who represents many different products, and can offer you many options for making your loan most affordable.

Here’s an important tip: Ask your REALTOR to refer one or two lenders to you. Why? Because your agent has influence over lenders because they send lots of clients. It’s not just YOU alone talking to them.

After all, your REALTOR and lender both want to see the transaction close. There’s power in numbers and influence. Use it to your advantage.

Now, what you want to do is GET PRE-QUALIFIED with a lender. Better yet, try to get PRE-APPROVED.

Why?

Because the first question any home seller will ask when an offer is presented is “Is your buyer approved for a mortgage?”

And rightfully so! The seller doesn’t want the deal to fall through because you couldn’t get financing. When they accept your offer, their home comes OFF the active market. If you fall through, it costs them time and money.

If your looking for a new or re-sale home in the Triangle area of North Carolina. Please contact (more…)

It appears the economic recovery is in place in the Triangle area of North Carolina. August economic data was just released today. Although, were not bounding forward the improvements are an encouraging sign and is most likely to the diversity in employment opportunities in the area. Check out the August recap here

Our feature community of the week is Weston Place in Cary, NC. Weston Place is a community developed by Forever Homes. They have done a fabulous job listening to the consumer and have a great product starting in the 200’s.

If your planning on visiting the Triangle area soon, don’t forget the Parade of Homes 2010 runs for the first three weekends of October. Lots to see and lots to do.

Forever Homes

If you would like more information on this development or others in the Triangle area of North Carolina. Contact Jeff Dicks of of Keller Williams Realty

“When the going gets tough the tough get going” so goes the old saying. Two local real estate agents in the Raleigh area recently joined forces to tackle the Triangle residential market. Jeff Dicks & Marc Iafrate have formed the Capital City Real Estate Group with Keller Williams Realty.

Jeff & Marc were having a coffee and one of their favorite pitstops and started to discuss the current state of affairs in the local real estate environment. Both soon realized that they were both experiencing the same challenges and further they were like minded in their approach to the business.

” It was really uncanny how are systems and approach to excellent customer service were so similiar.” Dicks says. ” The further we talked we realized immediately we needed to join forces said Iafrate.” By merging we created an economic balance within our own business and the opportunity to grow.”

The two powerhouses have joined Keller Williams Realty and already are experiencing an excellent transition.

“Many agents have experienced an extremely challenging past couple of years and those who focus on building their client relationships and providing ancillary service’s can expect to grow their market share. With our partership with Keller Williams Realty, the Capital City Real Estate Group is moving on up said Dicks”

Jeff can be reached directly @ 919-793-4730 or e-mail Jeff@jeffdicks.com
Marc can reached directly @ 919-314-7797 or Marc@marciafrate.com