So How are My Neighborhood Home Prices Doing?

I’d like to take a moment to personally thank all my readers as we are well into our third year of publication. Many readers will ask “Hey Jeff” How are home prices doing in Heritage Wake Forest NC? Well… it depends.  I wanted to re-introduce our Market Snapshot located on our home page of our main website www.JeffDicks.com and after a couple of clicks and filling in some blanks. Voila !! … You’ll have up to date and local MLS information sent to your e-mail inbox. It’s a great tool and as always we’re here to help you interpret the information and answer any questions you have. Check out the Market Snapshot for Raleigh Real Estate, Wake Forest Homes For Sale or Cary NC Real Estate Community Information.

Courtesy of the Jeff Dicks Real Estate Group

Updated employment figures of hiring jobs in Raleigh NC and the Triangle area surged to 17,500 new jobs lowering the unemployment rate to single digits in the most recent economic data. Raleigh continues to show signs of an improving economy. PRA International adds to the Triangle area’s clinical research industry and has doubled it’s staff in the last six months with over 400 employees. In the past week Toyota motors also announced it’s hiring another 250 employees.

Job growth is steadily improving even though we have seen some M & A activity with businesses and some having announced layoffs. It may be somewhat early to ring the bell that were well on our way to recovery but with the recent 35% uptick in Raleigh real estate sales early in 2012 it’s hard to ignore.

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Heritage Wake Forest Homes For Sale

Briar Creek NC

Courtesy of the Jeff Dicks Real Estate Group

Rick’s Grape Skinny
March 2012
“Behold the rain which descends from heaven upon our vineyards, and which incorporates itself with the grapes, to be changed into wine; a constant proof that God loves us, and loves to see us happy.” Benjamin Franklin

American Grand Cru Society
What a Grand Idea!

Every now and again, we all stumble upon something in the wonderful world of wine that not only piques our interest…but makes us say, “Wow…what a great idea. Wish I’d thought of that!” Well, the American Grand Cru Society is just such an idea – and though it’s not my idea, I I am no less excited to have become a member during its formative stages…and I look forward to helping the AGCS achieve its noble goals.

Founded by long time wine aficionado and professional wine consultant, Greg Poirier, the not-for-profit AGCS was principally conceived from the depths of Greg’s wine-related passion and his drive to better serve all who might buy or produce wine in America. Having become a Certified Sommelier in 1995 (through the renowned Court of Master Sommeliers), Greg also owns and operates a travel and wine education business, Wine Guy Tours, that offers tailored, instructional travel and training experiences to the world’s major wine regions. http://www.wineguytours.com/ Greg also earned an MBA from the acclaimed School of Business in Bordeaux, France this past year! And oh by the way, when Greg isn’t engaged in his wine related passions, he also holds a full time job!

At the risk of putting words in Founder Greg’s mouth, it’s at least my sensing that the AGCS was born in large part from the universal knowledge that the best wines are made in the vineyards…and that through identifying America’s best vineyards…we might also derive an evolving list of America’s best wines and wine producers. To be sure, the concept of identifying and classifying the best vineyards and the best terroir for growing grapes is not new, and indeed the “Grand Cru” terminology is taken from the highly regulated French system of categorizing and classifying their wines.

There’s certainly no reason to try and replicate the complex French approach, but as US wine consumption grows and marketing techniques and approaches become more clever and aggressive, it is important, I think, to do all we can to protect consumers through achieving and ensuring common usage and understanding of key wine terms…especially those that are used to market and promote wine consumption. Among those terms are Grand Cru and American Grand Cru – especially when referring to and inferring something about American vineyards.

With that thought in mind, Greg registered the terminology American Grand Cru® with the US Patent and Trade Office. As a result, only the AGCS now has the legal basis and authority to designate Grand Cru and American Grand Cru Vineyards — and to authorize the use of that terminology on labels and marketing materials. To date, only two vineyards have earned American Grand Cru status — Napa Valley’s famed Robert Mondavi Kalon Vineyard and the equally regarded Pisoni Vineyard in the Santa Lucia Highlands. Isn’t it also about time we recognized those who grow the grapes and who farm and provide stewardship of some of our nation’s best and most precious terroir!?

This is an endeavour whose time has come and whose merits will benefit consumers, growers, winemakers, producers, and the entire industry of wine professionals in and outside of America. Now in its infancy, I hope you will consider joining the AGCS and become a part of helping it grow, prosper and bear fruit. Prosit!
http://www.americangrandcrusociety.com/

Toast of the Month
“May the strength of God pilot us, may the wisdom of God instruct us, may the hand of God protect us, and may the word of God direct us.” St. Patrick

The Monthly Cluster!
Red
Carménère (Chile’s Signature Grape)
Viña Maquis 2009 Deep, Dark and Delicious!
(Colchagua Valley, Chile)/$12-$14 – For nearly 60 years, the Hurtado family grew some of Chile’s best grapes and sold them to some of Chile’s finest wineries. Twelve years ago however, under the visionary leadership of Ricardo Hurtado, the family decided to make its own wines…an endeavor that took years of dedicated hard work. So in 2002, with a new state-of-the-art winery, the help of Xavier Choné overseeing the vineyards and the magic of Chief Winemaker, Juan Jofré, this 100% Carmenere brilliantly showcases the Hurtados’ extraordinary success. Key to making this classically expressive wine was aging only half of the wine in second and third use French oak barristas for a year…an approach that yields a fruit-forward and mouth watering wine! http://www.vinamaquis.com/

Red Blend
Toro de Piedra 2009 Carménère – Cabernet
Rich, Succulent and Smooth as Silk!
(Maule Valley, Chile)/$11-$13 – From the prestigious Viña Requingua family and their Puerto Viejo portfolio of wines, this scrumptious blend of 60% Carménère and 40% Cabernet Sauvignon is nothing short of superb. Aged for a full year in an unspecified apportionment of new French and American oak, the result is a highly aromatic wine whose delight lasts and lingers for several lip-smacking minutes. Reminiscent of Left Bank Bordeaux blends of a hundred or so years ago, one can only imagine and wonder how this splendid blend might stack up against its more ancient French ancestors. For what it’s worth, I’d stand this up against many contemporary Bordeaux blends! And lest there be doubt, this wine is a great value! http://www.requingua.cl/english/index.php

Domaine Houchart 2007 Cotes de Provence
(Provence, France)/$11-13 – From one of France’s most venerable and prolific wine producers, the Quiot family, this exceptional red blend is indeed a taste of the South of France! La Famille Quiot has been making wine since 1748…and for all those years, they have uniquely specialized in making wines from the Rhone and Provence Regions. All to say that they know what they’re doing…and each of us has the good fortune of being able to benefit from their exceptional winemaking prowess. The 2007 Rouge is comprised of mostly Grenache, Carignan, Syrah, and Cabernet Sauvignon and it was aged-to-taste — in new oak for 10 to 12 months. The finished product is a splendid medium-bodied quaff that is soft and fruit-forward. It’s also among the most versatile wines you’ll ever find.
http://www.famillequiot.com/

White
Cortese
SANT’ EVASIO 2010 Gavi di Gavi
(Gavi DOCG — Piemonte, Italy)/$15-$17
Cantina Sant’ Evasio was born from the ruins of World War II. With nothing much more than a destroyed chapel and fallowed vines to be found, Carlo and Anna Lacqua bought the land 50 years ago and began making wine for their friends. Over the span of many years, Carlo’s winemaking knowledge, skill and passion grew and today…aided by son Pier and daughter Andrea…the Lacqua family is not only making astonishingly excellent and notable wines…but wines that leave warm fuzzies and indelible memories! Off-dry, floral and impactful, this sinfully delicious Gavi di Gavi expression is one of the best I’ve tasted…and all for a price point that’s a rare find indeed.
http://www.santevasiovini.com/

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Your Heritage Neighbor! ® Insider Tips for Healthy, Wealthy and Happy Living

Inside This Issue… The Secrets of People Who Never Get Sick… Four Things Locksmiths Don't Want You To Know… Fun Facts and Laughs: Most Stolen Items At Home, First Aid Hot and Cold Rules, And More… Trivia Challenge: Win [[Free Movie Tickets For Two]] Real Estate Q&A: What Can I Ask The Seller To Pay For When Buying A Home?

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Jeff Dicks Keller Williams Realty Phone: (919) 793-4730 Email: jeff@jeffdicks.com www.JeffDicks.com

.. Are you sick of getting the cold and flu? In today's Your Heritage Neighbor!® Free consumer newsletter you'll get tips to prevent sickness and be healthier this year. You'll also learn four insider secrets of locksmiths, where to stash your cash so it's safe in your home, plus funny jokes, a trivia challenge, and lots more. Jeff Dicks Jeff Dicks, REALTOR® Keller Williams Realty PS.  When you notice people talking about real estate in the next few weeks, can you tell them about the free consumer information I provide? They may be people needing to move in the next 6 months, and you can tell them about my Free Consumer Report: "Home Seller's Guide To Moneymaking Fix-Ups". You'll look really smart because this informative guide explains how to avoid costly repair rip-offs and what improvements bring the biggest return. To request a copy for a friend, simply email me at jeff@jeffdicks.com, or call me at: (919) 793-4730.

Today's Brain Teaser . . . How many F's are in the following sentence?… Finished files are the result of years of scientific study and also years of experience.   (see answer below)

The Secrets of People Who Never Get Sick . . . How do some people never get sick while the rest of us seem to get a cold or the flu at least once a year? Health journalist, Gene Stone, captured the secrets of 25 people who claim to never get sick in his recent book The Secrets of People Who Never Get Sick. If you want to be healthier this year, here are four practical, food-related secrets he discovered to prevent sickness: 1) Garlic.  Researchers at the University of Western Australia found people who started eating garlic regularly reduced their sick days by more than 50%. Garlic has antibacterial and antiviral properties that can help ward off colds or the flu. An easy way to eat more garlic is to include it in a rice or pasta dish a few times a week. 2) Probiotics.  This good bacteria can relieve gastrointestinal conditions and boost your body's immune system. Probiotics that live in your digestive system make it harder for disease-creating germs to move in. Eat one or more of these probiotic-rich foods each day: yogurt with live cultures, sauerkraut, cottage cheese, or probiotic-fortified soy milk. You can also take a probiotic supplement found in most natural food stores. 3) Brewer's Yeast.  Most of the brewer's yeast that you can buy from vitamin or health food stores is an extract from yeast used to ferment beer and wine. Brewer's yeast contains B vitamins that the body uses to maintain blood cells and the immune system. Take one tablespoon each day in powdered form, dissolved in water, to get your recommended daily allowance of B vitamins. This simple supplement can also lower your risk of some cancers. 4) Vegetables.  There's a reason your mother always told you to eat your veggies. If you eat a lot of meats and sugars, your diet is probably acidic with not enough alkaline-based foods to balance out your pH levels. Your pH level is a measure of the acidity to alkaline in your body. And recent studies have linked disease to high levels of acidity. Eating vegetables, legumes, and olive oil keeps your body more at a pH "neutral" level and can help you stay healthy. Stone says, "Since I started researching this book, I haven't been sick once." I hope you'll say the same after trying some of these tips. To preview the contents of "Secrets of People Who Never Get Sick" or order the book, go to: www.amazon.com.

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Save Thousands When Buying Or Financing! Did you know there's a free consumer report revealing ways to save time and money when buying a home? It's called "8 Secrets For Saving Thousands When Finding, Buying and Financing Your Next Home," and it's great even if you're not planning to buy soon. To get your free copy email me by clicking here, or call me at: (919) 793-4730.

Four Things Locksmiths Don't Want You To Know If you get locked out of your home or simply need new locks, here are some insider secrets to protect yourself and your pocketbook: 1. Check all your doors before you call.  They often arrive at the house and try another door, find it unlocked and charge you for the service. 2. Be careful of scam artists posing as professionals.  Some quote a great rate on the phone and claim they have a special lock at a higher price when they arrive. Find reputable pros at: www.findalocksmith.com. 3. Replace thumb-turn deadbolts near windows.  Whatever the locksmith says, you need to use a double cylinder lock that uses a key near windows. Why? Because it is too easy for a criminal to break a window, reach in, and unlock the door. 4. Cheap locks are easily defeated.  Purchase a "Grade 2" lockset. It's more secure and durable than Grade 1, but you don't need Grade 3 which are for commercial buildings and can be expensive. You may want to ask your locksmith to install high-security locks with keys that can't be replicated at the hardware store.

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Do You Have A Real Estate Or Home- Ownership Question You Want Answered? Maybe you want to know how much your home is worth. Or maybe you just need a recommendation for a handyman, carpet cleaner or plumber… Either way, I love hearing from all of my good friends and clients. And I'm always looking to answer pressing questions you might have about anything relating to real estate or home-ownership. If you have a question, tip or idea, please feel free to email me by clicking here, or call me at: (919) 793-4730. I'm here to help!

Fun Facts and Laughs . . . Most Stolen Items At Home . . . These are the items reported by the website www.homesalarm.com. Some of them made the list because they are simply easy to find in the average home. In order, the most stolen are: Cash (see where to stash below) Tools and building supplies Home electronics Bicycles and parts Jewelry, Furs, and Silver Best Places to Stash Cash . . . You may think you have your stash in a safe place, but burglars know where to look. www.frugaldad.com suggests the following places to hide your cash: In the freezer between used meat trays and wrapped in aluminum foil. Behind the cardboard backing of a picture frame that is hard to reach. Under something heavy like an entertainment center or piano. Inside a used soup can on a shelf. First Aid Hot and Cold Rules . . . Knowing when to use hot or cold for injuries can be very confusing. Here are the general rules. Heat increases circulation. Use it for chronic pain like tight muscles in your lower back. Cold reduces inflammation. Acute injuries such as a newly sprained ankle can benefit from applying cold. Alternating Hot and Cold is helpful when you have soft-tissue damage or overstretched ligaments. Try 20 minutes of cold each hour in the first 24 hours. Applying 20 minutes of warmth each hour for a few more days should reduce affects of injury. If you still have inflammation after 72 hours, you should call a doctor. Have A Laugh — "What Do You Say?" . . . I was visiting an office when a woman walked in with her 3-week old baby and her seven-year-old son. Turns out she was on maternity leave, and just visiting coworkers. Of course everyone gathered around the new toddler, while the young boy asked, "Mommy, can I have some money to buy a soda?" "What do you say?" she asked. Respectfully, the boy replied, "You're thin and beautiful." With a smile, the woman immediately pulls out her purse and hands him money for a soda.

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Thank You! Thank You! Thank You! Thank You! Thank You! Thanks to all of my clients and friends who support my practice and graciously referred me to your friends and neighbors! Rather than pester people with unwanted calls and visits, I build my business based on the positive comments and referrals from people just like you. I couldn't do it without you! Mike & Mary Rochon & Glenn & Allison Miller

Trivia Challenge for the Month… "Who Else Wants To Win A $25 Gift Card?" Guess who won last month's Trivia Question? I'm pleased to announce the lucky winner of last month's quiz. And the winner is…drum roll please: Ken Corcoran of Wake Forest was the first > person to correctly answer my quiz question. Who won the World Series in 1903? a) Yankees    b) Red Sox    c) Americans    d) Giants The answer is c) Americans. You may have answered the Boston Red Sox, but at the time, the name of the team was the Boston Americans. So, let's move on to this month's trivia question. What is the most populated time zone in North America? a) Pacific b) Eastern c) Central d) Mountain   EMAIL ME AT: jeff@jeffdicks.com OR Call Me At (919) 793-4730 And You Could Be One Of My Next Winners!

Brain Teaser Answer: If your answer was three, you counted like most people. Actually, the correct answer is six. Our brain has difficulty processing the word "of" as containing the letter F because it sounds like the letter V when pronounced.

Thanks For Thinking of Me! Did you know I can help you or any of your friends or family save time and money when buying or selling a home? Thanks for keeping me in mind with your referrals…and spreading the word about my services.

Real Estate Q & A . . . Q.  What can I ask the seller to pay for when buying a home? A.  Remember, everything you ask from a seller is a concession in their mind. Whether you're asking them to lower the price, make a decorating allowance or contribute to your closing costs, they are primarily interested in the bottom line dollar proceeds at closing. Here are a few things to keep in mind: Negotiations can be tough if you try to get the seller to both lower the price and also make other concessions or contributions to your closing costs too. It can actually compromise your ability to come to an agreement. Appraisers are now asked to consider the dollar value of any seller concessions when they determine the value of the home you are purchasing. Lenders will limit the contributions made by the seller without lowering your loan amount. It is important for you to ask your lender what they will allow the seller to pay. If you'd like to learn more about the home-buying process and how to get the home of your dreams at a price you can afford please call me at: (919) 793-4730 or email me at jeff@jeffdicks.com. Or, if you have any other real estate questions, I'm here to help.

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THANK YOU… for reading my Your Heritage Neighbor!® personal newsletter.  I wanted to produce a newsletter that has great content and is fun and valuable to you.  Help your friends get more out of life by forwarding this email to them…

You received this email because you requested it, are on the mailing list as {EMAIL_ADDRESS}, or a friend forwarded it to you. Disclaimer:  The information contained in this email is intended for informational purposes.  It should not substitute as legal, accounting, investment, medical and other professional services advice.  Always seek a competent professional for answers to your specific questions. This email is not intended to solicit real estate properties currently for sale.

Copyright (c) 2012 by Jeff Dicks Real Estate, Inc.

Wake County Realtors need to pay attention to the new choice-based student assignment plan and how it may affect a homebuyers decision. The new plan goes into effect in 2012 and does away with automatic assignments to a specific school based on home address. Application’s begin Jan 17th/12 and the second round March 19th/12 for new arrivals, those who forget to apply and whom are not happy with their first assignment.  After April 9th/12 walk-in registration will be taken. Those relocating to the Wake County area of North Carolina should go to the Wake County Public School website for further details about the new plan.

If your relocating to Wake County and searching for Raleigh Real estate, or
Wake Forest Homes. Please contact us at Jeff Dicks Real Estate– Keller Williams

Two weeks until Christmas!  The end of the year is here and of course there is a
lot of talk of what the new year brings.  Here is a quick update of some of the
changes that could come about:

1) Once again the talk about increasing fees for FHA back loans.  If you
remember FHA is require to hold a certain amount in reserves and for the last
few years they have been well short of that amount.  Even though the recent
increase in fees has helped replenish the reserve fund, the forecast for more
defaults and costs has FHA saying they might have to raise the fees again.  The
rumors are that people with lower credit scores will be getting hit with most of
the increase. Borrowers know this could be on the way!! So make a move
now before costs increase even more.

2) After numerous attempts to lower the VA upfront fee, it now has been
restored to their original amounts until 2016.  So no decreases for VA
borrowers.  This program still remains one of the best programs available.

3) Is Fannie and Freddie on their way out?  The Mortgage Finance Act of
2011 if passed would create a new FDIC-like guarantee facility and once it
establishes value will be privatized.  This is one of the better plans that has
been introduced because this will allow a QRM (Qualified Residential Mortgage)
to only have 5% down payment.  The current QRM part of the Dodd/Frank Bill calls
for a 20% down payment for a QRM which will obviously hurt a already fragile
housing market if Freddie and Fannie are eliminated.  There is a lot involved in
order to eliminate Freddie and Fannies so we will see how all this plays
out.

4) Finally the major market mover…how will EU leaders handle their
financial mess and what affect will it have on the rest of the world.

Have a great week!

Chris Blount

Courtesy of Jeff Dicks Real Estate Keller Williams Realty

Search Raleigh Real Estate or Heritage Wake Forest Homes

Do you know that the best time to post things to Facebook is 8am in the
morning?  What surprises me is that one of the worst times is 3pm.

Anyways,
on to Obama’s proposed refi program.  By the sounds of it this program might be
the ticket to getting a lot of people who are underwater refinanced.  The
question is will the guidelines be relaxed enough to allow borrowers to refi and
it make sense.  Remember in order to qualify for this program your loan will
have to be owned by Fannie or Freddie and it was transferred to them before May
31 2009.  So in other words if you bought or refinanced since May 31 2009 then
your loan will not qualify.  The final details will be out Nov 15th so I will
follow up once we get that info.  In the mean time you can check to see if your
mortgage is owned by either enterprise by going to Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac

In
other news the roller coaster continues in the markets.  After the EU meeting
yesterday they agreed to boost the bailout fund and struck a deal with private
banks to accept a 50% loss on Greek bonds…Wow!.  So even though job numbers
are not the greatest and earnings reports have been so so, just knowing EU looks
like they are on track to get their problem under control gave markets a nice
warm fuzzy feeling.  With that said, Stocks are up and bonds are down so rates
are back on the higher end today at 4.25% on a 30 yr fixed….more than likely
they will increase to 4.375% by end of day.  Until the next big announcement
comes it looks like we will be treading on the higher end of our rate
outlook.

Chris Blount AES Lending

Courtesy of Jeff Dicks Real Estate

WAKEFIELD — The loss of three letters in Wakefield Plantation golf club’s name may be the biggest immediate change as a result of the impending purchase by a Raleigh-based golf company.
This week TPC (Tournament Players Club) Wakefield Plantation will become The Country Club at Wakefield Plantation pending the sale of the north Raleigh golf club from a Florida-based company to golf club developer McConnell Golf, LLC.
The deal’s nearly done

TPC Wakefield Plantation, a PGA Tour registered tournament players club, owned by PGA Tour Golf Course Properties of Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla., has been on McConnell Golf’s radar for a number of years, according to media reports.
Since 2003, McConnell Golf has been busy purchasing and revamping golf clubs across the Carolinas, including the Raleigh Country Club, Treyburn Country Club in Durham, The Reserve and Musgrove Mill, both in South Carolina. In the past eight years, the company has purchased seven golf courses.
Now, McConnell Golf has its eye on Wakefield Plantation and, while both PGA Tour Golf Course Properties and McConnell Golf officials declined to comment on the sale, a letter was sent out to Wakefield Plantation vendors informing them of the change in ownership effective today (Thursday).
Records confirm that a new limited liability company, The Country Club at Wakefield Plantation, was established earlier this month with McConnell Golf’s Chief Operating Officer Christian Anastasiadis listed as the new company’s person of contact.

By Leslie Rudd Wake Weekly Staff Writer

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

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…)