Chapel Hill Real Estate Search

Kudos to the town of Chapel Hill for their striking new website that was rolled out today.  A great resource for us locals, and also for people looking to relocate to our area.  If you are thinking of a relocation, contact Reg Morgan.  I have a CRP designation - which means I have been trained in helping folks relocate to Chapel Hill, Durham and Raleigh.   CRP stands for Certified Relocation Professional.  Call me today to discuss your relocation to Chapel Hill.

I sort of thought this would be a quiet weekend as we get ready for July 4th week and settle into the summer - but not a chance.  Even though the students are mostly gone for the summer and we can actually get a good parking space on Franklin Street, there is alot to do this weekend.

First off, swim meets all over town.  Take a look at the schedule for Chapel Hill swim teams and think about coming out to cheer on your favorite pool.   We love swimming at the Southern Village Club.  And when we’re done there tonight we can go up to the Village Green on Market Street — and listen to the NC Symphony!   Wow - playing selections from Strauss, Mendelssohn and Wagner, resident conductor William Henry Curry will lead a fabulous outdoor concert beginning at 7:30pm tonight. 

Then on Sunday, think about joining the jazz brunch at Weaver Street Market in Carrboro for a performance by the Magnolia Klezmer Band, 11am-1pm.

And you can always visit me at my open house on Gardner Circle this weekend, where I’ll be greeting home buyers and visitors from 2-4pm.  Call or email me, Reg Morgan if you need further information.

First time homebuyers - did you know that the $8,000. tax credit can now be used as part of your closing costs on the purchase of your new home?  This program, part of the much maligned and much celebrated (depending on who you talk to!) stimulus package is a real plus for first time buyers.  The market in Chapel Hill, Raleigh and Durham for condos and entry-level homes is full of great buys.

Call or email me - Reg Morgan to find out more about this program.

The clock is ticking on the Carolina North development agreement.  Looks like the University and the town will come to terms on how to move forward with the plan early next week.  It has been a thoroughly time consuming process for all involved.  My feelings are that it will be a great thing for the town - which is already well-enhanced by the University’s presence.  And something that folks can’t deny is that we are a college town.  And for most visitors and others who consider relocation to our town, this is a great asset. 

Read up on Carolina North and get ready, cause here it comes!

Tomorrow’s the day - the Southern Village Stingrays, the Heritage Hills Hurricanes, teams from the Farm, the Chapel Hill Country Club — the whole lot of them will take to the pool for the first meet of the season.  We have some great competitive swimming programs for kids around here.  This is something a number of my relocation clients have been interested in.  If you move once your kids have started to find their sports or arts niche - a natural consideration is how you can smoothly transition them to a new team, program or academy.

We are so lucky here with many great programs.  As a realtor - and as a Dad, I make sure I know all about them.  I love working with families to give them a smooth transition to the Chapel Hill area.

Call me, Reg Morgan if you are thinking of a move to the Triangle area.

And, good luck tomorrow swimmers! 

There have been a great number of changes in the way properties are marketed and sold - chief among them are the internet and the ease with which the average home buyer or seller can research listings in their target area.

However, now there is a new phenomenon that is pretty exciting too.  The use of social networking sites in home sales and marketing.  Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter are the primary vehicles - both can be helpful in reaching clients, marketing properties and tackling this very difficult Triangle real estate market. 

Try me - follow me at Twitter @regmorgan, LinkedIn or on Facebook .  Or since I’ve been in this business a good long time, I still just like a phone call or a meeting!  So call Reg Morgan at 919.624.3434.

Under the category of better late then never….I have to post the video of Archbishop Tutu’s commencement address at UNC-Chapel Hill.  Almost 30,000 guests were in attendance at Kenan Stadium and it was well worth the trip!  The Archbishop gave what many acknowledged to be the best speech made at a Chapel Hill commencement in a long time.  Take a moment to watch the video and enjoy!

What a gorgeous weekend it is going to be - and not just because our Chapel Hill real estate market is picking up!  One weather forecaster says the word for the weekend will be “phenomenal.”  I’m all for that!

I’m excited for some gardening, some Easter egg hunting and some Final Four watching!  Saturday is the Hillsborough Kiwanis Club’s   The three year old bushes will be sold for $8 a piece and will benefit local kids programs like Terrific Kids, Key Clubs, scholarships and at risk families.   Hours are from 8am-12noon and they’ll be onsite at the Hillsborough Farmers Market.  The Farmers Market is located in the Home Depot parking lot on NC Highway 86 South and I85.

What does the stimulus have for you as a home buyer?  Well, if you are a first time home buyer the Recovery Act stimulus package offers up to an $8,000 tax credit to start.   That tax credit does not have to be repaid and is equal to 10 percent of the home’s purchase price (up to the $8,000 limit).

You need to purchase a home between January 1, 2009 and December 1, 2009.  To qualify for the full tax credit your income must be no more then $75,0000 as a single person or $150,000 as a couple.  

There are also some excellent FHA loan options out there - you can put down as little as 3% as a down payment.  That 3% can even be a gift from a family member.   The FHA has even increased the loan limits to $417,000 for the Triangle area.

Do you have questions about this or anything else pertaining to local real estate sales?  Call Reg Morgan - your Chapel Hill realtor.

Wow, that didn’t take long!

Mortgage rates are already falling in response to the Fed’s actions yesterday.   The plan to buy up to $300 billion in government bonds and $750 billion in mortgage backed securities is going to benefit anyone looking to buy or sell in the today’s market. 

The plan is designed to jumpstart the housing market and it is already working.  Rates on the 30 year fixed rate dropped today to 4.79 percent!  Down over .40 percent over yesterday. 

This should generate more action in our Chapel Hill real estate market.  Between this action by the Fed and the $8,000 first time home buyer’s credit, there is alot of incentive for folks to jump in and buy.

If you are interested in buying or selling a home this Spring - call Reg Morgan, your Chapel Hill realtor.  Do the math - real estate really works now!