One Tank Getaways: Historic Towns
Posted by RealEstate_Guru
North Carolina is a great place to live and work. When considering realty for sale in Cary NC, many people also explore the area for things to do and see. Visitors and residents alike flock to historic attractions all over the region. Here’s some information about exciting day trips in and around Cary.
History buffs will enjoy visiting the 18th century towns in the region. Edenton, the colonial capital of North Carolina is less than 150 miles from the Raleigh metroplex. Called the “Prettiest Town in the South,” Edenton was founded in 1712. With a wealth of well-preserved districts and buildings, a visit to Edenton transports you back to pre-revolutionary days. Elizabeth City, founded in the 1650s, isn’t far from Edenton. Near Elizabeth City is Manteo, where you can discover the legends and lore of the fabled “Lost Colony.”
Another great historic site in the area is Williamston. This picturesque 19th century town has 2 districts on the National Register of Historic Places and is a wonderful example of how people lived and worked in the 19th and early 20th centuries. The historic districts contain numerous examples of architecture of the period and evoke a strong impression of life in bygone eras.
Windsor pre-dates Williamston by about 10 years and was once a bustling port. Visitors can enjoy a stroll on the boardwalk while taking in the scenery and sights. Windsor is home to the customs house and bank that served the town’s many sea-faring interests. Just outside Windsor the beautiful Hope Plantation, an antebellum plantation that dates from the 1720s.
If you’re looking for Cary NC realty for sale, also be sure to visit some of the many historic attractions in the area. You’re sure to come away with a deep and abiding respect for North Carolina’s American roots.
One Tank Getaways: The Barbecue Highway
Posted by RealEstate_Guru
In 2005, a newspaper in Raleigh NC, the News and Observer, published an article titled “Barbeque Highway,” by Fred Thompson. Thompson’s culinary journey took him all over the state in search of perfect barbeque. The name stuck and now from the coastal areas to the extreme western regions, North Carolina’s Barbeque Highway attracts aficionados from all over the country.
If you’re a newcomer to the region or considering realty for sale in Cary, North Carolina, a trip along the Barbecue Highway is a great way to get acquainted with the region’s amazing cuisine.
The White Swan Bar-B-Q in Smithfield has been serving up delicious barbeque for nearly 50 years. Their delicious and unique sauce is made with vinegar and spices that perfectly compliments the smoky character of ribs and chicken. Slow cooked for optimal flavor and tenderness, the barbecue at the White Swan is mouthwatering. A traditional side dish of succulent cole slaw completes your experience at the White Swan.
Wilber’s Barbecue, where several notable Americans have eaten, including President George W. Bush Sr., President Bill Clinton, Governor Jim Hunt, Governor Terry Sanford and Senator Jesse Helms. Serving barbecue cooked in a pit over smoldering, aromatic oak wood, a platter at Wilber’s comes heaped high with accompaniments like cole slaw, potato salad and hush puppies for a great all-American meal.
McCall’s BBQ & Seafood Restaurant features a unique combination of authentic barbecue and delicious seafood dishes, which makes for many interesting platters. Choose from barbecued pork paired with fried chicken, barbecued chicken or tasty Brunswick stew. Brunswick stew is a traditional dish in the US southeast that contains a variety of ingredients, including meat, game and vegetables.
Taking a detour to one of these regional treasures while you’re visiting Cary North Carolina realty for sale is a great way to experience a true Southern culinary mainstay.
Explore the Region’s Roots: NC Museum of History
Posted by RealEstate_Guru
With so many Cary NC houses for sale, it’s an indicator that the area is experiencing significant growth. A growing area is an exciting area where prices are reasonable and attractions diverse. Here’s some information about one of the region’s signature attractions: The North Carolina Museum of History.
The Museum’s Mission
The museum, under the auspices of the Division of State History Museums, has the mandate to “collect and preserve artifacts and other historical materials and heritage of North Carolina in a local, regional, national and international context to assist people in understanding how the past influences the present. The Division interprets the state’s history through exhibitions, educational programs and publications available to the visitor on-site or through distance-learning technologies.” Some of the permanent exhibits in the museum include decorative arts, the military history of the state and the North Carolina sports hall of fame. Special programs include family events, concerts and craft demonstrations.
Current Exhibits
“The Power of 3″ focuses on NASCAR drivers Dale Earnhardt, Sr., Junior Johnson and Richard Childress, all of whom drove race cars that carried the number 3. A must-see for car racing fans.
“Knights of the Black Flag” explores of the adventures and legacy of pirates, from ancient times to the present. On display are artifacts that evoke both history and legend. Sure to be a hit with children.
“1920s Drug Store” recreates a typical drug store from the “Roaring 20s” era. Included are a classic soda fountain with a marble counter and the workroom where the pharmacist created medicines. Great for the nostalgia buff.
“Pleasing to the Eye: The Decorative Arts of North Carolina” includes items from the 1600s to the 1900s. Furniture, textiles, ceramics, portraits, metalwork and silver are featured. A must for crafters.
“Everyday Artistry” shows how rural North Carolinians decorated humble objects they used daily, like tools, furnishings and quilts. Collectors will enjoy this exhibit
North Carolina’s rich and diverse history finds expression in the state’s museums. If you’re new to the area or looking for houses in Cary NC for sale, learning about the region by visiting museums is a great way to get acquainted with the state’s rich and diverse history.
Artistic Pleasures: Galleries Abound in Cary, NC
Posted by RealEstate_Guru
Excellent restaurants, beautiful parks, great shopping venues and theaters make Cary, North Carolina a wonderful place to live and work. For a small city, Cary has a vibrant and active arts scene. If you’re planning a move to Cary and looking for Cary NC homes for sale, here’s some information about just two of the wonderful art galleries in the area.
Cary Gallery of Artists
This is a relatively new and unique gallery that was founded in 2005 by a group of local artists. If you’re looking for high-quality original art at reasonable prices, be sure to visit this gallery. Cary Gallery of Artists features a good variety of media and styles, from traditional to contemporary. There’s much more than just paintings. A remarkable section of pottery and clay art offers functional and decorative pieces in a variety of styles. Those who prefer avant-garde pottery can select from works that push the boundaries of this medium with “edgy, hand-built pieces,” such as amazing sculpted masks. There’s also a jewelry section where artists create one-of-a-kind bracelets, earrings and necklaces. Finally, a glass artist creates works from fused glass and stained glass.
The Russian Art Gallery
Specializing in original art objects and paintings imported from Russia, this gallery features a comprehensive collection of fine art items. For fans of impressionism and realism, the gallery’s contemporary collection is well worth seeing. Besides fine art, there are hand-crafted and hand-painted items like matrioshkas (nesting dolls), khokhloma (lacquer ware) and rare amber jewelry. Art-related services offered by the gallery include cleaning and restoring oil paintings, canvas stretching, custom mounting, matting and framing.
So, while you’re exploring the area and looking for homes in Cary NC for sale, be sure to experience some of the city’s many wonderful art galleries that lend a rich and diverse character to this energetic and attractive region.
Housing Price Rise Is Good News For Sellers – Part 1
Posted by RealEstate_Guru
For the first time in 3 years, the housing market saw an increase in prices from April to May 2009. Although the increase is small, about 0.5%, sellers are hoping that even this modest rise is heralding a much-needed sustained upward trend. Buyers, sellers and agents alike will be keeping a close eye on Standard and Poor’s Case-Shiller Home Price Indices, a conglomeration of comprehensive measurements that includes a national home price index, metropolitan area indices for 20 areas, a 20-city composite index and a 10-city composite index. This is great news for those looking for property for sale in Raleigh, NC and many other regions of the US.
Along with other positive indicators in the beleaguered housing market, it’s thought that the rise is a signal that prices are stabilizing and that the inventory of homes for sale is shrinking, another good sign for sellers. The market decline began in late 2007 and ended in January 2009. Since then, prices have been trending upward for four consecutive months boding very well for sales of property in Raleigh NC.
It’s important to note that this appears to be a national trend that will benefit sales across the board in many metropolitan areas and their suburbs, such as Denver and Dallas where prices have been higher than last year for three consecutive months in 2009. But not every city has benefited: Prices in San Francisco, Phoenix and Las Vegas are down over last year by an average of 31%. Nation-wide home prices declined about 17% in May 2009 when compared to May 2008.
Housing market analysts are hopeful that the good news from Denver and Dallas is a modest beginning of a promising national trend. If housing prices are indeed hitting bottom, this should signal buyers to make their best deals in the near term, hopeful that the end of the recession is in sight. Lenders also are expected to benefit from the uptick in housing prices because the valuation of their assets will rise, increasing profits and minimizing losses.
[Continued in Part 2, below]
Housing Price Rise Is Good News For Sellers – Part 2
Posted by RealEstate_Guru
One possible glitch in the recent upward trend in home prices is how long it will take for consumers to respond to the modest but positive signs in the housing market. It’s not likely to be a heady, skyrocketing ascent but rather a general rise punctuated with plenty of modest declines. In the words of one analyst, Mark Zandi, from Moody’s Economy.com, “The bottom of the market is forming, but price declines aren’t over.” So, for those who have Raleigh North Carolina property for sale, the signs are good but not great.
Other good signs include that sales of existing homes have increased in April, May and June 2009. Another indicator is that sales of new homes have jumped 11%. Finally, government figures report that the national inventory of homes for sale is the lowest since 2007.
One important current trend is that buyers are looking for smaller, more affordable homes after some thoughtful consideration of “how much home they really need,” according to Jim Chittaro, chief financial officer for J. Lawrence Homes in Naperville, Illinois. This means that sellers need to emphasize the quality features in their homes rather than the size because buyers now tend to prefer homes they can improve themselves rather than homes that already have features like gourmet kitchens or spa bathrooms.
All these factors are converging to create wide, sustainable confidence that the severely depressed real estate picture is brightening for those who have property for sale in Raleigh, North Carolina.