Real Estate and Related Topics

Clayton Parks and Recreation Department 2010 Spring Program

Lots of things to do and lots of classes to take this spring in Clayton at The Clayton Center, The Civitan Building and soon the new Clayton Community Center. Here is a sampling of classes

Art Classes

Watercolor, Monday evenings, 7.00-9.00pm, six weeks

Adult Basic Drawing, Tuesday mornings, 10.00am-12noon, six weeks

Adult Pencil Drawing, Tuesday Afternoons, 1.00-2.30pm, six weeks

Acrylics, Tuesday evenings, 7.00-9.00pm, six weeks

Calligraphy, Tuesday evenings, 5.15-6.45pm, four weeks

After School Art, Wednesday afternoons, 4.30-6.00pm, six weeks

Jewelry Making Silversmithing,Thursday evenings, 6.30-9.00pm, eight weeks

Fitness & Wellness Classes

Fit and Fun, Monday and Wednesday evenings, 7.00-8.00pm, four weeks

Tae Kwon Do Class, Tuesdays and Thursdays, 5.45-7.00pm, year round

Tai Chi Chaun, Tuesdays and Thursdays 7.00-8.00pm

Senior Activities

Bingo, every third Monday 11am Heritage Court Apts, every third Friday 10.00am Clayton Senior Center

Senior Pilates/Toning, Mondays 10.00-10.45am

Senior Chair, Mondays 11.00-11.30am

Special Events

Special Needs Prom, Friday March 12th 7.00pm Clayton Civitan Building

Easter Egg Hunt, Friday April 2nd, 10.30am Clayton Community Park

Clayton 5K Road Race, Saturday May 8 9.00am

For a full list of classes, prices and events call 553-1550 or go to www.townofclaytonnc.org

Fortune Names Cary, North Carolina's SAS the Number One Employer In America!

SAS headquarters is situated on a 300 acre campus in Cary, North Carolina just down the road from Raleigh and Research Triangle Park.

It has long been known for the perks it provides to it's employees, and by the sound of things the benefits have kept pace with the companies growth. For example the three on site cafeterias feed the workers and you can order take out to bring home, I know somebody who works there and his wife is partial to that one. You can pick your child up from the daycare or preschool right there and bring them to lunch.

There is a health care center with physicians and nurses and lab technicians, and nutritionists and physical therapists...all free.

SAS is the largest privately held software company with revenues of about 2.3 billion, the average work week is 35 hours, dry cleaning, car detailing, UPS depot, book exchange are all available on campus.

Cary is considered one of the top cities in America with low crime, great schools, green spaces, shopping and lots of homes from townhomes to custom built mansions.

Stanton Homes is a local builder who builds in a number of Cary neighborhoods and Penny Hull represents the builder. And when it comes time to speak with a Mortgage Broker, Steve and Eleanor Thorne have Cary in their blood.

Do Open Houses Work? They Did Yesterday, I Think!

(Open Houses Going On In Clayton And Garner Today.) This was the title of my post yesterday that I did not have time to finish ...So, an update.

We held two Open Houses yesterday Saturday 23rd January  the first was at 114 Kirkland Court in the Wyndfall Subdivision in Clayton. This three bedroom two bath ranch is listed at $149,900. It sits on about an acre of lovely trees and grass with the entire back yard fenced with privacy shadow-box fence. There is a shed, rain barrels,and a great play house for the kids.

Bob Peretic hosted the event and as I was leaving to show houses a couple pulled up. They looked at Bob and said "you look nothing like your picture". It turns out they live in Wyndfall (my neighborhood) and have been getting all my post cards about open houses, just listed etc and are now thinking of putting their home on the market and wanted to meet the neighborhood Realtor!

So hopefully I will be able to help them and if we get the listing I will co-list with Bob who just started in Real Estate.

Now I live in this neighborhood and have been selling in here for three years, but the owner of the house  Bob was in, I met at another open house in the neighborhood.

The second Open House was at 100 Stonecutter Court in The Woodlands Subdivision in Garner and this was held by Jerome Robinson, who lives in the neighborhood. This is a great three bed two bath home that has been updated with new paint carpets, and is move in ready. It is listed at $127,000 and is literally minutes from downtown Raleigh. He is holding another Open House there today from 2-5pm.

So I have not heard how yesterday went....but, the house has been on the market for two months with no showings and this weekend two showings, coincidence, I don't think so. I firmly believe that you must generate activity around your listings.

I will keep you posted.

Clayton, NC, Beautiful Older Homes Downtown.

While the town of Clayton NC has grown quite rapidly, the majority of the growth as in most towns is in the surrounding area's where there is the land to build.

So the town has become home to many new people in the surrounding subdivisions. And like most towns Clayton is a town with plenty of charm and history. The downtown is comprised of shops, restaurants, office space and plenty of older homes.

Some of these homes are completely refurbished and others in need of some TLC, and while none of these are currently for sale, they do crop up here quite regularly.

So if downtown living in a historic building is for you, them send me an e-mail or give me a call and I will start looking.

Big Yellow Construction Equipment Seen Moving In Raleigh, Clayton and Garner.

So some of you read my post where I spotted dump trucks and bulldozers on a construction site that had been sitting idle for years, well here are some of those trucks.

 I also spotted these dozers and bricklayers building a commercial property just down the road in Raleigh.

There is a new auto parts store going up on Route 70 in Garner and Caterpillar have started the access road to their new facility across the road on Hwy 42 East in Clayton.

The other big boys are working on the community center and junior Olympic swimming pool in the new subdivision called Tuscany also in Clayton. 

Not all Fairies, Unicorns and Rainbows, but it's kinda encouraging,

Clayton NC tries to Lock Up Cats...Public Outcry Says No!! Cats Run Free.

 ( Picture very kindly allowed by Dorothy Delina Porter who has some amazing cat photos on Flickr)

So the Town of Clayton had decided to amend a town ordanence that would have made it an offense to allow your cat to stray off your property...as applies to dogs. Apparently cats were left out a long time ago when Johnston County applied the rule.

On the evening of the proposed vote there was a public outcry with many people objecting to the ordinance. I heard of a large blow up cat with a sign decring the decision, and another person who would rather euthanize their cat rather than have them wear a collar,(I have to confirm these stories although could anyone make this up ?)

So when it came time to vote three town council members went with the cat owners and the amendmentd was shot down.

I thought it an odd thing that a town was going to tell people what to do with their cats, having always thought that cats were supposed to be outside aka. Lions, Tigers, etc. but how many times have you seen a poor dead cat in the road, plus if you've ever tried to grow vegetable and the neighbours cat..... well you get it.....! 

So in Clayton North Carolina cats are free to roam...for now!!!

Where is the dog lobby in all of this, why can't I run free? 

Clayton NC,  State Of The Art Community Center Almost Completed

The six million dollar community center is scheduled to open this year 2010. It will feature  a gymnasium, elevated walking track, aerobics, yoga, and martial arts room, pottery room, fine arts room and an inviting “community patio” suitable for gatherings.

The second phase is to include a swimming pool. The town wants to provide planning that will assist stay at home parents.

Beautiful Home in Garner for under $130,000 on Stonecutter Court in The Woodlands subdivision.

This is a three bedroom two bath home that has recently been updated with new carpet, paint, kitchen floors. It is move in ready

It sits on a nice corner lot with a secluded back yard and patio. It has a nice front porch overlooking the front lawn, great for sitting with your coffee.

The main entrance opens to a wide hall with a coat closet, and leads back to the rear hall where there are two bedrooms and bathroom and at the other end of the hall is the master bedroom.

The second entrance takes you through to the kitchen passing the utility room and pantry. The kitchen opens up to a nice breakfast room with a window to the front. The kitchen also opens up to the large living room, with vaulted ceilings fireplace. The living room also features sliding glass doors which open to the patio.

The home is currently listed for $127,000 which for a house of this caliber so close to everything, ten minutes to downtown Raleigh is a great price. The roof was replaced within the last year.