Real Estate and Related Topics

Star Wars in Concert at The RBC Center in Raleigh Was Awesome.

We took the boys to the Star Wars in Concert show at the RBC Center last week end and it was magic. Actually we tricked them by telling them we had been given free tickets to a hockey game (not big sports fans!). There was the usual whining whenever they are taken away from their friends and so when we arrived at the stadium, Kelly pointed to the sign "Star Wars in Concert". Poor old Conor still not realizing says "why can't we go to that instead of a stupid hockey game?". Then we told them!

 Ha we are the meanest parents in the world!!!

So we walk in and we see a crowd milling around and what do you know Storm Troopers, and all around the arena there were cool costumes, models, drawings, a music score.

The concert was really awesome with a symphony orchestra and chorus and gigantic screen where they showed scenes from the movies. It is narrated by Anthony Daniels the actor who played C-3PO in all six movies who is treated like a rock star. Two hours long and they loved every second of it! If you want to buy a $35 t-shirt don't wait till it's over they will be sold out!

Raleigh, NC 2nd Fastest Growing City In America

CNN-Money.com has reported that Raleigh NC has had the second largest gain in population since the census of 2000.

Raleigh has had a bunch of accolades and awards bestowed on it recently and the 230,000 people who moved here in the last nine years probably heard of some of them.

Provo, Utah had a 47% growth in population and claimed the number one spot, while Raleigh's population gain from 2000 to 2009 was 41%.

There are many different groups making up the rise in population, retirees moving down from the northern states for a warmer climate,retirees moving up from Florida for cooler climates. Young married couples looking for great schools and affordable housing. Young single professionals drawn by the high-tech and bio-tech jobs and the major universities in the area. Raleigh was just named "Most Wired City" by Forbes Magazine, beating out Seattle, and San Francisco.

Raleigh is located a mere two and a half hours from some of the best beaches on the East Coast and is three and a half hours from the spectacular Blue Ridge Mountains. The weather is mild almost all year round minus the few weeks of cold in Jan/Feb and yeah it gets a little toasty in Jul/Aug.  

Wine Tasting In Raleigh

There will be some fantastic wines to taste at Total Wine at North Hills off Six Forks Road in Raleigh this weekend, March 26th and 27th. Tastings are held every Friday from 4-7pm and Saturday from 12-6pm.

On the tasting table this weekend they will have a Riesling from Dr Heidemanns.This is a crisp and refreshing Riesling from Dr. Heidemanns,one of the finest estates in the Mosel.

Also on offer is Ramal Road Chardonnay, from Carneros CA, this chardonnay has flavors of fresh apple and pear layered with bright citrus.

A great Pinot Noir from Martin Ray in Santa Barbara CA. Elegant medium bodied with black cherry flavor.

Ch Rochemorin Rouge Pessac, a Bordeaux with 60% Cabernet Sauvignon and 40% Merlot.A chocolate, berry and smoke aftertaste.

Downtown Raleigh to get an Amphitheater, the city council has approved funding for an outdoor amphitheater,located across from the new convention center.

The site would be under the beautiful shimmering wall the convention center is becoming known for.

The city might partner with Live Nation a concert promoter who could bring 20 acts a year to Raleigh. It could seat up to 5,000 people and could be ready as early as next May.

Raleigh is looking like becoming one of the best places to live, work, and play in the whole Southeast.

Blount Street Commons In Raleigh NC Is One Of A kind In the Country! I mean where else do you find a neighborhood with houses built as early as 1855, in use during The Civil War and townhomes built yesterday.

Well, Raleigh NC has them both in a very unique downtown development called Blount Street Commons. It is a collaboration of the city of Raleigh and developers LNR Blount St.LLC. It is set in the heart of downtown across from Peace College and a short  walk to government buildings, in fact The Lieutenant Governor has a house on the same block.

The area was once a parking lot for government workers and the plans are for townhomes, retail and these magnificent old homes most of which were moved too their current locations to create this unique downtown living area or to preserve them from a development or road.

The homes are for sale and they are listed in the Triangle MLS, it's cool to see the spot that says Year Built... 1875

Prices range from $200,000 up to $1,000,000 and some need a bit of work!

If you'd like something a little newer try this on for size, these are the row homes which feature two bed two and a half bath, private garage, open floor plans, and they start in the $290's.

I can't do justice to these homes in one post so I think I'll make this a series, in fact there was a documentary made about moving some of these houses, and it is airing soon. This may be my first video.

What's So Great About Raleigh And The Triangle Anyway?

OK well let's start with the weather...It's great, we have a mild winter, then spring arrives in the nick of time, a short summer (sometimes), and beautiful fall days and evenings.

Rare Snow                                                                            St.Patrick's Day  March 17th (T-Shirts!)

   Fourth Of July, Archer Lodge                                                      Fall Festival, Reins from Above

 Here are a few other reasons.

#10 Best Schools in The Most Affordable Zip Code (Clayton NC).....BusinessWeek September 2009

#3 Best Place To Launch A Small Business (Raleigh NC).......Fortune Small Business September 2009

#1 Best Place To Live In The US (Raleigh NC).........MSNBC June 2008

#2 Best Place To Live Work & Play (Raleigh NC).......Kiplinger's July 2008

#5 Best Medium Sized City For Families with Children (Raleigh NC) ....... Who's Your City? May 2008

#1 Best Place for Young Adults (Raleigh NC)....... Biz journals May 2008

Top 15 Place for Cultured Retirement (Raleigh NC)......Smithsonian.com April 2008

#5 Recession Proof City (Raleigh NC).......Forbes.com April 2008

#2 Best Place to Buy Foreclosed Homes (Raleigh NC).....Forbes.com March 2008

#4 Major Market in The South (Raleigh-Cary)

#3 Most Romantic City for Baby Boomers (The Triangle).....Sperlings Best Places March 2008

So what do you think?  Not too shabby?

Raleigh Named as 3rd Best Place To Launch a Small Business!

Raleigh has won countless awards over the years and here is another from Fortune Small Business, which ranked it third in the nation of large metro areas as the best place to launch a small business.

Oklahoma and Pittsburgh were first and second, Raleigh was chosen for it's quality of family life and  highly educated workforce.

The Raleigh area offers some of the nicest homes in all price points you can get.

The many small towns that make up the Triangle have many different aspects to them and it's easy to find a favorite.The mild climate and proximity to both the beach and the mountains is another reason people chose to come here.

Affordable housing is a key component in why Raleigh has been featured in a lot of these awards, good schools and now downtown Raleigh has stepped up and produced a a world class convention center, revamped Fayetville Street and is attracting residents and small business's alike.

The strong higher education system with North Carolina State University, Duke University in Durham and The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill provide the business community with a large pool of well qualified graduates.

Raleigh North Carolina on a Fall Sunday Morning.

This is North Carolina State University's campus on a recent Sunday where my wife and I go and have coffee. It's beautiful and there are days when we won't see another soul for an hour. I imagine it has something to do with a football game the day before and possible a beer or two.

Also on Sunday Raleigh was the venue for SPARKcon SPARKcon is a showcase of creativity,talent and ideas of "the creative hub of the south," the Triangle NC.

There was some great chalk pavement drawings on Fayetteville Street, music, poetry readings and ...

this guy.

More about him later!

Raleigh North Carolina, City of Oaks and lots of other trees. If you have ever flown into Raleigh from a city like New York or Philly or Boston you know what I'm talking about.

After living in Philadelphia for years I got used to flying in over row upon row of houses, warehouses, massive snake like highways. I am always impressed when I fly into Raleigh as all you can see as the plane approaches is trees (creative license, it's not all you can see!).

The City of Oaks is how Raleigh is described and when you see downtown you appreciate why.

the city of Raleigh enacted a comprehensive tree conservation ordinance  which took effect on May 1, 2005.

The ordinance establishes standards for preserving trees on lots that are two acres or larger, occupied or vacant.

Everywhere you go in Raleigh you will see trees and efforts to protect them. There is something about trees

in a city that adds so much. Apart from the obvious, shade, color, oxygen, the effect of breaking up the view of building after building cannot be measured but is a great addition to the landscape. However let me say

that Raleigh has some beautiful buildings both old and new.

Some of the awards Raleigh and the surrounding area have won recently include

#1 city  where Americans are relocating to -Forbes.com April 2009.

#10 Best City of 2009 (Raleigh-Cary)-Kiplinger's Personal Finance May 2009

#8 Best Big City for Jobs  (Raleigh-Cary)- Forbes.com May 2009

#10 Great Cities for Salary Growth (Raleigh-Cary)-Yahoo! Hotjobs,January 2009

#1 City with best economic potential (Raleigh)- April 2009

Tree City USA Recognition ( Cary, Raleigh, Wendell,Zebulon)- Arbor Day Foundation March 2009

#1 Best Place for Business and Careers (Raleigh-Cary)- Forbes.com March 2009

The view from Kelly's Hospital-------->

If you would like to get more info about Raleigh and the surrounding area, send me an email at

odohertyd@hpw.com.

or check out my website at www.davidorealtor.com

Kelly and I went to Tasca Brava last night to celebrate her birthday. Tasca Brava is a Spanish restaurant located at 607 Glenwood Ave, Raleigh North Carolina.

We were in the mood to experiment so we took the suggestions of the hostess and ordered some tapas. No sooner had we ordered, when the owner comes over and explains how the figs are grown in his yard. We will have the figs next time!

Kelly had the ceviche which screams "don't cook in the summer if you don't have to. The flavour and texture was spectactular. While I had goat cheese stuffed peppers ( not the peppers you see in the supermarket) We  had pan fried grouper with toasted capers, and pork loin with goat cheese sauce with spinach and rice.

The owner watched over us, offering wine tastings and stories of Spain and his restaurant.

For dessert we had flan and a coffee that the owner makes himself, so perfect you don't need sugar, a perfect ending to a wonderful evening.

Here is their website Tasca Brava

Well actually we went dancing at Solas but that's another story!