Get my full story, Hot NONE In the Summertime…Real Estate Sales on Vacation, online.  Find more timely statistics on Raleigh Durham and search the great Raleigh homes for sale and buyer’s market incentives on Raleigh real estate at www.HomeSearchRALEIGH.com.

It’s more value-added information from your Raleigh realtor, Rick Freeman and the Freeman/Davis Home Team.

Check out my blog post at Rick Freeman’s DayTripping Series – Mayberry, NC – It’s For Real and In Living Color. See more things to do in Raleigh Durham and search the great Raleigh homes for sale and buyer’s market incentives on Raleigh real estate at www.HomeSearchRALEIGH.com.

It’s more value-added information from your Raleigh realtor, Rick Freeman and the Freeman/Davis Home Team.

It’s more value-added information from your Raleigh realtor, Rick Freeman and the Freeman/Davis Home Team.

Check out my blog post at Rick Freeman’s DayTripping Series – Tax Free Weekend. See more things to do in Raleigh Durham and search the great Raleigh homes for sale and buyer’s market incentives on Raleigh real estate at www.HomeSearchRALEIGH.com.

It’s more value-added information from your Raleigh realtor, Rick Freeman and the Freeman/Davis Home Team.

on our website at

DO: Find an independent agent that will allow you to get quotes from several insurance providers.

DON’T: Buy the first policy you are offered with when shopping.

DO: Contact an insurance agent in person to tailor your policy and make sure you’re getting the best and most adequate coverage for the money you pay.

DON’T: Drop home insurance or necessary types of coverage altogether just to lower the costs.

DO: Review your deductibles and adjust them if needed to relate adequately to your financial abilities if an insurance situation takes place. Remember that higher deductibles will lower you rates.

DON’T: Raise your deductibles to the amount you will find hard to pay in case it comes to filing a claim.

DO: Speak to your insurance agent to learn if there are any homeowner’s insurance discounts provided by your insurer you are eligible for.

DON’T: Forget about updating your insurance coverage after adding square footage to your house, performing important modifications (installing ventilation or security systems), or buying expensive things that are to be kept on your property.

DO: Find a provider that will carry more types of insurance rather than only homeowners insurance.  You can receive substantial discounts by having your auto, life and home insurance policies with the same carrier.

DON’T: Drop substantial amounts of liability coverage in order to save money because some day it can be really helpful and your savings can lead to serious losses if you do not have enough liability coverage.

DO: Renew your policy and avoid cancellations because it will get more expensive to renew it or get a new one if your policy was simply void without any reason.

DON’T: Drop your homeowners insurance policy in case your mortgage lender doesn’t require it anymore or you have paid off your loan.

Try to employ as many of these tips as possible and you will see that having good homeowners insurance with low rates and adequate coverage is really possible. Keep in mind that having cheap coverage can turn around to be very costly when facing an insurance situation. So try to get adequate coverage while still having your family budget in mind. Shop around and find the best policy out there to keep your house protected no matter what.

Remember that most home accidents occur in the kitchen. If you have a choice in appliances, select a stove with controls placed out of the reach of children. Vinyl flooring should be slip-resistant and both cabinets and countertops should have rounded edges. A window that overlooks any backyard play area will help you keep one eye on the youngsters while you’re preparing meals.

You can outfit your kitchen with a few simple items that will increase its safety. A step stool will help you reach overhead cabinets safely. A box of baking soda close to the stove can be used to douse small pan fires. You’ll need an all-purpose fire extinguisher in the kitchen, as well. A smoke detector will alert you to fires if you leave the room.

Practice safe habits in the kitchen, too. Clean up spills right away so that they don’t make floors slippery or sticky. Remember that long sleeves can catch fire. Store knives in a rack or a drawer that is not accessible to children. Make sure that pot handles don’t extend out over the edge of the stove while you’re cooking. Keep curtains, papers or other materials away from the burners of the stove.

Accidents can happen in other areas of your home, too. In your hallways, be sure scatter rugs have a skid-proof backing. Lowering light switches or installing switch extenders will help little hands turn lights on or off.

• If you’re renovating a bathroom, choose a tub with a non-slip finish. Cabinets that lock keep children away from hazardous medications or cleaning solutions. Ground fault interrupter (GFI) outlets should be installed on every outlet near water. (The GFI is designed to shut off the electricity to an appliance that gets wet.) Choose ceramic tiles that have non-skid surfaces on the floor.

Make sure stairways are well lit. A landing will help break up a long staircase and make it safer. Non-skid edges on steps and secure well-placed railings can also prevent accidents.

Taking a few moments to correct any hazards you find will let you have a safe–and happy-summer at home. More tips and real estate advice is online at www.HomeSearchRALEIGH.com.

Debate on the future of Fannie, Freddie heats up :: WRAL.com

There would be no housing market today without the government.  Over the past 18 months, Washington has taken extraordinary steps to keep home loans available and affordable. That caused a tentative housing recovery last year. Home sales reversed their four-year descent, while prices stabilized.

One big reason: The government seized control of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, massive companies that purchase home loans, package them into investments and guarantee them against default. The price tag has been huge – $126 billion and growing.  Now comes the hard part: figuring out what to do next.

Thank you for visiting! 

Rick Freeman, Allen Tate Realtors in Raleigh, NC

1. Color can kill a sale. Wall colors that are too cold, too unusual or too stark can turn off buyers early in the process.
2. Don’t hide defects. Buyers will eventually find out what is underneath the decorative carpets and furniture upon walk through. Be honest from the start and disclose everything you know about your home.
3. If it conveys, it stays. Be very clear about what sells with the home. If you aren’t planning on leaving certain appliances or removable features, remove them before your home goes on the market. Buyers may fall in love with the chandelier, for example, and end the sale when they learn it doesn’t convey.
4. Community issues. If your home is part of a community association, give potential buyers access to by-law documents that detail any restrictions the homeowners, condo or co-op association imposes on your property, such as pet ownership, ability to rent out the property, working-at-home covenants, architectural standards, etc.
5. Offer peace of mind. Many buyers, especially first-time buyers, are nervous about committing to a home purchase. Offering a home warranty and/or pre-sale inspections gives a sense of security to these buyers and can help facilitate a sale.

The Freeman/Davis Home Team has more great advice!  Call us at 919-649-6638 or visit www.HomeSearchRALEIGH.com, the premiere Raleigh Real Estate site!

Once downloaded, the application can be used with or without internet access for contact and current menu information. With an internet connection, users can also make reservations and get real time driving directions.

“The Restaurant SAVOY iPhone application provides diners with a great way to stay in touch offline and on-the-go,” says Co-Owner Jeff Snell. “The free application makes everything about planning a lunch, brunch or dinner experience at SAVOY a fun, convenient and hassle-free experience.”

Features of the SAVOY application include:

• Offers: Have easy access to all of the special offers and events at SAVOY
• Menu: Stay abreast on the seasonal menu changes at SAVOY. Mark menu items as your “Faves” for quick access in the future
• Tell-a-friend: Easily send the App link to any of your contacts
• Location/Contact Information: Easily locate and call SAVOYDirections: Integration with Google Maps provides turn-by-turn directions.

For more information about Restaurant SAVOY, visit www.restaurantsavoy.com.  SAVOY is located in the Greystone Village shopping center on Lead Mine Road in North Raleigh.

Thanks for visiting the www.HomeSearchRALEIGH.com blog!  Contact us for the best in real estate services.

The economy grew faster than expected at the end of last year, though the engine of that growth, companies replenishing stockpiles, is likely to weaken as consumers keep a lid on spending.

The 5.7 percent annual growth rate in the fourth quarter was the fastest pace since 2003. The Commerce Department report Friday is the strongest evidence to date that the worst recession since the 1930s ended last year, though an academic panel that dates recessions has yet to declare an end to it.

The two straight quarters of growth followed a record four quarters of decline. Still, the expansion in the fourth quarter was fueled by companies refilling depleted stockpiles, a trend that will eventually fade. Some economists worry that when that happens, the recovery could

Growth exceeded expectations mainly because business spending on equipment and software jumped 13.3 percent — much more than forecast. It’s the second quarter in a row that business spending has increased, after six quarters of decline.

Hopefully, this is good news for the Raleigh real estate market.  We’re seeing signs of growth here in the Triangle area of North Carolina and the homebuyer tax credits have been extended.  Call the Freeman/Davis Team at Coldwell Banker and we can review your real estate goals and form a plan that will aid you in attaining those goals.  Visit us online at www.HomeSearchRALEIGH.com and www.FreemanDavisHomeTeam.com for more details. Find us on Facebook at www.HomeSearchRALEIGH.info.