Raleigh North Carolina Real Estate News and Events Heritage Wake Forest NC

Happy New Homeowners in Wakefield, NC

2010-09-16T14:04:00.001-04:00

Molly and Tom have officially settled into their beautiful home in Wakefield, a beautiful subdivision in Raleigh North Carolina. They loved the one-level living this floor plan offered. Tom especially fell in love with the backyard. Molly found awesome contractors on Angie's list to paint and carpet the home to her decorating taste. Their son, Tyler is a senior at Wakefield High School. And Mikey, the dog is at home too!
Welcome Tom and Molly! I hope that you enjoy North Carolina's good folks and four seasons!

Sights around Heritage Wake Forest, NC

2010-09-13T19:08:00.000-04:00

Stocked Fishing Pond for catch and release fishing at Heritage Wake Forest, North Carolina.

2010-07-17T12:15:00.001-04:00

Helen Croghan has been entered into the Heritage Wake Forest Hall of Fame 2010 for selling a house May, June and July! She is ready to help you buy and/or sell.

Heritage Wake Forest, NC homes are attacting moveup buyers

2010-04-26T11:26:00.000-04:00

Brian and Ivette and baby Ashton called me a few weeks ago to discuss moving out of their beautiful townhouse near Crabtree Mall in Raleigh, NC. I had helped them find that townhome just 2 years ago when Brian moved here from Florida. Now with the arrival of sweet baby Ashton, they decided it was time to find a home in a community with ammenities and a nice lifestyle. We began our search in North Raleigh and then gravitated to the beautiful master planned community of Heritage Wake Forest! Brian and Ivette met me for breakfast at the Heritage Clubhouse and then we began exploring the community of builders. Ultimately, Brian and Ivette fell in love with the majestic house built by Biltmore Homes! I then put their townhouse on the market and sold it within 2 days! Yesterday we came to an agreement for the new house. The family will move in this May and begin meeting all their new neighbors in The Knoll. Heritage is a golf, swim and tennis community close to shops, restaurants, soccer fields, schools. Mellow Mushroon is just around the corner too! Welcome Brian, Ivette and Baby Ashton!

Rain drives buyers to Low Maintenance House in Raleigh, NC

2010-03-29T14:10:00.002-04:00

A little rain always seems to bring buyers to my open houses in the Raleigh area. And Sunday seems to be a very good day for openhouses too! The most popular time folks seem to arrive is after 4 pm in the Springtime. I think they are busy going to church, brunch and then grocery shopping before they decide to house hunt. And that is o.k with me!

Yesterday, the seller of the house was packing and cleaning when two groups arrived within minutes of one another. I took one lady on a tour of the low maintenance house while the seller showed the other group. One liked the spacious first floor masterbedroom suite overlooking the private backyard and deck. Another really liked the private screened in porch to enjoy coffee in the morning.

The brick front steps and brick exterior is gorgeous. The HOA takes care of the powerwashing, termite bond, and landscaping! Basically this is the type of home where you can turn the key and relax whether at home or away.

It features extra large bedrooms on the second floor with 2 full baths that are perfect for visiting guests! Both groups liked the 2 car garage and the convenience to Lake Lynn, shops and the new library. The gourmet kitchen is absolutely beautiful with plantation shutters, an island, gas cooking, microwave and seating area.

Including a private living area, formal dining room, deck, porch, bonus room, 3 bedrooms, 3 full bathrooms, deck, 2 car garage and low maintenance. No yard work!! Over 2700 square feet. To see this beauty, click here!

Iraq Serviceman and his new bride in North Raleigh, NC * Home!

2010-03-23T17:01:00.000-04:00

The Newlyweds are home together! Chris called me in January from Iraq and said he wanted to find a house for his bride, Katie! He said that she had been doing a lot of research on the internet looking at pictures of houses and then driving by the communities. He served a total of 9 months and upon his return, he and Katie met me one Saturday afternoon to begin the process of finding their dream home in North Raleigh. One requirement they had was to find a home within walking distance of work! That day we reviewed options, location, financing and areas and then got in the car to see properties for sale in the Raleigh area. This is the one of only 3 houses they saw. They fell in love with the beautiful hardwood floors, finished upper level, porch on the back of the house, the beautiful kitchen and upgraded bathrooms. It is as charming as they are sweet! I wish them many years of happiness here in their new home! Congratulations! Plus they will receive the tax incentives from Uncle Sam for purchasing the house before the April deadline!

Become a Fan of Heritage Wake Forest, NC!

2010-03-22T14:00:00.000-04:00

Beautiful Master Planned Community in Heritage Wake Forest, NC.

CLICK THIS to get to the fan page of Heritage Wake Forest, NC

I took this photo after the snow when two deer were resting beyond my backyard!

Beautiful Weekend * Heritage Wake Forest, NC

2010-03-22T13:17:00.000-04:00

This weekend was absolutely beautiful in the Carolinas! The morning was a perfect time to garden and pull weeds. I collected 2 full bags of pinecones from the 12 pine trees in my backyard! I wonder if someone would like them for arts and crafts projects? Saturday afternoon I met my relocating family from Alabama at Heritage Wake Forest Subdivision to propose an offer for a beautiful brand new house in Heritage by the fishing pond and walking trails. We spent time reviewing the options available, such as, stonework, colors for the siding and trim, granite or not in the fabulous kitchen, a finished third level with a shower and bathroom...all the details when you build your own beautiful home practically from scratch. It will take about 4 months to build. The homesite is gorgeous and is on the wooded section. We are working on some details on getting their home sold in AL. Heritage is one of those fantastic Master Planned Communities in North Carolina that offers a lifestyle. There are 2 swimming pools, a golf course, playground, retirement homes, townhouses, single family and more. There is something for everybody whether they are downsizing to a maintenance free lot or increasing the square footage requirements for a larger family. My relocating family are volleyball sport enthusiasts. Their eldest daughter will be a wonderful asset to the Heritage High School VolleyBall Team in the fall! The second daugher loves to read and play sports too! They have two sweet dogs and two cats. I have already shared with them the fun Heritage neighbors have at Halloween and that it is like Charlie Brown's "It's the Great Pumpkin"! More news soon!

Homes in Oxford, NC

2010-03-17T21:15:00.000-04:00

I had a wonderful day showing homes to a family from Clifton Springs, NY homes in the Oxford, North Carolina area today. We began in the historic district and viewed beautiful old homes under $200,000. The family is looking for a house with about 1 acre, 2 or more car garages for their Harley's and other cars.
It was a beautiful sunny spring day to spend with them. We saw about 8 homes today!

One in home at the end of a cul de sac appears to be a possibility! It has beautiful views of a pond from the back deck and the front wrap around porch. This house was a clean as a whistle! It has a sunporch and sits almost one acre. The geese were enjoying the glorious day as well!

The couple needs to find a new home by May 1st! When they called me a few weeks ago, they said they had a farm in NY and wanted to possibly sell it and move south. I contacted our corporate relocation department at Coldwell Banker, HPW and they contacted an agent in the Clifton Springs, New York area. Within 3 days the house was sold! I am confident that I will find them just the right property here in North Carolina! I understand from our outing today that a serene setting with one level living, such as a ranch or contemporary open floorplan will best suit them. They plan to retire here and make this their forever home!
By the end of the day we found two possibilities. More news soon...

News for Realtors, Investors, Attorneys and Small Business Owners and More....

2009-10-22T21:13:00.005-04:00

Yesterday I met the owners of the cool company called Upstartup.com based here in the Raleigh area! Michael and Rachel Hyman offer products and services built with the small business in mind. They have taken the unknown out of the frustrating, time consuming and often confusing tasks of starting a business and business filings. Their simple online formation and filings, along with their trained staff, will allow you to concentrate on the rest of your new business needs.
So whether you are an experienced businessperson looking for assistance in the filing of your documents or an entrepreneur just starting out, know one thing...they are in your corner every step of the way.
They offer:
Online corporation formation
Online LLC formation
Registered agents in all 50 states
Premium corporate kits
Corporate and LLC amendments
LLC to INC conversions
And more.
Please tell them Helen sent you!

Raleigh North Carolina Real Estate Tax Credit for First Time Home Buyer Interest Free Loan

2008-10-31T11:42:00.002-04:00

First Time Home Buyers here is your opportunity to buy a house in the Raleigh, North Carolina area and receive a tax credit. Call me for details today! The maximum credit amount is $7,500. I will help you find a home before July 1, 2009 so that you may receive this awesome credit!

If you are a single taxpayer with an income no more than $75,000 or a married couple with a combined income not exceeding $150,000 you may qualify for the full tax credit. I will help you sort out the details so that you get every possible credit due to you.

The tax credit works like an interest free loan and must be repaid over a fifteen year period. This is awesome! This program is under the Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008, and the Federal Tax Credit Program.

Call me today to help you on the way to home ownership here in the Raleigh area! Tear up the rent checks! There is no tax savings when you rent an apartment!

It is time to invest, have a nice tax write off and invest in real estate today!
Helen Croghan, Raleigh, Real Estate Broker

Deck Cleaning and Pressure Washing in Raleigh NC

2008-10-13T17:28:00.003-04:00

I attended the Southern Ideal Home Show in Raleigh, NC in September 2008, where over 350 companies presented their services and products at the North Carolina State Fairgrounds.

I am happy to spread the good word about "All Bright Pressure Washing, Inc." to brighten up your house and deck. I hired Ralph Moore, the President and his assistant Carroll to pressure wash our house. They arrived exactly at 4 pm in the rain and began their detailed work.

They were professional, polite and did an excellent job of cleaning the house, the brick front steps, all the rails, gutters and windows! I highly recommend them for commercial and residential work! Mr. Moore can be reached at 919-906-3402 or 919-269-4882.

They also specialize in power washing decks and painting them with Cabot Paint. They are certified to work with this special application.

Help a Neighbor Facing Foreclosure Save the Dream

2008-10-08T18:07:00.003-04:00

Help is on the way for the hundreds of thousands of families all across America facing foreclosure because they simply cannot afford their mortgage payments, or they owe far more than their house is currently worth.

Did you know that The Mortgage Bankers Association reports that approximately 50% of home owners who do lose their homes to foreclosure have never once contacted their lender.

I feel it is my obligation during these times to help someone who may be facing foreclosure. If you are reading my blog and want to help prevent foreclosures in Raleigh, North Carolina and "Save the Dream" of home ownership then read on.

Specifically, if you hear of a family in your local community who may be facing foreclosure then have them contact me directly. I will help them as a part of my community service outreach. In addition to being a Hospice Volunter and member of my church, I want to do more in my community to help someone keep their home!

Collectively, we can make a difference. I am posting here direct links to two of the best resource sites available that you can use both to educate yourselves and to share with people in need of learning more about how they can help themselves avoid foreclosure:

- Guide to Avoiding Foreclosure (U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development)
- The HOPE NOW Alliance and the Homeowner’s HOPE Hotline (1-888-995-HOPE)

Please do not hesitate to contact Helen Croghan, Real Estate Broker with Coldwell Banker, HPW in Raleigh, NC to help someone Save their Dream today! I will keep the information confidential. I am here to help. Contact me today.

North Carolina State Fair at Fairgrounds Raleigh NC

2008-10-02T09:20:00.002-04:00

The State Fair in Raleigh North Carolina begins October 16th and events go through October 26, 2008. This is family fun with plenty of activities on tap for the whole family to enjoy.

The N.C. State Fair offers affordable family fun. You can purchase your tickets ahead of time. Advance tickets are only $5.00 for adults and $1.00 for children ages 6 to 12 years old. Children 5 years old and under are free. Senior adults ages 65 years old and over are Free too!

The Ride Tickets are $1.00 per ticket or advance price tickets are $10.00 for a sheet of 18 coupons. ($18.00 value).

The Wristband Preview Day Ride with Wristbands is October 16th only. The cost is $25.00 for unlimited rides good only this day. You may ride from 4 pm to midnight. The wristband tickets will be available for purchase from ticket booths operated by Powers Great American Midways. They are not sold at the entrance gate.

I recommend that you make plans for your visit to the North Carolina Fair by picking up a copy of the daily schedule or go online to create a personalized daily planner. You can map out your day so you can see Smithfield the Painting Pig, catch the cloggers at the Folk Festival, have lunch, see the exhibits, ride some rides, eat dinner and still have time to see a livestock show, magic show or a juggler before the fireworks go off at 9:45 p.m.

At the State Fair 2008 you will find some traditional crafts, agricultural tools, entertainment and history in the following exhibits and areas:

Folk Festival (behind the Kerr Scott Building): This marks the 60th anniversary of the State Fair Folk Festival, which was started to preserve and celebrate North Carolina’s musical and dance heritage. The Folk Festival is a 10-day competition, with shows daily at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. This is a great place to sit and enjoy clogging, square and line dancing, and musical performances. The high-energy performers put on a great show for fairgoers.

Pitzer Heritage Circle (near Gate 8): Fairgoers interested in the history of the State Fair can learn about its two previous locations, the Fair’s early beginnings as a way to share the latest crop production techniques with farmers, and see photos and other Fair memorabilia in the Old School House. The area also features a bluegrass stage with daily shows. The Kenny & Amanda Smith Band will perform at 4 p.m. Oct. 16; and noon, 2:30 and 5 p.m. Oct. 17-26. Broke-N-Lonesome will perform at 1:15 and 3:45 p.m. Oct. 18 and 19. Other points of interest in Heritage Circle include storyteller Sharon “Ma” Hutto, who will be cooking up vittles and tall tales over a campfire, and a working blacksmith shop and barn where tobacco will be cured during the Fair.
Village of Yesteryear (Holshouser Building): Anyone who appreciates handmade items will find plenty of items of interest in the Village of Yesteryear. More than 75 crafters will have pottery, quilts, drawings, jewelry, toys, loomed items and more on display and for sale from 4-9:45 p.m. Oct. 16 and from 10 a.m. to 9:45 p.m. Oct. 17-26.

Agriculture educational exhibits showcasing the types of commodities grown in the state, how they grow, the types of animals competing in the Fair’s livestock competitions and examples of the locally made products available in grocery stores and markets. Visitors can find examples of North Carolina agriculture in the following areas:

Field of Dreams (between Dorton Arena and Kiddieland Fun Park): See how crops grow and even take a turn harvesting some of the crops. This exhibit is full of hands-on activities for kids. They can even “sell” what they “harvest” and buy a prize in the Field of Dreams store. Open Oct. 16 from 4-9:45 p.m. and from 9 a.m. to 9:45 p.m. Oct. 17-26.

Got to Be NC Agriculture (in front of the Kerr Scott Building): North Carolina Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler has a favorite saying, “When you want the very best, it’s Got to be NC Agriculture!” See, and in some cases taste, for yourself all the different types of food and drink products made in North Carolina. Several companies will be sampling and selling their products daily in the tent. Also, check out the Big Cart, a gas-powered, 13-foot tall shopping cart that makes special appearances across the state promoting N.C. agriculture.

Livestock shows and exhibits (Graham and Kelley buildings and Expo Center): For many people, the animals are always a big draw. Fairgoers will find cattle shown in the Graham Building, goats and sheep in the Expo Center and hogs in the Kelley Building. Check daily program listings for show dates and times. Farm animals are always on display daily during the Fair in the State Fair Ark in the Expo Center. Visitors can see all the different types of animals that compete in livestock shows, and also see baby piglets and chicks. Young and old alike can even milk a cow at the milking booth in the Expo Center. Hand-washing stations are located near animal exhibits, and fairgoers are encouraged to wash up after contact with the animals.

There are plenty of other kid-friendly activities on the grounds. Following are places visitors may want to check out:
Circle C Racing Pigs (near Gate 9): This super-popular show always draws fans to the Hogway Speedway. Pot-bellied pigs race around the 200-foot oval track in hot pursuit of the grand prize -- Cheese Doodles. Miniature goats and geese also compete at the track. Shows are held at 1, 3, 5, 7 and 9 p.m. daily except Thursday, Oct. 16, when shows are at 3, 5, 7 and 9 p.m.
Grandstand: The Keith King Action Sports Stunt Show marks its 10th year breaking out bigger-than-life stunts and high-flying tricks. The stunt show happens Oct. 20-26 for several shows a day.

Kiddieland Fun Park (near Gate 1): Visitors can take in a magic show, see a troupe of performing poodles or be entertained by a clown in the fun park.
In front of the Expo Center: Smithfield the painting pot-bellied pig returns to create original works of art. Catch Smithfield at 1, 3 and 5 p.m. daily except Thursday, Oct. 16, when he paints at 5 p.m. only. Juggler Dale Jones will entertain at 2, 4 and 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and on Sundays. An extra show is added at noon on Saturdays, and shows will be at 4 and 6 p.m. on Oct. 16.
Roaming around the grounds: Look for Washboard Willy and Wishboard Wanda and their traveling musical show; Rock-It the Robot, stiltwalker Carrie McQueen, Oscar the Robot and Statue Viva, a living statue. I hope to see you there! Helen Croghan, Raleigh Real Estate Broker, Raleigh, North Carolina.

Pinkfest Events Cary’s Koka Booth Amphitheatre

2008-10-01T13:51:00.002-04:00

Pinkfest Events Cary’s Koka Booth Amphitheatre.

You won't want to miss the 2008 Komen NC Triangle PinkFest celebration for survivors, co-survivors, friends and family in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. This year the Susan G. Komen organization is planning an even bigger and better event this year. The emcees are Pam Saulsby and Gerald Owens from WRAL TV. Included in the price of your ticket there will be food, music by Zydecopius and more fun for the entire family with plenty of activities for the kids and adults. Oh and don't forget about the door prizes and silent auction! Breast cancer survivors will receive special gifts at this wonderful event that celebrates survivorship, family, community and hope. Remember to wear pink!! See the link for more information. This event is sponsored by many businesses and my company Coldwell Banker, HPW for whom I am a real estate broker in the Raleigh, NC area! I hope to see you at Pink Fest on Sunday, October 5, 2008, 1:00pm-6:00pm. Helen Croghan

Wheelchair Accessible Housing in Raleigh North Carolina

2008-09-30T17:13:00.002-04:00

Wheelchair Accessible Houses are being built in the Raleigh, North Carolina Area. I met Lewis Sadler, Jr, President of Sadler Construction at the Southern Ideal Home Show on Sunday. His company builds homes to accommodate for changes in age and mobility. They will renovate or remodel your existing home or build a custom home on your lot or his subdivision. Sadler Construction specializes as the Lifestage Design Homebuilder. They are Certified Aging In-Place Specialists. He will build a home with a stepless entry, wide doorways, handicap accessible, cabinet pocket doors, plus so much more. He can even install an elevator into your house!

Call me for more details if you would like to consider building a home that meets your needs in the Raleigh, NC area!

Wine 101 Wake Forest North Carolina

2008-07-23T20:56:00.006-04:00

WINE 101! The store sign is up! I talked to my friend, Joe O'Keefe today and congratulated him on the announcement of his store WINE 101 that is going to open at 3325-104 Rodgers Road in Wake Forest, NC at the end of summer 2008! Joe and his wife, Lori are the fantastic owners of this unique wine store. The neighbors in Heritage Wake Forest will be able to stroll to this neighborhood winery! I can't wait to take part in the classes, wellness programs and entertainment they will be offering. I will keep you all posted about the grand opening! Stay tuned wine enthusiasts!

Susan G. Komen and Help Find the Cure for Breast Cancer

2008-07-22T18:45:00.006-04:00

I have a passion to help find the cure for Breast Cancer! Twenty years ago, my mother was diagnosed with breast cancer. She was treated with radiation. Then about five years ago the breast cancer returned and she courageously fought it again. She was very sick and had a mastectomy and lost all her beautiful hair. Sheila fought for her life. So far she is doing amazingly well. Just 3 years ago though, her sister Karen was not so fortunate and lost her battle to this vicious disease. So now hand in hand with my career I want to help the Susan G. Komen organization find the cure for breast cancer. I recently learned that one in eight people will be diagnosed with breast cancer. Those statistics are very scary to me. So now my passion is to help change those numbers. Hand in hand with my work I donate a portion of my self-employed earnings to the fund. You may visit my website to learn more about my story.

How Much House Can I Afford in Raleigh and Wake Forest North Carolina

2008-07-22T13:04:00.003-04:00

Welcome to the wonderful world of finance! You may be wondering just how much can you afford for a home based on your income, debts, savings and downpayment. You will find plenty of mortgage calculators here as you begin your homework.

If you already own a home you may be interested in the prepayment mortgage reduction calculator. And regarding your loan you may be wondering how long will it take to payoff the loan!

For those who are moving to the Raleigh and Wake Forest North Carolina area and are considering renting first to evaluate the area of beautiful homes you may want to compute Renting Versus Buying. I can put you in touch with short term apartments just let me know the time frame, the amount of living space in the apartment, your monthly rental comfort zone and I will be happy to assist you.

Curious about how much home you can afford? You may pre-qualify for a loan. This is really the smart thing to do before you fall in love with a home!

The Raleigh real estate market is doing well because it has so much to offer you! There is the four seasons, affordable homes, ample jobs locally and at the Research Triangle Park. We have a convenient airport, train station, wonderful shops and excellent cultural events. My favorite event is the outdoor movie theatre at the North Carolina Musuem of Art. My friends and I take a picnic dinner, our lawn chairs about 6 pm. Then the movie begins around 9:00 pm on the large out door movie screen! If you are familar with the State Fairgrounds, then this is just down the steet. And speaking of the North Carolina State Fair, this is the highlight of the fall around here!! More soon....Helen

Heritage Wake Forest North Carolina Attractions

2008-07-21T22:29:00.007-04:00

Imagine living in a beautiful Wake Forest, North Carolina golf course and swim club community where neighborhood sidewalks allow folks to leisurely stroll from their homes to the grocery store, restaurants, church and Wake County Public Schools. Heritage Wake Forest is a master planned community designed for that kind of carefree lifestyle. You will find professional services into our community: doctors, dentists, retail owners and other professionals. Developed by Ammons Development who consulted with many successful leaders in the field for the creation of an incredible site plan that would allow adequate professional space for homeowners to fill just about every need without leaving their community. Just up the street off Rodgers Road and Main Street, Wake Forest is the favorite sports arena called the Factory Ice House. There is an indoor iceskating rink, and soccer field. Various high school and elementary teams and individuals meet for soccer games and lacrosse. The local YMCA at The Factory is located here too! This YMCA is associated with the Raleigh YMCA near Wakefield High School. That location has the indoor basketball gym and indoor and outdoor pool. At "The Factory" there is also outdoor bumper cars, miniature golf and a skateboard rink which attracts the local skateboarding enthusiasts. Restaurants and ice cream shops, pottery, photography and more are all located here. Near the entrance of Heritage Wake Forest is the Harris Teeter Grocery Store, Walgreens, and Wachovia Bank. Little Ceasers Pizza is just down Rodgers Road near the local Irish Pub. The local library is in downtown Wake Forest near the post office, boutiques, Shorty's Hotdogs, and Antique shops.

Views of the 15th Fairway from your deck

2008-07-13T22:33:00.005-04:00

Gorgeous single family home in Heritage Wake Forest, North Carolina. New to Market. This is a beautiful home with over 3200 square feet. The master bedroom is on the first floor and has incredible views of the lush greenways and pinetrees. There are three bedrooms and a large bonus on the second level. Golf, tennis and swim community. It is just 10 minutes from Raleigh! Walk to the local bagel and coffee shop! The views from the backyard are incredible of the 15th Fairway golfcourse!