Great Benefits to Living and Working in Raleigh, N.C.

North Carolina New Homes

Raleigh is one of the fastest growing areas in the country. A great economy, top universities, and outstanding health care facilities are some of the attributes that attract people to the triangle area. The mild climate, diverse workforce, and proximity to Research Triangle Park combine to make Raleigh a great place to live and work.

Interested in working for the City of Raleigh? Here is a summary of the benefits that the City offers to full-time permanent employees:

• Vacation Leave - 12 days earned per year
• Sick leave - 12 or more days earned per year
• Additional sick leave - Up to one year additional sick leave
• Petty leave - Up to 12 hours per year may be used
• Holiday - 11 paid holidays per year
• Award for service -Lump sum annual payment to employees with at least 5 years of service
• Employee’s coverage paid by the City for: Medical, dental, life insurance
• Retirement - The City provides a contribution to the North Carolina Local Government Employees' Retirement System, and provides for optional supplemental retirement plans
• Merit Pay Plan - Periodic pay adjustments based upon job performance

Looking for a new home in North Carolina?

Check out Mackintosh on the Lake.

Mackintosh on the Lake is a 612-acre community located off I-40/85 between Raleigh and Greensboro at Exit 140, It is an idyllic canvas of open meadows surrounded by historic oaks and bordering Lake Mackintosh in Alamance County. Greensboro is just 15 minutes away and Raleigh is 40 minutes down I-40.

Lake Mackintosh is a crystal-clear lake that is more than six miles long and covers over 1100 acres, with 100 miles of shoreline. Well-known to fishing and boating enthusiasts, the lake enjoys a resort-like atmosphere, complete with a marina, sailing, rental boats, picnic areas, paddleboats and more.

Mackintosh also features over 80 acres of community open space and 2.5 miles of protected shoreline, with tree-lined sidewalks and pocket parks throughout the community, including a private 10-acre lake, and a lakeside pavilion and fire pit. The Aquatic Park features several pools, plus a 120 foot long slide. Residents with dogs will have fun with their furry friends at the local dog park.

New homes at Mackintosh on the Lake feature crawl space foundations with front porches and stone accents, plus decorative garage doors. The homes are open and airy with 9' ceilings, allowing an abundance of natural light inside. Basement home sites are also available.

For more information on North Carolina new homes by Shea Homes visit www.sheahomes.com.

New Furniture For Your New Home in North Carolina

So, you’ve purchased your new home in North Carolina and now need to furnish it....

You’re in luck! The Carolinas are famous for well-crafted furniture, often sold at competitive prices.

Before heading out, be sure to plan for your shopping trip. Luckily, many of the furniture stores are close to one another which means you may not have to drive far for a good selection.

Thanks to writer Katherine O. Pettit and CarolinaLiving.com, there is good advice available to think about before grabbing your keys and hitting the road. Here are 10 good tips to keep in mind while furniture shopping in the Carolinas:

1. Plan ahead. Know your furniture needs. Make a list of the pieces and sizes you plan to buy. If you have a color scheme, bring fabric, paint swatches along with room dimensions. Bring your decorator if you must!

2. Don’t be shy to ask questions about the reputation of dealers and manufacturers. Shopping with an experienced sales person makes a big difference. Insist the business is a member of the Better Business Bureau and Chamber.

3. Not everyone accepts credit cards - have another payment method ready.

4. Comparison shop instead of buying compulsively - selection, price, quality and service are all important factors.

North Carolina New Homes

5. Consider comfort. Furniture should be comfortable, so sit on it! Are coils centered in the seat area? Check edges for support. Padding should be firm, not lumpy.

6. Examine the finish. Trust your senses, touch and look carefully. Is the piece smooth and does it flow? Are grains and patterns matched? Are glass tops thick and fitted perfectly?

7. Check construction. Is the pattern centered and does it match top-to-bottom and side-to-side? Are seams reasonably straight? Don't hesitate to rock a table back and forth. Sit in a chair to assure it is sturdy. Do drawers open smoothly?

8. Always consider your lifestyle when selecting upholstered items. Ask the sales person for advice. Do you have young children or pets? Cotton, vinyl or leather work well in a family room. Silk, velvet and satin work best for adult-only families. Is the fabric stain resistant? Evaluate seating options: down fill, eight-way hand-tied springs, foam?

9. Remember to get cleaning instructions for your new purchases!

10. Get a commitment on delivery date. Expect a minimum of six weeks for special orders. Custom orders can take four months or longer. On arrival, inspect each piece while the delivery person is still in your home.

Enjoy your new furniture in your new home!

Katherine O. Pettit has worked as a writer, magazine editor, printer and public relations consultant. The Columbia resident has published more than 250 articles in magazines and newspapers. Her writing explores a variety of subjects including travel, lifestyles, business and management.

Tips for Today’s New Home Buyers

The good news is that if you are in the market today for a new home in North Carolina, current pricing and long-term costs are at historical lows. And don’t forget, you can take advantage of the $8,000 new buyer tax credit and way low financing rates.

According to CarolinaLiving.com, if you are looking for a new home, the following is what the Carolinas’ real estate experts advise:

1. Know Your Motivations. Think through both your short- and long-term motivations. Write down a list of your “must haves” then rank and share with your Realtor.

2. A Professional Realtor Makes a Difference. Insist on a licensed Realtor who has earned Certified Residential Specialist (CRS) credentials. Ask for and speak to references. Inquire about foreclosures and short sale opportunities in the neighborhoods on your list.

3. Organize Your Finances. Set your budget and get financing lined up in writing. Count on 20 percent down to get the most favorable rates. Plan on holding for at least five to seven years. Calculate points and closing costs.

4. Think Ahead. If you’re buying in a new community with unfinished roads and “promised” amenities, ask to review their HUD filing, Infrastructure Bond, or other written guarantee of completion.

5. Do Your Research. Read up on the town and region. Plan vacations around your search. Spend some time in the County Courthouse for some objective information on recent sales.

New Homes North Carolina

6. Get to Know the Area. Tour, explore, and go out of your way to meet informed neighbors. Visit the local schools, whether you have children or not, as it’s a good indication of value. Drive the property at different times of day and night checking for noise, traffic, light pollution, etc.

7. Make Offers. Cash is always king. Paper is cheap. So be prepared to make numerous cash and non-cash offers that are less than the listed price, but not frivolous.

8. Homesites Require Planning. If you’re looking to buy a homesite or land and build your dream home, then you need to be prepared to work with a community developer, architect and builder. Or, find a Realtor Land Institute member who has earned Accredited Land Consultant (ALC) credentials and specializes in assisting land buyers.

9. Consider Spec Homes. Consider a new construction spec home where you get to make all the selections on interior and exterior of a home that comes with fresh warranties.

10. Buy Green. Buying a green, energy efficient home is a great way to protect your investment and improve your health. “Green mortgages,” offered by some lenders on new green homes, often feature a reduced down payment and other valuable terms based on calculated energy savings.

North Carolina New Homes

A special thanks to these Carolina experts who contributed to the CarolinaLiving.com article: Mike Brazeal, Bright’s Creek; Wilson Green, Echelon Sales; Allen Jezouit, Redstone Properties; Donna Sue Jones & Deronda Lucas, Shumaker Homes; Dan Kingsbury, Lake Carolina; Mark Knopic, LongCreek Plantation; Lisa Randolph, High South Realty; Kristen Anthony & Debbie Holland, CarolinaLiving.com.

Your New Home in Durham, NC

Brightleaf at the Park (Ridge) is a master-planned community in Durham with great amenities intertwined with natural areas. Durham is a colorful, creative and entrepreneurial community and is the proud home of Research Triangle Park, Duke and North Carolina Central universities.

The community of Brightleaf is minutes from I-540 and Research Triangle Park and also close to downtown Durham and Raleigh. Three major malls at the Glenwood Avenue retail corridor in Raleigh are nearby, for shopping, dining and entertainment.

New Homes North Carolina

Brightleaf Ridge features homes with crawl space foundations and granite kitchen counters. Other great features include smooth 9" ceilings (per plan), brushed nickel lighting and hardware.

The Davenport model (2,535 Sq. Ft.) has 3-6 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms and a 2-car garage. It is priced from $269,900.

Enter your Davenport new home…

…through optional elegant French doors leading into the living room/study…

…notice the natural light streaming through the windows in the breakfast area and the open two story family room complete with media niches…

…step into the optional sunroom or screened porch and feel right at home, or use that space to add a 5th bedroom suite…

…find plenty of room in the owner’s suite and bath upstairs, plus 2 bedrooms and the expansive bonus room…

New Homes - Durham

Have a growing family? Add a rec room or one or two additional bed/bath suites, or expand the owner’s retreat to include a sitting area.

Brightleaf community amenities include a clubhouse, sports complex and several miles of rustic trails.

The Club at Brightleaf includes the 15-acre "Tim Wilkison Signature Facility", a sports complex which includes tennis, swim, and fitness facilities. The club has, as its centerpiece, a 5,500 square foot clubhouse where, you'll find a snack bar, fitness room, Yoga and Pilates room and a child watch area. Personal trainers are on staff to help create the best workout for you.

Several miles of rustic trails accomodate hikers and mountain bikers alike. The trail system interconnects all of the villages and amenities within Brightleaf. You'll also find a pond, sculptures and wildlife preservation areas.

Brightleaf is waiting for you to call it home…

Acclaimed as one of the most livable large cities in America, Charlotte is thriving with exceptional quality of life, a diverse, vibrant economy, and a very favorable climate. As the home of the “New South,” it is a dynamic city that combines world-class amenities with Southern hospitality. It is also the nation's second largest banking and financial center and the headquarters of seven Fortune 500 companies.

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Check out some upcoming March events in Charlotte:

Curious George Live! - March 12-14

Don't miss this new musical! Starring in his own original, live musical, stage production and for the first time touring arena and theater stages throughout the country, Curious George is on a mission to help Chef Pisghetti win a world-famous meatball competition. This adventure takes him to Rome and The Golden Meatball Contest. With every swing and flip, George takes the audience through a fun-filled, entertaining story with lots of music and dance that the whole family will enjoy.

Charlotte Goes Green – St. Patrick’s Day Parade March 13

Everyone is Irish for the Day! The annual festival features live Irish music, Irish dancers, pipe bands, a children's amusement area, Irish, Celtic & other vendors and lots of food and beverages, so come hungry. There's no admission fee to the festival. The parade starts at 11:00am on Tryon Street, beginning at 9th Street and ending at 3rd Street. There are over 100 pipe & drum bands, Irish dancers, floats, animals and more! Over 50,000 spectators watched the parade last year.

New Homes North Carolina

Irish Tenors with the Charlotte Symphony - March 19

Since joining forces in 1998, The Irish Tenors have sold millions of CDs, mixing contemporary music with timeless tunes like Danny Boy, My Wild Irish Rose, and Fields of Athenry. Highly charismatic performers, the singers have thrilled audiences around the globe, and in the United States, the Tenors are one of the most successful Irish touring acts ever, second only to U2.

Harlem Globetrotters - March 20

The World Famous Harlem Globetrotters are bringing their 2010 World Tour to Time Warner Cable Arena. Now in their 84th consecutive season of touring the world, the Globetrotters showcase a captivating assortment of trick shots, high-flying dunks, and ball handling wizardry with a side-splitting array of comedy guaranteed to entertain both the young and the young at heart.

“Jersey Boys” - Beginning March 31

”Too good to be true!” raves the New York Post for "Jersey Boys," the 2006 Tony Award-winning Best Musical about Rock and Roll Hall of Famers The Four Seasons: Frankie Valli, Bob Gaudio, Tommy DeVito and Nick Massi. This is the story of how four blue-collar kids became one of the greatest successes in pop music history. They wrote their own songs, invented their own sounds and sold 175 million records worldwide all before they were 30!

New Homes Charlotte

Life in Charlotte is enhanced by great southern cuisine, excellent schools, more than 100 golf courses, 15,000 acres of parks, two major recreational lakes and a safe environment for the whole family.

If you are looking for a new home in the Charlotte area, visit www.SheaHomes.com to view some amazing properties. Shea Homes North Carolina also has new communities in the following areas: Apex, Burlington, Cary, Charlotte, Concord, Durham, Huntersville, Indian Trail, Mint Hill and Waxhaw.

Celebrate Your New Home with The Carolina Shag!

New Homes North Carolina

No, the Carolina Shag is not a type of floor covering…not for the purpose of this posting anyways!

The Carolina Shag is the state dance of North Carolina and South Carolina.

In the 1950’s and 1960’s, high school students of the Carolinas flocked to Myrtle Beach — actually they still do. But back in the 50’s and 60’s, everybody danced the Shag or the Carolina Shag, as it is sometimes called. Wikipedia says The Carolina Shag is a six count partner dance done mostly to moderate tempo music (100-150 bpm). During the dance the upper body and hips hardly move as the legs do convoluted kicks and fancy footwork.

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For some reason, those high school students of the 50’s and 60’s have never let go of those happy, carefree days. Perhaps because it’s such a perfect dance!

So, celebrate the purchase of a new North Carolina home by doin’ the Carolina Shag!!

Want to see the Carolina Shag in action? Click here to view!

FREE Design Options for Your New Home!

New Homes – North Carolina

Now through February 28, 2010, take advantage of free design options on your new North Carolina home. Incentives below are good on to-be-built homes contracted through February 28, 2010.

Barrington

- $10,000 in FREE options OR 1/2 off options up to $40,000

Berewick

- $10,000 in FREE options in Newbridge
- $15,000 in FREE options in Castlecove

Dominion Point at Highland Creek

- $15,000 in FREE options

Old Stone Crossing

- 1/2 off options up to $20,000

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Summerwood

- $12,000 in FREE options in both villages
- Free 3-car garage in the Elms village

Winding Walk

- $10,000 in FREE options

Palisades Bear Creek

- FREE 3-car side entry garage (per lot conditions)
- Builder Experience Golf Package
- $15,000 in FREE options (Other incentives exist to receive up to $17,500 in free options)

Palisades Crosshaven

- FREE 3-car side entry garage (per lot conditions)
- Builder Experience Golf Package
- $15,000 in FREE options (Other incentives exist to receive up to $50,000 in free options)

Palisades Turtle Point

- FREE unfinished basement
- Builder Experience Golf Package

For more details see your builder representatives or visit www.SheaHomes.com.