Living in Apex NC

Living in Apex NC

Apex was voted in the Top 10 Small towns and best places to live by CNN Money. The economy is good and it's a perfect place for families and singles to live. Great schools and an easy commute to RTP and RDU airport are just two of the many reasons Apex is a great place to live.

Apex has a beautiful "Old Town" area with quirky and interesting shops and restaurants.  Feel like you are stepping back in time when you attend one of the many small town parades and festivals downtown.  Or just stroll the main street, stop for an ice cream cone and relax.

Old Town Apex, NC

The Schools in the area are sought after and with the growing population a new school will open its doors in 2015.

Apex has a great sense of community and it is a happy environment to live in. There are over 400 acres of parks, baseball diamonds and tennis courts.

It is an easy commute to downtown Raleigh, the Research Triangle (RTP) and its close to RDU International airport.

Make Apex your home! Here one one great featured property that offers a true Apex lifestyle.

Apex Home For Sale | 1013 Sunset Meadows 

This Could Be Your View of The Lake 

This great water front all brick home offered for sale in Apex.With Newly painted areas and a great WATER FRONT POND view and lifestyle, what more could you want? This is a rare find in convenient location. 1.92 acres includes part of pond.  


The home has hardwoods throughout main floor. A 2 story family room with open plan views and the Main floor has the master suite. Basement has several options for use. Close to Beaver Creek and 540. 

The area boasts great schools! Awesome properties! Take a look at the listing here!

Homes for Sale Apex Listings Search

• Homes for Sale Apex New Listings (31)
• Homes for Sale Apex Foreclosure Listings (6)
• Homes for Sale Apex Short Sale Listings (6)
• Homes for Sale Apex Single Family Homes for Sale (236)
• Homes for Sale Apex Condos & Townhomes for Sale (51)

27511 Cary, NC Living Here

Heart of Cary Living - 27511

There are four primary zip codes in Cary, NC.  27511, 27513, 27518 and 27519.  The 27511 zip code is the older, more established area of Cary. Downtown Cary, is  a picturesque quintessential small town with quaint streets, historic buildings and tree-lined streets. The Heart of Cary Association works to preserve the rich heritage of the area while supporting businesses in the downtown area and bringing people downtown for all it has to offer.

Neighborhoods surrounding downtown Cary were built in the early days of the town into the 1960's. Historic bungalows and Victorian charmers can be found in this area. A revival has happened in recent years and now historic homes are rarely available for sale. There are still opportunities for refurbishing older homes, but you have to act quickly when a home comes on the market.

The Cary Arts Center, one of the main focal points of downtown Cary.  It is a recent addition to the town and a source of great pride. The original school house was revamped into a modern facility where residents can enjoy performances, take art and dance classes and enjoy special events.  The downtown Cary Farmer's Market is also located on Academy St.

Homes For Sale Built Before 1960

As the area grew in the 1970's, thanks to water being routed from the Johnson Reservoir and the job growth of the Research Triangle, Cary began to grow from a sleepy little country village into a suburban town. Neighborhoods built in the 60's through the 80's surround downtown Cary in the 27511 zip code. Although these homes are older, they do offer large lot sizes and mature trees. This area is also coveted for its convenient location, close to downtown Raleigh, US 1 and I40. Major shopping such as Crossroads Plaza and the Cary Towne Center Mall are also conveniently located in this area. Homes in the 27511 zip code built in this era are affordable and a major attraction to first time home buyers.  It's a great area to invest.

Homes For Sale Built Between 1960 and 1980

Also available in this zip code are established luxury home communities, such as MacGregor Downs - which offers a Country Club, lake, walking trails and tennis. More Info about MacGregor Downs. Trader Joe's, Staples, a fitness club and other amenities are also conveniently located in this area of Cary.

Homes For Sale 1980 and Newer

Public Schools in 27511 zip code, part of the Wake County Public School System include:

Adams Elementary

Briarcliff Elementary

Cary Elementary

Farmington Woods Elementary - An International Baccalaureate (IB) Magnet School

East Cary Middle School

Cary High School

Note: School zoning changes may impact the schools assigned to a particular address. Always check with the school district to confirm zoning.

If you are looking for a home in the Cary, NC 27511 area, please give me a call.  I'd be happy to give you a personalized tour and give you more information about the area.

Should I Renovate or Sell "As-Is"?

Are you trying to decide whether to renovate or sell "as-is"?

So you are thinking of selling your home, but you aren't sure if you should do some improvements first - and if you do, will it bring in more money when you sell it?

This is something I encounter a lot when I meet sellers.  Rarely is a home "show ready" the day someone decides to sell. And there are plenty of homes on the market that are certainly not show ready. Really each home, each owner's financial situation, each market, and the sellers motivation can factor into the answer of whether to renovate or not.

Renovations may include a new kitchen, bathroom, adding more square footage, changing the floor plan or even changing the architectural style of the home.  Renovations are definitely more costly and take more time than simple improvements.  So doing them should be thoughtfully considered.

So why would you bother to renovate to sell? 

An unappealing floor plan, a worn out kitchen, broken bathrooms, a deck in disrepair and other signs of wear and age may turn off buyers and cause them to view your home as a "fixer" they can get at a discount. A home that doesn't appear well maintained looks like $$$ flying out the window to buyers.  Unless you are prepared to sell below market, you should consider renovating - or at best making some improvements.

Consider renovations are generally expensive, and if you can’t recoup what you spend, well it’s a no-brainer - why bother?  Sometimes selling below market is actually a win.  It's really the bottom line that matters.

If you decide to renovate, do your home work, hire trusted professionals and stay in a budget.

That said, there is always a return on investment for putting in a a few weekends of decluttering, yard work and cleaning.  Staging is proven to help homes sell faster and for top dollar.  How far you want to take the fix-ups takes a more in-depth analysis.

There is a happy medium here between sell "as is" and renovate to sell. It just depends on your situation and the local market.

If you would like me to come out and take a look at your home in the Cary/Raleigh area and give you my expert opinion, I'd be happy to do that - just give me a call.

MacGregor Downs - New Listing

Golf Course Community Property in MacGregor Downs 

New Listing!

303 Edinbrugh Drive in MacGregor Downs - Cary NC

Listing Details

Fantastic new listing on Edinburgh Drive in the highly sought after MacGregor Downs Neighborhood!

Sought after single story ranch home with modern features on a over an acre of land.  This beautiful home boasts 4 bedrooms and 2.5 baths and over 2,300 square feet of living space.  Enjoy a beautiful park like back yard view from a large screened sun room.

This is one of Cary's best neighborhoods.  The MacGregor Downs Country Club offers golf, tennis and a beautiful pool overlooking the lake.  Walking paths, biking trails and a peaceful lake for canoeing and fishing are just some of the great things to enjoy in MacGregor Downs.  Conveniently located to US 1 with easy access to 540, 440 and 40 for a quick RTP commute.

Watch this Video about MacGregor Downs Here



CONTACT ME today if you are interested in viewing this property or if you are interested in buying a home in MacGregor Downs.  Ask me about more listings coming soon!

Top 5 Inexpensive Interior Decorating Ideas to Get your Home Sold

Top 5 Inexpensive Interior Decorating Ideas to Get Your Home Sold

Even though the worst of the recession is finally over, people who are looking sell their homes are still unsure of how to go about getting the best offer. If you are also thinking about how to get the best price for your home, I have some interesting ideas.

It is not always necessary to invest a lot in redecorating the house to make it attractive and desirable for prospective buyers. Many affordable, yet smart decisions can make a house into an object of interest, both for Realtors and buyers.

Here are some tips on how to inexpensively decorate your home to make it more desirable.

Find Furniture For Less!

While shopping for furniture, you can sometimes find good bargains at garage sales. You can even try looking for second hand furniture on Craigslist or eBay or consignment stores. You will be surprised with the variety and quality of furniture that you will find at these places. Use your imagination and creativity to refurnish your house and make it aesthetically pleasing with a few strategically placed pieces of furniture.

You can also decorate your living room with small vases of plants to give it an artistic flair or you can keep small pots of herbs in your kitchen to give it a more appealing look. Try to keep it simple and clean, not too cluttered.

There are home staging professionals who will work with your existing stuff and just rearrange it to look more aesthetically pleasing.  You'd be surprised what a difference it can make.

Choose the Right Paint
Painting a few rooms that need it can really do wonders for the overall ambiance of your home. But, while shopping for paint for your house, keep in mind that it’s best to avoid dark colors, as dark toned rooms tend to make a room look small and gloomy. Whereas a room with light colored tones appears bright, airy, and comfortable. Neutral and fresh is best.

A Clean House Is a Desirable House!
It is necessary to keep the house relatively clean in case Realtors drop in with prospective buyers at a short notice. The best tip would be to de-clutter the rooms, and remove anything that doesn’t belong. This will give the house a clean, but homey look. Smell is important.  If you have pets, do everything possible to neutralize the odors.  You may not notice it anymore, but buyers sure will.

The Right Flooring Is Important Too!
While deciding on interior decorating, do not ignore the floor of your home. The floor is every bit as important as the rest of the house. If the flooring is not as pretty as it could be, rugs, mats, and inexpensive second hand carpets can be used to cover the floors of your home, and to compliment the theme of the rooms in your house.

Pay Attention to Your Garden
Pay attention to your driveway, porch, patio, and backyard as well. Small beautifully colored flower pots will serve as a bright welcome for prospective buyers and will serve as a first good impression. If your house has a backyard, then be sure to keep it tidy, as nothing impresses the buyers like a neat and clean backyard for the kids to play in.

While decorating your house, use your imagination and be creative. Keep it clean, simple and neutral - yet inviting and homey.  Remember buyers want to picture themselves living there.

Thinking of Selling? Lets get together and have a walk through your home and see what inexpensive interior decorating ideas we can use to make your home sell more quickly!

Email me: Jim@JimClevelandHomes.com or call me for more information 919-741-0923

HOMES FOR SALE IN CARY NC

HOMES FOR SALE IN CARY

SEE ALL HOMES FOR SALE IN CARY HERE

UNDER $300,000

$300,000 TO $500,000

$500,000 TO $800,000

OVER $800,000

Garden Tips to Sell Your Home

Garden Tips to Sell Your Home

People who buy homes with patios and gardens are generally investing in a lifestyle. So if you’re planning to sell your home, it’s as important to put effort into improving the way your garden looks, as it is to work on the house and its interiors. You might even find that the garden sells the property for you.

Tips for Selling Your Home Quickly

Having made the decision to sell your home, it makes good business sense to sell it as quickly as possible. You already know you’re going to have to clean and tidy, and repair and replace some things in the house. You might also have realized that it’s a good idea to declutter and do some home staging. But what about the garden?

One of the top tips for selling your home quickly is to get the garden looking great.

Curb Appeal
Chances are the real estate agent you have enlisted to sell your home has told you how important first impressions are, and advised you to get the curb appeal of your home right. If curb appeal isn’t there, you might not even get potential buyers to step over the threshold.

In essence curb appeal is the first impression your home gives people when they drive past, or up the driveway.

The trick with improving curb appeal is to ensure that the front of your home, and this part of the garden, is not only neat and tidy, but also eye-catching. Trim back trees and hedges and mow the lawn, then see how you can introduce some color, either by planting in beds or by adding pot plants.

Garden Staging
The layout of your backyard and garden will determine what you can do to add some charm to the outdoor areas of your home. While curb appeal will get those potential buyers onto the property, if they’re looking for an outdoor lifestyle, they’re going investigate every inch of your patio and garden – from back to front, and at the sides.

Clean paths and weed beds. Trim back excess growth and add well-established seedlings to introduce color and texture. You don’t have to spend a fortune on new plants, but a little bit of effort can go a long way. Once the basics are looking good, you can get on with garden staging to make the outdoor area look really great.

Just as you add bowls of fruit and vases with fresh flowers inside your home, add these splashes of color and interest to the patio. Set the table on your patio as if you are expecting guests. If you’re there when a potential buyer arrives, offer a cup of tea or cool drink. If not, give your real estate agent carte blanche to do this for you.

Reconsider how you see the garden from the inside out. Move pots and garden sculptures so that they make a statement.

Lastly, if you’ve got a swimming pool, make sure the water is clean and sparkling clear. This is yet another of those all important tips for selling your home quickly.