How Do Raleigh Home Prices Compare With Other Large Cities?

From the Real Estate Home Page

Ever wonder how home prices, foreclosures and the overall home buying and selling conditions compare here to other areas?

A recent article by Lori Johnston at Bankrate.com compares these values for the Triangle with those of 39 other large cities...and the nation.  

Here are the figures for homes in the Triangle:

Median Home Price - end of 2008:  $230,900
Median Home Price - end of 2007:  $235,600
Percent Change:  -2%

Projected Change through 3rd Quarter 2009:  -0.6%
Home Affordability Rating:  1.1

Home Foreclosures in 2008:  4,444 (1 for every 92 households)
Home Foreclosures in 2007:  3,884 (1 for every 102 households)
Change in Home Foreclosures:  14.4%

Expected to Hit Bottom:  2nd Quarter 2009
Percent Drop Needed to Reach Bottom:  -0.5%

Now...to see how the Triangle compares with the nation, as a whole, and other cities, take a look at the map and click on the areas you'd like to compare.


Kwik Kwote: "Success doesn't come to you - you go to it."
                                                            --Marva Collins

To search for homes in the Cary-Apex-Holly Springs, NC area, take a look at Triangle Estates Realty. Or, email me at Tim@TimHaag.com. Or, for a no pressure chat, call me at 919-389-7135

My Resume...For Any of You Who Give A Hoot!

TIM HAAG


MANAGER-CONSULTANT-EDUCATOR

Accomplished Manager, Consultant and Trainer with Distinguished Career of Leadership on the Job and in the Classroom. Proven Excellence in Both Operational and Teaching Dimensions of Management. Expertise in Business Startup, Organization, Supervision, Motivation, and Human Resources and Facility Optimization.


Advanced Management Education from Harvard University. Proven Expertise in Directing Operations, Growing Organization Assets, Improving Productivity, Creating and Inspiring Outstanding Teams, Developing and Presenting High Caliber Training Programs, Solving Complex Problems. Eminently Qualified in Creating and Successfully Implementing First-class Processes and Procedures in Workplace and External Environment.


Adjunct Faculty Member, University of Pittsburgh. Development and Instruction of Courses in Management and Organization; Organizational Behavior; and Effective Supervision. Guest Lecturer, North Carolina State University - Real Estate Financing.

CRITICAL SKILLS

Manage, Direct, Evaluate Operations, Finances, Personnel, Facilities, Equipment.


Prepare and Administer Operational Budgets, Capital Budgets, Capital Improvement Programs.


Perform Strategic Planning, Tactical Planning, Performance Monitoring, Evaluation, Change.


Oversee Facilities Construction, Maintenance, Repairs, Operations.


Prepare, Negotiate, Critique, Perform Contracts and Agreements for Goods, Services.


Expertly Negotiate for Employer to Achieve Most Favorable Terms on Goods, Services, Personnel.


Hire, Train, Supervise, Develop, Evaluate, Release Employees.


Develop, Teach and Evaluate Training Programs for Business; Government; and Non-profit Agencies.


Create and Manage Personnel Policies, Procedures and Guidelines for Employees-Contractors.


Design and Administer Evaluation Standards and Criteria for Employee Behavior-Performance.


Create Work Environments that Optimize Performance, Job Satisfaction, Loyalty.


Design, Implement, Upgrade, Evaluate Performance Improvement Plans and Actions.


Facilitate Team Building and Collaboration Internally and with Various Publics.


Accomplish Effective Mediation and Conflict Resolution with Win-Win Agreements.


Ensure self-Sustenance through Grants, Fees, and other Found and Created Funding Streams.


Guide Creative Organizational Structuring and Change Management.


Excel in Public Speaking and Multi-Media Communications.


Maximize Power of Computers to Streamline Operations, Communications, Internet Marketing.


Assure Excellence in Business Marketing, Service and Customer-Client Loyalty.


Promote Employer's Values, Goodwill, Contributions and Positive Relations in Community.


Invest Personal Interest in Employer's Success, Image, Future Viability.

FORMAL EDUCATION

HARVARD UNIVERSITY Cambridge, MA - Master of Public Administration

UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH Pittsburgh, PA - BA, Public Administration
(summa cum laude)

LICENSES

NC Real Estate Commission
NC Banking Commission
NC Insurance Commission

CRITICAL EXPERIENCE

SENIOR MANAGER AND CONSULTANT - Owner/Contractor with top Triangle brokerage firms, including Howard Perry and Walston, Fonville Morisey, Re/Max, York Simpson Underwood and Triangle Estates Realty. Raleigh-Cary-Chapel Hill-Durham, NC 1994-Present


• Managed and Directed Client Services to meet changing client and market demands. Orchestrated all aspects of management process including identifying key properties, conducting due diligence evaluations, performing value analyses, drafting professional purchase offers, skillfully negotiating best prices and terms, coordinating myriad details from conception to closing, and following up to verify closure on all issues. Had responsibility for bottom-line factors, such as realistic budgeting, cutting edge marketing, effective personnel administration and precise reporting. Structured all operations and transactions. Fadlitated organizational creativity and vision. Introduced policies and procedures to ensure clients received superior service and top quality support.


PRINCIPAL AND CONSULTANT - Consulting services with Church Street Associates to educational and non-profit organizations. LaCrosse, WI 1991 - 1994


• Worked With Client Decision Makers to assess needs and create agendas for strategic planning, organizational development, fundraising, financial management and growth. Executed financial, technical and administrative programs and guide efforts to boost cross-functional collaboration and employee engagement. Conferred with administrators, staff and board members to identify and close performance gaps. Designed, developed and directed initiatives to enhance workflow and productivity.


• Creatively Guided Client Organizations through complex technical, financial, and strategic organizational challenges. Designed and implemented leadership development and operating programs to leverage best practices and increase efficiency and goal achievement for client organizations. Pioneered initiatives that inspired professional growth and improved collaboration and morale within teams.

COUNTY AND REGIONAL PLANNING EXECUTIVE - Executive Director, Venango County Planning Commission. Chairperson, Northwest PA Regional Planning and Development Commission. Franklin, PA pre-1991


• Managed Comprehensive and Functional Planning for housing, transportation, water, sewer, recreation, waste management and resource conservation for entire county and municipalities. Facilitated planning and development of 2,700-acre county park, including grants acquisition and management, property negotiation and acquisition, construction of dam, lake, roads, beach, and public facilities.

• Guided Planning. Grant Acquisition. Construction and State/Federal Approvals for critical facilities at County airport, including land identification, negotiation, acquisition and compliance with Federal and State regulations, displacement rules and relocation requirements.


• Chaired Regional Planning, Economic and Community Development for eight-county area to enhance productivity and re-energize job growth, human services, education and regional infrastructure. Financed small business start-ups, organization and support via State and Federal grants acquisition.


• Concept Presenter at National Conference - Developed innovative zoning concept for fair housing and presented at National Zoning Institute of American Planning Association.



ADJUNCT FACULTY - University of Pittsburgh 

 • Developed and Taught Courses in Management and Organization; Organizational Behavior; and Effective Supervision. Worked with students to prepare them for successful careers.


STATEWIDE TRAINER - Pennsylvania Department of Community Affairs

 • Instructor and Consultant - Conducted seminars and training programs for government officials and not-for-profit organization staff. Included effective management, leadership, planning, budgeting and operations.

* * * * *

Kwik Kwote: "A wise man will make more opportunities than he finds." --Francis Bacon

To search for homes in the Cary-Apex-Holly Springs, NC area, take a look at Triangle Estates Realty. Or, email me at Tim@TimHaag.com . Or, for a no pressure toll-free chat, call me at 919-389-7135 .

Talk to Your Computer...Another Cool Cyber Trick!

From the Real Estate CyberSpace Home Page

Fess up.  Do you ever talk to yourself when you're at home all alone?
 

Okay...even I occasionally do that.  But...do you ever talk to your computer?  Raise your hand if you do.  Uh oh, this is worse than I thought.

Just kidding.  Actually, if you do talk to your computer, there's no need to hang your head in shame.  We all love to talk to (or occasionally cuss at) our computer and sometimes wish it would talk back.

Not to worry!  There are ways to legitimately talk to your computer as well as have it talk to you.  Here's how.

There's very cool software called "Dragon Naturally Speaking".  It's a voice recognition program that allows you to speak commands and narrate text to your computer.  Now that's POWER.  But power doesn't come cheap.  It was around $200 when I bought it, but the fun is worth it.

But, what about getting your computer to talk to you?  There's a little program you can download from the net.  Then, here's all you need to do.  Highlight any text you see on your internet browser.  Right click and select "speak text".  Like magic, your computer will speak the highlighted text aloud from beginning to end!

So, when you want to give your eyes a rest, employ your own personal reader to pamper you.  Oh, and last I checked, there's no charge for it!

For this and other cool cyber tips, take a look:


Kwik Kwote:  "The only job security is to be more talented tomorrow than you are today." --Michael Levine

To search for homes in the Cary-Apex-Holly Springs, NC area, take a look at Triangle Estates Realty. Or, email me at Tim@TimHaag.com. Or, for a no pressure toll-free chat, call me at 919-389-7135.

The Oldest Object in the Universe!

From the Real Estate Home Page

Listen to this.  Earlier this year, specialized satellites picked up gamma rays from an exploding star of 13 billion years ago! 

Get this...the name of the dying star is GRB 090423. Why couldn't it just be Hugo or Elsie or something...sometimes scientists can be so scientific.

Anyway, after zeroing in on it with the telescope at the Gemini Observatory in Hilo, Hawaii...Harvard researcher Edo Berger et al determined that what they were seeing was the oldest object yet discovered in the universe!

According to these guys, GRB 090423 exploded more than 13 billion years ago, at a time when the universe was only 625 million years old...only?????

Listen.  Would you like to see more interesting stuff about this?  Check out the article at the link below from "Harvard Magazine".  I'd tell you more if I understood half of it.  Don't get me wrong...I love Astronomy, but that doesn't mean I'm smart in it!

Alright...here you go into space:

Kwik Kwote: "Problems cannot be solved by the same level of thinking that created them." --Albert Einstein

To see homes in the Cary-Apex-Holly Springs, NC area, take a look at the Triangle Estates Realty website. Or, email me at Tim@TimHaag.com. Or, for a no pressure chat, call me at 919-389-7135.

Is Your Home Lender Going to Raise Your ARM?

From the Real Estate Home Page


Do you have a home loan with an ARM - Adjustable Rate Mortgage?


If the answer is "Yes", there's a pretty good chance your lender will be raising your rate. That increase could be as high as 35 percent on loans for some homes, according to Maker Capital Group in its August 2009 Newsletter.

It's a good time to seriously consider refinancing to a fixed rate!

But...Why?

-Fixed rates are low...not that much higher than adjustable rate home loans.

-Peace of mind...no worry that your home's modest interest rate will go up in the future.

-Budgeting...your home payment is easier to budget with a fixed rate.

-Financial planning...be more confident in planning for your financial future.

Sooo...for Pete's sake, what are you waiting for...get on over to your home loan professional immediately, if not sooner!


See if your home equity situation, credit score and financial preferences support refinancing to a fixed rate home loan!

If you'd like to know more, take a look at the following article:

http://mailcenter.newmediagateway.com/makercapitalgroup/main/index.php?action=viewsenthtml&id=374&ids=fe7ab86e3a79a0a6cc0b1905e3a8ff4341073862&viewers_email=tim@timhaag.com&dh=1


Kwik Kwote: "To be a great champion, you must believe you are the best. If you're not, pretend you are." -Muhammad Ali

To see homes in the Cary-Apex-Holly Springs, NC area, take a look at http://www.TriangleEstatesRealty.com/. Or email me at Tim@TimHaag.com. Or for a no pressure toll-free chat, call me at 877-TIM-HAAG (846-4224).