 As of August 25th, 2022 the Town of Pittsboro has their new water filtration system up and running. After only a year and a half in the works, the Town is happy to take quick action to address water drinking issues and give cleaning water for their residence. CLICK HERE to read the full article from PittsboroNC.gov for read more below:
"Town of Pittsboro Granular Activated Carbon (GAC) Filter Operational, Treated Water Now Entering Distribution System PITTSBORO, NC –The Town of Pittsboro is excited to announce that the Town’s Granular Activated Carbon (GAC) filter has officially been brought online, meaning we are now processing our drinking water to remove per-and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). Starting at 2:00 PM today, any new water entering the distribution system will have been processed through the filter, which adsorbs PFAS substances. This project, called the “Fast Track GAC” by the Town, has been in progress for nearly a year and a half and is an essential first step in addressing the Town’s issues with emerging contaminants and unregulated chemicals in our drinking water. The Town is pleased to have taken the initiative to install this type of system quickly. Our new GAC system can process 1 million gallons of water daily, which is the Town’s average daily use throughout the year. At the cost of nearly $3.5 million, this significant investment is one of the largest single infrastructure projects undertaken within our utility program, with funding coming from both the Town’s revenue and grant funding. Information regarding a grand-opening celebration will be provided to the public and media soon. A GAC filtration system removes contaminants from the water supply by flowing water through the GAC material, which pulls the contaminants like PFAS out of the water and forces them to stick to the filtration media. PFAS are a group of chemicals used to make fluoropolymer coatings and products that resist heat, oil, stains, grease, and water. These coatings can be in various products, including clothing, furniture, adhesives, food packaging, heat-resistant non-stick cooking surfaces, and electrical wire insulation. For more detailed information on PFAS substances, please visit the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) PFAS website by CLICKING HERE. For more information about the Town’s utility system, please visit our public utility website by CLICKING HERE. To register to receive free news alerts from the Town, including alerts for our Water and Wastewater system, please visit THIS WEBPAGE, click on “NOTIFY ME” on the toolbar on the right side of the web, and choose the alert categories you are interested in receiving. If the link does not work, you can access the news page by going to the website and clicking on “VIEW ALL NEWS” at the bottom. Then follow the steps listed above." If you would like to read more on reducing PFAS in drinking water, CLICK HERE to go to the EPA's article on the subject. Did you know there are great local Lake Living Communities in and near the Triangle? CLICK HERE to read about Lake life in the Durham to Raleigh area.
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 We partner with local professionals in the area to help you make buying and selling property easier! During the time of transition, we are here to make each step as smooth and easy as possible. Our partners at Caring Transitions Chapel Hill are a resource for you as an Estate Sale Professional with their turn-key services. Check out their post below on how to best choose an estate sale professional that fits your needs: "One of the challenges many adults face when moving to a smaller space is trying to determine what to do with their downsized possessions. Today, there are more options than ever, including charitable donations, live auctions, online auction sites, tag sales, traditional garage sales and estate sales. For people who have a fair amount of valuable inventory but not a lot of time, an Estate Sale can be a very positive experience. When run by professionals, such as Caring Transitions, they manage everything for you, including decluttering, home inventory, heavy lifting, pricing, advertising, marketing, and set up. This helps relieve an enormous amount of stress for adult children, especially if they live out of town, or whose senior parent may have recently passed. Afterwards, qualified experts can also help with move management or help organize clean up, donations, transport or shipping and reconciliation of sales receipts. But how do you decide which professionals to manage your estate sale? We’ve compiled 10 best practices for choosing an estate sale professional!
These 10 Best Practice for Choosing an Estate Sale Professional along with a video blog can be found on Caring Transitions website, CLICK HERE to read more! Did you know Carl has over 35+ years of experience in marketing making him a unique broker that is able to help you reach your goals! CLICK HERE to learn more.   In the information below, Dr. Lawrence Yun, Chief Economist of the National Association of REALTORS® gives his insight into Housing Starts in the market right now. Some key take aways are a return to pre-pandemic levels of construction starts for single-family, multifamily units' construction starts are on pace to hit a thirty year high giving a needed boost to rental market, and improving conditions for supply chain in construction related items helps construction normalize. Read more below!  source: @NAR_Research Did you know there are amazing Lake Communities around the Raliegh Durham area! The many lake areas nearby offer the perfect location for both primary and secondary homes! CLICK HERE to read more on Lake Living Communities to see where you can picture your next vacation home!
 In the case of a nature disaster or weather event being prepared ahead of time can bring you some relief. Read our tips below on Emergency Planning 101 to have your home and car ready in case an emergency ever strikes. From having a flashlight in a place you access easily to a first aid kit in your car, small steps now can help you big later!  Watch Carl's vlog on Home Improvement Tips HERE. Whether you are looking to list your home or just want to spruce it up Carl has tips to help you!
 Per the July report from Triangle MLS: "New Listings in the Triangle region were up 1 percent to 4,815. Under Contract Sales were down 14.7 percent to 3,478. Inventory levels went up 68.9 percent to 5,628 units. Closed sales were down 12.6 percent to 3,684. The Median Sales Price increased by 18.3 percent to $420,000. Days on Market was up 33.3 percent to 12 days. Sellers were encouraged as Months' Supply of Inventory was up 87.5 percent to 1.5 months." In Chatham County, there was a 2.2% decrease in new listings in July. The number of closed sales decreased between 2021 and 2022, dropping from 927 to 765. Median sales prices also increased by 22.2 percent. In July, Chatham County median sales price was higher than the median sales price for all MLS listings.  In Durham County, closed sales have decreased 6.2 percent year to date. Median sales price has increased 24.9 percent when compared to July last year, moving from $329,210 to $411,250. Average sales price increased by 18.9% year to date. In July, the Durham County median sales price was slightly lower compared to the median sales price of all MLS listings.  The number of listings in Orange County has decreased by 13.8 percent, from 1,432 new listings year to date last year to 1,235 new listings this year. There was a year to date 12.3 percent decrease in closed sales. Additionally, median sales price increased by 10.8 percent, from $415,000 to $460,000. In July, Orange County median sales price were above the median sales price for all MLS listings.  The number of listings in Person County has increased by 9.0 percent, from 299 new listings year to date last year to 326 new listings this year. There was a 4.7 percent decrease in closed sales. Additionally, median sales price increased by 18.6 percent, from $218,325 to $259,000. In July, Person County median sales price was below the median sales price for all MLS listings.  In Wake County, there was a decrease of 3.0 percent in the number of new listings year to date compared to last year. The number of closed sales decreased 13.4 percent. Median sales prices increased by 23.7 percent year to date, rising to $470,000. Compared to the median sales price for all MLS listings, Wake County median sales price were slightly higher for July.  Are you getting ready to list your home for sale? Read our resource section on Seller First Impressions HERE to learn how the best possible response from showings!
 By the end of first week in August we saw a drop in mortgage rates to below 5% for the first time since April! According to said George Ratiu, Realtor.com’s manager of economic research, “without a clear direction, markets are confining mortgage rates to move within a tighter range, as the sharp upward push has moderated,” he said. This statement goes in line with Dr. Yun's last insight, that the large jumps and spikes in rates have already happened, making for a more stable market rate.
Another positive benchmark for the market was in the report of low unemployment rates for July. "Based on Friday’s BLS (Bureau of Labor Statistics) data, employers added 528,000 jobs in July—up from 372,000 in June. This mid-summer performance helped bring the national unemployment rate down to 3.5%, marking a total return to its February 2020 pre-pandemic levels" (RisMedia.com). What does this low unemployment rate mean to the housing market? It goes hand-in-hand to say that a job, income, and applying for a mortgage are positively correlated. But overall, unemployment is showing a strengthening economy in a time when people fear a recession. It is one step forward in the right direction. Dr. Lawrence Yun, Chief Economist at National Association of REALTORS says: "Given the comeback in jobs, how are home sales? They are running below the pre-pandemic numbers seen in early 2020 and slightly below the 2019 annual total. Mortgage rates appear to be settling down over the past month at below 6%, with the past week dipping to 4.99%, but they are well above the 3.6% to 3.9% rates in the months before the pandemic. In other words, home sales are more impacted by mortgage rate changes than jobs. But the recently stabilizing mortgage rates suggest home sales will also soon stabilize and are likely to make steady gains in 2023." Steadying interest rates, an increase in home inventory, and as more and more Americans are going back to work, there is more opportunity for the housing marketing to become more stable. Whether you are looking to buy or sell, you can trust our experience and knowledge to guide and help you. CLICK HERE to contact us now!  Join the Coldwell Banker Howard Perry and Walston Team!
VP of Marketing Below is the job description for the open position with the HPW Marketing Department. The VP of Marketing is responsible for developing and leading strategic marketing initiatives for HPW, its business units, and its affiliates. It is a full-time position and located at the Wade Ave. location in Raleigh. If you are interested in applying, please send your resume to hr@hpw.com or CLICK HERE to apply online! Thank you! Job title VP of Marketing Department Marketing Reports to CEO or Their Designee Classification Salary Exempt Position Summary The Coldwell Banker Howard Perry and Walston Marketing Director plays a key role in leading and developing strategic marketing initiatives for the company. The Marketing Director will work closely with members of the executive management team and other business unit leaders to ensure that the company’s marketing programs effectively reach target audiences and utilize the latest in technology and marketing best practices. They will lead and mentor other members of the Marketing department staff. Duties and responsibilities ● Develop and execute strategic marketing plan for Coldwell Banker Howard Perry and Walston, its business units, and affiliates. ● Create, implement, and oversee communications programs that effectively support the vision and goals of the company, its business units, and affiliates. ● Work diligently to maximize the Company’s image, reputation and goodwill both within the company (internal public relations) and outside the company (external public relations). ● Monitor the effectiveness and efficiency of marketing and advertising programs of the Company, its business units, and affiliates and adjust those programs as needed to maximize market presence, revenue and return on revenue. ● Conduct research and develop strategies that will enable the Company, its business units, and affiliates to identify, respond to, and capitalize upon consumer preferences, trends and opportunities within the market. ● Maximize efficiency, economy and effectiveness of Corporate Marketing Department. ● Explore, develop and implement the most effective technology tools and resources for the Company’s agents, employees and consumers. Market these tools and resources internally and externally. ● Plan, organize and manage all Company major events. ● Create, manage, and maintain marketing budgets. ● Hire, train and manage all Marketing Department staff. ● Serve as president of the HPW Foundation ● Conduct, supervise and/or participate in other tasks assigned by the CEO or their designee as they relate to the Company, its business units, and affiliates. ● Creation, maintenance and management of company and affiliate websites and related SEO to drive traffic leads. ● Maintain compliance for brand standards. ● Other duties as assigned Required Experience, Skills and Education ● Bachelor’s degree and 15 years of experience in marketing ● Seven or more years of marketing management experience ● Experience in a real estate brokerage environment preferred but not necessary ● Computer experience including MS Office Suite, Apple and Google products and video editing ● Excellent interpersonal skills, effective verbal and listening communications skills ● Self-motivated with a positive attitude and a strong work ethic ● Broad understanding of technology ● Strong leadership skills ● Strong project management skills Physical requirements The physical requirements of this position include sitting, standing and the ability to talk and hear. The position may also require some lifting of supplies and materials from time to time, up to 20 pounds. Our Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Diversity, Equity and Inclusion are top priorities for HPW. We are committed to building and maintaining a diverse workforce by creating an environment that values the uniqueness and differences of our employees and agents. We believe a diverse workforce enables us to better provide for, understand, appreciate, and meet the needs of our customers, employees, and agents. Compensation We offer a competitive salary based on experience. To apply, submit resume to hr@hpw.com.  Carl was honored to be published in New Homes and Ideas Magazine as well as on WRAL News.com featuring his article on Native Gardens! CLICK HERE to see the full publication online and read it below!  Native Gardens: Supporting Local Businesses & Your Local Environment By Carl Johnson Featured Photo by Isaiah N Lilly/Shutterstock.com The Triangle is literally in bloom this time of year! Surrounded by vibrant greens, the work in the garden is just getting started and the seemingly never-ending battle of weeding and mowing has only just begun. But, what if there is a way to help beautiful natural gardens grow that could mean less fighting of the weeds for you, and supporting the natural growth of your neighborhood? Native gardens are not only a hot new trend, but are proving to be beneficial for the environment and animal life. A Native Garden promotes the growth of greenery that was originally native to the area. In growing indigenous plants, the native species of insects, birds, and other animals, benefit from the food and shelter these plants provide. Some quick research and planning can have a lasting positive impact on your surroundings. It doesn’t matter whether you plant one row of flowers, or reconstruct your full landscape, having native plants is a step forward to a healthier Earth. What are the benefits to growing a native garden? Native flora can be just as visually appealing as a non-native garden, but the main benefit to planting native is the ecological impact. Indigenous plants support and allow biodiversity to grow, which is essential to all life on Earth. From proper plant pollination to purifying the air and water, biodiversity is a constantly moving cycle supporting life through all of its stages. Over-manicured lawns and the planting of only “big-store bought flowers” decrease the diversity of available plant life. As areas like the Triangle continue to grow and develop, the natural landscape gets changed and it becomes even more important to replace the native plants that were there. Local insects and pollinators will see a decrease in population as our local plants get removed. A decrease in insects sets off a chain reaction that negatively impacts most other animal life. Another benefit of native gardens is that they can be low maintenance. Since these plants are indigenous, they are typically more resistant to the diseases and pests of the area, and adapted to the local soil type. Once proper native perennials are planted, especially seasonal native plants, your garden will continue to grow and bloom on its own. Pollinators will thrive with these additions and will help your garden to grow and survive year after year. A less impactful reason to plant native, but a rather interesting take, is that native plant life ties the area to its history and how the community originally looked and felt. For history-rich areas such as North Carolina, having native plants helps to tell the story of its many historic towns and homes. What plants are local to the Triangle Area? And how to plant them! Native plants are determined by your specific location known as an ecoregion. These ecoregions have different levels, Level I being the broadest, to Level III which gives specifics to smaller areas housed in the Level I and II ecoregions. The EPA gives detailed maps of the Ecoregions in North America which show that most of the Triangle falls under Level III 8.3.4 – Southeastern USA Plains – Piedmont. Though, it is best to use the EPA resources for your specific home when starting your native garden. Once you know your exact Ecoregion you can research which types of plant life are native to your home. As specified by the EPA’s Ecoregions, the Triangle falls under the area Level III 8.3.4 – Southeastern USA Plains – Piedmont, but what does this mean to you as you start your native garden? It is important to first look at the area you are planting in and take into consideration size, soil type and drainage, and sunlight exposure. After all just because a plant is native does not mean it will thrive or be easy to tend to. NC State’s Gardener Handbook suggests planting in layers if you are able to. From tall canopy trees down to the lowest ground layer, you can find native plants throughout. The National Wildlife Federation (NWF) is a fantastic resource where you can search by zip code for plants that are native to your area. They even offer a ranking that shows the number of butterflies and moths that use each specific plant for their caterpillars, helping to directly promote biodiversity. Below are a few of the native plants listed for the Raleigh zip codes found on the NWF website. Flowers and Grasses: Atlantic Goldenrod (Solidago), Virginia Strawberry (Fragaria), Giant Sunflower (Helianthus), Arrowleaf Violet (Viola), Carolina Geranium (Geranium), Broadleaf Ironweed (Veronia), Beaked Panicgrass (Panicum) Trees and Shrubs: Oak (Quercus), Chickasaw Plum (Prunus), Red Maple (Acer), Coastal Plain Willow (Salix), Crabapple (Malus), American Beech (Fagus), American Elm (Ulmus), Pond Pine (Pinus) What is happening locally to support Native Plants? What Can You Do? You may have heard of No-Shave November but what about No-Mow May? This event took place in May throughout the country and promotes no lawn mowing for the whole month of May. The end result is an increase in plant and flower growth giving the pollinator species the resources and food they need to survive as they come out of their hibernation. The town of Carrboro participated in No-Mow May as a part of their Bee City USA initiative. You can take the idea of mowing less often throughout the entire summer, not just May, to help promote native species growth. There are also a variety of places to visit to learn more on native plants, specifically local botanical gardens. The North Carolina Botanical Garden located in Chapel Hill, Juniper Level Botanical Garden in Raleigh, and JC Raulston Arboretum in Raleigh are all breathtaking, relaxing, and educational gardens to visit where you can enjoy the outdoors while learning about native plants and how you can help promote them! A smaller and simpler task than rebuilding your whole garden can be adding a rain barrel to your downspouts. A rain barrel can hold up to 55 gallons of water which you can in turn use to water your flowers and garden while decreasing your water bill. This simple way of going green aids the environment through natural water conservation, benefits you through money savings, and can be very aesthetically pleasing! Another small impact you can have is to look into whether or not you have a green HOA. A green HOA is one who makes an active choice to use companies, materials, plants and landscaping designs that are both energy-efficient and eco-friendly. A simple letter asking your HOA to explore this route can have a beneficial long-term effect for your neighborhood. A Native Garden: Helping Your Neighborhood and Your Neighborhood Wildlife Native Gardens are a trend that is not going away and hopefully will become the way of gardening in the future. Building a whole garden around native plants can be a challenge, but for many, gardening is a passion and taking the time and care to give back to your land through your plant choice can be very rewarding. If you live somewhere without an area to garden, try putting some local Carolina geraniums in a hanging basket and watch the butterflies flock to it. No matter the size, one small step forward can have a lasting impact! When looking to buy a home it is important to keep in mind those values that are of importance to you. That is why working with a local experienced buyer’s agent is the way to go. If going green and ideals such as a native garden are important to you, a buyer’s agent can help you research the area’s HOA to see if they support these same goals. Your agent can also help to direct you to an area of town that is rich in history and preserving the natural culture of the area. A buyer’s agent will protect your best interests as a buyer and make sure to keep your needs top of mind. Carl Johnson, Realtor, Broker I’ve lived in the Triangle area since 1986, and it has always been home in my heart. I attended the University of North Carolina School of the Arts for high school and college, where I studied voice. After graduating, I decided to enter the business world, where I worked in several marketing, publishing and advertising endeavors, one which took me across the United States prior to my real estate career. After years of local real estate experience, I am now the proud Founder of Carl Johnson Real Estate and lead my company of experienced agents, along with our in-house operations and marketing teams. We are a referral driven company putting our clients first while going above and beyond expectations with a focus on detail and client needs. Learn more about Carl Johnson and Carl Johnson Real Estate by visiting www.CarlJohnsonRealEstate.com.   In an article published August 2, 2022 by CNN's Anna Bahney, the topic of "What is next for the US Housing Market?" was covered with insight from Dr. Lawrence Yun, the chief economist for the National Association of Realtors. CLICK HERE to read the full article or see below for excerpts highlighting the market. Now is a great time to buy and sell.
Mortgage Rates Will Settle by the Year's End "Yun said that while mortgage rates may tick up or down in the months to come, the biggest jumps have already happened. 'We may be topping out on mortgage rates,' he said. Yun noted that mortgage rates may have largely already "priced-in" the Fed's current and anticipated future interest rate hikes. He expects mortgage rates will settle in near 6% by year's end and that home sales will normalize once mortgage rates become more stable." Inventory Will Rise "As the market slows, potential buyers who continue to search for a home will have less competition and more homes to chose from, offering more breathing room than the frenzied market of the past two years. Soaring demand to buy a home during the past two years led to record low inventory of homes to buy and that pushed prices up. In June, inventory saw its first year-over-year turnaround in three years. The number of homes available for sale at the end of June was up 9.6% from May and 2.4% from a year ago, according to NAR." Home Prices Will Rise More Slowly "The median price of a home reached a record high of $416,000 in June. But the pace of price growth has been slowing lately. Median home prices for existing homes were up 13.4% in June from the year before, compared with the 23% spike in home prices in June 2021, according to NAR. Yun said he expects home prices for this year will be up 11%. That's less than the 16.9% year-over-year increase from 2020 to 2021, but more than he had predicted at the beginning of this year. As higher mortgage rates tamp down buyer demand, inventory will rise and sales will fall, which should help prices to moderate the rest of this year. 'Homes may be sitting on the market longer, there will be more properties with price reductions," Yun said. "Buyers who do deeper homework may be able to find a home with a price reduction or get a better price negotiation.' " At Carl Johnson Real Estate we use our experience and knowledge to lead our clients in the right direction. CLICK HERE to read about Carl and David, our two Full Time Real Estate Brokers, and see how their experience will help you today! |
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