 Cast Your Vote for Carl Johnson!
Voting is officially open for Durham Magazine’s Best of Durham! We’d truly appreciate your support by voting Carl Johnson for Best Real Estate Agent. It means more than you know! See below on how to vote for Carl, then vote for all your other Durham favorites from food to vets as well! Deadline to VOTE is ? 2026. CLICK HERE to VOTE for Carl in the 2026 Best of Durham poll - detailed instructions below! Here is how to cast your vote: Go to... Vote for Your Favorites in Best of Durham 2026 (durhammag.com) Click on Home & Garden → Best Real Estate Agent Type in: Carl Johnson After that, you’re done! Whether you’re a past client or have simply seen the care and dedication Carl brings to every transaction, your vote is a wonderful way to show support. Voting is quick and easy, and every vote truly matters. Thank you for helping us continue serving Durham with excellence in real estate! CLICK HERE to read some amazing testimonials from our wonderful clients and see why Carl truly deserves this honor.
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 Carl Johnson, 2026 Chairperson, Hillsborough County Chamber of Commerce
I am honored and humbled to serve as the 2026 Chairperson of the Board of Directors for the Hillsborough-Orange County Chamber of Commerce. I invite you to become actively engaged with the Chamber in 2026. We have exciting initiatives ahead, and your involvement will help ensure we make a meaningful impact in our community. As a trained singer and actor and a serial entrepreneur who has built several successful businesses, I am excited to be part of the Chamber’s growth in the coming year. I bring more than 35 years of marketing experience and have owned and operated five companies throughout my professional career. I currently own a real estate company CarlJohnsonRealEstate.com at Coldwell Banker HPW and a marketing company 4REmarketing.com. After studying Vocal Performance at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts, I relocated to the Triangle, where my professional career began managing movie theaters. It was there that I discovered my passion for marketing. My marketing career has spanned many roles and industries, including work with The Chapel Hill Herald, where I served as both a marketing consultant and later General Manager; experience at an advertising agency; launching my own advertising agency; advertising sales at Chapel Hill Magazine; and I started Durham Magazine for its owners at the time, the Shannons. My final role in marketing was with the AICPA, where I served as a Senior Account Manager, working with clients across the southern Midwest and West Coast, including Intuit, Oracle, and Fujitsu. Having experienced every side of the marketing table, I transitioned into a career in real estate, focusing on residential and land sales throughout the greater Triangle area and the Crystal Coast, from Swansboro to Beaufort. My passion lies in creating and growing organizations powered by talented, collaborative people who embrace a can-do mindset, support one another, and learn together. I look forward to bringing that same philosophy to our work at the Chamber. Stay tuned for future communications about how you can help us make a meaningful difference in our community. CLICK HERE to join our exclusive monthly newsletter! Stay in the know as we unpack the latest market trends, share new listing updates, highlight what’s currently on the market and what’s been sold, plus deliver fun and intriguing insights from the real estate industry you won’t want to miss.  December 2025 delivered a strong and unexpected finish for North America’s luxury real estate market. After a brief dip in November, activity rebounded, with single-family luxury sales rising 7.8% year-over-year and attached properties increasing 4.1%. Month-over-month, sales jumped 9.4% for single-family homes and surged 15.9% for attached properties, defying typical seasonal slowdowns. Prices also remained steady, with median sold prices up 3.9% for single-family homes and 2.7% for attached properties, signaling continued market strength heading into the new year.                As the luxury market moves into 2026, buyers are making more strategic, lifestyle-driven decisions, viewing real estate as both an investment and a long-term asset. With steady sales, growing inventory, and stable pricing, the market is positioned for smart, sustainable growth rather than speculation. Success this year will be driven by value, experience, and expert guidance, making informed decision-making and strong market insight more important than ever.
Enjoy the Coast? Click here to read this month's latest Crystal Coast Market Report.   Throughout the Triangle region in December, market activity showed strong momentum. New listings increased by 7%, giving buyers more options, while closed sales surged by 13.2%, signaling continued demand and confident purchasing activity. At the same time, the average sales price climbed 2.6% to $490,987, reflecting steady appreciation and the overall strength of the local housing market. These trends point to a healthy balance of opportunity for both buyers and sellers as the region wrapped up the year and headed into the new one.  In Chatham County, new listings declined by 10.4% in December, yet market activity remained strong. Closed sales jumped an impressive 34.7%, while the average sales price rose significantly by 7.9% to $699,390. These numbers highlight continued buyer demand and solid price growth despite tighter inventory. Overall, the market remains competitive, creating strong opportunities for sellers and motivated buyers alike.  In December, Durham experienced a 14.8% increase in new listings, giving buyers more options and fresh inventory to explore. Closed sales also rose by 4.6%, while the average sales price climbed 10.8%, sitting at $552,400 signaling strong buyer demand and continued home value growth. Together, these trends point to a healthy, active market as Durham closed out the year with solid momentum.  In December, despite Orange County’s 1.6% decrease in new listings, closed sales increased by 4%, while the average sales price rose 2.3% to $617,460. This steady performance highlights continued buyer activity and price stability across the market. Even with limited inventory, Orange County remained competitive as the year came to a close.  In December, Person County experienced a sharp 45.7% decline in new listings, creating a tighter inventory for buyers to navigate. Despite this dip, closed sales showed remarkable resilience, jumping 39.1% as buyers remained active and eager to make moves before year-end. The average sales price eased by 6.5%, settling at $359,486, reflecting a slight market adjustment amid shifting supply and demand. Overall, the county’s market demonstrated both challenges and opportunities, highlighting the importance of timing and strategy for buyers and sellers alike.  In December, Wake County experienced a 7.8% increase in new listings, giving buyers more opportunities to explore the market as the year wrapped up. Closed sales jumped 14.2%, showing strong buyer activity and continued confidence despite seasonal trends. The average sales price rose modestly by 0.6%, settling at $577,180, signaling steady growth and market stability. Overall, these numbers reflect a healthy, active market, with opportunities for both buyers and sellers as Wake County closed out the year.
Buying or selling a home can feel like a lot to manage, mountains of paperwork, a constantly shifting market, and unexpected surprises around every turn. That’s where an experienced REALTOR® like Carl Johnson makes all the difference. Carl walks you through every step of the process, turning what can be stressful into a clear, manageable, and even enjoyable experience. With Carl Johnson Real Estate, you also gain access to a trusted network of professionals, lenders, mortgage specialists, home inspectors, and contractors, so no detail is ever overlooked. This team approach saves you time, reduces stress, and gives you the confidence to make informed decisions every step of the way. Ready to start your journey? Call 919-880-0904 and let Carl Johnson Real Estate help you find your perfect home on the beautiful Crystal Coast. CLICK HERE to read this month's latest Luxury Market Report.  Ahead of Tax Time
Tax time is right around the corner, and now is the perfect moment to get organized and prepared. Taking steps early can help reduce stress, avoid last-minute surprises, and put you in a stronger financial position for the year ahead. Tax season is more than just filing paperwork, it’s an opportunity to review your finances and plan ahead. Organizing income documents, tracking expenses, and understanding possible tax deductions can make the process smoother and more efficient. Early preparation also gives you time to ask questions and make informed decisions. For homeowners and those considering buying or selling a home, tax time plays an important role in financial planning. Mortgage interest, property taxes, and certain home-related costs may impact your tax return. If real estate is part of your plans this year, understanding how taxes connect to homeownership can help you move forward with confidence. Self-employed individuals, small business owners, and anyone with multiple income sources may find tax season especially complex. Keeping accurate records and working with a trusted tax professional can help ensure nothing is missed and that you’re taking advantage of available deductions. The key to a smoother tax season is starting early. Creating a checklist, setting aside time to prepare, and staying informed can make tax time feel far more manageable, and even empowering. If buying or selling a home is part of your plans this year, Carl Johnson Real Estate is here to help. Carl will be there for you every step of the way, offering guidance and insight to help you make confident real estate decisions during tax season and beyond. Call Carl at 919-880-0904 to get started today. CLICK HERE for some insight on smart ways to reduce and avoid debt.  Whether it is a New Year, New You, or just a New Year's Freshen Up, any small positive vibe, including a color change in your home, can go a long way into getting yourself started on the right foot! I fully believe investing in yourself is so important and as a real estate agent I see daily the happiness, making a house into a home, brings people. This is why I love to feature the Pantone Color of the Year each January, as a way to bring some of that New Year's positive energy into our homes! Learn more about this great hue below, as well as some other color palette options it pairs perfectly with. We sat down with Alisa Sparks, Founder and CEO of Linden Creek where they focus on beauty one house at a time, to talk Color Trends in Home Design for 2026 and her take on using the Pantone Color of the Year.  Pantone Color of the Year | Cloud Dancer CLOUD DANCER was named the Pantone 2026 Color of the Year (https://www.pantone.com/color-of-the-year/2026) . This white hue allows movement, creativity, thoughtfulness, and relaxation into any area it is used in. According to the Pantone’s description “Cloud Dancer, a lofty white that serves as a symbol of calming influence in a society rediscovering the value of quiet reflection. A billowy white imbued with serenity, PANTONE 11-4201 Cloud Dancer encourages true relaxation and focus, allowing the mind to wander and creativity to breathe, making room for innovation” (https://www.pantone.com/color-of-the-year/2026) This hue allows for a variety of other color pallets to be used along side Cloud Dancer, really making the color perfect for any home. It may be used throughout for a full house refresh or simply added to one room to brighten things up. Lets look at some other color palette options to see what you’d love to feature in your life next! Powered Pastels “Pastel and neutral tones make compatible combinations to Cloud Dancer offering subtle shifts in hue that are nuanced, pleasing, and understated” (https://www.pantone.com/color-of-the-year/2026).  Pantone Color of the Year | Cloud Dancer Light & Shadow - “Cloud Dancer gracefully blends into a veiled palette of softened hues that ultimately dissolve into shadowy shades, producing an easy and effortless contrast in color” (https://www.pantone.com/color-of-the-year/2026).  Pantone Color of the Year | Cloud Dancer Tips from a Professional - Linden Creek’s Alisa Spark Q&A
Wondering how Cloud Dancer can be implemented in your home? Or do you really want to know if a simple paint color can influence the feeling of your home? Read below as we talk with Alisa Sparks, the Founder and CEO of Linden Creek, and see how much color can help you and your home! Q: Do you believe the color of a home can influence your mood/feelings? A: Absolutely. Color has a powerful way of setting the emotional tone of a home, it can calm you, energize you, or make a space feel instantly more welcoming the moment you walk in. Q: What is one area a homeowner can focus on if they are trying to use color to freshen up a home/room? A: Paint is always the easiest and most impactful place to start. Whether it’s walls, cabinetry, or even a front door, color can completely refresh a space without a full redesign. Giving your home a neutral, white base is a great way to do so. Q: The Pantone 2026 Color of the Year is Cloud Dancer (PANTONE® USA | Color of the Year 2026) - Can you see this as a color that can be implemented in a home in major ways as well as subtle additions? A: Yes, completely. Cloud Dancer feels soft and airy enough to work beautifully as a main wall color, but it also shines in subtle moments like trim, cabinetry, or to color drench a room. Q: Do you feel Cloud Dancer is a color that can have other tones added to it in the same space? Will it complement well with added deep textured accents as well as bright/light colors? Does it favor one more than the other? A: Cloud Dancer is incredibly flexible. It pairs just as well with deep, rich textures like wood, stone, and darker metals as it does with lighter, brighter tones though it really comes to life when grounded with a bit of contrast such as a muted sage or dusty blue. Q: Is there a room where you can see Cloud Dancer being used the most? A: I especially love it for living rooms and bedrooms. It creates a calm, elevated backdrop that feels cozy but still light and timeless. Q: What design trends do you see moving forward into the New Year? Anything new that has caught your eye? A: We’re seeing a continued move toward softer neutrals, layered textures, and spaces that feel collected rather than overly styled. There’s also a beautiful shift toward warmth, organic materials, and designs that prioritize how a home feels, not just how it looks. A Color For A Great Year At the end of the day the Pantone Color of the Year is a fun way to mix design and trends into your home with positive spin! You can utilize the color in simple ways such as white hue throw pillows and even in a new set of bathroom towels, or you can go all in for the New Year and paint entire rooms this creative welcoming hue! See where the New Year takes you and we hope nothing but the best from our team to yours in 2026! CLICK HERE to read about Staging Your Home to Make it Stand Out as a Listing!  Obtaining a credit card isn’t just about getting approved for the sake of having one. It’s a meaningful financial decision that plays a critical role in building and maintaining your credit history. Using a credit card responsibly, by keeping balances low, making payments on time, and monitoring your accounts regularly, can set the foundation for long-term financial health.  Be sure to use your credit card wisely and manage your spending so you can comfortably pay your balance each month.
In the end, using a credit card should be viewed as a tool, not a shortcut. When you manage it wisely, stay within your budget, and make payments on time, you’re not only protecting your credit, you’re building a stronger financial future for yourself. CLICK HERE for some tips on boosting your credit score!  Finding Joy in the New Year
As the calendar turns and a fresh year begins, many of us start thinking about resolutions, goals, and big dreams for the months ahead. But somewhere in between the planning and the hustle, it can be easy to forget one of the most important parts of life: joy. Real, everyday joy, the kind that doesn’t require perfection, pressure, or a checklist. The start of a new year offers a beautiful opportunity to slow down and reconnect with what truly makes us smile. Joy isn’t always loud or dramatic. Sometimes it’s as simple as a quiet morning with a cup of coffee, a walk around the neighborhood, a conversation with someone you care about, or the feeling of progress, however small, toward something meaningful. Joy in the Little Things Instead of focusing only on “big wins,” try noticing the small moments that add warmth to your day. Gratitude journals, evening reflections, or simply pausing to appreciate where you are can shift your mindset in powerful ways. The more we look for joy, the more we tend to find it. Joy in Growth The new year isn’t about becoming a new person, it’s about continuing to grow into the best version of yourself. Set intentions rather than harsh expectations. Celebrate effort. Learn from challenges. Allow space for rest, reflection, and new beginnings. Joy in Connection Whether it’s spending more time with loved ones, giving back to your community, or simply being present in your interactions, connection is one of the greatest sources of happiness. Make time for the people and experiences that fill your heart. Joy in the Journey Life isn’t a straight line, and neither is the year ahead. There will be highs and lows, and that’s okay. When we choose to look for joy along the way, even the most ordinary days can feel a little brighter. As you step into the new year, may you find joy in quiet moments, bold adventures, and everything in between. Here’s to a year filled with gratitude, growth, and simple happiness, one day at a time. CLICK HERE to learn about the science of gratitude and how it can make a difference in your life.  Jump-Start the New Year: Setting Goals That Actually Stick
The start of a new year feels like a clean slate. There’s energy, motivation, and the sense that this could be the year everything changes. Yet for many people, goals fade by February, not because they lacked ambition, but because they lacked clarity and intention. This year, instead of chasing dozens of resolutions, try a calmer, more focused approach to goal-setting, one that aligns with who you are and how you actually live. 1. Reflect Before You Plan Before setting new goals, take time to look back. Ask yourself:
2. Choose Fewer, Better Goals More goals don’t mean more success. In fact, too many goals often lead to overwhelm and inaction. Aim for 3–5 meaningful goals across key areas of life, such as:
3. Focus on Direction, Not Perfection Goals don’t require perfection, they require direction. Instead of: “I will never miss a workout.” Try: “I will move my body consistently in ways I enjoy.” Progress comes from showing up regularly, not from being flawless. 4. Break Goals Into Small Actions Big goals feel motivating, but small actions make them achievable. For each goal, define:
5. Create a Simple System for Accountability Goals live or die by your systems. Try one of these:
6. Leave Room for Growth and Change You are allowed to evolve. If a goal no longer fits, adjust it. If priorities shift, respond with intention, not guilt. The purpose of goals is not control, but alignment. The new year isn’t about becoming a different person overnight. It’s about becoming a little more aligned, a little more focused, and a little more intentional each day. Set goals that support your life, not ones that compete with it. And remember: clarity, consistency, and compassion will take you further than motivation ever will. Here’s to a year of meaningful progress! Do you enjoy the finer things of life but still don’t want to put a hole in your pockets? Click here for tips on how to live in luxury on a budget.  The Crystal Coast showed out in the month of December! With 104 active listings, Beaufort took the lead and kept the momentum rolling. Beaufort also topped the charts in new listings with 23 and led the way in sold listings at 28! Other areas along the Crystal Coast had a strong showing too, with homes continuing to move and steady activity across the board as the year wrapped up! Emerald Isle was the true standout when it came to average sales price, coming in at an impressive $1,312,562! Truly remarkable! Overall, the market stayed active, exciting, and full of momentum… what a way to close out the year!  Atlantic Beach had a strong showing as well, with 65 active listings on the market. It also recorded 14 new listings and 7 sold homes, keeping activity moving through the month. The average sales price came in at an impressive $851,569, highlighting continued demand in this popular coastal area.
Beaufort took the lead in December with 104 active listings and 23 new listings, showing strong momentum in the market. The average sales price came in at $493,957, making it a solid and steady performer to close out the year! Cape Carteret saw steady activity with 9 active listings, 3 new listings, and 4 sold homes. The average sales price landed at $561,500, showing solid demand in this area as the year wrapped up! Buyers continue to show interest, and sellers are seeing results, making it a balanced market. With such consistent activity, Cape Carteret is definitely an area to watch heading into the new year! Emerald Isle saw strong activity in December with 88 active listings, 15 new listings, and 16 sold homes. It stood out by taking the lead in average sales price, coming in at an impressive $1,312,562! With high demand and luxury homes moving, Emerald Isle continues to be a standout market on the Crystal Coast. Buyers are paying attention, and sellers are reaping the rewards! Indian Beach saw 22 active listings in December, along with 4 new listings and 3 sold homes. The average sales price came in at $1,031,000, signaling strong demand and continued interest in this high-end coastal market. With buyers willing to invest, Indian Beach remains a sought-after spot as we head into the new year. Morehead City saw 67 active listings in December, along with 12 new listings and 15 sold homes. With an average sales price of $552,920, this reflected steady demand and a healthy market. Buyers stayed active, and sellers saw solid results, making Morehead City a strong performer as the year wrapped up! Pine Knoll Shores saw 24 active listings in December, along with 2 new listings and 5 sold homes. The average sales price was $556,200, showing steady activity and continued interest in this charming coastal community. With homes moving and buyers staying engaged, Pine Knoll Shores closed out the year on a strong note! Swansboro had 60 active listings and 22 new listings in December, with 4 homes sold. The average sales price came in at $337,125, reflecting steady interest and activity in this growing coastal town. With buyers keeping an eye on the market, Swansboro continues to show promise as we head into the new year! As the year comes to a close, the Crystal Coast real estate market is finishing strong and heading into the new year with momentum! Homes continue to sell at competitive prices, showing steady activity and strong buyer interest across the region. With opportunities for both buyers and sellers, the market is set up for an exciting start to the year ahead. Success in this market comes down to timing, having a solid strategy, and working with a knowledgeable local professional who knows the area inside and out. Buying or selling a home can feel overwhelming, paperwork, inspections, and market shifts can make the process stressful. But with Carl Johnson by your side, it becomes clear, manageable, and even exciting. Carl’s extensive network of trusted professionals, from lenders to inspectors, ensures every step is covered so you can make confident, informed decisions. Ready to find your spot on the beautiful Crystal Coast? Call 919-880-0904 and let Carl Johnson Real Estate guide you every step of the way! CLICK HERE to read this month's latest Luxury Market Report. |
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