Kimberly R. Kennedy, Go Realty - Apex Community Information

Kimberly R. Kennedy, Go Realty
A Realtor’s Guide to Apex, North Carolina

Do you want to learn all there is to know about the Apex North Carolina Real Estate market, as well as information about the community itself? I am a North Carolina Real Estate Agent presently working with Better Homes and Gardens Go Realty. If you are thinking of buying or selling a home in Apex, please get in touch, as I would love to share my real estate expertise. With the support of my team, helping buyers and sellers comes easy to me. Now, sit back and enjoy learning about what makes this town so charming!

A Little Bit Of History

The town of Apex was incorporated in 1873, named for its location as the highest point on a portion of the Chatham Railroad, which extends between Richmond, Virginia and Jacksonville, Florida. Apex grew slowly afterwards despite several devastating fires, including a conflagration in 1911, which destroyed most of its downtown business district. The town center was rebuilt and remains standing to this day, making Apex one of the most intact railroad towns in the state. At the heart of the town there is the Apex Union Depot, which was originally a passenger station for the Seaboard Air Line Railroad and later home to the locally supported Apex Community Library. It is now the Apex Chamber of Commerce. The old Town Hall has been renovated and has now become the award-winning Halle Cultural Arts Center. In addition to the Apex Union Depot, the Apex City Hall, Apex Historic District, Calvin Wray Lawrence House, and the Utley Council House are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

After the Depression-era, the growth began significantly for Apex with additional residential development in the 1950’s, primarily due to how close we are to North Carolina’s Research Triangle Park. Fortunately, Apex was still able to preserve its notorious small-town flair. During the 1990’s our population quadrupled to over 20,000 and Apex just keeps on growing from shopping centers to several new neighborhoods. 

Notable

•   In 2015, Time Magazine ranked Apex #1 on its list of the nation’s top places to live.

•   Best Places to Live: Number 9 in America, Number 1 in North Carolina CNN/Money Magazine (August 2013)

•   Best Places to Live: Number 14 in America, CNN/Money Magazine (July 2007)

•   Number 1 Best City in North Carolina, Movoto (November 2013)

•   Number 3 Best Place to Move To, Forbes.com (July 2009)

•   Number 5 Happiest Suburb in America, Movoto (May 2014)

•   Number 5 Best NC Towns for Young Families, NerdWallet (July 2013)

•   Top 10 Best Towns for Families, Family Circle (July 2014)

•   Top 100 Places to Live, RelocateAmerica.com (April 2009)

Location

Apex rests Southwest of Raleigh. Durham and Cary, NC are a few miles North of Apex and South of Apex is Holly Springs and Fuquay-Varina. It is about 20 minutes away from downtown Raleigh.

Weather and Climate

Our average high is about 70 degrees and our average low is 49 degrees. June, July and August are our hottest months, with highs reaching into the upper 90’s. Average annual rainfall is about 47 inches! Click here to see our weather statistics! 

Demographics and Real Estate

The Apex population estimate as of April 30^th, 2016 is 46,831, based on the average growth rate of 4.1% over the past 5 years. Apex gained approximately 469 residents January-March 2016, making the daily average of new residents at 3.86. So far, in 2016, we have added 241 new building permits, over half being residential.

 Click here to take a look at our approved, proposed, planned, under construction and rezoning areas!

According to the 2010 census of Apex, NC, 65% of the population has children under the age of 18 living with them, 84% are married couples living together. Non-family households compromise 25% and 20% are individual households. 4% of households have someone over the age of 65 living with them. Average household size is 2.82 and the average family size is 3.31. 

The town population was spread out with 33% under the age of 18, 5% from 18 to 24, 34% from 25 to 44, 22% from 45 to 64, and 6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 95 males.

The median income (in 2013 dollars) for a household in Apex was $89,475, and the median income for a family was $106,283. Males had a median income of $65,179 versus $48,022 for females. (2013 estimate).

Apex has no plans to become a large town in the near future – perfect news for those looking for a good real estate deal in this area of North Carolina. While the average home prices in Apex are not what some would consider inexpensive, they do offer a great value for those who desire to live in a small town close to Raleigh or Durham.

You can find all types of homes in Apex. The median price right now is about $325,000. Remember that this figure represents the middle price of all homes listed. This means that half of the homes in Apex cost less than this and half of them cost more. This is good news for those who want a value, because it is certainly possible to find it with the right help.

The best way to locate the house you want for the price you can afford is through an experienced Realtor covering Apex real estate. While it is possible to find a home you want on your own, there is a significant amount of work involved. It is not something that you can spend a few hours doing and hope for success. It takes time and networking to discover the best deals as they arrive on the market. An agent experienced in Apex real estate information will know the right channels to explore – areas that the average person typically does not have access to. Your real estate agent will have an established network of data to track down the perfect house for you and your family and will have the necessary expertise to negotiate the best price for your new home.

Apex is a competitive market. The average home prices here are a bit higher than a town like Durham, for instance. But while you do get what you pay for – Apex is an incredible small town with all the historical touches that you want. There is new construction available if you are seeking to build from scratch. The typical price point for new homes in town range from a low of around $215,000 to a high around $1,132,000. Average price for new construction is around $472,000.

Transportation

•   Air: Raleigh-Durham International Airport is on I-40 approximately eight miles north of downtown Apex.

•   Apex is not served directly by passenger trains. Amtrak serves the nearby municipalities of Cary and Raleigh.

•   Local Bus: The Triangle Transit Authority operates buses that serve the region and connect to municipal bus systems in Raleigh, Durham, and Chapel Hill.

•   The Apex Peakway is a loop road orbiting downtown Apex. The Peakway was conceived as a means to relieve traffic in the downtown area and provide a bypass for commuters traveling from one side of the town to the other. It is currently the only "peakway" in North Carolina, taking its name from Apex's town motto: "The Peak of Good Living." The Apex Peakway is 6.01 miles (9.67 km) long.

•   The Triangle Expressway southwestern extension of I-540 is a toll road connecting to I-40, US 64, and US 1. This is currently an incomplete loop road around the greater Raleigh area.

•   US 64 and U.S. 1 are both freeways in the Apex area. NC 55 travels through the center of town.

•   U.S. Bicycle Route 1 routes through downtown Apex. Also, N.C. Bicycle Route #5 connects Apex to Wilmington and closely parallels the NCBC Randonneurs 600 kilometer brevet route.

Schools:

•   Apex Elementary School

•   Apex Friendship High School

•   Apex High School

•   Apex Middle School

•   Baucom Elementary

•   Jordan Lake School of the Arts

•   Laurel Park Elementary School

•   Lufkin Road Middle School

•   Middle Creek High School

•   Olive Chapel Elementary

•   Peace Montessori School

•   Salem Elementary School

•   Salem Middle School

•   Scotts Ridge Elementary School

•   St. Mary Magdalene Catholic School

•   Thales Academy of Apex

•   West Lake Elementary School

•   West Lake Middle School

Why Apex? The Peak of Good Living!

There is a reason why Apex, North Carolina has become a more popular place to live. This small historical community has a lot to offer the family that wants easy access to Raleigh, Cary, Durham or Chapel Hill, while enjoying the small-town railroad charm that Apex has to offer. House hunting in a place like this can be hard, but fortunately you do not have to go it alone. With a real estate agent on your side that is familiar with the area and understands buying and selling in town, you can find the home you are looking for.

Why you should “Connect With Kennedy”

If you are in the market to buy, you will find a variety of residential options to choose from to fit your lifestyle and budget needs. I can be your guide to the Real Estate market as an educated buyer’s agent. Lots of real estate agents think marketing is putting a for sale sign in your yard and listing on the Multiple Listing Service (MLS). This is what post and pray real estate agents do! Put a sign in the yard, put it in MLS and pray. This is NOT what you want! Selling your home is an emotional process and you want someone who respects that and treats the listing with that kind of importance. 

When it comes to Real Estate marketing, you will find that I do things that other Realtors do not, including spending time on search engine optimization and social media marketing. Seeing your home featured in Facebook, Pinterest, Linkedin and Twitter, to name a few, are the norm for me, not the exception.

Additional things that help your home stand out include exceptional professional photography, vivid descriptions describing all the best features of your home, along with a video tour that will be found in Youtube, Realtor.com, Zillow, Trulia, and MLS.

If you are looking for an awesome Apex, NC real estate agent to either buy or sell a home, I would love the opportunity to speak with you and show you what I’m made of. #ConnectWithKennedy

Cheers to You and Yours, 

Kimberly R. Kennedy

Better Homes and Gardens | Go Realty

Kimberly@gorealty.biz

859-598-9657

www.kimberlykennedy.findmytrianglehome.com

Kimberly R. Kennedy, Go Realty - Cary Community Information

Cary Community Information
A Realtor’s Guide to Cary, North Carolina

Do you want to learn all there is to know about the Cary, North Carolina Real Estate market, as well as information about the community itself? I am a North Carolina Real Estate Agent presently working with Better Homes and Gardens Go Realty. If you are thinking of buying or selling a home in Cary, please get in touch, as I would love to share my real estate expertise. With the support of my team, helping buyers and sellers comes easy to me. Now, sit back and enjoy learning about what makes this town so neat, courtesy of yours truly. 

City Intro

Cary is the 7^th largest municipality in North Carolina consisting mostly of Wake County and some of Chatham County. It is also the third largest municipality in The Triangle, first being Raleigh and Durham. Cary is often considered one of the safest major cities in the United States because of its extremely low crime rate (79% lower than the state of North Carolina)

Raleigh, Chapel Hill and Durham make up the three main cities of the Research Triangle region even though Cary is the third largest city in the area. The regional nickname of “The Triangle” started after the creation of the Research Triangle Park in 1959, which is mostly located in Durham County, four miles from downtown Durham. Research Triangle Park is surrounded on three sides by the city of Durham and is in the middle of the cities of Raleigh and Chapel Hill and consisting of 3 major research universities of NC State University, Duke University, and UNC Chapel Hill. 

In June of 2003 the U.S. Office of Management and Budget split them into two separate metro areas, resulting in Raleigh-Cary, NC Metro Area and the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC Metro Area. 

Cary is divided into distinct east and west sections. The east side is older and contains the downtown area and the town’s oldest neighborhoods. Several of the town’s iconic buildings, like the Fidelity Building, Page Walker Hotel and the Ashworth Drug Store are found in this part of town. The western side is much newer and is visibly the center of wealth in Cary. It is almost completely suburbanized, and features growing neighborhoods, parks, lakes, golf courses. 

A Little Bit of History

Cary started in 1750 as a settlement called Bradford’s Ordinary. About 100 years later, the North Carolina Railroad between New Bern and Hillsborough went through the town, linking Bradford’s Ordinary to a major transportation route. 

Allison Francis Page (known as Frank) is credited with founding the town. He was a farmer and lumberman in Wake County. He and his wife, Catherine, purchased 300 acres surround the railroad junction in 1854 and named it after Samuel Fenton Cary, a former Ohio congressman and prohibitionist that he very much admired. Frank Page became a town developer and a railroad agent. He put down Cary’s first streets and built a general store, a post office (Page also became the towns first Postmaster) and a sawmill. He built a hotel in 1868 to serve the railroad passengers coming through the town. Cary was incorporated on April 6^th, 1871 and Page was the towns first mayor. Later, the Raleigh and Augusta Air-Line Railroad (eventually called the Seaboard) arrived in Cary from the Southwest, which created more growth and the Fetner Junction just North of downtown. 

Cary then adopted zoning and ordinances on a spur-of-the-moment basis to control grown and give the town structure. In 1971 the town created Planned Unit Development zoning (PUD) to help population growth related to the growing Research Triangle Park close by. A PUD allows a developer to plan an entire community before starting the development. This allows for the future residents to be aware of where schools, churches, and commercial and industrial areas will be located. Kildaire Farms in Cary was NC’s first 967-acre Planned Unit Development. 

Cary also has quite a few places listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the most popular being the Page Walker Hotel, Cary Historic District, Nancy Jones House, Carpenter Historic District, Green Level Historic District, and the Ivey-Ellington House. 

Geography

Cary rests Northeast of Raleigh. The town is hilly and has dense woods and a variety of undeveloped land. There are lots of creeks and small lakes, the most popular being Lake Crabtree in the north.  According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total of 55 square miles and 1.4 square miles of water. 

How’s the Weather?

Cary is in the Humid Subtropical climate zone and it receives hot summers and mildly cold winters, with several months of nice weather each year. Temperatures range from the negatives to over 100 degrees Fahrenheit. Hurricanes and tropical storms can sometimes affect Cary, but usually after they have weakened. Snow falls every year, averaging around 6 inches annually.  For more weather information Click Here

Demographics and Real Estate

According to the 2010 Census, there were 135, 234 people and 55,303 households in the town. As of 2013, the population has increased to 151, 088. The median household income for Cary as of 2011 was $110,609. 

68% of it’s residents are 25 years or older. 60% of adults in Cary possess a bachelor’s degree or higher. The western part of Cary, most notably the community of Preston, is particularly well educated. Also of interest is that Cary has more people living here who work in computers and math than 95% of the places in the US. The 2000 Census shows 29% of Cary residents are NC natives and 55% were born in other states. 15% of the town’s population was born outside of the U.S. Cary also has a 72% home ownership rate.

While the average home prices in Cary are not what some would consider inexpensive, they do offer a great value for those who desire to live in a small town close to Raleigh or Durham. You can find all types of homes in Cary. The median price right now is about $340,000. Remember that this figure represents the middle price of all homes listed. This means that half of the homes in Cary cost less than this and half of them cost more. This is good news for those who want a value, because it is certainly possible to find it with the right help.

The best way to locate the house you want for the price you can afford is through an experienced Realtor covering Cary real estate. While it is possible to find a home you want on your own, there is a significant amount of work involved. It is not something that you can spend a few hours doing and hope for success. It takes time and networking to discover the best deals as they arrive on the market. An agent experienced in Cary real estate information will know the right channels to explore -areas that the average person typically does not have access to. Your real estate agent will have an established network of data to track down the perfect house for you and your family and will have the necessary expertise to negotiate the best price for your new home.

Transportation

- Public transit within the town is provided by C-Tran, with six fixed-routes. There is also a door-to-door service for the senior citizens (60+) and riders with disabilities. GoTriangle operates fixed-route buses that serve the metropolitan region and connect to the local municipal transit systems in Raleigh, Durham and Chapel Hill. 

- Amtrak’s Silver Star, Carolinian and Piedmont passenger trains stop at the Cary Amtrak Station. They offer service to Charlotte, New York City, Miami, and intermediate points.

- The League of American Bicyclists has designated Cary one of the fourteen recipients of the first Bicycle-Friendly Community awards for providing safe accommodation and facilities for bicyclists and encouraging residents to bike for transportation and recreation. The Maine-to-Florida U.S. Bicycle Route 1 passes through suburban Cary, as does N.C. Bicycle Route #2, the "Mountains to Sea" route.

Mountain bike trails are available just north of Cary in Lake Crabtree County Park. Information on other trails in the area is available at www.trianglemtb.com.

- Cary Greenways and Trails have a network of sidewalks and paved trails connecting neighborhoods and parks throughout the town. These greenways place strict requirements on environmental conditions to preserve a park-like atmosphere. In addition, standard sidewalks and paths exist throughout the town.

- The Raleigh-Durham International Airport, located north of Cary via Interstate 40 between Cary, Raleigh and Durham, serves Cary and the greater Research Triangle metropolitan region. Raleigh-Durham offers more than 35 destinations, serving approximately 9 million passengers per year.

Education

Based in Cary, the Wake County Public School System is the largest public school system in North Carolina. Check out this easy-to-use list I made with links to each school’s website. 

High Schools

Cary High School

Green Hope High School

Middle Creek High School

Panther Creek High School

Middle Schools

Davis Drive Middle School

East Cary Middle School

Mills Park Middle School

Reedy Creek Middle School

West Cary Middle School

Elementary Schools

Adams Elementary School

Alston Ridge Elementary School

Briarcliff Elementary School

Carpenter Elementary School

Cary Elementary School

Davis Drive Elementary School

Farmington Woods Elementary School

Green Hope Elementary School

Highcroft Drive Elementary School

Kingswood Elementary School

Mills Park Elementary School

Northwoods Elementary School

Oak Grove Elementary School

Penny Road Elementary School

Reedy Creek Elementary School

Turner Creek Elementary School

Weatherstone Elementary School

Private Schools

Cary Academy (middle and high school)

Cary Christian School

Chesterbrook Academy

Grace Christian School

Hopewell Academy

Saint Michael the Archangel Catholic School

Resurrection Lutheran School (K-8^th)

Landmark Christian Academy (K-10^th)

Higher Education

Wake Technical Community College

Why Cary?

Because of many things, Cary is a great place for families with children to consider. Many families with children live here, making Cary a place where both parents and their children are more likely to develop a social connection with other families, as well as find family-oriented services in the community. The town’s good public school district and large population of well-educated adults provide an environment of established academic values. With regard to real estate, Cary has one of the highest percentages of owner-occupied single-family homes, which often reflects stability in the local community. Not to mention, Cary’s overall crime rate is lower than average for the country.

Why you should “Connect With Kennedy"

If you are in the market to buy, you will find a variety of residential options to choose from to fit your lifestyle and budget needs. I can be your guide to the Real Estate market as an educated buyer’s agent. Lots of real estate agents think marketing is putting a for sale sign in your yard and listing on the Multiple Listing Service (MLS). This is what post and pray real estate agents do! Put a sign in the yard, put it in MLS and pray. This is NOT what you want! Selling your home is an emotional process and you want someone who respects that and treats the listing with that kind of importance. 

When it comes to Real Estate marketing, you will find that I do things that other Realtors do not, including spending time on search engine optimization and social media marketing. Seeing your home featured in Facebook, Pinterest, LinkedIn and Twitter, to name a few, are the norm for me, not the exception.

Additional things that help your home stand out include exceptional professional photography, vivid descriptions describing all the best features of your home, along with a video tour that will be found in YouTube, Realtor.com, Zillow, Trulia, and MLS.

If you are looking for an awesome Cary, NC real estate agent to either buy or sell a home, I would love the opportunity to speak with you and show you what I’m made of. #ConnectWithKennedy

Cheers to You and Yours, 

Kimberly R. Kennedy

Better Homes and Gardens | Go Realty

Kimberly@gorealty.biz

859-598-9657

www.kimberlykennedy.findmytrianglehome.com

Tips For A Great Open House

Tips For A Great Open House

If you’re thinking of selling your home, or if you currently have an active listing, open houses can be a great way to find buyers, generate buzz, and encourage offers. However, for unprepared agents and sellers, an open house can be stressful. Chaotic closets, over-powering odors and bad curb appeal can turn off potential buyers. What’s the best way to have a successful open house? To display the listing in the best possible light. Put the polish on every vantage point with these simple open house tips.

1. No strong scents.

More than 30 percent of people reported scented products as “irritating,” according to a study done by Environ Health. Avoid turning off 30 percent of your potential buyers by not using air fresheners or candles. Instead, I recommend doing a deep cleaning to eliminate odors. Let in fresh air, get the carpets professionally cleaned, and deodorize appliances.

2. No clutter.

You want potential buyers to focus on the home and not distracting clutter. Sellers should de-clutter and depersonalize a home before doing showings or open houses.

3. Clean out all closets.

Closet size is important for many buyers, so there’s a good chance that at least one closet will be put under a microscope during an open house. I recommend sellers to trim closet contents to really strengthen their appearance.

4. No owners.

Selling a home is an emotional thing. There is nothing wrong with those emotions, and it’s part of what makes our job as real estate agents so rewarding. We love being a part of something so profound. However, no open house benefits from an emotionally attached seller hanging around.

5. No pets (or evidence of pets).

As sweet and loveable pets are, they can also create damage and odors. Many potential buyers consider it a turn off if pets have lived there. It’s vital to remedy signs of pet damage, and to remove pets from the home during open houses.

6. Light and bright.

In brighter light, rooms can appear larger. I recommend experimenting with different lighting before the open house. Try turning on different sources of light to see what accents your homes best features, and definitely open shades and curtains.

7. Photo boards.

I got this idea from a fellow agent, and I love it! It’s tricky for buyers to know what a property looks like at different times of the year. That’s what good photos are for. Use photo boards, tablet or a laptop slideshow to show off a property in different times of the year.

8. Put down the toilet lids.

Just do it.

9. Attractive entrance.

A home’s entrance sets the tone for the rest of the house so it’s crucial to have the right first impression. Clean up any cobwebs or dirt around the front door and get rid of any dead plants and debris. Decorate with a nice wreath or a nice chair or bench. You want your buyers to smile upon their approach because that positivity will carry on throughout the remainder of the tour.

10. Have treats and encourage participation.

Everyone likes a chance to win! I like to do a raffle for a $20 gift card of some sort, which always gets positive feedback and participation. Also, my homemade sugar cookies shaped like houses and keys are always a big hit! Get creative in ways that will spotlight this open house and distinguish it from the rest.

11. Be different when giving information.

Digital information is awesome, but printed information is the best option. Don’t hesitate to put a printed brochure or photo postcard into a buyer’s hands. There’s something about tangible, physical information and it could later encourage a sale or referral.

12. Always be safe.

Personal safety is more important than any other factor of hosting an open house. Work open houses in teams, identify your exits, and trust your instincts. Don’t sacrifice security for the sake of appearing “nice” or “approachable.”

http://www.kimberlykennedy.findmytrianglehome.com

10 Reasons To Hire A Real Estate Agent

NEIGHBORHOOD KNOWLEDGE

Agents either have extensive knowledge or they know where to find the industry information about your particular neighborhood. For example, you may know that a home down the street was on the market for $350,000, but an agent will know if it had upgrades and sold at $285,000 after 65 days on the market and after going under contract twice.

PROFESSIONAL NETWORKING

Real estate agents network with other professionals; many who provide services that you will need to buy or sell.

HANDLING VOLUMES OF PAPERWORK

One page deposit receipts were common in the early 1970s. But today’s paperwork can run about 10 pages or more.

DEVELOP RELATIONSHIPS FOR FUTURE BUSINESS

The basis for an agent’s success and continued career in real estate is referrals. The more the merrier! 

ANSWER QUESTIONS AFTER CLOSING

Many questions can come about that were perhaps overlooked in the excitement of closing. Good agents are on standby- ready to help!

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

You don’t necessarily have to know everything about buying and selling real estate if you hire a real estate professional who knows the ropes!

“When you hire people who are smarter than you are, it proves you are smarter than they are.” – Henry Ford

NEGOTIATION SKILLS AND CONFIDENTIALITY

Top agents negotiate well because, unlike most buyers and sellers, they can remove themselves from the emotions of the transaction. This awesome skill is part of their job description.

MARKET CONDITIONS INFORMATION

Real estate agents can give you market stats for your area, which will help your buying or selling process. Many of these will determine how you succeed.

PRICE GUIDANCE

Counter to what some people believe, agents don't select prices for sellers or buyers.

AGENTS ARE NINJAS

Agents take the spam out of your property showings and visits. If you’re a buyer of new homes, your agent will take out their sword and keep the builders agents from bombarding you. 

kimberlykennedy.findmytrianglehome.com