Keller Williams Realty Earns a Spot on Inc 5,000 Honor Roll!

Keller Williams is excited to have made the Honor Roll for the Inc. 5000 list of America’s fastest-growing privately held companies. The Honor Roll recognizes companies that have appeared on the list each of the past five years! 

Keller Williams Realty Cary, located at 201 Shannon Oaks Cir. #101, Cary, NC has 176 agents who specialize in residential, luxury and commercial real estate. If you are interested in buying your dream home, or selling your home for the most value, call us today at 919-882-3200.

If you are looking for a career in Real Estate or looking to grow your real estate business, call Team Leader, Bill Middleton for a free, confidential consultation today at 919-882-3229 or for more information, visit our website today!

How to Be Successful in Any Business!

Mark Spain, the number one real estate agent in Keller Williams Realty, sat down with our Team Leader, Bill Middleton, jr. Mark shared his insight on how to be successful in any business!





Three things to remember:

1. No business is perfect, make sure you have developed systems to make sure you can handle anything that comes at you!
2. Bigger is not always more complicated! Thing Big, Dream Big, Believe Big!
3. The people that you hang out with, and the books you read are the two things that will change the trajectory of your business!

Keller Williams Realty Cary, located at 201 Shannon Oaks Cir. #101, Cary, NC has 176 agents who specialize in residential, luxury and commercial real estate. If you are interested in buying your dream home, or selling your home for the most value, call us today at 919-882-3200.

If you are looking for a career in Real Estate or looking to grow your real estate business, call Team Leader, Bill Middleton for a free, confidential consultation today at 919-882-3229 or for more information, visit our website today!

Drones in Real Estate... Legal or Not?

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is targeting the real estate industry, as the agency begins to come down on the growing popularity of using drones for taking listing photos and videos.

The FAA is beginning by targeting several brokerages in New York City that use drones, delivering subpoenas in a widespread move to learn more about how real estate professionals use the technology to advance their businesses. 

This is the FAA's interpretation of lawful model aircraft use.

The FAA does not condone the use of drones for commercial purposes but is expected to reveal proposed rules for such use next year. Hobbyists For now, practitioners who use drones for their business can be fined — and that's exactly what will happen to a handful of NYC's largest brokerages if they don't stop their drone use immediately, FAA sources told the New York Post.

"We have a mandate to protect the American public in the air and on the ground, and the public expects us to carry out the mission," FAA administrator Michael Huerta wrote in a memo, according to the Post.

It speaks to the risk real estate professionals take when using drones for their listings. The National Association of REALTORS® has long warned that practitioners should steer clear of using drones for their business until the FAA releases solid rules on such use, which is expected by September 2015.

What To Do For The 4th of July!

While we are all excited to celebrate the Independence of our great nation, ultimately, the question always comes up, where are the best Fireworks and activities for the whole family? In the Triangle area of North Carolina, there is so much to do the problem is going to be how to get to them all!

Holly Springs - Join us for the Fuquay-Varina Independence Day Celebration a day early at South Park on Thursday, July 3rd as friends and neighbors gather to celebrate America’s birthday. Click here for more information...


 Morrisville - You don't have to wait until July 4th for fireworks in Morrisville! Kick off your Independence Day celebration with a fireworks display in Morrisville Community Park. Bring your blankets, chairs and snacks to enjoy the spectacular show on Thursday, July 3rd! Click here for more information...


Downtown Raleigh - 

• The Works - Raleigh’s Independence Day celebration kicks off at noon and goes non-stop until 11 p.m. as Downtown celebrates American freedom with 20 bands playing three stages, fun-for-all events, art for sale, fabulous food for sale, eating contests ending in fireworks – in other words it’s The ‘Works July 4th! Click here for more information...

• Red, White and Blue for You! - The Marbles Kids Museum in Downtown Raleigh is having Independence Day Play on July 4th! They'll have fizzing fireworks, sparkler hats, wacky water activities and more! Click here for more information...

• Old Fashioned July 4th Celebration - Celebrate the annual tribute to American Independence at the North Carolina State Capitol on July 4th! This family-friendly event features patriotic music, a kid's parade and more! Admission is free, and open to the public! Click here for more information...

Cary - Start your Independence Day celebrations early in Bond Park on July 4th! Come join us for a parent/child Fishing Tournament. After the tournament, get prepped for the "Parade in the Park". After the Parade, join us for family contests for all ages! Click here for more information...


Apex - Kids of all ages gather in Historic Downtown Apex on July 4th for an Olde Fashioned Fourth of July Celebration for plenty of fun! Click here for more information...

The Ranch Returns!

Widely popular in the 1950s, ranch-style homes are making a comeback among Baby Boomers, first-time buyers, and many in between. Buyers want help to understand the pros and cons to determine if this type of home is right for them.

• Aging boomers can stay put if they already live in a ranch, or they may search for one as they downsize if they want to avoid stairs. Boomers who are still active also find it’s a good choice if they want to bring an older family member to live with them, says Jeff Tanenbaum, salesperson with Halstead Property in New York.

• Mid-century aficionados view some ranches as an extension of that style, particularly when they have a brick facade. The best examples may also include solid hardwood floors, steel casement windows, interior brick work, and a fireplace. In fact, some savvy salespeople market ranches as mid-century homes to take advantage of the design trend’s popularity.

• First-time buyers consider it an affordable option since many are less costly to buy than comparably sized two-story houses. Whether they’re less expensive to heat and cool depends on construction, square footage, and layout. But many with young children also like the idea of one-level living to avoid worrying about blocking stairways with child-safety gates. Furthermore, many in this generation may not have grown up in ranches, so they hold appeal as a new, novel style.

• Contemporary-loving home owners who prefer an open-style loft plan consider the ranch a way to gain that look if they can open rooms without compromising structural support. “Because older ranches usually weren't that large, it’s often not a big deal to re frame a span with beam or joist to carry the [open] load,” says New York-based architect Joe Eisner. The ranch is also relatively easy to add onto, at multiple locations if the site is large enough, says Peter Feinmann, whose eponymous design and build firm is based in the Boston area.

• Nature lovers also find ranch-style houses appealing because they can be adapted with large glazed doors to fashion good flow between outdoors and indoors, says Mark Stapp, executive director of the Masters of Real Estate development program at Arizona State University and former chairman of the board at Taliesin West, Frank Lloyd Wright’s Foundation.

• Those who prefer the idea of a mature infrastructure that older neighborhoods provide, such as older styles of homes, mature trees, and maybe a nearby walk-able downtown with mass transit, may also find ranches a better fit than a brand-new neighborhood.

• Older ranches generally were constructed with low 8-foot-high ceilings versus today’s more popular 9-foot-high and taller heights, says Eisner. It can be expensive to raise a roof.

• It also can be expensive to add onto since building a foundation or slab may be pricier than constructing a second story, says architect Alexander Kolbe of EvoDomus in Cleveland.

• They may be less energy-efficient than more compact styles, unless they don’t sprawl, says Feinmann.  

• Some occupy small lots, though the tight property size can be a boon for those who don’t want to spend time and money on yard maintenance.

• Some lack basements and attics, which are good for storm safety and extra storage and permit easy expansion.

Dating back to the 1920s but associated more with housing for burgeoning suburbs after World War II, the one-level, ranch-style home is now becoming the “it” property for a variety of reasons.

Its original appeal stemmed from being quick to build and affordable to buy as home owners gravitated to the suburbs to raise families. However, the ranch style fell from favor in more recent decades as two-story homes and mega-mansions started to turn heads. Many home buyers began to view the ranch as poor man’s housing. But now, many are actively looking for them. One reason for their resurgence is the nicer lots many ranch homes were built on in the ’50s and ’60s. Another reason ranches are becoming more popular is that the price point often offers more 'bang for the buck'. Home owners often re-model upon move in, most times to gain a master suite as some early designs didn't include an en-suite with the master bedroom.

Here are other reasons ranch appeal is up in many parts of the country:

While ranches offer many pluses, here are some points that potential buyers should be aware of:

As with any trend, the ultimate irony may be that the stock could eventually be tougher to find, not only because more buyers are seeing its advantages, but also because the wrecking ball continues to demolish some ranches that have survived.

If you are interested in finding your dream home, or selling your current home, Keller Williams Realty Cary has 176 real estate agents who specialize in residential, luxury and commercial properties. Give us a call today to speak to a real estate professional at 919-882-3200.

If you are looking for a career in Real Estate or are looking to grow your current real estate business, call Team Leader, Bill Middleton at 919-882-3229 to set up a free consultation or visit our website for more information today!

4 Trends in Real Estate Right Now

The 48th annual conference for the National Association of Real Estate Editors, held recently in Houston, provided a snapshot of emerging trends in the real estate market. 

1.      With obesity an ever-growing problem in the United States, access to fitness facilities and outdoor recreation is taking on increasing importance. According to Will Holder of Trendmaker Homes, buyers now favor communities that have trails winding through them over golf-course developments. 

2.    In the multifamily niche, more and more projects are accommodating occupants' desire for parks, grooming, and sitting services for their pets. 

3.    There's a growing tendency for young people discouraged by tight underwriting standards to stick with renting instead of buying.

4.    Current home owners are increasingly keeping and renting out properties with ultra-low mortgage rates rather than put them up for sale when they are ready to buy another house.

If you are interested in buying your dream home, or selling your home for the most value, Keller Williams Realty Cary has 176 agents who specialize in residential, luxury and commercial real estate.

If you are looking for a career in Real Estate or looking to grow your real estate business, call Team Leader, Bill Middleton for a free, confidential consultation today at 919-882-3229 or for more information, visit our website today!

6 Yard Care To-Dos For New Homeowners

Home owners will be off to a good start with their new yards by following these important “move-in” steps. First and foremost, members of The Professional Landcare Network (PLANET), the national landscape industry association, recommend making safety a priority for your yard by doing the following:

1. Do a walk-thru of the yard and check for any dangers. Inspect the trees and evaluate the health of mature ones. One of the greatest assets in a yard are mature trees — they not only provide beauty but also shade and significant cooling to the home. Make note of any trees that don’t look healthy, may be diseased, leaning or are too close to the house. Consult with a licensed arborist to assess the health of your trees.
2. Evaluate the hardscape. Make sure any hardscape areas – stone or retaining walls, concrete or brick patios, tile paths, or wooden decks — are not heaving or creating tripping hazards.
3. Inspect the drainage around the house. The drainage should not cause any water to stand near or next to the foundation, which will prevent saturation of the soil and affect the foundation.
4. Make a plan to perform routine maintenance and clean up. Clean up any brush or debris in the yard. Weeding and mulching is an inexpensive way to make a yard look great; it also provides health benefits to the plants. Consider planting annuals to add some color and impact to the yard. Learn about your plants and shrubs and how to best take care of them.
5. Check the soil. The soil is the foundation of everything in the yard — grass, plants and trees depend on healthy, well-balanced soil to flourish. Composting will improve the soil. Your lawn care professional or a DIY soil kit available at home improvement and lawn/garden centers can test the soil’s condition.
6. Study the PLAT map. The PLAT is a map, drawn to scale, showing the divisions of the piece of land; this is helpful for any restrictions that could prevent home additions.

If you are looking for your dream home, or need to sell your house, Keller Williams Realty Cary has 170 agents who specialize in residential, luxury and commercial properties. To talk to an agent, call our office today at 919-882-3200.

If you are interested in a career in Real Estate or are looking to grow your current real estate business, contact Team Leader, Bill Middleton today at 919-882-3229 or visit our website!