Tips on buying a new home in Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
Chapel Hill, North Carolina: College Town Has Jobs, Charm
Realty Times Feature Article by Blanche Evans
Chapel Hill may be known as the home of the University of North Carolina, but it is also in a rising sellers' market as the town offers Southern charm as well as educational opportunities, jobs and easy access to big city amenities in nearby Raleigh-Durham.
Says Realtor Marian Fiorentino, "Chapel Hill is home to the University of North Carolina, one of the most respected state universities in the country. You can go to the ballet and a basketball game in the same day. It has an in-town art museum, a planetarium, great soccer and baseball. Medical facilities are second to none."
Realtors report that Chapel Hill is no insular small town, but has a unique international personality.
"Chapel Hill is a vibrant college town," says Realtor Mark Civiok, "with an international population, diverse housing, high quality of life and big city amenities with a small town flavor."
Click here to read more about Chapel Hill
Buying New Makes Sense
One quick glance at today's headlines, and it's no wonder that, as concerned consumers, we're pinching pennies more than ever. In a recent survey conducted by HSBC Bank USA, 64 percent of us plan to cut unnecessary spending this year. And, in a similar survey by Discover Financial Services, about half of consumers plan to cut down on such non-essential spending as dinners out and movies - even remodeling.
Still, when it comes to buying a house - something that many consumers are doing because of the many good deals to be had in a slow market - most of us prefer new. Even better, buying a new home also makes good financial sense. New homes offer countless advantages for consumers when it comes to saving money. Perhaps the biggest plus is that, since they're brand-new, the maintenance headaches that often accompany maintenance - as with older homes - simply don?t exist, and won't for a while.
New homes also use the latest in whole-house systems, like heating and air conditioning, so they're not likely to break down, saving consumers money. They're also more energy-efficient, which is also good for saving lots of green. Speaking of green, with interest rates that aren?t too far away from historic lows (just over 6 percent for a 30-year fixed mortgage as of March 11), consumers can also save money on new home mortgages. And, since mortgage interest and real estate taxes are deductible, it's another way to save money by buying a new home, especially when it comes to tax time.
Click here to read more about "Why You Should Buy New".