Triangle Area Real Estate News & Information - Larry Tollen

Top Halloween Festivities in the Triangle

There is something for everyone this Halloween.

While Trick-or-Treat tends to be for the little ones going door-to-door the yearly tradition can be enjoyed by everyone. This year Halloween falls on a Wednesday, but the festivities will begin the weekend prior. If you find yourself in Cary, Chapel Hill, Durham, Hillsborough, or Pittsboro we have the top activities for you.

Cary

Cary has a host of activities happening the weekend before Halloween. You can find costume dance parties, a harvest festival, outdoor mall crawls, and monster mashes. Our picks are off the beaten path or bring together families with a small-town community feel.

Bond Park

Pumpkin Flotilla Forty carved pumpkins will float on the lake in Bond Park. To…

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How Your Family Can Prepare, Plan and Recover from Natural Disasters

Preparing for Natural Disasters

People and businesses in the Carolinas are emerging from the aftermath of Hurricane Florence this week. Our home sellers were holding their breath as Hurricane Florence made her approach. Everyone in the Triangle was scrambling for basic needs. Clients selling their homes in this active market were also preparing extensively for measures to protect their homes. The majority of residents in the Triangle were fortunate to avoid extensive damage and disaster that other parts of of North Carolina are experiencing as a result of Florence.

Preparing your family

Hurricane Florence is not the first nor will she be the last hurricane to move through the Triangle. As storms like this increase in frequency, homeowners…

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How to find a Great Place to Live

What makes a home a great place to live?

Buyers want a great place to live, which involves more than just the house. Beyond the walls that people call home lies the neighborhood and community that make a particular location a great place to live. We asked our buyers to define what makes a particular place great and we asked our sellers what they'll miss most when leaving the area behind.

Defining what makes it great

Location

For some buyers location might be at the top of the priority list when trying to decide what spot is right for them. Work commute can be a factor, and location to shopping, dining, or access to the highway might determine what is most important. We work with a wide variety of clients from different generations; both…

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Fun Things to do in Cary, Chapel Hill, Durham, and Pittsboro for Labor Day 2018

Labor Day falls on the first Monday in September and every year this bittersweet holiday marks the unofficial end of the summer. As kids and parents prepare for the start of the school year, they have one last long weekend to take advantage of before it's back to the daily grind of routines. If you're looking for something to do this Labor Day, here are some of the fun, family-friendly events in the Triangle:

Cary

• If you're planning to BBQ this weekend, why not stock up on some fresh ingredients from one of the 3 markets that run on Saturdays in Cary! Southern Cary has the Waverly Farmers Market in the Promenade area at Waverly Place. Downtown Cary hosts the Downtown Cary Farmers Market on W. Chatham Street. Western Cary has the Western…

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The Essential Checklist to Get your House Ready to Sell

Our clients often experience a rush of excitement when they begin the process of selling a home. Sometimes we see this excitement turn to stress. The home seller's eyes grow wide at the list of things they may need to tackle. It can be stressful to prepare a home to sell, even in a competitive seller's market.

It's hard to know what to tackle first when you're getting ready for the transition. We work with our clients to help them focus as they prioritize their to-do list. This understanding and knowledge mitigates stress and eliminates the waste of energy and resources. Here's our essential checklist to get your house ready to sell. 

Research and preparation

My NC Homes provides clients with a home staging consultation as part of our home…

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Hot Fun in the Summertime!

Summer in the Triangle

Summer in the Triangle is filled with many options for your evenings and weekends. Summer schedules tend to be a bit more relaxed. The longer days make it possible to take advantage of evening activities. There are many choices, so figuring out which activity to attend can be overwhelming. Luckily, we're local experts and promise that these recommendations are top rated. Get ready for some good times!

Find events for a fun summer in the Triangle

Depending on whether your activity is for you, with a partner, or the whole family, we'll help you hit the great spots in the Triangle this summer. Be sure to put these events on your calendar. Whether you’re a long time resident or a recent transplant, you'll be glad you did.…

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Trinity Park Rich in History

Rich In History

In the late 1800s, Durham had a robust economy based on tobacco and textiles. This thriving town had fashionable homes, a new hospital, and a respected university: Trinity College, which preceded Duke University.

Anchored by Queen Anne-style homes originally built for college professors, the area features homes in a variety of architectural styles including Victorian, Neo-Colonial and Craftsman. After a brief period of decline in the mid-20th century, Durham residents banded together to form the Trinity Park Neighborhood Association. This association was instrumental in halting hasty development and demolition of historic homes, and a priority was placed on restoring owner-occupancy.

Trinity Park is comprised of approximately…

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Should I Outsource or DIY My Home Maintenance Tasks? Part 2

Outdoor home maintenance: outsource or DIY?

A home requires regular maintenance both indoors and outdoors. The maintenance required on the exterior of the home is dictated by the weather climate where we reside. Maintenance is time sensitive due to the exposure to the elements.  Making sure you keep up with regular exterior inspections as a critical first-step. This gives you the option to do it yourself (DIY) and save money in the long term. 

Your House

The roof

Your roof is your first defense against the weather. The roof is also taking the majority of the beating from the sun, wind, rain,  hail, and snow. It is important to regularly inspect your roof for major   damage and signs of wear that may need repair. However, we encourage   our…

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Should I outsource or DIY home maintenance tasks? Part 1

Indoor home maintenance: Outsource or DIY?

Homeowners face a multitude of decisions as they manage their households. Whether it is regularly needed maintenance or special situations, homeowners will inevitably make decisions to either outsource or DIY the work themselves. New homeowners especially may be especially keen to save money at every opportunity.  Not all DIY maintenance work is created equal. The more experience with DIY will inevitably show you that, some jobs are better left to the professionals. In this blog, we will look at some common indoor home maintenance tasks that will make homeowners ask, “Should I outsource this home maintenance job or do it myself?”

Inside the Home

Some homeowners keep a regular schedule of tasks to…

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Moving Locally in the Research Triangle

The topic of moving during the college years or right after was not a big deal. In the later years when you approach the subject of moving there are many groans and sighs. Sympathy from friends is a given; moving often means the juggling of work schedules, when to pack, school activities, finding new veterinarians, and more. As adults, we become more established. We tend to accumulate and our families grow to include children or furry friends. In the case of some of our clients, we have witnessed the coordinated move of dogs, cats, fish, and chickens.

Some families need to consider school districts, the timing of selling a home, or whether the home they are building will be ready. Sometimes there isn’t a permanent place to land immediately after a…

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