Renovating your home to age in place

When it comes to retirement, there are a lot of things people look forward to, like golf, travel and hobbies. But they don’t look forward to moving into assisted living facilities. Many prefer to "age in place" and stay in their existing homes as long as possible.

This may sound like a daunting, expensive proposition, but a little planning can go a long way, according to Joe Norwood, owner of Manor House Renovations. "People don’t want to move from their home when they retire," said Norwood. "But most aren’t proactive when it comes to future-proofing their homes as they age."

Joe Norwood is a "Certified Aging in Place Specialist" and Manor House Renovations is one of the Triangle area’s leading home remodeling companies, focusing on modifying…

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Village Hearth Cohousing in Durham, NC

As the demand for 55+ communities continues to build in the Triangle area, a group of passionate boomers is looking to bring a new solution to the table. A new cohousing community known as Village Hearth is in the works to offer those entering their retirement years an alternative to conventional CCRC’s and active adult communities, where a strong sense of community and sustainability is the key to health and vitality. Village Hearth will provide a safe and welcoming space for LGBTs, friends, and allies to comfortably age with the perfect balance of private living and social engagement.

Village Hearth will be modeled after a thriving community called Oakcreek in Stillwater, Oklahoma, which features cottage-style homes in sets of four with several…

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December 2016 real estate market statistics

As we come near to the close of 2016 it's time to review what the market has done in the Durham/Chapel Hill Area and update the numbers from our Spring Market Report. The Triangle has been on fire for the last several years and 2016 was no exception.

We continue to see low inventory and prices have continued to rise. One might have thought that the elections and the following uptick in interest rates might have slowed things down but this hasn't been the case. Here’s a closer look at some numbers broken down geographically.

Durham County

Focusing on single-family homes, We see total sales volume up 6% and the average priced sale up 5.6% to $245,862 when comparing 2016 to 2015. In addition we find the average days on market is down 17% from…

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Safety tips during the holidays

The holidays are a joyous, fun-filled time of year, but they’re also a time to think about safety. With all of the shopping, parties and traveling, everyone is in a hurry during the holidays. With so much activity, it’s easy to overlook the safety of you and your family. Here are some tips to help you to stay safe over the holidays.

Safety In The Home

  • If you have a natural Christmas tree, be sure the lighting is UL approved and that the wires are not frayed or damaged.
  • Put your tree in a solid base that will prevent it from falling over easily when children or pets get too close.
  • Keep your live tree well watered to prevent it from drying out and becoming a potential fire hazard.
  • Be sure to test your smoke alarms to ensure they are…

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8 Fun Facts About The Triangle Area

The Triangle area is known for a lot of things; college basketball, Research Triangle Park, and barbecue, to name a few.

But there are a lot of lesser-known things about this area that make up its culture and flavor. Here are eight fun facts about the Triangle:

 On the forefront of healthcare.

 Durham is home to a large number of medical-related companies. In fact,  there are more than 300 of them, and they have a combined annual  payroll of more than $1.2 billion.

 Cradle of technology.

 Research Triangle Park (RTP) is two miles wide and eight miles long, and is home to 136 companies involved in research and development. They employ 37,600 people in fields such as nanotechnology, pharmacology, biotechnology, information technology, and…

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Realtor.com recently released their national housing forecast for 2017 that includes big news for the Raleigh-Cary and Durham-Chapel Hill real estate markets. According to the report, home prices and sales are expected to rise across the country next year by 3.9% and 1.9% respectively, although the Triangle Area is predicted to see some of the highest increases across all of the markets.

Raleigh in particular could see home prices rise 4.16% next year with an estimated growth of 7.6% in home sales, which could make them one of the 10 strongest real estate economies in the nation next year.

The report ranks Durham –Chapel Hill just a few spots behind Raleigh, with an expected increase of 2.55% in home prices and 8.95% in sales. So far this year,…

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