March in Wake County means crocus and daffodils sprouting from their winter rest and red bud trees blooming their brilliant pink. With our sprinkling of 80 degree days, our area golf courses are being groomed and the tee times are filling back up. Golf is a year round sport here in NC, but the fair weather golfers are glad to see the fair days of March! Here is a snapshot of our Holly Springs and Fuquay-Varina golf course communities. Let us know which one, or all, you would like to tour!

12 Oaks offers a Jack Nicklaus course that will challenge golfers of all skill levels. This is a true lifestyle neighborhood complete with clubhouse, restaurant, bar, pool pavilion, fitness center, social events as well as numerous parks and trails. From Townhomes to Executive Homes, 12 Oaks offers choices for all stages of living. Prices begin in the low $300,000’s and range to $1M plus. There are plenty of new construction homes as well as previously owned homes for sale at 12 Oaks.

Sunset Ridge is home to Devils Ridge Golf Club. Devil’s Ridge is a private, 18-hole course that was awarded 4 stars by Golf Digest. Sunset Ridge not only offers golf but year-round tennis, a world class aquatic park, and numerous parks and walking trails. Custom homes start in the high $300,000’s and range to about $1M. Most of the homes in the neighborhood were built in the 1990’s – 2010 and feature private, large wooded lots ranging from 1/3 to 2 acres.

Bentwinds Golf & Country Club is a private club just a quick 10 minute drive down to Fuquay-Varina, nicknamed “The Breeze” it is said to never play the same way twice. Bentwinds offers a social calendar for all ages, as well as pool and tennis and a waterfront clubhouse/restaurant/bar. Homes in the neighborhood are all custom and are situated on large 1/3 – acre wooded lots. Bentwinds Bluffs, Augusta Place, and Johnson Pointe are all a short golf-cart ride away with new and re-sale homes up to $1.2M.

Attention Fuquay-Varina LOCAL businesses…Did you know our Fuquay-Varina schools have a BUSINESS ALLIANCE group that does an phenomenal job of joining the resources of our local businesses with our local students together to the benefit of both groups.  We meet every 3rd Thursday morning for an hour rotating at our local Middle and High Schools.  
FVHS has ready, willing, and able Junior and Senior students looking for internships at our local businesses. The students will get credit for working in your business for free! There is no doubt our bright young adults will surprise you with their enthusiasm, leadership, and social skills.

We invite you, and challenge you, to join us!  The impact you will have on the students, and your business, will surprise you, come make a difference in your community.  Fuquay-Varina has one of the strongest Business Alliance groups in Wake County and we are making a DIFFERENCE for our future.

Can’t make it to a meeting but would love to help? Contact Dr. Emily Jessee, ejessee@wcpss.net, at FVHS and become a Bengal Backer.

Next meeting:  March 15, 2018 at FVHS.

Contact us for more information, or just show up. I promise, you will be even more rewarded than the students!

Would you like to add photographic flair for free, use Unsplash!

Here at Front Porch Realty we’re always on the lookout for new sources of free photos; we use photos in newsletters, blog posts, social media and presentations.  We are happy to find Unsplash and introduce you to a service which offers fantastic, crowd-sourced photos that can be downloaded and used in your own projects.  They offer beautiful, free pictures in the categories of Business, Nature, People, Technology, Food, Travel, and so many more!

Best of all, Unsplash’s photos don’t look like stock photos.  While their inventory isn’t especially deep (yet!), there are still lots of hight-resolution images with truly eye-catching, creative views.

Save yourself some cash and grab some great pics here at their website:  https://unsplash.com/

We’re sure that no matter what your picture needs are, you’ll find something to use with this great and free tool!

Real Estate brokers have sometimes been accused of “shortening our words” or using terms that we think everyone already knows!  So, here’s a little helpful guide, if you have trouble navigating real estate terminology!

What it says versus What it means

conveys with sale … it will STAY with the home

EIK … eat in kitchen

SS … stainless steel

HDW, HWF, Hdwd ….. hardwood floors

WIC …walk-in-closet

FDR ….. formal dining room

MLS...multiple listing system

FSBO ….. for sale by owner

Pre-approval …  based on information you are able to provide to the lender.  This will look much better than a pre-qualification to the seller.

Pre-qualified ….  based on a 5 minute phone call to the lender and only on what you tell the lender.  This is needed in order to even make an offer on a home.

due diligence funds …the funds the buyer gives the seller at time of contract to “buy time” off the market while they do their due diligence

due diligence or DD…all of the inspections and loan process, etc a buyer can exercise on a prospective home during their due diligence time period

Due diligence money- is non-refundable The good news is the money is typically credited towards the purchase of the home at closing.

Earnest money is “good faith” money. The buyer is showing the seller they are serious about buying the home.

contingency … a contract on a home that is dependent on you selling your existing home

3 BR/2BA  3 bedrooms and 2 baths

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I’m sure we’ve missed a few, feel free to leave comments with any you might still be wondering about and we’ll do our best to define them.

We are here to help you navigate your real estate needs and ALL the terms that come along with that!

Welcome home!

Fuquay-Varina Bengal Proud!

I was recently asked to speak to a group of local Fuquay-Varina Middle and High School students as a business owner in the community.  I wanted to share my experiences, in hopes that more business members in our community would be inspired to volunteer. Each activity took me less than an hour.  I know that hour could lead to a big impact on these young adults as they begin to think about their future. As always, I know I got more out of it than they did!

My friend, colleague, and educator, Mr. Rodney Jenkins, is the Career and Technical Education Coordinator for Fuquay-Varina Middle School. He recently approached me and asked if I would speak to his entrepreneurial class.  My topics included: why I started my own business, what’s involved with owning my own business, the hardest part, the easiest part and more.  I brought along my company’s advertising goodies like stadium cups and pens, and tossed some candy to the students that participated.  The students had awesome questions and provoked my own thoughts on why I do this.

I was overjoyed to hear the students decided they are going to arrange a “field trip” to visit our office sometime soon.  I can’t wait to see them again!

There are so many opportunities to get involved with students in Fuquay-Varina. I was also asked to address the first Fuquay-Varina Youth Leadership Group conference. This initiative is the first of its kind for Fuquay-Varina and the students selected to participate. I was asked to speak about Front Porch Realty’s application process and how I determine good candidates for our firm.

Laura Moody recently addressing both students and staff.

These bright, energetic high-schoolers had so many great questions for me!  They are eager to learn how to make a difference in our town and they are striving for greatness.  I commend the staff of Fuquay-Varina High school for working so diligently to start this leadership program and make a difference in these student’s lives. Imagine all the lucky businesses that get to hire these young folks someday!

If you are interested in helping any of our community schools in ANY way please contact our office or join the FV Business Alliance. Our next meeting is coming up soon!