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!

The Food Cupboards garden

The Food Cupboard

Did you know that Holly Springs has a very busy food bank?  They work in conjunction with area grocery stores and the Raleigh food bank.  It’s called the Holly Springs Food Cupboard and they serve 1000’s of Holly Spring residents every month.  This giving group even has their own garden that produced over 2000 lbs of fresh food last summer! The Holly Springs Food Cupboard welcomes your volunteerism in many ways and even has group projects for your civic and student groups.

Front Porch Realty recently visited the Cupboard’s ribbon cutting with the Holly Springs Chamber of Commerce, to celebrate their recent addition, giving them much needed space to serve their clients.

Thank you to all of the volunteers that make this Cupboard happen.  God Bless You!

Huge crowd gathered for Holly Springs Food Cupboard ribbon cutting!