Craving authentic Italian cuisine but can’t find the time to make it to Italy? You are in LUCK! Just around the corner in Fuquay, Assagio’s Pizzeria and Ristorante is a classic Italian restaurant with specialty pizzas, Stromboli’s, gyros, calzones and so much more more.
Tom and Amy McGrath, the owners of the Fuquay-Varina Assagio’s, met here in North Carolina and married in 2000 later having 2 kids. Opening their first owned restaurant in 2004, Tom was eager show off the skills he has been acquiring since working in the restaurant industry in High School. Tom and Amy love what they do, how could you not when working with pizza?! As Tom stated when asked why he decided to open an Italian restaurant? The answer was simple, “I LIKE PIZZA”! Assiago’s takes pride in their family-friendly atmosphere including wonderful food and great service.
Assaggio means ‘taste’ in Italian and this wonderful pizzeria certainly lives up to their name. Have guests coming over? Assagio’s does catering as well! Be sure to take a look at their MENU and stop by for a bite!
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 
When a market is hot, finding and buying a home can feel like an uphill battle. In a seller’s market, homes go quickly. They can be on the market one day and gone the next. And on top of the challenge of finding a home, most homes (especially the desirable ones) have multiple offers, making it harder to get into the home of your dreams.
But buying a home in a hot market isn’t impossible! You just have to approach it strategically and stack the deck in your favor to find – and successfully buy – the right home for you and your family.
Here are four tips for buying a home in a hot market that will put you a step ahead of the home-buying competition: 
We chatted with Janice Durham, VP, Branch Manager of the Fuquay-Varina First Bank location, about what it means to bank locally and keep your dollars not only in state but right in your own hometown.
Banking local and shopping local share the same goal: to ensure your dollars have the largest impact on your community. Reports show that of every $100 spent at locally owned businesses, $68 goes straight bank into the community (compared to $43 when shopping at a large chain).
Similarly, by choosing a local bank over a large, national bank means that your dollars stay here for investment in small business development; in the organizations that lend and provide services to your friends, family, or neighbors; and in the community itself.
What Makes a Community Bank Different? 
As I said at the beginning there is some low inventory with homes priced under $300,000.00; however, if you don’t look for a home then you surely won’t fine one, and there are homes to be found even in that price range. So what else do you need to consider in a home purchase? First, do you have enough money to buy a home?
The Price Tag…..
There are several loan programs available that will get you into a home for zero or a very low down payment with reasonable interest rates. But you will need to have some cash to cover expenses like the appraisal ($450) which is paid upfront and out-of-pocket in the home buying process. You will also need money for closing costs, which come due on the day you sign the promissory note at closing.
If you don’t have enough cash to cover the closing costs, talk to your realtor about negotiating these into the sales contract. There is an easy way to handle this scenario. Let’s say that you want to purchase a home that’s listed at $187,500.00. You would like to pay $185,000 for the house and you know that you need $5,000 to help cover closing costs. Simply ask your Realtor to write the offer to purchase for $190,000 with the seller paying $5,000 in closing costs.
Show me the Money…
But how do you know how much closing costs are going to be? And, how do you know if you earn enough money to be able to qualify for a mortgage loan to begin with? Now we come to the crux of the matter. The best way to answer these questions is to call me and start the application process. With just a little information, I can quickly see if you can be prequalified for a mortgage loan. I can also make sure that you’re taking advantage of the best loan programs available.
Home-ownership is part of the American dream; and with interest rates still at historically low levels now is a great time to explore your options. Call me today and let’s get started on getting you into the home of your dreams!
Jenny Miller
Loan Officer
NMLS: 1054076
Sierra Pacific Mortgage Company
6736 Falls of Neuse Road Suite 120
Raleigh, NC 27615
Phone: 
