3 ACRES PLUS POND IN FUQUAY-VARINA

Offered at $789,900 – 4 BED/3 1/2 BATH


ALL BRICK custom beauty with lots of space to spread out, inside and out! Open LR/Kitchen/Dining with hardwoods and corner fireplace. Kitchen boasts quartz, center island with prep sink. Split bedroom plan, Master with walk-in shower/2 shower heads, and garden tub. Large Bonus/Media room plus 2 Offices! Large screened porch plus deck for enjoying private yard and pond. Full daylight conditioned basement for all kinds of possibilities. Oversized main 2 car garage PLUS boat garage and an additional 1.5 car garage/shop. Only 4-miles away from lovely Downtown Fuquay-Varina!

CLICK HERE for more information!

Your very own pond to enjoy!

Cleveland Draft House

EXCITING NEWS FOLKS! Cleveland Draft House off of E. Broad Street will be opening September 27th! If you have been following along since they announced Cleveland Draft House some time ago you know it has been a long wait but we are finally in the home stretch! The restaurant chain currently has two other locations located in Clayton and Garner, NC. If you have had the pleasure of stopping by one of their 2 other locations before, you know we are in for a treat here in Fuquay Varina. Specializing in Burgers, Ribs, and pretty much all American Cuisine you are sure to find a tasty bite to eat to curve your hunger. Cleveland Draft House is a full service restaurant and Bar with 50 beers on draft. The atmosphere offers the best of both worlds. During the daytime you can catch families of all ages enjoying a meal together, companies grabbing lunch together, but head over at nighttime and you can enjoy trivia nights (TBD), play pool, or throw some darts with friends. Starting next Monday September 27, 2021 enjoy the Cleveland Draft House experience we have all been patiently waiting for! They are still hiring line cooks, please click the link below to fill out an application if interested. APPLY HERE

Assaggio’s Pizzeria and Ristorante

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!

Run the Quay is in its 15th year!

Are you ready to Run the Quay? Yes, it’s true this Chamber of Commerce sponsored Annual event has been going on every year for the last 15 years, it’s a tradition! How about the brand new Downtown Cooldown, happening at the same time in downtown Varina? Well, here’s all the info you need to get ready! The Chamber is anticipating over 1,000 runners this year! Check out the race routes, and come out to cheer on your favorite brave runners! Then, head on over to Varina to Celebrate. There will be something for everyone at this FREE family friendly event including food trucks galore, Live music, kids activities like a bounce house, Fhairy Sparkles Hair, yard games, and even the Stormy Mascot from the Carolina Hurricanes! We hope to see you all there! Run the Quay – Saturday, June 1st, from 9am – 2pm. Downtown Cooldown – downtown Varina at the old Stephen’s Hardware 9am -2pm Register here for the 5K, 10K, or the Kids Fun Run – REGISTER Pick up your race packets here – Thursday, May 30th, 4:00 – 6:00 pm @ Omega Sports Cary Crossroads Friday, May 31st, 4:00 – 7:00 pm @ GNC of Fuquay-Varina Saturday, June 1st – Starts at 6:00 am at race site Parking & Course Maps PARKING MAP STREET CLOSURE MAP 10K COURSE 5K COURSE MAP Register here to VOLUNTEER FOOD TRUCKS AND BOOTHS Aloha Shave Ice Brooklyn Boys Pizza Corner Boys BBQ Dusty Donuts Las Gringas Pints Ice Cream Qspresso Cuban & Latino Fusion TJ’s Kitchen Tropical Delights Aviator Brewing Company, Inc. Fainting Goat Brewing Co. Vicious Fishes Brewery

If you ever use free online photos, here’s a great new tool!

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!    

What does that mean anyway: Real Estate Lingo

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 *************************************************************************************************************************** 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!

The Importance Of Homeowners Insurance

STATE FARM HOMEOWNERS PROTECTION FOR YOUR HOME, YOUR PROPERTY, YOURSELF.

  Front Porch Realty recently sat down and spoke with Corey Mullen, at Clay Hamilton’s State Farm Insurance in Fuquay Varina, about the importance of having homeowners insurance and how it works. Your home is your refuge after a long day of work. It’s the hub of everything that really matters, where you can relax with your family. So you shouldn’t trust just any company to protect it. You should go with an insurer with the financial strength to cover a wide variety of losses, trusted by more homeowners than any other insurer. That’s State Farm®. When the unexpected hits home, a good neighbor can help. Continue reading

4 Tips For Buying A Home In A Hot Market

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: Continue reading

What It Means To Bank Local

What It Means to Bank Local 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? Continue reading

Where To See Independence Day Fireworks!

Come on out and celebrate Independence Day!

There are several locations locally that will be having Independence Day Celebrations with fireworks. Be sure to check out the Dates, Times and Info below.  

July 3

Fuquay-Varina – Gates to South Park open at 6 p.m. and a free concert featuring Spare Change begins at 7. There will be fireworks, inflatables and food vendors. Bring a blanket or chair to watch the fireworks. Alcohol is prohibited. Info: bit.ly/2rTCVl. Garner – Featuring performances by the NC Symphony and Bull City Syndicate, the celebrations kick off at 5 p.m. at Lake Benson Park (921 Buffaloe Road). The evening will end with fireworks. There will be concessions provided by local non-profit organizations, as well as crafts and inflatables for children. Alcohol and glass containers are prohibited. Info: bit.ly/2rTO7hJ.

July 4

Apex – The annual Olde Fashioned Fourth of July runs from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. with a Parade of Wheels at noon, which children 12 and under can take part in. Other activities will include inflatables, karaoke, face painting and sno cones. Pets are not allowed. Info: apexnc.org/532/Olde-Fashioned-Fourth-of-July. Benson ––Benson’s July 4th Celebration takes place at Benson Singing Grove (400 E. Main St.) from 5:30-9:30 p.m. They’ll have food, games, entertainment, and live music, raffle and fireworks. Info: 919-894-5117. Cary – From 3 p.m. to 10 p.m., the town of Cary will be having its Fourth of July celebration in Koka Booth Amphitheatre. There will be watermelon eating contests, a ferris wheel, a scavenger hunt and music provided by the NC Symphony and the Cary Town Band. Fireworks will start after the NC Symphony’s 7:30 p.m. performance concludes. The event is free, save for some of the amusement rides and 4-seat pub tables. Pets, hula hoops and weapons are prohibited. Info: boothamphitheatre.com. Clayton – Catch food vendors, raffles, basketball competitions, cornhole and inflatables at Municipal Park (325 McCullers Drive) starting at 4 p.m. Fireworks will start after dark. Live music, inflatables and rides will continue running after the fireworks are over to provide an alternative to sitting in traffic. Info: bit.ly/2tbFC5n. Lillington – The fun will begin on Tuesday, July 4th, at the river (beside Howard’s BBQ 100 Main St., Lillington, NC) from 2-6 p.m. We will have a DJ, food and drink, inflatable water slides, our second annual duck rodeo, and our annual duck derby. The fun will continue at Lillington Park (Lillington Ball Fields 405 S. 1st St., Lillington, NC) from 5-9 p.m. with a DJ, food and drink, and much more. Our annual fireworks display will begin at dusk. Info: http://tinyurl.com/yb8ophcu

July 5

Holly Springs – From 5 to 9:30 p.m. at Jefferson L. Sugg Farm at Bass Lake Park, there will be patriotic festivities including fireworks at 9:15, face painting, live music and inflatables. Friendly pets on leashes are welcome. Bringing your own fireworks, including sparklers, is prohibited. Info: hollyspringsnc.us/358/July-5th.