Front Porch Realty - If you ever use free online photos, here's a great new tool!

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!

Water Is Not Your House’s Friend!

We recently had an opportunity to catch up with Eric Coates of Detailed Home Inspections Inc. about the affects that water can have on your home. Here is what he shared with us. Water is not your house’s friend! I really do love my job. However, there are days that I do not like my job. Hurricane Matthew came through our area in 2016. It dumped 10 inches of rain that day. I had the privilege of performing two home inspections that day! Continue reading →

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 →

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.

What’s a Bengal Backer?

Fuquay-Varina Bengals

Do you own a business or work in Fuquay-Varina? Did you know our Fuquay-Varina schools are in need of our help in any small way we can give? The F-V Business Alliance is a group of Business Owners and School Personnel that meet every month to brainstorm bringing together the business expertise and the classroom along with the classroom to the business environment!

F-V Business Alliance Meeting Dates

No time to attend ANOTHER meeting every month? That’s alright! Please take 30 seconds to join the F-V Business Alliance as a Bengal Backer. Here you will sign up to receive emails detailing where you can donate your precious gift of time, or money. No experience is necessary, and most volunteer needs are only about 30 minutes. Some examples of what’s needed are having a mock interview with students preparing for a competition, hosting a car wash for a fundraiser, or donating food for an event. Of course, we would LOVE to have you at our next meeting, December 15, 8:30 am at FVHS. I promise, you will be even more rewarded than the students!

What it takes to be a Bengal Backer

Celebrating 20 years of helping the people of Fuquay-Varina and the surrounding area! Please share our name with your co-workers, employees, relatives and neighbors and please think of Front Porch Realty as YOUR LOCAL real estate professionals! Laura Moody Broker/Owner Front Porch Realty

Holly Springs Business Park Roundtable

New development possibilities

A big THANK YOU to the Town of Holly Springs Economic Development Department for inviting Front Porch Realty to their latest business park round table discussion on November 29th. Ms. Kendra Parrish, Director of Engineering, did an excellent job of educating us about the growing infrastructure of Holly Springs along with some exciting DOT improvements coming to traffic lights and new and existing roadways. Ms. Irena Krstanovic, Interim Director for the Department of Economic Development, shared the area opportunities for business and retail growth and how we can continue to “sell” Holly Springs. Thank you Annie Thieret, Broker-in-Charge of our Front Porch Realty Holly Springs office for making this happen. And a big shout out to Rodney’s Custom Cut Sign Company for hosting our awesome lunch!

Annie Thieret of Front Porch Realty enjoying a great lunch!

Front Porch Realty is giving back, and you can too!

Hello Fellow Business Owners of Fuquay Varina,

As many of you may know, I have a passion for helping the schools and children of our community. Recently, I responded to an announcement in one of the latest Chamber Thursday Forecasts about Fuquay Varina High School needing some help with their Future Business Leaders of America Club. I had the PLEASURE of meeting with their group two weeks ago to talk about resume writing and interviewing. I learned of how much these High School students would love to do an unpaid (or paid!) internship with a Fuquay Varina business. I will be offering an internship with my company in the Spring and would love to see some more local business owners do the same. These kids are extremely intelligent and mature and I believe any of them would be an asset to any of your businesses. If you can find a way to offer any kind of internship in the coming year please get in touch with the FBLA chair, Mr. Lee. Mr. Lee and his group have been a pleasure to work with and I know you will find it as rewarding as I have!

Bob Lee, M.Ed.

Special Populations Coordinator

FBLA Advisor

Fuquay-Varina High School

http://fvhs.wcpss.net/

919-557-2561

rlee@wcpss.net

Thank you in advance for your time, Laura