GREAT NEWS FOR HOME BUYERS..

Yahoo!!! Great News!

The United States Congress finally passed and the President signed into law new measures to maintain the momentum for a housing market recovery. Action that should really give the real estate market a much needed shot in the arm!

The home buyer tax credit which was going to disappear at the end of November will now be available through the middle of next year (2010) and more potential buyers will be able to take advantage of it.

Guess what else! The income limit was increased so many move-up buyers - not just first-timer purchasers - also will qualify. Furthermore, loan limits will not shrink as was planned for next year; in high-cost areas, the loan limit will remain at near $730,000 in 2010, thereby permitting more consumers to tap into the historically low mortgage rates.

This is GREAT NEWS! Give us call today. Let us help you put the wheels into motion to make your dream of owning a home in Beautiful Raleigh, North Carolina - become a reality!

It's getting cold here in Raleigh (30s-40s at night!) We're hoping to get a good bit of snow this year. It's been a wet 2009 in these parts, which hopefully will translate into some snowflakes for us within the next month or so. It sure would be nice to have a white Christmas.

Blaise & Cathie

The Leaves are Falling in North Carolina....

With temperatures in the seventies during the day and dipping into the forties and fifties in the evenings, North Carolina is certainly NOT lacking in glorious Fall color. The leaves here in Raleigh finally started changing last week, but over in the Blue Ridge and Appalachians, Peak Fall Color is in full swing.

Here are some photographs Cathie took last week during our yearly Fall ride. This year there was one difference, however - instead of taking the Harley, we decided since we were only going for the day - we'd take the Jeep, as we knew we would be coming home late at night or in the wee hours of the next day.

The day started out a bit gloomy, but it suited the crisp, breezy tone of the day...

We passed several Christmas Tree Farms. What a great way to make a living!

The forest was on fire with yellow. Everywhere we looked trees were covered with bright yellow, orange and red - but clearly, yellow was the dominating color.

This is the only way she can get in a picture...

Every twist, every turn brought about a different vision of beauty....

The highlight of the trip was our outdoor lunch overlooking the Appalachian mountains where nature's landscape left us both breathless. You can read about the creation of the Appalachian Mountains here.

Just a few short hours to our west, we never tire of riding through the mountains and are looking forward to the first few snowfalls. In just a few weeks, these gorgeous mountains will be covered in a dusting of snow - creating a whole new beautiful landscape.

NEXT WEEK: Cathie's been cooking again and has a few great recipes to share; and some great tips for Sellers in this unusual market.

It's good to be back.... Have a great week!

All "Dressed Up" and Everywhere to Go......

Here is a picture of our new family member. It's been a long time coming, something we've talked about for a very long time and something Blaise has dreamed about his entire life. We have taken a hit like everyone else due to the downturn of the economy, and we decided in this instance, to make it work for us by moving up our decision to buy a bigger, safer bike by about 4 years. Like everyone else, Harley Davidson has felt a pinch this year and offered us a pretty good deal on an Ultra Classic. It's big, it's loud, its gorgeous and it's safer than our other bike which we no longer own.

Sabrina was away for the entire day over the weekend so we decided to take a ride over to Topsail Island Beach on the Carolina Coast. That is one beach we have not been to so I was excited to check it out. Neither one of us were disappointed.

After only a 2.5 hour ride on uncongested country roads from Raleigh, we found ourselves (on a Saturday) parking right at the base of the stairway to the boardwalk to the beach. The beach was all but deserted and was cool, clean and quiet. Dogs are permitted so we did have to share the beach and the ocean with a few four legged creatures - who were all too happy to be there.

We still marvel over the beauty and ease of the beaches here in North Carolina. Living in South Florida for so many years, we became "jaded" beach goers. Florida beaches had way too many people (it was hard sometimes to even find a spot to lay down), no frisbee, no beach balls, no dogs allowed, no parking, junk in the water, wall to wall traffic to get to the beach (a 10 minute ride would take sometimes close to 45 minutes because of traffic). We love spending time on the Carolina Coast and still giggle every time we get a parking space right at the entrance and there are no other cars. It's our private beach.

We love living in Raleigh for this reason. We are about 2 hours away (at the closest point) from the beach so we don't get all that tourist traffic, pollution and congestion - but we are close enough we can leave around 9 or 10 am, spend an entire day at the beach and still get home way before dark - not too exhausted.

Sabrina is going to Washington DC in a month or so and we were just talking today about packing up the Harley -- no corgis this time (sorry guys) and heading over to the Smokeys for some cool mountain air.

Are you jealous yet? Give us a call and let's talk about how we can help you make your dreams of living, working and playing (at the beach and in the mountains!) a reality.

Have a great week.

School Starts in One Week...

With only one more week left until the 2009-2010 school year begins, Blaise and I decided to take advantage of a "childless" weekend (Sabrina went to Carrowinds Amusement Park for the day Saturday) and take a Harley Ride over to Topsail Island, NC.

I took lots of pictures and will be sharing them here, next week. THAT's what we love about living in North Carolina. This weekend we drove only 2.5 hours to escape the nearly 100 degree temperatures to cool off in the crystal blue Atlantic Ocean at one of the most beautiful beaches in the country. On the flipside, in a few weeks, we'll be heading over to the Carolina Mountains for some cool mountain air and wildlife watching. It doesn't get any better than this and we LOVE LIVING IN NORTH CAROLINA.

In the meantime, while I'm organizing my pictures and information on Topsail Island, below is a recipe I wanted to share. NO, it's not a Southern recipe - which is what I typically put up on our blog - but this one is one of my favorites and definitely worth sharing.

WOW Your Family & Friends with Ravioli or Pasta with VODKA SAUCE

During a recent trip to New York City, I tried a dish which I've seen on menues millions of times but never ordered - Ravioli with Pink Vodka Sauce. Let me tell you, it was one of the most beautifully presented and delicious meals I've ever eaten.

Immediately upon arriving home, I put a pot of sauce on to cook all day and decided to look up a vodka sauce recipe. How EASY and how DELICIOUS! And while this is certainly NOT a Southern Recipe (which is what I typically share, ) this is so good, I want you to try it.

NOTE: I make the sauce and pour it over fresh ravioli (either cheese or veal ravioli). You can certainly use a good quality frozen ravioli, or pasta such as penne, rigatoni, bowties, etc.

VODKA SAUCE

1/4 lb. diced pancetta (Italian bacon) (if desired. this ingredient is NOT mandatory)

1/4 c. butter

1/3 c. vodka

1/2 c. freshly grated Parmesan cheese

1 1/2 c. heavy cream

1 1/2 c. tomato sauce

Melt the butter in a large frying pan. When the butter foams, add the diced pancetta. When the pancetta browns slightly (takes 2 to 3 minutes), add the vodka and stir.

After the alcohol burns off (about 3 minutes),

SLOWLY stir in the tomato sauce and cream.

Stir continuously for 5 - 8 minutes.

If you want to serve it over ravioli, place the cooked ravioli on plates and nicely drizzle the sauce over the top. Garnish with fresh, grated parmesan cheese and italian parsley.

If you would like to serve pasta such as penne or rigatoni or even shells, then throw the cooked (al dente!) pasta into the frying pan WITH THE SAUCE and toss. Then place on plates, grate fresh Parmesan over the top and garnish with Italian parsley.

Another idea for this sauce that I've tried is adding a cup or so of chopped tomatoes at the very beginning when you are heating up the butter and pancetta, throw some diced tomatoes in at that point. That gives the sauce a real "al fresca" taste.

HOW EASY IS THAT? And oooooh so impressive. It really is delicious. If you don't make your own sauce and want to use jarred sauce, you can do that to. Just follow the recipe using jarred sauce. I do recommend that you use a fine quality jarred sauce that has less sugar.

Drop me an e-mail or leave a comment if you've tried this and let me know what you think.

Now Mange!! Mange!!!

Mange: (from Middle English manjeue, from Old French manjue, from mangier, meaning to eat)

Summer's in Full Swing.....

It finally got hot this past week in North Carolina. We were just talking about how nice the weather has been - warm breezy afternoons and comfortable evenings - and it got HOT. I shouldn't complain -- after all, it IS July, and before you know it -- it will be September and the weather will be cooler again.

We just returned from a great trip from the Northeast where the temperatures were unusually cool we were told - due to all the clouds and rain. Needless to say we didn't mind the cooler temperatures at all as it made for some great motorcycling and sightseeing weather.

We trailed the bike behind our vehicle as we brought Sabrina with us. We stopped in Pennsylvania to see Blaise's sister and her family and Sabrina stayed with them after we took her to NYC. Blaise and I then took the motorcycle up through PA, DE, NJ, NY and VT. As you may know, the weather on the east coast has been horrendous - with daily downpours lasting for weeks. We did get two full days of rain - but doning our rain gear, we refused to let the bad weather stop our journey. Here are a few quick shots of our trip:

Roadside in Vermont...

Blaise & Cathie in Times Square....

Row Houses in Greenwich Village....

Way too many taxis in NYC....

MOMA - Museum of Modern Art....

The view from Broadway....

Undercover in Upstate New York....

Isn't she pretty???

MOMA - Museum of Modern Art exhibit....

We didn't do as much picture taking as we usually do - due to the rain. I keep the camera on my lap on the back of the Harley and typicall snap hundreds of pictures during a roadtrip, but because it was raining so hard - I didn't do that.

We're back home safe and sound and ready to resume the busiest time of year for our company. and our clients. People are shuffling about the country in a desperate attempt to get packed up, moved and settled in to North Carolina before school starts.

Give us a call and let us help you with a smooth and seamless relocation. It's what we do - and we're really good at it! And don't forget to visit our Carolina Pines Website where you can search for homes without passwords, check out employment, the schools, neighborhoods, culture and recreation.

Whatever you're up to this week - have a great one!

Summer's Here in Beautiful North Carolina....

Summer is in full swing here in North Carolina. The kids have been out of school for over a week and vacation plans are in the works. THIS is the time of year we really appreciate our decision to move to beautiful North Carolina.

The Recca family tends to make the most of summer. With the mountains about 2 1’2 hours to our West and the beach less than 2 hours to our East we can wake up on a Friday morning and ponder our weekend adventure, make a decision, have breakfast, pack up the car and be there before noon.

This year we plan on making at least a few trips over to the beach – probably the Outer Banks and Topsail. We also plan on going over to the mountains next month to check out some possible locations for a vacation home. Cathie is in love with the Carolina mountains, particularly close to the Tennessee border. We can drive over there in less than three hours and enjoy cool mountain temperatures in the dead heat of summer.

What are your plans for Summer 2009?

You’ve been thinking about making a move to North Carolina – so why not plan a trip and come pay us a visit? Let us show you just how much home your money can buy for you in the Raleigh area. You will be absolutely amazed.

With motivated sellers, low interest rates, and incredible buyer’s incentives, there has never been a better time to buy a home in North Carolina.

Give Blaise or I a call. We'd love to help you plan a trip to Raleigh so you can check it out. We can get you inside to see some of those beautiful homes we've been sending you to take a look at -- up close and personal!

C'mon - pack up the car and the kids and head to North Carolina. Let us help you make your dreams of owning your Carolina Dream Home.....

...Become a Reality!

Springtime at the Recca House, an $8,000 Tax Credit and USDA Rural Development Loan Program - NO DOWN PAYMENT!

Finally, the trees are all leafed out, the garden is in and proliferating and the pine tree pollen is GONE! Spring is in full force and effect and we're loving it.

Spring is traditionally one of the busiest times of year for the real estate business as folks are up and moving around and planning ahead for the future. Many families put their homes up for sale in April and May in order to get it sold, and a new



one purchased and settled into before the kids start school in August or September.

If you are thinking of finally taking that giant leap and either purchasing your first home, or - selling your existing home and relocating to beautiful North Carolina, here are two programs that we believe may be of interest to YOU:

USDA's Rural Development Loans and the new $8,000 IRS Tax Credit.


TAX CREDIT:

Qualifying taxpayers who buy a home this year before Dec. 1 can get up to $8,000, or $4,000 for married filing separately. “For first-time homebuyers this year, this special feature can put money in their pockets right now rather than waiting another year to claim the tax credit," said IRS Commissioner Doug Shulman. “This important change gives qualifying homebuyers cash they do not have to pay back.”

This year, qualifying taxpayers who buy a home before Dec. 1, 2009, can claim the credit on either their 2008 or 2009 tax returns. They do not have to repay the credit, provided the home remains their main home for 36 months after the purchase date. They can claim 10 percent of the purchase price up to $8,000, or $4,000 for married individuals filing separately.
Here is the IRS website that has all the details on the newest tax credit.
http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=204672,00.html

And if you’re not a first time buyer, why not take advantage of the USDA Rural Development Loans?

USDA RURAL DEVELOPMENT LOANS:

For many the mention of USDA conjures up thoughts of farmers, ranchers, and regulations related to the safety of meat, poultry, and egg products.Indeed USDA is committed to helping farmers and ranchers and their associated industries, but the agency does much more to assist Americans of all backgrounds in many ways.In fact, more and more Americans are taking advantage of USDA's programs designed to bring housing, modern facilities, telecommunications, and safe drinking water to unincorporated rural areas, towns, and cities with lower populations.One of the housing programs gaining popularity is the USDA Guaranteed Rural Development Loan, a program with unique benefits to assist individuals and families acquire homes.

Here’s a link to the USDA Rural Development Loans website if you’d like more information
http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/rd/index.html

Give us a call – let’s talk about what either of these two programs can do to assist you in making your dreams of owning your Carolina Dream Home come true.

Spring Greens - What to Do With Them....

Spinach is in season RIGHT NOW and over here at the Recca House, we eat a ton of spinach as it's so easy to grow here in North Carolina.

You can only eat so many spinach salads, so what do you do with all that spinach?

An easy recipe that is as healthy as it is delicious - spaghetti with spinach. And the variations - are endless!

What You Need:

Spaghetti (I prefer to use whole grain spaghetti as it lends itself nicely to this type of dish)

At least 4 cups of fresh (baby) spinach

1 Tablespoon of Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Garlic Cloves (as few or as many as you like) Crushed

Fresh Grated Parmesan Cheese

And here's where the fun starts. This recipe is so versatile. You can add any, all or none of the following ingredients depending on your taste:

1-3 (depending on your taste) tablespoons of capers

1-3 tablespoons of pine nuts (my favorite)

2 or 3 sliced dried red chillies or a teaspoon of red pepper flakes

1/4 Cup of Feta Cheese (this is really good)

Some crumbled bacon (I don't use Bacon Bits, I like to use fresh, cooked bacon)

1/2 Cup of sliced up chicken breast

1/2 Cup of sliced mushrooms

Really, list goes on and on. Use your imagination.

Directions:

Boil your pasta al dente. Do NOT overcook whatever you do.

Drain and Rinse

In a nice sized skillet, heat up olive oil, throw in garlic and cook it until it starts to turn light brown. When the skillet and garlic are nice and hot, throw in your chicken if you are going to use it. Let it get nice and hot. Then it's time to throw in the pasta and toss around for a few minutes - you don't want to brown the pasta but again, you want it to get nice and hot.

Then it's time to toss in whatever else you are adding - capers, peppers, etc.

and toss that around for a minute - not much more.

Finally, throw in your spinach - and toss until it wilts.

Put it in a pretty bowl (I love to use a nice white pasta bowl) and sprinkle with Parmesan. NOTE: if you use Feta cheese, I put that in BEFORE I take it out of the pan so it has a chance to soften up just a wee bit.

Time this takes to prepare - once the spaghetti is cooked - about 5 minutes. It's a beautiful and impressive dish sure to please the most discriminating palette. Great for a light dinner or a fancy lunch.

I like to serve this with some fresh semolina bread and a glass of red wine. Yumm!

Bon appetit!

P.S. I also make this exact same dish but instead of spinach, we use broccoli rabe - I like that even more. It's absolutely delicious - and oh so healthy!

BizJournal.com ranked Raleigh, NC #1 Best Place to Launch a Small Business, AND...

Counts the Raleigh-Cary market among a small group of Metropolitan Statistical
Areas that ADDED JOBS in the fourth quarter of 2008, says a study released Monday.

Bizjournals used a six-part formula to analyze the nation''s 100 largest metropolitan areas, noting population growth between 2002 and 2007, employment growth from 2003 to 2008, small-business growth from 2005 to 2006 and small-business population. Bizjournals defines a small business as any private-sector employer with 99 or fewer employees.

The country's top five rankings went to Raleigh, N.C.; Charlotte, N.C.; Seattle, Wash.; Austin, Texas; and Boise, Idaho.

Not only that, Bizjournals counts the Raleigh-Cary market among an ELITE small group of Metropolitan Statistical Areas that added jobs in the fourth quarter of 2008, says a study released Monday.

The number of jobs in the Raleigh-Cary MSA, which comprises Wake, Johnston and Franklin counties, increased by 3,500 from the fourth quarter of 2007, according to a bizjournals analysis of U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data. Bizjournals is part of American City Business Journals, the parent company of Triangle Business Journal.

Raleigh's total of 434,100 jobs in the fourth quarter of 2008 gave the MSA a 0.8 percent gain year-over-year and a 21.6 percent gain (a whopping 77,000) job gain since 2003.

Why don't you visit our website: http://www.carolinapinesrealty.com/ where you can search our local MLS direction without passwords. Then, give us a call - let's talk about what we can do to assist you in making your dream of moving to North Carolina become a reality!

Have a great week!

Is it Spring Yet????

Well, officially - no, not yet. But with temperatures in the high 70's and 80, it sure feels like it. A week ago we had almost 5 inches of snow and temps dipped into the teens. This week - we're up to 80! I love the weather in North Carolina. Because we're the dividing line between the North and the South, when those weather systems collide - we get some really interesting results. My daffodils are blooming, the tulips are ready and my seedlings (radishes, turnips, beets, and broccoli rabe) are germinating already. So in my mind - Spring is here!

I don't know if you've noticed in your supermarket, but it also appears that Strawberry Season is Fast Approaching. While North Carolina is not an "official" US Strawberry producing state, we have our share of fresh strawberry farms and in our house - we love to take advantage of that.

Just up the street in both directions from our home – there are fresh picked strawberry stands where you can buy a bucket of strawberries for $10. It seems from April through June we always have a bucket of strawberries in our refrigerator.

We use them in protein shakes, on ice cream, in cobbler, on cheesecake, in cereal, in yogurt – I can name 100 ways we use fresh strawberries. Toward the end of the season, I always over-buy a few buckets, wash them, dry them and freeze them for future use.

Plentiful, naturally low in calorie and rich in antioxidents, strawberries are a staple here in the Recca house. So, in honor of strawberry season, here are two of my favorite strawberry recipes – one healthy, and one, well – just plain delicious!

Cathie's Spinach, Strawberry and Pecan Salad:

· 1 large bag of fresh spinach, washed and patted dry with paper towels
· 1 quart fresh strawberries, hulled and sliced
· 1/2 cup chopped pecans (or walnuts or pine nuts)
· 1/2 cup mayonnaise (I use Kraft Light Mayo)
· 1/4 cup sugar (I use 2 packets of Splenda)
· 2 Tbsp. apple cider vinegar
· kosher salt and freshly-ground black pepper, to taste

Preparation:

1. Place spinach, strawberries and pecans in a large salad bowl.
2. Whisk together remaining ingredients. Pour over salad. Toss gently, but well.

NOTE: a variation from the mayonnaise dressing, I also use basalmic vinaigrette dressing with this salad - either bottled, or you can make your own.

This is a pretty spring/summer salad – great served with steak, hamburgers, or as a main lunch dish. You can add radicchio for more color.

Chocolate – Strawberry Shortcake:

This is so easy it's ridiculous – but it's a nice twist to traditional strawberry shortcake. Considering the chocolate lovers that live in this house – this one is a winner for Sunday dessert.

Ingredients:
· 2 cups all-purpose flour
- Bittersweet chocolate squares (4)
· 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
· 1/3 cup granulated sugar
· 1 Tbsp. baking powder
· 1/4 tsp. kosher salt
· 4 Tbsp. cold butter, cut into chunks
· 1 large egg
· 2/3 cup half and half or heavy cream
· 1 quart fresh strawberries, hulled and sliced
· Fresh mint leaves
· 1/4 cup powdered sugar
· You can use store bought whipped cream or thawed frozen whipped topping – but I like to make my own whipped cream using heavy cream and sugar – whipped on high.

Preparation:
1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
2. In a large bowl, mix flour, cocoa powder, sugar, baking powder and salt.
3. With a pastry blender or two forks, cut in butter until crumbly.
4. In a small bowl, whisk together the egg and cream.
5. Pour cream mixture into the flour mixture, and mix with a fork until the dough just comes together. It will be sticky.
6. Grease a cookie sheet or line with parchment paper.
7. With an ice cream scoop, drop dough onto prepared cookie sheet. Flatten with your fingers to about 3/4-inch thick.
8. Bake 12-15 minutes.
9. Meanwhile, stir together strawberries and powdered sugar.
10. Melt dark chocolate or bittersweet (sweetened) squares in a metal bowl over pan
of gently boiling water.
10. To make shortcakes, place on chocolate biscuit, flat side up on a plate. Top with strawberries , fresh whipped cream, drizzle with chocolate and garnish with mint leaves.

For dozens of Southern recipes utilizing strawberries, (including the 2008 prize winner) visit the NC Strawberry Organization recipe page.

And when you finally decide that you'd like to call North Carolina "home" so you can pick your own strawberries in April (!) – give us a call at Carolina Pines Realty. Let us assist you in making your dreams of home ownership in North Carolina a reality!

Also, be sure to visit our website at http://www.carolinapinesrealty.com/ where you can search for your dream home in our local Multiple Listing Service without passwords.

Have a great week!

Why Do So Many People Still Want to Relocate to Raleigh, NC?

If you’re like most folks who are considering relocation, you’ve got a lot on your mind. Things like the current state of the housing market, employability, quality education and superior health care are but a few of the concerns that may enter into the picture.

For that reason, I am sending you a link to a great website that will provide you information on exactly what Raleigh has to offer by virtue of those very concerns, addressing topics such as Raleigh’s:

Livability
Climate
Business Opportunities
Educational Opportunities
Public Safety
Recreation
Health Care
Professional/Collegiate Sports
Cultural Opportunities
Cost of Living
Taxes

It is very important to educate yourself before deciding on whether or not relocation to Raleigh is the best things for you and your family. Follow this link to see why Raleigh is the City four YOU and YOUR family. http://www.raleigh4u.com/rising/index.html#/landing/

Let the professionals at
Carolina Pines Realty
Assist you by providing you with the information necessary
to educate and inform you so that you are best prepared to make decisions that will affect your family’s future.

Raleigh, North Carolina
A Great Place to Call Home.

Blaise & Cathie Recca

Who Wouldn't Want a $15,000 Tax Credit for Buying a Home????

Carolina Pines Realty is excited to share with you a Press Release from Senator John Isakson’s website, which describes the NEW $15,000 tax credit to individuals who purchase a home in the next year. This Amendment effects us ALL and is NOT JUST FIRST TIME BUYERS! Read on…….
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEWednesday, February 4, 2009
Senate Unanimously Approves Isakson Amendment to Stimulate Housing MarketHomebuyer Tax Credit Revived Market in 1975 and Would Work Today
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Senate today unanimously approved an amendment by U.S. Senator Johnny Isakson, R-Ga., to stimulate the nation’s declining housing market by offering a $15,000 tax credit to individuals who purchase a home in the next year.

“It is time to fix America’s problem, not throw money at the symptoms. It is time to fix housing first. It is rare that we have a road map to success in times of difficulty, but this country has once before realized a housing crisis every bit as bad as the one we have today and economic troubles every bit as dangerous,” Isakson said. “We have a pervasive housing problem, and we have a historical precedent that works. I am proud this Senate has joined together, learned from history and repeated a method that worked by adopting this amendment.”

We are thrilled to share this information with you. You may or may not already be aware of it. Please click HERE which will take you directly to Senator Isakson’s website and explains the Isakson Amendment in greater detail. Now keep in mind - this is not finalized yet and in this uncertain economic climate - who knows how it may change. But the point is - there are steps being taken to assist hombuyers and homeowners.

If you’d like to talk about exactly what this may mean to YOU, give us a call and we’d be happy to explain it, as well as how this may effect the already in place the $7,500 tax credit.
Don't forget you can also visit our website at http://www.carolinapinesrealty.com/ and search for homes in our local MLS without passwords. Come and see what your money can buy for you here in North Carolina -- you will be AMAZED!

First Time Buyers or Anyone Who HAS NOT Owned a Home in the Last 3 Years - Read On......

GREAT NEWS FOR...

First Time Home Buyers
or Anyone Who Has NOT Owned a Home in the Last Three Years

There are TWO programs being offered RIGHT NOW to help you make your dream of owning a home become a reality:

1. The $7,500 Federal Housing Tax Credit; and
2. The USDA’s Rural Development Housing Program

Are you ready to move in to your very own home?
Then read on, as I explain the basics of these two programs:

$7,500 Tax Credit Program - Here is the “jist” of the $7,500 tax credit which applies to single taxpayers earning up to $75,000 and married couples earning up to $150,000 and who have NOT owned a home within the last three years:

• The tax credit is available for first-time home buyers only.
• The maximum credit amount is $7,500.
• The credit is available for homes purchased on or after April 9, 2008 and before
July 1, 2009.
• Single taxpayers with incomes up to $75,000 and married couples with incomes up to $150,000 qualify for the full tax credit.
• The tax credit works like an interest-free loan and must be repaid over a 15-year period.

Here is a link for you to review this proposal in more depth:
http://www.federalhousingtaxcredit.com/
and, if you have further questions, here is a link to their frequently asked questions page which is also very helpful:
http://www.federalhousingtaxcredit.com/faq.php

Now with regard to rural development, North Carolina is lucky to have quite a few areas that qualify for USDA Rural Development Housing Program Dollars.

Did you know that USDA is accepting applications for $45.8 million in loans and grants to support rural communities and spur economic development through the Rural Economic Development Loan and Grant program? You can look through the site, as well as search for homes that directly qualify for that program.

Here is a link to the USDA Rural Development Housing Program:
http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/

Blaise is your direct link to these two programs. Give us a call at 919-491-2885 and let him explain these programs to you in detail.

Don’t wait – you only have until July 1, 2009 to take advantage of the $7,500 tax credit.

Easy Come, Easy Go.....

It came..... it went...... but not without a whole bunch of attention. We did get our snow (almost 7 inches) and it hung around for about 3 days -- plenty of time for the Reccas, and everyone else to go outside and have some fun. Another great thing about North Carolina is - while we don't get much snow, when we do - EVERYTHING shuts down, or delays so everyone can take a deep breath and take advantage of the beauty and the opportunity to share some down time with those who matter most!

With 2-6 Inches of Snow in the Forecast for Raleigh, I Do Believe a Pot of Chili is in Order!!

Finally -- Raleigh, North Carolina is slated to get some snow. We've been waiting all season long. And while that is what many people LOVE about North Carolina - the fact that we don't get much snow -- that is the ONE THING I would change. I LOVE SNOW - the more the better. So bring it on Baby!

In honor of our projected snow forecast, today is going to be the perfect day to drag out mom's recipe and make some chili. EVERYBODY loves chili... and EVERYBODY has their own recipe.

Blaise is from New Jersey and I am from Ohio -- and in Ohio -- we LOVE our chili. Ever heard of Skyline Chili? It is the best -- but impossible to duplicate. I know - I've tried. That's ok though because my mom made the best homemade chili ever, and I'm going to share her recipe with you.

HERE'S WHAT YOU NEED:

1 pound ground beef (sometimes I use ground turkey or a combo of the two)
1 cup chopped green bell pepper
1/2 - 3/4 cup chopped onion
3 tablespoons chili powder
At least! - 2 cloves garlic, minced
2 (10.75 ounce) cans condensed tomato soup
1 (15 ounce) can each of Kidney, New Orleans and Chili Beans. I cut the kidney and Chili beans cans in half and only use half but I use the entire Orleans beans can WITH THE LIQUID.
1 tablespoon distilled white vinegar
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 cup shredded Cheddar cheese

HERE'S WHAT YOU DO:

In a STOCK POT over medium heat, cook ground beef, green pepper, onion, chili powder and garlic, until beef is browned and vegetables are tender. Drain fat off of beef/vegetable mixture.
Add beans, tomato soup, vinegar and cinnamon to soup, and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and cook on low for at least two hours. I keep a can of tomato juice handy and add a bit to the chili as it's cooking to keep it from cooking down.

(You can also add chili powder, red pepper flakes, etc. to kick it up a bit. It's up to you. Growing up my family did not like spicy food, so my mom's chili was mild, but Blaise likes his chili spicy so we add a ton of spice.)

Here comes the important part - dish it up and sprinkle with LOTS of shredded Cheddar cheese. I like sharp Cheddar. You can serve it in a bowl with our without spaghetti, with or without elbow macaroni, and with or without additional chopped onions on top. We like it loaded with cheese AND onions.

Chili is super hearty and super easy - and leftovers taste even better.
Hope you try this recipe - and Enjoy!

INCREDIBLE HOMES VALUES - here in North Carolina!

We know you've heard how BAD the real estate market is right now . It seems every time we turn on the television there is more bad news about foreclosures and lagging home sales.
Now - Are you ready for some GOOD news? When you DO sell your home (and you WILL) and you find yourself ready, willing and able to finally make your dreams of moving to North Carolina a reality -- there is a BRAND NEW HOME waiting for you here in the Raleigh area for THOUSANDS, and in some cases, TENS OF THOUSANDS of Dollars off, or with THOUSANDS of dollars in incentives or BOTH!

I took time today to search our local Multiple Listing Service for NEWER homes in three popular price ranges (1) $125,000-$175,000, (2) $175,000-$275,000, and (3) $285,000-$400,000 you won't believe what I found. Home values in the Raleigh area are some of the best in the country. Here is a small sampling of the incentives being offered....

In the $125-175,000 price range:
MLS#1632816 is offered at only $149,900. An extraordinary value for this beautiful cape cod style home located in the heart of The Town of Wake Forest, a historic little town just on the outskirts of Raleigh . Wake Forest is a highly sought after area with wonderful schools, several parks, charming historic district and small historic downtown area. It's beautiful tree lined streets and sidewalks invite neighborly gatherings all year long.
CLICK HERE TO SEE THIS HOME: RES - Buyer Full

The Seller of MLS # 162990 is offering to pay $3,000 in closing costs PLUS giving purchasers a $1,000 Home Depot Gift Card. This home is located in the popular Wake County School District, and is currently listed at only $162,200, and the added incentives makes this gorgeous home all the more attractive.
CLICK HERE TO SEE THIS HOME: RES - Buyer Full

In the 175-$275,000 price range:
MLS #1617351 is located in charming and growing Johnston County. This gorgeous home has 1200 square feet upstairs ready to finish making the grand total of square footage 2881. This seller is offering buyers an incentive by paying for closing costs or offering a price reduction. Johnston County boasts many bedroom communities of Wake County only minutes away from Downtown Raleigh, and Research Triangle Park. CLICK HERE TO SEE THIS HOME: RES - Buyer Full

And finally, in the $285-$400,000 price range, hang on to your seat because you're not gonna believe this:
How about a beautiful Parade of Homes Prize Winning 2600+ square foot home, situate on a gorgeous, wooded 1 1/2 acre lot for only $350,000! This stunner is brand new, and located in beautiful Franklin County. Minutes from Raleigh and Research Triangle Park , Franklin County is an up and coming area offering extraordinary value in new construction.
CLICK HERE TO SEE THESE HOMES: RES - Buyer Full

We're not kidding when we tell you week after week in our newsletters that because of the over-
abundance of new construction in North Carolina , builders of new homes and sellers of newer resale homes are offering INCREDIBLE incentives in EVERY price range. Combine this with the super low interest right now and you've got the perfect combination for making your dream of owning a home in beautiful North Carolina a reality!

So - what are you waiting for? Come on down (or up - whatever the case may be!) to North Carolina . Set aside a weekend and let Blaise or I give you a personal tour of the beautiful Triangle area and get you "inside" to see some of these gorgeous homes. Let us help you make your dreams of moving to beautiful North Carolina -- a REALITY today!
And don't forget to check out our Carolina Pines Realty Website where you, yourself can type in those MLS numbers mentioned above, right into our search engine and see not only the homes featured in this newsletter, but search the entire Multiple Listing Service of this area WITHOUT PASSWORDS!

If you find that you have any questions about the information you see here, on our website, please don't hesitate to contact us. It's our pleasure to talk to you and share whatever information and knowledge we have.

NEXT WEEK: Some Spicy HOT Recipes for Cold Winter Days!

First Time Buyers & Sellers Must Read This.....

Happy New Year!

With 2008 Finally Behind Us,
Let’s All Look Forward to the Promise
Of a Joyous, Peaceful and Prosperous 2009.

We hope everyone enjoyed a joyous and peaceful holiday season. We certainly did and we’re back at work and ready to roll up our sleeves to help you accomplish your New Year’s Resolution of finally making a move to North Carolina!!

We wanted to start the year out by sharing with you a recently published New York Times article that addresses the amazing situation first time home buyers are finding themselves in right now. With interest low, inventory high and motivation for sellers extremely high -- buyers could not be in a better position to take the plunge NOW.

And Sellers, this article addresses you too. With interest rates so low, motivated first time home buyers are going to be out and about looking for that perfect dream home – which very well could be the home YOU are trying to sell.

So to all of our Buyers AND Sellers – take a moment and click on this link to read the New York Times article which we think you will find very informative. And be sure to contact us if you have any questions or comments on it.

In the meantime, don’t forget to visit our Carolina Pines Realty website where you can search the Multiple Listing Service with no passwords, as well as find a wealth of information on living, working and playing in North Carolina. Again – Happy New Year to all of our past, present and future clients. We look forward to working with you to make 2009 a very joyous, peaceful and prosperous year!

Blaise & Cathie Recca