The Villages of Apex and surrounding areas🏡 The Villages of Apex | Downtown Apex’s Premier Walkable Neighborhood | Homes, Lifestyle & Location! Welcome to The Villages of Apex—a vibrant, sought-after community in the heart of Downtown Apex, North Carolina! Whether you're looking for a charming small-town vibe or modern amenities in a walkable neighborhood, this award-winning community offers the best of both worlds. 🛍️ Walk to Downtown Apex Just steps away from historic Salem Street, The Villages of Apex gives residents easy access to boutique shops, local dining, cafes, breweries, and year-round festivals—all without getting in your car! 🏘️ Beautiful Homes & Townhomes Explore a mix of craftsman-style single-family homes, luxury townhomes, and custom-built residences with Southern charm... 07/24/2025

US News and World Report recently released its Top 250 Best Places to Live in the US in 2025-2026 list. Not surprisingly, 2 of the fastest growing towns in North Carolina made the top 10.Apex NC ranks number 7 on the list. Cary NC ranks number 5 on the list. Both are suburbs located in the Triangle area of the state. Both rank with scores of 6.9 out of 7.Apex also ranks number 2 in the Best Small Cities to Live, behind Johns Creek GA. Cary NC also ranks number 4 in the 15 Best Medium-Sized Cities to Live in.Want to find homes for sale in Apex? We can help you in your search. We can also help you find homes for sale in Cary. 06/16/2025

I was reading a list recently about cities people are relocating to Raleigh, NC FROM – and that particular list did not include Austin Texas, and I was surprised.  Upon further research, I found that Austin, Texas is indeed a significant source of new residents moving to Raleigh, NC. While it may not always appear in the top five lists, Austin consistently ranks among the top cities contributing to Raleigh’s population growth, according to Allied Van Lines.In fact, a 2024 U-Haul migration report placed Austin at #5 among U.S. metro areas for inbound moves, with Raleigh also ranking in the top 10 . This indicates a notable migration flow between the two cities, and a reason it’s one of the cities people are relocating to Raleigh, NC from.  Both Austin and Raleigh are mid-sized tech hubs ... 06/11/2025

Many of the home buyers we talk to struggle with down payment, meaning coming up with 10 to 20% for a down payment just isnt happening.  So what are the alternatives to a no down payment USDA Home Loan Program near Raleigh? If you are not a Veteran, qualifying for a VA Loan – then the FHA Loans in Garner and Fuquay Varina NC are the most flexible options. We CAN offer down payment assistance with this program, and that means you can live where you want to !Western Wake County, especially the areas closest to Fayetteville, are growing like wildfire. Not surprising, you can benefit from a home that’s located in “small town USA” with award winning schools!  Fuquay Varina and Garner are two cities that have benefited from this unique location. Unfortunately, USDA Home Loans, the program tha... 05/15/2025

One significant tax benefit of owning residential rental property or non-residential commercial or investment property is depreciation—a deduction you get without spending any additional money.But regular depreciation for real property is slow. Residential rental property is depreciated over 27.5 years and non-residential property over 39 years, providing a relatively small deduction each year.Fortunately, there is a way you can speed up your depreciation deductions—especially during the first year or years you own the property: cost segregation.“Cost segregation” is the technical term for separately depreciating the elements of property that are not real property. These are elements other than land, buildings, and building components. They include: improvements made to the land, such a... 06/09/2024

Golf makes a comeback in the Triangle AreaThe early to mid 2000s seemed to indicate fewer people were interested in golf due to video games, phones, and media. Golf homes weren't in as high of a demand. Gold memberships were down and golf courses were shutting down, being sold or facing bankruptcy. Then, Covid hit and the shutdown sent people spiraling. Almost anything outdoors with social distancing was desirable again. Even homes that backed to walking trails were in high demand. The golf courses were in high demand and Golf was once again booming.We have navigated the historical Pandemic of 2020 and it has undoubtedly left some lasting changes on our society.One thing that has continued is the interest in the great outdoors. In the Raleigh, Cary and surrounding areas, you'll see park... 06/05/2024

What home maintenance do I need to do in the spring?Spring 2024 One of the best things you can do for the resale of your home is maintain it. Maintaining your home also makes it more enjoyable to live in. Home sellers are never happy when they have to make costly improvements to sell their home or when they have to sell for less because they didn't maintain their home.There are several things you can do to maintain your home. Here are a few we do on the exterior of our home and did just this week. Gutters cleaned - we do this at least 2xs per year since we have tall pine trees. House Power Washed - This is something we do every spring. It keeps our siding and porches cleaned. Our Power Washing company also cleans our gutters. HVAC serviced - You should do this at least once each spring.... 05/30/2024

Is it time to Rightsize or Downsize?Two of the biggest mistakes I see as a professional Real Estate Agent is People over the age of 50 either staying in their family home too long or when they do move, they downsize too small. Wall Street Journal recently published an article titled "Boomers bought up the big homes, and now they're not budging".  It's a very interesting article to read if you have access to WSJ. You can also find it on Instagram. Here are some key takeaways: About 28% of all U.S. homes with three or more bedrooms are owned by people between the ages of 60 and 78 living by themselves or with another adult Boomers own half of all of the $32 trillion in home equity in the U.S Some are happy with their big houses. Others would like to downsize  Let's discuss the reasons for... 05/20/2024

Best place to invest in Wake CountyWendell, NCWendell FallsLet's talk about where you can still find Real Estate in Wake County for potential growth. But first... let's talk about a place people say they wish they had bought into back in the day.Cary NC - We moved to this growing little town in 1997 and bought our house in 1998. It was a small town then and there were still strawberry patches, tobacco fields and farms just outside the neighborhood. When I told people where I lived they thought it was in the boondocks. Fast forward 25 years later and now when I tell people where I live they say "wow, you're lucky you bought when you did". And they're right!So where is it that you can still buy something in Wake County knowing it is going to grow? Wendell is about 15-20 minutes outside of... 04/26/2024

How important is a bathtub for future resale?It's 2024 and for the past several years we've had this exact question. To be honest, there was a time when bathtubs were an essential part of the primary bathroom. Even if you didn't want it, you would have been wise to have one for future resale.Times have changed and what we've noticed is some people feel bathtubs are a waste of space, use too much water, are a glorified towel holder, or one more thing to clean. The folks in this camp have rebelled and are saying "no" to bathtubs. We hear this when we show homes and see their choices in new construction homes and in bathroom remodels. As an experienced Real Estate expert, I have clients who absolutely don't want a bathtub. I also have clients who will not purchase a home without one. I fin... 01/08/2024

Cary NC - What's not to love?What's not to love about Cary? Everybody... well a lot of people would like to live in Cary NC. With growth comes good and bad, happy and sad. Let's talk about both.My backstory:We moved to the great state of North Carolina in 1997 and settled in Cary. We knew early in our marriage that we wanted to move to NC if or when the opportunity arose. One day my husband came home and asked how I'd feel about moving to Raleigh NC. I was pretty excited even though I had never been to this area. He flew to Raleigh for a job interview and checked it out. If you recall, we didn't have search engines back in 1997 like we do today. So, when he came home and told me about the area, I had to go on his findings. That and an article I read about SAS and Cary on a Delta flight ... 12/15/2023

What you need to know about moving to Cary NCCary is the town that won't stop!Where to search for Cary Homes We moved to Cary in the mid 90s when people were just beginning to hear about this adorable quaint town which is a suburb of Raleigh NC. The population at that time was about 80k +/-. I first heard about the town when I read an article about SAS headquarters on a Delta flight magazine. My husband & I had visited NC before we had kids and decided we would move here if we ever had an opportunity. Just a few years later a job opportunity came up for him in Cary. We wasted no time selling our home and packing up to move to this lovely town. How it started:We settled in West Cary when Hwy 55 was a 2 lane road. People thought we were out in the middle of nowhere. There were still tobac... 02/11/2023

The weather in NC allows you to enjoy outdoor activities year-round. Holly Springs has a very active Parks and Recreation Department that manages miles of trails and parks. Holly Springs NC Outdoor Parks and Golf Courses are top class, and one of the highest sighted reasons people want to relocate and buy a home in Holly Springs.Womble Park offers several playgrounds that look over ball fields, trails and many soccer fields. This is a dog friendly park that also offers Picnic Shelter and Sand Volleyball courts. The Holly Glen Neighborhood is located approximately 3 miles away from Parrish Womble Park.Sugg Farm Park is home of the annual HollyFest and fireworks. This fall Festival includes local, live entertainment and highlights local artists and businesses at the more than 100-acre par... 08/31/2022

The US Department of Agriculture, yes the same people who check our vegetables, offers a mortgage loan program designed to help our more rural communities grow.  The program has no down payment requirement, and is suited for more conservative borrowers who don’t have a ton of Student Loan Debt, and who want to maximize their home purchase with very low mortgage payments.To qualify, USDA Home Loans in Apex and Holly Springs require that you buy a property that is within the “rural” USDA Loan Footprint.The USDA Home Loan Maps For Apex and Holly Springs NC currently used for qualifying a home for the program are scheduled to change about every 6 months.USDA Home Loan Maps For Apex and Holly Springs NC 2022For more than 5 years, we have been told these maps are going to change, and large ar... 08/23/2022

Updated end-unit townhome in desirable Holly Springs community near Hwy 55 & 540. Hardwood floors and high ceilings on the main level Stone fireplace with mantle Screened porch and paver patio with wooded view. Kitchen with stainless steel appliances, tile backsplash, and walk-in pantry. 1st-floor owner's bedroom with high ceiling, custom trim work, 2 closets, and updated bath with tile shower and heated floor. Upstairs has 2 bedrooms, loft/office, and full bathroom. Garage with shelving and folding workbench. See more here: https://www.cribflyer.com/127-cypress-hill-laneWant to tour this great home for sale in Holly Springs, NC? Call or text Amy at (919) 818-5001 or Contact Amy Shair here.Follow Amy Shair on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AmyShairRealEstate 08/01/2022

Desirable N. Raleigh End-Unit Townhome 1st-floor owner suite 2 spacious bedrooms upstairs with a shared bathroom Updated laminate flooring Stainless appliances Separate dining room 2-story living room Front porch Covered rear deck Walkable distance to Sola Coffee, Gonza’s Tacos, and Kai Sushi Target, Home Depot, and grocery stores are just a short drive away See more here: 1406mahonia.comWant to tour this great home for sale in Raleigh, NC? Call or text Amy at (919) 818-5001 or Contact Amy Shair here.Follow Amy Shair on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AmyShairRealEstate 06/08/2022

April Stephens, President, and Owner of The April Stephens Team of eXp Realty® has announced the launch of The REal School. This training for realtors focuses on the issues Realtors face in today’s challenging market. The school is located at 121 Commerce Parkway, Suite 102, Garner, NC 27529, and also offers online instruction at https://www.facebook.com/TheREalSchoolNC. Classes are hosted weekly on Wednesdays at 11 am, and they also offer NCREC approved Pre-licensing, Post-Licensing, CE & Mandatory updates. “Helping other agents become successful has always been a passion of mine. I am thrilled to be in a position to share the knowledge of industry insiders with area real estate agents," said April Stephens. "Today’s real estate environment is not for the faint of heart. We offer real-... 04/04/2022

1287! That is the number of active listings available in the Multiple listing service today!Everywhere I go I hear people talking about Real Estate. When you're a Real Estate agent, whether you like it or not, you your ears will perk up when people are talking Real Estate. It's all you can do not to interject! I mean, this happens everywhere; walking through the grocery store, at the butcher's market, at the doctor's office, at the hair dresser, at the nail salon, and especially at restaurants. People are talking about this crazy Real Estate market we're having. I've been in and around this industry for my entire career and it has never been this crazy and unpredictable. Get this, as of today we have 1287 active listings in our Triangle MLS system which includes 20 counties. This is the... 03/02/2022

Is Commuter Rail coming to the Triangle? – Many Triangle area residents were disappointed when Duke University essentially shut down a light rail project in 2019. Now in 2022, a rail plan is again being discussed, with some significant changes.Commuter Rail Feasibility StudyAccording to GoTriangle, a new feasibility study is looking at servicing a larger geographic area with 43 miles of rail including Wake County (Raleigh), Durham, and fast-growing Johnston County including the town of Clayton, NC. The previous light rail project was 17 miles focused on Research Triangle Park (RTP), Chapel Hill, and downtown Durham. This commuter rail idea would help ease traffic for residents of outlying areas by decreasing car traffic on busy Triangle roads.Light Rail and Commuter Rail SystemsHere is ... 01/03/2022

End unit - Beautiful open floor plan. Hardwoods on main and like new condition.https://www.seetheproperty.com/tour/399082/bHurry this one will not last! 10/22/2021