Wakefield Estates Foreclosure in Wake Forest, NC

If you’ve been looking for a Million dollar home with hundred’s of thousands in possible equity, look no further!  Great deal in the Wakefield Estate section just north of Raleigh NC.

http://trianglemls.mlxtempo.com/Pub/EmailView.asp?r=795622893&s=TRA&t=TRA

If you’d like access to Million Dollar Foreclosures in North Carolina give Erica McClenny with eRealty a call.  My team specializes in finding homes in Wake County and Raleigh NC with equity and value.

HUGE Estate home in Wake Forest, NC

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Holiday Season Perspective

Each year the Christmas season represents a different feeling to me.  Joy, Excitment, Giving, Growth or plain old Fun! 

This year,  I’m feeling a little lonely and I’m not sure why.  2009 was an interesting year for me personally and professionally.  Major changes in my life have impacted who I am as a person and a Realtor in Raleigh.

I got divorced and moved on my own for the first time in my life.  I’d gone from my parents, to college with a roommate, then into marriage for 10 years…Lets just say, I’m not used to a quiet house.  This time and uncomfortable growth has provided me a new insight into what my home buyers think.  Especially, single women and divorced parents.

My marriage gave me a wonderful daughter who I’m so thankful for but it also meant I had to share and co-parent under two roofs.  My daughter goes to her fathers for most weekends.  This makes selling homes and helping home buyers really easy when I don’t have to struggle with weekend childcare but…it also means when the holidays are here, people stop looking and I’m home trying to fill my time.  Today is quiet…

I know that moving on is a wonderful step in my life.  I have solid support from my parents and brother.  It’s just tough when you live in a city without family nearby.  It really makes you cherish your friends.

Christmas 2009 is teaching me Inner Peace.  I need to be comfortable with Erica before I can reach out to others.  Living alone doesn’t equal lonely living.

My goal to your this holiday season is reach out to someone who you know has had MAJOR changes in their lives in 2009.  Take the time to find out how you can support their growth.  Maybe your gift this season will be a fresh perspective.

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Selling homes from my couch?

Is it possible in today’s technical and Internet savvy world that a Realtor or real estate agent who’s trying to sell a home can do it from their couch?  Here in Raleigh real estate is viewed by home buyers over 90% of the time before they ever contact a Realtor.  If an agent has great pictures, proper information and multiple sources for home buyers to find that home for sale online…I suppose you COULD sell a home from the couch!

selling homes from your couch

selling homes from your couch

Why not?!  Marketing is done via computer, Internet, eFax and networking.  Social media has opened the door for agents to network in their pajama’s.  Now, I’m not advocating this a practice but it is possible.  After all, tech savvy home buyers have been known to buy a home based on pictures and video when relocating to a new city!

There is a really cool tool I’ve found if you do work from home.  Check out this “desk” for your laptop…pretty cool and keeps you from back pain!  They’ve sold out but are working on a next generation now, according to their website.

http://www.dexiadesign.com/dexia_rack_details.html

Now, if I could only figure out how my car can drive clients to check out homes while I type their paperwork up.  I can email with digital signatures but I can’t drive and type…yet.  I’m sure I could dig up some voice activated software here in Raleigh to dictate too!

Happy house hunting on line and in person…

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Raleigh flavors…where do you eat out?

I don’t know if its just me but I fall into routines with where I shop, eat and frequent.  I guess I’m so busy that I don’t take the time to jump outside of my box.  I’ve decided to change for 2010…I’m going LOCAL and I’m on the hunt to find some new favorites.  Its important that we all do our part to support local businesses.  Let’s rally together, help spead the word and it will benefit the people we care about.

Raleigh NC is known for having some great food so I’m going to give you my…

Favorite Five Flavors: Raving Raleigh Restaurant Reviews

1. The Sake House is great for sushi!  http://www.thesakehouse.com/   They also have a Buy one, Get one Monday-Thursday nights.  Save $$$ and eat some great sushi rolls.  I personally like the Raleigh Roll and the Rock-n-Roll.  They are located in the Falls River Shopping Center off Durant Rd.

2.  Casalinga is some of the BEST Italian food I’ve had since moving from NY.  It’s super yummy and the lunch buffet rocks.  It’s also a great spot for pizza take out.  They have NY thin crust of thick Sicilian style.  Casalinga is located off Capital Blvd near Millbrook in the Mini-City Shopping Center.

3.  Savoy is a great date night or wonderful for a business lunch.  The food is fresh, homemade and local items control the menu.  It’s seasonal, which I love.  They always have some favorites like French Onion soup, NC trout or creme brulee.  They even give you muffins to take after dinner and enjoy the next day…It is well worth a visit if you enjoy an influence of French mixed with darn good cooking!  Restaurant Savoy is in N. Raleigh off Leadmine and Sawmill Rds.  Oh yes, I convinced Mama Jo to give everyone a free soup if you mention social media.  Score!

4.  Las Margaritas on Six Forks and Sawmill.  Now, Mexican food is ALL OVER Raleigh…there are tons of choices but this is my personal favorite.  The Chimichanga’s are amazing and I love their Chiles Relleno add a Dos Equis and I’m a happy, happy lady!

5.  Ben’s Place is a great spot to hang out, enjoy a drink and appetizer and watch a game.  It’s cozy but has some fun things to do too.  They have cornhole outdoors with a patio.  They’re located on Glenwood and Ebenezer Church right near the CarMax. 

So tell me, where is your favorite local spot in the Raleigh, Wake County NC area.  I want to dig up some hidden gems!

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Facebook Page means OPEN for Business

 

There is so much information on the web today about marketing this way or that way, it can overwhelm the savviest of people.  I know I made this mistake when I first joined Facebook a couple of years ago.  I had a profile just like everybody else and one day it dawned on me…why not post a few tidbits about real estate?!  Brilliant…maybe someone will see it or the phone will start to ring because I’m talking about houses for sale.  WRONG!  It just ticked off my friends and acquaintances online. 

If you’re advertising or want to maximize Facebook as a tool or contact for business, I want you to think about the following scenario.

“You’re thirsty.  You’d like to grab a cup of coffee, so you swing into the local coffee shop.  As you pull into the parking lot, you can see people inside chatting.  Obviously they’re communicating and may be friends.  However, you climb out of the car and walk up to the door you pull, hmmmm, pull again, it’s locked.  Strange…you saw the sign on the building and you’re sure it said Coffee Shop.

So you knock and someone approaches…

“Yes, what do you want?” He says.

Uhhh, I’d like some coffee.  Are you open?locked door

“Why yes” he says…”but I’ll have to approve you to come in and join us.”

 

This is what the public feels like when they hit a Facebook button you’re promoting or link you posted to connect on Facebook. You’re advertising your services but it’s not open public.  They can see it but cannot get to it easily.  That’s a problem!!

If you’d like to keep your personal life personal, that’s fine and for those of us who don’t know you, would prefer not to know everything about you too.  Keep in mind a person who doesn’t know you isn’t going to jump through too many hoops to reach out when there are many other shops open for business correctly.  Catch my drift?

But, if you’d like to have have the door unlocked, open and inviting at all times for new friends and customers, you need a BUSINESS PAGE or previously known as a FAN page.

How can anyone you don’t know get in, use or learn about your business when the door is locked?  I don’t approach strangers homes or cars to see if I can drum up a random conversation, do you?

Just one more simple reason a Business page is the way to go!  Open doors, flowing communication and a great way to listen and build value before you advertise your services.

 If you’d like some one on one training in the Raleigh NC area, I am here to help.  It’s simple but save time and learn from others if you don’t know where to start!

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