Chapel Hill NC Home Blog

The Orange County Sheriff’s office has implemented SAFE-Net, an Autistic Family Emergency Network. The information in this article comes directly from the Orange County Sheriff’s Office.  I have a friend with an autistic son so I thought posting this information would be useful to everyone that may read it.

SAFE-Net is a program designed to allow Orange County residents with Autistic family members to provide vital information about those family members to aid in locating them should they go missing.  Residents can access the application form via the Orange County Sheriff’s Office Homepage.  The form can be completed online and electronically sent to their office or the applicant can print it and deliver it to the Sheriff’s Office either in person, by fax to 919-732-6403 or by mailing it to: The Sheriff of Orange County, 144 East Margaret Lane, Hillsborough, NC 27278, ATTENTION: SAFE-Net.

Once this information is filed, the Sheriff’s Office will not release the information to anyone unless it has been verified that the person has been reported missing or endangered and a law enforcement agency is requesting the information.

It’s important to maintain your home on a regular basis.  Most of us only pay attention to our homes when something breaks and needs repair.  If you perform routine maintenance on your home, it will save you time and money in the long run.

Recently I experienced several roof leaks in my home.  My roof is only 8 years old.  Upon a roof inspection, we learned there were alot of tree branches, pine needles and debris that had landed on the roof and in the gutters.  Had we inspected our roof and cleaned our gutters several times each year, these roof leaks may have been prevented.  Now I must repair the damage to the interior ceilings caused by these roof leaks.

I just read some informative articles from HouseMaster, a Home Inspection Company.  They recommend the following maintenance checklist in and around your home. 

It’s also important to keep your home in good condition when you choose to sell.  Homes in good condition are more appealing to buyers and sell at a higher price than neglected ones.

Prevention does save time and money.  It’s your home, take good care of it!!!

There are many top Colleges and Universities in North Carolina. Year after year, North Carolina continues to attract more and more students.  Raleigh was ranked in 2nd place for the most educated city in the nation.  Raleigh also has almost double the national college graduation rate.  It’s important to live in a state that keeps its population educated.

North Carolina Colleges have alot to offer.  Our private colleges and universities have over 75,000 students.  There are sixteen campuses in the University of North Carolina State School system.  There are over 50 community colleges that have over 800,000 students.  North Carolina ranks in the top 10 for the number of students between the ages of 18 to 24 who are enrolled in college.

Once accepted into college, its important to get the most of your education.  Learn for the sake of learning, not just to get good grades.  One article I read recently spoke about 25 Ways to Make College Pay Off.  Another good article I read in Parenting Magazine provided many tips and also included a detailed College Guide for Parents.  

Before sending your children off to college, do your homework.  A 4 year education is a huge investment.  Make sure you get the most out of it.

Credit Cards, Debit Cards or Cash for Teens?  How do we educate our kids about credit and finances? My kids are 14.  I dont think they need a credit card just yet, although at times it would be easier.  When they start driving at around 16, that is probably the right time, mostly in case of an emergency.  When my daughter goes to the mall with her friends, she always asks for food and shopping money.  Cash is fine for food however I prefer to purchase clothes by credit card.  I earn points, I pay my bill at the end of each month and I always have a proof of purchase even if the receipt gets lost. This is where the credit card dilemna comes into play.  She has to ask each store employee to hold clothing items for her, then I meet her at the mall to decide what we will purchase and then I pay by credit card.  If she uses her own earned money, she uses cash.

I applied and was accepted for my first credit card when I went to college at 17.  I had balanced my own savings and checking account for years.  I received a $200 credit limit.  Thankfully, I was financially responsible.  I hope my kids will be too.  

Teens think they know the meaning of money but they really havent had enough life experience yet to be financially responsible, protect themselves and stay out of financial trouble.  We receive credit card applications in their names all the time.  We must protect our children from applying for these cards on their own, borrowing against them and not realizing the consequences.  They must understand you cant just charge and figure out how to pay the bill later.

Debit cards are another option that eliminate the need to carry cash.The money is immediately taken out of your bank account so debit cards eliminate the worry of paying later.  Always check the terms and conditions of your debit card to make sure your bank is not charging you any fees. 

Cash is obviously the most ‘realistic’ for teens.  It provides a sense of spending. You use it, its gone. When its gone, you cant charge anymore and you dont have 30 days to pay it off.  The downside is that it can be lost easily.

Whether you choose a debit card or credit card, always check for annual fees, balance transfer fees and if a cosigner if required.  Compare various credit and debit cards.  Most offer cash back or points for every dollar you spend.

I think teens are capable of learning how to balance a checkbook and how to review a credit card statement.  Once they have mastered these skills and have shown some financial responsibiilty, then its time for the next step of slowly building their credit history and applying for a credit card with a low credit limit.

With North Carolina experiencing a drought, here are some landscaping tips to try during the water shortage.  

There are many water-free ways to landscape around your home.  Xeriscaping, or drough-tolerant landscaping, refers to landscaping that requires little water.  Specific plants need to be selected for each climate.  Mulching around trees and plants slows down evaporation.  Some of my neighbors have mulch delivered in huge piles and then they spread it out over large areas.  I prefer to have bags delivered.  Its easier to carry the bags to each area, open the bag and then spread the mulch a few bags at a time.

The price of water in North Carolina is extremely high.  For those that still would like that green grass look, fake grass is an alternative. Ground covers tend to look good all year round, it takes up alot of area but requires less maintenance and less water than natural grass. Gravel is another alternative. Brick and other porous materials can also be used for a patio or as a border to highlight some of your plants and landscape design.

Be especially careful when installing grass close to large trees.  I have an area in the front of my home where the trees are so thirsty, they are drying up a section of my grass that gets watered.

When cutting your grass, try to set the lawn mower blades one notch higher. Longer grass means less evaporation.

I know not everyone is able to try all these alternatives to save water, but if everyone made one small change, it would add up and help us all in the long run.

The District will host its annual Visions Art Show at Lincoln Center in Chapel Hill, North Carolina on April 7, 9 and 11, 2008.  Lincoln Center, the district’s administrative office building, is located at 750 S Merritt Mill Road, Chapel Hill, NC 27516. 

The Visions Art Show displays selected student art work from all throughout the school year.

With the addition of Carrboro High School this year, three receptions will be held due to the large number of art work being displayed.

On Monday, April 7 from 5:30-7pm, the reception will be held for Glenwood, Frank Porter Graham, Scroggs, Culbreth and Carrboro High School.

On Wednesday, April 9 from 5:30-7pm, the reception will be held for Carrboro Elementary, McDougle Elementary, Seawell, McDougle Middle School, Smith and Chapel Hill High School.

On Friday, April 11 from 5:30-7, the reception will be held for Ephesus, Estes Hills, Rashkis, Philips and East Chapel Hill High School.

The art will be on display in the hallways of Lincoln Center until May 9.  The community is welcome to view the students’ art during Lincoln Center’s regular office hours: Monday through Friday, 8am to 5pm.

Spring is here.  Get out of the house and come and take a look at Chapel Hill’s future artists!!

Masha Halpern & the Smart Move Team are hosting an Open House on March 30, 2008 from 2-4 pm at 105 Weatherhill Pointe in Carrboro, NC.

This one level ranch style home features 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms.  An outside deck is great for a summertime barbeque.  This home is conveniently located around the corner from the Chapel Hill Pool and Tennis Club and is in close proximity to the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill. 

The Weatherhill Point neighborhood has its own beautiful community lake, picnic area and playground for the kids. 

Check out our website for a more detailed description of this lovely home.

If you would like directions to this home, please click here.

You dont want to miss this Open House!!!

Believe it or not, now is a good time to buy a home in North Carolina.  It’s true, the economy is not doing well, but prices of homes have dropped well below their value.  Lower prices means better affordability for those interested in buying.  If houses have been sitting on the market for a long period of time, sellers may be more eager to sell at a lower price.

If you are interested in selling and would like a free comparative market analysis of your home or you are interested in purchasing a home, contact our team and we will provide you will all the real estate information you need.  We serve the Chapel Hill, Carrboro, Durham, & Raleigh, North Carolina area.

Masha Halpern & The Smart Move Team                                                       “Make your move The Smart Move”                           www.TheSmartMoveTeam.com                                         www.chapelhillhomefind.com                                              www.mashahalpern.com                                                                                       toll-free (877) 478-4669

Porto, a fine home furnishings store in Chapel Hill and Raleigh will participate in “FEATHER YOUR NEST” Home and Garden Show in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. This Show will be held at the Carolina Inn, in Chapel Hill on Sunday, March 16, 2008.

Porto will present a sample of its collections and offer tips and techniques on home interiors for the spring season.  Porto co-owner Michael Perry, who spends most of his time at the Chapel Hill store located in the newly renovated Eastgate Shopping Center, will be there to meet show-goers and discuss what he sees as spring trends.

He will also discuss and offer information on “environmentally friendly” furniture.  Perry has made it his practice to carry only manufacturers who practice environmental and social responsibility.

The spring show will also feature fabrics, flooring, wall covering, window treatments, lighting, kitchen and bath ideas, floral design, and home entertaining as well as an “Ask The Experts” area.The historic Carolina Inn is located at 211 Pittsboro Street.  Tickets are only $10, which includes Hors d’oeuvres and a wine tasting, gift bags and a raffle give-a-way.  Doors open at noon.  For more information, visit www.carolinainn.com.

Porto is located in Chapel Hill’s Eastgate Shopping Center off of 15-501 at 1800 East Franklin Street.  Porto’s Raleigh location is located at 4151 Main St. at North Hills.  Hours are: Monday through Thursday from 10 a.m. until 7 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. until 8 p.m., Sunday from 1 p.m. until 6 p.m.  For more information visit www.portohome.com

Although many opposed the Orange County Land Transfer Tax, this is the only option voters will get to choose from this May. The Orange County commissioners voted unanimously last night to put the tax hike on the May 6th ballot.

What exactly is a land-transfer tax?  It’s a tax that’s paid when a property owner sells a home, property or land to another party.  The monies raised from this land transfer tax would most likely be used for capital projects on schools and parks. 

If this tax is not passed, real estate property taxes will most likely go up.  An increase in property taxes obviously affects all homeowners but those hardest hit would be retirees or those living on fixed incomes.

The bottom line is there is no good answer.  Nobody wants to pay any more taxes than we already do but additional funds are needed to provide for the necessary infrastructure to serve our residents.  

The parties opposed to this tax feel it would stifle growth.  Many feel the timing of this tax is not good based on our slowing economy in addition to a less than ideal housing market.   

An increase in sales tax, a land transfer tax and/or an increase in property tax all add to additional expenses for every resident living in Orange County.  There will always be those in favor and those in opposition to any tax increase.  Unfortunately tax increases are inevitable. We just have to agree upon which tax will help us most and hurt us least.