New Cary Subdivision Back in Business

This article appeared in the News and Observer on Dec 20, 2011.  The Murray Group felt it was a great piece of information for our Cary area realtors, so we are passing it along.

CARY -- Plans for a stalled subdivision near the Morrisville border are under way again.  A developer won an early approval last week to build up to 375 houses and townhomes near the town's border with Morrisville.

A plan for the property was approved before the recession, but "it sat idle for the last three years or so," said John Myers, who was president of Wakefield Development Co. for eight years.  "We think it's a good location.  We think it's a piece of property that has a lot of potential." 

The plans include about 90 acres northwest of the intersection of Green Hope School Road and NC-55 across the street from the Highcroft community.  It also will feature a few acres of commercial and office development, Myers said.  Earlier plans capped the subdivision at about 300 homes, but the new developers have asked the town to allow medium-density development on more of the property, which is just east of the future path of the Triangle Expressway.

Once a farm, the land is largely owned by the Fryar family and its descendants.The Cary Town Council approved a change to the town's long-term plans last week, but the project still must win a rezoning, which a town boardalso considered last week.

Myers said he hopes to have full approval within two months, begin construction by early next year and finish before 2013.

Facts and Figures from Raleigh Downtown Development 2011

Notable rankings for Raleigh during the 2011 included:
#1 Best City in America (Raleigh) Businessweek.com (September)
#2 Best City for Young Professionals (Raleigh) Forbes.com (July)
#2 Next Boom Town in U.S. (Raleigh) Forbes.com (July)
#2 Metro for Job Growth with Average Employment Between 250K to 750K (Raleigh) Business Facilities

ANNUAL TRENDS		Street-Level Business Openings			Street-Level Business Closings
2002		24			25
2003		21			13
2004		26			18
2005		20			8
2006		36			25
2007		37			34
2008		45			20
2009		39			24
2010		54			26
2011 to-date		31			22

(August)






DEVELOPMENT IN THE PLANNING STAGES
 

Project Name		Construction Cost		Project Type
Charter Square		$130,000,000		Mixed-Use Commercial
L Building		$26,000,000		Mixed-Use Commercial
111 Seaboard		$15,000,000		Mixed-use Commercial
Overlook (Seaboard)		$20,000,000		Residential
Boylan Flats		$3,000,000		Residential
Powerhouse Plaza		$46,000,000		Mixed-use Commercial
Clarence Lightner Public Safety Center		$205,000,000		Public Sector
Edison		$400,000,000		Mixed-use Commercial
Bloomsbury Estates (Phase II)		$26,000,000		Residential
North Carolina State Bar		$16,000,000		Commercial
St. Mary’s Square		$22,000,000		Mixed-use Residential
Blount Street Commons		$80,000,000		Mixed-Use Residential
425 N. Boylan Avenue		$35,000,000		Mixed-Use Residential
West Apartments		$22,000,000		Residential
Carolina Ale House		$7,500,000		Commercial
Total Planned Development		$1,053,500,000

*Source: Greater Raleigh Chamber of Commerce

For 2012 NAR Predicts a Healthy 4.3 Percent Increase in Buying

thank you to the NAR for these stats!

Housing indicators continue to stabilize, reports the National Association of Realtors (NAR). Experts say these are necessary steps which allow the market to gather strength before it advances.

Here are some recent developments:

• America's homeownership rate rose slightly in the third quarter of 2011. About two-thirds of U.S. households live in their own residence now. If homeownership remains at our current level, the nation's natural rise in population by itself will create a large increase in home purchasing. More than a million new households are formed annually in this country – and that will lead to 700,000 homebuyers each year, according to NAR.
  
• House prices are leveling out across the country. Real estate values basically held steady during 2011's third quarter, when compared to the previous three months, states the S&P/Case-Shiller Home Price Indices. Average house prices reached their lows in 2009, according to S&P/Case-Shiller. While values also reflect the vitality of local economies, overall the real estate picture has been improving for more than two years. A number of commentators expect home prices to rise this year. For instance, NAR forecasts average prices going up 2.6 percent in 2012.
  
• Pent-up demand will lead to more home buying activity. Housing purchases have been steady the past two years, NAR reports. For 2012 NAR predicts a healthy 4.3 percent increase in buying.
  
• High affordability encourages purchasing. Close to a decade ago, an average home cost around four times a typical family's income. That was higher than the long-term average price-to-income ratio of 3-to-1. Now we've swung the other direction, and homes often are cheaper than the customary 3-to-1 relationship.
  
• Low interest rates make this situation even more advantageous for buyers. Combining historic values with some of the lowest rates ever seen lets purchasers gain fabulous deals.

Many buyers report they can move into their own house and pay less each month than they would spend on rent. A fixed-rate mortgage allows them to keep those payments steady, while renters can expect yearly boosts to their housing costs. Neither rock-bottom rates nor terrific housing bargains will be available indefinitely. 

Talk with us soon to discover how you can benefit from today's promising real estate marketplace.

A Holiday Video About...Krispy Kreme Donuts

And now, for something completely different...

Don't worry - we will be back to the "real" world tomorrow.   Happy Monday everyone!

A Holiday Message from The Murray Group

On this special day, we'd like to take this opportunity to thank you for your continued partnership. It is people like you who make our jobs a pleasure and help us to be successful.

May your holiday season and the new year be filled with much joy, happiness and success. 

We look forward to working with you in 2012 and for many years to come.

Happy holidays to you and yours!

The Murray Group

Thoughts of Christmas Brighten Our Lives

Christmas is a necessity.  There has to be at least one day of the year to remind us that we're here for something else besides ourselves.  ~Eric Sevareid

Christmas waves a magic wand over this world, and behold, everything is softer and more beautiful.  ~Norman Vincent Peale

Christmas is a time when you get homesick - even when you're home.  ~Carol Nelson

He who has not Christmas in his heart will never find it under a tree.  ~Roy L. Smith

I have always thought of Christmas time, when it has come round, as a good time; a kind, forgiving, charitable time; the only time I know of, in the long calendar of the year, when men and women seem by one consent to open their shut-up hearts freely, and to think of people below them as if they really were fellow passengers to the grave, and not another race of creatures bound on other journeys.  ~Charles Dickens

Christmas is the gentlest, loveliest festival of the revolving year - and yet, for all that, when it speaks, its voice has strong authority.  ~W.J. Cameron

One of the most glorious messes in the world is the mess created in the living room on Christmas day.  Don't clean it up too quickly.  ~Andy Rooney

The best of all gifts around any Christmas tree:  the presence of a happy family all wrapped up in each other.  ~Burton Hillis

Never worry about the size of your Christmas tree.  In the eyes of children, they are all 30 feet tall.  ~Larry Wilde, The Merry Book of Christmas

Christmas is the season for kindling the fire of hospitality in the hall, the genial flame of charity in the heart.  ~Washington Irving

Gifts of time and love are surely the basic ingredients of a truly merry Christmas.  ~Peg Bracken

  

Wishing you and yours safe travels to your final Christmas destinations.

Merry Christmas everyone from The Murray Group.

Property Blogging: How to Do It The Right Way

Insider Agent Note:  Running short on time to create and distribute these blog posts?  Contact The Murray Group today to learn more about our marketing support for real estate agents.

 

Looking over the web and different social media outlets - you will see many posts by real estate agents that are simply - "here's my new listing" - with a link to the property site or MLS listing page.  Good idea to spread the word and good for SEO, not such a good way to approach it. 

Here's what we believe is a much better way to accomplish the same thing with more powerful results:

1.  Create the single property website for your new listing

2. Create Property Blog

There are three critical elements of A Property Blog Post.  That's all you need. No more and no less. 

One, a short intro using keywords that are your own words (i.e.don't copy and paste from another property somewhere out there - the search engines will catch you and not allow your content because it is dupe content).  They should also be location and neighborhood specific.   Usually, you can use the same description you have written for the MLS or your property flyers - without the abbreviations most realtors use to save space in the comment area.

Example:
Spacious Craftsman home backing to natural area. Extensive hardwood floors, cathedral ceilings, downstairs master, and fenced backyard are just a few of the great features of this home. Walk to the neighborhood playground, pool or tennis courts. Enjoy the many restaurants, Weaver Street Market or Movie Theater that are less than a mile from your front door. Interior freshly painted. Desirable Chapel Hill - Carrboro School System.

 Two.  A screenshot of your property listing from your single property website - not just a photo of the home.

Three. Community information about the town, schools, parks, shopping, museums.  See the example again for how it could read. Once you have written your community information you can use this section again on all listings that are in this community. 

3.  Post an update to your FB and Twitter a short line of the best property feature.  Include the link to your Property Blog post.  In effect, this creates an online open house for your listing - 24/7.  

Examples:  

If it were summer, this pool would be the place to be. 

Possibly the best backyard in Cary.

Again, with each descriptive tag - include the link to the property blog or single website.

• DON'T only post property listings.  Yes, they are good for SEO but they are Boring for your readers.   A good mix is 10% listings, 90% other stuff.  That means if you want to "plog" each listing you have, you should have 9 posts on other topics for every one listing.
  

Great Tips for Getting Your Home Ready for Holiday Guests

90 Million.  That's the number of Americans who travel over the holidays.   Here's how to be a good host if you're welcoming weary out-of-towners.

Get-Prepped Plan A
1. Unsettle the Dust.  It collects in guest rooms that aren't used much. The don't-miss spots (allergy sufferers will thank you)

2. The room's perimeter. Use a vacuum's crevice tool along baseboards, around furniture legs, and beneath the head of the bed.

3. Drapes and valances Give these and windowsills a once-over with the vac's upholstery attachment. • Window blinds Try Casabella's Microfiber Window Blind Gloves ($16 for two, www.casabella.com) for this task — they're even faster than a vacuum. 

Get-Prepped Plan B:
1. Try Out Your Digs. Do a dry run through the bedroom (i.e. sleep there!) and bath. Create closet space, or fake it by adding an over-the-door hook; stock with some clothes hangers.

2. Deal with small repairs by making sure no bulbs are burned out, no knobs are loose, all doors close and lock, drains aren't slow, and the windows open easily. 

3. Add a motion-sensor night-light to save visitors from fumbling.

4. Free up a power outlet for a phone charger. Label remote controls, light switches, etc., that might be confusing. Or, type up an instruction sheet, including, say, how to find the TV-channel directory.

5. Better the bedside: Put out a box of tissues as well as coasters for water glasses.

6. Leave towels in the bedroom so it'll be obvious which are theirs (and to keep guests from rooting around in the linen closet).

Loading Zone:
Overnight company comes with baggage. Save them the stooping with a luggage rack (metal ones start at $30), or use a chair or folding tray table as a stand-in Get-Prepped Plan:

Upgrade the Accommodations:
1. Mattress toppers.  If your "guest room" is really the den's pullout sofa, a pad made of memory foam or fiberfill (starting at $50 to $60 for full size) is worth the investment. Promise. 

Clear the Air:
Even a tidy guest room can get sorta stale Simple solutions:

1. SPRITZ IT Mist towels and sheets, plus curtains, with a linen spray the day before the guests' arrival (not the day of, so it isn't too strong for sensitive noses). We like Caldrea's clean, citrusy Mandarin Vetiver ($9, www.caldrea.com).

2. SPRUCE IT Set out a pretty bowl or tray of cinnamon sticks, whole nutmeg, cloves, or even fresh rosemary sprigs as a quick and easy herbal potpourri.

3. SPRINKLE IT Before vacuuming, shake some baking soda onto carpets and rugs. Wait 15 minutes, then run the machine. 

And, in case you are working today and need to lock a rate in, call me - I am here!

Reprinted with permission of Hearst Communications, Inc.

12 Days of Christmas: A Realtor's Video Humor

OK - every once in a while on a Friday you just need something light. 

Well, here you go. In the spirit of Christmas - here is a local realtor group in Texas. 

By the way, we looked at several offices who have attempted to do this on YouTube. 

Hands down, this was the best one! 

I have to give them lots of credit for the great words and being brave enough to film and post it. 

Watch to the end - there are outtakes...here's the link in case it doesn't play in the viewer.





Hope you are getting into the holiday mood - 9 days to go...

In 2011, There Were 259 Lending Rule Changes...

Wow! I will say it again - In 2011, There Were 259 Lending Rule Changes...that is 22 per month or nearly one per every working day.  And this figure doesn’t include any additional individual lender overlays!! 

And thus the Confusion Continues...
How in the world can anyone  be expected to keep up with all those changes (or want to...)?!  Unless you are a mortgage broker or banker, well - you probably wouldn't.

Just like a CPA has to keep up with the ever changing tax codes, a loan officer should be on top of the mortgage rule changes.   In order to provide the best service and match the right loans to the right clients, The Murray Group is aware of every single rule change that was brought into effect in 2011.

259 changes is mind boggling.  Since it is the Christmas season, we are going to ask Santa for a favor for us and our clients:

"Santa - please don't make so many changes next year!"  


How's that for simplicity?  Until tomorrow...

PS.  What is an overlay?  An overlay is an additional rule that a lender applies to an already existing list of guidelines associated with a specific loan program.

For example, Fannie Mae guidelines say it’s o.k. that applicants can payoff credit card debt to help them qualify for a home loan while at the same time being in the process of obtaining a NC home loan.  However, individual lenders may add an overlay that says no it’s not o.k. to do this.

Overlays vary from lender to lender which can cause confusion.  Ask The Murray Group your mortgage questions - we clear up confusion fast.

Lowering the Stress of Showing Your Home in December

Agents, if your listing clients decorate, they have most likely "done it up" for Christmas by now.  Here is an article you can email to them that may help them cope with showings this December.

Selling a house during the holidays is less than fun. The buyer has just barely settled in with a cup of hot cocoa when the phone rings: a potential buyer needs to look at the house right away. Suddenly, they are sweeping the house to the beat of “The Little Drummer Boy.” 

Here’s the flip side: selling during the holidays packs a huge emotional wallop. People are sentimental. They want to envision themselves in a cozy home, drinking hot cocoa by the fire, entertaining their new neighbors while the scent of gingerbread and pine fills the house.  If that’s what’s going on at your house, your sales pitch will be operating on all five sensory cylinders. 

That’s why it’s important to decorate your house for Christmas - but not over the top. Keep the precious family heirlooms packed away: you don’t want to discover the antique Italian paper mache' donkey suddenly AWOL from the crèche.

But do put up the tree, a wreath on the front door, and fresh greens on the mantel and buffet. If buyers can readily see how much you are enjoying Christmas in the house, they can easily imagine themselves in your place next Christmas.

Here are a few tips to get you going:

• Keep explicitly religious decorations packed away. Yes, we know what the “reason for the season” is. But just like family photos, it’s important to keep the holiday cheer neutral.

• Offer warm cider in paper cups and a plate of Christmas cookies. Keep the cookies to the non-crumbly kind so cookie dough and icing doesn’t track through the house.

• Put on Christmas music – again, with a neutral theme – on a low volume. Instrumental is best.

• Keep lights twinkling. Nothing is sadder than an unlit Christmas tree in the evening. Make sure all your lighted decorations are turned on – especially electric candles placed on the windowsills.

• Don’t light candles. Open flames are dangerous.

• Keep the fire going, whether it’s woodburning or gas.
  
  Again, greet visitors with neutral seasons greetings. Yes, not all religions use a Christmas Tree, but a tree seems the one universal holiday symbol that is acceptable by others. 

Happy Holidays - let's sell that home today!


PS.  Now is a good time, if you haven't done it yet, to get that pre-qualification letter done so that when your offer comes in, you will be ready to pounce on your next home.  Contact my preferred lender Christopher Murray today and let him know I referred you!

Looking Closer at Paying Off that Mortgage Early

Regardless of your personal feelings toward pre-paying your mortgage, you may want to consult with a tax advisor/investment advisor to determine if pre-payment is a good course of action for your situation.

Pros of Pre-Paying A Mortgage:

Most personal finance experts recommend owning your home mortgage-free before, or soon after, your retirement. The amount of money you’ll need in retirement goes down considerably as a result since you won’t have to pony up hundreds or thousands of dollars each month.

In addition, by paying off your house early, you save thousands of dollars in interest over the life of the loan. Take a $100K loan at 8 percent interest over 30 years: you’ll end up paying a bit more than $264K for the $100K loan. Pay the loan off in 15 years and your cost declines to $172K, a savings of $92K.

Many people claim the tax deduction is a great reason to carry a mortgage. 

Let's take a closer look at this strategy: why would we want to pay someone $1 in interest in order to receive 28 cents in a tax-write off?  (If you pay $10K in mortgage interest in a year and you’re in the 28 percent tax bracket, you may deduct $2,800 from our taxes.)

Plus, as you pay off the mortgage, more and more of our payments go toward the principal, thus lowering the amount we pay in interest and thus lowering the amount of our tax deduction each year.

Cons:

Using extra cash each month to pay more on your home loan means you can’t use that money for other, important things. Things such as:

• Paying off credit card debt
• Building an emergency fund
• Contributing as much as you can to a retirement account such as your 401(k), IRA or other form of retirement savings
• Saving money for college for your children
• Building a Health Savings Account (HSA)
• Setting aside cash for a much-wanted vacation
• Home improvements
• Starting a car replacement fund

Also, you’d more than likely earn a better rate of return on your money if you invest it in mutual funds or the stock market rather than in pre-paying your mortgage.

Have you considered the best financial strategy with your mortgage and your situation?  

Contact The Murray Group today and we can refer you to a great investment advisor or accountant who can help walk you through the decisions you will need to make.

Appraisal FAQs for your Clients Benefit

Agents, this is a great resource for your listing kit. The Murray Group is always being asked the questions below.  Our in-house appraiser took a few minutes to help us pull this together for you today.

Can the appraiser tell the borrower or homeowner what their house is worth or a “ball park” number at the time of the inspection?

Appraisals consider all interior and exterior features of a home.

     A.  The lender hires the appraiser to perform and appraisal on the property.  This creates a fiduciary relationship between the lender and the appraiser.  As a result, the appraiser can only report any value conclusion directly to the lender and must get permission from the lender to let any other person or party know the results or value conclusion of the appraisal.  This means the appraiser cannot disclose any opinion of value (an appraisal) to the homeowner without first giving the client (lender) the appraisal first and getting permission from the client to tell the homeowner the results of the appraisal.

     B.  When the appraiser inspects the home or property, he or she inspects the home, lot, floor plan, measures the house for the amount of living area, basement, garage, etc.  This is primarily a data gathering process.  Furthermore, there are many factors that comprise the properties market value such as lot size, location, house condition, room count (number of bedrooms and bathrooms, etc.), finished basement, etc.  All these factors need to be adjusted for against other similar sales in the neighborhood or similar neighbor hoods.   The appraiser does not have all of the sales data available to him or her at the time of the inspection and cannot make all of the necessary adjustments needed to arrive at an opinion of value at the time of the inspection.   Therefore, any number given by the appraiser would probably not be accurate and should not be given. 

     Example:      An appraiser might think that a house is should be worth around $100,000 at the time of the inspection, but later finds two sales that just closed in the neighborhood for $94,000 and $95,000 and a very similar house that is listed for $97,000.  Though the appraiser was fairly close in thinking the house could be worth around $100,000 at the time of the inspection, current market data shows a value of $95,000 to be more supported by the market and concludes at that number.

     C.  Taking the above example a step further, if the appraiser would have told the homeowner that their house was worth $100,000 at the time of the inspection and later concluded the value to be $95,000, the homeowner would be confused as to why there were two values given by the appraiser.   The result was that the appraiser legally gave two appraisals ($100,000 and $95,000) since an appraisal is an opinion of value.   One is probably more accurate than the other, but two appraisals were performed.   In addition, the appraiser may be held liable for the $100,000 value even though it was a guess and the home owner almost always says (“we won’t hold you to any number, we just want a rough idea”).  Any potential value provided by an appraiser is considered an appraisal since the appraiser is considered an expert.

How long is an appraisal good for?

Most lenders accept appraisals that are less than 6 months old.  However, with the current market conditions, housing and mortgage lending problems, lenders may accept only more recent appraisals such as a 1-3 months.

What does the appraiser consider in an appraisal?

Everything about the property including:

• • The location of the property such as the neighborhood and what surrounds a house.
  • The site (lot size, topography, public or private road frontage, public utilities at the site, etc.)
  • The overall room count (the number of bedrooms, bathrooms, living room, etc.)
  • The condition of the improvements (was the house recently remodeled such as new flooring, kitchen, bathrooms, painting, roof, siding, etc.)
  • Garage area
  • Basement area (finished or unfinished)
  • Quality of the construction (cherry cabinets, granite countertops, hardwood or ceramic flooring, brick siding, geo thermal heat pumps, etc.).
  • The current economy
  
  
  And other factors such as how many properties are listed for sale in the neighborhood, how many have sold, etc.
  
  The Murray Group can answer your questions - give us a call today!

Video Killed the Radio Star...73% of sellers more inclined to list with Realtor who uses video

Remember that song by the British Pop culture band The Buggles?

"Video killed the radio star.
Video killed the radio star.
In my mind and in my car,
we can't rewind we've gone too far."

There is a line in that song that says, "You'll be the last one." 

There is also a line in that song that says, "You'll be the first one."

In case nobody's told you this - video is the #1 way to improve your SEO rankings.  Video is the most searchable item in all the search engines.  They look for videos first, pictures second, and words last.

Many realtors are beginning to toy with video - but they are not willing to spend the dollars to have a professional video shot. Big Mistake.  Home made videos can hurt you more than help you if they are done wrong. 

Interesting Video in Real Estate Stats:

• Only 1% of agents are using video currently in their listing marketing efforts.
• 73% of sellers said that they would be more inclined to list their home with an agent who DID use video to market their listings.
• 82% of Internet users view videos while surfing the net.
• Of those who do view videos online, 39.4% were viewing YouTube videos.
  
  

The VERDICT?
You need to get ahead of the curve and start utilizing video in your real estate marketing efforts…and listing videos are not all you need to worry about.

A personalized video bio (hey - let's call them Vio's!) can welcome people to your site and draw them in by creating a trust and face-to-face bond as if they already know you.

Here is a great example:

Great video Ruby!

So, what is is going to be - are you going to be one of the first, or one of the last to use video?


Don’t know where to start?
A good place to start is to work with a real professional.

We recommend Alex Ferguson in Cary - Epic Realm Productions.  For a very modest price (that means excellent, affordable - go do it!) he will get you a 30 and 60 second video you can use everywhere to drive traffic and increase listings.

Also, on a giving note - Epic Realm shoots one free video per month for non-profits.  So if you work with or know of a local charity who could benefit from this service - please refer them today and spread the good news!

Durham NC Fall Market Update

Watt Street Durham NC

Now is an exceptional time to buy a home in Durham. Low rates with falling home prices makes a home purchase a great value! Call now for more information at 919-656-8375.
Average Home Price	$175,000
Average Price Compared to Last Year	No Change
Average Time on Market	90-120 days
Best Selling Price Range	$100,000 - $149,000
Worst Selling Price Range	$1,000,000+
Prices As % of Asking Price	95-100%
Existing Home Prices for the past 90 days are?	No Change
Market Trend	Increasing
Buyers’ or Sellers’ Market	More sellers than buyers
Buyer Activity for the past 90 days in Durham is	Increasing
Seller Activity for the past 90 days in Durham is?	Increasing
Multiple Offers?	No
Multiple Offers Commentary	Mulitple offers are occuring occassionally but typically that is happening more in short sale and foreclosure properties.
What Percentage of the Current Housing Inventory are Foreclosures and/or Short Sales?	10-15%
Is Financing Available For Qualified Buyers?	Yes
Comments on Financing For Qualified Buyers	USDA Rural Financing to allow for 100% financing has just been approved again and is now available! Easier qualifying, no down payment and low interest rates make this program a great option for our outlying areas. Call for more info on this great program!
Housing Inventory	Good supply - Some Prices
Greatest Activity	First Time Buyers
Reason to Buy/Sell	Good economic news
Nearest Metro Area	Raleigh/Durham/Chapel Hill
Housing Hot Spots	South Durham remains very hot due to its proximity to Research Triangle Park, shopping and easy access to major Interstates. New construction is going at a rapid pace as well, with builders offering many incentives to buyers to purchase their products. Call today for more information.
Average Sold Price	$175,000

Get Ready for A Great Raleigh Weekend!

Is everyone ready for the weekend?  Here are a few things to "Do This Weekend" in and around Raleigh. 

Happy Friday everyone!

Trans-Siberian Orchestra

Dec 4 7:30 PM at RBC Centre in Raleigh

Trans-Siberian Orchestra: Progressive Rock / Classical | Chris Caffery: Chris Caffery is a great guitarist and is currently going on a USA tour with Doro Pesh.

Macklemore And Ryan Lewis - Champagne Champagne - Xperience
Dec 4 8:00 PM at Cat's Cradle in Carrboro
Macklemore & Ryan Lewis w/ Champagne Champagne

Carolina Chocolate Drops
Dec 2 8:00 PM at Duke Universtiy Chapel in Durham
Good music for all ages.

A Christmas Carol
Dec 3 7:00 PM on various days at DPAC - Durham Performing Arts Center in Durham
A Christmas Carol- now with more heart than ever!

A Civil War Christmas
Dec 3 10:00 AM at Time Warner Cable Music Pavilion at Walnut Creek in Raleigh
A Civil War Christmas Bentonville Battlefield State Historic Site 5466 Harper House Rd.

Cash for Christmas
Dec 2 10:00 AM daily for 27 times at Downtown Fuquay-Varina Merchants in Fuquay Varina
Cash for Christmas 108 Raleigh Street November 18 to December 15 10 am to 5 pm each day During the Holiday Season, win a $500 gift certificate just for shopping

Carolina Hurricanes vs Pittsburgh Penguins

Dec 3 7:00 PM at RBC Centre in Raleigh

Carolina Hurricanes: National Hockey League | Pittsburgh Penguins: National Hockey League