Quote for today -   The answer is simple: if you want something very badly, you can achieve it.  It may take patience, very hard work, a real struggle, and a long time, but it can and will be done. - Margo Jones

Real Estate Questions:

Would you qualify for a FHA Loan - Here are a few of the guidelines to see if you qualify.

• The borrower must meet standard FHA credit qualifications (there's no set credit score barometer, but a borrower's debt-to-income ratio is heavily considered).
  
• The borrower is able to finance the upfront mortgage insurance premium into the loan. The borrower will be responsible for paying an annual premium.
  
• The FHA mortgage requires a low 3.5-percent down payment, and that money can come from a variety of sources, including parent gifts and HUD downpayment assistance grants.
  
• Closing costs are also low - typically 3 percent of the total purchase price - and are usually covered by the seller in today's market. They can also be incorporated into monthly payments.
  
• Eligible properties are one-to-four unit structures, and each state has a purchase price limit (as high as $400,000) for FHA loans.
  
• If a buyer finds a fixer-upper, the FHA 203(k) program can help the person purchase or refinance the property, with the cost of repairs and improvements included in the loan.
  
• FHA home mortgages aren't just for first-time homebuyers. FHA refinance loans can help people get out of toxic debt situations caused by subprime mortgages with high interest rates.

Please call or email me with any other questions you may have about this type of loan.  Call 919.906.5794 or email Alice@AliceRay.com.

Wake Forest NEWS:

Wake Forest Farmers' Market
Saturday, Jan. 15; 10 am - Noon
Depot Parking Lot, 110 S. White St.
The first of our 2011 markets offering meats, eggs, baked breads granola, hand made soaps, arts and crafts. Save the dates, this year the Farmers Market will be open the first and third Saturdays in Febuary and March from 10 am to noon. On April 2, the Farmers Market will start back full-time. Due to harsh winter weather, the Wake Forest Crafters Market will restart with a grand opening April 16. For more information, visit www.wakeforestmarket.org or call (919) 556-2284.

Email Alice today for all your real estate needs:  Alice@AliceRay.com

Thought for today: 

You are here for a purpose.  There is not a duplicate of you in the whole wide world; there never has been, there never will be.  You were brought here now to fill a certain need.  Take time to consider what it might be.  -Lou Austin

Could Rising Mortgage Rates Spur Housing Rush?
Mortgage rates have been rising ever since Nov. 2010, when lows of 4.42 percent were reported. Bankrate.com recently reported a rise to 5.02 percent in 30-year fixed rate loans, which is the second time in three weeks rates have crossed the 5 percent mark. And with many experts signaling the end to the 4 percent mortgage rate era, some industry insiders predict the rise in mortgage rates may stimulate a sluggish housing market, creating urgency for potential buyers.

I personally had banks raising the interest rate this week on new homes with special deals.  It is a sign that the economy is improving.  These low never heard of interest rates in our life time may be ending.

UNC again is # 1 on Kiplinger's Best Value List   -  N. C. State 15th

UNC-Chapel Hill for the 10th year in a row has held the title of the best value in public higher education by Kiplinger's Personal Finance.

N.C. State Universite #15th  --UNC-Wilmington #27 -- Appalachian State University #35

UNC Shool of the Arts #48  --  UNC-Asheville #58.

We should be very proud of the schools we have available for higher education.  Our education programs are a strong asset to our State and to our town.  

What is happening in Wake Forest?

Pancake & Sausage Breakfast
Sunday, Jan 9; 8 am - 1 pm
American Legion Hall, 225 E. Holding Ave.
American Legion Post 187 will hold a pancake and sausage breakfast on the second Sunday of each month at the Legion Hall, across from the Wake Forest Post Office. All-you-can-eat pancakes, sausage, orange juice, and choice of hot beverage for only $5 per person/$20 max per family. Proceeds support community and veterans projects. For information call (919) 494-2707.

We want to salute our veterans every day.  Please help support the American Legion of Wake Forest and join them for breakfast on Sunday - Jan. 9th between 8am - 1 pm.

Call or email Alice Ray for all your real estate questions and any questions you may have about the Town of Wake Forest, N. C.  I grew up here and I can answer many of your questions on happenings and events in our town. Email alice@aliceray.com or call 919-906-5794.

Merry Christmas from Wake Forest - If you live in Raleigh, Durham, Cary, Garner, Apex, Rolesville, Wendell, Zebulon, Youngsville, Louisburg, Creedmoor, Henderson, Chapel Hill, Fuquay, Smithfield, or any surrounding town please join us in Wake Forest for our Historic Christmas tour of homes, churches and buildings this Saturday, December 4th, 2010 from 2p.m. - 8p.m.  Come walk the streets and enjoy Christmas in a small town.  Please email me at Alice@AliceRay.com with any questions about the tour.

Hello and welcome to Alice's Blog and welcome to Wake Forest, N.C. - We are one of Wake Counties growing towns that is bumper to bumper to Raleigh and Research Triangle.  We are small and special. 

I grew up here and remember Christmas in Wake Forest as something very special.  I remember going to see Santa Claus in town and thinking about all those gifts I was going to receive, as I gave him my wish list.

Wake Forest is having their Christmas tour of homes and other special places of interest the first week of December. Read below information from the town web site about the date of the tour:

HISTORIC HOME TOUR TICKETS ON SALE NOW
The Wake Forest Historic Preservation Commission and the Wake Forest Woman's Club will present their biennial Christmas Historic Home Tour on Saturday, Dec. 4, from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. Advance tickets may be purchased online at www.wakeforestnc.gov/marketplace.aspx for $12/each through Wednesday, Dec. 1. Tickets are also available at various locations in downtown Wake Forest, including town hall.  Tickets cost $15/each on the day of the tour. For more information, visit www.wakeforestnc.gov/christmashometour.aspx.

The Wake Forest annual Christmas Parade will follow the Christmas tour on December 11th in downtown Wake Forest.  The Wake Forest town site tells of the time for the Christmas Parade as follows:

Wake Forest Christmas Parade
Saturday, Dec 11-1 pm
Historic Downtown Wake Forest
Celebrate the holiday season at Wake Forest’s largest community event. Watch as community groups and businesses show their creative talents with floats, dancing elves, and sounds of the season. Of course, Santa will here! Hosted by the Wake Forest Downtown Revitalization Corporation. For more information, call (919) 570-1372 or visit  www.wakeforestdowntown.com .

Thanksgiving week 2010 is here - where will you be?  I will be at home in Wake Forest, N.C. busy cooking for my family which consist of my husband, Jimmy, three children and their spouses, seven grandchildren, and some invited guests.  Everyone in my house enjoys the big cooked turkey, all the trimmings and the pumpkin pie.

If you are thinking about traveling, you might want to try out The Grove Park Inn in Asheville, N. C.  They have a great Thanksgiving Day Buffet and you get to see the 2010 Gingerbread Competition houses and see the tree-lighting ceremony that kicks off their holiday season.  Jimmy treated me to a visit to The Grove Park Inn for my birthday in September and I can tell you the underground luxurious spa is a very unique and relaxing experience.  Elaine's Dueling Piano Bar at the Inn was something you would not want to miss.  But best of all, I think the Christmas tree decorations throughout the Inn at Christmas is the best treat of all.

I am sure if you are going to be at your home, like me, it will be a special event and a time to be thankful for family and friends and all the blessing the Lord has given us.

If you are traveling here - Welcome - We will be available the rest of the Thanksgiving weekend to assist you in all your real estate needs.  What better time to buy with the deals on the market today and with all time low interest rates.  I have many customers who say that their money is not doing anything in the bank and they are buying and renting homes out to make their dollars grow. 

Thanks again for visiting my blog at AliceRay.com

Jason Michael Carroll leads Raleigh Christmas Parade

Jason Michael Carroll grew up in Franklin County.  He recorded his first single Alyssa Lies in the late 2006. 

The Raleigh Christmas parade is the largest between Atlanta and Washington.

Read my next Blog to get details about the parade.

Email me at Alice@AliceRay.com and tell me if you attend the Raleigh Parade and get to see Jason Michael Carroll.  Get details later in my blog when Jason Michael will be singing in Wake Forest in December.

The Raleigh Christmas Parade is Saturday, November 20,2010 at 9:30 A.M.

The Parade begins on Hillsbough Street at St. Mary's Street and proceeds to the State Capitol - turns rt onto Salisbury St. - turns Lt onto Morgan St - turns rt onto Fayetteville St and continues to Lenoir St. where it ends.

The Parade is approx. 1.4 miles long.  The Parade will last about 2.5 hours.  The parade will telecast from 10:00am to 12 Noon on WRAL-TV. 

Follow my blog to learn next week about WakeForest Christmas Parade and lighting of the town Christmas tree.

Good Morning,

It is a beautiful day in Wake Forest and the fall colors welcome you as you visit our town.  Please check out a few events going on this evening in Wake Forest that was posted on our town web site.

Art After Hours
Friday, Nov 12; 5 pm - 9 pm
Downtown Wake Forest

Art comes alive in Historic Downtown Wake Forest during the second Friday of each month. Visit several gallery opening receptions, taste regional wine, and listen to great music in the streets. Weather permitting, the Wake Forest Downtown Revitalization Corporation will provide horse and carriage rides.  www.wakeforestdowntown.com    

Art Opening at the Sunflower Studio featuring Kim Young
Friday, Nov 12; 5 pm – 9 pm (Opening Reception)
Nov 12 – Dec 4 (Exhibit)
Sunflower Studio & Gallery, 214 E. Jones Ave.
Meet featured artist, painter Kim Young, and enjoy her florals, landscapes and pet portraits. Music by Mister Felix. (919) 570-0765;www.sunflowerstudiowf.com.

Cotton Company Resident Artists Group Show
Friday, Nov 12; 6 pm – 9 pm (Opening Reception)
The Cotton Company, 306 S. White St.
Come meet four of the Cotton Company’s resident artists in their studios and witness their creative processes firsthand. The work of oil painter Dick Larsen, painter and graphite artist Doreen Tewksbury, painter and sculptor Ema Godfrey and watercolorist Susan Espin will be featured during November and December. An artist reception and wine tasting will be held during Art After Hours on Friday, Nov. 12. For more information, visit www.thecottoncompany.net or call (919) 570-0087.

It is fun to live in Wake Forest.  I can walk downtown from my home and enjoy the many shops and restaurants the town has to offer.  If you are thinking of wanting to live in Wake Forest and would like a tour of the town, be sure to call me or Jimmy and we would love to show you our lovely town.  I live in a older home and it is true if you want a home with character you cannot trade the look and the feel of an older home.  I speak for myself because Jimmy would say a home on the golf course would be great.  He loves the feel of the course at his feet.

Way to go Linda for 10 years with the Sunflower Studio & Gallery.  You are an asset to the town and we wish you many more years with your great studio. 

Call us today with all your real estate questions & needs.  919.556.6459.

Good Morning and Happy Veterans Day to all of those who have served in our different branches of services. Below is a little history from the Department of Veterans Affairs on how this holiday started.

"The Uniform Holiday Bill (Public Law 90-363 (82 Stat. 250)) was signed on June 28, 1968, and was intended to ensure three-day weekends for Federal employees by celebrating four national holidays on Mondays: Washington's Birthday, Memorial Day, Veterans Day, and Columbus Day. It was thought that these extended weekends would encourage travel, recreational and cultural activities and stimulate greater industrial and commercial production. Many states did not agree with this decision and continued to celebrate the holidays on their original dates.

The first Veterans Day under the new law was observed with much confusion on October 25, 1971. It was quite apparent that the commemoration of this day was a matter of historic and patriotic significance to a great number of our citizens, and so on September 20th, 1975, President Gerald R. Ford signed Public Law 94-97 (89 Stat. 479), which returned the annual observance of Veterans Day to its original date of November 11, beginning in 1978. This action supported the desires of the overwhelming majority of state legislatures, all major veterans service organizations and the American people.

Veterans Day continues to be observed on November 11, regardless of what day of the week on which it falls. The restoration of the observance of Veterans Day to November 11 not only preserves the historical significance of the date, but helps focus attention on the important purpose of Veterans Day: A celebration to honor America's veterans for their patriotism, love of country, and willingness to serve and sacrifice for the common good."

With all of that said, thanks once again to all those who have served our country to protect all of the rest of us. 

I would like to say a special thank you to my husband, Jimmy, my brother, Henry, my step-son, Kevin, and my son-in-law, Michael, and my brother-in-law, Bobby who served our country.

Please remember to thank those today who are veterans that may be in your circle of family and friends.  Without all these brave men and women we would not have the freedom we enjoy.

We are busy at work today so if you need to buy or sell a home, please give us a call so we can assist you.  Call 919.556.6459 or email Alice@AliceRay.com.