Real Estate Insights in North Carolina

Why We Love North Carolina in the Spring

Everyone loves spring … warmer weather and the beautiful Dogwood trees start to bloom, but another reason is the community festivals and events. For years we have welcomed the changing seasons with festivals and celebrations. But none can be as anticipated as the spring festivals.

We might be a little biased, but we think that North Carolina has some of the best spring festivals to offer. Ranging from every tip of our beautiful state, you would be hard pressed not to find at least one festival that caught your fancy. Some of our favorites are MerleFest in Wilkesboro and the BBQ Capital Cook Off in Lexington.

MerleFest began in 1988 in memory of Eddy Merle Watson, and has grown into one of the most well-known Folk and Blue Grass festivals of the Southeast. This four day event features over 60 musical acts and offers workshops, nature walks and countless activities provided by the vendors. If you’re looking to get back to the “roots” of North Carolina and experience the beauty of the foothills, this is your best bet.

Known for their BBQ in Lexington, it only seems natural that they would host a BBQ Cook- Off. If you haven’t graced yourself with a trip to this timeless small town yet, now is your chance. With competitors from around the country showcasing their slow cooking styles, beer and wine tastings, live music and a corn hole throw down…who could resist? This two day event is sure to give you a fun filled weekend.

Whether you are a North Carolina native or just relocated, there are plenty of opportunities for you to celebrate the start of a beautiful season and the wonderful culture of our state. Which festival are you going to kick your spring off with?

Springing for a Good Cause

Starting in 2009, we started working with local food banks throughout North Carolina to help raise money and food for the thousands of families that go without meals every day. Starting April 2, we began one of our annual food drives to benefit three local Food Banks.  All of the Prudential Carolinas Realty, Prudential York Simpson Underwood Realty and Prudential Yost & Little Realty offices will be collection locations.

 

“Last year our October Food Drive was a huge success – we raised over $3,200 and 6,000 pounds of food,” said Tommy Camp, President and CEO. “Our sales associates demonstrated their tremendous connection with the communities in which they serve by helping to make these significant contributions. Because of the great success of our food drive, and most importantly because of the increased need due to a depleting supply of food in the food banks, this year we are expanding our efforts with the intent of making an even greater impact.”

 

The three food banks that we work with are Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest North Carolina , The Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina and the Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina. Located in the Triad, Triangle and greater Charlotte area respectively, these organizations work to bring meals to families in need throughout the state.  

 

We are excited to kick off another Food Drive and expect to create just as great a success as the years past! If you are interested in helping our cause, here is how you can help: Click Here!

Photo tours of NC Cities

Relocating to North Carolina from out of the state? Lived here a little while but want to explore new areas?

We created short photo tours of the cities that we serve to help you get to know the area a little better. These photo tours showcase the highlights of the city including major landmarks, sporting events and other activities that happen throughout the year to give you a better feel for what it's like to live there.

Embedded below is the playlist of all 11 photo tours, just click the " > " button on the video to go to the next video.

If you want to check out just one city - the links are below:

Charlotte Photo Tour, Rock Hill, SC Photo Tour, Lake Norman Photo Tour, 

Clemmons Photo Tour, Winston-Salem Photo Tour, Kernersville Photo Tour, Greensboro Photo Tour

Cary Photo Tour, Chapel Hill Photo Tour, Durham Photo Tour, Raleigh Photo Tour

Enjoy!

Help us feed those in need

1 in 8 Americans struggles with hunger today. Prudential Carolinas and Prudential York Simpson Underwood offices throughout the state are hosting a food drive to benefit the food banks in each region who are in great need of food.

Even the smallest of donations can help feed those in need, every $1 = 3 meals. Please help us feed those in need in North Carolina.

Please consider making a donation today at one of our offices or directly to the food bank in your area:

Charlotte Area - Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina

Triad Area - Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest North Carolina

Triangle Area - Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina

Cameron Village Broker-In-Charge earns award from Triangle MLS

Congratulations to Tom Gongaware, Raleigh/Cameron Village Broker-In-Charge, who recently received an award from the Triangle MLS in recognition of his six years of service as its Director.

Pictured below at the presentation ceremony are (l-r): Ray Larcher, Executive Vice-President, Raleigh Regional Association of REALTORS®; Pam Kohl, Tom's wife; Gongaware; Rachel Wiest, UP Operations, Triangle MLS; and Christy New, Executive Assistant, Triangle MLS.

Durham office continues support of Durham Central Park

For at least the past six years, the Durham office has actively been involved in improving Durham Central Park and thereby the entire community. Their most recent project had them weeding, trimming and planting in the “Prudential Garden” section of the Durham Farmers Market Garden. They also planted 20 new rose bushes and spread more than 200 pounds of mulch while they were there.   “I’ve been so inspired by the energy and involvement of our agents in these work days,” Tracey Goetz, Durham Broker-in-Charge told the Durham Herald-Sun in a story published last month.

Sales associates awarded national Prudential CARES Volunteer Grants

Sales associates Vicki Kessinger and Nancy Briggs were both recently awarded national Prudential CARES Volunteer Grants for their respective charities.

Kessinger, sales associate in the Rock Hill office of Prudential Carolinas Realty, received a $1000 grant for the Children’s Attention Home in Rock Hill. The Children’s Attention Home Inc., provides emergency residential shelter and supportive services for abused, neglected and abandoned children ages birth through 21 years who have been identified at risk of harm in their present condition of living arrangements, and/or if the child’s parent or guardian cannot or will not provide safe and adequate care. To find out more, visit www.attentionhome.org.

Briggs, a sales associate in the Prudential York Simpson Underwood Realty office in Cary, received a $250 grant for the Appalachia Service Project. Appalachia Service Project provides vital housing services as well as transformational life experiences to those who serve, volunteers offering their service, congregations involved with ASP, and entire communities. To find out more, visit www.asphome.org. 

Ballantyne Area office participates in American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life

Our Ballantyne Area office recently participated in the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life. Held in Charlotte on May 29 and 30, the event has raised nearly $100,000 overall, with additional donations being accepted through August.

Participants from our Ballantyne Area office were sales associates David Barker, Jackie Campbell, Ellen Milano, Joanna Millwood, Carol Morgan, Rebecca Nolley, Todd

Nolley, Irv Schwebel, David Szajowitz and Lisa Wasserman. Broker-In-Charge Brian Hill also participated.

So far members of our Ballantyne team have raised $1,400, but will continue to welcome donations through August.

6,700 Diapers Donated

In conjunction with the Second Harvest Food Bank, new mom and Winston-Salem/Oakwood sales associate Julie Oates organized a diaper drive in her office to benefit low-income families in our community. More than 6,700 diapers were donated, all of which will benefit needy families in our area. An adequate monthly supply of diapers can cost as much as $100 (up to 20% of a minimum wage salary!), and they’re not covered by food stamps or WIC.

To find out what you can do to help needy families in your area, visit www.feedingamerica.org to find the nearest food bank.