Father’s Day

Father’s Day is this Sunday, June 19th.  As a current father and soon-to-be again, there is nothing more important than your children.  It’s amazing how your priorities change once you step into that role…with the help of you mothers, of course.

Once, I would have wanted the ultimate bachelor pad with big TV’s everywhere, a pool table, swimming pool….now that’s changed. Don’t get me wrong, I still would like those things but they are not at the top of my list. Now, I want a nice home in a nice neighborhood, where my children can grow up safe.  Good schools are a priority along with what the overall community has to offer.

When I got married that changed also but we still wanted some of the same frivolous stuff.  Then, when we had children, “our” needs changed as well.

No matter what stage you are in, the agents at Shelter Real Estate can help you find the perfect place.  Give us a call or email and let us find the right home for you now and as your needs change.

(919) 969-0066
info@sheltertoday.com
http://www.sheltertoday.com

Memorial Day

Shelter Real Estate hopes everyone had a great and safe Memorial Day Weekend. Whether you took the time to take a vacation, relax with family and friends, or maybe just took advantage of the shopping deals, we hope you remember those whose sacrifices have allowed us to have the choice. No matter your political view, Memorial Day is a time to come together to remember and rejoice.

If you spent any time outside recently, you know that Memorial Day weekend is also a reminder that the hot days are here. Things are also heating up for real estate. Our office is busier than ever with those taking advantage of the deals that are out there. If you consider yourself a bargain shopper, someone who takes advantage of sales like those on Memorial Day weekend, then don’t miss the biggest deals occurring in the housing market. Contact an agent at Shelter Real Estate, (919) 969-0066, to learn how you can get in on the deals.

Perfect House or Perfect Neighborhood?

Sometimes we get hung up on finding the perfect house and then realize the character of the neighborhood, the local amenities, and the neighborhood demographics have more of an influence on our lifestyle. Many years ago as a working, single mom I wanted a small house with affordable payments close to where I worked. What I didn’t realize was that there were no other small children in the neighborhood and it was necessary to cross a very busy road to access more child friendly neighborhoods with playgrounds. We felt landlocked in our perfect house!

As a Realtor, I’ve found it more productive to market homes based on the lifestyle of the neighborhood than it is to focus on the details of the house. Here’s a great article about choosing a neighborhood—and don’t forget to give us a call if you need help finding your neighborhood. We’re on the internet at www.ShelterToday.com. Call us at (919) 969-0066 or email info@sheltertoday.com.

http://www.frontdoor.com/Buy/How-To-Choose-A-Neighborhood/1162

IMAX at Southpoint Cinemas

Southpoint Cinemas’ new IMAX Theater is scheduled to open May 20th.  The auditorium is located inside Southpoint Cinemas with the first showing being “Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides” showing in IMAX 3-D.

For the Grand Opening on May 20th, the first 200 people in line for the 7:00 pm show will be given free tickets. Also, if you go to Stone Theaters’ Facebook page and press “like” will be entered to win a sneak peak of the theater before May 20th, as well as access to discounts and a VIP preview event.

Summer is a big time of the year for movies and a big time for us at Shelter Real Estate. Listings are picking up and sales are as well. For all of your real estate needs, please call us at (919) 969-0066.

Happy Easter

Shelter Real Estate would like to wish everyone a good “Good Friday” and Happy Easter.

Easter marks the end of Lent, a forty-day period of fasting, prayer, and penance.  The last week of the Lent is called Holy Week, and it contains Good Friday and Easter Sunday.

There are many customs people follow  during Easter but most of us associate it with the Easter Bunny, decorating eggs, and of course, the Easter egg hunt…..also, eating lots of candy and chocolate.  So, be sure to decorate your eggs, hide them, then find them…..just don’t forget where you put them.  Have a safe and happy Easter.

Shelton Station Project

Plans for Shelton Station, a mix of residential and retail development on 2.5 acres at 500 N. Greensboro St., in Carrboro, have been presented to the Board of Alderman. The first ground-breaking could be sometime in 2012 or 2013.

The $15 million mixed-use project is to include about 12,000 square feet of retail space and about 115 one- and two-bedroom apartments in two buildings. A three-story building would face North Greensboro Street with retail on the ground floor and offices above.

The idea is to create “affordable workforce housing,” according to the developer. About 20% of the apartments are targeted at those who make 80 percent to 100 percent of the area’s median income, or roughly $55,000 for a family of four. The remainder would be market rate. The developer also added that these are not going to be student housing.

The developer said the location is to add to Carrboro’s downtown “walkability”, where people can walk to what they need and provide for it’s citizen’s diverse income.

This project is having concerns from the residents of Carrboro. Some feel it will add traffic congestion, adding to the risk of pedestrians and bicyclists, and doesn’t fit Carrboro’s image. Neighbors of the site started a petition drive last week. If a valid protest petition is filed with the town, any rezoning would need the votes of at least six of the seven Board of Aldermen members.

If you would like to no more about this project, call Shelter Real Estate at (919) 969-0066 or email is at info@sheltertoday.com

Earth Action Day

Chapel Hill Parks and Recreation presents Earth Action Day this Saturday, April 9th, from Noon-5pm.  The outdoor event will have lots of interactive activities for all ages, live entertainment, and a great food pavilion, featuring local foods.

There will be a free shuttle stopping downtown, on campus, Eastgate shopping center, and U-Mall.  There will be live musical performances, a Swap-O-Rama Clothing Swap (Bring $5 and a bag of clothing to swap, cut, sew, print, and refashion).  There is also a kids scavenger hunt….and it’s free! You can more information at www.townofchapelhill.org/earthday.

Shelter Real Estate is actively involved in our community activities.  Call us for all your real estate needs.

Blues Festival

The 5th annual “Soots Blues Fest” is coming up this Friday, April 8th, at the Longview Center in Raleigh.  This annual event benefits the Music Maker Relief Foundation.  The address is 118 South Person St. and doors open at 6:30pm.

The Soots Blues Fest-Sustaining Roots Music Community Project features John Dee Holman with George Higgs, Boo Hanks, Lightnin’ Wells, Tad Walters, and Big Ron Hunter.  Tickets are $10 each and you can purchase them at www.sootsblues.org.

Shelter Real Estate supports our community and the various events to benefit those in need.  If you are in need of any real estate services, please give us a call at (919) 969-0066.

World Trade Center Memorial in Chatham County

A long chunk of steel that was once part of the World Trade Center in New York made its way across Chatham County on Saturday in a procession of firetrucks and police cars.

At ceremonies in Pittsboro, Goldston and Siler City, a trumpeter played taps and “Amazing Grace.” A bell rang out. There were speeches about not forgetting how the world changed on Sept. 11, 2001, when terrorists attacked, killing almost 3,000 people and toppling the center’s twin 110-story towers.  And about remembering firefighters, police officers and other emergency workers who lost their lives trying to save others.

The artifact was brought back from New York late last week to be placed in a memorial that is still being planned. While pieces of the Trade Center have been donated to memorials across the nation, Chatham County’s will be one of the few in North Carolina.

Plans for how the beam will be displayed are just now beginning, as is fundraising to buy land and build a shelter for it. But organizers, who say they will rely on private donations, want to have something in place by the 10th anniversary of the attacks later this year.

Chatham’s fire marshal, Tom Bender, helped collect the beam from a hangar at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York on Thursday. It will be stored until a memorial site is ready.

Shelter Real Estate supports those who protect us and we support our community.  If you need support buying and/or selling a home, please give us a call, (919) 969-0066.

Inter-Faith Council helping the community

The Inter-Faith Council for Social Service (IFC) provides an invaluable service by providing emergency shelter and transitional housing to men, women and children in our community.

Many of these community members are our veterans, friends, family members and neighbors who have lost their jobs or homes, experienced domestic violence or sexual assault or have medical bills they cannot afford to pay.

The site on Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard near the corner of Homestead Road, where the IFC is proposing to build a new Community House, is an ideal location for many reasons. The land was generously provided by UNC and is conveniently located on a main thoroughfare and several public bus routes. The site is adjacent to the United Church of Chapel Hill which is a long-term supporter of IFC and is within walking distance of the Southern Human Services Center where residents can access social, health and housing services.

The current Community House in downtown Chapel Hill is an emergency shelter; the new facility will be a 52-bed transitional housing program providing long-term housing and access to essential services for homeless men. Residents will receive the resources they need – including education, job training, health care, and mental health care – to rebuild their lives, support themselves, and live independently. The IFC’s HomeStart program for women and children is a similar “transitional housing” program that has a proven record of helping families move from homelessness to self-sufficiency.

HouseHunt

If you are looking for a home to buy and/or just want to find information, you can search for listings using HouseHunt.  HouseHunt is a direct link to community/neighborhood information and home prices.                                                                                                                                                                          For community information and to start your Chapel Hill home search, click on the link below. http://www.chapel-hill-homesforsale.com/

You can also direct any questions to info@sheltertoday.com or call us at (919) 969-0066.  We’ll be glad to help with all your real estate needs.

ACC Basketball Tournament

 The 2011 ACC Men’s College Basketball Tournament has begun. For many of us, it’s the greatest time of the year…March Madness.  UNC, Duke, Clemson, and Florida State have byes in the tournament and begin play Friday at noon.  The rest begin Thursday, where there are four games to be played.  This is an exciting time here in ACC country where we love our college hoops. Of course, most of us in this area are either UNC, Duke, Wake, or NC State fans. No matter who you cheer for, it’s always fun to watch the tournament games. March Madness satisfies all your sports needs.  

For all your real estate needs, contact us at Shelter, (919) 969-0066.

Leukemia and Lymphoma Society

The fundraising campaign for the 2011 Leukemia and Lymphoma Society’s Man & Woman of the Year is underway. The campaign runs from March 1-May 19, 2011. Shelter Real Estate’s own Walter Shepherd is a nominee for this distinction.

Many of us know someone directly or through someone else who has battled cancer. Please join the fight by donating to The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society on its mission to cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin’s disease and myeloma, and improve the quality of life of patients and their families.

You can donate with your credit card by visiting the website at www.mwoy.org/tri and clicking on Walter’s photo, or send a check made payable to The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. All donations must be received by May 19, 2011. In doing so, you will be supporting The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society’s mission to find a cure. Thank you for your support! For additional information, please visit www.mwoy.org/tri or walter@waltershepherd.com. You can also call the Shelter Real Estate office at (919) 969-0066 for more information.  Shelter Real Estate supports the community and those in need, check us out for all your real estate needs.

Oakwood Park Renovation in Chapel Hill

The process to renovate the Oakwood Park playground, in Chapel Hill, has begun. The following schedule will be used, although it is highly likely that the schedule will change as the process moves forward:
 
March 8: Deadline for construction companies to submit bids to the Town for the required site work.
 
March 21: THE OAKWOOD PARK PLAY AREA WILL CLOSE. Town forces will start the demolition work required to move the project forward. Old equipment will be removed, picnic site furnishings will be relocated, fencing will be removed, sand will be relocated, tree protection and erosion control fencing will be installed. This work will take 1-2 weeks.
 
Early to Mid April: Site work begins. The selected contractor will have 90 days to complete the work starting from the day they are granted permission to begin.
 
April 15: We will solicit ideas for selection of playground equipment through April 15. See information related to playground equipment below.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                               May: Solicit bids for playground equipment
 
June: Children’s art project.  
             Playground equipment selected.

 July: Site work ends
 
August: Playground equipment installed
 
September: Playground portion of Oakwood Park reopens
 
*This schedule assumes that there will be a limited number of unforeseen delays and reasonable weather.*
 
SELECTION OF PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT:  This will be a two-part process. The first directly involves you and your children. Please email me your ideas rbuckley@townofchapelhill.org. Tell me what kinds of equipment we should add. It would be very useful if you can email me photos of the types of equipment that you would like to see. We will accept ideas and photos until April 15. After that date we will bid the playground portion of the project. Companies will be given a budget and will be asked to give us one or more proposals. Once we have received proposals from the playground vendors we will ask the public to review and rate them. This process is currently scheduled for June.
 
CHILDREN PUBLIC ART PROJECT: The parks new entrance gate will include art tiles created by children. We are very excited about this public art project. In June children will have an opportunity to make tiles in the Town’s clay studio. The tiles will be affixed to the entrance gate of the park. We will let everyone know how to register once we are a little closer to the date. If you have any questions please let me know. Please share this post with anyone who may be interested. I would be happy to place anyone on my email distribution list for this project.

Durham Top 2011 Destination

According to The New York Times, Durham is one of the top “41 places to go in 2011.” Durham is a great place to live, work and eat.  Touting Durham’s revitalized downtown and food scene as worth the trip.

The article noted that downtown’s revitalization has come a long way in the past decade, during which old tobacco warehouses and textile mills were transformed into prime mixed-use space, and restaurateurs were drawn to affordable space in the city center.

In the heart of downtown, lots of standout restaurants and cafes has recently sprouted around West Main Street, where low rents have allowed chefs and other entrepreneurs to pursue menus that are local, seasonal and delicious.

Downtown Durham

 

Chapel Hill Named Top 2011 Destination

The National Trust for Historic Preservation has named Chapel Hill as one of its 2011 Dozen Distinctive Destinations.  Chapel Hill was selected for its charm, culture, and dedication to protecting its heritage.  The recognition is based on strong downtowns, classic architecture, and unfailing commitment to historical preservation.  Chapel Hill has four National Historic Districts and prioritizes its heritage thanks in large part to the Preservation Society of Chapel Hill.

The Horace William's House

 

 

The National Trust mentioned restaurant Crook’s Corner, the Carolina Basketball Museum, the North Carolina Botanical Garden and the Old Chapel Hill Cemetery as highlights.  The public can vote on the preservation trust’s website for their Fan Favorite until March 15th.

 

 

 

Durham Performing Arts Center

If you are a fan of the show “Glee”, then you won’t want to miss the Durham public schools system’s “An Evening of Entertainment” at the DPAC. Nearly 600 Durham public school system students will dance and sing to benefit the school system’s scholorship foundation. The event takes place 7 pm this Thursday, Feb. 17th. Tickets start at $10.

Shelter Welcomes Pam Wardell

Shelter Real Estate welcomes a new agent to our office, Pam Wardell. 

Pam Wardell: I moved here with my family in the early 90′s from the Northeast. I never could have imagined how much happier I would be living here. My two sons attended Durham public schools and went on to very good colleges. I’ve been teaching pottery, both wheel and sculptural, first at the Durham Art’s Council and currently at Clay Maker’s. I’m constantly amazed at the variety of visual and performing arts in this area. My artistic ability gives me unique skills to help clients stage their homes for sale, and visualize the possibilities of homes they buy. I’ve been selling real estate for the past 14 years. Listing homes at this time takes an astute agent, with the experience and ability to advise their clients on pricing and negotiating. I love working with all buyers but especially people new to the area. There are so many wonderful aspects to living in the Triangle, appealing to all kinds of people. I look forward to working with you too.

Pam made the move to Shelter Real Estate, see why you should too.  Whether a new or current agent, buying and/or selling a home, call us today for all your real estate needs, (919) 969-0066.

 

A Chocolate Affaire

The 12th annual “A Chocolate Affaire” to benefit the work of Cornucopia Cancer Support Center is this Sunday, February 13th, from 2:00pm to 5:00pm at The Carolina Club-UNC’s George Watts Alumni Center.  The cost is $60/person and features silent and live auctions, decadent desserts from area restaurants, and wine provided by 3CUPS….credit cards accepted at auctions.  Music provided by “The Swingin’ Chads“.  Please come out and support a good cause while having a good time. 

Shelter Real Estate supports this good cause and we are selling tickets to this event.  Please stop in or call (919) 969-0066.

Valentine’s Day

Valentine’s Day will be here this coming Monday.  Valentine’s Day is an annual commemoration held on February 14 celebrating love and affection between initmate companions…or for some, it’s when you begin an relationship.  It can be an excuse to gorge yourself on chocolate and other candies. 

Shelter Real Estate has lots of love for past, future, and current clients.  Stop in or call and let us show you the love.