Abberly Place Blog

House prices are low and mortgage rates are too, many say it is time to buy a home. But in an upside down real estate market, is it really more cost-effective to own as opposed to renting? Interest rates are lower, house prices are down, but it's also harder to get financed.

Many renters at Abberly Place, outside Raleigh, have gotten out of a mortgage. Others are renting so they are not tied down to such a large amount every month.

Whether you should rent or buy depends on many factors, like how long you plan to stay in your home. Some experts will tell you buying is better than renting only if you plan to be in your house more than five years.

If you don't need the tax help, which is minimal, you may want to rent. Most of the time, and always at Abberly Place, Apartments in Garner, NC, the landlord will fix a kitchen sink which saves the renter out of pocket money.

Here's one pro and con breakdown:

Pros to Buying a House:

• if it has been a goal for awhile then there's the emotional satisfaction of owning your own home.
• It builds equity, (but it takes awhile).
• You can get a tax break if you deduct your mortgage interest and your property taxes.

• Homeowners have to pay property taxes
• Homeowners have to pay for maintenance and upkeep.
• There's less flexibility if you decide to move.
• Down payments are often 20% of the purchase price (if you want to avoid mortgage insurance). That's money that could have been invested elsewhere.

Original article - WKRG

If you are relocating to Raleigh, consider renting an apartment in Garner, NC, take a look at Abberly Place Apartments.  Raleigh is one of the top cities in the south. We have a great climate all year round with warm summers and mild winters. With loads of outdoor activities for the naturalists and plenty of shopping and restaurants for those who love the big city, Raleigh is the perfect location.  You will find both when you move to Raleigh.
 
Besides the bustling downtown, flourishing businesses and great night life, Raleigh also has great college and professional sports teams: NC State, Duke, and the Carolina Tar Heels and the Carolina Hurricanes and the Carolina Panthers. There is so much to see and do a free hybrid electric bus service that will connect you to museums, dining and shopping.
 
Abberly Place represents a new style of living in a beautiful, neighborly community with upscale offerings, unmatched location and easy access to bustling Downtown Raleigh. For more information on one bedroom, two bedroom or three bedroom floor plans, contact us.

With so much of North Carolina experiencing drought conditions, in fact 74 North Carolina counties are experiencing some type of drought conditions and 49 have been classified as being abnormally dry, it brings our attention to how we can conserve resources and become more green in our homes. Even if you are living in an apartment in Garner, NC you can go green. How?

Conserve water- if you are washing dishes by hand, fill a basin and do all of your dishes together without running the water the entire time. Rinse all the dishes at once rather than one a time, which reduces running water. Of course when brushing your teeth, turn off the water until it is time to rinse. Everyone loves a nice long shower, but cutting down on shower time even by just one or two minutes can reduce your water use.

Change your light bulbs. CFL light bulbs conserve energy and last longer. Rather than turning light into heat, they use less wattage by only making light.

Compost at home. There are under the sink compost containers where you can compost your garbage in your home with no odor. When the composter is full, grow some beautiful potted plants. In fact, houseplants add a little color, and also clean the air by cutting down pollutants in your apartment.

Turn down your thermostat. Most experts suggest setting your AC to 68ºF in the day and 60ºF at night.  Believe it or not, setting it at 72ºF degrees will cost you 39 percent more energy.

Unplug your cell phone charger when you are not using them.

By creating good practices in energy and water conservation you develop good habits. Pretty soon turning off lights when you leave the room, not running the water while you’re brushing your teeth, and taking shorter showers become second nature.

Perhaps you are relocating to the  Raleigh area and you have just started the search for a home.  Regardless of where you are in your home search, consider some questions before you decide between renting and owning a home. Buying a home is a big commitment both financial and otherwise, so take the time to weigh pros and cons.

Here are a few questions you should ask yourself:

Will I own it for at least five years?

The most important question to ask before you consider buying a home is whether you will own it for a long time. People buy homes as an investment and  five years, maybe even more today, is about the break-even point for earning appreciation in value. If you don’t plan on holding the property for longer than five or more years, don’t buy it! Renting a home is NOT necessarily throwing money away. Buying and selling quickly will usually leave you worse off financially.

Can I afford it?

It is more expensive to own a home than you think.  Even if you qualify for the loan amount, you need to make sure YOU can afford it. Lenders don’t take into account home maintenance costs, expenses, health care expenses, expensive lifestyles and habits, etc. So make sure that you can comfortably afford your housing payment, still pay your other bills, and still save at least a little more for retirement. Also, if you are not sure of your continued employment situation, don’t buy a home.

Do I know about the neighborhood?

Did you do adequate research, look at enough properties, and learn the neighborhoods. If you just moved into town or if you don’t know the area, rent an apartment in Garner for a while. Get to know the city.
For information on Abberly Place Apartment Homes in Garner, NC, contact us.

Excerpts from Onlinesentinel.com

Everyone who owns a home or lives in an apartment in Garner knows that this city has some of the most dynamic restaurants in the country. Raleigh itself is a blend of the old and the new, and our restaurants blend as well. From mom and pop restaurants to fine dining and everything in between.

A Taste of Downtown Raleigh Gourmet Food Tour is enjoyed by everyone in Raleigh every Saturday from 1:30-4:30 & 2:00-5:00. Enjoy talking with chefs and owners of area restaurants who are serving ethnic and southern cuisine, house-made chocolate, authentic barbecue, beautiful and delicious cupcakes, local beer, and organic wine. There's something for every taste in Raleigh.

Looking for something way to get out of the apartment in Garner, NC this weekend? It is the Martin Luther King Holiday Weekend, head to Raleigh for some of these Triangle area events.

Friday

• Wake Tech Community College Stop Hunger Now Challenge, 9 a.m., followed by MLK Celebration Program, noon at the Student Services Building, 9101 Fayetteville Road, Raleigh. Students, faculty and staff will pack 10,000 meals to be distributed to schools and orphanages around the world.
• Durham Technical Community College's 27th Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Birthday Celebration and Luncheon, 11 a.m. in the Phail Wynn Jr. Student Services Center multipurpose room at Durham Tech.
• Bell-Ringing and State Employees' Martin Luther King Observance Program. 11:55 a.m. on the Bicentennial Plaza near the N.C. Museum of History in downtown Raleigh. Members of the N.C. Martin Luther King Jr. Commission will initiate the bell-ringing tribute before the State Employees' Observance Program, which will get under way at noon at First Baptist Church, 99 N. Salisbury St., Raleigh.
• Wreath-Laying, 6 p.m. at the Martin Luther King Memorial Gardens, 1300 Martin Luther King Blvd., Raleigh. Keynote speaker will be Norman Camp, chairman of the Southeast Raleigh Parks Advocacy Council and the South Raleigh Citizens Advisory Council.

Saturday

• Durham Parks and Recreation program, 2 p.m. at W.D. Hill Recreation Center, 1308 Fayetteville St., Durham. The theme is "MLK Day: Remembering the Legacy Through Art."
• MLK Concert Celebration, 7 p.m. at the Durham Armory, 220 Foster St., Durham. The University Choir of N.C. Central University will perform with the Durham Symphony.

Sunday

• Duke University's Martin Luther King Jr. commemoration, 3 p.m. in Duke Chapel, 401 Chapel Drive, Durham. Veteran political strategist and commentator Donna Brazile will give the keynote address.
• Celebration of the Life and Legacy of Martin Luther King Jr., 4 p.m. at the Garner Performing Arts Center, 742 W. Garner Road, Garner. Keynote speaker will be Reuben Young, secretary of the N.C. Department of Crime Control and Public Safety.

Monday

• 32nd Annual Martin Luther King Triangle Interfaith Prayer Breakfast, 7 a.m. at the Sheraton Imperial Hotel, Research Triangle Park. Keynote speaker will be Cynthia Marshall, president of AT&T of North Carolina. For the first time, the breakfast will be televised live on WRAL-TV. Doors will open at 6 a.m.
• Triangle Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service. Durham, Johnston, Orange and Wake counties will host nearly 30 community service projects to honor the legacy of Martin Luther King. Durham's Signature Project is 9 a.m. to noon at American Tobacco Campus, Bay 7, where volunteers will help with a variety of projects, including assembly of homeless hygiene kits, computer drop-off and cleaning, and writing letters and creating valentines for veterans and active military. Johnston's Signature Project is from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Pizazz Thrift Store, where volunteers will collect diapers, new underwear, clothing and nonperishable food. Orange's Signature Project is from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Christ United Methodist Church, where volunteers will work on projects such as assembly of health kits. Wake's Signature Project is from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at White Plains Children's Center, where volunteers will assemble hygiene kits, sort books, and write letters for veterans and active military. See www. unitedwaytriangle .org /mlk/ .
• Stop Hunger Now project. 9:30 a.m. at Duke University's Freeman Center, 1415 Faber St., Durham. Members from Duke, N.C. Central University and the Durham Rotary Club are coordinating the Million Meals Project, which is expected to package 80,000 meals.
• 32nd Annual Martin Luther King Memorial March. Assemble at 10 a.m. on the grounds of the State Capitol, and depart at 11 a.m. The theme for this year's celebration is "From The Dream to Reality ... Economic & Social Equality ... More Work to Be Done."
• Birthday party held in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. for area children at Northgate Mall, 1058 West Club Blvd., Durham. A reading at 10 a.m. of "Child of the Civil Rights Movement" by Paula Young Shelton, daughter of civil rights activist Andrew Young, will be held for preschool children. A reading at noon will be held for school-age children. Between the readings, Young Shelton will sign the book.
• 32nd Annual Martin Luther King Ecumenical Observance, noon at the Progress Energy Center for the Performing Arts in downtown Raleigh. The Rev. Nelson Johnson, executive director of The Beloved Community Development Center in Greensboro, will be the keynote speaker.
• 32nd Annual Martin Luther King Evening Musical Celebration, 5:30 p.m. at the Progress Energy Center in downtown Raleigh. Headlining will be national recording artist Ernest Pugh from Maryland.

Many people are told when they are younger that renting is only for college graduates or people who cannot afford to buy.  Many parents hammer these ideas into their children and tell them that renting is equivalent to throwing money away every month.  Fortunately, today people are beginning to finally think for themselves and challenge these ideas.  Here are 4 reasons to pat yourself on the back for deciding to rent an apartment in Garner, NC at an HHHunt Community!
 
1.  Renting can save money

At the very minimum you’ll be shelling out PITI for your home. That is:

   1. Principal
   2. Interest
   3. Tax
   4. Insurance

The PITI doesn’t include property maintenance like maintaining the yard, paint, plumbing, repairs, decorating, etc… When you rent an apartment in Garner at an HHHunt community, the monthly payment is almost always quite a bit less than the PITI in your area and there are no maintenance expenses!

2. Homeowners’ tax deductions are overstated

According to research quoted by MSN, “… half of homeowners don’t get a break, because even with mortgage interest and property taxes, their total deductions do not exceed the standard federal tax deduction ($11,900 for couples and $5,450 for singles)”.

For these folks, it’s like spending $100 to save $20. They’re better off saving the difference and investing it.   Even if there is a “break” on your taxes, you typically had to spend more than you would have spent to rent to get back that $20 for every $100 spent in interest payments.

3. Renting gives you flexibility

For the up and coming young professional, you’re better off renting and saving for a few years than to buy a small condo. Who knows how fast you will outgrow it?  When you own a home, you can’t always sell it when you need to sell it at the price you want to sell it in order to accept a new employment opportunity.  If you have owned a home and don’t want the constant maintenance responsibility, renting gives you the opportunity to enjoy your weekends instead of completing that “to do” list.

4.  Our superb service teams!

Most apartment communities offer 24 hour emergency maintenance and technicians who are skilled in HVAC, plumbing, and electrical.  At an HHHunt Community, our service teams take great pride in offering prompt and professional service to you.  Whether you need a light bulb changed or a new compressor for your AC unit, we are there to take care of you as fast and efficient as possible.  We are always a phone call or email away and most service requests are performed on the same day or within 24 hours!

Once upon a time, college students dreamt of graduating and then buying a home and having a mortgage. Not so anymore.
 
With an uncertain economy, and more people moving to take jobs where they can find them, renting is what this generation is doing. More and more college graduates are renting an apartment in one of the new “destination living” communities, complete with swimming pools, state-of-the-art fitness centers, volleyball courts and all kinds of apartment amenities.

For the first time in our history owning a home has lost its luster for the young. Since 2008, the percentage of young people who think that owning a home is “better than renting” has fallen.

Renting an apartment in Garner, NC has acquired a sort of cool respectability. Empty nesters figured it out a couple of decades ago, when they began getting rid of their high-maintenance houses.
 
Some of the forces driving the change are cultural. People are getting married later and they travel light longer.

Many are renting apartments because mortgages are hard to come by. There’s no stigma to renting anymore, and there’s just so much to keep you interested and busy in an apartment community.

For more information on a one bedroom , two bedroom or three bedroom apartment in Garner, contact Abberly Place Apartments.

Original article The Daily Beast

Sure it isn’t Christmas yet, but it is never too early to make plans for New Year's Eve.

Raleigh's big New Year's Eve celebration, First Night is celebrating its 21st year. This year the event is taking on a French theme. Forget about spending New Year’s Eve in your apartment in Garner, NC; grab the family, some friends or your significant other and head out to what is shaping up to be a fun-filled event.

The biggest plan for it is a 90-foot Ferris wheel, which festival organizers are calling La Grand Roue de Raleigh (like La Grand Roue de Paris, the large Ferris wheel found in the French capital). Could you get more romantic than riding a Ferris wheel with your sweetheart to usher in the New Year?

First Night in Raleigh all starts at 2 p.m., Dec. 31, with a children's celebration at the state history and natural science museums. Kids can participate in hands-on crafts creating impressionist paintings, making miniature sailboats and decorating their own versions of the Eiffel Tower. "The Owl Tree," an interactive sculpture, encourages you to make a wish for the coming year. There will also be circus performers, storytellers, giant puppets and more. A mini French film festival will take place inside the N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences. There will be a screening of "Madeline" at 4:30 p.m.

The People's Procession takes the party from the museums to Fayetteville Street for an early countdown at 7 p.m. with live music, fireworks and the descent of the Raleigh Acorn. There's a countdown, acorn drop and fireworks at midnight too.

Information from WRAL

Grab your mittens and scarves from your apartment in Garner, NC and make your way to the center city for the area’s favorite holiday event right outside of Garner, the Raleigh Winterfest. Winterfest is an outdoor extravaganza featuring an outdoor skating rink with natural ice. If you haven’t been there yet, head over to this  family-friendly celebration of fun-filled activities.

What will you find there? An outdoor ice rink, Choirs, bands, local entertainers, Santa Claus, sledding ramps, ice carving demonstrations, carriage and carousel rides and more!

Here is the weekly schedule:
Sledding Sundays: SnowMyYard.com will create a winter wonderland on December 18, January 8 and January 15.

Two for Tuesdays: Skaters will receive one free admission to the rink with the purchase of one paid admission (includes skate rental).

Stroller Skate Thursday Mornings: Parents and babies share outdoor fun! Skate and push a strollers on the ice from 10 am-11 am. Click here to read an article and watch a video about stroller skating!

Date & Skate Thursdays: Free carriage rides with skating wristband from 6 pm-9 pm.

Rock Around the Rink Fridays (select dates TBA): DJ Paradime from Pulse 102 will rock the rink from 6 pm-10 pm.

From Abberly Place Apartment Homes, Happy skating!