If you are throwing a Cinco de Mayo party at your apartment in Garner, NC you need the right decorations, some perfect Mexican food and the right Margarita.
Well, at Abberly Place Apartments, we would like to share with you our favorite margarita recipe that will sure be the talk of the fiesta.
The Perfect Margarita
1 fluid ounce premium tequila
3/4 fluid ounce brandy-based orange liqueur (such as Grand Marnier®)
3/4 fluid ounce cointreau
3/4 fluid ounce simple syrup
dash of raspberry flavored liqueur
1 lime, juiced
1/2 cup sweet and sour mix
Directions
Salt the rims of 2 large margarita glasses. To do so, pour salt onto a small plate, moisten the rims of the glasses on a damp towel and press them into the salt.
In a cocktail shaker 3/4 full of ice, combine tequila, Grand Marnier, cointreau, simple syrup, raspberry liqueur and lime juice. Pour in sweet and sour until ice is covered. Shake vigorously and strain into glass.
Enjoy, (and if you are going out to enjoy these margaritas, choose a designated driver)!
Low mortgage rates and more affordable home prices in the Raleigh area are creating an interest in homeownership by those who live in apartments. However, potential buyers who are unprepared for the true cost of owning a home may be shocked by the bite homeownership can take out of their wallet in addition to their mortgage payments.
Inspection and Appraisal Fees
Before you purchase a home you need to pay for a home inspection, and an appraisal, possible even inspections for pests or radon. The costs of these inspections are borne by buyers and are a necessary protection to avoid buying a flawed property or paying too much.
Closing Costs
Buyers need to be prepared with the cash for anywhere from 2% to 4% of the mortgage balance depending on your area.
Taxes
As a homeowner, you'll need to pay property taxes, which are generally part of the escrow you pay into each month. Remember, even if you have a fixed-rate home loan, your property taxes could go up and increase your monthly housing costs.
Insurance
Your lender will require home insurance, the cost of which depends on factors including the construction materials of your home and the location. Even if you have renter's insurance, you'll find that home insurance costs more because you are paying for the ability to rebuild your home in addition to replacing your personal possessions. Insurance costs will rise over time, and you will need supplemental insurance if you live in a flood zone.
HOA and Condo Fees
If you buy a home within a homeowners' association or a condominium association, you'll be required to pay a monthly or quarterly fee. These fees can rise, or your association may need to charge a special assessment for projects such as repaving the parking lot or repairing a roof.
Utility Bills
Depending on where you live, your costs for electricity, gas and water could be higher when you move into your own home than when you live in an apartment in Garner, NC. You may also need to pay for garbage collection along with your Internet, cable and phone bill.
Furniture
While this is essentially a discretionary expense, most people who move from an apartment to a larger home need to buy at least some new furniture.
Lawn Care
Whether you handle your yard work yourself or hire a professional, you will have to pay something to keep your landscaping in check. Lawn equipment can be costly and you may need a leaf blower and other yard equipment, too.
Maintenance
Home maintenance costs time and money. While you may be able to change your furnace filters, clean your gutters and keep your appliances running smoothly yourself, you may also need to hire a contractor to clean and inspect your chimney and to keep your heating and air conditioning system in top shape.
Repairs
While maintenance tasks can be predictable, the most costly part of home ownership typically comes with unexpected repairs such as replacing or repairing the roof, removing a tree, or paying for mold mitigation in a damp basement. The list of possibilities is endless, so homeowners should set aside savings for an emergency. Experts suggest budgeting for 1% or 2% of your mortgage balance as a yearly maintenance and repair fund.
The Bottom Line
Buying a home costs more than you think. If you don’t expect to stay in your home for at least seven to 10 years, contact Abberly Place Apartment Homes.
If you live in an apartment in Garner, NC there is a fun 24 hour event this weekend. The North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences will celebrate the grand opening of its new wing with a 24-hour opening of the Nature Research Center in Raleigh.
The event begins at 4 p.m. Friday with music from the Shaw University Jazz Band. At 4:30 p.m., dancers from the African-American Dance Ensemble will be among those participating in a procession from the Governor's Mansion.
The opening ceremony will be held at 5 p.m. Friday at the 80,000-square-foot center. Actor Ira David Wood III and Chuck Davis, founder of the African-American Dance Ensemble, will officiate. After the opening ceremony, the center will be open for tours around the clock until 4 p.m. Saturday.
The event ends at 5 p.m. Saturday with an invitation to citizens to personally engage with science.
If you live in our apartments in Garner, NC you should know we have a Susan G. Komen Walk/Run Team. If you haven’t signed up yet, there is still time! The Susan G. Komen foundation raises significant funds and awareness for the fight against breast cancer, celebrates breast cancer survivorship, and honors those who have lost their battle with the disease.
Who are you walking or running for? Are you doing this for your mother, your sister, your grandmother, or your friend? Whoever is your inspiration, the Abberly Place Susan G. Komen Walk/Run for Breast Cancer awareness team welcomes you to the movement that will end breast cancer forever. If you have signed up already, thank you. If not, there is still time, the walk is on June 9th in Raleigh.
Do you need more information about the walk or do you need to register? Please go to the website, www.komen.org/race.
Don’t forget, if you sign up as part of the Abberly Place Team, you will receive the T–shirt from the Susan g. Komen organization as well as an Abberly Place Team T–shirt. The fee is only $25, and that money helps raise awareness for this important cause. Not to mention the fun we will all have!
Raleigh is host to an array of authentic and eclectic restaurants serving hearty, delicious eats. If you live in an apartment in Garner, NC you certainly have your fair share of choices to dine. Where can you go to find a meal as described above? Well there are certainly plenty of places to visit, but here are some restaurants that have caught the eyes of Raleigh locals.
Busy Bee Café
In the heart of downtown, you’ll find a place that offers good food, good beer and good times. Known for its impressive selection of assorted craft beers and distinctive burgers, Busy Bee Café is, “the neighborhood bar that your friends come to.”
“The intent of our food that we serve is meant to be casual dishes that compliment the beers we serve. Our menu is primarily based off of the beer,” the owner, Lockwood said. Apart from its food and distinguished label as the connoisseur of beers, Busy Bee Café offers a welcoming and diverse environment. It’s a place where you can enjoy good times with a good meal and a great drink.
Caffé Luna
This is one of downtown Raleigh’s authentic Italian restaurants—Caffé Luna can simply be described as a slice of Italy. Utilizing fresh and true ingredients alongside the culinary skills of an Italian chef, the restaurant creates dishes that you could only find and taste within the heart of Italy.
One of its most popular and original items on the menu is lasagna. An old Italian favorite, Caffé Luna’s lasagna is a filling dish staying true to its traditional roots. For the vegetarian and vegan crowd out there, a hot-selling dish is the portobello ripieno, consisting of portobello mushrooms stuffed with gorgonzola cheese and tomatoes.
Lilly’s Pizza
For some seasoned pizza-lovers, Raleigh has got a place to please your hankering for a creative pizza experience. Located within the Five Points neighborhood is a little venue called Lilly’s Pizza.
Whether customers prefer a simple, traditional cheese pizza or are a bit more daring, Lilly’s has a pie for everyone. For all the vegetarians, vegans and celiacs out there, don’t feel left out, because there are plenty of options to choose from.
If customers feel that none of Lilly’s pies appeal to their desires, the menu allows them to get creative and construct their own. “We evolve within our own dynamic with simple goals of being fresh and whole-foods oriented and also to ensure a fun experience,” Jon Garrison, owner of Lilly’s Pizza, said. “Our customers appreciate this; the lines on weekends will attest.”
After this guide to downtown Raleigh restaurants, anyone should be ready to ravish all that local dining has to offer.
Don’t spend St. Patricks Day in your apartment in Garner. it is on Saturday, so head to downtown Raleigh for the annual St. Patrick's Day Parade on Saturday, March 17 at noon! It is the largest parade in North Carolina.
When the Parade is over the Wearin’ of the Green Festival Begins! The Festival is held on Moore Square in downtown Raleigh, the end of the Parade route from 10:00am to 9:00pm. There will be live music and dancing and a wide variety of vendor booths: Irish Organizations, Irish jewelry, food vendors, children's games and activities; lots of food, beverages, entertainment and fun for all ages. Also, Carbon Leaf will take the Shamrock n roll stage at 7pm.
Remember, any extra funds go back to charities in the community. Happy St. Patrick's Day from Abberly Place Apartments.
We are SUPER EXCITED to announce that your property, Abberly Place in Raleigh, NC took home the biggest award given at our annual awards banquet yesterday for COMMUNITY OF THE YEAR!!! This is an award that we share with you all.
We did have two individual awards given yesterday as well. Both Eric Bogacki and Lauren Booker were awarded Team Spirit awards for outstanding customer service and positive attitude about their community and work. We could not be happier as a team to share this with you all.
If you have recently moved into your apartment in Garner, NC and are now looking for a furry companion to keep you company, here are some thoughts.
What is the best apartment pet for your space? Take a little time and then you can be sure to find the perfect pet for you and your home.
Dogs
The first pet that people consider are usually dogs. But not every dog was made for an apartment. We do not have a weight limit for dogs at Abberly Place, and there are plenty of large-breed dogs that can be happy indoors and living in an apartment. The type of dog that is perfect for an apartment are those with a more mild temperament, with less energy.
Cats
Cats are often thought of as the perfect pet for apartments because often they don’t need or want to go outdoors at all. Cats are also quiet pets so they won’t bother your neighbors while you are away.
Rodents
Guinea pigs, hamsters and gerbils, enjoy human interaction and are happy in their cages, with time out for exercise and socializing.
At Abberly Place, keep in mind that we do not allow certain aggressive breeds of dogs, but we encourage a furry companion. For information about Abberly Place in Garner, 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 buyit! 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 anapartment in Garner for a while. Get to know the city.
For information on Abberly Place Apartment Homes in Garner, NC, contact us.
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The Perfect Margarita
Low mortgage rates and more affordable home prices in the 
If you live in our 
Don’t spend St. Patricks Day in your 
If you have recently moved into your 
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 
