Step 1: Meet with a Lender

Before you begin shopping for a new home, you need to be sure that you qualify for the financing you will need in order to purchase the home. If you take the time to complete this process early in the game, it will help with your negotiating on certain contract items, especially the new “Due Diligence Period” that was introduced in the new 2011 Offer to Purchase Contract.

Talking to a lender does not mean you have to promise them your first born child, or provide DNA samples, it is actually a simple process where you speak with your lender about your income, debts, and credit report as a way to determine whether or not you will qualify for the loan you are seeking. I personally recommend FM Lending Services — our affiliated mortgage company — to help assist you with this process. Don Davidson is a great resource that can help you through this process and answer any lending related questions you may have. If you’d like to get the pre-qualificaiton process started, feel free to visit www.dondavidsonlending.com.

You will need to have the following information for a Pre-Approval:

• A minimum of 2 years residency and employment history for all borrowers, including monthly gross income (prior to deductions for tax, insurance, etc.), bonus, commission and any other income source. If you are self-employed, you will most likely have to include your two most recent years worth of individual tax returns in order to determine your qualifying income.
• You will need to provide your source for down payment, and closing costs, as well as current balances for all of your asset accounts (like checking, savings, stocks and bonds), along with the current vested balances for all retirement accounts owned by all the borrowers.
• Information and the pending disposition for all the real estate owned — this includes value, loan balances, payments, information regarding taxes, insurance, HOA/Condo Dues and any rental income you are currently receiving
• Information on payment of or receipt of any Alimony, Child Support or Separate Maintenance.
• Be prepared to discuss any derogatory information about your credit, such as if  you have filed for Bankruptcy, have had a foreclosure, or short sale within the last 10 years or any other derogatory credit history that could affect your chances for obtaining a loan.

Once this is all taken care of, and you know where you stand, it’s time to move on to Step 2, which is where I come in…

Step 2: Find a Home and Make and Offer

Now that we have a number and a plan, I can take you around to properties that fit into our pre-determined criteria (like square footage, number of bedrooms and bathrooms, etc.). When we find the right home for you and we submit your offer, your lender will provide you with a pre-approval letter to attach with your offer to purchase. If you have followed Step 1 and you have had your pre-approval done, we can more easily navigate through the Due Diligence Period to determine a reasonable time frame for this period. We will use this due diligence time to get all of our inspecitons, appraisals, and paperwork together for your loan approval. The new Due Diligence Period is a crucial aspect of the contract as you can lose any earnest money if the likely approval of your financing is not in place prior to this date — that is why it is better to start this process early.

Step 3: Contract Approved, What’s Next?

The proverbial clock starts ticking! As soon as your offer is accepted, make an appointment as soon as possible with your lender to sign your loan applicaiton documents and disclosures to get your loan into processing so that you can get your loan approval before the end of the Due Diligence Period. Be sure to have the following documents on hand when you meet with your lender to get the application completed:

• Your check for any fees you will be paying up front. This will include payment for the appraisal, credit reports, flood zone certification, and any other required fees.
• Copies of current pay stubs covering the most recent 30 days of earnings from your job
• Copies of W-2 forms for the last 2 years
• If you receive social security or pension income, a copy of the “Award” letter with the amount you receive.
• Complete copies of your last 2 (two) years of Federal tax returns (all schedules and pages)
• Copies of all asset statements (checking, savings, cd’s, market accounts, stocks, bonds, mutual funds, IRA, 401K, etc.) from the past 2 months – all pages are needed!
• If you own real estate, copies of documentation showing current taxes, insurance, and any HOA/Condo dues
• If you are divorced or separated, you will need a copy of your complete divorce decree, and/or marital separation agreement.
• If you are applying for a VA Loan, you will need a copy of  the veteran’s DD214 (Discharge Papers)
• Job Relocations will require a letter from your employer stating your transfer date, job title, as well as salary information. If you telecommute, you will need a letter indicating that this is allowed by the company with no change in your job status.
• Bear in mind that different situations will sometimes require more information than what is listed above, so be sure to stay in communication with your lender at all times.

Step 4: It’s Time to Commit

Once you get an approval on your loan, a formal “Loan Commitment” will be issued. This is the lender’s commitment to lend you money at the agreed upon loan terms. There may be certain conditions that have been given on the loan commitment that you will need to satisfy before closing — you will work with your lender to do this. Some of these items could include additional documentation, appraisal approval, or any documentation that was not provided at the time of initital process (from step 3). Once all conditions are cleared with the underwriter, you are then given a “Clear to Close.”

Step 5: The Closing

You’ve made it to the closing table! Prior to the actual closing, you will receive a copy of your closing statement with detailed information on your fees and charges and the final amount of money you will need to bring to close in the form of certified funds (such as a cashiers check) that will be made payable directly to the Closing Attorney — this can also be done by wire. If by wire, you will need to get wiring instructions and initiate the transfer at least 2 days before closing.

Step 6: CONGRATULATIONS!

You are now a homeowner!

The first, and perhaps the biggesst change to the contract is the new Due Diligence process.  The new Due Diligence process includes a negotiated time period where the buyer must complete all of the surveys, inspections, appraisals ad so on that are typically taken care of by the buyer between the time the offer is made up to the closing date.  The potential buyer also has this time period to review the neighborhood governing documents (if applicable),  homeowner’s insurance options (cost and availability), and what some will see as the most important part, making sure they will be able to secure a mortgage for the home.  If the buyer decides that during this due diligence time period that they do not like what they find in the inspections, cannot secure a mortgage or they simply change their mind, the buyer can terminate the contract and are still entitled to get their earnest money back if the notice of termination is delivered to the seller BEFORE the expiration of the due diligence period. After the due diligence date expires, the Buyer loses the ability to terminate the contract and receive a refund ot their earnest money– unless there is a breach in contract by the seller.

Another change that goes hand in hand with the Due Diligence period is the addition of a non-refundable, negotiated fee (called a Due Diligence fee by many real estate professionals) to be paid by the buyer directly to the seller at the time the offer to purchase is made. This is different from earnest money in that the amount will generally be a lot smaller and it is more a gesture of goodwill that the buyer is definitely interested in pursuing the purchase of the property. This fee is not a requirement, and is only refundable if the sellers breach the contract. The Due Diligence fee will show on the HUD Statement as a credit to the buyer at closing.

Knowing how this will impact your real estate transactions in the coming year is just one of the key elements to having a successful transaction — either buying or selling, and I can help guide you through and answer any questions you may have about the new Due Diligence process, or any other real estate related questions you may have. Feel free to contact me directly at 919-229-2013 or shoot me an email at mgilley@fmrealty.com.

Tuesday’s assignment discussion is the continuation of the planning for 2011-12, the third year in a three-year assignment plan approved in 2008.

The board has yet to define terms for a policy change that would favor assignments closer to students’ homes over the long-standing policy of busing to balance socioeconomic diversity within and among the county’s schools. 

That policy change prompted an investigation by the U.S. Department of Education after accusations by the NAACP that the change will lead to segregation.

The more pressing issue, estimated $70 million to $100 million budget shortfall in fiscal 2011, is expected to take center stage Tuesday. The district has been taking suggestions from the public on it website on how to make cuts.

With the state facing approximately $3.5 billion in budget cuts, Gov. Bev Perdue has asked all state agencies to draw up a list of spending cuts of between 5 and 15 percent.

The North Carolina Department of Public Instruction said a cut of only 5 percent would equal layoffs for more than 400 teachers and 73 teaching assistants in the Wake County system.

The school system released 159 pages of suggestions Monday. Among the most common cost savings suggestions:

• fees for student attendance, bus and facility use and sports participation;
• pay cuts, early retirement or furloughs for staff;
• modifications to school thermostats and other utility savings;
• reduction of paper use and greater utilization of e-mail and web-based documents; and
• cutting the school and work week to four days.
• Read all the submitted suggestions

Many comments took the opposition tack as well, pointing out the downsides to a four-day week or added student fees.

New superintendent to make appearance Thursday

The incoming superintendent of the Wake County Public School System will make his first public appearance in the Triangle on Thursday, when he addresses the conservative Wake County Taxpayers Association.

Anthony Tata, a retired U.S. Army officer who was chief operating officer of the District of Columbia Public Schools, was named to the post on Christmas Eve.

He takes the job at a time of political tension on the Board of Education and budget pressure from the county and state.

originally posted on WRAL.com on 1/4/11

By Chris Isidore, senior writerJanuary 3, 2011: 1:33 PM ET

NEW YORK (CNNMoney) — After three years of economic pain, a growing number of economists think 2011 will finally bring what everyone’s been hoping for: More jobs and a self-sustaining recovery.

“We’re looking at some leading indicators on employment, and they’re all flashing green lights,” said Bernard Baumohl of the Economic Outlook Group, a Princeton, N.J. research firm.

Economists surveyed by CNNMoney are forecasting an average of 2.5 million jobs added to the U.S. economy this year, which would be the best one-year gain in hiring since the white-hot labor market of 1999.

Of the dozen economists who responded, several of the more bullish are predicting more than 3 million jobs added — about 250,000 jobs a month. Even the most pessimistic of those surveyed, David Wyss of Standard & Poor’s, expects 1.8 million jobs to be added this year, roughly double the pace of hiring in 2010.

That wouldn’t be enough to climb out of the 8-million job crater created by the Great Recession and won’t bring down the unemployment rate by a significant amount. An improved job market could even bring a short-term rise in the jobless rate, as those discouraged from job hunting resume looking for work and are once again counted as unemployed.

But the forecasted hiring boom could get the economy back into gear and provide real relief for many Americans.

Those projecting better hiring in 2011 point to a number of factors. Among them, job openings by employers rose 17% from June to October of this year, the most recent reading available from the Labor Department, and are up by about a third compared to a year earlier.

And there has been a downward trend in newly laid-off workers filing for initial jobless claims, which fell below 400,000 in the most recent reading for the first time since the summer of 2008. That might have been distorted by the holiday season and bad weather, but the four-week average is also at a two-plus year low.

On the business front, capital expenditures — typically followed by expansion and hiring — have been on the rise.

“Forecasters generally underestimate the strength of a recovery once it is underway,” said Bill Cheney, chief economist for Manulife Asset Management. He’s forecasting 2.5 million to 3 million new jobs this year.

“Once things get moving, they feed on themselves,” he said. “There is so much pent-up demand. People have been frugal for three years. There will be a lot of new cars, a lot of new furniture, a lot of people moving out of their parents’ basement.”

A rebound in the creation of new jobs has the potential to help both the still struggling housing market and the economy as a whole. Many recent college grads or those who lost their homes or jobs have been stuck living with friends or family members. As they find work and move back out on their own, they’ll have to spend.

About 3 million fewer jobs were added over the course of the past three years compared to the annual average of first eight years of the last decade.

“Jobs feed income and income feeds more consumer spending. Consumer spending hasn’t come back in a meaningful way compared to other recoveries,” said Brett Ryan, economist with Deutsche Bank. His firm forecasts consumer spending will finish 2010 up between 1.4% to 1.7% when the final numbers are in, but that will jump to more than 3% growth next year.

Baumohl says another non-traditional employment indicator, the number of day-care workers, has been edging up for four months and is now about 2% higher than a year ago. “People need more day care when they’ve got jobs to go to,” he said.

Planned communities for active adults ages 55+ have been cropping up over the last few years and have been taking great care in considering the needs of the aging baby boomer generation. For the most part, this group of individuals is still healthy and active. If this new approach to senior living sounds attractive, you are not alone. With the baby boomer generation being one of the largest – with over 79 million babies born between 1946 and 1964 – retirement communities for active seniors have boomed, both in facilities being built and in their demand.

One of the best ways to begin your search is to make a list of the features for which you are looking. If you and/or your spouse have certain medical considerations, such as heart problems, Alzheimer’s, or other issues that may inhibit your ability to live independently, address these early on. Certain facilities specialize in specific medical situations that affect some seniors. Is social interaction one of your top priorities? Many senior communities offer the chance for more interaction among peers. In many cases, people who are ready to make the leap to this type of community have spent the previous decades rearing children, climbing the corporate ladder, and achieving career objectives. They now have more of an opportunity to explore hobbies and interests, as well as make friends with people of their same generation.

After compiling a list of needs and desires, follow up with visits to each of the communities you are considering. If you are looking to establish new personal relationships, you will likely not be content in a place where the residents are quiet and there is very little interaction with each other. The same applies if you are more reserved and the community you move to is very robust and social. Visit your top choices multiple times and get to know some of the other residents before signing on the dotted line.

RETIREMENT COMMUNITIES / ASSISTED LIVING

Many of the retirement and assisted living facilities in the area provide independent living and licensed assisted options, as well as apartments, lofts, and cottage homes. One popular feature of this type of community is restaurant-style dining, as this is a wonderful way for seniors to interact socially and make friends in their new surroundings. Some communities also offer indoor pools and fitness equipment and gyms, while some even employee full-time fitness directors. Housekeeping services, scheduled transportation, social events, and on-site health care and infirmaries are sometimes included with these types of communities. For those of you with special interests, there are communities that have garden plots, greenways, and other amenities such as golf privileges at local golf courses for their residents to enjoy.

Alzheimer’s is a growing concern for the baby boomer generation, and those who are diagnosed will inevitably need more hands-on care. This will impact what type of community for which you need to search. Some retirement and assisted living communities have special Alzheimer’s units included. This option works well when one spouse requires around-the-clock care, while the other has minimal health problems.

LOW MAINTENANCE HOMES

Many of the larger scale communities in the Triangle offer single-family, maintenance-free homes for seniors 55+. With this option the exterior maintenance of the home is taken care of as part of the homeowners’ association dues. The many amenities lar-ger neighborhoods offer will ensure that recent retirees have plenty to do, now that they have more time available to enjoy the finer things in life. This option provides more time for hobbies and interests such as travel, gardening, and spending time with friends, family, and grandchildren, as chores like maintaining your home’s exterior paint, mowing the grass, and cleaning the gutters will no longer be your concern.

For those of you who want to downsize but may not want to purchase a low-maintenance home, there are rental options available as well, again allowing for a low-maintenance lifestyle. Senior apartment communities offer many similar amenities to retirement communities – restaurant- style dining, housekeepers, paid utilities, and cable are just a few. One other advantage to this type of senior housing option is that often times, pets are welcome.

MULTI-GENERATIONAL HOUSING

Children of baby boomers are looking into the new trend of multi-generational housing, as they try to assist their parents with their retirement plans and bring the extended family closer together. These types of houses usually boast in-law suites and other amenities in order for multiple generations of the same family to live in comfort (and peace), under one roof. It has also become more common for families to add on to existing homes or to buy houses with the intention of finishing off a third floor, as doing so can accommodate Grandma and Grandpa when they’re ready to move in.

This option has been gaining in popularity as families are finding it more important to spend time together. Grandparents are able to become a more integral part of the lives of their children and grandchildren. Many are able to lend a helping hand, get involved in the community, and spend quality time with the people they care most about on a permanent basis, instead of the periodic visit – a win-win for the entire family.

Taking the time to figure out your needs and wants when it comes to your senior housing option will ensure a quality living experience for you. Doing so will also keep your loved ones’ minds at ease, as they will know you are in good hands – whether in your own hands if you retire in a low-maintenance home or cohabitate with your children and grandchildren, or in the hands of others at one of the many high-quality retirement communities or assisted living facilities in the area.

Here is a listing of senior living communities in the area:

The Cardinal at North Hills (sales office)
4421 Six Forks Rd., Suite 123
Raleigh, NC
781-2021
www.thecardinalatnorthhills.com

The Cypress of Raleigh
7101 Creedmoor Rd., Suite. 102 (office)
Raleigh, NC
870-9007
www.thecypressofraleigh.com

Glenaire
4000 Glenaire Circle
Cary, NC 27511
460-8095

Springmoor
1500 Sawmill Road
Raleigh, NC 27615
848-7080

Windsor Point
1221 Broad Street
Fuquay-Varina, NC 27526
522-4580

Abbotswood at Stonehenge
7900 Creedmoor Road
Raleigh, NC 27613
847-3202

Alta Oakridge
10501 Shadowlawn Dr.
Raleigh, NC 27614
848-2088

The Gardens at Wakefield Plantation
12800 Spruce Tree Way
Raleigh, NC 27614
562-5580

The Heritage of Raleigh
1200 Carlos Drive
Raleigh, NC 27609
873-2400

Independence Village
3113 Charles B. Root Wynd
Raleigh, NC 27612
781-8226

Jordan Oaks Retirement Community
10820 Penny Road
Cary, NC 27511
387-8250

The Lodge at Wake Forest
1151 South Main Street
Wake Forest, NC 27587
554-8768

Magnolia Glen
5301 Creedmoor Roada
Raleigh, NC 27612
841-4747

Whitaker Glen
501 East Whitaker Mill Road
Raleigh, NC 27608
839-5604

Woodland Terrace
300 Kildaire Woods Drive
Cary, NC 27511
465-0356

Carolina Preserve by Del Webb
107 Arvind Oaks Circle
Cary, NC 27519
460-7170

*This is an article I wrote that was Originally Printed in Circa Magazine: April/May/June 2009. For current articles in Circa, visit www.circamagazine.com or pick up an issue at local newstands.

Over the past few years, while we have seen growth well below the boom times of 2005 and 2006, as well as funding for builders being hard to come by, this year’s Parade will actually feature more homes than last year’s, which is a sign that the economy and housing market is starting to improve.

According to Lara Wilson of the Home Builder’s Association, the 2010 Parade will feature 187 homes, which is 27 more than last year’s 160. Back in 2006 and 2007, there were almost 400 homes in the parade. Wilson also said that the Wake County Parade of Homes has remained the largest Parade of Homes in North Carolina, as well as one of the largest in the country.

One thing you will notice with the home selections in this year’s Parade, is that the needs of homebuyers are changing as far as price, square footage options and amenities go. According to Wilson, as a reflection of that demand, homes are ranging in size from 1,090 to 5,492 square feet, and in price from $119,990 to $1,575,000. Also, this year there is only one house in Wake County listed for more than $1 million. In 2009, eight homes were listed for over $1 million.

2009-2010 Parade of Home Stats

If you drive around through the neighborhoods in Wake Forest, Rolesville and Youngsville, you will probably notice the increase in the number of housing starts of the past few months. According to Wake County records, from January to August of 2009, Wake Forest had 133 new residential building permits issued, while Rolesville had only 11. A year can make quite a difference. Wake Forest has had 270 residential building permits issued so far this year, while Rolesville’s number of permits issued jumped to 60. Bear in mind there are still permits issued in September through December to be added to the 2010 totals.

Bryan Hicks, town manager for Rolesville, noted, too, that 2010 had seen an uptick in building permits, especially through the beginning of the year, but said permits have since leveled out to around 2009 levels.

Numbers are up throughout Wake County, and currently Wake Forest is third in line when it comes to the number of residential permits issued. Coming in first was Raleigh with 768, then Cary with 731. Last year’s total number of residential permits issued through August was 2,408, while this year there have been 2,807 – a gain just shy of 400.

This Year’s Parade is Helping the Community

There are two special homes in this year’s Parade that are definitely worth checking out, as they are both for excellent causes. On is the Hero Home, and is part of Operation Coming Home II. This home was built as a joint volunteer project led by the Home Builders Association and the Triangle Real Estate and Construction Veterans, which builds and donates homes for disabled combat veterans.

This year’s Hero Home is located in Fuquay-Varina and, according to Wilson, was built with features and options specifically for USMC Sgt. Stan Roberts, a disabled combat veteran who served three tours of duty in Iraq. During his last tour, he was injured by an improvised exploding device (IED) that blasted into his amphibious assault vehicle. For more information about this project, visit www.operationcominghome.com.

The other project home on this tour this year, according to Wilson, is a fundraiser for Duke Children’s Hospital called the Green Miracle Home. The home was built by Chad Ray, owner of Olde Heritage Builders, and was part of a partnership opportunity with a Mix 101.5 Radiothon. The profit made from the sale of the home will benefit the children’s hospital.

The Green Miracle Home is located in Zebulon, and has four bedrooms and more than 4,300 square feet, and is energy efficient. Not only will this house become a much-loved home for the buyer, it will also touch the lives of children treated at Duke Children’s Hospital. For more information about the miracle home, visit www.wralfm.com/radiothon/2010MiracleHouse.aspx

For more information about the Parade, contact the Home Builders Association of Raleigh-Wake County at 919-233-2033 or visit their site at www.hbawake.com

Homes on parade throughout the area

 Franklin, Granville and Vance counties are also celebrating with the Tri-County Parade of Homes. Their Parade kicked off September 25, and the homes are available to view Oct 2-3 and 9-10. The award gala took place on Wednesday, September 22.

There are 31 homes in this year’s Tri-County Parade, which range in price from $104,900 to $389,900. One of this year’s Gold award winners was by local builder Steven Hayes Inc., and is located at 1604 Carriage Drive in Franklinton. This home can also be seen as a reflection of what many homebuyers are looking for in this market – quality, customizable homes, with a price point that is attractive to many current buyers. An added bonus is the land that comes with going further out – the house by Hayes, sits on more than an acre.

The home is located in Montgomery Place community of Franklinton, in what is now being called “The Triangle North Region.” This area is beginning to grow in popularity because of its proximity to I-540, Capital Boulevard, Wake Forest and Raleigh, and will be an area to watch for growth in the future.

*Originally published in The Rolesville Buzz: http://rolesvillebuzz.com

The line from the movie “Field of Dreams” really strikes a chord when you look at all the growth that has taken place in the Rolesville and Wake Forest area over the past 10 years: “If you build it, they will come.”

Having grown up in Wake County, I remember when driving out to Bostrom Ford (now the Kia dealership at U.S. 1 and 1-A), was considered to be a trip to the boonies, and Rolesville was a tiny spec on a map considered by some simply an extension of Wake Forest.

Economic Growth

Of course, times have changed. Development made its way to these parts, and both Wake Forest and Rolesville have really come into their own as great places to live. Earlier this year, the Gadberry Group, put Wake Forest at No. 6 on their list of most notable high-growth areas in the nation.

Wake Forest made the list for several reasons. In 2007, Forbes magazine said the town was the 20^th fastest growing suburb in the U.S., and it has grown from 8,150 households in 2000 to 17,803 in 2009. Wake Forest also saw a drop in median age from 34.5 to 34.1, and an increase in average household income from $70,148 to $82,771.

One thing you will notice around Rolesville and Wake Forest is a definite uptick in residential and commercial building. A number of new businesses are trying their luck here. One in particular that has garnered a lot of excitement is Griasole Trattoria, which was recently opened by Giorgios Bakatsias in the Gateway Commons Shopping Center.

Bakatsias, who owns several restaurants, including Cafe Parizade in Durham and Giorgio in Cary, has also opened Gateway Tavern in Gateway Commons, and has plans to open a barbecue restaurant there soon.

Smaller, privately owned stores like WJ’s Toy Shop, which relocated from the Wakefield Commons Shopping Center to the Harris Teeter Shopping Center by Heritage, have seen success in their investment in the area.

National chains are also starting to take a closer look at Wake Forest. As an Olive Garden nears completion, plans for a Waffle House have been approved. And to sweeten the pot, the area’s first Krispy Kreme opened on Retail Drive just a few weeks ago.

Not only has Wake Forest added a new town hall and continued work on revitalizing the entire downtown, commercial development is making its way north toward Youngsville along U.S. 1 to meet the needs of the growing population in that area.

Rolesville is also no stranger to new growth, either. Town Manager Bryan Hicks has been working hard to find a new planning director by the first week of August to help Rolesville keep moving forward with new and responsible growth. Recent and planned additions to Rolesville include Fitzgerald’s restaurant, Military Strike Zone and a local ABC store. Preliminary work has also been done for a Bojangles restaurant, but that project seems to be idle at the moment.

Roads

Now, that we’ve arrived at our proverbial Field of Dreams, and have enjoyed the fruits of our labors, there is one very important element that has to be addressed — traffic.

When we first moved to the area in 2005, U.S. 1-A was basically a two-lane road with a turn lane. We avoided that stretch of road like the plague until extra lanes were added, but it seems now that the traffic has increased almost 10-fold on that road since the lane additions. It can take almost 20 minutes some days to get from The Factory to Starbucks (yes, I’ve timed it). And U.S. 401 North into Rolesville during rush hour can be brutal, as well.

There are plans in the works and in some cases already underway to help alleviate some of the traffic woes our area has experienced because of the area’s growth.

According to Hicks, construction of the bypass in the Raleigh area – Part A — is slated to be completed by 2011. Construction of Part B, which is to extend from the southern part of Rolesville, is to start in April 2011 and be scheduled for completion in 2013. He said this section of the road will have the biggest impact on development in the area.

Near the ABC store and Carlton Pointe subdivision, the town is working with the state Department of Transportation to resurface and repave Jonesville Road from 401 South to Prides Crossing, Hicks said.

The DOT has been studying the U.S. 1 corridor to help alleviate traffic problems from I-540 through Wake Forest and to the Franklin County line. According to the Town of Wake Forest, the plan has three main goals:

* To facilitate the transportation function of the corridor, including the regional flow along U.S. 1 and the connections to the Town of Wake Forest.

* To preserve and enhance the visual quality of the corridor and create a pleasant passage for all and a welcoming gateway to the community.

* To encourage development within the corridor that is compatible with the first two goals.

Current planning maps, and information about this project can be found on the Town of Wake Forest’s website at  http://www.wakeforestnc.gov/residents/planningzoning_plans.aspx. Scroll down to the U.S. 1 Corridor Plan.

Work is close to completion on the new section of the N.C. 98 Bypass (commonly known as the Dr. Calvin Jones Highway) and it should be open later this summer.

Also in Wake Forest, Jones Dairy Road will be closed from Averette Ridge to Dr. Calvin Jones Highway to all but local traffic until Atwell Construction completes work on new bridges over Austin Creek and Smith Creek. The estimated completion date is June 15, 2011. During construction, the Town of Wake Forest has contracted to move the intersection of Chalks Road and Jones Dairy farther south to the entrance of the Bowling Green subdivision.

Schools

There has been a lot of coverage about the new high school and middle school slated for Rolesville. According to Hicks, the new high school will take about two years to build and site plan approval should take place by next year, for an estimated opening date of 2013.

Because of the many changes in planning the school, including the change in location, the estimated budget of almost $74 million will change. The middle school is already under construction, and will open by the 2012 school year. Its current estimated price tag is almost $43 million.

In Wake Forest, Heritage High School will operate this school year under its own name, and Wake Forest-Rolesville High School students will return to their recently renovated campus. Renovations include a new multi-story classroom wing, upgraded classrooms in the 1958 and 1989 buildings, a new media center, and upgrades to the auxiliary gym, gym support spaces and student support services.

Heritage will house 9^th and 10^th graders this year, while Wake Forest-Rolesville will continue to house 9^th through 12^th graders.

On The Road to Success

Despite the current economic climate in many parts of the United States, the Wake Forest and Rolesville areas appear to be bucking the trend, considering the projects that are underway, and those that have recently been completed.

As residents of these towns, we can also do our part to help with economic development by buying local whenever possible. This not only helps small business owners in the area, but it also adds to each town’s tax base.

It’s hard to believe that Rolesville will be celebrating its 175th anniversary in 2012 – Wake Forest just celebrated its 100th last year. Hicks said there will be events every month and, with all of the growth and development coming to the area, the town certainly has good reason to celebrate.

RE-Posted courtesy of The Rolesville Buzz: http://rolesvillebuzz.com

TOWN OF WAKE FOREST

Customer Service Central

(919) 435-9400

Wake Forest Police Department

(919) 554-6150

Wake Forest Fire Department

(919) 556-1966

In an emergency dial 911

TOWN OF ROLESVILLE

Town Hall:  

 Phone: 919-556-3506

Parks and Recreation

Phone: 919-554-5682

Police Department:

Phone: 919-556-7226 (office hours only — for emergencies, always dial 911)

Fax: 919-556-

CABLEVISION:

Time Warner Cable

(919) 595-4892

Customer Service Central

Directions to Town Hall

(919) 435-9400

Emergencies: (919) 554-6724

Progress Energy

(800) 452-2777

Wake Electric

(919) 863-6300
WATER/SEWER

CITY OF RALEIGH

Billing

(919) 890-3245

Emergencies

Weekdays – (919) 250-2737

After hours, weekends, and holidays
(919) 829-1930

GAS AND OIL

Holding Oil Company
(919) 556-3604

Little River Corporation
(919) 556-1111

McCracken Propane
(919) 556-5161
NATURAL GAS

PSNC Energy
(877) 776-2427
TELEPHONE

CenturyLink

(919) 556-0080

Windstream Communications

(800) 230-2575
TRASH COLLECTION

Town of Wake Forest

(919) 554-6120

Republic Waste Services

(919) 772-1316

Waste Industries

(919) 556-8832
MEDICAL FACILITIES & HEALTHCARE

For Emergencies call 911

FastMed of Wake Forest

2001 S. Main Street, Suite 200, Wake Forest

http://www.rucn.info/fastmed_wake_forest.php

Wake Forest Urgent Care: Clark William MD

2115 S. Main Street #A, Wake Forest

919-570-2000

www.wakeforesturgentcare.com/

Rx Urgent Care

10880 Durant Road #110, Raleigh

919-719-2260http://maps.google.com/?cid=4123317908350483768s=9920400211925079763

www.rxuc.com/

Nextcare Urgent Care

1911 Falls Valley Drive #100, Raleigh

www.nextcare.com

Falls Medical Center

10931 Raven Ridge Road #115, Raleigh; 919676-0202

Capital Urgent Care

919-878-3655

Prompt Med At Six Forks

Six Forks Road North #101, Raleigh

919-719-0785

www.promptmed.com/

WakeMed Health & Hospitals

3000 New Bern Avenue, Raleigh

919-350-8000

www.wakemed.org/

Urgent Care and Emergency Room also located at corner of Durant Road and Falls of the Neuse Road in North Raleigh

Duke Raleigh Hospital

3400 Wake Forest Road, Raleigh

919-954-3000

www.dukeraleighhospital.org/

Rex Hospital

4420 Lake Boone Trail
Raleigh, NC 27607
(919) 784-3100

www.rexhealth.com/

Rex Urgent Care

11200 Governor Manly Way, Raleigh NC 27614

Corner of Capital Boulevard and New Falls of the Neuse Road

www.rexhealth.com/
EDUCATION

Wake County Public Schools

www.wcpss.net
Main Office
(919) 850-1600

School Assignment
(919) 850-1921

Wake County Private Schools
(919) 733-4276
DRIVER AND VOTER INFORMATION

Driver’s License Office
2431 Spring Forest Road, Suite 101
Raleigh, NC 27615
(919) 855-6877

License Plate Agency
2012 S. Main St. Wake Forest
(919) 554-0770
WAKE COUNTY BOARD OF ELECTIONS

Voter registration forms are available at the Town Hall, Wake Forest Library and Wake Forest Chamber of Commerce.
(919) 856-6240
PUBLIC SERVICES

Post Office
224 E. Holding Ave.
(800) 275-8777 – Automated Number

Post Office at Gateway Commons Center
910 Gateway Commons Center (located inside Ace Hardware)
(800) 275-8777 – Automated Number

Wake Forest Public Library
400 E. Holding Ave.
(919) 554-8498
ANIMAL CONTROL

Wake County Animal Control and Pet Adoption
Animal Adoption Center
820 Beacon Lake Road
Raleigh, NC 27610
(919) 212-PETS (7387)
NEWSPAPERS

News & Observer
215 S. McDowell St.
Raleigh, NC 27602
TEL: (919) 836-5635
FAX: (919) 836-5689

www.newsandobserver.com

Wake Forest Gazette
1255 S. Main St.
Wake Forest, NC 27587
(919) 556-3409

www.wakeforestgazette.com/index.shtml

The Wake Forest Weekly
229 E. Owen Ave.
Wake Forest, NC 27587
TEL: (919) 556-3182
FAX: (919) 556-2233

www.wakeweekly.com

The Rolesville Buzz

PO Box 115

Rolesville, NC, 27571

http://rolesvillebuzz.com