The weather is warming up and so is the housing market. We are stepping in to the period where the biggest buying and selling takes place in the housing market. If you are planning to sell your home, there is no time like now!

A recent housing forecast shows the real estate market in Raleigh to be “Very Hot”. Home values in our area have gone up 8.7% in the past year and they are predicted to rise 4.4% in the coming year.

You also can’t go wrong with my guarantee to get your Home SOLD at a Price Acceptable

to You, GUARANTEED or I Will Sell it for FREE!* What are you waiting for? It is truly a seller’s market.

If you are looking for the home of your dreams - DON’T be discouraged. This is a great time to step into the housing market - mortgage rates are still below 4% and there are some great deals out there. With the assistance of my experienced team and I, we’ll help you get the home you want for the best deal. We know the neighborhoods and the amenities each offers. We are ready to help you in your search or sale. From finding out what your home is worth to pre-approval to selling tips and more - we can help you achieve your real estate goals.

Please visit www.Gregsvideoblog.info for information and tips or call me today at 919-882-6005 if you have any questions about today’s market.

Sincerely, Greg

*Some restrictions apply. Call me for more info.

Continued on Page 2…

MAY 2017

“Team Work from the Team that Works”

We appreciate your referrals! There is no greater compliment you could offer us! If you know someone who is ready to sell or buy a home, be sure to contact Greg at 919-882-6005 and share their information (with their permission) to be sure they receive superior service.

Check out what others have to say about us at www.gregismay.com/gold_testimonials.asp

CLEVER TIPS TO MAKE PAINTING YOUR HOME EASIER by Jaymi Naciri for Realty Times

Painting is one of the easiest and least expensive ways to transform a space. But it can also be a hassle, what with all that taping and prepping and cleaning up. These clever tips can make it easier. Fun, even. (That might be a stretch.)

Wrap It Up One of the most painful tasks associated with the painting is having to clean up at the end of the day. If you hate cleaning your brushes, this tip is for you. The best way to preserve your brush if you're done for the day (or the time being) but not done with the job, is to wrap it in plastic wrap and throw it in the freezer overnight. But, it does require about 15 minutes of thawing out the following day before you can begin again. We found that putting the brush in a Ziploc bag and making it as airtight as possible does a fine job of keeping the brush pliable for the

...Continued from Page 2

next day, and you can just pick it up and go without the wait.

Line It Paint tray liners are helpful in extending the life of your paint tray and minimizing clean up, but if you don't want to spend the money, head to your kitchen, instead. Aluminum foil or plastic wrap wrapped around your paint tray will keep it clean. Keep that foil handy Reader's Digest notes that aluminum foil is also great when painting a door. "When you're painting a door, aluminum foil is great for wrapping doorknobs to keep paint off them. Overlap the foil onto the door when you wrap the knob, then run a sharp utility knife around the base of the knob to trim the foil. That way you can paint right up to the edge of the knob. In addition to wrapping knobs on the doors that you'll paint, wrap all the doorknobs that are along the route to where you will clean your hands and brushes."

Dust Those Walls Prepping is key to a successful paint job, but if you're doing a quick cleanup of your walls before painting, you may not want to spray cleaner on them for fear that the paint won't adhere well. Use a Swiffer duster instead. Dust will cling to it and you'll have a clean surface to paint on. A dryer sheet is another good option for getting the dust off your surfaces - especially baseboards - before you begin.

Take Out The Smell If you're using a VOC paint, any odor should be minor. But if you want to ensure the smell is pleasant, add some vanilla. "To neutralize the strong smell of any type of paint, add one tablespoon of vanilla extract (a natural deodorizer) per gallon. It won't affect the color of the paint," said HGTV.

Use A Quality Paintbrush You can spend about $1 on a paint brush or you can spend the equivalent of a good lunch, and the difference will be obvious when the cheaper version leaves brush marks and bristles on your wall. Get a decent brush for a better finish, and choose an angled version for cutting in. The better the brush (and paint!), the better the chance you can do without all that pesky taping.

Buy The Right Amount Of Paint From The Start

Out And About In Raleigh

There is just no place like home and the Raleigh area is the best place to live. There is always something going on no matter your age or taste in food and entertainment!

May 6 36th Annual APEX PeakFest at Apex

May 6 Capital Cricket Classic in downtown Raleigh

May 6 Meet In The Street Festival in Wake Forest

May 8 Free At 3: Mother’s Day at Wake Forest Renaissance Centre

May 10-13 NGS 2017 Family History Conference at Raleigh Convention Center

May 12 Art In The Evening: Oak City Hot Mess at NC Museum of Art

May 13 Annual Ritmo Latino Music, Art & Dance Festival in Cary

May 13 Historic Wake Forest Cemetery Walking Tour

May 20 6th Annual Wheels On Academy at Cary Town Hall

May 20 Brad Paisley at Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek

May 21 North Carolina Courage vs Chicago Red Stars at WakeMed Soccer Park

May 22 Theatre Showcase at Raleigh Little Theatre

May 23-28 Matilda The Musical at Duke Energy Center

May 26-29 WRAL Freedom Balloon Fest in Fuquay-Varina

May 31 Hob Nob Jazz Series: Marcus Anderson at Koka Booth Amphitheatre

To view a full list of events, ticket prices and more info scan the QR code or visit http://tinyurl.com/pqq2xz5

Get Free money-saving home tips at www.IsmayRealtyGroup.com

IS RALEIGH GETTING A CAR VENDING MACHINE?

Is Raleigh getting a car vending machine? Raleigh permits show a $2.5 million project in the works.

Phoenix-based used car dealer Carvana has locations in major cities across the country and Raleigh could be among the first North Carolina locations, along with Charlotte.

Carvana customers can purchase vehicles online, then head to a vending machine location where they select their names at a kiosk and then insert a large Carvana-branded token. The vending machine then moves the car from a tower through a delivery bay where it can be retrieved by the buyer.

The skeleton of what appears to be the vending machine’s tower already stands at 1631 Navaho Drive in Raleigh.

A permit for a nearly $2.5 million project has been issued by the city and Parkway C&A is listed as the contractor. Read more here: http://www.newsobserver.com/news/

Check Out The Video!

http://tinyurl.com/n4dtsvv

Chris Cioffi | newsobserver.com

Get Free money-saving home tips at www.IsmayRealtyGroup.com

...Continued from Page 2

Continued on Page 4…

"Oh, I just need one gallon," said everyone, everywhere. But how much do you really need? Knowing ahead of time will keep you from having to make a return trip to the store, and help ensure your color is consistent. Color matching is better than ever at paint stores and places like Home Depot and Lowe's. But there still might be a slight variation in the color if you have to go back to purchase more paint. Measure your space and you won't have to worry about it. "The general rule is one gallon for every 350 square feet of surface area," said Real Simple. "All you have to do is measure walls roughly, then go to Sherwin-Williams.com and type the dimensions into the easy online paint calculator. This tool will also ask for measurements of windows, doors, and trim so it can come up with a more precise total. Whatever the number, buy an extra quart for touch-ups."

Wipe It Up Have a few drips to clean up on tile or wood floors? An alcohol wipe or wet rag will do the trick. Or, grab a cleansing facial wipe that contains alcohol. You'd be surprised how well these work.

Add A Rubber Band Wrap one around your paint can so you have an easy way to wipe your paint brush and avoid drips. Combat humidity "Humidity means drips and slow drying, so avoid painting on a rainy day," said DIY Network. "If you must paint when it's humid, take your time - and take advantage of slow-drying paint to correct your errors before moving on to the next coat." You can reduce the amount of humidity in your home by flipping on your air-conditioning as well as any vent and exhaust fans you have in the home, in bathrooms, kitchens, and laundry areas.

Put Some Holes In It "When you pour the paint, it can go everywhere," said The Bold Abode. "It drips all over the sides and then dries hard as a rock on the edges. When that happens, not even King Kong himself could pound that lid down hard enough to close it securely."

Welcome to North Raleigh!

Congratulations to Ken and Susan Pilcher on their move from Wendell to North Raleigh in order to be closer to their Church. Greg met with the couple after their home failed to sell with another broker. Ken, an analyst, appreciated the detail Greg presented on the market for their home. In two days they had a quick close, cash offer for 98% of list. That was the good news… Next the couple had to compete in a much hotter North Raleigh market. But once again Ken was able to trust the numbers and beat out 6 other offers. Best of all one of the couple’s best friends live within a stone’s throw!

Outdoor appeal is a key piece to the home selling process. What better way to increase the exterior appeal than having a beautiful deck? Decks are living, natural additions that effectively blend into the landscape while adding extra entertaining space for less money than a porch or addition.

Need more convincing? Here are some of the key advantages to why decks seal backyard appeal and convince sellers to look at your home longer than others on the block:

How much you save: The cost to build a deck might average $6,600 to $9,400 depending on square footage and materials. However, a deck costs far less than an addition - almost $50,000 - so why invest more when you can get something just as beautiful for less?

An outdoor living area is less expensive because you don't need electrical wiring or plumbing. Plus you can recoup at least 85% of that investment during the resale.

How it adds to the house: Adding a deck onto your home increases the exterior appeal without all the extra work. It means extra room for entertaining, relaxation and grilling during the summer.

It can adapt to any kind of landscape, whether you need a raised platform deck for a sloping hill and multi-story home or a short deck for a flat backyard.

How it blends with the landscape: Unlike a porch, a deck is natural. Made of wood or plastic to look like wood, decks blend into the landscape seamlessly. It's simple to add bushes, trees and flowers around the edge of the deck. By the end of the whole process, your deck will have a warm, homey feel in the yard.

How easy it is to maintain: Depending on the type of material you use to build the deck, maintenance should be simple. One treatment of staining and regular cleaning should take care of any pests or dirt. Decks can handle most weather conditions, and you can even build an awning to help it endure the climate better. Just keep an eye out for termites, mold or other things eating away at the wood and treat them quickly.

Kick Up The Outdoor Appeal

See all listings at www.searchhomesinraleigh.com!

Disclaimer: The information contained in this letter is intended for informational purposes. It should not substitute as legal, accounting, investment, medical or other professional services advice. Always seek a competent professional for answers to your specific questions. This letter is not intended to solicit real estate properties currently for sale.

Ismay Realty Group

808 Salem Woods Drive Suite 204 Raleigh, NC 27615

THANK YOU for reading our newsletter. We wanted to produce a newsletter that has great content and is fun and valuable to you. Your feedback is always welcome.

AND…whether you’re thinking of buying, selling or financing real estate, or just want to stop by and say “Hi,” We’d love to hear from you…

Greg Ismay

919-882-6005 www.IsmayRealtyGroup.com

Raleigh, NC

Hammering a few holes in the lip of the paint can will help the paint drain back down into the can.

Get Creative With Plastic Bags For awkward spaces where a drop cloth might not be the right choice, heed this tip from Family Handyman and raid your plastic bag stash. It'll keep your stuff drip-free and won't cost a thing.

NEW LISTINGS!

6269 Applewhite Road Wendell

3 bed | 2.5 bath

Private retreat on 6 acres overlooking tranquil pond. Architectural gem offers a cozy yet open plan w/soaring ceilings & windows everywhere showcasing the private rolling acreage! Multi-level decking creates a smooth transition to an outdoor paradise just steps from the pond. Gardener’s dream boasts plenty of botanical master pieces and room for more. Smart floor plan offers a master suite on the main with two additional bedrooms and a large full bath on the second level.

8028 Hawkshead Road Wake Forest 4 bed | 3 bath

One of a kind Custom Ranch Home in quiet neighborhood! Hardwood floors in entry & formal dining. Kitchen with stainless appliances and island. Enjoy views of the back yard from any seat in the breakfast area! Family room with gas fireplace and wet bar! Master suite features outside access, walk-in closet, dual sinks, large shower & separate jetted tub! Secondary bedroom features its own fireplace! Oversized 2 car garage! Huge Deck overlooking back yard! New Cedar roof in 2008!

“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do, so throw off the bowlines, sail away from safe harbor, catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore, Dream, Discover.” ~ Mark Twain