Category Archives: North Carolina

2010 Wake County Parade of Homes

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parade of homes

The 2010 Wake County Parade of Homes opens for three weekends starting Saturday, October 2 at noon and ending October 17 at 5 p.m. For those in home buying mode, the 45th Annual tour offers a great time to visit homes on the market. for those not in the market for a new home it is a great time to window shop. For complete details and information visit Raleigh Real Estate 411.

This event is FREE and open to the public. The Parade of Homes is North Carolina’s largest open house. Come look at decorated homes, see floor plans, get ideas and leave inspired!

Map your parade route!

Visit the HBA to Pick Up a Book: Map out your route by picking up your Parade book early at the HBA office (5580 Centerview Drive, Suite 115 – Raleigh, NC 27606). Books will be available beginning Wed., Sep. 29. (limit one per person).  For directions, Click here.

Go Online: Log onto the HBA website (the week of Sep. 27 start your tour and route planning online!  Click here to start your planning!

Pick Up a Book During the Parade: Builders will have copies of the books in their Parade homes.

iPhone App: Access the Parade by using a new iPhone application!

Why You Should Cover Your Carolina Home With an Umbrella

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Happy family with umbrellaWhy should your home need an umbrella? Well, when litigation rains (and it seems to reign king in society these days), you’re going to want to make sure your home and all your assets are covered. An umbrella policy may be the extra coverage you need.

Especially for homes and families that have pools, dogs, teenagers, motorcycles, boats or RVs, lawsuits are the rain cloud that’s always hovering nearby. One accident, and you could end up paying with your current assets and your future earnings.

Homeowners insurance and auto insurance will cover some liability, but they have there limits. According to the

Equifax Personal Finance Blog, that’s where an umbrella policy steps in. It protects assets and income when the limits on your basic policies have been reached, plus it will step into some situations your other policies won’t touch.

The Equifax article, written by insurance expert Linda Rey, is titled “

Umbrella Insurance: The FAQs.”  It says that some things an umbrella policy might cover where you would otherwise be left on your own are overseas claims, non-business-related personal injury cases, and liabilities that occur off your property.

Umbrella policies are sold in increments of $1 million, and you may think you don’t need one because you simply don’t own that much stuff. However, when you add the value of your Carolina home with your investments, assets, future earnings potential and even your future pension income, you may be surprised at how much you have to lose.

The good news is that you may be able to get a discount on your policy. Try purchasing auto, home and umbrella insurance from one provider, and you should receive a cut in your premiums. And that doesn’t count what you will save on peace of mind.

For more details on umbrella policies and to make comments or ask questions of the experts, visit the

Equifax Personal Finance Blog.

Experience the magic of Venice at the 2010 STARS Awards Gala

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Stars awardsBe a star at the 2010 STARS Awards Gala on Wednesday, September 15, 2010 at the Hilton Charlotte Center City Hotel in Charlotte, North Carolina.

The STARS Awards are a centerpiece of the 21st Century Building Expo and Conference—the premiere building expo and conference in the Southeast. Each year, the gala salutes the outstanding professional performance of HBA members throughout the region by honoring the achievements of builders, associates, Realtors, media and advertising professionals, and many others who make major contributions to the residential home building industry. Local home builders associations are also honored for their outstanding achievements. With 47 categories to choose from, there is something for everyone!

Do you have a great project that deserves recognition? Do you need a creative way to make your product and company stand out above the competition? If so, enter the STARS Awards! To be eligible for consideration in the 2010 awards program, you must be a member of the National Association of Home Builders. Projects must have been completed between January 1, 2009 and July 31, 2010. Entrants can choose between two entry deadlines this year:

1) Early Bird deadline: All entries (fee and entry materials) must be received no later than July 12, 2010. Fee: $100 per entry

2) Regular deadline: All entries (fee and entry materials) must be received no later than July 21, 2010. Fee: $150 per entry

The official Call for Entries can be accessed at the following link: http://www.21buildingexpo.com/star_award.cfm

If you would like a hard copy mailed to you, please contact Kathryn Atkinson at 919-676-9090 or katkinson@nchba.org to make a request.

Despite the Economy, a New Business Thrives

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The Interior PartnersTwo years ago, the housing market was slowing down and several companies were going out of business. That is also when The Interior Partners decided to set up shop. In those two years, Cindi MacPherson and Ashley Norred have experienced success after success with twenty projects under their belt. They’ve completed five residential projects, a restaurant and 15 model installations for home builders. They operate all across the Southeast.

How were they so successful in such a down market? Their low overhead, flexibility with clients and knack for staying in tight budgets have given them a competitive edge. In order to stay in budget, furniture was reused for different projects but accented with different items to provide a fresh look. Cindi MacPherson is extremely optimistic about growth potential in 2010 since the market is turning around.

Last fall, The Interior Partners won the Gold and Silver OBIEs from the Greater Atlanta Home Builders Association for best model home merchandising for $299,999 and under for their work in the Bryant Lake community of LaGrange, Ga.

The Interior Partners enjoys the creativity in residential projects. Currently, they are working on one project in Midtown Atlanta, a structure of glass, stone and steel, and another in the Vinings neighborhood that was damaged by the September 2009 floods in Georgia.

The Interior Partners would love to assist you with your next project. They serve the following areas: Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Alabama or Tennessee. Contact them by calling 678-731-0926 or visiting their website, The Interior Partners.

Registration is now open for 21st Century Building Expo & Conference

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21st C Building ShowRegistration for the Southeast’s premier home building tradeshow, the 21st Century Building Expo & Conference, is now open.  Builders, remodelers, subcontractors, realtors and other industry professionals are invited to attend the 21CBEC in Charlotte, N.C. September 15-17.

The 21CBEC is your chance to see a large array of the products and services available from the industry’s leading manufacturers and suppliers. In addition, a three-day educational conference includes a line-up of more than 50 general session seminars, North Carolina Builder Institute courses and NAHB Education classes.

There are three types of registration:

– Expo floor only—FREE ($25 value). Simply register before Sept. 14, and you can visit the exhibit hall filled with more than 200 exhibits showcasing products and services. The Expo floor will be open September 16 and 17.

– Full Delegate—$75. Register as a full delegate and attend an unlimited number of our carefully selected general session seminars. Learn about trends in home building, how to keep your business successful, new marketing techniques, and much more during these insightful seminars taught by nationally-recognized speakers. The $75 fee also includes conference lunches on Thursday and Friday and Expo floor access. Fee increases to $100 after Sept. 14.

– NCBI/NAHB Course—Fee varies depending on course. If you are working on an NAHB or NCBI designation, the 21CBEC offers three days of courses to help get you well on your way. Course fee includes course materials, unlimited general session seminars, conference lunches on Thursday and Friday, and the Expo floor.

Online registration is easy.  Go to www.21buildingexpo.com and click on Attendees.

Interested in exhibiting at 21CBEC? Get your product in front of more than 5,000 industry professionals. Contact Tracie Garrett at tgarrett@nchba.org or 800.662.7129 to sign up now!

Join the 21CBEC on Facebook.