Welcome to LucretiaPinnock.com. Here you will find real estate listings for the Pinehurst, Fort Bragg and Southern Pines areas.
A house is made of walls and beams;
a home is built with love and dreams.” ¬
- Unknown
 

Hello again,  

Even during the uncertain housing market of recent years, 90% of surveyed homeowners maintained that their house is a source of comfort in their lives.* Have you ever stopped to think about why so many Americans make it a goal to buy a home one day? The concept of home ownership is rare in many parts of the world, and one that we treasure!  

Housing contributes to our Gross Domestic Product, GDP, in two basic ways: through private residential investment and consumption spending on housing services. Historically, residential investment has averaged roughly 5% of GDP, while housing services have averaged between 12% and 13% for a combined 17% to 18% GDP. This shows the immense impact that the home construction and sales industries have on our national and regional economies, as well as how ownership helps build strong local communities.  

Home ownership has major implications for the individual. Buyers commit a significant portion of their personal savings and income to purchase a home. It is likely the single largest investment they will ever make. Clearly, homeownership is not just about the memories. A home is a “container” for memories as well as a vehicle for building net worth!  

A home can act as an effective, long-term savings vehicle that allows you to build wealth over your lifetime. According to the latest Survey of Consumer Finances conducted by the Federal Reserve Board, the average homeowner’s net worth is more than 10 times that of the average renter.  

As a homeowner you can also benefit from additional income tax deductions, including mortgage interest and property taxes. A typical taxpayer with $160,000 mortgage and a 6% interest rate, whose income falls in the 25% tax bracket, could save nearly $3000.00 annually in Federal income taxes. Housing affordability and availability combined with great interest rates of less than 5%, make this the perfect time to buy a house!  

I hope that you find this topic as interesting as I do. In my work I get to see what owning a home really means to people every day. For the last 25+ years, it has been my honor to work with people as they are buying or selling a home. Feel free to call and discuss your personal home ownership goals. It will be my honor to help you reach them. 

Last night we celebrated the “Sweet 16” birthday for Pinnock Real Estate. As the guests arrived, I relished the memories of working with so many great people for the last 25 years. Each guest had a story and we laughed and enjoyed the memories! For example, Mrs. Stanley Austin came to our party. I sold the Austin’s house during my first year in real estate. Then she and her husband purchased a home. After the death of Mr. Austin, I sold that home, and Mrs. Austin moved into a retirement home. It was great to see her and to recall those great memories.  

That is just one of the many people who celebrated with us last night at our Barbeque Party. By the way, the Barbeque, side dishes, music, and weather were great! It is a Pinnock Real Estate tradition to have fun get-to-gathers with our friends and clients. From time to time, we have Barbeques, Movie nights and even Christmas or New Years Day Open Houses. We love helping people to buy and sell a house and we want to stay in touch through the years!  

We look forward to seeing you at one of our events!  

Sincerely, 

Lucretia Pinnock
Pinnock Real Estate
Serving Southern Pines, Pinehurst, and all of Moore County real estate community
910-692-6767 

*Source: The Pew Research Center, 2009
Oh, by the way®…if you know of someone who would appreciate the level of service I provide, please call me with their name and number. I’ll be happy to follow up and take great care of them. 

Summer is here, and Fresh Peaches are some of the Best things about summer! I love to share the good things in life with my clients, friends and family! Since I can’t Pop By for a visit with some Peach Cobbler, I hope that these recipes will bring some Summer Joy to you! Just as Paula Deen created The Easy Peach Cobbler recipe that follows, we have a recipe for a Happy Home buying experience.
Mix Genuine Concern for your Success with Over 25 years of Real Estate Experience. Add: Professional skills and tools. Place all of the above into a Warm and Beautiful Place to Live. Enjoy The Good Life here in the Pinehurst, Southern Pines, Aberdeen, Vass, West End areas of Moore County.
The Auman Orchards between Pinehurst and West End Pinehurst have peaches that are ready for eating! I will be making a trip to the Orchard very soon. Peach Cobbler is another treat in the summer! Of course, peach cobbler is good any time!
Here are 2 Peach Cobbler recipes that I wanted to share with you. Of course Moore County Peaches will make fabulous Peach Cobbler, but Peach Cobbler with any peaches will be yummy.
Just like sharing these good recipes with you, I appreciate the opportunity to be of service in the real estate business and look forward to sharing our Recipe for A Happy Home Buying Experience.
Now for some Peach Cobbler….Enjoy!
Paula Deen’s Easy Peach Cobbler
1 1/2 cup self-rising flour
8 tablespoon (1 stick) butter
1/2 cup water
2 cup sugar, divided
4 cup peeled, sliced peaches
1 1/2 cup milk
ground cinnamon, optional
Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Combine the peaches, 1 cup sugar, and water in a saucepan and mix well. Bring to a boil and simmer for 10 minutes. Remove from the heat.
Put the butter in a 3-quart baking dish and place in oven to melt. Mix remaining 1 cup sugar, flour, and milk slowly to prevent clumping. Pour mixture over melted butter. Do not stir. Spoon fruit on top, gently pouring in syrup. Sprinkle top with ground cinnamon, if using. Batter will rise to top during baking. Bake for 30 to 45 minutes. To serve, scoop onto a plate and serve with your choice of whipped cream or vanilla ice cream. Recipe courtesy Paula Deen
Servings: 8 to 10 servings
Prep Time: 15 min
Cook Time: 45 min
Difficulty: Easy

Joan's Easy Peach Cobbler
Ingredients:
• 1 stick (4 ounces) butter, melted
• 1 cup plus 3 tablespoons granulated sugar, divided
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup milk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 3 to 4 ripe peaches, peeled, pitted, thinly sliced
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
Preparation:
Heat oven to 375°.
Pour melted butter into a 2-quart baking dish (11x7 or 8-inch square). In a mixing bowl, combine 1 cup of the sugar, the flour, baking powder, and salt; stir to blend. Stir in the milk and vanilla until blended. Pour the batter over the melted butter. Toss the peaches with the remaining 3 tablespoons of sugar and 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon. Arrange the peach slices over the batter. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the cake comes out clean. The top will be browned and the cake will begin to pull away from the sides of the pan. Serve warm with a little heavy cream, whipped topping, or a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
Serves 6. 

This morning I heard someone say that this is the best time to buy real estate in the last 30 or 40 years due to low interest rates and housing affordability. Of course my ears perked up to that conversation and I agree with that thought. I have done some checking in our market and interest rates are around 4.75% for a 30 year fixed rate. There are even a few lenders with lower rates and mortgage money is very available. As for affordability, I did a study in our MLS and have identified quite a few homes that look like Great Deals. Here are just a few of the price reductions and new listings that got my attention.
5 Furlong – New Brick construction with more than 3000 square feet in Pinehurst. The price was reduced from $439,000 to $409,000.
84 Deerwood is a home in Pinehurst that was reduced form $465,000 to $425,000.
360 Kim Lane in Carthage – Large home with Swimming Pool, 2.46 Acres, RV Garage/Workshop. $425,000.
216 Stoneyfield in Southern Pines was reduced from $335,810. to $324,850.
203 Knoll Road in the Longleaf Golf Club in Southern Pines was reduced form $225,000 to 216,000.
842 Palmer Drive in Mid South Club was reduced from $475,000 to $430,000.
9 August in Midsouth was reduced from $475,000 to $449,000
Midsouth Club is a beautiful golf course development. The golf course was designed by Arnold Palmer.

It is said that variety is the spice of life and there is bountiful variety in housing available in the Moore County area. We hope that you will use our WebSites, www.PinehurstHomeSearcher.com and www.LucretiaPinnock.com to search for the home of your dreams. Just give us a call (910-692-6767) or send us an email (allpinehurst@gmail.com) when you have questions about an area or a house. We will be happy to research your questions and help you to take advantage of the opportunities in real estate investments that are plentiful!

This is also a great time to think of Safety at Home. Following is information that may help you to think of ways to keep your home and family safe this summer!
Have a Home Safe Home this Summer!  

Summer Safety Tips
Now is a great time to check over all recreational equipment and review outdoor safety measures in preparation for the warmer months. Whether you are organizing a pool party or just plan to enjoy the fresh air, being proactive will help ensure that your family and guests have a fun and carefree summer season.  

Pools:
Make sure the area is full enclosed
Keep rescue equipment near
Secure ladders, slides and other pool-r3elated structures properly
Check that underwater lights are working
Clean the pool regularly and change filters as needed
Paths, patios and decks:
Repair all decks, outdoor living areas and walkways so that they are free of cracks and uneven surfaces
Keep all areas well lit
Fences:
Ensure that all parts are sturdy
Check to see that nails and screws aren’t protruding 

Backyard playgrounds:
Each year approximately 50,000 children visit emergency rooms because of accidents occurring on backyard playgrounds
Make sure that all structures are properly anchored to the ground
Replace any worn components such as ropes, chains, and cables
Make certain that nuts and bolts are tightened frequently
Oil any moving metal parts regularly 

By the way…I’m never too busy for your referrals. If you know of someone who could benefit from the level of service I provide, please give me a call. I promise to take great care of them! Lucretia Pinnock 910-692-6767 

Community Counts - A great reason to choose to live in Moore County, NC. Pinehurst, Southern Pines, Whispering Pines, Vass, Aberdeen, Cameron, Carthage. These are great communities to enjoy "The Good Life"!  

Dear Friend,
When you think about the value of your home, what do you take into consideration? Of course, structural features such as square footage and the number of bedrooms are significant factors, but the neighborhood can also be just as important, if not more, than the property itself when determining the home’s worth. 

Physical factors, such as proximity to employment, retail centers, grocery stores and schools play a key role in deciding where people choose to call home. A strong sense of community can also go far in creating a desirable neighborhood. You can increase the value of your home and make your community a better place simply by getting involved. 

This month’s Ideas of Value is designed to help you identify key characteristics that reflect desirable neighborhoods and ways you can make yours a more enjoyable place to live. If you need help finding the right neighborhood or are looking for ways to maximize the potential of your community, I am here to help! 

Here is more food for thought.  

Oh, by the way®…if you know of someone who would appreciate the level of service I provide, please call me with their name and business number and I’ll be happy to follow up and take great care of them. 

Finding the Right Neighborhood!
Think about the features that matter most to you and your family. Take a walk through the
neighborhood that surrounds the home you’re considering for purchase. Are the other
homes well maintained? Is the environment peaceful? Are there nearby amenities you are
interested in, such as parks, libraries, restaurants and retail centers? Ask the local residents what it’s like to live in their
neighborhood. Find out if there are any events that help residents connect. Spend time
in the community at various hours and days of the week to get an accurate gauge of noise
and activity levels before making your decision.
When searching for the ideal neighborhood, your real estate agent can be a valuable guide. By
assessing your needs, your agent can help identify a community that you will enjoy being a part of now and in the years to come.
Top Influences in Selecting a Home A neighborhood can be every bit as important as the dwelling itself. The 2009 National Association of REALTORS® Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers reported the results of a survey of consumers and real estate agents regarding top influential
characteristics in selecting a home. Considered by 64% of individuals when deciding where to live, quality of neighborhood was one of the most cited factors. .
• Quality of the school district: 26%
Local schools that are recognized for their excellence help add value to surrounding
neighborhoods and are an important selling point for homes on the market. Details
such as test scores, class size, special programs and the percentage of students who go on to college can be provided upon request from the school district.
Location, location, location!
The most important characteristic when determining the value of real estate continues to prevail. When you decide where to live, you are not only choosing a home, you are buying into a neighborhood. A community’s physical and social qualities have a major impact on the market value of the house, the desirability of the neighborhood and the lifestyle of its residents.
Neighborhood a and other issues that affect home values.
2010 Buffini & Company. All Rights Reserved. Used by Permission.