Connect Raleigh

The real estate market has been an insanely confusing and ever changing situation over the last few years. The national media says one thing but is that true for each local market? I'm not sure it is. Today, we get to talk with my preferred mortgage lender Patrick O'Connor of Guaranteed Rate. Patrick has been a lender for 20 years and has likely seen it all. In 2005 he moved to Raleigh from Virginia as a single, 20 something and after meeting and falling in love with his now wife...and also the Carolina Hurricanes, he's never looked back and is proud to call the Triangle his home.

In this episode we talk more about the actual truth of the local Raleigh market than I have ever discussed on here before. We get into housing inventory, buyer and seller mindset, mortgage financing options and more...but we also talk about golf, hockey and beer to make it slightly less boring to anybody that doesn't care about the real estate market. But if you're following this podcast you probably care a little bit at least about the Raleigh market.

Give the episode a good listen, be sure to connect with Patrick at:  IG: @poconnor9, on FB: @PatrickO'Connor  and on LinkedIn: Patrick O'Connor

And be sure to go visit some of his favorite places around the Triangle to get a really good feeling of his Raleigh...and then make it your Raleigh.

@RaleighIsGrowing

Carolina Hurricanes

Durham Bulls

Carolina Mudcats

North Carolina FC

Lincoln Theater

Red Hat Amphitheater

Downtown South

Walnut Creek Amphitheater

Hopscotch Music Festival

Bluegrass Festival

Vivace

Coquette

Cantina 18

Trophy

Lonnie Poole Golf Club

Finley Golf Club

River Ridge

Pine Hollow

Pinehurst

Mid Pines

Pine Needles

Southern Pines Golf Club

Tobacco Road Golf Club

NC Farmer's Market

Raleigh Parks and Rec

Umstead Park

Dix Park

Roanoke Park

Five Points

Laurel Hills

Lynwood Brewing Concern

Neuse River Brewing

Bowstring Pizza

Oakwood Pizza Box

On Sunday, March 5 at 3pm she is hosting a very important event that is perfect for families moving to the Raleigh area and interested in learning more about k-12 schools. She will cover all the basics of what you need to know and where to find the right information. From traditional public to magnet, charter, and private she can help you with the information and resources you need to confidently navigate your move. Bring all your questions! You can register for the event on her website at https://schoolupwake.com/events/ and you connect with Libby on Social at: @schoolupwake

And after you give this episode a listen be sure to visit some of her favorite places around town to really get a feel for why she calls Raleigh home:

Lynwood Brewing Concern: http://www.lynnwoodbrewing.beer/wp/

Crawford & Son: http://crawfordandsonrestaurant.com

Buffaloe Road Aquatic Center: https://raleighnc.gov/parks/aquatics

Lafayette Village: https://lafayettevillageraleigh.com

Sola Coffee: https://www.solacoffee.com

Jubala: http://www.jubalacoffee.com

Lake Lure: https://www.townoflakelure.com

Jolie: https://restaurantjolie.com

Colletta (my suggestion): https://www.collettarestaurant.com

#raleighschools #raleighnc #wakeforestnc #raleighkids #summercamp #athletics #wakecountyschools  #raleighmoms #athleticcoaching #coaching #summeractivities #kidsactivities #raleighsports #sports #youthfun #wakeforestsportstraining #durhamfootball #raleighkidscamps #durhamsports #raleighbasketball #durhamnc #raleighfootball #wakeforestfootball #wakeforestbasketball #durhambasketball #durhamyouthsports #wakeforestyouthsports #durhamsportstraining #raleigh #raleighrealestate

This is a little shorter version of the podcast where we focus on and highlight different members of the Connect Raleigh networking group on Linked In. We started the LinkedIN group 15 years ago and today it has approximately 8000 local Raleigh professionals. The goal of the group is to build quality relationships by building personal connections because people want to do business with those that they like and trust. There is no better group in Raleigh for networking in a way that actually works. If you're local, come check it out.

Today we chat with Trevor who just recently moved from Utah to Raleigh to open Purple Mattress' first retail location in the state. Give it a listen and please comment if you know of anybody that should be featured on the Connect Raleigh podcast. 

I've heard a lot about Kiara Ruth over the last few years. Mostly from my wife, whom is one of her biggest fans. But also from her husband Terrance, an alum (is that the right word? Alum? Alumni? Alumnus? Who knows???) of the Connect Raleigh podcast. A few weeks ago my wife Brook, Terrance, Kiara and myself got together for a dinner at my home and once the conversation got rolling I immediately knew that we needed to have her as a guest on the Pod. So here we are.

She is a self proclaimed master at multi-tasking and simplifying which sounds like I need to know more about that because I'm a master of multi-tasking and over complicating. I could use some simplifying. She gracefully juggles her life as a mother and wife with her presence as a social media influencer and NC tastemaker. Kiara drifts from mom to mogul effortlessly because she remains authentic and true to her brand in every step. This authenticity means telling her story truthfully, acknowledging faults, and being transparent while growing and learning. Kiara is a mom to Miles who is 7 years old and the wife to Terrance Ruth who is a professor at NC State University and who recently ran for the Mayor of Raleigh, only just barely coming up short. Terrance and I had a great chat a few episodes back. Be sure to check it out after this one. Kiara and her family recently rescued a dog, Oakley who is 4 years old and they have lived in the Raleigh area for 10 years and care deeply for the people here. Check her out at:

@the.bananamoonblog on IG

@thebananamoon on Twitter

www.facebook.com/kiaraRuth/thebananamoon

www.linkedin.com/kiaraRuth

www.thebananamoon.com

Please give this episode a listen and be sure to check out some of Kiara's favorite people and places around Raleigh which was EXTREMELY painful for her to narrow down as she wanted to support EVERYBODY!!:

The Bananamoon Blog

Terrance Ruth

Runologie

Oaks & Spokes

Bean Sprout

5 Star

Triangle Families Explore

Women's Social Club

Thrive Motherhood

Where to be Society

Raleigh Plant Swap

Read With Me Raleigh

So and so books

Brook Belden

Idle Hour

Sola

Iris Coffee Lab 

Jubala

Good Day Good Night

The Green Light

Hayes Barton Cafe

Pizzaria Toro

Mofu

Death and Taxes

Place at the Table

Cortez

Heirloom

Videri Chocolate Factory

Fount Coffee & Kitchen

Crawford & Son

NY Bagel

Standard Food

Union Special Bread

City Market Sushi 

M Sushi

Stanbury

This conversation with Matt is one from the vault that got unintentionally lost in the move between studios. It was recorded just prior to the opening of Oak + Iron Fitness which has now been open for over a year. Matt holds a BS in Physical Education with a minor in nutrition and technology from East Carolina University. Collegiately he wrestled at NC State University. He was a private personal trainer and managed a fitness studio prior to opening Oak + Iron Fitness. Matt spent 10 years in the corporate world before entering the fitness industry full-time. Matt's experience in sales, marketing, and management allows him to not only understand business, but the challenges posed by the corporate world when it comes to maintaining a healthy lifestyle. This has helped him develop a unique perspective that has helped shape his vision for Oak and Iron Fitness.

Sincere apologies for the delay in publishing the episode but please still give it a listen and give Matt a visit at Oak + Iron. And after he kicks your behind with one of their signature fitness classes, check out some of his favorite places around town like:

Stanbury

Garland: Now Closed

Milton's Pizza

Fred Fletcher Park

Iris Coffee Lab

Sola Coffee

(ish) delicatessen 

NC Museum of Art

Lincoln Theater

Red Hat Amphitheater 

Welcome back to kick off Season 3 of the Podcast. We've been busy over the last few weeks and months lining up some great new guests to introduce you to around our city and can't wait for you to listen in. For our first episode back in a while we bring you a great conversation with local brand strategist Angelique Bolding. Angelique and I had a great chat centering around bringing the human element to the forefront of brand and business and more importantly, going deeper with relationships and why that matters. This is the real stuff that matters most to me.

Be sure to connect with Angelique on LinkedIn @AngeliqueBolding on Instagram @angeliquemarya_ and on her Website: angeliquemarya.com and please go and support some of her favorite people and places around town at:

Raleigh Founded

HEAT Studios

Dose Yoga

Happy + Hale

Irregardless

Dix Park

French West Vaughn

Edge of Urge

Yellow Dog

Two Roosters

Pendo

Headbands For Hope

Social Cascade

Brew

Raleigh Raw

Crawford and Son

Jolie

I love getting together with my boy Greg Pearlman. It's always one of my favorite conversations and today we let you listen in on it so you can get insight into His Raleigh. Give it a listen and afterward go check out some of his favorite places around town like...

CAM

Lincoln Theater

Oak + Iron Fitness

Raleigh Raw

Weaver Street Market

Cortez

Second Empire

Stanbury

Umstead Hotel

NC Museum of Art

Boxyard

Laurence BBQ

Rockford

Hannah's story has a lot of twists and turns, but I get the impression she wouldn’t have it any other way. She says "there have been more jobs and moves than I care to admit, ranging from account management fresh out of college in NYC, to getting engaged and moving to Boston, losing my dream job in Miami, to landing back in my hometown of Raleigh with a husband and a baby on the way."

After a very short move to NYC she decided it was time to officially make Raleigh their home and take the leap and open her own business, Dove & Olive Mercantile. It was in the process of pivoting this business during COVID where she found her motivation, purpose, and ultimately, The Women’s Social Club. I love this story for a number of reasons but maybe most of all because it's so familiar. We have had very similar journey's staring our respective networking and social groups. I created the Raleigh Young Professionals almost 15 years ago and we have so many parallels. It's a bit creepy.

You can connect with her here:

https://www.instagram.com/womenssocialclub/

And then go check out some of her favorite places around Raleigh:

Trolly Pub

Heartwell

Raleigh Cheesy

Wye Hill

Vita Vite

The Optimist

Falafel and Co.

Oakwood Pizza Box

Art Museum

Raleigh Night Market