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Charlotte, NC Real Estate News

By Diane McDermott, Charlotte NC Real Estate Market
(Realtor®, GRI, Landis e2 Real Estate, LLC)
 The Charlotte City Council will vote next week on whether or not to move ahead with preliminary studies for a light rail line to the University area.  One of the main issues that's up in the air is whether federal funding would be approved for any part of a light rail line to University. Apparently the government has guidelines and criteria that must be met for any amount of funding to be approved - imagine that, government has "red tape"! Right now the South Blvd corridor is the only light rail line but the plan has always been to add more light rail lines to connect and lead to Uptown. The main question is where that next line will be. The Lake Norman region is another contender but federal funding was NOT approved for that corridor so it may not happen if towns just north of Charlot...
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By Diane McDermott, Charlotte NC Real Estate Market
(Realtor®, GRI, Landis e2 Real Estate, LLC)
 In a city that is home to so many "transplants" from all over the country, sometimes it seems like Charlotte natives are a rarity. Really, they're not and there are many people who live here and have for quite some time.  I've talked to people who've lived here for their entire lives as well as those who moved decades ago. They've had a front row seat to watch the city change and grow tremendously. Even six years ago living in Uptown Charlotte was the exception, and recently Uptown's become a hot spot for those seeking a more urban lifestyle. In the time that I've been here the city has maintained a constant evolution and growth that has been and continues to be amazing to watch. I can't recall ever passing by Uptown and not seeing a crane at work on some project. Part of what makes Ch...
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By Debe Maxwell, CRS, The RIGHT CHARLOTTE REALTOR!
(Savvy + Company (704) 491-3310)
Myers Park, one of Charlotte's premier neighborhoods is one of Charlotte's finest planned suburbs. This information, Charlotte NC Myers Park history and demographics, is based on extensive research on the area with a goal to provide clients moving to Charlotte, a sound knowledge base for this beautiful and historical community. The 1200-acre farm, originally owned by John Spring Myers whose son-in-law, George Stephens finally developed the neighborhood.  Call us for more details about this wonderful neighborhood!
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By Charlotte Home Loans Your Charlotte Mortgage Lender
We have seen mortgage rates drop over the past few weeks. They are at unbeliveable lows. As a matter of fact, they dropped like a rock the other day... Some of the rates I quoted and locked for people were numbers I have not seen in a long time.But yesterday was a Roller Coaster day. Mortgage rates began the day falling again, but by the time the day was up, mortgage rates were up by at least 3/8ths of a percent, and in some cases by 1/2 a percentage point. In other words, that 5.5% rate became 6% by the end of the day!And today, rates climbed even more. Anywhere from 1/8th to 1/4 pt.With the economy and Wall Street in such a state of confusion, rates will be all over the place for a couple more days. But after that... HOLD ON! Rates should begin their rise upwards.If you have a buyer o...
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By Diane McDermott, Charlotte NC Real Estate Market
(Realtor®, GRI, Landis e2 Real Estate, LLC)
 I don't show real estate in Charlotte NC without having a verified approval from the list agent (or Centralized Showings) but things can still happen that both buyers and myself aren't expecting. On several occasions I've gotten to the front door, rang the bell, and am greeted by a homeowner who is apparently clueless that we're expecting to view their home!  One gentleman was in a bathrobe and clearly wasn't expecting company.  Another homeowner became quite defensive - I was surprised he didn't ask me for two forms of photo ID. This is while I'm standing at the door with a family of four. Guess he thought it was a new criminal tactic to take along the family. Then there was the occasion where a homeowner was sleeping and we interrupted. Talk about a rude awakening! Buyers and I are w...
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By Diane McDermott, Charlotte NC Real Estate Market
(Realtor®, GRI, Landis e2 Real Estate, LLC)
 There's a difference between a "want" and a "need", even though many people use those words interchangeably. My definition (just my own personal opinion) is that a "need" is something that you would be uncomfortable without. Buyers are constantly going through and searching real estate in Charlotte NC based on what they feel they need in a home. But not all of those criteria are truly "needs". Most often there are some major features that a buyer just cannot and will not compromise on - they'd be uncomfortable without them! Then there are the things a buyer would really really like to have but if they didn't they'd still love the home. One of the most crucial steps in getting to know where a buyer's coming from and how best to find them the right real estate in Charlotte NC is taking t...
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Rates are at an all time low call 704-490-4733 ext 101 to see what your new low payment will be!!! If you currently have an FHA Mortgage, you can "Streamline Refinance" your current mortgage. What exactly does "Streamline Refinance" mean? There is no appraisal required, no income or asset information listed on your application. Most lenders will run at least 1 of the 3 credit agency reports to get your current payment history on your mortgage. While your current credit situation does not matter in doing a "Streamline Refinance" you should not have more than 2 30 day late payment on your current mortgage in the last 12 months. You must be able to supply the lender with a copy of your current "NOTE" from your last mortgage settlement. It should only take 2 weeks from the time of applicati...
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By Charlotte Home Loans Your Charlotte Mortgage Lender
As a consumer, I am always looking for the business that doesn't waste money. I know the more they waste, the more the services will cost me.As a professional, I am always looking for ways to cut overhead costs so that my clients get the best possible service.Enter Active Rain.You see, right now if you do a Google search for "Charlotte home loans" you will find about 228,000 websites. Many of these lenders and loan officers are spending big money to SEO companies to get into the top pages. And by big money, I mean THOUSANDS of dollars! Between "slick" websites and "experts" that promise first page placement, there is an endless array of ways to throw your money around. If you really want to be on the first page of google, you can do Adwords, which can blow through a few hundred dollars ...
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By Debe Maxwell, CRS, The RIGHT CHARLOTTE REALTOR!
(Savvy + Company (704) 491-3310)
Our Uptown condo market is booming in Charlotte, NC!  Days on the market are increased since last year but, skewing statistics are generated by pre-sale listings in MLS prior to construction.  New complexes are now complete or nearing completion in the Uptown area this month.  Sold Jan 1 - Jan 24, 2008- 28 Properties Found Square FeetBedroomsFull BathsHalf BathsList PriceSale PriceDays On MarketMin0110$ 165,425$ 165,4251Avg1089110$ 339,009$ 332,61374Max2264332$ 699,900$ 640,000467 Sold Jan 1 - Jan 24, 2007- 20 Properties Found Square FeetBedroomsFull BathsHalf BathsList PriceSale PriceDays On MarketMin530110$ 183,319$ 180,0001Avg1180110$ 375,436$ 379,46656Max2685331$ 1,100,000$ 1,300,600342 About the author:  Debe Maxwell is a Charlotte Residential Real Estate, Certified Neighborhood an...
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By Debe Maxwell, CRS, The RIGHT CHARLOTTE REALTOR!
(Savvy + Company (704) 491-3310)
Sales comparables for CONDOS in Dilworth are significantly UP this year as shown in year-to-date sales 2007 & 2008 below.  Days on the market are reduced and list price:sales price percentages are UP.  We're starting off 2008 with a bang in Dilworth!01/01/2008 to 01/24/2008 Sold - 11 Properties Found Square FeetBedroomsFull BathsHalf BathsList PriceSale PriceDays On MarketMin656110$ 134,900$ 134,9001Avg1181110$ 256,479$ 258,00929Max2627322$ 499,000$ 499,000102 01/01/2007 - 01/24/2007 Sold - 5 Properties Found Square FeetBedroomsFull BathsHalf BathsList PriceSale PriceDays On MarketMin627010$ 175,900$ 175,90044Avg961110$ 225,920$ 221,820126Max1542321$ 299,000$ 284,000237About the author:  Debe Maxwell is a Charlotte Residential Real Estate, Certified Neighborhood and Relocation Specialis...
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By Charlotte Home Loans Your Charlotte Mortgage Lender
Diana Olick from CNBC wrote an interesting article about this. Here's the highlights: The 30 Year Fixed mortgage rate is NOT tied to short-term treasuries. Today's cut will affect short term ARMS, but not by much. This rate cut will not stop the foreclosures that are about to happen. Diana made a couple statements in addition to these facts, one I agree with and one that is just false... Click the read more buttong to find out more about the impact of the fed rate cut on mortgages >>_______________________________________________This news update brought to you byThe Ed Nailor Mortgage TeamCharlotte Home Loans704-651-8704 phone or visit www.EdNailor.com
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By Terry McDonald The McDonald Group, Brokers NC/ SC
(TerryMcDonaldRealEstate.com, LLC)
Sun City Carolina Lake, Del Webb's extremely successful community in Ft Mill SC, is an easy commute to Uptown Charlotte, the Charlotte Douglas Airport, and just 10 minutes from popular Ballantyne. It is also on my "Terry's Top Ten New Home Community List." Del Webb communities are known for their easy-living lifestyle, great amenities and excellent golf...the 1200 acre Carolina Lakes is no exception. Here are the highlights of this the most popular new home community in the greater Charlotte area: a 40,000 square foot recreation center which includes a billiard room, an exercise room, a half dozen meeting rooms for clubs ranging from poker to poetry, fine arts to woodworking, indoor walking, mileso fout door walking trails, a state of the art exercise room... plus of course an 18 hole ...
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By Debe Maxwell, CRS, The RIGHT CHARLOTTE REALTOR!
(Savvy + Company (704) 491-3310)
Job growth and economic expansion continue to sustain Charlotte's real estate market.  With the news of Bank of America's (headquartered in Charlotte) recent decision to purchase Countrywide for a mere $4.1 million dollars (stock), Charlotte is soon to become America's leading financial center.  Bank of America is but one of over 300 Fortune 500 companies represented in Charlotte, NC.In a recent, fourth quarter 2007 FORBES article, Charlotte was tagged as one of the top five cities with undervalued market prices in the U.S.  The National Association of Home Builders reflects that Charlotte does not have the inventory surplus that is crippling some cities nor, do we have the fast rate of new construction starts, keeping us more in-line with supply and demand.According to FORBES, Charlott...
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By Brian Belcher, Charlotte Realtor
(RE/MAX Executive)
As a realtor, you always have to be prepared to recommend a good restaurant.  My wife and I love sushi and one of our favorite places to eat is Restaurant I.  Chef Masa Kokubu is at the helm and the menu is Japanese French fusion.  Excellent sushi and really cool Japanese French fusion dishes are their offerings with a contemporary atmosphere and friendly staff.If you go, try Duck a la ' i ',  yes duck at a sushi restaurant.  That is why Restaurant I is sooo good! 1524 East BlvdCharlotte, NC 28203Phone: (704) 333-8118
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By Diane McDermott, Charlotte NC Real Estate Market
(Realtor®, GRI, Landis e2 Real Estate, LLC)
 Here in Charlotte NC we have a TON of trees. Really, we do, even with all the development there are still an amazing amount of trees throughout the city. When my husband and I first visited Charlotte, we drove down Queens Rd in Myers Park and it was so amazingly beautiful!!! The trees line the streets and it felt like a different world. Now we live in a neighborhood that also has lots of mature trees and we couldn't be happier. It just seems to add a different dimension to the landscape. When I go to newer/new neighborhoods in Charlotte NC I love when I see that the builders have left some of the original trees. Now I know builders have to deal with grading and land prep and many times that means trees have to go, but even leaving some does add to the aesthetic appeal of real estate in...
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By Diane McDermott, Charlotte NC Real Estate Market
(Realtor®, GRI, Landis e2 Real Estate, LLC)
 I find it's a daily battle to keep the clutter at bay. Between mail, magazines, catalogs, pens, books, the list goes on and on. Even with a home office, somehow miscellaneous STUFF keeps finding its way onto my kitchen counters, living room tables, basically anywhere but where it's supposed to be!!! So what does this have to do with real estate in Charlotte NC? Just that I have the utmost sympathy for sellers. We expect our sellers to keep their HOME in model condition 7 days a week, because we just never know when THE buyer will want to stop by. Really, it's a job to keep up with all the stuff that just doesn't seem to stay where it's supposed to! I've been a seller of real estate in Charlotte NC and it was not fun keeping the house "show ready". I really wanted to just leave and stay...
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By Diane McDermott, Charlotte NC Real Estate Market
(Realtor®, GRI, Landis e2 Real Estate, LLC)
 I've lost count of how many times I've been asked "can we move this house to that other property?" None of my buyers have ever been serious of course, but they mean that they really love the house but it's not on the right piece of property. For some reason, the exterior and lot just turn the buyers off.  Why should a seller of real estate in Charlotte NC understand this? Because real estate is not a la carte!!! Buyers aren't buying just a house or just the property, it's a package deal and both the house and property have to meet their needs.  I know we focus all the time on the condition of the house, having it "show ready", clutter free, smelling great and inviting the buyers in but the exterior can't be ignored.  Buyers won't ignore it, if they have any interest in the house, they ...
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By Keith Lutz
(Keller Williams Metropolitan)
I have on my website a few places to go in and around Charlotte.  Well I am either going to be expanding upon them or adding to them.  Keep in mind I have not tried all of these things.  I will break the 100 things into bitesize chunks of 5 things, and every few days add 5 more, till the countdown gets too 100!1.) Experience the world's mostunique outdoor recreation andenvironmental learning experienceat the U.S. National Whitewater Center. Share over 300 acres ofwoodlands along the CatawbaRiver with Olympic-caliber athletes,weekend warriors and thoselooking for high adventure.  http://www.usnwc.org/  This is a first in the U.S), a man-made whitewater course that is modeled after a similar course in Sydney Australia. There are more than 270 acres rafting, kayaking, hiking, and mountain ...
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By Diane McDermott, Charlotte NC Real Estate Market
(Realtor®, GRI, Landis e2 Real Estate, LLC)
 Here in the Charlotte area, the county health inspectors score restaurants and issue a "sanitation grade". These are displayed in the restaurant - if you've never noticed them take a look the next time you're dining out. Most of the time they're posted near the entry. The closer to 100% the score is, the better the restaurant scored as far as following the sanitation guidelines. I check these scores all the time and I used to have a co-worker who had a "minimum score requirement". If a restaurant scored below her minimum requirement, she would NOT eat there! The county website has a searchable database of restaurants' inspection reports, the website is: http://mecklenburg.digitalhealthdepartment.com/ and the local news channel WCNC posts the top and bottom scores weekly on their websit...
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By Charlotte Home Loans Your Charlotte Mortgage Lender
As a mortgage professional, I go out of my way to take care of my clients. When it comes to their security and their privacy, I leave nothing to chance. So when I recently visited a local Realtor's website and looked around their website, I was shocked at what I found.The Realtor offered a pre-approval form on their website, but it was not secured in any way! As a matter of fact, the agent's website is a "template" style site hosted by one of the larger real estate focused website companies!Read why Mortgage Applications Should be Secure and add your comments there too!______________________________________________________________This urgent update is brought to you byThe Ed Nailor Mortgage TeamEd Nailor loans Charlotte!704-651-8704 Phone or visit www.EdNailor.com
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