Courtesy Of: Rich Ferretti July 2009 Helping clients for over 20 years! Copyright 2009 Realty TimesAll Rights Reserved. Rates Ticking Up      In Freddie Mac's results of its Primary Mortgage Market Survey the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 5.42 percent for the week ending June 25, 2009, up from the previous week when it averaged 5.38 percent.    Last year at this time, the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 6.45 percent.    "Mixed economic reports on the state of the housing market helped hold mortgage rates fairly flat," said Frank Nothaft, Freddie Mac vice Mortgage RatesSource: Realty TimesU.S. averages as of June 25, 2009:30 yr. fixed:   5.42... 07/01/2009

What happened in the Mint Hill NC real estate market during April and May of 2009? This post will summarize first quarter real estate sales in Mint Hill NC plus compare average sold prices with 2008 closed prices. Mint Hill NC Real Estate Market Report--April to May 2009 Single Family Homes in Mint Hill NC                               Number of Sales:  24 Price Range:  $52,000 to $540,000 Average Heated Area:  2744 sq.ft. Average Price:  $272,586 Average 2008 Price:  $296,011    Change: -7% Average Days on Market:  128 Number of Contracts Pending:  19 Most Active Neighborhood:  Farmwood and Telfair Current Active Listings on Market:  163 Townhomes and Condominiums in Mint Hill NC Number of Sales:  1  Price Range:  $545,000 Average Heated Area:  3489 sq.ft. Average Price:  $545,000 Aver... 06/24/2009

[http://www.minthillrealty.com] I have been working with homebuyers in the Charlotte area for a long time and I know that whether you've spent years saving and preparing to buy a home, or you're unsure if you can afford it, the questions surrounding home buying can feel endless. Sometimes other agents get caught up in all the exciting new incentives, rates, and opportunities - that they forget that not everyone who walks into their offices is an expert. I feel that part of my service to you as your Realtor is to help educate you, whether this is your first home or your fifteenth. Below are some basics, but feel free to contact me any time if you have any Charlotte area real estate questions.Here are some tips to help you through first-time home buying: Shop for mortgage rates and terms.... 06/18/2009

[http://www.minthillrealty.com] The other day, I drove past two houses on the same street in Mint Hill that had "For Sale by Owner" signs out front.I bet those signs will be there a very long time, especially in this market.People who attempt to sell their own homes are usually doing so to save a Realtor's fee. In a seller's market, you may be successful in attempting to sell your own home. In a buyer's market, it's usually a recipe for failure--in in the high-demand area of Mint Hill. Without a Real Estate Agent, you won't have the ability to list your house in the Multiple Listing Service (MLS), meaning you don't have a broad reach and therefore have a much smaller pool of potential buyers to balance out the many homes on the market. Additionally, a Real Estate Agent does a lot that h... 06/03/2009

[http://www.minthillrealty.com] President Obama's Housing and Economic Recovery Act (HERA) has allowed Wells Fargo to be able to offer the HARP (Home Affordable Refinance Program). This program allows borrowers whose loans meet the following criteria to refinance thier loans regardless of their current credit score and value of their homes (to a maximum loan value of 105% of their home value). The impact is huge as homeowners in Mint Hill and around the country who have seen the values of their homes fall, along with their credit scores, are still able to benefit from the historically low interest rates we are experiencing.The criteria are as follows :--> Conforming loan amount where the first mortgage was originated without private mortgage insurance--> Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac was is... 05/28/2009

What happened in the Mint Hill NC real estate market during the first three months of 2009? This post will summarize first quarter real estate sales in Mint Hill NC plus compare average sold prices with 2008 closed prices. Mint Hill NC Real Estate Market Report--January to March 2009 Single Family Homes in Mint Hill NC Number of Sales:  26 Price Range:  $110,000 to $575,000 Average Heated Area:  2662 sq.ft. Average Price:  $244,480 Average 2008 Price:  $296,011    Change: -17% Average Days on Market:  94 Number of Contracts Pending:  19 Most Active Neighborhood:  Brighton Park and Olde Sycamore Current Active Listings on Market:  155 Townhomes and Condominiums in Mint Hill NC Number of Sales:  1  Price Range:  $199,990 Average Heated Area:  1706 sq.ft. Average Price:  $199,990 Average 2... 04/07/2009

Reading some of the other blogs I was happily surprised to see a 203k friend talking up the Mixed Use application of the FHA loan program. I can't imphasize how dynamic this can be for a 'new investor' who doesn't mind liiving in the property for a while. You get to ignor the stores and have up to 4 more residential units... I did an appraisal on a large store front that took up the whole lower floor and the owner lived upstairs in a modest unit that was in fair condition. My job was only to appraise the building but he could have easily turned it into a 203k and got the money out to fix up the residential units including the one that was not in rentable condition. 04/05/2009

Are you considering new homes in Mint Hill NC?  Brighton Park in downtown Mint Hill has another new home option.  M/I Homes recently opened a model home there and has one inventory home ready for sale.  These home have craftsman style exteriors with front porches, and shingle accents.  If you are looking for a ranch, the builder is offering a three bedroom, three bath one story home with an optional upstairs loft.  The ranch is the smallest home offered at approximately 1900 sq.ft.  Other new homes offered at Brighton Park range in size from just under 2500 sq.ft. to approximately 3100 sq.ft.   The builder's Brighton Park prices range from $191,990 to $220,990.  Twenty lots are available in this new section of Brighton Park. You can find other new homes in this Mint Hill NC community.  ... 03/18/2009

Mint Hill NC golf course communities include Olde Sycamore, a neighborhood straddling the Mecklenburg and Union County line.  The centerpiece of the neighborhood is Olde Sycamore Golf Plantation, a well-regarded golf course built in 1997.  The main entrance of Olde Sycamore is found off Highway 218 in Mint Hill.  An interchange with I-485 is located just a mile and a half east of this entrance. Olde Sycamore Homes Construction of homes in this Mint Hill NC golf course community began in 1996-97.  Neighborhood homes were built by several production builders as well as custom builders in another section of Olde Sycamore.  Construction of homes in the neighborhood continues today in the last section of the neighborhood called The Links located in Union County.  The Union County section of ... 02/27/2009

Do you want to know how the Mint Hill NC real estate market fared in 2008? This post will summarize the 2008 real estate sales for the town as a whole plus report on the most active neighborhoods within the Town of Mint Hill NC.  2008 Real Estate Market Report for Mint Hill NC Single Family Homes Number of Sales:  191   Price Range:  $88,660 to $1,450,000   Average Heated Area:  2601 sf   Average Price:  $296,011  Average Days on Market:  99 Townhouses and Condos Number of Sales:  5       Price Range: $49,000 to $420,000      Average Heated Area:  1810 sf   Average Price:  $220,611   Average Days on Market:  96   Most Active Neighborhoods in Mint Hill NC  2008 Heathergate   Years Built:  1978-1980 Number of Sales:  7       Price Range:  $88,660 to $119,500     Average Heated Area:  1117... 01/05/2009

Mint Hill North Carolina- Hidden Hills- Priced Right with all the Amenities and Mortgage buy down!Beautiful home with all the amenities you could ask for; from granite counters and marble floors to a surround sound system through out the house and with a very private park like property. You need to see this home!!!!Special Mortgage Buydown being offered.Contact InformationRich Ferretti704-564-0807Rich@RichFerretti.comContact Reply FormForward to a FriendView Other ListingsLocation12809 Hidden Hills LaneMint Hill, North Carolina 28227UNITED STATESShow MapLinksVirtual TourFEATURESBedrooms: 4Bathrooms: 3Partial Bathrooms: 0Subdivision: Hidden HillsSquare Footage: 2947Lot Size: .55Garage Size: Over sized 2 ca... 12/16/2008

Market Update for Matthews, Mint Hill, and Charlotte NC (MLS Area 3). November 2008 For all neighborhoods west of Independence Blvd and South of 24/27 in Mecklenburg County, including the towns of Mint Hill, Matthews, and Charlotte.  Active: In November, 111  new single family detached homes were added to the overall inventory of Matthews, Mint Hill, and Charlotte Area 3.  This was a 22.92% decrease from the month prior and a 20.14% decrease from the year prior.  This brings the total inventory in area 3 to 585 single family detached homes as of the date of this post. Pending: 53 homes single family detached homes received a contract in November.  That was 13.11% fewer than the month prior and 38.37% fewer than the year prior.  When compared with November 2006, the percentage jumps to 6... 12/15/2008

Mint Hill, North Carolina I love Mint Hill. Our annual Tree Lighting will take place this Tuesday Dec 2 at 7pm. This is a magical event when everyone turns out to see the town's Christmas tree aglow with lights and all the wide eyed children.  Cookies and Hot Chocolate will be served. Come and enjoy the kick off of the Holiday Season, Mint Hill style. The town hall is located at the intersection of Hwy 51 (Matthews-Mint Hill Rd) and Lawyers road. 11/27/2008

What is more southern than pecan pie? You can find out at Daphne's Bakery, one of Mint Hill NC's newest businesses.  Daphne's is operated by my young friend, Connie Long and her two cousins, under the supervision of their aunt.  These young ladies make southern desserts and breads "from scratch" as we say in the South.  Connie says that she is having a lot of fun with her new venture. Here are some of the other southern treats available at Daphne's. Addie Mae's whole wheat dinner rolls southern praline cake Mama Bryte's coconut cake Grandma Jane's apple pie with lattice top Daphne's, located in the McEwen Shopping Center in downtown Mint Hill, is open Tuesday through Saturday. And the pecan pie?  I took one home for dinner yesterday.  It was delicious! Want to know more about Mint Hill ... 11/22/2008

Want to know how Veterans Day is celebrated in Carolina small towns? I decided to check out the festivities in Mint Hill NC and in Matthews NC on a beautiful fall day with Carolina blue skies.          Mint Hill's Veterans Day celebration was a learning experience.  It took place at the Carl J. McEwen Historic Village in downtown Mint Hill NC and was sponsored by the Mint Hill Historical Society.  Local veterans were honored with a ceremony that included a prayer and a patriotic song, a flag raising by a Boy Scout troop and a flag retirement ceremony. A Living History program at the McEwen Historic Village took me back over a hundred years.  As I wandered among the old buildings from Mint Hill's history, I was able to speak with a gentleman farmer, a military recruiter from the Civil Wa... 11/10/2008

Trees, Trees, Trees Summerwood, a new community in Mint Hill NC, is for lovers of trees and nature.  Summerwood's 125 conservation acres are laced with nature trails and its four distinct neighborhoods are named for trees:  The Oaks, The Cedars, The Elms and The Pines.  Located just a mile from I-485, Summerwood is a secluded neighborhood with easy access to Charlotte's University area, the future Bridges of Mint Hill Mall, and other areas of South Charlotte. Summerwood will feature extensive recreational amenities including a Jr. Olympic swimming pool, a club house, amphitheater, a lake with fishing dock and boat house, tennis courts, volley ball courts and the nature trails.  Construction is expected to begin on the community amenities in 2009. Summerwood homes will be built with full... 11/09/2008

Cheval, Mint Hill NC's newest equestrian community, is an example of one of the unique neighborhoods that are springing up near the future Bridges of Mint Hill Mall.  Imagine living in a large lot neighborhood where you can keep your horse just a few minutes from an upscale regional mall.  You can get away from it all or you can enjoy nearby restaurants, shops and movies. Bring Your Horse to Cheval Cheval is a neighborhood of 160 one to five acre+ homesites.  Fifteen of the homesites are large enough to accommodate a private barn site.  At the heart of the neighborhood is the Joli Cheval Equestrian Center.  This private equestrian center includes an 8000 sq.ft. tuscan-style boarding barn with 24 stalls, a 10-stall lesson barn, a covered arena and an outdoor arena.  The center offers dre... 11/08/2008

Downtown Mint Hill is just a few steps away in this beautiful, tree-lined neighborhood on the outskirts of Charlotte, North Carolina.  It features almost 12 acres of open park space.  Lamp lighted sidewalks lead residents to the amenities of this quaint subdivision which include parks play areas and shopping, all within walking distance.  Mint Hill is located in the suburbs of Charlotte, North Carolina. Other suburban options include Indian Trail, Waxhaw, Matthews, and Ballantyne. Although Brighton Park features a tree lined small town feel, it has easy access to Charlotte and the surrounding area.  Charlotte is accessable by highway 74, I-485 and Independence Boulevard.  It is a popular community among people moving to Charlotte because it offers a balance of convenience and access. Ho... 10/24/2008

Do you want to live in a neighborhood where you can walk to restaurants and the grocery store?  If so, take a look at Brighton Park, one of downtown Mint Hill NC's most walkable neighborhoods.  Brighton Park wraps around a community shopping center that includes a grocery store, several restaurants, and other convenient shops.  Mint Hill Town Hall and a bank are nearby at the intersection of Lawyers Road and Highway 51. Brighton Park has the feel of a traditional neighborhood where streets are arranged on a grid and homes with front porches on narrow deep lots allow neighbors to know and greet each other.  Some of the lots have alleys behind them where homes with rear garages can be built.  Five parks are interspersed among the homes in Brighton Park.  A huge legacy magnolia tree that d... 10/10/2008

Mint Hill North Carolina Real Estate and Home for SaleSTOP--- Here is a stunning custom built home you've been looking for. Located in Mint Hill NC on the 5th hole of Olde Sycamore Golf Plantation. Open Floor plan with extensive hardwoods, stone columns, GOURMET KITCHEN with GRANITE and S/S Appliances overlooking landscaped yard with ourdoor fireplace, patio, porch and pond. MASTER DOWN with full custom bath. Large rooms up with huge rec room. Custom fixtures, trim and upgrades. Price reduction and seller will make 1st 3 monthly payments. Contact InformationRich Ferretti704-564-0807Rich@RichFerretti.comContact Reply FormForward to a FriendView Other ListingsLocation10542 Old Brassle DriveMint Hill, North Carolina 28227UNITED STATESShow Map