Rebecca's Blog
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Charlotte Ranks Second Among Best Places to Buy Now
Forbes magazine recently named the Greater Charlotte Metro Area one of the best places to buy a home, second only to Boston, Massachusetts. To determine which cities had the best buys, Forbes computed the premium and identified locales where economists predict home prices will go up the most over the next five years.
Visit this link to view slideshow and to read more details
Inventory and Prices Continue to Fluctuate Wildly
Time remaining on our return to a healthy and active economy remains unclear
Monroe Real Estate - Trulia |
COMMUNITY OPEN HOUSE SHOWCASING OVER TWENTY (YES,20!!!)WAXHAW AREA HOMES FOR SALE!!!
WHEN: Thursday, August 20th, 3PM - 5PM
WHERE:Waxhaw, N.C. to include:
1117 Periwinkle Dr, Lawson Subdivision
2417 Trading Ford Dr, Lawson Subdivision
2509 Trading Ford Dr, Lawson Subdivision
1208 Brough Hall, Lawson Subdivision
1264 Burleyson Ln, Lawson Subdivision
1511 Cuthbertson Rd, None - Adjacent to Cuthbertson Schools
8307 Haveron St, Cureton Subdivision
2000 Trace Creek Dr, Camberley Subdivision
1975 Trace Creek Dr, Camberley Subdivision
2109 Majestic Poplar Dr, Camberley Subdivision
2132 Majestic Poplar Dr, Camberley Subdivision
3003 Low Gap Rd., Jackson Woods Subdivision
4100 Chasebrook Ln, Millbridge Subdivision
1037 Ridgehaven Rd, Millbridge Subdivision
8300 Cutters Spring, Park Providence Subdivision
8032 Penman Springs, Providence Grove Subdivision
8212 Brisbin Dr, Providence Grove Subdivision
1910 Crestgate Dr, Stonegate Subdivision
5910 Lowergte Dr., Stonegate Subdivision
8106 Stead Ct, Quellin Subdivision
HORS D'OEUVRES AND OTHER FINGER FOODS OFFERED AT MANY LOCATIONS. EVENT IS FREE TO THE PUBLIC. JUST FOLLOW THE OPEN HOUSE SIGNS!!!
Indian Trail NC named Top Ten Best Town for Families in Family Circle Magazine!
Family Circle Magazine searched the country to find the best places to live and raise families based on criteria that included population, income, affordability, quality of education, access to health care, abundance of green space, neighborly comraderie and overall resident satisfaction ... and "Wala" ... what they discovered is what we have known all along - Indian Trail really stacks up!!!!
To view the article and more details on the study pick up the August issue of Family Circle Magazine.
March for Babies 4-25-09
Time to Buy Your Dreamhome
State of the Union: Economic Woes and Splendid Opportunities
We have all become more educated on the immense correlation between the health of the real estate market and the overall economy in the entirety of 2008. We have also become privy to the effect our own economical woes here in the U.S. have on global markets. The domino effect that was set off by faulty subprime lending practices continues to wreak havoc on nearly every other existing industry. When mortgage lenders bagan to fail, investors were quick to take their money out of the risky mortgage bonds and faltering equities and put it into commodities. In turn, gas prices soared. Food prices also spiked sharply as a result of the financial speculation in commodity futures, and all prices increased across the board due to the higher price of moving product to market. Individuals already feeling the strain of making mortgage payments that "experts" told them were feasible for their incomes and expenses with consideration to fluctuations in the market were completely destabalized by the price increases. Consupmtion dropped dramatically which placed enormous pressure on small businesses and long standing industries to restructure ... and quick. A frenzy of pay cuts, layoffs and shut downs ensued. Tightening (and necessary) mortgage restrictions in conjunction with individual financial distress and diminished job security caused residential home sales to decrease dramatically. Inventory (homes on the market) subsequently climbed causing home prices (and household wealth) to decrease lending to even less spending. And so the (self perpetuating) cycle continues.
Now for my gratuitous grasp at hope and summons to act ...
For those wise and willing few who have not been knocked down to their knees, or those who still feel it is within them to get back up and brush themselves off ...
Get out there and seize the day and the multitudes of opportunites that exist only as a result of this mess. Home prices are low, mortgage rates remain very low, there are a multitude of properties to choose from and sellers are ready and willing to negotiate. If you are in the position to buy now ... then what, by gosh, are you waiting for!?!!!
| Charlotte Real Estate - Trulia |
This data feed is live and is updated weekly so be sure to check back soon.
Live Jazz at the Mint Musuem of Craft + Design
Third Thursdays at the Mint Museum of Craft + Design in uptown Charlotte offers live jazz from 6:30 to 7:30P. On January 15th come in and enjoy the Gallery (open 5P - 8P) before and after the performance by Sabra Callas (with Steve Shoaf). For more details visit www.mintmuseum.org. You can also find out more about Sabra Callas by visiting her websites SabraCallas.com or MySpace.com/sabrecallas.
The Village at Lake Norman
The Village At Lake Norman is planned as a high-quality mixed-use development in south Cornelius, NC, by Cornelius Bromont, LLC, a partnership of Bromont Investments of Scottsdale AZ and Carlsen Douglas Development of Huntersville, NC.
We are pleased that the Town of Cornelius has granted us the requested rezoning. We are now working on the complex financing and seeking approval from county, state and federal transportation authorities. Please take a few minutes to review our exciting concepts and share them with your family, friends and neighbors.
The Village At Lake Norman will be a high-quality mixed-use development combining retail, residential, office, hospitality and entertainment features, many of which are not currently available in the community. This will be a true live-work-play environment.
This 2.2-million-square-foot, $516-million center is planned to be located on 104 acres south of Westmoreland Road, bounded by U.S. 21 on the east and I-77 on the west:
· Including approximately 655,000 square feet of high-quality retail/restaurant space, 810,000 square feet of Class A corporate office, two hotels totaling 350 rooms, and 400 luxury condominium residences.
· The residences will be built above retail shops and restaurants in two similar mixed-use buildings, facing each other across a Village Green.
· The Green would host public events like live music and "Movies on the Green," farmers markets, community art shows, outdoor dining, casual strolling and relaxing
Construction is slated to begin next year.
Source: Developer Website: www. corneliusbromont.com
Sunset Jazz Festival in SouthPark
Bring your lawn chairs, blankets and your favorite bottle of vino. This is sure to be an experience you can revel in for days!
17th Annual Bank of America Sunset Jazz Festival
The 2008 Bank of America Sunset Jazz Festival will return to the beautiful Symphony Park at SouthPark mall this fall. Last year we had a diverse group of over 5000 jazz and music lovers who spent the day soaking up the sun and the sounds. This year will be no exception! On Saturday, Sept. 13, 2008 the festival will feature local and regional artists who are prepared to wow and amaze you!!!
As Always, this years line up will include local legends. Bassist Ron Brendle will be performing with his band the Freebop Funk-tet, and flutist Michael Porter will be performing with his group Porterhouse. Brendle and Porter are two outstanding jazz musicians who keep jazz alive and flowing in the Queen City. We also have a regional music legend, Sweet Dreams, from Durham NC. Sweet Dreams is no stranger to Charlotte and will return to the festival with their full band. And finally, we have an existing group from Virginia called The Fuzz Band. "The Fuzz" is an electrifying and entertaining band consisting of 8 members and will definitely put on a show you will not forget!
Follow this link for more information on this event
The Mystery of the Incredibly Large Picture Frame in MP Revealed!
Empty frame touts Myers Park project
Allen Norwood
OK, here's the scoop on that giant gold picture frame on Selwyn Avenue in Myers Park:
The ornate 16-by-20- foot frame weighs 400 pounds. It was lifted into place by crane on May 9. It's supported by pipes sunk into concrete.
If you've seen it, you know that it "frames" the façade of a model home in a new community, Stephens Square, by Simonini Builders. When completed, the development will consist of 10 homes at Selwyn and Queens Road West.
Scott Teel, Simonini marketing director, said the giant frame was the brainchild of the creative folks at LKM, a Charlotte marketing company. "They decided on an ‘artwork' approach ... and then came up with the frame idea," he said.
The frame was built by Jeff Hamrick - who, it turns out, has experience with giant frames. Also, with giant electronic gizmos and human ears. He builds television sets and props. You can see more of his work at www.theinteriorartisan.com.
Hamrick spent five days building the giant frame that's on Selwyn.
Teel said Simonini (www.simonini.com) plans to leave the frame in place at least for three or four weeks, through grand opening events.
Still a Great Time to Buy in Charlotte
The population of Charlotte has been growing tremendously over the past decade. As fate would have it, our growth has stemmed primarily as a result of highly skilled and educated persons seeking employment or further education at one of our many "cream of the crop" firms and institutions. In this phenomenon we have all been able to identify myriad values and virtues, but now we can cite yet one more postive impact this factor has bestowed on us ... a local real estate market that continues to survive, and in terms relative to the current market nationwide, thrive. Home prices have appreciated from this time last year and sales, although down from last years numbers, have been on the rise since the first of the year.
Charlotte property owners are living on the properties they are buying long term as opposed to purchasing with the intention of leasing out or flipping. This local trend has resulted in steady yet controlled home appreciations in our market. Pricing in markets with high investor activity yielded property pricing that was greatly exaggerated creating an economy that could not be sustained. While these previously "booming" cities experience a much needed correction in their markets, Charlotte will humbly revel in its healthy market standing.
Current Market Conditions Beckon New Buyers
This is a clip from ABC Nightline back in June of 2007. I am including it as it is an informative bridge to current conditions. The agent featured here does show a property that he sold to an investor, but this is not a reflection of the vast majority of our property sales
Art and Soul of South End: Charlotte: April 26th & 27th
Adore the arts in all its various forms? Visit South End on April 26th and 27th to experience a multitude of art expositions. Visual arts include sculptures, paintings, photos and mixed media in glass, clay, metal, acrylic and other mediums. Scheduled entertainment includes choirs, dance troupes, bands and orchestras. If you wish to get in on the action, teachers in a variety of dance genres including hip-hop, salsa and swing dancing will be available and teaching free classes!
For more information on this event, click on the logo :)
It's Getting Better all the Time
On it's inaugural list of the best cities to live, Fortune Small Business ranked Charlotte, NC #8. This number is not perfectly accurate (we all know it is #1!), but this is a welcome accolade none the less. FSB researched towns that enjoy healthy business environments and alluring leisure offerings, then further rated them on economic conditions such as local tax rates, natural beauty and availability of desirable arts and entertainment venues and recreational opportunities, all of which we are fortunate to have plenty of! Sitting pretty as the second largest banking and financial center in the nation, trumped only by NYs Wall Street, does no injustice to our wonderful city either. We have experienced an influx of highly educated, motivated and growth centric populations that continue to move us toward the future in exciting and innovative ways. Our city is taking the proper steps to ensure much thought and consideration is taken with all projects as it moves forward. We are "in the loop" when it comes to providing and protecting green space, encouraging the development of green building/living, all while maintaining economic growth ... isn't this the exact definition of "quality of life"?!!! You have to love it!!!
Follow the link if you would like to read more about our placement on the Fortune Small Business Best Places to Live list.
More Positive News on the Charlotte Market
Throughout the mortgage crisis and the subsequent overall economy downturn, Charlotte has bucked national trends. Standard & Poor's S&P/Case-Shiller home price index, a measure of U.S. home prices, posted an annual decline of 11.4% in the January 10-city composite index. The 20-city composite index recorded an annual decline of 10.7% with Las Vegas, Miami and Phoenix experiencing the largest declines, while Charlotte, N.C., posted the ONLY annual gain in housing prices among the 20 markets tracked. The year-over-year price of existing single-family homes grew 1.8 percent in the Queen City in January, according to the Index.
Queen's Cup Steeplechase
Horse lovers, fashionistas and socialites (and those of you who just want an excuse to spend a lovely afternoon outside with some Prosecco and Prosciutto!!!) ...
It is that time of the year again. Time to pull out your best sundress (or khaki's), and make your way to Waxhaw. As always, the Queen's Cup Steeplechase is set to take place the last Saturday in April. Hope to see you there ;)
http://www.queenscup.org/events
Getting to know Charlotte
To "get to know Charlotte" visit some of the links I have posted on this site (far right side of this page just under my photo and personal info). They will provide you with beaucoup information on Charlotte area arts, entertainment, education and special events :)
