From national and Charlotte NC real estate to the U.S. economy, the predictions for 2010 are everywhere. Like any “predictions,” they vary from being somewhat bright and cheery to downright doom and gloom. Here are predictions from a few sources that I found interesting:

CNBC’s Realty Check predicts:
• The beginning of a housing market recovery mid-year
• Higher foreclosure inventory
• Rising mortgage rates, probably leveling off around six percent.
• Suffering commercial real estate

The National Association of Realtors’® (NAR) chief economist is projecting:
• A sustainable recovery. The tax credit expansion will help to relieve extra housing supply through mid-2010.
• A rise in existing home sales. The NAR is expecting existing home sales to rise as high as 5.69 million, even with continuing unemployment issues. That’s a 13.6 percent increase.

In fact, the U.S. forecasts for national and Charlotte NC real estate are overall positive for 2010.

Housing Predictor, one of the first places to predict the wave of foreclosures, also forecasts positive numbers for 2010. They anticipate:

• Rising home sales
• Market improvement
• Even value appreciation for some areas.

Again, the magic period for the beginning of stabilization seems to be the beginning of Q3 and these are only projections. Although no one knows for certain what will happen in the future – especially for such struggling sectors nationally (and even in some areas of Charlotte) – we can all gain a little hope from these 2010 forecasts. There is one thing that is fairly well agreed upon according to these predictions: there will be a real estate recovery in 2010.

If you’re struggling to sell your Charlotte NC home, I can help. Call or email me at for more information.

‘Tis the Season:  Selling During the Holidays

I recommend that my sellers remain on the market during this time if at all possible. The reason–there is far less competition.  Yes, there are fewer buyers but, the competition is far less and you’ve got a better chance of selling during this season than waiting for the spring’s flood of new listings.

Consider this–holiday festivities are a breeze at your home that is on the market during this season because you have already done the work to constantly keep your home in showing order to be prepared for a showing at a moment’s notice.  Your efforts to reach out to potential buyers could pay off during this challenging time!

When your home offers the features and amenities. location and price that a potential buyer is looking for, you are more likely to sell it quickly in the winter than waiting for the spring or summer buying seasons. Your home may very well be looking its best this time of year.  Here are some tips for setting the stage for your holiday listing:

1. Adorn your front door with a festive wreath.
2. Place a fresh welcome mat at the front door.
3. Minimize your holiday decorations–tastefully selected decorations will give the buyer a ‘warm’ feeling but, not distract their eyes from your home, which is what you want to ultimately sell.
4. Remove furniture to accomodate your decorations–you don’t want your home to appear smaller than it is because you’ve tucked a small tree in the corner and pushed your furniture together to accomodate that tree.
5. Holiday scents will make your home seem warm and welcoming–consider boiling an apple slice and a stick of cinnamon just before a showing.  You can store your boiling pot in the refrigerator for several days for re-use.
6. If you’re only stepping out of the home for the agents to show, leave it toasty with a fire in the fireplace.  Do not leave your home unattended with a fire burning though!
7. Because winter months can be dreary because of the weather, raise your blinds and leave the lights on.
8. Do not over-decorate–all buyers do not celebrate the holidays in the same manner that you do so, give your home a warm feeling but, don’t overdo it.
9. Leave your stereo playing classical or jazz music softly during showings.
10. As you leave your home for showings, ask yourself if you’ve appealed to all senses:  visual, smell and sound.  You may even want leave them cookies to appeal to their sense of taste!

Other holiday incentives that you can offer:

• If you can cover the buyer’s closing costs, or a portion thereof, you may attract potential buyers to your home by advertising this information.
• Offer a “decorating allowance” for purchasing your home during the winter months.

Keep in mind that when you place or leave your home on the market during the winter holiday season, people rarely “browse” for homes during this time of year. The potential buyers who do visit your home are serious about buying and are often in a hurry to do so.

The equation is simple:  Serious buyers +  tastefully done festive décor = you, well on the way to selling your home! ‘Tis the season!

Search for all homes in the Myers Park High School District.

Search for all homes in the $300,000 to $400,000 price range in the Myers Park High School zone.

Search for all homes in the $300,000 to $400,000 price range in Charlotte NC (all of the Charlotte Metro area)

Search for homes in the $100,000 to $200,000 price range in the Myers Park High School zone.

Search for homes in the $200,000 to $300,000 price range in the Myers Park High School zone.

Search for homes in the $500,000 to $800,000 price range in the Myers Park High School zone.

Search for homes in the $800,000 and above price range in the Myers Park High School zone.

Search for all homes in the Charlotte NC Metro area, specific to your needs.  Here you can search for number of bedrooms, baths, lot size, parking (garage, etc.), building features, building style and more!  Search for specific public schools or even locate the nearest Starbucks to your favorite property!

Contact us for assistance if you’re thinking of buying or selling in the Charlotte NC real estate market!

*Please note–School zones sometimes change within the Charlotte Mecklenburg School System, therefore it is always better to check the system website at www.CMS.k12.NC.US

Visit www.SoldByDebe.com for your Charlotte NC real estate needs.

On Friday, November 6, 2009, President Obama signed  a bill which will extend the $8000 tax credit for *qualifying first-time home buyers through June 2010.   First time home buyers will receive the $8,000 Federal tax credit if they:

1.  Sign a contract by April 30, 2010
2.  Close on the home by June 30, 2010.

The new bill will also provide a $6,500 credit  for current  homeowners who purchase a new primary residence, and have lived in their current home for at least five of the previous 8 years.

*The bill has a few provisions including:

• Single tax filers who earn up to $125,000 are eligible for the total credit amount. Those who earn more than this cap can receive a partial credit. However, single filers who earn $145,000 and above are ineligible.
• Joint tax filers who earn up to $225,000 are eligible for the total credit amount. Those who earn more than this cap can receive a partial credit. However, joint filers who earn $245,000 and above are ineligible.

Click here for the First Time Home Buyer Tax Credit Form.

Begin your search for homes in Myers Park High School Charlotte NC area.  Happy house hunting!

Myers Park Country Club
2415 Roswell Ave
Charlotte, NC  28209
United States
(704) 376-0745
www.myersparkcc.com

The National Association
of Home Builders
provided
the following video with Rob Dietz, PhD discussing the $8,000. first
-time homebuyer tax credit.  This 7-minute video is well worth the
watch if you’re a first-time homebuyer or haven’t owned your own home
for the last three years.

• Buy a home and you may qualify for the $8,000 tax credit on
  your 2009 taxes
• Even if you don’t owe $8,000 in taxes, you may receive a
  refund check for the difference
• You or your spouse can’t have previously owned a home in the
  last 3 years
• You cannot make more than $75,000 adjusted gross income, or
  if married, $150,000 adjusted gross income
• The home that you purchase has to be your primary residence
• If you sell the property within 3 years, you will have to
  repay the money back to the government.  If not, the money is
  yours to
  keep with no strings attached.
• Consult your tax advisor for more details.
• Consult your local expert Realtor® when you’re ready to start shopping for
  that new home!