New Housing Statistics Show Charlotte # 1 in the Country

CHARLOTTE, NC: The National Association of REALTORS declared Charlotte the number one city in the nation for growth in home prices from the beginning of last year to the beginning of this year. Prices have surged more in the Charlotte area than anywhere else in the US.

The median home price in the 7-county Charlotte metropolitan area, including Charlotte, Gastonia and Concord, was $195,000 for the first quarter of 2011.  This statistic is up more than 12 percent from the first quarter of 2010.

Charlotte didn’t feel quite the boom that many of the nation’s major cities did in the 2003 – 2006 years. Prices just never climbed the way that they did in other cities.  When the recession hit the rest of the nation, Charlotte didn’t quite feel the ‘heat.’  It seems that in recent months, things have been at a near-stand-still but, it is refreshing to see some positive growth in our sales prices–finally!

Charlotte housing is on the move again and our rebound looks most impressive at the moment.  Charlotte’s more established neighborhoods, including Myers Park, Dilworth, Elizabeth, Midwood and Beverly Woods have been our mainstay during the downturn and will likely lead the city’s growth again during the second half of 2011 and into 2012.

Charlotte North Carolina Real Estate – Charlotte NC Relocation Information

Debe Maxwell, CRS, Realtor®/Broker
Savvy + Company Real Estate
1920 E. 7th Street
Charlotte, NC 28204

Mobile: (704) 491-3310
Fax:       (704) 353-7014
Email: debe@debemaxwell.com

More information on Charlotte than you’ll ever need!

Originally posted at http://www.iCharlotteRealEstate.com

Presence?  Lifestyle?  Curb appeal?  To the vast majority of my clients, luxury means lifestyle and community. There are many luxury neighborhoods in the Charlotte Metro region -the choices are plentiful and the styles vary immensely.

If you’re looking for a country club setting, Myers Park and Providence Country Club are two of the older favorites.  Myers Park, of course, being one of the oldest ‘suburbs’ in Charlotte, offers proximity to the city whereas Providence Country Club is about 25 minutes from the Uptown area in the true suburbs ofCharlotte NC.  Both offer country club appeal and access to some of the areas finest clubs.  More importantly, they offer a lifestyle that many seem to find inviting – with their quaint settings and mature landscaping, excellent school choices and access to fine dining and spectacular shopping.

Proximity to the city can describe other Charlotte NC luxury neighborhoods such as Dilworth, Carmel Park, Elizabeth, Eastover, Foxcroft, Morrocroft, SouthPark and Stonecroft.  These areas offer older homes, many of which have been massively renovated and stately architecture – from Craftsman to traditional and every style in between.  You can find the luxury home that appeals to your style and flavor in these Charlotte NC luxury neighborhoods.  If historical neighborhoods are appealing to you, there are several from which to choose as well.

Outlying luxury communities that offer country club living include Carmel Country Club, Glen Eagles, Firethorne, Innisbrook at Firethorne, Longview, Piper Glen and Ballantyne Country Club.  These areas offer the sophistication and style that many are in search of in a dream home.

Looking for luxury lake living?  We have Lake Norman, Lake Wylie and Mountain Island Lake luxury homes for sale too!  If you enjoy water sports or golfing, you’ll find homes in close proximity to both here in the Charlotte Metro area.

Whatever lifestyle living you’re searching for in a Charlotte NC luxury home, you can find it!  The choices abound – the problem is, deciding upon the ONE that fits your lifestyle best!  There are many more  Charlotte NC luxury neighborhoods – contact us to help you find the one that best suits your needs.

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

3708  Haven Drive
Charlotte, NC 28209

Price: $309,000
Main Features:
Single Family Home,2 Bedrooms,1 Bathroom,Interior: 998 sqft,Lot: 0.27 acre(s)

More Info: http://listings.realbird.com/Real_Estate/2br–1ba-Recently-Renovated-Ranch-Home-in-Myers-Park—Great-Schools-/Charlotte/NC/E6D5E6E6/45136.aspx

Description:
Beautifully renovated Myers Park home near Park Road Montessori School.  Kitchen renovation includes gorgeous new cabinets, granite countertops, stainless steel appliances.  Home has new windows, new hot water heater, bathroom tile, and gleaming hardwoods.  Great level, fenced-in lot with new deck and new landscape lighting.  Located on the Park Road Shopping Center end of Myers Park, off of Hillside,near the Park Road Entertainment District:  Dine at Sir Edmond Haley’s or any of the great restaurants in the area.  Shop at Blackhawk Hardware or find just about anything you’re looking for in the Park Road Shopping Center.  Your local Harris Teeter is just a minute away as well! You just can’t go wrong with this location OR the price!  Priced to SELL now, use the $8,000 federal tax credit for first time home buyers before this government benefit expires!  Call today for your tour!