South End IS GROWING!!!

With South End attracting more and more people per year it seems that it is also attracting entrepreneurs. The newer hip area that’s attracting small business owners is in South End which is an area of Charlotte that has scene steady growth in the past years. South End has great history behind its very cool  atrichtechure. This community was estbalashied in the 1850’s with most of the buildings housing large textile companies.  The area took a dive in the 1970’s & 80’s but then sprung back to life in the 1990’s with a large amount of resturants, small business’s, and design related industries such as granite and antique furniture stores/shops.

Head to South End

 

 

Charlotte North Carolina

 South End has scene pretty decent real estate growth with new buildings popping up left and right.  Some of the area’s buildings are Village Lofts,  Abbot Streetproffesional Townhomes, The village of South End. This area of Charlotte offers residents easy communiting to and from uptown as well as other cool areas on South Blvd.  Many of the residents are young working proffesionals who enjoy easy living lifstyle and the convience of public transportation and the metropolitian lifestyle.

 

South End

If you are looking for activities and things to do then South End is where you want to head to.  Art Galleries, Farmers Market, and do not forget the First Friday’s; whichis when local business’s open there doors a little past operating hours to allow on goers extra time to browse and explore the area.  There is a very long list of great resturants and bars which you can find on the South End website.  Some that come to mind are Tyber Creek Pub, Prices Chicken Coop, Nikko’s which is a great Sushi place.

 

Explore Charlotte

My advice to any one who is looking to Explore Charlotte espceilay since the warmer weather is here I would start in South End. If you are alos looking for real estate opportunities please canotact The Lamb Group, Lamrealtors.com

Great Starter Community

Starter Home Neighborhood in Charlotte

 

 

 

Welcome to Madison Park neighborhood in Charlotte NC. This is a thriving and on the “radar”, for a great starter home community. Located between South Blvd and Park Road, this area has scene and abundance of growth. Lots of development in the area has made this neighborhood conveniently located to great shopping, restaurants, nightlife, and very quick and easy access to   I-77. This community is known for its 3 -4 bedroom ranch – split style floor plans.  The majority of the homes were constructed in the late 1950’s and was one of Charlotte’s post WWII modern neighborhoods.

Madison Park

 

 

 

Most of the homes do not offer a garage but car ports instead.  If you are looking to get into a strong and suitable home in the mid to upper $200,000’s this would be the place to start.  Keep in mind that some of these homes are outdated and will need updating but the good news is that a lot of renovations have been taking place and really making that curb appeal and functionality of the homes stand out. Most of the homes original features offer hardwood flooring fireplaces, and pretty spacious yards. Yes, there are the negatives; lack of closets, lack of multi bathrooms, and storage.  Don’t let that turn you away from this thriving little hot spot. Being so close to the

South Park

and Park Road shopping center, Madison Park is really right in the perfect area of Charlotte.  

 

 

Home Values in Charlotte NC

 

 

2 years ago I purchased a home there and within just a few months turned the home into a beautiful updated home for just under $12,000; yes this seems like a lot of money but since home values have held fairly in Madison Park the improvements have certainly helped its value and will mostly likely make it an easy sell when the time comes.  If you work in Uptown and can’t stand sitting in traffic, don’t worry the light rail is located just a few blocks from Madison Park. Having the Light Rail close to this beautiful neighborhood just adds to the amenities Madison Park has to offer.  There are currently 28 homes for sale in Madison Park which to say the least is not a lot of homes on the market given the boom this neighborhood has had. The average asking price for homes in Madison Park right now is $257,548 and offer 1,500 – 1900 sq ft.   The total days the homes stay on the market for are 88.  Since January 1, 2009 there have been 3 sold homes in Madison Park.  If you are interested in learning more about Madison Park please contact The Lamb Group.

Charlotte North Carolina Real Estate is Growing

Charlotte North Carolina Real Estate

 Charlotte North Carolina Real Estate is among the nation’s strongest real estate markets. With all signs pointing towards a buyer’s market, now is the time to purchase a home.  As of March 2009 Charlotte North Carolina real estate average home price is 197k at a decreased amount of 4.5 % from year to date. Don’t be discouraged by this if you are buying a home because values will go back up if you are in the market or are thinking of relocating to the South’s #1 ranked cities to move to; now would be the time to do so.

 Interest Rates at Historical Lows

Interest rates are at historical lows and inventory is rather high for the Charlotte North Carolina Real Estate Market.  The popular hot spots in Charlotte are Myers Park, Dilworth, Fourth Ward, Elizabeth, and Freedom Park. These areas have seen significant depreciation but that is good because if you can get into any of these areas you will be sitting very nicely once our little economic hiccup is thru. First time home buyers in Charlotte make up for 41% of the buyer pool which is a very positive sign for a growing economy which I truly believe this area is in. Yes of course the nation is feeling the pinch and even Charlotte North Carolina Real Estate has too but these are times for a growing area to speed full ahead and really take advantage of good home values and fantastic buys.

Charlotte Real Estate Offers Entertainment

Keep in mind that Charlotte North Carolina is one of the south’s newest and upcoming cities that there is more and more to do here on a daily basis. The downtown area has been growing and with the new Epicenter, which is the new thriving hotspot of the “uptown” area you should find plenty of shopping and restaurant to accommodate your appetite for a fun.  Not to mention the construction of several new condo/mix use high rises and hotels, Charlotte is really becoming a city to visit and live in. I like to think of it as the upcoming Denver or Houston of the southeast.  

Charlotte weather- just another day

The choice of weather today would generally be characterized by most as horrible, dreadful, nasty. Cold that seems to bite through me in ways I haven’t experienced in North Carolina and then the rain. It isn’t just uncomfortable, it’s painful. Not so much pouring as you would think of in an unpleasant storm, but piercing, like little daggers of acid shooting from all angles, sideways and even upwards at times. The wind’s driving it all, without its help this would simply be another dreary day at work. And of course, I’m working. I’ve managed yet again to schedule a full day “in the field” on exactly the day I should have been inside doing paperwork. Putting luxury homes I have for sale in the computer, editing photos, payroll, anything but this. But this funny thing is, I don’t really mind the weather. Being outside in it, it’s almost like a challenge, some sort of winter event you have to prepare for with the right clothing, preparation, and approach. And that just covers the walk to the car. Okay, it’s not THAT bad, but that’s how I deal with it. I’m not one to complain about everything around me and life’s full of variety so whatever- I’ll just deal with it and absorb the malice of the day as just another one of life’s experiences. Enjoy it even. Why not? I mean, so long as it doesn’t become an everyday occurrence, it is an experience. Isn’t life about experiencing everything, even those things you’d rather not do on a daily basis. At least today will make me appreciate the gorgeous Charlotte, NC weather more, when it finally returns from its brief vacation. I know this is pretty weird coming from a real estate agent, at a Charlotte real estate blog (did you like that keyword?) but to be honest, if I don’t write about something else every once in a while, I’ll never keep up with postings on this thing every day. This sort of stuff comes more naturally to me, I suppose. Talking about myself, a great quality for any Charlotte realtor, huh? :-) 

Uptown Charlotte Real Estate has new hope

Uptown Charlotte has some hope in the uncertainty of the Wells Fargo – Wachovia Merger. The new skyscraper originally known as Wachovia Tower and meant as their crown jewel of Charlotte had a fearful future for many Charlotte area residents until yesterday, when a deal was reached with Charlotte based energy company, Duke Energy.

Duke energy, which helped to create Lake Norman and all of the luxury real estate it compliments, will move its headquarters to the tower and lease 20 of the 48 floors. In doing so, the building will now be known as Duke Energy Center and renew the commitment of Duke Energy to the Charlotte region.

Uptown real estate has been hit pretty hard by the recession with double digit vacancy rates predicted by the end of 2010. This new lease has ensured that at least part of the Wachovia Empire will be used and not left empty like so many other commercial spaces.

Stable and constant commercial growth will inevitably spill into the residential Charlotte Real Estate market. Uptown condos and townhomes, along with outlying communities such as Elizabeth, Myers Park, and Dilworth all depend on Uptown to fuel their home sales.

Charlotte Real Estate is Ranked #3 in the Country….again

Charlotte, NC Real Estate is back at the top of the national real estate market again according to the S&P / Case-Shiller home price index. This measures homes prices in 20 of the nation’s largest Metro areas around the country through December of 2008. Charlotte was at the top of the best markets in the country due to having one of the smallest rates of decline in our property values.

Some of the worst hit sub-markets in Charlotte, which are likely fueling the fact that we have any decline at all, are those in areas that were most similar to other national metro areas now falling at the bottom of this list. For example, Waxhaw Real Estate, just a few years ago, saw phenomenal increases in value which were driven by speculation even more than real value. Today’s buyers, even Luxury Home buyers, are mostly looking for a deal, they aren’t as concerned with the Prestige that comes with a particular zip code. While the markets are slower than normal everywhere, prices aren’t affected like you’d think unless values are being driven by foreclosures or short sale listings.

No matter how good Charlotte Real Estate is doing, inventory is high and so those buyers who aren’t afraid to make a purchase will inevitably get a great deal if they have the right representative. Things are more complicated now than ever and it takes an experienced Charlotte REALTOR who knows where prices have been historically, not just in the last 6 months, to help decipher what the appropriate investment would be. Plus, a lot of the best deals are being sold in foreclosure and pre-foreclosure. These aren’t your typical seller to buyer transactions and its takes more than a typical Charlotte Realtor to get them done right. Especially if you’re looking for a luxury foreclosure, I’ve seen banks concede up to 400k off of what would be a million dollar home. Although rare, it’s possible to find, you just have to know where to look.

If you’re interested in taking advantage of both foreclosure/pre-foreclosure listings AND one of the best markets in the country, give me a call. We have more short sale listings than anyone else in the state, and we have experience in selling every type of foreclosure out there. Happy hunting!

Cabarrus County Real Estate expected to rise

Recently, a Bank of America official was quoted as saying that the Charlotte, NC suburb counties of Cabarrus and Iredell were expected to experience real estate growth over the next 5 years, despite the economic downturn. Cabarrus County real estate actually leads the Charlotte NC Real Estate market in growth expectations with anticipated expansion of as much as 18% by 2013.

With real estate in the region at it’s lowest prices in years, NOW is the time to buy. I know we’ve been saying this for 18 months now, I even bought a house myself last year but we were wrong then, it did get a little worse because of economic downturns that no one expected. Regardless of where the overall economy stands right now, from what we see happening “on the ground” The time to buy is now.

As professionals in the Concord real estate market, we’re seeing earlier than usual increases in buyer activity during the first quarter of 2009 so it’s obvious that things are picking back up. The market can only go up from here and pretty soon, the short sales in Charlotte NC and all of the foreclosures will dry up. This will leave typical homeowners with more options and their asking prices will inevitably increase.

We actually list more short sales listings than anyone else in Charlotte NC Real Estate and even OUR game plan is changing due to the changing market. Next month, we’ll be launching our new website, MetrolinaEstates.com. This is a marketing tool designed to showcase high-end property (over $500k) in a way that I’ve never seen before. We’re giving our clients 7 pages of pictures and data to advertise their estate sized luxury homes for sale in a way that truly shows off the details which buyers are paying for.

We’re not just doing Luxury Homes in Cabarrus County, our focus is on Iredell and the rest of Charlotte, too. Charlotte Real Estate has always been the foundation of our business and Iredell real estate is expected to rise by 17 percent, which is well above other Charlotte suburbs like Rowan or Gaston who are only expecting increases of 6-7% each. More to come on this and other issues, the phone is ringing off the hook and I have to run!

Hope for Credit Card Companies in the Time of Foreclosures

Recently much attention has been paid to the mortgage industry and its falling grace over the last few years.  Specifically, the government has made a true investment in the companies which own the largest debt in the country.  With the latest +700 billion dollar bail out soon coming to fruition, the government has noticed that there may be a better use of the money than helping to purchase the failing assets of banks across the nation.  What the government has discovered is that given the type of funds that will be available to these banks, it is unknown if help will reach the average consumer. 

 

The governments have decided that with the rise in Foreclosures and the Short Sale of homes, it is believed that the help needed should not go to the mortgage industries but rather to other industries that are showing a great deal of losses in current months.  Industries such as the automotive and manufacturing sides of commerce where the dwindling economy and lack of sales have caused giant companies to collapse.  Foreclosure Help no longer seems like what will occur but rather the help to the entire nation that needs it. 

Foreclosure Help, Getting a bad wrap

This past year has shown a staggering increase in Foreclosures and home troubles.  The dwindling economy matched with an over-inflated housing market, has caused some homeowners to be faced with possibly losing their homes.  Several factors come into play when homeowners find themselves in this situation.  Whether it is due to job loss, sickness, or an adjustable loan going up, it is easy for people to miss one mortgage payment and then find themselves becoming more and more behind and closer to a giant turning point in their home owning future.  As homeowners become more and more behind they end up digging themselves into a deeper and deeper hole.  What most home owners don’t know is that there is help available to those in need.  Banks have specific departments that are geared to helping people in need of assistance with their mortgage.

 

The main issue with seeking assistance on your own is that most people do not have the knowledge, perseverance, or simply the time to deal with their mortgage companies and the negotiation of their accounts.  This is where Foreclosure Help companies come into play.  Recently these companies have been given a bad wrap for some issues which could not be avoided.  These companies negotiate on behalf of the client to ensure that the client is available to avoid the foreclosure and get back to terms that they can afford.  Obviously there will be times when clients are un helpable.  Situations where the client is too near their foreclosure date or have some mitigation circumstances that are unavoidable.  All and all I believe that when they are needed Foreclosure Help companies truly can help those in need. 

BridgeWater follows in Birkdale Villages Footsteps

At the intersection of N.C. 150 and the proposed N.C. 16 Bypass, Crosland, LLC is building a retail village that will rival that of now existing Huntersville Birkdale Village.  The proposed 705,000-square foot location would house several large chain retail stores as well as a plethora of small retail spaces.  Modeled after Birkdale Village, the area will be a Mecca for people of the Kannapolis and Catawba County.  It is believed that the current traffic flow of approximately 12,000 vehicles per day could increase up to 17,000 with the addition of the center.  This is why Crossland, LLC has agreed to pay for improvements to traffic in the area which could total $4.5 million, according to county documents.

Building, building, building…  There is a consensus among the population that times are tough.  No doubt that this is the case, with the economy slouching, gas prices high, and unemployment up, it is easy to get lost in self loathing and self pity.  But it is events such as this that show prospect for the future.  Builders are still building and people are still buying, even though not as much as in the past.  With this project being projected to be completed in the next decade, builders are obviously looking towards the future and the prosperity that we will undergo.  I’m glad that there is hope for future residents.