2011 Statistics in Review….

February 10, 2012 By

 

Legend:
Lake Norman area consists of Huntersville, Cornelius, Davidson, Mooresville
3 towns are the 3 Lake Norman Mecklenburg County towns; Huntersville, Cornelius, Davidson
Char-Meck is all of the Charlotte area that is listed on our MLS
HOMES SOLD
YEAR: 2011 2010 2009
Lake Norman 2,145 2,008 1,765
3 towns 1,321 1,229 1,070
Char-Meck 19,911 19,609 19,785
Since 2009 the number of homes sold each year has increased.  Low interest rates and sellers
discounting prices  over time has encouranged this activity.
AVERAGE PRICE
YEAR: 2011 2010 2009
Lake Norman $319,400 $330,700 $323,500
3 towns $314,700 $320,200 $314,800
Char-Meck $206,700 $213,200 $205,800
While 2010 saw a slight uptick in sale prices – 2011 was back at or close to the levels
of 2009.  High inventories in 2010 and length of time on the market caused heavily discounted prices.
The start of 2012 is showing lower inventories.  If we hold these lower inventories prices may be able to stabalize
or hopefully see an increase!
ACTIVE HOMES
Lake Norman 1,239
3 towns 682
Char-Meck 13,421
The first 6 months of 2011 saw the sale of 654 homes in the 3 towns area.
Adding in Mooresville we saw 1026 sales, and the Char-Meck area saw 9696 sales.
Of the sold homes in the Char-Meck area 2650 of them were special loan condition sales (forclosure/bankrupcy etc.)
The current inventory holds only 1972 of this type of home on the market – we hope these numbers
stay down for the benefit of the market.
Filed Under: Uncategorized

Being Thankful….

November 24, 2011 By
being_thankful_card1

It’s almost Thanksgiving day…and I think about how much I have to be thankful for.   Surfing the internet I found a quote “What if I woke up tomorrow with only what I thanked God for today.”  Well, there is no better time to be thankful….

Thank you for,

-my husband and kids
-my parents
-my siblings & spouses and all my nieces and nephews and all our fun family reunions…even when you drive me crazy (just kidding)
-my very special friends
-my neighbor (and also fabulous friend) who loves to feel needed every time I have to borrow something and doesn’t get annoyed when I don’t return something for a few weeks
-my husband’s technology skills
-my kid’s sense of humor, witty comments and even their sarcasm (sometimes)
-DUMC, my place of worship
- for the roof over my head
-for the food on my table & clean water in my faucet
-for my job that allows me to meet new people and help them begin new adventures in their lives
-my puppies who make me smile

 

The rest of what I have are just things – and if I woke up tomorrow with just what I thanked God for above….I’d be ok  ;)

Happy Thanksgiving to all!

 

 

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WHAT IS THAT SMELL?!

November 5, 2011 By
Young Girl (13-14) Holding Her Nose at the Dinner Table

When I was looking for homes in my neighborhood I saw many of them.  Just like the rest of you, what makes one house perfect for some makes it a definite “no” for others. Many of them were very nice homes and there was one that I looked at that seemed perfect except for one thing…the smell. I distinctly remember the smell of wet dog as soon as I walked in the home. Needless to say, as I walked around the house instead of looking at how nice and open the great room was I was thinking about how I may have to pull up carpet or pull down plasterboard to get the smell out.  As I walked out I couldn’t help but think how different the experience would have been if the home didn’t have such a strong smell.

Having your home staged, everyone knows, is vital to success in selling your home but how your home smells can be a deal breaker as well. I’ve often walked into a home and smelled the faint yet distinctive odor of cigarette smoke and wondered if I was the only one. The truth is that those who have lived with such scents for so long, no longer smell it.  That is why it becomes so important to have your realtor or other unbiased person give their opinion.

Pet Odor:  Thankfully there are remedies for these odors.  That being said, the more offensive the odor the more work it will take to remove it.  First and foremost you’ve got to remove the source of the problem so as not to introduce new odors. This may mean keeping your pet in non-carpeted areas of the home until the house is sold.  Doing a good deep cleaning of all furniture, including washing couch covers is your first step.  Having the carpet cleaned professionally is second.  Airing out is always a must as well.

Odors like cat urine are among the worst and can seep into carpet fibers, carpet padding, concrete and wood floors, upholstery fabrics, and furniture cushions and pillows.  In particularly bad instances, you may have to remove the carpet, remove the pad and seal the floor, and then replace the carpet and the pad. Cleaning the carpet might help but humidity will raise the odor from the padding or floor beneath.

Smoke:  Cigarette smoke can cling to furnishings, drapes and other window coverings and work its way inside walls. Some topically applied solutions can help to reduce the stench, but an ozone generator, hydroxyl generator or air scrubber should be more effective. These approaches are very effective in absorbing odors though there is no guarantee that an odor can be eliminated.

Get an Unbiased Assessment: The best way to find out whether a house smells or not is to have someone who doesn’t live there to come inside and give an opinion. The obvious person should be your realtor. Unfortunately not all brokers will point out that a house smells bad for fear of offending.

If you have pets or are a smoker, you may need to ask your realtor to be honest with you knowing now that these smells may be in your home despite that fact that you do not smell them.  Having your realtor help in these seemingly small ways is really the best and most effective way of getting your home ready for selling.

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Strategies For Your Kitchen Remodel

November 1, 2011 By
contemporary-kitchen-design-pictures

Home owners spend more money on kitchen remodeling than on any other home improvement project.  Makes sense because kitchens tend to be the center of home life…even for those who don’t cook.

Done right a significant portion of the expense of a kitchen remodel can be recovered by the value it brings to your home.

To make sure you maximize your return, follow these smart kitchen remodeling strategies.

 

Get Your Priorities Straight:

Spend time planning your kitchen remodel.

  • Cooking traffic patterns: A walkway through the kitchen should be at least 36 inches wide. Work aisles should be a minimum of 42 inches wide and at least 48 inches wide for households with multiple cooks.
  • Child safety: Avoid sharp, square corners on countertops, and make sure microwave ovens are installed at the proper height—3 inches below the shoulder of the primary user but not more than 54 inches from the floor.
  • Make sure you know ALL the dimensions of the appliances and cabinets you are buying. Especially be aware of details like how wide doors open so it allows for enough clearance from other appliances and center islands.
  • Don’t start any work until all the materials have arrived in your home
  • Once you’ve completed your kitchen remodel plan…DO NOT change your mind.  Mid-renovations are the most costly “not planned on” expenses on record.

 

Get Professional Help: 

If the thought of planning your remodel makes you sick to your stomach consider hiring a professional designer.  Pros can help make style decisions, foresee potential problems, and schedule contractors. Expect fees around $50 to $150 per hour,

or 5% to 15% of the total cost of the project.


Appliances:
It’s easy to get carried away during your kitchen remodel when looking to upgrade some of your appliances. Yes, that six-burner commercial-grade range and luxury-brand refrigerator may look like “must-haves” but they may not fit your cooking needs or lifestyle.High-priced appliances are worth the investment if you’re an exceptional cook. Otherwise, save thousands with trusted brands that got high marks at consumer review websites, like www.ePinions.com and www.amazon.com, or Consumer Reports.Lighting:            Task lighting: recessed or track lights, over sinks and food prep areas.  Assign at least two fixtures per task to eliminate shadows. Under-cabinet lights are so functional and look great as well.



  • Ambient lighting     includes flush-mounted ceiling fixtures, wall sconces, and track lights. Pair dimmer switches with ambient lighting to control intensity and mood.

 

Even if you are planning on moving, functionality and durability should be top priorities during a kitchen remodel. Resist the urge to purchase low-quality bargains!!!!!  Instead choose products that combine low maintenance with long warranty periods. Solid-surface countertops, for instance, may cost a little more, but with the proper care, they’ll look great for a long time.

 

Remember ….products with substantial warranties is a selling advantage.

Filed Under: Publish

Haunted Charlotte or Halloween Fables?

November 1, 2011 By
MP9003095671

Did you know that Founders Hall was at one time a medical school and while it was there in the late 1800′s some unsavory folks apparently stole a young girl’s body from a grave in Salisbury and sold her body to the school? People began to tell tales of seeing a young woman wearing a sheet wandering around the school and standing on top of the building. She would scream “why” and it was not long before people discovered that it was the ghost of a young woman whose body had been stolen from the grave and sold to the medical school. Legend has it the ghost would communicate to medical students who she was and what had happened to her as well as pleaded to be returned to her grave.  It is said that police records actually document that people went to the local police at the time and told the girls story.

 

The legend goes on to say that because of the information provided by the ghost, police were able to follow the trail and the story “checked out” at the time.  It was discovered that the girl’s body had in fact been stolen from a grave in Salisbury and her remains were returned to her grave.

 

Did you know that Latta Plantation may be haunted?  The original Latta family is said to haunt the Plantation. Employees who work at the plantation say they often hear voices of loud arguments and often hear the laughter of children. A young woman in a yellow dress is also said to be seen just inside the front door of the house. Some say she is seen carrying a basket of flowers.

There is a walking cane that is shown on tours of the home that is often seen to move on its own. A man with mutton side burns is seen going up the steps. He appears to be in a hurry and some people have claimed he speaks to them and orders them to leave the home. No one has any idea who he is. There are also often wonderful smells of apple pie cooking and people ask about it but no one is cooking.

 

Did you know that Spirit Square may be haunted?  The original building was a church. In 1903 it was rebuilt into the structure that exists there today. The location was taken over by the city in the late 1940′s just after the war and was turned into the theater. It’s said that if you walk by on rainy nights you can hear people inside the old church building singing hymns.

People also claim to see ghosts in the building. The ghost of a young girl is seen in different parts of the building wearing clothes similar to fashion from the late 1890′s. She is seen hurrying along and looks unlike a ghost until she walks into a wall and vanishes. She never speaks but has been seen in the building for more than 75 years.

 

Did you know that The Grove Park Inn may be haunted?  The Asheville hotel is apparently haunted by “the Pink Lady.” The legend says she was pushed or jumped from a balcony to her death. It is said that room 545 was her room while she stayed at the Inn and that is where she is seen. People report all kinds of strange paranormal things going on in room 545. There is said to be another ghost who regularly yells at the security guards to get out.

 

Did you know that The Biltmore House may be haunted? George Vanderbilt, the owner of Biltmore House, died from complications of surgery and understandably so, his wife was horribly upset. She would sit in front of a fireplace downstairs and talk to her decease husband.  It has been said that the servants claim they could hear George talking back to his wife. A headless orange cat is seen in the house and on the grounds.  Legends says that the cat was a pet of the Vanderbilt’s and one day a servant cut the cats head off because it kept coming in the kitchen. As well, there is a pool in the basement of the house and sounds of people swimming can be heard at night even though the pool is no longer functional.

 

Boo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Filed Under: Uncategorized

CHANGES TO FEDERAL LOAN PROGRAMS

November 1, 2011 By
Congress

In the latest attempt to address the ailing housing market, the government on Monday announced changes to a federal program that will make it easier for struggling homeowners to refinance to today’s near-record low rates.

 

Under the new program, homeowners who owe more on their homes than they are worth will be able to refinance no matter how much they are underwater, as long as they are current on their payments.

 

More than 1 million homeowners could get cheaper mortgages as a result, officials estimated.

 

The revamped Home Affordable Refinance Program (HARP) will also streamline the refinancing process, doing away with certain types of appraisals and underwriting requirements, and reducing or eliminating fees that prevented homeowners from refinancing in the past.

 

More than 890,000 homeowners have already refinanced under HARP, which is available to borrowers with loans backed by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac originated before May 31, 2009.

 

But hundreds of thousands more could not qualify — mainly because of the previous 125% loan-to-value limit on the program or because banks would not take on the risk.

 

Currently, about 11 million borrowers are underwater on their mortgages, with about 4.7 million of those loans meeting or exceeding the 125% loan-to-value limit.

 

By the time HARP expires in 2013, the federal housing agency estimates, up to 1 million more borrowers may benefit from the new regulations.

 

The problem: Mortgage holders still must be current on their payments for the past six months — with no more than one missed payment in the past 12 months –and they also must be able to qualify for a new loan.

 

Under the newly-revamped program, Fannie and Freddie will also reduce the fees they have charged in the past in order to enable borrowers to better afford the new loans.

 

Among the fees that may be reduced or eliminated are those for loan level price adjustments. Going forward, borrowers may not be penalized for less-than-perfect credit scores, for example.

 

Fees will also be waived for some underwater borrowers who refinance into 20-year or other, shorter-term loans. By doing so, it could help homeowners get above water faster.

 

We urge all of our clients to go to https://www.efanniemae.com/sf/mha/mharefi/pdf/refinancefaqs.pdf to see if you qualify for participation in these changes. 

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