If you’re thinking about buying a home, now may be the best time to do it.  Starting Oct 1^st buyers (and sellers) may have to deal with much more stringent rules regarding their maximum allowable loan amount.  The new limits on conforming loans, mortgages eligible for government guarantees, are said to roll out in October of this year.  Both buyers and sellers are likely to feel the pain as even tighter credit availability becomes the new reality.

As the government tries to reduce its footprint in the housing market, limits on government-backed loans are scheduled to reset to prior levels — a high of $625,500 in some markets — which, some say, could lead to higher mortgage rates and more downward pressure on home prices.

What is really relevant for those in our area is that the impact of resetting loans levels will fall on middle-of-the-market buyers and sellers, like those in the Charlotte market

Our concern for our readers is that prospective borrowers could face higher mortgage interest rates for loans that exceed the new caps, which would increase the overall cost of owning a home.

Taking into considering the lowering of guaranteed loan levels, prospective buyers may have to look at less-expensive properties in order to compensate for putting more money down and higher interest rates.  The issue is that this scenario could exacerbate existing weakness in the middle-priced segment of the market.

Ergo, sellers are going to feel the impact too, especially if their asking price is above the new limits. This all does not bode well for the already struggling housing market or the economy.

Being proactive, consumers can start preparing for the shift now, ahead of the Oct. 1 transition. The best thing consumers can do now is evaluate their needs and do their research now.

Consumers should look for a closing guarantee and lenders that are going to be able to lock in your rate as quickly as possible, because your rate could float even over the time.

Stop worrying for a few hours about life and enjoy some of these MANY area attractions with your family. Check out the smiles on your kid’s faces as you do silly things like bounce around on a hayride or a watch your kids try to pick up pumpkins bigger than they are. Let your teenagers get rid of some energy by screaming their way through a haunted house. They may even think your cool for bringing them!! As well, Davidson College offers FREE lectures and concerts monthly. Their offerings run the gamut and truly have something for everyone’s interest. I’ve attached links to all these events so please take a second to peruse the below. You’ll be happy you did.

Scarowinds Halloween Haunt
Avenue of the Carolinas, Charlotte, NC 28273.
Friday and Saturday, September 16 to October 1. Friday, Saturday and Sunday, October 7 to October 23. October 27, 28, 29 and 30.
Terror By the Creek
717 Howard’s Creek Mill Road, Lincolnton.
October 7-8, 14-15, 21-22, 26-31.

The Haunted Mill
6325 Wilkinson Blvd., Belmont.
Weekends in October. Fri. 5:30 to 11 p.m. Sat. 4 p.m. to Midnight. Sun. 4 to 10 p.m.

Hickory Grove Haunted Trail
4064 Mountain View St., Gastonia.
Friday, Saturday and Sunday in October (and Wednesday, Oct. 29 through October 31.)

The Amazing Maize Maze at Rural Hill
4431 Neck Road, Huntersville
Sept. 3 to 25: Friday to Sunday (10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.)
Sept. 30 to Nov. 6: Fridays (10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.); Saturday to Sunday (10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.)

Flashlight Maze (at Rural Hill)
Last Friday in September. Every Friday in October. First Friday in November.

NC Fright Factory
835 Graham Street, at NC Music Factory
Sep 30, Oct 1, Oct 7 to 9, Oct 13 to 16, Oct 19 to 23, Oct 26 to 31.
Woods of Terror
*One of “25 Must See Haunts” by Haunted Attraction Magazine*
5601 N. Church St. Greensboro, NC 27455.
Sundays & Thursdays: $15; Fridays: $25; Saturdays & Halloween: $30. Dates: October 7-8, 13-16, 20-23, 26-31; November 4-5.

Scarrigan Farms
1261 Oak Ridge Farm Hwy., Mooresville (Carrigan Farms.)
Oct. 7, 8, 9, 14, 15, 16, 21, 22, 23, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31.
Haunted Hayride 
Latta Equestrian Center.
6201 Sample Road, Huntersville.
Fridays and Saturdays October 7 to October 29 (and October 27.)
Straw maze, Pony ride, Cow train ride, Marshmallow roast.

Ghost Tales in the Dark
Latta Plantation.
5225 Sample Road, Huntersville.
October 14 to 15, 21 to 22.
Renaissance Festival
Weekends, Oct 8-Nov 20th. 10-5:30pm Saturday and Sundays.

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!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!