Matthews, NC.---Labor Day Weekend MATTHEWS ALIVE 2011 - 08/31/11 01:32 PM
Looking for something fun to do this labor day weekend? Come to Matthews, NC. for the annual Matthews Alive festival held every year during Labor Day weekend. This year the event starts on Friday September 2, 2011 and ends on Monday September 5, 2011. This is a great fun filled family attraction.In the seven years I have lived in Matthews, NC.; a year has not gone by that I have not visited Matthews Alive. Each day and night there are different bands and musicians playing on one of the three stages set up. There are carnival rides and games for the … (0 comments)

Charlotte, NC. Schools...How Do I Know If They Are Good? - 08/29/11 09:56 AM
Lately I have been asked numerous times through various websites and on the phone about the schools in Charlotte, NC. The question generally goes "I want this in a home and a good school for my kids". Well as most people do not know as a Realtor we are bound by a code of ethics. One thing that we cannot do is steer soemone toward a particluar school or away from one....So where is the consumer suppossed to do if they cannot confide in their Realtor?Over the years I have found various sites that provide information on the schools. Each site … (0 comments)

A Reflection On Back To School In Charlotte, NC. - 08/26/11 09:05 AM
Yesterday marked the first day of school for the public schools in Charlotte,NC. For me as a parent I find it the greatest day of the year. The kids are out of the house and it makes for some quiet and peaceful time for me and my wife.As with most first day's at school I received all the different forms from my four school age chldren that had to be signed and returned to school....In addiiton two of my children received homework on the first day. They were stunned...(dad was pleased). As I signed papers and monitored homework for the first … (2 comments)

Market Report: NoDa The Arts District Charlotte, NC August 2011 - 08/23/11 08:58 AM
Conveniently or also known as the Arts District is a suburb of uptown Charlotte. Conveniently located 2 miles from uptown it is home to art galleries and various southern cuisine restaurants. People love living here for the old world charm it still has. An old textile mill area of is a thriving area of Charlotte. below is the market trends over the past three years for the area from August 1st to July 31st.3 years ago there were 42 homes that sold for an average sale price of $239,738 and they were on the market for an average of 60 days.2 … (0 comments)

Market Report: Crestdale Crossing Matthews, NC. 28105 August 2011 - 08/22/11 10:59 AM
Crestdale Crossing is a quaint 110 single family home subdivision located in Matthews, NC. 28105 just outside of the center of town. This quiet community was built in 2002-2003. It's families location to the highways, great schools and family like atmosphere make it a popular destination among families and empty of.Below are the market trends for Crestdale Crossing for the past three years. This will give you a good idea of how the housing has trended in there. These numbers are from August 1st through July 31st. 3 years ago there was 3 homes that sold for an average sale price … (0 comments)

Matthews, NC. Back To School Night 2011 - 08/18/11 10:22 AM
This time of the year I am always telling my four kids is the happiest time of the year for me as a parent. It is the time when we ramp back up for school.. Summer is just about over and the kids get back to the daily learning and enriching of their minds (at least we hope so). So, as we finish our back to school supply shopping, clothes shopping and those last minute getaways....Matthews, NC. hosts a fun family filled event to kick off the end of summer and the beginning of school.Part of the Matthews summer movie/concert program; … (0 comments)

Rent V. Buy In Charlotte, NC.? Which Option Is Better - 08/17/11 08:46 AM
The question is asked each and everyday by prospective home buyers...Should I rent or should I purchase a home? What is the best route for me to go? That question has many answers. But for the sake of this blog...we will say you have the down payment and your credit score qualifies you for a home purchase.I see a lot of young couples and professionals moving to the Charlotte, NC. area. The reason is that they are either being transferred to here or they are coming here for a new job. One of the things they all ask is should I … (0 comments)

New Listing: 2605 Daffodil Drive Charlotte, NC. 28269 - 08/16/11 08:09 AM

This 3 bedroom 2 full bath ranch home located in the Heather Place subdivision of Charlotte is looking for the next family to call it home. priced to sell at only $84,900 this home features just over 1200 square feet of living space with a one car garage located on a cul de sac lot.The homeowner is the original homeowner and had this home built in 1998. When you walk in the front door you are instantly greeted by the foyer area of the house and the large great room. An added feature and benefit of the great room is … (2 comments)

Short Sale....Bank of America Nightmare - 08/11/11 08:45 AM
Short sales are just a big part of the housing market today as foreclosures and resale homes. Chances are if you are looking for a home in a neighborhood at least one home in there is a short sale listing.Short sales are anything but short in time. In fact the process usually takes 30 days or more to receive an answer. The bank is willing to accept less money than is owed on the house in lieu of a foreclosure.We have all heard of the horror stories with short sales from the long process to never really getting an answer and … (2 comments)

Housing Inventory In Charlotte, NC. Decreasing - 08/10/11 09:36 AM
One barometer that housing "experts" use to say whether the housing market is recovering is the available inventory of homes for sale. The greater the number of homes on the market the longer it takes to sell...Thus the worse the market is. A balanced market (one that does not favor the seller or the buyer) is one with a six month supply of homes on the market.So, I was intrigued when I read an article in the Wall Street Journal the other day that said home inventories are decreasing nationally. Is it because the market is recovering or for other reasons?I … (0 comments)

What To Look For When Negotiating A HUD Home - 08/08/11 10:18 AM
As we are all aware bank owned homes and short sales are increasing in percentage of sales of homes. As the number of foreclosures increased so did the inventory. Negotiating with a bank owned home is not the same as negotiating with a seller. Each bank or government runned foreclosure department runs differently.HUD (which stands for Housing and Urban Development ) is one of the largest ones out there. In some ways they have made the process easier and in others they have made it more difficult. I have sold quite a few HUD owned homes and have worked through some … (4 comments)

Why You Need A Realtor To Sell Your Home - 08/04/11 08:21 AM
  In this economy many homeowners are looking for ways to minimize their expenses when they sell a home. A popular mechanism for that is For Sale By Owner (or more commonly known as FSBO). Despite facts that show these people tend to gravitate to a Realtor (approximately 80%) to help them sell their house....homeowners still hold faith that they can do what we have studies showing the percentage being as low as 3% do...SELL HOMES. There are a few sites out there for people looking to sell their home on their own. www.forsalebyowner.com is the largest site. The founder preaches … (1 comments)

Thinking Of buying A Home...Avoid These Traps - 08/03/11 03:35 PM
With all the talk about record low mortgage rates and housing prices that are at the most affordable level ever for home buyers...more people are out looking to buy a home today. Unforutnately, with so many choices and more people everyday startign online to do a home search buyers are getting lured into traps on homes. I tell everyone who is thinking of looking at a home to avoid these common traps:First, when you begin your seach online avoid the monthly payments that they are advertising. They are simply wrong. Those payments are based on the asking price plus interest at … (1 comments)

When Should I Put My House On The Market? - 08/02/11 08:08 PM
The question is when you should put your house on the market. I received this question the other day when I was talking with a friend about selling their house. The premise he gave me; is there a better time than another time to put the house on the market in this economy.A good question that deserved a well thought out answer. My first instinct as a Realtor and a salesperson was anyday is a good time to put the house on the market. However; in reality I said to him it is not so much when you put it on … (1 comments)

New Listing: 3800 Churchill Road Charlotte, NC. 28211 - 08/01/11 11:19 AM
 This lovely three bedroom two full bath town home located in the highly desirable area of Cotswold will amaze you with the openess of the place. This home offers a WOW factor that not many homes I have ever been in have done for me. It is a great location close to uptown and shopping and on a wooded lot that offers privacy.....When you walk in this home you are instantly greeted by the high two story ceilings that adorn the living room/dining room area of the house. An already well laid out place this adds to the feeling of being … (2 comments)