Lake Norman is Going Green! - 08/31/08 10:42 AM
 

It used to be that going green was a bit lonely in the Lake Norman area.  But, a huge green wave is heading our way and you can already feel the swells!

 
 One of the most exciting upcoming events is the 2008 Saving Our Kids, Healing Our Planet  National Expo being held at the Charlotte Convention Center on September 26-28, 2008.  The over 150 Exhibits will offer:
 
 
 
Learn how to raise healthy children in a toxic world Safe, effective and natural products and services that positively impact various physical, behavioral and developmental conditions Green builders, … (16 comments)

Lake Norman Skate Shop is Awesome! - 08/29/08 05:06 PM

When I think of today's skateboarders and how this sport has evolved I think of images from this past summer's 13th  "X Games" and a new language including grinding, half-pikes, ramps and huge air. 

 
 
Once associated with the surfing and west coast world, I was truly excited to hear that true, hardcore skateboarding has arrived in Mooreville NC!  Not only do we have a brand new skate park located behind the Mooresville Police Department at 1013 SkatePark, but on July 26th a hot new store LKN Skate Shop opened in downtown Mooresville on 162 Broad Street.
 
 
 
… (12 comments)

Lake Norman is NOT Charlotte! - 08/27/08 01:39 PM

 
 I almost warned you yesterday.  I knew it was coming because I had already read the press releases.  But I didn't.
 

This morning I got a glowing email from a Realtor referring to the article today in the Charlotte Observer.  Yippee!  "Area home prices are showing signs of life....Overall, the Charlotte market is holding up better than many others around the U.S." 
Darn thatS&P/Case Shiller Home Price Index.  And you, Office of Federal Housing Enterprise Oversight, with your numbers showing that Charlotte area prices rose 5.2%.  Can we talk?  First of all, both of you are talking about … (3 comments)

Mooresville's Mangan Martial Arts Academy: More than just Karate! - 08/24/08 10:02 AM

 
When I first met Bob Mangan, he was a guest speaker at my Mooresville Lake Norman Exchange Club.  Knowing that our club's main focus is on the prevention of child abuse, he came to speak to us about a self-defense program called Kids Safe.    When I met with him recently to learn more about his Mangan Martial Arts Academy I discovered that his passion for teaching children self-defense has grown out of a life-time involvement in the Martial Arts including competition in numerous forms from Karate to Kick-boxing to TaeKwon-Do since 1974!

 
Sensei Bob Mangan has … (9 comments)

Lake Norman's Friday Hot Sheet for August 22, 2008 - 08/23/08 08:27 AM
LAKE NORMAN RESIDENTIAL REAL ESTATE HOT SHEET
August 22, 2008 


 
My fourth bi-monthly Lake Norman Friday Hot Sheet is here! 
  
Above is a chart with Friday's "hot sheet" numbers from the Charlotte Multiple Listing Services for all single family homes in Lake Norman (area 13).  For comparison, I have provided numbers from the past two weeks and earlier this year.  Here are some highlights:
 
Unfortunately, the strong pending numbers from four weeks ago truly  did not result in an upward trend is sales.  In fact, sales are down to their lowest level since I started this reporting in March.  This is … (10 comments)

Face to Face: Try taking it up a notch! - 08/21/08 10:21 PM

 
I don't know about you, but I am getting pretty tired of reading the typical neighborhood posts...some demographics, a slide show and a few links. 
When I first started blogging I didn't know how to upload photos.  Then, when I learned to upload photos I started buying stock photos like my cute little parrots  love birds above.  (Thanks Renee!) After a while, as I watched others, I realized it would be much better if I took my own photographs. Yikes.
Somewhere along the way I started to feel more like a reporter than a Realtor and I loved it!  Everything … (87 comments)

Our New "Mooresville Town Square" is coming to life! - 08/19/08 05:04 PM

 
If you haven't checked out the new Mooresville Town Square on the corner of Brawley School Rd. and Williamson Rd then you are definitely in for a great surprise!  With it's upscale architecture, beautiful gardens and walking paths it reminds me a little bit of a Birkdale Village in it's early stages.  While it doesn't offer housing, this 200,000 square foot "lifestyle center" offers just about everything else!
 
The Restaurants and Bars
 


 
If you are looking for authentic New York Style  Italian food, then you must try Cartucci's Fine Italian Cuisne - Lounge. The owner … (11 comments)

Researching the Lake Norman Housing Market: A Case Study of The Farms - 08/17/08 03:09 PM

 
Today The Charlotte Observer ran yet another front-page article about our housing market "Home prices soften anew....Sales and building permits also fall, but the Charlotte market is still healthier than many in the U.S."   It's not a bad article.  It even breaks down the sales % decline and building permit % decline by county.
However, I can't stress enough the importance of every home buyer asking their real estate agents to do comprehensive research about the specific listing (and even subdivision if feasible) before they make an offer on a home.  Think of it as a background check of the home and its Lake Norman housing community.
… (6 comments)

The Exciting, New Westport Club Community in Denver, NC - 08/15/08 05:06 PM

 
It is rare in the world of Lake Norman real estate to meet a developer whose passion is to build and develop while focused on integrating their new homes/plans with the surrounding established neighborhoods; and with an overall vision to create a better sense of community for the entire Denver area. 
I had the pleasure of meeting with T.G Daniel, Jr. and Tom Daniel lll yesterday to hear about their short and long term plans for the Westport Club in Denver on the southwest side of Lake Norman.  I was extremely impressed with their vision for the future of the greater Denver area and … (7 comments)

Lake Norman Real Estate Development: The Village at Lake Norman - 08/13/08 05:17 PM

 
When one thinks of Cornelius NC images of gracious homes in The Peninsula and along the Lake Norman waterfront, upscale shops and services and a casual lifestyle come to mind.  But, there is a giant coming to town!
 
Controversial since it's inception, The Village at Lake Norman  got approval for a conditional-use permit by the Cornelius commissions back on April 24th by a slim vote of 3-2 after years of meetings with the town staff, planning board and community residents.  In May, Cornelius Bromont LLC announced it had completed the purchase of 104 acres in Cornelius for the … (6 comments)

Cotton Ketchie Arts Festival in Historic Downtown Mooresville is August 22 & 23! - 08/10/08 03:21 PM

 
Mark your calendars for the 2008 Cotton Ketchie Arts Festival being held in Historic Downtown Mooresville on August 22nd and 23rd! 
 
Held at the Charles Mack Citizen Center, this is a juried Art Show featuring about 35 top artisans' work in a variety of media including sculptures, oil and watercolor paintings, photography, wood turning, jewelry and even weaving. 
This annual event is put on by The Mooresville Lake Norman Exchange Club in order to raise funds to support our local SCAN Child and Parenting Centers to help fight Child Abuse. 
 

The Facts:

Charity Gala
Friday, August 22nd … (8 comments)

Lake Norman Real Estate: Friday Hot Sheet for August 8, 2008 - 08/08/08 05:21 PM
LAKE NORMAN RESIDENTIAL REAL ESTATE HOT SHEET
August 8, 2008 

 
My third bi-monthly Lake Norman Friday Hot Sheet is here! 
  
Above is a chart with today's "hot sheet" numbers from the Charlotte Multiple Listing Services for all single family homes in Lake Norman (area 13).  For comparison, I have provided numbers from the past two weeks and earlier this year.  Here are some highlights:
 
Unfortunately, the strong pending numbers from the last bi-monthly report did not result in an upward trend is sales.  Every single category dropped; some of this is good news and some may be attributed … (6 comments)

Mooresville Lake Norman Home Buyers: Stop Searching for homes! - 08/06/08 08:41 AM
  
I hear it all of the time from my Lake Norman home buyers:  They simply can't find an effective way to search for homes that are for sale in the Lake Norman area.  They try Realtor.com, all of the major national franchise sites and even local sites but simply get frustrated.  Many times they use a combination of sites just to get the information they are looking for.  Well, I am here to tell all Lake Norman area home buyers to STOP SEARCHING!
The Charlotte Regional Multiple Listing Service which encompasses Mooresville and the entire Lake Norman area, provides a home … (9 comments)

Legacy Village; Lake Norman's Newest Live/Work Urban Village! - 08/03/08 09:25 AM

 
I remember when Mooresville's Legacy Village  was just some large renderings under a tent on Williamson Road for Realtors to preview.  Today I took the photo above of Phase 1.  As you can see, one row of town homes is complete and construction is well underway on the next block.
 

 
 
One of four mixed-use developments planned or underway in Mooresville, Legacy Village is a 28-acre Urban Village style community that includes 118 Town homes (89 of which are already sold), 200 condo "flats", a 10,470 square-foot child care facility The Learning Experience which is nearly complete, 324,999 square feet … (10 comments)

Julia's Talley House Restaurant: One of Lake Norman's Treasures! - 08/01/08 07:20 AM
 

 
To an outsider driving down Main Street in Troutman (on the northeast side of Lake Norman), population 1749, Julia's Talley House Restaurant looks like just another charming older home in this quaint town.  But, the locals know better!  If you want to experience true, home-style Southern cooking in a cozy and even homey restaurant, there is simply no where better than Julia's Talley House Restaurant.
 
Like many of the great eateries frequented by mostly long-time local residents around Lake Norman,  Julia's has wonderful,  truly authentic, family-style Southern food and is one of THE places to go if you are from around these … (14 comments)