Freedom In My Life - 01/28/10 10:17 AM
"Freedom in my life" is about establishing testimonies of faith, hope, and love. People everywhere are pressured by sadness, depression and suicide. FIML is a small step in the direction of a much needed culture shift. FIML is a statement and testimony of what God has done in your life today. Establish the testimony of the Lord over your life for all to see! We overcome the enemy by the words of our testimony! Freedom is waiting for you, speak it, live it, love it!
Maybe you have heard your kids or other kids refer to "FML" which is a very … (2 comments)

North Carolina to receive $520 million to improve rail corridor - 01/28/10 09:44 AM
If you live in the Charlotte and Raleigh area, how do you feel about the news that North Caroline is slated to get $520 million in federal stimulus funds to improve the rail corridor between Charlotte and Raleigh?
This money is to go toward upgrading the tracks, increasing top train speeds to 90 mph and also doubling the number of round trips.  The money is said to also be used to help purchase and rehabilitate train equipment and improve security.
Does anyone that is here on Active Rain actually USE this service?  If so, please post about how you feel this … (2 comments)

How Important is a Home Inspection? - 01/23/10 10:25 AM
Should a buyer get a home inspection for a home they are buying? Should a seller order a home inspection prior to putting the property on the market? There are advantages for both.
 
Simply put, a home inspection is a visual examination of both the physical structure and major systems of the entire home including: walls, ceilings, floors, decks, exterior covering, the roof, foundation, insulation and ventilation, plumbing, electrical, heating and air conditioning. It is not an appraisal to validate the value of a home, nor a pass/fail exam. A third-party inspector will give a report on the physical condition … (4 comments)

The Wedding Affair... with More - 01/23/10 09:59 AM
Are you planning a wedding? Then this is the event that you DO NOT want to miss!!
The Wedding Affair...With More will be held this year on January 31 at the Cabarrus Arena and Events Center in Gold Hall 1.  Admission is $10.00 at the door or you can go to www.gngtheportraitshop.com and download a $2.00 off coupon.
There will be vendors present to accommodate all your wedding needs.  There will be wedding dresses, prom dresses and tuxedos.  Bring your fiance or your prom date with you and pick out his tuxedo! 
There will be live music, free samples and door … (0 comments)

6th Annual Greater Charlotte Home & Landscaping Show - 01/23/10 09:47 AM
Do you want to turn your home & garden dreams into reality? Would you like to be able to have all the latest products and services at your fingertips?
There is a great opportunity coming up next weekend at the Cabarrus Arena & Events Center!!  It's the 6th Annual Greater Charlotte Home & Landscaping Show, January 29-31.  The hours are Friday, January 29th from 2:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., Saturday, January 30 from 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. and Sunday, January 31 from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Admission is $7.00 for adults, $5.00 for Seniors 65 and older and FREE … (0 comments)

Get Cash Back on Your New Home in Hampden Village, Concord NC - 01/22/10 11:02 AM
We work with Eric and are pleased with what he has to offer to buyers!
Heather Littrell & Associates
Via Eric Ekovich (Builders Direct Online .com):
Get Cash Back on Your New Home in Hampden Village, Concord NC
If you plan on buying a new home in Hampden Village or anywhere else in Concord NC, WHY NOT get an additional 1% Cash Rebate on your Purchase?
... I'll show you how!
 
 
* Cash Back Inccentives are provided by the designated Real Estate firm listed on the Rebate Coupon and not an incentive provided by the following new home builder/new home … (1 comments)

Going Green - 01/22/10 10:44 AM

… (6 comments)

Decorating Vs. Staging - 01/22/10 10:29 AM
There seems to be some confusion regarding the difference between decorating and home staging. When the subject of home staging is approached, a frequent comment is, "Oh, that's decorating a house to sell it." Well, yes and no. Home staging is emotionally preparing a house to sell, and may involve some accessorizing, but unless the house is vacant, in most cases, it is more like un-decorating.
By emotionally preparing a house, a stager helps the owner detach from the house as their home and see it as "inventory" on the market as well as preparing the house to have a "feel … (1 comments)

Protecting Your Home - 01/21/10 02:15 PM
Many homeowners have a false sense of security because they live in a neighborhood that is considered safe. Some are too afraid to think their home could get broken into and don’t take any precautions at all. It’s the old it-will-never-happen-to-me mentality. All it takes is a few short minutes for someone to steal thousands of dollars worth of your property.
 
You can’t just rely on your neighbors or your dog as a security measure. Thieves will sometimes pose as delivery men to fool your neighbors, then break into your house in the middle of the day. Even big scary-looking … (3 comments)

Selling a Home when you have Pets - 01/21/10 02:01 PM
You love your pets, but not everyone loves pets. Some people have allergies to animals, while others may be afraid of animals. They may not be comfortable with a dog’s playful jumping nor like the idea of a cat wrapping her body around their feet. They may get upset upon seeing a cat box in the kitchen or a half-full dog bowl in the corner of the room.  They may not be familiar with all the scents and shedding from pets.  They may not enjoy the little chew toys on the rug that you bought your pet for a birthday.    
 
Now that you … (3 comments)

Do Open Houses Work - 01/21/10 01:09 PM

Do open houses help sell your home? They could, but don't count on them as the be-all and end-all of your property listing. Open houses tend to interest the tire kickers, and people who just want to entertain themselves for the day by roaming through someone else's home as if it were a museum.  Often, they are not qualified, don't even know what the house is worth, or still have something to sell and are just trying to get an idea of what kind of house they can get in the area. But that won't help you.
 
A quality virtual tour that … (6 comments)

Drawbacks to "For Sale by Owner" - 01/21/10 12:50 PM

There are plusses and minusses in selling a home on your own. These are the minusses.
 
1. “For sale by owner” hunters want a bargain. The only reason why a buyer is going to shop purely "For sale by owner" is because she wants – what? – a bargain. She doesn’t want to just save the commission; she wants a bargain. You’ll notice they’ll offer you about 10% below what you have been asking. This is why you won’t save anything, and you are going to basically walk away with the same amount of money or less than If we sell … (0 comments)

Why didn't my home sell? - 01/21/10 12:40 PM
Reasons why homes don’t sell
 
If you have had your home on the market for several months and haven’t seen much activity or any offers, chances are that one or more of the reasons below are to blame.
 
Your asking price
 
Yes, the most common reason for a home not selling is that the asking price has been set too high.
 
It is wise for a home seller to choose the agent who provides the most accurate, true market evaluation of their home based on reliable information not speculation. 
 
Unfortunately, there are Home Sellers who choose … (1 comments)

Should you hire an Architect? - 01/15/10 06:24 PM
Like knowing which stocks to buy and when to buy them, or exactly which week in early spring it’s safe to pop those annuals in the ground, deciding whether or not you need an architect for your home remodeling project depends on dozens of variables unique to you and your situation.  There is no hard and fast answer.
 
What is an Architect? Remember that a real architect is not just a draftsperson or a designer who prepares house plans. Many such persons call themselves "designers", "architectural designers", "home planners", "residential designers", "building designers" and other such titles. In most states, … (0 comments)

Annual Home Maintenance Tips - 01/15/10 06:21 PM
You’ve got the kitchen of your dreams and a master bedroom suite that would look right at home in a 5-star hotel. And your gorgeous new exterior paint job is the envy of the neighborhood. Your place looks so great that real estate agents are dropping off their cards telling you how much they could sell your place for because the work they've done has sent your home value through the roof, if you felt like putting it on the market that is.Sell it now! Good grief no! Not after all the remodeling work. But ... who knows? In five or … (2 comments)

Seller Tips on Preparing Your Home for Showing - 01/14/10 10:48 AM
If you're getting ready to move and need to sell your house, how can you prepare your home for showings to potential buyers? And what should you do (or not do) when your home is being shown?
 
Preparing Your HomeDO clean the house from top to bottom. Make everything shine and sparkle, including your refrigerator, oven and other major appliances. Adding some live plants is also a good idea.
 
DO get rid of any offensive odors that may be present from pets, mildew or garbage. Baking cookies or apple pie creates an inviting odor when potential buyers walk through … (0 comments)

Selling Your Home When You Have Young Children - 01/14/10 10:36 AM
You may have bought your home because the school district it resides in is among the best in its respective state. Or, perhaps the school district has matured during the many years you have lived there and now is worthy of high regard.When it then comes time to sell your home, an alluring selling point for potential home buyers often times can be the quality of education the local school district provides. It's an angle you should definitely look to leverage when you are putting your house on the market.Be sure to consider that your buyers may not have school-aged children … (1 comments)

Short Sale in Moss Creek - 209,900 - 01/14/10 10:17 AM
Over 2700 square feet home with 5 bedrooms and 3 baths priced at $209,000 in highly desirable Park Creek neighborhood. 

 
  Heather Littrell & Associates
For more information on this property or to view other properties, please visit our website at www.cabarrusliving.com  or call 704-791-7881 (Heather) or 704-490-1661 (Ashley)
… (0 comments)

Pristine Home in Fox Glen - $175,000 - 01/14/10 10:10 AM
Beautiful home inside and out.Impeccably Maintained!Vaulted GR with archways into sunroom.Bright open floor plan w/neutral decor.Huge MBR w/sitting area.Quality upgrades throughout including plantation shutters on all windows,hardwoods,granite and gas range to name a few.Private fenced backyard with large stamped concrete patio,retractable awning,full irrigation and waterfall. Must see!!
 
 
 

   Heather Littrell & Associates
For more information on this property, visit our website at www.cabarrusliving.com or call 704-791-7881 (Heather) or 704-490-1661 (Ashley)
… (0 comments)

The Debate on Outside Flyers - 01/13/10 01:15 PM
We have been discussing within our office and other area offices the debate of whether to put outside flyers in information boxes on your listings.  At one time, this was pretty commonplace, but it seems today that a lot of agents feel that this is a waste of time and money for the agent.  Most of the flyers are taken by neighbors or by "just curious" tire-kickers.
That leads to the next question.  If you do use outside flyers, how much information should you include?  Just some pictures and the phone number?  Should the list price be included only for you … (2 comments)

Tax Credit will NOT be renewed again. - 01/13/10 01:00 PM
I've recently learned that the provision that puts up to $8,000 in buyers' pockets won't be renewed a second time according to industry leaders and lawmakers during an October debate on Capitol Hill.
Senator Johnny Isakson, a Republican from Georgia, stated that this would be the last extension.  At the same time Senate Finance Chairman Max Baucus, Democrat from Montana, said that it is important that this tax credit doesn't become a permanent fixture of the tax code.  So basically, when April 30th comes and goes, the tax credit for everyone is over and buyers have only until June 30th to close.
As … (1 comments)

Help in making sense of Real Estate Listing Jargon - 01/13/10 12:46 PM
Real estate listing jargon is a lot like instant messaging and texting shorthand. You can probably figure out that "4BR/2.5BA hm on lg lvl lot w/ vu" translates as "four bedroom, two-and-a-half bathroom home on large level lot with view."
There are two different kinds of decoding you'll need when you look at a listing: Amenity abbreviations resulting in alphabet soup, and descriptive "fluff."
 
Decoding Acronyms
ASSUM: Assumable mortgageATT: Attached (garage, studio, in-law suite)BAL: BalconyCAC: Central air conditioningDET: Detached (garage, studio, in-law suite)DR: Dining roomD/W: DishwasherEIK: Eat-in kitchenFIN: Finished (attic or basement)FDR, FML, DR: Formal dining roomFP, FPL, FRPL: FireplaceGAR: … (0 comments)

How to Keep Remodeling Costs to a Minimum - 01/13/10 12:35 PM
Are you ready to put a little "sweat equity" into your home? Don't sweat it. I'm not saying that you have to do your entire remodel yourself. After all, you're not a professional contractor, right? That's why you want to hire a pro. But if you're willing to roll up your sleeves and get a little dirty you can save yourself some money while adding to the value of your home.
 
Do It Yourself
It is possible to cut the costs of a remodel by doing your own demolition, including such chores as tearing out carpet, removing lighting and plumbing fixtures, … (1 comments)

Country Church and Parsonage in Great Area - 01/06/10 08:58 AM
 

Gorgeous land off of NC Hwy 3 - Seller prefers to sell together, but will consider separating. This would be awesome as a Christian Retreat Center/Church & Parsonage.  **Combined Tax Value is $626,790.00**. 7 acres allow for addition of pool/sports facilities/additional parking. Income producing potential as a country, mountain-type retreat center** Imagine bringing your youth groups here!! Horseback facilities nearby, camping possibilities without traveling to the mountains or coast. Bring your imagination!  Church could also be converted to a barn and this would be a nice horse farm.

Beautiful country church boasts awesome views as you can see … (0 comments)

Cute Little Bungalow in Downtown Concord for Rent - 01/05/10 12:03 PM
Very cute little 2 bedroom, 1 bath bungalow available for rent for $550 per month. Convenient to downtown and to the bus stop downtown if needed. All appliances are in house.

 
 
 
For more information please visit or website at www.cabarrusliving.com
The Cabarrus Living Team
Keller Williams
704-791-7881 (Heather) or 704-490-1661 (Ashley)
… (0 comments)

Great Office Space in Concord, NC! - $135,000 - 01/05/10 11:56 AM
Owner financing available on this great office. What a perfect location close to downtown Concord and recently remodeled, this property is great for a small office front and offers a 90 sq. ft. garage for storage, inventory, etc

 
 
 
For more information please visit or website at www.cabarrusliving.com
The Cabarrus Living Team
Keller Williams
704-791-7881 (Heather) or 704-490-1661 (Ashley)
… (0 comments)

21 Acres of Prime Commercial Property on Kannapolis Parkway! - 01/05/10 11:48 AM
 Kannapolis Parkway is the Gateway to the multi-billion $$ Bio-Tech Campus under construction in Kannapolis. Property is currently zoned reidential and commercial but Kannapolis 2015 plan reflects mixed use. There are three building on the property with little or no value. 1-2 acre pond at the back of property, next door to Childress Klein property including Target, Best Buy, Marshalls, PetSmart as well as McDonald's, Starbucks, Chic-Fil-A and many more restaurants and shops - This area is just going to continue to expand and this property is right next door!
 Priced at 3,500,000.00
 
 
 
For more information please visit … (0 comments)

24 Lots for Sale in Concord, NC - $49,900 each - Close to Lowe's Motor Speedway - 01/05/10 11:41 AM
One of 24 lots for sale. Four homes already built in this neighborhood of only 28 lots located within a few minutes of Concord Mills. Lots are flat and cleared. Curb and gutter, neighborhood entrance signage and landscaping are already in place. Owner will consider a take down on 5 or more lots
 For more information please visit or website at www.cabarrusliving.com
The Cabarrus Living Team
Keller Williams
704-791-7881 (Heather) or 704-490-1661 (Ashley)
… (0 comments)

Patio Home in Highland Glen - Move In Ready! - 01/05/10 11:36 AM
Immaculate 3 bedroom, 2 bath patio home with neutral decor, white cabinetry, gorgeous carpeted sunroom and lovely master suite with dual sinks, large walk-in closet and step-in shower. This floorplan is so open with vaulted ceiling, half paladium window, so light and airy any decor will work here. All appliances remain, no exterior lawn maintenance, and the two car garage is finished and has attic storage
Immediate availability, wired for security system. Lease/purchase will be considered by seller. Seller is offering $1000 paint allowance and $1000 flooring allowance if you would like any flooring or paint colors changed out - Priced at $174,900
… (0 comments)