North Carolina Real Estate>>Charlotte NC Real Estate Specialist

The Angry Web Consumer Responds-Are YOU The Guilty One?

Leigh Brown Charlotte NC Broker/Owner (RE/MAX Signature Properties) — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 20:06:58 -0600

So on Monday, I posted about an irate email that I had received. I chose to respond to the angry consumer in a public forum so that she would feel that her concerns had been heard.

She responded back, and boy, did she unload her issues! Take a read:

"I really don't have time for blogs and the like.

Problems that I have seen in the industry -
too much focus on commission and no focus
on service and information.

This is especially true when it comes to HOA
information and the problems that are now prevalent
in the industry. Just because it works once doesn't
mean that it can always be duplicated. Legislation
is woefully behind on enforcement and uniform
standards. It is to the detriment of your
profession when no less than 4 or 5 realtors in a
development get caught because they never
read their own HOA docs and to my amazement
never even checked into the retention basin or
county infrastructure of the development once
the builder pulled out. This has happened time
and time again in VA - I am originally from a northern
state and code enforcement is obviously not uniform
across this country despite regulations. However,
try and find a realtor who understands what I just
said and knows how to direct their client. Now, I know
exactly what to avoid but I have yet to find a real estate
professional who is willing to direct me.

Something else that I have seen - ridiculous pricing.
Crazy pricing with absolutely no rationale behind WHY!
Just because someone wants to place a price on a house
doesn't really belong. This crazy run up in pricing was
fed on many things - GREED was primary. Not VALUE
or the house itself.

Put yourself in the chair of a bank lending the money -
would you lend money to Mr. and Mrs. John Doe or
Mr. Smith as an individual or Ms. Jones as an individual
without adequate resources? I rented properties - sure
I had a few tenants who wanted to rent an apartment
they could not afford and I suggested the efficiency -
but they were not getting the more expensive apartment!
I owned it and unless they could justify HOW they
divided up their paycheck to me so that ALL expenses
were paid - I just wrote them off. My rents were not
outrageous - but I did place standards on my qualifications
for what my expectations were with payment and I did
not want my tenants hating me for demanding payment
for my property. Why? Because I had bills to pay as well
and a small profit for my time and effort as well as some
kind of percentage of return because of the money tied up
in the property.

Too many realtors believe that all properties must appreciate
in value! I would love to meet the person who started this
nonsense because they never had grandparents who lived
through the Great Depression. Read about Tuxedo Park in N.Y.
where some of our great scientists lived.  See what happened
to Tuxedo Park when people no longer had money to pay for these
homes. There are communities like this across America that
fell during the Great Depression.

Last but not least, I think you have moral obligation to both
sellers and buyers (particularly buyers) in your community. It
really does no one any good when house after house goes into
foreclosure. As a taxpayer who SAVES and invests - I do not
feel that I have an obligation to bail out people who buy on
credit! Sorry, but I don't - but on the other hand look what
happens when people use too much credit. It destroys our
communities. I come from a part of the country that is old -
much older than younger communities in the south that have all
of this NEW building. One thing that I have noticed is that in
older neighborhoods you do not have many foreclosures (if any).
Why? Because people did not have new housing to buy and
people stayed in their homes and fixed them up or added on to
them. I am not saying that growth is bad, but we need to
control building and credit just like we must manage our trash
and be responsible citizens in our community.

Too many people stay up watching infomercials dreaming of
wealth instead of working and saving their salaries. Greed
based off selling is not the road to wealth.

This actually happened last year - I tell the story about a physician friend of ours (elderly man
who is now semi retired) talking to a realtor friend who
is the owner of two too many houses in an HOA. She has
been desperately trying for over 3 years to sell her first house.
Our wise/old and experienced physician friend asks her about the
market and what is the current status. Realtor friend goes on and
on about unrealistic buyers and sellers who are demanding too much
for their homes. Basically, stating what your association tells the
papers - Dr. friend then says - "please then explain what is the
problem with the sale of your house?" She turns heel and leaves -
totally embarrassed. Why? Because her home was way over
priced. Another realtor that I know has a house on the James River -
basic house and it is okay but nothing special. She buys it for
$350K or less about 4 years ago. Last year she put a price of $500K
on it - last week she listed it for $575K! Give me a break - people
are not stupid and even if they were - you had better believe that
this nasty bank person is NOW against the wall to justify pricing and
unless this realtor finds a nut with cash - she won't get the price
to fly past the mortgage or bank people! This is how business used
to be done in the good ole days when the country wasn't broke.

Just remember - I have been both buyer and seller, landlord and
property owner for well over 30 years. I look at things different
because I learned a long time ago that owing the bank meant
I could end up homeless. This country will not survive on endless
amounts of credit.

As for how I feel about the realtors of today - I have been bullied,
lied to and basically ignored regardless of what we request. I am
appalled at the number of people who buy and then attempt to sell.
What I see is this - they want to buy house ABC for $100.00 but
their house is only worth $50.00 maybe $75.00. So they attempt
to make up the difference by raising their sale price - meanwhile,
they put their purchase on a contingency contract HOPING that a sale
will happen on the remainder.  Do you know how many people were
paraded through our home under the premise that they were QUALIFIED
to buy - every single one, but nary a one actually qualified!? I was able
to do my own search after the fact just using their names and
addresses! This is a FACT! Sure I am upset - I was lied to time and time
again by no less than 20 or 30 realtors not to mention the listing agent!

As for stories about builders and other lies we have met up with in VA -
I don't even have the time anymore which is why we are leaving the state.
It is not my fight to fight.

One thing I learned as a landlord - try to see how your tenant looks at you.
How do I want to be treated? What would I expect from my landlord?!
Same thing goes for contracts - any good contract is only as good as the
person negotiating.  It is not just about price or commissions. It is
about information and other consumer oriented draws. If you are selling
less expensive homes to a family - it is about relationships that will
carry over to a larger home. If it is about elderly people - it is about
how to relocate them. It is about service and answering questions.

I didn't mean for you to take what I said as a personal attack - it is
about the real estate profession as a whole today. How do you think
I feel when I give a young mother a chance to list my house and then
learn that she doesn't take calls or even return calls because she is
busy transporting her kids?  Do you know how many times I have called
a realtor in VA and I am still waiting for a return call? We had to call
the homeowner to get a showing through their realtor on one house!

My personal belief is that most real estate sold itself - today it is an
entirely different business and market."

You know, after chatting with her over email, she and I have discovered common ground. I don't do business in the way that she has experienced, and in fact I AGREE WITH HER on so many fronts.

Do YOU have the ability to put your 'big girl panties' on and admit that perhaps you're part of the problem? I am delighted at the number of agents fleeing this industry. I've said it before and I'll say it again-we need to get back to the folks who are passionate about real estate as a career and calling and away from those who got licensed to save a couple of bucks or who were just bored.

Folks, this job isn't a game. If you're selling 2 houses a year on the side, you are endangering every person you come in contact with. I cannot imagine wanting the kind of liability that goes along with this job for that. In fact, it would not occur to me to hold myself out as a professional if I weren't dead flat serious about every transaction in which I'm involved.

"Maybe some of your people need to go back to understanding what it is like for
both the buyer and seller - you job is a broker - you are brokering
deals. The best broker forgets the commission and goes for the
deal."

She's RIGHT. If you are seeing commission dollars at the end of each deal, then you're thinking transactionally and not relationally. If you're seeing the human impact of each real estate deal and figuring out what you can do to improve the situations for everyone involved, then SPEAK UP. You are part of the solution, too. Good agents have a duty to call out bad agents-turn them in to your state real estate commission or local board and let them get called on the carpet. We have to police ourselves if we are ever to change the impression that those who came before us left.

You can call me a diva or a barracuda or just call me Leigh. I'm here for today, for tomorrow, and still watching over the folks from yesterday. This crazy profession is what I know and what I do. I just hope to continue finding ways to improve.

Angry web consumer, THANK YOU. Thank you for letting me know what got you to this point. I do hope to be your trusted advisor-I think that you and I will get along famously for years.

Leigh

Dear Angry Web Consumer:

Leigh Brown Charlotte NC Broker/Owner (RE/MAX Signature Properties) — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 12:01:10 -0600

Dear Angry Web Consumer:

First of all, thank you for visiting my website. I thought it would go unsaid, but I feel it's necessary to point out that YOU visited MY website. No one forced you to visit and take advantage of the free information I provide therein.

You visited my website 8 days ago. You did not provide a name or a telephone number or an address, just an email. You did not respond to my emails, so I did add you to my automatic email campaign so that you would know your information had been received.

Perhaps there is something negative going on in your life right now. Perhaps you had a bad experience with a Realtor in the past. I can understand that. We all go through rough patches and have our own stories to tell.

But I'm not that Realtor. I've never met you. I'd love to help you, but it's awfully hard to help when you do not provide contact information and do not reply to messages.

You said in your email that "damn realtors like you care more about your damn
commission than really helping people."

I take exception to that. I do help people-and I enjoy it. My compensation for helping happens to be commission-do you hate the bank teller for getting paid to process your check? Do you hate schoolteachers for getting paid to teach? Do you hate doctors for billing for your medical visit?

You also said in your email: "To be
perfectly HONEST and yes I am being honest with you - if people do
not have their financing in order - it is NOT your job to do it! You are
part of the problem - not the solution. You is not to be taken as an
individual but plural for most of the people in your profession!!!!!!"

I also take exception to this statement. See, I've been selling real estate full time for almost 10 years now. I know a fair amount about the mortgage world and feel that as a Realtor professional, it's my duty to help keep an eye on that process to make sure everything is legitimate and that you are not endangering yourself with a loan product that could hurt you over time.

You also said: "GET A LIFE and begin to understand that this
damn country is facing a DEPRESSION -not recession (read BARRONS
TODAY)"

I am a fact-based individual. Are there economic issues right now? Sure. Will more come down the pike? Probably. But are unemployment rates at 30%? No. Are there bread lines stretching for blocks on end? No. Are there shanty towns in our cities? No. So let's come back to reality and not call this a depression. I refuse to be held hostage by your 'chicken little' attitude. I know that part of-perhaps the biggest part of-our problem today is a pervasive sense of fear and negativity. Houses have been bought and sold in every market and market condition. Folks will always need a trusted advisor when it comes time to deal with this huge single financial transaction. I will be here for them. You may not need me, and more power to you. But I will not leave my clients to the uncertainty of facing this market alone.

Oh-and when I replied to you that I am praying for you? I am. I pray daily for people who have allowed fear to overtake their lives and I pray for those who feel a need to drag others down with them.

***update-the consumer responded! Read her thoughts here***

Leigh

50% off List Price Houses in Charlotte NC!

Leigh Brown Charlotte NC Broker/Owner (RE/MAX Signature Properties) — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 10:18:33 -0600

Good Neighbor Next Door program houses available immediately:

*eligible buyers include firefighters, police, EMT, and preK-12 teachers*

*houses are available at 50% off list price (that isn't a misprint!). Purchaser must live in the house as their primary residence for 3 years, at which time the equity is theirs!*

4421 Roadway St Charlotte NC 28208

$41,000 3 bedroom/1bath

4047 Cindy Woods Ln Charlotte NC 28216

$71,000 3 bedroom/2.5 bath

2617 Meadow Knoll Dr Charlotte NC 28269

$73,000 2 bedroom/2.5 bath

8242 Kings Creek Dr Charlotte NC 28273

$86,000 3 bedroom/2 bath

10915 Wiltshire Ln Charlotte NC 28262

$92,000 3 bedroom/2 bath

6409 Castlewynd Ct Charlotte NC 28212

$99,000 3 bedroom/2.5 bath

Call Leigh Brown for more information, 704.688.5005. Deadline for placing a bid is midnight, December 9th. Houses will be made available to the general public on December 10th. If you are not quite ready to purchase but would like to be informed of these houses as they come available, please email us at leigh@leighbrownandassociates.com to be placed on the watch list.

If you're not eligible for the Good Neighbor Next Door program, but would like to be informed of great foreclosure deals-or just great discounted homes in Charlotte and surrounding areas-email us and let us know what you're seeking. You can also search on our MLS site to your heart's content for all real estate for sale in Charlotte NC!

We're always glad to help!

Habitat Cabarrus House Starts 10/4/08!!

Leigh Brown Charlotte NC Broker/Owner (RE/MAX Signature Properties) — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 16:54:27 -0500

So you're feeling a little anxious these days? Worried about the economy and the election? Come get things back into perspective starting this Saturday, October 4 2008 as we begin the construction of the Leigh Brown house for Habitat Cabarrus in Concord NC.

We have a family ready to go to work, ready to get out of substandard housing here in Cabarrus County- into a home of their own where they have a safe place to live-and can build their own wealth.

I've been setting aside a portion of each commission for the past two years to fund this house. I feel very strongly about giving back to the community in which I live and work-and this is more than me. Many of my clients have matched my efforts and we are ALMOST funded on the house. If you feel so moved, you can make a donation to the Leigh Brown house (tax-deductible of course). $60 buys one square foot of the house.

If you're not entirely familiar with Habitat for Humanity-or perhaps have just never looked into the specifics of the mission-here's the scoop. Our Partner Families aren't getting anything free-they are hard-working folks who make less than the median income in the area, perhaps have a credit glitch or three-but are willing to commit to extensive financial counseling, home maintenance classes, and are willing to spend their Saturdays building homes for others and then themselves. Upon completion of the requirements, the Partner Families have a home built for them which is provided on an interest-free mortgage to make it as affordable as possible. In Cabarrus County alone, over 110 families have boosted themselves out of substandard housing with a little help from friends-like you.

For more information, to find out the build schedule, or to volunteer, please email me today. I am so proud to serve my community-I have received so much, I can do no less than give back in any way that I can.

Cabarrus County's ONLY EcoBroker

Leigh Brown Charlotte NC Broker/Owner (RE/MAX Signature Properties) — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 14:55:08 -0500

(drumroll, please)

Yes, you heard it right-Leigh Brown is now Cabarrus County's (that would be Concord, Kannapolis, Harrisburg, Mount Pleasant, and Midland NC) ONLY EcoBroker. (I'm the 6th one in greater Charlotte-we're getting there, slowly but surely)

Proof that even if you are a fiscal conservative like myself, who has always made it a point to poke fun at the tree-hugging, non-leg-or-armpit-shaving liberal types, you can still make a difference.

Going green in regard to real estate is so much more than the political pandering of the Sierra Club. It's got more to do with being fiscally and environmentally responsible. And heck yes, it might even make your house easier to sell one day!

For more information about buying or selling a green (or brown or blue or whatever) house anywhere in the greater Charlotte NC area (especially Cabarrus County), call or email Leigh Brown directly. I'm always glad to help!

Is It Time for Charlotte NC Home Buyers To Get Off The Fence?

Leigh Brown Charlotte NC Broker/Owner (RE/MAX Signature Properties) — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 14:58:46 -0500

I do have to wonder how many buyers are swayed by the media barrage of the National Association of Realtors, which is currently pushing for buyers to 'get off the fence.'

I have to say, if I were currently planning to purchase a home or condo or land or anything else real estate related in the Charlotte NC market-heck, anywhere-that campaign would be off-putting to me.

As Realtors, we have a bad enough reputation in the marketplace already. It gets worse daily, as the liberal media continues to slam everyone involved in the mortgage debacle...yes, there were shady Realtors involved (real estate agents, too), shady lenders, idiotic buyers, you name it. So those of us who have soldiered on, taking great care of buyers and sellers alike (and may I add, not one of the hundreds of homes that I have listed or sold here in Charlotte NC has gone to foreclosure-in fact, I've saved a couple of my sellers from foreclosure but that's another topic altogether), are still being lumped in with the snakes. Do we really have to hurt ourselves even more with crap like this?

Yes, it's a great time to buy in many markets, including Charlotte NC and most of our suburbs *but not all-did you note that i didn't say it's a great time to buy in every corner of this market?*. But I have to admit that it drives me absolutely nuts when the media and even our own trade organization thinks we have to trick people into buying. Facts and statistics are one thing-for many buyers, seeing that we are likely in the trough for pricing is enough to get them to think positively about purchasing. However, to use only emotion just makes me feel a little icky.

I can only imagine how often the liberal news media is going to trumpet that now is a great buying opportunity once there's a new President in office...they will single-handedly try to make the market go up to prove that whichever candidate is elected was responsible for the turnaround (which is plausible since they did a lot to create the drama that's going on now).

Just for the record. Neither I nor many of my like-minded Realtor brethren believe in pushing anyone off of a fence. Yes, we want you to know about changes in financing, the end of down payment assistance, changes in pricing of mortgage insurance, tightening up of list price/sales price ratios. But it's up to YOU to make the decision to buy. If you want to wait until prices have already started to move up, that's your call-not mine. I'll be here whether you buy today or in a year. I'm in this for a long time to come (and you guessed it-that will mean more market cycles-so I'll wager that you will call or email when you need the expert who evaluates market changes and doesn't run from the challenges of a new marketplace).

5907 Hornbeam Court Charlotte NC 28269

Leigh Brown Charlotte NC Broker/Owner (RE/MAX Signature Properties) — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 07:33:15 -0500

You know you love Highland Creek-who wouldn't? A full golf course (public, with special privileges for residents of the community), 5 pools, tennis courts, miles and miles of walking trails, pocket parks throughout...and residential homes from the mid $100s to over $600,000.

Which makes this particular house for sale in Highland Creek at 5907 Hornbeam Court an even more attractive option...you'll be in the lower end of pricing for one of Charlotte NC's all-time best selling neighborhoods!

This home has been staged and is clean as a whistle, plus it's priced to sell at $192,500.

For more information or to schedule your private showing, please call or email Leigh Brown today-we're always glad to help!

13047 Meadowmere Road Huntersville NC 28078

Leigh Brown Charlotte NC Broker/Owner (RE/MAX Signature Properties) — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 07:24:25 -0500

If you're on a budget but still want to be in the heart of desirable Huntersville NC, within a stone's throw of Birkdale Village for shopping and dining, and want to be in a great school district as well, this may be your next home.

This great townhome for sale in Huntersville NC is located at 13047 Meadowmere Road in the Crosswinds community. The place shows like brand new, and the owner is so sad to be leaving!

And at $134,900 it's one of the best values going (plus you get a garage!!!)

For more information or to schedule your private showing, please call or email Leigh Brown directly. We're always glad to help!

4501 Bellmore Court Charlotte NC 28269

Leigh Brown Charlotte NC Broker/Owner (RE/MAX Signature Properties) — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 06:20:13 -0500

This is the cream of the crop in the desirable Leacroft community (aka The Villages of Leacroft), in north Charlotte NC.

In the heart of north Charlotte's shopping, minutes from TIAA-CREF, I-85, Concord Mills, Leacroft is a great neighborhood with quite the happening swim team!

This home for sale at 4501 Bellmore Court in Charlotte NC is on an oversized cul-de-sac lot (yes, a third of an acre is oversized, for all you relocating families-I know it's an adjustment!), heavily wooded with plenty of privacy for that first cup of coffee.

$230,000-for four bedrooms, both formals and a great room, and new frieze carpet throughout! It's well-priced and won't last long (no, seriously, it's had two second showings in the first week on the market). So call or email Leigh Brown today for additional information or to schedule your private showing. We're glad to help!

7103 McEwen Place Mint Hill NC 28227

Leigh Brown Charlotte NC Broker/Owner (RE/MAX Signature Properties) — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 06:11:58 -0500

I must admit, I'm remiss. I listed this fabulous home for sale in Ellington Farm in Mint Hill a week ago today...and the lucky buyers cropped up on Saturday so we're officially under contract.

Yes, you heard me correctly-this home for sale in Mint Hill NC (that's just barely east of Charlotte NC) sold in not even 3 days!!! In a challenging market, no less.

Why, you ask? Well, the sellers correctly priced the home (at $375,000), got the house in showing condition (no wild colors or wallpaper), cleaned the heck out of it (those hardwood floors were shining!), made it available for showings (when the agent called for an appointment, the sellers cleared out), and then most importantly-they answered my phone call late on a Saturday night when we had a 3 hour deadline to respond to the offer to purchase!

If you have a home to sell in or around Charlotte NC, call someone who can get it done. Maybe not in 3 days but we can always hope! Or if you happen to be interested in this home, let me know and I can add you to the list should this contract go south.

For more information on this home or any other, please call or email Leigh Brown. We're always glad to help!

1160 Alvin Hough Road Midland NC 28107

Leigh Brown Charlotte NC Broker/Owner (RE/MAX Signature Properties) — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 06:00:09 -0500

Ah...country living at its finest! A well-loved home on just over an acre for sale, literally the first road over the Mecklenburg County NC line. Located at 1160 Alvin Hough Road in Midland NC 28107, this home for sale offers convenience-a mere 5 minutes from I-485-and country living at the same time.

Sure, it needs some updating (unless you're the retro sort who likes brown appliances and original knotty pine paneling), but it's structurally sound and in move-in condition if you'd like to take on the updating projects over time. The roof is only a year old, and was done well with architectural shingles.

For more information on this great opportunity, or for your private appointment, please call or email Leigh Brown directly. We're always glad to help!

500 Terrace Drive Kannapolis NC 28083

Leigh Brown Charlotte NC Broker/Owner (RE/MAX Signature Properties) — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 05:53:24 -0500

I know you've all heard about the North Carolina Research Campus which is just opening in Kannapolis NC. You may be wondering how to be a part of the excitement if you're in California or New York or Missouri.

You know that the answer may just be investing in real estate. Many of my investor clients live out of state-and have few problems with management once they've retained a professional property management firm here in the Charlotte NC area.

This great home for sale at 500 Terrace Drive in Kannapolis NC makes an excellent investment, especially if you don't have the funds to buy an expensive home. Located just minutes from the North Carolina Research Campus and in the heart of an established neighborhood, you could get this home rented quite easily.

It's also well-priced for the first-time home buyer who is budget-conscious.

For more information about this property or to schedule your private showing, please call or email Leigh Brown directly, we're always glad to help!

11929 Ulsten Lane Huntersville NC 28078

Leigh Brown Charlotte NC Broker/Owner (RE/MAX Signature Properties) — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 05:45:06 -0500

What's that you say? You love golf? It's actually one of the reasons your family is choosing Charlotte NC as your next home?

If that's the case (and with so many relocating families it's actually one of the reasons the Charlotte NC area is a popular choice), then why not live in a fabulous, established golf community?

This home for sale at 11929 Ulsten Lane in Huntersville NC may be just the ticket. If golf is your thing, you can join the country club and stroll the links whenever the mood strikes. If golf is not your thing, but you enjoy the greenspace provided by golf courses, this may still be the right option. Northstone is a very popular golf and residential community, conveniently located just north of Charlotte NC in Huntersville NC up I-77.

For your private showing or just for more information, email or call Leigh Brown today at 704.979.7034. We're always glad to help!

Getting Back On The Bicycle....

Leigh Brown Charlotte NC Broker/Owner (RE/MAX Signature Properties) — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 05:19:59 -0500

This is the longest dry spell I've had since beginning this blog in September of 2006! I haven't gone anywhere, but good heavens-I need 8 days a week right now.

Team and staff changes have happened...listings have been taken and sold...buyers have searched and purchased...battles over earnest money continue...

And you know, my kids and my husband need a little attention, too. =)

I'm headed to Orlando next week for the annual CyberStar gathering and also StarPower. I'm excited to reconnect with old friends and meet some of the folks I've only known through the powers of Web 2.0. I'm really excited about meeting up with other agents who have found themselves in a position of growth in this not-so-hot market to get input.

I'm also excited to get recharged and get back to writing on this blog. Of course, my outside blog is about to go through a change if the idiots at RSS will ever return an email since the drama started.

I've missed hearing from y'all, and i'm back!

The Surveyor's Call That You Don't Expect

Leigh Brown Charlotte NC Broker/Owner (RE/MAX Signature Properties) — Fri, 30 May 2008 15:21:01 -0500

I don't know if things are different in other parts of the country, my particular specialty is real estate in and around Charlotte NC. But around here, part of the due diligence on purchasing a home is in obtaining a new survey. We're old school here in North Carolina. Our surveyors operate on the old method of metes and bounds. And you need a new survey to know where your corners lie (you may want a fence at some point, a storage shed, a pool, etc). Also, you need that survey if you want full title insurance coverage against future problems with encroachments and errors and such.

So we get after our buyers to get surveys-please don't regret trying to save $300 if you run into a problem down the road on this, one of your largest financial investments!

Anyhoo. Got a call from one of our most trusted surveyors yesterday. He was out looking at a parcel in an established neighborhood in downtown Concord NC, a lovely community called Beverly Hills that has been there for ages and always does quite well. I'm representing the buyers in this transaction. We have been anxiously awaiting the survey, since the sellers had lived here for over 20 years and they didn't have an old survey for us to consider (we only had the ballpark information available in the Cabarrus County GIS). As the surveyor went back into the wooded back section of the lot (this is a heavily wooded parcel), he came across a surprise-a private enterprise, as it were.

Marijuana, mary jane, ganja, weed. Happily growing in portable containers at the backside of the property. Our surveyor immediately called the local police to let them know about this undocumented business venture. Interestingly enough, the police department had already received a call that there was someone trespassing on this property! Must have been the pot purveyors, worried about the safety of their product. The surveyor wasn't trespassing, he was doing his job, and also doing his civic duty turning in the illegal plants.

Craziness.

Yet one more reason to order a survey...you might discover an alternative income source on the property! (for more information on buying, selling, or investing in Charlotte NC or Concord NC area real estate, email or call Leigh Brown today, I'm always glad to help)

118 Hillside Avenue SW, Historic Concord NC 28025

Leigh Brown Charlotte NC Broker/Owner (RE/MAX Signature Properties) — Fri, 30 May 2008 15:09:56 -0500

If you just can't take one more vinyl village, if you just want charm and natural beauty-but aren't sure that you want to be out in the sticks, this just might be your home.

118 Hillside Avenue SW, Concord NC 28025

This beautiful ranch home for sale in Concord NC just off of the historic district in the downtown Concord Union Street area is a great buy. Fully updated-with two full baths! (you should know that two full baths are rare in most of these older homes!) Laminate floors on most of the main level, the bedrooms have neutral carpet in excellent condition. The kitchen has been updated with new counters, a tile backsplash, updated appliances. The original carport was converted to a sunroom, and makes an excellent home office or playroom. Three spacious bedrooms available. There's also an unfinished basement which is great storage-plus it's been wired for additional office space (or just a cool spot if you have servers that need a cooler temperature environment). The lot is almost a half acre, and features some immense hardwood trees.

Minutes from Interstate 85, CMC-Northeast Medical Center, and Carolina Mall.

$161,900

For more information on this property, or to schedule your private appointment to view, please visit the website or call Leigh Brown direct at 704.979.7034. We're always glad to help whether you're buying, selling or investing in Charlotte NC real estate.

2417 Sawyer Drive, Charlotte NC 28213

Leigh Brown Charlotte NC Broker/Owner (RE/MAX Signature Properties) — Fri, 30 May 2008 14:59:17 -0500

If you're on a budget but still want a cute, upgraded, updated home for sale in Charlotte NC, here it is! This two-story home for sale in the Loren Farms community in Charlotte NC is fully updated and ready for immediate occupancy.

The seller has installed laminate flooring on the main level-talk about easy upkeep! New carpet has been installed on the stairs and the upstairs level. You'll see new interior paint. The kitchen has new stainless steel appliances. The lot is level and on an oversized corner-it would be easy to fence in if you have that cute puppy who needs boundaries!

$139,900

For more information on this property, or to schedule your private viewing, please visit the website or call Leigh Brown direct at 704.979.7034. We're always glad to help whether you're buying, selling or investing in Charlotte NC area real estate.

1690 Hardy Drive Rock Hill SC 29732

Leigh Brown Charlotte NC Broker/Owner (RE/MAX Signature Properties) — Fri, 30 May 2008 14:53:36 -0500

This fantastic ranch home for sale is located in Rock Hill, SC in the Bristol Park community. A mere five minutes from Interstate 77, it's the perfect home whether you're commuting into uptown/downtown/center city Charlotte NC or working closer to the border of NC/SC.

Split bedroom floorplan makes this house great for roommates or investors, first time buyers and empty nesters downsizing alike. The current sellers have kept it immaculate and neutral, and it's truly in move-in condition.

Best of all the lot is level and backs to a private, wooded area so you can sit outside and enjoy the birds and nature from your extended patio area!

$134,900

For more information or to schedule your private showing, please visit our website or call 704.979.7034. We're always glad to help, whether your plans include buying, selling or investing in Charlotte NC area real estate.

(Leigh Brown is a licensed real estate broker in North Carolina and South Carolina.)

421 Dotger Avenue in Elizabeth, Charlotte NC 28204

Leigh Brown Charlotte NC Broker/Owner (RE/MAX Signature Properties) — Thu, 29 May 2008 12:23:29 -0500

Gorgeous custom home in the heart of one of Charlotte NC's most desirable communities. Elizabeth is nestled under the famous oak canopy, beside the main campus of Presbyterian Hospital in downtown Charlotte. Elizabeth is known for its walkability, the craftsman-style homes of the 20s, 30s, and 40s, and the sheer carhm of the area.

From Elizabeth, you can drive to the best shopping in Charlotte NC in about ten minutes. Or you can go to work at Bank of America, Wachovia, the Hearst Corporation, or Grant Thornton within ten minutes (and yes, that's door to door!).

Best of all, this is new construction. Built on the foundation of a home from 1939, this home features the best of modern construction and living. From the hardwood floors throughout the home, to the Italian porcelain in the master bath, to the upgraded appliances in the kitchen, to the main level guest suite, to the amenity of each bedroom having private access to a bath...it's here. And to top it off, there is the elusive two-car garate, with finished space above perfect for an office/playroom/guest suite!

$850,000, 421 Dotger Avenue Charlotte NC

This home is scheduled to be completed inside of 30 days, you will note that the house is in final trim. Additional photos and the full virtual tour will be posted as the project nears completion. For additional questions or to schedule your private showing, call Leigh Brown direct at 704.979.7034. I'm always glad to help with anything regarding buying, selling, or investing in Charlotte NC real estate.

Instant Equity Does Not Exist

Leigh Brown Charlotte NC Broker/Owner (RE/MAX Signature Properties) — Thu, 29 May 2008 11:46:18 -0500

And if I read that remark in the Charlotte NC MLS or in someone's marketing one more time, I may just lose it.

We, as real estate professionals, wonder why in the world we are not taken seriously. May I suggest that we have done this to ourselves? If a house truly has instant equity, you could turn around and sell it again the next day-heck the same afternoon!-for more money.

But that scenario really doesn't exist in the marketplace right now. (with a few exceptions, but they're very few) Of course, I'm only speaking of the real estate market here in the Charlotte NC area-your area may be different.

A house can, and will, sell if properly priced and properly conditioned. I think we all know that. But our buyers are savvy. They're shopping the available inventory to make an educated decision about what to do in the purchase. At least, I'd like to think that buyers are savvy. Bless their hearts, some aren't and they rely on the really bad advice of some builder reps and some agents in the marketplace.

I'm getting off topic, too many soapboxes to hop on. Anyway, I'm just tired of folks who are advertising "$30,000 in instant equity!" when it's really just a price reduction. Builder reps seem to be the worst, in their pretty little heads they are really convinced that they are offering the deal of the century on new construction in Charlotte NC. And it confuses buyers. Even the savvy ones get those big numbers stuck in their heads, and they start spending it...or they forget that it's okay to negotiate with the builder further.

I'll say it again: It's NOT 'instant equity'. It's a PRICE REDUCTION.

If that original price had been correct (see above), the house would have sold. It didn't sell, you offered the lower price, which makes it a price reduction. Call a spade a spade, and quit confusing people and creating these impressions of false hope. If they're getting a fair deal on a house, that's a good market. We all want increased equity over time. But it ain't INSTANT.

2298 Donnington Lane Concord NC 28027

Leigh Brown Charlotte NC Broker/Owner (RE/MAX Signature Properties) — Wed, 14 May 2008 14:33:30 -0500

Gracious, maintenance free living in one of the hottest new communities in the Charlotte NC area. Christenbury is a master-planned community at the southern tip of Cabarrus County, with convenient access to I-85 and all the shopping and dining opportunities at Concord Mills Mall (the number one tourist attraction in North Carolina).

This gorgeous townhome built by Ryan Homes is located at 2298 Donnington Lane in Concord NC and shows better than a model home. It's upgraded to the hilt and located on a very desirable lot. How often do you find a townhome with a full finished basement with a grassy lot, backing to a natural wooded area? (And yes, the HOA maintains the whole shooting match!).

$475,000 for this gorgeous home.

Please call or email today for more information or to schedule your private showing. We're always glad to help with your real estate related questions in and around Charlotte and Concord NC!

204 Vintage Hill Huntersville NC 28078

Leigh Brown Charlotte NC Broker/Owner (RE/MAX Signature Properties) — Wed, 14 May 2008 14:10:53 -0500

You're just not quite ready to get rid of all that extra 'stuff', are you? Or your kids need a place to crash out with their friends and you don't necessarily want them underfoot? You need this basement home, located in Skybrook in desirable Huntersville NC. This Huntersville NC home for sale at 204 Vintage Hill is located on a gorgeous cul-de-sac lot, backing to a private wooded area with seasonal waterviews and views of the scenic Skybrook golf course.

Model perfect inside, and one of the most popular Wieland floorplans, the Windsor. Hardwoods throughout the main level and a kitchen to DIE for (Six-burner Wolf gas range, oversized granite island with wine refrigerator and prep sink). Screened porch and oversized deck for enjoying the outdoors! Upstairs you'll find four spacious bedrooms, each with bathroom access, plus a large step-up bonus room. The unfinished basement is pre-wired with a separate circuit and pre-plumbed for a bathroom and wet bar-great opportunity to personalize your home and build equity!

$750,000

Please call or email Leigh Brown with additional questions or to schedule your private showing. We're always glad to help with any questions regarding buying or selling in the Charlotte or Huntersville NC area!

7881 Asheby Drive Harrisburg NC 28075

Leigh Brown Charlotte NC Broker/Owner (RE/MAX Signature Properties) — Wed, 14 May 2008 13:59:53 -0500

This great ranch home for sale is your dream of low maintenance living located at 7881 Asheby Drive in the Coventry neighborhood on the Cabarrus County line. The mailing address shows Charlotte NC but the home is located inside Cabarrus County in Harrisburg NC.

I know that it sounds very cliche, but it's absolutely true that Mr and Mrs Clean live here-you could eat off of these floors! Neutral home has a very spacious and bright floorplan. Split bedroom plan for privacy, each bedroom is spacious and with excellent closet space. Coventry offers a swim and playground amenity area and low HOA fees.

$189,900

Please call or email today for additional information or to schedule your private showing. We're always glad to help with any questions regarding buying or selling in and around Charlotte and Harrisburg NC!

538 Hamberton, Concord NC 28027

Leigh Brown Charlotte NC Broker/Owner (RE/MAX Signature Properties) — Wed, 14 May 2008 13:38:23 -0500

For every half-back* who is dreaming of a better retirement life in the Charlotte or Concord NC area, here's your ideal home!

This single family home for sale located at 538 Hamberton Court in the Laurel Park community in Concord NC is maintenance free and designed for an active lifestyle. Say you're on the road RVing a lot? You go to visit those grandkids? Or you're just too blame busy to keep up with a yard and a house? This is it. You'll be within a mile of a Super Target shopping center at Afton, great restaurants such as Max's Ally, your favorite grocery stores, drug stores, and medical offices. In short, it's all here!

$295,000 plus monthly HOA and maintenance fees (call or email for details)

For additional information or to schedule your private showing, please call or email Leigh Brown today. We're always glad to help with any of your questions regarding buying or selling a home in and around Charlotte and Concord NC!

*half-back: Usually a person in the Baby Boom generation, who raised a family and spent a career up North, retired to Florida only to discover that the expense and heat aren't so great, and have returned halfway back up 95. =)

75 Cabarrus Ave, Concord NC 28025

Leigh Brown Charlotte NC Broker/Owner (RE/MAX Signature Properties) — Wed, 14 May 2008 13:09:49 -0500

This property for sale at 75 Cabarrus Avenue in historic downtown Concord NC is currently zoned for commercial usage, and it's fully renovated!

This would be a perfect location in the heart of downtown Concord for your insurance office, beauty salon and spa, dental office, etc. There is dedicated parking behind the building, which could easily be paved to accomodate 6-8 vehicles. You and your clients could walk to the shops and businesses that are lining Union Street in the exciting renovation of the downtown pedestrian area!

For more information or to schedule a private showing, please call or email Leigh Brown today. We're always glad to help with your questions regarding buying or selling commercial or residential property in and around Charlotte and Concord NC!