You remember when you used to sleep so sound you did not remember your dreams? Well, I have always had wild dreams, and remember most of them. I usually write them down in a journal. I had a dream last night, that I started my own "Green" Real Estate company that just dealt with builders who adhere to building "green". There was so many facets of the dream, and of course I do not want to give away secrets, but I am wanting opinions, if Charlotte NC Metro area is ready for this.
Welcome to 2009! Wow what a change in a couple of years. With the New Year that is alot to talk about! With a new President, I feel that Americans are ready for a change. 2009 WILL BE THE YEAR OF CHANGE!
As you know, I am in the Charlotte, NC Metro area and I am a Real Estate Broker. I listen to the local and national MEDIA keep stating doom and gloom on the Real Estate market. I just want to let you all know, please take that with a grain of salt. The media has made my clients very nervous about purchasing a new home. WHY? Because of the media, houses as fallen to an all time now. Because of this, it has been a BUYERS market with tons of houses, wonderfully priced! Interest rates are lower than they have been in years, BUT the mortgage companies have become alot stricter with approval of mortgages. The days of 100 percent financing are gone, and variable interest rates are gone! (THAT is a good thing!) For many years, mortgage companies would try any thing to get their client into a home, and now you see what has happened. Today, to get a mortgage might be a little harder, but NOT impossible. OK, you have to have better credit scores than before (620 minimum), and more money down. They are doing this for protection of you as well as the bank who offered the loan.
With the prices as low as they are, you find basically any thing in all price ranges. Starter homes are plentiful, as well as ESTATE homes. Talk to you Realtor about it. In the Charlotte metro area, there are houses for any budget. Local and national builders has slashed new home prices! Re-sell homes also have lowered their price, and offer alot to boot! (Closing Costs, Home Warranty, Refrigerators)
I do not want people to be scared to purchase a home. I want you, the future buyer to be prepared in this tight market. Do you homework. SAVE for a home! Renting throws money away! Lower your debt ratio, pay down your credit cards (and do not pay them off and CLOSE THEM, we will talk more about that later!), make your excisting home stunning by painting, de cluttering, clean carpets, landscaping. With so many homes on the market, you have to make YOUR home STAND OUT. Last but not least, get PRE APPROVED by a reputable lender. Talk to your Realtor about their suggestions, as most Realtors have a pool of reputable lenders. IF you are not handy around the house, hire some one to fix things around your house. You do not want them to come into your home and find old out dated lighting, leaking faucets, dirty bath tubs. The future buyer will simply leave the home and find another house in the same price range and area that is clean and up to date.
I hope this helps with buyers who are sitting on the fence about purchasing a home in the near future. If you have any questions, you can simply email or call.
I am sure if you noticed my fellow Realtors and readers of my blog, but I have noticed that the clients that I have are getting pickier and they REALLY know what they want. Some times that is a bad thing, but most of the time it is a GREAT THING! Gone are the days that you have clients that all they would tell you in how many bedrooms they needed. That was about it. It was like pulling eye teeth when you were asking more in depth questions, and they would just shrug their shoulders. Well ladies and gentlemen, I am blessed to have a listing that is stunning. It is new construction that sits on the lake. Move in ready. I urge all Mooresville and Charlotte Metro agents that have a client that appreciates lake living, to bring them and visit TODAY
18700 Bluff Point is a new Craftsman Style home that is in the heart of Cornelius. It has 4 Bedrooms (with a MASTER on MAIN FLOOR) and 4 and a half baths. Gourmet, and I DO mean GOURMET Kitchen! Veranda views that are to die for. Master En suite that has water front views that will make you ask "WHY LEAVE?". Professionally landscaped and even has a small beach. 3 Bedrooms on the Upper floor with 2 Full baths.
Downstairs, or lower level, you have to see. Georgeous flooring, a Second fireplace in Great room, Small wet bar and a 'wet area' for when you come in from the lake. A Media Room is all ready for your favorite movies. Downstairs also has a Full bath.
Veranda views! You need to come by and sit on the porch and admire the views. Sundown views, so beautiful that you will want to invite all your friends.
Please take a look at the Virtual Tour and if you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me any time.
Also, I did want to introduce you to my Real Estate Partner, Donice Blanton. She is a seasoned professional, and a breath of fresh air to the Real Estate business. She is VERY knowledgeable of the Mooresville area, since she IS a LOCAL! Growing up in Southern Iredell county, she has the knowledge and the know how to make your quest for this new home smooth as possible!
Contact information : John Sloan, Broker NC/SC Cell 704 488 3750
Donice Blanton Broker Cell 704 400 1018
Call us any time, and we will be glad to give you more information on this wonderful property!
Evening Friends! I have just written a BLOG about where I am now working. The builders company is G B Homes, locally owned (Mooresville, NC). I am lucky enough to have a great neighborhood in Concord, located off of Zion Church Road. The name of the development is called Ramsgate. There are TWO entrances, please take the back entrance off of Piney Grove Road. The main reason, I decided to switch was the price and quality that G B Homes. I have sold many new homes in the price points of 140's to 400's. I have to say when I visited the neighborhoods, I was impressed! WE offer Irrigation system in the back yard, the houses are GORGEOUS inside, we offer standard items like 42" cabinets, nickle lighting, door hardware, and fixtures! Who does that? I loved the interior of the homes with master bedroom suites to die for, the secondary rooms are BIG, not the normal 9x9, and most have tray ceilings! Smooth ceilings are standard also. All homes come with 2 car finished garage, not just sheet rocked. After visiting Ramsgate, I decided to visit other neighborhoods. like Plaza Park, PERFECT for first time buyers, and Autumn Grove, located in Mooresville, which is the high end neighborhood, with houses starting in the 350's. Again, I was so impressed, that when I was offered a sales position, I grabbed it QUICK! (Even though, I HAVE to say leaving my old Real Estate company was tough, VERY tough!). I would not leave for just ANY builder! I have been going though transition, and I love it!
Take a look at the web site of www.mygbhome.com or my web site ofwww.isellGBHomes.com. I would love to hear from you, and aid you and your client in purchasing a new home!
John Sloan, Broker
G B Homes/Priority Real Estate 704 488 3750 Email: JSloan@MyGBHome.com or REALTRBEAR@aol.com
Happy HOT Sunday to everyone! I am blogging for two reasons. As most people know I was with my old Real estate company for 8 years. In June I was offered a job with a local builder, named G B Builders, to get my feet wet on selling new homes actually FOR a builder and not in general brokerage. I have had many emails and calls asking where my "Bear Facts" newsletter was, as they have been getting them in the mail monthly for many years. Well, the paper "Bear Facts" has stopped and I am going more "GREEN" with an email version of "Bear Facts". So my friends, if you want to be put on the web list, please email me your name and address (email address, that is) to Realtrbear@aol.com. I will gladly put you on the list! I am very glad people have been looking for the newsletter, as that is the main reason I will keep doing it, but in a different format.
I look forward to hearing from you ALL soon!
John Sloan, Broker NC/SC
Priority Real Estate/G B Homes Email: NEW! JSloan@myGbhome.com or Realtrbear@aol.com Cell: 704 488 3750
Mint Hill Luxury Homes-Charlotte Metro Buyer and Sellers Rep
Welcome to Mint Hill Luxury Homes, your source for Mint Hill And the Charlotte Metro real estate.
Thank you SO much for visiting http://activerain.com/action/blogs_admin/, the most comprehensive web site for Real Estate clients who are in the market for either Selling or Purchasing a new home in the Charlotte Metro area. I do not want you to think this is another "generic" web site, because it is not. Enclosed you will find invaluable resources to make your next purchase as seamless as possible. I work with many professionals in the Real Estate field, such as Mortgage Brokers, Home Inspectors, and Real Estate Attorneys. With my attention to detail and knowledge, your home buying dream can come true!
I view many web sites, in many different forms. They all have one thing in common. Most state "I am the best..", "best customer service in the business..", or my favorite " I work for a (insert company name here), and we are the best!". I personally feel that your business needs to be earned.
Why would you call a stranger to help you with the biggest purchase you could possibly make? I understand that most people do not have a relationship with a local Broker/Realtor. That is why most people ask their friends about their Realtors. I know that some of then tell you horror stories, and then some of them tell you that their Realtor was the best. I always tell people to interview agents, even the referrals. Each agent has a different personality, marketing plans, and even commission rates. Find the best "fit" for you. If you do not like your agent, or you do not like their marketing plan, or you feel like you are being overcharged, how can you work them? It might be time to "Re-learn, Re-al estate"
As a client, you expect personal treatment. When you have questions about your real estate needs, you want to get ahold of your agent, not listen to the voicemail! When you call, you need service now! When I became a Real Estate Broker in 1997, I vowed that customer service would be TOP Priority. When a client calls my phone number, I ANSWER! In the rare chance I miss your call, expect a call back immediately! That is a promise.
Remember: "Re-Learn Re-al Estate!"
As I pride myself on customer service that I give to all my clients, (and that is no BULL!), I stress my future clients to expect the utmost professional Real Estate Service you can find. I have three mottos that I live by: ..."If you are BUYING, I AM FREE!"-I NEVER charge for my buying services. I am with you through ALL aspects of the real estate transaction, from searching for properties, setting up appointments for showings, aiding you in securing a mortgage, inspections, and sitting beside you at the closing table. You will ALWAYS be informed! .."When you CALL, I ANSWER!"-I know how irritated I am when I make phone calls, JUST to hear a voicemail, so WHY would I do that to YOU? "Re-Learn Re-al Estate.."-Forget about the old customer service of the past. I offer you the best customer service! (NO BULL!), and if you feel like you are not receiving that, we can talk and we will resolve the problem. My goal is to have my clients REFER me to their friends. (And they DO!) I can even arrange you to talk or contact my past clients to get their opinion of my service.
I also wanted to let my future clients know that I am licensed in BOTH North and South Carolina. You do not have to worry about "going over the border".
Please browse my website for listings, reports and important local real estate information. Once you browse through the web site, refer this web site to your friends. Referals are the highest form of flattery.
Please notice the NEW homes that are for sale in Mint Hill area, that are ready for a QUICK close. I have builders, mortgage brokers, home inspectors waiting on your call so we ALL can help you in purchasing your new HOME!
FINALLY SOME GREAT NEWS!!!
GREETINGS! By the time you receive this newsletter, SPRING should be upon us all, no matter where you live. Wonderful flowers are popping up, grass is getting greener and the best part is that people are coming out of their winter hibernation. So my friends, take time and re-introduce yourself to your neighbor, who knows you might need to borrow their weed eater this year!
As I have stated in the past, our local and national news has been bombarding us with “doom and gloom” of the Real Estate market. All you have been hearing for the past six months are the falling house prices, and of course “FORECLOSURES”. For the past couple of weeks I have been hearing forecasts that the Real Estate market is probably going to bounce back quicker than expected. Certain parts of the U.S., namely the Southeast, and Upper Mid-West will rebound quicker than expected. Some forecasters are projecting that the Southeast, namely Charlotte and Raleigh should bounce back by late Summer or Fall of 2008! Yes my friends, 2008, not 2010. In the Charlotte area we have been lucky that we have not had prices fall like in other parts of the country (and some places in the Charlotte Metro area, prices have gone UP!). Charlotte has been blessed with slow and steady growth. So alert the MEDIA, Charlotte is NOT DEAD! Tell all your friends who have been on the fence about selling or buying a property, the time is right! Spring time in our area is usually the busiest time in the Real Estate market. (and of course, refer me to aid in finding these properties) Remember my motto, “IF you are BUYING, I AM FREE!” Get on the bandwagon! Builders are having great deals! Also, it is a great time for people who have some extra cash around to purchase investment property. With the foreclosures that are happening, you can swoop them up for a great price, fix them up (and if you do not have someone who can “fix” them up, call me I know the right people), rent the property (the government is looking for more Section 8 properties in our area), and when the market turns steamy hot, you call me to sell it. I look forward to hearing from you all soon! John
If I did not have a place to live already I would certainly consider relocating to the town of Matthews, NC. Matthews offers a small town feel wit$h the luxury of shopping and being remote to necessary stores. Since I have started my internship I have discovered small things about Matthews. I have found the little secret stores that you can only tell someone how to get to by landmarks and cute spots to relax and enjoy the town.
One of the best qualities Matthews, NC posses is their beautiful parks. There are a plethera of parts in the Matthews area all of which are child and parent friendly so not only do the kids get to play and enjoy themselves but the parents also can relax and enjoy the beautiful scenery nature provides.
Trade Street Towns is conveniently located very close to downtown Matthews which is where the best restaurants, shops and attractions are. These town homes are three stories of all brick. Starting with a 2 bedroom 2 1/2 baths to a 2 bedroom with 2 full and 2 1/2 baths. This area is encompassed by beautiful landscaping, a private pool with a gazebo.
Also the schools within a small range of the townhomes are all wonderful schools. Just coming in this morning I drove by the Childrens Lighthouse Day Care Center which has just become a five star day care center.
If you have never been to the town of Matthews, NC I encourage you to come and check it out. See the town for yourself. Also stop by Trade Street Towns and if you want more information on the homes you can go to the website at tradestreettowns.com or visit minthillluxuryhomes.com
1:54 AM on a Sunday morning and I could not sleep. My mind was racing so much I thought I would start my first blog. SO, WELCOME to my first Blog! I think I will call it "In My Opinion" because basically people it is.
Before bed I was reading my local newspaper, (BIG MISTAKE!) and read about this whole ETHANOL mess! What a joke! PLEASE! This professor was talking about ethanol, and how years ago it was plugged as a great thing to ease dependency on foreign oil. Can some one please answer this question for me. Why do we need all this foreign oil when we produce so much here? Why do we export oil just for us to import oil from another country back in here? Can some one answer that? I know we have lobbyist (which should be BANNED in my opinion!) who fill politicians pockets with money (they will not admit that, though) for them to approve items that is good for not the country, but for that certain COMPANY! Why can all our national OIL companies make BILLIONS in profit and yet we pay over $3.25 a GALLON? ( That is a SIN I tell you a SIN!) Why can we not push the government into putting a CAP on the gas prices, it is affecting everyone! But I digress.... oh yeah Ethanol. In the USA Ethanol is a grain product (corn). I was doing research on how expensive it is to make ethanol. The main reason for the expense is the grain it is using. Also, I read about how ethanol and gas has water in it that over times hurts the engine, makes the gas LESS powerful, and rust pipes in the car. Can WE not come up with another solution, since another country who makes ethanol out of BEETS. (Honestly who actually eats beets? I know they are good for you and all, blah blah blah), and beets are easier to grow and also easier to turn into ethanol. Using BEETS will not raise the beef prices to STUPID, raise the chicken prices to " You GOT to be KIDDING" and MILK prices to over $4 a GALLON! (I know other parts of the US milk can be found for about 2 dollars a gallon, so you will not be know about that), toilet paper and other paper products are raising so much that sooner or later we will be back in the "olden" days with an old CATALOGUE! It seems like every time you go the grocery store you see not little jumps in prices, but NOTICABLE ones. I bought a loaf of bread two days ago for..get this..$3.19! Nothing special white bread, same bread I buy all the time, and WOW over three dollars and it USED To be $2.19 every day, all day for MANY YEARS. (Blame it on the GAS prices I was told, delivery costs etc). Ice CREAM! I want to scream, I like one brand of ice cream, only one type I will eat, which shall be nameless, but do they not think we NOTICE when it went from a HALF GALLON to 1.75 LITERS? Do they think that we are so stupid with the metric system (and actually we are not that familiar with the metric system even though were SUPPOSE to convert to it in, you ready for this, 1976!) that we would go oh yeah that is a half gallon, and THUS raised the price from $3.99 to $5.49? PLEASE, we might be lacking in "smarts" compared to other countries, but we ain't THAT STUPID! Again, I digress....
ETHANOL. I urge all of you to contact your local government official and ask why are we just making ethanol out of corn? There are other items we can make this substance from, remember the BEET! I am tired of being told the rising prices on every thing is because of corn. You know, if you allowed people(our GREAT FARMERS, whose numbers are shrinking daily) to grow corn besides giving them a subsidy to NOT GROW CORN, we would not be in this mess! Corn used to be a cheap resource and now it is not. Shoot, corn is in everything now a days (THUS the diabetic rate in this county is going up in droves because of it), since sodas have corn syrup in them, canned beans have high fructose corn syrup in it, you name it, it is IN IT! Read the labels you will see! You will be shocked where it is found, so before you put it in your buggy, read the label. (And let me know where the wildest place you find High Fructose Corn Syrup). We have put so much emphasis on one item,I shall name it "KING CORN", that we losing badly. You remember the saying "Do not put all your eggs in one basket...."? Well LOOK WHAT WE HAVE DONE!
Us Americans are dependant on alot of things, oil from the Middle East and South America (and in both cases I do not feel like we are REALLY LIKED THERE) and yet we buy from them daily. Do you go to a grocery store, or to a restaurant, that you know you are despised? I am sure you do not frequent those places, at ALL! Why should we? Why can we not keep our OWN oil for our OWN people? Sure, if we have surplus (who are WE KIDDING), we can sell it to other countries. I still have not figured out how the most powerful country (supposedly), can not win this war on OIL. It seems to me that we have had embargos to other countries that we do not like, or agree on their policies. Is this THAT hard to convert our own oil for our own use? (Am I that naive about this?) Sure we might pay the same, but atleat we would have a voice if we felt like the prices got to high with our Senators, Governors, and (gulp) President. It is easier to have a public opinion when it is your own back yard.
I have read articles (in many different papers) over the last couple of weeks, asking people have they changed their driving habits. I was SHOCKED (at first) that most people said "NO". Most people stated " I do not pay my cable bill, so I can fill up my HUGE SUV" (left the brand nameless). Again that shocked me knowing that poor local cable company is not getting paid because we were brain washed in thinking we needed an SUV that got 8 miles a gallon. No WONDER the cable company (in my area) cuts off cable if it late 10 days. You get no warning, you get no call, you get no call asking can you please pay your bill. You get disconnected! No apologies and a $100 re connect fee. (Thank GOD I DO NOT HAVE CABLE!) Why are they still making SUV's that get 8-10 MPG? I am a Realtor in my area, and I used to have a LARGE SEDAN, but now adays I have a Midsize Honda, and yet it NOW costs $45 to fill up the tank. ( A SIN, I will always SAY!). What am I to do with clients, put them in a Bicycle or Motorcycle ( or a VESPA) to take them to show a house? (That would be a SIGHT, since I am larger than the "average" man by about 120 pounds!) I lose money when I show property. (An average transaction, I show between 6 (on the LOW SIDE)- to 35(HIGH SIDE) houses before a client makes their mind up. It is not like they see the first house and go "This is it!", because I can tell you from experience that it is not. What am I suppose to do when I drive 300 miles and my gas light is on and I have to fill up again to take them out the next day? ( I FILL THE TANK, and think BAD THOUGHTS, not about my clients, of course, but the $3.XX9/10 I pay per GALLON!) We need to conserve gas, and every little bit helps. I was looking at HYBRID cars, but I Am sorry they want too much money for them. (Taking advantage of people wanting to conserve, and they end up doubling the car payment). In other countries, they pay MORE for gas, we all know it. But also, they have smaller cars (have you seen the cars in ENGLAND? SMALL! or St MAARTEN, I would have to rent TWO cars to cover my....). They are tight areas, where you can actually walk or ride a bike to the store to pick up items. The USA (well Charlotte, NC) you can NOT walk to the store. Only way you do that is IF we have a FREAK snowstorm and you can not drive! We are spread out, so leaving your home to go to the nearest grocery store is probably about 5 miles from you. So now we make lists and keep it in our car. If you are on one side of the city and you know you want an item close to where you are, you stop by and get it, not make a special trip for it. I now shop in one grocery store, not unlike before I shopped three stores to get the best prices on an item. CONSERVING.
In closing I suggest the following :
Contact your local Congressman, Senator, who ever you feel can help you (And if they do not call back or contact you, remember that on ELECTION DAY)
Converve GAS! Make sure your tires are inflated to the correct pressure, and keep your oil changed at regular intervals.Do not do small trips,multi task when you are out driving. Also, call the companies (dry cleaners, etc) and see if they deliver and how much the fee is.
KEEP your CAR LIGHT! Do not keep your car full of items that are not needed. (I keep my trunk FULL due to my business, but it is now empty, well the spare TIRE is still there, of course!) The lighter the load the less gas you will use.
Plan outings well in advance.
Drive when TRAFFIC is LIGHT! (I know that is the hard one to do!)
CARPOOL! VANPOOL! Take PUBLIC TRANSIT (Quick Note: The Charlotte Transit ridership has increased over 9 % since gas has been high)
I would love reactions about this post. Remember, I am NEW at this, so please be kind!
The Real Estate market is an even changing event. In years past I dealt mostly with clients that were purchasing property for their own personal use. This type of buyer is where I spent my marketing dollars. (Even thought most of my business is either repeat business or referral business). Today is completely different. I still have my repeat customers and referral business, but today it seems like the best and most plentiful buyers are INVESTORS!
In the Charlotte market, there are some wonderful deals! Certain parts of Charlotte, there has always been a demand for rentals. In the past years (even in 2008), new home developers have gone in and built single family residential for clients. In this market, with the need for better credit, more money down, etc, these developments are not selling as well as hoped. In return, the builder has lowered the prices of their homes so people could afford them. What has happened that investors are swooping in these neighborhoods, purchasing these new homes, and renting them. This is a smart move. Depending on what type of renters they have, it does not effect the neighborhood in a bad way. It is the owners reponsibility to make sure the homes are kept up in line with the neighborhood. You do not want your house to stand out as a renters house.
I am working with investors from the northeast and California. My goal is of course to find the best house for my clients to use as a rental property for a couple of years so when the market makes an up turn, my clients can sell the property for a nice profit. Today, there is a need for rental property in all parts of the Charlotte area. There are some great house prices in the Charlotte area, from the small ranch to the majestic mansions. All can be used for rental property, as long as the neighborhood allows rental property in the neighborhood. Some neighborhoods do not allow rentals, so we have to be careful.
The reason for this blog is basically to call all investors who would like to purchase a property in the Charlotte Metro area. With apartment rent on the rise of 5-15% in the past six months, why don't YOU make some money. I have dealings with a great mortgage broker, whose company still allows Investor Loans, with 10 percent down and good credit. Why not give it a try. Finding renters is not the hard part, believe me. I would put your property on some websites, and you will start getting the calls with a week. Also, there are some great Property Management companies in our area. Their fee is nominal. They also take care of everything, with in reason, for you. Give me a call today and I can give you a list of management companies in our area. In north west Charlotte, a heavy rental area, it seems like the average rent is 55-60 dollars per square foot. With a garage (one or two garage) it goes up to about 70 dollars a square foot. I have LISTS of houses that ready to be purchased. Some properties are pre foreclosures to foreclosures. They are going fast, so give me a call today.
When you want more information on these great deals we are now having, contact me.
John Sloan, Broker Southern Winds Realty 704 488 3750
Disclaimer: ActiveRain Corp. does not necessarily endorse the real estate agents, loan officers and brokers listed on this site. These real estate profiles, blogs and blog entries are provided here as a courtesy to our visitors to help them make an informed decision when buying or selling a house. ActiveRain Corp. takes no responsibility for the content in these profiles, that are written by the members of this community.
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