National Flood Insurance Program Expires | What's the Impact on New Orleans Real Estate? - 03/29/10 07:30 PM
Thank you Lisa for providing this content.  This not only applies to Lisa's market in New Orleans but it also applies to those purchasing a home in a flood zone in the Charlotte area as well. 
Here's a letter my insurance agent passed on to me from Travelers Insurance.
Charlotte NC Homes For Sale
Via Lisa Heindel, New Orleans West Bank Real Estate (Keller Williams Realty Crescent City West Bank Partners):
As of midnight last night, the National Flood Insurance Program expired and I'm mad as hell.
From InsuranceNetworking.com:
The National Flood Insurance Program expired on Sunday after the Senate failed to pass … (1 comments)

Charlotte Ballantyne Area Real Estate Update - March 2010 - 03/25/10 02:48 PM
March 2010 Ballantyne Area Real Estate Market Update
Data gathered from the CMLS for dates 2/1/2010 - 2/28/2010
Ballantyne Area Market Update includes homes in the neighborhoods of Allyson Park, Amberleigh, Ballantyne Country Club, Ballantyne Meadows, Bridgehampton, Carlyle, Edinburgh, Highgrove, Kenilworth, Kingsley, Kingston Forest, Lansford, Mitchell Glen, Kensington at Ballantyne, Providence Pointe, Providence West, Southhampton Commons, Stonebriar, Thornhill, Vineyard, Weston Glen, and Wynridge Estates.
New Inventory Thirty six homes were added to the market in the Ballantyne area of Charlotte during the month of February, 30% fewer than were listed the year before. The average listed price this February was 21% … (0 comments)

BPO or Appraisal for HAFA. I Say Appraisal All The Way - 03/21/10 11:18 AM
If you missed it this week, there is a disagreement between the National Association of Realtors (NAR) and four appraiser organizations over whether Broker Price Opinions (BPO) or an appraisal should be used to determine value under the HAFA program.  Currently in the guidelines for the Home Affordable Foreclosure Alternatives (HAFA) program, it does allow for BPO's in the valuation stage of the short sale or deed-in-lieu. 
In a letter to HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan and Tim Geithner, the appraisers sited that "brokers are not independent or property trained valuation specialists."  "They have an inherent bias towards quick results and actions … (61 comments)

Short Sale Sellers - If You Want to Avoid Foreclosure - "You" Must Participate - 03/19/10 09:20 AM

Via Wendy Rulnick "Its Wendy!" Destin Florida Short Sales (Rulnick Realty, Inc.):

After this last week of trying to help short sale sellers unload their upside-down properties, I’ve experienced a whole range of assistance.  Or not.
1. Seller will not return four phone calls and two emails asking if they can do a $1000 cash contribution to dispose of a $150,000 mortgage.  Not even an acknowledgment.
2.  Seller will not upload info into Equator, after being under contract for four weeks
3.  Seller finally faxes listing agreement and short sale documents to us sent to him six weeks ago.
4.  Seller … (2 comments)

March 2010 Uptown Charlotte Condo and Townhome Real Estate Update - 03/17/10 09:43 PM
Charlotte North Carolina Market Update for:
Condominium and Townhomes in Uptown Charlotte (Downtown / Center City)
The Vue Charlotte, 400 North Church, Settlers Place, Avenue Condominiums, Chapel Watch, Park Place, Fifth and Poplar, Iveys Townhomes, The Garrison at Graham, 230 South Tryon, Trademark, The Ratcliffe, The Trust, Encore, M Street, Court 6, Courtside MLS Area 99
Map of all the developments covered in Area 99
Data gathered for February 1 - February 28, 2010
New Listings 74
In comparison to: +34.55% January | +12.12% 2009 | -19.57% 2008 | -11.90% 2007 | +27.59% 2006
Pending Sales: 9 … (0 comments)

Are You Involved in Short Sale Fraud? Here are the Warning Signs! - 03/17/10 09:49 AM
FRAUD: intentional perversion of truth in order to induce another to part with something of value or to surrender a legal right b : an act of deceiving or misrepresenting. (Merriam-Webster Dictionary)
It's a scary word in the the real estate industry (and in any industry) and unfortunately the turn in the real estate market has sent the scam artists out in force with an army of desperate agents eager to assist them. I know this because, as an agent who lists and sells short sale properties, I get calls from these guys and their agents ALL THE TIME.
Ok, before … (223 comments)

Forget the USDA Program; It's Broke! - 03/16/10 07:43 AM
Yes, the rumors are absolutely true. Straight from the desk of the USDA is that their rural development housing loan (you know, the only other mainstream 100% financing product besides VA) is likely to run out of money by April and they are warning lenders to stop issuing loans. For the USDA Rural Dev program to run out of money isn't uncommon as it usually happens around October every year and so long as they have a financing commitment from you and me (i.e. The Government), the program keeps on lending. What's new is that the program is broke in APRIL!
… (4 comments)

Why We Negotiate Our Short Sales and Why You Should Too - 03/10/10 02:34 PM
Often, I am approached by companies wanting to handing our short sale files for a fee. They promise to keep me updated, the seller out of legal hot water, and to get the file closed quickly. Some are attorneys themselves and claim to have special connections to help usher the files through. All of their promises are lies to get our business.
We negotiate all our short sales ourselves because, at the end of the day, I'm the one held responsible if my vendor acts inappropriately. Can you imagine if that vendor you hired to negotiate a short sale compromised the … (1 comments)

February 2010 Charlotte Real Estate Market Update: Northeast Charlotte, Cornelius, Davidson, and Huntersville - 03/09/10 06:01 PM
Charlotte North Carolina Market Update for:

Single Family Homes in Mecklenburg County North Carolina Area 1 including:
 
Charlotte, Cornelius, Davidson, and Huntersville Neighborhoods East of I-77, North of N. Tryon Street, West of Cabarrus County, and South of Iredell County including the neighborhoods of Davis Lake, Highland Creek, Vermillion, Heritage Green, River Run, Skybrook, Northstone, Cambridge Grove, and others.
Map of all the neighborhoods covered in Area 1
 
Data gathered for February 1 2010 - February 28, 2010
New Listings: 388
In comparison to: +18.29% January | +18.29% 2009 | -7.84% 2008 | -7.62% 2007 | -4.43% … (0 comments)

Is Your Agent Showing Your All The Listings Or The Ones Paying The Most? - 03/05/10 11:29 AM
There is a real estate firm town (not the one the Charlotte House Hunter Group works with) that, as a policy, pays its' agents more per transaction if they sell one of the firms own transactions. In some cases, the agent may receive twice as much if they sell one of the firm's listings than if they were to sell one of a Keller Williams agent as an example. As a buyer, this should concern you as it does me.
As a buyer, I would be concerned the agent I just hired may only show the listings that benefit them financially … (3 comments)

Charlotte Luxury Real Estate Profile: Providence Downs South in Marvin NC - 03/04/10 09:41 AM
 
Providence Downs South  
Marvin NC
 
Search all Providence Downs South Homes For Sale View a map of Providence Downs South
About Providence Downs South Providence Downs South is a single family detached neighborhood of custom homes in Marvin North Carolina. A few of the standout features that makes Providence Downs South so desirable are the community amenities, which include a pool, clubhouse, and a lazy river. The lots range in size from .7 to just over an acre and the topography of the neighborhood does allow for basements. The homes are all custom built, ranging in size from … (2 comments)

Harris Teeter and Walgreens Opens in Austin Village Shopping Center - 03/01/10 01:34 PM
Harris Teeter officially opened the doors on yet another new grocery store, this time in the brand new Austin Village. The second Harris Teeter in Stallings, the new store is located at the intersection of Potter Road and Chestnut Lane. Along with the grocery store, the new Austin Village plaza is home to a dry cleaners and a Great Clips. Across the intersection is also a new Walgreens drug store, which opened Monday March 1 2010.
A feature not normally associated with Union County communities is that this new plaza is walkable from the Chestnut Oaks, Indian Brook, Brookhaven, and Callonwood … (0 comments)

 
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Jonathan Osman (Charlotte House Hunter Group)

Charlotte, NC

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Keller Williams Realty

Address: 5925 Carnegie Blvd, Suite 102, Charlotte, NC, 28209

Office Phone: (704) 960-1725 x 100

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