It is undeniable that the economy is in a downturn. The word "recession" is becoming more and more applicable to the situation, but is Charlotte's economy really as bad? Is it bad at all? It is if you listen to the media reports it is. But I believe Charlotte's economy is not in a dire situation... and further, the more the media drowns us with negative reports, the worse things seem, and will in turn become. Here are the facts: houses are being foreclosed, banks are laying off workers, and the stock market tumbles daily. We are certainly facing some tough times. However, in reality the real cause of the negative feelings is daily negative media accounts scaring people from spending the money they normally would on the things they want and need. While some of us have lost our jobs, or f... 03/08/2009

  How the First Time Home Buyer Credit works in Charlotte, NC Buyers are still skeptical about the First Time Home Buyer Credit and how it works. For more information about the credit go to IRS First Time Home Buyer Credit. Keep posted for more information about this credit or contact us YourCharlotteAgents.com     To see it on our website check our FIRST BLOG here   03/08/2009

Everyone better figure out what shade of green they are going to be wearing next week. The Charlotte North Carolina St. Patrick's day parade will be held on March 14. It starts at 10 am, which is a really early start, if you ask me. The parade will be full of bands and drill teams and other cool people.  It will also feature the superintendant of schools as the Grand Marshall, which is kind of a downer.  When I think of St. Patrick, I really don't want to be thinking about education. But I'm sure he's swell guy and will marshall the parade well. The parade runs in uptown Charlotte, like most of the seasonal parades do. It is a fun way to go into the city and bring the kids to see who is parading. It's not a huge parade, and Charlotte isn't a huge city, so parking and getting to the para... 03/07/2009

Anoop Desai is a popular contestant on American Idol, at least around North Carolina. He is from Chapel Hill, which is a sacred place in many Charlotttean's hearts to begin with. He is the second big star to come out of American Idol. Clay Aiken was also from North Carolina, if any of you remember. He was a big deal. Even though Clay lost, he went on to become a top selling artist and is still tabloid fodder today. I'm no expert, but I think at the point Anoop is right now, he will have some type of ongoing recording contract with American Idol.  Winning American Idol is no guarantee of success. Some winners have gone on to sell poorly and fade away just like all kinds of talented people in the music business.  But the people who don't win on American Idol are usually under contract wit... 03/07/2009

The Rowan Cabarrus Community College will make a new home in Kannapolis, which is north of Charlotte NC Real Estate. Rowan and Cabarrus Counties are both north of Charlotte, but they are home to many people who commute to the city. It is only about an hour to Salisbury, which is the county seat of Rowan County.  Many people have settled into Salisbury Real estate in order to commute to Charlotte, especially if they work downtown because of the ease of access to freeways. However, those are a rare breed, without traffic, it is about an hour and fifteen minute commute  from Charlotte to Salisbury. Morning traffic can add to that. Other commuters choose closer communites like Cornelius, Concord, and Davidson to commute from. Which are much closer and can offer more of the ammenities that c... 03/07/2009

You may not know it, but I think the Charlotte Bobcats are on a path to the playoffs. They have won their sixth straight game, according to the Charlotte Observer. The Bobcats beat the Knicks for their sixth straight win. Some say that the franchise was named for their founder Bob Johnson, who also owns the BET Television network.  Or they could be named for the mountain lion. Who knows.  The stadium they play in is relatively new and sits right in the heart of downtown. I think some dining establishments have sprung up around the stadium, although I can't name them. Charlotte's uptown and nightlife districts have become more happening over the past ten or 20 years thanks to the stadiums bringing people downtown. Panther's stadium is also located close to the banking center downtown. Th... 03/07/2009

A new car company that makes futuristic police cars is looking at Charlotte NC for their new home, the Business Journal says. The idea is to take some of the people in the Charlotte area who have been idled by the downturn in the motor sports industry around Charlotte Motor Speedway and put their skills use building the police cars of the future. Carbon Motors is a homeland security company, they say, whose goal is to build, service and recycle the world's first purpose built police car. The law enforcement equipment will be fully integrated into the car instead of bolted onto a current model like they are now.  They are just starting this venture, and they are looking for a home. They have designed the vehicle, but have not chosen a location for the plant. The executive team looks like... 03/07/2009

The golf tournament formerly known as the Wachovia Championship has gotten a new face. Wachovia started the tournament at Quail Hollow Country Club in South Charlotte in 2003. After Wells Fargo bought Wachovia, the fate of the PGA Tour event was up in the air. But Wells announced a while ago, and I blogged about it, that the show would go on, but the tournament would be given a new name.  But, now, it's sure, the show will go on. It is a full fledged tour event that is covered on television and everything. Sometimes a lot of big names show up. I think Tiger Woods missed last year because of his knee injury. But other big name golfers show up to do their thing.  Arnold Palmer was part of the course design I believe. He is active in Charlotte and lives in the city. He owns some Cadillac d... 03/07/2009

Perhaps you may have tasted some Krispy Kreme doughnuts in your time. But before the doughnuts went public and spread all over the country, they were local favorites here in Charlotte NC Real Estate. They aren't good for you. I really can't lie about that. They aren't healthy. But they are tasty and they were a southern secret. Consider  yourselves lucky that you were brought in on it. Krispy Kreme went public in the 90s, I think and the world started to taste the best doughnuts ever made. Really, Dunkin Doughnuts can't even come close to the delicious Krispy Kreme Doughnut. The best part about Krispy Kreme is that they are fried right on site and if you order plain glazed doughnuts, they pull them right off the line in front of you, right out of the frier. There is nothing better than ... 03/07/2009

A new building downtown has been completed and just had a topping out ceremony, according to the Business Journal. The ceremony is one of the first ceremonies that happens after a construction is completed. The building is 15 stories and will house almost 400,000 square feet of office space in uptown Charlotte Real estate. The building is located at 440 South Church Street in uptown Charlotte.  According to the Charlotte Business Journal, the building will be applying to become a green building from an organization that certifies these things.  This is actually the building I just blogged about a few weeks ago. Duke Energy will be taking residence there when the building is fitted with what they need. It will keep a building full in this difficult commercial real estate market. The buil... 03/07/2009

Primrose School has bought a bunch of land in South West Charlotte, according to the Business Journal. It bought it from a developer who has started a mixed use project in the area. It highlights some of the great growth that has happened in Southwest Charlotte NC Real Estate over the past few years.  Primrose schools are an accredited early childhood development preschools. They already have a school near Park Crossing, which is very close to Quail Hollow Country Club. Quail Hollow will be the scene of the golf tournament that I just finished posting about. Primrose says they are more than a daycare. It is an educational daycare, which they say is different. They try to prepare children for the rigors of school and life. There are schools in 16 states. But that isn't the whole story. T... 03/07/2009

Duke energy has decided that it wants to be a tennant in Wachovia's building. This is great news for Charlotte NC Real Estate. Not only will a building be full downtown, but Duke Energy, a major employer in town will now have more of a presence downtown. Wachovia was building a new building, but after it was bought by Wells Fargo, it was up in the air as to whether it would occupy it. This is definitely a great thing for Charlotte. Because if the building had sat empty, it would have affected corporate real esate, which would have been a bad thing. It also gives Wachovia a source of revenue and a home if Wells Fargo decides to move people to Charlotte one day.  Charlotte has distinct advantages for executives who want to move their business to a suburban style of city with lower expense... 03/07/2009

This is not surprising in that Wells Fargo now owns Wachovia. What is surprising is that Wells Fargo does not want their name advertised as the sponsor. But, They Are the sponsor, and Wells will continue to be the sponsor for years to come due to contractual obligations. Banks have been so demonized that they seem afraid of their own shadows. I understand TARP funds are the major reason Wells is trying to stay under the radar. But not to name the tournament that you sponsor after yourself is very new stuff. The tournament has been a bright spot for Charlotte. It usually draws most of the big names in golf, including Tiger Woods. Quail Hollow is a beautiful course and really challenges the pros. It's fun to walk among the crowds traversing the delightful grounds on a warm spring day. Gra... 03/07/2009

Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Benefits From Charlotte's Mecklenburg-South Rotary Club Rotary International is a worldwide organization comprised of business and professional leaders who provide humanitarian service both locally and internationally.  Rotarians encourage high ethical standards in all vocations, help build goodwill and peace in the world and enjoy the fellowship of likeminded individuals who have united to accomplish these objectives. This mission is exemplified in the official Rotary motto, 'Service above Self.'     Charlotte's Mecklenburg County is home to 14 Rotary clubs, each of which plans their own focus and community service projects, sometimes partnering with other clubs to accomplish goals that may be unattainable as a single club.       Meck-South Rotary club is a r... 03/06/2009

First of all, only insurance companies offer insurance.  Movers sell "valuation".   Continuing on with yesterdays post regarding movers liability and whether or not you should purchase "extra coverage" from a mover.   It is not my intent to be too wordy, but I failed.  I know this is a dry subject so I tried to break it up into smaller, more digestable peices.  In the previous post I talked about the minimum liability a mover has to offer.  It is .60/lb per article and I won't talk more about that here.  There are two other options, but most other movers only offer one other option...full replacement coverage.  First the middle option.... In some states, you might be able to buy "depreciated coverage".  I would never recommend this.  Typically if there is damage, you will get a deprecia... 03/06/2009

Let's Go Shopping in Charlotte NC! Here's a list for you--From A to Z and Nordstroms in between, there is something for everyone!  Men will love the sporting goods stores at Northlake Mall and women will love the clothiers at SouthPark. Children will love the Jillian's at Concord Mills and of course, women will love the men to love the jewelery stores in ALL of the malls! I'm not sure what it is about us Charlotteans but, we adore shopping! Finding a home in a great shopping area is of primo consideration to many in our area, despite the fact that many Americans are seemingly addicted to Amazon!    If you're looking for a home on the north side, you'll want to be near Northlake Mall, Birkdale Village, Northcross Shopping Center, the Shoppes at University Place or Concord Mills.  On the ... 03/05/2009

      Should I buy the extra insurance from the moving company?   For full disclosure, I work for a moving company and have for over 26 years.  I am trying to be consultative.  In my first installment of this series I would like to talk a little about the difference in insurance and valuation.  In following installments I will break down each kind of coverage you can purchase, the exceptions to coverage and the wisdom behind buying coverage or not.   First of all, only insurance companies offer insurance.  Movers sell "valuation".  There is a significant difference.  Insurance is"all risk" coverage most of the time.  Valuation is coverage for damage due to movers' negligence while it is in the movers' possession.  Talk to your insurance agent.  He sells insurance and would be better to ... 03/05/2009

Explaining Charlotte NC Growth Between 2002 and 2007 Charlotte population grew by an amazing 17.4 percent.  This was compared to national growth of 4.8% during the same period.  The move of banking giant Wachovia - recently acquired by Wells Fargo - from Winston-Salem, a proactive, pro-business atmosphere, a substantial higher education presence, affordable housing, and quality life-style amenities have led to the attractiveness of this area. Despite the current recession, Charlotte has been able to cushion itself from the woes experienced by must of the country.  This was largely due to substantial job growth between 2003 and 2008.  Charlotte's job growth during that period was 15.4 percent compared to national job growth of 5.8%  Charlotte NC is considered one the best places to live.... 03/05/2009

My Charlotte NC garden is my passion.  My husband and I built our current home seven years ago.  Because we are both avid gardeners, choosing the right lot for our new home was just as important as choosing the right floor plan.  We needed a lot that would give us the opportunity to garden in both sun and shade and provide the wooded privacy that we wanted in the back.  We were lucky to find a lot near Matthew NC that met these criteria and more.  We were in love with the lot and still love it after seven years of gardening. I am going to share my passion for gardening with you in a series called My Charlotte NC Garden.  My years of work as a real estate agent have reinforced the importance of an attractive landscape when selling a home.  There are basic things to know about gardening i... 03/05/2009

Charlotte NC short sales may decline as a result of a new loan modification program announced this week by the federal government.  This program, called "Making Home Affordable," becomes one more option that home owners may be able to use to avoid foreclosure. The following is a glossary of terms that describes some of the options and terms that a home owner contemplating a Charlotte NC short sale should know. Short Sale   A property sale where the lender accepts less than the total amount due on the mortgage or mortgages. Loan Modification   A loss mitigation tool that involves a permanent change in one or more of the terms of the loan so that the homeowner is able to afford the payment. Forbearance   An option where the lender gives the borrower time to catch up on their payments whil... 03/05/2009