Somewhere Over the Charlotte Rainbow…

September 2nd, 2010 categories: Great Neighborhoods

Living in Charlotte, NC is an experience in flavor, color, diversity, and history. We truly have a rainbow of diversity in our population which has brought wondrous food and cultural flavors to the area. No one can deny that the historical aspects of areas such as: Plaza-Midwood, Dilworth, Uptown, Chantilly, Elizabeth, and Fourth Ward offer great opportunities to learn about the birth and survival of our nation.

The Charlotte-Metro area has more to offer than just history; in fact, there is a great deal of “new” our area has to offer which also adds color and warmth to living here.

Take the Iredell County,  NC – Statesville area.

The school system has over 20,000 students, which places Iredell-Statesville NC  Schools in the top 20 largest school districts in North Carolina. The teachers are highly experienced with an average of 15 years of teaching experience. The Iredell-Statesville NC School district is among the top 25% of school districts in the state and continues to improve. In fact, the SAT scores, graduation rate, and writing scores are some of the highest in North Carolina.

The county itself is an interesting blend of urban, suburban, and rural living. Whether it is Charlotte lake life or country life that you’re looking for, Iredell county is filled with thriving communities and sleepy little towns.

Check out these Iredell County stats and facts:

• Lake Norman consists of more than 520 miles of shoreline. That’s a great deal of Charlotte waterfront property available for purchase and building.
• With Charlotte only a fast by highway 40 miles away, spectator sports such as Carolina Panthers football, Charlotte Bobcats basketball, Charlotte Eagles Soccer, Carolina Hurricanes hockey, and several minor league baseball teams are all within easy reach.
• Concerts, events and outdoor festivals thrive in Iredell county and your choice of Charlotte, or Winston-Salem (also just 40 miles away) are thriving places to visit for day trips or evenings out.
• Higher education is just a few steps away from this centrally located area. You’ll find: UNC-Charlotte, UNC-Greensboro, Lenoir-Rhyne, Gardner-Webb, Catawba College, Wake Forest, Appalachian State, Central Piedmont Community College, and more.

The Real Estate in Iredell County appears to give you more bang for your buck as compared to Charlotte Real Estate deals can offer. Sure, Charlotte is a great value but when taxes are a bit lower and you’re out of the Char-Meck area of double taxing, you find that other counties often compete very nicely with what you can find in the Queen City.

The city-data website offers these statistics about Iredell County:

County population in July 2009: 158,153 (50% urban, 50% rural)
County owner-occupied houses and condos: 35,680
Renter-occupied apartments: 11,680

% of renters here:	25%
State:	31%

Land area: 576 sq. mi.
Water area: 21.4 sq. mi.

Population density: 275 people per square mile

Dec. 2009 cost of living index in Iredell County: 84.2 (less than average, U.S. average is 100)

Type of workers:

• Private wage or salary: 83%
• Government: 10%
• Self-employed, not incorporated: 7%
• Unpaid family work: 0%

Races in Iredell County, North Carolina:

• White Non-Hispanic (80.7%)
• Black (13.7%)
• Hispanic (3.4%)
• Other race (1.7%)
• Two or more races (0.9%)
• Other Asian (0.5%)
• American Indian (0.5%)

(Total can be greater than 100% because Hispanics could be counted in other races)

Median resident age:	36.5 years
North Carolina median age:	35.3 years

Males: 60,120	(49.0%)
Females: 62,540	(51.0%)

As you can probably guess by the stats, Iredell is a growing community filled with diversity, flavor, and excellent opportunities for education – primary and secondary. Talk to your Charlotte area Realtor if you’re considering buying property in the Charlotte-Metro area and see what her thoughts are about moving a little further north. Chances are, you’ll find a great deal to offer, and you’ll have a choice of waterfront, countryside, or urban living all waiting for you over the Charlotte rainbow in our north county neighbor of Iredell.

Authored by Wendy Wells | Discussion: 1 Comment »

Guaranteed! 400 EXCLUSIVE Charlotte Real Estate Deals!

August 30th, 2010 categories: Charlotte Real Estate Deals

Charlotte Real Estate Market

Sellers are dropping prices to sell by the end of the year, and banks are unloading there Charlotte foreclosure inventory- so get the Charlotte Real Estate DEALS with HUGE price reductions NOW. The areas I pulled from are Charlotte real estate in and around, South Charlotte, Uptown Charlotte Condos, Myers Park , Dilworth, Union County, Lake Wylie, Matthews, Mint Hill, Gastonia, Lake Norman, and Huntersville properties in  the Charlotte Metro Area of North and South Carolina If you seen anything that intrigues you be sure to give us a SHOUT!! Subscribe to my RSS feeds and get these HOT PROPERTY updates emailed to you!!

So HERE are the Charlotte Real Estate DEALS. Take advantage today by giving The Talk Charlotte Real Estate Team a Call (1-888-297-6100!)

Curious to how I took this information from the Charlotte MLS? Go to this page and let me explain: Click Here

South Charlotte Property

Uptown Charlotte Condos

Lake Norman Property

Lake Wylie Real Estate | Fort Mill Property Deals

Ballantyne Properties

Myers Park Homes | Dilworth Properties

Huntersville Properties

Union County Homes

Matthews Properties | Mint Hill Homes

Gastonia Homes for sale

Charlotte Real Estate Market

Authored by Donna Johnston | Discussion: 2 Comments »

Do I really need a home inspection?

August 24th, 2010 categories: Buying your Home

The short answer is, YES! The reason is that you cannot see everything that can go wrong in a home when you do the walk through with a Realtor or Builder.  Even if you are a savvy handyman and know a great deal about construction, you’re better off paying for a home inspection than allowing yourself to get stuck in a year or so after you’ve been living in the home and finding out that the wiring needs replacing.

If you’re buying Real Estate in the Charlotte-Metro area, most likely your Realtor will advise you to have a home inspection, too. In fact, it can be part of the contract that after the inspection, you won’t sign closing papers until the seller has fixed any issues or lowered the asking price.

Who do I trust?

State laws regulating the licensing of inspectors are different from state to state. North Carolina home inspectors have to pass an exam, be bonded for at least $5,000 (not more than $10,000), and have a high school diploma and some inspections already under their belt or be a licensed contractor, architect, or professional engineer. This state also allows a person to become an “Associate Inspector” and those requirements are even more lax. Be sure whomever does your inspection is a full fledged inspector and not a rookie without the experienced eye you really need.

Most Charlotte Real Estate agents and mortgage brokers know of a reliable inspector. Some lending institutions may have a clause that they will only lend if you use an inspector they approve of. This can still give you some leeway in selecting the inspector yourself. Also, remember to call the local Better Business Bureau and make sure there have been no incidents reported against him or her.

How do I know they do a good job?

Demand to know if any part of the house has not been inspected because the inspector couldn’t fit into a crawl space, or because it was dangerous to attempt doing so.

These absolutely should be checked:

• Roof
• Foundation
• Heating and air conditioning
• Plumbing
• Electrical
• Gas or radon leaks

The average sized Charlotte home with three bedrooms and two bathrooms should take about three hours for the inspector to thoroughly cover. Also, if you go to a discount inspector for a $99 inspection, you’re going to get what you pay for, very little.

A good inspector has tools that include: carbon monoxide and natural gas detectors, moisture meters, a level, voltage meters, outlet testers, and plenty of measuring tapes or other devices.

It’s all about the black and white

Look at a past inspection report that the inspector has already done before you hire him or her. An inspection needs to be more than just a checklist of items and it should be in the range of 20 to 100 pages long. Be sure the inspector is willing to consult with you after the inspection so that you’re completely aware of exactly what condition the house is in.

There are plenty of Charlotte properties for sale at this time and many of them are foreclosures and homes in disrepair. A careful inspection can literally save you thousands before you purchase any real estate in North or South Carolina.

Authored by Wendy Wells | Discussion: Your Comments Please »

The Current Foreclosure Picture in the Charlotte-Metro Area

August 23rd, 2010 categories: Market Trends

So How’s the Charlotte Real Estate Market?

According to a recent US Today article, during the first half of 2010, the Charlotte-Gastonia metro area reached #89 in foreclosure rates. This change equates to having risen by about 4% in contrast to July – December 2009. When you compare our current numbers to Jan-June 2009, we have increased in foreclosure rates by more than 68%!  Basically, one in every 96 homes is foreclosing in our area.

So should we be alarmed? No. If you’re buying property in Charlotte, NC that you can afford, you’re making an excellent investment. There are plenty of foreclosure properties that are bank owned for you to choose from if you want to purchase a distressed piece of Charlotte real estate.

Do your research for Charlotte Foreclosed Homes!

The issues with doing so have been addressed before, but in order to keep everyone informed, I’ll repeat, if something seems to be too good to be true, it usually is not true! Foreclosed homes are often the “lemons” of Real Estate in Charlotte, or any city for that matter.

Why? Take for instance a family that stopped paying the mortgage because they could no longer afford the payments. Foreclosing in a home is always the last resort when it comes to going broke. We all need a roof over our heads. So our family that foreclosed and stopped making mortgage payments had been cutting back in other areas of spending.

Cut backs like:

• roof upkeep and repairs
• upkeep of HVAC systems
• plumbing
• pool maintenance

Families usually move out quickly and don’t care what condition they leave the Charlotte property in. Some are bitter about the bank’s reclaiming the property, and the former owners won’t attend to important things that are always taken care of before the new owner takes possession in a normal sale.

So, you’ll probably need to replace:

• drywall
• carpet
• tile
• fixtures
• cabinets
• fireplaces
• landscaping
• pool pump

Yes, the Charlotte Real Estate deals are amazing on foreclosed homes! $75,000 for a house in a nice neighborhood with a great school district can be too enticing to pass up, especially if the foreclosure and the other homes around it are valued at $300k.

Your motivation needs to be clear. Are you purchasing a foreclosed home as an investment? Do you plan to flip it (fix it up and sell if fast)? Or, are you planning on living in the home for the next several years?

If it is the latter, keep in mind that you could be buying more house than you can afford in the long run. If that $75,000 looked so good because around $100k was your price range, you really don’t have any business living in a home that will be so big that your utility bills are a hardship to pay every month.

What sort of increase in Charlotte lifestyle do you see taking place as you progress in your career? You might be surprised at how little your cost of living raises and other increases in pay really add up to. You could end up “house rich and cash poor.” You’ll have a grand house but no money to spend on it to maintain it…this is how the cycle of foreclosure continues.

The foreclosure rate in Charlotte may be up and very high at present, but think about the next five years and where you will be in your salary range before you take the risk.  Talk to a Charlotte Realtor and mortgage broker before you set your heart on anything. They’re the experts!

Authored by Wendy Wells | Discussion: 1 Comment »

Charlotte’s Top Real Estate Team | Donna Johnston | RE/MAX

August 22nd, 2010 categories: Our Charlotte Realtors

Donna Forrest Johnston

Broker/Owner

Talk Charlotte, Inc.

www.TalkCharlotteRealEstate.com

704-517-3925

Donna has been a full-time REALTOR® in the metropolitan Charlotte area since 1999.  Her primary focus is helping her clients find attractive Charlotte real estate opportunities throughout the communities of Weddington, Ballantyne, Myers Park, Dilworth, South Park, downtown Charlotte, Lake Wylie, Matthews, Lake Norman and the surrounding counties of Charlotte. Backed by RE/MAX Executive Realty, Donna is one of six top producing agents who comprise the Talk Charlotte Team, a group of seasoned real estate professionals who posses vast knowledge of the Greater Charlotte home market.  Donna’s years of experience and success have made her a REALTOR® of choice for a diverse list of clientele.  Donna has lived in the Charlotte area since 1992, crediting the weather and friendly people as reasons why it’s a great place to live.  With Charlotte’s thriving economy, the metropolitan city and its surrounding areas have become a popular place to live for those relocating from anywhere in the country.  As a result, Donna and her team are experts in relocation and specialize in assisting their clients in making the transition as smooth as possible. Donna Johnston and her team also have stacked up the awards for listing your Charlotte home and getting it sold.  Donna maintains an open door policy with her clients and strives to preserve client-for-life relationships by extending her excellent customer service well beyond the close of transaction.  A mother of five, she is involved with local school and youth programs, her church, and philanthropic charities such as Habitat for Humanity.  Donna’s ability to remain task-oriented translates well to her professional life.  Her attention to detail and results-oriented approach will help you accomplish your real estate goals and her friendly, personal touch will leave a lasting impression.

Education:

• University of Wisconsin, Oshkosh
• US Army Reserves,  served 9 years
• J Y Monk School of Real Estate, licensed in 1999
• Completed Star Power Team Building 2002
• Coached by the No. 1 real estate coach in America, Brian Buffini
• Certified Mentor for the “100 Days to Greatness” Program

Licenses: Broker in North and South Carolina

The Talk Charlotte personal commitment: “Our clients are our top priority through trust, leadership and experience. We think differently about real estate to get your home sold.

Charlotte Premier Realty specializes not only in buyers and sellers, but in relocation services. The company has an active and extensive client appreciation program, which distributes valuable and useful gifts and prizes on a monthly basis.

Affiliations:

• National Association of Realtors®

• • E-Pro Certified
  • CDPE (Certified Distressed Property Expert)
• Charlotte Regional Realtor Assn
• North Carolina Association of Realtors
• Piedmont Association of Realtors (South Carolina)
• 100 Club, RE/MAX 2004
• Platinum Member:
  • Househunt, 2004-2009 lead generation sites, over $20M in sales through internet sales
• Chairman’s Club RE/MAX 2007
• Platinum Club RE/MAX 2005, 2006, 2008,2009
• Member:
  • RE/MAX Hall of Fame
  • St John’s Episcopal Church
• Volunteer:
  • Room at the Inn for Homeless Men
  • EYC St John’s Youth Program
  • Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools
  • Board of Directors for The Epiphany School of Charlotte
• Support:
  • Children’s Miracle Network.
  • Susan B Koman Foundation
  • Lymphoma Society
  • Room at the Inn

Career history: Donna worked in the travel industry for over 15 years and understands what customer service is all about. During those years she also served her country in the US Army Reserves.

She started in 1999 with Keller Williams Realty before establishing The Talk Charlotte Team in 2001. The company is very stable even in the 2009 economy. We approach real estate in a non- traditional way via marketing, new technology, and caring about your needs.

The Talk Charlotte Team has been affiliated with RE/MAX Executive Realty since 2004, and is continually in the top 20 teams of RE/MAX Carolinas.

Hobbies: Fine food and wine, gardening, hiking skiing, traveling
Personal: Happily married with children. An expert on the “ins and outs” of the local school systems, both public and private.  Donna is a Foodie, and likes to garden in her spare time.

Authored by Donna Johnston | Discussion: 3 Comments »

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