Archive for August, 2009

What can you learn from a barefoot Realtor?

August 30th, 2009 categories: Our Charlotte Realtors

Women. Women do curious things (OK we won’t even start about the curiosities of the male species) and most of those curious things your Mom (especially), your wife, your boss, your teacher do end up being instinctively…RIGHT! The real estate business is all about instinct and being right, no wonder women do (and should) dominate the residential real estate business.

I have the pleasure of working with five women on the Talk Charlotte Team – there is a lot of  Charlotte real estate experience on this team (more than they’d readily admit) and a lot of smarts. A funny thing happened a couple of weeks ago to my favorite team member** and it got me thinking about the value of a team, does it really make a difference to YOU when you’re looking to buy or sell a home? I think the answer is, it depends.

It depends on how much faith and trust you plan to put in your real estate professional ~ in this market I strongly suggest you find a good one you believe in and trust.
How do you find a good agent, do you need a team?
It depends on whether that team starts with a group of people who know what they’re doing, who care and are committed to being remarkable. Remarkable meaning that your experience with that Realtor is so fantastic that you want to tell your friends all about it ~ too often in this world the only thing you want to do is tell your friend to avoid the agent.

We’re pretty confident as a team we’ve lived up to the remarkableness standard and we have a peck of testimonials and kind words here to show for it! We give back too, a lot here and here and here and of course here and that too defines who we are and how we deal with and care for and about our clients – when you really care it shows and it works for you.

So what’s up with all this team KUMBAYA (if you need the words) and what’s with the picture of the barefoot Realtor? A couple of weeks ago I got a call from my favorite teammate** (and wife) Rhonda – she needed a favor…It went something like this…

Honey I’m on the way to the closing, there’s a little blue bag in the kitchen do you think you could bring it to me ASAP?
(me being a guy of course) “Why, can’t you wait?…
Well honey not really…
(me) “OK but what’s in the bag?”
My Shoes!

Now I know going to a closing barefoot might not be earth shattering but as I was driving over with Rhonda’s shoes (DUH) I thought to myself there were four other people (Jackie, Donna, Betsy or Blake) who would have happily brought Rhonda her shoes or anything else she may have needed. And they would do the same for you if you were Rhonda’s client! So what can you learn from a barefoot Realtor? When you work with any one of our Realtors ~ you get five more capable and hard working professionals ready to help you in whatever you need…even if you forget your shoes!

Authored by Donna Johnston | Discussion: 2 Comments »

How’s My Hood? Charlotte-Matthews 28105

August 28th, 2009 categories: Market Trends

This is a first in a series of Charlotte neighborhood posts to keep you updated on real estate market statistics and trends for your neighborhood. How’s My Hood? will give you up to date (and check back the charts in this post will perpetually update) information on residential buyers and sellers – pricing, days on the market
(a biggie right now), number of homes for sale, average price per square foot and more.

We’ll post a couple of charts in our post here but there are more stats or even a full report of all the Zip Code (neighborhood) stats we can provide so please drop us an email here or you can design your own report right here on the left side <<< of our website “Get a Neighborhood Report”

So what’s up in Charlotte Matthews 28105? This is a pretty big zip code starting right at the edge of Margaret Wallace Road and extends to the Union County line. (check out Melrose Place Townhomes a little diamond in the rough – gated community, $100-125K price range, meticulously maintained and landscaped)

Charlotte Matthews 28105: Average Days On the Market

Charlotte Matthews 28105: Inventory: Number of Homes for Sale

Authored by Donna Johnston | Discussion: Your Comments Please »

Want to Laugh Out Loud?

August 28th, 2009 categories: Charlotte Living

More Friday Fun! Could not resist another tidbit of wisdom from non other than Rosanne Rosannadanna - if you don’t laugh call me immediately!

I can just picture her moving the chair around Walter Cronkite’s office! Gilda Radner is a national treasure – remember her and her cause ovarian cancer.

Authored by Donna Johnston | Discussion: Your Comments Please »

First Time HomeBuyers: Why the Real Deadline is October 5!

August 3rd, 2009 categories: Buying your Home

Can you hear it….. it’s like a freight train in the distance the First Time Home – Buyer Tax Credit December 1, 2009 deadline is closer than you think and here’s why.

As you probably know the US government has a great program to help first time home-buyers** with up to a $8,000 tax credit if you purchase a home before December 1, 2009. **if you haven’t owned a home in three years you too may qualify as a first time home-buyer!

OK Mike it’s August 3rd so what’s the rush? Three dates you need to know:

September 14: START LOOKING AT HOMES - Charlotte’s under $250,000 housing market is hot and it will get hotter closer to the deadline. See the Charlotte Observer article “Bargain houses selling as others keep sitting“

October 5: SUBMIT OFFER - Let’s talk about about closing dates with the rush to beat the deadline and new truth in lending restrictions you MUST give yourself six weeks to close! To make matters worse the deadline (November 30) is a Monday, and the week prior to the First Time Home – Buyer Tax Credit deadline is Thanksgiving! Yes to meet the December 1st deadline you better be submitting your offer to purchase no later than October 5 – time is of the essence!

November 30 - You need to be cuddled up with some hot cocoa next to fireplace in your new den!

Everybody has questions about the First Time Home-Buyers Tax Credit program, it’s a government program after all! We can help you with answers email us here or we can put you in touch with a professional, knowledgeable lender who can help you out — don’t let this opportunity pass you by!

Authored by Donna Johnston | Discussion: Your Comments Please »