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

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

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)

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.

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

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.

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.

Click here to view the embedded video.

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!

Broker/Owner

Talk Charlotte, Inc.

www.TalkCharlotteRealEstate.com

704-517-3925

Click here to view the embedded video.

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.

I was fortunate enough to experience one of these recently and thought I would share the experience.

Hen Soon (father of seven children, former police officer, pilot, and jack-of-all-trades) contacted me by email from his home in St. Martin after having discussed with a friend the possibility of moving here.  The friend on Hen Soon’s  had moved to Charlotte a few years ago.  While originally contemplating Pennsylvania, his friend urged him to consider Charlotte since the climate is better and Charlotte real estate purchasing power is stronger here.  With children already located in Miami, Atlanta, and Virginia, Mr. Soon quickly realized Charlotte was worth a closer look.

Mr. Soon was an avid researcher on one of our websites (www.searchsouthcharlottehomes.com) and saved no less than 45 homes he was considering as a possible match.  With his wife and two youngest children in tow, Mr. Soon traveled to Charlotte in early August and I arranged a busy couple of days looking at homes he wanted to see.  After our first day, it was clear he had found the perfect Charlotte home for his needs – a fixer-upper in a quaint neighborhood established in 1953 and located close to the city.  We placed an offer on the home and were under contract before Mr. Soon and his entourage departed back to St. Martin.

The real reward here was not selling the home itself but being able to help make a  Charlotte dream come true.  The excitement in the eyes of Mr. Soon, his wife, and two children was unmistakable.  The realization of a long-standing dream to relocate to the United States and reunite with older children already living and working here was finally within reach. Further, there is no doubt that a genuine friendship has been born that will continue to grow and prosper over time.

I was delighted to have assisted Mr. Soon in making his dream come true.  We will close the transaction later in the month and Mr. Soon will return to commence renovations of his new Charlotte home before making the permanent relocation.  These are the types of Charlotte real estate  transactions that go above and beyond the routine move from one neighborhood to another.  And making dreams come true is one of the rewards of working in residential real estate that never gets old.

Investing in Charlotte properties while prices are low is a very smart move, even in a down economy. But, how about those property taxes? Ouch! Welcome to Charlotte. Unfortunately, while living in Mecklenburg county has its perks, owning property in Charlotte, NC will cost you. The city of Charlotte has the highest sales tax in the state as well as one of the highest property and personal property tax rates.

The largest source of revenue for Mecklenburg County is property taxes. Everything that makes living here so worthwhile is funded by these taxes. Important services like fire, police, local libraries, schools, and restaurant inspections.

What are your Charlotte Property Taxes paying for anyway?

If you visit our county’s tax website, you’ll see what else your real estate investment is paying for. “Charlotte property taxes also fund Social Services, help residents move from welfare to work, protect children and senior citizens from abuse and neglect, protect our water and air from pollution, and repair and build some roads.”

Plus, what some might call our luxury services, which are the greenways and parks are paid for out of the property taxes collected from Charlotte Real Estate taxes paid by homeowners and Charlotte property owners.

However, if you do not think your Charlotte property has been fairly assessed and you want to appeal the tax, it is possible to do. Whether or not the Charlotte Tax appraiser will come back to reassess the property is the great unknown.

You must pay your taxes!

Even if, in your opinion, the matter is in dispute; paying your taxes on time will avoid accumulating interest and late fees. The Mecklenburg county website is rather confusing when it answers the question of whether or not you can appeal. Here it is copied directly from the site:

Can I appeal my real estate assessment when I get the statement?
No, an assessment must be appealed by May 15th or within fifteen (15) days after receipt of a Change-of assessment notice.

Now, if you sold a Charlotte property, you will not have to pay the taxes on it from the point when you sold it and forward. You will give a credit for your portion of the taxes at closing, for the year to the buyer, and the buyer will be responsible for the full amount. Yet, the bill will probably still come to you! See, North Carolina tax law requires that the tax statement be sent to the owner of record as of January 1^st and the actual tax bill comes out in Sept. but is due on January 1^st.  If you’ve sold your home, make sure you give the bill to the new owners or you should return the statement to the Tax Collector’s Office with new owner’s name. If they are not living in the property and you don’t know the address of where they are living, just send the statement back and notate as such.

If you have purchased Charlotte-Mecklenburg property that is historical or used for farm or forestry purposes, your property might fall into the reduced tax rate category of properties. Any historical property you purchase retains its historical status until the structure is destroyed. Most likely, if you’ve purchased an historical home, you wouldn’t want to tear it completely down. Be advised also that the other Charlotte property owners living in the neighborhood would not appreciate the depreciation of their property values because the historical value of the neighborhood is changing! Want to know the current Charlotte Metro Property Tax Rates? Get the latest Charlotte Property Tax rate here!

You can pay your taxes online, by phone, or by sending in a check. Paying the extra percentages that we do to own Charlotte homes only rears its head once a year. Just grin and bear it because you know that your money is going to a good cause…our beautiful Queen city!

Have questions about your Charlotte home value? Give us a call and we will take a quick look for you. 888-297-6100

Broker Associate
Talk Charlotte Real Estate Team
704-763-0907
Blake@TalkCharlotte.com

Click here to view the embedded video.

Originally from Roanoke, VA, Blake Garvin graduated from Elon University with a degree in Corporate Communications in 1999. After two years in the marketing world she moved to Richmond, VA, where she started her real estate career at Gumenick Properties working directly with buyers, sellers, and builders. She moved to Charlotte in 2003 with and ever since has been helping people from across the country make the Queen City home. She settled in the Plaza-Midwood neighborhood – with it’s artistic flair and convivial spirit it fit her like a glove. Blake’s specialties are Uptown, Dilworth, Elizabeth and Myers Park but she has enjoyed helping folks find their dream home across the entire Charlotte region. She prides herself on making you feel like her only client and helps you find the beauty and inspiration in Charlotte whether it’s your first visit or you’ve lived here for years.

Licenses: North and South Carolina
Affiliations/Memberships:

• Charlotte Regional Realtor Association (CRRA)
• North Carolina Association of Realtors (NCAR)
• National Association of Realtors (NAR)
• 2009 Platinum Club
  
• 2008 Platinum Club
  
• 2007 RE/MAX Chairman’s Club
• 2006 RE/MAX Hall of Fame – Platinum

Hobbies:Skiing, traveling, boating on Lake Norman, and anything with my dog- Lady

Associate Broker

Talk Charlotte Real Estate Team

704-651-6551

Rhonda@TalkCharlotte.com

After 20-plus years in the fashion/apparel industry working with often demanding customers, building relationships, negotiating and getting things done, I decided to take the skills I learned on the “runway” and apply them to the “driveway”.

Working for companies like Ralph Lauren and Levi Strauss, I learned the importance of details and deadlines! I’m happy to say these skills are even more important in the Charlotte home market. Most Charlotte Realtors have something to sell. First, I listen. I have many happy homeowners who will attest to my listening skills, but listening is, of course, only the first step – after that it takes determination and ‘smarts’ to help people find the perfect home.

Details and deadlines are not only important when buying a home, but even more so when listing your home for sale. This stuff is hard work, and while I take this responsibility seriously I genuinely enjoy helping my clients through the process with passion and enthusiasm, and ultimately finding the perfect home for them.

So whether you’re buying your first Charlotte home, moving up, downsizing or relocating – I look forward to listening to you, first! They don’t call me “help me Rhonda” for nothing!

Charlotte Regional Realtor Association (CRRA)

North Carolina Association of Realtors (NCAR)

National Association of Realtors (NAR)

2007, 2008, 2009 FIVE STAR Award (THREE STRAIGHT YEARS!!)

(voted best in client satisfaction by Charlotte home buyers)

2009 RE/MAX Platinum Club

2008 RE/MAX Platinum Club

2007 RE/MAX Chairman’s Club

2006 RE/MAX Hall of Fame – Platinum

When you’re looking through all of the homes, picking a Charlotte  neighborhood is very important.

We all want to be able to at least tolerate if not actually become friends with our neighbors. The Chantilly neighborhood is a Charlotte Realtor’s dream. The tree lined streets are canopied with mature branches that grow tall. It’s wedged between the Plaza Midwood and Elizabeth neighborhoods. The homes are mostly bungalow style with families that have either retired in their home from 40 years ago, or they’re a young family starting out with a home they want to modernize and renovate.

Much of the real estate in Charlotte is new, which is good, because we all want modern things. Finding a Charlotte  home that has already been renovated is easy right now in the Chantilly neighborhood. If you’re in the market for a new home that needs little to no effort after moving in, you can find several in the range of $250k and up to about $495k. One of the benefits to buying a remodeled home in Chantilly is that not only is it already upgraded with floors, fixtures and kitchen, but a second bathroom has usually always been added! Keep in mind, these Chantilly bungalows were mostly built back in the mid 1940’s to early ’60’s and families just did not have the luxury of more than one bathroom if they lived in the working class neighborhoods and boroughs.

However, if you’re handy and don’t want to spend a lot of money on the initial purchase of a Charlotte property, you can find several fixer-uppers for around $120k. Yes, that’s true! Owning Charlotte property and living in a neighborhood like Chantilly for just over $100,000.

The area around Chantilly is charming. When you talk about great Charlotte NC properties, this place is at the top of the list. You have your choice of walking to either the restaurants and pubs in the Plaza Midwood area, or to those that are in the Elizabeth area. Both areas have much more than this to offer but some of the highlights are:

• Plaza Midwood has
  • Thomas Street Tavern
  • the Penguin
  • Zeda Janes (best breakfast in that GREEN building)
  • Dish
  • Nova’s Bakery
  • Whiskey Warehouse
  • Loco Lime (for some great Mexican eats)

Oh and by the way while you are there, check out BeadLush. A great Charlotte Bead Shop.

• Elizabeth has:
  • Crisp
  • La Te Da’s
  • The Philosopher’s Stone
  • Carpe Diem
  • Adams 7^th street market
  • the Cajun Queen (Live Jazz)
  • Jakalope Jack’s

There are little shops to explore in both neighborhoods, so be prepared to do some walking if you take the kids out for a Sunday stroll to dinner!

The kids are covered well in Chantilly, too. The elementary school is Elizabeth Traditional, the middle school is Piedmont Open school, and the high school can be either Hawthorne or Midwood. We’ll see how CMS divides the lines this year!

Speaking of kids, the makeup of folks living in Chantilly is really torn in half. About 40% are married couples, about 41% are singles, and the rest is made up of divorcees and widowed spouses. The main home type in Chantilly is the single family home, more than 75% in fact. Charlotte Condos are only about 23% and the rest is “other.” That could be rentals or homes in transition.

Here’s a look at what Charlotte Realtors have sold in Chantilly over the last couple of years:

This is a great place to live as a family or a single adult. People feel safe enough to jog, walk, and ride bikes at night…alone even! That says a lot about a Charlotte community. It says that the residents know they’re all looking out for each other; the neighbors actually know one another’s names on most of the streets!

Investing in a Charlotte home in Chantilly can give you the warm fuzzy feeling, too. Just find the right place and go make friends! Want more information about Chantilly, give top Charlotte Realtor Rhonda Gibbons  a call 704-651-6551.