Charlotte, Where the streets have too many names!

May 14th, 2010 categories: Charlotte Living

OK, every once in a while we’re going to tell you about something that bugs us about Charlotte!  But first enjoy this video by U2 and know that getting around Charlotte is a picnic compared to LA!

U2’s Where the streets have no names…enjoy!

Okay, well if you are new to Charlotte, you have most likely been lost on Sharon Rd, Sharon Ln, Sharon View, Sharon Lake etc. Or was it Queens? Queens Road West, Queen and Queens? And don’t get me started about how the streets change names as you drive. Runnymeade, Woodlawn, and Billy Graham all are the same road. I have lived here 19 years and still get turned around. Thank goodness for modern technology and a good GPS!

So who’s been lost in Charlotte?

Authored by Donna Johnston | Discussion: 3 Comments »

Charlotte is a Perfect Four (seasons)!

April 28th, 2010 categories: Charlotte Living

Actually I think we all feel Charlotte is perfect especially at this time of year. As the summer turns to fall and our minds turn from warm days and gorgeous beach sunsets to crisp fall football weekends and mountain foliage. I know sounds like some sappy commercial but it’s true Charlotte is so close to the mountains and the beach that you will once again fall in love with the change of seasons!

Blake says it best….

“Whether it is the beach or the mountains you like, Charlotte is surely close to both.  I love my city life, but it is nice to be able to go away for a short weekend to a beautiful beach or a nice mountain inn.  I love both of the beaches I have visited……Wrightsville Beach in North Carolina is laid back the quaint town within walking distance.  While Charleston, South Carolina on the other hand has such great history to learn about in the downtown area and then there are so many beautiful beaches to choose from close by.  We love the Wild Dunes resort. And remember with temperate weather the beaches are really a year round attraction for Charlotteans!

If you are up for more of a getaway into the mountains, I must recommend the Grove Park Inn.  It has a amazing golf course and spa with wonderful accommodations and great restaurants to choose from, you don’t even need to leave the resort if you don’t want to. Asheville, is right there known for its funky art and eclectic restaurants.  And don’t miss the Biltmore Christmas a must do!  There is something for everyone in Asheville and best of all you could do it in a day trip if you wanted to from Charlotte. Inn, this is about 15 minutes from the Grove Park and full of great history and tours to choose from.  They also have wonderful gardens, a winery, horse back riding tours, even some off-roading in SUVs if that is your pleasure.  There is something for everyone in Asheville and best of all you could do it in a day trip if you wanted to from Charlotte.”

Thank you Blake. I think you summed up very well why so many people find Charlotte to be the perfect place to build a career, raise a family or just enjoy the four seasons!

Authored by Mike Gibbons | Discussion: 2 Comments »

Lake Living at it’s Finest- Lake Wylie

April 24th, 2010 categories: Uncategorized

Lake Wylie is a vibrant and thriving community where geography, people, and economic vitality have created a distinctive Southern lifestyle. Spanning the counties of Mecklenburg and Gaston North Carolina, as well as parts of South Carolina, communities here include Lake Wylie The Sanctuary, Lake Wylie The Palisades, Lake Wylie North, Lake Wylie West, Lake Wylie South, Lake Wylie Southeast, Fort Mill, Tega Cay, River Hills, and York. Distinct seasonal changes not only enhance the area’s beauty, but also allow for recreation to be an integral part of the Lake Wylie lifestyle.

With 325 miles of shoreline, the Lake is ideal for boating, fishing, water skiing and sailing. Elegant lakeside living, cozy wooded neighborhoods and spacious, convenient condominiums add to the feeling that you are enjoying life in a year-round resort. Lake Wylie’s proximity to Charlotte and Columbia along with the productive involvement of its residents, have helped establish a dynamic business environment.

Carefully planned infrastructure improvements and close attention to preserving the area’s natural beauty are assuring continued quality growth. The leisure and excitement of lakeside living, a small-town atmosphere and convenient proximity to regional commercial and cultural centers make Lake Wylie the perfect setting to live and do business. Lake Wylie’s Clover school district is one of the states top rated schools.

Authored by Donna Johnston | Discussion: Your Comments Please »

YES-You Can Buy Happiness in Charlotte! Just ask Bo!

April 4th, 2010 categories: Charlotte Living, Great Neighborhoods

South Charlotte Shopping

The infamous star of the movie, Ten, Bo Derek once said, “Whoever said money can’t buy happiness simply didn’t know where to go shopping.” I say they must not live in South Charlotte either, because there are so many great places to shop, it makes living in the area a true joy!

One of the neatest little nooks to stop in is the Promenade on Providence off of 485 at the intersection of Providence Road and Ballantyne Commons Parkway (just before BCP turns into McKee Road). There are some nice locally owned boutique shops, a few larger chain stores, restaurants, a gas station, and some service type offices such as a dentist, a tanning salon, a vision center, and a massage spa.

The larger chain stores are places that we often need in our daily lives like Home Depot. During this time of year, you might end up there a few times each weekend if you’re like me and trying to do your spring cleaning, yard work, and the outdoor home repairs that have been  put off all winter. Their nursery is in full bloom and the temptation to buy every lovely flower and fully grown bush that the yard will hold is a strong urge to overcome! Sometimes buying a package of seeds and nurturing them into full flowers or plants can be even more satisfying than buying those that are already mature.

There’s also a Lowe’s Foods grocery store. You can find very fresh meat, fish and seafood, poultry, and pork here. There are also some items at Lowe’s that you don’t seem to find at other stores. Some of their products are from companies that are more into natural ingredients and recycled materials. Sure they have the regular pre-packaged cupcakes and lunch meats we all use for the occasional quick bite, but there are some unique things there as well. I can’t always put my finger on it, but there is something different about this store.

Stein Mart has a branch here which has everything from clothing and luggage, to stationery and home decorations. Another home store, Linens & Things provides an array of interior needs for the bedroom, bathroom, and more. Kirkland’s is on one of the corners of the shopping center and they have so many interesting pieces of art, statues, paintings, rugs, and off beat gift items that it’s easy to lose half a day and still not see everything in there.

Promenade on Providence Restaurants

Food is really varied at Promenade on Providence. You can go to a small version of Wolfgang Puck’s to dine in or get something to go, Sushi 101 is self explanatory, Carolina Bakery pretty much is too…some of the yummiest pastries and coffee you can find, even though right next door is a Starbucks! A Macaroni Grill sits on the corner of Providence and Ballantyne Commons right across from an On the Border Mexican restaurant. A place called the Q Shack is a place for barbeque and for dessert, you can always hit the Cold Stone Creamery for ice cream. There are even more places to eat and shop but I just can’t name all of them! You really need to see it for yourself, especially on weekend nights in May when the live music starts up again. People watching is fun to do and the music is always entertaining. Folks dine outside or go sit around the fountain while kids dance around and meet new friends. Don’t get me wrong, adults meet new friends, too. Especially at Arooji’s Wine Room (My Favorite- try the mushroom ravioli!) where the food and wine are always outstanding!

Living close to this shopping center is easy to do. There are several Charlotte neighborhoods around the Ballantyne Commons/McKee Road area where Providence Road intersects.  If you’re coming up Ballantyne Commons, you’ll pass Raintree Country Club on your left.  There are so many different types of residences to choose from if you want to live in Raintree! You can opt for a traditional Charlotte condominium, which is where you own just from the walls inward and do not have a yard. Or, you can find a nice Charlotte townhome with a small plot of land to dig in yet still not worry about mowing. Then there are homes that range in size from 1,500 to 4,000 square feet. If you were coming from the opposite direction down McKee Road, you might come across the Deerfield Creek neighborhood, which also has several Charlotte homes for sale. These are mainly transitional style homes with full brick exteriors and generous lot sizes of one-third to one-half acre. For a 3,000 to 5,000+ square foot home, you’ll pay between $400k and $600k.

On Providence Road there are a couple of lovely Charlotte neighborhoods worth mentioning close to the Promenade, one is Berkeley Subdivision, which is almost right across the street from Providence Spring Elementary school. Houses in this subdivision tend to range between $275k and $544,500 for three to four thousand square feet of living space.

Then, going further down Providence Road and crossing over Ballantyne Commons Parkway, past the Promenade, crossing over 485, a little closer toward Weddington, you’ll find the Providence Plantation neighborhood. There are some gorgeous Charlotte homes for sale right now in the Providence Plantation neighborhood with prices ranging anywhere from $239,900 to $899,000.

The Promenade at Providence Road and Ballantyne Commons where 485 intersects has even more than just stores to generate the happiness that Bo Derek says comes from shopping. There are restaurants,Charlotte life services, and many different styles of homes to live in! You know, there are some things that money can buy that just don’t fit into a shopping bag…

Authored by Donna Johnston | Discussion: Your Comments Please »

So you think we have it tough…

April 3rd, 2010 categories: Buying your Home, Our Charlotte Realtors, Real Estate News

So you think we have it tough now, take a look at this. This was lifted off the front page of the Charlotte Observer on March 30, 1980. My wife Jackie Stutts and I bought our first house in closing months in 1980. Considering where the interest rates had been earlier in the year, we were more than thrilled when rates dropped below 12% and we got our first mortgage at the bargain basement rate of 11.75% for a 30 year fixed rate with a 10% down payment. We thought we had made the coup of the century and we felt good about what we had done. Rates would never be that low again.

Today’s interest rates are at the lowest level that they have been in years. If you are waiting for rates to drop another 0.125% before locking your loan, take a quick look back at 1980 for a reality check and think of just how lucky we are to have rates consistently below the 6.0% level.

Requirements to get approved for a home mortgage have tightened up some over the past year but these adjustments get us back to the 1980’s. The article talks about loans requiring 10% and 20% down payment. A down payment. What a novel idea. There is absolutely no mention in the Observer article of 100% financing. Can you believe it? Actually having a true investment in your home in order to buy it.

Yes requirements have tightened up some but with a good credit score, a little money for a down payment (only 3.5% for FHA loans but this is going up so HURRY) and a job in hand there is plenty of financing out there for a home mortgage for you.

Don’t get too bogged down focusing on waiting for rates to drop another 0.125%. If you are happy with your interest rate and comfortable with your monthly mortgage payment, you might want to consider locking in your rate while you can. You just never know (as this article shows us) when rates will move in the wrong direction for you.

By Terry Stutts-WR Starkey

Authored by Donna Johnston | Discussion: Your Comments Please »

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