The Carolina Heelsplitter (a local species of freshwater mussel) is back in the news.  The Charlotte Busines Journal wrote on October 31st about the latest development and restriction news in Union County – a rural/suburban county SE of Charlotte NC.

Charlotte has been voted America’s #1 city to live in by Relocate-America.com  I’ve been here since 1995, and have been visiting regularly since the early 80’s.  I would never have imagined that there would be so much to do in my adopted hometown, while at the same time keeping the small town feel and relative affordability to other areas.  Check out the links below and let me know what you think?  Agreement/Disagreement/Comments???

Charlotte #1 Place to Live

Charlotte Dethrones Asheville

I moved here 13 years ago with no job and a couch to sleep on in my aunt & uncle’s house.  Now I am raising a family and running a successful business in what is in my opinion the best city in America!

Many people in Charlotte and around the country are realizing that there are opportunities to be had in Real Estate.  It’s funny that so many folks seem to forget the old adage buy low-sell high!   It applies in stocks, real estate, or whatever.  We had two of our clients (see featured article from the Charlotte Observer) who took advantage of a seller who was willing to sell the house below market value in order to get their equity out.  Our clients will have to put in some cosmetic repairs and spruce the place up, but at the end of the day they were able to buy the house cheaper than most of their neighbors.  With solid schools and a great location this was a great opportunity.  Many people are beginning to ask themselves how long will these deals remain on the table from motivated sellers and homebuilders looking to get rid of excess inventory.  Centex homes recently had a one weekend blowout event to reduce the inventory of completed homes.  It worked and they have a much smaller number of available homes and their prices have been restored to the previous levels.  If you didn’t buy that weekend you might have missed an opportunity.  I don’t have a crystal ball – if I did I would be in Vegas knowing when to bet it all on black 17 – but I do know that the way to make money in America still involves the concept of buy low-sell high.

Many of my clients ask me-where can I find a deal?  Although the rest of the nation has seen markets decline, we have held steady on pricing.  That doesn’t mean that there aren’t opportunities out there.  One of the ways to get a home below market pricing is to buy a builder spec, or inventory home.  These are homes that are with begun with no particular buyer in mind, or if a sale falls through the home will go back on the market.  The day a home is finished the builder starts to eat away at their profit.  They have speculated on a sale prior to or very soon after the homes completion, and they are motivated to get the home sold at this point in the time line.  Builders will offer financing incentives, incentives for free upgrades at the design center, or just flat out discounts on the price.  They will also offer bonuses to buyers brokers who bring a qualified buyer.  As long as the builder doesn’t offer these "deals" on too many homes in the neighborhood, the average prices will stay up where everyone else bought and the buyer of the spec home will have effectively bought a home with instant equity.

Taking reservations –The Crown Estates at Lochaven is Weddington’s newest community!  Located just off Hwy 16 (Providence Road) is a beautiful executive community.  Wonderful wooded home sites range in size from .91 to 1.17 ac.  Priced from $260,000, these home sites just call out for the buyer wishing to be back in touch with nature.  Current school assignments are Weddington and the location can’t be beat.  For further information or to receive a plat and home site offering sheet please contact me.

This wonderful community is limited to 18 home sites, so hurry!