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Restaurants in Charlotte, NC

October 16, 2008 By 1 Comment

Even though we’ve all (Schwebel & Associates) lived in Charlotte for many years now, we still have trouble agreeing on where to go for dinner.

It’s been agreed that this year, for our holiday dinner, we should go somewhere in the Charlotte area that isn’t part of a chain of restaurants. Where to go? New places are opening all the time these days, and we can’t try them all out.  We’ve gone to P.F. Changs many times in the past, and enjoyed it, but thought this year it was time for something different.  Problem is, we can’t think of any place new to go.  What does ‘new’ mean?  Hmm.  Different.  Great food.  Great service.  Memorable. Someplace relatively undiscovered – at least by the four of us.

Even though we’re all based in Southeast Charlotte, we’re willing to travel if a restaurant was worth it.

So how about it – any ideas?  Do you know of a wonderful place that is just waiting to be discovered?  Do you own or run a restaurant?  Help us out here.

Filed Under: Dining, Living in Charlotte, Musings

How Not to Sell Your Home in a Tough Market

September 30, 2008 By 2 Comments

In today’s market the value of a good Real Estate Agent is even more apparent as we struggle with the demands of finding that right buyer in order to sell your home for top dollar – let alone sell it at all.  A recent article in The Charlotte Observer “Real Estate Today” talks about why the owner of a home hasn’t been able to sell his home. This is an exceptional article that deals with the very frustration we, as REALTORS, deal with day in and day out! This particular seller has had his home on the market since 2005.  Sure the market was better then than now.  However real estate is and always will be localized in how it performs.  With in a week or two after placing his home on the market an offer came in.  It was for 5.7% less than asking price.  The owner turned down the offer convinced that they could do better.  Of course they did because SELLERS KNOW IT ALL! 

The seller, a house painter, knows more about selling their home than that of an experienced professional. OF COURSE HE DOES BECAUSE SELLERS KNOW IT ALL! Lets assume that their carrying cost for their mortgage is a mere $1500 per month. That equates to $54,000 of payments for this period vs. taking the offer that was $30,000 less than the asking price.

Here are some things to remember:

1.  Real Estate is no longer recession proof.

2.  Greed, not intelligence, is often the factor for loosing a qualified buyer.

3.  Good realtors® fire their sellers when they don’t listen to them.

4.  The seller may set the asking price but the MARKET SETS THE VALUE.  This one bears repeating – the seller may set the asking price, but the market sets the value!

I’d like to hear your opinion on this or any related topic.

Filed Under: Agents, Buying, Charlotte Real Estate, Investing, Musings, Relocation, Selling

Boomers Blame Others for Financial Crisis

September 29, 2008 By Leave a Comment

In typical baby boomer style when someone makes a mistake we look to Big Government to bail us out.  Everyone wants to blame someone else (another problem in our country, but I’ll save that for another time) for the mess we’re in. 

It’s EVERYBODY’S fault.  It’s the government’s fault for making it national policy to increase homeownership; the banks are at fault for making stupid loans; home buyers are at fault for not reading what they were signing; and it’s our collective fault for not having the common sense to see what was happening and act accordingly to prevent it.

Let the banks that made bad decisions fail.  If that hurts the shareholders – tough. If it causes the US economy to go into a recession – tough.  The free market is the best way to run an economy and the only economic system appropriate for a free people and nation.  We are only delaying and exacerbating a problem by effectively rewarding a series of mistakes and bad policy by putting the tab on our collective credit card.  If we go through a tough period now we will come out stronger and it will be apparent then that tough love sometimes is the best way to go.  A bailout is a mistake but unfortunately we are a spoiled nation on the apparent way down.

Filed Under: Musings

Inaccurate Facts Will Be The Death Of Newspapers

September 22, 2008 By 2 Comments

Why are Newspapers Dying?

A recent front page article in The Charlotte Observer Real Estate section on September 14th entitled “Key to Closing” was loaded with inaccuracies for the state it was printed in.  The article was a authored by Susan Diesenhouse at the Chicago Tribune.

As a Real Estate professional I was shocked to see how many statements were incorrect with regards to the common practices in the state of North Carolina.  Is the Charlotte market starving for worthy articles that The Observer has to go outside of it’s local area to find content?  Who checks for the accuracy or do they just slap it in?

Let me give you some examples as written:

About A Month Before closing - “The buyers lawyer can review the available documents such as title insurance policy and final survey.”  I have never in my 18+ years in real estate seen a final survey 1month prior to closing.

Two Weeks in Advance – “Advisable to set up a tax reproration escrow account where the buyer and the seller deposit their share of the currents year’s taxes.” That doesn’t exist in North Carolina!

Two Days Before Closing – “Do a final walk through with a licensed home inspector, the seller or their agent so they can agree to fix any problems found.”  In the Charlotte area, the time to do an inspection is not two days before closing.  Usually the inspection is done 3-4 weeks before closing to identify any deficiencies, submit those items requested for repair and then conduct a final walk through the day before or the day of closing to insure that the items which have been agreed upon to be fixed have in fact been fixed.

A Day Before closing – “Usually the lenders appraiser will walk through to assure that the unit is substantially complete”.  Who would close on a home that is “substantially complete”?  My clients will be told to not close on the home and then it will be up to my clients to accept the home in it’s present condition or not.

Closing - “. . . with the process complete . . . Take the house keys.”  According to what I have been educated to by the closing attorneys, keys are in almost all cases not given until the deed is recorded.  Funds don’t disburse to the parties, including commissions to the agents, until the deed is recorded.

Picture yourself a first time buyer or an experienced buyer moving to North Carolina.  When in doubt contact your Realtor and your attorney to give you proper/accurate advice.

We also have a home closing checklist pertinent to the closing process as it happens in Charlotte North Carolina on our website.

Filed Under: Agents, Buying, Charlotte Real Estate, Investing, Media Coverage, Musings, News, Selling

Bank of America Buying Merrill Lynch Affects Charlotte

September 19, 2008 By Leave a Comment

Let me clear the air by saying that I don’t work for either company.  One of the best things about our free market system is that everyone has the opportunity of competing and being the best at what you do allows you to survive in a competitive market.  These days, operating a marginal company is not good enough.  To thrive in a tough market you have to be the best and remain at the top of your game.  Being average is no longer acceptable.

We live in a society where 9 to 5 is the norm and just getting through the work day is the way to stay under the radar.  Where graduating from college and/or graduate school is supposed to entitle you to a six figure income, a large office with a window and a golden parachute.  You may be asking what does this have to do with The Bank of America Merrill Lynch acquisition?  Clearly Bank of America, it’s leadership and employees, have demonstrated that the best have not only survived in a very tough market they have excelled!

It is my hope that the people of  Charlotte North Carolina will benefit in a huge way from this happening. We as business owners should take notice of what they are doing and not be worrisome or critical but become better in the way we operate our companies.

Success Doesn’t just Happen- It’s Earned!

Filed Under: Living in Charlotte, Musings, News

Sleeping Giraffes

September 17, 2008 By Leave a Comment

So, yeah, I guess giraffes DO actually sleep.  Not that it was a burning question on my mind as of late.  But I was spending some time on one of my favorite websites: Mental_Floss.com, and their daily ‘morning cup of links’ led me the sleeping giraffe.  (Mental_Floss is also my absolute favorite magazine – chock full of interesting facts and figures, and all written in a very humorous manner – check it out!)

The site with the sleeping giraffe is actually a place called scienceblogs.com, and this particular article is about ‘Sleep Behavior and Sleep Postures’.  As someone who once thought about studying animal behavior, I can understand how this might pique someone’s interest.

But it was the photo that stopped me in my tracks.  How do you think a giraffe sleeps?  See for yourself – sleeping giraffe.

Filed Under: Musings

Relocating to Charlotte North Carolina

August 4, 2008 By 2 Comments

When I speak with new clients, the most often asked question is, “Where should I live?” Well, that depends on your needs. If you have school age children you need to be considering the best schools. As a parent that moved here over 26 years ago my research was limited. Now I would go to NCReportCards.org and schoolmatters.com. In addition, for Charlotte North Carolina schools, you can go to CMS.K12.NC.US. My clients have used these sites and find them to be worthwhile. We were lucky that in spite of not having accessible data we landed in the better school zones. Our children are grown, out of grad school with outstanding careers here in Charlotte.

So what else is important in order to find that great home in that perfect community? Selecting that right Realtor that cares more about your success happiness than the income they will receive. E-mail me with your questions and concerns on these two very important topics and I’ll elaborate. I can be reached at Irv@TopCharlotteAgent.com

Filed Under: Buying, Charlotte Real Estate, Communities, Living in Charlotte, Mecklenburg County, Musings, Relocation, Union County

Charlotte, North Carolina – A Great Place To Live!

June 4, 2008 By 1 Comment

Here’s what makes Charlotte so great.  I’ve just come back from a cruise and I still feel that I’m on vacation.  Yes that sounds so corny but it’s true!  Why?  It’s the ease of flying into Charlotte at Douglas International Airport and the ease of driving home.  O.K. so that’s one small part of what makes us so great.  Charlotte is green, clean and beautiful.  If you want to get uptown to an event or dinner it’s easy in and easy out.  We have the best of hospitals and a great climate.  Speaking about our climate lets examine our work climate.  One of the main reasons The Charlotte area continues to out pace the rest of the nation is the opportunity to find employment. 

The Charlotte housing market continues to out pace the rest of the nation.  What would $300,000  buy you if you lived in New York, Chicago or L.A.? 

 

If you’re interested in knowing more of what I think about living in Charlotte please e-mail me at Irv@TopCharllotteAgent.com.  If you have some comments I’d like to hear from you too. 

Filed Under: Charlotte Real Estate, Living in Charlotte, Mecklenburg County, Musings, News, Relocation

Welcome to the NEW and Improved Charlotte Blog!

January 22, 2008 By 3 Comments

Welcome to the NEW and greatly IMPROVED Charlotte Buzz blog!  This new site will allow us to compile all of our information about living in Charlotte and relocating to Charlotte in one spot – making it much easier for you to find what you are looking for when you have a question about the area.

While primarily aCharlotte real estate site, we will also offer news and information about living in Charlotte and relocating to Charlotte.  With so many people across the country interested in moving to our wonderful city, it only makes sense to help them feel at home and show them around a bit before they arrive.

If you check out the different categories we have, you’ll see that we try to cover all things about Charlotte, NC.  A question often heard is, "Why is everyone moving to Charlotte?"  We can show you, we can tell you, we can write about how much we all love living here – it’s a combination of climate, the people, lifestyle, and so many more intangibles.  Certainly Charlotte life isn’t for everyone, but we’d love to talk to you about why we love to call Charlotte home.

Do you live in the Charlotte area?  Did you relocate here?  Let everyone know what brought you here.

Filed Under: Charlotte Real Estate, Living in Charlotte, Musings, News Flashes, Relocation

Charlotte Area Fall Color Show

November 5, 2007 By 1 Comment

As many long-time Charlotteans know, fall color in the North Carolina mountains can be pretty spectacular.  This past weekend I took a trip up I-77 to play some golf at Olde Beau Golf and Country Club, and then tour some vineyards – yes, we have vineyards in North Carolina.

The weather was nothing short of spectacular – mid 60′s – and the mountain views were wonderful!  The golf course is at 3200 feet, with awesome views and the greenest grass I’ve seen in months (with our drought situation and all . . .).  We enjoyed our round and I think I spent more time taking pictures than actually trying to play well, which may explain all of the lost balls.

On Saturday we toured some of the NC Vineyards, and also ventured up into southern Virginia for a few tours.  What we learned was that you can’t judge a book (or vineyard) by it’s cover (or external appearance).  Some of our favorite wines were from the small, out of the way vineyards.

With the amazing weather, clear skies, and beautiful fall colors – it doesn’t get much better!

Filed Under: Living in Charlotte, Musings, Relocation
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