6701 Providence RD, circa 1804

 

Built in 1804, this beautiful historic home has been updated with new wiring, plumbing and central air and heat. Situated on almost 1 ½ acres in a prime south Charlotte location. Beautiful historic details accentuate the style and charm of this amazing home! [Read more...]

9205 Kingsmead Lane

Exciting, impressive, warm & inviting describes this wonderful home. Formal two-story foyer greets you as you step through mahogany doors.  Well designed open kitchen with hign end cabinetry, a large island and a sunny breakfast room.  Spacious great room is poised for entertaining or quiet times.  Dining room perfect for large or intimate moments.  Office has coffered  ceiling & beadboard walls.  Executive owner’s suite is accented by a  fireplace and built-ins.  Upper level has very large secondary rooms, great closet space and a bonus/media room. Fabulous courtyard with yet another fireplace is just ideal for outdoor entertaining or cozy evenings.  Partial basement storage area could be a future wine cellar.  A wonderful community with sought after schools and nearby shopping.

Listing Price: $730,000
Address: 9205 Kingsmead Lane
City: Waxhaw
State: NC
ZIP: 28173
Subdivision: Kingsmead
Legal: #6Hunter Oaks PH10/BLK5
Builder: Dowd
Tax Value: 751,870
County: Unioin
MLS # (if any): 2142822
Square Feet: 4,000
Bedrooms: 4
Bathrooms: 3/2
Basement (full, 1/2, finished, unfinished):
None Year Built: 2003
Complete:
Tax Loc: Waxhaw
Model:
Zoning: AE4

Approx. Acres: 0.34
Lot Description:
New Construction:
HOA Fee: 738.00 Annual
HOA Phone: 704-847-3507
Rooms:
Style: Transitional
Exterior Const: Hard Stucco
Driveway: Concrete
Parking: 3 Car Garage
Aprx Lot Dim: 100x150
Primary Residence:
Subject to HOA: Yes
HOA Mgmt: Braesel Mgmt.
Schools: Marvin Ridge
Type: 2 Story
Foundation: crawl
Fireplace: yes/ indoor & outdoor
Laundry: 1st Floor Utility
Floors: 2

3246 Park Road

Stunning luxury condo on first level located in rear for privacy offering piece and tranquility. Very well appointed with all the finishing touches one would come to expect.  Large serving bar looks out upon the living room.  Beautiful fireplace & built-in’s too!  Owners suite is bathed in windows with a wonderful bathroom as well.  A covered terrace gives you that certain piece of heaven.  Located just minutes from Dilworth, great shopping and restaurants.  In addition to a short drive to uptown (10 minutes) you are also close to some of the best medical facilities in Charlotte.  **Owners are also interested in a rent back for two years so this could be an ideal investment opportunity.**  This well taken care of home will be a pleasure to show.

Listing Price: 325000
Address: 3246 Park Road
City: Charlotte
State: NC
ZIP: 28209
Subdivision: Parkwood Knoll
Legal: Unit 3246 U/F 830-1
Builder:
Tax Value:
County: Mecklenburg
MLS # (if any): 2140154
Square Feet: approx. 1650
Bedrooms: 2
Bathrooms: 2
Basement (full, 1/2, finished, unfinished): n/a
None Year Built: 2007
Complete:
Tax Loc: Charlotte
Model:
Zoning:

Approx. Acres: n/a
Lot Description: 1st floor entry
New Construction:
HOA Fee:
HOA Phone:
Rooms:
Style: Transitional
Exterior Const: Brick and Stone
Driveway:
Parking: covered parking garage
Aprx Lot Dim:
Primary Residence:
Subject to HOA: yes
HOA Mgmt:
Schools:
Type: mid-rise condo
Foundation:
Fireplace: yes
Laundry: yes, in unit
Floors:

5520 Allison Lane

Beautiful well-maintained townhome in great area!  Bright and sunny, very roomy!  9′ ceilings down, 8′ ceilings up. Fireplace in great room and functional separate office space is a must see! Lots of storage and large closets.  Master suite has bath w/ double vanities and separate shower and tub.  Back yard is fenced an private – a rare find for a town home!  Beautiful well-maintained townhome in great area!  Bright and sunny, very roomy!  9′ ceilings down, 8′ ceilings up. Fireplace in great room and functional separate office space is a must see! Lots of storage and large closets.  Master suite has bath w/ double vanities and separate shower and tub.  Back yard is fenced an private – a rare find for a town home!

Listing Price: 200,000
Address: 5520 Allison Lane
City: Charlotte
State: NC
ZIP: 28277
Subdivision: Stone Creek Ranch
Legal: L86 M51-508
Builder:
Tax Value: 178,200
County: Mecklenburg
MLS # (if any): 2136033
Square Feet: 1950
Bedrooms: 3
Bathrooms: 2/1
Basement (full, 1/2, finished, unfinished): n/a
None Year Built: 2009
Complete:
Tax Loc:
Model:
Zoning:

 

Approx. Acres:
Lot Description:
New Construction: n
HOA Fee:
HOA Phone:
Rooms:
Style: Transitional
Exterior Const: Brick Veneer Partial
Driveway: Concrete
Parking: 2 Car Garage, Attached
Aprx Lot Dim:
Primary Residence:
Subject to HOA: yes
HOA Mgmt:
Schools: Ardrey Kell
Type:
Foundation:
Fireplace: yes
Laundry: 2nd Floor
Floors: 2

3419 Rea Forest Drive

Beautiful and open floor plan designed for ease, comfort and entertaining.  Large secondary bedrooms have large closets and treyed ceilings.  Dining room (15×14)transitions to a most enjoyable great room and Kitchen.  A very spacious and functional kitchen has plenty of cabinets and counter space for that gourmet in all of us.  Covered patio just off great room for those lazy evenings is just ideal.  Outstanding owners suite, bath and large walk in closet completes the look of this wonderful owners suite.  Very high ceilings accentuate the main living and entertaining area.  Bring you buyers and they can select colors, flooring and finishes.  Ideally situated & a short walk to Colony Place Shopping Center.  Builder to pay initiation at Windyrush Swim/Tennis. Minutes from Southpark and Uptown.

Listing Price: 434800
Address: 3419 Rea Forest Drive
City: Charlotte
State: NC
ZIP: 28226
Subdivision: Sheffingdell
Legal: L16 M49-363
Builder: Ashland Custom Homes
Tax Value:
County: Mecklenburg
MLS # (if any): 2132903
Square Feet: approx. 2800
Bedrooms: 3
Bathrooms: 2
Basement (full, 1/2, finished, unfinished): n/a
None Year Built: 2013
Complete:
Tax Loc:
Model: Olympia
Zoning:

Approx. Acres: 0.18
Lot Description:
New Construction: yes
HOA Fee:
HOA Phone:
Rooms:
Style: Transitional
Exterior Const: Brick
Driveway:
Parking:
Aprx Lot Dim:
Primary Residence:
Subject to HOA: yes
HOA Mgmt:
Schools: Myers Park
Type: Ranch
Foundation: crawl
Fireplace: yes
Laundry: utility room
Floors:

4312 Jasmin May Drive

 

Great in fill community.  Ashland Custom Homes presents another superb home.    Open and transitional floor plan, large kitchen has center prep island, morning room, all flows into great room. Beautiful hardwoods in formal areas, granite & tile back splash, Buyer can select colors if they hurry.  Owners Suite enjoys a private sitting room and a glamor bath.  Large walk in closets too.  Outstanding secondary bedrooms with great closet space & plenty of windows. Bonus room/5th bedroom serves many purposes.  This wonderful home and community is a short drive to Southpark and Uptown.  Sheffingdell is a short walk to Olde Providence Elementary school and Colony Place shopping center.  Additional homes and home sites available to select from with this great builder.

 

Listing Price: 450000
Address: 4312 Jasmin May Drive
City: Charlotte
State: NC
ZIP: 28226
Subdivision: Sheffingdell
Legal: L18 M501 63
Builder: Ashland Custom Homes
Tax Value:
County: Mecklenburg
MLS # (if any): 2131229
Square Feet: approx. 3300
Bedrooms: 5
Bathrooms: 4
Basement (full, 1/2, finished, unfinished): n/a
None Year Built: 2013
Complete:
Tax Loc: Charlotte
Model: The Shanewood 3
Zoning:

Approx. Acres: 0.20
Lot Description:
New Construction: Yes
HOA Fee:
HOA Phone:
Rooms:
Style: Transitional
Exterior Const: Brick
Driveway: concrete
Parking: 2 car garage
Aprx Lot Dim:
Primary Residence:
Subject to HOA: Yes
HOA Mgmt:
Schools: Myers Park
Type: 2 story
Foundation: crawl
Fireplace: yes
Laundry: 1st floor utility room
Floors:

Kitchen Upgrades on a Budget

When you have those extra couple hours on the weekend and you are thinking of ways to update your house, your first thought should be the kitchen. It is definitely the part of the house that gets the most use and it is one that you should always want to show off to your family and friends.

It is the place that is the centerpiece of the house, the place that when people are buying houses, it could be the deal breaker. There are many ways to upgrade your old kitchen and add a new look to it, whether you plan on selling it or not.

This doesn’t have to be an expensive project by any means either. It can very easily be done with a tight budget, provided that you do your work in figuring out what are the best ways and best avenues in making the kitchen the highlight of your house. I am not even suggesting a project like a faucet repair or tearing out the flooring that both may take longer than you really want to spend, I’m talking quick hitters that can be done in a few hours.

Here are a few ways to upgrade your kitchen at a relatively low cost:

Re-Finish Cabinets or Paint Cabinets

One of the first things that are noticeable in the kitchen is the cabinets, and they are very noticeable when they aren’t kept up to date. If they are looking older and wearing down, an easy solution to liven up the kitchen is to simply re-finish them or re-paint them, depending on what style you have. These can be bought at a low cost at your Home Depot or Lowe’s nearby, and each store has a ton of varieties to choose from. You can go with the standard finish or if you really want to make them look new, spend the few extra bucks and add the finish that brightens them up and makes them look like you completely replaced them with new ones.

Add Bar Stools for Island

If you are always entertaining family and friends, or if you are the type of family that always eats on the run, bar stools are perfect addition to any kitchen. Not only do they add a nice welcoming feeling to your kitchen, they also provide that much needed extra sitting area when you hosting your friends or when you just want to take a load off when your baking dinner. These are very inexpensive and can go the standard wooden route or go with the ones that may be a little pricier with the backs to it. Either way, these add exactly what you need to your kitchen without breaking the bank.

Add Lighting

Whether you are in the kitchen or the family room, lighting always adds that extra appeal and value to any room. In the kitchen, it is very simple to add new light bulbs or add a simple light fixture overhead. However, depending on how you much effort and money you want to put into the kitchen, you might have to spend the extra few dollars to get what you really want. Look at home décor magazines to get ideas and figure out whether or not they fit your budget. If so, most of the lighting can be installed yourself or you can hire an electrician to do it for you.

Re-Paint the Walls

This might be the age-old trick for any room, but it definitely applies to the kitchen as well. If you don’t have tile or backsplash throughout the kitchen, the easiest way to make an upgrade to it is to simply re-paint it. My personal opinion would not be to go outlandish and paint it something other than a natural color. Paint colors go in and out of style, so be sure to check and see what the basic, but stylish, color currently is.

Author: Doug Chapman is a staff writer for HomeDaddys, a stay at home dad blog. He specializes in diapers and sippy cups, but is a successful real estate investor on the side.

10004 Seven Oaks Drive

**Shows like a model in every sense.** Two story foyer greets & leads to a beautiful kitchen with loads of cabinets & counter space.  Granite counters, upgraded appliances and prep island as well.  Open breakfast room leads to a sunny greatroom that can accomodate lot’s of furniture and is accented by a pretty fireplace.  Dining room works well with this home & is ideal for large gatherings.  Owners suite is quite large & has a lovely bathroom too.  Secondary bedrooms are quite large and all have ample closet space as well.  Neutral colors through allow you to come and decorate as one’s taste would allow.  Sensational back yard has a separate 12 x 12 workshop that is wired, has a/c & heat can be used for so many purposes.  Wonderful backyard that overlooks a private & serene pasture.

Listing Price: 195000
Address: 10004 Seven Oaks Dr
City: Charlotte
State: NC
ZIP: 28215
Subdivision: Seven Oaks
Legal: L122 M42-977
Builder:
Tax Value:
County: Mecklenburg
MLS # (if any): 2139882
Square Feet: 2790
Bedrooms: 4
Bathrooms: 2.5
Basement (full, 1/2, finished, unfinished):
None Year Built: 2006
Complete:
Tax Loc: Charlotte
Model:
Zoning:

Approx. Acres: 0.26
Lot Description:
New Construction:
HOA Fee: $450 per year
HOA Phone:
Rooms:
Style: Transitional
Exterior Const: stone and vinyl
Driveway: concrete
Parking: 2 car garage
Aprx Lot Dim:
Primary Residence:
Subject to HOA: yes
HOA Mgmt: Kuester Management
Schools:
Type: 2 story
Foundation: slab
Fireplace: yes
Laundry: second floor
Floors: laminate, tile and carpet

Research the Neighborhood before Purchasing Your Next Home

When you are making the type of investment that is going to be the biggest one of your life, there are many factors to consider before pulling the trigger on your dream home.

I’m not just talking about whether it is close to work or it is close to where you grew up, more or less the convenience factor, I’m talking about actually digging in deep and figuring out the ins and outs before a real estate agent just tries to sell you on the house.

You can do your research by taking an online real estate investing course or by just taking the time to use any number of search engines (Google, Bing, etc.) to figure out what the neighborhood and surrounding areas are like. You don’t want to go in blind and then be caught off guard on these things, especially since this will probably be your home for a very long time.

Here are five (of many) suggestions to research before signing on the dotted line:

Room For Growth?
Is your dream home situated in a growing area that will eventually make your property value sky rocket? If so, that is a great investment for the long term because you know that since it is a growing area with lots more to develop, the value of the property is going to increase significantly. These are the types of neighborhoods you want. Don’t go for the neighborhood that has no surrounding areas to develop because whatever the land and property is worth at the time of your purchase, chances are it won’t increase because the standard value is pretty much set in stone by that point.

Fit Your Lifestyle?
Make sure you find out if you are moving into a neighborhood that is primarily young couples with kids or whether you are going to be the only couple that is under 80 years old. This may sound a little funny, but truth of the matter is you need to figure that out. If you have one or two children, you probably want to move into a neighborhood that has a ton of swing sets and pools because you know that there are young families that are going to be your neighbors. This is significant because you want your children to have playmates, not people who haven’t had a young child since before Vietnam.

Know Your Surroundings
When you are going to check out the new house for the first time, or even the second time, make sure you check to see where the closest grocery store, hospital, dry cleaner, gas station and restaurant is. Not that this should be the end-all, be-all, but it does help for convenience to have all of these nearby. It will make it easier for you and your family in more ways than one, and it shows that the area is stable since all of these are present. A hospital is something that no one ever wants to go to, but having one nearby is essential, especially if you have children. And the rest of the features to look out for are amenities to an extent, but who wants to spend 30 minutes just driving to get a tank of gas or some milk and bread?

School System
Not only should you figure out how far away the local high school is located, but you should also find out where the elementary school and any preschools are located. You need to know whether there is a bus stop nearby or are you going to be driving your children to school every day. Also, it is nice to know what size of school is it, whether there are 150 to each grade or whether there are 500 per grade. This is big when it comes to your child getting the proper attention that you think they deserve. This information can be found online or by visiting the school directly before you make the purchase.

Roadways
Being near or close to a major roadway is essential when moving into a new home. You don’t want to be so far off the beaten path that you can’t ever go anywhere without driving a half hour to get to one of the major arteries around town. Even if you are buying a farm house or a house with tons of acres, you want to make sure that major roadways are within striking distance. Also, you want to make sure that your roads are kept clean and repaired so that, if you live in the North, you know whether they will be plowed or not. Again, something small and minute, but it is well worth looking into for the long run on the investment of your new home.

Finding the right neighborhood is easy when you have the help of an expert. Call Keith Thompson at 704-619-0887 for information on neighborhoods in the Charlotte area.

Author: Doug Chapman is a staff writer for HomeDaddys, a stay at home dad blog. He specializes in diapers and sippy cups, but is a successful real estate investor on the side.

Closing Costs in Charlotte, NC

When buying a home in Charlotte you want to be prepared every step of the way.  The closing is one of the final steps in the home buying process, but buyers need to be prepared for the costs associated with this important step.  There are four main costs you can expect when buying a home in Charlotte: earnest money, due diligence fee to the seller, down payment and closing costs.

Earnest money is the money you deposits to show the seller you intend to buy the home. It is a check for approximately 1 to 5 percent of the selling price. This money is applied to the purchase price if the offer is accepted and returned if the offer is rejected.  “Due diligence” is a non-refundable payment made directly to the seller as for taking the property off the market while the Buyer makes financial arrangements.

The third closing cost to expect is the down payment; this is the percentage of the cost of the home you must pay when you make the settlement.  The amount of money you put down varies, but in general the more money put down at settlement, the lower the mortgage rate will be. Depending on the type of loan you select, you may be required to put down up to 10 to 20 percent of the offered price.

The final costs are the closing costs. There are a few costs associated with closing that are optional, your buyers agent can help you decide what would be best for you. Charlotte real estate closing costs include:

  • Origination fee: most lenders in Charlotte, NC charge a fee for providing the loan, it is normally 1% of the loan amount.
  • Optional- Survey: $300-$400 a plot plan showing the lot and the location of structures on the lot as well as any easements or encroachments.  Be aware that larger plots of land can cost more. While optional, most NC realtors recommend a survey to support title insurance and reveal unanticipated conditions associated with the property.
  • Optional – Appraisal Fee: $400-$450 an independent assessment of value of the home done by a certified appraiser who is selected by the lender. If you are buying with cash, you would be wise to still have an appraisal performed.
  • Credit Report: $12- $55 a report of the buyers credit history ordered by the lender.
  • Attorney: $600 +/- You must hire a real estate attorney to oversee the technical aspects of the closing.
  • Title Insurance: In Charlotte, NC, title insurance is about $2 per $1,000 of coverage-based on loan amount
  • Home Inspection: $350-$750 An inspection is usually completed within the 10 days following acceptance of the contract.  In Charlotte, the inspection includes built-in appliances, structural components and operating systems of the property and is done by a general contractor or licensed inspector and lasts about 2 to 4 hours.
  • Termite Inspection: $75-$90 this must be done within 30 days of closing by a licensed inspector.  Any infestation of active termites must be chemically treated before closing.

Determining all your closing costs in Charlotte can be complicated.  We are here to help you navigate the Charlotte real estate market. Call us to discuss these costs and we will let you know how we can help!

1900 Dugan Drive in South Charlotte

Well-maintained open floor plan home with formal areas and hard wood floors. Kitchen is huge with lots of windows, cabinets and counter tops, center island and computer niche. The vaulted great room is accented by a nice fireplace & some built-in bookshelves. All of the secondary rooms are large and have great closet space. This home is located in such a great neighborhood and desirable location!

Listing Price: 345000
Address: 1900 Dugan Drive
City: Charlotte
State: NC
ZIP: 28270
Subdivision: Huntington
Legal: L54 B2 M21-448
Builder:
Tax Value:
County: Mecklenburg
MLS # (if any): 2113873
Square Feet: 3475
Bedrooms: 4
Bathrooms: 3
Basement (full, 1/2, finished, unfinished): n/a
None Year Built: 1990
Complete:
Tax Loc: Charlotte
Model:
Zoning: R3

Approx. Acres: 0.44
Lot Description: corner lot
New Construction:
HOA Fee: $206 semi-annually
HOA Phone: 704-731-5560
Rooms:
Style: Transitional
Exterior Const: brick
Driveway: concrete
Parking: 2 car attached garage side-load
Aprx Lot Dim: 175x72x157x60x93
Primary Residence: yes
Subject to HOA: yes
HOA Mgmt: Duvall / Cams
Schools: Elizabeth Elementary, South Charlotte Middle, Providence High
Type: 2 story
Foundation: crawl space
Fireplace: yes
Laundry: laundry room
Floors: hardwood, carpet, tile