Archive for November, 2008

Bordering on Bliss

November 28th, 2008 categories: Charlotte Area Grab Bag, Charlotte Lifestyle, Charlotte Real Estate Trends

Do you want to make a run for the border?  Is your mouth watering thinking of sinking your teeth into that delicious, meaty taco .  Well. . . you’re thinking of the wrong border.   The border that I’m talking about is the South Carolina border and the town of Fort Mill, SC.  

Check out this YouTube video for a tour of Fort Mill.  Fort Mill has a lot to offer so you could be bordering on bliss if you lived there.

If you still aren’t sure about venturing south of border, here’s an incentive.  Baseball is already there.  Baseball may or may not return to Charlotte.  If you lived in Fort Mill, you would be in the hometown of The Charlotte Knights, a minor league baseball team.   What baseball fan would not enjoy the prospect of seeing a professional team on a regular basis during baseball season? Plus, you can always stop at the local Taco Bell in Fort Mill on your way to the baseball game to satisfy your taco craving.

Spoken by Satyra Riggins | Discussion: No Comments »

You paid for parking for me? A Thanksgiving Gift from TalkCharlotte

November 26th, 2008 categories: Good stuff we find, Sunday Inspiration

Do yourself a BIG favor on Thanksgiving — I guarantee the family, the malls, the traffic, the food and most of all the parking will look very different for this uplifting story by Kurt Kuenne.  Click here to watch the short video (it’s 15 minutes so please make sure you have time to watch it uninterrupted — grab a cup of coffee or glass of wine and….smile!Thanks to the Go-Giver Blog and fantastic book for pointing us to this gem!

Spoken by Mike Gibbons | Discussion: No Comments »

Ballantyne Has Booty!?

November 24th, 2008 categories: Charlotte Lifestyle, Good stuff we find, The Charlotte Scoop

Are you looking for a hidden treasure in this tough economic time?  The South Charlotte community of Ballantyne has a bevy of budget-friendly and fun activities during this holiday season.

• The Ballantyne Village Theatre is offering a Retro Film Series during this holiday season.  You can enjoy a blast from the past with “The Grinch”, “It’s a Wonderful Life”, and “Wizard of Oz.”  You and your family can catch these flicks for only $5 (reserved seating) or $7 (unreserved seating).  I think that’s a great bargain for a movie classic, don’t you?

•  If you would prefer an outdoor activity, come enjoy a complimentary horse drawn carriage ride at Ballantyne Village shopping and dining venue on December 4th from 6:00 pm-9:00 pm.  This sounds like a great after dinner treat for couples enjoying dinner at one of the great restaurants at Ballantyne Village. 
•  Run, Run, as fast as you can, you can catch me in Ballantyne.  Come to Ballantyne Resort to view gingerbread houses.  The gingerbread houses are being judged through late November and will then be on display through late December.  Admission is free though donations are encouraged to benefit the Levine’s Children Hospital. The Gingerbread Man is a favorite book in my household thus I know that my family and I will be enjoying this event.

 Thus, you can enjoy the holiday season despite living with this tough economic time.  Who knows maybe you’ll opt to change the way that you navigate the entire year by seeking activities that are both fun and easy on your budget.

Spoken by Satyra Riggins | Discussion: No Comments »

Charlotte real estate market is tough, TalkCharlotte team diversifes!

November 21st, 2008 categories: Friday Fun

Spoken by Mike Gibbons | Discussion: No Comments »

Huntersville, NC-past,present,and future

November 20th, 2008 categories: Charlotte Lifestyle, Real Estate Grind, The Charlotte Scoop

Are you looking for a surrounding Charlotte area town that mixes the past, present, and future into a world-class town? Huntersville, North Carolina is your answer.

 

Huntersville is a town ten miles north of Charlotte with a population of approximately 40,000 people.

 

Huntersville offers a broad range of housing needs including waterfront condominiums, town homes, and single-family homes. The average housing price in Huntersville during the month of September 2008 was $206,131.80. The average housing price during the month of October 2008 was $285,795.60. Thus, housing prices seem to be faring a little better in Huntersville as compared to the national trend.
THE PAST

Huntersville is the home of Torrance Store, the oldest store in North Carolina. Torrance Store dates back to the 1700s. Huntersville is also the home to seventeen additional historic sites that are within a five mile drive of Beatties Ford Road. You and your children can spend your days exploring this plethora of North Carolina history.
THE PRESENT

Huntersville has world-class retail shopping. Birkdale Village which is on Sam Furr Road includes national retailers like Williams Sonoma, Gap and Ann Taylor Loft.
Lake Norman, a manmade lake with 520 miles of shoreline, has been instrumental in shaping Huntersville’s present. The influx of residents who own and/or rent waterfront vacation properties has brought prosperity and commerce to the Huntersville area.

Huntersville Family Fitness & Aquatics provides a fun place for families. It includes full aquatic and fitness facilities. The facility hosts regional, national and world-class swim and dive competitions.

There is presently so much to see and do in Huntersville now but what lies ahead?

THE FUTURE

Huntersville has a bright future.
Discovery Place Kids will open in Huntersville in 2009. This regional children’s museum will offer children ages one to seven with the opportunity to learn and play at the same time. Huntersville families who had previously ventured into downtown Charlotte for the children’s museum experience will now be able to enjoy that experience in their hometown.
Huntersville will also experience an influx of retirees. Money Magazine ranks Huntersville as one of the top 20 places in North Carolina to retire.
Would you like to find the past, present, and your future in Huntersville? Does Huntersville sound like your ‘kind of town?” Seek and ye shall find in Huntersville!

 

 

Spoken by Donna Johnston | Discussion: No Comments »

Experience Southpark: A sizzling mix of business and pleasure

November 18th, 2008 categories: Charlotte Real Estate Trends, Market Snap, Real Estate Grind

Would you enjoy the luxury of working and playing within minutes of each other? Would you enjoy a relatively short commute to your office rather than having to fight the Uptown traffic? These dreams can be your reality if you live in SouthPark, a mixed-use upscale community in South Charlotte. The SouthPark community is near the intersection of Sharon Road and Fairview Road about five miles from Uptown Charlotte. I love South Park because it is where I live and it is just 10 minutes from everything. Homes may be a little older but the neighborhoods are established with big trees and stable neighborhoods.

 

SouthPark is a diverse mix of high-rise condos, town homes, and single-family homes. The housing choices are varied limited only by your budget. Homes range in price from the low $100s to over $6 million. The average home price in SouthPark in September 2008 was $481,749.80. The average home price in SouthPark in October 2008 was $435,910.80. Thus, home prices appear to be slightly coming down in SouthPark despite the upscale nature of the community. This may be indicative of the current state of the economy.

 

The SouthPark community is home to the largest shopping mall in Charlotte, the SouthPark Mall . The mall sits at the intersection of Sharon Road and Fairview Road. SouthPark Mall is home to such upscale department stores as Nordstrom’s and Neiman Marcus. SouthPark Mall also includes several upscale dining options including Maggiano’s Little Italy Restaurant and The Cheesecake Factory. During the summer months, many SouthPark residents and Charlotte area residents enjoy the free concerts provided by the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra on the grounds of the mall. These free Summer Pops concerts are a great way to meet your neighbors.

The SouthPark business district is the second-largest business district in North Carolina with an estimated 40,000 workers and approximately 5 million square feet of office space according to the Charlotte Chamber of Commerce. Major Charlotte companies like National Gypsum and Piedmont Natural Gas are headquartered in SouthPark. In addition, regional offices of national companies like Maersk and CSX are also in the SouthPark area. Working and living in the SouthPark community can be your reality.
These are only a few highlights of the SouthPark community. Do you want to hear more about the sights and sounds of the SouthPark area? We or your prospective neighbors would love to hear you. We can tell you why SouthPark is the place to be.

Spoken by Donna Johnston | Discussion: No Comments »

“I should be gone in a week or so.”

November 16th, 2008 categories: Good stuff we find, Sunday Inspiration

The very fact that those are the words of an eleven year old young man should cut us to the bone and inspire each of us to do something to end the scourge of cancer. Brenden Foster age eleven is dying of leukemia and yet you’d be amazed to hear what is on HIS mind.

It will be very hard to watch this video and not cry ~ so it’s OK ~ but Brenden would want that to be the end of the tears. Brenden is spending his last days doing some good for others — what will we do with our days?

Spoken by Mike Gibbons | Discussion: 1 Comment »

Fall in LOVE with Steel Creek: Convenience and Coasters Abound

November 15th, 2008 categories: Charlotte Lifestyle, Fun for Kids, Market Snap, Real Estate Grind

 

The beautiful autumn leaves and the crisp morning air mean that fall has come to Charlotte. Are you looking for a Charlotte community with the convenience of shopping, dining, theme parks, and easy access to the major highways so that you have time to enjoy this great autumn weather? You should check out the lower Steele Creek community in southwest Charlotte.

 

Housing prices in the lower Steele Creek area are affordable considering all the amenities in the area. The homes in the area are a mix of older, established single-family homes, town homes, and new construction. The average home price in the lower Steele Creek area is $213,985.

 

The River Gate shopping center is the unofficial town center of the lower Steele Creek community. The shopping center sits at the intersection of Highway 49 (South Tryon Street) and Highway 160 (Steele Creek Road). River Gate boasts anchor stores like Home Depot and Super Target. River Gate also includes dining options like TGI Fridays, City Tavern, and Just Fresh. New stores are opening on a regular basis so you never know what you may find.

 

 

Would you and your kids enjoy the convenience of a theme park within minutes of your home? Carowinds , a theme park which sits on the North Carolina/South Carolina border, is a part of the lower Steele Creek community. It is a 112-acre park with entertainment for all including Nickelodeon Central for the younger crowd, Boomerang Bay for water lovers, and exciting roller coasters like Nighthawk for the thrill seekers.

 

Access to the major highways is so convenient. Interstate-77 sits to the east and Interstate-485 sits to the north. West Boulevard is also an option for those wanting to get to Uptown Charlotte using a non-highway route.

 

If you are a Steele Creek resident who would like to share more tidbits on the hidden treasures of the area, your prospective neighbors would love to hear from you. If you are a prospective Steele Creek neighbor with questions about additional features of the area, we would love to hear from you as well.

 

Steele Creek rocks!

Spoken by Donna Johnston | Discussion: No Comments »

Long tailed cats, rockers & mortgage bankers…Oh My!

November 13th, 2008 categories: Real Estate Grind

Sometimes I think Terry Stutts of Myers Park Mortgage must feel like a long tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs ~ things are moving, changing position and his (our) tail is constantly trying to avoid the pinch! While all the news may seem bad the truth is their are some real opportunities for savvy and first time Charlotte home buyers alike. And YES you can get a mortgage ~ in fact in some cases you’re better off than before the mortgage meltdown!

Here is Terry with some very interesting and timely information on changing FHA requirements…

“There are some changes (what a surprise in today’s mortgage industry) coming to FHA loans that you should know about. These changes will go into effect on January 1, 2009.  Currently, an FHA borrower is required to put a minimum investment of 3% of the sales price into the transaction.  This could be a down payment of 2.25% (plus .75% contributed to closing costs/prepaids).  Effective January 1, the minimum down payment on an FHA loan will increase to 3.5% and closing costs/prepaids can not be included as a part of this.  This basically means that as of January 1, the borrower for an FHA loan will need to come up with an additional 1.25% of the sales price.  This is an additional $2,500. on a $200,000. purchase price.

Sellers are still permitted to contribute financing concessions up to 6% of the sales price of the home. This 6% can be used to cover all or some of the closing costs and prepaids associated with the loan. FHA does still allow the down payment to be from either the borrower’s own funds or it can be a gift from a blood relative.

If you are considering an FHA loan and might be waiting to buy a home, this is a good time to consider the upcoming changes and how they might affect you.”

Spoken by Mike Gibbons | Discussion: No Comments »

I’m ready to retire, aren’t I?

November 11th, 2008 categories: Real Estate Grind

We are all too well aware of the challenges facing our personal finances whether we are saving for retirement or buying our first home here in Charlotte. Jeff Karp has helped Rhonda with her finances for several years becoming a trusted adviser… and a friend! We have asked Jeff and his colleague Jeffrey Kendall to give us some insight on personal financial issues ~ and we hope Jeff will soon share his recent experience renovating a historic preservation home in Mooresville. Please feel free to contact Jeff directly to see if his style is suitable to your needs ~ and of course enjoy his thoughts on everything financial.

Prepare for the Realities of Retirement | Jeff Karp and Jeffrey Kendall

Make sure you consider the changes your retirement will bring before you retire.

We are all bombarded with messages encouraging us to save money for retirement—and that is certainly important—however, we are rarely told that we need to prepare mentally for the changes retirement will bring. After you retire, your role in life will be quite different than it is today. In fact, professionals suggest that people who are nearing or in retirement will pass through several stages. These include:

The Honeymoon: You’ll enjoy the pleasure of doing what you want to do when you want to do it. Perhaps you’ll sleep in, catch up on reading, and spend time with family and friends. It’s important to realize, however, that for many people, the novelty of free time wears off. That’s when they begin to feel dissatisfied with retirement.

The Retirement Blues: Don’t be surprised if you begin to feel bored or even depressed. You may feel like your life no longer has purpose. You may worry about whether you’ve saved enough to support yourself and your spouse throughout your lifetimes. The retirement blues may be similar to intense buyer’s remorse. In fact, a significant number of people return to work, often taking part-time positions.

Reorientation: Once you decide how you want to spend your time during retirement, you’ll begin to enjoy it. You may find purpose helping family members and friends, volunteering for a worthy organization, or traveling. You may pursue hobbies or take classes. Before you retire, make sure you’ve thought about what you would like to do with all of your free time. You may want to make a list and keep it handy.

Stability: Gradually, new routines and activities will become your normal everyday life, and you’ll be launched into retirement!

As your retirement approaches, ask yourself some tough questions. How much of your sense of self-worth comes from your work? What will replace work during your retirement? Which of your hobbies would you like to pursue more actively? Retirement gives you an opportunity to reinvent your life—if you’re prepared to do it.

Jeffrey R. Karp, CLU, ChFC, CASLâ„¢

Jeffrey P. Kendall

Karp Financial Strategies

704-658-1929

www.karpfinancial.com

* Securities and Investment Advise offered through LPL Financial, member FINRA, SIPC

Spoken by Donna Johnston | Discussion: No Comments »

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