Archive for January, 2009

Well Excuuuse me, no way my Charlotte home is worth THAT much!

January 21st, 2009 categories: Charlotte Lifestyle, Charlotte Real Estate Trends, Home Financing

Yes it’s THAT time of year again….TAX TIME! That time of year when we all look back over the last year and try desperately to remember anything, anything we did or spent that might reduce our tax hit! Here’s Kiplinger’s take on the 10 most overlooked dedutions if you’re into that kind of thing.

But today I wanted to talk about something near and dear not to every Charlotte homeowoner’s heart…Charlotte Mecklenburg property taxes, or in the latin Ad valorem taxes – (don’t you they use latin or french when they want something to sound more noble and magnanimous.) By the way for 2008 it’s $1.2973 per $100 assessed value.

In today’s Charlote ObserverApril Bethea has as really great article Can I Appeaal Tax Value?. In part she reports

“The start of the new year kicks off the period when property owners can appeal the tax values on buildings and land, and officials from across the Charlotte region said they’ve been peppered with requests similar to Stanberry’s. But N.C. law doesn’t allow current economic conditions to be used as a reason to change a property’s tax value… The law catches many homeowners by surprise. “A lot of people assume quite naturally that current sales information would be a valid reason for an appeal,” said Chuck Hicks, real property appraiser manager for Mecklenburg County. read the full article here”

Things that can be considered in appeals:

• Correction of clerical or mathematical error, or error in applying schedule of values used in most-recent property reassessment.

• Physical changes to property, such as addition or removal of a structure.

• A rezoning change, or adoption of a conservation or preservation agreement.

Things that cannot be used in appeals:

• Normal, physical depreciation of buildings.

• Economic changes affecting the county.

• Improvements to property such as repainting of buildings or other structures, and landscaping.

Spoken by Mike Gibbons | Discussion: No Comments »

Mega Open House in Charlotte’s Sherwood Forest!

January 20th, 2009 categories: Charlotte Real Estate & More, Giving Back in Charlotte, Myers Park

While living in Charlotte’s Sherwood Forest you might not run into Robin Hood, Maid Marian or Friar Tuck** you will however be a stones throw from some of Charlotte’s best Chinese food at Shun Lee Palace, of course a Starbucks and even a Stein Mart! Sherwood Forest is one of Charlotte hidden gem neighborhoods or as Rhonda might say “a real find”. Nestled in the Cotswold area Sherwood Forest is but a short five miles from the center of uptown and within a mile of everything you will need including a recently renovated Harris Teeter supermarket. **You can however live on Robinhood Road or Longbow Road and if you happen to be a sheriff well then you could be the sheriff of Nottingham Drive!

Oh and lest we forget Sherwood Forest is smack dab in the middle of one of Charlotte’s premier public school districts: Cotswold Elementary, Alexander Graham (our daughter Emily went there!) and Charlotte’s top high school Myers Park (I went there… a long time ago!).

So next Sunday January 25th Sherwood Forest 2-5pm will be on display as Realtors hold a mega neighborhood-wide open house. The “open neighborhood” will feature 14 homes ranging from $315,000-$630,000 – homes size ranges between a cozy 1500 square foot ranch to a roomy 3,000 square foot two story. Rhonda or any of the TalkCharlotte team can help you map out your favorites! Drop us a note or call us to set up an appointment – we’ll meet and even start you off with a latte at Starbucks – our treat! Check out all the Sherwood Forest listings right here on TalkCharlotte MLS – click on Search Properties above, choose Mecklenburg County (SE), then look for Sherwood Forest in the subdivision list – or email us and we’ll send you all the listings in a compact report!

We love this area of Charlotte and this neighborhood has all the charm of old Charlotte plus the promise of becoming one of Charlotte’s next hidden gems. Unlike so many infill neighborhoods Sherwood Forest is still reasonably priced but that won’t last long as new buyers take these simple homes and add their personal touch.  Here’s a Sherwood Forest home for sale we really like

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Happy Birthday Dr. Martin Luther King! Icing on your cake!

January 19th, 2009 categories: Good stuff we find, Sunday Inspiration

Anything I could write here would pale in comparison to the resonance of Dr. Martin Luther King’s own words as he extols his noble vision in his “I Have a Dream…” Listen and then act.

And I think as appropriate icing to Dr. King’s birthday cake is this stirring performance of Pride in the Name of Love by irish lads U2 I can only imagine too the feelings of U2 especially Bono as they played their homage to Dr. King on the very spot where he made his groundbreaking speech. Enjoy, there is always more we can do!

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Uptown Charlotte even has its own magazine(s)!

January 15th, 2009 categories: Charlotte Legends, Charlotte Lifestyle, Fun for Grown Ups, Fun for Kids

Yeah who knew, well we knew but maybe you didn’t — Charlotte has a couple of great magazines focused on the still growing and bustling Uptown area. Check out this link to Uptown’s super cool online version of the magazine. If you’ve never seen an online magazine where you can actually turn the page it’s pretty cool. And make sure to watch the short video promoting Under the Influence at Charlotte’s iconic Visualite theatre (it’s not what you think!) SKI much?

Or maybe come by the Visualite and check out the Gourds — now that one caught us by surprise too! Rhonda, Jackie and I however did see two great Duncan Sheik shows at the Visualite if that is more your style!

Oh yes and make sure you check out Charlotte’s newest uptown magazine EYE Charlotte by our friend and reknowned Charlotte Observer reporter Crystal Dempsey!

Spoken by Mike Gibbons | Discussion: No Comments »

Ikea will Bea in Charlottea Area in 2009!

January 14th, 2009 categories: Charlotte Lifestyle

OK I think I may have given rhyming a seriously bad name! But IKEA is opening soon in Charlotte and I have to say not a moment too soon — we need some fresh new retail! The chain’s 356,000 square foot store (one of it’s largest) opens February 18 in the bustling University area. IKEA founded in 1943 in Helsingborg, Sweden brings it’s eclectic mix of home furnishings, bath, kitchen and full interior design services –  basically uber cool stuff you really don’t see anywhere else! Get a preview here at their website! Who doesn’t need a royal feline futon or should I say BASTIS…

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Charlotte Restaurant Week | Dine Like Royalty in the Queen City

January 12th, 2009 categories: Charlotte Eats, Charlotte Lifestyle

Charlotte Restaurant Week is back for an encore! Also known as the Queens Feast Winter 2009
Enjoy a culinary extravaganza during this week-long celebration of Charlotte’s restaurant scene. From Saturday, January 24, through Friday, January 30, each participating upscale restaurant will offer a spectacular 3-course, prix fixe dinner menu for only $30 per person (not including tax and gratuity).

May we suggest a few personal favorites: Cajun Queen, Carpe Diem, Villa Antonio-South Boulevard, Upstream, M5 Modern Mediterranean, McIntosh’s Steaks & Seafood, Noble’s Restaurant, Sullivan’s Steakhouse, Copper Modern Indian Cuisine

Whichever restaurant you choose (or choose more than one!) I promise you’ll enjoy that famous Charlotte hospitality and some surprisingly good eclectic fare.

Just don’t ask for any substitutions! (Even Jack has to go prix fixe)

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Wells Fargo talks and Charlotte hopes they listen.

January 6th, 2009 categories: Charlotte Lifestyle

I spend way to much time railing about big companies and their lack of real leadership, vision, creativity and of course transparency.  There are a few exceptions Apple, ING, Timberland, uLine and Zappos come to mind. So what a pleasure to read today that Wells Fargo has a new blog aptly if not creatively named the Wells Fargo-Wachovia Blog and that the CEO is an author! Now I have not had the chance to check it out to see if like so many it’s just another company speak, boiler-plated, lawyered, extended company brochure sans pictures excuse for a blog. For now I’m going to give CEO John Stumpf, Anne Marie Quinn and Matt Wadley more than the benefit of the doubt. In fact I’m going to say KUDOS for even having a blog while so many companies don’t, won’t or can’t!

If as Matt Wadley says…

“See, my passion has always been for the written word, though I do enjoy the spoken and sung versions from time to time. And I’m really excited to have the chance to engage with you about the merger of two of America’s best financial companies.

But let me back up just a minute. Now I know some of you may see “Corporate Communications” and think: “Puh-leeze! Blogs are supposed to be about informal conversation, not just another channel for company press releases!”

Well, I couldn’t agree more.” read more here

Well Matt now that’s sounding pretty good and for all those antsy Wachovitteans this might just prove to be your best source for information, FAQs and a way to connect and learn about our new partners from the west! So take look at the Wells Fargo – Wachovia blog and come back to tell us what you think, better yet tell them! Dare I, we say welcome Wells Fargo!

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