Union County Real Estate Talk

Mint Hill NC Homes for Sale--6515 Danbrooke Park Drive is Reduced!

Are you looking for a ranch-style home?  How about one that's been updated with new kitchen cabinetry and countertops, floorcoverings, windows, interior doors?  Would you like the finest in outdoor living and entertaining on a covered front porch and a 30' deck overlooking a private wooded backyard?

Take a look at this gorgeous Mint Hill NC home for sale at 6515 Danbrooke Park Drive.  It's been reduced to $169,500.

Learn more and see a virtual tour of 6515 Danbrooke Park Drive here.

Want to know more about real estate and living in Mint Hill NC?  Visit www.CarolinaSmallTownLiving.com.

Copyright 2010.  Carol Fox.  Allen Tate Realtors.  *Mint Hill NC Homes for Sale--6515 Danbrooke Park Drive is Reduced!*

Fun Things to Do in Charlotte NC—The Gantt Center for African-American Arts+Culture

The Gantt Center for African-American Arts+Culture will celebrate its first birthday in October 2010.  My husband and I spent a pleasant Sunday afternoon recently at the Gantt Center and recommend it to anyone interested in African-American visual arts.  There were three exhibits at the Center on the day we visited.  Highlights from the John and Vivian Hewitt Collection of African-American Art presented fifty eight works of art, including Romare Bearden and Elizabeth Catlett.  Two other galleries contain prints, paintings and wooden vases and bowls.

The Gantt Center is located in uptown Charlotte NC on North Trade Street.  It is part of the Wells Fargo Cultural Campus.  Other museums at the Cultural Campus include Bechtler Museum of Modern Art, the Mint Museum opening in October, and the Knight Theater.

The Gantt Center has its roots in Charlotte’s Afro-American Cultural Center, which was founded in 1974.  Community leaders in conjunction with the University of North Carolina at Charlotte (UNCC) created the center to provide the public access to African-American culture through exhibitions, performing arts, and innovative educational programs.

The Center is named for Harvey B. Gantt, a Charlotte architect.  Harvey Gantt was the first African-American student admitted to Clemson University and the first African-American mayor of Charlotte.

The first annual GanttFest takes place on September 11, 2010.  This event will include story-telling, dance, spoken word, music and other live performances throughout the day.  It is free to the public and the Gantt Center will be open from 9am to 6pm that day.

Want to know more about living in Charlotte NC and its small towns?  Request a free Charlotte NC relocation package.

Copyright 2010.  Carol Fox.  Allen Tate Realtors.  *Fun Things to Do in Charlotte NC—The Gantt Center for African-American Arts+Culture*

Downtown Matthews NC Comes Alive on Labor Day Weekend

There’s always something going on in downtown Matthews NC.  But Labor Day weekend is special in this quaint historic town.  On this weekend, the Matthews Alive Festival continues its tradition of being the one of the largest street festivals in the southeast.

Centered on Stumptown Park in the heart of Matthews, Matthews Alive begins this year on Friday evening, September 3, and continues through Sunday, September 5.  The Stumptown Park stage hosts musical entertainment throughout the festival.  Friday’s acts include a Billy Joel tribute and two beach music bands.  While you’re listening to the music, the kids can have fun with the rides, amusements, and games on the carnival midway.  Thirty food vendors provide your favorite festival foods during the weekend.

How about an old fashioned parade?  The Matthews Alive Parade is the largest Labor Day parade in the southeast.  It starts at 10 am on Saturday morning to kick off the day’s festivities.

Arts and crafts will be a big feature of Matthews Alive this year.  Textiles, pottery, photography and woodworking can be found in over 160 booths.  The Matthews Community Center, renamed the Matthews Alive Cultural Center for the weekend, features a juried display of artwork by local artists, a show of basket weaving art and the Matthews Alive Quilt Show.

There is truly something for everyone to enjoy at the Matthews Alive Festival.  All proceeds from the Festival go to support local non-profit groups.

See photos from a previous Matthews Alive Festival.

Top Ten Things to Do in Matthews NC over Labor Day Weekend

Want to know more about living in Matthews NC?  Visit www.CarolinaSmallTownLiving.com.

Copyright 2010.  Carol Fox.  Allen Tate Realtors.  *Downtown Matthews NC Comes Alive on Labor Day Weekend*

Hunters Pointe in Wesley Chapel NC—Homes for Sale and Neighborhood Profile

Hunters Pointe Community Features

Landscaped berms on either side of Waxhaw-Indian Trail Road identify the Hunters Pointe neighborhood.  Hunters Pointe was built in two phases on both sides of the road.  The first section of Hunters Pointe has homes of more than 2400 square feet while the second phase has somewhat smaller homes.  Neighborhood homes were built in the late 1990s by various small custom builders.

Like other Wesley Chapel NC neighborhoods, Hunters Pointe has generous lots ranging from just under a half acre to three quarters of an acre. Walking trails wind through the neighborhood.  Community shopping is available nearby at the Wesley Chapel Town Center.

Community Amenities:  Hunters Pointe Homeowners Association, walking trails, playground

Builders:  Various custom builders

Schools:  Wesley Chapel Elementary, Weddington Middle, Weddington High.  School assignments are subject to change.  Check with the Union County Public Schools for current school assignments.  

Hunters Pointe Real Estate Market Update

January to December 2009

Single Family Homes

Homes Sold:  one

Prices:  $207,000    Average Sales Price:  $207,000 

Average Square Feet:  2640                

Average Days on Market: 35

Source:  Carolina Multiple Listing Service

Hunters Pointe Homes for Sale

Click here to see Hunters Pointe homes for sale.

Ever wonder what your Hunters Pointe home is worth?

Click here to receive a free market evaluation.

Copyright 2010.  Carol Fox.  Allen Tate Realtors.  *Hunters Pointe in Wesley Chapel NC—Homes for Sale and Neighborhood Profile*

Use FHA 203k Financing to Make that Ugly Distressed Property Your Charlotte Dream Home

Interest rates at historic lows.  Lots of homes at discounted prices.  Foreclosures, short sales, distressed properties. There’s never been a better opportunity for a Charlotte NC home buyer to get a great deal on a home with an affordable payment.

You agree.  You should take advantage of the opportunities in this real estate market. 

What holds you back is the condition of all those distressed properties.  Ugly outdated kitchens.  Missing appliances and light fixtures.  Walls with holes.  Stained worn carpet.  Furnaces and air conditioners that don’t work.  You can’t see these ugly houses as your home and after making a down payment and paying closing costs, you can’t afford to fix them up.

Don’t let condition and repairs keep you from being a Charlotte NC home buyer.  There is a solution.  Consider an FHA 203k loan to finance both the purchase and the renovation of that fixer-upper.

The FHA 203k loan program has two types of loans that can be used for renovations.  The Standard 203k will cover structural repairs and landscaping and site work.  The Streamline 203k covers repairs and renovation up to $35,000.  Structural work and landscaping are not covered under the Streamline program.

How does the FHA 203k program work?  A scope of work for the repairs is identified and cost estimates are developed by a contractor or contractors.  The participating lender orders an appraisal, approves the buyer’s qualifications for the loan including the budget and cost of repairs.  Once the loan is approved, closing of the property occurs with funds for renovations set up in an escrow account.  The renovation must be completed within six months of closing for the streamline program.

What  repairs are eligible under the FHA 203K program?

Streamline 203k repairs include roofing, gutters and downspouts, heating and cooling systems, plumbing and electrical, flooring, kitchen remodeling, interior and exterior painting, appliances, decks, porches and patios, window and door replacement, and wells and septic systems.  No structural work is allowed under the streamline program.

The Standard 203k program includes everything allowed under the Streamline program as well as structural renovations.  Under the Standard program, you can move load-bearing walls, repair structural damage, add rooms, improve landscaping or finance renovations that will take longer than six months to complete.

Want to know more? 

Contact Carol Fox of Allen Tate Realtors at 704-905-3935.  Carol recently completed training to become a Certified 203k Specialist and can provide you with more details about the program.

Copyright 2010.  Carol Fox.  Allen Tate Realtors.  *Use FHA 203k Financing to Make That Ugly Distressed Property Your Charlotte Dream Home*

Colton Ridge in Indian Trail NC—Homes for Sale and Neighborhood Profile

Would you like to live in a small community with an active neighborhood association?  If so, Colton Ridge in Indian Trail NC may be the perfect place for you.  Colton Ridge has a pool, clubhouse and tennis courts for your active outdoor life.  Better yet, the neighborhood association is actively sponsors events for residents.  A back-to-school bash at the pool, a community yard sale, and a fall festival are neighborhood events.

Colton Ridge homes were built from 2000 to 2005 by various small custom builders.  All homes have brick or stone fronts and some are full-brick homes.  They range in size from approximately 1800 square feet to over 3000 square feet.

Colton Ridge has a very convenient location in Indian Trail NC.  I-485 is just ten minutes from the neighborhood and historic downtown Matthews NC with its many festivals is about 15 minutes away.

Colton Ridge Community Features

Community Amenities:  Colton Ridge Homeowners Association, pool, clubhouse, tennis courts, walking trails, pond

Builders:  Various custom builders

Schools:  Indian Trail Elementary, Sun Valley Middle, Sun Valley High.  School assignments are subject to change.  Check with the Union County Public Schools for current school assignments.  

Colton Ridge Real Estate Market Update

January to December 2009

Single Family Homes

Homes Sold: 134

Prices:  $167,900 to $299,900      Average Sales Price:  $212,396 

Average Square Feet:  2634                

Average Days on Market:  97

Source:  Carolina Multiple Listing Service

Colton Ridge Homes for Sale

Click here to see Colton Ridge homes for sale.

Ever wonder what your Colton Ridge home is worth?

Click here to receive a free market evaluation.

Copyright 2010.  Carol Fox.  Allen Tate Realtors.  *Colton Ridge in Indian Trail NC—Homes for Sale and Neighborhood Profile*

Union County NC Relocation—Public Schools and What You Need to Know

The Union County NC school buses start rolling tomorrow, August 25, to start the 2010-2011 school year.  Union County Public Schools (UCPS) operates 308 buses, which drive 24,000 miles each day for a total of 4 million miles each year.

Families contemplating a relocation to Union County NC typically have an intense interest in the school system.  The school systems in North Carolina might operate quite differently than the systems back home.

Here are some things that you might want to know about UCPS if you are a newcomer.

UCPS is a large district.

The district is large because it covers all of Union County.  Unlike other areas of the country, public schools in the Charlotte region are organized by county.  That’s why there are so many buses and so many miles driven.  Other statistics from the 2009-2010 school year:

• There are 53 public schools.  Thirty of those are elementaries, 9 are middle schools, 11 are high schools and 3 are special schools.
• 39,366 students attended UCPS during the 2009-2010 school year.  19,593 students were in elementary school.  There were 8,954 students in the middle schools and 10,819 students in the high schools.
• 32% of UCPS students received free or reduced price lunches.

UCPS schools are organized into clusters.

Pupil assignment zones include elementary schools that feed into a middle school which feeds into a high school.  For example, the Cuthbertson cluster in the Waxhaw area includes four elementary schools that feed into Cuthbertson Middle School.  Cuthbertson Middle School feeds into Cuthbertson High School.

Click here to see UCPS attendance maps for the 2010-2011 school year.

UCPS pupil assignment zones can and do change.

Union County NC has been one of the fastest growing counties in North Carolina in recent years.  This growth has created a constant demand for new schools.  As schools get overcrowded and new schools are built, assignment boundaries change.  Newcomers cannot assume that attendance boundaries are fixed forever.

Click here to check pupil assignment for a specific Union County NC address.

UCPS test scores rank very high.

In 2009, UCPS had 2170 graduates.  88% of these graduates plan to attend college.  2009 graduates earned $51.1 million in scholarships.  The 2008-2009 graduation rate was 80.7%.

Union County Public Schools ranked #1 among large district in North Carolina in 2009-2010 end of year testing.

Read about AYP testing results here.

Want to know more about living in Union County NC and its small towns?   Request a free Union County NC relocation package.

Copyright 2010.  Carol Fox.  Allen Tate Realtors.  *Union County NC Relocation—Public Schools and What You Need to Know*

Matthews NC Homes for Sale--2438 Alaqua Court

2438 Alaqua Court in Williams Crossing.  Discover this stately brick-front home located on a quiet cul-de-sac street in quaint Matthews NC. A side-load garage adds to the curb appeal of this home.  The two-story foyer with architectural columns and moldings is a preview of the home's open floorplan. Wood floors extend from the foyer into the formal dining room.

A formal living room with crown molding flanks the foyer and provides space for entertaining.  Enjoy holiday dinners in the formal dining room with its crown molding and chair rail with wainscoting accents. A pretty gas log fireplace with decorative niche above is the focal point of the large great room at the back of the home.  The great room is open to the kitchen/breakfast area making entertaining and conversation easy. 

The spacious kitchen with beautiful cabinetry includes an island and a double pantry.  Counterspace is abundant in this pretty kitchen.  Kitchen appliances include a refrigerator, stove, microwave and dishwasher.  A large closet under the staircase provides additional nearby storage.  The breakfast area is set into a spacious bay window area overlooking the backyard. 

The fifth bedroom with adjacent full bathroom is tucked away in a private back corner of this home.  What a wonderful guest suite or office on the first floor!  Upstairs, the master bedroom suite is an elegant getaway.  A tray ceiling with molding and paddle fan adds volume to the room.  The master bathroom has double sinks, a garden tub plus separate shower and a huge walk-in closet.

Two additional bedrooms and a bonus room complete the upstairs.  The bonus room has a deep double closet making it perfect for a sixth bedroom.

Enjoy your own backyard resort.  Spend your summer by the in-ground pool with hot tub.  A heater warms the hot tub and pool when the days get chilly.  A large patio provides dining and relaxing space.  One corner of the backyard is reserved for a koi pond with waterfall.

See a virtual tour of 2438 Alaqua Court in Matthews NC.

Learn more about the Williams Crossing neighborhood.

Williams Crossing in Matthews NC--Homes for Sale and Neighborhood Profile

Copyright 2010.  Carol Fox.  Allen Tate Realtors.  *Matthews NC Homes for Sale--2438 Alaqua Court*

Charlotte NC Real Estate Market Report—Second Quarter 2010

The National Association of Realtors (NAR) and the Carolina Multiple Listing Service publish a quarterly economic and market watch report for the Charlotte NC metropolitan area.  The just-published report for the second quarter of 2010 focuses on the impact of the federal tax credit program for first-time and repeat homebuyers and what the end of this stimulus program means for the local and national real estate market in the coming months.

The table below shows housing market statistics for Mecklenburg County where Charlotte is located. First quarter data of 2010 are compared with second quarter data of 2010.

Source:  National Association of Realtors, Carolina Multiple Listing Service

The effect of the tax credit stimulus shows clearly in the table.  The number of homes sold increased by approximately 59% in the second quarter.  Prices increased 6% over the first quarter showing that the tax credit achieved its goal of stabilizing home prices.  The number of homes on the market remained steady while the average days on the market decreased slightly.

Economic Forecast for the Housing Market

The NAR report includes a forecast of the national housing market over the next six months.  The Charlotte NC real estate market will most likely follow the national trends outlined in the report.

• Existing Home Sales.   Likely a downward trend.  Existing sales will be weak in the short term after the tax credit.
• New Home Sales.  Likely an upward trend.  Buyers of new homes are less influenced by the tax credit.
• Housing Starts.  Likely an upward trend.  New home inventory remains at very low levels.
• Housing Affordability.   Likely steady.   Housing affordability is at healthy levels and will remain at historic highs.
• Mortgage rates.  Likely an upward trend.  Mortgage rates are at historic lows, which is mostly likely a short-term trend.

Get more information about pricing, affordability and foreclosures in the Charlotte NC real estate market.

Charlotte NC Real Estate Market Report—First Quarter 2010

Want to know more about real estate and living in Charlotte NC and its small towns?  Visit www.CarolinaSmallTownLiving.com.

Copyright 2010.  Carol Fox.  Allen Tate Realtors.  *Charlotte NC Real Estate Market Report—Second Quarter 2010*

Union County NC Schools—Porter Ridge High School

Porter Ridge High
2839 Ridge Road
Indian Trail, NC 28079
704-292-7662

School Mascot:  Pirates
School Colors:  Purple

Porter Ridge High School opened in 2005 as a part of a 183-acre campus that includes Porter Ridge Elementary and Porter Ridge Middle School.  The name of the school comes from the first name of the landowner, Porter Byrum, who donated land for the complex and from Ridge Road where the campus is located.

Porter Ridge High serves Grades 9 through 12 with student enrollment over 1500.  Class sizes average 16 to 30 students.  The school operates on a traditional calendar with the 2010-2011 school year beginning on August 25, 2010.

Porter Ridge Middle School feeds into Porter Ridge High School.  Porter Ridge High School serves areas in northern Union County between Highway 74 and Lawyers Road between the Union-Mecklenburg County line to areas south of Unionville-Indian Trail Road.  These areas include portions of Stallings NC and Indian Trail NC.

Porter Ridge High School Report Card

Student performance at Porter Ridge High can be found at the NC School Report Cards website.

Student Assignment

Attendance areas for Union County Public Schools are subject to change.  Check the Union County Public Schools Student Assignment Finder to verify school assignment for a particular property or neighborhood.

Learn more about the Union County NC public schools.

Union County NC Schools—Eight Things You Should Know

Copyright 2010.  Carol Fox.  Allen Tate Realtors.  *Union County NC Schools—Porter Ridge High School*