Union County Real Estate Talk

Olde Sycamore in Mint Hill NC—Homes for Sale and Neighborhood Profile

Olde Sycamore is a golf course community that straddles the Mecklenburg and Union County line.  The centerpiece of the neighborhood is Olde Sycamore Golf Plantation, a well-regarded golf course built in 1997.  The main entrance of the neighborhood is found off Highway 218 in Mint Hill NC.  An interchange with I-485 is located just a mile and a half east of this entrance.

Construction of homes in Olde Sycamore began in 1996-97.  Neighborhood homes were built by several production builders as well as custom builders in another section of Olde Sycamore.  Construction continues today in The Links, located in the Union County section of the neighborhood.  Homes on golf course lots are available in the neighborhood.

Mint Hill has annexed all homes in Olde Sycamore into its town limits.  Children who live in the Mecklenburg County section of the neighborhood attend Charlotte-Mecklenburg schools and children in the Union County section attend Union County schools.

When built, Olde Sycamore’s golf course was voted “Best New Course” by Charlotte’s Best Magazine.  The golf course was renovated in 2007.  Some of the features of the course follow:

• Designed by famous course architect Tom Jackson
• Semi-private 18-hole championship course (par “72”)
• 6900 yard championship layout features Bermuda fairways lined with hardwoods and pines
• Golf shop and clubhouse with restaurant

Olde Sycamore Community Features

Community Amenities:  Olde Sycamore Homeowners Association, clubhouse, swimming pool, tennis courts

Builders:  Multiple custom home builders, Beazer, Fortis, Orleans

Schools:  Fairview Elementary, Piedmont Middle, Piedmont High in Union County.  Bain Elementary, Mint Hill Middle, Butler High in Mecklenburg County.  School assignments are subject to change.  Check with the Union County or Charlotte-Mecklenburg Public Schools for current school assignments. 

Olde Sycamore Real Estate Market Update

January to December 2009

Single Family Homes

Homes Sold:   10 homes

Prices:    $206,000 to $419,000      Average Sales Price:  $295,500

Average Square Feet:  3100            

Average Days on Market:   122

Source:  Carolina Multiple Listing Service

Olde Sycamore Homes for Sale

Click here to see Olde Sycamore homes for sale.

Ever wonder what your Olde Sycamore home is worth?

Click here to receive a free market evaluation.

Copyright 2010.  Carol Fox.  Allen Tate Realtors.  *Olde Sycamore in Mint Hill NC—Homes for Sale and Neighborhood Profile*

Oxfordshire in Mint Hill NC—Homes for Sale and Neighborhood Profile

Oxfordshire is located in northern Mint Hill NC with convenient access to Highway 51 and Albemarle Road.  An interchange with I-485 is just minutes away from the neighborhood.   This part of Mint Hill is somewhat rural and Oxfordshire’s half-acre lots make the neighborhood fit its surroundings.  Homes here have plenty of space for outdoor activities and wonderful privacy.

Oxfordshire construction began in the late 1990s and finished in 2006.  Exteriors are full brick or a combination of brick, stone and vinyl.  Interiors are transitional with open floorplans.  Most homes in Oxfordshire are two-story homes ranging in size from approximately 2500 square feet to nearly 4000 square feet.

Oxfordshire residents can shop along Albemarle Road where Walmart and home improvement retailers are located.  Or they can visit nearby downtown Mint Hill where a grocery store, shops, library and restaurants are located.  Click here to learn more about downtown Mint Hill NC.

Oxfordshire Community Features

Community Amenities:  Oxfordshire has no neighborhood amenities and no homeowners association or dues.

Builders:  Dublin Homes, Lennar

Schools:  Clear Creek Elementary, Northeast Middle, Independence High.  School assignments are subject to change.  Check with the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Public Schools for current school assignments.

Oxfordshire Real Estate Market Update

January to December 2009

Homes Sold:  8 homes

Prices:  $240,000 to $380,000   Average Sales Price:  $281,875

Average Square Feet:  3214

Average Days on Market: 111

Source:  Carolina Multiple Listing Service

Oxfordshire Homes for Sale

Click here to see Oxforshire homes for sale.

Ever wonder what your Oxfordshire home is worth?

Click here to receive a free market evaluation.

Copyright 2009.  Carol Fox.  Allen Tate Realtors.  *Oxfordshire in Mint Hill NC—Homes for Sale and Neighborhood Profile*

Portofino in Mint Hill NC—Homes for Sale and Neighborhood Profile

Beautiful stone gates set the stage for Portofino, a small neighborhood of high quality custom homes in Mint Hill NC.  Each Portofino home is exquisitely crafted of brick, stone and stucco with European styling.  Interiors are decked out with extensive millwork, hardwood and tile floors, beautiful custom cabinetry and granite countertops.  Homes are set on generous level lots and some have covered porches to enjoy the private backyards.

Portofino construction started in 2008 and new homes are available there today.  Prices for the smallest homes begin in the $400,00s and range as high as $600,000.  Heated area ranges from under 2500 square feet to over 4200 square feet.

Portofino is tucked away in a quiet location off Lebanon Road in Mint Hill NC.  Pine Lake Country Club is nearby with social and golf memberships available.  Shopping and restaurants are located nearby at Hoods Crossroads and several miles away in downtown Mint Hill.  Click here to learn more about living in Mint Hill NC.

Portofino Community Features

Community Amenities:  Portofino Homeowners Association

Builders:  Tuscano Builders

Schools:  Lebanon Elementary, Northeast Middle, Independence High.  School assignments are subject to change.  Check with the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Public Schools for current school assignments.

Portofino Real Estate Market Update

January to December 2009

Homes Sold:  3 homes

Prices:  $506,000 to $598,000   Average Sales Price:  $551,333

Average Square Feet:  3904

Average Days on Market: 267

Source:  Carolina Multiple Listing Service

Portofino Homes for Sale

Click here to see Portofino homes for sale.

Ever wonder what your Portofino home is worth?

Click here to receive a free market evaluation.

Copyright 2009.  Carol Fox.  Allen Tate Realtors.  *Portofino in Mint Hill NC—Homes for Sale and Neighborhood Profile*

Farmwood in Mint Hill NC—Homes for Sale and Neighborhood Profile

Farmwood is Mint Hill NC’s classic neighborhood.  Construction began in Farmwood in the mid-1970s and continued through the early 1990s.  Large wooded lots ranging from a half acre to over an acre on wide streets provide a beautiful setting for Farmwood homes.  The earliest Farmwood homes were mostly traditional brick ranches, two-stories and tri-levels.  Some were basement homes where the slope of the lots accommodated them.  As the years passed and home styles changed, country-style homes with big friendly front porches and wood siding were built.  The most recently built Farmwood homes tended to be large two-story colonials with transitional interiors.

Farmwood spreads over a large area of Mint Hill NC from Lawyers Road to the northeast and crossing over Lebanon Road to the west.  The neighborhood wraps around the Pine Lake Country Club at Lebanon Road.  Some Farmwood homes have beautiful views on the golf course.  Although Pine Lake Country Club adjoins Farmwood, the club is not a part of the neighborhood.  Farmwood does not have a homeowners association and there are no HOA dues.

Pine Lake Country Club is a private facility.  The original golf course at Pine Lake was built in the early 1960s and was renovated in 1988 by John LaFoy, a renowned golf course designer.  Five fresh water lakes and manicured grounds occupy the 155-acre club.  Pine Lake Country Club also has six clay tennis courts and two hard courts.  A range of tennis activities are available for men and women at the club.  Swimming and dining facilities are also found at Pine Lake Country Club.

Map of Farmwood in Mint Hill NC

View Farmwood Neighborhood in Mint Hill NC in a larger map

Farmwood Community Features

Community Amenities:  Farmwood does not have a homeowners association nor any neighborhood amenities.  Pine Lake Country Club is adjacent to the neighborhood.  Shopping and restaurants in downtown Mint Hill are nearby.

Builders:  McLemore Construction

Schools:  Lebanon Road Elementary, Northeast Middle, Independence High.   School assignments are subject to change.  Check with the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Public Schools for current school assignments.

Farmwood Real Estate Market Update

January to November 2009

Homes Sold:  13 single family homes

Prices:  $160,000 to $325,000   Average Sales Price:  $227,876

Average Square Feet:  2483

Average Days on Market: 133

Source:  Carolina Multiple Listing Service

Farmwood Homes for Sale

Click here to find Farmwood homes for sale.

Ever wonder what your Farmwood home is worth?

Click here to request a free market evaluation.

Copyright 2009.  Carol Fox.  Allen Tate Realtors.  *Farmwood in Mint Hill NC—Homes for Sale and Neighborhood Profile*

Brighton Park in Mint Hill NC—Homes for Sale and Neighborhood Profile

The Brighton Park neighborhood was designed to answer Mint Hill’s need for a compact development that would provide retail stores and homes in its downtown core.  Brighton Park has fulfilled its promise to deliver a variety of homes within walking distance of parks, stores and services.  In turn, the activity within Brighton Park has added to the vitality of downtown Mint Hill NC.

Five parks are interspersed among the homes in Brighton Park.  All of the streets are laid out on a grid giving the neighborhood with its deep lots and back alleys a traditional feel.  Front porches with gingerbread trim welcome families and neighbors.  Brighton Park includes opportunities for townhome living in addition to the single family homes.

New homes as well as resale homes are available in Brighton Park.  Mattamy Homes and MI Homes still have a few lots left for single family construction.  Two new townhome developments have been started recently by Lennar and Market Street Communities.  Lennar is building three story townhomes with two-car garages from $155,000 to $175,000.  The two-story townhomes offered by Market Street Communities are inspired by classic Virginia brownstone architecture.  These townhomes are priced from $160,000 to $200,000.

Learn more about Brighton Park and view more photos:  Downtown Mint Hill NC Walkable Neighborhoods:  Brighton Park.

Map of Brighton Park in Mint Hill NC

View Brighton Park in Mint Hill NC in a larger map

Brighton Park Community Features

Community Amenities:  Homeowners Association, parks, walking trails, proximity to grocery store, restaurants and shops

Builders:  David Weekly Homes, Mattamy Homes, MI Homes, Lennar, Market Street Communities

Schools:  Bain Elementary, Mint Hill Middle, Butler High (2009-2010), Independence High (2010-2011)  School assignments are subject to change.  Check with the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Public Schools for current school assignments.

Brighton Park Real Estate Market Update

January to November 2009

Homes Sold:  21 single family homes

Prices:  $160,000 to $230,000   Average Sales Price:  $198,433

Average Square Feet:  2340

Average Days on Market:  75

Source:  Carolina Multiple Listing Service

Brighton Park Homes for Sale

Click here to find Brighton Park  homes for sale.

Ever wonder what your Brighton Park home is worth?

Click here to request a free market evaluation.

Copyright 2009.  Carol Fox.  Allen Tate Realtors.  *Brighton Park in Mint Hill NC—Homes for Sale and Neighborhood Profile*

Mint Hill NC golf course communities include Olde Sycamore, a neighborhood straddling the Mecklenburg and Union County line.  The centerpiece of the neighborhood is Olde Sycamore Golf Plantation, a well-regarded golf course built in 1997.  The main entrance of Olde Sycamore is found off Highway 218 in Mint Hill.  An interchange with I-485 is located just a mile and a half east of this entrance.

Olde Sycamore Homes

Construction of homes in this Mint Hill NC golf course community began in 1996-97.  Neighborhood homes were built by several production builders as well as custom builders in another section of Olde Sycamore.  Construction of homes in the neighborhood continues today in the last section of the neighborhood called The Links located in Union County.  The Union County section of Olde Sycamore has been annexed into the Town of Mint Hill.  Although all homes in Olde Sycamore are within the town limits of Mint Hill, children who live in the Mecklenburg County section attend Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools and children in the Union County section attend Union County schools.

Olde Sycamore homes range in price from the low $200,000s to over $500,000.  This Mint Hill NC golf course community is a neighborhood where a golfer can choose from an affordable home or a custom home on a golf course lot.  According to the Carolina Multiple Listing Service, there are currently thirteen homes on golf course lots for sale in the neighborhood.  They range from a 1900-2400 sq.ft. home priced at $220,000 to a 4300-5200 sq.ft. home priced at $529,900.  Brand new homes by Orleans Builders in The Links are priced from the low $300,000s.

Olde Sycamore Golf Plantation

When built, Olde Sycamore's golf course was voted "Best New Course" by Charlotte's Best Magazine.  The golf course was renovated in 2007.  Some of the features of the course follow:

• Designed by famous course architect Tom Jackson
• Semi-private 18-hole championship course (par "72")
• 6900 yard championship layout features Bermuda fairways lined with hardwoods and pines
• Golf shop and clubhouse with restaurant

Learn more about other golf courses near this Mint Hill NC golf course community:  Stallings NC Golf Course Neighborhoods:  Shannamara and Emerald Lake.

Click here for more information about buying or selling Mint Hill NC homes and real estate.

Copyright 2009.  Carol Fox.  All rights reserved.  *Mint Hill NC Golf Course Communities:  Olde Sycamore*

Trees, Trees, Trees

Summerwood, a new community in Mint Hill NC, is for lovers of trees and nature.  Summerwood's 125 conservation acres are laced with nature trails and its four distinct neighborhoods are named for trees:  The Oaks, The Cedars, The Elms and The Pines.  Located just a mile from I-485, Summerwood is a secluded neighborhood with easy access to Charlotte's University area, the future Bridges of Mint Hill Mall, and other areas of South Charlotte.

Summerwood will feature extensive recreational amenities including a Jr. Olympic swimming pool, a club house, amphitheater, a lake with fishing dock and boat house, tennis courts, volley ball courts and the nature trails.  Construction is expected to begin on the community amenities in 2009.

Summerwood homes will be built with full-brick exterior and stone or stucco accents.  Pulte Homes is building in The Cedars and in the Oaks.  Base prices range from $380,900 to $405,900 for 3091 to 3380 sq.ft. homes in The Cedars and from $450,900 to $478,900 for 3456 to 3809 sq.ft. homes in The Oaks.

Shea Homes is building homes in The Pines ranging in size from 2696 sq.ft. to 4047 sq.ft. priced from the $360,000s to $422,000.  Shea's homes in The Elms are larger ranging from 4000 sq.ft. to almost 5000 sq.ft. and priced from the $430,000s to just under $500,000.

Learn more about the 2008 market activity in Summerwood and other Mint Hill neighborhoods.

Want to know more about other Mint Hill NC neighborhoods? 

Unique New Neighborhoods in Mint Hill NC

Downtown Mint Hill NC Walkable Neighborhoods:  Brighton Park

For more information about Mint Hill NC or buying and selling Mint Hill NC real estate, visit

www.CarolinaSmallTownLiving.com

About the author:  Carol Fox of Allen Tate Realtors is a veteran agent who began her real estate career in Mint Hill NC over twenty years ago.

Copyright 2008.  Carol Fox.  All rights reserved.  "Mint Hill NC Neighborhoods:  Summerwood"

Cheval, Mint Hill NC's newest equestrian community, is an example of one of the unique neighborhoods that are springing up near the future Bridges of Mint Hill Mall.  Imagine living in a large lot neighborhood where you can keep your horse just a few minutes from an upscale regional mall.  You can get away from it all or you can enjoy nearby restaurants, shops and movies.

Bring Your Horse to Cheval

Cheval is a neighborhood of 160 one to five acre+ homesites.  Fifteen of the homesites are large enough to accommodate a private barn site.  At the heart of the neighborhood is the Joli Cheval Equestrian Center.  This private equestrian center includes an 8000 sq.ft. tuscan-style boarding barn with 24 stalls, a 10-stall lesson barn, a covered arena and an outdoor arena.  The center offers dressage and hunt seat instruction as well as horse training.  The Equestrian Center is independent of Cheval and its homeowners association.  Property owners in Cheval may take advantage of the Equestrian Center if space is available or simply build their homes and enjoy watching the horses at the center.

Cheval Community Amenities

A pair of historic silos offer a powerful identifying feature for Cheval.  Amenities in Cheval include walking trails, a community gathering fire pit and four unique parks.  There are currently four homes available for sale in Cheval priced from $882,500 to over $1,300,000.

Visit the following articles for more information about other neighborhoods in Mint Hill NC. 

Wine Country Comes to Mint Hill NC

Downtown Mint Hill NC Walkable Neighborhoods:  Brighton Park

Mint Hill NC Neighborhoods:  Summerwood

For more information about Mint Hill NC or buying and selling Mint Hill NC real estate, visit

www.CarolinaSmallTownLiving.com

About the author:  Carol Fox of Allen Tate Realtors is a veteran agent who began her real estate career in Mint Hill NC over twenty years ago.

Copyright 2008.  Carol Fox.  All rights reserved.  "Cheval:  Mint Hill NC Equestrian Neighborhood"

Do you want to live in a neighborhood where you can walk to restaurants and the grocery store? 

If so, take a look at Brighton Park, one of downtown Mint Hill NC's most walkable neighborhoods.  Brighton Park wraps around a community shopping center that includes a grocery store, several restaurants, and other convenient shops.  Mint Hill Town Hall and a bank are nearby at the intersection of Lawyers Road and Highway 51.

Brighton Park has the feel of a traditional neighborhood where streets are arranged on a grid and homes with front porches on narrow deep lots allow neighbors to know and greet each other.  Some of the lots have alleys behind them where homes with rear garages can be built.  Five parks are interspersed among the homes in Brighton Park.  A huge legacy magnolia tree that dominates the linear park along Highway 51 provides a beautiful entry to the neighborhood.  This park contains a path for strolling and benches for relaxing.

Homes in Brighton Park

You can purchase a brand-new home in Brighton Park or you can choose from one of the resale homes available in the neighborhood.  The following is a market report for Brighton Park as of October 2008.

• Brighton Park New Construction.  Mattamy Homes is currently building new homes in the neighborhood.  Five floorplans are available.  Three of these plans have master bedrooms on the first floor; one of these plans is a ranch.  Square footage of the homes ranges from approximately 1900 sq.ft. to approximately 2400 sq.ft.  Prices start at $216,000 and go to $233,000.  Source:  Mattamy Homes.

• Brighton Park Resale Homes.  Nine resale homes have closed in Brighton Park during 2008.  The heated living area of these homes ranged from 1550 sq.ft. to 2611 sq.ft.  Prices ranged from $216,665 to $280,000.  The average closed price was $241,912.  There are twelve homes on the market in early October 2008 ranging in price from $214,900 to $309,000.  Source:  Carolina Multiple Listing Service.

Visit Carolina Small Town Living for more information about real estate and living in Mint Hill North Carolina.

About the author:  Carol Fox of Allen Tate Realtors is a veteran real estate agent who has sold homes in Mint Hill neighborhoods for over twenty years.

Copyright 2008.  Carol Fox.  All rights reserved.  "Downtown Mint Hill NC Walkable Neighborhoods:  Brighton Park"

Vineyards in Mint Hill North Carolina?  Yes, you can now find vineyards in Mint Hill and have an opportunity to own a part of them.  The photo above shows newly planted vines in a new Mint Hill neighborhood under construction called Siena.  Siena is being marketed to baby boomers as a wine-country lifestyle community with Tuscan-style homes.  Homeowners will drive through the vineyards to their new one-level homes with stone exteriors and tile roofs.  Each home will have at least 3500 square feet and some of the lots will accommodate a "casita" or guest house in addition to the main house.  Prices will start just under $900,000.

The Siena Vineyards will take approximately three years to mature.  A winery is under construction.  The Siena Homeowners Association will maintain the vineyards and each Siena homeowner will receive two cases of Siena wine each year.  Siena residents will also have the opportunity to reserve part of the vineyard to participate in making their own private label wines.  A Siena Wine Club is envisioned to  provide lectures, wine tastings and tours.

***Update October 2009***  Construction in this neighborhood is currently on hold.

Copyright 2008.  Carol Fox.  All rights reserved.  "Wine Country Comes to Mint Hill, NC"

About the author:  Carol Fox with the Allen Tate Company is a veteran real estate agent in the Charlotte, NC area.  Carol specializes in South Charlotte and the small towns on the south side of the Charlotte region, including Mint Hill.  For more information about Mint Hill NC real estate, visit www.CarolinaSmallTownLiving.com