First lets start with some good news! -

Charlotte ranked No. 7 on a list of the top 10 markets for real estate investing based on HomeVestors report!

In ascending order, the top markets are:

10.) Chicago and Kansas City

9.) Milwaukee

8.) St. Louis

7.) Charlotte

6.) San Antonio

5.) Fort Worth

4.) Denver

3.) Atlanta

2.) Houston

Drum roll please...

1.) Dallas

Now this is probably all to to a report according to RealtyTrac Inc., that says North Carolina foreclosure market has risen 78% in June, compared to June 2007.  NC has one foreclosure filing for every 1,163 households.  That means it is rated 25th in the country.  Number one is Nevada with 1 in every 122!  Nation wide, Foreclosures, NOD's Auction sales or REO's have risen 53%.

 

Charlotte…

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Here is a list of some things you should do and know before you buy that foreclosure!

1.) When was the foreclosure process started?  Get a copy of the foreclosure notice or NOD - Notice of Default.

2.) Know the "Chain of Title", also see the deed with the current home owners names

3.) Last recorded first mortgage, so you know how much the current home owner owes.

4.) Make sure you know all the types of Leins on the home.  Go to the "Land Records" office and pay a para-legal to look all this up for you.  Do not try this yourself, because there are different places to look for liens in the Land Records office.

5.) Know the property and neighborhood, get an ariel view, get the accessors map, and get the FEMA map, so you know if you are in a flood…

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Charlotte Real Estate gets a little Greener!

Just think, instead of going out for a picnic at lunch, if you work at the Federal Reserve Bank (of Richmond) in Charlotte at the corner of Trade and Caldwell street, you will be heading to the roof!

The $1.87 million renovation project has been in the making since mid 2006, when the Feds discovered severe deterioration in the seems of the roof.  Both traditional and envionmental roof repair were bid out.  But the higher cost was justifed because of the 6% - 8% annual energy savings and the clean water runoff that is produced.

 

There are 48,000 square feet of plant life and rock/soil that will cover the 72,000 sq. foot roof!  The idea is the plants will grow and re-seed, they will within two years cover…

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Indian Trail, NC 

It appears the town of Indian Trail, NC of Union County is cleaning up it's act!  The town has issued housing standard ordinance, that will rid the town of run down homes!  Previously it could only enforce regulations based on sanitation and health violations.  The new ordinance deals with two types of violations, deteriorating and dilapidated homes.  The difference is a deteriorating home is defined as a dwelling deemed unfit for habitation that can be repaired for no more than 50% of it's value.  A dilapidated home is defined the same, except less than 50% of it's value!

 Whats nice about this, is the town has the authority to hire a contractor and bring it up to code.  The payment will be recieved as a lien on the home, plus a $100…

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Luxury Charlotte Living

Maybe you finally landed that job netting you six figures a year or perhaps you just want to see how the other half lives. Either way, it can be fun to check out some of the more ritzy neighborhoods in your home town. Who knows, maybe you’ll find a rich old woman selling her house for well below market value. Probably not, but it doesn’t hurt to look. Charlotte, North Carolina is home to a number of different neighborhoods and subdivisions, many of which are of the “Upscale” variety.  You may not be able to afford one of these amazing homes, but you having them nearby can actually increase your own property value.   If you are looking for Country-Club living and resort atmosphere in Charlotte, one word just about says it all:… Read Full Post

 

If you are a fan of history you will find Charlotte NC tremendously interesting because so many of the homes and buildings have foundations in the early 1900’s. Several of the neighborhoods are filled with houses—mansions really—that were constructed over a hundred years ago and have been declared historical sites and preserved in their original state. You may not be able to buy one of these homes, but you may find interest in the homes for sale around them.    Meyers Park is one of the oldest parts of Charlotte and is a great location to find many of the most historic homes in the area. This area was designed in 1911 by John Nolen with the initial intention of being a suburb run primarily by electric trolley. One particularly interesting tidbit you… Read Full Post

I am not taking credit for this, I saw it on the REW Forum, but wanted to have a handy place to remember it.  The post in the forum gives credit to a local Homes and Land magazine and/or Mike Diemer.  I just wanted to have a quick and handy place to review all the stuff I do!

"Here is a list of nearly 200 typical actions, research steps, procedures, processes and review stages undertaken in a successful residential real estate transaction that are normally provides by a FULL SERVICE REALTOR® and Brokerage in return for their sales commission. Depending on the nature of the transaction some may take minutes, hours or even days to complete, while some may not be needed, depending on the transaction. More importantly, they reflect the level of skill,…

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Charlotte Real Estate ::

  Buying a house can be intimidating, particularly if it is your first home or your first one in a new area. It can be easier to keep renting because it requires much less paperwork, possibly less money up front and of course a smaller commitment. However, there are many reasons to purchase a home anywhere, and even more to purchase one in Charlotte, North Carolina. So many homes in literally hundreds of neighborhoods in Charlotte make it an excellent residential choice if you have the option. Working past your fears of home buying will lead you into the much more fun title of “Home Owner”.   One of the primary reasons that people purchase homes is, of course, economical. Speaking in terms of long term finances, purchasing a… Read Full Post