• Charlotte was ranked 10th for economic growth in the past 50 years according to the US Burea of Economic Analysis! And our “next door” neighbor, South Carolina, ranked 11th! For a complete report on economic growth rankings.
• Kiplinger.com named Charlotte among the 10 best cities for college graduates preparing to enter the work force.

If you’ve been thinking about moving to Charlotte contact Carolinas Realty Partners–we can help smooth the transition as well as help you find your dream home!

• Forbes Magazine included Charlotte in its list of best places to retire, based on its favorable housing and living costs, temperate climate, traffic, and access to excellent medical care.
• Charlotte was ranked #4 among the 100 largest US metropolitan areas in the small-business vitality index. This ranking of Charlotte as a city offering the best climate for small business creation and development,  is up from #31 just one year ago.
• A recent study by the Business Journals showed America’s 100 largest metropolitan markets wield more economic clout than any other nation in the workd and that the Charlotte-Gastonia-Rock Hill area ranked #25 with a GMP of over $110 billion.
• Charlotte area is home to nine corportations on Fortune Magazine’s annual list of the top 500 US companies. These companies include: Bank of America, Duke Energy Corp. Lowe’s Cos, Inc., Nucor Corp., Family Dollar Stores, Goodrich Corp., SPX Corp., Wells Fargo.  
• Charlotte added 5,100 jobs during 2010, placing the region in the top 50 best performing metro areas in the US.
• Charlotte is one of three North Carolina cities recently named among the top 50 “most socially networked” cities in the US, according to Men’s Health Magazine.
• Statistics from the U.S. Bureau of Labor show that salaries in the Charlotte-Gastonia-Concord region rank the seventh highest in the South with an average annual pay of $43,890.
• Charlotte’s population (731,424) grew 35.2% since the 2000 Census based on data released by the U.S. Census Bureau. Mecklenburg County, where Charlotte is located, grew 32.2%  (919,628) during this time period. North Carolina (9.5 million) state population grew by 18.5% since 2000.
• Charlotte has been selected as the host city for the 2012 Democratic National Convention, beating out Cleveland, St Louis, and Minneapolis. It’s expected that this will bring huge visibility to Charlotte, along with new jobs, visitor spending, and business investment.
• Levine Children’s Hospital in Charlotte has been named one of the 50 Best Children’s Hospitals by U.S. News & World Report for its pediatric nephrology program. Levine Children’s is the only hospital in the Charlotte area, and one of only 76 hospitals nationwide, to be recognized in the 2011-12 rankings. Read more: Levine Children’s Hospital honored | Charlotte Business Journal
• Kiplinger.com has named Charlotte among the 10 best cities for college graduates planning to enter the workforce!

If you’ve been thinking about moving to Charlotte contact Carolinas Realty Partners–we can help smooth the transition as well as help you find your dream home!

“Alcohol use during adolescence is pervasive, and science makes clear the effects on young people can be profound.”

 -Steven K. Galson, MD, Former U.S. Surgeon General, 2008 

Wrong.  The bodies and brains of youth are still developing until their early- to mid-20s and alcohol can stunt the brain’s development. Scientific evidence finds that excess alcohol, and binge drinking (5 or more alcoholic drinks at one time for males, 4 for females) in particular, damage parts of the brain and are associated with impaired decision making.

More Facts About Underage Drinking

• What about Our Kids?The 2009 Youth Risk Behavior Survey showed that among High School students in Mecklenburg County:·   33% had at least one drink on one or more days in the past 30 days·   14% had 5 or more drinks of alcohol in a row on one or more days in the past 30 days (binge drinking). The 2008 Youth Drug Survey showed that among Mecklenburg County youth who drink: ·   the average age of first use of alcohol was 12.7 years. ·   the average age of first binge drinking was 14.7 years.

  Youth who start drinking before age 15 are 5 times more likely to develop an alcohol abuse problem than those who wait until 21.   Youth who start drinking before 21 and have a family history of alcohol abuse or alcoholism are at an even greater risk for addiction. 

Yes!  It’s never too early, or too late, to start talking with your kids about abstaining from alcohol until they’re 21. Studies show that it can take parents up to two years to become aware of the alcohol consumption patterns of their children.  Yet parents are the most influential people in the life of their child, and children want clear instruction from parents about alcohol use. 

• Be a good example.  Show your kids that everyone can have fun at holidays, parties and other events without always having to have alcohol.
• Take away temptation.  Lock up your alcohol, take an inventory of how much you have and check to make sure it’s not diluted.   It is a free and easy precaution with huge benefits.
•  Providing a party with alcohol for youth under 21 and taking the car keys away will not prevent addiction.  Taking away the car keys will not prevent physical and sexual abuse and will not prevent the brain from stunting its growth.
• Know the consequences.  It’s never a good idea to serve alcohol to youth.  It’s illegal and can result in criminal penalties including fines and the loss of your driver’s license.

There are many local and national resources that are dedicated to preventing underage drinking and substance abuse.

• Charlotte Mecklenburg Drug Free Coalition: Prevent Underage Drinking Initiative, 704 375-3784 (Ext. 24), www.drugfreecharlotte.org
• Anuvia Prevention and Recovery Center, 704 376-7447, www.anuvia.org
• Substance Abuse Prevention Services, 704-375-DRUG, www.preventionservices.org
• Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, www.samhsa.gov
• National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, www.niaaa.nih.gov
• Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America, www.cadca.org
• Mothers Against Drunk Driving, www.madd.org

• Published by the Charlotte Mecklenburg Drug Free Coalition, March 2011

Happy St Patrick's Day

It’s St. Patrick’s Day today! Even if you’re not Irish, Carolinas Realty Partners are sending you an Irish Blessing. So here it is. It is yours for the rest of the year!

May your blessings outnumber
The Shamrocks that grow,
And may trouble avoid you
Wherever you go!

Forbes has named Charlotte, North Carolina as the 11th best city out of the country’s 25 largest cities for retail shopping! Forbes’ study actually ranked Charlotte ahead of New York City and Los Angeles! Go Charlotte!

Having now lived in Charlotte for 13 years after living in shopping “meccas” like New York City, Paris, London I can attest to how much shopping has improved in the Charlotte metro area. Unlike in the “old” days, you don’t need to leave Charlotte any longer to get a healty dose of retail therapy!

Forbes’ ranking focused on ease, options, and affordability of shopping. Charlotte has 6,225 retail outlets, 21 shopping centers and I’ve been telling relocating clients to Charlotte there’s hardly anything they can’t find locally these days.  Here’s a link to the entire Forbes Study for the best shopping cities.

If you are thinking of moving to the Charlotte and Fort Mill metro areas, contact Carolinas Realty Partners. We’ll be delighted to send you a comprehensive Newcomer’s Package on the area.

The passing of another year gives us time to pause and reflect all that has been and all that will be. 

Carolinas Realty Partners wish you and your loved ones a very happy, prosperous and joyous New Year.

2011 will be a great year to buy real estate–home prices have never been lower and interest rates are at 50 year lows. Call us when you are ready to consider property in the Charlotte metro area, Fort Mill metro area, Waxhaw, Marvin, Matthews, Mint Hill, Weddington.

 To access your copy of the December issue of  “Real Estate CyberTips.”

This month’s special security issue includes the following Tips:

* GET YOUR PAPER GRADED BEFORE YOU TURN IT IN!
* CONVERT YOUR PHOTO TO A CARTOON IN ONE CLICK!
* SEE YOUR RESUME AS HIRING MANAGERS DO!
* SET UP YOUR WEBSITE IN JIFFY – A GOOGLE GIFT!
We hope you enjoy the December edition of  “Real Estate CyberTips”. 

For any real estate questions, don’t hesitate to contact Carolinas Realty Partners in the Charlotte and Fort Mill metro areas.

      It’s that time of year again…. getting your house decorated for the holidays! But what if you are in the process of selling your home? Just how much decorating should you do without “turning off” potential home buyers? Some home sellers are afraid of decorating at all. But if you are still living in your home, while selling it, you should celebrate and enjoy the holiday spirit that comes from decorating your home. Some people actually take their homes off the market during the holiday season. We always recommend to our clients that they keep marketing their homes during the holidays. Here’s why: While there are fewer buyers in the market during the holiday season, those that do look typically are much more serious buyers and many need to make a purchase decision before the end of the year. And a beautifully decorated holiday home is inviting and buyers enjoy looking and often get more excited about making offers.

Here are some great tips on what to do and not to do:

• Don’t Over-Decorate: keep it simple; don’t overwhelm a room with decorations. Simply touches of holiday decor work best. Fireplaces are often a prime selling feature of a home, so don’t overload the decorations and Christmas stockings so people can see the fireplace and appreciate it. Minimize the number of Christmas trees you have in the home and maybe even put up a smaller tree so it doesn’t dominate the room or block windows and light.
• Add Splashes of Holiday Colors: add fresh greenery; add some red accents; bows and ribbons go a long way to dress up candles, wreaths, etc. But you can also use neutrals and add some glitter with silver and gold accents. If you decorate in multiple rooms, stay with the same color theme.
• Set the Holiday Mood: holiday music playing softly in the background; holiday scents (cinammon, pine, cider, vanilla) add to the atmosphere. Research has shown that when there is holiday music playing softly in the background, home buyers were more eager to buy.
• Christmas tree decor: keep it simple; keep it elegant; keep it minimized. If you do have a very large tree, remove some furniture from the room so it looks less crowded.
• Don’t forget curb appeal: but don’t overdo the outdoor lighting. Clear, white lights are the only ones you should use. Don’t forget a pretty wreath for your front door. And don’t forget to add some lights to the deck for evening showings. Battery-powered candles in windows make a wonderful first impression for buyers, if you have window sills that can hold them.
• Remove all the holiday decorations by January 2nd!

Have you discovered WorldofChristmas.net? This site is a treasure-trove of decorating ideas for all budgets. Check it out and remember to keep it simple.

Looking for more ideas and tips? Contact Carolinas Realty Partners–we’d be delighted to help!