Charlotte Homes for Sale
Nina Hollander
(704)779-0813

When you first purchase a house in Charlotte, Waxhaw or Fort Mill, you’re most likely thinking of ways to build a home for you and your family. A big yard means plenty of room for the children to play. A newly renovated kitchen means you can finally throw the types of dinner parties you’ve always wanted. A master suite, well, that’s just icing on the cake. However, when it comes to sell your North Carolina home, it’s important to remember that all those little (and big) changes can also mean big little (and big) changes in your sale price.

While most homeowners should make changes to their houses that suit their lifestyle rather than the eventual sale price of their home five, ten, or even twenty years down the road, there are a few things to keep in mind. After all, if you will someday be selling your Charlotte house, you want to be sure you’re maximizing your profit.

• Repair all the little things – now. Most of the time, homeowners are willing to overlook the little idiosyncrasies like a broken step on the porch or chipping paint on the kitchen cabinets while they live in their house. These small repair needs are a bit like a knee that acts up in the rain or a car that always requires you to turn the key three times to the right before starting; they just become part of the everyday backdrop of your life. However, for someone buying a home in Charlotte, Waxhaw or considering real estate in Fort Mill, these things can become glaring problems. By fixing issues as they arise (rather than waiting until you’re ready to sell your NC home), you not only avoid making major repairs all at once, but you actually get to enjoy the repairs while you live there.
• Know your neighborhood. If you live in one of Charlotte’s family-friendly neighborhoods, chances are things like well-maintained yards, large family rooms, and spacious kitchens will be worth more in the long run. If you live in a Waxhaw condo, you might find that built-in bookshelves and jacuzzi bathtubs are more appropriate. While you don’t have to tailor every change to your eventual sales audience, you can choose to make the types of changes that will translate into the highest returns.
• Don’t ignore the less visible changes. Almost all of the houses for sale in Charlotte go through cosmetic changes before they hit the market. Fresh paint, new kitchen appliances, and good landscaping are fairly common. Less common are things like a new roof, updated plumbing, or even a newly-installed automatic sprinkler system. However, these things show up in a home inspection evaluation, and when you put your trust in a NC real estate agent like Nina Hollander, these types of changes will always get the focus and attention they deserve.

The most important thing you can do to your Charlotte home is enjoy the time you’re going to spend there. However, by keeping its eventual sale at the back of your mind, you’ll be able to get the most out of your life – and your investment.

For more information on how to add value to your home, contact Carolinas Realty Partners. We are here to help!

 The first-time and move-up home buyer tax credits might be gone, but with interest rates at historical lows, it makes more sense than ever to buy a home now. You’ll save thousands!!!  For example, on a $200,000 mortgage at 4.5%, you could save over $43,000 in interest versus a 5.5% loan on a 30 year loan. And your monthly payments are about $122 per month lower at the 4.5% rate.

Another way to look at it… every 1/2% change in interest rates is approximately equal to a 5% change in sales price! Every 1% change in interest rates is equal to a 10% change in sales price. In other words, when interest rates go down by a 1/2%, it’s like buying a house at 5% less. Obviously, the same house “costs” you 5% more with every 1/2% increase in interest rates.

So, with current low, low interest rates, not only do you get to pay less on a monthly mortgage and save money over the life of the loan, you get to buy “more” house than you could afford with higher rates.

If you are planning to buy and planning to do FHA financing, it’s even more critical that you buy now. As of September 7th, FHA’s up-front mortgage insurance and monthly mortgage insurance goes up. Watch this important video: FHA Buyer Tax September 7th to learn more, as very few people have been talking about this issue and September 7th is less than one month away!

With interest rates expected to stay low throughout 2010 (and where they go in 2011 is anyone’s guess right now), it’s the perfect time to think about buying a home. For more information Carolinas Realty Partners are always happy to help.

Lot of people think it’s impossible to buy a home today with low or no money down programs… but there are quite a few programs available to home buyers today in Charlotte and North Carolina, especially for first-time home buyers who have credit scores above 620.

Here’s a list of a few of the loans available  around the country;(and you don’t need to be a first-time buyer for a number of these).

• FHA Loans: require a only a 3.5% downpayment. Lots of mortgage lenders are active in making these types of loans.
• USDA Loans: these are 100% financing. There are income limitations, but if you are buying a home in a USDA-eligible area, these loans are a wonderful source of financing. But not all lenders do these, so shop around.
• VA Loans: these are 100% fiancing. You don’t need to be a first-time buyer for these, but be sure you work with a lender who has experience with VA Loans.
• HUD Homes: there are lots of HUD foreclosure homes available for sale and financing at only $100 down. Contact your realtor for a list of these homes.

Here’s a list of low or no money-down loan programs available specifically in Charlotte and/or North Carolina:

• House Charlotte Loans: 100% financing.
• North Carolina Finance Agency: part of the NC Bond program, these loans requre only $1,000 down.

It’s an awesome time to buy a home! Interest rates are at historic lows and prime borrowers can borrow at less than 5%, including FHA, Va,USDA loans. These rates are not just for conventional 20% down loans. Home prices are still low. This combination of low rates and low home prices rarely comes about. For more information contact Carolinas Realty Partners. We can put you in touch with some top Charlotte-area lenders and help you find that dream home!

Just reduced by over $10,000 and at $82 per square foot, this move-in ready home on a private and fenced cul-de-sac is a fantastic buy! Owners have just installed granite counters in the kitchen and tile floors in all bathrooms and the laundry room, finished the hardwood floors, repainted, updated light fixtures. Plus there’s a new stainless under-mount sink in the kitchen to go with the gorgeous granite counters. Home has a great floor plan with large family room on the main floor plus an oversized bonus room on the second floor, a study, a formal dining room, and a large screened porch. Wonderful community amenities include: pool, tennis, recreation center, playground. Located just minutes from south Charlotte’s prestigious Ballantyne area, but with low South Carolina taxes. This home is eligible for NO-MONEY DOWN USDA financing for qualified buyers!

For more information about this home and other wonderful Charlotte metro area homes visit: www.GreatHomesInCharlotte.com/properties.

1548 Kingdom Way, Fort Mill, South Carolina Price: $199,500.00 Beds: 4.00 Baths: 2 Sq Ft: 2430 Description: Welcome to this move-in ready 4 bedroom/2.5 bath home with lots of curb appeal situated in the center of a private, wooded, and fenced .308 acre cul-de-sac lot. Both front and back yards are lushly la …. View this property >>

Move-in ready 4 bedroom home with oversized bonus room plus study/office and formal dining room situated on a large, private, fenced cul-de-sac. Not to be overlooked is the screened porch, Bose surround sound wiring, hardwood floors. Community features pool, lake, tennis, recreation center. Located in Fort Mill, SC just minutes behind south Charlotte’s trendy Ballantyne area, the home enjoys low property taxes. Minutes from shopping, recreation, golf, tennis, medical facilities, and major local roads. Quick and easy commute to Ballantyne Corporate Park. Home is eligible for NO MONEY DOWN USDA financing for qualified buyers!

1548 Kingdom Way, Fort Mill, South Carolina Price: $210,000.00 Beds: 4.00 Baths: 2 Sq Ft: 2430 Description: Welcome to this move-in ready 4 bedroom/2.5 bath home with lots of curb appeal situated in the center of a private, wooded, and fenced .308 acre cul-de-sac lot. Both front and back yards are lushly la …. View this property >>

What should buyers look for, or look out for when purchasing a home in the Charlotte, Waxhaw, Fort Mill areas of North and South Carolina? This article will help sellers look into some important aspects of selling their home and what potential buyers look out for as well.

The way you live in your house is not the way to sell your house. So, what makes a house a home for sale on the market, and one that soon has a “SOLD” sign out on the front lawn? And what aspects are important to look at because potential buyers will ask the question, “How much work are we going to need to do prior to moving in and beyond?”  The appearance and cleanliness of the home are significant. Always have your home ready to be shown at a moment’s notice with me, your agent, Nina Hollander because this is what buyers are looking for. And a tip- burned out lights need to be replaced; classy lighting and upgraded fixtures can ameliorate the value of a home. Also, buyers said they would be willing to pay more for a home with a renovated kitchen.

Here are some things a buyer will look out for when dealing with the purchase of a home. The buyer will consider the following:

• Exactly what property is included in the sale? Lighting fixtures, drapes or blinds, refrigerators, stoves, washing machines and dryers are often problem areas.
• Is the neighborhood quiet, friendly? Are the homes well kept?
• Are there any development plans that will affect the property?
• The inspection report – are there any substantial problems with the house?
• Real estate taxes – what are the current property taxes, and what impact will your purchase have on the taxes?

Another issue that raises concern regarding buyer appeal is that sellers often mistakenly think that viewing empty properties will give the buyers an accurate sense of the space available. On the contrary, it is more difficult to really judge the size of a room without furniture and other objects as reference points. An empty room even allows buyers to focus on negative details instead of getting a sense of the overall space and the flow of each room to the next. Buyers need to ask themselves the question, “Can I see myself in this home?” Therefore, staging really helps buyers envision themselves in the space.

The idea of “staging” a home to make it look alluring to buyers has become popular during the last decade, as manifested by the proliferation of numerous home staging companies offering advice about how to make the house more attractive to buyers. Check out next’s months article about “Staging a Home.”

When selling your home with me, Nina Hollander as your agent keep, in mind what buyers look for, or look out for before coming to look at your home in the Charlotte, Waxhaw, and  Fort Mill areas of North and South Carolina.  And if you’d like to get an idea of what your home in the Charlotte and Fort Mill areas might be worth in today’s market, click here for a free analysis. If you’d like a one year sales history for your specific community/subdivision, just email me.

The deadline to take advantage of the first-time and repeat/move-up home buyer tax credits is fast approaching. You must have a binding contract signed by midnight, June 30th (that’s tomorrow!) to be eligible for the $8,000 tax credit for first-time buyers or the $6,500 tax credit for repeat buyers. (The one exception are military service members who were on official extended duty outside of the United States for at least 90 days between Jan.1, 2009 and May 1, 2010, who may qualify for a one-year extension.)

I have lots of clients calling me and asking me when we will know about the terms of the extension for this credit and I keep telling them there will be no extension. There is no bill in Congress right now to extend the credit. So if you’ve got a home in mind, don’t delay. Time is really running out!

I’ve previously provided links to information about the credit, but here it is again in case you need a quick refresher: Homebuyer Tax Credit.

Meantime, if you already have a binding contract that will let you take advantage of the tax credit, you have until June 30th, 2010 to close. In this regard, a word to the wise: June 30th falls at month-end when attorney and title and mortgage lenders are typically at their busiest and with all the tax-credit contracts coming up for closing in May and June, they will be even busier this year. All the activities required to close a home take longer to complete in the last week of each month. And by June 30th we also see the start of summer vacations, which reduce staff in legal and banking offices. So try to schedule your closing as much before June 30th as possible to ensure you are closed before this deadline.

Just listed… this move-in ready home pretty as a picture on a private, wooded, fenced .3 acre cul-de-sac just minutes from Charlotte’s trendy Ballantyne area! Home has been freshly painted, hardwood floors refinished, new tile installed in all bathrooms and laundry room, and new designer light fixtures installed! Additional great features include a large screened porch with outdoor speakers, Bose surround sound system in family and bonus rooms. Low, low property taxes under $1,000 per year. Great community amenities including pool, lake, tennis, basketball. Home is eligible for NO MONEY DOWN USDA Financing for qualified buyers and don’t forget these are the last five days you can still qualify for the first-time home buyer tax credit!

1548 Kingdom Way, Fort Mill, South Carolina Price: $210,000.00 Beds: 4 Baths: 2.5 Sq Ft: 2430 Description: Welcome to this move-in ready 4 bedroom/2.5 bath home with lots of curb appeal situated in the center of a private, wooded, and fenced .308 acre cul-de-sac lot. Both front and back yards are lushly la …. View this property >>

Move-in ready home in the charming town of Pineville with four bedrooms and a large bonus room situated on a private, quiet, lushly landscaped cul-de-sac. Home also offers a renovated kitchen with granite, lots of hardwood floors, formal rooms, and a huge deck/patio perfect for outdoor living and entertaining. Excellent schools, close to shopping, fine dining, golf, and an easy commute to Ballantyne, South Park, Uptown, Matthews, and University City. Low homeowner association fees and reasonable property taxes. Eligible for FHA financing and don’t forget the first-time and move-up homebuyer tax credit which expires on April 30th!

14604 Eastgrove Drive, Pineville, North Carolina Price: $259,750.00 Beds: 4 Baths: 2.5 Sq Ft: 2481 Description: Situated on a large, private, cul-de-sac lot is this 4 bedroom/2 ½ bath home with a two-car garage. This home features everything you love in a classic, yet up-to-date home—an open floor …. View this property >>

The first-time and move-up/repeat buyer tax credits are about to run out!  If you want to take advantage of the first-time home buyer $8,000 tax credit or the $6,500 move-up buyer tax credit you’ve got 15 days left to sign a contract. There’s no indication whatsoever that the credit will be extended again by Congress, so if you want to take advantage of historically low interest rates, low home prices, AND get a generous tax credit, the time to do so is NOW! Keep in mind that you do have until June 30th to close on the home. And don’t forget that if you are a move-up/repeat home buyer you do not need to have sold your current home to take advantage of the credit when you contract for a new home.

For more information about the tax credit programs click here. You can also refer to my blog post of February 24th, 2010, which also outlined who is eligible for the tax credit.

It’s a great time to buy a home in the Charlotte metro area… don’t be kicking yourself later in the year when interest rates have gone up and you’ve missed out on the tax credit because you didn’t do something now.