Archive for the 'Moving to Charlotte' Category

Jun 01 2011

Charlotte, North Carolina Stays In The News

Charlotte continues to make the news (see our post of May 17th). Most recently we saw the following good news:

  • 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!

No responses yet

May 17 2011

Charlotte, North Carolina In The News! And It’s Good News!

Charlotte has been in the news a lot in recent weeks! Here’s just a sample of just some of the news putting Charlotte into the spotlight as a great place to live:

  • 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!

No responses yet

Jun 28 2010

Tips For Traveling Safely In North Carolina This 4th of July Holiday

Did you know that automobile traffic is expected to increase 17.1% this coming weekend for the 4th of July holidays? Did you know that the National Safety Council has named the 4th of July holiday the “deadliest” due to lots of travel, alcohol, and fireworks?

In North Carolina, state troopers will be on the lookout for the following this week right through the holidays:

  • Speeders. so try to stay within speed limits. Troopers and police will be particularly vigilant for speeders who appear to have been drinking.
  • Texters.  New laws in North Carolina prohibit texting while driving. For your safety and that of others don’t do it! Police will not be kind if they catch you!

There’s also a new traffic law in North Carolina that requires you to move over one lane if you see police, fire, ambulance lights on the side of the road. If you can’t move over one lane, you need to significantly slow down. This law has been in effect in many states, but is relatively new here and lots of drivers are not aware of it. Again, troopers and police have their orders to keep their eyes peeled for violations.

Here are a few tips to keep your travels safe this coming weekend and weekend:

  • Allow extra time for your trip. With all the cars on the road, it makes sense to allow for delays on the roads, rather than driving recklessly and/or speeding to get somewhere on time.
  • Be more vigilant and aware of traffic conditions around you when on the road. Drive responsibly. Use caution in work zones.
  • Be well rested and alert. It can help to make stops to re-energize.
  • Keep equipment in your car for “on-the-road” emergencies.
  • Always buckle up.
  • Don’t drink and drive.
  • Don’t let your gas tak get too low.
  • Clean your windshield and car lights. Don’t forget to turn those lights on if you after the sun sets and if you are driving in bad weather.

If you follow these simple tips, your holiday travel should be a safe and pleasant experience!

For more information about the Charlotte area from Carolinas Realty Partners, click here.

4 responses so far

May 06 2010

What Buyers Look For, Or Look Out For When Purchasing A Home: What Every Seller Needs To Know!

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.

No responses yet

Apr 21 2010

Charlotte Named As One Of Top 10 U.S. Cities To Live In!

RelocateAmerica.com has just released its 13th annual list of “America’s Top 100 Places to Live for 2010.”   Two North Carolina cities made the list this year!

The Queen City–Charlotte–was #7 on the list of the top 10 cities. Raleigh was right behind Charlotte as #8 of the top 10 cities to live in.

Those of us who’ve moved to Charlotte from elsewhere and have made this city our “hometown,” truly do understand why Charlotte keeps making the lists of top places to live!

If you’re looking for more information about Charlotte and why it’s a key destination city, year after year after year, click on these links to find out: Charlotte’s Got A Lot and Discover Charlotte.

No responses yet