Neighborhoods in South Charlotte

Check Out This Charming Colonial in Touchstone

Touchstone is a neighborhood in south Charlotte that is experiencing a rebirth. Touchstone was built in the mid-Eighties and many homes are still owned by the original owners. Now these owners are ready to sell and make room for a new generation. That is the case with our latest listing, this charming full brick, four bedroom colonial.
The owners have taken meticulous care of the house, and have done some really nice updates. The bathrooms have been completely redone, I love the master bath with over-sized shower! The kitchen features granite countertops with a lovely tile backsplash and lots of counter space. Forget the generic subdivisions with their tiny trees and back yards, this home sits on a lovely wooded lot. Everyone in south Charlotte loves the Four Mile Creek Greenway, and Touchstone residents can access it quickly through the neighborhood access. This one won’t be on the market long, check it out!

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Neighborhoods in South Charlotte

Cook’s Kitchen and Basement Hangout Seeking New Owners

Do you like to cook but are frustrated by the small kitchens and electric ranges? Are you seeking a basement entertainment area that includes a bar? Want a neighborhood with a golf and tennis option? Look no farther, your house is ready and waiting!10317 Whitethorn Dr Charlotte-large-020-24-Whitethorn Dr7-1334x1000-72dpi This lovely traditional home is located at 10317 Whitethorn Drive, in the Raintree neighborhood, which offers golf and tennis memberships in a great facility. The membership fee is waived for homeowners but there are monthly fees. Check out this link for more information on the club. 10317 Whitethorn Dr Charlotte-large-015-9-Whitethorn Dr5-1334x1000-72dpi
So many homes in this price range have small kitchens with inexpensive electric ranges. Not this house. The current owners love to cook and have the kitchen to prove it. 10317 Whitethorn Dr Charlotte-large-016-25-Whitethorn Dr8-1334x1000-72dpi After enjoying a wonderful meal, often eaten on the screened porch overlooking the wooded, private backyard, it’s time to welcome the neighbors over to hang out in the basement and jam with the band. Music not your thing? That’s OK, this basement offers many possibilities.10317 Whitethorn Dr Charlotte-large-013-18-Whitethorn Dr22-1334x1000-72dpi The master bath has been redone, and the master bedroom is huge, with a large seating area, or space that could very easily be re-purposed into an enormous master closet by adding a wall. Not that the existing master bedroom closet is small, but you can never have too much closet space! 10317 Whitethorn Dr Charlotte-large-023-27-Whitethorn Dr13-1334x1000-72dpi

Sitting area or new closet, you decide!

Sitting area or new closet, you decide!

10317 Whitethorn Dr Charlotte-large-018-12-Whitethorn Dr3-1334x1000-72dpiIf you are a buyer looking for a great value in South Charlotte, you must check it out. This home has it all! More information is on our Listings page. Contact us if you’d like to see it or want information on the Charlotte real estate market.

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Neighborhoods in South Charlotte

A Very Happy Monday

Not everyone wants to spend part of a Monday in an attorney’s office, but in the real estate world it’s a great day! This week started off with the closing of one of our listings, a wonderful young couple off to pursue their dreams at the beach. Happy romantic couple walking and holding hands on a beach I had helped them find their home in Charlotte less than two years ago, and while they loved their house and neighborhood, a business opportunity at the beach was too enticing to pass up. It would normally be very difficult to sell your home after less than two years to cover the cost of selling, but this couple covered their costs and more. How did they manage that? A lot of sweat equity and some smart renovations.
6319 Willow Run Dr Charlotte-large-012-14-Willow Run4-1334x1000-72dpi Their house had great bones when they bought it, but needed some updating. Vintage 80’s wallpaper covered the walls in many of the rooms. Removing the wallpaper, scraping the popcorn ceilings, and painting took lots of time and elbow grease, but just look at the result. The master bathroom was original 80’s as well, and the new owners wisely decided a renovation was in order. Just look at the result. 6319 Willow Run Dr Charlotte-large-017-17-Willow Run17-1334x1000-72dpi Doing the updating, making a smart bathroom renovation without over-improving, were exactly what this couple needed to do to put themselves in a great position to sell their home in a very short amount of time for a great price. They were also smart enough to hire us to list it, knowing that we use a professional photographer for every listing, offer staging advice, and use multiple methods to market their home. They were under contract in one day with multiple offers. If you are thinking of selling your home contact us to discuss how to get the maximum possible price for your home.

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Neighborhoods in South Charlotte

Qualities of a Great Real Estate Agent for Listing Your Home

The real estate market in Charlotte is extremely hot right now. The median Days on Market for the areas in which we work, the Ballantyne and Arboreteum areas, is 16 days. So why do some homes sit on the market, while their competition is consumed by a feeding frenzy of competing buyers? It all starts with hiring the right real estate agent to list your home.

Choose carefully in selecting a real estate agent to sell your home.

Choose carefully in selecting a real estate agent to sell your home.

What is the best strategy in finding a great listing agent? It’s not necessarily the one with the most listings. A great real estate agent should have their listings under contract somewhere around the median for the price range and location. Ask to see some of the agents listing photos. Do they use a professional photographer on all their listings?
ardrey, charlotte, home

A great photographer is a real estate agents best friend. We use Cal Mitchner of Charlotte Virtual Home Tours


Does the real estate agent know the area? Have they toured the competition? Will they be able to assist you in setting a price that will get you maximum exposure to buyers and reasonable offers? A smart real estate agent does all these things. But the number one quality in a real estate agent is one that will be honest with you about your home and its potential on the market.Blank wood sign with broken red heart Many sellers love their home. It may be their first home that they put a lot of sweat equity into, or where they raised their kids, or where they spent the last days with a departed partner or spouse. While this is generally very emotional for the seller, a potential buyer attaches no sentimental value to your home. Buyers willing to pay top dollar are looking for an updated, move-in ready home. You need a real estate agent who will be honest with you about your home’s potential and what needs to be done to prepare your home for the market. If a real estate agent is only telling you what you want to hear then they are probably not being as honest with you as is necessary to get your home sold for top dollar. Interview agents until you find the one that is honest and willing to put themselves out there for you. We hope that agent is us.

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Neighborhoods in South Charlotte

A Little Slice of Heaven in South Charlotte: 6319 Willow Run Drive

Touchstone home for sale
You wake up to the sound of birds chirping. The sun is just coming over the horizon. It’s a beautiful spring morning. You throw on your sweats, head out down the street and take your morning walk on the scenic Four Mile Creek Greenway. Afterwards you sit outside with your morning coffee on your screened porch overlooking your wooded back yard. 6319 Willow Run Dr Charlotte-MLS_Size-018-22-Willow Run21-1024x768-72dpi Of course the screened porch and large deck aren’t the only things you love about your home, you pretty much love everything about it. The cozy den and kitchen with stainless steel apliances…6319 Willow Run Dr Charlotte-MLS_Size-001-2-Willow Run8-1024x768-72dpi6319 Willow Run Dr Charlotte-MLS_Size-007-11-Willow Run11-1024x768-72dpi The bright and cheerful living and dining rooms perfect for entertaining…6319 Willow Run Dr Charlotte-MLS_Size-012-14-Willow Run4-1024x768-72dpi6319 Willow Run Dr Charlotte-MLS_Size-013-9-Willow Run3-1024x768-72dpi At the end of the day you head up to your large master bedroom with updated bath. 6319 Willow Run Dr Charlotte-MLS_Size-024-23-Willow Run16-1024x768-72dpi6319 Willow Run Dr Charlotte-MLS_Size-017-17-Willow Run17-1024x768-72dpi Want the details? Listed at $295,000 this home is approximately 2057 heated square feet, with 4 bedrooms and 2.5 baths. The fourth bedroom makes a great bonus room as well. Don’t let this one slip away! Contact us today to schedule a showing.

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Neighborhoods in South Charlotte

Winter Golf in Charlotte

Are you a golf nut? One of the great things about living here in Charlotte is the fact that you can golf year round. The grass does go dormant, and there will normally be a little more mud than usual, but it’s rarely too cold for the true golf addict. Temperatures in the 50’s make for ideal conditions to walk some of the longer and more challenging courses. Yesterday I walked Springfield golf course, one of my favorites. It’s a challenging course to play, with lots of carries, side hill lies, well placed bunkers, and difficult greens. You must think about every shot, and it is easy to get in trouble. I love a challenge, and it’s a great place to work on your game! Located just over the border in Fort Mill, SC, Springfield is a beautiful course, even in the winter.

The 17th hole at Springfield is beautiful even in the middle of winter.

The 17th hole at Springfield is beautiful even in the middle of winter.

For those of you looking to live in a golf course community, Springfield offers many options, with prices ranging from the mid-400’s to over a million dollars.

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Neighborhoods in South Charlotte

Our Tuesday Preview : Vintage Creek in Weddington

Kristin and I schedule one day per week to preview properties, both resale homes and new construction. Yesterday we checked out Vintage Creek, a new home community built by Standard Pacific Homes in the town of Weddington, North Carolina. Weddington is a nice little community just south of Charlotte. They have two model homes open and both are quite spectacular.

Kitchen in Vintage Creek  Model

Kitchen in Vintage Creek Model

Their home designer has done a wonderful job, both models are chock full of great ideas! Two very different kitchens, one dark, one white, both spectacular. My iPhone photos aren’t the best, but you get the idea.
Weddington homes

The white kitchen in the Vintage Creek model home

There are so many unique features in the model homes that it’s worth checking out, whether you are thinking of moving, or just want some inspiration for updates in your own home. Just remember, while the onsite agents in the model are very friendly and helpful, they are agents of the seller and working in the seller’s best interest. We highly suggest that you utilize the services of a Realtor® as your buyer’s agent whether you are purchasing a new home or an existing home. (If you don’t already have an agent we’d love to help!)

The tough part of doing all the previews is that Kristin and I want that same look for our own homes, but we love our neighborhoods and don’t want to move. What’s the next best thing? Remodeling your current home! I found a great link on Houzz about remodeling the bathroom, check it out!

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Neighborhoods in South Charlotte

Why Home Sellers in Charlotte will have a Happy New Year!

The perfect backyard of the perfect home.

I spent the first four days of the new year working with out of town buyers to find their perfect home. We toured over fifty homes in those four days, some were a possibility, but nothing worth putting an offer on. As luck would have it, the day after they left the perfect house came on the market, but multiple offers were made and it sold the first day on the market.

Talk to any buyer’s agent and they all have the same lament: there is nothing worth seeing on the market right now, and anything that is well prepared, well priced, and in a good location will go under contract within the first week, particularly in the popular price ranges. Much of what is left at the moment are the short sales, foreclosures, over-priced,  or stale listings.

If you have been wanting to sell your house, but waiting for prices to recover, now is the time. Inventory is very low, so any listing that is clean, updated, and realistically priced will sell. If your home needs updating or has a less than desirable location such as near the freeway or high tension power lines, it will sell, but you have to be realistic about pricing.

The market is hot right now and it’s a great time to take advantage of this mini seller’s market. Once spring rolls around there will be more listings and thus more competition. If the current market trends hold, 2013 will be a very good year to be in real estate.

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Neighborhoods in South Charlotte

Why in the World is the DNC in Charlotte?

Charlotte SkylineFor the past few weeks, many have been wondering how the Democratic National Committee could have picked Charlotte, North Carolina, as their convention site. This week the delegates, media,and all the other visitors will see for themselves all that Charlotte has to offer.

Our center city- known as Uptown by the locals, downtown to most visitors, this area sparkles with shiny new office towers, great performing arts venues, many museums( including the Betchler Museum of Modern Art, Mint Museum and Museum of the New South) and restaurants. The Carolina Panthers play uptown in Bank of America staduim. The NBA Bobcats play in Time Warner arena.

Trees- Charlotte has taken great steps to protect the tree canopy. There are many beautiful tree-lined streets in the neighborhoods surrounding center city Charlotte. These neighborhoods, Eastover, Myers Park, Dilworth, First Ward, Wesley Heights, Southend, Elizabeth, and Plaza Midwood feature many great homes built in the early to mid 20th century. There are many great restaurants and coffee shops within walking distance. Another trendy spot near uptown Charlotte is NoDa. This artsy community has fun shops and places to eat, including Cabo Fish Taco that was featured on the Food Network.

Venture south and you will find the area of Charlotte known as Southpark. The biggest landmark in Southpark is the Southpark mall. It may seem crazy to have a mall as the centerpiece, but Southpark is THE place for shopping in Charlotte. Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus, Belk, Vineyard Vines, Hermes,Lilly Pulitzer, Tiffany &Co, all can be found at Southpark Mall. The mall isn’t the only thing in Southpark, there are many offices and wonderful neighborhoods like Foxcroft, Mountainbrook, and Barclay Downs.

South of Southpark is the Ballantyne area, the towns of Pineville, Matthews, and Mint Hill. Ballantyne is the newest area of south Charlotte. The area is home to the 535 acre Ballantyne Corporate Park, which includes multiple office buildings, a golf course, and the Ballantyne Hotel & Lodge, which is the lodging of choice for the White House staff and the president during his stay here in Charlotte. Like to golf? Live on the course in the Ballantyne Country Club, Providence Country Club, Raintree, Longview or Firethorne neighborhoods. Ballantyne is home to Ardrey Kell High School, the #1 high school in the Charlotte Mecklenburg School system as ranked by Newsweek Magazine.

Want recreation? Aside from the numerous public and privite golf courses and tennis courts, Charlotte boasts many parks and greenways. There are three large lakes nearly, including Lake Norman. A great way to spend an afternoon is at the US National Whitewater Center. You can find all levels of rapids, kayak on the Catawba River, zip-line, hike or do the ropes course.

Charlotte has so many great places to live, things to do, but the best thing about Charlotte is the people! Charlotte offers true Southern hospitality, but also has adopted the many cultures and traditions of all those that have moved here from outside the South. Most of the Charlotte residents aren’t Charlotte natives, but instead of mistrust and dislike, we celebrate our differences and find ways to incorporate them into the New South city of Charlotte.

 

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Neighborhoods in South Charlotte

What’s So Special About Ardrey?

Drive down Wade Ardrey Road in the Ballantyne area of south Charlotte and you will come upon the Ardrey neighborhood on what used to be the Ardrey family farm. Ardrey is not your typical Charlotte neighborhood with brick homes and back yards. Instead, Ardrey looks and lives like a small quaint southern town. Many of the home styles and colors remind one of Charleston, SC. Each home is unique in color and detail.

So it looks pretty, why live there? One big reason- the front porches. Every Ardrey home has a covered front porch. They vary in size, but they are all big enough to sit out and enjoy a cool drink on a warm day. Take a stroll on a nice summer evening and you will hear laughter and conversation as your neighbors relax at the end of the day. Need more reasons? How about the 53 acres of open space, the many neighborhood parks, the pool, the clubhouse and workout room, the friendly people.

Want more specifics? All Ardrey homes feature an open floor plan, master down, hardwoods on the main floor, tile baths, heavy moldings throughout the downstairs, front porches and screened porches. Homes are energy efficient and feature Hardiplank (cement board) siding and other durable products to keep maintenance to a minimum. Many Ardrey homes are alley homes, while some do have a small backyard.

See for yourself why Ardrey is so special. Cruise through the neighborhood and see why so many love their Ardrey neighborhood!

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