Terry's Top Crazy Deals in Charlotte Real Estate

Each week we comb the MLS for ten properties that fit the description “very good deal.”  Then with proper representation from your friendly but aggressive buyer agents, like us, we can often turn “very good deal’s” to UNBELIEVABLE  deals on Charlotte Real Estate…  Great deals don’t happen just on luck!

Best Charlotte area Home UNDER $150,000 

This is a wild one, a new 4br/2.5 bath, 2500 sf+   for $149,900.  MLS 972281

Best South Charlotte Home under $250,000

Wendover Hills, 1.47 acres,  bank owned  asking $255,000, 4014 Churchill Rd Charlotte

Best Huntersville Home Under $250,000

I love Huntersville, Skybrook. Semi-private golf, A remarkable 3300 sf, 4br/3ba/bonus  home, with granite, stainless, ground floor guest room, upgrade lighting and more… $244,900  What?  11119 Skytop Dr Huntersville

Best Uptown Charlotte Condominium for Sale- Any price

I looked at several price ranges, and compared cost per sf and condo fees. Several good ones, but…I like the idea of living at the Ratcliffe- 2br/2ba, about 1200 sf, bank owned, $399,900.  435 S Tryon Street 707.

Best Fort Mill Home Under $400,000

I like Fort Mill- it has history, modern subdivisions, very very low taxes, and most of it is an easy commute to Uptown Charlotte.  I also like ranch homes- and ranch homes with finished basements work just fine and this 4br/3.5 ba, over 3500 sf, cul de sac home w/water view- a large pond in back… $399,900  1110 Queen Anne Fort Mill MLS 2042164

Best Union County Home Under $500,000

Marvin, Weddington, Waxhaw, Matthews-  a number of good choices, but this one, over 5000 square feet, 5br/4.5 bath and bonus, cul de sac, Weddington Schools, Asking $517,401. 110 Topsail Ct Matthews mls 2018237

Lake Norman Homes Under $500,000

Cornelius, Mooresville, parts of Huntersville, Denver, and Davidson-  affordable homes and a deeded boatslip- not to mention 4br/3.5 ba about 4000 sf in low tax Lincoln County. MLS 2008404 4691 Sierra View Dr Denver

South Charlotte Union County area Under $800,000

Wellington Woods, over 2 acres, 4 car garage craftsman style with stunning kitchen, terrific pool with auto lid, pool house with outdoor kitchen.  5br/4ba circular drive, $779,000 MLS2027886  6720 Tree Hill Rd Matthews

Lake Norman Area Under $1,500,000

Or Best Waterfront Under $1.5M- In an area where home sales prices typically far exceed tax value it is refreshing to see a short sale well below TV of $1.906M. This  luxury home features over 200 ft of shoreline, built in 2005, 4 br/5.5ba, 2nd master in basement, pier- at $1.4M, it is truly a great house- MLS 2004260 447 Tuskarora Trail

South Charlotte, Union County over $2M

But one in Ballantyne stands out by being practically new, and 37%  below  2011 tax values, plus…  Location, features and broad market appeal.  A cul de sac lot, on the golf course, with a water view short sale has  over 9500 sf on three floors, 5 bedrooms and 6 baths, a terrific saltwater pool- just 4 years old, state of the art throughout. asking price of $2.3M- in a neighborhood that typically sells for 5% +/- of tax value MLS 2046583 12144 James Jack Ln Charlotee Ballantyne
Ten homes, ten great deals. And we would work each one to make them better yet for our buyer. We are buyer agents, ask us to be your Buyer Agent and let us go to work for you. 704-390-6221
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Top Ten Reasons To Vote For Mecklenburg County School Bonds

So lets lay it out here--our schools are heavily overcrowded, and the older schools need repair, these facts are not really in dispute, most of the dispute centers on "who" should get "what" plus a few folks who would like to defund the public schools for a variety of reasons including something that happened way back in 1957. In truth we need about 1.4B in new schools to meet enrollment needs in the next five -seven years. This 516B is just the first installment. So I'd like you to see the whole picture, and get behind the larger 1.4B number.

Do you know that temporary trailers house more than 25,000 students? did you know that 20% of the "temporary classrooms" are more than 30 years old?

Each of us will have our own most important reason, but I think one or more will appeal to you. The reasons divide on two broad fronts: economics and staying true to our American ideals.
See what you think. Not registered? You must register by October 12 to vote.
Oh, and you better grab a cup of coffee, it's a long post.

Top Ten Reasons to VOTE YES NOV 6 for the School Bond

1. It is a compromise, but a fair one.
It is only the first installment towards resolving all the building needs of this large school system. Many very real needs won't be met with this bond-- so some citizens must look beyond their immediate needs, and trust that we will do the next two installments, so that those needs are met and everyone benefits. It is a new day, we have the votes, don't let them divide us.

2.Today's children are tomorrows leaders, citizens or criminals.
It is much cheaper to educate than imprison-- average annual CMS cost per student per year, $5800, Average College Tuition $10,000, average prison inmate cost $24,000 per year. It's the economics!

3. The #1 Reason business give for relocating here-a highly skilled and trained workforce.
Did you know that by 2014, 80% of all factory jobs will require post-secondary education, factory jobs! We want more business in Charlotte, we need more quality schools, note the business council and Chamber of Commerce are 100% behind these bonds. Or we could be like those Northern cities where when kids graduate there are no jobs so they move elsewhere.
It's the economics!

4. Test scores rose 13% in Superintendent Gorman's first year.
Scores rose 13% for students performing at grade level, and he recognizes it's only a start, there is still a long way to go. And there is. Still, a good Return On Investment for one year.

5. It's an investment in the city of Charlotte's future.
The most successful government program ever? The GI Bill that made college education affordable to the Greatest Generation-- Investments in Education are PROVEN, they WORK, we just need to remember our own history. Like to make the state of North Carolina great? Provide great educations for the children- that simple.

6. Pay me now or pay, me later said the old television commercial.
I said this before but it bears repeating: 1/2 of all prison inmates are high school drop outs.

7. Doesn't your child deserve the best you and (we) your community can offer?
Isn't that what parenting is about? Can you imagine any parent feels that different about their kids? Then why is it so difficult to see that everyone in this county (and country) deserves the same? Because it is expensive? Because it is hard? While buildings aren't sufficient for a great education, they are a very necessary part of the education matrix. I don't think its to much to ask, roofs that don't leak, facilities that are safe, science labs in all high schools, music and arts funding and a football stadium. No, Americans can and have overcome harder more expensive things in the past. Every child deserves a quality education, taught by good teachers. That is not too much to demand.

8.It is who we are, a nation committed to all of its citizens. Ben Franklin and Thomas Jefferson knew that to run a democratic republic, the public must be educated, and public education was born. This is no time to turn our back on their wise council.

9.Our children are part of the future of our nation-- and if you believe that this country is great, you have to put your money where your mouth is... and that goes to the federal level as well- a month's spending in Iraq would pay for half the new schools needed across the whole country.

10. Some say the schools are run so poorly that it's throwing good money after bad. This is just wrong- go into the schools and see for yourself. Or, "My child's graduated, or goes to private school, why do should I pay?" Because this country has been dedicated to providing public education since its inception 230 years ago. No, these arguments are selfishness disguised by thin excuses, the real attitude? "I've got mine, who cares about everybody else?" These are not the values that have made this country great, and thankfully they are not close to a majority view here either, just a loud minority.

Only those who think this city's best days are behind her, don't want to invest in Charlotte's future. I believe Charlotte and North Carolina's best days are in the future. And by all means lets keep them accountable, keep them looking for ways to cut costs and be more efficient. Keep the pressure on, but these are capital investments and require the cheapest financing available- give them the funds and tools to do the job. As for me, I'll happily stand with Franklin and Jefferson in the commitment to public education- it is absolute necessity to a functioning democracy.

And as we teach our children the ideals of our founders, we find ourselves recommitting to those same principles ... something else of value.

Let's defeat this BIG Time, 2 or 3 to 1.

VOTE FOR CHARLOTTE'S FUTURE. Vote For The School Bond November 6. Vote FOR the land acquisition. Vote AGAINST transit repeal.

Unbelievably Beautiful!

Or, said another way, this is a day "nice enough to move to Charlotte for"...far more typical of October, we've had two beautiful fall days in mid-September. Yesterday and today the temperature hasn't left the 70's, it is dry, sunny and the sky's are somehow bluer than they get up north- yes I know that is technically not possible, just another fantastic North Carolina day. Here's one of my favorite lake pictures, taken from one of the waterfront lots at the Sanctuary on Lake Wylie, on another gorgeous Carolina day.

The Panthers are 1-0

After the pre-season we had, this is an accomplishment. Great individual performances, plus a great game plan made this a sweet day indeed. I like it when the offense reaches real scoring numbers- today 27 points. 3 touch down passes, just under 200 yards rushing, a complete victory. Quite a game call by the new offensive coordinator. Congrats! Go Jake!

Labor Day Happenings Around Charlotte

What a lineup! What a weekend! Take the family to Matthews Alive--they take over downtown Matthews Friday night through Labor Day Monday for their annual celebration of Matthews, NC. It's a giant family block party, with rides, music, and food. Artists from all over the Carolina come to display their wares. Custom handmade jewelry, pottery, leather works, woodwork- crafts of all shapes and sizes, art from the coast and mountains. Park at Matthews United Methodist Church. We'll be going in our new red toy, hope to see you there!

We've also got a reservation at National White Water Center-- 6 of us will be rafting at 5 on Sunday. You start easy, and learn paddle basics from your guide. After a few runs on the training grounds, you are ready for the class IV rapids out in front of the restaurant. This is a wet roller coaster ride and a workout as you make about 6-8 runs through the course. We'll all come back a little sore, with great stories ready for a beer and dinner.

Next weekend we are off to the Greek Festival on East Blvd--and ALL Charlotte Museums offer free admittance next Saturday- by all means get to the Levine Museum of the New South, the Arts and Crafts Museum, and the excellent Mint Museum of Art.