Friday, September 07, 2007
FREE NODA Gallery Crawls
The first and third Fridays each month-- visit music and art during extended gallery hours, 3200 block of North Davidson, for details visit noda.org
Thursday, September 06, 2007
August
August was a great for me-- I was able to welcome 5 new families to the Charlotte area. Thanks to all who had a hand in the relocations
I'll be working on the Charlotte August Real Estate numbers this weekend to see how the rest of the community did... it will be interesting to see how the national slowdown is affecting Charlotte.
I'll be working on the Charlotte August Real Estate numbers this weekend to see how the rest of the community did... it will be interesting to see how the national slowdown is affecting Charlotte.
Charlotte Shout
Charlotte Shout, a month long Welcome to Charlotte event, began Wednesday but the real fun starts this weekend with a host of free events- free museums, and the 30th annual Yiasou Greek Festival on East Blvd through Sunday night. Here is the rundown of free museums for Saturday, 9/8:
Discovery Place (from 9am -11am)
Levine Museum of the New South
Charlotte Museum of History
Community School of the Arts
McColl Center for Visual Art
Charlotte Raptor Center (10-12am)
Historic Latta Plantation
Also in Charlotte Shout is the Charlotte Film Festival - kids day Sunday 9/9 -1pm at the Light Factory.
Later in the month there's a Jazz Festival, Art in the Park (very large exhibition of local artists at Freedom Park for a week) and an International day at UNCC. Those are just the highlights, check out full details at the Charlotte Cultural Guide.
A great family day? Start at Discovery Place for 1-2 hours and enjoy the acclaimed hands- on science museum, walk a block or two at most to the Levine Museum of the New South to help understand exactly what is the New South and Charlotte's place in it, and afterwards head over to ImagineOn-another 1-2 blocks and the fantastic technology oriented nationally recognized children's library across from Bobcat stadium. You can budget an hour, but most kids can stay longer. Then, time for some food? Why not head to the Greek Festival on East Blvd--Greek dancers await, great food and of course home made Baklava... if that's too much make Imagine-On another day, it is free all the time and there is easy free parking beneath the building. Our whole family have been to the Greek Festival many times- it is a great party with lots of things going on to keep almost everyone's interest, from kiddy rides to teen dancers, crafts and other fun things to do, each year they try and "out-do the previous year" - we'll be there Saturday night I am sure. Discount tickets are usually available at Harris Teeter.
If you are near Imagine-On you might see them testing the Lynx, the light rail. Next year- maybe later in the month- you will be able to take a train over to Dilworth and walk to the Greek Festival.
See you in Charlotte! terry
Monday, September 03, 2007
Sunday Night Steals And Deals
I know it's late Monday night-- but with kids in town, it being Labor Day- just not a lot of time to write. This week, I am looking at golf course properties, for us, on the course, and I reviewed 4 different categories, all on the golf course: under 350K, under 500k, 500- 800K and ...if price was no object.
In the under 350 category two great courses and communities met head to head with several entries. I chose a listing in Highland Creek over an identically priced Olde Sycamore home because it was a better lot, better view and it's tee location means fewer golf balls raining on unsuspecting folks out back. In addition, its full brick, over 3100 sf, with new floors. I give an edge to Highland Creek, consistently one of Charlotte's most popular communities. It is listed at 349,500, I'd try 333 or so, and see where it goes.
In the 350-500k category I chose a golf course home in the Highland Creek "move-up" neighborhood of Skybrook. This 3900 sf all brick home sits on 1/3 acre, just a short walk to the amenity center. Currently listed at 500k,this home is with a relo company, been on the market a while and needs some updating. At 500k, it's less than its counterparts which have around 3250-3500 sf for the same asking price. Try 475,000, plan on updating the kitchen, and come out ahead.
In the under 800K, the best values moved south with Ballantyne Country Club (BCC) and Providence Country Club (PCC) with two great golf course homes in this price range. Similar in size, I went with the older but slightly larger PCC home because of its lot, its great street, the many updates and a school preference that gives PCC an edge over BCC. This home has great curb appeal, a beautiful porch, newly finished hardwoods and new carpet. Add to it the double master bedrooms and over 4300 sf... quite a choice at the asking of 735, I think you'll have to pay 710 to get it.
In the price is no object category, a Ballantyne Country Club home was a clear winner, with only distant 2nd places. Near the cul-de sac of James Jack, it sit's on a ridge that overlooks 3 golf holes, a pond, and still has room for a free form in-ground pool and play area. Over 8000 sf on 3 floors, state of the art kitchens- bathrooms, media rooms, and a grand entrance make this quite a place. Listed at 2,495,000- I think 2.3 will get it. I know- lets get two!
So that's it for the week- next week I'm looking in town at a couple of condo price points and in Dilworth and Myers Park. As always, I represent buyers, and in the interest of fairness, none of these recommendations are my listings, and as such MLS rules prohibit use of pictures. E mail me for more information at Terry (at) TerryMcDonaldRE.com. My recommendations are based on square foot and asking price, community amenities and my knowledge of the area-- your opinion would likely vary, and further investigation would be required. See you next week!
In the under 350 category two great courses and communities met head to head with several entries. I chose a listing in Highland Creek over an identically priced Olde Sycamore home because it was a better lot, better view and it's tee location means fewer golf balls raining on unsuspecting folks out back. In addition, its full brick, over 3100 sf, with new floors. I give an edge to Highland Creek, consistently one of Charlotte's most popular communities. It is listed at 349,500, I'd try 333 or so, and see where it goes.
In the 350-500k category I chose a golf course home in the Highland Creek "move-up" neighborhood of Skybrook. This 3900 sf all brick home sits on 1/3 acre, just a short walk to the amenity center. Currently listed at 500k,this home is with a relo company, been on the market a while and needs some updating. At 500k, it's less than its counterparts which have around 3250-3500 sf for the same asking price. Try 475,000, plan on updating the kitchen, and come out ahead.
In the under 800K, the best values moved south with Ballantyne Country Club (BCC) and Providence Country Club (PCC) with two great golf course homes in this price range. Similar in size, I went with the older but slightly larger PCC home because of its lot, its great street, the many updates and a school preference that gives PCC an edge over BCC. This home has great curb appeal, a beautiful porch, newly finished hardwoods and new carpet. Add to it the double master bedrooms and over 4300 sf... quite a choice at the asking of 735, I think you'll have to pay 710 to get it.
In the price is no object category, a Ballantyne Country Club home was a clear winner, with only distant 2nd places. Near the cul-de sac of James Jack, it sit's on a ridge that overlooks 3 golf holes, a pond, and still has room for a free form in-ground pool and play area. Over 8000 sf on 3 floors, state of the art kitchens- bathrooms, media rooms, and a grand entrance make this quite a place. Listed at 2,495,000- I think 2.3 will get it. I know- lets get two!
So that's it for the week- next week I'm looking in town at a couple of condo price points and in Dilworth and Myers Park. As always, I represent buyers, and in the interest of fairness, none of these recommendations are my listings, and as such MLS rules prohibit use of pictures. E mail me for more information at Terry (at) TerryMcDonaldRE.com. My recommendations are based on square foot and asking price, community amenities and my knowledge of the area-- your opinion would likely vary, and further investigation would be required. See you next week!
White Water Blast!
I took the kids, a couple of "boy-girl friends" and off we went for our 5:00 adventure at the US National White Water Center. The sun was getting low, the temperature about 85 degrees, I enjoyed the look on my son Andrew's face- as I had watched Bobby, Amy and Judy's before him-- the look of awe. You really can't describe this place until you have seen it, and even then words and pictures don't do it justice. There was a gentle breeze and a good crowd filled the waters and viewing decks. We went through the training- I was concerned that the "newbies" didn't get the full training, since we were veterans it was cut a little short-- little did I know I'd have the ride of my life. Surfing in "Biscuits and Gravy" was a great way to work the water and our guide knew how to get us there. Body surfing through the rough stuff was yet to come.
I've decided the only thing that would have made it more fun was if I'd spent a bit more time in the boat-- this just wasn't my day. The first may have been the best, falling in slow motion at one of the first gates on the big run in front of most of the spectators. I may have been sitting too far out, but it really didn't matter as there are no exits, or eddy's for a long way, an no matter what the reason, I wasn't getting back in for a while.
Here I am catching a breath before I rolled and tumbled again- --feet first almost the whole way, down the chute and thought it can't last long-- and soon enough I was standing on the side in the big lake, the boat out ahead. Exhausted, scared a bit, and banged up more.
I've thought about it a lot and come up with no good answers. That was the first of three trips in, two quick dips on the other side, our momentum shifted rapidly, the boat went one way and I went another... once in Biscuits and Gravy, once just below, and by then I'd almost had enough. I insisted on another run through the big stuff, we made it perfectly without incident, not even close to leaving the boat and that was that
It's left me tired, bruised and banged up, but none the worse for wear. I'll tighten up the core muscles to give me just a bit more pull, I'll sit a little closer in on the boat edge, and I'm going again in a few weeks. It is just too much fun and too much a challenge to let go.
I've decided the only thing that would have made it more fun was if I'd spent a bit more time in the boat-- this just wasn't my day. The first may have been the best, falling in slow motion at one of the first gates on the big run in front of most of the spectators. I may have been sitting too far out, but it really didn't matter as there are no exits, or eddy's for a long way, an no matter what the reason, I wasn't getting back in for a while.
Here I am catching a breath before I rolled and tumbled again- --feet first almost the whole way, down the chute and thought it can't last long-- and soon enough I was standing on the side in the big lake, the boat out ahead. Exhausted, scared a bit, and banged up more. I've thought about it a lot and come up with no good answers. That was the first of three trips in, two quick dips on the other side, our momentum shifted rapidly, the boat went one way and I went another... once in Biscuits and Gravy, once just below, and by then I'd almost had enough. I insisted on another run through the big stuff, we made it perfectly without incident, not even close to leaving the boat and that was that
It's left me tired, bruised and banged up, but none the worse for wear. I'll tighten up the core muscles to give me just a bit more pull, I'll sit a little closer in on the boat edge, and I'm going again in a few weeks. It is just too much fun and too much a challenge to let go.
Friday, August 31, 2007
Experimenting with You Tube
For those of you who have seen my slide shows, these pics may be familiar-- but if not, enjoy the video, our first fun with You Tube.
So what do you think? I think its the future of the internet.
So what do you think? I think its the future of the internet.
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