Charlotte Home Today

4 Bedroom Home for sale in the Inner Beltline of Raleigh NC - Lacy, Daniels & Broughton Schools

Dol Seck — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 12:17:00 GMT

Inner Belt Line of Raleigh home has 4 bedrooms and 5 baths. Located within 2 miles of downtown Raleigh, this exquisite home is in the neighborhood of Budleigh and represents what is best about Raleigh - style, tradition and charm. Architecturally designed in 1958, the rooms of this home offer attractive outdoor views. The kitchen is spectacular and offers state of the art stainless Viking stove and Sub-Zero Fridge. The kitchen design is perfect for entertaining - extra large granite island, easy...(read more)

Long Term Care Issues

Dol Seck — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 03:09:00 GMT

Have you thought much about how you want to live when you can no longer, or don't want to maintain your home? How far down the road have you thought about? 65? 75? 90? It’s great that we have a 401(k), IRA’s and other retirement options.

Let's face it, during our income producing years we count on money coming in from employment (this includes the self-employed) to cover our monthly obligations and our future retirement. When retirement comes, we now have to figure out how to put all the pieces of the puzzle together - how much to pull from retirement accounts, health care options, resuming those activities you put off until you had more time etc. But there is more. What about long term when the time comes that alternative housing or assistance is required. Long-term care isn't just an insurance policy. Long-term care occurs when you can't do the normal day-to-day events on your own and help needs to be hired. If that happens, then what? Now is the time to start educating yourself about what options are available and put a plan together. Too many people do nothing and their adult children, or other family members or friends have to search out options in a short window of time. You may find you don't like what they select.

What should you do? Start reading and learning about options. Here is a good place to start:

http://www.longtermcarelink.net/

We can accomplish anything we put our mind and heart to - watch The Daffodil Principle

Dol Seck — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 17:01:00 GMT

I received this today and almost didn't open it. Like everyone I am hit with stuff in my email what feels like every moment of everyday. Something inside said open the file and I am glad I did. What a nice reminder that we can accomplish anything, no matter how impossible it may feel if we work at it little by little.

Hope you enjoy this as much as I did/do.

Thanksgiving -- a time for family and friends -- a time to give thanks

Dol Seck — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 20:34:00 GMT

Have a safe and Happy Thanksgiving and celebrate all the beauty that life brings this holiday season

Portrait Homes, one of Charlotte’s largest townhome builders, has lost its funding, stopped construction on projects

Dol Seck — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 12:56:00 GMT

Hopefully the executive staff at Portrait Homes can locate new financing or renegotiate new terms with their lender. We are seeing this happen more and more with builders (custom and production builders) as banks become more and more conservative in their lending standards. The challenge for builders is fulfilling the terms of the lending contract given the downturn in the real estate and financial markets. I will keep everyone updated as their circumstances improve.

Townhome developer Portrait Homes takes hit

Published: October 27, 2008

Portrait Homes, one of Charlotte’s largest townhome builders, has lost its funding, stopped construction on projects and laid off most of its staff.

To continue reading, go to: http://charlotte.bizjournals.com/charlotte/stories/2008/10/27/story1.html?b=1225080000^1721636&surround=etf

Smart Money Tips on What to do in a Down Market

Dol Seck — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 01:05:00 GMT

Here is an excellent article from Smart Money on things we all can do to help weather the financial storm that we have found ourselves.

Smart Money OCTOBER 14, 2008

Every day, a shocking new number makes headlines.

The tally for last week's government rescue plan: $700 billion. The number of job cuts in September: an eye-popping 159,000. And on Thursday, the magic number was 9,000 -- or, more precisely, below 9,000 -- where the Dow Jones Industrial Average found itself for the first time in four years.

For consumers, these numbers indicate one thing: Now's the time to do everything you can to protect your finances. A couple weeks ago, we offered 5 Tips for Navigating Troubled Markets. Here are four additional smart money moves to make now:

Mortgages

In this market, prepaying your mortgage may not be a bad idea. Generally speaking, mortgage debt is cheap debt – especially after you factor in the tax break. But prepaying can still give you an after-tax return that's a lot better than what most folks have earned in the stock market this year.

Here's how to think about it: By adding an extra $50 per month on a $200,000, 30-year fixed-rate loan financed at 6%, you could whack nearly $28,300 in interest payments from the mortgage. How much of a return is that? For someone in the 28% federal tax bracket, prepaying a mortgage with a 6% interest rate provides a 4.4% after-tax rate of return. (The rate is lower than the mortgage rate because of the tax break on the mortgage interest.) If you think you could invest that same money in the market and earn more than 4.4% after taxes, then you're probably better off investing.

Create a Budget

"Watch every dime coming into your house, because tomorrow it could be a nickel," warns Catherine Williams, vice president of financial literacy for Money Management International, which oversees nonprofit credit counseling agencies. There's no better way to do this than to stick to a budget.

The basic premise of a budget is, of course, simple: Make sure expenses don't exceed income. (Click here for a few easy budget cuts.) But you also need to find a way to squeeze out some savings, says Donald Ray Haas, a certified financial planner and president of Haas Financial Services in Birmingham, Mich. "Until you accept that, you're in trouble."

Check your budget breakdown against these rough guidelines from Money Management International's Consumer Credit Counseling Services:

Housing (20-35%)
Food (15-30%)
Transportation (6-20%)
Medical (2-8%)
Insurance (4-6%)
Utilities (4-7%)
Clothing (3-10%)
Personal Care (2-4%)
Misc. Items (1-4%)
Personal Debt (20% maximum)
Savings (10% minimum)
* Source: Money Management International

Convert to a Roth

The down markets may decimate your retirement savings, but they also provide a rare opportunity: To convert your traditional IRA into a Roth IRA with a reduced tax hit. When you convert a traditional IRA to a Roth, you owe ordinary income tax on every dollar you roll over (unless you've made nondeductible contributions to the account). Fewer dollars in your account spells a smaller tax bill. And if you covert the account only to see your balance dip further, you can always redo the conversion, so you aren't paying taxes on gains that are now gone.

A big perk of Roth IRAs is that withdrawals taken during retirement are completely tax free. That's a big gift from the government. Typically, Roth IRAs make the most sense for younger folks since they have a bigger window to benefit from the compounding growth and they're likely to be in the same tax bracket or higher during retirement. But given the budget deficit and the idea that it will result in higher taxes across the board, the Roth could benefit most people regardless of age.

The one catch with a Roth conversion is that your adjusted gross income must be $100,000 or less. Given the number of layoffs and eliminated bonuses this year, some folks who've previously been ineligible may qualify this year. If you're still making more than that amount, the $100,000 limit will be eliminated starting in 2010.

Eliminate Debt

Sound investing is one way to shore up your personal balance sheet. But if today's stock market has you spooked, you can get a nearly unbeatable return by focusing on paying off debts instead.

High-Interest Credit Cards

Attack high-interest-rate credit cards with a vengeance by seeking out the cheapest rates you can find, says Scott Bilker, founder of DebtSmart.com. Look to credit unions, which tend to offer more favorable rates than big-name banks. Or call your card issuer and tell them you've received better rate offers. Lenders would rather lose a little money by lowering your rate than have you move your entire balance and future business to another company.

If you already have credit cards with low rates of between 0% and 1.9%, don't be as aggressive, says Bilker. In fact, you'll earn more by stashing your cash in a high-yield online savings account. (HSBC Direct has a 3.25% interest rate and ING Direct and Emigrant Direct both offer 3% rates.)

Boost Your Credit Score

These days, having a low credit score is a surefire way to get rejected for a major loan or mortgage. Even if you gain approval, you'll still end up paying through the nose in interest.

According to Fair Isaac Corporation, which calculates the credit score used most by lenders, an individual whose score is between 760 and 850 (FICO scores range from 300 to 850) can land a 30-year mortgage with a fixed rate of 5.7%, while someone with a score between 620 and 659 will receive a 7% rate. Below 620, many lenders won't even make an offer, says Gerri Detweiler, credit advisor for Credit.com.

How to boost your score? A chunk of your credit score is based on having a low "credit utilization rate," which basically means don't have maxed out cards. Ideally, consumers shouldn't use more than 30% of a credit card's available credit line, says fee-only certified financial planner Sheryl Garrett. (One sneaky way to decrease your utilization rate is to ask your lender to increase your credit line – just make sure you don't pile on more debt.)

Late payments will also crush your score. If you've missed a payment or two call up your lender and ask (beg) that the late payments be removed from your record. The lender is under no obligation to work with you, but, hey, it doesn't hurt to ask.

Seven Ways to Help Sell Your Home

Dol Seck — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 12:33:00 GMT

Seven Ways to Help Sell Your Home

In a slower real estate market, sellers cannot afford to ignore any part of the marketing process. Price, preparation, and presentation must be excellent in order to attract a buyer.

The price must be set realistically. Preparation should include fresh paint, de-cluttering, updated floor materials, and no glaring repair needs. And, presentation should be meticulous, with drapes open, lights on, lawn mowed, and interior cleaned.

Showing your home is the final step in winning the heart of a buyer. When a buyer calls for a showing, he or she already has an interest in your neighborhood and may have viewed your home on line. They are willing to invest time to visit your home. It is worth the effort to make each showing one that will be remembered. Here are some questions to consider:

1. Is your home easy to show?

If possible, schedule showings in the same way that is used by a majority of the homes in your area. This may be by special appointment or by a lockbox system. Remember that this will be the buyer's first contact with your home, and it should set a positive tone. Make the buyer and agent feel welcome. Be as flexible on timing as possible. The buyer may be viewing many homes over a large area.

To allow flexibility, you could wait until they arrive, and then slip out the back door. You may get a last minute call for a showing. If this happens, start by thanking the agent for the interest, and discuss how to work with the timing.

I can recall instances in which the seller came to the door in a hostile way and demanded to know why we were 30 minutes late. Or, the buyers sensed that they were inconveniencing the seller or their agent by asking to see the house. Many people have a strong reluctance to intrude or bother other people. Remember that the decision to buy a home is emotional response. Don't turn people off before they come in the door.

2. Does your home have emotional appeal?

Buyers use all of their senses to experience your home. The buyer is there to make a big decision, and they will be comparison shopping. Their job is to eliminate homes and reduce the list of choices. A dark interior, unpleasant smell, barking dog, or uncomfortable temperature can take the home off the list.

I see this happen all the time. The simple experience of being in the home during the showing is a key indicator of whether the buyer will enjoy living in the home later. Consider the builder's model home. It very light and fashionably decorated, with soft music and pleasant scents. This sends a message to the buyer that the home has been prepared for him, and he is welcome to enter. People are often sold when they walk in.

Some tips: Take off some screens, open blinds, increase bulb sizes, play some light music, and make sure the temperature is perfect. Be careful that your scents are designer quality. Don't use plug in scents that remind people of a public bathroom. Create a good mood with natural and lamp light. Use pillows, framed photographs, books, fresh towels and flowers throughout the home. Avoid having the TV on. Be very careful about cat litter boxes or other pet odors.

3. Are you staged and ready?

Sellers often ask if it would be best to show their home furnished or vacant. Of course this depends on how the home is furnished. If your home is dirty, messy, and poorly decorated, you need to stop and assess the situation. It may be possible to move out, and then stage the home with a few pieces of furniture and accessories. There are staging services that can help with this. Generally, some furniture will help to soften the interior and show it in an optimum way. However, I prefer a vacant house over a disaster.

It is important to keep the buyer's focus on the property, and not on your family. Remove most of your personal collections, family photos, political statements or artistic expressions of yourself. These distract from the important mission that brought the buyer into your home.

The buyer must establish a sense of trust of your home. Messiness and confusion sends a deeper message that the home is not well cared for. It speaks volumes about how maintenance has been handled. You only have a few minutes to communicate that your home is the right one. Make sure the visit to your home is a pleasurable experience that keeps the buyer's focus where it needs to be.

4. What would your buyer like to know?

If you were buying this home what would you want to know? Are there parks nearby that you could photograph? Does the school bus stop nearby? Anticipate your buyer's questions and answer them. New homeowners are choosing a home, a community, and a lifestyle that your home offers.

Some ideas: Survey; floor plan; local parks; shopping; school data; or neighborhood newsletter.

5. What is the plan for kids and pets?

Children of all ages need to be coached on the showing process. Children should know that an advance call from an agent is required for a showing. This is very important if your children will be home alone. Figure out a plan for them to follow, depending on their age. For example, they may open the door for the agent and buyer, and then go next door during the showing. Discuss what to do if an unexpected person comes to the door asking to see the home. They must not allow entry to anyone who has not made prior arrangements through you.

If you have pet, consider a couple of points. One, pets may be fearful of strangers entering the house. Two, some people are afraid of, or allergic to, animals, and are not happy to encounter them. There will be a variety of people entering your home, including children. If you are unsure of how your pets will react to strangers, be sure to take them out during showings.

I recall a client who panicked at the sight of a small puppy in a home. I found that hard to understand until I realized that I reacted the same way to a ferret that was loose in a house that I was showing. I was ready to jump on the table.

If you have pets at home during showings, communicate this to the agent. Leave written notes in the house on where your pet is located and other special instructions. (Dog in laundry room; Cat must stay indoors)

6. Is your home safe for visitors?

Remember that showing your home is going to interfere with your day to day life. You will need to prepare for some inconvenience and intrusion into your privacy. Consider the safety of your visitors. There may be seniors as well as small children walking around your home.

Is there a statue or tall lamp that could easily fall if touched? Are there wires at ground level that could trip someone? Are there rugs that tend to slide? Are stair railings safe for small children? Could a visitor be bitten by a bird or other animal? Are the stairs free of small toys? Are traffic patterns open between rooms?

Also consider your own security and privacy. Put away valuable possessions. Do not leave money, guns, jewelry, x rated magazines or any personal items in public view. Do not leave breakable objects where they could be accidentally bumped. Move your medicines to a secure location. Do not leave bleach or poisons in reach of children. Do not leave candles burning when you leave the house.

7. Should you stick around?

Generally, it is not a good idea to be present for the showing. Remember that this is not a social visit. Most buyers will feel that they are intruding on your privacy if you are in the house. They may shorten the time spent in your home. Or, they may not be able to discuss your home as freely as they might have. If it is difficult to leave, you may sit outside or take a short walk.

Sometimes sellers try to offer certain information, and they inadvertently turn the buyer off. It is best not to make assumptions about what the buyer wants. Keep in mind that buyers are there to make a big decision. They need some time to experience your home on several levels. If it passes the first test, there will be time to communicate how many water heaters you have and other facts about the house. I recall one showing in which the sellers actually grilled the buyer on his reaction to every room, and then argued about it. It was a relief to leave.

Showing your home is a very important step in getting it sold. Potential buyers should be treated with utmost care and respect. You only have a short time to gain their trust and interest in your home. Every showing is important. It is said that you only need one buyer, but you don't know which one.

Broker Agent News: By: Roselind Hejl

Single Story For Sale in Coventry Woods

Dol Seck — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 06:00:00 GMT

One floor spacious living

• 1,538 sq. ft., 2 bath, 3 bdrm single story "Master on the Main" - MLS® $140,000 - Outstanding Value

Coventry Woods, Charlotte - Lovingly cared for well-built brick ranch located in a quiet neighborhood. Mature willow oaks and maple trees form an impressive canopy as drive through the meandering streets in the neighborhood.

Beautiful hardwoods throughout are hiding under carpet – lift the carpet for a peak and you will be delighted.

1300 Cedarwood offers bright rooms throughout thanks to the architect for designing so many wonderful windows. The living room windows feel like they go from the ceiling to the floor. This home offers the perfect location – just 10 min to uptown & 15 min to Southpark.

MLS: 807383

If you wish to print this information and come back later, you can also go to: www.1300Cedarwood.com.

Thank you for viewing this home.

Property information

2 Story For Sale in Willowmere

Dol Seck — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 06:00:00 GMT

This home is a shining star!

• 2,532 sq. ft., 3 bath, 5 bdrm 2 story "Can you use a 5th bedroom?" - MLS® $279,900 - IMMACULET

Willowmere, Charlotte - Master Bedroom on the main floor for privacy and access to the main living area. Total of 5 Bedrooms and 2.5 baths - there is plenty of room for a home office and playroom/media center.

4012 Manor House is impeccable. You will feel like you are walking into a newly built home. It is a spacious and gracious home with windows running the width of the home. The outside view is devine --green and lush. If you are looking for more than just a home -- stop right here. You will not want to miss this opportunity!

Willowmere is one of the few neighborhoods that offer a clubhouse, swimming center, 4 tennis courts, 2 basketball courts, playgrounds and walking areas. The social committee offers year round events that appeal to all ages. Empty nester to young professionals - Willowmere has it all.

Property information

Single Story For Sale in Sedgefield

Dol Seck — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 06:00:00 GMT

Seller Extremely Motivated

• 1 bath, 2 bdrm single story - MLS® $224,000 - Lowest in neighborhood

Sedgefield, Charlotte - Amazing style. Fabulous charm! Adorable brick ranch sits on a quiet street in popular Sedgefield. Each room is freshly painted in warm attractive colors. Outstanding hardwoods. Kitchen completely updated. Large fenced-in backyard with beautiful crepe myrtle trees. Enjoy the friendly neighborhood close to uptown. Plenty of room for possible expansion. Close to lightrail. Great Condo Alternative!

Seller says sell! This updated home is the lowest priced home in the neighborhood and is priced for a quick sale. Call for more information or to schedule a showing.

Property information