If you were thinking of visiting Charlotte NC or Concord NC over the next couple of weeks, I hope you already have your hotel reservations.

Perhaps you're not a NASCAR fan (yet-if you relocate to Charlotte NC or Concord NC, you will be!), so you're not familiar with the hoopla surrounding the Nextel All-Star Race (Saturday night, May 19th) or the Coca-Cola 600 (Sunday, May 27th).

Think it's just another event?  Think again.  There will be an estimated 180,000 people in attendance at the Coca-Cola 600.  You heard me correctly, 180,000!!!  That makes Lowe's Motor Speedway the third largest city in North Carolina for the day.

This means traffic.  Everywhere in and around town-whether or not you're near the track.  If you're near the track (I live in Harrisburg NC which is where Lowe's Motor Speedway is located, so we either become hermits for the weekend or get the heck out of dodge), it's hopeless.  Kinda fun if you enjoy people-watching, though!

This means restaurants and grocery stores and all kinds of shopping throughout the area are overcrowded.

Most importantly, if you're in town for a househunting trip, the hotels are booked. And I mean booked solid-they've been booked in most locations since last year's race (many fans book for subsequent years).  Right now, the closest hotels available to Charlotte NC are about an hour away.

My buyer agent is currently out showing property to some folks who are considering relocating to Charlotte NC.  They are still upset that no hotels were available to them.  And they're mad at us, for not warning them far enough in advance.  Folks, we're delighted to help anyone in their move, and glad to suggest hotels and such.  But unless you tell us you need help with accomodations, we don't know to help.  We also need a little notice about your trip-some buyers will call us two or three days out from their travels, and at that point, there's not a whole lot we can do.  Bear in mind that we're not travel agents, we're Realtors.

Also keep your spirits up-we have two weeks of NASCAR in May and one week in October. It's a huge boost to the local economy, it's loads of fun to attend a race, and all the stress and drama will indeed pass!