Real Estate Information

If you're seeking a new home with all the upgrades, on a premium lot, with a three-car garage...and you really want a great school district plus low property taxes, here it is!  This gorgeous home for sale in Concord NC in the Glen Grove community shows like a model. 

Built by Standard Pacific Homes (formerly known as Westfield Homes), the quality and design are top notch.  The main level features formal space, a keeping room, two fireplaces, a guest suite (which also makes a lovely office suite), and a gourmet kitchen with cabinet and counter space to spare!  Upstairs you'll find a large loft area (great for a playroom, office, homeschool room), and three spacious bedrooms. 

Over 3000 heated square feet PLUS a three-car garage, asking price $295,000. 

For more information, to schedule a private showing, or to talk with Leigh Brown about marketing YOUR home for sale in Concord NC, please visit our website or call today at 866.440.7136.  We're glad to help!

Are you a true team player?

Are you ready to hit the ground running?

Do you value learning and growing?

Do you want to become a profitable real estate professional?

Do you want to show houses and write contracts?

If the answer to these questions is YES, please call or email Leigh Brown today for a confidential interview.   I have two openings for buyer agents immediately in the greater Charlotte NC area.  I prefer those with two years or less of full time real estate experience, folks who are hungry for knowledge and willing to learn from me. 

Compensation packages will vary per individual, all inquiries are held confidential.

Want to be home for the holidays?  This gorgeous full brick home is ready for you!  The owners hate to leave it-as you will note from the beautiful Pottery Barn perfect color scheme!

Conveniently situated in the Yates Meadows subdivision in Concord NC, you will be minutes from everything.  Concord Mills Mall, Lowe's Motor Speedway, uptown Charlotte, downtown Concord, Northeast Medical Center...it's all within 20 minutes or less!  Not to mention a fantastic public school system and those lovely low Cabarrus County property taxes.

This home is only two years old and it's definitely turnkey!  The level, corner lot is fully fenced and features a custom storage shed plus a dog lot. (We know the yard needs some work, due to the current drought situation in the Charlotte NC area, the sellers haven't been able to do much.  However, they will offer a sod allowance and will have it installed prior to closing.)

Enjoy the main level's new hardwood floors...the fireplace which is woodburning plus piped for gas logs....the beautiful sunroom....the master suite with lovely ceramic tile...the oversized laundry area.  Upstairs, you'll enjoy two large bedrooms plus a huge bonus room (which could be bedroom 4) plus a loft area PLUS tons of attic storage!  This house has it all!

$300,000

Please call or email today for your private showing.  We're always glad to help!

I feel fairly confident that everyone who works in real estate-or heck, in any field where your livelihood depends on contact with the public-goes through spurts where it seems everything results in a story.  And I don't mean a lovely anecdote-I mean a DRAMA that is just too much to keep to myself.  The kind of stuff that would make for some REALLY entertaining blog posts, would probably get me a zillion comments and wind up viral.

But dadgummit, I can't write about ANY of it!

See, I've been blogging for a while now, and thanks to my friend Linda Davis and her recommendation of Visistat, I know that I have a lovely group of core readers.  And since I've been fortunate enough to earn clients from my humble blogging efforts, I figure they're still reading the entries as I post them.

If I were to write about the folks who have chosen me, or worse yet, the folks who are considering purchasing the listings I represent, I could wind up in hot water.  Not only with the 'powers that be' but with the parties to the transactions.  See, that buyer might get hurt if he/she reads what my seller thinks about that last ridiculous counteroffer or repair request.  And that seller might really be upset to know that we DID notice the unflushed toilet.

So if you wonder why I vanish from time to time, it's because I'm rather busy and unfortunately, I can't share all the details of what I do for my clients.  Every day I make myself a note for that book I'll surely write in my golden years.  But until then, I guess I'll just keep reminding my clients that they really DO value my experience (even if they don't know the particulars).

So you live the youth hockey lifestyle?  Travel teams...practices...lessons...on and on!  There's a great place for you in the Charlotte NC area-conveniently located in Indian Trail NC (a town on the southeastern edge of Charlottte).  Extreme Ice Center opened last year, much to the delight of hockey enthusiasts!  I know, you think the South is not the place for hockey.  But our influx of residents from outside the region has changed that factor dramatically.

Extreme Ice boasts two regulation NHL-size rinks plus a smaller rink (known as ‘the Puddle').  There's a fully stocked and staffed pro shop, an arcade for those bored siblings, locker rooms, a full fitness center, snack bar, onsite massage therapists (something for mom and dad!), and soon there will also be a full restaurant!

Extreme Ice is the official practice facility of the Charlotte Checkers (that's our local minor league team, if you're not familiar) and also the home of the Charlotte Youth Hockey League.  Leagues are offered for everyone, from age 4 learning to play to the over-35 crowd.   (If you just want to learn to skate for exercise and enjoyment, classes are available for everyone from 3-99 years old!) 

The facility is located in Indian Trail NC, a quickly growing town just south and east of Charlotte NC.  Indian Trail is in Union County-a highly desirable area with highly regarded public schools and very low property taxes-minutes from everything!

For more information about relocating to Charlotte NC and about the specific needs of YOUR family, please Leigh Brown Real Estate Charlotte NCor call Leigh Brown anytime.  I'm glad to help!

Turnberry Homes is pulling out of the Charlotte NC market.  A slowdown in sales in other markets is the cited culprit.  Turnberry Homes currently has 6 communities in the Charlotte area.  Vermillion, in Huntersville NC.  Chatsworth, in Weddington NC.  Cureton, in Waxhaw NC.  Fox Ridge, in Indian Land SC.  Stratford, in Weddington NC.  Winding Creek, in Weddington NC.

There are some fantastic deals to be had on their remaining inventory.  Contracts for to-be-built homes will be accepted through November 15th.  Turnberry has always been known for their style and quality of construction.  It's definitely a sad day for the Charlotte NC market to lose a good, reputable builder.

For more information about these homes, or about new construction in and around Charlotte NC, email or call Leigh Brown.  I'm always glad to help.

We have a small, local casualty of the drama in the housing market. Merritt Homes is ceasing operations in their two communities in the Charlotte NC area. 

One community is Moss Creek, which is a master-planned community in Concord NC.  Any builders or investors out there who might have an interest in completing these three homes, please contact me as soon as possible

The other community is Kellswater Bridge, a fiber-optic connected community in Kannapolis NC.  There are two homes here that are in need of completion.  Again, if you're a builder or investor, these will be great opportunities.

Merritt's homes are built in the craftsman style, and have been starting at the $170,000 price point.

For more information on new construction in or around Charlotte NC, email or call Leigh Brown.  I'm always glad to help!

Real estate is cyclical, I think that any of us who have been around the block a few times realize that.  I'm fortunate enough to work in the very boring and oh-so-unsexy market in and around Charlotte NC.  We never bubbled, heck, we didn't even hiccup!  Which is great-it means that we're not experiencing the turmoil of so many other markets.

I have a pretty well-balanced business. I work with folks who want to invest in properties in Charlotte NC, both single family and multi-family. I work with first time buyers.  I work with move-up buyers.  I work with downsizing buyers.  I work with half-backs. I work with estate sales.   Hmmm....I really am available cradle to grave... And of course, I work with the sellers on the other sides of each kind of transaction (as evidenced by the fact that I've represented everything from a $15,000 piece of dirt to homes well over the $1mm mark-no price range snobbery here!).

But I digress.

Our database is full of buyers, many of whom are understandably nervous about making a purchase decision currently.  They're watching the silly liberal news media hawking fear, they're hearing about declining prices, they're hearing about rate cuts (and totally misunderstanding what it means to them), they're hearing about builders offering crazy incentives.  And it paralyzes the folks who are very emotional about the place they call home.

Investors are a different breed.  They're not prone to this kind of paralysis (analysis paralysis maybe, but that's a topic for another time!).  Rather, investors are seeking strong fundamentals.  Like positive in-migration, low unemployment, new job growth, increasing prices, low rental vacancy rates, low cost of living, etc.

Charlotte NC and our surrounding towns have all of the above.  Take into account that the interest rate environment is also very favorable to investors as well as folks who want a primary residence, and it's a great time to buy.  I mean, everyone with the inclination should be looking into investing right now, when you can do a no-doc loan with 10% down at 6.5% (I'm not a lender, now, I got this information from one of my trusted folks).  Sheesh!  That's a very nice arbitrage situation.

Now let's take the overall picture into account.  If investors are moving their money here, seeing a very positive opportunity, then why are primary residence folks waiting?  If you wait, prices will continue to move upward.  Interest rates have held steady for months now-and that may not last forever. 

And remember a very true fact about purchasing real estate-for whatever purpose-in 10 years or 20 years, you will be glad that you made the leap at this time.  Buy low, sell high, yes? 

As always, if you have questions about real estate in or around Charlotte NC, how to invest in real estate, how to purchase a home, how to sell that house, just call or email Leigh Brown.  I'm always glad to help!

Put on your best walking shoes and grab that rolling shopping cart-it's time for the Southern Christmas Show once more!

If you've never been, you're really missing out on a great chance to get into the Christmas spirit.  There's a showcase of designer Christmas trees, live music from local groups, vendors of every shape and size (are you ready for your year's supply of Merkt's????)  (My personal advice is to hit the show either when it opens or between 1-3p on weekdays.  You can avoid a lot of stroller traffic if you get there during naptimes.)

The Southern Christmas Show is located at the Charlotte Merchandise Mart, which is located just east of downtown/uptown Charlotte off Independence Blvd (Highway 74).  There's lots of available parking, just remember that they want $6 for it!

 Here are the details:

Admission :
Adults:
$8 at the door
$7 in advance
$6.50 at your local Harris Teeter with a VIC card

Groups:
$6.50 for groups of 20 or more (in advance only)

Youth:
$3 (ages 6-12)
Children under 6: Free with paying adult

Parking (at the Charlotte Merchandise Mart):
$6 all day for cars
Buses Free

Wheelchairs:
available on a first come first serve basis. Cost is $1 and must leave a valid driver's license or ID.

Hours :
Daily: 10 am to 9 pm
Sundays, Monday and Tuesday: 10 am to 6 pm

Preview Night
November 7, 2007
5:30 pm - 9:30 pm
Adults: $17 (at the door), $15 (in advance only)
Youth (6-12): $3.00, Children 6 and under: free

Yep, a listing I can gladly see in the hands of another agent!  There were red flags all along, but dadgummit, the competitive urge does take over!

I received an email and telephone call from a listing prospect.  She located me online ('You're all over Google and Yahoo!'), read my blog ('the whole thing!' 'all 300+ articles?' 'yes, the entire blog!').  (*Red flag #1)  As we chatted, she indicated that she had already interviewed 15 agents (*Red flag #2), but she was still searching.

She had been listed previously with a 'we do nothing for less' broker, with poor results. (*Red flag #3).  The house needed to be on the market as soon as possible-could I come out today? (*Red flag #4).

(What did I do?  Of course, I rearranged my schedule and went out that afternoon to see it-after reminding her that I would not be fully prepared not having had enough time to put together a full presentation.  I couldn't help myself-the competitive urge takes over and I wanted to WIN the listing!)

I forgot the best part-she said that I didn't need to do a market analysis-she'd already seen 15 of them and knew the value of the house!  (this statement still makes me smile!).

We talked about technology.  It's one of the things I bring to the table for anyone who's trying to sell a house in or around Charlotte NC.  My listings show up in many places other agents don't even acknowledge.  The professional photography.  The cutting edge virtual tour.  The follow up and communication (you know, that's actually old school).

And the fact that I can not predict when it will sell, or what it will bring, but that I CAN sell it.

I had only met with the wife, the husband was out of town on business (MY mistake-I try hard to only meet with all decision-makers, but in this instance I didn't have much option).  She indicated that I needed to talk to him, it would be his decision.  He was supposed to call me that evening.

The call didn't come in until 9p EST on a Friday evening.  That's too late for me to answer, and honestly, that's too late for anyone to expect a Realtor to answer. (*Red flag #5)

I returned his call the following morning. We played phone tag and finally caught up at about 1p EST on Saturday.  We chatted for a while, he definitely was prepared for the interview and asked many in-depth questions. (I DO appreciate clients who have researched and are prepared!!).  He indicated that they were torn between two agents and would let me know who was chosen.

The call came in at 445P EST on Saturday that they had selected me. I was already at dinner with my family (I have two small kids, so we eat early so as not to disturb folks who might want a calmer dinner experience.)  We got home, got the kids in bed, and at 830P, I received an email that I was no longer chosen, since I had not immediately returned their call.  That they required and expected faster communication. (*Red flag #6)

I wished them the best of luck-and I do-and went on about my business.

See?  I'm fortunate in this life that I lead.  I do not have to work with clients who refuse to acknowledge that I too have a family and priorities.  I do NOT have to work 24 hours a day and be accessible via phone non-stop.  (Especially when it was a last minute beg for a listing appointment and I had already told them that my calendar was rather booked.)

I can only imagine how miserable it would have been to deal with these folks during the process.  My team works hard to ensure that each client is treated with care and that each transaction is watched during the process.  But by that same token, we expect that our clients will reciprocate that respect.  I can do a much better job for the clients who have entrusted their homes to me, when I am rested and able to fully focus on real estate.  The 70 hours that I put in each week should be sufficient.