Charlotte Real Estate Voice
Everything you need to know about real estate in Charlotte North Carolina
Buying Foreclosure Properties in Charlotte, NC
According to U.S. World News, "More than a million foreclosed and "distressed" properties are expected to hit the market this year from two-bedroom starter homes to 20-room mansions." Typically, the bank will hire a real estate agent to sell the property and many times for much less than what was owed on it. If you are looking to purchase a foreclosure property in Charlotte, North Carolina, the first thing you need to do is find a qualified real estate agent who knows how navigate the foreclosure acquisition process. That person is Leigh Brown, a professional real estate agent serving the Charlotte metro area. Know the Market Value of ...
Rising Unemployment and Obama’s Anti-Foreclosure Program
Foreclosure filings occur about every 13 seconds and continue to impact property values and slowdown the nation’s recovery from recession. According to a recent report from the Obama administration on the Home Affordable Modification Program (HAMP) and the Home Affordable Refinance Program (HARP), rising unemployment, falling home prices and mortgage resets continue to threaten millions of homeowners with foreclosure. The Treasury Department hopes to prevent as many as 4 million foreclosures through HAMP, however, "there is reason to doubt whether the program will be able to achieve this goal" stated a recent report. It went on to say that "HAMP was not designed to address foreclosures caused by unemployment, which now ...
Why Negotiate a Short Sale Instead of Foreclosure?
For many homeowners in financial distress and behind on their mortgage payments, foreclosure on their home may appear inevitable. The truth is, there are viable options for avoiding foreclosure and the pros of a short sale are definitely worth looking into. Short Sale vs. Foreclosure Here are a few facts about shorts sales you may not be aware of: A homeowner who loses a home to foreclosure is not eligible for a Fannie Mae loan for five years. With a short sale, a homeowner will be eligible for a Fannie Mae mortgage in only 2 years. A real estate investor who allows a property to ...
405 Farm Branch Drive, Fort Mill SC
Don't miss the opportunity to see this exceptionable property in desirable Fort Mill. Comfortably exquisite home - just under 6,000 sf on 1.4 acre. Quiet, wooded privacy on pond. Wonderfully light open floor plan includes master on main with spacious bath and oversized custom closet. Inviting gourmet kitchen adjoins keeping room and breakfast area perfect for entertaining. Separate dining and family rooms, study and office/tech center. Additional 3 bedrooms and 3 1/2 baths - plus even more versatile space which could be easily converted to 2 more bedrooms and/or teen/in-law suite (including private access ...
Custom Estate Homes at Jacob’s Ridge NC
Jacob's Ridge is a prestigious subdivision of fine custom luxury estate homes located in Concord of Northwest Cabarrus County, NC. The luxury homes for sale in the highly sought after neighborhood of Jacob’s Ridge are reminiscent of European-style chateaus and surrounded by unsurpassed natural beauty, rolling hills, streams, meadows and forest. Concord is only a short journey to Charlotte, yet offers home owners a picturesque country setting and quieter lifestyle. The average lot size for luxury homes for sale at Jacob’s Ridge is approximately 2 acres and range from $1 Million to $3 Million in price. Jacob’s Ridge is part of the Cabarrus County School District . Residents of the Jacob's Ridge subdivision ...
Pine Creek Luxury Homes For Sale Kanannapolis NC
Pine Creek is a prestigious, upscale community of fine custom homes located in Kannapolis, North Carolina. Pine Creek is only minutes from Interstate 85, making it an easy commute to downtown Charlotte. The gated community of Pine Creek consists of approximately 75 luxury homes and contains a beautiful lake, meticulous landscaping and walking trails. Builders in Pine Creek include Diamond Homes and Wighman Homes. Home styles include: Old World, Transitional, French Provincial and Tuscan. Luxury homes in Pine Creek range in size from 4800 sq. ft. to 11,000 sq. ft. Home sites include: wooded, open field pond or rolling hills. Lot sizes range from 1 to 2.25 acres. Home prices in Pine ...
Avoiding Preventable Foreclosure – Making Homes Affordable Program
There is government help available for homeowners in financial distress who are having trouble making their monthly mortgage payments. Borrowers that are current on their mortgage (not more than 30-days late on their mortgage payment in the last 12 months), but are having difficulty making their monthly payments on time, or have fallen behind one or more payments may qualify for a Home Affordable Modification or Home Affordable Refinance. The Making Homes Affordable program is part of the Obama administration’s Financial Stability Plan. The goal of Making Homes Affordable is to stabilize our housing market and avoid foreclosures by helping Americans reduce their monthly mortgage ...
Highgate Luxury Custom Home Community, Weddington NC
Highgate is a stunningly beautiful upscale custom home community in Weddington, North Carolina, just south of Charlotte in Union County. If you're desiring the serenity of county life and room to breathe, yet still want to be in striking distance to the big city, Highgate in Weddington, NC is the perfect place to call home. Developed by Harrington-Dowd, one of North Carolina's most renowned and prestigious real estate developers, Highgate is a travel back in time, with its classic architecture, brick exteriors and old world charm. The community is adorned with lamp posts, winding roads, turrets, brick, stone and trees. Highgate Custom Home Builders Custom Luxury home builders in Highgate include: The Dowd ...
FHA’s 90-Day Seasoning Requirement is Temporarily Lifted
HUD announced that it will temporarily suspend the 90-day seasoning requirement (waiting period) for property re-sales financed with FHA loans. The 90-day wait has made it more difficult for FHA borrowers to bid on foreclosures, thus, slowing down the housing recovery. Why the 90-Day Seasoning Requirement was Established The reason why HUD established the 90-day wait in 2003 was to protect FHA’s mortgage insurance program from predatory lending practices and the impacts of investor house flipping. The policy did not apply to properties repossessed by Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac or state/federally chartered financial institutions. A Move in The Direction of Housing Recovery It is hoped that the FHA’s ...
Beware of Foreclosure Scams – Charlotte North Carolina
In these tough economic times, many homeowners are facing possible foreclosure. Consequently, foreclosure rescue scams that target families who have fallen behind on their mortgage payments are on the rise across the nation. Unsuspecting homeowners need to beware of foreclosure scams artists who make false promises to save their homes. Instead, they cause financial damage, heartache and hardship. If you are facing possible foreclosure and are seeking professional assistance, you need to make sure the company offering to help you is legit. You need to know who you are dealing with and what you are paying for. If you are aware ...
The Skinny on Short Sales Charlotte NC
As more and more foreclosure properties flood the market due to the economy, job loss and a decline in home prices, many sellers are looking to short sales as a way to avoid foreclosure themselves. What is a Short Sale? In a short sale transaction, the lender agrees to accept less than what is owed on the mortgage by the current homeowner. Lenders will usually only agree to a short sale if the property owner is many months behind on their mortgage. The lender(s) and the homeowner strike a deal and typically, the difference is forgiven by the lender(s). In some cases, the homeowner ...
Avoid Foreclosure with a Charlotte NC Certified Distressed Property Expert®
A Certified Distressed Property Expert® (CDPE) is a well informed licensed real estate professional who, through comprehensive training and experience, understands the hardships many homeowners are facing in today’s market. A qualified CDPE is able to provide viable options, such as short sales, for homeowners in financial distress. When faced with the emotional devastation of possible foreclosure on your home, it can feel like time is running out, your all alone and your options are limited. A Certified Distressed Property Expert® is there to help you. They will stand by your side during this incredibly difficult time and provide alternative solutions that you may not have considered otherwise, such ...
Quickening the Short Sale Process with Standardization
There has been much caviling in the past few years from homeowners and realtors about inconsistencies and the time it takes to process a short sale. Lack of Short Sale Standardization In response to the situation, the National Association of Realtors® (NAR) created a task force to address the the lack of standardization from one lender and servicer to another. The NAR recommended a more standardized approach to the short sale process with nationally uniform documents, specific time frames and also provides financial incentives for key players, including: Homeowners who successfully complete a short sale under the program receive $1,500 to augment relocation costs Investors get ...
Property Search
Latest Homes For Sale
11040 Preservation Park Drive Charlotte, NC 28214 – House Short Sale!
5BR/5 1/2BA Single-family Home – Preservation Pointe MLS#966491 $799,900 Short Sale! Amazing custom home in desirable Mountain...
6301 Long Pine Drive Charlotte, NC 28227 – House for Sale
3BR/2BA Single-family Home – Hickory Ridge MLS#966601 $99,900 Hurry this nugget will not last long. Updated with all the trendy...
5273 Lippard Lane Harrisburg NC 28075 – House For Sale Foreclosure
7BR/5BA Single-family Foreclosure Home MLS#967407 $115,500 Foreclosure! With a little TLC this hybrid mobile 2-story home boasting...
4457 Greystone Drive Concord, NC 28027 House For Sale
3BR/2.5BA Single-family Home For Sale – MLS#964679 $144,900 All Spruced Up And Ready To Go! Honey stop the car! Let’s go in...
Real Estate News
HUD will Make $189 Million Available for Distressed Neighborhood Revitalization
On Wednesday, August 25th, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development announced plans to make $189 million in funds available for transforming public and assisted housing and revitalizing neighborhoods of concentrated poverty. HUD will fund two revitalization initiatives to make this happen – the Choice Neighborhoods FY 2010 and the HOPE VI FY 2010. HOPE VI Revitalization Initiative The... [Read more...]
Habitat Cabarrus Helping Low-income Families find New Hope in the American Dream
Many low-income families in Cabarrus County have found new hope in the American Dream of homeownership thanks to Habitat Cabarrus, a faith-based, non-profit organization of volunteers, dedicated to eliminating substandard housing. Habitat is based on the conviction that every man, woman and child should have a decent and affordable place to live. Since 1989, Habitat Cabarrus has built more... [Read more...]
Additional Funds Forthcoming for Targeted Foreclosure-Prevention
Approximately 1.4 million mortgages are in serious delinquency and another 1.5 million homeowners are already in foreclosure. In a press release issued by the Department of Housing and Urban Development on August 11th, the Obama administration announced $3 billion in additional funds forthcoming for targeted foreclosure-prevention. Through the Housing Finance Agency (HFA) Innovation Fund... [Read more...]
Don’t Miss the 3rd Annual Charlotte Irish Summer Festival Coming up!
If you have a “touch of the old Irish” in you or you just want to have a really good time, don’t miss out on the 3rd Annual Charlotte Irish Summer Festival coming up this Saturday, August 14th, 2010. There’ll be plenty of entertainment and fun things to do for the entire family, including Irish music and dancing; lots of food and drink; crafts and games (for kids and adults); and much more. ... [Read more...]
Caterpillar Inc. will Add New Jobs to the Charlotte NC Area
Good news on the employment front for the Charlotte area! North Carolina has offered Caterpillar Inc. (“CAT”), the world’s largest manufacturer of construction and mining equipment; diesel and natural gas engines; and industrial gas turbines, $4 million dollars in tax refunds and grants to expand its Sanford, NC plant. The Sanford plant builds tight-turning skid loaders used primarily... [Read more...]
Daimler Trucks North America will Add Jobs to the Charlotte Area
Daimler Trucks North America LLC , a subsidiary of German automaker Daimler, is the largest heavy-duty truck manufacturer in North America as well as a leading producer of medium-duty trucks, specialized commercial vehicles, heavy-duty diesel engines and other components. The company has more than 20,000 employees in dozens of locations throughout North America. Headquartered in Portland Oregon,... [Read more...]
Green up in the Kitchen and Reduce Your Impact on the Environment
A lot of folks are choosing to live a greener, healthier, low-impact lifestyle and a good place to start is in the kitchen, which happens to be one of the biggest energy and resource guzzlers in our home. From our appliances that use electricity and natural gas, the water we use in our dish washer and sink, our refrigerator full of with foods that are not locally-grown to the packaging of the foods... [Read more...]
Alternatives to Foreclosure – A Homeowner’s Worst Nightmare
Across the country bank foreclosures are at an all time high, with approximately 1.4 million mortgages in serious delinquency and another 1.5 million homeowners already in foreclosure. If a homeowner can’t pay the obligations of their mortgage, their property rights are basically stripped away. Foreclosure is a homeowner’s worst nightmare! Foreclosure is the legal process by which a lender... [Read more...]
HUD’s 2009 American Housing Survey Results – Charlotte NC Real Estate
The American Housing Survey (AHS), funded by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau is the largest housing sample survey done in the U.S. The primary focus of the survey is to provide data on the number and characteristics of U.S. housing units as well as information on the people living in those housing units and relate the people... [Read more...]
2010 Homebuyer Tax Credit Deadline Extension Gets Approved!
Good News! President Obama signed off on the Homebuyer Assistance and Improvement Act of 2010 on Friday following a vote of 409-5 by the House and unanimous consent by the Senate to extend the deadline. Eligible homebuyers who contracted to buy a home before the end of April and who qualified for the tax credit now have until Sept. 30th to close the deal. The original deadline was June 30th. “Millions... [Read more...]
U.S. Real Estate and Construction Industry Trends – Charlotte, NC REALTOR®
In early 2010, real estate had shown signs of improvement in some markets in the U.S. and several important trends will shape the real estate industry in the near future. This year, the National Association of Realtors (NAR) estimates that existing home sales in the U.S. will climb to 5.02 million from 4.69 million in 2009 and 4.91 million in 2008, although these numbers are down from 6.48 million... [Read more...]
Helpful Tips for Charlotte NC First-time Home Buyers
If you’re think about getting off the rental treadmill and buying a home in Charlotte, NC, there are a few things you should know. First and foremost, if you can’t commit to staying in the home for at least a few years, now is probably not the best time to buy. In a buyers market like Charlotte, NC and in similar markets across the nation, it’s even a worse proposition. Clean and... [Read more...]
The Final Walk-through on Your New Charlotte NC Home
Congratulations! You have successfully submitted an offer on a Charlotte NC home for sale and it’s been accepted by the seller. On the day you close on your new home, all parties will sign the papers that officially close the deal and ownership will be transferred to you. At that point, the game is over, including all obligations and responsibilities of the seller. That is why it’s so... [Read more...]
What is an Energy Mortgage?
Energy efficiency is at the top of the priority list of today’s home buyer and mortgage lenders across the nation are increasingly using energy mortgages to make homes more affordable. Energy mortgages allow borrowers to finance energy-saving measures as part of their mortgage without paying more than they would for a typical mortgage. Many participating lenders offer additional financial benefits... [Read more...]
2010 Home Buyer Must-haves, Turn-offs and Deal Breakers According to a Recent Survey
In May of 2010, online real estate brokerage firm ZipRealty asked approximately 1000 site registered house hunters what they considered as the most important home features and what the “biggest turn-offs” were. Zip’s survey revealed changes in what respondents consider as high priority compared to a survey done two years ago. A home with energy-efficient, eco-friendly features was... [Read more...]
Leigh Brown, aka The Real Estate Diva, is a native of Concord NC in the Charlotte area. She grew up on a farm at the edge of Cabarrus County, still goes to the same church she grew up in (home of the world famous Mallard Creek Barbecue!), but has become a leader in area real estate through constant learning and continually upgrading technology to better serve buyer and seller clients. Leigh does indeed have a reputation as a barracuda-when it comes to protecting client interests. Her softer side is reserved for her husband and two kids who provide a constant source of joy-and entertainment
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