Green up in the Kitchen and Reduce Your Impact on the Environment
July 19, 2010 by Victoria Stankard · Leave a Comment
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, [...]
Alternatives to Foreclosure – A Homeowner’s Worst Nightmare
July 14, 2010 by Victoria Stankard · Leave a Comment
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 [...]
HUD’s 2009 American Housing Survey Results – Charlotte NC Real Estate
July 7, 2010 by Victoria Stankard · Leave a Comment
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 [...]
2010 Homebuyer Tax Credit Deadline Extension Gets Approved!
July 4, 2010 by Victoria Stankard · Leave a Comment
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 Homebuyer Tax Credit deadline. Eligible homebuyers who contracted to buy a home before the end of April and who qualified for [...]
U.S. Real Estate and Construction Industry Trends – Charlotte, NC REALTOR®
June 30, 2010 by Victoria Stankard · 2 Comments
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 [...]
Helpful Tips for Charlotte NC First-time Home Buyers
June 27, 2010 by Victoria Stankard · Leave a Comment
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, [...]
The Final Walk-through on Your New Charlotte NC Home
June 24, 2010 by Victoria Stankard · Leave a Comment
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, [...]
What is an Energy Mortgage?
June 22, 2010 by Victoria Stankard · Leave a Comment
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 [...]
2010 Home Buyer Must-haves, Turn-offs and Deal Breakers According to a Recent Survey
June 20, 2010 by Victoria Stankard · Leave a Comment
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 [...]
Buying Your First Home with the Right Charlotte, NC Real Estate Professional
June 14, 2010 by Victoria Stankard · Leave a Comment
With record-low mortgage rates and so many great deals on homes for sale in Charlotte, NC, it has never been a better time for first-time buyers to take the plunge! Although buying your first home can be very exciting, it can also be very stressful. Not only is it a huge financial commitment, the home buying process itself [...]
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
