The Lake Norman Yankee
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Just Listed in The Peninsula!
This is an immaculate and pristine home in the Players Ridge section of the Peninsula. It has a private courtyard and Trexx deck with a rear entry garage. Hardwood floors throughout the main living area and a newly remodeled kitchen complete with granite and stainless steel appliances make for a spectacular interior. And a large formal living and dining room open up this beautiful floor plan. The master suite is on the main floor with private entry to the back yard. A large bonus room upstairs with wetbar and surround sound is perfect for entertaining. Also upstairs are spacious secondary bedrooms.
Great Home in South Park Area
I have recently listed a beautiful home in the Southpark area of Charlotte. And if you know anything about Charlotte, this is a prime real estate location. Close to upscale dining, shopping, great schools (public and private), an easy commute to uptown, you name it- it's there! The address is 3722 Sulkirk Road in the Beverly Woods subdivision.
This home is offered at $349,900. Contact me to schedule a personal tour or for more information.
Updating The Peninsula
One of the best known and best loved neighborhoods on Lake Norman is The Peninsula in Cornelius. The Peninsula is one of the first luxury neighborhoods developed by Crescent Communities. With over 11 miles of shoreline on Lake Norman, it is no wonder this beautiful neighborhood is still one of the best loved in the area. And the amenities are unsurpassed. It boasts an 18 hole championship golf course, tennis, 2 swimming pools and a fitness center. The Peninsula Club and the Peninsula Yacht Club offer exquisite cuisine and atmosphere. (Please contact them for membership details.) 
When I show homes in the Peninsula, the most common feedback is that the homes need updating. Since many of these homes were built in the early to mid-nineties to the present, the need for some cosmetic improvements in paramount to pleasing buyers and getting them sold. Homes that have not been updated are just getting passed by for homes that are.
Let's define updated.... Granite counters, stainless appliances, get rid of the big ?eyeball? lights, nix the wallpaper, out with the brass, in with the rubbed bronze and satin nickel finishes and fixtures, refinish cabinets. I know it sounds like a lot, but much of it is "elbow grease". Taking down wallpaper and those balloon window treatments in shades of teal and peach go a long way! But let's get realistic, in this economy many sellers can't do it all. So here are a few quick tips by price point. If you really have no budget to update then you need to do it yourself by stripping dated wallpaper and neutralizing paint. It is a must! For those of you with some financial wiggle room, remember this - kitchens and baths sell houses!!! Focus on having the cabinets refinished and adding granite counter tops. If you can spring for new stainless steel appliances (if necessary), go for it! Don't do an all-out remodel unless you are planning to stay for a while.
Of the 20 homes that have sold in the last 6 months, the common thread is updated kitchens and Master bathrooms OR a low price reflecting the amount someone would spend to update. There are 77 homes currently on the market ranging in price from $389,900 to $4,499,000
Lake Norman Market Update
Here's a snapshot of the real estate market around Lake Norman for the month of August. There were 285 active listings on the market with 105 of those being waterfront. 82 homes went under contract in August with 25 of those being waterfront and 79 homes sold of which 20 were waterfront. This is down slightly from the 85 homes that were sold during the month of July, 21 of which were waterfront.
In Huntersville, 129 homes were actively listed ranging in price from $140,000 to $900,000. 71 homes went under contract and 65 homes sold during the month of August with prices ranging from $22,000 to $485,000. Sales were up for Huntersville compared to the 61 homes sold in July.
Cornelius had 72 active listings during the month of August ranging in price from $98,000 to $4,500,000. 28 homes went under contract and 29 sold with prices from $132,000 to $1,400,000. August was down slightly from July with 31 homes sold that month.
Davidson had 42 homes listed in August ranging in price from $202,000 to $1,800,000 and 15 homes went under contract. 25 homes sold in town priced from $115,000 to $693,000. Davidson was up by 10 homes compared with July, when only 15 homes sold.
In Mooresville, 193 homes were actively listed and 77 went under contract. 63 homes sold in August ranging in price from $16,000 to $1,060,000. August was down from July when 95 homes sold in Mooresville.
All data taken from the Carolina Multiple Listing Service.
Plenty to do in September
Now that school has begun, the humidity is dying down and we are settling into our daily schedules, the days can get a bit repetitive. There is plenty to do on the weekends this fall so that we don't get bogged down by boredom! Check out these events in the area that are fun for the whole family.
The Amazing Maize Maze is back! Rural Hill Farm in Huntersville boasts a specatular maze cut through their corn fields. Fun for the whole family as you wind your way through and come out victorious as you find the end! Bring your sunscreen though or your flashlight if you want a little bit of a spooky adventure on some select nights. The maze opens on September 10.
Blues, Brews & BBQ festival happens in Charlotte. If you are a fan of anything listed in the title you are in for a treat! Blues, Brews, & BBQ is a competition and festival that features music, beer samples, and BBQ at its best! It features cooking demonstrations, local and national teams, and $25,000 in prize money. The festival is held from September 11-12.
Denver Days near Lake Norman is sure to be a hit for everyone. There is food, dancing, rides, games and fun for the whole family. This year East Coast Shag is making its way to the west side of Lake Norman as the best beach music bands in the business provide the entertainment! The event takes place September 23-26.
Proposed exit 32 is really 31!
For many of you coming in from "out of town", let me give you a little inside tip on the Lake Norman area. We refer to many towns adjacent to the lake by their exit number on I-77. For example, exits 23 and 25 are Huntersville, 28 is Cornelius, 30 is Davidson and Mooresville has been 33 and 36. Now Mooresville has a new address - exit 32! No wait - that's what we thought it was going to be, it's really exit 31! Yes, exit 31!
The long anticipated exit 32, er, 31 finally opened at the beginning of the month. This interchange offers Lowe's corporate employees an additional entrance to their campus and others another option to enter the quickly growing south end of Mooresville via Langtree Rd. Also, the highly anticipated Langtree at the Lake, an $800 million development slated to have a hotel and conference center, will be directly accessible via exit 31. Langtree President Rick Howard says crews are close to breaking ground on the first portion of the project, which will include office space, an upscale convenience market, a bank and a restaurant.
I am particularly excited about the opening of this exit. Some fantastic homes are located along the lake at this new exit and are now more easily accessible making them more appealing for folks driving into the city.
There's No Place Like Lake Norman
This yankee returned "home" to visit Maine over the last week, and upon my return back to Lake Norman I realized that this is now home to me. Why not make it your home if it isn't already? Prices continue to decrease as inventory increases. Currently there are 585 waterfront homes on the market in the Lake Norman area. 263 in Iredell county (Mooresville, Statesville), 124 in Mecklenburg county (Huntersville, Cornelius), 80 in Lincoln county and 117 in Catawba county and the Catawba River. The choice is yours!! Many manufactured homes are available for you to live in while you build your dream home on the land they come with. Many already have a dock/pier in place for you. In Iredell county, The Point boasts the most waterfront homes available with a whopping 38 for sale. And with it being one of the most prestigious neighborhoods on the lake, what's not to love about calling it home?
Mecklenburg county has some of the best water views on Lake Norman. Being located at the southern portion of the lake, the view of the length of the water feels like looking at heaven. A wonderful neighborhood called Bahia Bay offers wonderful views and splendid lake living. Homeowner dues are only $50 per year with a community boat ramp available. Some homes have been updated while others offer the rustic feel of what we call a "camp" up north for use as a vacation home. If you are looking for that country club lifestyle with your waterfront home in Mecklenburg county, give the Peninsula a try.
Westport is a hidden gem on the lake in Denver, NC (Lincoln county). It is a wonderful blend of new and older homes intertwined through a fantastic golf course. And recently added was the Club at Westport, a beautiful swim, tennis and social facility.
I am happy to be home here at the lake. Are you ready to join me?
Can You Afford Waterfront on Lake Norman?
Yes, it's true, prices are still dropping around the Lake Norman area. I know I'm not the first to say it, but now is the time to buy. Many of you are thinking, "can I really afford to live on the lake if I buy now?" That depends. Do you know the tricks to finding the home of your dreams at a price you can afford? I do. And I'll share them with you!
If you want to live on Lake Norman just so you can enjoy the serenity of looking out at the cool, calm waters, look into a home or homesite that does not allow for a private pier or dock. Why? Many of them are priced like a waterview home or lot and may still have a boat slip included just a short walk away!
As prices continue to decline, many sellers are unable to make the updates necessary to warrant a higher waterfront price. Would you be willing to buy a diamond in the rough? Plan updating for the future, as money allows. Or purchase slightly below your affordability range so you can do those updates right away. And be on the lookout for easy cosmetic updating - ugly wallpaper or garish paint colors - that may cost an out of town seller more money to take care of than they care to spend. These sellers may just reduce their price and all you would need to do is roll up your sleeves and use some elbow grease!
Don't overlook the commonly overlooked towns on the lake! When most people think of Lake Norman they automatically focus on Cornelius, Mooresville and Denver. Well what about Terrell, Troutman and Stanley? Cowans Ford Country Club is beautiful and often forgotten about! Troutman has a new community by Crescent, a luxury neighborhood developer, called Falls Cove.
Go off the beaten path when looking for waterfront. Just because you have to make a few more turns to get to a major shopping or dining destination may mean that the price is lower. Would you mind taking a few more minutes in your car to get to your waterfront back yard each day?
And for those of you that base affordability on interest rates, here are some numbers for you. Todays 30 year fixed rate is at 5.125% for a conforming loan and 6.125% for a jumbo loan. That translates to $5.44 and $6.08 per $1000 of borrowed money respectively.
Local Farmers Markets
Looking for fresh produce? Support your local farmer at some of the farmers markets in the Lake Norman area! Find amazing fruits and veggies, beautiful flowers and some home made goodies, too! It's a great family outing - you'll probably see lots of friends there!
The Davidson Farmers Market is located behind the town hall on Jackson St. every Saturday morning through October.
Huntersville has a Farmers Market each Tuesday and Saturday morning. It is also behind the town hall by the red caboose!
The Lincoln County Farmers Market takes place in Denver for all of you on the west side of the lake.
There are several markets in Mooresville. Newly opened is the Meeting Street Market adjacent to Morrison Plantation and behind Breuster's Ice Cream. It is open every Tuesday at 5pm. The Mooresville Rotary Club Farmers Market takes place each Wednesday and Saturday from 7 - 11am.
Huntersville is number 2!
Congratulations Huntersville! Forbes.com named you the second best place for companies to relocate business and employees to in their article "Americas Best 25 Places to Move"! Forbes rating was based on population (42,901), median income ($90,739) and median home value ($231,400). Some of the other information they used as selection criteria was proximity to a large city and population demographics.
Did you know that many of the towns they chose show that their population has almost twice as many BA degrees or higher than average? Just for comparison purposes, while Huntersville boasts a median household income of $90,739, the national median income is around $50,233 according to the census bureau. And while the median home price of Huntersville is $231,400, the national median home price is around $196,100 according to the National Association of Realtors.
If you are ready to make the leap to Huntersville, there are several amazing neighborhoods to look at. If you like golf and a country club lifestyle, look into Northstone Club or Birkdale Golf Club. For a great neighborhood within walking distance to Huntersville Town Center or other shopping try Vermillion and Birkdale Village, respectively. Want a neighborhood with fantastic family amenities included in the homeowners dues? Try Wynfield, Wynfield Forest or Macaulay, just to name a few.
Don't feel like cooking?
You're in luck! It's Charlotte Restaurant Week!
This is a great opportunity to dine out and try that new place you've been thinking about. 3 courses for $30, who can beat that?! Why not go to T1 Tapas in Birkdale Village where you can listen to your own tunes and search their menu from screens built in to the table. Or for you less tech savvy folks who want an artful atmosphere, give Maddi's Southern Bistro a try. Also located in Birkdale Village, it is attached to Maddi's Gallery and offers great southern food with a twist. Want to leave the lake area (why would you?) and try some Charlotte spots?
Check out a complete list of participants at the Charlotte Restaurant Week website.
My pick for outside the lake is Villa Antonio in Ballantyne!
Lake area keeps changing, getting better!
The Lake Norman area is growing and changing daily. Just take a look at two of the most traveled roads around the lake, Catawba Ave. in Cornelius and Brawley School Rd. in Mooresville. Catawba has been in process for some time now and is slated for completion by the end of August. Brawley School Rd. has recently begun and the completion goal is July 2011. Many local businesses in the area are jumping on the bandwagon and revamping thier shops to keep up with the streets great changes.
Ground has been broken on the Discovery Place Kids project in downtown Huntersville. Coming with it are many new businesses rumored to include an Italian eatery, ice cream shop and dry cleaners.
Check them out on the Discovery Place Kids website.
Home-Family-Lake Norman-Relocating
After living in the Charlotte area for almost 12 years I am proud to call it home. I love the Lake Norman area for all it has to offer; it's beauty, plenty of wonderful activities and a safe place to raise my family. If you are thinking about relocating to the area, let me know. I'll fill you in on the best places around!
