Saturday, October 31, 2009

Charlotte NC and Sports

[http://www.minthillrealty.com]
Like most American’s, the citizens of Charlotte are huge sports fans. Professional sports are one of Charlotte's most popular forms of entertainment--and certainly a deal-maker for many newcomers. From stock car racing to football, Charlotte has a full buffet for every family.

Carolina Panthers
Playing Uptown in the Bank of America Stadium Charlotte’s hometown NFL team is surging in popularity and respect. The stadium is beautiful and new and there isn't a bad seat in the place. You haven't enjoyed football, until you have watched the Panthers under the beautiful Carolina blue skies.

Charlotte Bobcats

Charlotte's new NBA team plays from a gorgeous state-of-the-art arena located Uptown, but this under-dog team needs a few good seasons and continued fan growth and strong support of current residents and newcomers alike.

Charlotte Knights
A minor-league baseball team with a stadium in Fort Mill, South Carolina, (the next exit south of Carowinds on 77). The Knights play many home games in the summer, and families from Charlotte, and the South Carolina suburbs of Tega Cay and Fort Mill can all enjoy this quick drive to experience America's favorite past-time.

Charlotte Checkers
Hockey isn’t just for the Canadians any more. Charlotte’s minor-league team is perhaps the best entertainment value in town thanks to super-inexpensive ticket prices and incredible action-packed games.

Racing
Charlotte is THE center of stock car racing in the USA with several NASCAR teams calling Charlotte home base. Charlotte hosts 3 NASCAR Sprint Cup races a season, including the All-Star Race and the Coca-Cola 600.

Now this is just a smidge of the sporting events and venues that Charlotte has to offer. This is a city of outdoorsmen, sportswomen, rabid fans, frontline cheering, and plenty of DIY fun. No matter what your entertainment interest, sports fans in Charlotte that you will find something for you.

Want more information about the Mint Hill, Matthews and Charlotte area real estate market?
Check out www.minthillrealty.com

Tuesday, October 13, 2009

$8,000 Tax Credit!


Tick-tock-tick-tock-tick-tock…Do you hear that sound? Tick-tock-tick-tock…It’s the sound of time running out! On November 30th, the incredible home buyer’s tax credit of $8,000 will END! If you can take advantage of this opportunity, and haven’t – you absolutely need too! With property values at the most affordable in several decades, and plenty of fantastic property to choose from – you should seriously consider moving into action before the offer expires.

First, let’s explain this credit a bit….

Who is eligible for the tax credit?
-->First-time home-buyers (or buyers who haven’t owned a home in the last 3 years would also qualify as “first-time” buyers)…
-->Buyers who make less than $75,000 for singles or $150,000 for couples. (Higher-income buyers could receive a partial credit.)

The Catch?
-->The buyers must live in the house for 3 years or more, or they will have to pay back the tax refund.
-->The refund amount is $8000 or 10% of the home’s value – whichever one is less.

Extra important – this is not a tax-deduction! It is a tax credit!
Since it is a tax credit, it will show up a tax refund for most people. For example, if you paid $5000 in taxes this year and after doing your taxes found out that the IRS owed you a $500 refund, you would now get $8500 back.

Most importantly - Yes! You have to close by November 30th as the program ends on Dec 1, 2009. They may extend this program but it has not been approved yet by congress to extend it. You can’t trust the boys in Washington to keep this stimulus plan going, so you need to jump onboard with a solid Realtor and move quickly.

While the time-frame sounds really small, a qualified Realtor with a great mortgage team will be able to make this happen to you. Commit the necessary time from your schedule to look at the right properties, and you can find your dream home and take advantage of this amazing financial opportunity.




Want more information about the Mint Hill, Matthews and Charlotte area real estate market?
Check out http://www.minthillrealty.com/

Monday, October 12, 2009

The Economy….It’s getting better!

Consumer confidence is back to its highest level since January 2008, according to a recent University of Michigan survey. The stock market has been up more then down, and our friends at the Federal Reserve have declared that “economic activity has picked up following a severe downturn”

While many of our countrymen are still out of work and suffering from the past years’ terrible economic setbacks, a growing number of businesses and banks are finding that the darkness is almost over and we are getting closer to the dawn.

As consumer confidence grows, and people are spending more money – we will see manufacturing bounce back. With manufacturing jobs, one of the big issues is that inventories are low and must be brought up to higher levels – meaning some industries will see a desperate need for more manpower and employees. Exports are up which is also indicative that our pals in Europe are doing better too.

Along with the fantastic rebate for first-time home-buyers, other government stimulus plans have been helpful as well. The ‘cash for clunkers’ program certainly worked well for portions of the auto industry. All in all, people are starting to make money, spend money, and invest money again.

Consider this the prefect time to make a move- whether it is your first property, a new home, or some investment real estate. There is plenty of great opportunities out there for a savvy buyer, and we can help you find them.

--RICH

Want more information about the Mint Hill, Matthews and Charlotte area real estate market?
Check out www.minthillrealty.com

Sunday, October 11, 2009

Home Ownership vs. Renting

Home ownership or renting a home? It is really the ultimate question. It’s a huge decision as both have benefits and disadvantages, and nobody should make the decision without thinking through all of them very, very carefully. Now, you can call me biased, but I honestly believe that the American dream of home ownership is still the best decision. But I'm not just simply repeating the company line, I have several solid reasons for you to give up that lease arrangement and move into your own home.

When you own a home, you:

-->Set your own rules! Freedom! No landlord to tell you what to do and when to do it! While you might have a home-owners association or condo association to deal with, this is your property – you can paint the walls any color you want! You have the freedom to do what you like in terms of renovating and decorating your home and gardens! If you haven’t been able to have a pet, homeownership will let you have as many critters as you want…(HOA rules permitting!)

-->Have a sense security… This is yours! Nobody can take it for you as long as you make your mortgage and tax payments!

-->Have the greatest investment! They don’t make land anymore, so you own a piece of something rare – that even with market corrections and contractions, will only appreciate in value.

-->Enjoy incredible rebates and deductions! Try writing off your rent – bet your accountant won’t let that happen…

-->Your mortgage payments are sometimes even lower than your rent! While you might face increasing rent payments, you are locked into a mortgage payment that you always know (with a fixed rate, of course!) …And the money isn’t paying off someone else’s mortgage – it is paying off YOURS. You are building equity in your home with each payment!

-->And if you ever need another loan again, you have made an incredible positive mark on your credit rating.

When it really comes down to it you have to make the decision for homeownership when the time is right for you.

Contact me, Rich Ferretti to discuss how you can fulfil your dream of home ownership today! I am here to provide you with as much information and help as possible.


Want more information about the Mint Hill, Matthews and Charlotte area real estate market?
Check out http://www.minthillrealty.com/

Saturday, October 10, 2009

CHARLOTTE: You are WELCOME!

Charlotte!

Charlotte is a huge city, the largest city in the Carolinas with a population of almost 700 thousand residents just within the city limits. Charlotte is the center of finance, industry, technology, and entertainment for the region and one of the unique and beautiful things about Charlotte, North Carolina is its many charming and divergent districts.

Today, we thought we’d do a little tour of our favorite districts & neighborhoods – and give those of you thinking of moving to Charlotte some local flavor.

Uptown. The literal "center of things". Uptown is our "downtown" (but for most of us it is "up") and boasts a pretty significant and beautiful skyline. "Uptown" refers to anything inside the I-277 loop, the heart of Charlotte's government and the home to several Fortune 500 headquarters, museums, nightclubs, restaurants, parks, & theaters. The light-rail goes right from Pineville to Uptown and is not only a great place to work and live, but just a nice place to visit and explore some great restaurants!

NoDa. NoDa, short for North Davidson Street, is also known as the Historic Arts District and is about two miles north of the center city. NoDa was home to large textile mill that closed in the 1970s, sending the district into a sad period of decline. But we didn't let that get us down for long! Artists moved into the neighborhood in the ‘80s, revitalizing and preserving the unique brick mill houses. Now, street level art galleries, restaurants and other shops offer eclectic and marvelous options to visitors and residents. NoDa is a fun place to walk on one of our many and mostly super sunny days in Charlotte!

South End. Previously South End was a mill district located along the railroad tracks, but now the neighborhood is a hip, upscale entertainment/cultural district. The addition of trolley tracks and light rail connecting it to Uptown has helped pull in major development, and future plans are bright for this area. South End is also the most kid friendly place in Charlotte, since the neighborhood features ice cream shops, a trolley museum and plenty of kids-oriented stores.

Myers Park. Its reputation as an "old money" neighborhood is probably much deserved, as Myers Park is famous for its cathedral-esque tree canopy and meandering streets--let me tell you-it is an amazing site to see those BIG old trees! Myers Park features Charlotte's oldest country estates and most expensive homes, making any driving tour of the neighborhood a popular way for tourists to lose a few hours- (and sometimes the roads get tricky around there, which doesn't help if you are trying to get anywhere fast--but it is totally worth all the detouring!)

SouthPark.
An affluent and ritzy district in south-central Charlotte, SouthPark is home to the city's second-largest business district and a FABULOUS mall. SouthPark is also a newer suburb, with most buildings only dating back 40 years. You get the feeling in SouthPark that everything is new--and it is! SouthPark is a clean and quiet mix of office buildings, high-rise condos, hotels and entertainment venues.

University City. A huge 1970s-style suburban enclave that has blossomed around the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, University City is an area in transition. Formerly rural or affluent suburbs; today's University City reflects reflect an influx of minority groups and young families. The area is also home to Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre, a bunch of hotels and retail centers, and many square miles of sprawling shopping centers. The campus area is especially beautiful and if you get a chance to get out and walk--this is a great place to do it!

East Charlotte. East Charlotte is a little ambiguous yet distinctive. It is located at the city's eastern end, and has the largest concentration of immigrants living in a dynamic middle-class area. East Charlotte features plenty of fixer-uppers, incredible investment property, and is a neighborhood gentrifying beautifully. Foodies flock to East Charlotte for the multitude of traditional ethnic food that is plentiful at inexpensive and charming locales.

Now these are just a handful of the many districts in Charlotte. Contact us for more information, or a unique tour of the city. We can find not only the right property, but the right neighborhood for you!
Want more information about the Mint Hill, Matthews and Charlotte area real estate market?
Check out www.minthillrealty.com

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Charlotte North Carolina Real Estate Professional. Visit our site www.RichFerretti.com