North & South Carolina Real Estate

Charlotte Area House Prices Still Strong (April 30, 2008)

2008-05-06T14:29:00.000-07:00

As noted by the Case-Shiller periodic review of nationwide house prices, Charlotte is the only city showing gains of 1.5% through February. Of course, Charlotte was lagging in terms of the peak of house prices being experienced in other parts of the country, as such, this gain may not necessarily hold true for too long; however, with the economic stimulus packages in the works, and a downward trend in interest rates, there is greater likelihood that the housing market may pick up, later in 2008.

For more details, click here.

Home Prices Expected to Continue Falling (Feb 27, 2008)

2008-02-28T10:53:00.001-08:00

Clearly the downward pricing pressure continues to exert its influence in the Charlotte area as well. Although Charlotte is not as badly affected as other parts of the country, it also faces some challenges. This always presents an opportunity for buyers and creates what is callled a Buyers Market.

More details here

Charlotte also affected by Housing Trends (Jan 30, 2008)

2008-01-30T07:42:00.001-08:00

Although Charlotte bucked the trend for quite a while, ultimately it has too succumbed to the housing malaise gripping the nation. While the situation is difficult for sellers, it is a great time for buyers to be on the lookout for great deals. There is a lot of real estate activity going on in Charlotte and now is the time to take advantage of great bargains.

Read more on the story

North Carolina is 6th Fastest Growing State (Dec 28, 2007)

2007-12-28T13:02:00.000-08:00

North Carolina is attracting a lot of newcomers from other states and as the 6th fastest growing state in the country, this brings a lot of positives especially for the Charlotte region. This trend will continue to make the local economy strong.

For more details, click here.

Charlotte Leads Nationwide Home Price Increases (Dec 26, 2007)

2007-12-26T10:37:00.000-08:00

According to the 20-city S&P/Case-Shiller index that tracks year-over-year changes, Charlotte defies the downward price trends among major metro areas. Charlotte lead the pack of 20-cities and posted a 4% increase in home prices, in stark contrast to a drop of more than 10% for cities like Detroit, Las Vegas, Miami and San Diego.

For the Case-Shiller report, click here.
Charlotte Observer coverage, click here.

Update on 20 Key Charlotte Projects (Dec 23, 2007)

2007-12-23T10:10:00.000-08:00

If you are curious about what's going on with some of Charlotte's high profile projects, such as when the Trolley will start, the status of the Baseball stadium, etc., you can get an update here.

Status Update

Senate Passes Mortgage Relief Bill (Dec 15, 2007)

2007-12-15T13:58:00.000-08:00

With a vote of 93-1, the Senate overwhelmingly approved a Bill that will provide relief to homeowners facing sharp increases in rates in 2008. By refinancing into FHA-backed loans with more clearer terms, homeowners will at least get some temporary relief.

For more details, click on this link.

North Carolina Pushing for Written Disclosure of Agent Bonus (Dec 13, 2007)

2007-12-13T18:12:00.001-08:00

The NC Real Estate Commission is taking steps that would require Agents to provide a written disclosure of bonuses they may receive on real estate transactions. This is certainly a welcome rule, since it does not really impact agents with ethics and morality. Real Estate agents typically strive to forge long term relationships with their clients and any agent with a sense of responsibility would advise his/her client of getting a bonus for a particular transaction. Agents who care for their clients and hold their interest above their own should not have any concerns about the new proposed rule. For the full story, please click here

Using Reverse Mortgages for Retirement Income (Dec 9, 2007)

2007-12-09T06:06:00.000-08:00

Reverse mortgages are gaining popularity for homeowners (especially seniors) who have equity buildup in their houses. These types of mortgages essentially provide a means of accessing that excess equity by 'adding' to the existing mortgage, and letting the lending bank subsequently take ownership of the house after the homeowners have passed away. Obviously some important considerations should be borne in mind before going the Reverse Mortgage route.

Here is an article on how these Reverse Mortgages work.

Presidential Candidates and their positions on Real Estate (Nov 29, 2007)

2007-11-29T07:02:00.000-08:00

Given the current state of the real estate markets, it is very important for all of us to know how OUR preferred presidential candidate stacks up. The whole economy is on the brink of a recession and unless a presidential candidate has a strong, clearcut policy for reviving our real estate markets, Americans' future could be at stake.

Find out here what your presidential candidate stands for.

Charlotte Rising - Queen City keeps defying downward real estate trends (Nov 28, 2007)

2007-11-28T06:47:00.000-08:00

Despite the ongoing spate of news on the negative trends nationwide in housing, few cities are still defying those trends and continue to beat their own paths. Clearly the real estate market is not where it was a couple of years ago, however, any positive news is welcome news for both home buyers and home sellers.

A home is not an investment - it is a place to live and reside. As such, purchasing decisions need to be based on personal needs, income and other factors, not general housing trends. A downturn in housing today, does not mean that the real estate market will stay down forever. If Americans have generally made one smart financial decision - it would be the purchase of a home above all things, which has been the saving grace for many. Unfortunately, the excesses of the real estate market were exacerbated by the cycle of increasing valuations, resulting in greater expectations for the 'equity' buildup.

Any home buyer looking to buy should set more conservative expectations and expect values to stabilize and then gradually appreciate over the coming years. Further, there may be exceptional properties available now at significant discounts, which may not last forever. Charlotte continues to be an attractive city for relocation, and with economic boom, property values are bound to stay positive.

These articles published in the Charlotte Observer speak for Charlotte's positive trends.

Where the Charlotte Region is Headed
Charlotte Bucks Housing Trend

Linville Falls Mountain Club & Preserve (Nov 27, 2007)

2007-11-27T08:08:00.000-08:00

PREMIER MOUNTAIN CLUB
PRE-DEVELOPMENT PRICING

The real estate market in the NC mountains is still one of the hottest in the country. Second home buyers continue to look for their Carolina getaway, and Linville Falls has everything they are looking for:

Proximity - The closest mountain club to Charlotte & 5 minutes off the Blue Ridge Parkway
Year-round golf
Exclusivity – Less than 400 home-sites
Fine Dining - Great restaurants on-site
Best mountain climate
Outdoor Adventure - Multitude of outdoor activities

LIMITED TIME OFFER

Southgroup has the ability to offer exclusive pre-development offers for clients that sign a contract by December 31, 2007.

12 months payments paid
Free golf membership for 3 years
No club dues for 3 years

The NC mountains are still the hottest real estate market around. Call Southgroup today to lock in on this amazing new property. For more photos, click on this link.

© Copyright 2007, Linville Falls Mountain Club & Preserve.
Marketed by Southgroup Real Estate, licensed in North Carolina. Void where prohibited by law.

New HUD Program for Teachers, Police Officers & Firefighters - 50% off on Foreclosed Properties (Nov 25, 2007)

2007-11-25T06:44:00.000-08:00

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is offering the Good Neighbor Next Door program to teachers, firefighters and police officers to create a positive outcome from foreclosed properties. The intent is to support these valuable community contributors and at the same time benefit from their involvement in improving the neighborhoods. This is a great program under which foreclosed properties can be bought at an additional 50% discount. For more details, please visit:

http://www.charlotte.com/local/story/377406.html

For more information, also visit HUD's website at www.hud.gov/offices/hsg/sfh/reo/goodn/gnndabot.cfm

Heavy Turnout of Charlotte's Light Rail Fans (Nov 25, 2007)

2007-11-25T06:40:00.001-08:00

The public inauguration of light rail started off with large volumes of people, who came out in droves to check out Charlotte's new jewel. As expected, retailers along the light rail routes got a lot of new visitors, giving life to the buzz that's been anticipated. For more details, please visit:

http://www.charlotte.com/109/story/377198.html
http://www.charlotte.com/local/story/376875.html
http://www.charlotte.com/local/story/377454.html

UNDER CONTRACT - Area 6/1 in South Charlotte - $279,000 RENOVATED

2007-11-25T06:00:00.000-08:00

Address: 949 Sewickley Drive, Charlotte, NC 28209

This is a FOR SALE listing of a meticulously redone 3-bedroom, 2 full bath, all-brick ranch, with an extra 4th room (Den). The house is located in South Charlotte (Area 6/1), very close to the new light rail. The house has a newly-done huge deck overlooking a large fully-fenced backyard. For homeowners with school-going children, you cannot find better schools than those assigned to this house - Selwyn Elementary, Alexander Graham Middle and Myers Park High.

For more details, please visit:

http://cmlslistings.marketlinx.com/portal/?PID=349598&MID=62116&AT=1

NOTE: The owner is a licensed NC Real Estate agent.

Experience Charlotte's Lynx Light Rail - Nov 24! 10 a.m.

2007-11-16T08:31:00.000-08:00

After months of waiting, the Blue Line of Charlotte's Light Rail will be opened to the public with many planned festivities to make the occassion more enjoyable. There will be plenty of activities for children, so come on over and experience Lynx. For more details and schedules, visit:

http://experiencelynx.com/

Strong Mandate from Progressive-thinking Charlotteans (Nov 6, 2007)

2007-11-07T04:15:00.000-08:00

The results of the local elections spoke strongly of a strong selfless community, which is willing to bear additional personal expense for the good of Charlotte. The overwhelming majority for the approval of School Bonds (68%) and the rejection of the Repeal of the Transit tax (70%) indicated a strong consensus among progressive-thinking Charlotteans. Way to go!

I, like the 70% against the Repeal of the transit-tax, think that expansion of the light rail is a proactive approach to future transit needs, that will only grow with time, if steps are not taken today.

For detailed election results, visit:
http://www.meckboe.org/ENRSummary/summary.html

Better Economic Times Expected (Oct 31, 2007)

2007-10-31T04:16:00.000-07:00

The expected rate-cut decision by the Federal Reserve and the weaker dollar will likely assist in a rebound of U.S. economy. For more, please read...

http://www.charlotte.com/business/story/341742.html

Searching for homes - the SMART way!

2007-10-22T10:09:00.000-07:00

If you browse the web and have used various sites to search for homes, you will end up getting frustrated with outdated information or lack of information. There's a better way...

I set up all of my clients with a custom webpage, which shows all of the active listings directly from the Carolina MLS system (Multiple Listing Service). The amount of time spent on searching for homes is drastically reduced and the information is uptodate with maps, links, and other useful information.

Other advantages?

1. This service is absolutely free
2. Any new listing on the MLS shows up immediately on your webpage
3. You can browse the listings at any time of day - at your own pace and save listings
4. Only those listings show up that meet your criteria (such as price range, number of bedrooms, baths, areas, subareas, Zip code, parking type, etc., etc.)

Check out this sample custom webpage to get an idea of what your page would look like.

http://cmlslistings.marketlinx.com/portal/?PID=344587&MID=62116&AT=1

Still not convinced? Then contact me and ask me to set up a trial page for you. You will be amazed at the results.

Linville Falls Club Event a Huge Success (Oct 20, 2007)

2007-10-20T19:12:00.000-07:00

The preview event at Linville Falls Club in Marion, NC attracted a great turnout. Many lots were sold on the spot and there were many more people interested in buying a lot. The event had live music, great food and helicopter rides. Clients were taken on tours on golf carts to see the fabulous golf course in development. If it looks great now, imagine how it will look in May of 2008! If you are an avid golfer, do yourself a favor and ask me for more information on LFC. It will be THE golf community of the Blue Ridge mountains in North Carolina. The amenities will set the gold standard by which other golf club communities will be judged. For more photos:

http://www.pbase.com/sxgautam/linville_falls_club

For Charlotte's Light Rail, then vote AGAINST repeal! (Oct 19, 2007)

2007-10-19T06:49:00.000-07:00

Charlotte burgeoning economy and growth will only get worse if mass transit is not supported. Just take a look at other metro cities that have mass transit systems like metros and light rail. True, the immediate impact will not touch us all, but as conscientious members of society, it is the duty of Charlotteans to support light rail.

FOR EARLY VOTING TIMES AND VENUES, check this link:
http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_action=doc&p_docid=11C9619894AA0A00&p_docnum=5

29th Annual Charlotte CROP Hunger Walk

2007-10-14T17:35:00.000-07:00

As a way of giving back to the community, Southgroup Real Estate was the key sponsor of the 29th CROP Hunger Walk on Oct 14, 2007. Thousands of people showed up for the walk and it turned out to be a 'runaway' success! Charlotte is leading the way!!

Pre-Development Investing 101

2007-10-12T19:36:00.000-07:00

Everyone seems to be making money in real estate and you keep wondering how?

Despite the media focus on flipping houses and foreclosures, a lesser known opportunity, but even more lucrative is investing in pre-development lots.

The key is simply to buy pre-development lots, with de minimis (minimal) cash flow. The lots appreciate in value when amenities are put in by the developers and end-users can visualize the community. Some people just want the end-product, and they do not have the patience to invest in lots and then wait to build houses.

The increase in the investment return for an investor is typically dependant on the progress of the project. As the community starts going vertical (that is, houses are built), the greatest appreciation can be expected around that point. This does not mean that prices remain stagnant prior to going vertical. Prices are dependant on the overall attractiveness of the project, its location, other communities in development around it, and the overall value of the amenities and commitment of the developer in completing the project, and thereafter marketing it for sales and resales.

Southgroup specializes in identifying high-demand projects in coastal communities of North and South Carolina. Due to our clout in bringing qualified investors in large scales, we are able to get better pricing and better terms for our investors, than if they were to go directly to the developers. Furthermore, we are able to devise attractive financing terms, such as interest paid for 12 to 24 months, so that an investor's cash outlay is minimized to about only 10% for the initial down-payment.

After holding the lot for at least a year, an investor can sell the lot to realize the likely gain, or continue to hold it for additional future gains. Like any real estate purchase, there are no guarantees, however, with careful planning and proper real estate advice, investors can certainly minimize many risks.

If you would like to learn more, call me at 704-430-8277 to attend one of our free biweekly investor seminars.

Open Invitation - Linville Falls Club Event, Oct 20, 2007 (11a-4p)

2007-10-12T19:20:00.001-07:00

Greetings!

You and your family are cordially invited to our Friends and Family Fall Preview of Western NC's premier new golf club community, Linville Falls Club, located in Marion, NC (approx 1 1/2 hours drive West from Charlotte) on October 20th beginning at 11am.

Linville Falls Club is currently in pre-development stages, and starting May 2008, the Golf club will be opened to Member-Owners, and subsequently, the rest of the amenities will be completed at a cost of $12 million for the amenities alone. Linville Falls Club will boast 2 Olympic size pools, Tennis Courts, Fitness facility, and an award-winning restaurant on location called Wine Ruels. But this event is not about sales...it is just to come out and have fun.

Since this day will be all about the fun, bring your family and friends and come celebrate with us over Bluegrass Music, BBQ, Western NC Microbrews, and Golf Course and Homesite tours from the Land and by Helicopter while enjoying the scenery as the Leaves turn for the Change of Season! EVERYTHING IS COMPLIMENTARY!

You can also take advantage of the FREE transportation provided from and back to Charlotte. Please contact me by phone or email with any questions or to RSVP at (704) 430-8277 or Sean.Gautam@sgrmail.com.

Some photos of Linville Falls Club can be seen at:
http://www.pbase.com/sxgautam/linville_falls_club

Exclusive Preview Event in Georgetown, SC - Labor Day Weekend 2007

2007-08-29T09:11:00.000-07:00

Southgroup hosted an exclusive preview event for its clients at South Island Plantation in Georgetown, SC. This event attracted a lot of investor interest and the project was completely sold out. Some of the current lot owners are reselling their lots, so if you are interested, contact me. For more details, please visit:

http://www.sipwaterfront.com/

Call Sean at 704-430-8277, if you have any questions.