The recent buyer’s market had many people hustling to shop for Charlotte homes. Housing prices were lower than ever. Savvy buyers got great deals on attractive Charlotte homes in convenient neighborhoods. Is there any truth to the recent rumors housing prices are on the rise? 

For more than two years, average home prices declined. Now areas such as Charlotte are watching housing prices rise. The Federal Housing Finance Agency reported prices increased 1 percent between April and May. This boost was confirmed by the S&P/Case-Shiller index. Now is the perfect time to purchase a Charlotte home before the prices get higher. 

Stan Longhofer, director of the Center for Real Estate at Wichita State University, stated, “If you’re looking at the national average, I really do expect that we will see an increase in the Case-Shiller index going forward.” 

Potential home buyers should waste no time trying to find the Charlotte homes of their dreams. According to Daily Wealth’s Steve Sjuggerand, “Over the next 12 to 18 months, you could end up with the deal of a lifetime.” Review your finances, get pre-approved for a mortgage and start shopping. 

Charming Charlotte homes are available in every price range. If you’re looking for homes over $1,000,000, consider a 5 bedroom, 4.5 bath Myers Park home with large formal rooms, hardwood floors, 9′ ceilings, stainless appliances and a 2-car detached garage. For those with a budget closer to $750,000, move right into a 3 bedroom, 3.5 bath Dilworth townhome with handsome millwork, wide plank hardwoods, unique lighting and a private residential elevator. 

If you budget is closer to $500,000, you’ll fall in love with a 2 bedroom, 2 bath Uptown 3^rd Ward high rise home with an open floor plan, large terrace and 2 parking spaces. Affordable homes are also available in the $250,000 range, such as a 3 bedroom, 2 bath newly renovated NoDa home on a large lot. For around $175,000, check out a 3 bedroom, 2 bath Villa Heights home with an eat-in-kitchen, private deck and fenced yard. 

To find out more about affordable Charlotte homes, contact Katie Gray at at 704-560-9699 or email katie@katiegrayhomes.com.

Summer is a time to celebrate longer days, sunshine and flowers at your Charlotte home. Setting up a garden is the perfect way to create an oasis in your own backyard. Even high rise dwellers can set up a garden on a deck, balcony or sunny windowsill. A Charlotte home gives you great access to city amenities with the joy of the outdoor world all around you. 

Your Charlotte home gets abundant sunshine, creating ideal conditions to grow a variety of plants, trees, shrubs, vegetables and herbs. Imagine sitting under a spectacular shade tree in your own yard having a picnic. Picture yourself in a fragrant flower bed surrounded by a rainbow of colors. Consider picking your own fresh veggies and herbs to cook with. All these pleasures can be yours in a Charlotte home. 

When you start a garden, consider soil, native plants and irrigation methods. Your garden will need plenty of water to thrive. You also have to ward off native plants that could choke your new garden. If your garden is indoors, you must consider sunlight and how to hydrate the plants. Whether you garden inside or outdoors, you’re sure to derive hours of pleasure from your plants. 

If you don’t know how to get started, check out magazines and online resources. For over 20 years, Carolina Gardener Magazine has helped Carolina residents plan beautiful, successful gardens. You can also hire a professional landscaper to set up gardens at your Carolina home and explain to you the best way to maintain them. 

Now is the ideal time to shop for a Charlotte home of your own. You can see how the outdoor living spaces look during the peak season. This helps you decide what type of improvements and additions you want in your yard. Housing prices are down and mortgage interest rates are competitive, making it a prime time to buy a Charlotte home. 

If your budget is around $1,000,000, you’ll fall in love with a 5 bedroom, 3.5 bath Dilworth home with flexible living areas, walk in closets, screened porch and covered rear porch. For those looking to spend closer to $500,000, check out a handyman 3 bedroom, 2 bath Myers Park home with a large backyard abutting a spring fed pond. If your budget is about $250,000, consider a 4 bedroom, 3.5 bath Belmont home with a courtyard.

To find out more about Charlotte homes with great gardening potential, contact Katie Gray at at 704-560-9699 or email katie@katiegrayhomes.com.

Stability and pride of ownership are just two reasons for owning a Charlotte home. Many savvy savers purchase a Charlotte home as an investment. Equity and tax benefits can add up to serious cash for some budget-conscious Charlotte home buyers. How can you find out the tax benefits of owning a Charlotte home?

Online mortgage calculators make it easy to estimate your monthly mortgage payments along with the probable tax benefits of homeownership. When you shop around for a Charlotte home, know what you want to spend and what you’re looking to gain. Use an online mortgage calculator to help you guestimate the costs and benefits of owning a Charlotte home.

The online mortgage calculator asks you to input the mortgage loan parameters, the month of purchasing the home and Standard A estimated deductions. Itemized deductions including mortgage deductions are compared to your standard deduction to show the tax benefit of buying a Charlotte home.

Mortgage calculators also help you determine how much house you can afford. Based on the purchase price of the home, mortgage interest rates and property taxes, you can figure out your estimated monthly mortgage payment. When you know what you can financially handle each month, you’re ready to reap the tax benefits of owning your own Charlotte home.

If your housing budget is around $500,000, you’ll fall in love with a 2-story Myers Park home with 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, custom tile work, Viking store, office/library off the living room, private gated backyard and 2-car garage. For those looking to spend closer to $350,000, move right into a 3 bedroom, 2.5 bath Noda home with hardwoods, vaulted ceilings, double clear glass doors with sidelights to a home office, stainless steel appliances, granite, patio, fenced yard and more. If your budget is around $200,000, check out a 2 bedroom, 2 bath Wesley Heights mid-rise home with a huge open kitchen, hardwoods and workable floor plans.

To find out more about the advantage of owning a gracious Charlotte home, contact Katie Gray at 704-560-9699 or email katie@katiegrayhomes.com.

The housing market is unpredictable and you need good credit to get a competitive mortgage loan. With the current conditions, why should you buy a Charlotte home? Recent research shows Charlotte real estate continues to boom during the recent housing crisis. While other areas of the country are realizing diminished sales, people are still buying Charlotte homes.

One of the major reasons people are drawn to Charlotte housing is the accessibility to work. A strong local economy means available jobs. According to Tony Crumbley, vice president of research at the Charlotte Chamber of Commerce, there were 14,648 new jobs created in 2007 in Mecklenburg County.

Major companies are following job seekers to Charlotte, including major banks Wachovia and Bank of America. There are seven Fortune 500 companies currently headquartered in Charlotte. Crumbley states, “Companies are following job seekers. They’re going to where they know they can recruit new workers, and the census bureau has ranked Charlotte as having the second highest in-migration of young…educated people.”

Besides the accessibility to possible jobs, Charlotte homes are close to shopping, restaurants, entertainment and historical attractions. The quality of life and convenience of a Charlotte home keeps people seeking their dream home here regardless of the latest market conditions.

No matter what your current budget, there are gracious Charlotte homes waiting for you to move right in. If you have a housing budget of around $500,000, consider a lovely 4 bedroom, 3.5 bath Dilworth bungalow with hardwoods, oversize windows, granite kitchen, custom cabinetry, stainless steel appliances and mature landscaping. For closer to $400,000, check out a 3 bedroom, 3 bath Plaza Midwood home with large rooms, large deck, fenced yard and unique 1930s wood awnings.

If your housing budget is closer to $300,000, you’ll love a 4 bedroom, 2.5 bath Belmont bungalow with 2 car garage, stainless steel appliances, huge front porch, back deck and skyline views. For around $200,000, check out a 3 bedroom, 2.5 bath Villa Heights bungalow with an open floor plan.

To find out more about investing in a beautiful Charlotte home of your own, contact Katie Gray at at 704-560-9699 or email katie@katiegrayhomes.com.