July Market Report

For the second straight month, the Charlotte Regional Realtor Association report shows that home sales have cooled slightly in the entire MLS reporting area. In June, sales were down over the previous year by 3.3% from 4,577 in 2015 to 4,425 in 2016. In July, sales were down further from 4,286 to 3,900 down by 9%.

Three early months of the year, February, April and May, were up over last year so the YTD numbers are slightly up, 4.4% from 24,105 in 2015 to 25,159 for 2016.

The price homes have been selling for continues to rise from $252,874 in 2015 to $269,426 in 2016. These price increases appear to show that the cool down in the market may be due to price increases. With only a three month inventory on hand, there continues to be a sellers market which is supporting the price increases.

Pending sales have increased over last year by a whopping 20.4% from 3,773 to 4,543. This makes it look like next month should be a better month as most of those pending sales should come to a close. This means that there are still motivated buyers out there that are willing to pay the higher prices for homes.

When you look at the City of Charlotte on the report, you see that there are only 2 months of inventory in the city skewing the market even further in favor of sellers. Prices for homes in the city have gone up almost 5% just this year alone.

A few places defy the trend, Waxhaw, NC saw an increase in home sales from last year of 3.5%. Uptown Charlotte also saw an increase in home sales last month of 25%. Fort Mill and Rock Hill, SC saw home sales about the same as last year, only one additional sale this year over last for each area.

The news is tough if you are a buyer. There isn’t as much inventory as you would like to have the choices available to you. In addition, you will probably have to pay more money for the house you finally get. However, if prices continue to rise, you will be in good shape if you need to sell.

If you are a seller right now, looks like the news continues to be good for you. Your home should sell for more money than it would have last year and you even have the potential for multiple offers with inventory as low as it is right now.

For now, it’s just a wait and see situation to see if the market begins to correct itself. If we get to the point where there is 6 months of inventory, it will be a more balanced market between buyers and sellers. This kind of equity helps buyers and sellers be happier with their transactions.

New Homes Announced at Rea Farms

Adding to the development projects reshaping the corridor of Providence Road near I-485, Rea Farms is expected to add another 250 townhomes and single-family homes. The 194 acre project is situated on Providence Road at Ardrey Kell Road. These newest homes will be built by CalAtlantic, a builder no stranger to the Charlotte area as they have already built 30+ communities here.

The Charlotte Business Journal reported that “When built out, Rea Farms will include up to 650,000 square feet of office space, 250,000 square feet of retail, 500 multifamily units, a fitness facility, a day-care facility and a magnet school.” They went on to say “CalAtlantic is the latest player to join Rea Farms, which is being developed on the site of the former Charlotte Golf Links course. Life Time Fitness Inc. and the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Board of Education each purchased land earlier this year to build a fitness facility and a science, technology, engineering, arts and math K-8 magnet school, respectively.”

This comes as great news for homeowners already living in the area as there will be more retail, office, and fitness options nearby. There may be some additional traffic from all of the new homes, there is time to get used to the idea as ground should not be broken on this most recent section until 2017 or early 2018.

This master planned community should have something for every type of home buyer as there will be townhomes, single-family homes, and multi-family. There should also be community amenities to entertain all ages of residents.

If you or someone you know is interested in living in or near Rea Farms, please contact our Realtors.

To read the entire Business Journal article, click here.

Check out Amberleigh

If you’re looking for a small tight-knit community in South Charlotte near Ballantyne, look no further that Amberleigh. Built in the late 1990’s and early 2000’s by St. Lawrence and Zaring Homes, Amberleigh has around 100 homes. The homes have mature lots between a third to three quarters of an acre. Building materials are either full or partial brick homes. The whole neighborhood has a park-like feel with some homes having private wooded back-yards.

Homes in Amberleigh average between 2500 to 3500 square feet with 4 or 5 bedrooms and attached garages, some with side-entry. Some even have master on the main floor. Floor plans are open and roomy with plenty of storage.

Amberleigh is currently zoned for fantastic schools: Elon Park Elementary School, Community House Middle School, and Ardrey Kell High School. Please note that school assignments occasionally change.

Located near the intersection of Johnston Road at Providence Road West, Amberleigh is close to shopping, restaurants, and right around the corner from the Morrison YMCA. Shopping is as close as Blakeney, Ballantyne Village, or Carolina Place Mall. Uptown Charlotte is about a half-hour drive without traffic. Charlotte Douglas International Airport is just 25 minutes away without traffic.

In the past year, homes in Amberleigh have sold for between $356,000 and $445,000. As of August 3rd, there are 2 homes on the market in Amberleigh. The first is a 5 bedroom, 3 full bath, 1 half bath home with 3,506 square feet on .43 acres with a pool under contract with a list price of $450,000. The other home is a 5 bedroom, 4 full bath with 3,608 square feet on .38 acres listed for $459,900.

If you or someone you know is interested in a home in Amberleigh, contact one of our Realtors at 704-525-4045.

Check out Ardrey Crest

Right between Ballantyne and Blakeney in South Charlotte is a gem of a neighborhood called Ardrey Crest. A quiet tight-knit community, Ardrey Crest offers an escape from the fast pace of everyday life. With under 200 single-family homes, getting to know your neighbors is easy.

Ardrey Crest homes include wood-frame, craftsmen-style traditionals and two-story brick colonials. There are many different floor plans, but all have front porches for socializing with neighbors. Some have rear-entry attached garages, and some have more traditional front-entry attached garages.

Features of the neighborhood include pool with cabana, clubhouse, walking trails, bocce ball court, labyrinth park, playground, community fire pit, and nature trails.

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Excellent Schools are all within a mile of walking, cycling or driving including Elon Park Elementary School, Community House Middle School, and Ardrey Kell High School.

Situated just off Wade Ardrey Road, near the intersection of Marvin Road, Ardrey Chase is right down the road from Blakeney Shopping Center. Blakeney Shopping Center has everything you might need from national chains like Target, to small boutiques. Dining options abound nearby as well.

Ardrey Crest might be pretty far from Uptown Charlotte, but highway access to I-485 is close by, and Lynx Light Rail is also close for an easy commute.

In the last year, homes in Ardrey Crest have sold for between $338,000 and $398,900 with an average sold price of $365,704. As of July 28th, there are 4 homes on the market in Ardrey Crest with three under contract. These homes are listed for between $349,900 for a 4 bedroom, 2 full- bath, 1 half-bath home with 2,672 square feet and $439,900 for a 5 bedroom, 4 full-bath home with 4,250 square feet.

June 2016 Market Statistics

Last week, the Charlotte Regional Realtor Association released the market statistics for the month of June. Comparing year over year, 2016 continues to be a good year for real estate in the Charlotte area.

In the City of Charlotte, new listings were up 8.1% over last year and closed sales year to date were up 2.6%. Inventory of homes was down 31.6% from last June showing that the sellers market trend is continuing to hold. Homes were also on the market for fewer days before being sold, down 32.7% from last year from 52 days to 35 days.

In Fort Mill, SC average sales price for a home was up 9.8% from last year from $306,183 to $336,179. Sellers in Fort Mill are getting an average of 97.7% of list price when they sell. There are also 17.5% more new listings on the market this year over last year.

Uptown Charlotte saw increases in new listings, and pending sales, but had a 22% reduction in the number of pending sales from last year at the same time. Year to date, the pending sales were up 18.9%. Uptown is also a strong sellers market right now as there is only 2.5 months supply of inventory, a reduction of 45.7% from the same time last year.

York County, SC is having a great month with a 13.4% increase in new listings, reduction of inventory of 28.9%, and increase in average sales price of 7.2% from $252,715 to $270,908. Year to date, median sales price is up $20,000 from last year with homes on the market 22.6% less time from 84 days to 65 days from list to sale.

It is still a great time to buy a home with interest rates continuing to be low. It is also a great time to sell as there is less inventory on the market, but buyer demand appears to remain strong.

Spotlight: Allyson Park

If you are looking for a peaceful, family-friendly, well maintained neighborhood in Ballantyne with large, full brick homes with side entry garages, Allyson Park is the place for you! With a great location, proximity to amenities, shopping and fitness, Allyson Park has it all and a fantastic community too!

Built in the early 2000’s, Allyson Park features all brick homes with 2 or 3 car side entry garages.  The homes were built in the stately executive style with lots of upgrades. Most of the homes range from 3,000 to over 4,000 square feet, mostly with .3 of an acre lots. Community amenities include pool, clubhouse, playground, sports court and tennis courts.

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Located off Ardrey Kell Road between Johnston Road and Rea Road, Allyson Park is situated in a fantastic spot. Within a short drive are Stonecrest Shopping Center, Blakeney Shopping Center, and Ballantyne Village. Just down the way is the Morrison Family YMCA. Uptown Charlotte is 45 minutes away depending on traffic, and the airport is less than 45 minutes away.

Allyson Park is currently zoned for some of the areas top-ranked public schools, Elon Park Elementary School, Community House Middle School, and Ardrey Kell High School. (Please note that school assignments can be subject to change.)

In the past year, homes in Allyson Park have sold for between $505,000 and $595,000. Currently, as of July 23rd, there are 5 homes on the market with 3 under contract. They range in list price from $499,900 for a 5-bedroom, 3-bathroom home with 3,853 square feet to $599,900 for a 4-bedroom, 3-full bath, 1-half-bath home with 3,580 square feet that includes a pool and outdoor living area/outdoor kitchen.

Demand for Townhomes Grows in the Queen City

New townhome projects are proposed for two sites in South Charlotte. The Charlotte Business Journal reported this week that sites at South Tryon and Beam Road, and a parcel in SouthPark on Sharon Road that currently has Holy Covenant United Church of Christ are in the works to be converted into townhome complexes. BNA Homes has proposed a development with as many as 127 townhomes on the South Tryon site. NVR Inc. has proposed 24 townhomes for the SouthPark site.

Demand for townhomes has grown greatly with many townhome communities from Uptown Charlotte and throughout the major transit corridors. Townhomes are attractive to young professionals as there are numerous amenities and locations are usually close to transit or to walkable areas. They are increasingly becoming attractive for older people as they downsize after children leave the home.

Townhome living can have many advantages for a busy person as they usually have most or all exterior maintenance and yard work taken care of by a Homeowners Association. Many townhome communities include fitness facilities, pools, clubhouses, dog parks, and walking trails. Demand for upscale living has increased the need for luxury features such as granite, wood floors, stainless appliances, built-in surround sound, and garden tubs.

Charlotte has many existing townhome communities in and around NoDa, Uptown, Plaza Midwood, SouthPark, South End, Pineville, Matthews, and many more. There are also newly proposed developments to be built in Plaza Midwood, and NoDa.

If you or your family are looking for a townhome community in the Charlotte area, check out our website here or contact one of our Realtors at (704) 525-4045.

Providence Farm to break ground this summer

Crescent Communities, a Charlotte developer will break ground on its foodie-inspired mixed-use project off Providence Road later this summer. The foodie theme would focus on connecting people through food. The idea is to inspire residents’ passion for food turning this area into a hot foodie scene.

The story, reported on by the Charlotte Business Journal, states that the multi-family phase of Providence Farm will break ground in the coming weeks. Located near Interstate 485 at Providence Road, Providence Farm is a 72-acre development slated to include 404 residential units, 396 garden apartments and eight three-story townhouses with attached garages. In addition, there will be 30,000 square feet of retail an a 180-unit hotel.

The developer expects to have the first Providence Farm residential units completed in late 2017, with final completion in the first half of 2018. The hotel and retail portion, which faces Providence Road, will be built in the next phase. Most of the project is targeted for a late-2018 completion.

The foodie-inspired development will feature the apartment leasing center incorporated within a functioning restaurant space. Providence Farm will include gourmet indoor and outdoor kitchens, a library of upscale small appliances for residents to borrow, a fruit orchard, community garden plots, a craft cocktail lounge and social house, and “chef-inspired” kitchens.

Crescent Communities has worked on other multi-family and residential projects in the area including Tryon Place, Crescent Stonewall, and Crescent NODA. They also have other developments in Texas, Florida, South Carolina, Tennessee, Georgia and Arizona.

Providence Farm joins other developments under construction in the area. Crescent’s project is next to Waverly, a 90-acre project by Crosland Southeast and Childress Klein. Lincoln Harris’ Rea Farms project is also in close proximity— that 188-acre development is on the site of the former Charlotte Golf Links golf course at Providence and Ardrey Kell roads. And homebuilder PulteGroup Inc. has plans for 100 single-family homes— a development called Kellmoor — off Tilley Morris Road, adjacent to Providence Farm.

Spotlight: Ballantyne Country Club

With the continued growth of the South Charlotte area, Ballantyne Country Club and its homes continue to be one of the area’s most desirable upscale residential neighborhoods.

A beautiful custom home that sold in the country club in 2015.

The region has grown up around the Ballantyne Country Club, which turns 20 this year! It is ideally situated close to all of South Charlotte’s finest restaurants, shopping and golf courses. There certainly is no shortage of things to do in and around the Ballantyne area!

Situated right at Johnston Road (Highway 521) and Ballantyne Commons Parkway, Ballantyne Country Club is convenient to I-485 and all the major thoroughfares like Rea, Providence and Johnston roads, as well as Pineville-Matthews Road (Highway 51).

Popular Ballantyne Village is just next door for movies, shopping, dining and fitness options. Stonecrest and Blakeney are just a few minutes away for even more options.

The SouthPark area, mall and Phillips Place are only 25 minutes away! A trip Uptown or to Charlotte Douglas airport, whether for work or play, is 30 minutes without traffic.

Ballantyne Country Club is a great choice if you work in the neighboring Ballantyne Corporate Park. Your commute is reduced to a short walk or bike ride!

Of course, just as great as the neighborhood’s location, so to are its homes. The upscale community is everything you would expect in country club life along with its beautiful Rees Jones-designed golf course.

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A view of the clubhouse and driving range at Ballantyne Country Club

Homes in the country club are spacious, luxurious and elegant. There are estate homes ranging from exquisite to over-the-top glamorous.

More than 2,000 people call Ballantyne Country Club home, and there are home choices to suit just about everyone. The smallest homes in the neighborhood are approximately 3,000 square feet. The largest homes top out at more than 13,000 square feet. On average, however, 5,000 square feet to 9,000 square feet is where most home sizes fall.

There is also a neighborhood of 26 custom, detached patio homes built by Simononi Group called “Traditions.” These all-brick homes offer maintenance-free living in spaces less than 5,000 square feet.

Prices range from the $500,000s to more than $3.5 million for the largest, custom estates that may boast wine cellars, home gyms and high-end home theaters and automation technology. Homes in the Traditions neighborhood may sell in the mid- to high-$400,000s.

The highly desirable neighborhood averaged sales of approximately 5.3 homes per month over the last 12 months, which is 64 homes sold during the last year.

Sales prices averaged $838,851 and nearly $170 per square foot.

Currently, there are 43 homes for sale in Ballantyne Country Club. Nine of the homes are under contract as of May 15.

Twenty of the homes are listed at more than $1 million, with the top list price being nearly $3.7 million for a 13,500-square-foot estate. The lowest list price is $529,000 for one of the Traditions patio homes of 2,500 square feet.

Ballantyne Country Club is zoned for Charlotte Mecklenburg’s Ballantyne Elementary School, Community House Middle School and Ardrey Kell High School.

Ballantyne-area Highgrove has luxury & location wrapped up

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The upscale South Charlotte neighborhood of Highgrove has it all when it comes to beautiful custom homes and proximity to schools as well as shopping and dining destinations.

Located at the corner of Ardrey Kell and Community House roads, Highgrove was developed in the late 1990s. With the expansion of South Charlotte, its location simply can’t be beat!

Highgrove is within walking distance of Blakeney Shopping Center and is only a few minutes drive from Stonecrest and Ballantyne Village. Morrison Family YMCA and Ballantyne Village YMCA are both less than 5 minutes away from Highgrove.

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This stunning custom home in Highgrove sold in May 2015 for close to $1.3 million – full list price.

The neighborhood is convenient to South Charlotte’s major thoroughfares and interstate access to I-485 is very convenient from Rea or Johnston roads.

In addition to area parks and sports fields, Highgrove is surrounded by some of the area’s best golf course – Ballantyne Country Club, The Club at Longview, Providence Country Club and TPC Piper Glen. There is no shortage of country clubs and golf courses if you are an avid golfer!

The SouthPark area is only 10 miles from Highgrove for a variety of upscale dining and shopping options. Center City and Charlotte Douglas airport are a total of 20 miles away, which is approximately 30-35 minutes without traffic.

Homes in Highgrove are custom and unique. There are English tudors, brick traditionals and Southern plantation-style homes with double-decker porches. The neighborhood has a pool with hot tub, clubhouse, playground and 2 tennis courts.

Home sizes typically range from in the 4,000-square-foot range to well over 6,000 square feet and are priced in the $500,000s to more than $1 million. Lots are generously sized from approximately one-third of an acre to more than half an acre.

A total of 7 properties sold in Highgrove during the last 12 months or an average of 0.6 homes per month.

The average sales price for those homes was $860,429 and approximately $197 per square foot. Sales closed at more than 98% of list price.

The highest sales price during the last 12 months was nearly $1.3 million and lowest was $667,500.

There are currently 7 Highgrove homes listed for sale, which is approximately a year’s inventory. As of May 7, 4 of the homes are under contract.

Highgrove is zoned for CMS’s Hawk Ridge Elementary School, Community House Middle School and Ardrey Kell High School. All of the schools are within walking/biking distance of Highgrove!