The Angle – Page 13 – New Angle Realty

July 7, 2017

Active Older Adults catered to in Cresswind

Sales are beginning in an exciting new development for active older adults. The homes are geared towards people aged 55 and older and will have amenities and features specifically designed to meet their needs. Cresswind is especially designed to support the three key pillars of Fitness, Nutrition and Relationships.

Built by Florida homebuilder Kolter Homes, Cresswind is similar to 5 other projects they have done in the Carolinas, Georgia and Florida. Cresswind Charlotte will contain 850 single-family homes. Construction began in February and now includes six model homes, a sales center, and a design center. The full development, on 370 acres a few miles north of Mint Hill, is expected to be completed in seven years time in a number of different phases. The first phase should include 50 homes starting in the mid-$200,000’s.

Amenities planned include an 18,000 square foot clubhouse, fitness center, indoor and outdoor pools. Tennis Courts, pickleball courts, bocce ball court, miles of walking paths, and an event lawn are also planned. A full-time activities director will be on staff to help you decide between the long list of special interest clubs as well as organized activities. The development is also adjacent to Larkhaven Golf Club and will have direct access.

Cresswind is located near Interstate 485 at the intersection of Rocky River Church and Albemarle Roads. This location is fantastic as you have a 25 minute commute to Uptown, 30 minutes to SouthPark, and 30 minutes to the airport.

Homes in Cresswind will begin with 9 floorplans that can be customized to meet your individual needs. These Craftsman-style homes will have great attention to detail with a strong focus on energy efficiency. The full service design gallery helps you create the home that is right for you.

Standard features include granite counters with undermount sinks, maple cabinetry, LED flush mount lighting, oversize showers, dual vanities, trey coffered ceilings, security systems with monitoring service included in HOA, professionally designed landscaping, covered porches, tankless water heaters, and much much more.

In the future, Cresswind could include commercial properties as they have been approved for the site. This means there is potential for stores and restaurants within walking distance. Novant Health Mint Hill Medical Center is under construction nearby so there will be no need to drive in to Charlotte for medical care.

If you are interested in a home in Cresswind, give us a call at (704) 525-4045. You can also view current listings on our website here.

June 28, 2017

Spotlight: Vizcaya

It’s rare to find new construction homes in South Charlotte anymore as most neighborhoods have been built out already. There are a few infill neighborhoods where you can still get a new construction home and Vizcaya is one of those. There are limited opportunities here as there are only 20 homesites, and they are worth snapping up.

Vizcaya is being built by Meritage Homes, and is located off Providence Road just north of Raintree. World class dining, shopping, entertainment, fitness, and outdoor activities are all within a close drive. Raintree Country Club, Cedarwood Country Club, Olde Providence Swim & Racquet Club, and SwimMAC Carolina are great recreation areas all nearby. SouthPark Mall, Colony Place, and the Arboretum are right down the way providing all of the shopping you need.

There are great public and private school options in close proximity as well. Vizcaya is currently zoned for Olde Providence Elementary, Carmel Middle, and Myers Park High Schools. Please verify school assignments as they are subject to change. There are also many private, preschool, and daycare options close by.

A commute to Uptown Charlotte will take you about 20 minutes, however, working in SouthPark will take you considerably less time and would be an easy commute. A trip to Charlotte Douglas International Airport will take around 30 minutes.

If you build a home in Vizcaya, you will have 5 plans to choose from with up to 3,371 square feet of living space. Each homes has superior craftsmanship and open floorplans. Depending on the plan you can have master up or down, but all have spa-like baths, walk in closets, gourmet-style kitchens, and are full of energy efficient features to save the environment and your wallet.

There are three quick move-in homes under construction right now for an expected move in of September 2017. If you are interested in any of these homes, or would like to start from the ground up on one of the other lots in Vizcaya, give us a call at (704) 525-4045. It costs you nothing to bring an agent with you, but can add tremendous value in terms of helping you through the process and representing your needs. You can also view current listings on our website here.

June 28, 2017

SouthEnd could be a second Charlotte Skyline

SouthEnd in Charlotte has seen lots of change over the years, now it looks as if it is starting to go up. At the latest Charlotte City Council zoning meeting the possibility of the Rail Yard project in SouthEnd wants the option to build up to 10 stories tall. There was no public opposition at the meeting, and planning staff are recommending that City Council approve the plan.

This trend of going up and creating more density has been seen elsewhere in the city, but it has really started to take off in SouthEnd. The Blue Line light rail is a major driver of this density. More young professionals want to be in walkable areas where they can live without cars. The light rail provides just that, and will provide more options for stops as the rail lines are extended.

The Rail Yard project has been working closely with residents of the community to make sure they are providing what is needed and wanted for the area. The overwhelming majority want a mixed-use project. The developers have come up with a plan that includes a pair of eight-story buildings with apartments, office space, a rooftop park for tenants, shops, and restaurants.

The Rail Yard is located on a 3.5 acre block bounded by South Tryon, Winona, Winnifred, and Bland Streets. Beacon Partners and developer and architect David Furman are partnering on the project. The plan will bring in “micro-apartments”. These smaller than usual units should come with smaller price tags allowing younger, less established tenants to afford to live in this booming area. These 100 apartment units will join 290,000 square feet of office space, and 30,000 square feet of ground-floor retail divided by two buildings with a pedestrian courtyard of at least 7,000 square feet. Street level incubation space for small businesses will also be a main component of the project.

This is not the only tall building planned for the area. Dimensional Fund Advisors are building their headquarters building just down the way where Common Market and Food Truck Friday were located. Their building will rise seven-stories into the air.

It will be great to see Charlotte not hemmed in by the I-277 loop in terms of tall development. If you are interested in a home in SouthEnd, give us a call at (704) 525-4045. You can also view homes currently for sale on our website here.

June 28, 2017

Uptown 550 at Stonewall

Stonewall Street in Uptown Charlotte is a far cry from what is used to be. There is construction all over the street. With all of the projects in progress, Stonewall Street has the most active construction of any other street. We are excited about the transition of Uptown and Uptown 550 at Stonewall looks to be another great project..

Uptown 550 at Stonewall, a project by Northwood Ravin will have 421 apartments and ground floor retail. Located at Stonewall and Caldwell streets, there are two separate buildings. A 20-story tower with 143 units and a four-story building with 278 units. The four-story building will have three stories of parking and an elevated pool and lounge deck.

The 20-story tower will have first floor retail, a gym on the third floor, a fourth-floor dog park, and rooftop bar. These units will have balconies with great views of Uptown Charlotte.

Units will be a mix of studios, one, two, and three bedrooms. Luxury features will come standard, including quartz countertops, rain shower heads, outdoor gas fireplaces, designer lighting and custom cabinetry.

There is a central courtyard plaza with plenty of green space, urban garden, fountain, and walking paths. There will be many luxury features including Amenities will include full-sized golf simulator, resort style indoor spa and sauna, game room and lounge space.

Just downstairs will be retail and you can walk to bars and restaurants in the area. There are also many other new projects which will have additional shopping destinations including a new Whole Foods which should be finished around the same time as Uptown 550.

Expect Uptown 550 to open mid-to-late 2018. If you are interested in a home in Uptown, give us a call at (704) 525-4045. You can also view listings on our website here.

June 21, 2017

Explore Fort Mill’s Riverchase

Riverchase in Fort Mill, SC is another exciting new construction development by Meritage Homes. This luxury community is separated into three distinct areas, the Village, the Manor, and the Estate. Each of these areas has different thoughtful styling, standard features, and starting price range.

The entire project is located on the Catawba River on 185 acres with 94 acres of common area. These executive style homes take advantage of great Fort Mill schools, lower SC taxes, but are still 30 minutes from Uptown Charlotte.

The Village – homes in the Village range from $314,990 to $391,990. They start at 2,868 square feet and generally have 4-6 bedrooms and 2.5-4 bathrooms. Top end of square footage is over 4,000 square feet. Homes have a 2 or 3 car garage, and flexible living spaces. Luxury owner’s suites with dual vanities and generously sized walk-in closets are standard. There are ranch, master-down and 2 story plans.
The Manor – many of these homes have wooded homesites with thoughtful designs. Prices range from $356,990 to $450,990 and plans have 4-6 bedrooms and 3-4.5 baths. Square footage range is generally between 2,865 and 5,306.. Bedrooms are large and many plans have first floor owner’s suites with spa like bathrooms. Flexible living areas include bonus rooms, game/media rooms, and first floor offices. Designer kitchens with oversized islands are standard.
The Estate – homes here have 3 sides of exterior brick and large wooded lots. Prices start between $435,990 and $496,990. Homes generally have between 4-6 bedrooms and 3-4.5 bathrooms. Homes have 3 car side-load garages and are one or two stories. Spa-like baths, spacious great rooms, designer kitchens with oversized islands are standard. Flexible living spaces are in large demand and are included in all plans. There are large bedrooms and sumptuous owner’s suites. Game/media rooms, first floor offices and bonus rooms can be added to most plans.

All of the homes, regardless of which section they are located, showcase energy efficient features. These include, but are not limited to, spray foam insulation, programmable thermostats, energy star appliances, low E vinyl windows, energy efficient HVAC, lighting, and plumbing fixtures.

Amenities for the neighborhood include many outdoor activities including walking trails, river access, private community clubhouse, and resort-style swimming pool.

Children in Riverchase attend award winning Fort Mill schools. Current zoning is for Doby’s Bridge Elementary, Fort Mill Middle, and Nation Ford High School. Please verify school assignments as they are subject to change.

If you are interested in a home in Riverchase, give us a call at (704) 525-4045. Remember that bringing an agent with you when you are in the market for a new construction home costs you nothing, but can help you navigate the process and help you get the best upgrades for your money. You can view current listings and quick move in homes on our website here.

June 20, 2017

Coming Soon: Opus Myers Park

We now know details about what Jim Gross Company is going to do with the Queens University Dorm they bought earlier this year. Think luxury, think privacy, think European design with mews or quaint alleyways. Opus Myers Park will be premium high end living for a premium price.

Jim Gross Company has partnered with HM Properties to come up with the design for Opus Myers Park. HM Properties has been behind Dilworth Crescent, Carmel Crescent, Kenwood Cottage Place, and Kenwood Myers Park to name just a few of the top end properties they have been developing recently. They bring all of their know how and expertise to this new project and we can’t be more excited.

Opus Myers Park will consist of “five separate steel and concrete buildings enclosing a gas-lit mews reminiscent of European pedestrian streets with a cozy, intimate feel”. The mews will connect Queens and Providence roads.

24 residences will make up the project, each ranging from 2,630 to 3,262 total square feet. Each residence will have private elevator access directly to each foyer and each will have it’s own private floor. Residents will not have to share elevator lobbies, hallways, or common walls between units. Floor plans will be open with 2, 3, or 4 bedrooms and 2.5 or 3.5 bathrooms. One or two private terraces give each unit plenty of outdoor living space. Two designated, secure underground parking spaces come with each unit.

Premium features included in each home will be 10 foot ceilings, 8 foot casement windows, high-end finishes, a linear gas fireplace, top-of-the-line stainless steel appliances, “smart phone” home operation, two mechanical units, whole home “insta-hot water”, hardwood flooring, and a smart, muted contemporary feel throughout.

Opus Myers Park is located at the intersection of Queens and Providence roads, just behind the Myers Park Public Library. Until recently, it has been home to a dorm for Queens University. That building is being razed to make way for this project.

This one-of-a-kind development will have prices starting at $1,250,000. Completion is scheduled for November 2018.

If you are interested in learning more about this project, give us a call at (704) 525-4045. You can also view current listings on our website here.

June 20, 2017

Fed Raises Interest Rates Again

Last week, the Federal Reserve again announced that they are raising the nation’s federal funds rate by one-quarter of one percent. This brings it to a range of 1.00 to 1.25 percent making this the second straight quarterly increase.

At this time, the prediction is that mortgage interest may not see a direct increase from this rate hike. In the short term, car loans and bank fees will probably be the first to show an increase. This could also affect millions of borrowers who have credit card debt as it could push their monthly payments higher. The hike could additionally impact borrower’s ability to qualify for a mortgage.

It is not clear at this time if the Fed needed to raise the rate right now. Unemployment is low at 4.3 percent in May. The economy isn’t growing as fast as the Fed would like, nor are wages. The rate hike is unlikely to help either of those causes. It seems that the Fed found themselves in a bind. They said they would raise the rate earlier in the year and they are following through, even though it might mean slowing the economy further.

The Federal Reserve will reassess the market again in September to be sure the projected additional increase is in line with the market at that time.

If you are in the market for a home right now, the hike is not likely to affect you in terms of interest rate. You may qualify to borrow less money if you have significant credit card or other short term debt.

Borrowers who will feel the rate hike the most are ones with an adjustable rate mortgage that is about to adjust as it will now adjust by half a percent. This could mean hundreds of dollars more per month on a mortgage payment. Other borrowers who will feel the pinch are ones with home equity loans or lines of credit. Repayment on those loans will call for steeper payments due to the rate hike.

If you are in the market for a home, call us at (704) 525-4045. We can help you get started on the process today. You can also view homes currently for sale on our website here.

June 18, 2017

Get to know Sonoma

One of Ballantyne’s newest neighborhoods is a maintenance-free paradise with no shared walls. Sonoma is a whole new concept in single family homes. The Courtyard Collection of homes are more like townhomes, but with two car garages, and maintenance free yards.

Located just off Marvin Road, Sonoma has great access to I-485. This makes a commute to Uptown Charlotte a breeze. You are also close to all of the amenities in Ballantyne for great shopping, dining, fitness, and entertainment.

Children in Sonoma attend award winning schools. Current zoning has them attending Elon Park Elementary, Community House Middle and Ardrey Kell High Schools. Please verify school assignments as they are subject to change. There are also many private, preschool, and daycare options close by.

Homes in Sonoma boast open kitchens with granite or quartz counters and stainless steel appliances. These stunning kitchens are complemented by gas cooktops and extraction hoods. Some models have large islands, painted custom cabinets and large pantries.

Bedrooms are generously sized and have plenty of natural light. Sumptuous master suites include large spa-like bathrooms. Some plans include two master suites, one upstairs and one downstairs. Likewise, some plans have two laundry rooms, a stackable unit downstairs, and a full laundry room upstairs. Plenty of storage is to be had in large walk-in closets in each room.

There are 51 single-family homes that make up Sonoma. Starting range before add-ons is from the $330’s to the $360’s in three plans that can be customized to meet your needs. Upgrades can include hardwood or tile floors, raised height vanities, marble countertops, two story family rooms, lofts, mud rooms, outdoor living spaces and more.

The three plans are:

Hanna – 4 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, 2,155 – 2,160 square feet, 2-story, 2 car garage.
Keating – 4 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, 2,288 square feet, 2-story, 2 car garage.
Alexander – 3-4 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, 2,166 – 2,174 square feet, 2 car garage.

If you are interested in a home in Sonoma, give us a call at (704) 525-4045. You can also view listings in Sonoma on our website here.

June 17, 2017

SouthEnd Harris Teeter opening soon

Despite all the news today about Amazon buying Whole Foods, we are more excited about the new Harris Teeter opening up in South End. We’re not sure yet how Whole Foods might change as they transition to new ownership, but we are sure that the new Harris Teeter will be great.

Located on South Boulevard as part of the Sedgefield shopping center redevelopment, the new Harris Teeter has a retro logo harkening back to 1952 when the first store opened. That original location was in the same block as the new store so this new store is like a homecoming.

Coming in at 53,000 square feet, the store will have everything you already expect, as well as a Starbucks, a bar with wine and 16 beers on tap, beer growler filling station, an events area, weekly meal specials, pharmacy, and sit down eating area. This is a far cry from what was in the 15,240 square foot original store.

The new store will be open daily from 6am until midnight. For opening day, opening will begin at 5pm and will have a free-to-the-public sampling event following the ribbon cutting ceremony.

The Sedgefield Shopping Center redevelopment will also include 14,000 square feet of retail, and following later will be 300 apartment units.

There are many homes within walking distance from the new Harris Teeter and many more homes within a short drive. This poises the new Harris Teeter to be direct competition with the Publix just down the road.

Harris Teeter hasn’t been in the neighborhood since 1988 when the original location closed. This is a welcome return for residents. The store opens this Tuesday, June 20th.

If you are interested in a home in Sedgefield or any of the many other neighborhoods serviced by the new Harris Teeter, give us a call at (704) 525-4045. You can also view homes on our website here.

June 14, 2017

May Market Update

Home sales were down slightly in May according to data released by the Carolina Regional Realtor Association. New listings and pending sales were up year over year, up 4.6% and 16.6% respectively. This shows that there are buyers out there and they are willing to purchase when the right home comes on the market.

The Charlotte area is still suffering from a lack of inventory. The supply of homes fell again down to a 2.5 month supply. This is down 26.5% from the same time last year. A balanced market between buyers and sellers is considered to be a 6 month supply.

The supply of homes was up slightly from last month. In April, there were 9,525 homes on the market. In May, there were 9,795. This represents a rise of 270 homes or 2.8% month over month. Last May, by contrast, there were 12,268 homes for sale.

Median sales price was up 7.9% to $226,500, and Average sales price was up 6.6% to $274,957. Low inventory drives prices up and we have seen gains in home prices for the past few years with no end in sight.

Homes are staying on the market for less time as well. Days on market from list until close went from 106 last May to 95 this May.

Buyers are also not getting as much of a discount on list price. Last year, they paid 96.8% of the list price for a home, and this year they are paying 97.3%. This could indicate more instances of multiple-offer situations where the highest and best offer wins the home.

We have not seen widespread evidence of homes selling for more than list price. When this happens, there is often a case of a home selling for more than the appraisal value and the buyer having to come up with the difference in cash. This is happening in some cities such as Austin, TX.

If you are interested in a home in the Charlotte area, give us a call at (704) 525-4045. You can also view homes on our website here.