Posted on

Luxury Living at Cottages on Providence

Construction is almost completed on a luxury townhome development at the corner of Providence Road and Providence Drive. Named Cottages on Providence, these homes are grand, yet homey. Two completed units are currently on the market, and 4 more are in the finishing stages of construction, but the remaining 13 units have been sold. There has been great interest in these homes due to great location, luxury features, and old Charleston styling.

Located in Eastover at the edge of Myers Park and Cotswold, Cottages on Providence is convenient to everything. A quick trip down Wendover Road to Sharon Road will have you at SouthPark Mall in minutes. Going the other direction, Uptown Charlotte is only 15 minutes away making for an easy commute.

Built with nature in mind, these homes have abundant natural light and have design flow that invites you to private gardens. Transitions between indoor and outdoor spaces were carefully crafted so there is flow, while maintaining distinct spaces. Natural building materials such as cedar shake shingles and brick are in keeping with the surrounding neighborhoods.

Unique features of the homes in Cottages on Providence include:

  • Side porch entries, and covered porches or terraces with ceiling fans.
  • Master suites on the main level
  • Open floorplans with living, dining, and kitchens open to large private courtyards with available hookup for gas grill units
  • 3 bedroom with den or 4 bedroom floor plans
  • Extensive landscaping
  • Gas lantern exterior light fixtures and iron balconies
  • Real wood shutters with iron brackets
  • Two car garages with trellises over carriage style doors
  • Designated guest parking as well as street parking
  • Private drive off of Providence Road

There are also many energy efficient features in the homes at Cottages on Providence. For example, energy efficient windows, programmable thermostats, rain gardens, energy efficient appliances, hardwood flooring and more.

Interior finishes at Cottages on Providence include extensive millwork, custom built-ins, chef’s kitchens, granite counters, custom closets, steam showers, and much more. The two move in ready homes won’t last long as there has been much demand. Prices start at $895,000.

If you are interested in a home in Cottages on Providence, give us a call at (704) 525-4045 and we can schedule a time for you to tour one of these fabulous homes. If you would like to view these homes on our website, click here.

Posted on

Spotlight: Montford

Tucked in between Madison Park, Myers Park, and SouthPark, is the small but hip neighborhood of Montford. The name is not quite official, but it is unique enough to need a name. Though small, it is mighty in shopping, entertainment, nightlife, and great homes.

Montford is located around the intersection of E. Woodlawn Road and Park Road. Park Road Shopping Center is on the Northeast corner and anchors the area. Park Road Shopping Center is home to longtime favorites Sir Edmond Halley’s and Blackhawk Hardware. You can get your hair cut, pick up a pizza, then catch a movie all in one place. The Southeast corner is home to Park Towne Village with more shopping and dining choices. There are also more retail stores, nightlife locations, and restaurants on Montford Drive including Good Food, the Roasting Company, and a bowling alley/sports tavern. There is so much going on in Montford that parking is at a premium every night.

Behind Park Road Shopping Center is the entrance for the Little Sugar Creek Greenway. This extensive park, when completed, will begin at Cordelia Park on the north side of Charlotte and connect all the way to the South Carolina state line. This 20 mile trail is great for hiking, biking, running or walking.

The original homes in the Montford area are mostly small brick ranches. Many have original hardwood floors and unique details like telephone nooks. Some have recently been upgraded and it is not unusual to find homes added on to or replaced with new homes. Lot sizes tend to be around a quarter to a third of an acre.

In addition, it was announced today that a large multi-family project is going to be built in the Montford area. This large project, called Crescent Montford, is located at the old home of Pfeiffer University.  This 5 acre site is slated to become 337 apartments and 17,500 square feet of retail. Crescent Montford is located at the corner of Park Road and Mockingbird Lane.

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

Posted on

January 2017 Market Statistics

The Carolina Regional Realtor Association has published the January 2017 monthly statistical analysis. This month continues the trend we have been seeing for a while. Inventory in the Charlotte area is still low, causing prices to creep upward.

If we look at a three year trend, the number of homes on the market or inventory in 2015 was 13,607 homes. In 2016 there were 11,513 homes on the market. In 2017, there were only 8,639 homes on the market.

This decline in inventory could be due to many factors.

  1. There are many more people moving into the area. The population of Charlotte has been steadily rising, but the metro area has increased significantly reaching just over 2.4 million in 2015. With this rise in population comes a lack of inventory and builders can’t keep up with the demand. People are moving farther and farther away from Uptown, with some not even counted in the metro area.
  2. Lack of inventory makes people less willing to sell their home until they have bought a new home. With fewer choices on the market, waiting seems like a good idea so you get the home you want before you have the risk of having to move before you are ready.
  3. Interest rates are creeping up. While this may not affect many buyers until rates go over 5%, there are still some homeowners opting to stay in their home with a low interest loan instead of moving and having higher carrying costs from a new mortgage with a higher interest rate.

As you would expect based on the laws of supply and demand, with less supply, comes higher prices. The average sales price of a home in the Charlotte metro area has risen steadily. In 2015, the average price was $214,166. In 2016, that average price rose to $230,026. The trend continues, and in 2017 the average sale price was $258,819.

There is some good news for buyers. New listings rose 4.7% from last year. This takes us up almost to the 2015 number. If this continues, supply will rise so there will be more choices for buyers. This means less competition for each home. It remains to be seen if this is an anomaly, or if it is part of a larger trend.

If you are interested in a home in the Charlotte area, give us a call at (704) 525-4045. If you would like to view listings on our website before you speak with us, click here.

Posted on

There is a lot of buzz in the Charlotte area about new townhome communities. Townhomes have long been popular for their ease of maintenance, convenience, and amenities. Townhomes are particularly attractive as an entry point into a popular neighborhood. They are great for young professionals, families, and older buyers looking to downsize.

South End townhomes by Barringer & Smith and Alan Simonini Homes

Lets face it, Uptown can be expensive. Many people are looking for a home farther out of town with the feel of Uptown. Townhomes can be attractive for a village feel. Many are in walkable areas with shopping, dining, fitness, and entertainment right outside your door.

Another reason people love townhomes is exterior maintenance and plant care is usually included in the Homeowners Association fees. This is particularly great for people with busy lifestyles.

Townhomes are also attractive due to amenities. Many of the newer townhome communities have gyms, pools, clubhouses, dog parks and more. The Charlotte area has many options for townhomes, and there are many more new projects on the horizon.

One of the new projects that has garnered much early interest is David Weekly Homes’ project in Waverly. There are reportedly hundreds of people interested in the 75 townhome units. Twenty-five units are currently under construction with expected completion of phase one in April. Phases two and three, with the remaining 50 units, will follow later. Expect prices to range between the high $300,000’s to the high $400,000’s.

Site Plan for Capital Land Partners project at Selwyn and Runnymede

Another development we are excited about is one by Barringer & Smith and Alan Simonini Homes in South End. If their zoning change comes through, they have proposed developing 18 townhomes on a .7 acre property on West Tremont Avenue between South Tryon and Hawkins Streets. City Council will vote soon on the zoning change from industrial use.

A third project we are excited about is one by Capital Land Partners. They are working on a rezoning petition to develop 29 townhomes on a 3 acre site near Selwyn Avenue and Runnymede Lane. Units here should be 4-story with an optional roof terrace. Each unit is expected to have a 2 car garage and 400 square feet of private open space.

The biggest challenge right now in Charlotte is lack of supply. There are many projects in the works, from zoning to building, but they are not ready yet. These are just some of the many townhome projects in the area. If you are interested in a Townhome in the Charlotte area, new or existing, call us at (704) 525-4045. You can also view townhomes on our website here.

Posted on

Spotlight: Starmount

If you’re looking for a home near the light-rail line, with character, a large lot, great community, and affordable prices, look no further than Starmount. Starmount has been getting a lot of attention lately, and it’s well warranted. This affordable neighborhood is perfect for first time homebuyers, young families, or those looking to downsize.

Starmount is located just off South Boulevard between Archdale and Starbrook Drives. This convenient location has you close to shopping, dining, and an easy commute. Starmount is halfway between Uptown and Ballantyne, and right down the road from SouthPark Mall and Park Road shops.

Consisting of 566 acres and over 1,400 homes, Starmount is the largest established neighborhood in South Charlotte. Homes here were mostly built in the 1960’s by Ervin Construction Company. They range from ranch style to bungalow to mid-century modern. Most homes are one story, but there are some split-level, two-story, and basement homes. Size ranges from 1,200 to over 2,400 square feet.

Many of the homes in Starmount have been remodeled for a modern lifestyle. There are also homes that need updating, as well as some that have been torn down and new homes built in their place. There is plenty of opportunity to put your stamp on a home here.

Lots in Starmount are typically between a quarter and half of an acre. They have mature trees and beautiful landscaping. This quiet community has a neighborhood association, community pool and tennis courts. There is also a bridge over Little Sugar Creek connecting Starmount to Huntingtowne Farms Park on the Little Sugar Creek Greenway.

With higher priced Sedgefield and Madison Park nearby, Starmount is an affordable option with great appreciation potential. Homes here can start in the upper $100’s and range up to the mid-$300’s.

Just announced this week is a new townhome project in Starmount. Pulte Homes has applied for rezoning on a 9.1 acre parcel on Starmount Cove Lane. The plan is to build up to 95 two-story townhomes. There are some existing condos and townhomes in the area starting around $200,000. It is not clear at this point where the price point of the proposed townhomes will fall.

Starmount has been hot for a while, so there’s no better time to get in on the trend. If you would like to view listings in Starmount, you can search on our website here. If you would like us to find the perfect home for you, give us a call at (704) 525-4045.

Posted on

Spotlight: Cherry

At the intersection of Dilworth, Myers Park, and Elizabeth sits one of Charlotte’s oldest African American neighborhoods. Cherry, named after the cherry trees that used to be in the hollow here, hasn’t seen much turnover in home ownership in the past. Recently some homes have sold, and there are new construction homes being built by Saussy Burbank that are arousing some outside interest in Cherry.

Local legend has it that Cherry was developed as a servants community servicing the large homes in Myers Park starting in 1912. The neighborhood is much older than that. It appears based on records that it was mostly laborers, not servants that first settled in Cherry. Servants came after 1912.

In 1891, the first plat map of the neighborhood was filed by John Springs Myers. Myers owned the cotton fields that covered much of the area until it developed into modern day Charlotte. Myers helped the African American population of the area to have schools, churches, parks, helped with financing, provided rental homes, and provided modern conveniences of the time.

Homes in Cherry are mostly single family and duplexes. There are Victorian homes as well as bungalows and cottages. Most have wooden siding, shingle siding, or brick. Many of the original homes are in need of extensive cosmetic and structural work on the exteriors and interiors. It is rare that original homes come up for sale and when they do, they go quickly.

Cherry is home to many structures that have great features like multiple fireplaces and large front porches. Mature trees line the streets here as grand as in Dilworth and Myers Park.

Cherry is also extremely convenient. Uptown is within walking distance. The Metropolitan Midtown (the Met) is just across the street. The Met has many options for shopping, groceries and dining. Linear Park and The Greenway are at The Met as well. Inside Cherry is Cherry Park so there is no lack of parkland to enjoy.

Gentrification and appreciation are coming to Cherry. New construction homes in the style of the original homes are being built along Main Street and a few other streets in the heart of Cherry. It won’t be long before the reasonably priced original homes are a thing of the past. You can snap up a fixer-upper between $100,000 and $300,000 if you move fast. If you want a new construction home in Cherry, be prepared to pay between $596,105 and $849,900.

If you are interested in a home in Cherry, give us a call at (704) 525-4045. Click here to see listings in Cherry on our website.

Posted on

Common Market Coming to Cotswold

A new location of Common Market is coming to Cotswold. This third location will join one in Plaza-Midwood and a new location in the works in SouthEnd. The new location at 4420 Monroe Road will be their largest location to date with 6,500 square feet.

The store will be at the border of Oakhurst and Cotswold so will bear the quirky name of Common Market OakWold. The location is great as it is close to Uptown, but will service the many neighborhoods off Monroe Road and Wendover Road.

This new location will be a gathering place for the community like their other locations. Expected to open in the spring, it will offer a full deli, coffee, beer and wine, and unusual retail. There will be a full bar and expanded kitchen offering expanded prepared foods and take away.

A community meeting will be held at Clayworks on February 6th to discuss and get neighborhood input on additional features. These could include a larger grocery portion of the store, live music, or community events like food truck fridays.

This is the second big project in the works for Common Market. They are also building out for the launch of their even larger new 7,000 square foot SouthEnd location at 235 W. Tremont Street. The old SouthEnd location will become the home of Dimensional Fund Advisors. The new SouthEnd store should open in the summer.

Common Market has been known as a gathering place for great food and drinks. Patios for dining and catching up with friends have helped make them a staple of the community. These new locations show just how much demand there is for community building and great food and drinks here.

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

Posted on

Three Hottest Charlotte Neighborhoods

Redfin released their predictions for the three hottest Charlotte neighborhoods for this year. They used data from page views and favorites from their website to determine which neighborhoods rose to the top. Myers Park, Eastover, and Ballantyne topped their list for many reasons and we can’t agree more.

 

Myers Park has long been a favorite due to it’s location, schools, and walkability. Winding streets with mature trees and landscaping make this suburb picturesque. Stately homes and charming parks are serviced by many shopping and dining establishments within walking distance. The award winning schools are nationally renowned. Myers Park is home to Queens University of Charlotte, a gorgeous campus with shaded quad and elegant buildings.

Homes in Myers Park typically range between $300,000 and $5 million with the average home price at almost $950,000. There is a range of style to the homes and many are historically preserved. Lot sizes tend to be larger than average, and landscaping is lush and established.

 

Eastover is right next to Myers Park so shares much of the style and many of the advantages of Myers Park. Lots tend to be larger with stately homes and tree lined streets. There is more seclusion in Eastover and a slightly less urban feel. The schools are still great and many are shared with Myers Park. Eastover is mostly residential, but there are many places to dine and shop nearby.

Homes in Eastover typically range between $385,000 and $5 million with the average home price at $1.2 million. There are many historical homes in Eastover in a range of styles from Tudor to Contemporary.

 

Ballantyne to the south of Charlotte is a booming commuting suburb that has become a destination all it’s own. It can feel like a separate city as it has everything you need without ever leaving. There is a PGA-ranked golf course, luxury spa and hotel, fortune-500 companies, country club and upscale housing.

Homes in Ballantyne typically start in the $400’s and can go as high as the multi-millions. Most homes were built in the last 20 years and encompass a variety of styles, but they include modern conveniences as well. There are many existing homes, but also many new construction homes.
If you are interested in a home in any of these areas, call us at (704) 525-4045. You can also view listings on our website. If you are interested in homes in Myers Park, click here. If Eastover appeals to you and you want to learn more, click here. If you want to learn more about homes in Ballantyne, click here.

Posted on

Spotlight: Carsons Pond

If you’re looking for a hidden gem of a neighborhood, look no further than South Charlotte’s Carsons Pond. This community has 123 single-family residences in a gated setting with private cul-de-sac streets. Located off of Rea Road right between SouthPark and Ballantyne, you are close to everything. Add in mature landscaping, gracefully curving streets with flowering cherry trees, and two lovely ponds and you might be in heaven.

This great home in Carsons Pond sold last year

Don’t let Carsons Pond’s tranquility fool you, you are close to SouthPark Mall, Stonecrest, Carmel Commons, Carolina Place and the Arboretum. This gives you a great location from which to explore the many dining, shopping, fitness, and outdoor activities. A commute into Uptown Charlotte will take just 25 minutes and the airport is 27 minutes away both without traffic.

Homes in Carsons Pond were mostly built in the 1980’s, but many have been updated and modernized. Brick and hard coat stucco are the most common exteriors. Many homes have unique features like full basements and greenhouses. Architectural guidelines for homes in Carsons Pond have changed with the times and do allow owners to update and modify exteriors. Many homes have not been updated and are just awaiting your personal touch.

Another wonderful Carsons Pond home sold last year

The homeowner’s association dues may seem a bit steep at first at $250/month, but they include upkeep on all of the amazing amenities. There is a pool, club house, tennis courts, and two lighted ponds with fountains. The fees also cover individual water bills, individual sewer bills, individual lawn care and common grounds maintenance.

With no through streets and the privacy of the gate, there are safe streets in Carsons Pond for walking, cycling, jogging, and playing children.

Children in Carsons Pond attend award winning schools. All are top rated 10 out of 10 by Carolina School Hub. They include Olde Providence Elementary School, Carmel Middle School, and Myers Park High School. There are also many private school options nearby.

In the past year, homes in Carsons Pond have sold for between $261,000 and $388,500. There are currently three homes on the market with one already under contract.

If you are interested in a home in Carsons Pond, give us a call at (704) 525-4045 or view current listings in Carsons Pond on our website here.

Posted on

Enjoy the Queen’s Feast starting this weekend

This January, you can once again be a part of the Queen’s Feast in Charlotte. This annual event includes over 130 restaurants in 9 counties around the Charlotte Metro area. Each restaurant offers a price fixe menu for dinner with 3 courses for $30 or $35 not including tax and tip. The event begins Friday January 20th and runs through January 29th.

This year, there are many new restaurants making their debut at the Queen’s Feast. Among the newcomers are:

     O-Ku – Japanese and sushi in Atherton Mill

     The Pump House – Southern influenced modern cuisine in Rock Hill

     Sea Level – locally sourced seafood in Hearst Tower in Uptown Charlotte

     Essex Bar & Bistro – a gastropub and craft cocktail restaurant in Uptown Charlotte

     Babalu Tapas & Tacos – small plates and tacos in Dilworth

     204 North Kitchen & Cocktails – fresh farm-to-table cuisine in Uptown Charlotte

     Burtons Grill & Bar – chef inspired food in Park Road Shopping Center in South Charlotte

     Comida  – Mexican inspired cuisine in Plaza Midwood

There are also some well established restaurants joining the Queen’s Feast for the first time this year. Most notable of the newcomers is Reid’s Fine Foods in SouthPark. Many long-time favorites are featured on the line-up as well. 300 East in Dilworth, The Cajun Queen in Elizabeth, Sullivan’s Steakhouse in SouthEnd, and Ruth’s Chris in SouthPark are just a few of our favorite picks.

Heading to the Queen’s Feast is a great way to sample cuisine from all of these amazing eateries, but it is also a chance to check out a new neighborhood. Many of these restaurants have rooftop terraces or patios from which to observe the people and pace of a neighborhood. You can take a drive around before your reservation to see how the area looks around dinnertime. This is a great way to see how vibrant and area is in terms of fitness, walkability, traffic, and more. You can drive past local schools, parks, shopping and more to really get a feel for an area you haven’t spent much time in before.

If you plan to visit a restaurant for Queen’s feast, reservations are recommended. You can click the link below to see the participating restaurants. Most will allow you to make reservations online, but some only take reservations over the phone. No passes or tickets are required.

To find a full list of restaurants participating in the Queen’s Feast, click here.

If you are driving around before your dinner and find a home you want to tour, call us at (704) 525-4045 or visit our website with comprehensive search capabilities here.