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Spotlight: Stratford Hall

Union county is home to some great homes and the ones in Stratford Hall are a wonderful example. The gated neighborhood has just a few homes so it is secluded and private with a great small community. Zoned for Weddington schools, Stratford Hall has a prestigious location with amazing homes.

Stratford Hall is located just off Weddington-Matthews Road near the intersection of Tilley Morris Road. From the gates, a trip to Uptown Charlotte will take around 40 minutes via quick access to I-485. Charlotte Douglas International Airport is about 35 minutes away. There are shopping options within a 5 minute drive in Ballantyne. This gives you all the convenience you would need while helping you get away from it all.

Gourmet Kitchen in Stratford Hall

The small size means that there are few amenities that are shared by the whole neighborhood. There is a pond with walking trails and a shared pasture that is conservation land so will not be developed further. Many homes have their own oasis in the large yards. There are plenty of outdoor living spaces including outdoor kitchens, pools, fireplaces, lounge areas and more.

The large lots are also home to stately homes with winding driveways, three or more car garages some split and most side-load.

Homes are unique here as they were all custom built. There is a range in style from Old World, Transitional, French Provincial, Traditional, Mediterranean, Tudor, Craftsman, and Nantucket. Most homes have brick or stone exteriors with custom details like hand crafted custom front doors and designer lighting.

A luxury bathroom in Stratford Hall

Mature landscaping is common as most of the neighborhood was built around 2005-2007. There is one new construction home right now with even more luxury features developed or come into fashion in the last ten years.

Homes in Stratford Hall range in size from 3,600 – over 9,000 square feet. Homes generally range in price from the $500’s to $1.5 million. Luxury features abound and include gourmet kitchens, spa-like bathrooms, custom cabinetry, owner’s suites, custom millwork and more.

If you would like to own a home in Stratford Hall, give us a call at (704) 525-4045 and we can help get you into the home of your dreams. You can also view current listings on our website here.

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More 55 and over Active Communities Coming to Charlotte

Trends show that people want to downsize after their children leave the nest. Builders have noticed this trend and they are responding in a big way. There are at least 6 communities specifically catering to active adults over age 55. Trilogy Lake Norman, Cypress, Tree Tops, Aldersgate, Cresswind Charlotte and Carolina Orchard have been built over the last few years. There are many other projects in the works as demand is soaring.

Most of the communities have found features specifically geared toward a soon to be aging population. These features include single-story homes, low to no maintenance exteriors taken care of by an HOA, and start prices around $200,000.

The thing that sets these communities apart are the amenities. They usually have large recreation centers with gyms, yoga rooms, spin classes, heated salt-water pools and more. Many of them have cooking classes, poker clubs, book clubs, boating clubs, and dinner outing clubs. There are even some communities that cater to the travel minded, organizing group trips to destinations all over the world.

The active adults that want to live in these places are still very much a part of the wider community. Many of them move to be closer to family, but to still be independent. There is really a sense of belonging within the projects.

Many of these 55 and older communities are marketed as if they are campuses of like minded people coming together. They focus on holistic wellness, resort style amenities, and social interaction. There are also many of the communities that provide full assisted living for residents who require a higher level of care.

If you are interested in one of the many communities for active adults in and around Charlotte, give us a call at (704) 525-4045. You can also view current listings on our website here.

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New Multifamily Project Coming to Montford

Montford has been a hotspot in Charlotte for a while now. There is much to love about this community. From dining to shopping to nightlife, Montford has it all and is close to Uptown too.

Now Crescent Communities is developing a project to build 337 apartments and 17,000 square feet of retail space at the corner of Park Road and Mockingbird Lane. The project is expected to be completed in 2019 and will be called Crescent Montford Park.

The site has long been the home of Pfeiffer University’s Charlotte campus. The 5-acre site was bought from the university on June 30th. A grading permit was issued last month so they are set to clear the site and prepare for building. The site was rezoned last year to allow the mixed use development so there appear to be no hurdles left for building.

Crescent Communities says the project will be inspired by the surrounding community. This should especially be seen in the architectural design. Careful attention will be paid to the tenants who occupy the retail space to be sure they will benefit residents of the project and the wider neighborhood.

Units at Crescent Montford Park should consist of a mix of studios, one and two bedroom apartments. Size will range between 650 and 1,800 square feet. Pricing will begin in the $1,400’s.

Montford has seen a lot of change over the past few years. The revamp of Park Road Shopping Center has really grounded the area. The 1.5 mile extension of the Cross Charlotte Trail is also an exciting plan for the future.

Construction should begin the coming weeks, with both the retail and apartments available for lease in spring of 2019. If you are interested in a home in the Montford area, give us a call at (704) 525-4045. You can also view current listings on our website here.

 

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Three New Projects to Look For From David Weekly Homes

David Weekly Homes has long provided quality homes with great design to the Charlotte area. They have two new projects underway, and one more for which they have just applied for a zoning change. They range from SouthEnd to SouthPark/South Charlotte to Ballantyne. These exciting projects are worth waiting for.

1) Belton Street – This project is part of the Central Living by David Weekly Homes which focuses on high-density living. This community will embrace a luxurious, low-maintenance lifestyle.

Homes will be paired villas with six floorplans to choose from ranging from 2,500 to 3,100 square feet. The model home will offer three bedrooms, two full baths, one half-bath, a two car garage, owner’s retreat, balcony, and private backyard.

Single-family homes will feature a variety of open floor plans, each with 10-foot ceilings and large kitchens.

Located in Sedgefield, Belton Street is walking distance to LYNX light rail with easy access to I-277 and I-77. The airport is very convenient and you are close to all ,100 SouthEnd and Uptown Charlotte have to offer. SouthPark is close for world class shopping and dining.

Current zoning has students in Belton Street attending Selwyn Elementary, Alexander Graham Middle, and Myers Park High Schools. There are also many private, preschool, and daycare options in the area. Please verify school assignments as they are subject to change.

Expect sales to begin late in the summer.

2) SouthRidge – SouthRidge is a new community coming to the Ballantyne area next to Ballantyne Country Club. Located on North Community House Road, this project will feature single-family homes, townhomes, and paired villas. There is plenty to keep you occupied close to home with shopping, dining, and entertainment. The Morrison Family YMCA is convenient, as are many employers in Ballantyne Corporate Park. There is easy access to I-485 for quick access to Uptown Charlotte and Charlotte Douglas International Airport.

SouthRidge will feature 27 single-family homes and 60 townhomes starting in the $400’s. Homes are expected to be in the 2,900 to 3,900 square foot range. Pre-sales should start this summer.

3) David Weekly Homes just filed a rezoning petition for a project near Rea and Colony Roads. They expect to build up to 30 townhomes on the 3.6 acre partially wooded site adjacent to the shopping center at the intersection. The site plan with the filing showed a private street network with townhomes in groups of three and four. Dual access points would feed in from Rea road and from the wooded area at the back of the site. City council should vote on the plan in the coming months.

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

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June Market Report

Home sales were down again this June compared to last year. 4,719 homes sold in June compared to 4,904 this time last year. This represents a decline of 3.8%. These numbers all come from the monthly report from the Charlotte Regional Realtor Association. The report is based on data from the Carolina Multiple Listing Services Inc.

The supply issues we have been tracking continue as well. There is a 2.5 month supply of homes on the market as of June. Last year at this time we had a 3.5 month supply. This means just 9,967 homes are on the market compared to 12,592 last year. This represents a decline of 20.8%. It is up from last month when only 9,795 homes were on the market.

As is typical with supply and demand, when there is less supply, demand goes up driving prices higher. Median sales price in the Charlotte area rose from $225,000 to $245,000 in just one year. This is a rise of 8.9% year over year. Average sales price also rose from $279,243 to $290,067 representing a rise of 3.9%. Homes are selling quicker than last year, averaging 99 days from listing to closing.

Pending contracts on homes were up 17.4% year over year. Pending sales show that there is still strong demand for home in the area and is a good sign for sales to be up next month as well as these contracts head to the closing table.

There were 5,658 new homes listed in June, a small increase, just 0.1% year over year. To solve our lack of supply, we will need to see this number increase drastically.

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

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New Projects coming to West Tremont Street

West Tremont Street is in transition from offices and industrial buildings to the darling of SouthEnd. Many projects are in the works right now with more proposed. Expect everything on the street to wake up and bustle with activity within the next few years. Plans call for retail, restaurants, townhomes, office space, and the next location for the Common Market.

SouthEnd has a lot going for it, and developers are excited about the possibilities on West Tremont. Proximity to the Rail Trail, Blue Line light rail, as well as close to Dilworth, Camden Road, Atherton Mill and more puts West Tremont right in the center of everything.

There is potential for this end of SouthEnd to be a supremely walkable neighborhood with everything you could need. Here are just some of the new projects coming soon:

  • Common Market – 3,000 square feet inside and 4,000 outside, this location will have everything you expect from common market, food, prepared foods, libations, community, music, and more. This development will also contain Bang Bang Bites, sister restaurant to Bang Bang Burgers. Also sharing the space will be the cocktail bar Zepplin featuring seasonal Southern small plates and craft cocktails..
  • Redevelopment of Design Center – This center includes longtime resident Pike’s Soda Shop, but will include new restaurant concepts, Superica and Barcelona Wine Bar. The developer plans to build more urban retail in a walkable space.
  • A new office project – 83,000 square foot office building across from the old Tremont Music Hall.
  • Three30Five apartments second phase – The second phase of this development will include 104 units over four stories. There will also be 10,000 square feet of retail or restaurant space and 2,000 square feet of office space. They will be located right next to the first phase on the vacant land.
  • Pollack Shores apartments – this project is for a proposed 350 units with 2,500 square feet of street-level retail.
  • SouthEnd Court townhomes – An 18-unit luxury community where the old Carolina Foundry building site. Expect prices between $500,000 and $700,000.

If you are interested in any of these projects on West Tremont street, give us a call at (704) 525-4045. You can view current SouthEnd listings on our website here.

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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.

Jasper Plan home in Vizcaya

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.

Sample interior in Vizcaya

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.

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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.

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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.

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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.