October Market Statistics

The trend we have been seeing for months continues once again. Prices are yet again up while supply is down year over year in the Charlotte area real estate market. For the sixth month in a row, home sales are down from the same time last year.

Jason Gentry, president of the Charlotte Regional Realtor Association and Carolina Multiple Listing Services Inc, said “It’s typical to see sales decline in areas that have experienced prolonged inventory shortages. Although the Charlotte region has experienced six months of decline in year-over-year sales; we are optimistic that sales in the market will continue at a steady pace based on positive pending sales and new listing activity.”

When you dig into the numbers from the monthly CRRA report based on the data from the MLS, you see that in the Charlotte area, sales dropped 9.8% from 4,012 to just 3,617, a decline of 395. When you look at the first 10 months of 2018, sales are down 2.1% from 41,622 to 40,767, a drop of 855.

Inventory was down yet again from 11,009 last October to 10,055 this October, a decline of 8.7%. This leaves the region with a 2.5 month supply of homes on the market. A balanced market between buyers and sellers is generally considered to be a 6 month supply of inventory. It is still above the low spot in March of this year when there were just 8,208 homes on the market which was just a 2 month supply.

New listings and pending sales were both up year over year. There were 4,796 new listings in October, up 6.9% over last year. Year-to-date new listings are still down slightly. When you look at the first 10 months, new listings were down 0.4% so not quite the recovery we need to see to balance the market. Pending sales were up 5% year-over-year to 4,091. Year-to-date pending sales were still down, but by 1.2%.

Prices for homes were up from last year at this time. The average home sold for $278,634, up 6% from last October. This is a little bit lower than the average from September when the average home sold for $281,533. It’s also down from August when the average home sold for $294,107. All of these prices were up over last year, but it may be the beginning of a trend of correction in the market.

The CRRA report covers 12 counties in North Carolina and 4 counties in South Carolina. There can be fluctuations within an area and some of the numbers can appear extreme due to small sample size.

If you are interested in buying or selling a home in the Charlotte area, give us a call at (704) 525-4045. You can view current listings and create custom searches on our website here.

Explore Copper Run

If you like to live a bit further out to get privacy and the country feel, Copper Run is worth a look. Copper Run is located in Union County with great schools and though technically in Mineral Springs has a Waxhaw address. There are large homes on large lots with amazing details.

Copper Run is located off of Pleasant Grove Road near the Mineral Springs Greenway Trails. A quick trip will have you in either Wesley Chapel, Mineral Springs or in Waxhaw for shopping, dining, and entertainment. Residents are 33 miles from Charlotte Douglas International Airport, and 31 miles from Uptown Charlotte.

Started by Niblock Homes before the recession, Copper Run halted production as the market slowed. After a lull, builder True Homes took over the neighborhood in the last few years completing in 2017. This is one of the rare neighborhoods with wooded lots over an acre in size.

Homes in Copper Run are grand in scale and all feel like custom homes. Homes range in size from 2,600 to 5,356 square feet. Some of the homes have full basements, and all have three car garages, some of them courtyard style. Many of the homes have great architectural details such as shed dormers, multiple gables, stonework and rocking chair front porches.

Inside, homes have 3-5 bedrooms and 3-5.5 bathrooms. Homes have open floor plans, gourmet kitchens, home offices, flex spaces, butler’s pantries, and much more. Finishes include hardwood flooring, amazing tilework, arched doorways, designer lighting and custom cabinetry.

In the past year prices started in the high $300,000’s and went up into the $500,000’s. There are currently 4 homes on the market in Copper Run representing a four month supply of inventory. This is in comparison to the 5 month supply of homes in all of Waxhaw and the 4.3 month supply for all of Union County.

Children in Copper Run currently attend Western Union Elementary School, Parkwood Middle School and Parkwood High School. Please verify school assignments as they can change from one school year to the next.

If you are interested in a home in Copper Run, give us a call at (704) 525-4045. You can view current listings and create custom searches on our website here.

September Market Statistics

This year the prevailing trend has been low inventory, but this month a drop in home sales is bigger news. Sales have been dipping for the past five months, but this month there was a 15.3% drop from the same time last year.

These numbers are from the monthly report by the Charlotte Regional Realtor Association and are based on the data from the Carolina Multiple Listing Services, Inc. President of the CRRA Jason Gentry said “Without a doubt, sales in September were affected by Hurricane Florence, as local Realtors and community volunteers mobilized to assist homeowners who were reeling from flood and wind damage. The impact of the storm, just off the heels of weakened summer sales, helped to depress sales locally.”

The drop of 15.3% represented just 3,642 residential sales in September, which was down 19.3% from August. Year to date, sales are also down, though only by 1.8%.

Pending sales and new listings were down as well. Pending sales were down 6.6% year over year from 3,918 to 3,659. This is a decrease of 23.3% from August when there were 4,771 pending sales. New listings were down to 4,333 representing a decrease of 10.5%. This is a decrease of 1,327 from last month. Year-to-date new listings are down 1.2% compared to last year.

Supply of homes for sale in the Charlotte market also dipped from the same time last year. There is now a 2.5 month supply of homes down from 2.8 last year. There are just 10,210 homes for sale which is down 11.7% from last year but is up just slightly from last month’s 10,052.

Homes spend an average of five fewer days on the market in September than they did last year. This means that from list until contract was just 36 days. This is down 12.2% from the 41 days last year at this time.

In fact, the only thing going up in the entire report is sales prices. The average sales price went up to $281,533, up 5.2% from September of last year, though it was down 4.2% since last month. It remains to be seen if this is going to be the trend or if the market will recover after the worst of the storm damage is under control. That coupled with rising interest rates could keep the market slow until the spring.

Explore Ladera in Marvin

If you are looking for a luxury gated community in the Waxhaw area, Ladera should top of your list. This amazing project is underway right now and has fantastic large homes on large lots in a great location. Top rated schools are yet another draw bringing residents to Ladera.

This gated luxury community was begun by Standard Pacific who merged with Ryland Homes to become CalAtlantic. CalAtlantic became part of Lennar Corp, but none of the quality of these homes has been lost with all of the change. Ladera is in good company with Ainsley by John Weiland, Pulte and Shea Homes close by as well as Providence Downs South just down the road.

Ladera is located just off New Town Road between Waxhaw-Marvin Road and Crane Road in the Marvin area. There are major road closures occurring in the area so during the closures residents and guests have to enter from Crane Road. Minutes away from Blakeney, Ladera is close to shopping and dining. There are also many quaint shops on Main street in Waxhaw.

The homes feature wooded and cul-de-sac homesites, some with basement lots. Homes features owner’s suites with spa-like baths, guest suites, gourmet kitchens, open floor plans, and spacious entry foyers. Many of the homes feature upstairs porches, outdoor living spaces, courtyard style garages, and stylish exteriors. Many of these homes enclose over 5,000 square feet of tastefully appointed living space.

The neighborhood also includes a pond, sidewalks, streetlights, and walking trails, in addition to the privacy of the stylish gates. In the last year, homes in Ladera have sold for between the $730’s and the $970’s. There are currently 14 homes on the market in various stages of construction representing an 11.2 month supply of homes.

Children in Ladera are currently zoned for top rated Marvin Schools. These assignments are for Marvin Elementary School, Marvin Ridge Middle School, and Marvin Ridge High School. Please verify school assignments with the school district as zoning boundaries can cut through neighborhoods.

If you would like to schedule a private tour of homes in Ladera, give us a call at (704) 525-4045. You can view current listings and create custom searches on our website here.

August Market Statistics

The monthly numbers are out from the Charlotte Regional Realtor Association. They gather the data from the Carolina Multiple Services and compare what is happening in the market now with last year at the same time. For four months, home sales have been down across the Charlotte region. It looks like this may be the new trend for the area.

The Charlotte Business Journal reports that “another straight month of annual sales declines during the peak home-selling season shows “the cooling effect limited inventory and waning affordability are having on the Charlotte market””. The quote is from Jason Gentry, the CRRA President.

If you look at home sales between last year (4,800) and this year (4,514), there is a decline of 6%. This is not what you typically expect at this time of the year. Home prices are edging higher as well with the average sale price up to $294,107. This is up 8.8% over last years $270,274.

Pending sales are up 7.4% over last year at this time from 4,443 to 4,771. New listings were up 1.5% from 5,576 to 5,660. This shows that there is still strong interest from buyers despite prices rising.

Inventory woes persist in the Charlotte market as once again the supply of homes is down year over year. There are currently 10,052 homes on the market, down 14.3% from last years 11,736. This represents just a 2.4 month supply of inventory, well down from the 4-6 months supply that typically represents a balanced market between buyers and sellers.

Homes continue to sell at a faster rate than last year spending just 38 days on the market. This is down from 43 days last year, a decline of 11.6%. This means that buyers have to be pre-approved for loans and ready to jump on a home quickly after it is listed.

If you are in the market to buy or sell a home in the Charlotte market, give us a call at (704) 525-4045. You can view current listings and create custom searches on our website here.

 

Build Your Dream in Tuscan Ridge

If you are looking for a luxury home in Weddington, do yourself a favor and check out Tuscan Ridge. There are 12 lots being developed by LAWD Properties, LLC, so not many chances to get in on this amazing project. They are zoned for top rated Union County schools, and have a great location. There are several plans to choose from or you can bring your own plan.

Tuscan Ridge is located just south of I-485 off Providence Road and Hemby Road. Just down the street is a grocery store, restaurants, banks, churches, gas stations, and everything you need for a quick trip. If you go a little bit further away, you will have more options as you can easily get to Promenade on Providence, Ballantyne, Piper Glen or into Weddington. With I-485 so close, you can easily get into Uptown Charlotte or head out for a trip via Charlotte Douglas International Airport.

These 12 lots are sized between 0.92 and 1.1 acre in size. This gives plenty of space for the minimum 3,000 square foot home as well as space for outdoor living spaces and privacy. Peachtree Builders have already built two homes in the neighborhood that are full of unique details and packed with features. They have 4 or 5 bedrooms, 4 or 4.5 bathrooms, and three car garages. Plans are open concept and have tons of natural light. Custom storage, gourmet kitchens, coffered ceilings, and much more are included in over 4,00 square feet of living space.

You can choose an already built home, build from your own plan, or just customize one of the existing plans to make it into your dream home. Homes are on county water and septic systems. Exteriors are brick, stone, and stucco with gas lanterns. Homes start in the $700’s and with upgrades can go higher.

The homes in this exclusive neighborhood are zoned for top rated Antioch Elementary School, Weddington Middle School, and Weddington High School. All schools are in the award winning Union County school district. Please verify school assignments as they can change from one school year to the next.

Schedule a private tour of these homes in Tuscan Ridge by calling (704) 525-4045. Create custom searches and view current listings on our website here.

 

July Market Statistics

Home prices rose again in July, and inventory tightened yet again, continuing a trend that we have been stuck in for some time. This makes first time buyers more hesitant to enter the market and keeps sellers from listing as they are afraid of not being able to find a comparable home.

Jason Gentry, president of the Charlotte Regional Realtor Association says “Without a doubt, limited inventory continues to pressure prices across the region, while also effectively slowing sales during what’s typically our prime selling season. Demand and pending contract activity remain strong, which means buyers must move quickly to purchase the home they want.”

When you look at the numbers for the Charlotte region, average home prices were up 6.7% from this time last year. In 2017 the average sale price was $276,434, in 2018 it has risen to $290,486. When you look at the longer trend, in 2012 the average sale price was just $219,867.

In July of 2012 there were 18,228 homes for sale in the Charlotte region. This July, there are just 9,790 homes for sale. Those 9,790 homes represent a 2.4 month supply of inventory. This is well below the 4-6 months supply that would normally signal a balanced market between buyers and sellers.

All of these numbers come from the recently released report based on data from the Carolina Multiple Listing Services. The numbers show that closed sales were down this month over July of last year by 2.8%. This is concerning as it occurs during what is normally the busiest time in the yearly cycle for sales.

New listings were down 0.4% year over year which leads us to believe that the market is due for a further slow down. We will have to watch and see what happens in August to be sure if this is indeed the trend.

Pending sales on the other hand were up substantially from this time last year. In July of 2017, there were 4,398 pending sales. This July, there are 4,947, an increase of 12.5%. If all of these head to the closing table, we should see a rise in sales for next month.

It is taking less time for homes to sell once they are put up on the market as well. Homes are staying on the market for an average of 83 days from list to close. From the time of list until the sale is just 36 days. This means that buyers have to be completely ready to go when they find the home they want.

If you are looking to buy or sell in the Charlotte area, give us a call at (704) 525-4045. You can view current listings and create custom searches on our website here.

Last Chance for The Cottages at Olde Waxhaw

Don’t miss out on your chance to be one of the six homeowners in The Cottages at Olde Waxhaw. This neighborhood is just two blocks from great restaurants, shopping, entertainment, and parks. There are just a few opportunities to get in on this unique, boutique development.

The Cottages at Olde Waxhaw are located on McKibben Street just across the way from Dare Steel Memorial Garden. East Main Street is just two blocks away with a great selection of restaurants, shops, and entertainment. Two blocks away is also David G. Barnes Children’s Park and Waxhaw Skate Park. Uptown Charlotte is just 30 miles away if you want to catch a ball game, concert, museum, or for a commute to work. Charlotte Douglas International Airport is 31 miles away so you can get there easily as well. Just 12 miles North is Ballantyne which has amazing options for shopping, major employers, and entertainment.

Builder Carder Construction is putting these homes together. They feature many high end finishes as well as open floor plans, granite counters in kitchens and baths, trey ceilings in the master, full front porches, and much more. All of the homes have two stories, three bedrooms and two and a half bathrooms. Each has 1,818 square feet of heated living space with high ceilings making it feel bigger. Most of the homes feature a 2 car rear entry carport accessed from an alley in the back.

The Cottages at Olde Waxhaw is currently zoned for Waxhaw Elementary School, Parkwood Middle School, and Parkwood High School. Please verify school assignments as zoning boundaries can change from one school year to the next.

Homes range from $259,900 to $261,100 and there is only one homes left that is not currently under contract. If you would like to schedule a private tour, give us a call at (704) 525-4045. You can view current listings and create custom searches on our website here.

June Market Statistics

Buyers are starting to feel the pinch in the Charlotte market as inventory is super low and prices are rising sky-high. Jason Gentry, the president of the Charlotte Regional Realtor Association says “Even though the Charlotte region is wedged into a solid seller’s market, incredibly low supply coupled with higher prices and rising mortgage rates are presenting challenges to buyers.”

This should be a great market for sellers, but they are afraid of not being able to find a comparable home so they are reluctant to list their homes. This is coupled with builders not being able to keep up with demand either so inventory remains low.

The monthly report numbers are out from the Charlotte Regional Realtor Association data compiled from the Carolina Multiple Listing Services. According to their report, there are just 9,554 homes on the market, down 17.2% from this time last year. This means that the Charlotte Region has only a 2.3 month supply of homes at this time. A balanced market between buyers and sellers is considered to be a 6 month supply. For comparison, in June of 2012 there were 18,700 homes on the market in the Charlotte Region, almost twice the number on the market in June of 2018.

The average sales price of homes rose 5.7% from last June to this June up to $302,177. If you look back at that same report from June of 2012, the average sales price was $227,907. That’s a jump of almost $75,000 in just 6 years, almost a 33% rise in property value.

The homes that are on the market are selling at a quicker pace than in years previous. In June of 2012, homes spent an average of 111 days on the market from listing to sale. This June, homes spent an average of only 36 days on the market. This means that buyers have to be able to act quickly to get a home right now.

If you are ready to act quickly, give us a call at (704) 525-4045. You can view current listings on our website and create custom searches here.

Join the Community in Brantley Oaks

Picture yourself going to a community 4th of July put on by the neighborhood social committee. You’ll see kids riding a big water slide, neighbors sharing a meal, and community coming together. You’ll see all of these things and more in Brantley Oaks.

Brantley Oaks is a small tight knit community situated off 485 and Rocky River Road in Union County, NC. This location is between Waxhaw and Mineral Springs, North Carolina. Charlotte is not far away if you have a commute, or just want to have a day in the city.

There are just 65 custom homes in Brantley Oaks each with a lot ranging in size from 1 to over 3 acres. Each home has amazing attention to detail and the typical home is well over 3,000 square feet of heated living space. Many of the homes have 3 car garages and amazing outdoor living spaces including pools, fireplaces, outdoor kitchens and more. Yards are wooded and some contain creeks, but all have privacy you just can’t get closer in to town.

This hidden gem has a swim and racquet club which hosts the Barracudas swim team. The Barracudas compete with nearby neighborhoods in the University Swim League. The homeowners association hosts many activities throughout the year that helps bind the community together and fosters life-long friendships.

Children in Brantley Oaks currently attend Western Union Elementary School, Parkwood Middle School, and Parkwood High School. Please verify school assignments as they can change from one school year to the next.

In the past year, homes in Brantley Oaks have sold for between $332,000 and $552,900 with an average sale price of $445,629. There are currently 6 homes on the market, representing 10.3 months of inventory.

If you would like to schedule a private tour of homes in Brantley Oaks, give us a call at (704) 525-4045. You can view current listings and save custom searches on our website here.