Uncategorized – New Angle Realty

November 3, 2016November 3, 2016

As Gas Prices Rise, Look in-town

Monday a deadly explosion rocked the Colonial Pipeline in Alabama. The explosion occurred when a dirt-moving track hoe struck the pipeline, ignited gasoline and sparked a blast Monday, killing one worker and injuring five others, Georgia-based Colonial Pipeline said. The explosion is raising fears of another round of gas shortages and price increases after the pipeline’s second accident and shutdown in two months.

In September, there was a shutdown of the same pipeline due to a leak. This resulted in higher prices at the pump by 20-30 cents per gallon, and in some places shortages of fuel entirely. As of Tuesday, gas prices were already up 13%. There is a law against price gouging, that remains in effect.

Prices of other goods and services could also rise due to the shortage as fuel prices. Goods shipped via truck or airplane could also see a jump in price to recover the cost of higher priced fuel. Airline tickets could also see a jump if the pipeline takes a while to get back online.

All of this is to say, that there are plenty of options for housing closer into town. You don’t need to live far away to get the feeling of being outside the city. There are also many affordable options closer into town.

Many neighborhoods in SouthEnd and South Charlotte already see the benefits of being on the light rail line. You can also park and ride the light rail saving fuel. More neighborhoods will soon be able to use light rail as the lines extend north. Many neighborhoods are serviced by busses or ride-sharing. You could also live in Uptown so a walk down the street could be your commute.

If you are thinking about making changes to be more environmentally friendly and save on fuel costs, give our agents a call. We can help you find the neighborhood that fits all of your goals, and your pocketbook too.

To read more about the pipeline blast click here or here.

June 12, 2016

Spotlight: Piper Glen Estates

Imagine living next to a championship level golf course designed by Arnold Palmer himself. Living in Piper Glen Estates would get you just that. Newly renovated, the TCP Piper Glen Club has golf, tennis, swimming and a kids club. You could work on your swing, host a business meeting in their conference center or celebrate a wedding in their banquet rooms.

Homes in Piper Glen Estates are stately and unique. Most are well over 3000 square feet and include luxury features to make you as comfortable as possible for a family dinner or when hosting a charity event. Homes here can start below a half million dollars and go up into the millions of dollars. Some of the homes also include private tennis courts, pools, saunas, exercise rooms, home theaters and smart homes wired for all electronics.

While there are some new homes in Piper Glen Estates, most are existing homes. Some have been up-fitted with all of the latest features. Most include unique architectural details and many have views of the stunning golf course.

Piper Glen Estates is conveniently located north of I-485, South of Highway 51, straddling Rea Road and West of Providence Road. Ballantyne Commons is just a short drive away. Also close by is Providence Commons with more shopping and dining options. Take a short drive up Colony Road and be at SouthPark Mall in 20 minutes.

Charlotte Douglas International Airport is just 25 minutes away without traffic and Uptown Charlotte is just 30 minutes away.

As of June 11^th, there are 26 homes on the market in Piper Glen Estates with 8 of them under contract. They range in list price from $479,000 to $2,500,000. In the last year homes in the neighborhood have sold for between $420,000 and $1,070,000.

March 7, 2016January 18, 2017

Sprouts market may join Colinayre

Sprouts Farmers Market could find a home in Ballantyne as part of 521 Partners’ rezoning request for the Colinayre property at the southwest corner of southwest corner of Providence Road West and Johnston Road.

Sprouts is a health-focused grocery store that originated in Arizona in 2002 and now has 200 stores nationwide.

Like Trader Joe’s, Sprouts offers healthy foods and supplements at a more affordable price points. The grocer offers natural and organic foods, bulk dry goods, a full-service deli and baked goods.

Sprouts expanded to the southeast in 2014. This Ballantyne location would be the grocer’s first in the Carolinas.

521 Partners submitted last year a rezoning request for the 13 acres across from the Publix Super Market at Ballantyne Town Center. Currently, the property is zoned for offices. The mixed-use development plan that 521 Partners submitted would make the property a commercial center allowing for retail.

According to the request, the proposed development will include a mix of uses, including office, retail, a bank and a hotel. The site plan is broken into three separate development areas – a 3-story, 24,000-square-foot building for a bank and offices; a 4-story, 123-room hotel (Holiday Inn Express) or a two-story office building of 50,000 square feet; and a nearly 17,000 square foot office/retail building, 30,000-square-foot grocery store (tentatively Sprouts) and a 6,000-square-foot retail/dining building.

The Bank of North Carolina site and hotel are already under construction as part of a previously-approved plan.

As per the agreement with the planning commission, 521 Partners will create Johnston Road access to the new development, which was initially a sticking point for retail space approval. The entire space will be connected with walkable areas.

Sprouts will join a host of other health-focused markets in the area. Earth Fare, Trader Joe’s and The Fresh Market are all within 5 miles of the new planned Colinayre development.

March 3, 2016

U.S. News: Charlotte one of best places to live

epicentre — The skyline as seen from EpiCentre in the heart of Center City.

Not surprising to those of us who call Queen City home, Charlotte is one of the top 20 cities in which to live. That is according to U.S. New and World Report’s latest list of “20 Best Places to Live in the U.S.”

Charlotte ranked 15th on the list, which referred to the Queen City as a blend of “old-fashioned southern charm and high-energy cosmopolitan bustle.”

The large influx of people moving into the city and its lower cost of living put the city on the list. The median price of a home in Charlotte is $184,600. Median income is just over $48,000.

Moving to a new city can be a daunting task, but most of the people you will meet in Charlotte are not native Charlotteans, either, making the city an easier place to blend in, according to the report.

Charlotte’s growth, nightlife and unique culture make it a popular destination for business and leisure. There are new restaurants and new construction on the horizon nearly constantly it seems, which continues the city’s transformation into a destination of its own. No longer does it play second fiddle to Atlanta or Charleston, the report said.

Raleigh-Durham ranked No. 4 on the list, and Charleston, S.C., ranked 19th.

Give it time, and Charlotte will grow on you. If it already has and you are in the market for a permanent place to set down roots, have a look at these fantastic Uptown residences on the market.

February 29, 2016February 29, 2016

Barclay Downs: Quiet hood on the edge of action

Wouldn’t you want to live within walking distance to some of the best shopping, dining and schools in the Charlotte?

The gorgeous Barclay Downs neighborhood fits the bill on those points and many more. The family-friendly community is home to the Barclay Downs Swim & Racquet Club and has an active homeowners association for neighborhood events. One important issue for the HOA is SouthPark’s growth and its potential impact – both positive and negative – on the neighborhood.

With the area growing by leaps and bounds, Barclay Downs is situated on the outskirts of some pretty incredible development. Plans are already under way for a mixed-use development at the site of The Colony apartments, which is one of the projects in which the Barclay Downs HOA is very active.

Barclay Downs residents are within walking distance to SouthPark Mall and its surrounding shops and restaurants as well as Myers Park High School, one of city’s top-rated schools.

The neighborhood has approximately 450 homes that range from starter homes to luxury million-dollar homes and offers potential residents a coveted location without the higher price points of nearby Foxcroft and SouthPark.

Homes in Barclay Downs are located east and west of central Barclay Downs Drive, which connects Fairview Road near the mall to Runnymede Lane.

The neighborhood is a desirable one that sells well. Many of the homes are older ranches and have been renovated. There are also some newer construction homes in the neighborhood.

An average of nearly 3 homes sold per month in the neighborhood during the last 12 months for an average sales price of $535,145. The average price per square foot for the last year is $216.

Currently, there are 8 homes on the market in Barclay Downs, which represents a little more than 2.5 months inventory. Nearby Myers Park has more than 6 months of inventory with 85 homes on the market.

Charlotte and Mecklenburg County have 3.7 and 3.8 months of inventory, respectively.

All the homes on the market in Barclay Downs, except 1 built in 1972, were built in the 1950s and 1960s. Three of the homes are under contract as of Feb. 28.

The highest sales price during the last 12 months was $920,000 for a renovated 4 bedroom, 4 bathroom home of 3,350 square feet.

The lowest sales price was $285,000 for an unrenovated 3-bedroom home of 1,950 square feet.

The neighborhood is zoned for Selwyn Elementary, Alexander Graham Middle School and Myers Park High School.

February 24, 2016

Luxury home goods, clothing coming to Blakeney

Blakeney Shopping Center is getting another high-end retailer in March with the addition of Soft Surroundings.

The St. Louis-based retailer announced its plans to expand to North Carolina, with its Blakeney shop being the company’s first in the state.

The brand sells luxury women’s clothing, home goods, jewelry and skincare in its 24 nationwide locations.

Fifteen additional locations are planned this year, and the Charlotte store will be the first of the new locations to open in 2016. A Greensboro location is slated to open later in the year.

Soft Surroundings will join women’s clothiers like Talbot, Ann Taylor LOFT, Banana Republic and White House Black Market in Blakeney.

The 270-acre mixed-use development known as Blakeney (Blakeney Square, Blakeney Crossing and Apartments at Blakeney) is located on Rea Road near Ardrey Kell Road. It includes 600,000 square feet of retail, single-family attached and detached homes, office development and apartment homes.

The outdoor shopping center has more than 13 dining locations, in addition to big anchor stores such as Target, Marshall’s/Home Goods, Best Buy and Banana Republic.

All phases of the project were completed in 2012 by developer Crosland Southeast.

Interested in a home in the Blakeney area? There are currently 4 on the market in the Blakeney area.

February 15, 2016

At home in Fourth Ward: Ivey’s Townhomes

With the building boom going strong Uptown and the trend toward more urban, walkable space, now is the perfect time to consider a Center City address. One of the more affordable Uptown addresses is in Ivey’s Townhomes at 127 N. Tryon Street.

The building, completed in May 1924, has a rich history as the former site of an Ivey’s department store location. The six-story building was renovated in 1995 and now consists of 66 condominiums and ground-level shops and dining.

Residences in Ivey’s range from 1,000 square feet to 4,000 square feet and are priced from the $200,000s to more than $1 million.

Besides walkability, there are perks to living in an upscale condo building Uptown. Ivey’s has 24-hour concierge and security and private, secured parking.

The condos have hardwood floors, large floor-to-ceiling windows and contemporary designs with high ceilings.

Currently, there are 2 units available in the building. Both are third-floor, 2-bed, 2-bath homes priced at $375,000. One of the homes is under contract as of Feb. 14.

In the last 12 months, 4 units have sold in Ivey’s for an average sales price of $367,300 and an average price per square foot of $234.

The Avenue, a newer 36-story residence in the Fourth Ward, has 20 residences for sale as of Feb. 14. That is approximately 5.6 months of inventory for that building. Ivey’s has 8 months of inventory.

Fourth Ward is in the northeast quadrant of Center City. Its boundaries are Tryon and Trade streets and the 277 business loop.

Fourth Ward is home to Discovery Place, Gateway Village and the Fillmore. Ivey’s is walkable to a myriad of Uptown locations such as the EpiCentre complex, Blumenthal Performing Arts Center and Time Warner Cable Arena. The light rail makes the rest of the Uptown and South End very accessible.

February 3, 2016

Sold on Cotswold!

If you want a neighborhood that ticks every box on your “desirables” list then look no further than Cotswold. Quaint but close to Uptown? Check. Nearby shopping and dining? Check. Great schools? Check.

Cotswold is an area of town bordered by Monroe and Wendover roads to the north/northeast and Providence and Sardis/Rama roads to the south/southwest. Its main thoroughfares are Randolph and Sharon Amity roads.

Though the homes were built primarily in the 1950s and 1960s, the area has a very hip and current vibe. You can find just about any home style you desire in Cotswold, from traditional ranches and craftsman to mid-century moderns and custom-built newer homes.

Don’t let the age of the homes fool you. As original owners have moved out over the years, newer families have put a lot of time and money into renovating some of the homes.

In addition to its proximity to Uptown, Cotswold is built around Cotswold Village Shops, the city’s first suburban mall. Area residents have every convenience right in their own neighborhood, including medical facilities.

Some of the schools that serve the Cotswold are Cotswold Elementary School, Eastover Elementary School, Alex Graham Middle School, Randolph Middle School and Myers Park High School.

So what’s the catch to this too-good-to-be-true hood? Well, Cotswold is not the cheapest neighborhood in Charlotte. The good news is that it is not the priciest, either. Occasionally, there are some unrenovated gems that go on the market. Last year, the priciest home sold in Cotswold was $2.65 million.

The average sales price of the 115 homes that sold during the last 12 months is just under $600,000. Expect to pay between $210 and $220 per square foot for a home there, which is what the cost averaged over the last year.

Currently, there are 39 homes on the market in Cotswold. That’s just about 4 months of inventory given the sales rate there. Of those 39 homes, 19 are already under contract. Many homes listed are recently built or still under construction.

The highest and lowest price of homes listed currently are $1.1 million for a newly-constructed, 4,400+ square-foot home and $179,900 for a 1951 home that is just over 1,500 square feet.

Cotswold has been and will continue to be one of Charlotte’s most desirable neighborhoods. Take a drive down its streets lined with mature trees and well-landscaped lawns, and you will understand why!

January 25, 2016January 25, 2016

Home-buying etiquette to up your game

If you’re thinking of buying a home then get used to being scrutinized – and not just by your bank. How you present yourself can really make a difference to sellers. These unwritten rules of etiquette could be the difference between getting the home of your dreams and being told “in your dreams,” according to a Realtor.com report.

Get loan preapproval. Speak with your lender before you start looking at houses. Nobody wants to be inconvenienced, especially sellers. Having strangers traipse through your house is unsettling and can be stressful. Make sure you know what is a reality in your price range, and don’t waste anyone’s time kicking tires.

Respect people’s time. If you have an appointment with your own agent, be on time so you both can be on time to scheduled showings. This goes back to how irritating it is to be inconvenienced. Everyone is busy, and if other people can find a way to be on time, then you can, too. It shows respect and is a common courtesy. Call if you are running a few minutes late and reschedule if you are going to be very late.

Remove shoes. Selling a house is hard work. Keeping it picture perfect takes time. Treat someone else’s home as good or better than you would treat your own. Weekends are busy with showings, and if you track dirt into a house it will not look as nice for the next potential buyer.

Don’t bring an entourage. Only the people directly involved in the transaction should go on showings. Sometimes it is nice to have multiple opinions, but so many cooks in the kitchen can make life-changing decisions even more difficult. And don’t bring children, if at all possible. If you have to bring them, make sure they are tended to at all times and not touching personal belongings or leaving smudgy fingerprints anywhere.

Ask if it is OK to take pictures. It sounds silly, because of course you want to show the entourage you couldn’t bring all the great things you saw. But there are privacy issues. If the house is vacant then it is probably fine, but in an occupied house there are personal effects and pictures likely to make it into your pictures. Don’t post a picture of the massive safe in the master closet to social media, for example. Use common sense even if you do get permission.

Don’t overstay your welcome. According to the Realtor.com report, 15-30 minutes is acceptable for a first showing. If you have narrowed your choices then you can ask for a second visit.

And lastly, don’t make multiple unnecessary visits. Up to three visits before writing an offer is acceptable, according to Realtor.com, but each visit is an inconvenience. An inspection period gives you time to bring professionals in. An offer shows the seller you are serious and makes them more amenable to giving you access to the house.

While the wintery weather is keeping you home, find your perfect Queen City home and put these rules to the test!

January 20, 2016January 20, 2016

City Council OKs SouthPark redevelopment

The face of SouthPark is set to grow and change again after the City Council approved Jan. 19 a redevelopment plan that would raze and redevelop The Colony apartments, adding hotel, retail and residential space.

The $400 million plan passed unanimously, even with council members’ concerns regarding impact on the already-congested area. The new planned space will include more affordable housing and benefit the area, according to a Charlotte Observer report.

Fifty-five of the proposed 990 apartments will be designated affordable housing by the developers, the report said.

The project will turn the 27-acre, 353-unit Colony apartments into one of the largest mixed-use projects in the city.

In addition to building changes, the project will improve surrounding streets, traffic lights, turn lanes and pedestrian crossings.

Approved in the plans is a “225-room hotel, 250,000 square feet of office space and 300,000 square feet of retail space, including a grocery store,” the report said.

Construction could begin early 2017. The first phase would most likely include a grocery store, retail and apartments.

For more, see The Charlotte Observer report.