Posted on

Custom Luxury Awaits in Longbrooke

In the Northern part of Lancaster County is a true retreat of luxury homes. Longbrooke is a gated community with large lots and custom built European inspired country homes. This is the only gated luxury community in the area and it is the ideal setting for your next home. These amazing homes have it all with lower South Carolina taxes, serene setting, yet are close to everything.

Located south of Ballantyne conveniently off 521, Longbrooke is close to shopping, dining, entertainment, and outdoor recreation. A trip to Charlotte Douglas International Airport is 25 miles away and Uptown Charlotte is 24 miles away. Quaint shops are just up the road in Indian Land, and a trip to Lake Wylie is about 15 miles. This means that Longbrooke is easily accessible, yet has a remote country setting.

Custom crafted estates in Longbrooke have many handcrafted details, from the iron gates welcoming you into the neighborhood, to the gas lanterns and fountain garden tying the community together. Lots are wooded and private with gently rolling hills.

Homes in Longbrooke have four featured custom luxury home builders. Pasko Homes, Arthur Rutenberg Homes, Harland Homes, and New Old are the featured builders. You can also bring your own builder of choice to create your custom dream home.

Homes in Longbrooke harken back to old world style, but with all of the modern conveniences. Expect elegant styling, outdoor living spaces, sumptuous interiors, and all the bells and whistles. No expense has been spared in the details of these homes. Accordingly, prices start in the $600’s and can go well over $1 million. But you get what you pay for, most homes are near or over 4,000 square feet of living space and include many flex spaces, home offices, game rooms, libraries, gourmet kitchens, pools and much more.

Children in Longbrooke currently attend Harrisburg Elementary, Indian Land Middle, and Indian Land High Schools. Please verify school assignments as zoning boundaries can change from one school year to the next.

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

 

Posted on

Neighborhood Spotlight: Weddington Preserve

Weddington Preserve is a great new offering from builder Pulte Homes. It has a convenient location, top rated schools, and low Union County property taxes. All of this and more with amazing floor plans, quick move in homes, and unrivaled quality.

Located off Lochaven Road just off Providence Road, Weddington Preserve is south of downtown Weddington. Residents have shopping options in Weddington, or south at the intersection with New Hope Road. North of Weddington is access to I-485 connecting to all parts of Charlotte.

Nearby attractions include retail, dining, entertainment, recreational activities, and public parks. There are many employers nearby, as well as many within a short commute. A longer commute will take you to Uptown Charlotte where you can be a part of the city, but still have a peaceful retreat when you come home.

Homes in Weddington Preserve are large in scale with homes ranging from just over 3,000 to well over 4,000 square feet of living space. They come in a variety of floor plans with many different opportunities for personalization with upgrades and add-ons. Most of the lots are over a third of an acre leaving plenty of room for these large homes and space for outdoor living areas.

The interiors of these homes have large owner’s suites, guest suites, 3-5 or more bedrooms, 2 or 3 car garages, and much more. Some homes are even on basement lots allowing for even more finished living space. Prices start in the high $500’s and can go well into the $700’s.

Children in Weddington Preserve currently attend top rated Rea View Elementary School, Weddington Middle School, and Weddington High School. Please be sure to verify school assignments as they can change from one school year to the next.

Currently seven homes for sale in various states of construction. Some are closer than others and a few are available for quick move in. If you are interested in a private tour of homes in Weddington Preserve, give us a call at (704) 525-4045. You can also view current listings and create custom searches on our website here.

Posted on

Thrive in South Charlotte’s Castleford

Pulte Homes has opened a new neighborhood walking distance to Waverly called Castleford. This amazing spot is close to shopping, dining, boutique shops, spa services, all a short walk or drive away. Castleford is zoned for top schools, is close to top rate golf and country clubs, is close to major employers and is a quick commute from Uptown Charlotte.

Located off Ardrey Kell Road at the intersection of Tilley Morris Road, Castleford is just outside of the I-485 loop. Providence Commons and Waverly are both really convenient for all of your shopping, dining, and entertainment needs. Also close by are Providence Country Club, Quail Hollow and TPC at Piper Glen. A 30 minute drive will have you at Charlotte Douglas International Airport or Uptown Charlotte.

Homes in Castleford are grand. There is a choice from seven different plans that can be customized and upgraded to meet your own unique needs. They range in size from 3,239 to over 5,000 square feet and have between 3 and 7 bedrooms and 2.5 to 7.5 bathrooms. Homes have two or three car garages, some with a courtyard or split garage plan. Exteriors are constructed with stone, brick, and hardie board and have many designer features.

The interiors of these homes contain chef’s or gourmet kitchens, open floor plans, owner’s suites, private guest suites, home offices, flex spaces, outdoor living spaces and much more. Pulte has been designing and building homes for over 65 years and they are bringing all that experience to these homes. Prices start just under $500,000 and can go well into the $700,000’s depending on plan, features and upgrades.

Castleford is currently assigned to some of the highest-scoring schools in the Charlotte area. Children attend McKee Road Elementary, Jay M Robinson Middle, and Providence High Schools. All schools are top rated and Providence High has had the highest SAT scores in the area for the past few years. Please verify school assignments as they can change from one school year to the next.

The first phase of Castleford is currently open with 11 homes and the model home available now. 17 additional lots will be released soon. If you miss out on the first phase, not to worry, 68 additional homesites will be available in the second phase. There is also a planned amenity center which will feature a clubhouse and pool.

If you are interested in a private tour of homes in Castleford, give us a call at (704) 525-4045. You can also create custom searches and view current listings on our website here.

Posted on

March Market Statistics

It looks like the Seller’s market is going to continue for a while in the Charlotte area. According to data from the Charlotte Regional Realtor Association, the Charlotte area is down to just a 2 month supply of homes. This data is based on information provided by the Carolina Multiple Listing Services monthly report. The report was released this week and looks similar to previous months, with a few exceptions.

One of the most striking changes from previous months is the drop in sales. There was a decline of 11.2% from March of last year. This is possibly a sign that the hot market could slow down at last.

New listings were also down 4.5% year over year. The lack of new listings typically indicates that there could be more competition for existing listings which makes a seller’s position in a transaction stronger. Currently the supply of homes is at just 2 months. A balanced market between buyers and sellers is typically 6 months.

One of the things that typically happens when there is a lack of supply in the market is that prices go up. This is what has been happening in the Charlotte area. In March, median sales price was up 7.1% to $235,000. Average sales price was up 4.6% to $279,726. These higher prices are paired with rising interest rates which can price some buyers out of the market entirely.

Another side effect of rising prices and interest rates is that homeowners are staying in their homes longer. This is truly an opportunity for sellers to list their homes as they can get higher prices, but many homeowners are cautious because they worry about not finding their next home. There is a ready and willing buyer base so hopefully we will see inventory rise soon.

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.

Posted on

Neighborhood Spotlight: Avery Lake

If you’re looking for a charming neighborhood with great schools in Fort Mill, SC, look no further than Avery Lake. Homes are affordable and there is great highway access making a commute a breeze. There is a small lake in the neighborhood for residents to enjoy.

Avery Lake is located just off Steel Street and Springfield Parkway walking distance from Fort Mill Middle School. A five minute drive will have you in Downtown Fort Mill with quaint shops as well as national retailers, dining, and entertainment. A commute to Uptown Charlotte should take around 25 minutes, and Charlotte Douglas International Airport is about 25 minutes away as well. There are many nearby options for outdoor recreation including the Anne Springs Close Greenway, Fort Mill Golf Club, as well as nearby Lake Wylie.

The neighborhood includes apartments, single-family homes as well as a new townhome development currently under construction by Mcor Builders. The single-family homes are typically 3 bedroom and 2 bathroom homes with 1,100 – 1,200 square feet of heated living space. These homes were built between 2000 and 2004 and have lots around a fifth of an acre.

The new townhomes have modern designs featuring 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms. Each home will have around 1,300 square feet of heated living space with the loft and third bedroom being upstairs, perfect for a media room or home office.

In the last year, homes in Avery Lake have sold for between $172,000 and $196,000. The townhomes are listed at $165,995, but are all currently under contract, expected to be completed in 2018.

Children in Avery Lake currently attend award winning Fort Mill Schools. These include Fort Mill Elementary School, Fort Mill Middle School, and Nation Ford High School. Please verify school information as zoning changes from time to time.

If you are looking for a home in Avery Lake, give us a call at 704-525-4045. You can also view current listings and create custom searches on our website here.

Posted on

February Market Statistics

The Charlotte Regional Realtor Association has released their monthly report of home sales statistics based on data from the Carolina Multiple Listing Services, Inc. According to the report, home prices in the region continue to be higher than previous months. The average sales price rose year over year to $265,761, an increase of 8.3%. The median price also rose 12.9% to $227,000.

Pending sales were up 8.3% from 2017 with 4,092 sales pending at the time the report was released last Friday. There were 2,792 sales that closed in February, representing a 3.4% increase over 2017.

Despite these gains, inventory was down yet again from a 2.6 month supply to a 2.0 month supply, a decrease of 23.1%. There were only 8,035 homes on the market at the time of the report. This leaves homebuyers with fewer choices, and makes competition more common when a home does come on the market. Buyers are at a disadvantage in negotiations as there are more buyers than sellers at this time.

Buyer demand may be steady, but new listings were down year over year from 4,695 down to 4,627 representing a decline of 1.4%. This means that we can’t expect a reversal of the market any time soon.

It will be interesting to see what will happen as the FED has recently raised rates, which usually tracks with a corresponding rise in mortgage rates. This could cause a slow-down of the market as people may not be able to afford large mortgages. We will keep tracking the trends.

If you are interested in 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.

 

Posted on

Limited Opportunities in Ballantyne’s Estates at Oakhaven

Estates at Oakhaven is another amazing neighborhood brought to you by CalAtlantic/Lennar Homes. Begun by CalAtlantic, Lennar is taking on the task of finishing the project after the merger. Located in Ballantyne, Estates at Oakhaven is in a fabulous location close to shopping, dining, golf, outdoor recreation and more. There is easy highway access connecting residents to Uptown Charlotte and Charlotte Douglas International Airport.

Located just south of Ballantyne Commons Parkway, Estates at Oakhaven straddles Providence Road West between Johnston Road and Community House Road north of Ardrey Kell Road. This location is close to the Golf Club at Ballantyne which gives residents year-round access to an amazing golf club.

Containing only 46 homes, Estates at Oakhaven is an exclusive opportunity. These all brick luxury homes start at $473,990 and go up to $535,990 or more with upgrades. There are six floor plans to choose from including Waverly, Oakwood, Ellington, Drake, Chatsworth and Wilmington. Square footages range between 3,014 to 3,745 and include 4 or 5 bedrooms and 3 to 4 bathrooms.

Homes in Estates at Oakhaven have two or three stories and two car garages. Options include two story foyers, spa like bathrooms, gourmet kitchens, guest suites, trey or coffered ceilings, upstairs laundry rooms, Jack and Jill bathrooms, walk-in dressing rooms/closets and much more. There are seemingly endless opportunities to make a home in Estates at Oakhaven perfect for your family.

Children in Estates at Oakhaven could go to either Hawk Ridge Elementary or Elon Park Elementary Schools. From there, they feed to Community House Middle School and Ardrey Kell High School. Please verify school assignments as boundaries are subject to change.

There are currently four homes for sale in Estates at Oakhaven with three already under contract. If you are interested in getting in on this exclusive opportunity, give us a call at (704) 525-4045. You can also view current listings and create custom searches on our website here.

Posted on

Get in Early on Rea Farms

Rea Farms is an amazing new neighborhood by CalAtlantic/Lennar. Located off Providence Road just south of I-485 at exit 57, Rea Farms is in a great and desirable location. On the site of the old Golf Links golf course, Rea Farms covers 188 acres and will include up to 500,000 square feet of office space, up to 210,000 square feet of retail in addition to 700 multi-family and single-family homes, and a unique village green.

Harris Teeter is building a new store that will help anchor the site at Rea Farms as well as Lifetime Fitness and Lifetime Tennis, the post office, and a hotel also anchor the neighborhood. The plan calls for a K-8 school which would serve children in the surrounding neighborhoods as well as Rea Farms. Also walkable from Rea Farms are Waverly, Providence Farms, and Stone Creek Ranch. This gives you many shopping, dining, and entertainment options within walking distance.

Homes in Rea Farms have a few different options. There will be rental units for people over 55 years of age. Townhomes are being developed, and also single-family homes. The single-family homes have a few different configurations and will include homes with detached and attached rear load garages. Some of the newer homes look like they will have traditional front or side load garage plans.

The builder’s website says that they will have stunning floorplans with open great rooms, kitchen and breakfast room concept, flex rooms and elegant owner’s retreats. They plan to have unique and flexible floorplans with something to offer for everybody. There will be four collections of homes to choose from and pricing has not yet been determined.

Rea Farms is currently zoned for fantastic schools which makes it even more desirable. Children will attend Polo Ridge Elementary, Jay M. Robinson Middle, and Ardrey Kell High Schools. Please verify school assignments as school boundaries can change.

The project at Rea Farms officially opens this spring, but if you want to get in early, give us a call at (704) 525-4045. You can always view current listings and create custom searches on our website here.

 

Posted on

Get in on Waxhaw’s Tuscany

Waxhaw’s Tuscany is an amazing neighborhood with a few opportunities to build a home from the ground up. There are just a few homesites left as this neighborhood was begun before the recession and had a pause in construction. Now it is underway again by builder CalAtlantic. You can’t beat the location, the schools, or the styling on these homes.

Tuscany is located off of Billy Howey Road south of New Town Road on the Northeast side of Waxhaw, North Carolina. As you drive into the entrance you will first see the amazing clubhouse and amenity center. Residents can enjoy the pool, clubhouse, fitness center, playground, walking trails and much more.

Head back a little bit further and you will start to see the stunning homes. Homes in Tuscany were built as far back as 2006, but most of the ones currently on the market were built from 2013-2018. There are a few quick-move in homes available, but there are also opportunities to start from scratch. There are many floor plans to choose from and some lots even accommodate a basement style home. Homes here are large, with most over 3,000 square feet. Many homes have three car garages, side-load or courtyard style garages are common.

Exteriors of homes in Tuscany spare no attention to detail. They are truly stunning and have a combination of brick, siding, and stone for a natural look. Windows are plentiful letting in lots of natural light. Ceilings are high making spaces feel more grand. Open floor plans include gourmet kitchens with top of the line appliances. Most homes have 3-5 bedrooms, home offices, flex space, media rooms, and game rooms are in many of the homes as well.

Current zoning has children in Tuscany attending top rated Wesley Chapel Elementary, Cuthbertson Middle, and Cuthbertson High Schools. Please verify school assignments as they can change.

In the past year, homes in Tuscany have sold for between $280,557 and $503,860 with an average price of $364,906. There are currently 6 homes on the market which represents about a 1.4 month supply of inventory.

If you are interested in setting up a private showing of a home in Tuscany, give us a call at (704) 525-4045. You can also view current listings and create custom searches on our website here.

Posted on

Spotlight: Forest Grove

Forest Grove is a new D.R. Horton neighborhood in desirable Fort Mill, South Carolina. The project has great amenities, low taxes, outstanding schools, and easy access to Uptown Charlotte and Charlotte Douglas International Airport. Fort Mill is considered a suburb of Charlotte even though it is in South Carolina as it is only 18 miles from the city so you get all of the amenities of the city while having the advantages of living a slower, quieter life. What’s not to love?

Located off Highway 160 about halfway between Highway 49 and I-77, Forest Grove gives homeowners great access to options for shopping, dining, fitness and outdoor recreation. Lake Wylie is just minutes away for water sports, boating, hiking and more. Forest Grove is also just outside Baxter Village and is close to Carowinds Amusement Park and McDowell Nature Preserve.

Homes in Forest Grove are craftsman style on the outside but have open concept floor plans and are filled with luxury features. Prices start in the low $300’s and include between 1,906 and 3,265 square feet of living space. This includes 3-5 bedrooms and 2.5-3 bathrooms. There are possibilities for upgrading the home in many ways to make it perfect for your family. There is also an inviting entrance and resort-style amenities.

Children in Forest Grove are currently zoned for top rated Gold Hill Elementary, Gold Hill Middle, Fort Mill High Schools. Please verify school assignments as zoning boundaries can change. There are also private schools, preschools, mother’s day out programs, and daycare options close by.

If you are interested in being the next owner in Forest Grove, let us set up a private tour. Give us a call at (704) 525-4045. You can also view current listings and create custom searches on our website here.