Charlotte Archives - Page 2 of 15

11 Dec 2013

I Love Real Estate

Carolinas, Charlotte, Recruiting, Triad, Triangle, Upstate

I asked a group of Allen Tate agents what they were grateful for this holiday season. They replied, with much enthusiasm: “My job!” As you think about what gifts you hope to receive – or what the New Year might bring, perhaps it is a new career … one that brings YOU the joy that our real estate agents share. What do I personally love about real estate? Here’s my list. I want to learn something new every day, and real estate gives me that opportunity. I am a giver of joy. Telling first-time buyers that their offer has been accepted makes me forever a part of their home ownership experience. I can create my own schedule around my life. I wear many hats and I...

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29 Nov 2013

Safe Holiday Shopping

by Allen Tate Companies

Carolinas, Charlotte, Insurance, Triad, Triangle, Upstate

Holiday shopping has officially begun. As we go in search for the perfect gift for everyone on our list, there are a few things to remember to keep yourself – and your gifts – safe. • Shop with a friend. Thieves are most likely to approach someone alone. • Park in a well-lit area. Survey your surroundings before leaving your vehicle or approaching your car with your arms full of packages. • Make sure your car is locked. That’s a good practice anytime – not just when you’re shopping. • Keep your wallet close by and never leave it unattended. There’s no bigger panic than a missing wallet, and thieves can spot an easy target. • Ask the merchant to run your debit card as...

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20 Nov 2013

iBinge

by Allen Tate Companies

Carolinas, Charlotte, Triad, Triangle, Upstate

The nights are getting longer and the weather is getting colder…so I’m ready to cocoon in my Carolina home and binge. As alarming as that sounds, I assure you that I’m not doing myself any harm other than eyestrain and an ever-widening bottom. I’m referring to binge-watching, the latest television trend. To “binge” on TV is to watch voluminous hours of television in one long sitting. Are you guilty? My personal demi-god, Bruce Springsteen, recorded a song in the early 1990s called “57 Channels (And Nothin’ On).” 20 years later, I have hundreds of channels (and still nothin’ on), but thankfully I also have a DVR, on-demand cable, Hulu, Amazon Instant Video, iTunes, and Netflix. I have all the technology I need...

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8 Nov 2013

Carolinas’ Housing Recovery Marches On

by Allen Tate Companies

Buying, Carolinas, Charlotte, First-Time Homebuyer, Home Building, Homeownership, Relocation, Triad, Triangle, Upstate

In terms of the stock market, a long-term trend is categorized as one lasting a year or longer. Based on the first nine months of 2013, I’m comfortable saying that the housing recovery is clearly trending in the right direction. In September, we saw the third best month for home sales since 2009. Only July and August 2013 were stronger sales months than September. The numbers speak loudly. Allen Tate Company is averaging 45 listings per day, 68 sales per day and 57 closings per day – up 18 percent, 23 percent and 30 percent respectively over 2012. Year-to-date, Allen Tate has closed 16,758 homes, up from 12,758 at the same time last year. In the latest edition of Carolinas Market Update, I...

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4 Nov 2013

Rockin’ with the Carolina Panthers

by Allen Tate Companies

Carolinas, Charlotte, Triad, Triangle, Upstate

When I was in school, we heard a lot about the 3 R’s – reading, ‘riting and ‘rithmetic. Today, we’ve added another “R” to the list – rock. Just about every K-12 school in the Carolinas has a large rock in the school yard. I’m talking about the enormous painted boulder that serves as a banner, billboard, birthday card and display of every form of school spirit. The rocks may have originated because of our jagged Southern topography, but if you think about it, the school spirit rock is one of the first forms of social media. Always original, constantly changing and worth checking often, just to make sure you don’t miss something newsworthy. This year, Allen Tate Company found a really cool...

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30 Oct 2013

A Property Wish List Provides Focus

by Allen Tate Companies

Buying, Carolinas, Charlotte, First-Time Homebuyer, Home Building, Homeownership, Luxury Homes, Triad, Triangle, Upstate

When heading to the grocery store, it’s usually best to bring a list of what you want. That way, you don’t get distracted by splashy sales and promotions and forget to buy the items you really need. How about keeping a shopping list–or a wish list– handy during your house hunt? It’s easy to get sidetracked by gleaming new appliances and lose track of the essentials you were hoping for in the first place. Making a wish list ahead of time also helps you focus, and it can help your Allen Tate Realtor® by providing guidance into what matters most to you. Here’s a sampling of topics to consider including when jotting down your list: - What is your ideal price range? - How...

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28 Oct 2013

In-migration: The Benchmark of the Ages

by Allen Tate Companies

Buying, Charlotte, Homeownership, Selling

I grew up and spent the first third of my real estate career in Lancaster, Pa. During that time, I served on the local planning commission and proudly chaired it for many years. Most folks who are familiar with the area know it as “Amish country,” with travel and tourism a major revenue source. So you can understand it was a balancing act to maintain the beauty and tranquility of the endless Amish farms while promoting growth and generating infrastructure to support retirees moving in from New York and New Jersey. For example, a developer would often trade two farms for one, if the one had sewer and water in place. In-migration is a benchmark that all communities need to keep their...

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23 Oct 2013

Home Sweet Haunted Home

by Allen Tate Companies

Carolinas, Charlotte, Triad, Triangle

A fun tradition at Halloween is to visit a “haunted house,” filled with various ghosts and ghouls. But would you want to live in a real haunted house? According to legend, the older a home, the greater chance it could be haunted because of the number of souls who have lived there. If something happens that causes a tear in the energy, such as a violent death or extreme grief, a spirit may become trapped between this world and the next. The Carolinas are full of houses said to be haunted. Dare if you will to visit these homes with spooky histories: The Blakney House in Monroe, N.C, is believed to be haunted by William Blakney, a greedy miser. It is said that...

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20 Sep 2013

The Carolinas Are Becoming A Brewery Destination

by Allen Tate Companies

Carolinas, Charlotte, Location, Relocation, Triad, Triangle, Upstate

The movie Sideways was on TV recently. It’s the tale of two middle-aged buddies taking a week-long road trip into California’s wine country. And while the premise of that film should have me charting a course through North Carolina’s wine country (maybe later), it’s craft beer that I crave for my own sideways adventure this Fall. With over 100 craft breweries in North Carolina alone, there should be no shortage of destinations. Here are my five picks when I’m somewhere on the road in the Carolinas: Thomas Creek Brewery in Greenville, SC, has been brewing award-winning beer for 15 years. Their flagship brew is called River Falls Red Ale. Chances are you can sample some at Greenville’s Euphoria Festival later this month. The...

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19 Jul 2013

On-the-Road for a Burger

by Allen Tate Companies

Carolinas, Charlotte, Triad, Triangle, Upstate

I am a carnivore. I’m not proud of it. But I do love a good burger. And while Summertime is the right time to burn some ground beef on the George Foreman, I still prefer seeking out my burgers somewhere on-the-road in the Carolinas. Here are my 5 picks:

In Charlotte and Raleigh, I am a fan of Bad Daddy’s Burger Bar. Their Classic Southern Burger, topped with chili, American cheese, relish, mustard, and slaw, is a winner … but be sure to ask for plenty of napkins. I also enjoy the basic (and I mean basic) cheeseburger at O’Malley’s Pub in Raleigh. Basic…cheddar cheese…lettuce, tomato, pickle, mustard (no mayo) … and a side of onion rings. Oh, and a pint of Guinness. Perfection.

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Category: Charlotte

I Love Real Estate

Safe Holiday Shopping

iBinge

Carolinas’ Housing Recovery Marches On

Rockin’ with the Carolina Panthers

A Property Wish List Provides Focus

In-migration: The Benchmark of the Ages

Home Sweet Haunted Home

The Carolinas Are Becoming A Brewery Destination

On-the-Road for a Burger

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