Thursday, November 20, 2014

Should I Pull a Permit?

As REALTORS®, we get this question all of the time from current and past clients when thinking of adding an addition to their property. There are small projects that do not require permits, but in most cases, the answer to this question is YES!!!!! Buyers looking for homes do not want to have to deal with unpermitted work for many reasons. No matter what the cost to hire a licensed contractor who will actually pull a permit on the job, it’s worth every penny when trying to sell. When buyers see that the tax records show an unfinished basement and yours is finished, they run for the hills (except in very rare cases where we have “perfect” homes)!   Some of the pitfalls of unpermitted work for buyers and sellers are typically:
  1. Safety- when dealing with electrical work everyone is nervous about the possibility that someone unlicensed did the work. You can never be 100% sure that all of the wiring in your home is completely safe, but having a licensed contractor do the work and a county inspector verify proper installation gives a certain level of comfort to buyers.
  2. Back taxes- buyers fear that the tax office will try to come back and assess that extra square footage for years past when they didn’t own the home.
  3. Warranty- many times work done after the fact or unpermitted will void the warranty that may still exist on a newer home or other products.
  4. Quality of workmanship- typically a subcontractor who does not pull permits may not always have the level of skill and demand for their work that someone who does pull permits would have.
Permit
These are just a few of the considerations when deciding the right way to go when upgrading or renovating your home. Even if you know how to do the work, you should consider pulling a permit yourself when possible. For those penny pinchers that are looking to save a buck, this is not the place to do it.
So, unless your home looks like something out of Better Homes and Gardens and a quick sale is just a home run, always use qualified contractors with references that will definitely pull a permit on their jobs!

Tuesday, November 18, 2014

2003 Bishops Court - Cornelius


For more information on 2003 Bishops Court, click here.



Antiquity
This beautiful new M/I Home is located in Antiquity in the heart of Cornelius, NC.  Antiquity is a modern community, designed for today’s lifestyle.  Here are some excerpts from the Antiquity  community website: Antiquity

“Antiquity® is a new smart-growth community 20 miles north of Charlotte immediately adjoining downtown Cornelius and Davidson Elementary School. The covered-bridge entrance reflects the at-ease, friendly feeling envisioned for this new community.
The streets inside Antiquity will be lined with more than 1,000 residences built with all ages and stages in mind, from couples and growing families to young professionals and empty-nesters. On-street parking and garages accessible only by alleyways allow residents to enjoy uninterruped sidewalks throughout Antiquity, including those leading to and around the town center.

As a nationally recognized smart-growth community, Antiquity preserves and enhances the natural and cultural resources of Cornelius and surrounding communities. Perhaps top on the list of outdoor havens is a planned 30-acre park that will surround the village. An arboretum will give residents an opportunity to memorialize special people and times with donated trees and plaques. Athletic fields will be ready for pick-up play, and just past the creek, a hike-and-bike trail will connect with the trail system in neighboring Davidson. Finally, a 2,500-seat amphitheater will be the outdoor setting for various summer performances.”
Antiquity

This is just a glimpse into the exciting new community ofAntiquity in Cornelius, NC.

This beautiful M/I Home features a revolutionary approach to energy efficient healthy living with their Whole Home® system.  From the M/I website:  “Whole Home is the set of green building standards that go into every new M/I home. We used Energy Star® standards as a starting point, then we added to them. The result is independently certified home that’s cost efficient, clean, green and healthy. Our Whole Home standards save you up to 30% on your energy bills every month and improve your quality of life year ‘round.”

Fresh, clean air and a healthy, energy efficient home is just the start!  This home also features:

  • Energy Star Qualified® home with Whole Home® energy efficient living
  • Exclusive Confidence Builder® program with 30 year structural warranty!
  • Builder paid closing costs, up to 3% of purchase price when using M/I Financial®
  • Crown molding throughout first floor
  • Scraped hardwood floors
  • Study with French doors
  • Upgraded Sky Line effect maple cabinets
  • Stainless steel appliances
  • Great island with granite, cabinets and shelves
  • Window over sink with goose neck faucet
  • Granite counter tops in kitchen and master bath
  • Built in kitchen desk area with under cabinet lighting
  • Pendant lights in kitchen
  • Recessed lighting throughout
  • Dual fireplaces in master bedroom and great room
  • Upgraded stair case with oak treads and metal balusters
  • Second floor loft
  • Large master suite with tray ceiling and crown molding
  • Luxury owners bath with granite tops and separate garden tub and shower
  • Large master closet
  • Two nicely sized secondary bedrooms
  • Hall bath with dual vanities and separate water closet and tub area
  • Structured wiring
  • Security system
  • Move in package with blinds and stainless steel refrigerator!!
  • Two car detached garage with opener
  • Overlooks beautiful pocket park
  • Short walk to pool
  • Short walk to downtown Cornelius & Davidson!

Wednesday, November 12, 2014

18534 Green Knoll Trace - Davidson


For more information on this 18534 Green Knoll Trace, click HERE.

Like new, well-appointed custom home in premier section of River Run Country Club with expansive outdoor space! Impeccably maintained, this master down home is thoughtfully designed for contemporary living & features a great room, keeping room, screened porch, upstairs loft & bonus room with over-sized walk-in storage and attached baths for each bedroom. Fine craftsmanship details include- custom cabinetry, Thermador gas cooktop with pop up exhaust, coffered ceiling, extensive trim, and extensive tile work. With a 3 car garage, stamped concrete patio and situated on a spacious 1/2 acre corner home site overlooking a gorgeous open space, this home is a must see!

From the River Run website:
“River Run is located in Davidson, North Carolina, only minutes north of Charlotte, but miles away in atmosphere. At River Run, you don’t have to wait. From the golf course, to the tennis center, and to the dining room, River Run provides our members with exclusive access to the finest country club facilities in the area.”

Visit the River Run link for information on joining the country club.

18534 Green Knoll Trace
Property Features:
  • Exclusive custom built home.
  • Custom entry door with side lites greet you to this fabulous stone and fiber cement exterior.
  • Extensive dining room trim including wainscoting and tray ceiling.
  • Large dining room windows with transoms.
  • Hardwood floors extending through the majority of the main level.
  • Great room with coffered ceiling, recessed lighting and hanging fixture. Exit through the door, adjacent to two large windows for natural light, directly to the patio.
  • Gorgeous staircase with wrought iron balusters, discreet stair tread lighting beautifully illuminating the hardwood treads at night.
  • Kitchen with custom cabinetry, bar seating area and pendant lighting is accented by granite tops and stainless appliances, including a Thermador gas cooktop and Bosch dishwasher.
  • The keeping room features a rustic stacked stone fireplace with custom mantle skirted by built in cabinets and shelving. Hardwood floors and extensive moldings continue into the keeping room, with 3 large windows and a door leading to the screened porch.
  • The first floor master bedroom includes a large bay window, recessed lighting and a beautiful tray ceiling.
  • The master bath features a jetted tub, oversized shower and two vanities with custom cabinetry. Modern details include custom tile work and a vaulted ceiling, giving the bathroom great volume and character.
  • At the top of the stairs, you will arrive at the loft, which includes hardwood floors and extensive custom built in cabinets.
  • The bonus room features bead board moldings along with access directly to a Jack and Jill bath and a huge unfinished storage attic. Perfect for expansion of the great room or for additional storage.
  • All secondary bedrooms allow for direct access to bathrooms and include crown moldings. Bedroom 4 features an enormous walk in closet as well.
  • The screened porch features a bead board ceiling and overlooks the large back yard.
  • A stamped concrete patio extends from the screened porch into the back yard, with ½ acre of level yard space, this is a unique find in River Run.
  • With an epoxy coating, the 3 car garage is a nice transition from finished space to the outside. You will find ample parking and storage.

18534 Green Knoll Trace - Davidson

Sunday, November 9, 2014

12659 Windyedge Road - Huntersville



For more information on this listing, click HERE

The SELLER says:
The Things We have Enjoyed Most about at 12659 Windyedge Road – Huntersville:
  • Great neighborhood & HOA
  • Very cozy & friendly
  • Close to I-77, Presbyterian Hospital, grocery stores (Earth FarePublix, Harris Teeter, Food Lion)
  • Close to shopping—Birkdale & Northlake Mall
  • Restaurants Close—Pinky’s Westside, Verde Mexican, Five Guys, Yoshi’s,Groucho’s Deli, Firehouse Subs, Starbucks, McDonalds
  • Next to Huntersville Business Park—great for walking, biking, or running
  • Only 5 miles from Lake Norman

We Enjoyed This Particular Floorplan Because:
  • Open floor plan that feels very spacious for a townhome
  • Master & laundry are upstairs
  • Cute porch—plenty of room for sitting outside and saying hi to neighbors

What Our Neighbors Are Like:
  • Great neighbors!
  • Mixed neighborhood of singles, families and retirees

Some Things You May Want To Know Are:
  • The area is under tremendous growth—so more doctors & dentists are moving around the corner
12659 Windyedge Road
12659 Windyedge Road




Tuesday, November 4, 2014

Whole Foods Market

Whole Foods2I had the opportunity to take a sneak-peek tour at the Whole Foods Market, located in the Northcross Commons shopping center in Huntersville. This opening has been quite the buzz lately – since Lake Norman residents won’t have to drive to South Charlotte anymore.

During the tour, I had a feast – sampling pineapple mango salsa, pulled pork, and even cupcakes! We all received a reusable bag filled with goodies at the end of the tour as well.

Whole Foods Market prides itself on providing the finest natural and organic foods available. They also follow the 3 R’s for their Green Mission : Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle. The Huntersville store is beautifully decorated with reclaimed wood throughout, and also provides recycling and composting programs.

Whole Foods
If you plan on going to the opening this Tuesday, November 4th, get there early! From 8:00-8:30 they will have a spinning wheel, where customers will get a chance to win gift cards. 8:45 is when they will “cut the bread” (instead of cutting the ribbon). Like swordfish? Whole Foods will be hosting a swordfish cutting event that morning for just $9.99 a pound.

The only issue I see myself having is where will I go first?? The Pickle Bar, Olive Bar, Coffee and Smoothie Bar? Maybe the 24-tap growler station or the burger bar with the build-your-own fries station?
Kim Whole Foods MarketIf you can’t make it on opening day, theHuntersville Whole Foods Market is hosting a series of events this week. November 5th is “Wine Down Wednesday” with live music and wine sampling, starting at 5:00 pm. Thursday at 10:00 am is the “Healthy Eating Tour”, and Friday November 7thstarting at 5:00 pm is “$5 Burgers and Pints Night.”





Monday, November 3, 2014

Lake Norman State Park

Lake Norman State Park is located in Troutman, NC – about 10 minutes outside of Mooresville.  Lake Norman State Park is a 1,934 acre park on the northern shore of the lake.  Open year-round, Lake Norman State Park offers many great family-friendly activities.

During the warmer months, there is a swimming area open that also allows families to enjoy all the lake has to offer.  You can swim, rent boats, fish, have picnics and more.

There is a Lakeshore Trail that you can hike.  It’s approximately five miles and follows the park’s lakeshore.  It provides a very scenic hike, with some rolling hills and beach areas for breaks.  The trail marker indicates it takes around 3.5 hours to hike the whole loop.  In a previous trip, we hiked almost half in a little over an hour, so a more brisk hike would not take as long.
Lake Norman State Park
There are multiple picnic shelters you can reserve for birthday parties, family reunions, cook-outs and more.  Along with campsites – primitive & less-primitive – these are available for rental online or by walk-up.
Regardless of your experience, there is something for everyone at Lake Norman State Park.  Take advantage of local parks right in your back yard and enjoy all fall has to offer!