Monday, September 20, 2010

Charlotte Foreclosures: Is it time to buy?

Many people are looking for a great deal but most are still too timid to realize a great deal when it is right in front of them! It is incredible how many times I have worked with various buyers of Charlotte Homes and we find a deeply discounted home! The buyer then thinks that the deal should be better and tries to low ball the deeply discounted home. These offers are a waste of time and not worth the 3 plus hours to write the offer.

If a home is priced aggressively, the seller priced the home to sell. The lenders have a very good understanding of market values. They are pricing the homes to sell. The opportunist is realizing this and purchasing aggressively priced foreclosures. If the market does not return to $310,000 and returns to $250,000, you have made over $50,000 for living in your home! This scenario is based on one of my recent sales when the buyer purchased the bank owned home. We placed 4 offers on other aggressively priced homes prior to getting this home. Their foreclosure home was in amazing condition and reflects the previous owner had a lot of class (something that money does not buy) and just had an unfortunate situation occur.

It is time to purchase Charlotte Foreclosure Homes for Sale! If the political shift occurs in November, the Government becomes fiscally responsible, the economic activity will increase! Prices AND interest rates will follow! Millions sit on the fence when opportunity is in font of their eyes. Later the same people sit and wonder why they did not react???? It really is not rocket science. Follow your instincts and live without fear! You need a home to live for the rest of your life. Keep the needs of you and your family in perspective. Call today. Rick Waite 704-770-6559 and we will consider all of your needs and find the best deal possible! Let's get that home that is sure to keep a smile on here face for years to come!

Thursday, September 09, 2010

Charlotte Home Prices and the Economy - It is time to buy!

Everyone wants a deal when buying a new home. The odds are the prices are going up based on the upcoming elections! Charlotte Real Estate, as with the national real estate market, is hurting because many home buyers are placing their new home purchase on hold but very interested in discounted homes combined with historically low interest rates.

When is the Real Estate at the "bottom" and how do you know? Consumer confidence dictates much of the economy. The Government is making the majority of consumers nervous due to their spending habits. This is not a political statement; it is strictly numbers. You can not keep spending what you don't have.

Watch what happens after the election. IF this election follows history (poor economy results in incumbents losing their seats) then the election will change the temperament of our nation and many will take advantage of the renewed confidence in the economy. As a Realtor, I live in the real world and this is what I foresee occurring. As the economy begins moving, demand increases and prices follow. Based on this "reasonable" assessment, the time to buy is now. As the economy begins to stumble forward, rates will begin to rise and Charlotte Homes will attain a new level of normal. No, I do not expect it to return to the sub-prime lending levels but the housing market will rebound. Charlotte Real Estate is still very popular throughout the nation. The northeast is about to embrace for another winter. It's time to buy!

Visit Charlotte Real Estate for information about homes in the entire greater Charlotte Real Estate market!

Thursday, August 26, 2010

Charlotte Homes Search

With today's Internet Technology, most people begin their Charlotte homes search on line. This can be a frustrating experience. First, you typically need to register for the real estate search. Why?

In order to actually have your website seen, it costs a lot of money and/or many hours from the Realtor. I spend too many hours every week on line assuring my websites are up to date and actually have information that will interest the home buyer. A website is a form of marketing and cost thousands of dollars annually to maintain. Yes, we need to assure our advertising budgets are actually generating potential buyers.

All Home searches are not created equal. Many Agents will have "Featured Listings" which will entail only their personal listings, their company listings or a limited search of some sort. You typically do not register for these type searches.

"Most" sites share all of the available homes for sale and do not undermine or steer the buyer into only certain listings. There is actually a large local Charlotte Real Estate firm that has a great user friendly site but intentionally excludes a large percentage of listings from their site. This is a grave disservice to Charlotte home buyers and intentionally misleading. Was one of the hidden homes actually a better home for you and your family? Why would the firm not put your needs first? I personally would never consider working with such an unethical firm.

For a "Complete" Charlotte Real Estate search, visit my website at Charlotte Homes for Sale. You will also find and abundance of information regarding the greater Charlotte Real Estate region.

Sunday, August 01, 2010

Charlotte Condos at UNCC

Do you have a child about to attend UNCC? Considering housing costs? There are some fantastic condos across the street from UNCC that are ideal! As with any real estate investment, it is all about the numbers.

A 3 bedroom condo across from UNCC is selling for around $50,000. Your son or daughter can have a roommate or two (many are 3 bedroom condos). You have your child and the room mates pay rent. Yes, your child can also pay rent to assure the roommates do not feel envy but also respect that it is his/her parent's condo.

Numbers: If you get an apartment (rent out one of the condos), it will cost you about $525 a month. Multiply this out for 4 years and you have paid $25,200. Of course you walk away in 4 years without $25,200 (assuming rent does not increase).

Another option is to live on campus. Campus life can be an exciting adventure but it is at a price. In addition to the cost of the dorm, consider the additional fees incurred such as parking and required meal programs. The numbers do not add up.

If you pay $50,000 for a Charlotte UNCC Condo (literally across the street from the campus), you collect the $25,200 in rent from your child and the roommates, you then sell the unit. Let's assume no appreciation and you only get your $50,000 returned.

What is the cost of money? You have tied up $50,000 in cash for 4 years. Haw did you make out for your Return on Investment? Annually you are receiving $6,300 as your return. That is a reasonably strong rate of return as a normal investment but a huge benefit if your alternative was to spend/lose $25,200 in rent over 4 years!

The best part is you sell the condo after college. If possible, you can actually return your child's rent as a graduation gift and pay off a huge chunk of the educational expenses.

I do not understand why the entire complex is not full of students and parent teaching their children so many important lessons. You are providing independence, teaching your child about investments, rental properties, the responsibility and benefit of home ownership and much more.

I have recently sold one of these units and worked with an investor who is ready to liquidate his investment in the complex. The investor owns two buildings (a total of 24 units minus the one that I just sold). The investors are a class act and are selling the units in move in condition. Call me today for more information.

Visit Charlotte Real State Charlotte Homes for Sale for more contact information. I am a Charlotte Realtor and here to help. A friend of mine just purchased the condo and we were amazed at the numbers and the savings!

Thursday, April 29, 2010

Charlotte Foreclosures

As the economy continues to stagger, Charlotte Foreclosures remain a strong Real Estate option. Investors flooded the Charlotte Real Estate market a few years prior to the financing meltdown. Charlotte NC Homes for Sale were touted nationwide to be a great Real Estate Investment and Investors by the thousands swarmed to purchase homes. The vast majority thought their ideas were original not realizing that all of the other investors were doing the exact same thing! Investors purchased many homes in "starter home" neighborhoods and the result was plummeting values! As more investors moved in, rentals dominated and market values declined. It was really sad to see the effect on such a scale. The result was Charlotte REOs, Charlotte Foreclosures and Charlotte Bank Owned Homes!

Charlotte Starter neighborhoods were the least expensive new homes in any given area. Investors felt they could buy a new home, everything was under warranty, minimal risk of actually doing any major repairs and the ability to resell the home at a profit in 2 or 3 years. The problem was their renters dragged down the values so much that the resales were for a loss.

There are opportunities and each neighborhood is different. It can be a starter neighborhood in a depressed area or a starter neighborhood in a more popular area. Naturally the market value of the home will show you how depressed the area.

Do not rely on Tax Values! I will share how to understand tax values to aid in your assessment. The best Charlotte Foreclosures will continue to sell quickly! Visit my Charlotte Foreclosures web page for more information. Knowledge is key!

Friday, March 19, 2010

Charlotte Bank Owned Homes

Charlotte Foreclosures provide great deals for those ready, willing and able to buy right now! The pool of potential Charlotte Home buyers is much smaller than it has been in years but that spells opportunity for others! Charlotte Foreclosure homes, unlike Charlotte Short Sales, are able to close quickly; often banks can close in less than 30 days!

There is a long careful process as the bank makes a decision on a home. There is a very careful analysis performed about the current value, the recent Charlotte Market Trends, current competing Charlotte Homes for Sale and much more. It is an impressive list of data to aid in the bank's decision making process.

Before the Hume goes through the foreclosure process, the bank has already performed a market analysis and knows what it is willing to accept. The bank has the home listed by a Realtor and priced based on its analysis. The home is already discounted based on its numbers.

The bank will want to close on the Charlotte Foreclosure as soon as possible (preferably within 30 days). Banks pr fer cash but accepts loans (not willing to re loan money on same house as you are purchasing it). Banks will rarely accept an FHA loan because the bank does not want to go through the repair process; they just want to sell the home (liquidate the asset) for price that is fair to the buyer and the bank.

Charlotte Foreclosures can be a great opportunity for you to take you next step in life. Contact me for your customized bank owned home search and let's find that ideal Charlotte Home for you!

Thursday, February 04, 2010

Charlotte Rentals and Lease Options: Be Careful!

I have had a recent reminder of a hopeful Charlotte Home buyer that was swindled by an investor. I write this as a caution based on personal training and now after meeting a recent victim.

Several years ago I was purchasing foreclosures from auctions. I personally witnessed many scams. I also took many courses; I was disgusted by what was taught. The statistics show that the vast majority of "Lease Options" never were executed. This was taught as a huge win for the land lord. You receive a large deposit (to be applied towards the down payment "if" the buyer can get financing). You, the landlord, charge higher than market value rent and the additional money from the monthly payment "is applied towards the down payment when the home is purchased (rarely actually occurs). When the buyer does not get financing, the landlord also keeps all of this "extra" money! You, the landlord also are not responsible for the majority of the maintenance since since the "Lease Optioner" is responsible for "their" supposed home!

There is even another twist. The hopeful buyers trusts the initial home value from the investor. The buyers complied with all of their duties. At the end of the year the young couple tried to get financing. The home would not appraise for the sale price the investor required! They could not get financing since the home was not worth what the investor "told" them it was worth (our market has not changed over the past year). The buyers lost their deposit, their additional funds every month and the maintenance was for free. Who wins? The investor wins by taking advantage of the buyer.

This is dirty and I did not rent because I could not take advantage of people this way. This does not mean every investor is this dirty but please be very careful. There are many unscrupulous people in this world and always willing to prey on the innocent.

Visit my Charlotte Real Estate website for information on Charlotte Homes for Sale or call me directly for assistance in buying your Charlotte Home.

Thursday, January 21, 2010

Ballantyne Land for Sale

There is a great new listing in Ballantyne for over 4 acres of land on Bryant Farms Rd. This is a great piece of Ballantyne Real Estate property within walking distance to Stonecrest Shopping and Restaurants. The land currently has a single family home but is zoned for subdividing! Yes, you can still create a small subdivision in South Charlotte and Ballantyne!

Visit Charlotte Real Estate and check out this featured listing for more information or call today at 704-770-6559!