Charlotte Property Hunters - Find Your Dream Home in South Charlotte and Union County, North Carolina

Looking at our overall housing market at a regional level to include Mecklenburg County and surrounding areas you will see that while we have our issues, Charlotte is not drastically sliding price wise. If you are considering buying or selling take a look at these charts and contact me with questions. I am here to help.

Today’s market is a buyer’s market with interest rates well below 4.5% for a 30 year fixed interest rate mortgage. We should be seeing more buyers stepping out to look at homes for sale and real estate in our housing market. Traditionally this time of year sellers have opportunity from Labor Day through Thanksgiving. If you are considering selling this year, start preparing your home now.

Tiffany Johannes (704) 301-7404/tiffany@Husbt.com

Many sellers today are looking for that edge over the competition.  What will make my house sell?  How can I be next?  Here are 10 Tips to a Great Showing:

1. Rid Your Home of Clutter. Clean your counters off.  Get rid of any stacks or piles of bills, newspapers, magazines and projects!  Clear your personal products off bathroom counter-tops.  Make sure you can see 90% of your kitchen counter-tops from front to back.  Pick up all toys and get them out of sight!  Never just stack them on the wall.

2. Open Blinds & Curtains. Bringing natural light into your home is important.  Along with this you must ensure your windows, window sills and screens are clean. This will go a long way to brightening any home.  Remember, all buyers are going to look out your windows to identify room locations and positions with exterior views.  Darker homes should consider leaving lights on if opening blinds and curtains are not enough.

3.  Clean, Clean, Clean. The best impression you can make is a clean home.  Before you leave each day ensure the counter-tops and floors are clear.  Make the kitchen and bathrooms shine.  No fingerprints on the walls, doors or appliances.  Double check closets are clean. No dust bunnies!

4. Remove Smells.  No one wants to come into your home and smell kitty litter or pet urination or your dinner from last night.  Make sure to use your vent when cooking and take time to clean kitty litter regularly (more than you would if your home weren’t on the market).  If you need an air freshener get a neutral scent.  Don’t over mask a smell.  That always ends up worse!

5.  Prepare Buyer’s 1st Impression.  Cut your grass, use an edger, clear debris like leaves and branches from the yard.  Water flowering plants.  Step outside and look at your front door.  Then look up, down and around to ensure your buyers will be looking at a neat and clean entrance.  Put your water hose up when you are done watering and cleaning.

6. Bathroom Etiquette. Clear your counters and put your toilet seats down.  No toothbrushes, toothpaste or any other personal items should be on the counters.  Nice hand towels should be out and clean.  Ensure all your clothing is picked up before you leave the home everyday.  Surprise showings happen!  Do a last wipe down before you leave the home each day if possible.

7. Secure Your Pets. Leaving your animals to roam is never the best way to show your home.  Safety is important for your pet.  Consider a kennel.  If you can take your pet with you or find a place outside your home for your animals.  Share instructions or pet names with your agent and the showing service.

8. Leave the home. If a buyer’s agent is showing your home.  Leave home before the buyers show up.  It is a courtesy that will go a long way. Buyer’s agents will follow up and address any questions their buyer has.

9.  Garage, Laundry Room & Basements.  Don’t leave these rooms as your dumping ground.  Get closing containers if you need a place to store last minute items in a clean and neat fashion.

10.  Create a Checklist.  In today’s market you have to be ready on a moment’s notice.  Don’t let a last minute showing get to you.  Have a checklist of items to look for in your home before you leave to ensure you aren’t caught by surprise.  Do a little of it in the evening before you go to bed and then touch it up in the morning. Enlist your family’s help!

Charlotte Housing Prices Continue to Hold, Even Though Lower Prices Remain 

While interest rates are at an all time low, Charlotte continues to see homes listed for sale longer and prices continue to remain low but stable.  With area home prices down anywhere from 8 to 15% over where we were in 2008 and area home sales down by 20 to 26% our market is continuing to feel the effects of a down market. 

One saving grace in an otherwise concerning market is that we continue to see buyers out looking to get the home buyer tax credit of $8,000 and the expanded tax credit of $6,500 that now includes home buyers that have owned a home over the last 5 years.  This extension expires on June 30th and a home must be under contract by April 30th.  The timing is providing our area’s sellers with more opportunity to sell in the winter months than we would see without it. 

Our data is showing that more buyers are out looking online and visiting our listed homes in the first few weeks of 2010 compared to 2008 and 2009!  This will prove positive for buyers and sellers as we continue to move through this cold winter!  If you have additional questions regarding our market or want a more focused market update contact Tiffany Johannes at (704) 837-0010 or tiffany@husbt.com.

Median Price Per Square Foot Holds Steady For Most…

Days On The Market Indicator Is Up For All Price Points…