Archive for March, 2008
Charlotte NC| NCAA Regionals- University of North Carolina Advances, Wildcats Come Home
March 31st, 2008 Categories: Things To Do Charlotte
As is often the case, the NCAA tournament exposes a teams confidence. Saturday, the University of North Carolina had it it, and Louisville almost had it. Sunday, The Wildcats of Davidson got there, but just couldn’t close it out…
Ahead by 10 from early on, Louisville came roaring back in the 2nd half to tie the game with 7:35 to go, and it was “deja vu all over again” for the Tar Heels, as to a man, memories of last years tournament exit came to mind when Georgetown came back (after being down by a dozen)Â to defeat UNC in last year’s NCAA Regional.
But not this time, not this day.
Tyler Hansborough said “No”, the Tar Heels said “No” and Tyler scored the next 5 in a row, and Louisville (pronounced “Louuyville” for you northern types) never got closer than 5, losing by 10.
On Sunday night, the Davidson Wilcats got within one shot of the Final Four.
Coming out of a time out, with 16 seconds left and the ball, we watched Stephen Curry and waited… he has won so many games for Davidson, hit so many big shots, could he win one more? Was there any doubt he would take the final shot? They ran a play they’d run dozens of times, but Kansas may have known it was coming, because they defended it just a bit better, pushing Curry 4-5 ” outside the 3 point line (still within his range though) and being guarded by a long 6′6″ guard Rush… and leaving Jason Richards wide open at the top of the key.
A more selfish player would have taken the shot, 4′ behind the 3 point line, and a bit off balance… in retrospect, I think Curry wishes he had – not so he could be the star, but to take the pressure off Richards. As Richards shot tailed wide left, and the buzzer sounded, and Davidson’s improbable run to the Final 4 came up one play short, a collective gasp and then silence gripped the 400 or so Davidson fans bussed by Davidson alumni to the game.
Richards, a senior and Curry’s best friend on and off the court, will remember that shot for a lifetime. Curry, Davidson and all of us who watched , will remember a team full of desire and belief in themselves, come from behind to beat a 2 seed, then do it again with a 3 seed, going deep into this 2008 Tournament, finally falling on a play that was just a little bit “off.”
No one will forget that Davidson, a school of 1700, held mighty Kansas (30,000 students) at bay, for 47 minutes and 45 seconds, and were just one shot away.
It seems obvious, but even though I’m not a huge fan, I’ll pick UNC to win it all this year- the dominant play of Hansborough plus UNC’s excellent guard play will win it all next weekend.
Back to the business of real estate… Moving to Charlotte? Considering a move? Call me direct at 704-351-1519
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The Palisades New Homes in Charlotte NC
March 27th, 2008 Categories: Lake Wylie NC and SC, Terry\'s Top Ten New Home Communities
Resort Style living at the Palisades, 1600 beautiful acres- golf, tennis, soccer, equestrian, boat club and more…
 this from a press release just out…
Charlotte’s Developer of the Year for two years running sweeps local awards and wins national acclaim while remaining the leading developer of high end new home communities in southwest Mecklenburg County
(Charlotte, N.C., March 27, 2008….) The data is in, and Rhein Medall Communities, North Carolina’s premier residential land developer, captured regional awards and national accolades in 2007, with their communities leading the market in new home sales in multiple categories. This includes The Palisades, which continued leading luxury home sales in southwest Charlotte for the fourth year in a row.
The Palisades, Rhein Medall’s award-winning master-planned golf community above Lake Wylie, led sales in 2007 in the Mecklenburg County section of the southwest growth corridor within the fifth quintile (homes priced $372,000 and above) with 68 closings, averaging $607,000 each, and total sales in 2007 of $41 million. The Palisades opened in 2004 and has consistently been southwest Charlotte’s leader in luxury home sales since the community’s inception.
 Read the rest of this entry »
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Charlotte, NC| March Madness in the Queen City
March 26th, 2008 Categories: Charlotte News and Politics, Real Estate News, Things To Do Charlotte
March Madness Stops Off in Charlotte, NC
March is a special time for college basketball fans. Back to back games are made even more exciting by Cinderellas playing the top seeded teams tough and in some cases, winning! Thursday Charlotte will host two games in the Sweet 16 round. This will be followed on Saturday by two teams competing for a Final Four spot in the Elite 8 round. The hometown favorites for the games on Thursday will, of course, be the number 1 seeded UNC. UNC has been playing well in the tournament beating both of the teams they played by at least 30 points and averaging almost 111 point per game. All of that being said however, the remaining teams in the East were all ranked in the top 8 nationally at some point this year. Regardless of whether or not UNC makes it to the Final Four the real winner will be the city of Charlotte. Fresh from hosting the ACC tournament Bobcat’s arena and the Charlotte area turn around and host several games in the NCAA tournament. Bobcat’s arena has a unique design as it decides to go up instead of out. The results are impressive: there really is not a bad seat in the house! This comes from personally experience watching Maryland play Davidson earlier this year, our tickets were way up there but we could see and follow the game easily. Speaking of Davidson, how about those Wildcats? Last week Davidson, led by Stephen Curry (you might have heard of his dad: Dell Curry) beat the number 2 powerhouse of Georgetown. While they are not in playing their games in Charlotte they are a fun team to watch and have their next test against Wisconsin on Friday.
The games being played in Charlotte (especially with UNC still in the hunt) translates into a win for Charlotte’s hospitality industry. Since UNC’s victory over Arkansas in the last round hotels have begun to fill up and more vendors can be seen downtown selling t-shirts, hats and anything else a fan could desire. As Charlotte continues to grow we should expect the city to draw in big events. The ACC and NCAA tournaments are evidence of this occurring. March Madness is an exciting time for any college basketball fan and now, also, for the city of Charlotte.
If you are interested in moving to Charlotte please give me, Terry, a call at 704-351-1519 or go to my web page and Search Charlotte Homes.
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Charlotte NC Mountains?| An Afternoon Hiking at Crowders Mountain
March 25th, 2008 Categories: Things To Do Charlotte
Some unexpected time off Saturday led to an afternoon hike with my wife on nearby Crowder’s Mountain, a State park, just 35 minutes or so from Charlotte. Charlotte is just at the beginning of the Piedmont Region of North Carolina- Piedmont is a
Native-American word for mountain, and Crowder’s and King’s Mountains are the start of the Appalachians.
Crowder’s and Kings Mountain, are two isolated mountains, and two parks, very close to Charlotte.  Kings Mountain was the sight of a decisive Colonial victory against British troops in the Revolutionary War. Crowder’s is a pleasant if strenuous hike, about 800′ up from the surrounding elevation, and rock climbers enjoy its 150′ sheer face. Where Crowder’s is the place to go for hiking and climbing, King’s Mountain is more for a picnic and stroll, and a dash back into history.
Hardly a serious hiker, Crowder’s Mountain took quite an effort Saturday afternoon- but the view from the top was worth the effort. It was a bit hazy, or the Charlotte skyline would have been even more clear. I would of taken more pictures but an unexpected event- sitting down somewhat forcefully on a rock 
rendered it unusable, the only casualty of the day.
Moving To Charlotte? Considering a move? Please try my easy to use Search Charlotte Homes MLS Search. Or call me direct at 704-351-1519
Related Links and Posts (Things To Do In Charlotte)
Crowder’s Mountain State Park Official State site
ImaginOn- state of the art Children’s Library and Theater, a Charlotte treasure
US National White Water Center Home of the Beijing Olympic Trials fpr kayaking
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What is RSS? An RSS Feed? And What is RSS Hugger?
March 24th, 2008 Categories: About Charlotte
RSS- Real Simple Syndication- I like the simple part! It is the ONLY way to get your news on a regular basis… noticed I said Your news? That’s right your news- every time you see that orange RSS icon- see mine on the right- and you ‘d like me (or anyone else) to send you my latest article, just Click the icon, and they’ll ask which Reader, and I recommend the Google Reader if you don’t have a preference. It’s easy and free.
RSSHugger is a company collecting RSS feed to bring blog writers like me and blog readers like you, together. In One place. if you are a blogger, they get it, go give them a try. If you are a reader, try their Top 100 Blogs. If you need help setting up a Reader, drop me a line at terry at terrymcdonaldre dot com.
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Charlotte, NC|Light Rail A Big Success During ACC Tournament, CIAA and upcoming NCAA's
March 23rd, 2008 Categories: Charlotte News and Politics
Charlotte Light Rail Update: Average Daily ridership exceeds 14000 in February
This light rail increase in daily ridership is mostly due to the ACC tournament and The CIAA tournament, which drew 90,000 riders in 4 days, and 80,000 riders in 8 days respectively. The trains were full, extras were added and are sure to be again for next weeks NCAA tournament!
January Daily ridership was 11,930 and December’s was 12,457, much higher than first year projections of 9500 daily trips by the Charlotte Area Transit Authority. (CATS)
The South line is the first of 3 lines planned for the greater Charlotte area, the other two would connect Uptown Charlotte with the University area and the the other would connect as far north as Mooresville, if financing is approved.
And how do the local folks of North Carolina feel about public transportation? Elon University tried to answer that question just in the last month…
“The poll, conducted March 10-13, 2008, by the Elon University Institute for Politics and Public Affairs, surveyed 473 North Carolina residents. The poll has a margin of error of 4.5 percent.
The leading statewide transportation issues, as identified by poll respondents, include:
Price of gas: 31 percent
Public transportation: 17 percent
Road conditions: 13 percent
Traffic congestion: 10 percentImproving public transportation services and widening existing roads were named the most effective means of dealing with congestion, and both alternatives were supported by more than four out of every five respondents.” (Italics , bold and red are by me, tm) I hope our politicians take note of that. An effort to remove the funding for light rail was defeated by more than 2 to 1 last November.
Light rail extends the commuting market- in other words, areas “too far away” become closer, because of trains… consider this multi-Lynx user, from Tega Cay SC, qugted from the Charlotte Observer… “going uptown on business and lunch with friends, Stanar, 61, of Tega Cay, S.C., was on his fourth ride. He was a veteran of the Lynx Blue Line, and told me all about it.” “I love it,’ said Stanar, a retired employee benefits consultant. “It’s reliable and it’s cheap. It’s comfortable and clean, at least so far. You can’t beat it.” see the rest of the story from the Charlotte Observer
This will make the more distant points in Southwest Charlotte, and close in South Carolina more attractive for folks working in the city as they have another alternative to reach the city, much like commuters in larger cities, they will begin to drive to the last train station, then take the train. The current parking deck holds more than 1000 cars, and is full most days. That will have to be expanded before too long. An Observer reporter recently counted more than 3000 cars in the parking decks along the way… now if we can expand bus traffic to the train stops.
It is estimated that Charlotte will grow by 49,000 residents per year through 2010… we have congestion now, so certainly the answer to congestion is not only rail… but includes better roads, fast buses, and other attractive means of entering the city- see the bike link below.
Interested in investing in Charlotte real estate, or buying a Charlotte home? I invite you to try my easy to use search site, Search Charlotte MLS. Like more Charlotte Real Estate info, that’s my real estate blog. If you prefer, you may always call me direct at 704-351-1519.Terry McDonald
Related Links
For the most up to date planning information on south Charlotte roads, try MUMPO, Mecklenburg-Union Planning.
The Charlotte area Biking plan, expanding the 50 mile of dedicated bike lanes to 182 miles of bike lanes
Charlotte Area Transit – CATS
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The Ranch At The Palisades- Homearama 2008 – Equestrian Living in a Golf Community
March 18th, 2008 Categories: Lake Wylie NC and SC
The Ranch is a luxury enclave of custom homes in the Palisades, designed around an equestrian eventing center.
1+ Acre lots, wooded, miles of riding trails throughout the Palisades, this is the lifestyle that brings all types of families to the Palisades. I wrote the reservations for the first two lots sales in the Ranch last month, prices unknown. But they are very nice lots indeed, they are at the end of Castle Pines-see them here Ranch site map. It is also the site of Homearama 2008 in October, Anderson Custom Homearama house on left…
The Palisades is a resort style 1500 acre community at Lake Wylie, just 16 miles to Uptown Charlotte. 16 MILES! Lake Wylie has about 1300 acres of water, and over 300 miles of shoreline. Enjoy the Slide Show.
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Charlotte NC Real Estate|New Home Deals are In New Home Inventory!
March 14th, 2008 Categories: Buy A Charlotte Home
In Charlotte, the New Home Builder’s rule: If you build it they will come… has been changed to: If you build it AND offer a great deal, they will come…
And that is what new home builders are offering, great deals on sales prices, options and in some cases, buy downs of interest rates that make for some very sweet deals indeed. Whatever you do, if you want a new home, now is the time to buy inventory at a discount.
Here’s a rundown of the first 3 new home deals of the year, from mid-January to early February.
On a single family home in the Steel Creeke area, with no money down, good credit, and quite a bit of determination, our price went from 181,900 to $177,000, and we got a 30 year buy down of the interest rate to 5.0% fixed– for thirty years. My first time home buyer couldn’t be happier!
On a townhouse in the University area, we received the last inventory unit, at about 145,900, with 3,000 in closing costs, and $9,500 of “free” options, with the following options: hardwood floors on the first floor, and entry level, a free refrigerator, washer and dryer. Their first mortgage lender quoted 6.25, we demanded better, and finally asked for a new lender. They settled at 5.65%. In January, following our purchase, they sold almost 20 of these units and raised prices several times. The same unit priced for June delivery is in the low-mid 160’s. Then, as closing approached, a hairline crack developed in the concrete, and the builder hoped we would cancel. Instead, we got that patched to an engineers detail, an epoxy coating applied and had it made apart of their 15 year structural warranty, for structure and appearance of the epoxy. They had just celebrated their 50th anniversary, we’ll keep our fingers crossed.
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Mooresville Real Estate|Homes For Sale Report
March 12th, 2008 Categories: Buy A Charlotte Home, Lake Norman real estate
Mooresville Homes for Sale Real Estate Report
Mooresville, at the top of Lake Norman, 28 miles from Uptown Charlotte, has been a popular “Move To” location for the New Yorkers and folks from all around the country for the last 10 years. Old Mooresville has been there for most of the last century, but development on the northern shores of Lake Norman, Correspond nicely to Exits 33 and 36 off I-77. At the top of Lake Norman, here is the breakdown :
There are 226 homes for sale for under $250,000
| Square Feet | Bedrooms | Full Baths | Half Baths | List Price | |
| Min | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | $84,900.00 |
| Avg | 1869 | 3 | 2 | 0 | $187,785.00 |
| Max | 3375 | 5 | 3 | 2 | $250,000.00 |
There are 368 homes for sale for under $500,000 but more than $250k
| Square Feet | Bedrooms | Full Baths | Half Baths | List Price | |
| Min | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | $250,000.00 |
| Avg | 2849 | 3 | 2 | 0 | $375,335.00 |
| Max | 4802 | 6 | 5 | 2 | $500,000.00 |
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Davidson, NC Real Estate| Homes for Sale Report in Davidson, NC
March 11th, 2008 Categories: Real Estate News
Davidson, NC Homes Continue to Appreciate
Despite the housing slump home prices continue to appreciate in Davidson, NC. The average price per square foot is up 12% from last year to $160! Only minutes from Lake Norman and I-77 Davidson has the appeal of a small town (9,110 year long residents) while only be a short drive from the city. Although Davidson is a small town in North Carolina it is home to Davidson College, one of the leading liberal arts schools in the state. At last check, Davidson is also one of the best basketball schools in the nation for its size! At Exit 30, it is 25 miles to Uptown Charlotte. Also- right at the exit, new mixed use and heavily reviewed development on the lakes is changing Davidson., bringing more retail, hotel rooms and office space. Below is a report of the homes for sale in Davidson, NC:
There are 12 homes for sale for less than $250,000
There are 66 homes for sale for less than $450,000, but more than $250k
There are 75 homes for sale for less than $650,000, but more than $450k
There are 19 homes for sale for less than $850,000, but more than $650k
There are 28 homes for sale for more than $850,00
With an average sales price last year of $160/sf- there is plenty of “upward room” for future price increases.
You can Search All Charlotte Homes here, or Call me direct at 704-351-1519
Related Posts:
Charlotte Homes for Sale and Appreciation ReportÂ
 Huntersville Homes For Sale Report
Search For Charlotte Real Estate by defined areas
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