Carol Fox, Real Estate Broker, Union County NC Real Estate

Waxhaw NC Autumn Treasures Festival This Weekend

Historic downtown Waxhaw NC is the site for the 6th annual Autumn Treasures Festival on October 11th and 12th. Festival organizers expect 10,000 visitors to stroll the streets of Waxhaw where 75 arts and crafts vendors will display their wares. Musicians will perform throughout the event on the Main Stage near the railroad tracks. The Kidz Zone at Waxhaw United Methodist Church will offer indoor activities for children. Festival hours are from 10am-6pm on Saturday and noon-6pm on Sunday.

Click here to enjoy photographs from last year's festival in downtown Waxhaw NC.

Learn more about Waxhaw NC, one of Charlotte North Carolina's best small towns.

Copyright 2009. Carol Fox. Allen Tate Real Estate. *Waxhaw NC Autumn Treasures Festival This Weekend*

Charlotte NC Festival in the Park

Late September is the perfect time for arts and crafts festivals in Charlotte NC and the surrounding small towns. Summertime heat has cooled but the weather is still warm enough for shorts. Summer vacations are finished and school has started so families have time to spend enjoying local outdoor festivals.

The grand-daddy of all the Charlotte NC outdoor festivals is Festival in the Park, an annual event since 1964. This year's Festival opened last night and will be held over the next three days, September 25th through 27th. You can find Festival in the Park at Freedom Park, located between Charlotte's Dilworth and Myers Park neighborhoods. Approximately 120,000 people attend Festival in the Park every year.

One hundred fifty artists and crafts exhibitors will set up tents around the lake at Freedom Park but the Festival is much more than an arts and crafts show. Six stages at the Festival offer entertainment. The Main Stage has rock and pop music plus the Charlotte Youth Symphony. The Charlotte Folk Society will have bluegrass, folk, dulcimer and medieval/rennaissance music plus storytelling at their stage. Children will enjoy the Carolina Clowns Stage and the Magicians Stage. The Youth Talent Stage and the Theatre Stage will showcase other performing arts.

No outdoor festival is complete without carnival rides and food. Festival in the Park provides a Youth Fun area around the locomotive that is a permanent fixture in the park. You can find your favorite festival foods in the many booths at the park. Go out and enjoy a Charlotte outdoor festival tradition this weekend.

Learn more about two other arts and crafts festivals in Matthews NC and Mint Hill NC this weekend.

Mint Hill NC's Favorite Festival is Mint Hill Madness

Downtown Matthews NC will be Filled with Artwork this Weekend

Copyright 2009. Carol Fox. Allen Tate Real Estate. *Charlotte NC Festival in the Park*

Mint Hill NC's Favorite Festival is Mint Hill Madness

Have you ever seen dachshund races? If you haven't and if you're curious, be sure to head to downtown Mint Hill NC this weekend to check them out at the Mint Hill Madness Festival. The Festival opens Friday evening, September 25th at the Mint Hill Park on Fairview Road. Stop by and you'll find rides, music, food, arts and crafts and plenty of Mint Hill neighbors.

The Mint Hill Madness parade kicks off at 9:30am on Saturday, September 26th, in downtown Mint Hill along Matthews-Mint Hill Road. Saturday afternoon activities at the park include a chili cook-off, a dog show and the dachshund races, a big trike race, hot air balloon rides, and of course, lots of music and food. Fireworks at 9pm conclude Saturday's festivities at Mint Hill Park. Mint Hill Madness continues from 10am to 5pm at the park on Sunday with rides, music, food, and arts and crafts all day long.

Did you know that the artist who draws the Dennis the Menace cartoon lives in Mint Hill NC? His name is Marcus Hamilton and you can enter a drawing to win original Dennis the Menace artwork donated by Mr. Hamilton during the festival.

Dennis the Menace and racing dachshunds. Two good reasons to take in Mint Hill Madness in downtown Mint Hill NC this weekend!

Learn more about Mint Hill NC, one of Charlotte NC's best small towns.

Copyright 2009. Carol Fox. Allen Tate Real Estate. *Mint Hill NC's Favorite Festival is Mint Hill Madness*

Downtown Matthews NC Will Be Filled With Artwork This Weekend

People fill downtown Matthews NC streets and parks for a variety of festivals throughout the year. The last weekend in September is reserved for the annual ArtFest of Matthews. Presented by the Matthews Chamber of Commerce, the 24th annual ArtFest can be found this year at the Village Green in front of the Town Hall/Library on Saturday, September 26th and Sunday, September 27th. The ArtFest is a juried show of some of the finest artists from the Southeast. Rising seniors from area high schools will also compete in the 17th annual YouthArt Scholarship Competition. The YouthArt Competition offers $3500 in scholarship money.

You may view and purchase art from the artists at their booths on the Village Green. The YouthArt entries are displayed in the Train Depot on the Green. A children's art area allows youngsters to create their own art. The Gazebo will have musicians throughout the event.

Enjoy photographs from last year's ArtFest in Matthews NC: Works of Art in Downtown Matthews NC.

Learn more about Matthews NC, one of Charlotte NC's best small towns.

Copyright 2009. Carol Fox. Allen Tate Real Estate. *Downtown Matthews NC Will Be Filled With Artwork This Weekend*

Charlotte NC Home Buyers--How the 2009 Mortgage Disclosure Act Affects Your New Mortgage Loan

The next time you get a new mortgage loan, you may notice some changes in documentation and procedures due to the Mortgage Disclosure Act that took effect on July 30, 2009. The purpose of this new law is to protect you, the Charlotte NC home buyer, from deceptive lending practices and to ensure that you are a well-informed consumer. It improves the timeliness and effectiveness of loan disclosures given to you, provides a waiting period for you to make an informed decision about your loan, and increases lender accountability.

What may be new to you...

• Loan disclosures must be given to you before appraisal fees are collected.
• Your loan cannot close before a waiting period of at least 7 days after the initial loan disclosure.
• If the APR (annual percentage rate) on the initial Truth-in-Lending disclosure increases beyond a certain amount, a new Truth-in-Lending disclosure must be issued.
• If a new Truth-in-Lending disclosure must be issued, there is a three day waiting period before the loan can close.

What could trigger a new Truth-in-Lending disclosure for a Charlotte NC home buyer?

• an unlocked rate
• a change in loan amount
• a rate re-lock
• a change in closing fees
• a change in closing date

Tips for a Smooth Loan Approval and Closing

1. Identify your final loan product and loan amount at application and make changes only if necessary.
2. Lock in your interest rate and points early in the process.
3. Provide all documentation requested as quickly as possible.
4. Respond quickly to any emailed disclosures.
5. Allow for a reasonable closing time, typically at least 30 to 45 days.
6. Work with your real estate agent to choose a closing attorney and closing date at the beginning of the process.

Copyright 2009. Carol Fox. Allen Tate Real Estate. *Charlotte NC Home Buyers--How the 2009 Mortgage Disclosure Act Affects Your New Mortgage Loan*