It won't be much longer until my home grown BLT comes in.
Flowers are peaking. And the full bloom of nature decorates the day.
I am Thankful
Thankful for the trust my clients place in me.
Thankful for the professionals I work with,
and thankful that our market has renewed life.
There are times when I overlook what I'm working for.
Grinding each day with hope, but missing some of the flowers.
So my pause on this busy Saturday, is to take a moment, look around while taking a deep breath, and be grateful.
Hoping your day blooms as well.
Stop by our Web Site to begin your journey into the Charlotte Real Estate market
The modifications look great! You say your Client and his buddy did it? Well I can see they are talented. I just have one question. Did they get the proper permits and have the job inspected? 
Maybe it's just me, but I seem to have run into more than my fair share of home renovation projects lately that have the “missing permit syndrome”.
One case I came across yesterday had a recent major renovation done. The tax records didn’t jive with the sqft listed in the MLS. Not a major issue per say, renovations happen all the time. The garage was converted and an extra bathroom was added. They must have been inspired by HGTV because everything looked over the top. This was a visually beautiful job. It looks great on the surface, but is there an underlying problem?
After talking with the listing agent, he said he “was sure the updates had permits. My seller did a professional job! Heck, look at the workmanship”. I persisted after his puffing and insisted he get verification from his sellers. Two hours later I get the call back. “We may have a problem”.
I told him “There is no we, and there is no may. You and your Sellers definitely have a problem”.
The Seller never pulled electrical, structural, HVAC, or plumbing permits. They didn’t “think” there was a need as they knew how to do it right.
So the extra 400sqft, and the beautiful bathroom, and the new cool breeze, have a red badge of courage.
Here in Charlotte , you can still have all of this inspected and permitted retro. It just takes time and extra work (if the work was done up to code). And even if it's not up to code, it can still be fixed. Again, more time and extra work.
But what if nobody asked? What if assumptions were common practice?
Permits and inspections are for everyone’s benefit. They are to insure the quality of the work and safety of the occupants of the house. You may be surprised on how many homes are infected with the missing permit syndrome.
Some agents take the visually pleasing addition way too casually and take many things for granted. Many were trained to focus on just getting the listing. Make darned sure you ask if permits and inspections were completed. In addition, let your Sellers know the ramifications if they weren’t.
These questions should ring true for Buyer agents as well.
And for the unfortunate buyer who bypasses an agent and deals directly with Mr. FSBO, Caveat Emptor.
Failure to Disclose about building permits is a big issue that puts the Sellers (and everybody involved in the sales transaction) in jeopardy. God forbid an electrical problem from the work causes a fire or the plumbing causes some awful backup or costly leak. There may be homeowner insurance issues as well. It can also prove to be a big problem for future buyers down the road when they go to sell the property. I'm sure many of you can think of other ramifications.
We all know the mantra chanted by brokers: disclosure, disclosure, disclosure.
But how do you disclose if you don’t ask the right questions? Ignorance is not bliss concerning the basics of building permits.
Stop by our Web Site and see all the deals. It will become your Tool Box for All your Charlotte Real Estate needs
Not everybody is a Race fan.
But you have to hand it to the spirit displayed by the fans, drivers, and owners here in Charlotte at the Coca-Cola 600.
Some moments supersede sports and many other aspects of everyday life. I’ve never seen a race stopped for a reason as impressive as this.
So in mid-race, they slammed on the brakes, came to a stop, shut down their engines, shut down the hoopla, and everybody stood in solemn silence at precisely 3:00p.m.
Pretty impressive, even if you aren’t a NASCAR fan.
Saluting all Veterans This Memorial Day
Nope.
According to Uncle Sam, you have six months , Mr. or Ms. First Time Home Buyer, to close on a house and get your bonus check of $8,000. Keys to the house received after November 30, 2009 flash “so sorry” on the give away game. I hate it when it flashes “Game Over”. 
Is it possible you may be a procrastinator? Or are you just now hearing about this? December may be a cold month if you miss out.
.. Ahhh…I hear the Calypso music now.
Will you make it under limbo bar and close in time?
Unfortunately, buying a house is a little more involved than most first time home buyers expect. And if you want your Tax Credit check, you’ll have to follow Uncle Sam’s rules.
Uncle Sam is a stickler for details when it comes to writing checks to us common folks.
So if you are a late bloomer to this and want to know how to get in on the biggest give away in government monopoly money since the AIG bailout, here’s a snappy little start:
Getting Pre-approved is free. Home sellers insist on it, and banks require it. There is no exception. Don’t put the cart before the horse and start shopping before you know you can get financing. Be proactive and shop knowing you can afford that hot dream home deal when it becomes available.
See, what is going to happen, is that there will be a last second rush from procrastinators, and it’s going to flood the market with “holy cows I just woke up”.
What does this mean to you Mr. or Ms. Late Start? It means that many quality homes, at incredibly low prices that exist now, will be sucked up like a Hoover Vacuum as time runs out, leaving you with left-over’s or little options; like renting as you are now.
Now renting is not a bad thing, and may be the smart thing for your situation. But the big drawback is that you are paying someone else’s mortgage. In essence, you get ZERO to write off on your taxes for mortgage interest and you miss out on the $8,000 tax credit give away.
So now is the time to shake off the effects of TV reruns and snap a little urgency into your purpose.
Let’s say, for the sake of this post, you hear the words “Gentlemen, Start your engines”. We hear that a lot in Charlotte, as well as people in Indianapolis, Daytona, and other great racing sites. But here in Charlotte, I have 600 reasons to get your motor runnin’: The Coca-Cola 600 Memorial Day Race, and the race to get that low priced dream home before November 30.
Don’t spin out or forget that time is what you are racing against.
Looking is easy and free on our Web Site. It will become Your Tool Box For All your Charlotte Real Estate Needs
Our loss includes all wars. This partial glimpse is only of Europe.
Photos courtesy of www.abmc.gov
1. The American Cemetery at Aisne-Marne, France.
A total of 2289 of our military dead.
2. The American Cemetery at Ardennes, Belgium.
A total of 5329 of our dead.
3. The American Cemetery at Brittany, France.
A total of 4410 of our military dead.
4. Brookwood, England American Cemetery.
A total of 468 of our dead.
5. Cambridge, England. 3812 of our military dead.
6. Epinal, France American Cemetery.
A total of 5525 of our Military dead.
7. Flanders Field, Belgium.
A total of 368 of our military.
8. Florence, Italy.
A total of 4402 of our military dead.
9. Henri-Chapelle, Belgium.
A total of 7992 of our military dead.
10. Lorraine, France.
A total of 10,489 of our military dead.
11. Luxembourg.
A total of 5076 of our military dead.
12. Meuse-Argonne.
A total of 14246 of our military dead.
13. Netherlands.
A total of 8301 of our military dead.
14. Normandy, France.
A total of 9387 of our military dead.
15. Oise-Aisne, France
A total of 6012 of our military dead.
16. Rhone, France.
A total of 861 of our military dead.
17. Sicily, Italy.
A total of 7861 of our military dead.
18. Somme, France.
A total of 1844 of our military dead.
19. St. Mihiel, France
A total of 4153 of our military dead.
20. Suresnes, France
A total of 1541 of our military dead
This is why there is a Memorial Day.
We lost so many in so many places. We have our best buried around the globe. In all the wars, in all the places where our best and brightest have fallen, from the Pacific Islands, Korea ,Vietnam, Kuwait, Iraq, Afghanistan , and more. It is our honor to honor them. Enjoy this holiday and remember that you can enjoy it because these heroes made our freedoms possible
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Charlotte Homes for Sale, Real Estate and Relocation Services. Our service areas include, Ballantyne, Matthews, Huntersville, Fort Mill, Uptown, and South Charlotte. http://www.HomesByCross.com
HOMESBYCROSS.COM Your Tool Box for all your Charlotte Real Estate needs
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We're Honest Hard working Realtors® willing to go the extra mile. Whether you have a home to sell or are relocating from out of town, or just looking for a change... We have the tools to help you understand the Charlotte Real Estate Market. We have been helping people buy and sell through out the Charlotte Metro Area since 1994.
With the Charlotte Housing market slowing from it's tremendous growth over the last decade, home values here have fared better than most U.S. cities. We still see a steady flow of people relocating to our area. Let our experienced hands guide your through the process.
Here is what we do.... Residential Sales.
We handle everything from First Time home buyers, VA,FHA,Investors,Luxury Homes, Short Sales, Forclosures, and Estate Sales. We have worked with and have access to the best lenders in the area.
If you are a buyer:
We can have you shopping in a click. VA, FHA, CONVENTIONAL,JUMBO, RATES are near 5%. Foreclosures are our specialty. 100% FINANCING USDA, $8,000 TAX CREDIT. We offer professional guidance and decades of experience.
If you are a seller:
We will listen intently to your needs and desires concerning your home sale. We will provide an Honest and accurate evaluation of your house. You will be informed upfront. We provide Effective and Professional marketing for your property.
Need Help? Know about Short Sales? Relocating? We have the tools to achieve your goals. See you in Charlotte
With a longstanding track record of satisfying clients since 1994, Here is What our Clients have to say:
(full name given upon request to protect privacy)
...Outstanding service and support! All angles were covered, we'll definitely be using you again!
... I was never out of the loop or had any surprises when we went into closing.
... I can't tell you how amazed I still am at how quick and smooth our home purchase here in Charlotte went!
...really excellent about learning about us, our needs and our wants in order to help us find our place here.
...Everything was handled very professionally and we were always called and emailed back quickly.
...you made it a lot of fun! Thank you for always being available to answer my MANY questions!
...made the whole process run great.
...above and beyond my expectations, he was very knowledgeable on the school districts and had the research to back it up. He kept both my wife and I in the loop as we were both in separate states during the process!
...I was working full time and traveling extensively and was kept aware of everything that was going on in my transaction all the way to the day of closing-it made for a pleasant closing-no surprises!
...your company is so lucky to have you working for them!
... the best Realtor we or anyone could have!
...well in tune with what is going on in Charlotte, and since we were completely new to the area, we had to rely on you!
...has helped even after closing.
...above and beyond my expectations and we will recommend her to anyone moving to the area!
...very quickly able to see what we were and were not interested in and was able to narrow down our search to houses and neighborhoods that would "fit us".
...always there with encouragement and creative ideas. A people person, for sure, and very patient.
...We could have never done this move from NY to Charlotte without their help
As the largest city in Noth Carolina and the 20th largest city in the United States, Charlotte is noted for its ever-expanding culture and livelihood. Its 2007-estimated population was 664,342, a 46% increase since 1990 and the metropolitan area has 1.5 million people. Charlotte is the county seat of Mecklenburg County and has been nicknamed "The Queen City" named after Queen Charlotte. In 2008, relocate-america.com called Charlotte the "Best Place to live in America." 
Charlotte is a popular relocation city. Headquarters to 8 Fortune 500 companies-sixth among US cities. Three of Charlotte NC high schools rank among the top 100 in the nation-per Newsweek magazine. 38.6 % of Charlotte residents hold a bachelor's degree (compared to U.S. 25.1%)
Located in the Piedmont region of the Carolina's, Charlotte is two hours east of the Appalachian Mountains and three hours west of the Atlantic Ocean. This means you can run to Charleston or Myrtle Beach in just a little over three hours...or to the mountains for trout fishing or skiing in less than two hours! New York City is 631 miles to the northeast and Atlanta is 256 miles to the southwest. Charlotte's central location offers incredible travel opportunities by air. One can fly to the Midwest, NE, SE in less than 2.5 hours, making travel a breeze! Charlotte-Douglas International Airport Is U.S Airways largest Hub. This makes travel to anywhere in the world an easy task.
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