Jon Gillman Charlotte North Carolina Real Estate

Cotswold Real Estate:

We here at The Gillman Real Estate Group continuously monitor local real estate statistics to keep our clients informed and ahead of the real estate trends. Below you will find Cotswold real estate statistic for the 2 week of May.

New homes on the market: 6

Number of homes pending: 0
Number of homes closed(sold): 0
Number of homes expiring: 0
Avg Days on Market: 65

Avg Sales Price: $ 424,411

To find the value of your home with a free, over-the-net home evaluation, please visit: www.CharlottePropertyValues.info

If you would like a free list of homes for sale in this area/neighborhood, would like more information about Cotswold or would like to be the first to know about hot new listings before other buyers do, then call or email me.

Jon C. Gillman
The Gillman Real Estate Group

704-602-0219 Office

704-618-4479 Cell
www.GillmanRealEstateGroup.com
Jon@JonGillman.com

I hope everyone is well this evening. I came across this article in Forbes.com today ranking the Top 10 Cities in the US that are recession proof. Charlotte is ranked #9 & in my opinion located in the best part of the country. Charlotte's unemployment rate is 5.4%. We have had key growth in "Professional & Business" services +4.7% & "Leisure & Hospitality" +4.2%. Our median home price has increased +3.3%. Homes are still selling if they are priced correctly, in great condition & in a good location. If you are thinking about buying a new home or need to sell your existing home, call or email us today. I hope you enjoy the article. Raleigh, NC is just ahead of us at #5.

America's Recession-Proof Cities
Joshua Zumbrun 04.29.08, 8:20 PM ET Forbes.com

Nationally, home prices are falling, unemployment is on the rise and the economy is expected to grow slowly--or even contract--in the first half of the year.

But some cities are doing just fine.

Take Oklahoma City, Okla. With falling unemployment, one of the country's strongest housing markets, and solid growth in agriculture, energy and manufacturing, it looks best positioned among the nation's largest metropolitan areas to ride out the current crisis.

In Pictures: 10 Recession-Proof Cities

San Antonio is right behind. It also features solid employment figures and affordable home prices that continue to rise. Its industries are growing; it can't hurt that the new AT&T (nyse: T - news - people ) was formed when San Antonio-based SBC Communications swallowed the old AT&T Corp. and BellSouth.

The others holding steady or improving include Austin, Texas; Houston; Charlotte, N.C.; Dallas; San Jose, Calif.; Raleigh, N.C.; Salt Lake City; and Seattle.

Behind The Numbers
To find them, Forbes.com examined the country's 50 largest metros and looked at several key measures.

We examined unemployment data supplied by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics for the year ending in February 2008 to see which areas are most adding or subtracting jobs. Next, we looked at the BLS data on job growth in non-farm payrolls, through February 2008, for construction, education and health services, financial activities, information, leisure and hospitality, manufacturing, natural resources and mining, professional and business services, trade, transportation and utilities, and the BLS's catch-all category, "other services."

We also took into account median home price data from the National Association of Realtors--from the fourth quarter of 2006 to the fourth quarter of 2007--to see which areas posted the largest annual gains. Our data don't account for the impact of declining sales in the first several months of this year.

Finally, our rankings were adjusted using data from a November 2007 report, "U.S. Metro Economies: The Mortgage Crisis," by the U.S. Conference of Mayors. It lists each city's estimated gross metropolitan product growth by projecting how rising foreclosures and falling home prices would affect overall levels of productivity in local economies.

Sunny Southern Skies
Texas cities fared best under these measures. San Antonio, Austin, Houston and Dallas-Fort Worth have benefited from historically lower home prices, which have been affordable to a large segment of the population. The availability of land--and, in some cases, little zoning--helped keep prices in these cities low. Instead of competing for homes, Texans could move to a new subdivision a little farther out.

What's more, all four boast falling unemployment rates, with Austin dropping from 3.8% to 3.6% and San Antonio from 4.3% to 4%.

Cities that are expected to see growth in non-farm payrolls include Raleigh, which is expected to see 7.4% growth in professional and business services and 6% growth in education and health. In Salt Lake City, where the median home price rose 2.5% and unemployment, at 3.1%, is below the 5.1% national average, growth in education and health services is expected to be 5.5%.

How are you planning on weathering the impending recession? Weigh in. Add your thoughts in the Reader Comments section below.

Some cities have seen increasing home prices but otherwise continue to struggle. Buffalo and Rochester, N.Y., have seen home price growth (from a low base) but still contend with high unemployment--around 6%--and slow-growing or shrinking industries.

And in the San Jose area, the median home sale price is over $830,000. That's 11% higher than it was in the fourth quarter of 2006, helping to land the area at No. 4 on our list. Problem is, that growth has since cooled, and it remains to be seen whether pricey homes coupled with a 5.3% unemployment rate will cause trouble for homeowners this year.

To be sure, even in the most resilient cities, the mortgage crisis has caused suffering. People everywhere got into bad mortgages. Similarly, even in the most battered cities, the majority of people are employed and making their mortgage payments. The extent of recession or resilience is very much in the eye of the beholder, and this list represents only one of many ways to take a snapshot of economies that are standing tall.

In his statements to Congress' Joint Economic Committee earlier this month, Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke predicted the economy would possibly move into recession in the first half of 2008 but begin to rebound in the second half.

If you're tired of waiting, these might be the best places to go.

"Your Home Sold In 60 Days or I'll Pay Your Mortgage"

"Save Up To $5000 On Your Closing Costs When You Use One Of Our Preferred Lenders"

Find out what your home values with our FREE over the net Home Evaluation, visit www.CharlottePropertyValues.info

Jon C Gillman

The Gillman Real Estate Group

704-602-0219 office

704-618-4479 cell

www.GillmanRealEstateGroup.com

I came across this article in the Realtor Magazine online & thought it might be helpful for people who are trying to decide if they should rent or buy. I beleive right now is the best time to buy a new home in the Charlotte, NC market. Our prices are stable, as compared to the rest of the country, and rates are still low. I heard Tony DiCello talk the other day about interest rates, historically, they follow gas prices. If that is so we are heading for an interest rate spike like we have not seen in a long time. Some say you should wait until the prices go down even further before you buy, the problem with that is if rates start to rise you are going to pay more in a monthly payment for the less expensive home than you would for the home that is at its current price. Something to think about. I hope you enjoy the article:

Handouts for Customers 7 Reasons to Own Your Home 1. Tax breaks. The U.S. Tax Code lets you deduct the interest you pay on your mortgage, your property taxes, as well as some of the costs involved in buying your home. 2. Appreciation. Real estate has long-term, stable growth in value. While year-to-year fluctuations are normal, median existing-home sale prices have increased on average 6.5 percent each year from 1972 through 2005, and increased 88.5 percent over the last 10 years, according to the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®. In addition, the number of U.S. households is expected to rise 15 percent over the next decade, creating continued high demand for housing. 3. Equity. Money paid for rent is money that you'll never see again, but mortgage payments let you build equity ownership interest in your home. 4. Savings. Building equity in your home is a ready-made savings plan. And when you sell, you can generally take up to $250,000 ($500,000 for a married couple) as gain without owing any federal income tax. 5. Predictability. Unlike rent, your fixed-mortgage payments don't rise over the years so your housing costs may actually decline as you own the home longer. However, keep in mind that property taxes and insurance costs will increase. 6. Freedom. The home is yours. You can decorate any way you want and benefit from your investment for as long as you own the home. 7. Stability. Remaining in one neighborhood for several years gives you a chance to participate in community activities, lets you and your family establish lasting friendships, and offers your children the benefit of educational continuity. Online resources: To calculate whether buying is the best financial option for you, use the "Buy vs. Rent" calculator at www.GinnieMae.gov. "Your Home Sold In 60 Days or I'll Pay Your Mortgage" "Save Up To $1000 On Your Closing Costs When You Use One Of Our Preferred Lenders" Find out what your home is WORTH with our FREE over the net Home Evaluation visit www.CharlottePropertyValues.info Until next time, Jon C. Gillman The Gillman Real Estate Group 704-602-0219 office 704-618-4479 cell Jon@JonGillman.com www.GillmanRealEstateGroup.com

Eastover Real Estate

We here at The Gillman Real Estate Group continuously monitor local real estate statistics to keep our clients informed and ahead of the real estate trends. Below you will find Eastover real estate statistic for the 1st week of May.

New homes on the market: 7
Number of homes pending: 0
Number of homes closed(sold): 3
Number of homes expiring: 1
Avg Days on Market: 60

Avg Sales Price: $ 1,293,333

To find the value of your home with a free, over-the-net home evaluation, please visit: www.CharlottePropertyValues.info

If you would like a free list of homes for sale in this area/neighborhood, would like more information about Eastover or would like to be the first to know about hot new listings before other buyers do, then call or email me.

Jon C. Gillman
The Gillman Real Estate Group

704-602-0219 Office

704-618-4479 Cell
www.GillmanRealEstateGroup.com
Jon@JonGillman.com

Cotswold Real Estate:

We here at The Gillman Real Estate Group continuously monitor local real estate statistics to keep our clients informed and ahead of the real estate trends. Below you will find Cotswold real estate statistic for the 1st week of May.

New homes on the market: 14
Number of homes pending: 2
Number of homes closed(sold): 8
Number of homes expiring: 2
Avg Days on Market: ## 65

Avg Sales Price: $ 424,411

To find the value of your home with a free, over-the-net home evaluation, please visit: www.CharlottePropertyValues.info

If you would like a free list of homes for sale in this area/neighborhood, would like more information about Cotswold or would like to be the first to know about hot new listings before other buyers do, then call or email me.

Jon C. Gillman
The Gillman Real Estate Group

704-602-0219 Office

704-618-4479 Cell
www.GillmanRealEstateGroup.com
Jon@JonGillman.com