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Leigh Brown Charlotte NC Broker/Owner

Habitat Cabarrus House Starts 10/4/08!!

So you're feeling a little anxious these days? Worried about the economy and the election? Come get things back into perspective starting this Saturday, October 4 2008 as we begin the construction of the Leigh Brown house for Habitat Cabarrus in Concord NC.

Habitat Cabarrus

We have a family ready to go to work, ready to get out of substandard housing here in Cabarrus County- into a home of their own where they have a safe place to live-and can build their own wealth.

I've been setting aside a portion of each commission for the past two years to fund this house. I feel very strongly about giving back to the community in which I live and work-and this is more than me. Many of my clients have matched my efforts and we are ALMOST funded on the house. If you feel so moved, you can make a donation to the Leigh Brown house (tax-deductible of course). $60 buys one square foot of the house.

If you're not entirely familiar with Habitat for Humanity-or perhaps have just never looked into the specifics of the mission-here's the scoop. Our Partner Families aren't getting anything free-they are hard-working folks who make less than the median income in the area, perhaps have a credit glitch or three-but are willing to commit to extensive financial counseling, home maintenance classes, and are willing to spend their Saturdays building homes for others and then themselves. Upon completion of the requirements, the Partner Families have a home built for them which is provided on an interest-free mortgage to make it as affordable as possible. In Cabarrus County alone, over 110 families have boosted themselves out of substandard housing with a little help from friends-like you.

For more information, to find out the build schedule, or to volunteer, please email me today. I am so proud to serve my community-I have received so much, I can do no less than give back in any way that I can.

Cabarrus County's ONLY EcoBroker

(drumroll, please)

Yes, you heard it right-Leigh Brown is now Cabarrus County's (that would be Concord, Kannapolis, Harrisburg, Mount Pleasant, and Midland NC) ONLY EcoBroker. (I'm the 6th one in greater Charlotte-we're getting there, slowly but surely)

Proof that even if you are a fiscal conservative like myself, who has always made it a point to poke fun at the tree-hugging, non-leg-or-armpit-shaving liberal types, you can still make a difference.Treehugger

Going green in regard to real estate is so much more than the political pandering of the Sierra Club. It's got more to do with being fiscally and environmentally responsible. And heck yes, it might even make your house easier to sell one day!

For more information about buying or selling a green (or brown or blue or whatever) house anywhere in the greater Charlotte NC area (especially Cabarrus County), call or email Leigh Brown directly. I'm always glad to help!

Is It Time for Charlotte NC Home Buyers To Get Off The Fence?

I do have to wonder how many buyers are swayed by the media barrage of the National Association of Realtors, which is currently pushing for buyers to 'get off the fence.'Charlotte NC Buyers on the Fence

I have to say, if I were currently planning to purchase a home or condo or land or anything else real estate related in the Charlotte NC market-heck, anywhere-that campaign would be off-putting to me.

As Realtors, we have a bad enough reputation in the marketplace already. It gets worse daily, as the liberal media continues to slam everyone involved in the mortgage debacle...yes, there were shady Realtors involved (real estate agents, too), shady lenders, idiotic buyers, you name it. So those of us who have soldiered on, taking great care of buyers and sellers alike (and may I add, not one of the hundreds of homes that I have listed or sold here in Charlotte NC has gone to foreclosure-in fact, I've saved a couple of my sellers from foreclosure but that's another topic altogether), are still being lumped in with the snakes. Do we really have to hurt ourselves even more with crap like this?

Yes, it's a great time to buy in many markets, including Charlotte NC and most of our suburbs *but not all-did you note that i didn't say it's a great time to buy in every corner of this market?*. But I have to admit that it drives me absolutely nuts when the media and even our own trade organization thinks we have to trick people into buying. Facts and statistics are one thing-for many buyers, seeing that we are likely in the trough for pricing is enough to get them to think positively about purchasing. However, to use only emotion just makes me feel a little icky.

I can only imagine how often the liberal news media is going to trumpet that now is a great buying opportunity once there's a new President in office...they will single-handedly try to make the market go up to prove that whichever candidate is elected was responsible for the turnaround (which is plausible since they did a lot to create the drama that's going on now).

Just for the record. Neither I nor many of my like-minded Realtor brethren believe in pushing anyone off of a fence. Yes, we want you to know about changes in financing, the end of down payment assistance, changes in pricing of mortgage insurance, tightening up of list price/sales price ratios. But it's up to YOU to make the decision to buy. If you want to wait until prices have already started to move up, that's your call-not mine. I'll be here whether you buy today or in a year. I'm in this for a long time to come (and you guessed it-that will mean more market cycles-so I'll wager that you will call or email when you need the expert who evaluates market changes and doesn't run from the challenges of a new marketplace).

Charlotte NC Cultural Event Sunday March 30 2008

Now, I know that you're usually keyed up for cultural enlightenment on Friday or Saturday date nights...but Sunday afternoons can fulfill you as well!

Sunday, March 30 2008 at 230pm

Location: Christ Lutheran Church in Charlotte, NC (off of Providence Road just south of Fairview)

Come out and see Charlotte NC's newest choral group, VOX (my group!), in a performance the likes of which you've never seen. Seriously, this is the response we're getting from each audience-they LOVE the music and it's completely unexpected!

Our special guest performers are none other than Catrina Pegues (you want gospel? you will get goosebumps listening to Catrina) and Dennis Reed & GAP (they'll be on Oprah one day, you should come hear them now while you can still get tickets!).

Suggested donation of $15 at the door (but we'll take more, we're working on production of our first CD so any contributions are greatly appreciated).

VOX

Perfect for Saturday Night Date Night!

Or even let the kids stay up late for a fabulous benefit gala in Davidson NC (just north of Charlotte NC). Many folks who relocate to Charlotte ask what kind of cultural events are available-this is a prime example of the exciting opportunities in Charlotte-for both giving and receiving.

(If you didn't already know, VOX is the professional choral ensemble that I perform with-so if you show up, you can catch me after the show!)

Saturday, February 23, 2008 at 8:00pm:

The Firebird Arts Alliance, in collaboration with Central Piedmont Community College, present:

VOX

PRESENTS LIVE RECORDING / BENEFIT CONCERT:

"Vox & Friends"

Charlotte's newest professional choral ensemble, VOX, will present "VOX & Friends," a live recording / benefit concert at 8:00pm, on Saturday, February 23, 2008 at St. Alban's Episcopal Church in Davidson, in support of Inspire the Fire, Inc., an inner-city, youth arts-training program.

Firebird Arts Alliance Artistic Director David Tang and Associate Artistic Director Peppie Calvar lead VOX in a program of spectacular contemporary choral music by composers like Edwin Fissinger, Duke Ellington, Astor Piazzolla, Stephen Leek, and more, to be included in VOX's debut CD - "Out of this World;" the program will also include spirituals, jazz and gospel music in celebration of Black History Month, performed in collaboration with some of Charlotte's best African-American musical artists.

Proceeds from the event will benefit Inspire the Fire, Inc.

Guest artist/collaborators include Ethel Beatty Barnes, Dennis Reed & G.A.P., Henry Lebedinsky and Catrina Pegues.

Ethel Beatty Barnes (http://fundraisingthruthearts.com/biography.html), star of Broadway stage and film, joins VOX in Duke Ellington's Come Sunday and other jazz/gospel favorites. Ms. Barnes performed leading roles on Broadway, opposite artists like Gregory Hines, and appeared in Martin Scorsese's The Cotton Club.

Dennis Reed & G.A.P., Charlotte's hottest new Gospel sensations (http://www.dennisreed.com/ or read about Dennis: http://www.nuthinbutgospel.com/spotlight_dennisreed.htm), recently performed with VOX and the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra in the CSO's Daybreak of Freedom performance, celebrating Martin Luther King, Jr., to thunderous ovations. Seriously, they're going to be on Oprah one day, so you should take advantage of seeing them now!

Catrina Pegues (http://catrinapeguesministries.net/) won the 2004 Charlotte Gimme the Mike-Charlotte competition and sings gospel and inspirational music throughout the region.

Henry Lebedinsky, Music Director of Music at St. Alban's (http://www.saintalbans-davidson.org/musicatstalbans.htm), appears as guest conductor of VOX, conducting an original work by Mr. Lebedinsky.

The performance will take place on Saturday, February 23, 2008 at 8:00 pm at St. Alban's Episcopal Church in Davidson, NC (301 Caldwell Lane, Davidson, NC 28036 - http://www.stalbans-davidson.org/

Ticket reservations can be made by calling (704) 365-1661. Limited seats are still available, call today if you want to come tomorrow.

$20 - general admission / $12 - students and seniors

ABOUT THE FIREBIRD ARTS ALLIANCE: The Firebird Arts Alliance brings artists and artistic institutions together from all disciplines, to collaborate in innovative, commercially successful, and socially beneficial ways.Firebird will facilitate collaborations between artists of all disciplines as well as people of all races, religions, cultures and backgrounds, in order to inspire a community of respect, equality and creativity.