Shannon Griffith - Realtor® for Statesville NC Homes

UPCOMING Habitat for Humanity - Homes for Families Classic Car & Motorcycle Cruise-In 2009

Exit Home Team Realty is organizing the 2nd Annual Habitat for Humanity "Homes for Families" Classic Car & Motorcycle Cruise-In Show on Saturday, May 16^th, 2009 beginning at 4:00pm. The Cruise-In will be held in Kmart parking lot at Exit# 50 off I-77 in Statesville. There are plenty of restaurants and shopping within walking distance of the event. Music, 50/50 Tickets, Door Prizes and Silent Auction Items

All profits will be donated 100% to the Iredell County Habitat for Humanity. Last years event was a GREAT success with over 110 cars attending and by raising over $2,500.00 for Habitat. We anticipate that this years event will be larger and exceed last year's success.

We would like to extend the opportunity to everyone (personally or business) to participate in the upcoming success of our 2009 event by one or more of the following:

1. Donate Door Prizes of your choice

2. Donate 50 small items for the Goodie Bags given to the first 50 registered for the event

3. Set-up a table during the event for advertising (Door Prize, Charitable Donation and/or an item to be auctioned needed to participate)

4. Donate a "Large" item to be auctioned off during the event (you will receive credit for the donation)

5. Make a charitable donation to benefit Habitat for Humanity

Your generosity will be greatly appreciated. Please contact me directly. Thank you.

See below for pictures from the 2008 event

Mooresville/Statesville NC Back on Top for Business Growth

from press release

Published: March 10, 2009

Statesville/Mooresville, North Carolina, regained its number one micropolitan community ranking in 2008 for new and expanding facilities by Site Selection magazine, the official publication of the Industrial Asset Management Council. These Iredell County communities have achieved the top ranking four out of the past five years. Statesville and Mooresville had an excellent year in 2008, with a total of 17 projects and total new capital investment of $ 377 million. "New capital investment and job creation is critical to the ongoing success of Iredell County," said Godfrey Williams, chairman of the Iredell County Commission. "Our past success is impressive and we can build off of this success to overcome what we are facing today as a result of the weak national economy." Statesville/Mooresville is a key employment center in the Charlotte Region for industrial, headquarters/back office and motorsports. The area has seen a tremendous population growth over the past several years providing companies with a solid workforce along with unmatched quality of life, outstanding educational system, and excellent highway accessibility and low operating costs. "We appreciate the recognition," said Bill Thunberg, Town of Mooresville Mayor. "Our area benefits from a strong partnership between the Town, County and the private sector as we seek to create job opportunities and investment. It is a great place to do business." Although all of the 17 projects are important, the following announcements were of significant amounts of investment leading to Iredell County's success. In Statesville: Providencia USA, 250,000 sq ft, $133 million invested; and Lowes Planogram training facility, 298,000 sq ft, $10.4 million invested. In Mooresville: motorsports-related announcements adding up to 319,000 sq ft, $34.5 million invested; Carolina Beer and Beverage, 300,000 sq ft, $11 million invested; and Lakefield Corporate Center, 250,000 sq ft, $15 million invested.

College students spend spring break building for Habitat in Statesville NC

By Chyna Broadnax | Statesville R&L

Published: March 5, 2009

The buzzing of saws and pounding of hammers to nails resonated through a Habitat for Humanity construction site Wednesday. Nearly a dozen students from Muhlenberg College in Allentown, Pa., are helping build three Habitat homes in the Fourth Creek Village subdivision off Garner Bagnal Boulevard. The students are participating in the Collegiate Challenge, in which students spend their spring break volunteering with local Habitat affiliates constructing homes. Natalie Laucis, 19, who spent her last spring break not doing much, wanted to make sure she was productive this time around. "I really wanted to do something to help out a community," she said. "Last spring break I was really bored." This is the Muhlenberg sophomore's first year participating in the alternative spring break. "It's a great experience because it's rewarding," Laucis said. "Instead of sitting on a couch, you're building a house. You feel like you're actually doing something." Students will spend about eight hours each day working on the homes. So far they have done flooring and framing. The weather conditions may not have been ideal. The site is covered in red mud and snow, but the students appreciate the experience. Muhlenberg College students will leave Statesville at the end of the week. But during the next three weeks 60 students from five other colleges will rotate. Participating colleges include SUNY Cortland, Haverford College, Franklin W. Olin College of Engineering, New York University and Bryn Mawr College. The subdivision will have 15 homes, all of which will be owned by Habitat homeowners. The students were part of a group working to build the first two-story Habitat home. Muehlenberg College student Daniel Wayne, 20, was persuaded by friend Michael Usher to participate. "It feels nice to help out someone else and building a home," Wayne said. Outside of the building, the students have been impressed by the hospitality of the community. Usher, 22, said he wanted to get Wayne involved because it is "self fulfilling and great to do things for other people." "I love it," he said. "It makes me feel good helping others and people who appreciate it." Habitat Executive Director Scott Loudermelt is proud of the students and their commitment to the program. "They are some of the best people we work with all year," he said. "They work hard and are here for the right reasons."

BUYERS GET OFF THE FENCE IN STATESVILLE NC

While reading the article below, I could not agree more and wonder why more Buyers were not taking advantage of the BUYERS MARKET that we are experencing in Statesville NC. Now is the time to get off the fence and buy. When the market turns around and it will, the home buyer will have instant equity on their investment.

If you need help finding your next home, please call me at 704-880-5490, visit my website or send me an email at Shannon@MyExitHomeTeam.com

Shannon Griffith, Realtor with Exit Home Team Realty in Statesville NC. I specialized in providing Professional, Honest & Personalized service for all of your Real Estate needs.

Get off that Fence!

by Denise Lones

I've been saying it for months, and I'll say it again. NOW is the time to get off the fence and buy!

And you're doing a huge disservice to your clients if you don't make sure they hear that message loud and clear! Why am I so convinced that the time is now? Well, it's a combination of things. Regardless of whether you're building a new deck, or whipping up a batch of cupcakes, you need the right ingredients in order to ensure success.

For the buyer considering a purchase, the right ingredients are at hand. Today, right now, is the time to act. Here's why: Mortgage rates are low, lower than they have been for many years. In fact, they're approaching historic lows! Yes, you actually have to qualify for a loan now. But I guarantee you there are lenders out there who are ready, willing, and able to lend you mortgage money at very attractive rates. Inventory levels are high. Unfortunately for sellers, buyers have an enormous number of homes from which to pick. In many markets, inventory is at an all-time high. As a result, buyers no longer have to "settle" on a home that's not what they want.

Sellers are motivated. Whether they are in trouble with their financing, worried about their employment, or having to make lifestyle changes as a result of losses in the stock market, many sellers need to sell and are willing to negotiate accordingly. First-time buyers can also get a $8,000 non-repayable tax credit from the government. And you can apply it to either your 2008 or 2009 taxes. We may already have reached the bottom of the market. Some buyers are still waiting, trying to buy at the very bottom of the market. Funny thing about that - you never know you've hit the bottom until prices are on their way back up. And many buyers don't realize that an increase in their mortgage rate will completely eliminate any advantage they may have gained by waiting for prices to decrease by a few thousand dollars more.

So, yes, I feel strongly that buyers who don't make a move right now are missing a huge opportunity. Be the agent that encourages them to make what could be a very wise move!

Published: February 26, 2009

THE BEGINNING OF THE END OF THE ANDERSON HOUSE IN STATESVILLE NC

There are many opinions about the outcome of the Anderson House in Statesville NC. The house is scheduled for demolition within the next few weeks, according to an article in the Statesville Record and Landmark seen below. Please post your comments.

By Jim McNally | The Statesville Record & Landmark

Published: February 17, 2009

The Anderson House is coming down. No, really this time. Demolition workers with Tucker's Hauling & Grading have been doing salvage work inside of the 115-year-old Walnut Street mansion since last Friday. Company owner Marty Tucker brought in his wrecking crew less than 24 hours after the Statesville City Council essentially rejected a last-minute reprieve by the house's owner, William Tucker (no relation to Marty). William Tucker and contractor Roy Little told council members at their Thursday pre-agenda meeting that they had a verbal agreement by which Little would "stabilize" the exterior of the structure for $120,000. But Marty Tucker said he was under no obligation to wait at all. He said he could have been at work on the house's demolition since the city council approved his bid for the project at its Feb. 2 meeting. Marty Tucker admitted his bid was a little on the low side, but knew he could augment his profit margin by cannibalizing the Queen Anne house's rich interior and selling the booty. "The woodwork in there is amazing," he said. And so he and his crew have been dismantling it. Literally. "There are nine fireplaces in there," he said. "And all the mantles are still in good shape." He also pointed to the hinges, which are all inlaid with ornate designs.

And they are all attached to doors of solid wood. "We took down a door upstairs that must have weighed 200 pounds," Marty Tucker said. "And all the doors are totally different from each other. It's incredible." Along with the woodwork - which, Marty Tucker said, comprises five different types of hardwood - the crew has discovered other treasures, including a letter that was written in 1886, about a half-dozen years before the house was built. Tucker said the deal he has with the city allows him to get what he can for the loot he salvages from the house. Estimates on the value of the house's adornments were about $17,500, according to Statesville Planning Director David Currier. "But, like the grand staircase we are working on right now," he said, ""there's no telling what that's worth." Whatever Marty Tucker gets, he and his workers want to sell it to someone local. "They can still own a piece of the house and put it in their own homes," said John Dillon, one of the salvage workers. Dillon was in awe of the woodwork in the house, but said its state of disrepair was very advanced. He said the costs he'd heard about fixing the house were greatly under estimated. "You could put a half-million dollars into this house," Dillon said. "And it would still be a rathole."

Currier said the demolition of the Anderson House is the end of long and, ultimately, sad story. "No one ever wanted to see the house torn down," Currier said. "But there is a 23-year history of this cat-and-mouse game that Dr. (William) Tucker has been playing." Currier also feels that much of the antipathy that exists by those who wanted to see the house saved has been misplaced. "People have blamed the city and city council for this, but Dr. Tucker could have taken his 11th-hour action any time in the past 23 years," Currier said. "And he didn't."

According to the Appraisal Card issued by Iredell County, the Anderson House has 4,346 square feet of heated space. The property value of 528 Walnut St. was appraised last year at $44,170. But the house's replacement cost is listed as $428,529. Marty Tucker said if things move as planned, the property where the Anderson House now stands will be leveled by the end of next week.