Wesley Chapel NC Village Commons is Growing Up!
A country red brick church. Rolling fields of grain and woodlands. Horse farms. Do you remember when the intersection of Waxhaw-Indian Trail Road and Weddington Road in Wesley Chapel NC looked like that?
When the Village of Wesley Chapel incorporated over ten years ago, town residents decided that the Village would have a town center at this intersection. They set plans in motion for the Village Commons shopping center encompassing three corners of the crossroads. Today the church is still there but the fields and horse farms have been replaced by stores, restaurants and banks.
Construction at Village Commons is ongoing and not all storefronts have been leased yet but the number of shopping opportunities for nearby residents is impressive. Here are photos of Wesley Chapel’s Village Commons and a partial list of businesses in the center.
Harris Teeter, Blockbuster Video, Wells Fargo Bank, a pizza restaurant, a Chinese restaurant, Subway, a dentist.
Lowes Foods, Bank of America, a cleaner, a nail salon, Coffee Table, Taekwondo, Walgreens
Target, CVS, Radio Shack, Rack Room Shoes, Hickory Tavern, a pizza restaurant, Verizon
Perhaps the best thing about Wesley Chapel NC is that you can still live in a neighborhood with half acre or larger lots surrounded by fields and horse farms. Need something from the store or want to eat out? Just take a short drive to the Village Commons.
Learn more about Wesley Chapel NC. Wesley Chapel NC: Snapshot of Community Life
Copyright 2010. Carol Fox. Allen Tate Realtors. *Wesley Chapel NC Village Commons is Growing Up!*
Old County Courthouse in Monroe NC
Like most southern small towns, the heart of Monroe NC’s downtown is its public square surrounding the Old County Courthouse. Monroe’s courts have moved on to a new building nearby, but the beautiful old courthouse still shines in the center of the city.
Constructed in 1886, the courthouse has been restored several times over the years. Its stately interiors and well-worn wood floors remind a visitor of earlier times. A clock tower was added to the building in 1904. In 2002, the clock tower was restored and a historical winding clock mechanism similar to the original was installed. Clock faces were also restored to original condition. The clock now chimes on the hour.
A walk around the courthouse reveals memorials to Union County soldiers who fought in the Civil War and other wars. The historic buildings that line the streets around the courthouse serve as reminders of the days when law and commerce dominated Monroe’s courthouse square.
Click here to learn more about Monroe NC and living in Charlotte North Carolina’s best small towns.
Copyright 2010. Carol Fox. Allen Tate Realtors. *Old County Courthouse in Monroe NC*
Charlotte NC Property Taxes—What You Need to Know
Considering a move to Charlotte NC? If so, you are probably interested in property taxes in Charlotte and the surrounding areas. Here are some questions that newcomers to Charlotte ask me about taxes in the area.
How are property taxes calculated in Charlotte NC?
Property taxes are calculated by adding the county tax rate and the city tax rate plus the tax rates for any special tax districts that apply to a particular property. This combined tax rate is multiplied times each $100 of a property’s assessed value to determine the year’s tax bill. The tax rates are set every June by the city and county governments.
How much would I pay in taxes for a home assessed at $200,000 in the Charlotte-Mecklenburg County area?
The 2009 tax rate for Charlotte is $1.2973 per $100. Matthews and Mint Hill have somewhat lower tax rates at $1.1712 and $1.1137 respectively. These rates include the Mecklenburg County tax rates. 2009 annual property taxes for a home assessed at $200,000 in these areas are shown in the table below.
| City of Charlotte | $2594 |
| Town of Matthews | $2342 |
| Town of Mint Hill | $2274 |
How do the property taxes in Union County and its small towns compare with the taxes in Mecklenburg County?
Tax rates in Union County are typically but not always lower than those in Mecklenburg County. Taxes for a $200,000 home are shown in the following article. Union County NC Property Taxes—How Much Will You Pay on a $200,000 House?
Will the assessed value of a property change when I purchase it?
No. The assessed value of a property does not change when ownership transfers. The assessed value changes when the county decides to do a reassessment of all properties in the county or when you improve the property, such as adding a garage or a swimming pool.
North Carolina requires that counties complete a reassessment at least once every eight years. They can reassess property more often than that and sometimes do so during times of rapidly rising values. Mecklenburg County is currently going through the reassessment process and new values will be issued for every property in January 2011. Union County completed its reassessment process in 2008.
Does North Carolina have any homestead exclusions?
Yes, there are homestead exclusions for certain qualifying individuals.
There is a Low-Income Homestead Exclusion for individuals who are at least 65 years of age or totally and permanently disabled subject to certain income eligibility requirements. If you qualify, you can receive an exclusion of the taxable value of your residence of either $25,000 or 50%, whichever is greater.
The Disabled Veterans Homestead Exclusion excludes from property taxes the first $45,000 of assessed value. There is no age or income requirement for this benefit but the veteran must have a 100% total and permanent disability.
Is it possible to defer property taxes in North Carolina?
There is a new “Circuit Breaker” program for deferring property taxes. This program is available instead of the Homestead Exclusion for the Elderly or Disabled Veterans. There are income limits of $150% of the income eligibility limit for the Homestead Exemption. Unlike exclusion, which reduces taxes owed, deferral postpones paying a portion of the taxes due until a future time, such as sale of the property.
What is the income eligibility limit for these property tax exclusion and deferral programs?
Set every year by the NC Department of Revenue, the 2010 income limit for exclusion is $27,100. The Circuit Breaker deferral limit cannot exceed 150% of this limit.
Want to know more about real estate and living in Charlotte NC? Click here to request a free Charlotte NC relocation package.
Copyright 2010. Carol Fox. Allen Tate Realtors. *Charlotte NC Property Taxes—What You Need to Know*
Charlotte NC One of Country’s Healthiest Housing Markets
Builder Magazine just released its list of the top 20 healthiest housing markets in the country for 2010. Charlotte NC ranked #3 on this list. Six other Carolinas housing markets were also in the top 20 list. The Raleigh-Cary market was just ahead of Charlotte at #2.
Builder Magazine created a Builder Market Health Index which used household formations, resale values and job and income growth to rank the top 100 housing markets (determined by number of permits pulled in 2009) by health. The magazine cautions that the top twenty markets are healthier than the others but still aren’t the same as during the housing boom. A truly healthy market score is a rating of 50 or more. Only the top two markets scored 50 or above. Charlotte’s score was 48.
Why did Charlotte NC rank so high on the healthy housing market list? Charlotte, like other cities in the Carolinas, benefits from a mild climate and comfortable way of life, affordable housing and growing employment prospects—things that newcomers from other parts of the country value and have always valued. Other factors in Charlotte’s ranking were the relatively stable housing prices over the last three years, income levels that rose in 2009, and a continuing high household formation rate relative to the rest of the country.
Considering a move to Charlotte NC? Click here to request a free Charlotte NC relocation package.
Copyright 2010. Carol Fox. Allen Tate Realtors. *Charlotte NC One of Country’s Healthiest Housing Markets*
Aero Plantation in Weddington NC—Homes for Sale and Neighborhood Profile
Aero Plantation in Weddington NC is one of Union County’s most unique neighborhoods. You can land your small aircraft on the neighborhood’s 2400 foot landing strip and even taxi your plane to your Aero Plantation home. Some of Aero Plantation’s homes have plane ports for aircraft storage. Small aircraft have right-of-way along the neighborhood’s roads.
You don’t have to own an airplane to enjoy living in Aero Plantation. The community covers 385 acres of land and has been declared a wildlife sanctuary. Lots are a minimum of two acres but many are three and four acres in size. You can find open meadow, hardwood forest, lakefront or runway front lots in the neighborhood.
James D. Nisbet, a metallurgical engineer and founder of Allvac Metals Company in Monroe, purchased the property in 1962. He was an avid flyer and wanted the property to build a home and a private airstrip. Eventually he subdivided the property into 110 lots to sell to other aviators. The first homes were constructed in the 1960s. Homes have continued to be constructed until the present day.
Aero Plantation Community Features
Community Amenities: Aero Plantation Homeowners Association, lighted aircraft runway and hanger, 3 fishing lakes, tennis courts, basketball court, par 3 golf course
Builders: Various custom builders
Schools: Weddington Elementary, Weddington Middle, Weddington High. School assignments are subject to change. Check with the Union County Public Schools for current school assignments.
Aero Plantation Real Estate Market Update
January to December 2009
Single Family Homes
Homes Sold: none
Prices: Average Sales Price:
Average Square Feet:
Average Days on Market:
Source: Carolina Multiple Listing Service
Aero Plantation Homes for Sale
Click here to see Aero Plantation homes for sale.
Ever wonder what your Aero Plantation home is worth?
Click here to receive a free market evaluation.
Copyright 2010. Carol Fox. Allen Tate Realtors. *Aero Plantation in Weddington NC—Homes for Sale and Neighborhood Profile*
Charlotte NC’s Botanical Gardens at UNCC Are Full of Winter Blooms
You don’t have to wait until April or May to enjoy beautiful blooming plants in Charlotte NC. Charlotte’s mild climate means that you can find flowers year-round. One of the best places to find blooms in late February and early March are the Botanical Gardens at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte (UNCC).
The UNCC Botanical Gardens include the McMillan Greenhouse, the 3-acre Susie Harwood Garden, and the 7-acre Van Landingham Glen. Each of these gardens has a unique group of plants. The McMillan Greenhouse includes bog gardens and an orchid collection. The Susie Harwood Garden is full of unique ornamentals including a winter garden. The Van Landingham Glen in a woodland garden filled with rhododendrons.
My husband, Jon, and I took a walk through the Susie Harwood Garden this morning. We saw many varieties of camellias in full bloom, the unique Edgeworthia or Paperbush tree, a winter-blooming rhododendrum and primroses. I hope you enjoy these winter garden photos as much as we enjoyed our walk today.
Copyright 2010. Carol Fox. Allen Tate Realtors. *Charlotte NC’s Botanical Gardens at UNCC Are Full of Winter Blooms*
Union County NC Golf Course Communities and Homes for Sale
Do you love golf? Do you dream of a home overlooking the fairways of a beautiful golf course? Union County NC offers a number of opportunities to live in a golf course community. There are a variety of country club neighborhoods in Union County built around golf courses. Some are daily fee courses and others are private or semi-private golf clubs.
The mild climate in Union County NC allows you to enjoy your golfing lifestyle all year. Union County’s luxury golf course neighborhoods range in price from the $300,000s to the millions. A variety of home styles ensures that you can find your perfect home on the golf course.
Learn more about Union County NC golf course communities and see golf course homes for sale by clicking on the links below.
Firethorne in Marvin NC—Homes for Sale and Neighborhood Profile
Longview in Weddington NC—Homes for Sale and Neighborhood Profile
Rolling Hills in Monroe NC—Homes for Sale and Neighborhood Profile
Shannamara in Stallings NC—Homes for Sale and Neighborhood Profile
Emerald Lake in Stallings NC—Homes for Sale and Neighborhood Profile
Olde Sycamore in Mint Hill NC—Homes for Sale and Neighborhood Profile
Want to find a home on a golf course lot? Contact Carol Fox for a list of available golf course homes.
Copyright 2010. Carol Fox. Allen Tate Realtors. *Union County NC Golf Course Communities and Homes for Sale*
Indian Trail NC Homes for Sale--3015 Salmon River Drive in Merwether is Sold!
Property information
Unique Downstairs Master Bedroom
• 2 bath, 2 bdrm 1 1/2 story - 
MLS® $130,000
Arlington Downs, Stallings - A pretty front porch welcomes you to this wonderful townhome in Arlington Downs. You'll enjoy quiet privacy in this end unit that is tucked away at the back of the complex. Find two bedrooms with a loft and two and one-half baths in this unit.
This home is not a typical boxy townhome. Windows on three sides of the unit create a bright and sunny interior and the feel of a single family home. Enjoy grilling and relaxing on the back patio. A 4'x8' storage unit is included.
A step inside reveals an airy floorplan where a turned staircase and a loft overlook the spacious two-story great room with updated paddle fan. A gas log fireplace is the focal point of the great room. All windows have two-inch blinds.
Enjoy your meals in the sunny dining area that overlooks the patio. Open to the kitchen, this area has abundant wallspace for other furniture. Light fixtures have been updated throughout the home. A powder room with pedestal sink is located here.
The cook's kitchen has abundant cabinetry and extensive counterspace. A pantry provides additional storage. Appliances include a smoothtop stove, a dishwasher and disposal. Recessed lighting brightens the work area.
The downstairs master bedroom makes this townhome unique. The bedroom includes a paddle fan and a double closet plus a storage closet. The master bathroom has double sinks, a tub/shower and the laundry closet.
Enjoy the generous loft area with its cathedral ceiling with paddle fan and view of the great room below. Two windows make this area bright and sunny. The loft includes a huge walk-in closet and a smaller closet. It can be enclosed for a 3rd bedroom.
Arlington Downs includes a clubhouse with swimming pool and a walking trail around a pond. The complex is located just inside Union County with downtown Matthews minutes away. The Siskey YMCA and two community shopping centers are nearby.
Property information
Firethorne in Marvin NC—Homes for Sale and Neighborhood Profile
Picture a luxury home community with a 400 acre golf course at its heart. Firethorne in Marvin NC has beautiful homes set among the rolling hills and hardwood forest of Firethorne Country Club. The 30,000 square foot clubhouse at Firethorne includes fine dining facilities and beautiful views of the golf course. Other country club amenties include a fitness center, a swim and tennis facility with a water park and four swimming pools plus ten tennis courts. The 18-hole championship golf course has rock walls, ponds and a forested backdrop.
Firethorne is located in the northeastern corner of Union County NC adjacent to the Ballantyne area in Mecklenburg County NC and Lancaster County SC. Some of Firethorne’s homes are located in the Indian Land area of Lancaster County. The Ballantyne area offers abundant shopping, employment and entertainment opportunities. Firethorne is a short drive away but feels worlds away in the rural horse country of Marvin.
Homes in Firethorne were constructed from 1999 until 2009. The last new homes have been sold. The homes range in size from 3500 square feet to over 7000 square feet. Lots range from a half acre to three quarters of an acre. Many homes have spectacular golf course views.
Firethorne Community Features
Community Amenities: Firethorne Country Club, clubhouse, fitness center, water park, tennis courts, golf course
Builders: Various custom builders, John Weiland Homes
Schools: Marvin Elementary, Marvin Ridge Middle, Marvin Ridge High in Union County and Indian Land Elementary, Middle and Senior High in Lancaster County. School assignments are subject to change. Check with the Union County or Lancaster County Public Schools for current school assignments.
Firethorne Real Estate Market Update
January to December 2009
Single Family Homes
Homes Sold: 10
Prices: $330,000 to $1,132,925 Average Sales Price: $740,319
Average Square Feet: 5158
Average Days on Market: 112
Source: Carolina Multiple Listing Service
Firethorne Homes for Sale
Click here to see Firethorne homes for sale.
Ever wonder what your Firethorne home is worth?
Click here to receive a free market evaluation.
Copyright 2010. Carol Fox. Allen Tate Realtors. *Firethorne in Marvin NC—Homes for Sale and Neighborhood Profile*
Matthews NC to Become Community Wildlife Habitat
The Town of Matthews NC is about to embark on campaign to become one of only thirty-five municipalities nationwide that are certified Community Wildlife Habitats. This certification is earned from the National Wildlife Federation. The Matthews campaign will be called “Matthews Naturally”.
The “Matthews Naturally” campaign will be led by HAWK, the local chapter of the North Carolina Wildlife Federation. The entire town, including town government, schools, churches, businesses and homeowners, will work to preserve wildlife and give the animals places for living and raising their young.
Matthews NC will become certified as a Community Wildlife Habitat by earning 450 points toward goals that include a certain number of homeowner Backyard Wildlife Habitats, Schoolyard Wildlife Habitats, educational programs, environmental projects and environmental websites. HAWK members note that the town already has earned a number of points toward the certification as there are a number of homeowners who have Backyard Wildlife Habitats already.
Learn more about environmental activities and parks in Matthews NC.
Matthews NC Wildlife Advocates are HAWKs
Squirrel Lake Park in Matthews NC is Perfect Getaway
Downtown Matthews NC—Farmers Market Opens for the Season
Copyright 2010. Carol Fox. Allen Tate Realtors. *Matthews NC to Become Community Wildlife Habitat*
Rolling Hills in Monroe NC—Homes for Sale and Neighborhood Profile
Rolling Hills in Monroe NC is a golf course community that was built around the Rolling Hills Country Club. Homes were built as early as the 1960s in Rolling Hills. Construction continued in the 1970s and 1980s with some homes built as recently as the early 2000s. The pretty wooded lots are generous ranging from a half acre to over an acre in size.
The golf course at Rolling Hills Country Club is a private, non-equity club with a traditional course designed by George Cobb. The course has short distances between holes making the course compatible for walking or riding. Other amenities at the club include dining and banquet facilities, an outdoor swimming pool with a wading pool for children, tennis courts and a golf practice and learning facility.
Rolling Hills Community Features
Community Amenities: Rolling Hills Country Club
Builders: Various custom builders
Schools: Porter Ridge Elementary, Porter Ridge Middle, Porter Ridge High. School assignments are subject to change. Check with the Union County Public Schools for current school assignments.
Rolling Hills Real Estate Market Update
January to December 2009
Single Family Homes
Homes Sold: None
Prices: Average Sales Price:
Average Square Feet:
Average Days on Market:
Source: Carolina Multiple Listing Service
Rolling Hills Homes for Sale
Click here to see Rolling Hills homes for sale.
Ever wonder what your Rolling Hills home is worth?
Click here to receive a free market evaluation.
Copyright 2010. Carol Fox. Allen Tate Realtors. *Rolling Hills in Monroe NC—Homes for Sale and Neighborhood Profile*
Hollister in Weddington NC—Homes for Sale and Neighborhood Profile
Enjoy the wooded vistas along Weddington Road from downtown Weddington NC to the Wesley Chapel NC Town Center. Along the way you’ll find Hollister, a pretty neighborhood set off the road behind a private wooded entrance. Hollister is located in unincorporated Union County NC near Weddington.
Dreaming of a full brick home and a lot large enough to give you some space? Hollister may be the perfect spot for you. Neighborhood homes are full brick with stone accents set on lots that range from a third to over a half acre in size. Home sizes are from approximately 4000 square feet to over 5000 square feet. Some of the homes have basements.
Construction began in 2006 in Hollister and continues today. Both resale and new homes are available in the neighborhood. A resort-style amenity center is the centerpiece of the community. Walking trails wind through the neighborhood.
Hollister residents can find community shopping nearby at the Wesley Chapel Town Center with its two grocery stores, a Target, banks, restaurants, pharmacies and other service shops. More shopping including a Lowes Home Improvement store are several miles away in Waxhaw NC.
Hollister Community Features
Community Amenities: Hollister Homeowners Association, clubhouse, swimming pool, tennis courts, playground, walking trails
Builders: Shea Homes
Schools: New Town Elementary, Cuthbertson Middle, Cuthbertson High. School assignments are subject to change. Check with the Union County Public Schools for current school assignments.
Hollister Real Estate Market Update
January to December 2009
Single Family Homes
Homes Sold: 7 homes
Prices: $389,900 to $547,500 Average Sales Price: $456,985
Average Square Feet: 4612
Average Days on Market: 317
Source: Carolina Multiple Listing Service
Hollister Homes for Sale
Click here to see Hollister homes for sale.
Ever wonder what your Hollister home is worth?
Click here to receive a free market evaluation.
Copyright 2010. Carol Fox. Allen Tate Realtors. *Hollister in Weddington NC—Homes for Sale and Neighborhood Profile*
Union County NC Schools—Eight Things You Should Know
Families moving to the Charlotte NC area usually want to know about the schools first. Neighborhoods and homes come second. After researching regional schools, many newcomers decide to look at the Union County NC schools.
What should families know about the Union County schools?
Here is my list of ten things you should know about the Union County NC schools.
- Union County Public Schools (UCPS) is a county-wide school system, like most North Carolina systems. This means that school pupil assignment areas do not correspond to town or village boundaries. School assignments zones are fluid and can change when schools get overcrowded and new schools are built.
- Union County Public Schools is the sixth largest system in the state and the fastest growing school system in North Carolina. UCPS student enrollment increased 79% over the past ten years bringing enrollment to 39,366 students in the 2009-10 school year.
- There are 53 schools in the UCPS system—30 elementary schools, 9 middle schools, 11 high schools and 3 special schools. Union County constructed 25 new schools during a ten year period from 2000 to 2010. Union County NC schools have 4,658 employees of which 2,585 are licensed administrators, principals and teachers.
- Union County Public Schools ranked number one among the state’s eight largest school districts in the percentage of schools that met the federal No Child Left Behind, Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) goals. 81.6% met the 100 percent standard of AYP. 90% met more than 90% of AYP goals.
- UCPS 2009 SAT scores exceeded state and national averages. The UCPS average SAT score was 1029.
- 88% of 2009 UCPS graduates plan to attend college. The 2008-2009 graduation rate was 80.7% and the 2007-2008 dropout rate for grades 7 through 12 was 2.32%. UCPS graduates received $51.1 in scholarships in 2009.
- Seven Union County high schools ranked in Charlotte Magazine’s Top Public Schools list. Schools in Charlotte-Mecklenburg, Cabarrus, and Union were evaluated on school environment and school performance for this list. These schools in order of ranking were Marvin Ridge, Piedmont, Weddington, Parkwood, Sun Valley, Porter Ridge, and Monroe.
- Union County Schools is one of the first 20 school systems in the nation and the only system in North Carolina to be chosen to be part of the Hanban Asia Society Confucious Classrooms Network. This programs is designed to help school systems enhance their Chinese language programs.
Source: Union County Public Schools
Want to know more about schools and living in Union County NC? Go to www.CarolinaSmallTownLiving.com.
Copyright 2010. Carol Fox. Allen Tate Realtors. *Union County NC Schools—Eight Things You Should Know*
Olde Sycamore in Mint Hill NC—Homes for Sale and Neighborhood Profile
Olde Sycamore is a golf course community that straddles the Mecklenburg and Union County line. The centerpiece of the neighborhood is Olde Sycamore Golf Plantation, a well-regarded golf course built in 1997. The main entrance of the neighborhood is found off Highway 218 in Mint Hill NC. An interchange with I-485 is located just a mile and a half east of this entrance.
Construction of homes in Olde Sycamore began in 1996-97. Neighborhood homes were built by several production builders as well as custom builders in another section of Olde Sycamore. Construction continues today in The Links, located in the Union County section of the neighborhood. Homes on golf course lots are available in the neighborhood.
Mint Hill has annexed all homes in Olde Sycamore into its town limits. Children who live in the Mecklenburg County section of the neighborhood attend Charlotte-Mecklenburg schools and children in the Union County section attend Union County schools.
When built, Olde Sycamore’s golf course was voted “Best New Course” by Charlotte’s Best Magazine. The golf course was renovated in 2007. Some of the features of the course follow:
- Designed by famous course architect Tom Jackson
- Semi-private 18-hole championship course (par “72”)
- 6900 yard championship layout features Bermuda fairways lined with hardwoods and pines
- Golf shop and clubhouse with restaurant
Olde Sycamore Community Features
Community Amenities: Olde Sycamore Homeowners Association, clubhouse, swimming pool, tennis courts
Builders: Multiple custom home builders, Beazer, Fortis, Orleans
Schools: Fairview Elementary, Piedmont Middle, Piedmont High in Union County. Bain Elementary, Mint Hill Middle, Butler High in Mecklenburg County. School assignments are subject to change. Check with the Union County or Charlotte-Mecklenburg Public Schools for current school assignments.
Olde Sycamore Real Estate Market Update
January to December 2009
Single Family Homes
Homes Sold: 10 homes
Prices: $206,000 to $419,000 Average Sales Price: $295,500
Average Square Feet: 3100
Average Days on Market: 122
Source: Carolina Multiple Listing Service
Olde Sycamore Homes for Sale
Click here to see Olde Sycamore homes for sale.
Ever wonder what your Olde Sycamore home is worth?
Click here to receive a free market evaluation.
Copyright 2010. Carol Fox. Allen Tate Realtors. *Olde Sycamore in Mint Hill NC—Homes for Sale and Neighborhood Profile*