Carolinas Real Estate Talk

Lawson in Waxhaw NC Gets New Builder

Lawson is a Waxhaw neighborhood where construction began in 2005. Very popular with Union County NC home buyers, several villages with four different builders were mostly completed by 2009. After that construction slowed to just a few homes with only ten new homes sold in 2011.

New construction is about to pick up again in Lawson. Lennar Homes has purchased the remaining land in the community and will open three new villages in 2012. Approximately 400 new homes will be built in these villages.

Two of the new Lawson villages will offer Lennar’s “Everything Included” single family homes. Deer Meadows homes, 2200 to 3200 square feet in size, will be priced from the low to mid-$200,000s. At St. Ives, purchasers will find homes priced from the $270,000s to the low $300,000s. These homes will range in size from 2700 to 3500 square feet.

The Southern Trail village will offer homes for active adults and seniors. The ranch and master-down homes in this village will be priced from $212,000 to the $270,000s. They will have between 1650 to 2800 square feet. The homeowners association dues for this village will include lawn maintenance.

Learn more about Lawson, its builders, amenities and search Lawson homes for sale: Lawson—Neighborhood Information and Homes for Sale.

Want to know more about real estate and living in Waxhaw NC? Visit www.CarolinaSmallTownLiving.com.

Copyright 2012. Carol Fox. Allen Tate Realtors. *Lawson in Waxhaw NC Gets New Builder*

Lawson--Neighborhood Information and Homes for Sale

Discover Lawson, a Charlotte neighborhood where a third of the community is preserved in natural common areas.

Lawson is a master-planned community with a history. Located in the Union County NC town of Waxhaw in Charlotte’s southern region, Lawson was named for John Lawson, an English naturalist who explored the ancient lands of the Waxhaw Indians. In 1701, he called the area “Lower Providence, a land set apart.”

An evaluation of the land prior to development located a place called Five Forks where five ancient roads met above a 19th century mill site called Howard’s Mill. It’s believed that a small settlement thrived at Five Forks in the mid-1700s. The ruins of Howard’s Mill and other archeological sites are preserved in Lawson’s common areas.

When you drive through Lawson, you’ll see that the clubhouse has been constructed to remind you of a mill with a working water wheel. The amenity center with swimming pool is behind the clubhouse.

Built on over 500 acres of beautiful rolling wooded land, Lawson’s villages are buffered by natural areas. Miles of walking and hiking trails meander through the common areas that have been preserved.

Lawson has the perfect location along Cuthbertson Road. Union County’s newest middle/high school complex is located adjacent to the neighborhood. A short drive brings you to Providence Road where community shopping and a home improvement store can be found. A few more miles and you’ll find historic downtown Waxhaw with its quaint shops, restaurants, farmers market and community festivals.

Lawson offers both resale homes and new homes. The current villages, started in 2005, are nearly complete. Three new villages will open soon to offer new single family homes and homes for active adults and seniors.

Lawson Homes for Sale

Click here to see Lawson homes for sale.

Want to know what your Lawson home is worth? Click here to receive a free market evaluation.

Lawson Real Estate Market

Twenty five homes closed in Lawson in 2011. Almost half of the sales were resales with another 40% of sales new construction.

Source: Carolina Multiple Listing Service

Source: Carolina Multiple Listing Service

Lawson Community Features

Location: Off Cuthbertson Road in Waxhaw NC. Town of Waxhaw. Union County NC. Zip Code 28173

Builders: Ryland, Pulte, St. Lawrence, Shea, Orleans, Lennar

Community Amenities: Lawson Homeowners Association, clubhouse with fitness center, winter lodge and nature center, swimming pool with water slide, tennis courts and playground, walking trails and natural parks in common areas

Schools: Kensington Elementary, Cuthbertson Middle, Cuthbertson High. School assignments are subject to change. Check with the Union County Public Schools for current assignments.

Click here to watch a video tour of Lawson.

Copyright 2012. Carol Fox. Allen Tate Realtors. *Lawson—Neighborhood Information and Homes for Sale*

Millbridge--Neighborhood Information and Homes for Sale

Discover Millbridge, a Charlotte neighborhood with a choice of new homes in a master planned community.

Drive into Millbridge and you’ll find the only covered bridge in the Charlotte area. The covered bridge leads you over 12-Mile Creek and into the neighborhood. Ahead you’ll see a mill with a functioning water wheel. The mill building and water wheel are part of the 12,000 square foot amenity center for the neighborhood.

Millbridge is a master-planned community of approximately 900 acres where 2000 homes will eventually be built. There are only 200 homes currently in the neighborhood but the amenity center is complete. Millbridge is planned to have sidewalks, parks, common squares and greenways with over 250 acres of green space and trails.

Five builders currently offer new homes in Millbridge. The prices range from under $175,000 to over $300,000. Homes can be as small as 1500 square feet or as large as 4000 square feet. Exteriors are typically vinyl with stone and brick accents.

Millbridge is located in the Union County town of Waxhaw. It is a twenty minute drive from Charlotte’s southern edge. The neighborhood is adjacent to a Waxhaw town park with ball fields as well as Kensington Elementary School. The Cureton Shopping Center is within a mile of the neighborhood. This shopping center includes a grocery store, restaurants and banks. A home improvement store is nearby. Historic downtown Waxhaw is a short drive away where people enjoy quaint shops, a farmers market and community festivals.

Millbridge Homes for Sale

Click here to see Millbridge homes for sale.

Want to know what your Millbridge home is worth? Click here to receive a free market evaluation.

Millbridge Real Estate Market

Forty two homes closed in Millbridge in 2011. Ninety percent of the homes sold were new construction.

Source: Carolina Multiple Listing Service

Source: Carolina Multiple Listing Service

Millbridge Community Features

Location: Off Kensington Drive in Waxhaw NC. Town of Waxhaw. Union County NC. Zip Code 28173

Builders: Ryan, Ryland, Pulte, Essex, Mattamy, Bonterra

Community Amenities: Millbridge Homeowners Association, clubhouse with fitness center, movie theater room and kitchen; cabana, two swimming pools and a water slide, a 9000 square foot airnasium, Harvey Clay Nesbit Memorial Park with soccer fields, baseball fields, playground and picnic areas

Schools: Kensington Elementary, Cuthbertson Middle, Cuthbertson High. School assignments are subject to change. Check with the Union County Public Schools for current assignments.

Copyright 2012. Carol Fox. Allen Tate Realtors. *Millbridge—Neighborhood Information and Homes for Sale*

Mint Hill NC Schools--Queens Grant Community School

Mint Hill NC Schools—Queens Grant Community School

Queens Grant Community School
6400 Matthews-Mint Hill Road
Charlotte NC 28227
704-573-6611

Queens Grant Community School is a free, state-funded charter school. The school serves grades K-12. Average class sizes range from 20 to 28 in grades K through 8 and from 17-23 in Grades 9-12.

Queens Grant was established in 2002 with the primary grades and has grown to include a high school. The high school campus is located at 10323 Idlewild Road. Total enrollment in Grades K-12 in the 2010-11 school year was over 1200 students.

Queens Grant emphasizes strong academic achievement and preparation for college. The school was named a School of Distinction with Expected Growth in 2010-11. Extracurricular activities and sports are part of the school curriculum.

Queens Grant Community School does not offer bus transportation.

Queens Grant Community School Report Card

Student performance at Queens Grant can be found at NC Report Cards.

Student Assignment

Enrollment at Queens Grant Community School is open via lottery to any child who wishes to attend.

Learn more about the Charlotte NC schools.

Charlotte NC Schools—An Introduction

Charlotte NC Schools—Magnet Programs

Charlotte NC Schools—Parent University

Copyright 2012. Carol Fox. Allen Tate Realtors. *Mint Hill NC Schools—Queens Grant Community School*

Brighton Park--Neighborhood Information and Homes for Sale

Discover Brighton Park, a walkable Charlotte neighborhood in a small town setting.

A cheerful cottage with gingerbread trim. A sunny bungalow. Big friendly porches on all the homes. Small lots and a traditional street grid that encourages walking and neighborhood interaction.

If you dream of a picturesque neighborhood like this, you will love Brighton Park. Located in Mint Hill NC, a small town adjacent to Charlotte, Brighton Park was designed to offer a compact walkable development with homes, parks, and stores in Mint Hill’s core. With most of the housing complete and the adjacent retail center offering shopping and dining, Brighton Park has fulfilled its promise to bring vitality to downtown Mint Hill.

Brighton Park’s streets are laid out around five parks. A linear park with walkways, benches, landscaping and a heritage Magnolia tree welcomes visitors to the neighborhood. The other parks provide natural views and places to enjoy the outdoors.

Most of the neighborhood has single family homes, both ranches and two-stories. Three-story attached townhomes are also available for those who prefer a more urban feel. Construction began in 2004. Most new construction in 2011 was in the townhome section.

Brighton Park residents can walk to the grocery store, restaurants and other services in the retail center next door. This center also has a child care center.

Brighton Park Homes for Sale

Click here to see Brighton Park homes for sale.

Want to know what your Brighton Park home is worth? Click here to receive a free market evaluation.

Brighton Park Real Estate Market

Twenty eight homes closed in Brighton Park in 2011. Half were single family homes and half were townhomes. New construction accounted for 50% of all sales in the neighborhood. All of the townhome sales except one were new homes. Distressed sales were roughly 11% of the market in 2011.

Source: Carolina Multiple Listing Service

Source: Carolina Multiple Listing Service

Source: Carolina Multiple Listing Service

Brighton Park Community Features

Location: Matthews-Mint Hill Road near downtown Mint Hill. Town of Mint Hill. Mecklenburg County. Zip code 28104.

Builders: Lennar, MI Homes, David Weekly Homes, Mattamy Homes, Market Street Communities

Community Amenities: Brighton Park Homeowners Association, five parks, walking trails, proximity to grocery store, restaurants and shops

Schools: Bain Elementary School, Mint Hill Middle School, Independence High School. School assignments are subject to change. Check with the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Public Schools for current assignments.

Click here to take a video tour of Brighton Park.

Copyright 2012. Carol Fox. Allen Tate Realtors. *Brighton Park—Neighborhood Information and Homes for Sale*

Mint Hill NC Schools--Bain Elementary School

Mint Hill NC Schools—Bain Elementary School

Bain Elementary School
11524 Bain School Road
Charlotte NC 28227
980-343-6915

Bain Elementary School, located in the heart of Mint Hill NC, is a historic school. It was established over 100 years ago as Bain Academy. A portion of the original building remains at the site but new buildings and renovations have expanded the school over the years.

Bain Elementary has approximately 1000 students in Grades K-5. It operates on a traditional calendar. The average class size ranges from 20 to 26 students. In 2010-11, the school was named an Honor School of Excellence with High Growth. It also met all of its AYP goals.

Over 20% of the students at Bain qualify for the Talent Development Program. Teachers at Bain are highly qualified with 18% National Board Certified and 28% holding advanced degrees.

Bain Elementary School Report Card

Student performance at Bain Elementary can be found at NC Report Cards.

Student Assignment

Attendance areas for Charlotte-Mecklenburg Public Schools are subject to change. Check the CMS Locate Your School site to verify school assignment for a particular property or neighborhood.

Learn more about the Charlotte NC schools.

Charlotte NC Schools—An Introduction

Charlotte NC Schools—Magnet Programs

Charlotte NC Schools—Parent University

Copyright 2012. Carol Fox. Allen Tate Realtors. *Mint Hill NC Schools—Bain Elementary School*

Mint Hill NC Homes for Sale--13927 Jonathans Landing Road

The Wooded Setting of Your Dreams

• 2 bath, 3 bdrm 2 story "Full-brick" - MLS® $325,000

Jonathans Landing, Mint Hill  -  Discover the wooded setting of your dreams. Magnificent trees shelter this custom home and provide shady spaces for relaxation and play. The end-of-the street location ensures tranquility

A spacious great room with crown molding is the heart of the home. Entertaining can flow outside through French doors that open to the deck overlooking the backyard.

Granite countertops and a tile backsplash dress up the spacious kitchen. Sunny windows brighten the corner where the stainless sink and dishwasher are located. Grab a bite to eat or prepare food at the island.

Cabinetry lining three walls of the kitchen includes a workstation.

In the breakfast room, a deep bay area with multiple windows provides wonderful views of the backyard. Space for grilling and dining are just outside the atrium door to the deck.

A versatile room on the first floor is currently used for an office. Picture other uses for this room such as a playroom or hobby room.

A cathedral ceiling and Palladian window add to the spacious feel of the very generous master bedroom. The room has abundant wallspace and is large enough for a seating area.

The master bath is a place for luxury. It includes a whirlpool tub tucked under a faux glass block window, his and hers vanities with sinks, a marble shower, a water closet and tile flooring.

Two roomy secondary bedrooms and a hall bath complete the upstairs of the house. One bedroom has access to the hall bath. Pull-down stairs lead to floored attic space over this area.

A huge bonus room with Palladian window is the fourth upstairs room. It is accessed by a staircase from the main level of the home. There is walk-in storage off the bonus as well as "under-the-eaves" storage.

Garage space is plentiful here. A 24'x29' attached two-car garage includes a workbe

Property information

Fairhaven--Neighborhood Information and Homes for Sale

Discover Fairhaven, a Charlotte neighborhood in a country setting.

A peaceful country drive to get home. A convenient location near shopping and highways. A newer home with a modern floor plan. A smaller lot for easy maintenance.

If these are the elements you seek in your next home and neighborhood, consider Fairhaven, a neighborhood located in the small Union County NC town of Stallings. Stallings abuts the Union/Mecklenburg County line with convenient access to two I-485 interchanges and plenty of restaurants, shopping and big box retailers lining nearby Independence Boulevard. Historic downtown Matthews is just five miles away where you can visit the farmers market, stroll the quaint streets and attend numerous community festivals.

You’ll find Fairhaven in the Stevens Mill Road area of Stallings. This area is still more country than city with small subdivisions surrounded by farms and woods. Two community shopping centers with grocery stores and other shops are minutes away. Nearly new Stallings Elementary School is within a mile of Fairhaven.

Fairhaven has two villages where construction began in 2006 and continues today. The Meadows has smaller homes on smaller lots while The Oaks accommodates larger homes. Early homes in the neighborhood were built by Lennar. In 2010, MI Homes took over construction in Fairhaven. Most sales in Fairhaven are new homes although some resale homes are available. Fairhaven has both two-story and ranch homes.

Fairhaven’s community amenities include a swimming pool with water features and a cabana plus a playground. A town park with a sports field and restrooms is adjacent to the neighborhood.

Fairhaven Homes for Sale

Click here to see Fairhaven homes for sale.

Want to know what your Fairhaven home is worth? Click here to receive a free market evaluation.

Fairhaven Real Estate Market

Forty one homes closed in Fairhaven in 2011. Over 70% of the 2011 sales were new construction.

Source: Carolina Multiple Listing Service

Source: Carolina Multiple Listing Service

Fairhaven Community Features

Location: Off Stevens Mill Road. Town of Stallings. Union County. Zip code 28104.

Builders: Lennar, MI Homes

Community Amenities: Swimming pool and cabana, playground. Stalling park with sports field is adjacent to neighborhood.

Schools: Stallings Elementary, Porter Ridge Middle School, Porter Ridge High School. School assignments are subject to change. Check with the Union County Public Schools for current assignments.

Copyright 2012. Carol Fox. Allen Tate Realtors. *Fairhaven—Neighborhood Information and Homes for Sale*

Mint Hill NC Schools--Independence High School

Mint Hill NC Schools—Independence High School

Independence High School
1967 Patriot Drive
Charlotte NC 28227
980-343-6907

Independence High School is located at the northern edge of Mint Hill NC. It currently serves most students who live in Mint Hill as well as some students from nearby Charlotte neighborhoods.

Independence operates on a traditional calendar with Grades 9 through 12. It had almost 2000 students in the 2010-11 school year. The school was named a School of Distinction with High Growth in that year.

Independence High School includes the Academy of International Studies, which functions as a “school within a school”. The Academy provides international studies which emphasize global awareness of current issues.

Student clubs and organizations at Independence High include student council, dream team, athletics, band, choirs, DECA, JROTC, Latin Club, National Honor Society and Orchestra.

Independence High School Report Card

Student performance at Independence High can be found at NC Report Cards.

Student Assignment

Attendance areas for Charlotte-Mecklenburg Public Schools are subject to change. Check the CMS Locate Your School site to verify school assignment for a particular property or neighborhood.

Learn more about the Charlotte NC schools.

Charlotte NC Schools—An Introduction

Charlotte NC Schools—Magnet Programs

Charlotte NC Schools—Parent University

Copyright 2012. Carol Fox. Allen Tate Realtors. *Mint Hill NC Schools—Independence High School*

Matthews NC Schools--Butler High School

Matthews NC Schools—Butler High School

Butler High School
1810 Matthews-Mint Hill Road
Matthews NC 28105
980-343-6300

Butler High School opened in 1997 on 74 acres north of historic downtown Matthews NC. Butler students come from Matthews and parts of Mint Hill and Charlotte. The school has over 2000 students in Grades 9 through 12.

Butler High School was named a School of Distinction in 2011 and was one of only 48 Charlotte-Mecklenburg schools to meet all AYP goals. The graduation rate in 2010 was 84.6%. In 2011, over 85% of Butler’s students committed to continuing their education beyond graduation. The 2011 graduating class earned over 3.5 million dollars in athletic and academic scholarships.

Butler operates on a 4x4 block schedule. The school offers 24 advanced placement courses. Thirty eight percent of the Butler faculty has masters or other advanced degrees and the faculty includes 31 National Board Certified teachers. Over 60 percent have taught for 10 or more years.

Butler also has a Career and Technical Education Program with courses of study in Medical Science, Parenting/Child Development and Teacher Cadet classes.

Butler High School Report Card

Student performance at Butler High can be found at NC Report Cards.

Student Assignment

Attendance areas for Charlotte-Mecklenburg Public Schools are subject to change. Check the CMS Locate Your School site to verify school assignment for a particular property or neighborhood.

Learn more about the Charlotte NC schools.

Charlotte NC Schools—An Introduction

Charlotte NC Schools—Magnet Programs

Charlotte NC Schools—Parent University

Copyright 2012. Carol Fox. Allen Tate Realtors. *Matthews NC Schools—Butler High School*

Union County NC Real Estate Market--Year 2011

Union County NC Real Estate Market—Year 2011

The single family real estate market in Union County NC had more closed sales in 2011 than in 2009 or 2010. Units sold, however, were down almost 10% from 2008. The median sales price dropped 5.5% from 2010 and is 12.9% lower than the 2008 median price. Days on market decreased slightly from 2010 to 90 days.

The median sales price for townhomes and condominiums of $113,500 continued the downward trend from the previous three years. The number of sales also was at its lowest level since 2008. Days on market increased to 107 days.

The median sales price for Union County homes may have been depressed in 2011 by the significant number of distressed sales during the year. Over 25% of the closings were foreclosures or short sales. New construction accounted for another 18.7% of all sales with resales only 54.9% of the market.

Single Family Homes

Source: Carolina Multiple Listing Service

Townhomes and Condominiums

Source: Carolina Multiple Listing Service

Union County Types of Closed Sales

Source: Carolina Multiple Listing Service

Union County NC Small Town Price Changes from 2009 to 2011

What about the small towns in Union County? Which ones saw price declines in 2011 and which ones had price increases? Three towns, Wesley Chapel, Stallings, and Indian Trail, saw price increases in 2011. These increases were small with prices in Stallings increasing 1.1% and the other two increasing less than 1%.

Median prices declined in the rest of Union County’s small towns. Monroe, Lake Park and Weddington had the largest decreases of 10.9%, 13.7% and 13.1% respectively.

Single Family Homes

Source: Carolina Multiple Listing Service

Copyright 2012. Carol Fox. Allen Tate Realtors. *Union County NC Real Estate Market—Year 2011*

Wesley Chapel NC Real Estate Market Report--Year 2011

Wesley Chapel NC Real Estate Market Report—Year 2011

How did the Wesley Chapel NC real estate market fare during 2011 and how did 2011 market activity compare with the previous three years?

The tables below compare the Wesley Chapel NC real estate market for years 2008 through 2011. 36 single family homes closed in Wesley Chapel in 2011. The highest priced single family home sale was $800,000. Median days on the market were 99 days.

Single Family Homes in Wesley Chapel NC

Although the 2011 median closed price has improved over each of the past two years, it still remains 11.2% below the 2008 median price. The number of homes sold each year in Wesley Chapel has remain fairly stable with more homes sold in 2011 than in 2010 or 2009.

Single Family Homes

Source: Carolina Multiple Listing Service

Types of Closed Sales in Wesley Chapel NC

Resales accounted for almost 70% of all home sales in 2011. Only 5.5% were new construction while distressed sales accounted for roughly 25% of sales.

Source: Carolina Multiple Listing Service

Most Active Neighborhoods in Wesley Chapel—Year 2011

Click on each neighborhood below to get more information about the community and to see homes for sale.

Copyright 2012. Carol Fox. Allen Tate Realtors. *Wesley Chapel NC Real Estate Market Report—Year 2011*

Marvin NC Real Estate Market Report--Year 2011

Marvin NC Real Estate Market Report—Year 2011

How did the Marvin NC real estate market fare during 2011 and how did 2011 market activity compare with the previous three years?

The tables below compare the Marvin NC real estate market for years 2008 through 2011. 54 single family homes closed in Marvin in 2011. The highest priced single family home sale was $807,000. Median days on the market were 78 days.

Single Family Homes in Marvin NC

The 2011 median sales price dropped 4.7% over the median price in 2010. Median prices have dropped every year since 2008 with 2011 prices 25.7% lower than in 2008. More homes sold in Marvin in 2011 with sales units up 27.7%.

Single Family Homes

Source: Carolina Multiple Listing Service

Types of Closed Sales in Marvin NC

New construction and market resales accounted for almost 80% of all sales in 2011. Distressed sales were approximately 20% of the market.

Source: Carolina Multiple Listing Service

Most Active Neighborhoods in Marvin—Year 2011

Click on each neighborhood below to get more information about the community and to see homes for sale.

Copyright 2012. Carol Fox. Allen Tate Realtors. *Marvin NC Real Estate Market Report—Year 2011*

Weddington NC Real Estate Market Report--Year 2011

Weddington NC Real Estate Market Report—Year 2011

How did the Weddington NC real estate market fare during 2011 and how did 2011 market activity compare with the previous three years?

The tables below compare the Weddington NC real estate market for years 2008 through 2011. 89 single family homes closed in Weddington in 2011. The highest priced single family home sale was $1,275,000. Median days on the market decreased to 89 days.

Single Family Homes in Weddington NC

The 2011 median sales price dropped 13.1% from 2010. It has tumbled 27.3% since 2008. The number of homes sold in 2011 was roughly the same as in 2009.

Single Family Homes

Source: Carolina Multiple Listing Service

Types of Closed Sales in Weddington NC

New construction sales were only 11.2% of all 2011 Weddington sales. Distressed sales accounted for approximately 25% of all sales.

Source: Carolina Multiple Listing Service

Most Active Neighborhoods in Weddington—Year 2011

Click on each neighborhood below to get more information about the community and to see homes for sale.

Copyright 2012. Carol Fox. Allen Tate Realtors. *Weddington NC Real Estate Market Report—Year 2011*

Mint Hill NC Real Estate Market Report--Year 2011

Mint Hill NC Real Estate Market Report—Year 2011

How did the Mint NC real estate market fare during 2011 and how did 2011 market activity compare with the previous three years?

The tables below compare the Mint Hill NC real estate market for years 2008 through 2011. 155 single family homes and 13 townhomes closed in Mint Hill in 2011. The highest priced single family home sale was $607,500. The highest priced townhome sale was $190,000. Median days on the market decreased to 80 for single family homes and and increased to 117 for townhomes.

Single Family Homes in Mint Hill NC

The 2011 median sales price dropped 9.4% from 2010. It has tumbled 31.5% since 2008. The number of homes sold in 2011 was 11.9% lower than in 2010 but slightly higher than 2009.

Single Family Homes

Source: Carolina Multiple Listing Service

Townhomes and Condominiums in Mint Hill NC

The median townhome sales price continued to decline in 2011, dropping 7.9% below the 2010 median price. 27.7% fewer units sold in 2011.

Townhomes and Condominiums

Source: Carolina Multiple Listing Service

Types of Closed Sales in Mint Hill NC

Approximately 35% of all sales in 2011 were distressed sales, probably the cause of the depressed prices in Mint Hill. Resales were over 50% of the market with new construction accounting for 7% of sales.

Source: Carolina Multiple Listing Service

Most Active Neighborhoods in Mint Hill—Year 2011

Click on each neighborhood below to get more information about the community and to see homes for sale.

Copyright 2012. Carol Fox. Allen Tate Realtors. *Mint Hill NC Real Estate Market Report—Year 2011*