Real Estate Information

Chef Emeril Lagasse has opened his new restaurant “e2 Emeril’s Eatery” at Levine Center for the Arts and went to a private tasting last night.  It was unbelievable!  It’s within easy walking distance of Uptown Charlotte’s many art, business and cultural attractions -- the Duke Energy Center, Bechtler Museum of Modern Art, Harvey B. Gantt Center for African American Arts + Culture, Mint Museum Uptown and Knight Theater all surround the new restaurant.

Here’s some information from his website: “With a thriving dining scene, my alma mater Johnson & Wales, the nearby universities and Charlotte’s great cultural and arts community, I feel right at home here,” said Emeril. “I’m excited to join the beautiful museums and attractions at the Levine Center for the Arts and Duke Energy Center with my new restaurant – e2 Emeril’s Eatery. We’re creating a comfortable, fun, neighborhood eatery that serves great food and drink at an affordable price.”

“E2 features an eclectic menu and cooking methods that highlight Emeril’s passion for elevating American classics. The menu will include some dishes inspired by his travels in the U.S. and abroad, plus a few twists on his New Orleans favorites – with a touch of Southern flavor that is uniquely Charlotte. A large bar will feature moderately priced wines, craft beers, unique spirits and handcrafted cocktails.”

Have any of you been there yet?

Go try it out – you’ll love it!  Feel free to share this with your friends.

Re/Max CEO, Margaret Kelly, has released a video with her thoughts on where the market is headed this year.  She prides herself on “straight talk,” so she tells it like it is:  we’ll see slow and steady improvement in the market, rising home prices, a slight increase in inventory and a housing market that will normalize.  She says this is the year of low interest rates and attractive prices.  Please check out this short video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wbSI4zIunu0&feature=youtu.be

Dave Liniger, the chairman of the board of Re/Max was just named 2011’s People’s Choice Most Influential Leader in Real Estate by Inman News, one of the real estate industry's most authoritative source of market conditions, business trends, technology, real estate and financial news.  I blogged on Mr. Liniger last week, and if you have not had a chance to view the video I posted sharing his predictions for 2012, please take a look now.

I have been lucky enough to hear Mr. Liniger speak over the past twenty years at various conferences and shows, and I’m so pleased that he has been given this honor.

The readers of Inman News™, the leader in real estate and technology news, have selected RE/MAX founder Dave Liniger as the People's Choice Most Influential Real Estate Leader in 2011.

Liniger's selection, based on a popular vote by readers, was announced today during the Inman News Real Estate Connect® conference in New York City, which runs through Jan. 13 at the Marriott Marquis hotel in Times Square.

Liniger, 66, who co-founded RE/MAX with wife Gail in 1973, serves as chairman of the board for the global franchisor. Liniger oversaw the expansion of RE/MAX global franchise operations to eight additional countries in 2011 – there is now a brand presence in nearly every country in Central America and South America, and the franchisor has almost 90,000 affiliated real estate sales professionals in more than 80 countries.

"Our knowledgeable Inman News readers cast their votes for a true visionary of our industry," says Tim G. Smith, CEO of Inman News. "We are honored to include Dave Liniger among our list of influential past winners."

Liniger was also selected to the annual Inman 100 list of Most Influential Real Estate Leaders for 2011 — that list is separate and distinct from the individual People’s Choice recognition, and is based on a reader nomination process and an in-house review and selection process by Inman News.

-The Inman News Team

Re/Max Chairman and Co-Founder, Dave Liniger, gives out his top 10 predictions for the U.S. real estate market for 2012 in this video – take a look!  Here’s some of what he has to say:

1. We’ll see low interest rates
2. Home prices will be stable and then rise
3. We’ll see an increase in home sales
4. We’ll see a rise in inventory
5. We’ll have 50% distressed properties
6. We’ll have an improves short sales process, avoid more foreclosures
7. We’ll see an increase in rentals
8. We’ll have 25% investors
9. We’ll see an increase in real estate professionals

    10. We’ll see an increase in use of social media to find and sell homes

For 14 years, no company has sold more than Re/Max.  I’m so happy to be part of this company.  Here’s the video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I-mqj4iZlOs

It’s the time of year to think about resolutions and what the new year might bring.  According to the Business Journal, things are looking up across a variety of industries (see below), including real estate.

http://www.bizjournals.com/charlotte/news/2011/12/06/nc-to-see-modest-growth-in-2012.html

Wishing you and yours a happy, healthy new year!

I have all sorts of wonderful clients, but one is a little more famous than most: A.J. Allmendinger.  I am so excited for him! A.J. Allmendinger has been named the successor to Kurt Busch with Penske Racing.  Allmendinger will take over the reins of the No. 22 car for the 2012 Sprint Cup season, coming over from Richard Petty Motorsports.  This past summer I was lucky enough to see A.J. in action in Concord.  Here’s some more information: http://www.thatsracin.com/2011/12/21/80135/allmendinger-to-replace-busch.html?story_link=email_msg

I also wanted to take some time to thank you for your business this past year.  I truly love my job because of the people I meet.  I enjoy showing people homes, and I enjoy getting to know the people for whom I am helping to sell their homes.  I am so blessed to have relationships with so many of you that have lasted year over year, and very much appreciate your business.

I wish you and your families the merriest of Christmases.

Should you show your house during the holidays or take it off the market?  As you know, I work practically 24/7, every month of the year, so I am happy to show homes during the holidays and I’m happy to keep up with my Listings.

There are a few pros and cons, so let’s review, starting with the cons, so we end on a high note:

It’s hard to keep a home presentable from Thanksgiving till New Year’s Day, due to all the decorations, baking, cooking and gift wrapping.  If you are in the market for a home, many people do take their homes off the market, so inventory can be low.

As for the positives, most homes are festively decorated, making them more appealing to buyers, interest rates are low, homes prices are depressed nationwide, making it a great time to buy.

Take a look at this piece on realtor.com for more information, but ultimately, if you want your home to sell, keep it on the market.

http://www.realtor.com/blogs/2011/12/02/survey-data-reveals-the-majority-of-real-estate-professionals-recommend-clients-list-their-homes-during-the-holidays/

We’ve had a very eventful past few weeks!

Veteran’s Day was especially meaningful this year because the town of Cornelius dedicated its new Veterans Memorial Monument at Rotary Plaza on Main Street.  We made sure to go to the ceremony because my father’s name was engraved on the memorial.  We were so proud!

Also, to thank my wonderful clients and business contacts, I hosted a Thanksgiving pie party at the cabin at Ramah Presbyterian Church and had a blast seeing so many wonderful people!  We had over 40 pies to give away (apple, pumpkin and pecan), served cider and cookies, and, collected over 6 boxes of donations to the Ada Jenkins Center’s Loaves and Fishes food pantry!  Thank you to my fabulous clients for being so giving, and thanks for stopping by to share some holiday fun.  The best part of all was being able to re-connect with so many people from the past and present, meet their kids, share funny stories of past closings (some were pretty crazy!), get referrals, and discuss potential new deals.  Please remember that I am always at your service.

Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours!

According to InmanNews, the leading source of independent real estate news, information, advice, research, opinion and commentary for industry professionals and consumers alike, the current mortgage rates are just a little above the all-time low rates on the 70s.  Freddie Mac conducted a survey of lenders and learned that “rates on 30-year fixed-rate mortgages averaging 3.99 percent with an average 0.7 point for the week ending Nov. 10. That's essentially unchanged from last week's average of 4 percent, and not far above the all-time low in records dating to 1971 of 3.94 percent seen during the week ending Oct. 6.”

This is great news for buyers and sellers – buyers will get a great deal, and sellers will likely see a boost heading into the holidays.

For more information, here’s the article:

http://www.inman.com/news/2011/11/10/low-rates-sparking-demand-mortgages

Please vote!

Today is Election Day and there are many local positions that are being hotly contested in the Charlotte region.  Incumbent Anthony Foxx is being challenged by Scott Stone in the mayoral race, there are 14 candidates on the ballot for three at-large spots on the school board, and Davidson, my hometown, Cornelius and Huntersville are also experiencing some aggressively-run political campaigns this time around.

As we look ahead to 2012, it is interesting to think what hosting the Democratic National Convention will bring to Charlotte and the Lake Norman area.  Visit Lake Norman, the convention and visitors bureau, is gearing up for an influx of visitors related to the convention – lobbyists, special interest groups, their families.  Will people realize how wonderful Charlotte and the Lake Norman region are?  Will more people want to relocate here?  Will there be a big increase in business of all types?  Time will tell.

In the meantime, please vote today. 

Here’s the Charlotte Observer’s voter’s guide: http://www.charlotteobserver.com/vote/

Please exercise your right to vote!