There are changes in the works for Brookhill Village. The property has attracted much interest over the years because its apartment rates of less than $500 a month contrast with the new developments that have flooded the South Tryon and South End areas over the last decade. Living conditions at Brookhill have drawn complaints for years with owners calling for major improvements at the location. A Raleigh-based developer, Tom Hendrickson has lead plans to transform it into a mixed-income complex but earlier this year, city officials said they did not recommend public and private funding for the proposal.

Aspen Heights, an Austin-based developer, won approval to build up to 274 apartments in South Charlotte on land owned by The Bethlehem Center near South Tyron Street and Remount road. Bethlehem Center CEO William McDonald said the group plans to sell the land and use the proceeds to help serve those in the area and expand to other parts of the city.

Also approved on Monday was a proposal for 150 rent and income-restricted housing in west Charlotte. The developer is Nashville-based Elmington Capital Group. The affordable units are for those earning between 30% and 80% of the areaâ€s median income. This translates to about $26,200 and $66,800 for a family of four annually according to 2020 figures from HUD. The one-three bedroom units would be in six buildings on the site, near Ashley Road and Joy Street. The property borders the Ashley Park and Westerly Hills neighborhoods. Amenities at the apartments will include a playground, exercise room and a business center.

Charlotte is a popular destination for retirees looking to settle into Low Income-Affordable communities. In the Northlake, Taft-Mills Group, a subsidiary of Greenville, NC-based Taft Family Ventures, plans to build 71 age-restricted housing units on a 4.2 acre site east of W.T. Harris Boulevard, south of Woodland Circle and north of Interstate 485. According to the Charlotte Observer, C.J. Tyree, partner with Taft-Mills Group, told community members that the project would contain one-bedroom and two-bedroom independent living units, and amenities like a fitness center and computer room. It would be restricted to those over 45 years old, with at least one resident in each unit required to be 55 or older.

Other rezonings approved on Monday include:

Up to 138 townhouses on 23.2 acres on Oakdale Road between Miranda Road and Interstate 485. The Phonenix-based company Suncrest Real Estate and Land said the project would include a central green area and a multi-used path.

Up to 366 apartments, 56 townhouses and 10,000 square feet of office and noncommercial uses on a 24.6-acre site in North Charlotte. Georgia real estate firm, Flournoy Development is planning to develop the side on John Adams Road, north of mallard Creek Church Road and east of Interstate 85.

The post Senior and Affordable Housing Coming to Charlotte appeared first on Charlotte Real Estate.

This is the latest of several recent reports that recognize Charlotteâ€s strengthening housing market. An article last year from Redfin indicated that the Queen City would reap benefits from homebuyers looking to relocate from more expensive markets. Forty percent of Redfin users from outside the metro area were searching for homes in Charlotte.

Helping with the growing housing market, is Charlotte neighborhoods being named as some of the best in the country. In 2019, the Wildwood community was recognized as a ‘Top 10 hottest neighborhoods to watch in 2020,†trending among home buyers at number three.

“Wildwood, just 15 minutes from downtown Charlotte, is one of the few affordable remaining areas where you can find homes under $250,000. Theyâ€re cute, ranch-style, brick homes, too, that arenâ€t in cookie-cutter neighborhoods,” Redfin Charlotte market manager Marcy Prentiss said. “Homebuyers have increasingly been moving east and west of Charlotte,” she goes on to say, adding that “thereâ€s a new development under construction nearby that will include townhomes, shopping and entertainment.”

This comes on the heels of a Zillow article that shows some optimism with naming Charlotte as one of the top cities to outperform the national market. In a survey of 110 economists and real estate experts, panelists say the national market is expected to see home values grow by 2.8% this year. Fifty-nine percent of respondents expect Charlotte to outperform the national average while forty-one expect the market to perform about the same as the national average. While Austin, not Charlotte, took the top stop of home value growth, it was also noted that Charlotte was the only market among the 25 cities analyzed in which none of the panelists said it would under perform in growth in home prices compared to the national market.

Household incomes in Charlotte are growing 5% annually and jobs grew 2.9% in 2019. That is above the national rate of 1.4% according to the report. This is all good news for homebuyers and job seekers moving to or currently living in the metro area.

The post Charlotte Tops List for Homebuyers Seeking Affordability And Growing Salaries appeared first on Charlotte Real Estate.

The cityâ€s “Vision for Eastland” rezoning petition was filed early last week. Plans for the site which has been vacant since the mall was demolished in 2013, is the result of a multi-phase, extensive community outreach, and engagement process to see the area be redeveloped into a multi-use residential and commercial building. Rezoning details for square footage or number of housing units for development were not included in the documents. Included in the plans for the site include a 29 acre adjacent facility that is set to host the headquarters and training facilities for a recently announced  30^th expansion team in Major League Soccer coming to Charlotte in 2021. The team has yet to be named. Plans also call for a public park but no details are available about the size or design.

Charlotte City Councilman Matt Newton told WSOC TV News that the project “will be transformational for the cityâ€s future.” Said Newton, “The Eastland site is the linchpin for our future here in east Charlotte, there is no doubt about it. If we get Eastland right, we have a brighter future.”

Major infrastructure work will be needed for the Eastland site. This includes removing the asphalt of the mallâ€s leftover parking lot, building new roads and adding traffic signals. Rerunning the siteâ€s water and sewer lines will also be needed. The work canâ€t begin until the rezoning petitions are approved by Charlotteâ€s city council though work is expected to begin before the end of this year. Construction on apartments and housing, as well as retail and dining space, could begin mid-2021 with future consideration for a hotel and office space.

Built in 1975 as the then-largest mall in North Carolina, the former Eastland Mall was situated on 90 acres located approximately five miles east of Charlotteâ€s City Center. Eastland Mall closed its doors in June of 2010 and has seen multiple attempts of redevelopment since its demolition in October of 2013 but all have been unsuccessful. The City, who owns 69 acres of the property, purchased the entire mall as well as some outlying properties for $13.2 million in August of 2012. A portion of the site is used as an outside market on weekends along with the Charlotte Area Transit System transit center. The site previously saw plans calling for projects such as a movie studio and film school, but the property hasnâ€t been rezoned since the mall was first built 45 years ago.

Selected as the Master Developer in 2018, Crosland Southeastâ€s development resume includes Bellevue Mall in Nashville, Tennessee and the Cloverleaf Mall in Richmond, Virginia. Both projects were custom designed for their specific community needs.

A community meeting will likely be held next month to include input from city and county departments. A vote on the petition isnâ€t expected until May or later during a council zoning meeting.

You can click here to sign up for updates on the site plans.

The post Plans detailed in new documents for Eastland Mall site appeared first on Charlotte Real Estate.

Poe NoDa, which bills itself as “uncustomary townhomes for the counterculture of Charlotte,” is set to break ground soon at 2715 N. Davidson St.

Developed by byFiorenza Communities, Poe is a small community of 29 townhomes on 1.6 acres of prime, urban real estate. The residences will average 1,400 square feet and be priced less than $400,000, according to a recent report. The project will break ground in March with move-in dates projected in 2021.

byFiorenza has six communities in the Charlotte market, both single-family homes and townhome projects. The company is also building townhomes in Steele Creek in its Cedar Ridge community and just east of Plaza Midwood in its sold out community of East Market.

From edgy NoDa townhomes to single-family homes in the Queen City suburbs! M/I Homes, a national homebuilder no stranger to the Charlotte market, is set to start its 19th housing project in the Charlotte region, this time in Indian Trail.

Homes in M/I’s newest community, Poplin Grove, will start in the $300,000 range.

Poplin Grove’s first model home will open this Spring on nearly 51 acres of land the Ohio-based builder purchased for almost $1.4 million in 2018, according to a report.

Located at the corner of West Unionville-Indian Trail and Poplin roads, Poplin Grove’s plans include 125 home sites for ranch and two-story homes that range from three to five bedrooms. Home sizes will vary from 2,100 to more than 3,100 square feet.

Construction will begin this month and be completed by 2022. Home sales are expected to begin in March, the report said.

The post NoDa townhomes, Indian Trail homes on the horizon appeared first on Charlotte Real Estate.

Some people prefer new construction, and others prefer an older home with good bones and history. One of the most popular older home styles in the Queen City is the classic 1930s bungalow.

Smaller in square footage but big on charm, these homes can be found throughout the surrounding Charlotte metro area and have a lot to offer the right buyers.

Characterized by its low sloped roof, often oversized front porch and smaller square footage, bungalows have been built in America since the 1930s, though the home style actually originated India.

First to arrive in California, the bungalow is a popular home choice due to its friendly facade that seemingly beckons neighbors onto the front porch. Whether in need of TLC or fully renovated and expanded, there are some great neighborhoods around Charlotte in which to find the perfect bungalow for you or your expanding family.

As might be expected, the most common areas to find bungalows in Charlotte are the neighborhoods surrounding Uptown, as that area was the first to be established.

As can also be expected, those neighborhoods tend to be the priciest when it comes to property values. Not only is land at a premium near Uptown, but bungalow owners tend to take a lot of pride in their investments. Renovations and restorations often include the leaded glass windows, solid wood doors and custom millwork that would have been in place when originally constructed.

Here are three of the Queen City’s best bungalow neighborhoods for consideration:

1. Midwood/Plaza-Midwood: The lifeline of this neighborhood is Central Avenue, and the streets are lined with old growth trees and bungalows galore just a mile outside of Uptown. Established in 1910 as a streetcar suburb, the area has seen a depression and rebound to one of the city’s most desirable neighborhoods. In 1992, the area along The Plaza as well as parts of a few other streets were designated as a local historic district.
In the last 12-month period, homes in Midwood have fetched anywhere from $292,000 to more than $1.76 million. Many of the higher priced homes were newer construction, two-story properties. Renovated bungalows in the neighborhood are listed closer to the $400,000 to $500,000 mark, as of Oct. 2019.

2. Dilworth: The city’s first streetcar suburb is one of the most desirable in all of Charlotte. Its main thoroughfare, East Boulevard, is lined with mature oaks and bungalows galore. Much of Dilworth is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
In the last year, Dilworth homes have sold for nearly $350,000 to more than $1.5 million. Even bungalows currently listed for sale are asking near $1 million, with the least expensive being a 1,600-square-foot, 3/2 listed for just under $500,000.

3. Chantilly: Sandwiched between Elizabeth and Plaza-Midwood/Commonwealth is Charlotte’s somewhat hidden gem, Chantilly. Established in 1913, Chantilly is purely residential and has no commercial businesses and no major thoroughfares cutting through it. That is a win for people wanting a pure residential experience close to Uptown. It also keeps traffic to a minimum in the neighborhood. The neighborhood has many Craftsman-style homes and some bungalows.
Even a fixer-upper less than 1,000 square feet will cost you more than $250,000 and fully renovated, newer homes approach $1 million. It’s a great neighborhood to keep on your watch list if you are looking for a bungalow.

This list is by no means a comprehensive one of neighborhoods with bungalow homes. They are scattered about all over the areas closest to Uptown. Some other neighborhoods to consider in your search for a bungalow are: NoDa (North Davidson), Wesley Heights, Commonwealth, Elizabeth and Sedgefield.

The post Got bungalows? Three places to start your search appeared first on Charlotte Real Estate.

McLean, the 670-acre development located in Belmont, partnered with Morningstar Marinas to develop the company’s first marina on Lake Wylie. Morningstar already operates three marinas on Lake Norman.

The nearly complete Seven Oaks Marina, which broke ground in April, will offer 300 dry slips and 40 wet slips; launching ramps; boat storage and a restaurant. Expected to be completed in 2020, the marina is located at Seven Oaks Bridge on NC Highway 279. McLean also plans to provide neighborhood boat storage and parking near the marina for residents without direct water access.

Existing Harbortowne Marina is adjacent to the McLean neighborhood of South Shore and has boat slips and storage.

McLean is developed on the former Daniel Stowe homestead and occupies 5 miles of Lake Wylie shoreline and has 10 miles of new walking trails that connect to three miles of pre-existing trails.

McLean builders in the community’s three neighborhoods include Pulte, Peachtree Residential, John Wieland Homes, Shea Homes, Evans Coghill Homes, Essex Homes and M/I Home.

The neighborhoods from which to choose are South Shore, The Conservancy and Overlake. South Shore was the first community to begin construction and has homes ranging from the $400s to more than $1 million. It is the neighborhood for custom homes on estate-sized lots that are waterfront, wooded or overlooking one of three ponds. The neighborhood also has its own pool and clubhouse.

The Conservancy has low-maintenance cottage homes built by M/I Home and Essex Homes that started in the $240,000 range. In addition to its pool and clubhouse, The Conservancy has a fitness center, bocce courts, an event lawn, fishing pond and dog park.

Overlake offers traditional style single-family homes and has a pool, pavilion, play park and various green spaces. There are plans for mountain bike trails. Overlake is directly across the stree from Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden.

McLean is just minutes from historic downtown Belmont, 30 minutes from Uptown Charlotte and 20 minutes from Charlotte Douglas airport.

Construction on the 800-home McLean property began in 2015 with an estimated full build out/completion date by 2025. The project developers purchased the land for McLean in 2013 for just less than $9 million.

The post McLean’s marina, restaurant nearing fruition appeared first on Charlotte Real Estate.

In order to identify the top safest cities, SafeWise reviewed 2016 FBI crime report statistics against population data.  In order to easily compare crimes occurring in a particular area, SafeWise calculated the rate of crimes per 1,000 residents.  The data does not factor in cities that fell below identified population thresholds or cities that failed to submit complete crime reports to the FBI.

Below weâ€ll break down the suburbs located under an hour from Charlotte that ranked among the top 20 list of safest cities in North Carolina.

Davidson

Just 30 minutes north of Charlotte is the charming, Southern college town of Davidson, ranking No. 4 on the list.  The town offers a variety of shops, restaurants, wide sidewalks and is proud to be pedestrian and bicycle friendly.  Davidson has more than 12 miles of green-ways and bike lanes, parks, national arboretum, a farmers market, and was one of just 72 North Carolina communities (3,000 nationwide) to receive its first Tree City USA designation.

Population: 12,469

Violent crimes per 1,000: 0.72

Property crimes per 1,000: 10.99

Total crime: 6.57% violent, 93.43% property

Stallings

Another close suburb of Charlotte is the Town of Stallings, about 30 minutes south of the Queen City.  Stallings is a mid-sized city complex along the Catawba River known for its diverse economy, educated population, and entertainment.

Population: 15,569

Violent crimes per 1,000: 0.90

Property crimes per 1,000: 13.30

Total crime: 6.76% violent, 93.24% property

Huntersville

Ranking No. 11, Huntersville is full of outdoor attractions, offering history-rich trails and close interactions with protective wildlife.  Huntersville is 20 minutes north of Charlotte and borders Lake Normal and is a great place for families interested in the outdoors or seeking a little retail therapy.

Population: 53,932

Violent crimes per 1,000: 1.17

Property crimes per 1,000: 21.45

Total crime: 5.45% violent, 94.55% property

Mint Hill

Located on the outskirts of Charlotte, Mint Hill offers an all-American town feel with plenty of family-friendly activities including an annual carnival, parade, mouthwatering treats, music and a fireworks show!  Mint Hill also offers many civic organizations including Mint Hill Arts and Mint Hill Historical Society.  Mint Hill ranked No. 14 safest city in North Carolina.

Population: 26,221

Violent crimes per 1,000: 1.37

Property crimes per 1,000: 24.10

Total crime: 5.70% violent, 94.30% property

Concord

A small town nestled just outside of Charlotte, Concord has a ton of character and ranked No. 16 on the list!  Concord features speedways, water parks, wineries and breweries and a blend of history and excitement.

Population: 89,446

Violent crimes per 1,000: 1.39

Property crimes per 1,000: 24.65

Total crime: 5.62% violent, 94.38% property

Waxhaw

A friendly, prosperous town where history and creativity build an enduring, safe, and healthy community for people of all ages, Waxhaw is a great place to learn, work, place and grow a business.   Ranking No. 17 on the list, Waxhaw is located about 45 minutes south of Charlotte.

Population: 14,367

Violent crimes per 1,000: 1.39

Property crimes per 1,000: 10.09

Total crime: 13.79% violent, 86.21% property

The post Safety First, Charlotte appeared first on Charlotte Real Estate.

South End is in close proximity to Uptown with easy access to I-77, I-85, and the airport. Home to the Charlotte Trolley and the site of several of the LYNX light rail stops, South End makes it convenient for residents to get around the city and the reason why more than 870 businesses call the South End home.

Transformed in the 1990â€s from run-down warehouses built in the late 1800â€s, South End now beams new single-family homes, condos, apartments, and an endless selection of creative and trendy restaurants and local businesses all within walking distance. South End features more than 300 retail stores and restaurants, ranging from small to corporate.

Of those trendy spots, be sure to check out some of the local breweries including Sycamore Brewing, Wooden Robot Brewery, The Unknown Brewing Co., Lenny Boy Brewing Co., and Triple C Brewing Co., all within a short distance from another.

The resident age group for the South End varies, with the majority of residents in the 20-34 range (40%), followed by 35-5 (25%). More than half of residents surveyed resided in the neighborhood for less than 2 years with 79% of residents being renters according to a survey completed by the South End in September 2017.

Housing units and population have grown significantly over the past decade, climbing from just over 10,000 in 2009 doubling to more than 20,000 in 2019. Some of the top reasons residents moved to the South End include easy access to shopping, restaurants, and bars, a safe environment, unique local businesses, proximity to Uptown Charlotte, and amenities and quality of apartments.

According to the areaâ€s 2018 snapshot, Charlotteâ€s City Center had 21% lower office rents than peer city CBDs, 8% lower overall cost of business, and 26% lower apartment rents. The City Center is also the fifth-busiest CBD in the country for office construction, tailing New York, Chicago, Seattle, and Washington according to the 2018 U.S. Census.

Honing in on the quality of apartments, the average household size compared to Charlotte is significantly larger. In homes with single residents, South End homes are more than twice the size of the average Charlotte home.  Also, if youâ€re a pet owner, 36% of residents have a dog and the majority of parks in the area are dog friendly with Frazier Park being off leash,

Here are some additional fun facts about the South End:

Fast Facts (Q1 2019):

Median Household Income: $65,000

Market Rate Housing Units: 6,508

Residential Units Planned: 4,200

Shops and Restaurants: 97

Apartment Vacancy Rate: 4.5%

Overall Vacancy Rate: 7.7%

The South End has a fascinating history and an exciting future. The area plans to expand and provide more offerings including outdoor music spaces, theater venues, parks and street fairs.  For a more in depth description of the plan for South End, visit historicsouthend.com.

The post Neighborhood Spotlight: South End appeared first on Charlotte Real Estate.

The sprawling master-planned community inhabits what was formerly a quiet area of Charlotte, where the city expanded into nature near the shores of Lake Wylie. Pappas Brothers, the company that developed Berewick, has been working on and expanding the property since 1999.

Proximity to major interstates (I-485 is 2 miles away), uptown Charlotte and Charlotte Douglas International Airport, make Berewick a perfect blend of suburban with urban amenities. The development’s Berewick Town Center, located along Steele Creek Road between Dixie River Road and Shopton Road West, offers shopping and dining. Harris Teeter and Walgreen’s anchor the town center.

Residents also have access to nearby Ayrsley Town Center and Rivergate, which also offer great restaurants, shops and entertainment. With I-77 and I-85 accessible from 485, all of Charlotte’s major shopping and attractions are only minutes away!

Berewick comprises more than 2,000 single-family homes, townhomes and apartment living. There are 3 separate apartment living options, which will have 230 apartment homes (Fall 2019). The development also includes 108 senior-living apartments (Fall 2019). Builders for Berewick are Mattamy Homes and Gordon Builders. 

Residents in Berewick have access to a full list of amenities including a pool, children’s splash pool, fitness facility, and the community’s 5,200 square-foot- Manor House that offers a catering kitchen and space for gathering. The community’s activities director keeps an active community calendar for residents, including seasonal events annually.

There is more than 300 acres of green space and numerous walking trails throughout the community. Access to a Lake Wylie public boat ramp is also only 10 minutes away for a day of fun and fishing on the lake. Nearby Berewick Regional Park also offers athletic fields, green space, walking trails and a playground.

Children living in Berewick attend Berewick Elementary Schools, Kennedy Middle Schools and Olympic Community of Schools. In addition, the Charlotte area offers a host of options for private education at all ages.

Single-family homes in Berewick range in size, price and age. Some of the older homes in Berewick were built in the early 2000s. There are newer homes as well, built in 2015 and later.

Most of the homes are two stories with brick or stone veneer and vinyl siding. Homes range in size from low 2,000s in square feet to more than 4,000 square feet in size.

Sold prices in Berewick have ranged from $234,000 to $421,000 during the last 12 months, and an average of 14.1 homes sold per month during the same period. The average price per square foot for homes sold was just under $107.

As of Dec. 3, 2018, there are 34 resale homes on the market with list prices ranging from $249,000 to $399,900. The average percentage of list price received is 98.8 percent.

The post Community spotlight: Steele Creek’s Berewick appeared first on Charlotte Real Estate.

Once a dairy farm, Birkdale Village’s 52 acres now are occupied by more than 60 retails shops, 10 restaurants and a movie theater. On any given day, the village is a bustling, thriving sign of a successful mixed-use development.

And though it is a fantastic place to shop, catch a movie and grab a bite to eat, Birkdale Village is also a wonderful place to call home. The village offers 300 apartments above the retail space as well as a lovely neighborhood behind the shops, just minutes from Lake Norman.

Located at Sam Furr Road less than a mile from I-77, Birkdale Village is also a reasonable commuting distance from Charlotte for people who do not want to give up their 9 to 5 in the city. Center City is only 17 miles to the south. Davidson College is only 10 minutes away and UNC-Charlotte is a 20-minute drive from Birkdale Village. Charlotte Douglas International Airport 21 miles (25 minutes) away.

Birkdale Village’s single-family homes and townhomes provide more privacy away from the shopping center’s main drag. The small, urban-sized lots provide enough space to add personal touches to the outdoors without overwhelming lawn maintenance. There are a few homes on half-acre lots, however, many are less than one-quarter acre.

Homes in Birkdale Village are largely traditional and Craftsman style with hardboard siding and cedar shake accents. They typically range in size from 1,200 square feet to upwards of 3,000 square feet. Adding to the cozy, village feel, many homes have large ground level or two-story porches.

Village amenities include a pool, clubhouse and tennis court. The McDowell Creek Greenway runs along the back of the neighborhood for runners or walking. The trial loops up around Westmoreland Athletic Complex and Robbins Park.

Additionally, Birkdale Golf Club is directly across Sam Furr Road and has a variety of membership levels and a beautiful Arnold Palmer-designed course.

Life in Birkdale Village can be as private or as socially active as you like. There is a busy calendar of events for its residents and visitors alike, including Winter holiday festivities, a Summer concert series, food festivals and various themed events throughout the year.

From September 2017 to September 2018, the average sales price of homes sold in Birkdale Village was $324,087. Sellers got an average of 98.5% of asking price.

As of Sept. 4, Birkdale Village has six three-bedroom homes listed for sale, ranging in price from $289,900 to $364,000. The home sizes range from 1,666 square feet to just under 1,900 square feet.

Currently, Birkdale Village children are assigned to Charlotte Mecklenburg’s JV Washam Elementary, Bailey Middle School and William Amos Hough High School. The Lake Norman area also offers a variety of private school options for children of all ages.

(Always check with Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools for current zoning for specific homes, as it is subject to change.)

The post Neighborhood spotlight: Life in Huntersville’s Birkdale Village appeared first on Charlotte Real Estate.