Are Huntersville, NC Homes Better Than the Rest?

Huntersville, NC home fit the needs of most buyers considering relocation to the Charlotte/Lake Norman region. Whether you're seeking a lavish, waterfront executive estate property or want to see nice 4 bedroom, 2 bath starter homes there are houses in Huntersville to meet your expectations.

Huntersville also receives awards and honors from magazines and housing watch groups. Just a few include ranking 76th on Money Magazines "Best Places to Live", being named to one of the "Top 20 Places in North Carolina to Retire" and included on the list of America's Top-Rated Smaller Cities. Huntersville homes are typically owned by folks you'd like to meet - Southern Hospitality is alive and well here!

Huntersville is located on the southeastern shores of Lake Norman, a convenient commute to Charlotte NC, just a couple of hours drive from great beach resorts, even closer to the Blue Ridge Mountains - this area is broadly know as the Piedmont region of North Carolina. Expect to see gently rolling hills and a good mix of hardwood and pine trees when shopping Huntersville Homes for sale.

The boom in Charlotte, NC's banking industry is responsible for much of the growth in Huntersville's population which soared from around 4,000 in the early 1990's to nearly 40,000 residents today. Huntersville homes are typically newer, 3+ bedrooms and located in neighborhood settings with amenities like golf courses, playgrounds, tennis courts, swimming pools and walking trails.

If you're a new Huntersville, NC home owner and want info on getting your utilities connected, here's a list of providers:

• Electricity - Electricities, Duke Energy, Energy United
• Natual Gas - Piedmont Natural Gas
• Water - Charlotte Mecklenburg
• Telephone - AT&T, Windstream, Time Warner
• Television - Time Warner Cable, DISH Satelitte

Houses in Huntersville, NC determine what school assignments your children will receive. Visit the Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools website for the latest assignments and most accurate information:

• Elementary - Huntersville, Blythe, Barnette or Torrence Creek
• Middle - Bailey, Bradley or Alexander
• High School - North Mecklenburg or Hopewell

Shopping and nightlife are two areas many searching Huntersville NC homes for sale will find pleasant surprises. Birkdale Village Shops, Northlake Mall, Concord Mills Mall, The Corkscrew Wine Bar, Lake Norman Comedy Club, The Havana Social Club and Mickey & Mooch's are all spots you'll enjoy discovering.

Searching and researching online is a great way to see all the great Huntersville NC homes for sale but come here for a visit in person and there's a good chance you'll be calling Huntersville home sooner than you think.

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Article Provided By: Jeffrey P Williams

Jeff Williams is a writer and real estate investor specializing in North Carolina residential properties. If you're considering the purchase of one of the great Huntersville Homes For Sale be sure to visit Best NC Homes For Sale to research using the same database local Brokers use to find great homes for their clients.

Moving to North Carolina - State Information

Moving to another state is not an everyday step in a person or a family's life. Knowing a few things about the future NC new home is essential. American states can quiet differ, so choosing the one that best suits your tastes is important.

North Carolina is a south-eastern state, bordered by four other states: South Carolina- its sister state, Georgia, Tennessee and Virginia. Its population exceeds nine million residents and it grows continuously. Compared to the last decade only, the number of residents is now higher with over 1 million. This is the highest population growing rate in all the US.

Raleigh is North Carolina's capital city. The most inhabited city is Charlotte. Banks and finance businesses seems to found a good place to develop here, in Charlotte, as they are in huge number, attracting more and more new residents coming for the available jobs. Only New York is a more significant Banking center in the US.

While having a high-tech environment in the urban area, this US state's countryside seems to keep its traditional character.

Raleigh Durham New Homes

Even with a strong industry, tourism seems to contribute almost equally to the state's entire income. Back in the 50', the construction of the Research Triangle Park brought over 150 companies into the huge territory placed between Chapel Hill, Durham and Raleigh. These companies form together a huge research center, having a fabulous development, especially in the information and biotechnology fields.

North Carolina's climate and geography is structured in three main sectors. The coastal plain is almost half of the state's territory, followed by the Piedmont in the middle with a third of North Carolina's surface. The other fifth part of the state is formed by the Appalachian Mountains and foothills. North Carolina's coastal area is confronting a number of tornadoes over the year, the average not exceeding twenty though.

The state's culture and the resident's spirit, often placed it pioneers in different fields. It is the first US state which gave birth to a state art museum. It also belongs to the first states to start a symphony. The world's first miniature golf itineraries were set here in North Carolina, in Fayetteville.

Having different climates according to which geographical sector they belong, regions offer visitors as well as residents the opportunity to activate in both summer and winter sports. From water sports and beach related activities on the large sea cost, to hiking, camping and hunting in North Carolina's hills and mountains, getting bored here is impossible.

North Carolina New Homes

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Moving to North Carolina seems to be a good idea, the growing number of new residents being proof to that. NC Moving Companies are here to help you move to this stunning state so you can take pleasure in a small vacation while the moving company fulfills your relocation. In addition, professional moving companies own excellent NC Storage Units so your stuff can stay in a safe, temperature controlled environment until the whole relocation is done.

Article Provided By: Alice_Douglas

Myers Park Real Estate-Myers Park Homes for Sale-Charlotte NC

Under the historic canopied boulevards of Myers Park the birds tweet and the joggers jog. This is where the elite of Charlotte NC planted their roots many years ago, and those on the move live (or pine to live) today. The homes you find here, are set in a nest of harmony between uptown and the outward sprawl. Pleasing, accessible, yet exclusive, you get to be enveloped by the best of the old and the best of the new.

For the most part, the old money has helped usher in the new. Casual ease of upscale style brings with it the calm feel of this neighborhood. The estate sized lots have signature homes set back in the distance from their shady boulevards.

Homes that were not quite up to snuff, have been replaced with new homes that are designed to blend in with their neighbors. Many eloquent homes grace us with their architectural beauty enhanced by the natural beauty that surrounds them. As you might expect, some of these original Myers Park homes have been registered as local, state and/or national historic properties.

Speaking to some of its original owners, now in their 80's, you would be surprised to know that Myers Park was once considered to be WAY out in the country. Today, it is the closest of the finest neighborhoods in Charlotte. Populated by Doctors, Lawyers and Politicians...and then those, the few left that remember it as one of the first “suburbs” of Charlotte. Dirt roads and all!

The magnificent towering Oak trees set the stage for this neighborhood. Back in the days of the old dirt roads, these Oak saplings were drug in by mule with men guiding the way on foot. Those same trees are some of Charlotte's most treasured assets. They are stately, they are gorgeous. During the occasional ice storm, they are on are 'worry' list.

Well, if you are fortunate enough to be pursuing your future Charlotte NC Real Estate in the Myers Park district, what type of amenities will you have? For the most part, you have Freedom Park. This is a magnet for those urban enthusiasts who long for the outdoors.

Freedom Park is Charlotte's largest and prettiest parks (our mini Central Park). It has a central lake wrapped by a sidewalk, natural rolling terrain (with one large hill in particular-great for lawn seats on a concert/movie night!) Go over the suspension bridge to hook up with the Nature Museum or Little Sugar Creek Greenway (part of our overall park system). The Greenway will take you along, and over the creek, winding you in and about Charlotte's real wildlife (not the human kind!). Freedom Park also has some basics: a playground, soccer and baseball fields; volleyball, tennis and basketball courts; and the old train, humbly parked for kids to crawl all over! Planned events and festivals are sprinkled thoughout the year. But, it's a good bet for any day of the week, and within strolling distance for those that live in the homes of Charlotte's exclusive Myers Park district.

Besides jogging along Freedom Park's trails there is East Boulevard on it's edge with shops, dining, and cultural delights. Any more goodies? A College...Queens University. It's a Liberal Arts college with professional studies. The University is in the heart of the historical district. It was founded in 1857 as a liberal arts college for women. Looking back, this would suggest that Charlotte has always been a very forward thinking city. Thankfully, it still is today.

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About the Author:

Claude Cross is Broker/Owner of Homes By Cross. Specializing in Charlotte NC Real Estate and Relocation since 1994.

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com - Myers Park Real Estate-Myers Park Homes for Sale-Charlotte NC

Matthews Real Estate in Charlotte NC

There is plenty of history around the town of Matthews North Carolina. Its location is Southeast of Charlotte; the two blending at their seams. SE Charlotte is the new comer in this party-Matthews has been around since 1872.

It's first name was Stumptown (the land was riddled with forest stumps); then the name changed to Fullwood (John M. Fullwood was the first postmaster in 1825 and owner of the Stagecoach Inn); and finally the name, Matthews. Named after Dr. Walter Matthews, a director of the railroad (built in 1874) that connected the towns of Charlotte, Matthews and Monroe to each other.

Matthews' development was shaped by organization set forth by the Baptist, Methodist and Presbyterian churches back in 1877. The churches operated private schools until 1906. It was at this time that Matthews became the first town in the county, to receive a public school. Interestingly enough, over a hundred years later, Matthews' schools have continued to be one of the main draws for the area.

Known for its many festivals throughout the year, Matthews brings in both the young and old, for music, food, and crafts. These festivals include Matthews Alive, Golf Classic, ArtFest, and the newest festival, BeachFest 2009, which included carnival rides, live music and a sandy beach area for Carolina shagg dancing.

Another popular attraction is the Matthew's Community Farmers' Market open each Saturday morning year round. The market sells locally raised food on North Trade Street in Historic Downtown Matthews, and seasonally (on Wednesdays) at Matthews Presbyterian Hospital. All food and market products sold here are produced within a 50 mile area. Although, historically, Matthews was a farming community, it has spread its wings. It is large enough to have its own hospital-Presbyterian Hospital Matthews-which opened in 1995. The area has many medical specialists, entrepreneurs', new housing developments, and shopping centers that have been created over the years. Matthews close proximity to Charlotte, makes it within easy reach of every type of venue imaginable.

For local entertainment, check out Matthews Playhouse. It offers live theater with public performances all year long. These productions are geared to entertain children and adults. The playhouse also offers a host of acting, dance, voice, creative drama, and musical theatre classes.

If you are not a theater fan, there are plenty of sports related activities for you. Starting with the Siskey Y; this is one of the largest YMCA's you'll ever visit! With indoor and outdoor water parks, running tracks, numerous athletic fields, and programs that are geared toward both youth and adult sports, including soccer, football, volleyball and flag football. Another park (closer to the heart of Matthews) is the Arthur Goodman Park. Its athletic fields host baseball, football, soccer, basketball, cheerleading and lacrosse.

Families that have been shopping for SE Charlotte new homes, often travel a little further south into Matthews. The taxes are a tad lower, and the schools are very good. A few of the top ranking schools in Matthews include the following: Matthews, Elizabeth Lane, and Weddington Elementary schools; Crestdale, Mint Hill and Weddington Middle Schools; Butler, Providence, and Weddington High schools. The area is large enough (13 square miles) as it blends into SE Charlotte it crosses over into neighboring Union County. A fact to note: Matthews is in two counties-Union and Mecklenburg.

The gist of the story is this: Matthews NC real estate blends into several areas. A seasoned Realtor can guide you through these idiosyncrasies. These include two counties, a varied school set up, multiple tax locations, different city/water sewer services and trash pick up private or public. It can be all very confusing. You may buy a home in a neighborhood like Sardis Forest and find out you are on the Charlotte side of the street (higher taxes) and your neighbor across the way is on the Matthews side of the street (lower taxes).

If you are purchasing a home in the Brookhaven neighborhood, your mailing address is Matthews; your tax location is Indian Trail; your schools are Antioch Elementary and Weddington Middle and High School-in Union County! Scoot over a bit and if you found a home in the Callonwood neighborhood, you will still have a Matthews' home address, but now, a Stallings tax location. Say you buy your NC home in the community of Somersby, your children will go to Elizabeth Lane Elementary and Crestdale Middle school, both located in Matthews...but their high school is Providence High school, located in SE Charlotte. To those of you buying NC real estate in these parts-caveat emptor.

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Article provided by Claude Cross, who is a Broker/Owner of Homes By Cross. Serving Charlotte NC Real Estate needs since 1994. Offering No Cost Buyer Agency specializing in South Charlotte Homes for Sale.

Relocate to Raleigh North Carolina - 10 Tips for Relocating

Relocating to Raleigh, North Carolina, is a big decision and once you have decided on "The Where" you need to figure out "The How". Here are 10 great tips to help you with the relocation process.

1. Start a Job Search in Raleigh. Finding a new job in a different city has never been easier thanks to the Internet. There are a number of national and local job sites specific to the Greater Raleigh area. Register with them to have jobs posted to your email weekly.

2. Research the Raleigh area. Raleigh has a number of surrounding cities and towns; such as Cary, Apex, and Holly Springs. It is good to know your surroundings before you move in. Find out if your Realtor has information he can send you for the Raleigh area.

3. Learn about the local schools. Raleigh, North Carolina has many highly acclaimed colleges and universities such as NC State, Carolina University, Meredith, and Duke. When looking at elementary and secondary schools, the Wake County Public School System has received high marks. Most recently for being the second largest district in the country with the highest total number of Nationally Board Certified Teachers. When searching for a home in Raleigh, North Carolina, it is easy to surround yourself with great schools.

4. What is RTP? You may have heard about or read about Research Triangle Park (RTP). This 7,000-acre stretch of land just West of Raleigh is comprised of a number of Fortune 500 companies; such as IBM, Nortel, Cisco, and Lenovo. Research Triangle Park provides thousands of jobs for the Raleigh area and is a large contributing factor to the strength of Raleigh's economy.

5. Allow yourself time to acclimate. There is no denying that the temperatures in Raleigh can be hot and humid in the summer. It takes anywhere from 6 months to a year to become fully acclimated to new weather conditions. One of the great things about Raleigh is in November when northern states are already getting snow; Raleigh is still enjoying cool 60 degree weather.

6. Is now a good time to invest in a home in Raleigh? You bet it is! Even though you may have heard the real estate market, as it pertains to the entire nation, has been down in the last six months. Raleigh NC real estate market has NOT seen any of the catastrophic effects the talking heads on television have been predicting. The average home price was steadily increasing towards the end of 2007. As of February, 2008 the median home price in Raleigh is $215,500 according to Zillow.

7. Find a website with the latest technology. Find a Website that allows you to search for Raleigh Real Estate a number of different ways. A number of Websites offer auto-notification technology that will email you as soon as a new Raleigh home comes on the market the meets your search criteria.

8. What is there to do in and around Raleigh? That depends. Are you a hiker, or sports fanatic? Do you enjoy nightlife or a good restaurant? The mountains are a few hours west and the ocean a few hours east, both make for great weekend trips. There are also a number of college sports teams including NC State, Duke, and the beloved Carolina Tar Heels. Professional sports teams include the NHL Carolina Hurricanes and NFL Carolina Panthers. Downtown Raleigh is all the rage for night clubs, dance clubs, and cozy bars, plus, terrific restaurants with many different flavors.

9. Stay ahead of the traffic in Raleigh. Like any major city, there are traffic issues. Depending on where your commute will be and what time of day, you may end up sitting in traffic. The NC Department of Transportation has live feed letting you know what the traffic report is at any given time. The NCDOT is constantly coming up with new ways to try and better utilize the current infrastructure.

10. Find a Realtor that specializes in relocation. You want to find a Realtor that specializes in relocation to the Raleigh area. Relocating to a new area is a big step in your life. You want to make sure the Real Estate firm you are working with is not treating you like a number, "or just another sale".

For more information on Raleigh NC Real Estate, relocation guides, and current listings please contact us.

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Shane Pollock is part of the Greater Raleigh Realty Team, and is a resident of Cary, North Carolina. Greater Raleigh Realty specializes in Raleigh Real Estate and Relocation Services. For more information please visit his site at http://www.GreaterRaleighRealty.com

Article Source: Shane_Pollock

Raleigh, North Carolina, is One of the Best Cities to Buy Real Estate

Have you been pondering buying a home or investing in real estate? Like most people you might be putting off buying real estate because you are leery of the economy, waiting for the stimulus package or heard some negative press.

Well, now is a good time to buy, and the Raleigh area housing market is doing well.

Raleigh, NC, is listed as the 6th healthiest housing market in the U.S. for 2009 according to a recent article in Builder Magazine. This comes as no surprise. Communities in the Raleigh-Durham area consistently rank in the top 10 best U.S. cities to live and is a popular choice for relocating families.

According to the article in Builder Magazine, they analyzed the top 75 housing markets in the country. The article looked at population trends, job growth, home prices and number of building permits to determine the top markets. The article noted what the healthiest housing markets have in common, including close proximity to the ocean, mountains or major universities and no substantial increase in the price of homes. The Raleigh area has all these attractive qualities plus the four seasons, a comfortable climate, affordable cost of living, Research Triangle Park (RTP) and more.

The U.S. Census Bureau announced the Raleigh-Cary area as one of the fastest growing metro areas between 2007 and 2008. From July 2007 to July 2008 there was a 4.8 percent increase in population in the Raleigh metro area and most of these people have yet to purchase homes. Additionally, Forbes recently ranked Raleigh as the number one city in the U.S. for job growth.

The Triangle housing market is more stable and steady than the rest of the country. Homes here have not depreciated. According to the Triangle Area Residential Realty (TARR) Report, NC homes in the Triangle are appreciating between 2 and 4 percent. U.S. homes on average are depreciating at 8.2 percent.

Plenty of homes are selling at their top value in a short time period. For example, a recent search for single family North Raleigh homes on the MLS in the $275K to $325K range yielded only 73 homes on the market with a median of 54 days on the market. That does not qualify as an oversupply in our marketplace. That is also an indicator of why most of our market areas have appreciated in the past 12 months, not depreciated as most of the nation has.

However, if you are patient, you can find a deal, not a steal. A majority of what is on the market now has been on the market for a while mainly because the initial asking price was too high. These are starting to drop in price.

Interest rates are the lowest they've been in 37 years. If you wait, thinking that you might get a lower price on a home, you may lose in the long run if the rates go up. Whatever, if any, savings in the sales price you may possibly gain would be outweighed by the higher interest rate compounded over a 30 year loan.

When the market starts turning to a sellers market, it will happen quickly. Listings that are properly priced and are in top condition will sell immediately when they hit the market.

Now is a good time to start shopping for a home in Raleigh, NC. Talk with a real estate agent about available listings in the Raleigh area. Contact your mortgage broker to take advantage of the low rates.

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Grayson Hodge is the broker in charge and owner along with his business partner Bill Edwards of RE/MAX Preferred Associates in Raleigh, North Carolina. His real estate career spans over 30 years in the triangle market, and he enjoys the benefits of many awards and designations including his CIPS, CLHMS, CRB, CRS, and GRI. Hodge can be reached by phone at 919-676-9766 or at ghodge@remax.net. For more information, visit http://www.showmethetriangle.com/

Article Source: Grayson_Hodge

Choosing North Carolina New Homes - Starting Fresh With the Best

If you're a resident of North Carolina and are seeking to own a home it's safe to assume that you're seeking the best houses available on the real estate market. And when anyone wants the best, especially in this case, it's a matter of doing a bit of research, traveling from prospective property to property and walking through a few long-winded home tours. Right? Well, in all actuality, this really isn't the case. Nowadays there is a certain "short cut," of sorts, and more efficient approach to getting the best house for you and your situation.

Leaving Home Shopping Ways Behind In North Carolina

Currently, instead of extensive home searching through various real estate options, you can opt for north carolina new home options to get exactly what you want. But now, as I'm sure, you're probably curious about the "exactly what you want" chunk of that last sentence. Simply enough, with the current booming offer of custom home building within the the North Carolina area, any and all residents, no matter their tastes, budgets or plans, can customize their prospective home from the bottom up.

Custom home building is now more popular than ever, especially in particular counties within cities such as Charlotte, Asheville, Raleigh-Durham, Wilmington and Winston-Salem.

Having A Home Just The Way You Want It

As long as you live within the aforementioned cities in North Carolina you can easily have your very own new home in NC, all built to your exact and particular specifications. And since custom homes are capable of exactly what they're advertised and sold for - being customizable - you literally have no limit as to what your home could look like or how it can function. Usually, through the process of arranging your new custom home, you're provided with a rough and standard blueprint of typical floor plans from your custom home builders in North Carolina. Once these are obtained, you can review what's being offered as well as tweak what's already been planned.

You can take notes and when it comes time to sit down with the site builder you can bring up just exactly what will make your home, well, your home. Bring up the changes, alterations -both big and small-, and additions you want conducted.

A More Satisfied You, A More True-to-Self Living Space

Assuming you would opt for this new, custom home option it would be fair to say that you'd be more than satisfied come the end of your planning and home finalizing process, especially once you moved into your customized home. Think of it as designing your entire home, keeping three things in mind - your style, personality and functionality. Doing this and seeing the results will not only make you ultimately pleased, but it will, at building's end, create a true-to-you living space where you can live comfortably and without sacrificing specific day-to-day ways in which you live or are accustomed to. And what more could you possibly want out of a home? You're starting off with something all your own, something you envisioned; you're starting fresh and with the absolute best.

And you deserve the best, especially with all the North Carolina new homes that are currently available or are eagerly ready to be built. So, stop all that tedious home shopping and look into simplified custom home options, you'll be happy you did.

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Article Source:E.S._Cromwell