The Guide For First-Time Home Buyers Buying a first new home is a big step in anyone's life and the process can initially seem like an extremely daunting task. With all of the information available, advice to be learned from and realtors to choose from, it can certainly seem like an insurmountable mountain of information. While that may initially be true, there are some steps that you can take that will help you cut through all of that and avoid information overload. The new home buying process is an exciting one and while there are certainly many things to think about, they shouldn't detract from the experience. Use The Web Online resources, much like this site, can help you do a great amount of research into a home or area without ever leaving the comfort of your favorite chair. No ma... 04/29/2013

Can A Simple Mineral Sell Your Home? Though times and tastes have changed in what can help sell a piece of real estate, one of the current hot items is granite countertops. These countertops give your home a modern, updated feel and will often speak volumes to an interested buyer that you have put time and effort into updating your home. This, more than many other things you can do to a property, can increase a potential buyer's likelihood to purchase your piece of real estate. Though updating and renovating your home may not make sense in a hot seller's market, for those that are trying to sell a property in a bit of a buyer's market, simple steps can make a world of difference in setting your home apart from all the others. Setting yourself apart is really the core tenet of selling a ... 04/28/2013

Can The Internet Be Your Agent? The number of consumers that go online each year to research at least a portion of a new home search is steadily growing year after year. As the internet gains an even bigger foothold in the United States, its use is likely to steadily grow and accomplish much of that growth in unexpected areas. One of those areas has been the selling of property online. For some home sellers, selling a home online merges the excitement of the internet with the ability to control the marketing of the property from start to finish. To be clear, having a real estate agent or at the very least a real estate lawyer throughout any selling process will most certainly help you as move along the course of action. Particular if you are on your first home sale, a real estate agent... 04/20/2013

Visit Gated Skyecroft This Week - Lunch + Gift Card Giveaway! Do you have potential buyers for luxury homes in the Skyecroft community?  Come tour 6 homes for sale in the community and enjoy lunch and register for free gift card giveaways in each home! If you have never toured this lovely South Charlotte/Waxhaw community, you'll enjoy the sanctuary-like setting and the gorgeous European-styled homes that boast all of the bells and whistles. Join us 4/17/2013 from 11:30 - 1:30.   We're looking forward to seeing you there! Featured Listing:  206 Woodswail Court 04/13/2013

  Under Contract   Lot for Sale in Skyecroft - Build YOUR new dream home YOUR way! Schedule a Showing Most Popular Charlotte NC Home Search Myers Park Homes for Sale Dilworth Homes for Sale Search All Homes For Sale in Charlotte NC Ballantyne Homes for Sale Uptown Charlotte Condos for Sale Homes for Sale Free List of Foreclosed Homes For Sale What is Your Home Worth?   See Property Details   Debe Maxwell, CRS, Realtor®/Broker The Maxwell House Group 1920 E. 7th Street Charlotte, NC 28204 Mobile: (704) 491-3310 Fax: (704) 353-7014 Email: Broker@TheCharlotteScoop.com     Visit Property Website       Courtesy: Debe MaxwellEmail Me Now704-491-3310Licensed In: NC/SC License #: 228209 Lot 2 Skyecroft Commons DriveWaxhaw, NC 28173List Price: $Get Current Price   PRICE JUST REDUCED   Savor the... 04/07/2013

Under Contract 1406 Venetian Way Drive, Waxhaw, NC UNDER CONTRACT In One Weekend! Luxury Home With Full Basement in Providence Downs South Bedrooms: 7 Bathrooms: 6 full, 2 half Living Area Approx: 7627 List Price: $1,100,000 Schedule a Showing Most Popular Charlotte NC Home Search Myers Park Homes for Sale Dilworth Homes for Sale Search All Homes For Sale in Charlotte NC Ballantyne Homes for Sale Uptown Charlotte Condos for Sale Homes for Sale Free List of Foreclosed Homes For Sale What is Your Home Worth? See Property Details Debe Maxwell, CRS, Realtor®/Broker The Maxwell House Group 1920 E. 7th Street Charlotte, NC 28204 Mobile: (704) 491-3310 Fax: (704) 353-7014 Email: Broker@TheCharlotteScoop.com Visit Property Website OOPS Too Late! Charlotte Luxury Home SOLD in Providence Downs S... 03/30/2013

7-Bedroom, 5/2-Bath Luxury Home With Full Basement for Sale |  $1.200,000 MLS# 2138904 Nearly 8,000 Square Foot of Pure Luxury - Home with Basement for Sale in Providence Downs South Waxhaw NC - Marvin Ridge School Zone**Click the photo below for a walk-through tour of this luxurious Providence Downs South home on YouTube**Entertaining has never been more enjoyable!  This fabulous custom home offers everything you could want in a luxury home and more!  Gorgeous European influenced brick, stone and cedar shake home sits on a beautifully landscaped lot in one of South Charlotte’s most popular gated communities, Providence Downs South.  With elegant curb appeal, the landscape includes full-yard irrigation and fenced backyard with multiple outdoor living ‘spaces’ to suit everyone’s needs!En... 03/16/2013

Three Steps To Home Inspection ZenFor many prospective home sellers, going through the process of a home inspection can be a painful process that entails letting a stranger into the home to judge every nook and cranny. As the biggest and most prized possession of most consumers, having the home inspected in this way is a bit like having the inner sanctum of your life on display. Inspections certainly do not have to be like this.By maintaining an even perspective and keeping in mind three core tenets, you can keep your home inspection process easy and calm. As with most business transactions, getting yourself to view the transaction as someone from the outside might can be difficult, but will ultimately take a lot of the stress out of the situation.Keep Your Feelings Grounded In RealityE... 03/04/2013

Your Showing: Beyond The BasicsCleaning is perhaps the most crucial part of a successful showing. When communicating the value and uniqueness of your home, dirty clothes in the laundry room and stains in the carpet will cut you off at the knees every time. However, while most people think to clean a property and remove clutter from areas of the house, there are some ways that a seller can go the extra mile to interest a potential buyer.It is important to remember that when you put your home on the market, you are entering into a competition with every other home for sale in your general price range in your area. That means that anything you can do to set yourself apart from the rest of the homes in your area will pay dividends as potential buyers think more about your home than the othe... 03/04/2013

Enhance Your Investment For SaleThere comes a time during the course of any real estate investment when it becomes clear that selling off the property is the best course. When that time comes, getting the most out of your piece of real estate is crucial to seeing the big payoff at the end of the real estate investment experience that you have been expecting over the course of the investment, often many years.When selling your personal home, improvements like new landscaping and new interior work can net big benefits in a raised sale price. Investment properties are much different and going through those types of improvements are nice, but they will not add real value to a property that is being investigated by potential investors.Raising the value of your investment property goes beyond... 02/11/2013

Insuring Your Biggest PossessionFor many home owners, real estate is the single biggest asset they have. Along with that comes a lot of extra time and care spent on the home, everything from mowing the lawn to paying property taxes. Home owners' insurance is one of those bits of upkeep that must be done to make sure that the significant investment you've made in your piece of real estate is protected.Choosing a home owners' insurance package can seem like a standard bit of business but not all agents and not all insurance packages are created equal. There are a few things you should keep in mind when investigating insurance agencies and the kind of home insurance packages they offer.Be ComprehensiveDon't settle for one quote from the biggest insurance agency you can think of. Big insura... 02/03/2013

  Museum of The Waxhaws in Waxhaw, NC begins the 2013 Lecture Series.                                                                     The Museum of the Waxhaws and the Weddington Rotary Club will be hosting the first lecture of the 2013 Lecture Series.     The first speaker in this 2013 series will present on February 17, 2013 at 3p.m.  His name is Benjamin Farley and he will be discussing his book titled “Three Thousand Days and Nights.”  It is historical fiction and sounds very interesting.     “Here is the speaker line-up for future Lecture Series Sessions:”    ■March 17 Dr. John Sykes, Wingate University | Professor of English and Religion “A History of St. Patrick.”    ■April 21 Tom Phlegar | Colonel, US Army “The Revolutionary War in the Carolinas”    ■May 19 Dr. Abannik Hino ... 02/03/2013

Pump Up Your Credit ScoreThough the exact breakdowns of what credit score garners what interest rate vary from lender to lender, all will tell you that credit score does indeed play a role in the kind of financing you can receive. If you are interested in buying a home and taking out a mortgage to do so, your credit score must be something you spend some time thinking about and possibly investigating in order to make it better. The difference between two interest rate brackets can mean thousands of dollars of savings, so just how do you go about raising that score?Know Your Credit HistoryFederal law has allowed every consumer the ability to pull their own credit report each year from all three of the accredited companies in the United States that offer credit history services. In doing ... 02/01/2013

Start A Kitchen Herb Garden There is nothing like fresh fruits and vegetables from your own garden to give your health and taste buds a treat. Starting a kitchen herb garden is a great and easy way to give your food the fresh taste of summer all year round, and it is easy and inexpensive, too! Pick A Spot That Gets Good Light Most herbs require a good amount of sunlight to grow, so choosing a spot where they get direct light is important to making sure your herbs flourish. If your kitchen doesn’t get sufficient light, consider moving your herbs to a room that gets better light or purchasing an indoor herb garden kit that has a grow lamp. Choose A Good Selection Of Herbs While there are great herb garden starter kits that offer a useful selection of herbs, if they are not herbs you use ... 01/30/2013

The line between buying and renting can often be a fine one for people just starting out and wondering which is right for them. The benefits of buying and the attractive prospect of having equity in a home often weigh against the less restrictive nature of renting and the deferred responsibility of home repairs through renting. Making the decision can depend on a variety of factors, but perhaps biggest among them are the general real estate appreciation seen in the area and the time you plan to be in the property.Real estate market appreciation can be a difficult figure to tie down in regards to a particular area. A considerable amount of data and time is needed to properly do homework on the expected appreciation on a certain home. We have all heard stories about booming areas that hav... 01/30/2013

First Friday In Waxhaw, NC: A Romantic Evening On February 1, 2013 In Historic, Downtown Waxhaw Looking for the perfect way to celebrate with your Valentine? Why not come out to Waxhaw's First Friday February event on February 1st, which will celebrate Valentine's Day? It's a great event whether you come just with your sweetheart or with the entire family. Enjoy: Romantic music played throughout the historica downtown area. Free carriage rides Culinary delights at local restaurants Shopping for Valentine's Day gifts Kids can have fun making Valentine's Day cards for Mom and Dad. Date: Friday, February 1, 2013Time: 5:00 - 9:00 PMLocation: Historic Downtown WaxhawAdmisson: Free   First Fridays in downtown, historic Waxhaw are organized by the Small Town Main Street Promotions Committee. ... 01/29/2013

    A Great Place to Eat .. Maxwell’s Tavern in Waxhaw, NC     This evening I met friends at Maxwell’s Tavern in Waxhaw, NC.                                                                                             They are open everyday except for Monday.   Everyday they offer some great specials and todays specials were…   Thursday Specials*** Lunch-Pizza Quesadilla, Hamburger Steak with Grilled Onions Dinner-Two Thick cut Blackened Pork Chops with two sides At the bar-$4 Founders Porter Stout, $6 Firestone Merlot, $6 Crown and Ginger Bread Bowls are still available! Fill them with homemade Chili or Chicken Tortilla Soup   I had a pulled pork barbecue sandwich and it was delicious!  They give you huge portions and great prices!     I just recently discovered this great restaurant an... 01/24/2013

Open Houses….Boring….NOT!!!                                                     Yesterday I had the privilege of holding an open house at one of my new listings… 1306 Dobson Drive in Waxhaw, NC., 28173   So many complain and belly ache about holding open houses.  ·        They are so boring ·        There is nothing to do ·        No one stops by to preview ·        It is a total waste of time   Well, let me tell you…I had 21 people come thru my open house in 2 hours and only one couple had an agent.  I had no time to sit down.  It was show time!!   It was so much fun.  It was revolving doors all afternoon. Open Houses....Boring....NOT!!!   Planning ahead, Getting the word out that there will be an open house, Placing directional signs in key locations and Choosing to hold an open house... 01/21/2013

Skyecroft, A Charlotte Luxury Neighborhood - Waxhaw NC ABOUT THE NEIGHBORHOOD Imagine living along a European countryside that boasts a location that is also in close proximity to the city!  Skyecroft, a Charlotte luxury neighborhood, located just across the Mecklenburg County line in Waxhaw, features a beautifully landscaped streets and lots with impressive water features, serene walking/jogging trails and pure pizazz!  Discover one of Charlotte’s most popular, gated neighborhoods in Skyecroft.  Amenities include an impressive clubhouse, a Junior Olympic-sized swimming pool, lighted tennis courts and an adjoining lake.  Imagine living the Skyecroft lifestyle! Large lots feature regal, European architecture surrounded by mature, breathtaking landscaping as you traverse the lantern-lit s... 01/19/2013

  Stewart’s Village Gallery in Waxhaw, NC is a small shop/boutique full of wonderful treasures.   Anytime that I need a special, one of a kind, gift I head to Waxhaw to visit the Village Gallery.   This gallery opened in 1993 and I love their mission statement…   “Bring the best of American Crafts together with great customer service in an inspiring and comfortable setting.   They offer a variety of mediums to choose from..   ·       Pottery   ·       Jewelry   ·       Iron   ·       Metal   ·       Glass   ·       Wood Working   ·       Garden Art   ·       Bill Stewart…signed pottery   Recently I visited for I needed some special gifts for special people.  While there, one piece of pottery caught my eye and it was a signed piece by Bill Stewart.  Love it! If you get a chance to visit ... 01/15/2013