Whether numbers are your forte or not, there are certain ratios and calculations every property manager should understand. Following is a look at three key ratios that apply to your property management business, how to obtain them, and what they tell you.   1) Depreciation Depreciation reduces the cost basis of a property to reflect age and wear and tear. Note that depreciation is completed over a 27.5 year period and applies only to the actual building on the property, not the land. To calculate depreciation:    Purchase price - Land value = Building value -then- Annual depreciation = Building value ÷ 27.5   2) Operating Expense Ratio The operating expense ratio is simply the ratio between total operating expenses and the gross income of your property. This total amount shows how mu... 03/18/2011

Lawson in Waxhaw NC—2010 Real Estate Market Update Click here for an update to the 2011 real estate market in Lawson. Over 500 acres of rolling and wooded land with a third preserved in common areas.  Miles of walking trails.  A community amenity center that evokes the historic Howard’s Mill once located on the site.  This is Lawson, a neighborhood with a variety of home styles and price ranges near historic Waxhaw NC. Lawson includes both resale homes and new construction.  Union County’s newest middle and high school are adjacent on Cuthbertson Road.  Shopping and restaurants are also conveniently located near by along Providence Road in Waxhaw. How did the 2010 real estate market in Lawson compare with the 2009 market in the neighborhood?  The table below shows median values for seve... 03/09/2011

Happy Buyers and Sellers in Charlotte NC Waxhaw, a beautiful little town with tree-lined winding roads as well as quick freeway access, 4-lanes into Charlotte and close proximity to I-485, was the town of my clients' dreams.  One of my dear clients has family who remain in neighboring Weddington so, they decided to see what was available nearby.  Waxhaw is just a friendly community with award-winning schools and new and established shopping areas.  Waxhaw offers mostly single-family homes on lots of one acre or more.  There are very few condos or townhomes for sale in Waxhaw though.  My clients decided to take a look in the area for a new home and absolutely loved the homes for sale in Weddington that they found.  So, they listed and we quickly sold their home, which freed them up to l... 02/20/2011

 Charlie Petrizzo has a passion for helping children in need.  He has started a project called.... "Project to Heal"...a nonprofit aimed at breeding and training Labradors to donate to children with special needs.  Please visit...   www.Project2heal.org   Charlie Petrizzo feels that "every dog I donate to a family has its own reward, and that reward is the outcome after placing a child with their new friend."   Please view youtube video at the end...it will make your heart sing. Due to his own life's lessons Charlie Petrizzo shares his six lessons of healing...                                                 Charlie Petrizzo's Six Lessons of Healing: Know when you're helpless. When life breaks us, whether through illness or accident or circumstance, we are as helpless as a two-day-old p... 02/11/2011

Thank goodness for "First Friday" in Waxhaw, NC Every month the town of Waxhaw, NC holds a "First Friday" event.  There is always a theme to the event and businesses stay open a few hours more for people to enjoy.  The hours are 5-9:30 p.m. The theme for this "First Friday" in February will be...Valentine's Day and celebrated February 4th. The following restaurants will offer special Valentine's Day dinners...which include a carriage ride and chocolates!  Diners can pre-pay at the restaurants and do the carriage ride first if you prefer. Maxwell's Rippington's Mama Lena's Southsiders At Main Street Grill there will be a live band and free hot chocolate and coffee. Finally the Dairy Barn will give a free Valentine cookie with every hot chocolate or coffee.           What a fun time and l... 01/30/2011

Cureton Homes For Sale - Click Here! Copyright 2011 All Rights Reserved, "Cureton Homes For Sale in Charlotte NC Home"   01/24/2011

Cureton in Waxhaw NC—2010 Real Estate Market Update Click here for an update to the 2011 real estate market in Cureton. A 4000 square foot amenity center with water park and community lake welcomes you to Cureton, a walkable mixed use neighborhood in Waxhaw NC.  The neighborhood includes a community shopping center with a grocery, restaurants and banks.  This 380-acre Waxhaw neighborhood includes both single family homes and townhomes.  New construction is ongoing in Cureton.  Resale homes are available as well. How did the 2010 real estate market in Cureton compare with the 2009 market in the neighborhood?  The table below shows median values for several characteristics of the marketplace.  The 2010 real estate market in Cureton was very similar to the 2009 market.  Forty one single fa... 01/24/2011

The Quellin Neighborhood in Waxhaw, NC  Nestled in the rolling hills and farmland of western Union County, NC, Quellin sits on over 160 acres with over 20 acres of that area as common space. Located just minutes from the shopping and antiquing of downtown Waxhaw, NC, Quellin also boasts some of the best schools in the region, low Union County taxes, close proximity to equestrian facilities, and a community pool and playground. As well, Charlotte, North Carolina's largest city is just a short, 20 minute drive away for endless opportunities for entertainment, fine and casual dining, miles of shopping, culture, night life, and business. Call Quellin home, and you will know that sense of community we brag about here in North Carolina! 01/21/2011

INVESTING IN REAL ESTATE First off, let me set you straight on one BIG, important aspect of real estate investing:   Ignore the media.   If you pay attention to what’s talked about, blogged about, written in newspapers, etc., you’ll never know what to think about real estate. You will be paralyzed by the mixed messages from media sources whose primary focus is not to inform, but to attract readers or subscribers so that they can collect advertising dollars.   For every article you read or news report you watch that says now is a good time to invest, you will see another that says the opposite. For every report you see that the worst is over, you’ll see another that says the worst is yet to come.   The best advice is to ignore the white noise of the media and consult with someone local ... 01/20/2011

Waxhaw NC Real Estate Market Report—Year 2010 How did the Waxhaw NC real estate market fare during 2010 and how did 2010 market activity compare with 2009 and 2008? The tables below compare the Waxhaw NC real estate market for years 2008 through 2010.  172 single family homes and 8 townhomes closed in Waxhaw in 2010.  The highest priced single family home sale was $625,000.  The highest priced townhome sale was $155,915.  Median days on the market jumped for  both single family homes and townhomes.  The increase in townhome median days reflected the fact that more new construction closed in 2009 than in 2010.  New construction sales are often reported with just a few days on market.  The median list to sale ratio in 2010 was 97% for single family homes and 95% for townhomes. Single Fami... 01/08/2011

 Chances are you put quite a bit of effort into finding just the right tenant for your unit. Performing this due diligence protects your property, your financial well-being, and generally betters the chances that you've selected a tenant who will be a thoughtful neighbor to other tenants on your property. After a few months that tenant approaches you wanting to sublet his or her unit. What should you do? The NegativesHerein lies the biggest problem with subletting units - you are typically entrusting the tenant screening process to another party, essentially allowing a pre-existing tenant to select someone to occupy your unit on your behalf. The PositivesNo matter what a lease states, most property managers will at one point or another find themselves in a situation where a tenant simp... 01/05/2011

Barrington in Waxhaw NC—Homes for Sale and Neighborhood Profile Click here for an update to the 2011 real estate market in Barrington. A quiet location among the rolling hills and horse farms.  A convenient drive into historic Waxhaw NC.  Easy access to I-485 and the amenities of South Charlotte. These are all characteristics of Barrington, a neighborhood in Waxhaw NC.  The neighborhood is located off Bonds Grove Road about a mile from Providence Road.  Shea Homes began construction in Barrington in 2006 and is still building in the neighborhood today.  Barrington homes feature all brick exteriors.  Both ranches and two-story homes are available.  Heated area ranges from 2000 square feet to over 3000 square feet.  Pricing begins in the $230,000 and ranges into the low $300,000s. Communi... 01/05/2011

Plan your next birthday party here....what fun.  Near Waxhaw, NC just south of Charlotte, NC. As you drive out of Charlotte, NC heading south towards Waxhaw, NC you will be amazed at the beautiful equestrian farms nestled thru out the countryside.  I absolutely love driving and seeing corrals, white fencing, riding area, and of course beautiful horses grazing and covered with the warming blankets. Today I want to share some information about this beautiful equestrian center.  It is the Providence Equestrian Center.  Absolutely beautiful. I found the following information about this equestrian center. "Providence Equestrian Center was established in 1998. We built our new barn in 2006 using high quality materials, hard surface aisles, ample insulation and positioned to allow optimal air ... 01/04/2011

A great place to visit and enjoy a great meal is Rippington's in Waxhaw, NC.  Waxhaw is just 12 miles south of Charlotte, NC. Here is a little history about Waxhaw, NC.  "Welcome to the official website of the Town of Waxhaw, NC...where small-town charm still exists!  As one of the oldest towns in Union County, Waxhaw takes its name from the Waxhaws, an Indian tribe that once inhabited the area.  Our close proximity to Charlotte allows us the much sought after balance of both small town charm and big city convenience.  Dating back to the 1770's, we strive daily to pay tribute to our rich heritage even as the future beckons.  It is with a promise of respect for our proud history that we enter into that future...one of diversity, quality growth and a cooperative spirit."  If you enjoy cha... 12/31/2010

Cureton Homes For Sale   12/29/2010

Skyecroft Homes For Sale 12/28/2010

Kingston on Providence in Waxhaw NC—Homes for Sale and Neighborhood Profile Kingston on Providence is a small neighborhood located off Providence Road on the northern edge of historic Waxhaw NC.  Built in the 1990s, the neighborhood has spacious lots and mature trees and landscaping. Homes in Kingston on Providence range in size from 1600 square feet to over 2000 square feet.  Both ranches and two-story homes are available in the neighborhood.  Exteriors are vinyl with brick accents. Community shopping is available nearby along Providence Road and at the Cureton Shopping Center.  A farmers market, quaint shops, restaurants and community festivals can be found in downtown Waxhaw. Kingston on Providence Community Features Community Amenities:  none Builders:  Ryan Homes Schools: Waxhaw El... 12/28/2010

There are all kinds of things you will want to consider when buying the real estate that your family will call home. The problem is that far too many get caught up in the small or cosmetic details of the purchase and search that they forget the primary needs of the family in the process. Keep the following things in mind when considering real estate purchases and you are much more likely to be happy with your decision a few years down the road. 1) Size. When it comes to real estate size really does matter. The problem is that it matters differently for different people. Those that are aging and whose families have left home would do well in smaller properties that required lower maintenance. Those with growing families need room to grow not only inside the house but also outside the hom... 12/13/2010

Waxhaw NC Home Sales and Best Buys—December 2010 Update This is a summary of home sales transactions in Waxhaw NC in the last month.  It includes statistics on closed listings, properties that have gone under contract, and current best buys.  Best buys are those properties that have had the greatest price reductions in the past two weeks on a percentage basis. Properties under contract are the best indicators of the current Waxhaw NC real estate market as these are properties recently chosen for purchase.  Closed transactions represent the marketplace of 30 to 90 days ago.  The tables below show an increase in the median and average sales price for “under contract” properties versus those that have closed in the last month.  The average and median days on market for closings was much sh... 12/12/2010

The Oaks on Providence in Waxhaw NC—Homes for Sale and Neighborhood Profile Welcoming front porches.  Lots of details and beautiful millwork.  Gorgeous hardwood flooring.  The Oaks on Providence in Waxhaw NC is a neighborhood that will take you back in time to traditional homes on wooded lots. While the neighborhood has an old-fashioned feel, the interiors of the homes in The Oaks on Providence are modern with open floor plans, nine foot ceilings and updated kitchens and baths.  Neighborhood homes were built in the late 1990s and range in size from approximately 1900 square feet to nearly 2500 square feet.  Lots range from a quarter acre to a third acre. The Oaks on Providence is located off Providence Road near downtown Waxhaw.  Shopping and restaurants are available nearby along Provi... 12/09/2010