Three beautiful homes to be built on three large wooded lots set in the peace and quiet of the country, but close to everything!  Convenient to Hickory, Statesville, Troutman, and Mooresville.  Just minutes from River Oaks Golf Course.  Customizable open floor plans, large bedrooms, vaulted ceilings, granite countertops, quality builder.  Pick your options now and make one of these homes your own! 

115 Big Bertha Drive, Statesville, NC 28677–The Harvard–3 bed/3 bath, 1.5 story home on .65 acre wooded lot–$178,900.  Go to this property’s website or check out the virtual tour!

130 Big Bertha Drive, Statesville, NC 28677–The Fountain Hall–3 bed/3 bath, 1.5 story home on .7 acre wooded lot–$238,000.  Go to this property’s website or check out the virtual tour!

129 Taylor Made Drive, Statesville, NC 28677–The Carson–3 bed/2 bath ranch home on .87 acre wooded lot–$238,000.  Go to this property’s website or check out the virtual tour!

Want to take a look at a sample of this builder’s work?  Check out the virtual tour of the Carson model home in Verdict Ridge.  Check back soon, because we are working on getting some new floor plan options out to you as well!  Stay tuned!

Fabulous news, folks!  Not only has the $8000 tax credit for first-time home buyers been extended until the middle of next year (under contract by April 30, 2010 and closed by June 30), but it has also been expanded to include a $6500 tax credit for those folks who have lived in their current home for at least 5 years, sell it, and then buy another before May 1* (*again, under contract by April 30, closed by June 30*).  There are some restrictions, of course, and there is a lot of information out there on the web about it already–check out this article by Josephine Nicholas with Certified Mortgage Planning Specialist Institute, for more information!  Or, for more details on both the tax credit extension/expansion AND the extension of unemployment benefits check out this article from CNN.

Center columns, lighting, etc.

Interior pictures, as promised! They are coming right along and things look great!  Once they are done inside, Iredell County will step in and start putting in furniture, shelving, computers, and, of course, BOOKS!  Expected opening date is still April 12, 2010. 

On another note, the used book sale/bake sale held on Halloween at Ole World Market brought in almost $700.  We still have lots of books left though, and we have quite a few out on display for sale on an on-going basis.  Check in often for new ones on the shelves!

Used Book Sale at Ole World Market 10-31-09

Despite the rain, lots of folks came out to support the library!

Yes, we now have a sports bar in Troutman!   It’s called Troutman Sports & Spirits and it is located next to Pellegrino’s Trattoria just off Main Street in Troutman (back of the shopping center with Dominos and Movie Gallery).  Troutman Sports and Spirits will be holding their grand opening on Friday, October 23!  They have 15 big screen TVs for all your sports watching pleasure.  Come in and eat or drink and you can play pool (free til 5pm Monday through Friday) or darts (always free), and watch any kind of sport you can think of!  They have all the football games available (NFL and college).  Pellegrino’s provides the food, but in addition to their regular menu, they’ve added wings and a special Troutman wrap, specifically for the sports bar customers!  There will be drink specials and giveaways, and I’ve heard that the Miller Lite girls may be making an appearance that day as well!  On Saturday October 24, they will broadcast the UFC fight at 10pm.  So come on out and support your local businesses and check out Troutman’s newest restaurant!

Citizens for the Troutman Library will be holding it’s fall book sale on Saturday, October 31st at Ole World Market in Troutman. What is Ole World Market, you say?  Check out their website!   The book sale will start at 8am and go until we can’t stand up anymore, or 7pm, whichever comes first!  There will also be bake sale items for purchase, and 4-7pm, Ole World Market will be having a SAFE Halloween Carnival with games for the kids, giveaways, door prizes, and candy, candy, candy!  So come on out, support the library and have a howling good time at the Ole World Market this Halloween!  If you have books to donate for the book sale, you may drop them off at Ole World Market.  They are located on Eastway Drive in Troutman, just behind the depot (covered shelter near the intersection of Main Street and Wagner Street/Perth Road).  If you need help getting the books dropped off, please call me at 704-450-0058 and I will be glad to help.

Carolina BalloonFest is a fun-filled, family event, and will be held rain or shine Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, October 23-25 at the Statesville Regional Airport!  Mass ascensions, balloon rides, wine tastings, arts & crafts, live entertainment, kids’ fun zone, and much more! Admission is free for kids 5 and under, $5 for ages 6-12, $10 for ages 13 and up. Tickets can be purchased at the gate or on-line!  Also, lots of volunteers are always need to help pull this huge event off smoothly, so if you have an interest in that, check out the volunteer page.  Check out the balloon festival schedule for more details! 

And don’t forget, coming up the weekend after the balloon festival, Saturday, October 31, Citizens for the Troutman Library will be holding it’s fall used book sale at Ole World Market in Troutman!  SAFE Halloween Carnival to follow the book sale.  See you there!

107 E. Panther Creek Road, Troutman, NC

107 E. Panther Creek Road, Troutman, NC  28166.  List Price:  $142,500.  Move-in ready and perfect for those first-time homebuyers–close by November 30th and get that $8000 tax credit!  Great three bedroom, two bath ranch home on over half an acre on a level lot in small, quiet, and friendly neighborhood convenient to Mooresville and Troutman.  No homeowner’s association!  Open floor plan, spacious kitchen with stainless appliances and breakfast area with bay window, large great room with vaulted ceiling, freshly painted with neutral colors.  Insulated, tilt-in windows for easy cleaning.  New energy efficient heat pump in 2007.  Huge 2 story storage building with electricity.  Near Lake Norman and public access at Stumpy Creek and State Park.  Check out this property’s website , go straight to the virtual tour, or e-mail me for more information. Call today (704-450-0058) to schedule a showing!

Troutman’s new library is almost finished! Sidewalks and curbs have been poured and the parking lot is ready to be paved.  Signs are up in the front and on the side of the building!  Work on the inside continues…Duct work and lighting are installed, walls are primered, ceiling tiles are in, and the circulation desk and kitchen cabinets are being installed.  Next comes paint, trim work, and carpet!  Stay tuned for more updates and pictures!  Once the building is finished, the key will be turned over to Iredell County Public Library System to furnish.  The anticipated date for opening the library is April 12, 2010, with the dedication to occur on April 11.  

Also, please take note that we will be having our next used book sale on Saturday, October 31st, 8am til whenever, at Ole World Market in Troutman.  There is a barrel for book collection at Ole World Market if you would like to donate any books for the sale.  There will also be a fall festival of sorts at the Ole World Market that afternoon from approximately 4-6pm.  More details on that event to follow.  Happy October, folks!

Potential First-Time Buyers Urged to Allow Enough Time for Closing to Secure Tax Credit of up to $8,000

 The $8,000 federal tax credit for first-time homebuyers is scheduled to expire on December 1, 2009.  In order to qualify, the transaction must be closed on or before November 30th, essentially leaving first-time buyers with less than three months to complete the process. This assumes approximately 45 days to search for a home and another 45 days to obtain mortgage financing and complete all the necessary steps to closing, including appraisals, inspections and title work.  While the urgency of trying to find and close on a home before the deadline may seem stressful, it doesn’t have to be. 

The tax credit is encouraging first-time homebuyers, but people could miss out on this unique money-saving opportunity if they don’t anticipate the time necessary for closing.  While every home purchase is a unique experience, I would encourage first-time homebuyers to be under contract by early to mid-October in order to safely meet the closing deadline and qualify for this tax credit.

For those first-time buyers who are in the early phase of entering into the home buying process, Coldwell Banker United, Realtors® offers consumers the following six steps for speeding up the process:

1.  Find A Qualified Real Estate Agent.  A team of experienced professionals is the key to making the home buying process simple and seamless.  Start by interviewing and selecting a sales associate who understands what you’re looking for.  A real estate agent will arrange showings, and keep track of the properties visited. He/She should also be able to help indentify suitable attorneys, mortgage lenders, home inspectors and others who play a role in the process.  Remember, an agent is an expert who will negotiate the best price and incentives on a home, and will oversee the sales process on a homebuyer’s behalf.  It is critical that you get a timeline from your real estate agent so that you leave enough time for the sometimes lengthy closing process to occur.

2.  Know Before You Go.  The first step in the home buying process should always be to have an idea of the type of property one wants to buy. By separating the “must haves” from the “wants,” homebuyers can focus on what’s really important.  Free online tools such as Coldwell Banker On Location (http://www.youtube.com/coldwellbanker ) and the recently launched mobile application for iPhone and Android devices are available to help consumers quickly and conveniently learn about neighborhoods, view what’s on the market and compare home prices in most U.S. markets and 28 countries worldwide.  Homebuyers who arm themselves with as much knowledge as possible before hitting the ground with an agent are bound to save time in the long-run. 

3.  Get Your Credit Report In Order.  A sound financial track record and solid credit score can help lock in a home loan and lower interest rates.  Lenders today are looking at prospective borrower’s credit reports more closely than ever so it’s important to examine one’s credit report for mistakes and eradicate any “toxic” debt such as overdue credit-card payments before the home shopping begins.  Rectifying mistakes is easy to do but it can be a time consuming process.  Checking a credit score and addressing any errors will help expedite the approval process when it comes time to make an offer. 

4.  Compile Your Paperwork.  At the same time homebuyers are working to correct or improve their credit report, they should also pull together the documents they will need to provide the lender.  These documents include:

• Verification of employment form
• Two most recent pay check stubs
• Two most recent bank statements
• Copies of the last two W2 forms received from employer
• Copies of any asset statements including those for retirement accounts, stocks, bonds or mutual funds
• Copy of social security card

* If there is a co-applicant on the loan, all of these forms will be required of that person as well.

5.  Get Your Pre-Approval.  Once the paperwork is in order, it’s time to get pre-approved for a mortgage.  “Pre-approval” means that a lender has verified the borrower’s credit and other credentials and is committed to making a loan.  This is different (and more valuable to sellers) than pre-qualification, which simply gives the borrower an idea of the size of the mortgage he/she might afford without actually committing to a loan. 

The borrower is not obligated to get a loan from the lender that offers the pre-approval letter but keep in mind that a pre-approval does involve giving permission for a hard credit inquiry.  This could potentially result in a small ding on the borrower’s credit report.  Getting this early green light, however, will put homebuyers in a stronger position with sellers, demonstrating how serious they are about home ownership – and that they are well-qualified. 

6.  Shop for the Most Favorable Mortgage Option.  People can face misunderstandings and even lose their homes if they don’t fully understand their mortgages.  It’s imperative for homebuyers to educate themselves on the risks of the different types of mortgages and select the right one for their family.  Early on, shop around for the most favorable mortgage rate and terms. A difference of even half a percentage point can mean a considerable savings over the life of a loan. For more information on mortgages visit http://www.bankrate.com/mortgage.aspx. 

For more information on the tax credit and answers to frequently asked questions, feel free to call me at 704-450-0058 or take a look at the Federal Housing Tax Credit website.

About Coldwell Banker Real Estate

Since 1906, the Coldwell Banker^® organization has been a premier full-service real estate provider. In 2008, Franchise Times magazine’s prestigious Top 200 issue ranked the Coldwell Banker system No. 1 in real estate for the ninth straight year and 12th among franchisors in all industries. The Coldwell Banker System has approximately 3,500 residential real estate offices and approximately 100,000 sales associates in 47 countries and territories. The Coldwell Banker System is a leader in the industry in residential and commercial real estate, and in niche markets such as resort, new home and luxury property through its Coldwell Banker Previews International^® division. It is a pioneer in consumer services with its Coldwell Banker Concierge^® Service Program and award-winning Web site, www.coldwellbanker.com. Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC is a subsidiary of Realogy Corporation, a global provider of real estate and relocation services. Coldwell Banker^® is a registered trademark licensed to Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. Each office is independently owned and operated.

The fair is back in town again at the Iredell County Fairgrounds in Troutman, NC!  Monday, September 7th through Saturday, September 12th.  General admission is $5, kids under age 6 get in free!  Gates open at 5pm Mon-Fri; gates open at 12noon on Saturday.  Senior citizens get in free on Thursday, September 10. Students K-12 get in for $1 on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday.  Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday nights, and Saturday from 12-5 you can get unlimited rides for $18 per person.  Some things to look forward to are draft horse pull, barnyard petting farm, baby bull racing, pig swimming and racing, chainsaw carving, demolition derby, live music, fireworks and much more!  For more details and a full schedule check out the website!