Everything Charlotte North Carolina Real Estate and Information

Charlotte Real Estate Enhanced Services

noreply@blogger.com (Roby Robertson) — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 01:06:00 +0000

To better serve our customers looking forCharlotte area homes for sale and Charlotte area homes for rent, we have added 2 new websites to assist you.

To search for homes for sale around the Charlotte areas, visit our new Search.

To find your Charlotte area rental visit our new Rental Search.

To Learn all about our Property Management Services visit .Your Charlotte and Lake Norman Property Management.

As always if we can help you with Charlotte and Lake Norman area homes for sale or rent, call Roby at 704 451 7051.

Charlotte Foreclosure Opportunties

noreply@blogger.com (Roby Robertson) — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 18:15:00 +0000

Plenty To Pick From with Charlotte Foreclosures and Bank Owned Properties

I am so glad that Charlotte area agents are now using the 'Special Conditions' field in our MLS to identify Bank Owned Properties.

For my Charlotte area buyers, I prefer REO/Bank Owned Properties over Short Sales because the likely hood of them closing rises exponentially.

Reviewing the entire Charlotte MLS area, there are 991 homes showing as bank owned with an average price of 181,000 and a high price of 2,065,000.

If you would like a list of Lake Norman Foreclosed homes or Charlotte Foreclosed homes, please call 704 451 7051 or fill out this contact me form.

Arbor Oaks Concord NC

noreply@blogger.com (Roby Robertson) — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 21:29:00 +0000

Arbor Oaks is a unique luxury home estate style community located on the eastern edge of Concord north of Charlotte NC.

This beautiful 22 home site community features European architecture and the tranquility that only Arbor Oaks can offer.

Located in a highly desireable location and close to new convenient shopping, Arbor Oaks is a unique combination of luxury, elegance and privacy. For more information or a list of current listings in the Arbor Oaks Community contact your Luxury Home Specialist: Roby Robertson at 704 451 7051.

Contact us to see these or any of our other fine Charlotte area homes.

Christenbury Hall - Concord NC

noreply@blogger.com (Roby Robertson) — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 19:10:00 +0000

The Christenbury Hall Community is located in the in the outer limits of Concord, North Carolina. Homes by exclusive builders Provident and Simonini Custom Homes are offered priced from the high $600's to $1.5 Million.

The square footage of these homes ranges from 4000 to just under 7000 square feet.

Amenities Include: Club House, Gated Community, Playground, Pond, Pool, Recreation Area, Tennis Courts, Walking Trails.

See The Christenbury Hall homes for sale.

Contact us to see these or any of our other fine Charlotte area homes.

Find Your Lake Norman Dream Home

noreply@blogger.com (Roby Robertson) — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 12:19:00 +0000

Just north of Charlotte, NC, Lake Norman is like being vacation 365 days a year.

Focusing on customer service and family, Real Living In Style has recently created a new website dedicated to Lake Norman Communities.

This website is dedicated to describing the communities and giving you a list of homes for sale in that community.

Attempts have been made to list these Lake Norman Communities by City and whether they are golf course and/or waterfront communities.

The website is still evolving as communities are being added and updated. If there is a community you can't find, please feel free to contact us. We will add this community for you as it is a great way to follow new listings whether you are looking to buy or sell you Lake Norman home.

There is also a link to all the Lake Norman Luxury homes for sale if that is what you are searching for.

Please visit Lake Norman Communities often and let us know what you think.

Charlotte Real Estate ; D-Day for Mortgage Rates?

noreply@blogger.com (Roby Robertson) — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 17:19:00 +0000

Experts are predicting that interest rates will begin to rise in March of 2010. Why?

The first concern is that our government is having trouble selling Treasury's. This lack of demand will probably force the government to raise the rate of return to attract buyers for our debt. When these costs increase, buyers experience them as an increase in the interest rates. When rates go up, the number of buyers who can afford your home decreases.

According to Mainstreet.com

Next, because the private sector has shied away from buying mortgage backed securities, the FED provides support to mortgage lending and housing markets and to improve overall conditions in private credit markets, the Federal Reserve will purchase a total of $1.25 trillion of agency mortgage-backed securities and about $175 billion of agency debt.

In order to promote a smooth transition in markets, the Committee will gradually slow the pace of its purchases of both agency debt and agency mortgage-backed securities and anticipates that these transactions will be executed by the end of the first quarter of 2010.

If the Fed follows through on its promise to close the program down in March 2010, and lean on the private sector to pick up the slack, that could well leave a huge hole in the mortgage-backed securities marketplace. If the economy doesn’t cooperate, and sends private investors into the mortgage marketplace to plug the gap (a good bet right now), then look for interest rates to rise.

The Fed may not do deadlines, but it’s not above firing a warning shot to the American consumer. If you want to buy a home, do it in the next three or four months. After all, the difference in monthly mortgage payments of 5% or 6% can be measured in tens of thousands of dollars over the life of the loan.

Information taken from an article at Mainstreet.com

With all the inventory in the Charlotte, NC area, there is a clear indication your buying power might be at it's height now.

Charlotte Real Estate:The Basics of a Short Sale

noreply@blogger.com (Roby Robertson) — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 13:00:00 +0000

Below is an exert from an interview with Graham “Mr. Banker” Treakle. Graham is short sale investor with special insider knowledge as he has worked in some of the nation's largest banking institutions.

Below is Graham's answer to what a short sale is and why banks accept short sales.

“We'll go over the numbers.. A short sale is pretty simple. If you have a property that's worth $150,000 and let's say it has a first mortgage for $100,000 and a second mortgage for $40,000-what that means is the total debt on that property, or the total mortgages, is $140,000. Being a real estate investor, I wouldn't want to buy a $150,000 house for $140,000. It doesn't make sense.

A short sale is when you get the bank to not take $140,000, you get them to take less, like $110,000. The banks are going to do this for several reasons. First, they're going to have a lot of expenses that are associated with a foreclosure. They're going to have realtor's costs, foreclosure costs, holding costs, repair costs-they're going to have all sorts of fees associated with a foreclosure.

Inevitably, the bank is only going to recoup somewhere around 70% of the value of the property. That's why banks will take short sales on foreclosures. The natural follow-up to that is, “Why are foreclosures such a hot commodity right now, and why is there a lot of buzz about them?” There are several reasons to that too, and it's really scaring the banks right now.

The first one is: when I was at the bank and someone had equity in their home and I found out they had equity, I would call them up and say, “Hey, Mr. Smith, I see you have $30,000 in equity in your home. How would you like to get a home equity line of credit?” Or, “How would you like to pay off that car with a home equity loan?”

So banks are constantly calling these homeowners to use equity in their home because there are some potential tax savings in structuring your finances that way. That's one of the things.

Secondly, inflation is outpacing wage growth. That means what it takes for you to buy milk and eggs today is going to increase faster than how much your earnings are going to increase on average. For instance, if you have someone who's making $100,000 a year, let's say inflation is 3% and your raise every year is 1.5%. So inflation is growing at twice the rate your salary is. That's another component. That means folks are earning less and less, relative to the goods they're going to have to buy.

The next thing is that a lot of folks may recall this brief refinance boom we've been going through, which is pretty important. People went out and got a lot of mortgages called “Adjustable Rate Mortgages,” which have an extraordinarily low interest rate to start, let's say 3% in some cases. But in a couple of years, maybe two to five, depending on the term of the Adjustable Rate Mortgage, their rate is going to go up, it's going to adjust upward.

So people went out and bought more house than they could normally afford, or they refinanced, got the low payments, and bought a car that they couldn't afford if their payment had to adjust upward. What's going to happen here in the next two to five years is that all of these ARMs are going to be adjusting upward, and that's pretty critical because people aren't going to be able to afford them.

They aren't going to be able to afford them because they didn't count on it, and also because inflation is outpacing wage growth. All of this sounds great, but you may say, “How is that going to affect my business?”

Here's the way it affects your foreclosure real estate business. If you're in a judicial foreclosure State, where properties that are in foreclosure go through a judicial process before a foreclosure is complete; or a non-judicial foreclosure State, where the properties go through a trustee as they're going through a foreclosure-you're going to see less and less equity in these properties.

So if you know, like I said earlier, that banks are going to take short sales because of the numbers-meaning they have to pay all of these expenses-and the foreclosed properties aren't going to have a lot of equity in them, you have to be able to negotiate short sales effectively if you're going to be working in the foreclosure market.

The foreclosure market represents the most motivated sellers. Traditionally, with motivated sellers, you'll find really good deals. That's why banks are going to take foreclosures on the conditions that are spurring on all these foreclosures. It's an amazing phenomenon that we're working on right now.

What if we're in a real estate bubble? If we're in a real estate bubble, that means values are going to go down, which means folks are going to owe more than what their property is worth. Again, negotiating short sales is going to be critical to your success in the foreclosure business. If we're not in a bubble, that's fine too.

We already [backed out] the numbers; still negotiating short sales is going to be critical to your real estate business because people are borrowing up to, and sometimes above 100% of the value of their property. Whatever way you slice it, as far as having a skill, negotiating short sales is probably, in my opinion, one of the most lucrative skills that someone can have as a real estate investor.”

I hope the above information gives you some insight into the world of real estate investing and short sales. If you would like a list of homes that are being offered as short sales in the Charlotte area, please contact your Charlotte area agent at 704 451 7051.

Charlotte NC Area Real Estate | Solutions Made Easy

noreply@blogger.com (Roby Robertson) — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 13:26:00 +0000

Easy Ways to Track Your Charlotte Area Home

I am here for the most important person of all ... you! That being said, I do a lot of research on Lake Norman Real Estate and more importantly, how I can best assist my clients and soon to be clients.

With over 35,000 visits to my blogs, I feel certain that my readers are finding it helpful. From the statistics, I know that they like the FREE Charlotte area listings on the right panel.

Interestingly, the most searched keywords are Charlotte Foreclosures and Charlotte Short Sales. This just proves that Foreclosures are a sign of the times.

I also try to investigate trends with searching for homes. A very high percentage of the web surfers do not want to have to provide information to look at homes. This is why the pre-made searches on the right panel get so much traffic.

One of the things, I realized is that our Real Living search is limited somewhat because of the inability to search for certain features. For this reason I always offer a way for users to contact me and request alerts set up through our MLS that go directly to an email address. This is a great no-hassle way to look at properties until you are ready to buy.

The next solution I wanted to offer was the ability for a home buyer or seller to set up their own alerts to watch homes, neighborhoods and larger areas for active homes and recently sold homes. This is a great service for both the buyers and sellers. Being able to provide solutions for both has been a real help for many. For buyers, you can click search on the right panel and for sellers you can click on Sold Home Watch. Yes you have to sign up but this is a no hassle way to get the information you need. Also, if you are in need of getting pre-qualified for a loan, this service is there for you to get this accomplished. Find out if you can buy a home or find out what needs to be done to get qualified. All of it is available for you by clicking one of those links.

For me, service is number one. It is about giving those looking for Charlotte Area real estate assistance, all the tools they will ever need.

If I can ever be assistance, please contact your Charlotte and Lake Norman Area Agent at 704 451 7051 or click one of the links on the right panel.

Charlotte NC Real Estate | Short Sale and Pre-Foreclosure Update

noreply@blogger.com (Roby Robertson) — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 18:46:00 +0000

I just performed a search for Charlotte NC short sales and pre-foreclosure properties in the Charlotte MLS areas.

Currently this search is done by scanning the agent remarks or each MLS listing. There is a possibility for minor errors due to this type of search, however the list of homes in this category has certainly grown.

Thankfully our MLS is making some minor adjustments in the near future to allow us to have a category for these types of homes so the searches will be much more accurate. (If agents enter the information correctly).

Lastly, this is a large area to search but these homes exist everywhere and a potential deal is a potential deal.

Currently there are a total of 1057 homes in our MLS being sold as 'short sales' or are currently bank owned.

Of these 1057 Charlotte NC area homes:

664 of them are listed for sale at $200,000 and less.
228 of them are listed for sale from $201,000 up to $400,000.
79 of them are listed for sale from $401,000 up to $600,000.
86 of them are listed for sale starting at $601,000.

Now may be the time to grab onto one of these opportunities.

If you would like a list of these homes sent directly to your email, contact your Lake Norman Agent and Charlotte area agent at 704 451 051.

Charlotte NC | Improve Your Credit Score

noreply@blogger.com (Roby Robertson) — Sat, 08 Aug 2009 18:15:00 +0000

As a real estate agent, I deal weekly with clients that have minor to severe credit issues. Along the way, I have partnered with lenders and performed a lot of research on ways I can help my clients with credit repair. Granted when they I buy a home, I benefit. However, I have come to realize that bad things have happened to very good people and in most cases it is just sad but very fixable.

What is your credit score?

A credit score is the result of a mathematical equation that evaluates many types of information that are on your credit report. Lenders with whom you replied will usually review your credit and credit score along with other factors such as your likelihood and ability to repay debt.
Credit scores are often also called 'FICO' scores because most credit scores are produced from software based on a model developed by Fair Isaac and Company (FICO).

What makes up your credit score? Here is a break down.

The FICO score generally ranges from 300 to 850, and a higher score indicates a lower credit risk. FICO scores are calculated from many sources of information in your credit report, which is based on the importance of the following five categories for the general population.

35% Payment History
30% Amount owed on Accounts
15% Length of Credit History
10% New Credit (How many news one have been opened)
10% Types of Credit

What is NOT in your credit score?
1. Your race, color, sex, national origin, age, national origin.
2. Your salary, occupation, title, employment information or resident address.
3. Any interest rate charged on your credit card.
4. Any items such as family/child support, rental agreements,credit counseling participation.

In some cases, credit repair can be completed in 30-60 days with some minor credit cleanup. In other cases the credit repair can take months to restore to credit worthiness.

In my research I have compiled some quick hitter ways to help with your credit.

Here are THREE things you can concentrate on now to get things going in the right direction.

1. Write a letter to the credit reporting agencies stating that you want to opt out of all future credit card solicitations.

2. Don't let the balance on credit card get over 50 percent of the credit limit. (Meaning if you have a credit limit of $500 on your visa then keep the balance below $250)

3. Open a secured credit card and don't use it.

I think it is somewhat unfortunate but in many respects we are just a number and that number is our credit score! Access to money is so dependent on our credit score that we need to keep our eye on the ball as it pertains to it.

Your score can improve by managing your credit responsibly over time and following basic tips that are easy to find and follow.

If you are serious about credit repair, please don't give up. There are resources and products that will help get you educated on what to do and what not to do. The bottom line is that you CAN get things in order.

I have 2 recommendations. One is talk to my partner/lender and the second is choose educating yourself with the right products.
Check out the Credit Repair Bible. It has a wealth of information that can guide you for years.

Charlotte NC Real Estate | Improve Your Credit Score

noreply@blogger.com (Roby Robertson) — Sun, 02 Aug 2009 11:22:00 +0000

It is getting crunch time for First Time Home Buyers wanting to take advantage of $8000 tax credit.

Many buyers (whether wanting to buy this year or in the near future) are now wondering how they can repair their credit.

There are a few options available to you.

Here are a few quick things you can do to improve you score.

1. Write a letter to the credit reporting agencies stating that you want to opt out of all future credit card solicitations.
2. Don't let the balance on credit card get over 50 percent of the credit limit. (Meaning if you have a credit limit of $500 on your visa then keep the balance below $250)
3. Open a secured credit card and don't use it.

Some options you have are to work with a lender that has the tools and knowledge necessary to guide you in the process. In the Charlottee NC areas, I call on Sherry Connor to assist my clients. Just click on the Get Prequalified for free link on the top right side of her website.

Click here if you need to obtain a copy of your credit and get your current score.

For those wanting to do the research and take care of things on their own, we have two books that we recommend. Some of our clients have purchased these books and been able to repair things on their own.

Credit Repair Book One

Credit Repair Book Two

Lastly, if you want to be able to search for Charlotte NC area homes work with Sherry at the same time, please give our Home Buyer Marketing Website a try.

Charlotte Area Real Estate, Mother In Law Suites

noreply@blogger.com (Roby Robertson) — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 14:53:00 +0000

I am working with a client in the Lake Norman area that needs a home with separate quarters for their mother and father in laws.

As we grow older and our parents grow older with us, this trend is becomnig more and more common.

I did a thorough search of homes that specifically list separate quarters described as 'Mother In Law Suites" and found 11 homes in the Charlotte Metro area with this description.

My clients realized that looking over our entire MLS area maybe be a necessity find what they need to move and bring family with them. There are homes listed in this category from Lake Norman to Lake Wylie, Charlotte, Kannapolis and Belmont.

Prices range from $89,000 in Rock Hill SC. to 1,075,000 in the Lake Norman area.

I found one in Charlotte that is also listed as a possible short sale and the list price is $320,000.
Check out this Charlotte Area Short Sale

One thing to consider is that just because only 11 show up with this option, there are more opportunities, we just have to search for them.

If you would like to see this list of homes or to try and find other alternatives in the Lake Norman and/or Charlotte area, please feel free to contact your Charlotte area agent at 704 451 7051.

Charlotte Real Estate | Choose Your Lender Wisely

noreply@blogger.com (Roby Robertson) — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 14:31:00 +0000

I am working with a client that just has had an experience for the books. This whole situation has changed my thinking entirely.

First let me say that I will not mention anyone or any company by name, but I will mention that my client contacted one of the big banks by filling out an online application.

The fun just began. Client gets call from what we think is a salesperson in California. (Oh, and I thought we were in the Charlotte) After a few conversations, this person working for the bank sends my client a 'pre-qualification letter' and tells them to go find a home!

So... we go find a home. I purposely put the close date 60 days out because in this lending environment, you just never know. Seller agrees to the contract but asks to move the close date. Big bank salesperson, says absolutely no problem. Contract gets signed on Friday.

Monday, big bank turns client down. Big bank tells client ' We are not a credit reporting agency' and refuses (no refuses with attitude) to even discuss why!

And OH BY THE WAY: She had to get a referral and release from her current landlord of 6 years. THANKS BIG BANK!

So. What is an agent to do. I called the person that can get things done if they can be done! I will provide her website below. She is on vacation, crap! However, being the person she is, she calls my client, has her do an application and to make this short, has her on a 60 day plan that will get her the loan.

I am against going online randomly to find a lending institution. There is no personal touch and certainly no real motivation to go the extra mile. It is not about personal relationships with the big banks. It, obviously from this experience, is about volume.

So, if you have a real estate agent and they recommend some lenders they work with, remember there is a reason they have recommend them. It is about getting the job done and building and retaining relationships. We DO NOT get kick backs for making these recommendations. We do, however, help get families in homes!

If you want a home with a personal touch, contact your Charlotte NC Area Agent at 704 451 7051!

Want someone that actually takes the time to help? Visit one of my favorite lenders here! She can help you in Charlotte and the entire viewing area!

Help for Concerned Charlotte NC Home Sellers

noreply@blogger.com (Roby Robertson) — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 13:51:00 +0000

To Sellers:

My name is Roby Robertson and I am the broker/owner of Real Living In Style. I have access to a team of investors who are activly seeking to purchase homes in the area within the next 60 days. The Charlotte Area has been identified as a prime area to meet their objectives.

Are you worried about losing your home to foreclosure?

Have you missed a few payments?

If you have any interest in selling, please call me at 704 451 7051 let me know how we might help.

Here are some facts and questions you might need to know and answer.

1. Have you exhausted all your options at trying to fix the existing situation. We can give you advice in ideas to try and fix things first.

2. Your credit is affected by a short sale. Don't let anyone tell you a short sales saves your credit. However, a short sale is better than foreclosure.

3. Investors with experience have a far better chance of negotiating a short sale then a real estate agent.

4. A short sale is a 3 step process that we can explain in detail and let you decide for yourself.

5. The investors have access to have closed over short sale 400 transactions over the last 6 years. Check them out here.

6. I do NOT represent the investors, I represent YOU!

If you are looking at alternatives, please give your Charlotte NC Area Agent at 704 451 7051 and I will explain the whole process with no obligation on your part. I can work in the entire Charlotte NC area with this process.

Did you know?

A short sale is less damaging to your credit than a foreclosure. A seller's credit is compromised for up to 10 years for a short sale or foreclosure. However if a seller uses a short sale process, he only has to wait 2 years to apply for a Freddie Mac or Fannie Mae loan. If a seller goes through foreclosure, he/she has to wait 5 years.

Just Listed in Cornelius NC | Harborside Model Home

noreply@blogger.com (Roby Robertson) — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 14:34:00 +0000

Not only does this 3 level, 3 bedroom, 2 full baths, 2 half bath 2500 sq. ft home show like a model, IT IS THE MODEL HOME FOR THE COMMUNITY!
Just North of Charlotte NC and convenient to I77, Birkdale Village and Lake Norman, this home and area really does have it all!

To see more information and pictures on this beautiful home visit this Cornelius NC Home Here!

Charlotte NC Real Estate | Real Living Piece of Mind Program

noreply@blogger.com (Roby Robertson) — Sat, 13 Jun 2009 11:53:00 +0000

We all agree….It’s a Great Time to Buy your next Charlotte Area home. Home prices are great, interest rates are great, inventory is great, and we have an $8,000 Federal Tax Credit to First Time Homebuyers.

Having said that, many consumers still lack the necessary confidence to step into the home buying or refinance process! So,Real Living introduced the Peace of Mind Plan to give buyer’s the added confidence and comfort they need to jump back into the market.

For sellers in the Charlotte NC areas, buyers of Real Living agents listings can add an additional year of protection when they purchase your home! What a great way to add another creative way to sell your home!

Buyers, relax and know that we have taken care of things for you with the Piece of Mind Program! You may ask, what is the catch or cost? Well it is FREE to both buyer and seller!

If you want additional information about this great program, call your Charlotte NC Area agent at 704 451 7051!

Charlotte Area Real Estate | New Guidelines for 8000 Tax Credit

noreply@blogger.com (Roby Robertson) — Sun, 31 May 2009 13:42:00 +0000

Good News:
The Federal Housing Administration has issued formal guidelines allowing first-time homebuyers to apply a federal tax credit of up to $8,000 toward the purchase of a home with an FHA-backed mortgage.

Bad news:
For those hoping that the initiative would allow homebuyers to buy a home with nothing down, is that the tax credit can't be used to meet the FHA's 3.5 percent minimum down-payment requirement.

Essentially what this means is that when First Time Home Buyers need assistance with closing costs the government has given the green light to the financing of bridge loans of up to $8,000 to first-time homebuyers who qualify for tax credits.

Did you know?, if you -nor your spouse- have had no ownership interest in a home for the past 3 years, then you qualify for the up to $8000 tax credit! There has been some confusion on this part. You may have owned a home before but NOT in the last 3 years. You still qualify!

Overall this is great news for first time home buyers. Please tell everyone you know. Coupled with the fantastic buyers market in the Charlotte NC area, this scenario may never happen again!

If you have any questions about the Charlotte NC and the surrounding area, please feel free to contact your Charlotte NC Area Agent at 704 451 7051!

Charlotte Real Estate;Thinking of Investing?

noreply@blogger.com (Roby Robertson) — Tue, 19 May 2009 18:30:00 +0000

Charlotte Real EstateDo Your Homework

Did you know that according to the National Association of Realtors 40% of foreclosures of Investor Owned?

The reason is because of some investors jumped in without doing the due diligence needed to ensure success.

Things to Do?

Hire an experienced agent that can assist you with all of the following:

Make sure you know the costs associated with repairs.

Make sure your agent does a thorough assessment of resale marketability

Understand the lending costs for investment homes

Make sure you have a pre-defined threshhold of pain (potential months of sustaining losses due to time to find a tenant or sell)

Make sure you understand what the potential rental income will be

Make sure agent understands the various areas of Charlotte with regard to future development

This is a short list of the obvious things investors should think about. Things will come up during the due diligence and all investors should be prepared to walk away. Removal of any and all emotional ties to a property is a must.

If you need assistance with Charlotte Real Estate, please contact your Charlotte Area Agent at 704 451 7051.

Charlotte Real Estate; Financial Incentives and Uniform Process for Short Sales

noreply@blogger.com (Roby Robertson) — Fri, 15 May 2009 16:04:00 +0000

Charlotte Area Home Sellers and Charlotte Area Home Buyers Considering A Short Sale

Responding to the call of the National Association of REALTORS®, on May 14, 2009, the Obama Administration announced incentives and uniform procedures for short sales under its new Foreclosure Alternatives Program (FAP). For borrowers who do not qualify to have their loans modified on a permanent basis under the Making Home Affordable Loan Modification Program, the servicer may consider a short sale or, if that is not successful, a deed-in-lieu of foreclosure.

· Borrowers (Homeowners). Borrowers/homeowners qualify under the FAP if they meet minimum eligibility requirements for the Home Affordable Modification program but don’t qualify for a modification or do not successfully complete the three month trial period. Before proceeding with a foreclosure, servicers must determine if a short sale is appropriate.

· Incentives. Incentives include: (1) $1,000 for servicers for successful completion of a short sale or deed-in-lieu of foreclosure; (2) $1,500 for borrowers/homeowners to help with relocation expenses; and (3) up to $1,000 toward the cost of paying junior lien holders to release their liens (one dollar from the government for every $2 paid by the investors to the second lien holders).

· Standardized Documents. The program will include streamlined and standardized documents, including a Short Sale Agreement and an Offer Acceptance Letter. The goal is to minimize complexity and increase use of the short sale option.

· Property Valuation by Appraisal or BPO. Servicers will independently establish both property value and minimum acceptable net return, in accordance with investor requirements. The price may be determined based on an appraisal or one or more broker price opinions (BPOs), issued no more than 120 days before the date of the short sale agreement.

· Timeline. In the Short Sale Agreement, servicers must give borrowers/homeowners at least 90 days to market and sell the property, or up to one year, depending on market conditions. Property must be listed with a licensed real estate professional with experience in the neighborhood. No foreclosure may take place during the marketing period (at least 90 days) specified in the Short Sale Agreement.

· Commissions. The Short Sale Agreement must specify the reasonable and customary real estate commissions and costs that may be deducted from the sales price. The servicer must agree not to negotiate a lower commission after an offer has been received.

· No Borrower Fees. Servicers may not charge fees to borrowers/homeowners for participating in the FAP.

· Program Expiration. The program is in effect through 2012.

· DIL Option. Servicers have the option to require the borrower/homeowner to agree to deed the property to the servicer in exchange for a release from the debt if the property does not sell within the time allowed in the Short Sale Agreement (plus any extensions)

Charlotte Home Sellers in need of some assistance, this could be a relief for you. If you are a Charlotte Home Buyers thinking of looking for a short sale, this could offer more opportunities.

If you need assistance with Charlotte Area real estate, you can contact your Charlotte Area Agent at 704 451 7051

Charlotte Area Real Estate; Selling Your Home, Avoid These Mistakes

noreply@blogger.com (Roby Robertson) — Fri, 08 May 2009 16:19:00 +0000

In an effort to provide my Charlotte NC area clients with the best possible service and advice, I am constantly researching ways to convey the best convey the best message. Recently I found an article from the The Real Estate Rockstar that I think conveys the message in a very simplistic way.

Watch the video ! It shows a simple, easy to follow guide that can save you time (avoiding having your home linger on the market) and money (a few simple things can actually make you more money in the process of selling your home).

Homes in the Charlotte NC area will sell. You need attention to detail in this market and advice from a well informed agent.

If I can ever be of assistance, please contact your Charlotte Area Agent at 704 451 7051!

Charlotte North Carolina Short Sales

noreply@blogger.com (Roby Robertson) — Tue, 05 May 2009 17:54:00 +0000

Charlotte North Carolina Home Sellers

Are you looking for a way to avoid Foreclosure?

Do you owe more than your home is now worth?

Are you thinking of the short sale option?

Would your home list for more than $500,000.

I may have an option for you. With the right criteria, my investor clients will negotiate the short sale for you and help you get out of your home.

If you are interested, please contact your Charlotte Area Agent at 704 451 7051.

See also: Anatomy of a Short Sale

Charlotte Area Real Estate;Investors Take Notice

noreply@blogger.com (Roby Robertson) — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 15:33:00 +0000

From time to time Ryan homes builds a model home and sells it to investors with the intent to rent it back from them for use as it's sales center.

Recently one of their communities have had these opportunites arise.

The first can be found at The Gardens at Eastfield which is
off Eastfield Rd. near the Skybrook Community. The Gardens at Eastfield is Ryan Homes newest Active Adult Maintenance Free Patio Home Community.

Floorplan: Martinique

Price: $225,493

Lease Back: 12 Months at $1810 a month

HOA: Paid by Seller

Taxes: Paid by buyer

Closing: 30 days

Deposit Required: 15%

The Martinique Floor Plan

If you are interested in either of these homes or any other find Ryan Home developments, please call your Lake Norman Agent at 704 451 7051 or Abby Cornelius, your Ryan home rep at 704-439-3561. (Be sure to tell Abby that Roby

Charlotte Area Real Estate - Just Listed A Beautiful Lake Norman Waterfront Home

noreply@blogger.com (Roby Robertson) — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 18:22:00 +0000

Lake Norman Real Estate:One of the Best Waterfront Lots on all of Lake Norman

This home sits on one of the most beautiful lots you can find on Lake Norman. Currently the asking price is $1,295,995 and is worth every penny.

This home is a Professional Interior Designers Personal Home and the attention to detail speaks for itself. Brand new Pella Windows have been installed and the views of the lake are breathtaking. Don't be fooled by the size of the home which is approx. 3000 sq. ft and 4 bedrooms. The high ceilings make if feel much larger.

CLICK HERE to See A Slide Show of this Beautiful Lake Norman Waterfront Home

Features:
-3,000 Sq. Ft. on one level with 4 Bedrooms and 3 Full Baths
-280 Feet of Lakefront with Fantastic Lake Views Throughout the House
-Very Open Floor Plan with Soaring Ceilings
-Large Covered Porch Overlooking the Lake
-3 Car Oversized Garage with Built-in Shelf Wall and Workbenches
-Exterior - All Brick Veneer
-Very Private Lot in Subdivision Offering Pool. Tennis, Marina, and Boat Ramp
-Easy access to I77 via the New Exit 32
-Low Iredell County Taxes
-Beautifully Landscaped
-70'X5' Pier, 20' Steel Ramp. 20'X32' Cherokee Steel Floating Dock
-11 Feet of Water at Boat Dock
-All Jenn-Air Appliances - Gas Range/Grill and 2 Ovens (1 Convection)
-Multi Zoned A/C with Natural Gas Heat - Gas Log Fireplace
-Large Master Suite and Bath with Jacuzzi
-Multi Zone Security System
-Lake Fed Irrigation System

Beautiful Sunset Views

If you have questions or interest in this property,please contact your Lake Norman Agent at 704 451 7051 or by email.

See Also:

Be The First To See Lake Norman Hot New Listings as soon as they become available.

Selling Lake Norman; What would my Lake Norman Home Sell For?

Lake Norman Relocation, You Will Want to Consider It

Why Lake Norman is such a great Destination

Roby Robertson 704 451 7051

Committed to Saving My Clients Thousands When Buying and Selling Real Estate

Charlotte Area Real Estate; Awesome New Lake Wylie Listing

noreply@blogger.com (Roby Robertson) — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 20:23:00 +0000

Another Beautiful home Offered By Real Living In Style!

See the slide show on this beatiful Lake Wylie home at Reflection Pointe!

Details
Waterfront
7 Bedrooms
Type: 2 Story / Basement
Transitional
SqFt: 6000 - 7100
Parking: 3 Car Garage

WOW FACTOR!!! Waterfront. Fabulous custom built home, hardwoods and tile throughout. Stunning staircase. Huge terrace. Cherry cabinets. Built-in appliances all convey as well as 52' flat screen TV, crystal chandelier. Cedar closets in MB. Granite countertops and much much more!

Get all the details of this awesome Reflection Pointe Home here !

Contact your Real Living Agent today at 704 476 3937

Charlotte Area Real Estate;Waterford On The Rocky River

noreply@blogger.com (Roby Robertson) — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 15:42:00 +0000

Niblocks ~Waterford on the Rocky River has a prestigious Davidson Address and the highly sought after Cabarrus County Schools and Tax Rate. Conveniently located to Kannapolis, Huntersville, Concord, Lake Norman, and Charlotte! Also, Waterford will have a common area that leads down to the Rocky River so that you can truly become "one with nature". Spacious Private Homesites that range from 1/3 to 3/4 acres embrace a mountain like feel year round. Basement Homesites Available!!!!

Crafted for the way you live, Waterford blends carefree finshes and spacious interiors that makes it as easy to entertain as it is to relax. Stately homes offer up to 4000 square feet of space and start in the $350s. Each home combines classic architectural details with open floor plans, sweepting staricases, luxury kitchens and baths.

Homes buillt by one of North Carolina's most respected builders, Niblock Homes has received the coveted 2-10 Home Buyer Warranty Diamond Award which is the highest level of professional recognition bestowed by one fo the nations's leading home warranty companies, 2-10 Home Buyers Warranty (2-10 HBW).

Of all the 15,000 builders enrolled in 2-10 HBW's program only 46 have qualified as Diamond Builders.

You can buy with confidence knowing that Niblock stands for excellence in home construction and communty development.

Waterford on the Rocky River will include; Community Jr. Olympic Pool, Clubhouse, Tennis and Playing Field - Play area.

Now is the time to check out the amazing incentives being offered by this fine up and coming community.

Please contact your Lake Norman and Charlotte Area Agent at 704 451 7051 or the onsite agent, Anika Jones at 704 795 5397 for additional information (Be sure to tell her that you got the information here)

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