Senate Extends Date on Home-buying Tax Credit

"The U.S. Senate today approved a measure extending the closing deadline to Sept. 30 for home-buyers attempting to take advantage of the federal tax credit.

The National Association of Realtors estimates that 180,000 buyers who met the contract deadline of April 30 would not be able to close their transaction by the June 30 deadline.

Association members have reported as many as one-third of qualified applicants - who could get a credit of as much as $8,000 - have been notified by lenders that their mortgages will not close because of the sheer volume of applications in the pipeline.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid tacked the extension to a bill extending jobless benefits through the end of November.

The measure now has to go to the House."

- Alan J. Heavens, Philly.com

For more information on the homebuyers tax credit, please contact Henderson Properties!

10 Questions to Ask a Home Inspector

"1. What are your qualifications? Are you a member of the American Association of Home Inspectors?
2. Do you have a current license? Inspectors are not required to be licensed in every state.
3. How many inspections of properties such as this do you do each year?
4. Do you have a list of past clients I can contact?
5. Do you carry professional errors and omission insurance? May I have a copy of the policy?

6. Do you provide any guarantees of your work?
7. What specifically will the inspection cover?
8. What type of report will I receive after the inspection?
9. How long will the inspection take and how long will it take to receive the report?
10. How much will the inspection cost?

We would be happy to recommend Home Inspectors in the area that we have used in the past with great results."
~ Source: Rick Frissell, Florida's Beautiful Homes

For more home buying tips, please contact one of Henderson Properties agents!

Neighborhood Spotlight: Midwood

"Rapidly becoming one of the most popular neighborhoods in Charlotte, Midwood has the perfect balance of the charming Southern neighborhood and the exciting lifestyle of an Uptown locale. Just a stone’s throw away from Charlotte’s downtown area, the characteristic Craftsman and cottage-style homes bring the right blend of classical style and unique flair. Midwood is one of Charlotte’s most well-known Historic Districts, and a drive down The Plaza will showcase this effect to its credit. The beautiful Van Landingham Estate and its surrounding gardens are a perfect example of the beauty that you can find in Midwood.

Many of the homes are situated on city lots that are usually about a quarter of an acre. There are a number of streets that have much larger lots - some up to close to an acre. The curving quiet streets of Midwood are lined with sidewalks and it is hard to find an evening when they aren’t filled with neighbors with baby strollers and happy dogs.

Take a stroll down to the central business district, where there are cool furniture shops, a tattoo parlor or two, Nova Bakery and the “No Grease Honey” barber shop. You’ll also find a public library, the local Harris Teeter grocery store, post office, and an art supply shop in an old church. Even your dog will be happy for a visit to Commonwealth Animal Hospital, one of the city’s few animal chiropractor and acupuncturist. They’ll also love You Dirty Dog, a self-serve dog wash with cool accessories for your best friend.

Do you have a craving for some Southern comfort food? You must try Dish, a popular local hotspot. Don’t miss the chicken and dumplings or the meatloaf served with a deviled egg and butter-topped biscuit. The neighborhood’s favorite diner, Penguin, is famous for its fried pickles, hand-dipped corn dogs and their “Hemi Burger”. Ask for it Southern style - that’s with chili, slaw and onions for a true taste of the South.

If you want the perfect balance of city life and the warm intimacy the South is famous for, look no further than Midwood! Homes range in price from the mid $150's to well over a million."

~ Source: SavvyAndCompany.com

For more homes for sale, please visit Henderson Properties website!

Tax Credits Boost New-Home Sales in April‎

"Sales of newly built, single-family homes surged 14.8 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 504,000 units in April as consumers rushed to beat the deadline for expiring home buyer tax credits, according to data released by the U.S. Commerce Department today. This was the strongest level of new-home buying activity since May of 2008.

“Clearly the home buyer tax credit program, which concluded at the end of April, was successful in getting the housing market moving again by helping many families achieve the dream of homeownership,” said Bob Jones, chairman of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) and a home builder from Bloomfield Hills, Mich. “Now that the program is over, other great buying incentives continue – including exceptionally favorable mortgage rates, very attractive home prices and the steadily improving economy – so there is good reason to expect the positive momentum to continue.”

“The surge of buying activity we have seen in the final two months of the tax credit program has been very encouraging, and has helped builders work down their standing inventories to near historic lows,” said NAHB Chief Economist David Crowe. “It stands to reason that this activity will level off over the next few months, as sales that would have occurred during that time were likely pulled forward to meet the April deadline. That said, today’s favorable home buying conditions, the recovering job market and reviving consumer confidence should help take the place of tax incentives to generate buyer demand.”

Three out of four regions posted substantial gains in new-home sales in April; the Midwest registered a 31.6 percent gain, the South, a 10.8 percent gain, and the West, a 21.7 percent gain. The Northeast posted no change in sales activity from the previous month.

The nationwide inventory of new homes on the market fell 5.8 percent to 212,000 units in April, its slimmest measure since October of 1968. Meanwhile, the month’s supply at the current sales pace declined from 6.2 in March to a modest 5.0 in April, the lowest since November of 2005." ~ Source: NAHB.org

For more news on home buying in Charlotte, please contact Henderson Properties!

SouthPark Land Back in Play

An undeveloped 10.5 acres of choice SouthPark land is getting new life.

Charlotte-based developer Lincoln Harris and Atlanta-based Reynolds Capital Group have formed a joint venture to develop the land, across from Piedmont Town Center on Fairview Road.

The companies are studying what to do with the property.

Reynolds Capital Group bought the land from LNR Property Corp. in August 2008. Miami-based LNR had proposed building condo towers, apartments, stores, restaurants and hotel rooms in a pedestrian-friendly village called South Fair Plaza. The developers had hoped to start construction in summer 2007 on the project, estimated to exceed $200 million.

In December, Moody's warned that declining income from LNR's loan investments could leave the company needing cash, and in risk of defaulting on roughly $890 million in debt LNR owes its lenders. The real estate giant has a growing collection of bad real estate loans for projects across the county and has been unloading some of its debt, according to news reports.

Reynolds Capital Group bought the property using a $175 million fund that focuses on the Southeast. Lincoln Harris said it will be responsible for all planning, marketing and development.

Lincoln Harris' vice president of development, Alex Kelly, said the company is in a study mode, and will "take a step back" and look at the market conditions to determine the property's best use.

He declined to provide other details, such as when the company might develop the land, except to say that the company wanted to make people aware that the property "is in play again."

"I have had a long standing relationship with the principals of Reynolds Capital Group and all of us at Lincoln Harris are excited to be partnering with them on a project that is in keeping with the character of the SouthPark community," President and CEO Johnny Harris said in a statement.
~ Source: CharlotteObserver.com

If you are looking for homes for sale in Southpark, NC, please contact Henderson Properties!

Henderson's Community Assoication Management Program

Henderson Properties has been dedicated to providing professional Community Association Management in the Charlotte Metro area since 1990. Listed below is a summary of the services available to the Associations we serve.

Management Services

• Preparation of needed information for scheduled Board meetings.
• Notification of and attendance at annual Association meetings.
• Periodic vendor contract review to insure highest cost effectiveness of contractor services.
• Assistance in drafting of annual budget.
• Inspections and subsequent follow up to insure compliance with governing documents.
• Response to all inquiries and requests from members through our highly trained Community Services personnel.
• Coordinate community website hosting, design and technical support.
• Comprehensive training program for new Board Members.

Accounting Services

• Observance of GAAP in all accounting procedures.
• Receipt and banking of all assessment payments.
• Aggressive collection of delinquent assessments.
• Timely management of Accounts Payable.
• Preparation and disbursement of monthly financial reports.
• Coordination of legal process pertaining to the collection of assessments.
• Facilitate performance of annual audit by independent auditor chosen by the Board.

Maintenance Services

• Coordination of the maintenance and repair of Common Elements of the property.
• Solicitation of bids for maintenance not performed by Management firm.
• Supervision of maintenance and repairs of Common Elements and Capitol Reserve projects.
• Twenty-four hour emergency services available to all homeowners.
• Submit to the Board recommendations for preventative maintenance.
• Performance of scheduled inspections of the property’s Common Elements.

What to Buy... a House or Condo?

"Making the decision to buy a home is just the first of many choices first time home buyers face. Assessing your lifestyle is the next step and that leads to one big question in particular: house or condo.

“There are benefits and pitfalls to both houses and condos – especially for first time home buyers' budgets,” says Chris Wisniewski, Associate Vice President, Real Estate Secured Lending, TD Canada Trust.

Wisniewski recommends buyers weigh the pros and cons of houses and condos before making their choice. Some pros and cons include:

Houses

Pros:
• You don't have to pay fees for amenities and services you don't use.
• You can renovate more freely to personalize your home.



Cons:
• You have to maintain your home and property.
• Your expenses are not always predictable.
• Affordability often equals to a longer commute

Condos
Pros:
• Your building may feature some additional security features that you may appreciate such as a doorman or cameras and convenient amenities like a gym, a party room or a pool.
• Your monthly expenses are relatively predictable and usually cover your maintenance – from shovelling the driveway to mowing the lawn.
• Usually located in an urban environment meaning less of a commute.

Cons:
• In addition to your condo fees, you may face additional payments for expenses your condo corporation deems necessary such as roof repairs.
• You're often living in much closer proximity to neighbours which can equate to more noise." ~ NewsCanada.com

Visitor Henderson Properties for more real estate news.

Just When You Thourgh It Was Safe...

...Foreclosures Spike!

"The housing market has seen some positive signs recently, such as stabilizing home prices and increased sales, but foreclosures continue to haunt the market.

In the first three months of 2010 foreclosure filings rose 7%, to more than 930,000, compared with the previous quarter, according to the online foreclosure marketing firm RealtyTrac. That is a 16% jump over the first three months of 2009.

Foreclosures started off the first quarter with modest gains but spiked in March to a record 367,000 filings. Plus, nearly 258,000 of those filings were for bank repossessions, the highest quarterly total RealtyTrac has ever reported.

"It looks like the log jam is finally breaking up," said Rick Sharga, a RealtyTrac spokesman. "A lot of foreclosures had come into the process and then just stopped."
State by state

Nevada continued to dominate the foreclosure rankings, with one in ever 33 homes receding a filing during the quarter. This is the state's 13th consecutive quarters in the top spot.

Arizona had one for every 49 units, Florida one for every 57 and California one for every 62. The Golden State, by far the nation's most populous, had a total of more than 216,000 filings, more than any other state and 23% of the nation's total foreclosure activity.

Other poor performers included Utah, where the foreclosure rate jumped 75%, Michigan and Georgia.

The least affected states included Vermont (one in 8,932), West Virginia (one in 4,010) and North Dakota (one in 2,161)." ~ Source: CNNMoney.com

Get more information on the value of homes for sale in North Carolina from Henderson Properties.

Home for Sale!

Henderson Properties, a full service real estate company in Charlotte, NC, has a new home for sale!

This 2-story modern home is located at 11319 Baronia Place, Charlotte, NC, 28227, in the middle of the Brittany Oaks subdivision.

This all brick home is nestled on a quiet cul-de-sac. Property features a sideload garage and fenced in back yard. The master bedroom has recently been updated, along with the master bathroom with new fixtures and granite countertops.

The kitchen also recently received a face-lift, with new granite countertops and Maple cabinets. This home features an optional 5th bedroom / TV room on the main floor.

The landscaping on this home is stunning, and the location is ideal. Contact Henderson Properties at 704 - 544 - 0253 to view this home for sale in Charlotte.

Positive Real Estate Outlook

"When home prices, mortgage applications to buy homes and consumer confidence are ALL pointing upward, even the perpetual doomsayers on Wall Street have to admit: Housing in the U.S. looks like it's on a very positive track.

And that's where we are right now. The latest monthly Standard & Poor's/Case-Shiller home price index came in higher last week. Prices were up in 12 of the 20 major markets that Case Shiller monitors.

On a year-over-year basis, prices gained nine percent in San Francisco, six percent in San Diego, about four percent in metropolitan Dallas, Washington DC and Los Angeles, 2.6 percent in Denver and one and a half percent in Boston.

Even Cleveland, which has struggled with unemployment and distressed home sales, saw prices gain, though by only two tenths of a percent.

Not all markets were up in the Case Shiller index of course; Las Vegas, Detroit and Tampa all continued to lose ground in the past 12 months. The turnarounds there are still sometime down the road.

Consumer confidence also improved significantly in the last month, as measured by the Conference Board. That's hugely important for overall economic growth and for home sales in the months ahead.

The Conference Board's index, which is based on interviews with a representative sample of 5,000 households, jumped by seven points in March from February - pushed by cautious optimism that the jobs situation may be slowly turning around.

The Commerce Department released parallel findings last week - that consumers are finally beginning to loosen up on spending, and are making purchases they deferred during the scary months of 2009.

Personal consumption in February increased at a three percent annualized rate. That was a bit of a surprise since the Commerce Dept. also found that household incomes showed little or no corresponding increase -- consumers were simply more willing to spend more ... and save a little less.

If that rate of expansion in consumption continues, not only will it begin to whittle away at the unemployment rate, but also stimulate the entire US economy, since consumer spending accounts for 70 percent of the national gross domestic product or GDP.

The housing and mortgage sectors could also begin to show some of that confidence and willingness to spend.

Home sales are expected spike upwards in the coming several months as the two federal housing tax credits head for expiration.

And in fact, the Mortgage Bankers Association reported last week that applications for new loans to buy houses - a bellwether indicator - jumped by seven percent and now stand at their highest level in six months." ~ Source: RealtyTimes.com

For more information on real estate in Charlotte, contact Henderson Properties!

Featured Property: Charlotte Townhome

Desirable end unit townhome for sale in Charlotte, with a detached one car garage. Home is within walking distance to pool, clubhouse, playground, retail and restaurants. Master bedroom on main level, hardwood floors, tv niche and gas log fireplace in great room. Corian countertops, black appliances and 42' cabinets in kitchen. Refrigerator, washer and dryer are negotiable. Priced below tax value!

List Price: $144,000
Year Built: 2007
Bedrooms: 3
Bathrooms: 3
Parking: 1 Car, Detached

N. C. Pension Experiences Largest Losses in Real Estate Investments

"RALEIGH — The real estate investments in North Carolina’s pension fund lost about a third of their value last year; this was the worst loss among the categories of investments in the fund’s portfolio. Because information about specific real estate investments is not considered a public record, it’s impossible to know which investments brought down the pension fund’s value.

Overall, the $67 billion pension fund rose 15.08 percent in 2009, rebounding along with other investments in the broader markets. Stocks held by the fund bounced back by about 33 percent.

Real estate investments make up less than 5 percent of the fund’s portfolio. Their value at the end of 2009 was $3 billion.

About the only information state Treasurer Janet Cowell will release to explain the loss is a list of the fund managers as of Dec. 31, 2008, and the losses posted by each manager. No information is available from the treasurer’s office about the individual real estate investments made by those 39 fund managers. The managers received more than $65 million in management fees from the treasurer’s office in 2008.

“These real estate portfolio holdings are not considered public record,” said Heather Franco, a spokeswoman for Cowell.

Former state Treasurer Richard Moore got an advisory opinion from the state attorney general in 2006 concluding that records with information about the companies in which funds have made investments were trade secrets.

North Carolina isn’t the only state with real estate investments that tanked. In California, the real estate investments of the pension system for state employees plunged by 47.5 percent, more than three times worse than the index for that fund.

But the California Public Employees’ Retirement System does release information about the properties its real estate managers invest in. Closer to home, South Carolina’s pension doesn’t make real estate investments.

The State Employees Association of North Carolina sued Moore in 2008 to try to get information about investments he had made. A Wake County judge dismissed the lawsuit. The N.C. Court of Appeals upheld the dismissal in November, writing that it was reasonable for the treasurer’s office to deny “requests regarding the public records that were not in their possession and records which contained trade secrets.”

Appeals Court Judge Rick Elmore dissented. SEANC has appealed the ruling to the state Supreme Court.

“I hope at the end of the day that the court says we can go into the treasurer’s office and get what we need,” said Ardis Watkins, the association’s legislative affairs director. “I hope it’s there.” ~ S. Okeson, Carolina Journal

For more news on North Carolina Real Estate, contact an agent today!

Selling Your Home When You Owe More Than It's Worth

Kerry Stecher, Broker-In-Charge of Henderson Properties in Charlotte, anticipates that this trend will, unfortunately, continue. “Foreclosure filings in North Carolina increased by 17% last year and we’ll likely see that number rise again in 2010. Many of these foreclosures happen because people can’t sell their homes for as much as they owe, so they can’t afford to get out of them. Regrettably, I expect that we will be seeing these variances in loan-to-home-value for another 3 to 5 years in Charlotte, so this is something we’ll be dealing with for a while.”

The Short Sale Option
A short sale is an alternative to foreclosure that the Henderson Properties team often encourages. In a short sale, the lender agrees to accept a payoff that is less than the mortgage amount owed. The owner can more easily sell the home, the lender minimizes its losses and avoids a foreclosure, and the buyer can get a great value.

A short sale is rarely simple, though. There are no national guidelines or regulations for these transactions and each lender has different rules, requirements and provisions. In some cases, the difference is forgiven by the lender, and in others the homeowner must make arrangements with the lender to settle the remainder of the debt.

It’s also not applicable in every situation. Sometimes foreclosure might be the best option, and other times there are other resolutions available. Often, though, a short sale offers the most advantages.

Finding Help
Homeowners who owe more on their home than it’s worth are often overwhelmed and frustrated. The stress from a constant stream of phone calls from debt collectors is wearing on them. They may be getting conflicting information from creditors and don’t know who to trust.

In this situation, it is crucial that a homeowner work with a Realtor who is experienced with the unique legal and financial intricacies of short sales and foreclosed homes, as well as someone who truly wants to help them succeed.

If you owe more than your home’s value and are considering selling, or if you are interested in purchasing a home involved in a short-sale transaction, here are some questions to ask to make sure your Realtor is qualified to help you.
• Does the Realtor® have specialized training in short sales?
• Does the Realtor® have experience with short sales?
• What kind of information does the firm have to help you determine
whether a short sale is best and how to get the process started?
• What is your Realtor® doing to help you get your property sold?

Currently, about half of Henderson Properties’ listings are short sales, said Stecher. Because the company’s Realtors® have been nationally certified in handing short sales, foreclosures and real-estate owned properties, they are establishing a niche in this growing market.

“Most of our work in a short sale transaction is done with the lender after we receive an offer to purchase on the property,” said Stecher. “We call upon our experience and our legal experts to make sure there are no surprises when we get to the closing table.

Our clients are already under stress -- we want to make sure that we’re working our hardest to alleviate their problems.” A short sale is very complex, but often it’s the best way for homeowners to sell homes that are worth less than the mortgage balance. The key to moving on successfully is to have an experienced guide on their side.

Henderson Properties Announces New Contracts

March 16, 2010, Charlotte, NC – Henderson Properties, a full-service Charlotte real estate firm, has been contracted by three community associations to provide professional association management services.

Northview Harbor is a community association serving a neighborhood of 294 single-family homes located in Sherrills Ford, N.C., on Lake Norman. The subdivision's amenities include a pool, clubhouse, tennis courts, community boat launch, boat docks and boat storage.

The Townhomes of Calloway is an 87-unit townhome community located on Lake Wylie in Tega Cay, SC. It is the second townhome community that Henderson is managing in Tega Cay.

Providence Arbours Homeowners Association serves a community of 130 homes in the Providence Arbours subdivision near the intersection of Providence Road and McKee Road in south Charlotte. The community was built in 2001 and has a community park for residents to enjoy.

In addition, on March 11 Henderson Properties hosted a Condominium Financing Seminar for its condominium association clients at the Holiday Inn Uptown. Attendees learned about requirements for having their condominium communities qualified to receive FHA, VA and Fannie Mae financing. All FHA approvals for existing condominium communities will expire on December 31, 2010, and the seminar was intended to help condominium associations meet the deadline to submit a new application to FHA so condominiums buyers will be able to receive FHA loans. Subjects discussed included the importance of having a reserve study completed, limiting the number of rental units in the community and making sure that there is proper insurance coverage.

Henderson Properties is a full-service real estate company founded in 1990 in Charlotte, N.C. Its services include community association management, rental property management, leasing, maintenance and home sales. Over the years Henderson Properties has continued to grow while maintaining its commitment to the firm's original vision -- to make a difference in the real estate industry by providing quality, professional real estate services to owners and investors throughout the greater Charlotte area. For more information, contact Henderson Properties at 704-535-1122 or www.HendersonProperties.com.

Maintenance Services from Henderson Properties

Did you know Henderson Properties provides Maintenance Services in Charlotte? Listed below is a brief summary of services that our Maintenance Division provides for our rental properties and homeowner associations.

Maintenance Services
* Handle and process all requests of owners/occupants for repair and maintenance of the property.
* Maintain and repair Common Elements of the association in accordance with the standards set by Master Covenants and By-Laws and as directed by the Board.
* Obtain bids for maintenance and repairs that are not performed by Management firm and present to Board or the investor for selection.
* Supervise maintenance and repairs and Capitol Reserve projects.
* Twenty-four hour emergency maintenance services provided to all residents.
* Report preventative maintenance repairs that are needed to the Board of Directors or to the investor.
* Perform scheduled inspections of the property.

Response to all Resident Requests
Residents call us directly and we coordinate any needed repairs on the property. Plumbing, HVAC, Appliance and Electrical problems are all given 24-hour service. This helps to build resident loyalty and maintain the value of the property.

Coordination of Contractors
For major repairs and renovations on your property we get bids from various contractors in order to keep costs low. Rental home or rental condominium owners are contacted for approval of any major repairs. We coordinate and schedule repairs with the tenants and the contractor.

Home Warranty Work
Getting in touch with warranty companies can take valuable time. We do it for you. We contact the warranty companies and the resident to schedule repairs. We also follow up to make sure that repairs have been completed as required to protect your investment.

Inspection of Completed Repairs of Your Property
All major repairs on your property are inspected thoroughly to ensure the quality before the bills are paid.

Recommendation of Improvements of Your Property
We will perform semi-annual inspections of the rental property and recommendations for preventive maintenance as well as improvements that will increase the rental value of the property. For our homeowner associations, inspections are completed 2 times per month by the manager.

We are the “Real Estate Specialists”!
We do it all! To compliment our recently developed Real Estate Sales Division, we can perform any repairs needed, in a timely manner, to make sure you are ready for your closing. Let us take the hassle out of selling your property!

Charlotte Home Sales Rise

"The Charlotte market saw 1,397 home sales in February, up 3.6 percent from February 2009. Closings also increased 2.5 percent from January.

The average sales price in February was $191,288, a 4.6 percent increase during the year, according to the Charlotte Regional Realtor Association. The average sales price dropped 4.6 percent from $200,592 in January. The average listing price of homes sold in February rose 5 percent to $216,605 from February 2009.

There were 1,954 pending contracts on residential properties in February, up 14 percent from the same month last year. Pending contracts rose 6.6 percent from January.

“We are pleased that closings, contracts and the average sales price figures are up compared to this time last year,” says Lyn Kessie, president of Charlotte Regional Realtor Association. The association’s figures are derived from activity in its Carolina Multiple Listing Services Inc. “With the spring selling season upon us and the tax credit expiring, we are hopeful this trend will continue. It is critical that distressed properties in the MLS be absorbed so that stabilization can continue to occur in our local market.”

The figures are for homes in Mecklenburg, Union, Iredell, Lincoln, Cabarrus, Gaston, Stanly, Anson, Montgomery and Alexander counties." ~ Source: Charlotte.BizJournals.com

Contact Henderson Properties for more information on homes for sale in Charlotte.

Lake Norman Real Estate

Spring is just around the corner... Many people will start looking for new homes in Charlotte over the next couple months. Where's the most desirable place to live, if not in the city? Lake Norman, NC.

Nestled on the banks of beautiful Lake Norman are the towns of Cornelius, Davidson and Huntersville. These unique towns present a wide array of leisure amenities for visitors and guests including upscale shopping, year-round golfing, fishing and other water activities. Lake Norman, the largest man-made lake in the Carolinas, is THE place for fun in the sun! Created in 1963 by Duke Energy, Lake Norman is 34 miles long with 520 miles of shoreline.

Lake Norman offers numerous attractions to explore. From Lake Norman, you may enjoy the ease of traveling anywhere in the state. We're just north of Charlotte, and the mountains and coast are only a short drive away. Whatever your desire, find it outside your door in Lake Norman!

Nieghborhood Groups & New Police Officers

"CHARLOTTE, N.C.-- With the addition of 51 new officers, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police hope to see crime numbers drop even more.

Ed Garber of the Eastside Political Action Committee says the additional officers come as welcome news.

“It will definitely make a difference because, honestly, in Charlotte, the more cops you can get the better,” says Garber.

Garber says overall he feels his east side neighborhood is safe. He feels that only small pockets of crime along major streets and apartment buildings are the reason for a skewed view of the east side of town.

The new officers will be spread out among the department’s 13 divisions with five new officers going to the Eastway division which handles his neighborhood.

Here’s the breakdown of where the new officers will be going by division:

* Central Division 4
* North Tryon Division 4
* Hickory Grove Division 2
* Steele Creek Division 4
* Metro Division 5
* North Division 4
* Freedom Division 4
* Providence Division 4
* Eastway Division 5
* Westover Division 4
* Independence Division 5
* University City Division 3
* South Division 3"
~ Source: WCNC.com

Hopefully with this added security, we will see a boost in homes for sale in Charlotte.

Agent Spotlight: Hollis Blank

After relocating from a very active real estate market in South Florida, Hollis Blank immediately felt acceptance and the warm and accepting nature of the Charlotte area as she began to plant her feet in real estate.

She and her husband have lived on 3 continents in 10 years having established many lasting relationships. As a result Hollis has experience relocating and scouting properties. Conversant in several languages she maintains contacts in Spain, Mexico, China, Miami, and Germany, where her husbands family resides.

During her residency in South Florida, Hollis was active in the remodeling and construction industries, gaining valuable knowledge and insight into the intricacies of working with city and county officials. She knows first hand, the decision to sell a home is often dependent on many factors.

Whatever your reasons for selling, Henderson Properties proven effective marketing strategies will ensure you get the highest possible price for your home. Hollis will strive to provide you with professional, ethical and confidential service and keep you fully informed every step of the way.

For more information on our Charlotte North Carolina Homes, please contact Hollis today!

Selling by the Square Foot

"One of the biggest determining factors in determining comparable value is square footage.

When comparing the square footage of homes always try to keep comps as similar in square footage as possible. Figuring out the price of a home on a square footage basis is an excellent way to compare apples with apples. It becomes more complicated when one home has been renovated and another needs work. Don't compare a newly built home's price per square foot with an older home's price per square foot.

There's Square Footage and There's Square Footage

A square foot is defined as a two-dimensional square measuring one foot on each side. If you are looking at a home that seems a little smaller than the stated square footage, it might not be your eyes. Real estate brokers tend to measure square footage by inside room dimensions. Developers like to measure the exterior of the building. This can add considerable square footage to the home.

You also need to find out exactly what has been factored into the equation. Does the total measurement include basement space? Garage space? Deck space? Space on staircases? There's no standard way to measure square footage. Sellers will include every nook and cranny and buyers won't.

Do not solely compare the size of the land the property sits on and the price of the property. Lots sell for different prices than homes and the cost varies greatly from neighborhood to neighborhood. For example, if the house is in terrible shape, or is considered a "tear-down," a developer may only want to pay for the price of the lot, since tearing down and hauling away the existing structure is an added expense.

Side-by-Side Comparison

In some areas of the country, agents do not want to be liable for representing a total square footage of the property. Total square footage is not indicated on the listing sheet, but room dimensions are shown. The room count may not include bathrooms, hallways, closets, and other spaces. You might have to compare every room side by side and guesstimate total size.

In this instance, estimate the total square footage by multiplying the dimensions of each room. For example, if the bedroom is 10 feet by 12 feet, then the area, or square footage, is 120 square feet. Add up all of the room dimensions for a total square foot measurement. You may still have to estimate hallways and other spaces, but it gives you a good estimate.

After determining the size of the home you desire, the equation is simple. Just divide the listing price by the number of square feet and you will get the price per square foot. For example, a 1,000-square-foot condo priced at $300,000 costs $300 per square foot." ~ Source: Yahoo Real Estate

For more tips on selling your Charlotte Home, contact Henderson Properties!

Homebuyer Tax Credit Helps Economy Boom

"A new survey reveals that savvy consumers cashing in on the new and improved homebuyer tax credit are helping fuel economic recovery.

The vast majority of current homeowners say they would spend the expanded version of the homebuyer tax credit on repaying existing debts, home improvements, savings and investments and household expenses, according to a Coldwell Banker survey of 1,000 homeowners.

Paying off debts affords consumers more spending power, home improvements likewise put more equity money in their pockets and savings and investments generate income.

Consumer spending, of course, is the real fuel for the nation's economic engine. And much consumer spending is fueled by the housing market -- provided the housing market is energized.

Helping to energize the housing market and the economy is the idea behind the homebuyer tax credit and it's recent extension and expansion.

By October 2009, before President Obama signed the latest extension and expansion, more than 1.2 million tax returns had claimed about $8.5 billion in the refundable tax credit, for both new and resale homes - according to the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA).

The new law extends the existing credit for first-time homebuyers, worth up to $8,000, through April 30, 2010." ~ Source: Realtytimes.com

Investor Information

Henderson Properties provides a comprehensive package of leasing, property management and maintenance services to our client's property throughout the Charlotte region. Our goal is to make the ownership of investment properties both profitable and worry-free. We know the concerns that all owners have, and handle each and every property as if it were our own.

A Sampling of our Investment Services:
* New Listings for Properties to Purchase Delivered to your Daily
* Arranging Financing for Investment Property Purchases
* Aggressive Marketing of your property For Sale or For Rent
* Prospective Tenant Interviews and Screening
* Security Deposit and Rent Collections
* Maintenance Services
* Equity and Cap Rate Analysis on your current Investment Property Portfolio

If you would like a financial analysis of your current properties, don't hesitate to let us know. It's free!

Please call us for a list of investment properties currently for sale at (704)-544-0253. You may also email us at Sales@HendersonProperties.com

Tax Cedit Extended!

The homebuyers tax credit has been extended and is available to ALL homebuyers until June 30, 2010. Henderson Properties specializes in helping people find the perfect home at a price they can live with. We invite you to learn more by entering the door to Real Estate expertise.

Here's a few questions we've been asked in regards to the credit:

Q: Who qualifies for the tax credit?
A: The extended tax credit benefits all homebuyers. A homebuyer who has not had an interest in a principal residence for three years prior to the date of purchase can qualify for the credit or existing buyer's who have lived in their home for 5 years.
Q: How much is the credit?
A: The tax credit would be $8,000 for first time home buyers and $6500 for current homeowners.
Q: Do I have to repay the credit?
A: No. Unlike the 2008 $7,500 tax credit, the $8,000 credit does not have to be repaid. However, if the home is sold within three years of purchase, the credit will be reversed.

Property Maintenance Services

Listed below is a brief summary of services that our Maintenance Division provides for our rental properties and homeowner associations.

Response to all Resident Requests
Residents call us directly and we coordinate any needed repairs on the property. Plumbing, HVAC, Appliance and Electrical problems are all given 24-hour service. This helps to build resident loyalty and maintain the value of the property.

Coordination of Contractors
For major repairs and renovations on your property we get bids from various contractors in order to keep costs low. Rental home or rental condominium owners are contacted for approval of any major repairs. We coordinate and schedule repairs with the tenants and the contractor.
Home Warranty Work
Getting in touch with warranty companies can take valuable time. We do it for you. We contact the warranty companies and the resident to schedule repairs. We also follow up to make sure that repairs have been completed as required to protect your investment.

Inspection of Completed Repairs of Your Property
All major repairs on your property are inspected thoroughly to ensure the quality before the bills are paid.

Recommendation of Improvements of Your Property
We will perform semi-annual inspections of the rental property and recommendations for preventive maintenance as well as improvements that will increase the rental value of the property. For our homeowner associations, inspections are completed 2 times per month by the manager.

We are the “Real Estate Specialists”!
We do it all! To compliment our recently developed Real Estate Sales Division, we can perform any repairs needed, in a timely manner, to make sure you are ready for your closing. Let us take the hassle out of selling your property!

If you have an maintenance service request for your property, contact us today!

Nieghborhood Spotlight: Chantilly

Chantilly, which can be found between Plaze-Midwood and Elizabeth, is a quaint, quiet neighborhood that has much to offer, and is prime Charlotte real estate. These homes have aged over the years, but have the charm that can't be found anywhere else. The majority of the homes in this neighborhood are going to have 2 bedrooms and 1 bath. When these homes were constructed, this could be sufficient enough for a family of 4, but is more suitable these days for newlyweds and empty-nesters.

Chantilly homes are well constructed, typically have hardwood floors, plastered walls, and most importantly, curb appeal! The streets are lined with oak-wood trees, and the homes are comfortable. Lately, there have been several homes that have had additions, including renovated attics and additional bathrooms. The majority of the homes are about 1,500 square feet.

One of the best features of the Chantilly neighborhood is its location. These homes are within walking distance to Midwood and Elizabeth shopping districts. The Penguin, a first-class diner, is a restaurant of choice for neighborhood residents.

At a glance:
Price Range: $158,000 - $540,000
Average Price: $356,000
Average price per square foot: $204.00
Average square foot per house: 1,500