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Holiday Makeovers

December 21, 2020 by lkw_df Leave a Comment

While many people are in the thick of holiday festivities, many more are taking advantage of the season to improve their homes. This can be a great time of the year to plan an upgrade to your space, even if you can’t schedule contractors to help until after the new year.

Home mortgage rates are at historical lows and are predicted to stay this was for some time. This means that you can borrow money cheaper than ever before. If you are looking to do a large remodeling project or addition on your home, you may want to speak to a lender to see about a home equity loan or a cash out refinance to pay for the purchase. This means that your pipedream of a second floor on your ranch home is a possibility if the finances work out.

These low rates are also great if you are looking for a new construction home. There are many great neighborhoods with lots available where you can use an approved builder or bring your own builder to create the home of your dreams.

So much family togetherness over the past year has many people dreaming of a home office with a door that closes, or a homeschooling classroom, or separate bedrooms for all of their kids. This could be the year to update a dated kitchen or bathroom.

It could also be the year to purchase a new home which means taking care of all of the pesky problems you have lived with in your current home to get it ready for a sale. This would include fixing anything that is broken or in poor repair so you can get top dollar from a buyer.

If you are interested in buying or selling a home in the Lake Wylie area, give us a call at 803-831-8588. You can view current listings and create a custom search on our website here.

November Market Report

December 17, 2020 by lkw_df Leave a Comment

Once again, the trend is continuing that there is not much inventory, and prices are climbing higher. In all of Charlotte, there is just a one month inventory of homes for sale, just 4,554 homes. This is down 52.4% from last year at this time when we thought it was historically low inventory. This year we are really seeing the inventory crunch and when homes are listed, they are practically flying off the market.

The same is holding true when you look just at Lake Wylie. There are just 171 homes on the market in the area, down from 361 at this time last year. This is a reduction of 52.6%. These homes are selling quickly, with just 32 days on average before a sale, down from 55 days last year. This means that homes are selling 41.8% quicker than last year at this time. This is great news for sellers, but is harder on buyers.

Sales prices are climbing as well with the average home selling for $446,518. This is up 10.9% from last year’s average sale price of $402,663. Climbing prices are harder on buyers as well which means if you are in the market to purchase a home right now, you need to be as prepared as possible and could still end up in a bidding war with another buyer.

Realtor.com has ranked the Charlotte area the 3rd best market in the country for 2021 in their predictions. This means that there will probably not be a price correction in the near future, however analysts predict that there will be more homes on the market in the spring as people who delayed listing in 2020 will list in 2021 which could ease some of our inventory woes.

If you are interested in buying or selling a home in the Lake Wylie area, give us a call at 803-831-8588. You can view current listings and create a custom search on our website here.

Neighborhood Spotlight: Rosedale

December 13, 2020 by lkw_df Leave a Comment

With the curfew and additional Covid-19 regulations now in effect, many people are considering escaping the city and heading out to Lake Wylie. Rosedale is an amazing neighborhood to escape to. This D.R. Horton community was built between 2010 and 2019 and features beautiful homes, lower South Carolina taxes, and desirable Clover schools.

Rosedale is located just west of Riverhills on the South Carolina side of the Buster Boyd Bridge. This means it is minutes from the lake, convenient to shopping, dining, and highway access. Residents can quickly connect with Uptown Charlotte, Charlotte Douglas International Airport, and there is great shopping in nearby Lake Wylie or a little bit further away at Rivergate.

Homes in Rosedale have between 3 and 5 bedrooms and 2-4 bathrooms. Homes are graciously sized between 2,600 and 4,000 square feet. Homes have two car garages, stone accents on the exteriors, and many have private wooded lots.

The interiors of these homes have plenty of charm and character. They have open floor plans, plenty of storage, and great features throughout like crown moulding, trey ceilings, and much more. These homes don’t hit the market often, and we can let you know the minute one is listed. They typically sell in the $325,000 to $410,000 range.

This neighborhood is great for people who don’t want all of the large amenities of the larger planned communities. There are street lights, and the lake, and there is a community boat launch. With these smaller amenities there are also smaller homeowners association dues.

If you are interested in buying or selling a home in Rosedale or the Lake Wylie area, give us a call at 803-831-8588. You can view current listings and create a custom search on our website here.

Two New Neighborhoods Could Come to York County

December 13, 2020 by lkw_df Leave a Comment

Two new projects are going before York County planning commission next week. One is for the fourth phase at Sanders Landing, and the other is for a new development called Savana Oaks. Both of them will be great additions to the Clover area.

The fourth phase of Sanders Landing will add 33 additional homes to the neighborhood. These homes will have large lots ranging between one and 3.85 acres. The development began in 2019 and is a project by May Green Properties, a company local to York County.

Many of the homes currently under construction look like modern farmhouses in the style popularized by Chip and Joanna Gaines. There are still a few lots available in the current sections, and a few of the homes currently under construction are available as well if you can’t wait for the new section to be approved and opened.

The new development of Savana Oaks is located on Tart Road on the west side of Clover. The developer is Colttis LLC, based in South Carolina. They want to build 20 homes on a 30-acre site with an average lot size of 1.3 acres. This would leave space for grand homes and plenty of privacy and space for outdoor living. Nothing is known yet about the style of the homes or any potential amenities.

The York County Council will meet on Monday to review both projects and get questions answered before potential approvals. If you are interested in learning more about these communities, give us a call at 803-831-8588. You can view current listings and create a custom search on our website here.

A Look Ahead

December 5, 2020 by lkw_df Leave a Comment

The real estate market has been booming lately in the Charlotte region. Supply is low and demand is high. Interest rates are low spurring many people to enter the market. The pandemic shifted the market moving the spring surge into the summer and early fall instead. So what comes next?

With interest rates so low, first time homebuyers are driving much of the demand in the market right now. In a typical year first time homebuyers represent around 30% of the market. Right now, they represent 38% of the market. If interest rates remain low, they could keep driving growth, but if they rise, we may see many buyers drop out of the market for now.

Supply remains low, but we are already seeing the first indications of a slow down in the market. Condos are staying on the market a few days longer on average which is typically the first indicator of a slow down. We may next see this trend in townhomes, then eventually to single-family homes.

Many people have stayed in their homes during the first months of Covid and may list their homes next spring. If this happens, we could see a larger than usual spring season with fewer buyers for more homes. This could balance the market somewhat as we have had historically low inventory.

The thing to remember is that people always need homes, and the population in the Charlotte region is still growing so our market is likely to stay healthy for years to come. If you are interested in buying or selling a home in the Lake Wylie area, give us a call at 803-831-8588. You can view current listings and create a custom search on our website here.

Neighborhood Spotlight: Reflection Pointe Waterfront Community

December 5, 2020 by lkw_df Leave a Comment

If you are like many people spending too much time in your home right now, you probably have a list of grievances against your home. Maybe there is no home office, maybe there is a small yard, maybe you just need more space. If this sounds familiar, there are opportunities to build a custom home to suit your particular needs in Reflection Pointe.

Reflection Pointe is a gated community located right on Lake Wylie, ten minutes from historic Belmont and 35 minutes from Uptown Charlotte. There are amazing community amenities including a lagoon swimming pool, clubhouse, soccer field, lighted tennis courts, children’s play area, and beach area on the Lake. There are walking trails throughout the neighborhood as well a deeded boat slips at the marina. The active homeowners association hosts community events throughout the year.

There are over 360 homesites in Reflection Pointe, and each lot is at least a half of an acre. This means there is space to build a large home to have all of the space your family needs. Homes are typically over 3,000 square feet but many are over 5,000 square feet. As you would expect, lots with lake frontage command a premium as do homes on the lake. Interior lots do have deeded boat slips at the marina so even interior homes have full access to the lake.

In the last year, homes in Reflection Pointe sold for between $487,000 and $1.275 million. There are currently three homes on the market which represents 3.6 months of inventory. There are also currently 64 lots available ranging from $33,900 for an interior basement lot to $349,500 for a premium lake frontage lot. You can bring your own builder for these lots, or use one of the approved builders selected by the community.

If you are ready to start your journey to your dream home in Reflection Pointe, give us a call at 803-831-8588. You can view current listings and create a custom search on our website here.

Epic Chophouse Now Open in Kingsley

November 25, 2020 by lkw_df Leave a Comment

If you are looking for a location for a celebration or just an intimate date night, look no further than the new Epic Chophouse in Kingsley. This jewel of Fort Mill is now open and is the perfect place to indulge your appetites.

Kingsley is the second most popular tourist attraction in York County, after Carowinds. It’s less than 10 miles down the road from the Buster Boyd Bridge and is a great destination to explore and relax after a day on the Lake. There is everything from shops and boutiques to a great selection of restaurants to gathering spaces. It is a great destination and an asset to the area.

Epic Chophouse joins a hefty lineup of great restaurants in Kingsley. What sets it apart is the menu. Chophouse is known for their steaks, but in addition they have amazing pasta, seafood, and chicken that are equally as good. The food is equaled by the drinks from a large wine selection to bourbon and mixed drinks, there is something for everyone.

This new location is 5,600 square feet so has plenty of space to socially distance. There is outdoor seating with a retractable awning as well as inside seating. You can make reservations for your special night out at epicchophouse.com

If you are interested in learning more about the Lake Wylie area or would like to buy or sell a home in the Lake Wylie area, give us a call at 803-831-8588. You can view current listings and create a custom search on our website here.

Best Holiday Lights in 2020

November 25, 2020 by lkw_df Leave a Comment

Due to the ongoing pandemic, many people are starting to decorate for the holidays a little bit early. It has even been said that people who decorate for the holidays earlier are happier. In the spirit of celebration, here are some holiday light displays you can see, either from the comfort of your home, driving in your car, or walking around in person.

Of course, the most famous of all light shows in the area is Mcadenville. The whole town gets into the festive spirit and you can drive through in your car and see all of the lights. This event is free.
A hybrid event is being held at the Charlotte Motor Speedway. You can drive through the 3.75-mile course to see over 4 million lights. You can also get out of your car (with a mask and social distancing) and enjoy food and drink. Tickets are required and are charged per car.
Carowinds is once again hosting a holiday event called Taste of the Season. There will be food and drink throughout the park as well as live music and light displays. Reservations are required, and masks when not eating and drinking. Temperature checks will be required for entry.
Daniel Stowe Botanical Gardens is hosting Holidays at the Garden. This walk through event will feature food and drink as you stroll through the gardens and view lights and cherry blossoms. Masks are required as are tickets.
The U.S. National Whitewater Center is once again hosting a ½ mile walking trail of lights. This event is free if you have a parking permit, otherwise it is $6/car. Masks are required.
Walmart is hosting a drone show for the holidays. You can see it in person at the location on Carowinds Boulevard, or watch on Facebook, Instagram, or TikTok on December 16th. The event is free, but tickets are required in person so you can maintain social distancing.
There is one completely online event, the Cabarrus Virtual Holiday Celebration. You can enjoy this from your own home, no mask required. You can see it on your computer, or it will be broadcast a few times during the season on Channel 22.

If you would like to learn more about homes in the Lake Wylie area or schedule a tour of available listings in the area, give us a call at 803-831-8588. You can view current listings and create a custom search on our website here.

For more details on the light shows, see this article in the Charlotte Observer.