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Happy 4th and Free Fishing Day

July 4, 2020 by lkw_df Leave a Comment

What better time to come enjoy any Lake in North Carolina than on Free Fishing Day. This day happens once per year and is open to anyone, regardless of age, even if you don’t have a fishing license in the state. The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission is stocking some of the waters so you have a better chance of catching a fish. To learn more about the event, click here.

The event runs from 12 am until 11:59 pm and is open to everyone even if you are not a resident of North Carolina. There are length and daily possession limits and restrictions on bait and tackle. This event occurs every July 4th, and promotes fishing as a sport. This year, with Covid-19 restrictions, this event is more appealing than ever as you can be socially distanced on the many miles of lakes in the area. Fishing can be done from a boat or from the shore and is great for anyone.

There are bound to be lines at the public boat launches so patience and a good attitude are key to enjoying this event. If you are tired of waiting in line for the public spaces, there are many other smaller lakes sites you can visit that you can look up at www.ncwildlife,org on the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission website.

Another option if you have the means is to purchase a waterfront home on a lake or purchase a property that has private lake access. This way you can enjoy the lake year round and can purchase a fishing license so you can enjoy fishing all year round.

If you are interested in purchasing a home on Lake Wylie or a home that has private lake access, give us a call at 803-831-8588. You can view current listings and create custom searches of listings on our website here.

Explore Wooded Valley

July 2, 2020 by lkw_df Leave a Comment

If you are in the market for your first home, Wooded Valley in York, South Carolina is a great place to check out. These homes are perfectly priced for a first timer, and are right in the heart of the great York community.

Wooded Valley is located on the southeast side of York, close to the intersection of Highways 49 and 321. This great location allows for an easy trip by car, bike or walking into York for community events, shopping, dining, and entertainment. From Wooded Valley it is just over 30 miles to Charlotte Douglas International Airport and about 35 miles to Uptown Charlotte.

Homes in Wooded Valley are small and easy to manage which makes them perfect for first time buyers or buyers looking to downsize. Almost all of the homes were built in 1973 and are around 900-1,300 square feet. The typical home has 3 bedrooms and 1-2 full bathrooms and could have a ½ bath as well. Many of these homes have been extensively remodeled since they were built.

Lots range between a quarter of an acre and a third of an acre so they are manageable as well. Yards have mature landscaping and wonderful old growth trees providing plenty of shade. Many of the homes have decks or patios to enjoy the great weather.

In the past year, five homes sold in Wooded Valley for between $58,000 and $112,900 with an average sale price of $90,580. There are currently two homes for sale in Wooded Valley with one already under contract. List prices range between $95,900 and $122,000.

If you are interested in learning more about Wooded Valley, give us a call at 803-831-8588. You can view current listings and create custom searches of listings on our website here.

Visit Beckett Cove

June 24, 2020 by lkw_df Leave a Comment

Not too far from Lake Wylie, you’ll find another amazing new construction neighborhood called Beckett Cove in the Steele Creek part of South Charlotte. This amazing spot is close to the lake, an easy commute to Uptown Charlotte, and close to many natural areas. These homes are stylish, and open and ready for you to move in.

Homes in Beckett Cove have open concepts with flexible spaces. These are perfect for families or for young professionals as the homes can change as you grow. There is plentiful storage, private owner’s suites on the main or second level, chef’s kitchens and spectacular finishing details.

There are 10 different floor plans to choose from in Beckett Cove. Homes range from 3-5 bedrooms, 2-4.5 bathrooms, 2-3 car garages and 1,806 to 3,078 square feet. Prices start in the $280,000’s and go up from there depending on size of the home, add-ons, and upgrades.

In the past year, homes in Beckett Cove sold for between $287,990 and $370,000. The average sale price was $331,737.

There are currently 10 homes on the market in Beckett Cove with just 3 of them currently under contract. Some of these homes are close to being completed so they are ready for a quick closing and move in. Some of the homes are yet to be built which means that you have an opportunity to customize and upgrade them.

If you are interested in learning more about Beckett Cove or would like to schedule a private tour, give us a call at 803-831-8588. You can view current listings and create custom searches of listings on our website here.

Neighborhood Spotlight: The Manors at Lakeridge

June 24, 2020 by lkw_df Leave a Comment

A recent trend in home buying has emerged during this time of quarantine, and that is a rise in new home sales. That makes sense as many of us have started realizing the limitations of our current homes. Things that were just a minor annoyance before can become magnified when we have to live with them every day. With extra time on our hands from not having to commute, many of us are making plans for our dream homes.

One place we have been looking at is The Manors at Lake Ridge in Tega Cay, South Carolina. This amazing master planned community has spacious homes, is amenity-rich, and perfectly embodies the Lake lifestyle. Residents enjoy a wooded and tranquil setting, but are close to shopping, dining and recreation in Baxter Village and nearby Fort Mill. The neighborhood is zoned for highly-rated Fort Mill schools.

Homes in The Manors at Lake Ridge have versatile open floor plans that can be customized to meet your family’s needs. There are six plans to choose from ranging from 4-5 bedrooms, 3-5 bathrooms, 2-3 car garages, and 2,900 to over 5,000 square feet of living space. Some of the homes have basements for additional living space or separate living quarters. Many of the homes have a full bedroom and bathroom on the main floor. Many of the homes have screened porches or decks to enjoy the wooded backyards.

Home prices start in the $460,000’s with basement lots and larger homes commanding a premium. The community amenities include a clubhouse, catering kitchen, fitness center, pool, kiddie pool with water slide, tennis courts, multi-purpose sports courts, and playground. There are four miles of walking trails to enjoy as well. Minutes away you can have access to Lake Wylie or the Catawba River to take advantage of water sports, boating, and fishing.

There are 11 current listings in The Manors at Lake Ridge, but 10 of them are already under contract. There are additional opportunities to buy into this community and build a home from the ground up. If you are interested in learning more about The Manors at Lake Ridge, give us a call at 803-831-8588. You can view current listings and create custom searches of listings on our website here.

Visit Henry’s Orchard

June 19, 2020 by lkw_df Leave a Comment

On the far east side of York, SC, you’ll find a gem of a neighborhood called Henry’s Orchard. These modestly sized homes all have large lots, mature trees, and are zoned for York schools. Lake Wylie is just minutes away so you get the best of the country and the Lake lifestyle.

Come to visit Henry’s Orchard and you may not want to leave. The neighborhood is just off Old York Road, so it is easy to get to shopping, dining, and entertainment. You can be in York in just 10 minutes, Lake Wylie in 10-15 minutes, Charlotte Douglas International Airport in 40 minutes and Uptown Charlotte in 45 minutes. This means you can enjoy the country, while being close to all of the conveniences of the city.

Henry’s Orchard was built in the early 2000’s and homes show like new. These homes range in size from 1,500 to 1,900 square feet of living space and most have 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms. Most of these homes have two car garages, though some have a 1 car garage.

The property is the real star of homes in Henry’s Orchard. Each home has around a half acre of property perfect for outdoor living spaces. Many of the homes already take advantage of the outdoors with decks, patos, playscapes, pools, and fire pits.

In the past year, just four homes sold in Henry’s Orchard. The sale prices for the homes ranged between $230,000 and $267,000 with an average sale price of just under $250,000.

There are currently no homes for sale in Henry’s Orchard, but we can let you know as soon as one comes on the market. Give us a call at 803-831-8588 and we will set up a custom search for you. You can view current listings and create your own custom searches on our website here.

Neighborhood Spotlight: Carolina Orchards

June 19, 2020 by lkw_df Leave a Comment

There has been a big trend recently of active communities for adults age 55 and over. Carolina Orchards is a prime example of just such a place done right. It has luxurious homes and resort style amenities in a maintenance-free setting all in Fort Mill, SC, just minutes away from Lake Wylie.

Carolina Orchards is brought to you by Del Webb-Pulte homes and is located on the west side of Fort Mill, SC just off SC highway 460 across from Springfield Elementary School. This great location is close to shopping, dining, and entertainment in Fort Mill, as well as being less than 10 miles to Tega Cay. It will take around 25 minutes to get to Charlotte Douglas International Airport and 25 minutes to get to Uptown Charlotte.

Homes in Carolina Orchards range from 2-4 bedrooms with 2-4.5 bathrooms in 1,263 to almost 3,000 square feet of living space. These homes are new construction and can be customized to meet your needs. Most of the plans are ranch style, though there are some plans with two stories. Homes have open floor plans with space inside and outside for entertaining.

Amenities include a state-of-the-art fitness center, hobby rooms, game rooms, indoor pool, outdoor pool, and sports facilities for pickleball, bocce, tennis, and a dog park. There are indoor and outdoor gathering spaces as well as great walking throughout the neighborhood.

In the last year, 40 homes sold in Carolina Orchards for between $275,000 and $617,015 with an average sale price of $439,207. There are currently 10 homes on the market representing 2.9 months of inventory. The wider Fort Mill area has a 4 month supply of homes for sale at the moment.

If you are 55 or older and are interested in this amazing neighborhood, give us a call at 803-831-8588 and we will schedule a tour of available homes. You can view current listings and create custom searches on our website here.

May Market Report

June 13, 2020 by lkw_df Leave a Comment

The May numbers have arrived from the Canopy Realtor Association. The numbers are based on data from the Canopy Multiple Listing Service, and the data show that as expected Covid-19 is having a dramatic effect on the real estate market. In fact, the virus has shortened supply even more, though there are some numbers that are encouraging.

When you look at the entire Charlotte area, you see that the supply of homes has decreased from 2.6 month supply last year at this time to just 1.6 month supply this year. This shows that in these uncertain times that more people are staying put and not listing their homes for sale. This gives additional leverage to sellers in this market. A balanced market between buyers and sellers is considered to be 4-6 months of supply. Additionally prices are staying about the same, with the average home price going up just 0.2% year over year.

When you look at just the Lake Wylie area, you see supply of homes has decreased drastically year over year. Last year there was a 4 month supply of homes with 441 listings. This year there is just a 1.8 month supply which is only 240 homes listed.

New listings are down year over year showing hesitation and uncertainty in the market. Closed sales are also down year over year. The one bright spot is that pending sales are up year over year from 153 to 191, an increase of 24.8%. This bodes well for next month’s numbers as we should see many of these pending sales head to the closing table.

Prices in the Lake Wylie area are holding steady for now. Last May the average sale price was $386,792 and this May the average sale price was down just 1.4% to $381,388. It is important to keep in mind that just a few sales of waterfront properties can dramatically change the average price due to the small sample size.

During this time of quarantine, many people are looking for their dream homes with private amenities to entertain themselves and their families as we socially distance. If you are looking for your perfect home, give us a call at 803-831-8588. You can view current listings and create custom searches on our website here.

Join the Lake Life

June 11, 2020 by lkw_df Leave a Comment

What better gift can you give your dad this Father’s Day than a new home on Lake Wylie? There are so many to choose from at all different price points. What better way to escape the heat than to join the many people who already enjoy the lake lifestyle?

So, you’ve decided to become a homeowner. What’s the next step? You need a Realtor to help you through the process. They are trained professionals who work just for you to walk you through the largest single investment you will probably make in your lifetime.

The first step they will help you through is to get pre-qualified for a loan. This process can be time consuming as you need to provide documentation of your finances to your loan originator. This will include information about your employment, your bank records, and outstanding debts. This will help you know how much home you can afford.

When you have this information, it is time to circle back with your Realtor to start looking for homes. This will initially be done with a search engine like this one here. Your Realtor has even more search parameters they can set up for you in a custom search so they can narrow down your prospective homes.

Once you have narrowed your search, it is time to go and see the homes in person. It can be hard to tell from photos what the feel of a home is, be sure to pay particular attention to the neighborhood, the location of amenities, the distance to shops and entertainment. It’s a good idea to view the home at different times of day to see traffic to and from work.

The next step is to choose the home of your dreams and work with your Realtor to craft an offer. There could be a few rounds of negotiations, or it could be a done deal the first time. It all depends on how many other people are vying for the same home.

When you have an accepted offer, you need to schedule to have the home inspected to make sure there are no outstanding maintenance issues. If there are, this is time for another round of negotiations where the seller will either fix issues or give you money to compensate you for repairs you will have to do once you own the home.

The next steps are all about getting your loan in order. You will need to provide further documentation to your loan originator, then once all of the paperwork is done, you head to the closing table. You will sign paperwork and the home is yours. Get ready to jump into Lake Wylie as you become the newest resident.

If you are ready to get the process started, give us a call at 803-831-8588. You can view current listings and create custom searches on our website here.