real estate info

A look at Belmont’s secluded Lakewood neighborhood

April 13, 2016 by lkw_df Leave a Comment

The Lakewood neighborhood of Belmont is a great enclave of smaller homes located west of historic Belmont near Goat Island Park.

Lakewood is a quiet, mature community on the heavily-wooded peninsula formed by the South Fork Catawba River.

The neighborhood is a mix of small, older homes built in the 1940s through the 1980s with styles that range from traditional brick ranches and two-story homes to more contemporary homes. Many of the homes need updating or a little TLC, but the majority has been well maintained.

Lakewood is ideally located south of Wilkinson Boulevard and I-85 in close proximity to Cramerton and historic downtown Belmont. Its prime location makes it easy to shop for everyday necessities or grab a meal out. Downtown Belmont is less than 3 miles away. A trip to Charlotte Douglas airport is about 15 minutes, and an Uptown commute is less than 30 minutes without traffic.

Unlike newer planned communities, Lakewood does not have any amenities for residents. However, its proximity to Charlotte, Belmont and Gastonia give residents plenty of options for shopping, dining, fitness and getting outside to enjoy nature.

Kings and Crowders Mountain state parks are to the west on I-85, both about 30 minutes away. For running or biking trails or riding the rapids, the U.S. National Whitewater Center is only a 20-minute drive from Lakewood.

If you want to head out on Lake Wylie for the day, public boat ramp access is 8 miles south on Southpoint Road.

Homes in Lakewood are priced in the $100,000s to mid-$200,000s. There are a wide variety of home sizes, though few homes are larger than 3,000 square feet and most are less than 2,200 square feet.

A total of 11 homes sold in Lakewood during the last 12 months, and there are currently no homes listed on the market.

The highest price of a home sold in Lakewood during the last year was $242,400. The lowest price was $115,000.

The average price of homes sold is $163,629 and approximately $90 per square foot. Sales averaged about 96% of list price.

Homes in Lakewood are zoned for Gaston County’s Belmont Central Elementary, Belmont Middle School and Stuart Cramer High School, which is a short walk from any home in Lakewood.

There are truly some great older homes in Lakewood in an area that is protected from further development due to the river around it and the park space to the south. If you want a quiet, mature place to make a home and raise a family, then Lakewood is definitely worth a look!

Spotlight: The Coves on River Oaks

March 1, 2016 by lkw_df Leave a Comment

The beautiful Coves on River Oaks offers residents large home lots in a peaceful lakeside setting.

Developer May Green Properties planned the 250-acre neighborhood that has just 160 home sites. It is located just north of the intersection of highways 557 and 274. It’s just 2 miles north of the Buster Boyd Bridge.

Aside from the proximity to Lake Wylie and all it has to offer, the neighborhood has walking trails and lots of common area green space. Additionally, it is close to local shopping, dining and restaurants.

Veranda Classic Homes has 6 floor plans to choose from or buyers can choose their own builder for a 3,000-square-foot minimum home size. The homes are priced from the high $400,000s to the $700,000s.

A custom Craftsman-style home that sold in The Coves on River Oaks last year.

Some of the custom builders in The Coves are MJ Palmer Construction Co., Aspen Homes, Beckham Custom Homes and Holmes Construction.

The first 3 phases of the community sold out, and May Green is offering “estate” lots of 4 to 10 acres in size. Even the standard home size lots of 1.4 to 3 acres are large compared to most planned community lots. There are no waterfront lots but many water view lots.

Currently, 8 homes are for sale in The Coves on River Oaks. One home is a 2010 resale home and the rest are new construction. Three are under contract as of March 1.

Only 4 of the 9 homes sold during the last 12 months were resale homes. The average sales price was $582,478, with an average price per square foot of just under $139.

Resale homes sold for an average of 94.5% of list price. The overall sales average was 97% of list price.

Fewer than 1 home sells per month in The Coves, which puts inventory at more than 8 months. Nearby neighborhood The Landing has 9 months of inventory and 9 homes currently listed for sale.

The Coves on River Oaks is zoned for Crowders Creek Elementary, Oak Ridge Middle School and Clover High School.

York Co. proposes housing freeze

February 16, 2016 by lkw_df Leave a Comment

A new proposed ordinance would not allow any further building permits to be issued in York Co. communities where there is a concern of the impact of rapid growth, such as the Lake Wylie area.

The York County Council is moving to enforce this is in unincorporated areas of Fort Mill and Bethel townships, according to a Rock Hill Herald report.

In addition to the Lake Wylie area, the land between the Catawba River and North Carolina line would also be impacted by the proposed freeze.

Concern came from residents currently living in the high-growth areas that the areas were being overbuilt and that roadways were not meant to handle the increased traffic more building would bring.

All new construction of single-family and multi-family homes would be stopped until an impact study can be completed.

A detailed outline of the proposed ordinance is expected to be ready for a council vote April 4.

Concern over the construction boom is not a new issue for the Lake Wylie area. A little more than a year ago there were 20 subdivisions planned or under way. Those projects alone would cover 2,000 acres.

While the increased population helps the local economy, it also puts strain on public services, like roads and the school system.

York County Councilman Bruce Henderson last year called for a building moratorium and tighter restrictions on future construction. His effort failed, though the county has made an ongoing effort to change county codes.

It appears the county will revisit this issue again April 18. Population density is definitely a concern for an area and community that prides itself on living a laid-back, lakeside lifestyle.

There’s no place like home…on Allison Creek Peninsula

January 19, 2016 by lkw_df Leave a Comment

Allison Creek Peninsula is surrounded by Big and Little Allison Creek inlets, two recreational hot spots on beautiful Lake Wylie. Palm Cove and Palm Cove II are just 2 of the 4 adjacent communities on the peninsula worth considering if moving to the lake is on your to-do list!

The communities offer a mix of custom homes and production homes. Palm Tree Cove II is still being built out and has only new construction homes for sale, while there are a mix of new construction and resale in Palm Tree Cove.

Palm Tree Cove II homes start in the $200,000s, and Palm Tree Cove homes are a bit pricier, averaging closer to $300,000 on the low end and upper $400,000s on the high end.

Currently, there are 4 homes on the market in Palm Tree Cove, 2 new construction and 2 resale. One of the new construction homes is under contract, as of Jan. 19. The prices range from $576,000-plus to $385,000.

In Palm Tree Cove II, there are 7 new construction homes on the market. The highest list price is nearly $400,000 and lowest is in the $270,000s. None is under contract.

The location of the communities cannot be beat! Access is easy from Highway 274 onto Allison Creek Road. There is a public access point with a boat launch and day dock that many of the peninsula homeowners use. Shaded sidewalks connect all the communities along Allison Creek Road.

The peninsula offers a diversity of homes from custom homes in Mariner’s Bluff or Mariner’s Watch Cove – the other two neighborhoods that share the peninsula – and homes outside the 4 subdivisions that could be a small cabin or a waterfront mansion.

Winter is the perfect time to dream about summer fun on the lake. If you’re thinking of moving then you can’t go wrong with a home on beautiful Allison Creek Peninsula!

Escape hectic life in Heron Cove

January 14, 2016 by lkw_df Leave a Comment

Heron Cove on Lake Wylie is the best of work and play. Its location makes traveling to Charlotte or Rock Hill a quick commute, less than 20 minutes for both. For recreation, all of Lake Wylie’s 12,000-plus acres is out your door to be enjoyed!

The neighborhood of 104 home sites, located just west of the Buster Boyd Bridge, is full of custom homes built by 5 builders on lots of a half acre to 1.5 acres. There is a community pool, walking trails and Lake Park for residents to enjoy.

The nearby River Hills Plantation Country Club features an 18-hole golf course, tennis courts, a fitness center and other amenities. Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden is nearby, as is Coffer Dam, one of the best fishing spots on the lake. McDowell Nature Preserve is just across the bridge on Highway 49. The 1,100-acre preserve is largely undeveloped and home to lots of wildlife.

Homes in Heron Cove range from the $400,000s to $900,000s. According to the Heron Cove Web site, there are still interior and waterfront lots available.

Currently, there are 3 homes listed on the market in Heron Cove. Over the last 12 months fewer than 1 home per month has sold. The average sales price is $486,737. The average price per square foot is just under $127.

Six homes sold in Heron Cove in 2015 for an average of 98% of list price.

If you’re interested in living on the lake then take a look in Heron Cove. The real estate market heats up with the weather, and you don’t want to miss out on Lake Wylie life!

LAKE WYLIE AREA SALES REPORT 8/1/2014

August 4, 2014 by David McCorkle Leave a Comment

2014 IS STARTING OUT TO BE THE BEST YEAR SINCE 2006 FOR THE GREATER LAKE WYLIE AREA PROPERTIES AND HOMES OF NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA.

LAST YEAR SAW OVER 1357 CLOSED SALES vs SALES OF 1276 IN PRE RECESSION 2006.

RIVER HILLS SALES WERE 54, THE PALASADES WERE AT 61.

AND THE ZIP CODE AREA OF 29710 CLOVER/LAKE WYLIE CAME IN AT 326

ALONG WITH STRONG WATERFRONT SALES IN BOTH CAROLINA’S OF 108

HOUSING MARKET MAKING A COMEBACK?

May 22, 2013 by LWR Leave a Comment

Evidence continues to show that the housing market is making a comeback. Here are just some of the positive reports that came in over the last few weeks:

Housing starts spiked by 7 percent in March to come in at the highest rate since June 2008. In addition, housing starts were up 47 percent since the same period last year.
The number of mortgages behind on payments or in foreclosure fell in March to the lowest mark since 2008.
New Home Sales for March increased to come in slightly better than estimates.
The Mortgage Bankers Association reported small gains in the numbers of loan applications, refinances and purchases.

Not all of the housing news was good last month. Building permits, which are a sign of future construction, did decline slightly. And Existing Home Sales for March came in slightly below expectations. But overall, the housing-related reports were strong and provided further evidence of improvements in the housing sector.

Other economic news wasn’t as positive. Retail Sales for March came in below expectations and marked the largest decline in nine months. However, the rise in payroll taxes, which began in January, is likely a big part of the decline in spending. Consumer Sentiment also fell to its lowest level since July of 2012. And in the manufacturing sector, the Empire Manufacturing Index was much weaker than expected and below the previous month. Those reports indicate that we may see another economic malaise this spring, like we have seen the last couple of years.

What does this mean for home loan rates?

The uncertainty of the economy and continuation of the Fed’s bond purchase program (known as Quantitative Easing) should continue to benefit bonds and home loan rates. That makes now an ideal time to consider purchasing a home or refinancing