Community

Going Green

By Dan McLeister

Need help in selecting environmentally friendly flooring? Think green.

No, we’re not talking Astroturf here. In this case, “green” means the use of environmentally friendly materials that are either readily renewable or made from recycled products. Several green certification programs and directories are available to help remodelers, builders and homeowners make that selection.

For example, the National Wood Flooring Association looks to The Forest Stewardship Council to certify wood flooring products as green when the material comes from forests operated under sustainable forest management practices. Other organizations, such as BuildingGreen Inc. (http://www.buildinggreen.com), publisher of the GreenSpec® Directory and Environmental Building News, qualify and list other green flooring alternatives, such as natural linoleum, cork and concrete

 

For the complete story, please visit:

http://www.hgtv.com/home-improvement/from-carpeting-to-cork/index.html

 

Thinking about buying or selling?  Call Becky Smith of RE/MAX Metro and Carolina Realty Team at 803-804-3375 or e-mail Becky@CarolinaRealtyTeam.com

New and Improved Mortgage Forms

By Les Christie, staff writerDecember 31, 2009: 3:39 PM ET

 

NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) — Starting Jan. 1, new rules go into effect that simplify and clarify exactly what mortgage lenders will charge for a loan.

The initiative from the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)requires that a new “Good Faith Estimate” form be given to all applicants, one that makes it easier to compare true costs of loans from different lenders.

For the full story go to:http://money.cnn.com/2009/12/31/real_estate/new_mortgage_rules/index.htm

Buying or selling in 2010? Call Becky Smith of RE/MAX Metro and Carolina Realty Team at 803-804-3375 or e-mail Becky@CarolinaRealtyTeam.com.

The Rescue

Boating on Lake Wylie, Part 5

December on Lake Wylie is a completely different experience than boating during the summer months.  There  are only a few boats out on the water. The lake itself is still beautiful with wildlife and scenic views. 

 

 

 

Interested in waterfront property?  Call Becky Smith of RE/MAX Metro and the Carolina Realty Team at 803-804-3375 or e-mail Becky@CarolinaRealtyTeam.com.

Renovation Returns

Lake Wylie Boat Parade Pictures

Lake Wylie boat parade took place on December 12, 2009.  It was festive and an  exciting time to be at the lake!  The parade started at T-Bones.  T-Bones and the adjacent public access to Lake Wylie was buzzing with activity! 

 

 

Looking for property in  Lake Wylie or surrounding area?  Call Becky Smith at 803-804-3375 or e-mail Becky@CarolinaRealtyTeam.com.

Countdown to Lake Wylie Boat Parade

Lake Wylie boat parade is only 6 days away!  Make your  plans to enjoy the Christmas lights  on the lake  at this years event!

http://www.lakewyliesc.com/

Looking for property in the Lake Wylie area?  Call Becky Smith of RE/MAX Metro and Carolina Realty Team at 803-804-3375 or e-mail Becky@CarolinaRealtyTeam.com.

Lake Wylie Boat Parade

 

Lake Wylie Chamber of Commerce

^21st Annual “Lights on the Lake”

 Holiday Boat Parade

presented by

 Wendy’s,

T-Bones on the Lake, Light-N-Up Houseboat

and

Bi-Lo - Lake Wylie

 

Parade Begins Saturday at 6:30 p.m. December 12, 2009

Buster Boyd Bridge at T-Bones – Lake Wylie

   

 

For  a list of  Waterfront Properties for sale on Lake Wylie, call Becky Smith of RE/MAX Metro and Carolina Realty Team at 803-804-3375 or e-mail Becky@CarolinaRealtyTeam.com.

 

 

 

Lake Wylie, SC

 

Lake Wylie, South Carolina is a vibrant and thriving community where geography, people and economic vitality have fashioned a distinctive Southern lifestyle.The leisure and excitement of lakeside living, our comfortable, small town atmosphere and convenient proximity to regional commercial and cultural centers make Lake Wylie the perfect setting to live and do business.

For enterprising individuals, growing families and active retirees, Lake Wylie is indeed the perfect setting for home and business. Nestled on the northwest shore of 12,455-acre Lake Wylie in York County, our community is ideally situated for both work and play. Lake Wylie is 17 miles from Charlotte, one of the nation’s fastest growing commercial and financial centers and site of Charlotte Douglas International Airport; 15 miles from Rock Hill, strongly emerging as an economic hub in piedmont South Carolina; and less than 75 miles from Columbia, the capital of the Palmetto State.

Residents of Lake Wylie also enjoy the advantage of living little more than a three-hour drive from the celebrated Carolina beaches and the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains. Easy access to all points beyond the engaging surroundings of Lake Wylie, if desired, is provided by SC Highway 49, I-77 and I-85.

Our location, quality of life and the productive involvement of our residents have helped establish a dynamic business environment. Carefully planned infrastructure improvements and close attention to preserving the area’s natural beauty assure continued quality growth.   The Lake Wylie community offers a wide range of housing options. Elegant lakeside living, cozy wooded neighborhoods and spacious, convenient condominiums add to the feeling that you are enjoying life in a year-round resort.

The Lake Wylie community has the additional advantage of an excellent educational system. The schools our children attend are among the best in the state, employing highly qualified and dedicated teachers, building outstanding learning facilities and providing students with effective resources and advanced equipment.

Recreation is an integral part of the Lake Wylie lifestyle. With 325 miles of shoreline, the Lake is ideal for boating, fishing, water skiing and sailing. The temperate, yet wonderfully distinct, seasonal changes not only enhance the area’s beauty, but also afford year-round enjoyment of such outdoor pastimes as golf, tennis and bicycling. For sports lovers, the NFL Carolina Panthers, the NBA Charlotte Bobcats play their home games in Charlotte and the Charlotte Knights play professional baseball at Knights Stadium a few minutes away in Fort Mill. Article from:  http://www.lakewyliesc.com/Community/AboutLakeWylie/tabid/53/Default.aspx    Looking for waterfront property?   Make your dream come true!  Call for details about a boat tour!  Becky Smith 803-804-3375 or e-mail Becky@CarolinaRealtyTeam.com.

NAR: Sales Up 9.4%; Tax Credit News

NAR Chief Economist Lawrence Yun said, “Much of the momentum is from people responding to the first-time buyer tax credit, which is freeing up many sellers to make a trade and buy another home.” Affordability conditions this year are the highest since the data was first recorded in 1970.

The U.S. Senate will soon be voting on two amendments that may extend the first-time homebuyer tax credit. Of the amendments that will be proposed, NAR is supporting only the bipartisan Dodd-Lieberman-Isakson Amendment. This amendment allows an $8,000 credit to ALL homebuyers with income limits of $150,000-$300,000 and would expire on June 30, 2010.

September National Sales
Existing Home Sales: Up 9.4% from August at an annualized rate of 5.57 million units, and 9.2% higher than September 2008
Inventory: Down 7.5 % to 3.63 million units, an 7.8 month supply, 15.0% lower inventory than September 2008
Median Price: $174,900 down 8.5% from September 2008 (All residential types)

Regional Sales
West: Up 13.0% from last month and up 5.7% from last year. Median price = $219,000, down 15.0% from September 2008
Midwest: Up 9.6% from last month and up 7.8% from last year. Median price = $147,600, down 1.0% from September 2008
South: Up 9.0% from last month and up 10.8% from last year. Median price = $153,500, down 7.6% from September 2008
Northeast: Up 4.4% from last month and up 11.8% from last year. Median price = $234,700, down 7.0% from September 2008

September Practitioner Survey of NAR Members
- Distressed properties make up 29% of all sales.
- First-time home buyers constitute 45% of all transactions so far this year.

Posted 10/23/09

If you are contemplating buying or selling, we can provide up to date market information in your neighborhood.  Call Becky Smith of RE/MAX Metro/Carolina Realty Team at 803-804-3375 or e-mail Becky@CarolinaRealtyTeam.com.

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