Everyone loves a good deal, and when it involves a house for sale in Ballantyne, great deals are even sweeter! Whether you are looking to flip a home or purchase one for your family, finding a stellar deal can seem daunting. However, there are some unconventional tactics that may land you the price of your dreams. Read on for tips for finding the best real estate deals in Charlotte and beyond!

Consider Bank Foreclosures

Bank foreclosed properties happen when the occupant fails to pay their mortgage for an extended period of time. The lender repossess the home and lists it for sale. It is an unfortunate circumstance, but great deals are often found.

Some of these properties are in need of serious repairs, so potential buyers need to be adventurous! Foreclosures are found in many Charlotte neighborhoods from Providence homes for sale and beyond.

Either Be the First or Be the Last

It is well known that the early bird gets the worm! If you spot a good deal on the market, don’t hesitate to submit an offer. Oftentimes, the first offer is also the first accepted.

Conversely, consider houses for sale in Mint Hill that have been on the market for a long time. If the owners have been making two mortgage payments for a long time, they will likely be in a hurry to sell, which means you may be able to strike an amazing deal!

Look at a Bunch of Properties

This may seem like a no-brainer, but make sure to look at a lot of properties during your home search. Oftentimes, buyers are so eager that they settle for the first house they look at. Shopping around is key to finding a fantastic real estate deal!

What do you think of these tips for finding the best real estate deals? Homes By Cross would love to help you find the perfect home at the perfect price! Call us today!

The holidays are coming to a close, but do you still have family lingering around your Steele Creek house for sale? While having company is fun for a while, some guests simply do not know when to leave. If you run into this problem year after year, this article is for you! Read on to learn how to graciously handle house guests who stay too long. Setting boundaries is an essential part of being an expert host or hostess!

Set Boundaries Upfront

Maybe you failed to set boundaries in the invitation this year, but remember this for next year! Verbalize a clear end date to the visit when you invite them over to your house for sale in NoDa.

If possible, get it in writing! Simply send a letter or email prior to the visit saying that you can’t wait to see them for the upcoming holiday taking place for the specified dates. Remember, prevention is better than cure!

Clear, Yet Gracious

When guests arrive make sure to have a schedule prepared. Activities serve as sign posts for your guests. That way, when the last day has arrived and the final outing is underway, you can say something like, “Your stay has gone by so fast! I can’t believe this is our last outing before you leave tomorrow!”

Offer to Help

If you truly have a visitor who doesn’t get the hint to leave your Cornelius home for sale, simply offer to help them pack up. Say something like, “Packing is such a pain isn’t it? If you’d like, I can help you gather your things since you’re leaving tomorrow. I don’t know about you, but I always seem to forget something!”

What do you think of these tips on how to graciously handle house guests who stay too long? We would love to hear your stories!

If you’re hosting at your Dilworth home for sale this holiday season, you are in the thick of the hustle and bustle! You’re in luck. We hope this article makes creating centerpieces for your celebration fun and stress-free. Read on for fast and easy holiday center pieces for your home and check one more thing off of your long to-do list!

Aroma and Style

For a festive aroma and classic style, make centerpieces out of candles and cinnamon sticks. Simply wrap cinnamon sticks around thick white candles using rubber bands with twine or ribbon over it. Place the candles on a decorative platter, and you have beautiful centerpieces in minutes for your house for sale in Eastover.

Use Lanterns

This centerpiece idea is quick and can look very different depending on the style of lanterns you choose. All you have to do is fill lanterns with ball ornaments and set them in the middle of the table.

You can opt for newer lanterns at your local home decor store or you can hunt vintage and antique lanterns for extra interest.

Incorporate Water

For a truly relaxing effect, incorporate water into your centerpieces. For this idea, all you need are jars of various sizes, holly, and of course, water. Fill each jar with water just below the brim of the glass. Simply add holly and you have just the right splash of color for your home for sale in Myers Park.

Don’t Forget the Gold

This centerpieces is as easy as it gets! Simply purchase candles already in glass enclosures. You can choose any color that fits your holiday decor scheme. Line them up on a rectangular platter and surround them with golden jingle bells!

Will you use any of these fast and easy holiday centerpieces for your home this holiday season? We would love to hear about your project!

Real estate in Charlotte is absolutely hot right now. Home prices are soaring and demand is at an all-time high. To top it off, the job market is strong and the Queen City is only growing. So what can you expect in 2018? Let’s just say, things don’t look like they’re going to slow down anytime soon. Read this article to learn about possible real estate trends of 2018 and whether buying a Charlotte luxury home for sale is the right move for you in the new year!

A Perfect Combination

Do you love the city with the convenience that the suburbs offer? Expect to see more mixed-use development popping up throughout Charlotte in 2018. Buyers consistently love neighborhoods that offer everything from shopping, dining, exercise, parks and other amenities within walking distance.

While you may love the city environment that Uptown Charlotte houses for sale offer, make sure to check out other neighborhoods that offer the glorious combination of the city and the suburbs!

Generational Switch

Many Millennials are moving out of Uptown and settling down with their families into homes for sale in Waxhaw and other Queen City suburbs. They simply want more space and a quiet place to raise their children.

However, Baby Boomers are reaching retirement age and are looking to downsize. Uptown is one area that offers easy luxury with all of it’s conveniences for empty nesters.

The New Uptown Light Rail

The Blue Line light rail will connect Uptown to UNC Charlotte in 2018. This is expected to make buyers at least consider the idea of moving out of Center City homes for sale. Keep an eye out for new neighborhood hot spots as the light rail shapes real estate in Charlotte!

What do you think of these possible real estate trends of 2018? We would love to hear your thoughts!

It’s the season for cheer and relaxation with friends and family! After a long year of working hard, it’s time to pamper yourself a bit! What and how you do that depends on your personality, but this article will hopefully give you some starter ideas. Read on for tips to treat yourself this holiday in your Charlotte home for sale in Ballantyne!

Host or Attend a Big Event

If you are an extrovert and someone who thrives off of being around people, consider hosting a huge holiday bash! If your Ballantyne house for sale is already decked out, why not invite friends over to enjoy the glam and sparkle? Make it extra special and hire local musicians for some live music.

Perhaps hosting isn’t your idea of fun. If not, find a big holiday event to attend around Charlotte! From the symphony to ballet and much more, Charlotte truly has it all!

Unplug Completely

No matter how you decide to pamper yourself, ditching your phone, computer and anything else connected to work is essential! Working long hours can result in burnout. It’s extremely important to take time to reconnect with your family and rediscover your passions in your Ballantyne home for sale.

For instance, take some focused time and plan your next home project. Taking time to pour into your home is something that you may fine especially fulfilling.

Try Something New

Are you just plain worn out from your nine to five? Break out of the same old and try something new! It can be anything. A trendy exercise class or starting a blog are just a couple of ideas to get you started.

What do you think of these tips to treat yourself this holiday in your Charlotte home? We would love to hear about the ways you plan to unwind!

According to Zillow’s Price Expectation Survey, experts expect higher home prices for 2018 than originally projected. This could mean that 2018 is the perfect time to finally consider selling your house for sale in Southpark! Read this article for details about the home value forecast for 2018 and why housing prices may soar.

Survey Details

Zillow’s Price Expectation Survey has the input of over 100 experts, including economists. They expect a hike of 4.1 percent in the new year! Approximately one year ago, a 3 percent increase was forecasted, but this has since risen.

What other increases do experts foresee? Mortgage rates are also expected to rise. Current rates on a 30-year fixed average in at 3.90 percent. This number could end up anywhere from 4.28 to 4.70 in 2018!

A higher mortgage rate means buyers’ budgets are going to only tighten. More affordable homes are going to increase even more in demand. Unless something changes, this could be the new normal for the American housing market. If you are thinking about purchasing a Southpark home for sale, now is the time to do it so you can be locked in at a lower rate.

Why Home Values Rise in 2018

The question remains; Why will home prices rise in 2018? The answer is home-building simply has not kept up with the rising demand. Young Americans are becoming more confident and financially stable and are ready to purchase a Southpark house for sale.

The survey shows that less than 20 percent of experts believe home-building will pick up in the upcoming year. With this continued low supply and high demand, prices have nowhere to go but up!

What do you think of the home value forecast for 2018? If you are considering Southpark homes for sale, contact Homes By Cross today. We are your local Charlotte real estate experts who will work to get you the best deal possible!

Receive the Latest Local Market Stats

Curious about local real estate? So are we! Every month we review trends in our real estate market and consider the number of homes on the market in each price tier, the amount of time particular homes have been listed for sale, specific neighborhood trends, the median price and square footage of each home sold and so much more. We’d love to invite you to do the same!

Get Local Market Reports Sent Directly to You

You can sign up here to receive your own market report, delivered as often as you like! It contains current information on pending, active and just sold properties so you can see actual homes in your neighborhood. You can review your area on a larger scale, as well, by refining your search to include properties across the city or county. As you notice price and size trends, please contact us for clarification or to have any questions answered.

We can definitely fill you in on details that are not listed on the report and help you determine the best home for you. If you are wondering if now is the time to sell, please try out our INSTANT home value tool. You’ll get an estimate on the value of your property in today’s market. Either way, we hope to hear from you soon as you get to know our neighborhoods and local real estate market better.