This three story Charleston style home in First Ward has it all, even a terrific price! Its arranged with a Great Room, Dining, and Kitchen all on the first floor. Then there are two bedrooms, two baths, laundry, and porch with an incredible view of the city on the second floor. The third floor finishes it off with a full bedroom/bonus, bathroom, and large walk-in attic.

Walk to everything in Uptown and still enjoy a fenced back yard, and private two car garage.

For additional details, take a look at this webpage.

A large section of First Ward in Uptown Charlotte that has been vacant for years has finally begun redevelopment. The new center city UNCC (University of North Carolina at Charlotte) campus is well underway. Designed to look like a stack of books, the twelve story, 143,000 square foot building will include a 300 seat auditorium. It will be home to graduate programs for numerous fields of study.

Are you wondering if that home or condo you are considering buying in Charlotte is really a good deal? Now you can compare it to recent sales in the neighborhood. You can even search within a specific mile radius of the property you are considering purchasing.

If you are a “do-it-yourselfer” and want to do some research before talking to your Realtor, follow these steps:

Search for property here: Charlotte Real Estate Search
Click on the property you are interested in researching
Click on the “Research” link associated with that property
Next click on “Market Check”

This sequence of steps will give you the address, sale price, and sale date of the most recent neighborhood sales. The “Market Check” tool will also map the properties automatically so that you can see where the sold properties are located in relation to the property you are researching.

Are you looking for something fun to do this weekend? Then come explore “Taste of Charlotte” on Friday, Saturday or Sunday. Over 30 of Charlotte’s restaurants will cover Tryon Street with their food booths. I snapped the picture above with my phone this afternoon while crews were working to set up the food booths.

This festival will take place on Tryon Street between MLK Jr. Boulevard and 6th St. If you would like to attend, here are the dates and times:

Friday, June 5 from 11:00am - 11:00pm
Saturday, June 6 from 11:00am - 11:00pm
Sunday, June 7th from 11:00am - 6:00pm

Admission is completely free, but to take advantage of the food offerings, you will need to purchase tokens either online or at the actual event.

A couple days ago I wrote about Uptown Charlotte’s “Green Market” and it opening for the season. Well, yesterday I visited another market close to town that is about four times the size of the market in Uptown Charlotte. This is one of the largest close to Uptown and people visit it from Dilworth, Uptown, Myers Park, Elizabeth, Chantilly, and other surrounding neighborhoods.

As with the market in Uptown Charlotte, the Kings Drive Farmers Market sells all sorts of produce, fresh cut flowers, and seafood. It also sells potted plants for those with a “green thumb!”

If you would like to visit The Kings Drive Farmers Market, it’s open all day on Tuesday, Friday and from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday. My suggestion would be to go early if you go on Saturday though because all of the surrounding parking lots were full by 10 a.m. You can find a map of the location here, but if you are familiar with the new Metropolitan development, the farmers market is just down Kings Drive from there.

Get your own - Open publication

I just published a new report on condo values in Court 6 (in First Ward). This report covers both sales from the past six months and condos currently available. It also includes floor plans of condos. However, since the uptown Charlotte real estate market is heating up, new condos are being listed everyday. If you’re interested in learning more about this building and what is currently available, email me.

Because Court 6 is considered an underserved area, BB & T is able to offer 100% financing on condos in the building!

Take a look at the January 2009 Court 6 Condo Values report by clicking the viewer at the top of this post.

Have you been searching for a new condo in Uptown Charlotte and just can’t seem to find one that “fits the bill?” Well, Elizabeth Phares with Centro City Works (formerly Boulevard Centro) gave me a tour of Quarterside about a week ago and they still have quite a few affordable condos available.

Quarterside currently consists of three buildings, with the possibility of one additional building in the near future. The three buildings currently being built each have different names: The Quad, The Ledge, and The Row. Of these buildings, Centro City Works is currently selling in both The Quad and The Ledge.

Prices of the available condos in The Quad range from $137,600 for a one bedroom one bath condo up to $329,900 for a multi-level, one bedroom, one and a half bath, with study condo.

Prices of the available condos in The Ledge range from $142,500 for a studio up to $338,750 for a two bedroom two bath.

If you have ever been in a Centro City Works development, the finishes and floorplans are similar to developments they have completed in the past. They are well designed and a good value for the space.

One of the most exciting components of the Quarterside development is the inclusion of commercial real estate. Tenants haven’t been finalized, but there have been rumblings about a sports bar, a restaurant, and a coffee bar. Again, none of the tenants are finalized, but its exciting to know that First Ward is looking to have additional places to dine and entertain without having to actually make your way to the heart of uptown.

For additional details on pricing, floorplans, and availability in Quarterside, email me.

With all the development going on in and around First Ward, it should be one of the Wards to watch appreciation rates grow over the next ten years. Not only is First Ward close to the new Epicentre complex, its home to the Time Warner Arena, Reid’s Fine Foods, Levine Museum of the South, and Imaginon. In the not to distant future, there will also be a branch of the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, additional residential, and commercial development. All these elements make First Ward a great place to put your money now to watch it grow!

Skyline Terrace is one of the developments in First Ward that I love. The townhomes are three levels with the master bedroom on the top floor, living space and kitchen on the main floor and extra bedroom/flex space on the lower level. Townhomes in this development also have private patios on the back of the home as well as abundant parking for Uptown Charlotte.

This townhome is in great condition with fresh paint and new carpet. If you would like to schedule a time to take a closer look, email me!

On Tuesday I posted a quick entry about the new “Center City Green” that is being built in Uptown Charlotte as a permanent fresh market. While we are waiting for that one to be built, there is a great, smaller market across from Reid’s Fine Foods on 7th Street in First Ward. It is held every Saturday morning from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. through September 6th.

As the Uptown Charlotte real estate market continues to grow, I’m sure all of the new residents and current residents will frequent these fresh markets to gather their weekly meats and produce. If you’re already a resident of Center City Charlotte, come out and support your local farmers!