Milestone for Ann Stiles Real Estate

      This week marks a big milestone for Ann Stiles Real Estate. After joining Wilkinson and Associates a couple months ago, Stiles closed on her first house since joining the company. Buyers Frank and Mary could not be more thrilled with their choice in home and their involvement with Stiles.

“We had a great experience with Ann as our realtor,” said Frank and Mary. “She was able to understand our needs, wants and desires, and show us homes that fit us perfectly.”

Their needs, wants and desires consisted of a home in North Carolina that was closer to their family and friends. “We only wanted to be in the Point Lake and Golf Club,” said Frank and Mary. “(Ann) really took the time to really get to know what we wanted.”

Before Stiles became involved, the house Frank and Mary bought was on the market for four years. With her 29 years of experience, she was able to find the right buyers for the Mooresville home and closed the deal in 30 days.

“Just by talking with Frank and Mary I could see their desire to live in a beautiful location that has all the necessitates they’ve dreamed of,” said Stiles. “As a resident myself in The Point I knew this neighborhood, and this house in particular, would be perfect for this family.”

For Frank and Mary the house had “location, location, location.” According to the homebuyers, the place located on Lake Norman offered all the bells and whistles they were seeking in a house. The low maintenance subtle brick and stucco home comes with a chefs kitchen with all the high end built-ins, oversized rooms overlooking the lake, a wrap around flag stone terrace, which is perfect for entertaining.

Now, Frank and Mary could not be more content. “I would highly recommend her services to anyone who is looking to buy or sell a home in the NC area,” said Frank and Mary. “This home is a dream come true.” What a great time to move into their dream home than right before the New Year!

About Ann Stiles

Ann Stiles is a real estate broker for Wilkinson and Associates. She began by selling homes in New York and has over 29 years of experience in real estate. After relocating with her family to North Carolina in 2008 she continued her passion for real estate. She currently resides in the Trump National Golf Club Community in Mooresville, NC with her husband and five children. 

For more information visit: http://astiles.wilkinsonandassociates.com/

Become a fan: http://www.facebook.com/AnnStilesRealEstate

Follow @AnnStiles

Location, location, location!

The pricing of homes, of course, changes depending on what state, and even what city you may live in. But how drastic is the difference? In a recent article, Today show’s real estate expert Barbara Corcoran dug a little deeper to see what types of homes you can get for $100,000 or less. In the five homes she chose the number of bedrooms ranged from two to four, with one even having three bathrooms. Some had a lot of rooms, but not a lot of room in them, while others were more spacious. An interesting perspective into what you “get what you pay for.”

The cheapest one Corcoran found was located in Dayton, Ohio. While the population is nothing compared to a New York City, with only 141, 527 people living there, it still offers quite the deal. At $64,900, the three bedrooms and one bath home is a cozy fit for any small family.

Not too far away in Chattanooga, Tennessee a homebuyer can get a two bedroom and one bathroom home for $87,500. Built in the 1930s, the beautiful architecture inside makes it a one of a kind home, with arching entryways and unique structure. From the south to the north, Corcoran chose her next in the state known for overly priced apartments.

Contrary to past beliefs, there are actually homes in New York that are reassembly priced and pretty spacious. For instance, a traditional colonial home that Corcoran found is priced at $89,000, with four bedrooms and 1.5 bathrooms. Located in the small town of Irondequoit, NY, the family-friendly home sits on a quiet street, with a huge yard. This is also a great choice if you like the water and are not a big fan of the city. The small town is surrounded by a lake, a river, and a bay. If water does not interest your lifestyle than maybe Nebraska will.

For a greater price and less rooms, a homebuyer can purchase a two bedroom and two bathroom home in Omaha, Nebraska for $93,500. Location and convenience is two great factors for this townhome. Located across from a park and pool, there’s plenty of recreational activities for adults and children alike. The convenience part is also entailed in the up-keeping of the home. For just $84 in monthly association fee, a homeowner is provided with lawn care, snow removal, exterior painting, concrete repairs, water use and trash pickup. These may seem like menial tasks, but in reality saves a homeowner time and headaches.

Finally, the last and most expensive of the five chosen by Corcoran is located in Phoenix Arizona. The three bedrooms and three bathrooms home is worth every much of $100,000. The beautiful staircase, fancy columns, tall ceilings and spacious master rooms makes the home appear well more than the listed price. Who knew $100,000 could get you such a variety in homes choices. 

About Ann Stiles

Ann Stiles is a real estate broker for Wilkinson and Associates. She began by selling homes in New York and has over 29 years of experience in real estate. After relocating with her family to North Carolina in 2008 she continued her passion for real estate. She currently resides in the Trump National Golf Club Community in Mooresville, NC with her husband and five children. 

For more information visit: http://astiles.wilkinsonandassociates.com/

Become a fan: http://www.facebook.com/AnnStilesRealEstate


Follow @AnnStiles

Who’s buying in Mooresville?

On realtor.org, Gary Thomas posted quite the blog for thought. In the article “What Do Today’s Home Buyers Look Like?” he relayed some interesting statistics regarding today’s homebuyers, which was presented at the recent National Association of Realtors Conference. Some that stuck out to me personally was that fact that home buyers are now older than past years, have higher incomes, and are more likely to be married. This made me curious, if these are the overall statistics, where do the home buyers in Mooresville, more particularly the neighborhood I live in, stand in this equation.

With a simple zip code search on Market Insider I searched the area I live and found that the stats are not too far off. According to Thomas’ article, the median age of home buyers rose from 39 to 43. Not drastic, yet, but could definitely be an issue in the future. Another interesting statistic was concerning the number of married couples buying homes, which rose 6 percent, while purchases by singles and unmarried couples were slightly down.

In the particular zip code I live in the median age was 39, showing that the Mooresville area hasn’t increased or decreased from the nationwide statistics from last year. The percentage of married couples buying homes was at 55 percent. In addition, the market share for first-time home buyers fell to 37 percent in the past year, which is down from a record high of 50 percent in 2010.

Between homebuyers being older and more married couples buying homes this highlights something very important – a joint income is now needed to buy the dream home. Thomas believes the older buyers and lack of single home buyers is in relation to the difficulty of qualifying for a loan. “This is due to an overly restrictive mortgage credit environment,” said Thomas, “in spite of plenty of affordable housing.” Between the difficulties of getting a loan and the difficulty of finding a high paying job, or job in general, leaves younger people at an overall disadvantage.

As for the average income in Mooresville, the city was also average range. As stated previously, home buyers now make a higher income. According to the Market Insider, people in the particular Mooresville zip code I searched have a household income of $75-100K. This is out of roughly 2,600 households. In a close second were people with a household income with $50-$75.

Therefore, just because statistics may be increasing nationwide, doesn’t necessarily mean that the area you live in, or the area you hope to move to, is experiencing a drastic change. Do a little research in your area, and see where your city stands.

About Ann Stiles

Ann Stiles is a real estate broker for Wilkinson and Associates. She began by selling homes in New York and has over 29 years of experience in real estate. After relocating with her family to North Carolina in 2008 she continued her passion for real estate. She currently resides in the Trump National Golf Club Community in Mooresville, NC with her husband and five children. 

For more information visit: http://astiles.wilkinsonandassociates.com/

Become a fan: http://www.facebook.com/AnnStilesRealEstate

Follow @AnnStiles

The New Hotels to Stay During the Holiday’s

     With Thanksgiving now in the books and Christmas etching around the corner many people are traveling and trying to find the greatest deals on hotels. If you’re a frequent traveler and are tired of the ordinary hotels spend your next vacation staying in one the most bizarre hotels. Evidently they’re the next best thing to a five star. 

As voted on by SmarterTravels top picks found hotels located throughout the World that they classified as their top bizarre hotels. Some of my favorites of the nine chosen in clued the 21st century of camping, a jet, a school and a boat house.

For the campers at heart that are tired of sleeping on the hard ground and cold meals in the morning, Treebones Resort may be the place for you. Located in California, the hotel provides tent-like rooms with wood floors, plush queen sized beds, and French doors that open to decks overlooking the ocean. That’s a far cry from the zipper doors on the flimsy tent that overlooks a campground. Included with the hot breakfast and comfy beds, are morning yoga sessions, and an outdoor sushi bar. You may say this takes all the fun out of camping, but the heated pool outside still lets you breathe in that pine smell from the forest.

Maybe you miss the smell of an airport or find that you sleep especially well while on a plane. Then Sweden is calling your name. The Stockholm Arlanda Airport offers a stay in a jumbo jet. (Don’t worry, it doesn’t actually fly anywhere). The Boeing 747 is sound proofed, offers a café and bar, as well as a luxury suite in the cockpit. Your view, however, maybe of an airport but if you choose the summer months guests can walk along the left wing’s observation deck to get a unique view of the nearby runways and air traffic above. Now that’s something to cross off your bucket list.

One that I found most amusing is the Kennedy School. No, that was not a misprint. It is an actual school in Portland, Ore. that has been transformed into a hotel. At the onetime elementary school house, you can sleep in class and even drink a beer in the brewery without having to fret dentition. The building actually dates back to 1915 and the original chalkboards remain, and now have a movie theater in the school’s old auditorium.

Finally, one of my favorite bizarre hotels that made the list was an imperial boat house beach resort in Koh Samui, Thailand. If a cruise is out of the questions or you tend to get sea sick then this unique stay may be for you. At the resort on Choeng Mon beach, the two-story rice barges have been converted luxury rooms and suites on the garden grounds overlooking the ocean or pool. You can have your stay on a boathouse without fearing another Gilligan Island repeat. 

About Ann Stiles:

Ann Stiles is a real estate broker for Wilkinson and Associates. She began by selling homes in New York and has over 29 years of experience in real estate. After relocating with her family to North Carolina in 2008 she continued her passion for real estate. She currently resides in the Trump National Golf Club Community in Mooresville, NC with her husband and five children. 

For more information visit: http://astiles.wilkinsonandassociates.com/

Become a fan at: http://www.facebook.com/AnnStilesRealEstate

Follow @AnnStiles

Look No Further, There’s an APP for That!

Thinking of a gift to get a family member or friend? If they are currently looking at buying a home look no further. With smart phones and iPhones becoming all the rage over the last few years, app’s now can be the perfect gift, and in this case, an app for house hunting.

After realizing the success of apps, last year The Houston Association of Realtors released an iPhone app and this past September released an Android App. So what does that mean and how is this suppose to help someone looking for a home?

The app works as a consumer property search portal and a members-only portable with multiple listing services. If you’re a member of the HAR, the free app allows you access to MLS date, their leads and listings, their brokerages' listing inventory, showing instructions, days on market, and various MLS reports.

Now this may seem a lot like a simple internet search, and that’s because it is. But having the app on your iPhone and Android adds to the convenience that everyone prefers. Now you no longer have to be near a computer or log onto the internet on your smart phone. The app is there and ready to narrow down your searches with just the tap on the screen.

According to the association, users can filter searches by property type, price range, lot size, number of bedrooms and bathrooms, square footage and school district, among other criteria. Listing details include a property description, tax information, agent and broker contact information, driving directions, and up to 16 photos. Registered users can also save listings and searches and sign up to receive email notifications when homes matching particular user-selected criteria are posted to HAR.com or when a saved listing's status, price or other listing information is updated. Other app features include a mortgage calculator, nearby open house search, and the ability to share listings via email

I like the idea of this app not only for convenience but also because agents and consumers alike can use the app to search for-rent or for-sale homes by automatically searching for homes nearby or typing in an address, ZIP code or MLS number. Unfortunately this app is only available for people living in or looking in the Greater Houston area.

The app is already ranked 94 in the Lifestyle category and No.11 under the keyword “real estate.” With technology always expanding, I have a feeling more people with jump on board the real estate app. 

About Ann Stiles:

Ann Stiles is a real estate broker for Wilkinson and Associates. She began by selling homes in New York and has over 29 years of experience in real estate. After relocating with her family to North Carolina in 2008 she continued her passion for real estate. She currently resides in the Trump National Golf Club Community in Mooresville, NC with her husband and five children.

For more information visit: http://astiles.wilkinsonandassociates.com/

Become a fan: http://www.facebook.com/AnnStilesRealEstate

Follow @AnnStiles

Tips for Selling Your Home during the Slowest Time of the Year

Statistics show that the slowest time of year for home shopping is the period from Thanksgiving through New Year’s Day. In fact, the market usually doesn’t pick back up until April and May. The reasons are your usual culprits such as focusing on the holiday’s, the weather, and kids in school. But, of course, there are times when moving is out of your control.  Maybe a new job offer has you forced to sell your home and move across the country. Don’t fret; you can successfully sell your home even with the statistic against you.

In a recent article on msnbc.com, Dave Carpenter from the Associated Press gave five helpful tips in helping your home stand out in the Real Estate off season. Here are some of the ones I found most helpful.

First, he suggests taking care of any needed maintenance and repairs. The weather may be cold outside but no one wants to buy a home when the exterior looks like an abandoned home. Just as important as the exterior, however, is the interior. Home staging adds to the appeal of the home and one thing you have on your side during the holidays is great decorations. A Christmas tree in the corner filled with family ornaments and stockings hanging on the mantle can help the potential homebuyer picture their family celebrating the holiday’s there. But also remember to keep the decorations tasteful. Decorating your home like the Griswold’s will make your home appear to cluttered and is not recommended.

Another tip Carpenter proposed was displaying photos of your home in the summer. Now the potential homebuyer can picture how the home looks throughout the year. Lighting and wall colors can also help the home give that summer time feel. The winter means less daylight, which means less light entering your home. Open the drapes to let what natural light there is in, and set up extra lighting where need fit. As for the wall colors, we associate warm colors as inviting and welcoming so stick with neutral tones throughout the house.

Lastly, remembering the basics such as a clean home and pricing aggressively are just as important, if not more important, during the slow market times. I especially like this tip because home sellers tend to panic when they hear it’s the slowest time of the season to sell your home. This causes them to price their home way below value just to make sure it doesn’t linger on the market. But that doesn’t have to be the case. Simply review recent sale prices in your neighborhood and price your home competitively without having to lose a profit.

Give yourself a gift this holiday. Beat the statistics and successfully sell your home.

About Ann Stiles:

Ann is a real estate broker for Wilkinson and Associates. She began by selling homes in New York and has over 29 years of experience in real estate. After relocating with her family to North Carolina in 2008 she continued her passion for real estate. She currently resides in the Trump National Golf Club Community in Mooresville, NC with her husband and five children.

For more information visit: http://astiles.wilkinsonandassociates.com/

Become a fan at: http://www.facebook.com/AnnStilesRealEstate

Follow @AnnStiles

Narrowing the Home Search to Fit Your Lifestyle

As I was browsing the internet for the latest Real Estate news I came across an interesting article that made me curious - what do you look for when buying a home? Spacious rooms? Two stories versus one? A garage large enough to fill with your ample amount of Christmas decorations? A recent study shows that qualities homebuyers use to find important when looking for home are now obsolete. Gone are the days when homebuyers wanted X number of rooms. Now are the days where homebuyers want to know what shops and stores are nearby. If the neighborhood is child and pet friendly, and what the median home price is in the neighborhood.

According to Heithaus, a real estate professional “Many industry studies show that home buyers start their search on the internet before they contact a real estate professional.” Because of these more detailed interests, sites are upgrading their home searches to include a “lifestyle search.” Now included are fun and entertainment, shops and stores, family and child friendly, highly rated schools, pet friendly, median home price, rural, urban and downtown, and public transportation. Consumers browsing online can now search first by the neighborhood and community features then by the available real time local listings.

KW Research added to this research by stating that one of the top things buyers are looking for is an affordable price, meaning price sometimes outranks location.

While it’s been four years since my family and I moved into our home I can definitely relate to what now interest homebuyers. With five kids I wanted to know that there were places my kids could entertain themselves at, such as a nearby park or playground. High-ranked schools, as well as the convenience of shopping centers were also another plus when we were deciding on where to live.

I like this idea of adding more “lifestyle searches” on Real Estate sites for homebuyers that are trying to narrow down their searches. The more detailed search will help not only the homebuyer but the Real Estate agent/broker, as well. Homebuyers will be able to gain a clearer sense of the top priorities they would like to see in a home and their agent/broker will be able to help them target their search.

So whether you are looking for a house that’s near a grocery store or one that has a community pool, the convenience of a “lifestyle search” is now available to make your home search quicker, successful and more enjoyable.

About Ann Stiles:

Ann Stiles is a real estate broker for Wilkinson and Associates. She began by selling homes in New York and has over 29 years of experience in real estate. After relocating with her family to North Carolina in 2008 she continued her passion for real estate. She currently resides in the Trump National Golf Club Community in Mooresville, NC with her husband and five children.

For more information visit: http://astiles.wilkinsonandassociates.com/

Become a fan on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/AnnStilesRealEstate

Follow @AnnStiles

Attractions and Recreations near the Point

        When searching for a new home we all have in our mind certain attractions, or restaurants, or stores that we hope are near our future place. These were definitely some of the things on my mind as I selected my now home of four years in Mooresville, NC. I may be bias but the convenience and also privacy of The Point deserves to be highlighted. With over 700 residents calling The Point home, we can’t all be wrong!

In a new series of blogs I will describe some of the community information that just isn’t given by a simple house search on a real estate site. The first choice of topic is attractions and recreations. The topic is rather broad but pinpoints some great areas such as movie theaters, health clubs, and golf courses where you and your family can enjoy a little bit of everything of what the neighborhood has to offer.

Movie Theaters are first on the list of great attractions in the area, in fact, there are two at your convenience. The Rave Media and Grand Theatre makes for a perfect outing on a Friday night or Saturday evening with the family. If it’s an actual performing arts theater you are looking for then you are in luck. The Lake Norman Dance Gallery and the Academy of Dance Arts is a great place from everyone as young as toddlers to adults, whether you want to learn how to do gymnastics, dance, or tumble.

Maybe dancing isn’t your thing but you love to be fit an active. There are numerous gyms around the area such as Z Max Fitness, Jet Fitness, Gold’s Gym, and Acro Fitness. There’s also a FitWize 4 Kids and a Body Mind and Spirit Day Spa, providing a fitness attraction for everyone in the family. Some other great sporty attractions is the Lake Norman Soccer Club, while the club is pretty elite if you’re an avid soccer player this is definitely a team worth joining. And we can’t mention sporty attraction without mentioning golf. The Mallard Head Country Club and Point Lake Golf Club are just two of the courses located in Mooresville. The Point golf course is one of my favorites as the 18 holes are played along and even over the beautiful scenery of Lake Norman.

Speaking of Lake Norman, which is of course one of the top attractions of living at The Point, finding a place to rent or store your boat is also key. Luckily for the lake lovers, there are several Marina’s located throughout including Stutts Marina, Inland Sea Marina, and All Seasons Marina

While there are other attractions and recreations around The Point area, these are just a few that come to mind as some great family fun!

About Ann Stiles:

Ann Stiles is a real estate broker for Wilkinson and Associates. She began by selling homes in New York and has over 29 years of experience in real estate. After relocating with her family to North Carolina in 2008 she continued her passion for real estate. She currently resides in the Trump National Golf Club Community in Mooresville, NC with her husband and five children.

For more information visit: http://astiles.wilkinsonandassociates.com/

Become of fan at: http://www.facebook.com/AnnStilesRealEstate

Follow @AnnStiles

Charlotte – A Place You Have to See to Experience

When trying to describe to my clients why Charlotte, North Carolina is such a great place to live I was beginning to sound like a broken record. I would explain all the wonderful things that there is to do around the city. All the shopping centers. All the dining options. All the family-oriented activities. But saying it and showing it is two different things. With limited time between convincing a buyer that Charlotte is wonderful and the buyer making a decision I needed an alternative that I would let me show them exactly what I had been preaching.

While browsing through YouTube I came across this video posted by Amazing Video Tours. The video gives you just a glimpse at the numerous activities that there are to do throughout Charlotte, beginning with the always expanding Uptown, also known as downtown Charlotte.

One of the newest editions to the area is the epicenter, which has everything from nightclubs, bars, to family restaurants. Everything in walking distance. Just across the street is the Time Warner Cable Arena where you can catch the local basketball games, hockey games, and concerts. If football is more your forte, then you’re in luck, the Panthers football stadium is located just a couple blocks away. For the NASCAR fans, historic memorabilia can be seen year-round at the newly built NASCAR Hall Fame, located just blocks from the Epicenter and the Time Warner Cable Arena. The actual race track, Charlotte Motor Speedway, is located roughly 20 minutes from center Charlotte. 

There’s also plenty of fun activities to do for the kids, such as the Discovery Place. Here they can have fun exploring and learning all at the same time. With new exhibits appearing in the Discovery Place all the time, it’s something you can visit more than once.

Shopping, of course, is another fun family activity and there are plenty of options located in and around Charlotte. Concord Mills is one of the most frequently visited shopping centers for tourist and residents, with over 200 stores and 24 restaurants the nearly 1.4 million square foot mall has a something for everyone.

If you’re more of an outdoorsy family then The White Water Center is worth visiting. The center is great for a fun family outing with the chance to white water raft, rock climb or to participate in team building activities.

And we can’t forget about the beautiful scenery such as Lake Norman when talking about the Charlotte area. As the largest manmade body of fresh water located in North Carolina, Lake Norman is great for a day of boating, tubing, fishing, and just plain family fun!

If you’re looking for house in an area with an endless amount of activities then Charlotte is for you. Between sporting event locations, activities for children and plenty of shopping centers at your convenience, Charlotte has a little taste of something for everyone. Take a look for yourself!

For more information visit: http://astiles.wilkinsonandassociates.com/

Become a fan on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/AnnStilesRealEstate

Follow @AnnStiles

Great Place to Live - Mooresville, NC (The Point)

        Whether you live in North Carolina or are hoping to move there one of the great cities to be in is Mooresville. My team and I recently put together a Tour of Mooresville showcasing some of the exquisite homes located in the gorgeous city. The video highlights one area in particular that we fell in love with four years ago when we moved here. The Point Lake and Gold Club, located on the shores of Lake Norman, has a little bit of everything you could imagine. Members get to experience a beautiful view of the lake, golf course, dining options, and plenty of family activities. The exclusive club has something for every one of all ages. Even better, The Point is close to the necessities and conveniences of a major metropolitan area, located just north of Charlotte and minutes from I-77.

One of our favorite things about living at The Point is the numerous convenient locations in the neighborhood. There’s The Tavern-on-the-Square where we enjoy casual meals with the family, but is also perfect for larger gatherings and functions. Then there’s The Meeting House, which can be rented out for special events, whether it is business or pleasure.

But you can’t have a country club atmosphere without a golf course. The 18-hole lakeside golf course is a popular destination among the members in the neighborhood, as it should be. You can golf, enjoy the beautiful view of the lake and walk home after a hopefully successful day on the greens. And if it wasn’t successful you can just walk back the next day and try it again.

While the golf course is beautiful scenery in itself, it is just one of the many offered throughout the club. The Village Green, with its rose garden and croquet lawn, is a perfect setting for wedding ceremonies, picnics and just playing fetch with your dogs. At The Point, family-oriented activities and services are a central part of our community. Overall, the neighborhood offers a variety of settings for both everyday dining and family gatherings.

For parents I know this is key - a central focus of The Point community is family-oriented activities. A full-time Activities Director plans and supervises year-round children’s activities, including movie festivals in the Village Theater, a Kids’ Club and more. In addition to the year-round activities is the colorful Kids’ Corner, where children ages three through six can play while their parents work out or play tennis. Older kids can entertain themselves at the Teen Center, which offers air hockey, arcade games and a fun place to hang out with friends.

The Tour of Mooresville video shows just some of the luxurious homes spread throughout the exclusive, yet inviting, neighborhood. More than 500 families have already made The Point their home.

Homes are located either along the 18 miles of shoreline or nestled along the fairways of the golf course. According to www.pointonnorman.com more than two-thirds of the holes of the Greg Norman designed course plays along or over the lake. Even if you don’t like golf, I think that fact alone is pretty spectacular.

Current residents describe living at The Point as being on a permanent vacation. And how could you not feel that way when you look out your window to see the beautiful lake? For us the view becomes a constant reminder of how blessed we are. Take a look for yourself! You’ll fall in love with the Nantucket styled homes.

For more information visit: http://astiles.wilkinsonandassociates.com/

Become a fan at: http://www.facebook.com/AnnStilesRealEstate

Follow @AnnStiles

Are Good Times Ahead?

       
Google real estate and you will find a cluster of articles relating to the housing market. Depending which one you click on the housing market is either on the rise or on the decline. So which are you suppose to believe?

According to Nationwide, the month of October showed a small increase in house prices placing it in positive territory for the first time in six months. What they fail to mention is that when rates are the lowest they have been in 40 years there’s no other way but up. With that said, maybe there is more to this story? The fact is home prices are dropping drastically therefore sells are continuing to increase - especially depending on your location.

Small city’s at this time are flourishing more than others. People are moving out of the bigger cities, where there is a greater loss in jobs and moving to an area that has showed greater recovery. However, whether you are in a small or big city, foreclosures are everywhere and can be a double edged sword. One side being that finding a foreclosure deal can be especially great on the wallet. While the other side is finding a neighborhood with three foreclosures on one street can quickly turn someone away.

With such confusing statistics it can be hard for buyer or seller to know when to act. Realtors are your friend in these situations. They don’t want to put you in a house you’re not satisfied with. Or for you to sell a house at a price that will stay on the market for way too long. Realtors are there to do a job and one of those jobs is making their customer happy. Keep that in mind when you find yourself ready to buy or sell.

Finally, another hot topic when it comes to our real estate recovery is the term “normal.” Tune into a morning show or pick up your local paper and the question will be raised - when will we return to normal? Well, what is normal in the 21st century? Real Estate was on a steady pace for 30 years, which is technically abnormal. So what do we have to compare to? What we have are numbers and how many people are moving into homes and not losing them. And from this we see that maybe there is hope in sight, and with baby steps maybe we will reach our so-called normal.

About: Ann Stiles is a real estate broker for Wilkinson and Associates. She began by selling homes in New York and has over 29 years of experience in real estate. After relocating with her family to North Carolina in 2008 she continued her passion for real estate. She currently resides in the Point Lake and Golf Club in Mooresville, NC with her husband and five children.

For more information, visit: http://astiles.wilkinsonandassociates.com/

Become a fan on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/AnnStilesRealEstate

Follow @AnnStiles

Seasons are Good to an Extent

With snow storms in New York in the middle of October, and earthquakes in Arkansas, living in a state with such drastic seasons can have a damper on your life. As a New York native I dealt with the brutally hot summers and extreme cold winters, which are fine every now and then but I don’t want to have to dress my kids in head-to-toe winter gear for trick-or-treating as many experienced this past Halloween. This year I enjoyed being able to take my kids door-to-door with just a light jacket in hand.

After moving to North Carolina four years ago I realized what normal seasons are. In most cases, it’s hot when it’s supposed to be and cold when it’s suppose to be. I feel like the little girl in the children’s story “The Three Little Bears.” I finally found a state that’s not too hot and not too cold - it's just right! The weather, in particular, is just one of the many reasons I love living in this beautiful state.

As we approach winter I may not know if we are going to get a white Christmas and while the unpredictability can be aggravating, I like that we at least have options. I couldn’t’ live in a state where it was constantly hot, or pouring down rain, especially for our active lifestyle. We spent a lot of our summer on our boat on Lake Norman and all I could think about was how blessed I was to be able to experience and enjoy this beautiful weather with my family.

Mooresville, North Carolina in particular has provided my family and I with some great outdoor fun. On top of the many days out on the Lake, we were able to enjoy the beautiful parks located near our neighborhood. And we can’t forget about the shopping. Mooresville may have a reputation for being country but it’s one of the largest cities in North Carolina and has really grown over the years. Everything is at your convenience and has all the great qualities of a big city minus the over population. What more could you ask for?

So I happily put away my summer shorts and pull out the heavy jacket and snow shovel, just in case. And I ask you, are you living in a state that makes you happy? If not, do something about it. Life isn’t meant to be stuck inside. Live life! Enjoy the seasons!

Visit http://astiles.wilkinsonandassociates.com/ for more information.

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Ann Stiles Joins Wilkinson and Associates

MOORESVILLE, NC – Ann Stiles is proud to announce her partnership with Wilkinson and Associates. Stiles joins the highly recognized real estate team as a broker concentrating on high-end homes in the Charlotte, North Carolina and surrounding area. The areas include, but are not limited to Mooresville, Cornelius, Davidson, Ballantyne and Huntersville.

Stiles has 29 years of experience selling luxury homes in New York. As a child, she was intrigued from an early age while house hunting with her father, who was an investor. Everything from the construction down to the interior decorating of the homes grabbed her interest. While still in college, Stiles earned her real estate license selling upscale properties in Manhattan. When she moved here with her family four years ago Stiles wanted to encourage people to live in this beautiful state she now calls home.

“North Carolina is a beautiful state to live in and Mooresville in particular has a great school system making it a great place to raise your family,” said Stiles. “By partnering with Wilkinson and Associates I am able to be associated with an elite company but still work on my own. The opportunity was a perfect fit for my lifestyle.”

Wilkinson and Associates is Charlotte’s premier realty specializing in Lake Norman, Concord, Huntersville, Lake Wylie, Indian Trail, Fort Mill, SC and Rock Hill, SC. Founded in Charlotte in 2009 by Scott Wilkinson, the privately owned company has grown to an estimated 900 plus agents.

“As a company we are excited to have Ann Stiles join Wilkinson and Associates,” said Ian Corfield, broker-in-charge at Wilkinson and Associtates. “Having a person with 29 years of experience will help not only grow the business but grow the name, as well.”

For assistance in buying or selling a home,

visit http://astiles.wilkinsonandassociates.com/

About Ann Stiles

Ann Stiles is a real estate broker for Wilkinson and Associates. She began by selling homes in New York and has over 29 years of experience in real estate. After relocating with her family to North Carolina in 2008 she continued her passion for real estate. She currently resides in the Point Lake and Golf Club in Mooresville, NC with her husband and five children.

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