Homes in Charlotte

Homes in Charlotte are large, grand, extravagant and luxurious, just to throw out a few adjectives. However, what you’re really getting when you by a home in Charlotte is an escape - a permanent vacation home and a location that your family will love. For example, take this four bedroom and five bathroom luxurious home pictured below. Located on several acres of land, the secluded and gated home is worth every bit of the asking price.

Features for the exquisite custom home include his and her bathrooms and dressing rooms in the completely renovated master addition.  The grand stairway leading up to the second story is also a feature that can’t go unnoticed. The balcony overlooking the living room makes the space feel even larger then it already is. Homeowners will be noticing the beautiful finishes throughout the home well after they have moved in. 

In addition, the chef’s kitchen, as you can see from the picture included, features off-white paneled walls, large windows and candlelight chandeliers. The more than ample amount of space is perfect for a large family dinner or even a nice gathering or party.

The outside of this home in Charlotte is a homeowners dream. Features include a three-car garage and formal garden, perfect for spring flowers or homegrown vegetables. The back deck area is also something that can’t go unnoticed with an in-ground swimming pool and hot tub that creates a waterfall feature into the pool. Light colored stone outlines the area, which matches the light brick of the multi-story home in Charlotte.

Anyone that decides to make this home or another home in Charlotte theirs will not be disappointed when luxury is on your side.  Another bonus, of course, is the actual city of Charlotte, which offers great proximity to restaurants, shopping areas, and overall great family outings.

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

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About Ann:

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.

Finding the Right School in Mooresville

Moving to a new home can be a hectic time especially when children are involved. Finding the right neighborhood with the perfect school is a necessity but sometimes time and stress of finding the perfect home interferes with such necessities. If you’re moving to the Mooresville, North Carolina area there is an ample amount of schools to choice from each providing their own unique qualities.

There are 35 schools, ranging from elementary to high school, and public to private, within the Iredell - Statesville district. The Point Lake and Golf Club, which I moved to four years ago with my family, has seven schools within close proximity. Four are elementary schools: Woodland Heights Elementary School, Mooresville Christian Academy, Lakeshore Elementary School, and Lake Norman Elementary. Three of the four are public schools. Each have relatively the same number of students, but differ in their student to teacher ratio. A plus for parents wanting more one-on-one time for their child in school. For instance, Lakeshore Elementary School has 707 students attending with 21 teachers, making the student teacher ratio of 31 to 1. While Lake Norman Elementary has 593 students attending with 37 teachers, making the student teacher ratio 19 to 1. Both school, however, received four out of five stars on the Market Insider website, meaning both area a great choice!

If you have children in grades sixth through eighth there are two middle schools of choice.  Both received excellent ratings but differ slightly in the amount of students attending. Lakeshore Middle School, a public school, has around 593 students. Brawley Middle School, also a public school, has an estimated 734 students.

As for high schools, Lake Norman High School is the closest in proximity. With an estimated 1946 students and 65 teachers for ninth through twelfth grade, there is a 27 to 1 student teacher ratio.

Some other interesting facts that future homebuyers in the Mooresville area may be interested in is the learning procedures. The district is considered to have a medium to high technology index, meaning there is increased awareness in a student’s use of computers, which is proven to be a necessity in the 21st century.

With an estimated 22,000 students in the 35 schools located in the Iredell – Statesville district it’s important to find the school that meets your child’s needs the best. Many future homebuyers forget that choosing a home involves more than finding a place with a big enough pool for entertaining or a garage big enough for three vehicles. When children are involved in a big step such as choosing a new home it’s important to think of factors such as school size, how many teachers there are, and the student teacher ratio to ensure your child receives the best education.

If you’re looking outside The Point neighborhood in Mooresville, my website provides a simple search of the schools by inputting the zip code of your choice.  Now your search is just a couple clicks away. 

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

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

Follow @AnnStiles

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 in Mooresville, NC with her husband and five children. 

Looking for a home in Mooresville?

One of my favorite things to look at when searching the latest real estate news is Today show’s real estate expert Barbara Corcoran series of what a home buyer can get for X amount and less. Some are reasonably priced, while others make you ask – is that all you get for that much money? The most recent one showcased was what a home buyer could get for $200,000 and less. She found homes in Phoenix and Nebraska that were very reasonable for their price range, but it got me thinking of all the homes you can buy in that price range in Mooresville, NC.

Through a simple search for homes for sale in Mooresville, 300 results were found for $200,000 or less. More impressive is the variety of homes for sale in that price range. For example, everything from ranch style homes to waterfront condos were listed in the search.

Like Barbara Corcoran I thought I would showcase some of the homes that toped my list. Going from cheapest to most expensive, is a condo for $167,500. The condo comes with a garden tub, wet bar, laminate floors, and all the appliances. Each of the two bedrooms has a private bathroom. But what really makes the condo worth the price is the gorgeous waterfront view of Lake Norman. Although, the complex is also perfect for a buyer who doesn’t like the hassle of taking care of a lawn.

Next is a ranch style home priced at $189,999. The open floor makes the home appear double in size. Everything from the kitchen to the sunroom is spacious. Perfect for a large family or someone with lots of belongings. What adds to the already excellent features of the house is the amount of storage space.  On top of the large attic in the home is the garage shop located outside behind the in-ground pool. Great for the handy man in your life or those 10 boxes of Christmas decorations. The home is also within walking distance to Lake Norman.

If you want the best of both worlds, meaning a ranch home with a waterfront view than the next home for sale in Mooresville is for you. Priced at $195,000, the L shaped front porch provides that country atmosphere. You can easily picture yourself sitting in a rocking chair with a sweet tea in your hand. Along with the stone fireplace and open floor plan, the home also provides three bedrooms and two full baths.

Finally, topping my list of homes for sale in Mooresville within the $200,000 price range is a suburban home priced at $197,590. Moving away from the water, this home sits in a quiet neighborhood, perfect for a growing family. The two-story home has four bedrooms and three bathrooms, with a formal living room and dinning room. My favorite feature, however, is the upstairs loft, which looks over the spacious downstairs. While Corcoran showed some great homes located throughout the country, there’s no need to leave North Carolina after looking at these homes for sale in Mooresville.


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


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

Follow @AnnStiles

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 in Mooresville, NC with her husband and five children. 

Homes for sale in Charlotte NC

Being around different people every week I get asked all the time where I am from. I guess it’s my New York accent that’s the give away but when I ask in return where they are from rarely do they say North Carolina. But here we are. All living in the Charlotte NC area. So why is it you come to Charlotte as a tourist and end up becoming a permanent resident? The captivating attractions are definitely one reason, which you can read about in my previous blog “Charlotte NC – a place you have to see to experience,” but the homes for sale in Charlotte, NC are also something you can’t pass up.

For instance, the location of some of the homes for sale in Charlotte NC is breath taking. There’s beautiful mansion size homes near the Quail Hollow Country Club, a popular golf course that has played host to many of the top golfers in the country. One that comes to mind is a five bedroom, nine bathroom and an eight car garage. The brick veneer estate sits on over 2.5 acres with a waterfront view of the lake. And if it’s the water you love, then the in-ground pool in the back is the icing on the cake.

Another gorgeous home for sale in Charlotte NC is located just minutes from the Time Warner Cable Arena. For those unfamiliar, the arena, which is home to basketball and hockey games, as well as concerts, is located in the heart of the city. The great part about this home, however, is the four acres it sits on makes you feel like you’re in your own sanctuary, which is ironically the name of the subdivision. This particular home for sale in Charlotte NC has three levels with an elevator to get you from floor to floor. The home features several wings, with its own gym, wine cellar and basement. A home like this, with a location to die for, cannot be found just anywhere.

The Charlotte NC area is obviously a great place to visit with unique attractions such as the Discovery Place, The Blumenthal Performing Arts Center, the U.S. National White Water Center, and the Charlotte Motor Speedway.  Although, you’ll most likely become a permanent tourist, just like us fellow non-natives of Charlotte NC, and with homes for sale like the ones previously mentioned how could you not. In Charlotte NC you get the best of both worlds, the attractions of a beautiful city and the chose of so many beautiful homes for sale. 

For a better look at some of the other homes for sale in Charlotte, NC check out our video “Charlotte NC homes for sale." 

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

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

Follow @AnnStiles

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. 

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

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