Real Estate

Last updated on November 22, 2024 Get into the Christmas spirit when you attend some of the best and brightest events in North and South Carolina! Charlotte Vacation Activities Winter Festival at Carowinds – winter festival is the most immersive holiday event in the area. November 15 – January 4. Details Holiday Lights at Charlotte Motor Speedway – See over 5 million lights over 4 miles at this incredible display! November 22 – January 5. Details Light the Knights Festival at Truist Field – One of Charlotte's newest events allows visitors to snowboard, ice skate, and see the field lit up. November 27 – January 3. Details Ballantyne's Backyard Holiday Lights Spectacular: Witness over 1 million lights along a half-mile walking trail, plus a nightly visit from Santa! From December 5 to 29. Details Gingerbread Lane at The Ballantyne Hotel – A classic family tradition, see gingerbread houses for all ages. From December 15 to 28. Details Christmastown USA in McAdenville – One of the top attractions in North Carolina, McAdenville is Christmastown, USA, where you can see countless houses decorated for the holidays! From December 2 to 26. Details Kannapolis Celebration of Lights: See the holiday lights and the Leonard Bearstein Symphony Orchestra. November 16 – December 30. Details Holidays at the Garden at Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden – A beautiful light walking tour through the gardens. November 29 – December 29. Details Pirate Christmas Lights at High Seas Mini Golf – Miniature golf and lights – what could be better? November 22 – January 19. Details Camp North End Mistletoe Market – Shop on 76 acres, get creative with art activities and ice skating, and enjoy live musical performances every Saturday from December 7-21. Details Go ice skating carowinds, Birkdale Village, Whitewater centerand Far North Camp! Please check each website for opening dates and times. Lake Norman Christmas Lighted Boat Parade – See boats beautifully decorated with Christmas lights at multiple viewing points around Lake Norman on December 21 at 5:30 p.m. Details Western North Carolina Holiday Events Christmas at Biltmore: See America's largest house, all beautifully lit for the holidays. November 2 – January 5. Details Winter Lights at the NC Arboretum – Known as Asheville's Brightest Christmas Tradition! November 15 – December 31. Details Canton Ice Rink – Head to Sorrells Street Park for some winter fun at “The Rink” in Canton. It opens December 1, just in time for the festivities at Sorrells Street Park. Details Waynesville “One Night Before Christmas” Street Fair: A winter wonderland with hundreds of luminaries lining brick sidewalks, twinkling baubles on trees and downtown store windows, plus live music and caroling. The event is usually held in mid-December. Details Downtown Waynesville Christmas Parade – This year's theme is Haywood's strong mountain traditions, where prizes will be awarded to the top three floats in the parade! December 2 at 6 pm Details Christmas in Saluda's Hometown: Saluda's local businesses are the heart of this event. Experience the warmth of the holiday season with activities designed to delight all ages! December 13. Details Light up the night in Brevard – experience twinkling lights, illuminated snowflakes, and beautifully decorated storefronts. December 7 From 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Details Holiday activities in the Highlands Ice Skating – Ice skating in the town of Highlands is an unbeatable Christmas tradition! Open for the season on November 21st. Details Snow Tubing: Highlands Outpost is open for snow tubing until the end of the season! Details Home for the Holidays – Celebrate the most magical time of the year at Highlands PAC with their annual Christmas extravaganza. From December 6 to 21. Details Cashiers 50th Annual Peppermint Stick Parade – a beloved tradition for fifty years! Saturday, December 7 at 3 p.m. Details Boone/Blowing Rock Holiday Events Festival of Lights at Chetola Resort – Tour the Chetola Resort while it's all decked out for Christmas! November 29 – January 25. Details Choose and cut your own Christmas tree! There are many farms to choose from. Appalachian Evergreens Inc is now open for the season on select dates from November 16th to December 8th. Details (link to AT blog post once published) Boone Holiday Parade – See marching shows, decorated floats, Christmas costumes, and see Santa himself. December 16 from 6 to 8 p.m. Details Blowing Rock Christmas Walk – See all the shops decorated for Christmas and enjoy snacks along the way. December 13. Details Christmas in the Park and City Lighting: Watch Blowing Rock light up and enjoy hot chocolate, caroling, and visits with Santa. November 29 from 12:00 to 18:30. Details Tweetsie Christmas – Christmas activities for the whole family, including a 20-minute outdoor evening train ride. November 29 at 5 pm – December 30 at 9 pm Details Chetola Festival of Lights: Enjoy thousands of dazzling illuminations throughout the resort. November 29 at 5 pm – January 26 at 9 pm Details Blowing Rock Christmas Parade: November 30 from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. Details Christmas activities in triad Nutcracker Ballet: See the holiday tradition at the Tanger Center in Greensboro. From December 6 to 8. Details Winter Wonderlights – Experience the wonders at the Greensboro Science Center. Open now until December 31. Details Tanglewood Festival of Lights: Tanglewood Park is transformed into a sparkling Winter Wonderland with over a million twinkling lights. November 17 to January 1 Details Downtown Greensboro Christmas Parade – Be a part of this treasured Christmas tradition! December 7th. Details. Downtown in December: A variety of holiday events held downtown in the month of December and some continuing into January. Details Winterfest – This event will feature numerous vendors, bounce houses, game trucks, Santa Claus, and of course, the amusements of City Lake Park. December 14 Details Triangle Festive Events Annual Downtown Raleigh Tree Lighting: Nov. 22 from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Details Winter Wonderland in Park West Village: Kids can enjoy storytime with Santa, train rides, face painting, crafts and a screening of The Polar

Last updated on November 15, 2024 The home renovation trend continues as homeowners look to improve their living spaces, add square footage, and remodel dated spaces in their homes. Recently, home renovation spending has skyrocketed to new heights: The median spend was $24,000, up from just $15,000 in 2020. Are you planning a renovation project soon? This is what's trendy: Kitchens and bathrooms account for the majority of expenses According to a recent HOUZZ study, 29% of homeowners who were renovating said they intended to remodel their kitchen in the next year, 27% said they planned to remodel their guest bathroom, and 25% intended to remodel your master bathroom. The average spend on kitchen renovations is now $24,000 and $15,000 on bathrooms. Main trends in kitchen renovation An island spanning at least 7 feet. White still dominates cabinet color choices, but the color is making waves, with blue cabinets being chosen 25% of the time and green cabinets 4% of the time. Warm wood tones are making a comeback, with 24% of homeowners opting for wood cabinets. High-tech appliances are gaining popularity, with 34% of homeowners replacing outdated appliances with smart ones. Ceramic tile remains a timeless choice for backsplash, and the vast majority of homeowners choose this option, followed by a smaller number of those who choose to carry countertop material to the backsplash. The best trends in bathroom renovation 64% of those who renovate their bathroom do so with aging in place in mind. The growing trend of adding wet rooms to bathrooms continues. A wet room encompasses the bathtub and shower behind a glass partition. The color white dominates all categories of the bathroom except the vanity, where wood is the main option. Freestanding bathtubs are still king, but built-in bathtubs are making a comeback: 39% of renovators opt for this style. Tiles are by far the most popular material for shower walls and floors. Outdoor improvements Homeowners continue to invest in their curb appeal as more and more choose to spend money on outdoor spaces and improve the aesthetics of their home's exterior. These are the top trends in outdoor improvements: Decks continue to be the biggest spenders in outdoor upgrades, with 44% of homeowners renovating their outdoor space opting to install a deck, followed by 23% who add a porch and 20% who add a porch structure. shade. Outdoor kitchens continue to be popular as homeowners look to expand their outdoor living space. 77% of homeowners who undergo an exterior improvement project invest in serious landscaping, while 78% improve or add exterior lighting. You may also be interested in: Paint Color Trends for 2025 Are Here! ___________________ Allen Tate is the largest real estate company in the Carolinas with more than 70 offices and 1,800 real estate agents in the Charlotte, Triad, Triangle, High Country, Upstate SC, Highlands/Cashiers and Asheville/Mountain regions. Allen Tate is a partner at Howard Hanna Real Estate, the largest private real estate brokerage in the U.S., with 500 real estate, mortgage, insurance, title and escrow services offices and 15,000 sales associates and staff. in 13 states. For more information, visit www.allentate.com and www.howardhanna.com. Visited 983 times, 83 visit(s) today

Last updated on November 13, 2024 According to a recent report, nearly 65% ​​of all sellers who recently listed their home for sale did at least two projects to help present their home in the best light possible before selling it. While not all projects generate a significant return when sold, there are several projects that make financial sense and virtually pay for themselves at the closing table. Before revealing the list of the best projects to tackle before selling, it is imperative that you understand that this is a general list, compiled using national data. After reading this list, your next order of business should be to find an experienced real estate agent in your area who can talk to you about the exact elements you should consider improving to maximize the sale of your home. Now that you understand that caveat, here are the most common improvements sellers make before putting their home on the market. fresh paint If you're selling your home in the future, you can bet there will be paint cans involved. Buyers are looking for a fresh, neutral canvas to imagine their new life in their home. The best thing to do is to repaint all the walls with pale neutral paint colors. Cool gray paint colors were trending years ago, but today's buyers crave warmer spaces. Stick to warmer neutrals like Benjamin Moore Manchester Tan, Edgecomb Gray or Classic Grey. If it's been a while since you touched up the trim or it looks dirty, it's also a good idea to repaint it to keep it looking clean and crisp. While you're at it, you may have to show your exterior some love with a more modern paint color. Curb appeal improvements are especially important when selling, so if your home needs a new or updated coat of paint, don't overlook this investment. If your exterior has seen better days and even the most current color can't fix it, it might be time to replace your siding. The latest Cost vs. Value lists this investment as a great value, and owners can expect to recover between 88 and 94% of their costs. Curb Appeal Improvements The goal with the right curb appeal is to welcome buyers into your home. It's mentally difficult for buyers to get over a bad first impression, and for that reason, exterior and curb appeal improvements are often at the top of sellers' to-do lists. These are the best improvements that can be made based on return on investment: Liner replacement Garage door replacement Paint your front door Entry door replacement (steel) In addition to these big-ticket items, in a recent survey by Zillow, investing in landscaping topped most sellers' lists. Ranging in cost from $500 to $3000, if you're willing to put in some effort here, you can save a lot of time. How about a new roof? How does that compare in terms of ROI? Unfortunately, replacing a roof at the end of its useful life is not something that will necessarily increase the value of your home, as it is something that buyers expect to be in good condition. Keep in mind that a roof that needs a lot of care and attention will be flagged on an inspection report and may give buyers cause for concern. New lighting Now here's a task you can easily accomplish in a weekend: contemplate the power of proper lighting! About a third of sellers seriously upgrade the lighting in their home before listing. What's more, a recent report showed that upgrading lights to LED lighting is associated with a 1.5% sales premium. While we're talking about lighting, don't underestimate the power of lamps! Lamps create a cozy atmosphere that simply cannot be recreated with overhead lighting. If you're missing a good number of lamps in each living space (ideally at least 3, but the more the better), it's time to turn to Home Goods or Target to invest in some ambiance. Bathroom Updates Many sellers think they have to clean out outdated bathrooms before putting their home on the market, but this couldn't be further from the truth. Minor bathroom updates are where sellers see the biggest return on their investment. Things like replacing outdated lighting fixtures, adding framed mirrors, replacing worn knobs and plumbing fixtures, and refinishing a worn bathtub are worthwhile investments. Minor updates in kitchen. Spending money to invest in the appearance of your kitchen just got easier, as the Cost Vs. Most recent value indicates that a minor kitchen remodel typically returns over 96% when it comes time to sell. With an average cost of $26,000, a minor kitchen remodel includes: New shaker-style door and drawer fronts New hardware new appliances New sink/faucet RVP floors New countertops/backsplash As with all major investments you make before selling, it's best to talk to your real estate agent before starting any large-scale project. Look for a real estate agent with local experience; You want an expert with knowledge of your local area who knows what projects are worth doing based on the price of your home. If you are seriously considering selling your home soon, we recommend a physical exam! Whether you're planning to sell soon or stay in your home for years to come, a home physical exam can help you save money in the long run by helping you make smart decisions when remodeling or repairing your home as it ages. If you are ready to receive a complete “checkup” on your home, the real estate experts at Allen Tate are here to help. Fill this form To start today! ________________________ Allen Tate is the largest real estate company in the Carolinas with more than 70 offices and 1,800 real estate agents in the Charlotte, Triad, Triangle, High Country, Upstate SC, Highlands/Cashiers and Asheville/Mountain regions. Allen Tate is a partner at Howard Hanna Real Estate, the largest private real estate brokerage in the U.S., with 500 real estate, mortgage, insurance, title and escrow services offices

Last updated on November 8, 2024 In the latest Cost vs. Value, the average mid-range bathroom remodel costs just over $24,000, while a larger-scale remodel costs more than $72,000. Whether you're looking to simply make some cosmetic changes to your current space or tear your current bathroom to the ground, here's what's hot in the world of bathroom design. Seventy-nine percent of homeowners choose to maintain existing space when renovating their bathroom. Those who choose to expand their space do so by removing square footage from a closet or building an addition. More than 55% of all renovated bathrooms are a modest size of less than 100 square feet. As the average price of renovating a bathroom continues to rise, more and more homeowners are deciding to cut costs in an effort to save budget. Interestingly, in previous years, increasing the size of the shower was a major trend, but in 2024, we will see that trend begin to decrease and less people choose to expand the shower space. Wet rooms Wet rooms are gaining popularity year on year, with 13% of homeowners renovating their bathrooms choosing to add this feature. Not only is this a better use of space, but it is also great for residents aging in place, as these wet rooms are curbless entrances. Freestanding bathtubs The oversized garden tubs that graced new construction in the '90s are slowly being retired and replaced with sleek freestanding tubs. Thirty-seven percent of homeowners renovating their bathroom choose these space-saving tub styles, with the majority opting for a flat-bottom acrylic tub. Classic finishes While bold colors like green are trending, white has always been and continues to be the favorite color when it comes to vanities, countertops and tiles. Considering that white finishes have dominated the bathroom design world for decades, designing a bathroom using primarily white finishes will never go out of style. You can inject personality with easily changeable wall colors, greenery, and even artwork. Tile floors Tiles, tiles and more tiles! The vast majority of those who renovate their bathroom opt for tile floors and shower walls. The art of mixing metals in home design is not just for the kitchen, as this idea has slowly made its way to the bathroom as well. With interior designers leading the trend for this eclectic approach, more and more homeowners are opting for a more curated look and looking to achieve this by mixing metals. The key to achieving this look is to keep plumbing fixtures in the same metal family and then have fun with light fixtures, cabinet pulls, and other accessories. Showers without curb As more and more homeowners want to age in place, master bathrooms are being renovated with that in mind. Curbless showers are trendy and exceptionally functional, bridging the gap between accessibility and perfect design. Interested in seeing other trending home design ideas? Verify the latest trends in home improvement ROI. Transitional style is still king With 23% of homeowners choosing this aesthetic, transitional style is the most popular bathroom renovation style, ahead of contemporary (16%), modern (15%), traditional (11%), farmhouse style ( 5%) and eclectic (5%). ). Wooden dressing tables are now the most popular. White aside, wooden vanities are now the most popular choice for those renovating their bathrooms, with 26% opting for this style, followed by white (22%), gray (11%), blue (11%). ) and the whitish. (10%). However, white remains the most popular choice for vanities and shower walls. ________________________ Allen Tate is the largest real estate company in the Carolinas with more than 70 offices and 1,800 real estate agents in the Charlotte, Triad, Triangle, High Country, Upstate SC, Highlands/Cashiers and Asheville/Mountain regions. Allen Tate is a partner at Howard Hanna Real Estate, the largest private real estate brokerage in the U.S., with 500 real estate, mortgage, insurance, title and escrow services offices and 15,000 sales associates and staff. in 13 states. For more information, visit www.allentate.com and www.howardhanna.com. Visited 227 times, 3 visit(s) today

Last updated on November 6, 2024 Housing inventory recently hit a 4-year high in September, as the lower-than-low housing inventory levels we experienced during the pandemic are slowly fading as more and more homes come to market. What's more, new homes for sale have increased 4.7% nationally, despite the headwind of mortgage interest rates. With more listings than we've seen in recent years, if you're selling or about to sell, you may be wondering what to expect in terms of how long the entire process might take, from start to finish. It's a good idea to manage expectations when listing your home, and to that end, here's what we're seeing both nationally and locally in terms of average days on market (DOM). DOM national average Today, what's happening nationally is just a snapshot of what's likely happening in your area, as real estate becomes increasingly hyperlocal. At the national level, the latest data shows us that days on market are 55 days. This figure is much higher than the average 48 days on market we experienced this time last year, when inventory shortages were a much bigger issue than today. However, while DOMs have increased year over year, time on market is still well below the averages we saw in the pre-pandemic market. In 2017, days on market were around 64 days, and this was during a seller's market. Regional average DOM Locally, here's what we're seeing in our markets (based on Q3 data): Charlotte: 44 SUN Triad: 42 SUN Triangle: 40 SUN Upstate: 50 DOM Mountain lakes: 77 SUN Asheville: 70 SUN Highlands: 161 SUN What does all this mean for sellers? Even as days on market slowly inch toward pre-pandemic levels, the issue remains: There are still more buyers than sellers. A home that is priced well from the start, has been well maintained, and is properly staged and marketed will sell quickly. As you prepare your home to list, here are some tips to keep in mind: Correct price Even in a seller's market, homeowners should not “test the market” by pricing their home too high. Buyers are getting smarter and, with all the data at their fingertips, they know when something is overpriced. An overpriced home is sure to stay on the market longer than its properly priced counterparts, and when this happens, it leads buyers to ask the question: “What's wrong with that home?” This is still a fast-paced market and buyers take notice when the same home keeps showing up in their search, week after week. Testing the waters with price ends up backfiring, forcing sellers who try this strategy to significantly lower the price of their home. TLDR: Homes that are well priced and in good condition are still oversubscribed and receive multiple offers. Therefore, it's important to price your home right from the start. Instead of pricing your home based on what you think it's worth, let the market determine the sales price for maximum exposure. stage to sell You've heard the saying, “A house staged is a house sold,” and these famous last words echoed by real estate agents around the world couldn't be more true. Homes on the market that are under contract days after listing are impeccably staged. All surfaces are free of clutter. All closets are organized and have about 1/3 of the space empty. All extra rooms and garages are collected and organized to show their potential. All the walls are painted in light, cool neutrals and the curb appeal is so good it practically invites you in for a hot cup of tea. If you need information on elements and practical tips for staging, be sure to check out: How to prepare your garage to sell it. ________________________ Allen Tate is the largest real estate company in the Carolinas with more than 70 offices and 1,800 real estate agents in the Charlotte, Triad, Triangle, High Country, Upstate SC, Highlands/Cashiers and Asheville/Mountain regions. Allen Tate is a partner at Howard Hanna Real Estate, the largest private real estate brokerage in the U.S., with 500 real estate, mortgage, insurance, title and escrow services offices and 15,000 sales associates and staff. in 13 states. For more information, visit www.allentate.com and www.howardhanna.com. Visited 3 times, 3 visits today