Charlotte Homes Right Here - Home

Share these things with your AGENT

2008-10-15T16:33:00Z

I have to share a couple of things that will help tremendously with whomever you pick as an agent:

1) It is very hard to find properties when the agent doesn't know what your goal is. Share upfront what your goal in finding a new home is, family, ideal location, size requirements, exterior make-up, & quality of construction.

2) Attempt to give at least 24-48 hours notice to preview homes. Try driving by the neighborhoods to assess if the 'feel' of the neighborhood is right & the lot will work for your needs. The Seller generally wants time to spruce up the home for the showing. It gives the agent time to do background information, make appointments, & prepare for a formalized tour. It will result in a concise & better experience.

3) Determine what your financial goals are in purchasing your next home & what the process of selling your home would be. After 12 years in one home, uprooting your family can be difficult. Make sure its clear to the agent what the game plan is. Share your timeframe: to know exactly how long they need to work towards a goal (diligently). Also, they can work towards the goal by finding properties that may or may not be on the market.

4) Understand this is a precarious time to sell/buy real estate in the Charlotte market. In the past we could generally locate prime real estate. The inventory over the past 6-8 months has been stale. It will take until 2010 to work through the current inventory. By 2010, there will be fresh/new homes for sale. The uncertainty in the marketplace; (shaky credit market, non-liquidity from the banks, the presidential election, the 700 billion bailout, stock market woes, war, etc...) will have passed. Charlotte will rebound with stable values & getting back to the reason people are looking at relocating in the first place, better location, more/less size, bigger/smaller yard & a new place to call home. You may take a loss on the sale of your home. However, you will make up for it if you purchase a home while the market is soft.

It's an incredible time to buy a home.
Overall, being on the same page is critical. Think of your agent as a partner on the team. Communicate regularly if you need to change your preferences in a new home or need to make adjustments in your home search.

We can’t read minds.

This will help any agent get off on the right foot in your search.

After understanding what your needs are, I would love the opportunity to work on your behalf.

Feel free to call me with any questions. I can be reached at 704.602.4223, or email me at mhege@dickensmitchener.com.

All the best,

Mike

Posted by: Mike Hege

Eastover Elementary School

2008-08-25T21:32:00Z

It is hard to believe but the leaves will soon be off the trees and it is back to school time. As I tugged crabgrass from between the cracks of the bricks under the flagpole at Eastover Elementary with sweat dripping in my eyes I tried to think about cool fall weather which is right around the corner. Open House is today and my three children and I spent yesterday tidying up the school grounds in preparation. Eastover Elementary is the smallest elementary school in Mecklenburg County and the Charlotte Mecklenburg School System. We are expecting around 550 smiling faces next week on August 25th, the first day of school. I will soon see little navy blue clad k-5 graders trooping in to meet their new teachers. Eastover is a uniform school which makes mornings a breeze in my house. Navy blue bottoms and white shirts are standard issue and the Eastover logo is optional. Our Principle Vanessa Ashford is quite simply put a rock star and is well loved by both teachers and parents alike. Our dedicated staff is second to none. We offer tours on Wednesdays even though our popular school is over capacity. We have the most active PTA in the district and raise more money per capita than any other school. Our PTA was able to purchase 4 SmartBoards last year which are interactive white boards that allow the teachers to open and close applications and access the internet on a huge screen at the front of the class. We also were able to send 2 teachers to an international kindergarten conference this summer all expenses paid. Without the wonderful support of our parents Eastover would be a very different place. Let us hear from you. Learn more about relocating to the Eastover School District.

Catharine M. Pappas
Past President
Eastover PTA

Posted by: Catharine Pappas

Shopping in Town, at Eileen, Among Others

2008-08-15T19:02:00Z

All you shop-a-holics please take a seat and read on! On our lunch break yesterday the trusty Relocation Team at Dickens Mitchener went on a hunt for the best bargains in town and stumbled upon a jewel of a store named Eileen. It is located at 1800 Camden Rd. Suite 102. We were all struck by the casual, stylish clothes for a fraction of the price of area boutiques. The first cute, fitted long tee that I picked up was $19 dollars. I did not see a thing in the store for more than 49 dollars. They had great jewelry, handbags, and accessories as well. After we left Eileen we wandered next door to a store called Glamour Puss because we were intrigued by the sign advertising wigs and of course the 50% off sign clinched it. The store is very eclectic and we discovered that they had a full service salon in the back. We found a terrific little purse for $40 dollars among the avant guard clothes and jewels. Check it out and let us know what you think and then afterwards you can always have lunch at Pike’s or a fried chicken leg at Price’s Chicken Coop. Then you can hop on the light rail and head downtown for an early happy hour!

Posted by: Catharine Pappas

The U.S. National Whitewater Center

2008-08-05T19:03:00Z

Sixteen members of our Dickens-Mitchener team recently joined the Relocation Department for a fun filled outing to the U.S. National Whitewater Center where we tackled the roaring rapids in rafts and the Catawba River in flat water kayaks. After being warned by a soaking wet woman who was dripping by to listen carefully to all instructions from our hunky guide, we learned about the many activities that are offered at the Center besides whitewater rafting. Rock climbing and rappelling is offered for climbers ages 4 and up. We learned that there are over 11 miles on 307 acres of extreme biking and hiking trails. A tremendous Mega Zip zip-line is almost complete that will carry up to 4 riders at a dizzying height and lightening speed over water for 850 plus feet. The Team Development Center offers high and low ropes challenges and team building programs for small and large groups. Live music is offered every Thursday night until the end of October.

Luckily, no one got tossed out of the raft, and we all survived unscathed but deliciously wet on a very hot day. After our rafting adventure, we enjoyed a scrumptious lunch and an ice-cold beer at the Riverside Café while we watched other groups screaming and yelling for joy as they braved the rapids.

If you have not yet visited the Whitewater Center, we encourage you to come out and experience one of Charlotte's most exciting attractions. Please, call 704.391.3900 or checkout the website at http://www.usnwc.org to book a trip for yourself, family, a church group, supper club, reunions, team building or whatever excuse you can think of. The options are endless!

Stay tuned for our next Relocation sponsored outing!!

Posted by: Catharine Pappas

Time Warner Cable Arena

2008-07-30T14:13:00Z

Designed to emulate the progressive mindset and welcoming atmosphere of Charlotte, the Time Warner Cable Arena was the obvious choice to kickoff our tour of local area attractions. Built in 2005 by the City of Charlotte, this impressive facility, a central focus of point Uptown, has quickly become the Queen City’s premier sports and entertainment complex. The arena wears many hats – among them being home to the NBA’s Charlotte Bobcats and ECHL’s Charlotte Checkers and playing host to top-rated concerts and events. Architecture and design play an integral role in the relevancy of the arena, as the foremost goal of the facility is to portray a “celebration of gathering.” Mirroring the community in which we live, work, and play, the open walkways and terraces invite visitors to interact and socialize, while the countless art displays pay homage to Charlotte’s rich sports and commerce history. The Time Warner Cable Arena manages to balance a respect for the past with a constant anticipation for the future. It will no doubt continue to delight Charlotteans for years to come.

For more information on Bobcats Basketball, concerts, and other Time Warner Cable Arena events please contact Wade Leaphart at 704.688.8857 or wleaphart@bobcats.com.

Posted by: Catharine Pappas

Relocating to Charlotte, NC?

2008-07-28T15:35:00Z

Charlotte, NC currently tops Relocate-America’s™ Best Place to Live in 2008 List. Famous for its stunning neighborhoods, can-do spirit, and smart development, it’s no wonder that Charlotte continues to make headlines. As part of our new email marketing campaign, the Relocation Department will venture out to various local attractions and showcase to the world what this captivating city truly has to offer. From trendy nightlife hotspots to the roaring rapids of the U.S. National Whitewater Center, we are determined to do it all and look forward to sharing our stories with you.

Posted by: Catharine Pappas

Resort Living Just South of Charlotte

2008-07-26T01:38:00Z

There is an oasis just 10 miles south of I-485 on Hwy 521. It is Sun City Carolina Lakes, a Del Webb community that offers resort style living for those 55 and older. Only one person per household needs to be that age and they have an allowance for those 50+ who want to simplify their lives.

While Sun City caters to new construction, there are RESALES available and its difficult to get the word out when there are restrictions on signage and open houses. These barely lived in homes offer some hidden advantages. First they have fulfilled the ususal 90 day / 11 month walk thru. They usually have window treatments and ceiling fans. Many have added landscaping, irrigation systems, security systems and those special things that make that house your ‘home’. Additionally, resales have access to regular financing. New construction generally ties the incentives to their mortgage company who typically has higher interest rates than the going rate.

In this community the landscaping is part of your homeowners dues. There are currently 1200 single family homes with a capacity of 3400. There are carriage homes, 4 units to a building and attached villas. So there is something for everyone.

Amenities are too numerous to list from tennis, bocce ball, golf, swimming (indoor and outdoor pools) to bridge, poker, billiards, crafts and woodworking. They even have a full fitness center with a running track.

This golf cart community is very friendly and welcomes residents from all over the country. While there is lots of new construction, resales are now available. All in all – a RESALE is a great value.

Additionally, I am holding an Open House in Sun City Carolina Lakes for this Sunday, 7/27/08 3p-5p, at 16280 Raven Crest Drive. It is a great investment opportunity in Sun City Carolina Lakes. This one year old home is priced at an unbelievable $185,000 for a 2 bedroom/2 bath single family home. It features a large master suite with a walk-in closet, corian kitchen, hardwoods and ceiling fans. This community offers golf, tennis, state of the art fitness center, indoor/outdoor pools, walking trails and activities galore. Come check it out! Call me, Laura Pogue, at 803-548-2710.

Posted by: Laura Pogue

Native Charlottean takes a road trip

2008-07-23T21:34:00Z

As everyone who knows me well knows, the Pappas clan loves a road trip! Charlotte is located in a great spot in our fair state of North Carolina and we are a short drive to many wonderful destinations. Last weekend we loaded our gas guzzling suburban to the gills and took off for the shores of Lake Summit. You die hard campers might recognize the name if you are an alum of Camp Green Cove, Camp Mondamin, Camp Pinnacle or Camp Greystone. The lake glows a beautiful blue-green and is so clear that you can see your feet when standing in water up to your waist. Bring your bicycle because there are miles of dirt roads to ride on and explore. The nearby towns of Flat Rock and Saluda are full of shopping and restaurants and Asheville is a 30 minute ride away.

A summer trip is not complete with out a local farmer’s market. Lake Summit is right down the road from the Curbside Market which is chock full of locally grown produce, fresh baked bread, cookies and cakes. There is also stall after stall of hand-made crafts.

The best way to see the lake after you have loaded up on groceries is definitely by water. Bring a canoe or a kayak for the best lake view or rent a house that is fully stocked. The powers that be are very strict about official Lake Summit stickers for power boats so you can not bring your own. Fortunately you can bring all the rafts that you want. Because after all the paddling, shopping and biking you are going to need to rest!

Happy travels until the next installment,

Catharine Pappas

Posted by: Catharine Pappas

About Dickens Mitchener

2008-07-14T17:32:00Z

In 1991, Al Dickens and Vicky Mitchener founded a real estate agency that offered their shared vision: an agency with talented, well-supported agents with advanced marketing and technology tools to help their clients buy and sell homes. This approach, and the agency’s commitment to the Charlotte community, has established Dickens-Mitchener as Charlotte’s premier real estate agency.

Dickens-Mitchener continues to identify new ways to grow client services and equip the best agents. We now have over 70 agents and 20 staff members, all focused on helping clients buy, finance, and sell their homes quickly and easily. Our relocation experts help you find the communities, school districts, and amenities that match your lifestyle. We want you to feel at home in Charlotte, whether that’s in Ballantyne, Belmont, Dilworth, Huntersville, Lake Norman, Lake Wiley, Matthews, Myers Park, Uptown or one of the many other great neighborhoods.

As Charlotte continues to grow, Dickens-Mitchener continues to increase and improve our services offered: Buying a Home, Selling a Home, Relocating, New Construction, Mortgage Services, and Vacation Homes.

With access to more than 6,000 resale listings on the Carolina Multiple Listing Service, hundreds of new home developments, For Sale by Owner homes, and rentals, we can represent you with the outstanding service Dickens-Mitchener clients have known for years.

At Dickens-Mitchener, we are committed to setting new standards for extraordinary customer service, intimate community understanding and involvement, and advocacy for our client’s needs above and beyond real estate. That’s our way – The Dickens-Mitchener Way.

History of Myers Park, North Carolina

2008-07-09T21:42:00Z

Myers Park was founded by J.S. “Jack” Myers, a descendent of wealthy Mecklenburg plantation owners who envisioned a grand Charlotte suburb. When he inherited his father’s wealth and land in 1869, Myers began slowly buying up the surrounding farmland along Providence Road, running the land as a large cotton farm with 20 tenant farmers. To beautify the area, Myers planted oak trees and finely landscaped his property so that soon it became known as Myers Park. He teamed up with developer George Stephens (who eventually became Myers’ son-in-law), prominent city planner John Nolen and his assistant Earle Sumner Draper to begin designing and advertising Myers Park as a premier residence for Charlotteans. By the end of 1916, Myers Park had more than fifty residences with homeowners that included lawyers, philanthropists, politicians—many of the city’s most prominent citizens.

Although most of the historic residences that survive in the neighborhood today were constructed in the roaring 20’s, there are two homes that pre-date this time—the O.J. Thies house, built in 1898, and the J.M. Jamison house, built in 1912 and now serves as a branch bank for Mutual Savings and Loan. J.S. Myers’ house was eventually demolished, but his finely landscaped front yard remains as the J.S. Myers Park, the centerpiece of the neighborhood, bound by Hermitage Road, Ardsley Road, and Providence Road. Some of the prevailing architectural styles in the neighborhood are Colonial Revival, some with Georgian influences, Tudor Revival, as well as bungalow-style homes.

Myers Park North Carolina Real Estate

2008-07-09T21:42:00Z

Even though the early 20th century grand estates are what define the neighborhood, the Myers Park real estate market is surprisingly broad due to development that continued through the latter half of the century and into today. Available real estate in Myers Park now includes smaller scale single family homes and newer constructions, as well as condominiums and townhouses that fit in nicely with the Colonial and Tudor showcase homes. Cozy 2 or 3 bedroom bungalow homes can be purchased for as low as $325,000, while the more luxurious upscale homes can run as high as $4.2 million.

There are opportunities to buy brand new homes, built in 2008, and for the most selective homebuyer, there are many opportunities for custom homebuilding in Myers Park as well. For the most hassle-free homeownership available, condominiums and townhouses give all the benefits of living in a great locale without the worry and effort of maintaining a larger home, and Myers Park features a great selection of condominium complexes and multi-family residences to choose from. Many Myers Park condominiums and townhouses feature traditional and classic design that blends seamlessly with the neighborhood’s historic atmosphere, and with a price range of $130,000 to $1 million+, these residences are affordable to first time homebuyers and experienced investors alike.

Eastover Real Estate

2008-07-09T21:41:00Z

Like that of Myers Park, Eastover’s real estate market since WWII has expanded greatly to include a variety of housing types. Although the neighborhood continues to be defined by its large historic residences that add beauty, charm, and intrigue to the area, Eastover now offers real estate options for a wider base of homebuyers; properties for sale in Eastover include condominiums, townhouses, and modest single family homes in addition to its grand Southern estates. Single family homes in Eastover start in the high $300,000s, but are typically spacious at that price, and often feature three or more bedrooms and two bathrooms. Newly constructed homes in Eastover that have been built within the last 8 years feature large square footage and classic design that is reminiscent of the neighborhood’s earliest residences. If owning and maintaining a piece of Eastover history is your dream, the Eastover real estate market offers a selection of historic homes (pre-1940) that are available from the high $400,000s. But for those who desire hassle-free homeownership, an Eastover condominiums or townhouse is a great option. Condos and townhouses in Eastover are available from $135,000, and make great investments for first time homebuyers who want to be a part of this renowned Charlotte community.

Myers Park North Carolina

2008-07-09T21:41:00Z

The neighborhood of Myers Park—located on the west side of Providence Road and south of Uptown Charlotte—is one of the city’s most prestigious residential areas. With impressive historic mansions and gently curving streets lined with giant oak trees, the area boasts picturesque Southern charm and a quiet elegance that stands apart from the bustling Uptown neighborhoods only minutes away. Myers Park offers close proximity to one of Charlotte’s best medical facilities, the Presbyterian Hospital, as well as plenty of educational institutions, such as the Myers Park Traditional School, the Myers Park High School, and the highly acclaimed Queens University of Charlotte. Attractions within the neighborhood include the nearby Mint Museum of Art in Eastover, as well as many historic landmarks, such as the former home of Duke University founder James Buchanan Duke (which now serves as a bed and breakfast), the Myers Park Methodist Church, and the Myers Park Presbyterian Church. The neighborhood also offers casual and fine dining, Theater Charlotte, Myers Park Country Club, Wing Haven (a garden and bird sanctuary), specialty retail shops, and banking centers.

Eastover North Carolina

2008-07-09T21:40:00Z

The neighborhood of Eastover is located on the east side of Providence Road, southeast of Uptown Charlotte. Noted for its elegant, historic single-family estates, the neighborhood is paired with Myers Park as one of Charlotte’s most prominent residential areas. Situated on a slight hillside that slopes down to Briar Creek, Eastover is pleasantly void of commercial development except for that along Providence Road, and only contains the Eastover Elementary School, one church, and the Mint Museum of Art. The atmosphere in Eastover is peaceful and serene, a true retreat from Charlotte’s hectic central business district. Cherokee Road and Eastover Road, gently curving south through the neighborhood, showcase some of Eastover’s finest homes on sprawling lots shaded with towering Oak trees. The prevailing architectural style in the older areas of Eastover is classic red-brick Georgian Colonial Revival, with a few fine examples of Tudor Revival as well.

History of Eastover

2008-07-09T21:40:00Z

Prior to its conception in 1927, the neighborhood of Eastover consisted of two large dairy farms owned by Mc D. Watkins and Miss Cora Vail. Prominent Charlotte developer E.C. Griffith purchased the land from these two owners, dreaming of a suburban neighborhood that would rival Myers Park. Griffith teamed up with city planner Earle Sumner Draper, who had assisted John Nolen in the design of Myers Park, and began to heavily promote Eastover to members of the Charlotte elite. In one of his brochures, Griffith wrote:
“Home is far more than four walls and a roof top that protects us from the weather. It is the shrine of family life which will cluster the fondest memories after years. In the selection of your future home and your children's, the choosing of an ideal community is the most important step.”

Highly successful in this undertaking, Griffith watched as Eastover properties sold to many bankers, cotton brokers, city officials, lawyers and other influential Charlotteans.

One aspect that differentiated Eastover from Myers Park was that it was designed exclusively for residents with automobiles. While Myers Park featured convenient trolley access, Eastover’s trolley stops were several blocks away from the main gates, and its residents were expected to drive to and from their homes. The first residences in Eastover were built in 1928, in the initial Griffith subdivision which remains as the centerpiece of the neighborhood today. In just four short years, 42 residences were added along Cherokee Road, Colville Road, Eastover Road, Fenton Place and Hempstead Place. E.C. Griffith’s personal home, designed by architect Martin Boyer and built in 1929 on Eastover Road, still stands today finely preserved as a place of residence.