How You Can Still Find A Deal In Charlotte’s Current Housing Market

Steve
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How You Can Still Find A Deal In Charlotte’s Current Housing Market

As Charlotte home prices continue to increase all around our city, and inventories remain low, deals on homes are becoming harder and harder to find.

I reached out to one of Charlotte’s largest local real estate firms, Dickens Mitchener, to find out some ways that Charlotte buyers can still find a deal in today’s fast-paced seller’s market.

Here are a few of the tips I received;

#1 Find A Well-Connected Buyer’s Agent

When real estate inventory is low, homes can often get bid up above their value, so the best deals can occasionally be found on homes that haven’t hit the market yet. Well-connected buyer’s agents are the key to finding these.

Agents who frequently co-list and network with other Realtors will be the first to hear of deals before they hit the market, and more seasoned agents will also receive more referrals and will often have their own “pocket listings” that you’ll likely be first to know about.

#2 Getting Creative With Terms

Buying a house involves more than just your purchase price. and sellers can sometimes prefer a lower-priced offer if another “term” is more important to them. The “terms” of a real estate contract include; price, earnest money, due diligence fee and time period, closing date, type of financing, inspections, etc.

“Several weeks ago, I was able to help a client purchase a home in Plaza Midwood that had four offers in the first 12 hours on market, knowing someone might come in with cash and my buyer was purchasing with a loan, I advised my client to waive their right for an appraisal and our offer won! Knowing the value and the market I knew the house was worth more than purchase price. Terms are often what can win you the deal even over price,” commented Realtor Cackie Morrow.

#3 Finding a Fixer-Upper

It’s obvious that homes needing more work can be purchased for less, but depending on the neighborhood, the type of work needed, and how significant it is, this is often where you can save the most.

You can save a ton of money in the long run on a home with major cosmetic issues and minor structural issues, compared to one with minor cosmetic issues and major structural issues.

According to Realtor Aubrey Grier, “Buying a home that needs lipstick is where a buyer can potentially find a deal. Charlotte’s current buyer wants move-in ready homes. They don’t even want to paint. It’s a huge change in trend from 10 to 15 years ago. Deals can still be found if a buyer is willing to do some work, because those homes are less desirable currently than in the past, but that is where money can be made in our market.”

Have you recently purchased a home in Charlotte? 

Do you have any other advice for new home buyers? 

5 Carolina Towns Ranked Among The 30 Best Small Cities in America

Steve
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5 Carolina Towns Ranked Among The 30 Best Small Cities in America

National Geographic just released a new ranking of the “Best Small Cities in The United States“.

To compile the list, National Geographic “partnered with Resonance Consultancy, a global destination branding advisor, to identify the top U.S. small cities based on unconventional metrics that we think lead to happiness: green spaces, galleries, coffee shops, breweries, music venues, Instagrammable moments, and more.”

A total of 5 Carolina towns landed on the ranking, which is quite impressive, considering there are only 2 California towns and 2 Florida towns on it. South Carolina actually has more towns (3) on the list than any other state in the country. North Carolina was tied for #2 with 2 towns.

North Carolina’s Asheville was unsurprisingly featured;

More than three dozen craft breweries and brewpubs (the most per capita of any U.S. city) work hoppy magic in and around this North Carolina town. Many cluster in the South Slope, a former automotive zone where you can now walk between spots like Wicked Weed’s Funkatorium and Catawba Brewing Co., with a spacious deck boasting views of Mount Pisgah. Crafts of a less intoxicating sort also headline throughout the city, including at the historic Grovewood Village, with its artisan studios, art galleries, and sculpture garden.

Our second town is far more surprising – a place that was recently ranked among the ‘10 Least Educated Cities in America‘ – Hickory, NC;

A thriving 20th-century manufacturing hub for furniture and textiles, Hickory now finds itself heading our list for its hipster-friendly offerings, from tattoo parlors to vintage clothing boutiques. Craft-beer enthusiasts gather at the popular annual Hickory Hops festival featuring more than 50 microbreweries and live music.

South Carolina’s record 3 towns include Greenville;

“Now known for its start-up spirit and urbane downtown, Greenville makes our hot list for its number of butchers, delis, and steakhouses. Savor a steak at Halls Chophouse, then head to Falls Park, where a nearly 40-foot natural waterfall churns just off Main Street, and a pedestrian-only bridge curves gracefully overhead.”

SC’s capital of Columbia;

“With BBQ an essential menu item for South Carolinians, Columbia tops our list for meatiest city per capita in its population group. Locals get their grilled meats buffet-style at Little Pigs Barbecue or stuffed in delectable sandwiches at Southern Belly BBQ’s three locations. But don’t think that they neglect their grooming. Columbia also tops our list in its population group for its number of barber shops and salons.”

and not surprisingly, Charleston;

“Instagrammers love Charleston’s abundance of art. Works by local artists will fill the rooms and public spaces of the new Hotel Bennett, opening this summer on a chunk of prime real estate overlooking Marion Square. It’s a great crash pad for checking out Charleston’s booming arts scene, which ranks high in our survey because of a large number of schools and galleries, like the Art Institute of Charleston and Helena Fox Fine Art. The latter specializes in works by southern artists such as West Fraser, known for his muted paintings of nearby Low Country. Performing arts shine at the grand, three-year-old Gaillard Center, which hosts concerts and dance shows and serves as one of the venues for the city’s celebrated Spoleto Festival, taking place May 25 to June 10 in 2018.”

The full list includes (in no particular order);

#1 Boulder, CO
#2 Honolulu, HI
#3 Pensacola, FL
#4 Columbia, SC
#5 Charlottesville, VA
#6 Hickory, NC
#7 Santa Cruz, CA
#8 Charleston, SC
#9 Ann Arbor, MI
#10 Portland, ME
#11 Newport, RI
#12 Pittsburgh, PA
#13 Anchorage, AK
#14 Annapolis, MD
#15 New Orleans, LA
#16 Madison, WI
#17 Reno, NV
#18 Healdsburg, CA
#19 Olympia, WA
#20 Spokane, WA
#21 Albuquerque, NM
#22 Rapid City, SD
#23 Baton Rougue, LA
#24 Kansas City, MO
#25 Lakeland, FL
#26 Asheville, NC
#27 Louisville, KY
#28 Hagerstown, MD
#29 Greenville, SC
#30 Omaha, NE

Do you agree that these are the best small cities in America?

How many of the top 30 cities have you been to?

13-Year-Old Girl Shot and Killed At Concord Mills

Charlotte Stories
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13-Year-Old Girl Shot and Killed At Concord Mills

Police have just released the name of the 13-year-old girl that was shot and killed on Saturday night at the Concord Mills Mall.

According to police, 13-year-old Avenanna Propst was pronounced dead at the scene after police responsed to a shooting on Saturday night at about 8:40pm outside of the entrance to Dave and Buster’s.

An additional 2 shooting victims, both males under the age of 16, were also transported to the hospital.

The Concord Police Department released the victims name and more details about the shooting on Facebook;

Concord PD doesn’t think the young girl was the intended target in the shooting.

They now believe the shooting started with a altercation in the Dave and Busters parking lot and quickly escalated into a shooting.

Police now have one potential suspect in custody as they continue investigating.

If you have any information about the shooing, please call the Concord Police Department, or 911.

The Internet Is Freaking Out Over “Baby Yoda Cat” At Rowan County’s Animal Shelter

Charlotte Stories
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The Internet Is Freaking Out Over “Baby Yoda Cat” At Rowan County’s Animal Shelter

The internet now has a new favorite cat, and it currently lives right here in the Charlotte area.

“Baby Yoda Cat” first started going viral when the Humane Society of Rowan County (HSRC) set up a new Facebook cage for an adorable new rescue kitty on Christmas eve.

The cat was initially brought to the Cabarrus Animal Hospital on December 15th with a deep wound around her neck, an upper respiratory infection, a flea infestation, and intestinal parasites.

According to HSRC, “Baby Yoda Cat” won’t be available for adoption until she is able to recover from all her ailments.

“The rescue is accepting local applications, but she won’t officially be available for adoption until her wounds are healed, she is spayed, microchipped, and receives her second round of vaccines and dewormer…”

You can follow her progress and find out when she will be ready for adoption by following her personal Facebook page here.

Panthers Hosting ‘Fan Appreciation Day’ This Sunday During Their Last Game of The Season

Charlotte Stories
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Panthers Hosting ‘Fan Appreciation Day’ This Sunday During Their Last Game of The Season

This coming Sunday, the Carolina Panthers will be playing their last game of the a season against the New Orleans Saints at the Bank of America Stadium during their ‘Fan Appreciation Day’. If the Panthers manage to win, they’ll end their 7-game losing streak and eliminate the Saints chance for a first-round bye in the playoffs.

The Panthers’ MVP, Christian McCaffrey, also has the chance of making history by becoming the 3rd player in NFL history to reach 1,000 rushing and receiving yards in a single season. He only needs 67 more passing yards to reach the historic milestone.

To say thank you to all the fans who have continued to stick with the Panthers in the face of mounting losses, the organization will also be hosting a ‘Fan Appreciation Day’ during Sunday’s game.

Fans will receive 25% off non-alcoholic concessions and all purchases in the team store as well as a free rolla banners at the gate upon entrance to the game.

1 lucky fan will also receive a free GMC truck at halftime, in addition to a number of other prizes, posters, and giveaways from the team store.

You can still buy tickets to this Sunday’s game starting at $31 each here on Stubhub.com.

Duke Energy to Seek Relicensing for 6 Nuclear Plants in Support of Carbon Goal

Charlotte Stories
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Duke Energy to Seek Relicensing for 6 Nuclear Plants in Support of Carbon Goal
McGuire Nuclear Station via Duke Energy

Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK) announced it will seek to renew the operating licenses of the 11 reactors it operates at six nuclear stations in the Carolinas for an additional 20 years.

“Our nuclear power plants have safely and reliably provided electricity to our Carolinas customers for decades,” said Preston Gillespie, Duke Energy’s chief nuclear officer. “These plants generate clean and cost-effective power, provide thousands of well-paying jobs, and produce substantial economic benefits for the Carolinas. Renewing the licenses of these plants is important for our customers, communities and environment.”

The first Duke Energy nuclear power plants will approach the end of their current operating licenses in the early 2030s. Rigorous, ongoing preventive maintenance programs across the nuclear fleet and technology upgrades and investments over the years at all stations have contributed to their continuing strong operating performance. In 2018, Duke Energy’s nuclear fleet marked its 20th consecutive year with a fleet capacity factor – a measure of reliability – greater than 90%.

The company expects to submit the license renewal application for Oconee Nuclear Station in 2021, followed by its other nuclear stations. Oconee is the company’s largest nuclear station, with three generating units that produce more than 2,500 megawatts (MW).

Critical component in reducing carbon emissions

Duke Energy’s nuclear fleet plays an important role in the company’s efforts to lower carbon emissions. In 2018, the Duke Energy nuclear fleet generated more than 72 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity and avoided the release of about 54 million tons of carbon dioxide – equivalent to keeping more than 10 million passenger cars off the road. The company has set aggressive carbon reduction goals of at least 50% by 2030 and net-zero by 2050, and keeping its nuclear fleet operating is key to achieving these goals.

Significant economic benefits

Renewing the nuclear licenses will provide significant value to Duke Energy customers, as well as continue to support Carolinas communities through jobs, tax revenues and partnerships. Duke Energy employs about 5,000 workers in its nuclear group, with additional contract workers supporting refueling outages and project work.

In 2018, the company also paid more than $300 million in property and payroll taxes associated with the nuclear stations, benefiting local governments and school districts. In addition, nuclear employees support the communities where they live and work by donating time and funds through sponsorships and volunteer activities.

License renewal process

U.S. nuclear facilities are licensed by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission and were originally licensed to operate for 40 years based on economic considerations, not technology limitations. Regulations allow nuclear licensees to renew their licenses for up to 20 years at a time. All Duke Energy-operated nuclear units have received one renewed license for an additional 20 years. The process to renew licenses for a second 20 years requires a comprehensive analysis and evaluation to ensure the units can safely operate for the extended operation period. The review process begins with an acceptance review of the application once received, with a goal to complete the subsequent license renewal application review within 18 months of docketing.

Duke Energy’s nuclear fleet

Station Location Capacity
Brunswick Southport, N.C. – Brunswick County   1,870 MW
Catawba * York, S.C. – York County   2,310 MW
Harris New Hill, N.C. – Wake County      964 MW
McGuire Huntersville, N.C. – Mecklenburg County   2,316 MW
Oconee Seneca, S.C. – Oconee County   2,554 MW
Robinson Hartsville, S.C. – Darlington County      741 MW

* Catawba is jointly owned by North Carolina Municipal Power Agency Number One, North Carolina Electric Membership Corporation, Piedmont Municipal Power Agency and Duke Energy

Concord Airline Offering New Non-Stop Flight To Emerald Coast For $37.50

Charlotte Stories
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Concord Airline Offering New Non-Stop Flight To Emerald Coast For $37.50

Allegiant Air, a low-cost airline operating out of the Concord Regional Airport, recently added their first nonstop flight to Destin, Florida. To celebrate, they’re offering a limited time flight special of $37.50 for a one-way ticket (round-trip as low as $83.50).

“Allegiant is thrilled to launch the only ultra-low-cost, nonstop option to Florida’s Emerald Coast from Charlotte,” commented Drew Wells, vice president of planning and revenue for Allegiant. “We’re positive that area residents will take advantage of this convenient, nonstop service to enjoy the beautiful sugar-white sand beaches, fresh seafood and stunning golf courses that Destin and the surrounding areas have to offer.”

The new flight route will fly out of Concord twice each week, with the lowest cost flight on Sunday, and the lowest coast return flight on Thursday.

Allegiant now offers a total of 6 nonstop flight services out of the Concord Regional Airport.

Flight days, times and the lowest fares can be found at allegiant.com.

Risks of Using E-Cigs and Vape Pens

Steve
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E-smoking and vaping have been all the buzz for the last couple of years. The new way to consume nicotine has changed the tobacco and marijuana industry completely. Over 30 million people are now vaping. 

At first, many people believed that vaping or using e-cigs was a safer way to ingest nicotine, but due to several recent tragedies, this idea has changed. Many people, especially teenagers, are ending up in the hospital because of issues caused by vaping. 

We are going to go over the risks one should consider before picking up a vape pen or e-cig as an alternative to tobacco.

Risk of Stronger Addiction 

When vaping, it is possible to make these liquids super potent. It is said that some liquids are 3 to 4 times stronger than regular tobacco products. This could create a stronger addiction to a more intense product.

Another reason why it is more addictive is that the vapor does not smell like traditional smoke. Vape liquid comes in different fruity and pleasant flavors, which make the vape smoke smell more appealing, and this is why many businesses allow vaping inside their premises. 

Also, people often do not mind people vaping in their houses because it will not smell like a stale cigarette or cigar smoke. This leads to stronger addiction because one does not even have to move off the couch, out of the office, or leave the bar to vape. Even if it is illegal to use e-cigs inside a workplace, a person can often vape in the bathroom undetected. 

Risks of Health Problems

Research by the British Medical Association has shown that vaping is approximately 5% of the risk of traditional smoking. It still does carry risks, however. There have been claims that one can still suffer from various cancers, as a result of the misuse of vape pens.

Because of the lack of regulation, the potency and chemicals used to make the liquid could be dangerous. Any inhalation of chemicals runs the risk of respiratory and lung diseases, such as emphysema. These diseases can decrease someone’s quality of life substantially. 

Risk of Death 

In 2019, there has been a total of 33 deaths that are related to the use of vaping. This number is bound to continue to climb as more and more people are vaping. Of these deaths, most of them are under the age of 35. Of course, this is an insignificant number when compared to deaths from tobacco, but still a tragedy for those concerned.

Parents should be seriously concerned if their child is vaping as any use of nicotine is not desirable. It is not just liquid tobacco concentrations that are being vaped. Most of the deaths and illnesses are related to liquids containing high concentrations of synthetic THC.

The Bottom Line 

In many ways, e-cig use is better than conventional smoking, but it is not recommended and is in no way totally safe. Before considering ingesting your nicotine this way, one should think about the possible health risks. Only when industry regulation is imposed will the dangers of vaping be fully known.

Six New Ways to Make Money Online in 2020

Robin Mann
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Six New Ways to Make Money Online in 2020

People have been making money through blogging, selling items online, and creating YouTube videos for more than ten years. And while many of these methods have been tested to work, they haven’t always worked for everyone.

Luckily, new opportunities to make money keep cropping up. From renting out your house on Airbnb to creating logos for websites, there are numerous ways to earn money online these days. Below are some of the new money-making opportunities every Charlottean should take advantage of in 2020. 

Sell Collectibles 

Selling collectibles is big business in the US, now more than ever. From sneakers to handbags, classic watches to music CDs, if you have items people would pay money for, sell them. Case and point; a lucky Nike sneakers’ collector sold shoes worth $200 for $13,500 last June.

The sneakers were sold on stockx.com, a site on which people can buy collectibles through a bidding system. The website collects 9.5% from each sale while the seller keeps the rest minus a 3% processing fee. StockX isn’t the only site where you can sell collectible, however.

There are dozens of sites that let you sell virtually anything online in the country. You’ve probably used Craiglist, Amazon, and eBay before. But there are also apps like Mercari and Oodle designed to help people sell personal stuff.

Online Gaming

If you are like many people, you probably learned people make money through gaming after a 16-year-old earned $3 million playing Fortnite last July. Truth be told, people have been living off online games since the mid-1990s.

How you ask. Online gambling has been legal in some parts of the world since the mid-1990s. Although only a small percentage of people play poker, slots, and blackjack games professionally, the rate represents millions of people.

Against that backdrop, you can also join a couple of online casinos and use them to play poker, blackjack, or slot machines for money. Most professionals prefer poker because it involves many skills. But if you are only interested in playing the games for fun, you can play as many casino games as possible.

Gambling aside, you can play video games for money on streaming sites like Twitch, YouTube, and even Facebook. Alternatively, you could become a professional video game competitor. And if you are skilled enough to defeat some of the best players in the world, you could turn eSports into your career. 

Sell e-Books

Electronic books are nothing new, but they are resurging on many online stores. On Amazon, for example, e-books make up one of the biggest categories on the giant shopping website. The beauty of e-books is that they are easy to write and can be exceedingly profitable if you target the right audience.

Marketing an e-Book isn’t exactly easy, however. But with some bit of research, you can learn great tips to promote your book through a personal blog or by hiring marketers. You can also use social media to promote your book.

But before you think of marketing your book, ensure you’ve done your research and written a stellar book. People prefer to buy books with helpful content. So, figure out what you are good at and how you can inform or educate people with the knowledge through an e-Book.

Get aboard the Gig Economy

Similar to e-Books, the gig economy didn’t start in 2019. It’s been developing as an industry for more than a decade. However, it’s been growing tremendously for the last couple of years. And if it continues at the same pace, half of the American people will be working online by 2025. 

Fortunately, the nascent industry provides jobs for nearly everyone. From programmers to designers, authors to marketers, there are plenty of jobs on the Internet. Better yet, you can find well-paying jobs.

On a gig-focused website Fiverr.com, designers charge up to $500 per logo. That means you only need ten orders to earn $5000 per month. On the same site, some people sell app-building services for $1000 or more. 

Become an Affiliate Marketer

At this point, affiliate marketing is also not new to many online users. But we are listing it because it’s consistently one of the best ways to make money online each year. At its core, affiliate marketing involves helping clients get new customers in exchange for commissions.

‘Amazon affiliates’ is the most popular affiliate marketing program online. Members choose the products they want to promote through their websites. Each product category comes with a different commission rate.

For example, you could choose to promote expensive furniture in exchange for a 5% commission on each sale. If you sell a couch worth $1000, you’ll receive $50. If you sell ten similar sofas, you’ll earn $500 from Amazon.

Outside of Amazon, most big online businesses have affiliate programs. Established online casinos, for example, can pay you up to 20% of the first deposit made by people you refer to them. Of course, you can also see new sites, evaluate them, and decide whether they offer better deals. Sometimes new casinos offer better value for your time than well-renowned sites.

Become an Influencer

Do you love social media? Do you have a way of making people follow you on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, or Snapchat? Congratulations! You are on your way to being a social media celebrity.

Because social media celebrities aren’t very popular outside of their platforms, people know them by a unique name: influencers. That’s because they influencing other social media users is what influencers are most known for.

Luckily, brands love people with influence and will shell out millions of dollars to the most famous social media users. Soccer player Cristiano Ronaldo, for example, earns up to $1 million per Instagram post. Singer Selena Gomez makes a near similar figure. 

Of course, Selena and Ronaldo are two of the world’s most famous Instagram users. But for people just starting, expect to earn $500 or less per post. With time, when you attract over 100,000 followers, you could command the upwards of $10,000 per post. 

UNCC Hero Riley Howell Immortalized By Lucasfilm As A New Jedi Warrior Character

Steve
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UNCC Hero Riley Howell Immortalized By Lucasfilm As A New Jedi Warrior Character

21-Year-Old Riley Howell, the UNCC student and life-long Star Wars fan who sacrificed his life to stop the school shooter in April, 2019, has been immortalized by Lucasfilm as an official Jedi Master and historian of the Jedi Order.

Matthew Westmoreland, Riley’s girlfriend’s brother, shared a photo of the letter Riley’s family received about one of their newest Jedi characters – “Ri-Lee Howell”;

via Matthew Westmoreland

After the newest Star Wars movie was released in theaters, it was revealed that Riley is listed in a companion book to The Rise of Skywalker as the Jedi Master and historian, “Ri-Lee Howell”.

Here is photo of the official entry of Ri-Lee in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker: The Visual Dictionary, a 2019 reference book written by Pablo Hidalgo:

via Matthew Westmoreland

In Westmoreland’s now viral Reddit post, he adds that:

“Riley was a massive Star Wars fan, and in the five-plus years I knew him he repeatedly surprised me with his encyclopedic knowledge of the Star Wars universe. The fact that his character is a historian who put together an incredibly important text for the Jedi religion, important enough for Rey and Luke to take with them on the Millenium Falcon, is beyond cool, and we have no words for this except:

Thank you, Lucasfilm. You made our Christmas, even though we’re finishing the most difficult year in memory for us all.”

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