Agent Careers

As a Real Estate Agent, you work hard for your money and Carolina Living Real Estate knows what it’s like…

Just some of the benefits of being a Carolina Living Real Estate Agent:

-You Receive 100% of Your Commission

-No Franchise Fee

-No Sign Up Fees or Annual Dues

-On Call Dedicated Lender

-E & O Insurance Included

-No Referral Fee for Leads

-Quick Turn Around on Commission Checks

-No Mandatory Floor Time Duty or Meetings

-***Custom Website and Blogging Training***

-You Take Your Listings and Website if You Leave

-In Office Wi-Fi

-Bonus for Recruiting New Agents

-No Mandatory Listing Rates & Listing Terms for Sellers

-All leads routed to all agents in order they are recieved.  Not Favoritism

-FREE Realtor.com enhanced listings

-24 / 7 Access to Our Office

– *** Property Management ***

***Custom Website and Blogging Training*** – We teach each agent that is interested how to build a website /blog at minimal cost to them.  This is not like other agencies giving you a web page.  This is a website that you can control, own and take with you.  It is branded the way you want to brand it and dedicate it to the niche that works for you.  These websites actually have a chance to be found on the major search engines because we teach you how to do it.  Even novices can do this with some effort!

*** Property Management *** – Property Management is huge in this economy.  Our property management division is growing rapidly and offering many opportunities.  Your clients remain your clients.  You can offer full service to your listing clients, get renter leads (these often turn into buyers) and the company shares in listing leads when the seller decided once again to sell!  Most if not all the other 100% companies shy away from Property Management but we embrace it and put the revenue back into the business!

Plan One Team Plan
$35.00 a Month Team Leader Fee $35.00 a Month
$290.00 a Transaction Team Members $5.00 a Month
$290.00 Transaction

If you’re an Agent, we would like to speak with you about the benefits of joining Carolina Living Real Estate. Call us today at 704-451-7051, or email careers@carolinalivingrealestate.com

Charlotte Area Homeowners – Beware The Homeowners Insurance Claim

Homeowners Insurance: To Claim or Not to Claim?

According to the National Association of Realtors website (www.Houselogic.com), not all homeowners insurance claims should be filed.

You pay for homeowners insurance to protect yourself from financial ruin, yet filing a claim when disaster does strike puts you at risk of seeing your annual premiums increase by hundreds of dollars.

Here are some of the topics covered in the article

Be mindful of deductibles, liability

Some claims are worth skipping

Dealing with denial of your claim

Read the entire article

Visit Houselogic.com for more articles like this. Reprinted from HouseLogic.com with permission of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®.

The Best Of Carolina Living Real Estate

Carolina Living Has Never Been Better

The Charlotte area continues to be one of the most sought after areas to live in the Southeast. From job opportunities to great real estate investments, our area is continues to show strong growth.

Whether looking for a rental or a great deal on a home to buy, the Charlotte are has it all.

Here is a list of very informative websites created by Carolina Living Agents assisting you in finding the home you need.

Lake Norman Communities

Find Charlotte Homes For Sale

Gaston and Lincoln County Real Estate

Mooresville Area Real Estate

Charlotte Property Management and Rentals

Energy Tips From Carolina Living Real Estate

Are you looking for energy savings for your Charlotte and surrounding area home?  The National Association of Realtors has created a website to help you with finding and making good choices.

We are featuring one of the articles here:

5 Tips For Saving Energy In the Family Room

The family room is the place where we spend so much of our time.  There are things we can do to save money and energy if we just follow some simple steps.

The fun—a video game console, TV, DVR, DVD, and stereo system—that your family room provides comes with a price. By reducing standby power, using rechargeable batteries in remotes, and replacing incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescents, you could save up to $130 a year in energy costs.

And if you’re in the market for a new TV, you can save even more energy by being flexible on the type you buy…

Read the rest of the story By: Jane Hodges at NAR’s House Logic website.

As always contact Carolina Living Real Estate for all your Charlotte area Real Estate needs!

Visit Houselogic.com for more articles like this. Reprinted from HouseLogic.com with permission of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®.

North Carolina Back in Top 5 Top States For Business

state-flag-north-carolina

Good news was released this week discussing the bright future of North Carolina. . North Carolina was ranked #4 in CNBC’s 2010 Edition of “America’s Top States for Business.”

North Carolina has become one of the top places for retirement.   We know the state of North Carolina is attracting bright young talent.  We know that young people who go away to school return back here to build a career and start a family.

We know that middle age professionals are migrating here to retool and regenerate.  We know that the career entrepreneur in need of an international airport, choose the Charlotte area for their destination.

Charlotte remains to hub in the South for banking, NASCAR and much more.

Carolina Living Real Estate and Property Management is committed to finding homes for all these people one family at a time.


A Unique Opportunity With Carolina Living Real Estate

Have you considered joining one of the fastest-growing populations in post-bubble America: the Accidental Landlord?

Over the past two years, Carolina Living Property Management has joined one of the fastest growing professions for Real Estate Brokerages which is Property Management in Charlotte.

As you know, the inventory of homes for sale is twice as big as it was three years ago, which has meant a longer wait to sell.

The rental market, on the other hand, is robust.  Currently Carolina Living Property Management has average days of on the market for it’s rentals at less than 45 days.

We are one of the few firms in the area that has the unique ability to list a home for rent and for sale simultaneously.  Our Listing agents focus on marketing your home for sale while the property manager’s focus on getting your home rented while sharing responsibilities and information about interested parties.

So, what goes into deciding if renting your Charlotte area home is right for you?

We have written some very helpful information concerning the choices and what goes into the process.  Please visit our website at Carolina Living Property Management and learn all about our services and the choices you have.

The Deadly Sins Of Overpricing Your Charlotte Area Home

Overpriced Homes in Charlotte NC
I am sure you have heard about the drop in prices of homes across the U.S. Here in the Charlotte area, we are not immune to those problems. Luxury homes like those on the waterfront of Lake Norman have especially been hard hit. Agents at Carolina Living Real Estate take pride in doing the research to price a home accurately. It has become a difficult process with each and every Charlotte neighborhood having to deal with foreclosures. If you are selling your home or thinking of selling your home, here are some real reasons why you should pay close attention to the comps your Carolina Living agent provides for you.

1. Appraisal problems. Appraisals are killing deals all over the Charlotte area. You need to know that many appraisers are looking at the same comps that your agent is providing. As a matter of fact, your agent should be contacting the appraiser to ensure that the comps are accurate to how he/she priced the home. If the home does not appraise, most likely the deal will fall through unless the seller will come down on price.

2. No Showings. This speaks for itself but with the Internet buyers will already know that a house is overpriced before their agent even shows them the facts. Overpriced homes are skipped over a majority of the time. The longer the home sits the more likely it becomes stale. This causes any potential buyer to assume desperation resulting in very low offers.

3. Promoting the competition. Think about it. One caveat to overpricing your home is that you are directing the buyer to your neighbor. While they would love to see your home sell for more, it is likely that it won’t and the home priced right will get the traffic.

4. Sending the wrong message. When agents see new listings pop up they immediately see if it is priced realistically. If not, they won’t even bother showing it to their clients. (see number 2). If they do, the stigma of being unrealistic sticks with the listing and the agent will most likely tell the client that negotiations will be pointless.

5. Lost opportunities. Buyers searching online and agents searching online will never see your listing as they enter price parameters in the search!

Homeowners Insurance for Charlotte Homes

Charlotte NC Area Homeowners Insurance: Time for an Annual Check-Up

Are you a new home buyer in the Charlotte Market?  How much coverage should you get?

Have you owned your home for a while and think it is time to evaluate your coverage? If you are in this category and you think it is time to evaluate your coverage, you are in the real minority.  No one I know ever looks at their policy once they purchase the home.  However maybe you should…

These are questions that are too often glossed over and misunderstood.  Well the National Association of Realtors has created a website to help you with all your housing needs.  Specifically, they answer some of the questions gone unanswered concerning homeowners insurance.

If you are thinking of buying a Charlotte area home or already own a home, you should read the article about evaluation the policy.   Check out this article By: G. M. Filisko at House Logic.

If you are an investor or thinking about renting your home be sure to read about liability insurance in the same article.  This is an area you should think about.  Get other helpful  renter information at Your Charlotte Property Management Company.

Visit Houselogic.com for more articles like this. Reprinted from HouseLogic.com with permission of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®.

Your Guide To Charlotte Area Outdoor Maintenance

Garages and outbuildings

Vegetation should be pruned at least 3 feet away from buildings to prevent mold, pest infestation, or damage to siding from high winds. Large tree limbs should be trimmed to prevent them from touching the structure. Cost: $15 for a pruning saw and $10 for pruning shears. Allow 1 to 2 hours for pruning.

Inspect the underside of garage and outbuilding roofs for water damage, which can point the way to a roof leak. Small cracks in the foundation should be filled with the appropriate caulk. Maintain a proper grade around the buildings to ensure sufficient drainage. This may require the addition of soil.

Twice a year, check the automatic reverse safety feature on the garage door to make sure it works properly. Check to see that the door has no bent casters and that it rolls smoothly in the tracks. Perform a visual check of bolts for snugness. In the case of attached garages, proper weather stripping at the base of the door can greatly improve a home’s energy efficiency.

This article courtesy of Douglas Trattner at House Logic (your guide to maintenance and improvements to your home) brought to you by the National Association of Realtors

Visit Houselogic.com for more articles like this. Reprinted from HouseLogic.com with permission of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®.

Buying New Construction Around Charlotte-What You Should Be Asking

First and foremost, find out who the developer is. The builder on the sign may not own the development. It is highly likely that the land is owned by a developer who is selling lots to the builder. If this is the case find out who the developer is and verify that they are financially sound?

Charlotte Homes For Sale

Those great looking entrance features, manicured common areas and community amenities are the responsibility of the developer until the majority of the development is completed. You have probably seen the entrance looking beautiful and the rest of the commuinity looks like a dust bow. Don’t be one of the people miserable that no one else is building or worse, a new developer has decided to build less expensive homes. This will kill your homes value!

Ask to see a copy of the Covenants, Conditions and Restrictions. These are the “laws” of the community that dictate everything from changing the color of your home and putting up a fence, to parking certain types of vehicles on your property. A violation of the CCR’s may subject the homeowner to fines or even liens against the property. Read these thoroughly, ask questions and make sure you can do the things you want .

If amenities are planned but are not yet completed, be sure to ask when they will be finished. This comes back to the developer running of money and never getting to this part of the community. In some cases developers are required to post a completion bond on planned amenities, which is like an insurance policy for the homeowners that insure amenities will be completed if the developer does not have the means to do so.

Check the financial condition of the HOA. Did you know you are allowed to ask the community rep for a current copy of the HOA financial statement. This is one that almost no one ever does! The law requires builders to provide this to you when you are ready to sign a contract. You can also check local government web sites to see if there are any liens, lawsuits or judgments filed against the HOA. If any of the above has been filed, your dues could be affected if judgments are filed even if it is prior to you ever living in the development.

Your Carolina Living Real Estate agents can assist you with this entire process and these are some of the reasons we don’t believe you should go it alone.