At 2700ft elevation, temps are moderate and the views fantastic! Quiet and feels remote, but only a few minutes from beautiful Sprice Pine, Burnsville, the Blue Ridge Parkway and Mt. Mitchell. Stream wraps subdivision for walks and recreation. Hiking, camping, scenic views and wildlife... your mountain retreat awaits! Electric in place in lot front.

Freddie Mac says the average rate for 30-year fixed loans this week was 4.54%, down from 4.56% just last week. That’s the lowest since Freddie Mac began tracking rates in 1971.

The last time home loan rates were lower was during the 1950s, when most mortgages lasted just 20 or 25 years.

The rate on the 15-year fixed loan dropped to 4%, down from 4.03% last week and the lowest on record.

Rates have fallen since the spring. Yields on U.S. Treasury bonds have dropped as jittery investors seek safer investments. Mortgage rates tend to track yields on Treasurys.

To research your own situation, use our mortgage tools and read why you should use a local lender for your next transaction. We are here to help!

Charming brick ranch has wood floors, open layout, new deck and new architectural-shingle roof. Cul-de-sac lot with deep back yard and mature hardwoods. Close to everything!

Private, Wooded Cul-De-Sac Lot. Kitchen with Granite, Tile Backsplash, Lg. Island, 42” Cabinets & Wood Floors. Master Suite with Garden Tub, Separate Shower, Dual Sinks & Walk-in Closet. Laundry on Living, Downstairs Office with French Doors, Neutral Paint Throughout. Full Irrigation, Power Roof Vents, Low Maintenance Exterior. Never pets, children or smoking in the home. Sellers are proud owners and have meticulously maintained the home.

Home has $510k basis, $460k purchase price 3 yrs ago plus $50k in upgrades! Upgrades inc. plantation shutters in front, blinds in rear, built-in bookcases, full lawn irrigation, fenced back yard, matching outbuilding, epoxy floors and shelving in garages. Flat, wooded lot has private, tree-lined rear. Full molding package, deck and stamped-concrete patio, smart wiring and surround sound. Large kitchen has gas cooktop, double ovens, granite, oversized island, and pass-thru cabinetry feature. Master suite is enormous with ample room for sitting area, office space or workout area. Three-car garage, office downstairs with french doors. Neighborhood pool has cabana and play area.

Housing starts rose to a 672,000 annual rate last month, exceeding the median forecast of economists, reaching the highest level since October 2008. Permits fell by the most since December 2008, a sign homebuilding will may pause after a tax-induced jump in sales.

Building permits, which are considered a leading indicator for homebuilding, fell 12% to a 606,000 annual rate last month. Applications for both single-family and multifamily projects decreased.

Starts rose 41 percent in April from the same month last year, the biggest year-over-year gain since 1994, while permits increased 16 percent.

Construction of single-family houses increased 10% to a 593,000 rate in April, while permits fell 11%. Work on multifamily homes, such as townhouses and apartment buildings, dropped 19 percent to an annual rate of 79,000.

Building is climbing after sales jumped following a government incentive of as much as $8,000 helped reduce the number of unsold new houses. Sales of new homes surged in March by the most since 1963, while purchases of existing homes rose for the first time in four months.

The jump in sales brought the number of new houses for sale down to 228,000, the lowest since March 1971, allowing builders more room to begin projects even as they compete with foreclosed homes coming back on the market.

To see new construction home listings in the Charlotte MLS area, go to our Charlotte Home Search website and remember to use the "new construction" radio button on the right.

Beautiful, wooded 2.86 acre lot on Lake Monticello. Located in lakes premier subdivision, Windjammer Pointe. Lot is deep and sloops gently towards water and a natural, sandy beach feature! Lots of space to build your dream home! Septic and dock approved. Lot fronts cul-de-sac. Water, power and telephone utilities available. Located on the CLEANEST LAKE IN EITHER CAROLINAS!

Original owner's have kept this home in PRISTINE condition! Gorgeous 2 yr old maple hardwoods on BOTH levels, WOOD burning fireplace, new paint, new oil-rubbed bronze fixtures, SS appliances, roof 1 yr, plumbing 2 yrs, newer HVAC. Bright & sunny home w/ lots of room! Quiet,cul-de-sac lot that backs up to woods w/ a large fenced yard & deck. Too good to be true for this price in Ballantyne Area!

Interior features include 9 ft.4 inch ceilings, pre-finished hardwood floors throughout main living areas, granite kitchen counter tops, GE profile stainless steel appliance package,42' kitchen cabinets, moen fixtures throughout and ceramic tile floors in bathrooms. Washer/dryer included. Ammenities include pool, fitness center & more!

The 2220 single-family homes and condos sold last month marked an increase of more than 25% compared with April 2009, according to results released by the Charlotte Regional Realtor Association.

That represented seven consecutive months of year-over-year increases and the largest increase since November 2009, when buyers rushed to close before the original expiration date of the tax credits. The credits were then extended until this April 30.

April’s sales also inched above 2003 levels, the first time that’s happened since the downturn walloped the housing market. Still, the number of deals remained below the 2004 count and well off the 2006 peak.

In another upside sign, sales in April posted the biggest jump from March in at least 8 years. That 17% monthly gain, following an even larger jump in March, is likely due mostly to the tax credit although there have been modest signs of economic recovery.

A 32% jump in pending contracts signals that tax-credit induced buying will continue fueling closings for another month or so. Pendings are signed deals that haven’t yet closed, and the 2988 contracts in April mark the highest number since the spring of 2008, just before the worst of the financial meltdown.

Tax credit deals had to be signed by April 30, but buyers have until June 30 for the final closing.

Pricing remained soft, with the average sales price of $201,410 essentially unchanged from a year ago. The gap between sellers’ asking prices and actual sales prices remained above 10%, about double the highest level before the downturn. That indicates sellers continue having to cut prices.

Go to Charlotte Home Listings Search to find active listings that match your criteria. Or do your own closed sales research here.

Spacious kitchen area looking out into the your Family Rm. Fireplace to enjoy while you relax looking out into your Fenced Backyard with oversized patio area. Large Master Suite with Vaulted Ceiling. Tile Flooring at Entry and New Laminate Flooring downstairs. Low Traffic Cul De Sac Street and Easy Commute to Uptown Charlotte. Home Warranty. Butler HS assigned for 2010.

The vote marks a significant milestone in the progress of the bipartisan HOME STAR legislation, although it's important to note that the authorization bill passed today must be matched by the Senate, and followed up with an appropriation bill to allocate funds for the $6 billion program.

HOME STAR will create good American jobs in construction, manufacturing and related industries. It will help American homeowners improve the efficiency of their homes and save money. And it will provide a solid foundation for our country's energy policy and energy security.

If you are interested in seeing green homes for sale in the Charlotte metro market, sign up to have those listings sent to you.

The rule also applies to places where children under six spend large amounts of time, such as child care centers and schools. The certified contractor must provide the occupants (owner or tenant) with a new information booklet and must follow lead safe work practices.

There are several important exemptions to this rule:

1. Homeowner occupants or tenant occupants may do the work themselves without certification.

2. A residence where there are no children under 6 and no pregnant women as regular residents is a possible exemption.

3. If the area disturbed is less than 6 square feet indoors or 20 square feet outdoors, the project is exempt. Because lead paint was so prevalent on window frames in pre-1978 houses, window replacement on these homes is never exempt.

4. If a qualified lead test specialist certifies that no lead paint will be disturbed, the project is exempt.

5. There are a few additional less likely exemptions.

The required disclosure booklet is to be provided by the contractor, but you may wish to have it for your reference as well. You can get it at http://www.epa.gov/opptintr/lead/pubs/renovaterightbrochure.pdf (English) or http://www.epa.gov/opptintr/lead/pubs/renovaterightbrochuresp.pdf (Spanish).

PRICED BELOW TAX VALUE! Plus refrigerator, washer/dryer, & back yard playset convey. New: HVAC w/ OEM warranty, all carpet, paint. Large, wooded lot with mature landscaping. Wrap-around front porch with swing. Eat-in kitchen, laundry on living, wood-burning fireplace. Located on cul-de-sac off a cul-de-sac!

To qualify, buyers must meet the following requirements:.

1. Owners of existing homes, specifically, taxpayers who have occupied the same property as a principal residence for 5 consecutive years during the previous 8 years, may now be able to claim a tax credit on a purchase of another home they intend to use as their principal residence.
2. The credit is for up to 10% of the price of the replacement home, capped at $6,500. The home must be placed under contract by April 30, 2010, and the closing must occur no later than June 30, 2010.
3. Members of the armed forces and federal diplomatic and intelligence personnel stationed overseas get one extra year to claim their credit.
4. The maximum purchase price on houses eligible for the credit is $800,000.
5. Purchasers are not required to sell their previous house, but they must be able to demonstrate that the replacement home is or will be their primary residence.
6. A copy of the signed HUD-1 settlement sheet, including the contract sale price and the date of closing. This is to document that the timing of the transaction meets the program's requirements.
7. Evidence of long-term ownership and occupancy of the previous home to meet the 5-consecutive-years requirement. This can be property tax records, homeowner's insurance records or IRS Form 1098 mortgage interest statements for the 5-year period.
8. For buyers claiming a credit on a newly constructed home, for which a HUD-1 settlement sheet is not available, the IRS will accept a copy of the certificate of occupancy showing the purchasers' names, the property address and the date.
9. Your modified adjusted gross income (AGI) must be $125,000 or less if you are single, $225,000 or less if you are married and filing jointly. Above these limits, the allowable credit amount begins to phase down in increments and is eliminated once incomes hit $145,000 for singles and $245,000 for married joint filers.

Be aware, you may have to repay the credit to the government if you sell your new home within 36 months after purchase, convert it to a rental or business property, or if your lender forecloses on the new house.

Flat, deep lots on quiet dead end back up to Hornet's Nest Park. Can be purchased separately or combined with adjoining lot, 3648 Trull, for one acre total. $17,500 is per lot. Sewer line at back of lot for easy connection access. Surrounded by newer construction homes. Old survey in disclosure section. Sign stradles two lots if driving by. Look for pins in road and stakes at back.