Buyuptowncharlotte's Blog

Lending Tree Launches New Mortgage Service

buyuptowncharlotte — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 14:31:51 +0000

LendingTree has launched a new free service that alerts customers when mortgage rates fall below a certain level—a wonderful tool for first time buyers as well as seasoned investors. The service named, Mortgage Rate Alert, provides the lowest rates from the network of lenders that work through LendingTree. Mona Marimow, a senior vice president for LendingTree states, “When it comes to mortgage rates, there is often magic number consumers are looking for before they commit to refinancing or purchasing a home. With the mortgage rate alert, you can stay up-to-date without lifting a finger.”

This service can put the homeowner or the potential homeowners mind at rest. Taking a huge burden off of their shoulders when weighing the decision to refinance or to take that leap into buying an apartment or home!

To enroll in the program is easy! Go to www.lendingtree.com/ratealert. Customers will be asked to enter a valid email address and a target mortgage rate.

As an added benefit, LendingTree is owned by a Charlotte-based company, Tree.com Inc. (NASDAQ: TREE), an online lending and real estate company.

Fourth Ward Square Condos Have Started Construction

buyuptowncharlotte — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 04:06:41 +0000

Construction has just begun on the Fourth Ward Square Condominium development. These units, started at $99k, are ideal for those first time home buyers, people tired of their daily commute, and anyone looking to move in the historic 4th Ward area. Some of the numerous amenities that will be offered are state of the art salt water pool, gazebo, and fitness center, gourmet catering kitchen for entertaining, conference room, and business center. In addition to these amenities, The Fourth Ward Square is just within walking distance of many hotspots in town. Such as 4th Ward Park, NC Music Factory, Bank of America Stadium, Time Warner Cable Arena, EpiCentre, Discovery Place, plus many more. Units start at 560 sq ft for a 1 bedroom and 1 bathroom up to 1200+ sq ft for a 2 bedroom and 2.5 bathrooms. A few of the exclusive features found in every home at the Fourth Ward Square are built in microwave and dishwasher, GE Energy Star appliances, granite countertops, and porcelain tile tub. With bay windows or balconies you can truly enjoy your surroundings at The Fourth Ward Square.

FBI Office to Charlotte

buyuptowncharlotte — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 21:20:45 +0000

Highwoods Properties Inc, a Raleigh based real estate investment trust, is partnering up with and USAA Real Estate Co. for a joint venture in Charlotte. They have successfully landed a build-to-suit lease by the U.S. General Services Administration to develop a $45 million field office for the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Charlotte. The 171,000 square foot, five-story office building and annex, with structured and surface parking, will be built on an 11.6-acre parcel of land. The companies didn’t disclose the site of the proposed building. Construction on the facility, which will be LEED certified, is slated to begin in the first quarter. Highwoods Properties will have a 10 percent interest in the venture. Texas-based USAA Real Estate provides co-investment, acquisition, build-to-suit and development services for corporate and institutional investors.

Enso Asian Bistro & Sushi Bar

buyuptowncharlotte — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 21:19:42 +0000

The EpiCentre’s newest establishment is set to open at the end of August / beginning of September. Enso Asian Bistro & Sushi Bar is a neighborhood Asian bistro featuring Izakaya (small plates). The menu highlights are 31 hand made sushi rolls, gyoza (pot stickers), 16 salads, stir-fried noodles, tempura seafood & vegetables, noodle soups, fried rice and a host of seafood, chicken and beef. In Asia small plates have been a way of dining for a millennia. Small bites, sharing; tasting various items is a most satisfying way of eating. Enso expects to rival some of Charlotte’s current hottest sushi bars. With nearly 7,000 square foot of building space, they also plan on bringing in live music and DJs to entertainment their customers.

City of Charlotte & Levine’s 1st Ward Project

buyuptowncharlotte — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 21:18:20 +0000

Levine Properties has continued to push forward in their plans of a complete “overhaul” of First Ward. However the Charlotte development company still needs the city and county to play a major financial role to move forward on a park, parking decks and a combination of offices, shops and apartments. The issue now that has put a halt on schedule approving is $250,000 worth contingency costs and interests fees and whether the City of Charlotte or Levine Properties pays this. John Lassiter, a Republican who chairs the economic-development committee, told city staffers this week that the project is too important to the city, county and Levine to abandon or delay over $250,000. He asked them to come up with potential solutions for the funding gap. Levine principal Daniel Levine has offered to bear upfront costs for a makeover of Eighth Street as well as portions of a county-owned park. Design and construction on Eighth Street, which will run through the park, will cost $5.5 million. In addition, Levine would pay for $4.6 million of the $7 million park, with those costs to be paid back to the developer through existing tax-increment financing agreements tied to the larger project. Levine estimates that the project will create near 3,400 jobs. Levine owns 23 acres in the area, with about half of that involved in the initial phase encompassing the UNCC campus, the park, the decks and other elements.

New Director of Economic Development

buyuptowncharlotte — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 21:16:01 +0000

Michael Smith, President and CEO of Charlotte Center City Partners (CCCP) have named Tracy Finch Dodson as the new Director of Economic Development. Dodson brings expertise in various aspects of economic and real estate development and a deep knowledge of Charlotte’s Center City office market from both a public and private sector perspective. Dodson’s primary duties will include, but not limited to, identifying and recruiting companies in need of office space. This strategy is projected to lead to more jobs in the Center City and surrounding areas. This position will focus on enhancing visibility of Uptown and South End as the central employment center for our region. Dodson will work in tandem with the private office brokers in Uptown and South End, to provide tools and expertise to help them fill commercial space in the Center City. Dodson has been in Charlotte more than 17 years. She comes to CCCP from Harris Development Group LLC, where she spent time as a development manager focused on Transit Oriented Development (TOD). Prior to that, she worked in the City of Charlotte’s Economic Development Office as the Transit Station Area Development Coordinator. Dodson has also worked in the Charlotte Mecklenburg Planning Department and as an architect for Shook Kelley focusing on mixed use and urban development.

Recruiter to Bring More Jobs to Uptown Charlotte

buyuptowncharlotte — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 03:05:23 +0000

Charlotte Center City Partners and the Chamber of Commerce have shifted their focus and priorities to hiring someone to bring more companies to Uptown Charlotte and create more jobs in the Center City. This person will take on the tasks of recruiting new capital investment, new jobs, and leasing open spaces in Uptown. This priority shift has come based on the current economic situation. Additional means of bringing new jobs and business to the Queen City are the launching of a campaign called “Urban Living” as well as the next phase of Find Your Center, designed to support uptown shopping, restaurants, bars and other attractions. The Charlotte Regional Partnership, the city of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County also have economic-development initiatives and personnel in place to share in recruiting and incentive work. All of these organizations are determined build Charlotte’s corporate base back to where it once was and better.

New Projects in Southend and Uptown

buyuptowncharlotte — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 03:42:26 +0000

There are 3 new Uptown Charlotte Developments that have just been announced, Church Summit Flats, Irwin Park, and Camden Town in SouthEnd Charlotte. Church Summit Flats, to be located on Church and Summit, has 2 bedroom 2 bathroom units starting at $149k. Irwin Park, located on Irwin and W. 6^th Streets, will consist of a very similar layout to Church Summit Flats. Camden Town are 3 story townhomes with a 1 car garage which has easy access to the LYNX Light Rail and prices starting at $249k.

Wachovia 1st Street Project

buyuptowncharlotte — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 18:42:16 +0000

The Duke Energy Center in Uptown Charlotte is near completion. For those of you who are not familiar with which construction the Duke Energy Center has been, its located on South Tryon and West Stonewall Streets. Originally to be named the Wachovia Corporate Center, in February 2009, it was announced that this would be renamed as the Duke Energy Center to reflect Duke’s status as the lead tenant of the tower in the wake of the fall 2008 acquisition of Wachovia by San Francisco-based Wells Fargo. The 48-story Duke Energy Center in uptown Charlotte is the focal point of the new mixed-use Wells Fargo Cultural Campus, Afro American Museum, Becheler Museum, Mint Museum, Knights Theater which will seat approximately 1,150 and a proposed 42 story condo tower. The two towers, along with a nine-story building annex, sit atop an eight-story parking structure that extends 95 feet below street level. The tower features a granite base and blue-green glass topped with a handle-like element similar to that at the Shanghai World Financial Center. Wachovia/ Wells Fargo Bank are moving its headquarters to the 1.3 million square-foot building. The other primary tenants will be Duke Energy and the Wake Forest University Babcock Graduate School of Management which are expected to occupy large portions of the building.

GMAC Bringing Jobs to Charlotte

buyuptowncharlotte — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 18:34:44 +0000

GMAC has decided to move into an office to the 440 South Church building right here in Charlotte. This means numerous benefits for Charlotte and its surrounding areas. GMAC Financial Services will grow its Mecklenburg County operations and invest more than $16.4 million. This expansion into Charlotte is expected to create 200+ jobs in fields such as finance, marketing, IT, and other areas with very competitive salaries. One of the key reasons for locating themselves in Charlotte is we are the number 2 financial center in the country and are home to some of the most talented professionals in the banking industry. With GMAC coming to Charlotte this continues to prove the Queen City as an attractive home to major Fortune 500 businesses and other corporate businesses.