Lexie Longstreet's Q&A

As I understand the rules, you can qualify for the tax credit if you:  1.  Own your home for at least 5 years  2.  Purchase another home.  (You can actually purchase a rental home)  But the new purchase has to take place on Nov. 7 or after.  Check out all the rules:  http://www.federalhousingtaxcredit.com/faq2.php 

You might want to check out www.ModernCharlotte.com and talk to Gail Jodon.  She specializes in selling Modern homes and has put together modern home tours in Charlotte.  He also has a data base of Modern Homes in the Charlotte Area.  She is the true authority, if you want someone who knows modern.  

As others have said Zillow lists all homes from the tax records. It does not mean that the home is for sale. However if you want to correct information about your home, just go to the page of your house and pan down.  You will see a section that lets you claim your home, edit info, etc. 

There is no real answer to this question.  Bob Duckworth wrote an excellent answer.  The one other thing that you need to think about, is the seller may not be able to sell it for less money.  He may owe exactly what he is asking, minus the commissions, and he simply does not have any additional funds to bring to closing.  If you have done the research and you do not think the property is "worth" what he is asking, you may need to have your agent talk to his agent about trying to do a short sale.  He may not be in a position to get a short sale, because he may have made all his payments on time, and have some money in retirement accounts, etc. I would have your agent try and get a little more info... and you may just not be able to get this house for the price you want it at. 

There are a couple steps you need to go thru. First ask your friends and real estate agent if they can recommend a good property manager in your area.  Personally I prefer "small" management companies over the large ones that have hundreds of properties.  The small, sort of one man, shops usually will give your home more attention, and treat it like it is their own.  My experience with the large firms is they just put your home on the internet, or throw a sign out and require the tenants to come to them to get a key, to see your house, etc.  This significantly cuts your "quality" prospects for tenants.  Interview at least several of the potential property managers and do follow up with current clients to see what they say about them. To get a general rental rate, I think your best bet is to go onto Craig's List and look for comparable properties.  If you see a house that is similar, make note of how long it has been being advertised.  If it has been available for a long time, then it is probably priced to high.  Once you determine what you think might be a fair rent, put up an ad and see if you get many responses.  If you do not get any, then your price might be too high, and you can drop the rent by $100, every couple weeks untill you get the magic number.  Once you get it at the right rental rate, you will be getting multiple calls on the home every day or two.

Unfortunately, unless you bought your home at significantly under market value, in a distress sale of some sort, it is highly unlikely you can sell your home without loosing money.  You need to figure the expense of selling will be around 9% of the cost of your home.  You will, most likely pay 6% in commissions, at least a thousand to move, if not more.  You will also need to figure in the closing cost you paid to get the mortgage on your new home.  That was probably close to 2.5% of the price of the home.  To get another new home, you will also have that expense.  I think Sunnyview, gives you some excellent suggestions to muffle the noise you are sensitive to.  I also think this noise will become less annoying in a short amount of time.  I lived in NYC for a couple years and when I moved back to Charlotte lived on a road that others thought was noisy.  But to me, it was as quiet as can be, since I had lived a few floors above bouncing delivery trucks and honking horns for years!  Take time to plant some trees and shrubs and the back of your property line to break up the sound, a fence might help if you don't have one, add a fountain or water feature, and in no time you should be loving your new house!     

This is a rental apartment.  There are a number of apartments in the complex and the $795 is the monthly rental rate. 

Hey PJDaddona,The house at 1823 Ewing has 5 bedrooms and 3 and a half baths. There is a full and half bath downstairs, and 2 additional baths upstairs.  The Master bedroom is upstairs.  Unfortunately there are no additional pictures of the baths, on the MLS.  The only photo I can find is the one of the bath on Zillow.  In fact the pictures on Zillow are better than the ones on MLS.  If you are really interested in this house I can run and take some photos of the baths and other rooms for you, it is only a few blocks away.  This house was listed for one week for 545,000.   So you might be able to get a great deal on this one!  Ewing is a terrific street.

Eeek.... You will probably be inundated with people calling you this morning.  But get a real estate agent to represent you on your purchase.  Interview two or three and find one that you click with. You want someone who will give you good advice and look out for your best interest and is not just trying to "make a sale".  An experienced agent can guide you through the process, so you are happy for years to come.