Don't Listen to "Chicken Little" The sky is NOT falling in the Charlotte Region

I've been asked a lot here lately by clients and several media organizations and other institutions about: "Wow, how 'down' is business based off of everything people hear in the media". I can tell you that the truth is that business in the investment Real Estate market is UP, and it is UP STRONG. The Charlotte and surrounding region has been very fortunate. We have consistently produced higher and higher and higher average sales prices for homes (up 5.6% as of the recent reports as noted in a Wall Street Journal compared to the National average DOWN 4.4%...that is a 10% RISE in Prices versus the NATION).

It's not a fluke though, look at the incredible Economy that Charlotte enjoys, look at the location (yes, location, location, location IS still important), look at the fact that Charlotte is the FASTEST growing market in ANY category on pace over the next 20 years and with the recent layoffs in the Nation, Charlotte actually had a DECREASE in the Unemployment rate. The Charlotte region has a the BEST Bio-Tech Campus coming online in our region which is literally going to attract the top researchers, scientists and entrepreneurs associated within this field in the entire world.

Beyond that, don't forget that the smartest investment mindset is to think: FUTURE, FUTURE, FUTURE. Charlotte's home prices are UP (as mentioned above) and yes, our home sales volume has declined...WHY...well Charlotte has a tremendous amount of people moving into our area (remember we are the NUMBER ONE move-in destination in the ENTIRE United States) and unfortunately many of these people are coming from weak markets across the US and can't immediately sell their homes in THEIR market and so they have to rent first and then buy (after they sell their home). The point being that the decline in home volume is NOT a Charlotte thing, rather a Nationwide influence on Charlotte. Smart investors though see this and know that Charlotte is now more than ever the #1 market to invest in Real Estate. You have to think BIG PICTURE and if you think BIG PICTURE, then you realize that this is actually the BEST time to invest. Home prices are still low, foreclosures and other opportunities will bring you investments at a solid price and the rental market is growing with the movement of some previous "home owners" that took advantage of lax lending requirements that are now back into the rental market either because those loan programs no longer exist or unfortunatley their adjustable rate mortgage adjusted...WAY WAY WAY UP and so they've been foreclosed and now they're back to renting.

So, the answer to everyone's quetion is: "Now is the BEST time to invest!" A true investor is looking long term and investing in the market most likely to give the BEST return to them. Charlotte and this surrounding region IS that market. Charlotte has one of the STONGEST economy's in the ENTIRE US and still one of the LOWEST Costs of Living in the ENTIRE US...put those two together and mix them up with the fact that the population is exploding....it equals an increase demand in housing which means an increas in pricing for investors that make the best move and buy an investment now.