^^ Gallery ^^

Looked 8/25/04
Added 8/25/04

Offer 8/30/04
ACCEPTED!!!
My new favorite picture

* * * * 3/4* ( 4.75 Stars )
9205 Castle Garden Lane, Charlotte NC 28215
Awesome full-brick house that has the best living room / den of any I've looked at. Only lists at 2400 sqft but really seems like more. Beautiful lot fron and back, surrounded by trees on almost all sides, fenced-in back yard. No workshop other than half of garage. Nice neighborhood and it's at end of dead-end street so zero traffic. This is a BRAND new listing, won't last long!
PRO's: PERFECT living room for home theater! BIG room with enough dimensions to do whatever, and has fireplace (gas) as well. Has nice front porch and back deck. Lots of closet space and good storage in 2 attic areas.Nice flat driveway and greatback yard. Not to big, fenced in, nice trees all around. New house built 2001. Nice room layour upstairs. I really like this house!!
CON's: Price tag - top of my chart. No workshop other than half of garage - could possibly add one off back where playset is shown in pictures.
MLS 470222 - Asking $224,900

^^ Gallery ^^

Looked 8/14/04
Added 8/17/04

Looked 8/26/04

* * * * 3/4* ( 4.75 Stars)
3032 Oakcroft Drive, Charlotte NC 28105
This one has kinda grown on me as I ponder the ones I've looked at. It's a kinda mix of big (2300sqft) and small. Has huge master bedroom suite, big living room with wood fireplace, big kitchen with breakfast area, perfect bedroom for office upstairs, then small 3rd bedroom, formal living room (which I thought might end up being my "library" for music, movies, etc, just bouncing ideas), small formal dining room, but then has an added "sunroom" that would probably get converted to a great worksop!!
PRO's: Good sized house with prenty of options that suit my wants! A little creativity and the den is perfect for home theater ;-) , nice kitchen and dining area. HUGE master bedroom suite with great medium bedroom for office. Small guest room. Perfect room for workshop added onto back/side of house. Nice deck and simple yard with trees.
CON's: If office upstairs, then very small guest bedroom. Not much on the downside really... This one actually pretty much has everything on my wish list.
MLS 443180 - Asking $175,900

8/26/04 - Revisited the Oakcroft house again tonight. Some things I noted. Cable only in den and master (and "sunroom", not in either of the other 2 bedrooms. The smaller of the extra rooms is SMALL - with a double bed, you wouldn't be able to open the closet doors. That would have to be the office and the medium room be the extra bedroom. Not counting the closet, it measures 8'x9' - the floorchart diagram obviously is including the closet IN the dimensions listed. The garage is small. There's no extra room on the sides or extra depth - for me having the tools that I have and whatnot, it's really a BIG one car garage. Because if I were to actually put both cars in there, there would be no room left over for shelves or tool chest or much of anything.... Kitchen does have lots of cabinets, and the house does have plenty of closet space. I still really like the living room. And the fact that it has that "sunroom" off the back that I could easily convert to a workshop - there is a cable jack in there too... The storage shed/building out back is bigger than I thought! It's about 8'x10' but does need a little attention - one wood panel on front missing and it could use fresh paint. But is great for storage of tires, yard stuff, etc - a good chunk of what is actually hogging space in my garage right now! The laundry room is really of a good size and a big soaksink could probably be added. There's no garbage disposal in the kitchen sink - could surely be added.

^^ Gallery ^^

Looked 8/21/04
Added 8/23/04
Under Contract
(Contingency)

* * * * 3/4* ( 4.75 Stars )
10318 Edwards Place, Mint Hill NC 28227
This house pretty much nailed it on the wants list! FANTASTIC room for home theater with giant closet off it for music/movie storage, wood fireplace in the living room, master on ground floor, cool "bridge" to upper rooms, TONS of storage space, open lot but wooded surrounds for privacy.
PRO's: AMAZING would-be-the-theater room, wood fireplace, very nice lot with simple landscaping but definite potential for more, room to add storage shed/workshop in future, big concrete driveway, plenty of room for working on car, garage has pegboard on walls for workshop potential, big lot at 0.7 acres and very nice neighborhood - is actually one of the "lesser" homes so value can only be helped :-). Closest to work of houses looked at - 15+/- minute drive.
CON's: Garage "small" 2-car, no extra space. Electric water heater. Little high at $214,900, and apparently there's a contingency on it (pending buyer's house selling). Hmmm....
MLS 448071

^^ Gallery ^^

Looked 8/21/04
Added 8/23/04

* * * * 1/2* ( 4.5 Stars )
1924 Brandywine Drive, Matthews NC 28105
Very nice house in nice hood with private fully fenced back yard. Very nice looking house, corner lot on cul-de-sac. but zero-traffic road as whole thing is deadend street, only about 30 houses total on street.
PRO's: I like the outside look of this house, and the double-door garage is nice - it's actually a somewhat oversized garage with extra depth which is good for workshop (potential to add separate workshop off side or back), den has ok (not spectacular) theater potential, bonus room over garage has theater potential as well, or pool table - it's a 15x20 foot room - and has good storage off of it. Nice fully fenced in back yard with good sized patio that gets evening shade. Near plenty of shopping and easy access to hwy to get to work.
CON's: Lot size is smaller than others at .26 acres though it "feels" like more than that with the private fenced yard and extra out to street on corner lot. Some wall decor needs eventual attention (in good condition, just not to tastes). No big trees on lot (but is newer house built 1997).
MLS 445365 - Asking $189,900

^^ Gallery ^^

Looked 8/21/04
Added 8/24/04

* * * * 1/4* ( 4.25 Stars )
3004 Windsor Chase Drive, Matthews NC 28105
Nice tri-level house at the end of a road (not quite at the cul-de-sac). In a nice nieghborhood with over half an acre of land, semi-private back yard, yet nearby neighbors - a lot of depth in the property.
PRO's: Good size house with a little of everything I'm looking for! This one has a basement with workshop and bonus room that could possibly be a home theater - not a great big room but about 12x14 or so. The living room has a wood fireplace. I like the yard with lots of trees and deep back yard - zero-traffic street.
CON's: Switchback stairs are a chore for moving stuff into upstairs. No overhang on front door. Not much storage that I noticed.
MLS 464511 - Asking $192,900

^^ Gallery ^^

Looked 8/21/04
Added 8/24/04

* * * * 1/2* ( 4.5 Stars )
2110 Brandywine Drive, Matthews NC 28105
This house really reminded me of my first favorite - the 6200 Elkington propery. It's smaller than most of the others, but has a very nice feel to it - it's one story with everything just about right. Nice living room for home theater, I like the kitchen in this one a lot, great screened in patio, nice private back yard surrounded by trees. Kicker is all appliances stay!
PRO's: Just about the right amount of everything! Nice living room with arched ceiling to add to volume of room - great for home theater - has gas fireplace. Awesome screened back porch and a really nice tree-surrounded back yard. Flat lot with flat driveway - great for working on cars. Nice kitchen. Nice neighborhood - toward end of Brandywine so zero traffic.
CON's: Not sure of storage space - attic? It's listed as having an electric water heater - could convert to gas.
MLS 449480 - Asking $167,000

^^ Gallery ^^

Looked 8/21/04
Added 8/24/04

* * 1/2* ( 2.5 Stars )
2001 Brandywine Drive, Matthews NC 28105
While I liked the outside of this house with the front porch and flat lot, the overall package didn't really appeal to me. At 180k, the square footage and overall package just didn't seem like a value for the price.
PRO's: Nice front porch and flat driveway for working on cars.
CON's: The living room was not really very well suited for a home theater (setup would have to block entire front window) and the garage was a tight 2-car so a workshop would be tight. with car. Lot backs up to construction of other housing development with thin row of trees for separation.
MLS 456581 - Asking $179,900

^^ Gallery ^^

Looked 8/21/04
Added 8/24/04

* * * 1/4* ( 3.25 Stars )
2132 Brandywine Drive, Matthews NC 28105
This house actually surprised me! It was very nice on the inside with wood floors, attractive living room (though small for theater), open foyer area upstairs and overlooking the living room, nice kitchen, etc. Back yard very private with trees - house is at very end of cul-de-sac.
PRO's: Cute porch entryway and impressive to walk through with hardwood floors and overall feel of house. Like the feel of the living room (just not really big enough). Nice big open kitchen with lots of counter and cabinet space. Big patio and lot of trees in back yard - private and cozy.
CON's: The living room was not really very well suited for a home theater - nice room, but tight for theater setup. Driveway not flat, kinda bowls and slopes down/out. Could be major contender if these aspects a little better (or were they not as important to me in my pursuits) - really is a NICE house!
MLS 457925 - Asking $169,900

^^ Gallery ^^

Looked 8/21/04
Added 8/24/04

* * * 1/2* ( 3.5 Stars )
3012 Cross Tie Lane, Matthews NC 28105
I really liked this house - it has that "this is a really cool house" feel to it. Presents and shows very wel, and woudl be great for entertaining! BUT - the living room is chopped into by the angled kitchen! Were the great room a full open area, it would be about ideal! Neat bridge across to loft area that could be office or play area (video games on beanbags, foosball! whatever). Hardwood floors in living room, fireplace, high ceiling creates an impressive feel. Nice kitchen. "Dining room" is insignificant - small area under chandelier for table and that's it - more of a breakfast area. Very nice deck on back. MAGNOLIA TREES!! Only place I've looked at to have them! Has bonus room over garage - but angled ceiling really too tight for home theater alternative.
PRO's: Great house with a modern eclectic yet home feel. Everything just mentioned above. Workshop setup in garage. nice kitchen, great atmosphere in the living room (though tough for nice theater setup). Great deck and lots of trees in back yard. Has small front porch as well!
CON's: Smaller lot with only .3 acres. Driveway a hill - bad for working on car! Garage is small and more of a workshop. Stealth would fit, truck too long to close door, both cars would never fit together. Not a lot of storage.
MLS 465072 - Asking $179,950

^^ Gallery ^^

Looked 8/19/04
Added 8/24/04

* * * 1/2* ( 3.5 Stars )
10526 Woodhollow, Mint Hill NC 28227
Passed this on looking for the Edwards Place house. The seller was next door and offered to show it so I toured it. It was a pretty neat house with a lot potential, 1.4 acres of land, in a very nice hood, but versus other houses in this size and type, prices out higher than I felt it should be. I did like it, just think it's overpriced.
PRO's: Quaint little front porch - enough for a swing or couple chairs. Flat driveway for working on cars. high-ceiling 2-car garage so storage could be added over top. Living room rates about a 7/10 on home theater potential. Very nice big screened in back porch. Lots of land! Great n'hood.
CON's: From talking with the seller, he's got a lot of "flair value" in the price. He raved about the appearance of the entryway with the staircase and upper railings - nice but doesn't carry weight in pricing house. Not a lot of readily available storage.
MLS 453142 - Asking $230,000

^^ Gallery ^^

8/11/04
Under Contract

* * * * * ( 5 Stars )
6200 Elkington Road, Mint Hill NC 28227
This "little" house has 1850 square feet, 0.54 acres, and everything I listed as wanting in my house. Slightly smaller than I was thinking I might want, but the footage is in all the right places.
PRO's: AMAZING living room - perfect for home theater, wood fireplace, bar off LR, big master bedroom, 3 BR total, nice neighborhood, great back yard with trees, fence, space and privacy, storage/work shed in back. The kicker?! $146,500 asking!!
CON's: Needs pull down steps to attic over garage (that's really about it!), smallest one i'm considering (but expandable on flat open lot)
MLS 459455

^^ Gallery ^^

Looked 8/11/04
Off the Market

* * * * 1/4* ( 4.25 Stars )
11424 Idlewild Road, Matthews NC 28105
Old fashioned house! BIG front porch with swing. Very private lot set back with tons of trees all around! Very nice inside with good sized living room and spacious rooms. Has wood fireplace. 2.25 sized garage. TWO acres of land!!
PRO's: Great private country setting and styling, big front porch, good sized rooms, usable living room for home theater, nice kitchen/dining area, LAND LAND 2 acres of LAND, storage shed out back.
CON's: NO neighborhood, thus no real neighbors, $190,000 price tag (but lots of land), steep driveway.
MLS 413446

^^ Gallery ^^

Looked 8/14/04
Added 8/16/04

* * * ( 3 Stars)
5539 Barnsdale, Charlotte NC 28227
BIG house - over 2700 sqft. Older house (1971). Awesome downstairs (basement) entertainment room 30x30 at least. BIG garage. Good sized trees on lot yet still open - 1 acre of land. Nice big deck off living room. Has fireplace in LR and downstairs room!
PRO's: BIG garage - great for car and shop, usable living room for home theater with wood fireplace - or "theater" goes downstairs, GIANT fun room downstairs!! big open lot with nice trees, all brick exterior. Nice price at $165,000 for all this!
CON's: Older house (some floor squeaks, minor), no door from fun room to back yard (go thru garage or upstairs), lots of grass to cut!
MLS 462542

^^ Gallery ^^

Looked 8/14/04
Added 8/16/04

* * * 1/2* ( 3.5 Stars)
1208 Robinhood, Charlotte NC 28227
"Neat old house" is literally the perfect description for this one. The perplexing "fact" is that it's listed with a 1987 build date. There are too many clues that lead me to believe that it's a lot older - maybe moved and "rebuilt" at on this foundation in 1987...? Alas, it's BIG with nearly 3000sqft and has a great front porch! There is a giant 2-car garage with plenty of flat driveway. HUGE is the only word to describe the rooms inside - LR is BIG and master bedroom upstairs is about half as big as the HOUSE I'm in now! Back yard is fenced and private. Neighborhood is ok.
PRO's: Everything is BIG - rooms, oversized garage, 3/4 acre land, easily do home theater in LR or "master bedroom/entertainment room" downstairs (bigger one up!). Plenty of room for long term. Even big attic for storage. Actually a big value for $185,000 asking IMO.
CON's: Subtle cues lead me (and agent) to think house is really older than listed - floors not totally level (seems to "roll" in some areas, some doors show age), but not like I haven't lived in old houses before - lived in 200 year old house in NH!
MLS 461314

^^ Gallery ^^

Looked 8/14/04
Added 8/16/04

* * * ( 3 Stars)
11539 Gelding Drive
Nice house with a lot of potential - just not sure it's the right one for me... Listed at about 2100 sqft, also has (as add'l footage) garage and big partially finished basement! Lots of yard, lots of trees, end of cul-de-sac at back of one-entry neighborhood so plenty of quiet and privacy, yet still have neighbors - just can't reach out bathroom to theirs if out of TP! Home theater in LR doable, but definitely not ideal. Nice kitchen and breakfast area.
PRO's: Big lot, acreage, privacy, trees, great atmosphere on back deck! Nice basement with workshop and entertainment potential! Good sized bed rooms, nice master suite.
CON's: Garage only one effective as stairs kill second spot - think water may be an issue due to sloped front yard, back yard part of flood plain. LR not ideal for home theater.
MLS 465493 - Asking $174,900

^^ Gallery ^^

Looked 8/14/04
Added 8/16/04

* * * 1/2* ( 3.5 Stars)
14019 Springwater Drive, Matthews NC 28105
Big house with a lot of rooms - 3000 sqft in 4 BR, formal living and den, breakfast and formal dine, separate office and laundry room, room over garage, good attic storage. In a nice hood with lots of trees.
PRO's: Big house with lots of footage. Good sized 2-car garage, a little oversized, back of garage is taken by stairs to room over garage which could be converted to workshop! Medium szed den/living room but has separage formal LR that could possibly be separate home theater (but do I want it separate). Nice screen porch on back. Great kitchen! Nice yard with lots of mature trees, easy to maintain, small storage build out back (mower/tools).
CON's: Main living room/den not well suited for home theater, a little small and wall/door layout not just rght. A lot of house for the money (plus in cheaper-tax-Matthews) but just didn't have a big "wow" effect on me... No cover over front door (what's with these houses?!)
MLS 447856 - Asking $196,900

^^ Gallery ^^

Looked 8/14/04
Added 8/17/04

* * * * 1/4* ( 4.25 Stars)
7316 Scarlet Runner Drive, Charlotte NC 28215
This one kinda jumped out at me when I walked in as it's got a nice open floorplan. With 2200sqft and only a 3 bedroom, that means there's extra space in other rooms (versus 4th bedroom gobbling up footage). It hase a BIG living room and kitchen area, with the LR very receptive to home theater. Formal living room nice for secondary entertainment room (e.g., pool table or foosball table, etc). Big master bedroom suite has biggest closet I've been in! Good for closet and storage as well! Office would be in one of secondary bedrooms. Average 2-car garage.
PRO's: Nice layout house with big den/kitchen area, den good for home theater. Nice back patio and deck - partially covered! Front living room great for secondary entertainment room potential. Nice flat lot and driveway. Seems to be nice hood - Halloween is back again! Only 10 minutes to shop for work!
CON's: Only 1/4 acre, close quarters housing - no back yard other than filled with trees (not all bad - some privacy and no big mowing!). HOA Fees $300/year, restrictive on addons (though not much room to addon anyway!)
MLS 466355 - Asking $167,5900

^^ Gallery ^^

Looked 8/14/04
Added 8/17/04

* * * ( 3 Stars)
6818 Kersfield Place, Charlotte NC 28227
Nice looking from the outside, and nice house inside. Has big deck on back and very thick woods about 30 feet back from house, has storage shed as well, set on 1/2 acre of land. Small and quiet hood.
PRO's: Good sized house on nice flat lot with nice trees and basic but attractive landscaping. Relatively private back yeard with thick trees and big deck.
CON's: Needs new carpeting! Not a spectacular layout, den not ideal for theater (though it could work - has one solid wall, jut not much depth from it). Would be much more considerable at $170-175k!
MLS 427943 - Asking $200,000

^^ Gallery ^^

Looked 8/14/04
Added 8/17/04

* * ( 2 Stars)
6719 Reedy Creek, Charlotte NC 28215
Big house with nice front porch. Flat lot but small lot (0.3 acres) with big-footprint house. I actually like the house but I think it's a problem waiting to happen...
PRO's: Big house with plenty of downstairs space, 2 decent sized living rooms with easy theater potential. Office downstairs or choose an upstairs room - even the BIG one over garage that opens to downstairs den. Flat lot.
CON's: BIG negative is unkonwn bugs dead in a few corners... Infestation problem? Dunno... All bedrooms are relatively small. Small lot with no privacy in back yard - just one in a big long ros of houses (get to know your neighbors though!).
MLS 431003 - Asking $176,900

^^ Gallery ^^

Looked 8/18/04
Added 8/18/04

* * ( 2 Stars)
13524 Capriole
Big house. Listed at 3500+/-sqft and probably has that. Layout did nothing for me. Looks great from the outside and has separate garage shop and BIG nice open back yard, but if you yanked out all of the inside walls and let me redesign it, then it might stand a chance! Overpriced for what it is...
PRO's: Big spread out house, lots of rooms. NICE yard and lot. Separate shop/garage (1 attached, 1 detached in shop).
CON's: Rooms lead to rooms lead to rooms! No halls, just room to room, odd layout. Way overpriced for house and versus rest of neighborhood.
MLS ??? - Asking $238,000

^^ Gallery ^^

Looked 8/18/04
Added 8/18/04

* * * 3/4* ( 3.75 Stars)
7100 Old Oak Lane, Charlotte NC 28227
Really nice looking house from outside. BIG flat lot (over 1.1 acres) in great hood. House has pretty straightforward layout, nothing spectacular. Formal LR great for home theater. Kitchen has small oven.
PRO's: Big house with 2500sqft. Promising floorplans to suite my wants. Love the big front porch and back deck/patio. HUGE lot and very nicely setup. Nice wood fireplace. Rooms upstairs simple but nice sized - secondary rooms bigger than in other houses. Room over garage good for almost anything (hideaway room?). Lots of other nice properties nearby to help value! Great neighborhood!
CON's: Kitchen looks like it may need some attention (tiny oven, drawers look askew in pics, didn't try them).
MLS 435035 - Asking $214,900

^^ Gallery ^^

Looked 8/18/04
Added 8/18/04

* * * 3/4* ( 3.75 Stars)
5910 Gold Wagon Lane, Charlotte NC 28227
Good sized house that is HIDDEN down a hill and behind about a hundred thick mature trees! Nealy 1 acre of land and lots of trees. Nice layout with good sized rooms throughout, nothing really small, but nothing really big either.
PRO's: Comes in with 2300sqft on nearly 1 acre very tree'd lot. Good potential for home theater and office downstairs (or office up). Nice house (only 6 years old). VERY secluded yet in very nice hood - tons of trees between house and road (house set down from road as well). High ceiling garage great for adding storage floor over cars.
CON's: No cable throughout - only in section above fireplace, would HAVE to run to home theater and office at least (an master bedroom). No workshop (other than half of garage).
MLS 404586 - Asking $199,900

^^ Gallery ^^

Looked 8/21/04
Added 8/26/04

Unrated
3010 Windsor Chase
Right beside 3004 Windsor Chase previously reviewed. Didn't like the layout near as much as the 3004 house. Just adding to cover all the houses I've looked at. :-)
MLS 463689 - Asking $179,900

^^ Gallery ^^

Looked 8/21/04
Added 8/26/04

Unrated
9828 Edwards Place
A good sized house that actually comes with 4.13 acres!! Does have a nice layout. Has a little older homey feel to it, though only built in 92. Fenced back yard. No overhang on front door, though. Check out the pictures.
MLS 471154 - Asking $199,000

9205 Castle Garden Lane -
Found this one late 8/23/04, and though it's a little on the pricey side at $224k, drove by and looks like a great house and n'hood. Online pics of inside are VERY promising... Wanna check it out.
Link: Allen Tate - MLS: 470222