February Real Estate Update

“Taking Real Estate to the next level!”

January Home Sales!
Three resales (2 homes and 1 villa) sold this past month, and there are six (6) currently under contract. No surprises that sales and showings are slower at this time of year. There are currently 36 resales on the market.

ClairTeam LogoDo you use your fireplace??? Sun City residents have been blessed with some gorgeous weather the last 30 days! It will be nice if our winter will continue reaching 60 degrees as it did the last week in January, but that’s not going to happen. When we reach those colder temperatures, will you use your fireplace? For most, the answer will be, “No!” For us, the answer is a resounding, “Yes”! We love our fireplace and we use it almost every evening! A glass of red wine just tastes better when you are watching the flames flicker. We also have our fireplace running almost every morning. It’s just more fun drinking coffee over a fireplace at 6:00 AM.
Your flames don’t flicker??? The fireplaces installed by Pulte are a very standard construction grade. When you turn them on, they don’t look real through the glass front and they don’t give off much heat. These fireplaces are vented through your roof and a very large portion of the heat produced goes through your chimney. Expensive and not very efficient!!

We converted to a ventless fireplace!!! A few years ago, we replaced our original fireplace with a ventless. Essentially, almost all heat produced goes back into our home. Most units are approximately 95% efficient! Our fireplace gives off plenty of heat and it looks pretty natural when it burns. However, when using a ventless unit, you have to take precautions. The mantle can get quite warm, and it is recommended that you don’t run your fireplace for extended periods of time.

Be cautious! When choosing a company to install your “ventless” unit, be cautious! Not all installers are the same. We had a client purchase a home last month and we were told that the fireplace unit was “ventless”. We told them how much we enjoyed our ventless unit and how much heat it gave off. When our client turned it on, it didn’t produce the heat she was hoping for. We gave her the name of our installer and he pointed out that not only did this unit not produce heat – it was unsafe. Apparently, there was an installer in Sun City that “retrofitted” an existing unit rather than replace it with the complete “ventless” package. This is the primary reason for writing this article.
Get a Professional Opinion! If you are considering the installation of a ventless unit, it should cost in the range of $1,300 -$1,400. Before making such a large purchase, talk to the experts to learn the pros and cons of purchasing this type of fireplace. If you had a “ventless” unit installed and you’re not sure if it was done properly, call the pros. There are several reputable installers out there. Compare prices and products. We used Barry Sims, owner of Fireplace Solutions, and we were very pleased with his knowledge and service. His phone number is 803-547-8900 and email is Fireplace4You@aol.com. We love our ventless unit!!

Hoping you stay cozy and warm this winter!

–Brian & Sharon Clair, Your Resident Realtors

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Road Trips in 2012

Family on Myrtle BeachPlanning Your Road Trips in 2012! Not sure where to go or what to do in the Carolinas? You can now find the new 2012 travel guides online at both VisitNC.com and VisitSC.com, and view a collection of videos to help you decide. Whether you’re looking for adventure or relaxation, mountains or beaches, the rhythm of city life or the tranquility of nature, you’ll find it all in the Carolinas!

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Discover The Queen City

Charlotte's Got a LotAre you looking for the new hidden gems, the inside scoop and 2012 events in Charlotte? You can now order a free copy of this year’s Visitor’s Guide online at www.CharlottesGotAlot.com or call the Visitor Center at 1-800-231-4636. You can preview it online while you are waiting for it to arrive (approx…3 weeks).

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Grandkids Eat Free

Earth Fare BallantyneThe Best “Grandkids Eat Free” deal! Right up the road at Earth Fare in Ballantyne on Thursday’s night you can get six free kids’ meals with just one adult meal purchase of $5.00. Tuesday night is Good Olde Days with Grandpa’s favorite prime rib dinner for $8.99.

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DISC GOLF

Elon Park Audrey KellNo cart or green fees! If you can throw a Frisbee and you like to have fun, you can play disc golf. Head up the road with a few of your neighbors to Elon Park at Ardrey Kell – there are two great courses. All you need to get started is a “flying disc”. They are very similar to Frisbees yet heavier and more streamlined. You can get them at Dick’s Sporting or Targets. As a beginner, you should start out on the short course – Mule Trial. The more advanced course is The Angry Beaver. Both courses are mostly in the woods, and water comes into play on 9 of the holes. Have fun!

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Parade of Beads!

Parade of BeadsThe Mardi Gras is coming to Charlotte on February 17th. The EpiCentre courtyard will be transformed into the French Quarter with New Orleans-style decorations, bands and a parade.

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Discount Furniture Event

Modern Couch(Feb. 18-21)! This year’s anniversary clearance sale at the Hickory Furniture Mart is being extended through President’s Day. All under one roof, you’ll find home furnishings, accessories, indoor and outdoor lighting, artwork, fine oriental rugs, fabrics, and much more!

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AllMyFaves.com!

Have you visited search engines and not found exactly what you wanted? Now you can…AllMyFaves.com provides you with a visual directory of all the best internet sites in over 45 different categories. From arts to internet tools, travel to photography, mp3 to video, the “Weekly Faves” is a great way to keep up with the newest and top ranked websites.

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Quick Response Codes

What the Heck? We’ve all seen them. Those funny looking squares that appear on magazine pages, newspaper ads, printed pages. What are they? Mazes? Maps to secret treasure? Some kind of fingerprint? Quick Response codes, or QRs, are easy ways to send folks to a website without them having to type a URL (web address). For example, you are in the mall, you see a poster for an event with a QR on it, or you’re leafing through a magazine and see one. By scanning the QR with your mobile phone, you’re linked. Names, addresses, directions, etc. Instant info. Not all phones have the ap, but we bet someone at SCCL’s computer club could tell you. It’s a new world folks…..pretty soon we’ll be sporting T-shirts with our own QR code on it!!!

QR teeshirtHey wait! What’s this?

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Colin Quinn, directed by Jerry Seinfeld

Knight TheaterShort Funny History Lesson!

January 19, 7:30pm, Knight Theater.

Colin Quinn, directed by Jerry Seinfeld, takes to the boards with his “Long Story Short.” All of world history compacted into 73 minutes of stand up comedy, satire and pointed observation. From Socrates to Snooki, Quinn takes on the human story. Google the theater for ticket info. Do you recognize Quinn from Saturday Night Live? Broadway? Time to laugh about the state we’re in!

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Charlotte Restaurant Week

If You Didn’t Eat Enough Over the Holidays…..Take heart, Charlotte’s Restaurant Week is soon upon us. Friday, January 20th through the 29th, is cause to break your New Year’s diet. Great treat for the palate and the purse at some of Charlotte’s finest eateries. Leave the lettuce at home, wear stretch pants and order the dessert!
www.charlotterestaurantweek.com

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3 Men And a Baby… Grand!

January 14, 2012, 7:30pm.
Music KeyboardNot far from the gates, USC Lancaster’s Bundy Auditorium will be swinging. Tickling the ivories and belting out Sinatra and show tunes, this trio is one harmonious note. (Check them out on YouTube). Luck Be a Lady Tonight! Yeah! Call (803) 289-1494 for more info. And why not eat at Charlie’s on Main Street first?

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