Charlotte home|design, July 26, 2020

Real Estate News

C H A R L O T T E

“The ones who can’t see the vision will ultimately miss the boat. The Charlotte market is moving forward, and it doesn’t wait for anybody.”

home design

page 4

dedicated to showcasing charlotte’s distinctive homes

– Matthew Means, Savvy + Co. Real Estate

Urban explosion Charlotte is booming, making these up-and-coming neighborhoods hotter than ever - story on page 6

design instyle Heads up p18

association answers HOAs and COVID-19 p22

local spotlight

Allen Tate’s Cindy Barnes p24

straight talk Urban exodus? p26

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|real estate news

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what’s new? compiled by Whitney Berongi

CHARLOTTE REGION HOME SALES SHOW EARLY SIGNS OF RECOVERY Home sales across the 16-county Charlotte area are showing that the region’s housing market is in the early stages of recovery. Home sales in June were down only 1.8 percent compared to June 2019 with 4,938 properties sold, according to data from Canopy MLS. Closed sales compared to May 2020 increased 37.2 percent with 340 more transactions completed than the previous month. Pending contracts, the activity that shows buyer interest and demand for homes, rose significantly by 26.8 percent year-over-year with 6,174 properties going under contract in June. Contract activity compared to May 2020 was also positive and rose 4.2 percent.

Prices rose during the month of June. The average list price ($366,537) rose 10.9 percent compared to last year but decreased 2.4 percent compared to May 2020. The median sales price ($284,900) and the average sales price ($333,938) rose 7.5 percent and 3.5 percent, respectively. The original list price to sales price ratio was at 97.6 percent, showing sellers are getting close to their asking prices.

However, new listing activity continues to lag, showing that seller confidence is recovering at a slower pace. Year-over-year new listings were down 8.5 percent with 5,365 new listings added to inventory during the month.

Homes continue to sell briskly, which is another hallmark of a strong seller’s market. Days on market, the metric that accrues for “Active” and “Under ContractShow” statuses, averaged 38 days in June 2020 compared to 40 days in June 2019. The average number of days a property was on the market from the time it

was listed until it closed (list to close) was 89 days. For more residential-housing market statistics, visit CarolinaHome.com and click on “Market Data.”

PREMIER SOTHEBY’S INTERNATIONAL REALTY WELCOMES NEW ASSOCIATES Premier Sotheby’s International Realty announced the addition of six new associates in its North Carolina offices. Linwood Bolles, Tim Cooper, Tamera Merrill and Jereta Harris have joined the Charlotte location. Jennifer Kane has affiliated with the Lake Norman office, and Shawn Leetz has joined the Asheville office.

Headquartered in Naples, Fla., Premier Sotheby’s International Realty has over 1,200 associates and employees in 40 locations throughout Florida and North Carolina. For more information, visit premiersothebysrealty.com.

Linwood Bolles

Tim Cooper

Shawn Leetz

Tamera Merrill

Email real estate news to homedesign@charlotteobserver.com.

C H A R L O T T E

home design Editor Coordinator/Designer Christina Darnell

Melissa Kennelly

Creative Strategy & Real Estate Advertising Buck Brice, bbrice@charlotteobserver.com

New Home Builder Advertising

Suzanne Parker, sparker@charlotteobserver.com

Sales Director

Vic Bowers, vbowers@mcclatchy.com 336-402-4673 Section published by The Charlotte Observer • 550 S. Caldwell St., Charlotte, NC 28202. Editorial material in this section is the responsibility of the Observer Content Studio, 704-358-5185. It did not involve the news staff of The Observer.

Is there a neighborhood you’d like to see featured?

Do you know of a new design trend on the rise?

Did you use one of our ideas for your own home or home purchase?

We’d love to hear from you.

homedesign@charlotteobserver.com

facebook.com/TheCharlotteObserverHomeDesign *Copyright 2020 by The Charlotte Observer. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or reprinted without written permission.

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|urban boom

DID YOU KNOW? There’s a campaign to bring a Central Park-style greenspace called Queen’s Park to Charlotte where the dormant railyard sits north of Uptown.

by Julie Cooper

EAT Noble Smoke Get your fill of pulled pork, brisket, ribs, chicken and fish at this Southern barbecue spot with a biergarten out back on Freedom Drive. noblesmokebarbecue.com

PLAY

AvidXchange Music Factory Charlotte’s hub for concerts, events, dining, bars and entertainment, head to AvidXchange Music Factory for fun and great music. avidxchangemusicfactory.com

EXPLORE

Camp North End Spend time exploring the heart of the North End Smart District at this cool 76-acre historic site and mixed-use community hub filled with coffee shops, restaurants, art studios and more. camp.nc

N

oDa, Wesley Heights, Chantilly—all highly sought-after neighborhoods that everyone wants to be in now. But a little more than 10 years ago that wasn’t the case. These areas were up-and-coming and required potential homebuyers to buy into the vision and share in Charlotte’s growth story.

“Now it’s difficult to find anything affordable in those markets,” says Matthew Means with Savvy + Co. Real Estate. “That’s the same thing that’s going to happen in neighborhoods like Seversville, Biddleville, Druid Hills, Ashley Park and Enderly Park. The ones who can’t see the vision will ultimately miss the boat.

The Charlotte market is moving forward, and it doesn’t wait for anybody.”

Charlotte is currently the third fastest-growing major U.S. city. If its rapid growth continues, it could surge from roughly 905,000 people to about 2.74 million in just two more decades. All these people are going to need a place to live, and many of them will be vying for the convenient lifestyle near Center City.

“Homebuyers are drawn to Charlotte’s urban boom neighborhoods because of the convenience factor and the lifestyle,” Means says.

“Living in these areas means all the great amenities, like breweries, restaurants, greenways and parks, are at your disposal. You can hop on the Light Rail and get to Uptown, South

End and NoDa in no time.”

On top of that, more and more amenities are popping up in these urban neighborhoods. “Camp Green is an affordable area with new restaurants opening up, like Noble Smoke, Bossy Beaulah’s and Suffolk Punch’s new brewery,” Means says.

“I tell people to follow the money, the jobs and businesses because that means an area is about to explode.”

According to Means, the areas that are currently booming are those close to the Queen City’s trendiest neighborhoods. “The popular places are out of reach from a pricing standpoint, so homebuyers will look to areas close to them. Take NoDa, for instance,” he explains.

“NoDa is expensive so people have gone to Villa Heights and Belmont.

That’s why Belmont is booming now.

People are pretty much looking in any area under half a million within a 2-mile radius of Uptown.”

Bungalows and craftsman-style homes are the most sought-after styles in these areas. However, while there are some one-off developments where developers are building two to four homes a year or a small townhouse neighborhood, mega neighborhoods are rare. “You just don’t see that,” Means says.

“There are some local builders going to build, but you have to be on the lookout and ready to jump.”

“We are in the process of rezoning land in Villa Heights for our

office coupled with 5,000 square feet of retail space and 23 condos on Parkwood,” says Matt Ewers, owner and president of Grandfather Homes. Loved for its exemplary level of craftsmanship, Grandfather Homes is a Charlotte-based custom home builder.

With over a decade of experience, Grandfather Homes is in touch with modern home buyers’ wants and needs when it comes to new construction and renovations.

“Progressive lines with swooped roofs, arched porte cocheres, large steel entryways, and oversized and irregular windows that create multiple planes of light and sun therapy are popular right now,” Ewers says.

“Interconnected outdoor spaces that egress/ingress at multiple points throughout the home are also high on people’s wish lists. It’s all about clean lines and sleek details.

Simple, yet refined.”

And, while the architecture in these areas is beautiful and character-rich, what really makes these neighborhoods stand out are the people who call them home. “You’ll find people who have been there for 50 to 60 years, and then there are others who just moved in last summer,” says Means. “It’s young, it’s old and it’s a lot of different types of personalities and feels. The people are great, and everyone is looking to enjoy themselves and take advantage of being close to the city.”

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MADISON PARK 5228 Valley Stream Road, Charlotte, NC 28209 Price: $535,000 MLS: 3639447 Listing Agent: Cindy Barnes, Allen Tate Realtors, 704-367-7203, cindy.barnes@ allentate.com Almost-new light, bright townhome with an open floor plan and ubertrendy finishes. The kitchen: white cabinets, subway backsplash, gas stove, big island open to generous living and dining areas with private balcony. Upstairs: two large bedrooms with walk-in closets and ensuite baths, plus convenient laundry and a balcony off master. Basement: full bath, huge great room, including wine bar under construction, opening to patio. Other features include tankless water heater, Tesla charging station and super quick access to greenway trails. Ideally located, near all that Park Road and SouthPark offer.

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|urban boom MIDWOOD 4511 Tinkham Court, Charlotte, NC 28205 Price: $1,275,000 MLS: 3627806 Listing Agents: Matt Ewers, 704-201-2889, matt@nestlewoodrealty.com; Missy Bagley, 336-953-2098, missy@ nestlewoodrealty.com; Nestlewood Realty Modern European architecture with brick veneer, copper gutters, copper accents and gas lantern designed by Mermans Architecture & Design and built by Grandfather Homes.

Gourmet kitchen with enormous island, Thermador appliances and walk-through pantry/ scullery/drop zone. Vaulted great room features pass-through fireplace into covered terrace.

Cantilevered porte cochere leads to two-car detached garage with walk-up unfinished space above. Double doors open to upstairs master retreat. Personalized tours and design consultations available—this is just one of 16 custom home designs built by Grandfather Homes in new 36-home community, Cramer’s Pond.

MIDWOOD 4545 Tinkham Court, Charlotte, NC 28205 Price: $1,375,000 MLS: Contact listing agents Listing Agents: Matt Ewers, 704-201-2889, matt@ nestlewoodrealty.com; Missy Bagley, 336-953-2098, missy@ nestlewoodrealty.com; Nestlewood Realty Custom European architecture with welcoming front porch and open floor plan in Plaza Midwood. Heavy trim, soft-close cabinetry, white oak floors and hardboard shelving throughout.

Gourmet kitchen with large island, Thermador appliance package, walk-in pantry and charming dining nook. Great room opens to rear covered terrace, private backyard retreat and detached two-car garage. Master suite with walk-in closet and five-piece private bathroom: dual vanities, soaking tub, tile shower and water closet. Guest suite on main; bonus room plus fifth bedroom suite on third level. This is just one of 16 custom home designs built by Grandfather Homes in new 36-home community, Cramer’s Pond.

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DILWORTH 1814 Asheville Place, Charlotte, NC 28203 Price: $1,035,000 MLS: 3631655 Listing Agent: Michael Baker, HM Properties, 704-526-9510, michael@ hmproperties.com Wonderful curb appeal with a large covered front porch, this charming updated bungalow is walkable to restaurants, bars, grocery stores, Freedom Park and all that Dilworth has to offer. Full renovation and remodel in 2011. Nine-foot ceilings on first floor and 10-foot ceilings on second floor. Eat-in chef’s kitchen with gas range and granite counters overlooking family room and window wall to outside terrace. Large upstairs master retreat with spotlight bathroom, heated floors, a steam shower and dual vanities. Two more bedrooms upstairs share Jack and Jill bath. Fourth bed on first floor with private bath.

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ELIZABETH 2134 Greenway Avenue, Charlotte, NC 28204 Price: $1,595,000 MLS: 3637757 Listing Agent: Susan May, HM Properties, 704-650-7432, susanmay@ hmproperties.com Originally built in 1927, this beautifully restored home has been completely renovated. Addition by Bannister Homes, designed by Andrew Woodruff, â…“-acre corner lot in Elizabeth, energy star qualified, with spray foam insulation and incredible detail. Large front wraparound porch. Renovated kitchen with custom cabinets, marble countertops and high-end appliances.

Separate study down plus a mud room and private screen porch with fireplace. Master up with custom closet design in the master and renovated bathrooms. Sun porch off master.

Upper loft play area that can be accessed by a ladder, rope or pole.

Basement playroom. Sealed crawl space and basement storage. Separate garage apartment over the two-car garage can legally be rented out.

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urban boom| DILWORTH 723 Mt Vernon Avenue, Charlotte, NC 28203 Price: $3,650,000 MLS: 3616636 Listing Agent: Marcy Basrawala, Dickens Mitchener & Associates, 704-280-1469, marcy@ dickensmitchener.com Welcome to this contemporary craftsman masterpiece designed by one of Charlotte’s finest architects, Harry Schrader. This one-of-akind Dilworth home boasts five bedrooms and 5.5 baths. Master bath comes with a sauna, steam shower, heated floors and huge closet.

Main floor has bamboo floors and a floating iron staircase. Floor-to-ceiling windows look out to an outdoor oasis with saltwater pool, swim jet, hot tub and sweeping views of the city skyline. Open floor plan. Spacious living room includes automated sliding doors to hide TV, and a fireplace. Downstairs has a theater room, kitchen, man cave, home gym. Car elevator with enough space to park five cars in the basement garage. Whole-house generator and water filtration. Geothermal HVAC.

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|urban boom ELIZABETH 2540 Vail Avenue, Charlotte, NC 28207 Price: $669,000 MLS: 3623306 Listing Agent: Scott Russo, The McDevitt Agency, 704-421-0706, scott@ themcdevittagency.com Casually elegant duet in walkable Elizabeth.

Functional design, impeccable craftsmanship.

Gourmet kitchen has 42-inch cabinets with softclose hardware, quartz-topped workspace, gas range, fireclay farm sink and beverage center.

Screened porch and fabulous line of sight with three sides of windows. Great room features gas log fireplace. Romantic owner’s suite with beamed tray ceiling and dreamy walk-in. Barn door opens to spa bath. Designer lighting, modern paint scheme, custom built-ins and shiplap accents complete the details. Part of the urban boom with million-dollar new construction coming next door and across the street.

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urban boom| FOURTH WARD 400 N Church Street #216, Charlotte, NC 28202 Price: $975,000 MLS: 3629997 Listing Agent: Shane McDevitt, The McDevitt Agency, 704-763-0063, shane@ themcdevittagency.com Welcome home to one of the finest residences at 400 N. Church, a classic condominium building in Uptown’s historic Fourth Ward. Take a short stroll to Fourth Ward Park and enjoy the lush landscaping and tree-lined paths with the Uptown skyline as your backdrop. Back at the condo, the custom floor plan is designed with generous living and entertaining spaces.

Some must-sees include the chef’s kitchen with Sub Zero, Wolf and Miele appliances as well as the master bedroom retreat and sitting area that open to a covered outdoor terrace. This brownstone-style residence flaunts sophisticated living along with Uptown’s fine dining, sports/ entertainment venues and performing arts being just steps away.

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|urban boom DILWORTH 1236 Pierce Street, Charlotte, NC 28203 Price: $600,000 MLS: 3637240 Listing Agent: Matthew Means, Savvy + Co. Real Estate, 704-293-4449, mcmeans82@gmail.com Beautiful townhome situated in the heart of Dilworth and within walking distance to all the shops and amenities South End and Dilworth have to offer. Catch the light rail to Uptown or NoDa. On the inside, the stunning townhome has a high finish level with custom paint throughout, stainless appliances, quartz counters, hardwoods, custom closets, tile flooring, two-car garage and much more. This particular townhome is ready from day one for you to enjoy the lifestyle it affords.

BRIGHTWALK 2322 Woodward Avenue, Charlotte, NC 28206 Price: $500,000 MLS: 3631133 Listing Agent: Jessica Flinn, Savvy + Co. Real Estate, 704-589-3157, jess@myrealtorjessflinn.com Single-family charmer on a corner lot in Brightwalk community. Home has been meticulously maintained and upgraded. Inviting wraparound patio in front leading to a fenced backyard. Pavers lead from the patio to the garage and to a small fire pit. Landscaping added along fence will mature into nice privacy plantings. Walk in to a cozy office space with faux fireplace, room for a shoe drop, a beverage nook and open layout where you can enjoy the kitchen, living room and dining room together. Wood blinds, new paint and hardwoods throughout. Extra loft space and large master suite on second floor with finished third-floor bonus room. Brightwalk is a short stroll to Camp Northend, minutes to Optimist Park, NoDa, Uptown, I-77 and I-85.

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|design instyle

Planters from A&B Home / Find them at abhomeinc.com

Heads up

Enliven your garden and outdoor spaces with these elegant planters

by Vicki Donatelli

T

he first time I saw a garden planter shaped like the head of a Greek god I was fascinated. I ordered a pair of the “Old Men” for my garden and waited anxiously to welcome them into my outdoor nirvana. When you’ve been playing in the dirt as long as I have, your yard becomes your refuge.

Its personality is shaped and molded by you and Mother Nature over the years. A cement planter as unique as the “Old Men” was just what my garden needed—someone to watch over it when duties summoned me elsewhere.

A planter’s true persona is determined by what you plant in

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the top of the head. Each season it changes. I started with blue mountain grass. It’s a clump-forming ornamental grass noted for its finely-textured, blue-gray foliage. It was the perfect tufted dome for my parkland guards.

In the winter, they were crowned with holly.

Once hard to come by, these planters are easy to find. A & B Home, an

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accessories company, has introduced a dozen or so charming head planters. Some of them are 100 percent cement, which is my favorite. It ages and cultivates its own charming patina. They also offer planters made of polyresin. These planters are finished in a French, whitewash stone gilt.

The polyresin planters are perfect to use indoors or out as a flower vase.

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They will hold water, unlike the cement planters designed for potting soil.

The bust planter is classic Italian. It is intricately designed into the statue of a young girl with her hands in her hair. Her height, 15.7 inches, looks amazing with trailing plants spilling from her curls. Creeping Jenny or Curio Rowleyanus (String of Pearls) are both great selections. Succulents are wonderful medleys to work with.

The newest addition is wall hanging planters. The planters are flat on the back side and ready to plant and hang. They are smaller in size, 6 to 7 inches, making them ideal to display on your front porch or in your backyard to dress up a privacy fence. For larger

spaces, hang a pair of planters.

Tabletop planters make amusing flower vases. Some feature heads of curls, circles of roses and even clusters of grapes. Fill them with matching floral arrangements or interesting greenery, such as moss. They are whimsy and eye-catching additions to traditional, eclectic, global or industrial-style settings.

Using a cement pedestal, you can elevate these planters to adorn a garden of hydrangeas, limelights or boxwoods. Select a pedestal that positions the head at eye level for the most attentiongrabbing effect. Plants of contrasting color and leaf structure are paramount.

If your planter is against a wall or shrub setting, start with a tall

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spiky plant for the middle or back of your planter, then select a blooming plant that is mid-sized and likes to form a mound. The type of plants will depend on garden location and shade of sun. Lime green and purple foliage plants make a stunning appearance against an ivy-covered wall or tall boxwood hedges.

If you are dining alfresco, try using a collection of various sized planters as a centerpiece for your table. Even if

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you’re dining alone, they make some of the best dinner guests you can invite.

Vicki Payne Donatelli is an interior designer, project coordinator and popular speaker for renovation and new construction projects. She is the host of the national PBS series “For Your Home.” Visit her blog at ForYourHome. com.

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Recent legislation brings twin impacts to community associations This column was written by Hope Carmichael, Esq., CAI-NC Chapter President and fellow of the College of Community Association Lawyers.

– Mike Hunter

LIMITED IMMUNITY FOR POOLS Gov. Cooper signed HB 902 on July 2, a bill mandating that owners and operators of community pools and their agents shall not be liable in any claim or action seeking damages for injury or death resulting from transmission of COVID-19 alleged to have resulted from the reopening of the community pool in accordance

with applicable executive orders of the governor. The immunity provided will not apply to claims for injury or death resulting from gross negligence, wanton conduct or intentional wrongdoing.

General Assembly passed House Bill 118, which applies broadly to businesses, nonprofits and individuals, including planned community and condominium associations. Gov. Cooper signed the bill July 2.

mended guidance for opening their pools and facilities.”

House Bill 118 gives some reassurance for associations in light of the growing awareness that general liability and directors and officers insurance policies NOW, ASSOCIATIONS WILL NOT BE LIABLE almost universally exclude coverage for AS A RESULT OF ORDINARY NEGLIGENCE IN claims arising from pandemic, virus and ANY CLAIM BROUGHT BY SOMEONE WHO disease. However, associations should CLAIMS TO HAVE CONTRACTED COVID-19 be aware that gross negligence, willful or WHILE ON HOA OR CONDOMINIUM COMwanton conduct or intentional wrongdoMON AREAS. ing would still subject an HOA to potential liability. This might include a reckless disregard for following local and state Speaking to N.C. senators June 10 Hunter in support of limited liability for ownguidance on reopening swimming pools or other amenities, so it’s important to be ers’ associations, I told legislators, “CAI has confirmed with multiple insurance diligent about compliance with all state gate reported violationsorders and enforce them the desire of the A limitation or and local executive and decrees. carriers the community. common policy exclusion uniformly.

Finding an to prohibition short-termpolicies rentals may not be consistently The lawand requires an association in HOAoninsurance for claims desirable forto some communities, suchboards as active listingreasonable on the Internet forof the home related COVID-19.

Volunteer “provide notice actions resort vacationacross communities or unit with a short-term-rental company taken to reduce the transmission of COVofordirectors NC arewhere tryingmany to of the homes as invest- for is often in enforcement. make thewere bestpurchased possible decisions ID-19the onfirst the step premises.”

Once that notice ments for communities. the express purpose of renting We reprinted athe column authored their But these volunis provided, association willbynot be themteers on a are weekly or daily 2016ofthat provided infaced with basis. the tough choice another liableattorney for the in failure individuals to folformation websites than cancalled help HOAs Having a community restriction against of denying members access to their low theon rules or guidance for in the identify short-term lease listings their short-term rentals is, ofamenities course, only the commonly-owned or risking notice.

This provision in theinlaw makes first what step. could Enforcing such restrictions is communities. can be at be devastating legal costs the postingThat andcolumn publication of found detailed another issue. potential HOA boards should, rules and guidelines extremely important to defend claims, evenatif the carolinacommonelements.com/2016/09/28/ a minimum, make ownersallaware any new-services-help-associations-thwartboards are following of theofrecomin the association’s liability protection. restrictions on short-term leases, investiunauthorized-short-term-rentals.

Short-term rentals – should your hoa consider banning them?

LIMITED IMMUNITY FROM COVID-19 TRANSMISSION LIABILITY CLAIMS In the last week of its session, the NC

by Mike

E

arlier this month at an apartment in Uptown, gunfire erupted at a graduation party. One person was killed and three more injured, one of them critically. Residents of the entire complex were forced out of their units into the street in the middle of the night while the police conducted their investigation. The local news reported that the apartment had been rented through Airbnb, a shortterm-rental company.

While the recent event described above involved an apartment complex and not a condominium, that difference is immaterial. Owners and residents in communities everywhere, whether singlefamily homes, condos or townhomes, are justifiably concerned about the proliferation of short-term rentals. There are identifiable risks posed by the short-term rental of a home to someone about whom you know nothing or very little, and it is

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impossible to predict what the renters or their guests will do on the property during their brief stay.

Despite the rapid growth of short-term rentals, laws regulating them are virtually nonexistent (except in primarily tourismdriven markets like Asheville or Charleston), leaving owners looking to their HOAs for help.

Some HOAs have restrictions in their governing documents that prohibit leases of homes of less than a stated term, such as six or 12 months. Others have language in their governing documents that grant the HOA board the authority to develop leasing rules and regulations, and this may give an HOA the right to impose controls on short-term rentals.

If your community’s governing documents don’t contain such restrictions, the governing documents will need to be amended to limit or prohibit short-term rentals, if that is

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|local spotlight

Allen Tate’s Cindy Barnes

by Bethany E. Starin

B

orn and raised in the Midwest, Cindy Barnes moved to the Queen City 37 years ago, bringing with her a passion for music, education and the international community. Transitioning from educator to real estate agent in 1996, Barnes has closed more than 875 real estate transactions totaling $300 million— all with her mindset of educating and listening, not “selling” to her clients. She’s energetic, articulate and well respected in Charlotte’s real estate community. When she’s not selling properties, you can find her crafting a tasty food and wine pairing at her home in South Charlotte.

Q: What came before real estate for you professionally?

A: “Originally, I was a German and Eng-

lish major but I had years of private piano lessons and at one point I had over 30 students. I duplicated my piano business in Charlotte but also taught ESL and German and all kinds of English courses.”

Q: What drew you to real estate?

A: “I needed a new adventure, and in 1996 I decided to try real estate. It allowed me to start a business on my own terms and I felt like the level of effort I put into it, I would get that direct result.

And that’s what happened. I was lucky I had access to some of the top people in Allen Tate Realtors who were willing to be mentors.”

Q: How did your professional career impact your real estate business?

A: “My ESL and German background helped me develop my business, because Charlotte is definitely an international city and a lot of my clients are from the international community. I joined the Charlotte chapter of North Carolina World Trade Association and the board of the Charlotte International Cabinet, and people within the international community referred those moving from other countries or had friend referrals. They felt like I had an understanding of what different clients might need or want. I did not come to those clients with an idea of what they should have, I didn’t expect them to conform.”

Q: What’s your real estate personality?

A: “I always tell people my job is to educate rather than to sell. If I educate

them, they end up making a good decision and I don’t have to sell anything. I will tell you if I think you are making a bad choice because I don’t want you to call me five years later with regret. One of my clients started calling it ‘The Cindy Barnes Approved House,’ and I love that.”

Q: Are there any myths about real estate you would like to debunk?

A: “I will be truthful, it wasn’t what I thought it was. I thought real estate was showing pretty houses on sunny days. Most people think that’s what real estate is. One reason I like it so much is that it’s so much more interesting than that. It’s dealing with people at a time in their life when they are under stress. It is learning how to help

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FIVE OF CINDY’S MUST-HAVE’S FOR INSPIRATION 1. JAZZ “I love going to see jazz at the Bechtler. I grew up in a jazz family, and my father played old Glen Miller records for me when I was a baby and always said I loved listening to them.”

2. HER DAUGHTERS “My two daughters are terrific, hard-working, successful women who inspire me. I am very proud.”

5228 Valley Stream Road, Charlotte, NC 28209 MLS: 3639447

people. Sometimes I am a psychiatrist, sometimes I am a listener. It’s also contracts, it’s negotiation, it’s sales.”

I think that’s going to change. I think there is enough political will, but more than that ground-level will for change.”

Q: What’s your current pulse on the Queen City?

A: “I think the city faces a challenging time. I think we have to address the economic disparity—for businesses, schools, housing, everything—and I think we are up to it. Since I moved here, it has gotten better in terms of access, but internationally we have such a broad community and for people of color who have grown up here, they have not always had the same access.

Q: What are your future goals?

A: “I am at a very nice place in my career in that I pick my projects, so that’s what I enjoy doing now. The other niche I would like to do more of is helping that empty nester, older person with downsizing or moving to an over-55 community. They need somebody who appreciates them—they are leaving memories; it is a traumatic transition. I really enjoy working with them and that’s something I hope to do.”

3. TRAVEL “I am lucky, my sister has a house in New Mexico and I always say, ‘Thank you for building me a vacation home!’ I have traveled a lot internationally. I had planned on being in France in the fall with a friend to visit the champagne region.”

4. FRIENDS “My friends are dear and supportive. A lot of them I met through involvement in the community when I first came to Charlotte—one from the board of the Chamber of Music at St. Peters who I met standing in the wine line, and two of my best friends I met in the international organizations.”

5. FOOD AND WINE PAIRINGS “I love both food and wine—and love going out for good food from Uptown to Ballantyne. I love to cook and do wine pairings. A favorite summertime pairing is always steak on the grill and a good cab.”

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Photo courtesy of Starr Miller Interior Design

|straight talk

Urban exodus?

Those fleeing city life in the midst of COVID-19 likely would have migrated anyway, just not so soon

by Allen Norwood

Y

ou’ve seen the scary headlines about people leaving cities to avoid COVID-19: “People flee cities to live in suburbs.” “The pandemic is making the suburbs even more appealing.” “Will coronavirus cause an urban exodus?”

Those headlines are not just hyperbole, according to Pat Riley, president of Allen Tate Realtors. Such movement is going on, including in Charlotte.

“We’ve been getting a good feel for the movement,” he said. “It’s real. Absolutely, unequivocally, there is migration.”

He cited a couple of recent anecdotes to reinforce the point: One young family broke a lease in Chicago to move to Boone. Another, with a child and a dog, moved out of Manhattan.

But coronavirus is not the only reason for most of the moves, he said. It’s the final nudge for lots of people, especially young parents, who already were considering leaving a city. It’s a tipping point for them.

Riley called coronavirus “the icing on the cake,” but you might also call it the straw that broke the camel’s back.

Turned out that Riley was working on a blog about people leaving cities when I caught up with him. Look for it at allentate.com.

He’s in a unique position to comment on the impact the virus is having on real estate patterns in Charlotte and across the region. Allen Tate is based in Charlotte, but its footprint stretches from Raleigh, through the three Triad cities, past Charlotte and down I-85 across upstate South Carolina. Tate has a presence in Boone and Blowing Rock—an area that, as Riley pointed out, is attracting city escapees.

Riley is past chairman of Charlotte Center City Partners, and past chairman of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Public Schools Foundation.

Schools, especially, attract young families to suburbs and small towns, he

said. Mom and dad already are tired of high taxes and crowded commutes, then along comes COVID-19 to push them to suburban school districts sooner than they planned.

“They say enough is enough,” he said. The “flight” is not just from COVID, though, it’s to highly rated schools. And it might well have occurred anyway, just not so soon.

Many Americans are working from home. That would seem to make the suburbs more appealing. If you can work remotely from anywhere, why not choose a big yard and a house with some elbow room?

But Riley points out that workers have no choice—and fewer temptations.

“You’re working from home in a time of social isolation,” he said. “You can’t run out and meet your girlfriends for lunch.”

You’re working from home right now, but that’s not the same as working from home after the social distancing rules be-

gin to ease. Companies might not be so lenient. We’ll have to wait and see what those patterns look like as things return to normal.

Here’s another headline I spotted: “Will COVID push people out of cities for good?”

Riley says no, agreeing with experts quoted in other stories. Urban areas, including Uptown Charlotte and South End, will continue to be attractive to young people and retirees as things return to normal.

“Right now people are raw,” he said.

“But as Americans, as humans, people have short memories. South End and Uptown will continue to attract young people and retirees. Those young people and grandparents will make up their own minds.”

And they’ll choose urban living.

Allen Norwood: homeinfo@charter.net

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