Costello Real Estate & Investments Blog | Costello REI

With the city of Charlotte growing quickly, many are moving to Charlotte from out of the state or at least out of the city. You may be making the move to Charlotte soon and you may be bringing your pets along. The more the merrier and Charlotte is a very pet-friendly place to live.

After making the decision on relocating to Charlotte, you may be wondering how smooth the move will go with your pets. Moving is already stressful and adding in pets can make it even worse. You have so many things to get done and keep track of already.

When you decide to move to Charlotte with pets, you need the right advice to help you get the move done smoothly. Here are some of the best tips to ensure your move with pets is handled properly.

Make the Pets the Job of the Kids

Often, kids feel lift out during a move and need something to do. Putting them in charge of caring for your pets is a great way to handle two things in one. Kids get something to do and you have someone else helping out with the pets.

Of course, you will still have to oversee this whole operation as they are still just kids.

Handling Packing

It's well-known that cats don't like change at all. Dogs, on the other hand, will go nuts anytime you get out luggage or bring moving boxes into your home. They just have a sense for what's happening and they don't know where you might take them next.

Bringing moving boxes into your home early in the process can help to ensure your dogs and cats have time to get used to them. This will also allow you to pack a little at a time, which can also keep the stress...

When it's time to sell your Charlotte home, you certainly have plenty of options for a real estate agent or broker. There are more than 2 million actively licensed real estate agents in the United States and plenty are found in Charlotte. However, not every agent is the same.

Several types of agents and brokers are found out there and it's important to understand how each one works. When you're ready to hire the right Charlotte real estate agent, you'll want to understand what you're getting into. Here's a look at the different types of real estate agents found throughout Charlotte.

Full-Service Real Estate Agents

The full-service real estate agent is the traditional agent and the most common. This type of agent will handle all the heavy lifting throughout the entire process to get your home sold. They will handle the staging, marketing, closing and so much more to help you get the home sold.

When it comes to negotiating the contract and terms, your full-service real estate agent in Charlotte will be right there to help. They may even schedule inspections or any appointments with a closing attorney to ensure everything is handled smoothly.

Limited Service Real Estate Agents

A less common type of agent you will run into is the limited service real estate agent. This type of agent is exactly what it sounds like. You'll get a limited amount of service from them and usually, you will pay a lower commission rate or a reduced fixed rate for their services.

Limited service real estate agents come in two varieties: Discount and Flat Fee. The discount real estate agent will provide a discounted commission rate in exchange for a lower level of service compared to the full-service agent. They may help with negotiations and contracts,...

You've finally made the decision to move to Charlotte. With the city growing so fast and so many great things to do, you're in for a wonderful adventure. Charlotte offers plenty of professional sports, incredible outdoor recreation and all kinds of new businesses opening all the time.

Whether you've already found a new place to call home or you're searching for the right neighborhood, this guide is for you. Below, you will find our quick guide to moving to Charlotte packed with helpful information.

#1 - Where Will You Live?

The first thing you need to do when you plan to move to Charlotte is figuring out where you will live. You may want to rent for a few months while you search for a home or maybe you'd prefer to buy before you move. Either way, finding the right neighborhood is key.

Choosing a neighborhood isn't always easy and with so many great choices in Charlotte, it can be very difficult. You can choose one of the infill neighborhoods, such as Myers Park, Uptown or Dilworth. You can also consider one of the suburbs, such as Davidson, Mooresville or Ballantyne. These are just a few of the many top neighborhoods found in Charlotte....

Winter is nearly here and the Yadkin Valley Winter Wine & Beer Passport offers a great way to visit wine country in North Carolina. If you've been looking for a way to enjoy incredible wineries and craft breweries, you can use this passport to really check them out.

Found north of Charlotte off I-77, Surry County offers some of the very best wineries in the state. You can enjoy ten award-winning choices, along with two breweries with the Winter Wine & Beer Passport this year. A visit to wine country can be quite a bit of fun when you get the passport for your trip.

If you're looking for a great way to get out of the city during the holidays, this is one of the best choices. It also makes a good gift and provides plenty of fun for anybody that loves wine.

What You Get with the Passport

The Passport will be valid for use from November 23rd to March 20th and offers plenty of perks. You get to enjoy 12 wine and beer tastings with a commemorative keepsake and discounts at many of the local merchants, hotels, and restaurants.

It's a bit like you will be on a treasure hunt as you will have a treasure map to lead you to the wineries and brewers in Surry County. This makes it fun for a group, a couple or anybody looking to enjoy wine tastings in a fun, unique way.

Participating Wineries

For this year, the following wineries are all a part of the Winter Wine & Beer Passport in Surry County:

• Roaring River
• Slightly Askew
• Shelton Vineyards
• Adagio Vineyards
• Elkin Creek...

Plaza Midwood is very popular and it's one of the oldest neighborhoods in Charlotte. You may know quite a bit about this amazing neighborhood, but you may not know it all.

The neighborhood is known for the incredible restaurants, unique bars, thriving culture, and arts scene and so much more. It's a true Charlotte institution and one of the best neighborhoods in the city.

Plaza Midwood is also a great place to call home with plenty of wonderful homes. Many of the houses here are historic and have been well preserved. There's also some new construction on the larger streets and many residents love the fact that the neighborhood is very walkable.

If you're considering moving to Plaza Midwood, you'll want a real estate agent familiar with the area. You will also want to learn all about the neighborhood. While you may know some of the main facts about Plaza Midwood, you may not know everything. Here are some of the top things you may not know about Plaza Midwood.

WBT Radio Station

F.M. Laxton is a famous early resident from Plaza Midwood. He set up a radio transmitter in his backyard chicken coup back in the 1910s. Eventually, he became the founder of the WBT radio station, which was only the third licensed station in the entire county. This caused Charlotte to become a hotspot for music recording early when the industry was first born.

Many historical facts like this make Plaza Midwood special and there's plenty to learn about the area. It's steeped in history and you can feel it as you walk throughout...

It's a wonderful time of the year in Charlotte with the holiday season right around the corner. Halloween is nearly here and once it's over, it won't be long before Christmas lights are found everywhere and the cheer of the season is in the air.

When the holiday season rolls around, several annual events also come to town. If you want to know some of the best ways to celebrate the holidays in Charlotte, here are 17 to choose from.

Southern Christmas Show

Get your holiday season started early from November 8th to 18th with the Southern Christmas Show. This is the place to enjoy freshly decorated trees, plenty of gift shopping and more. It will be held at The Park Expo & Conference Center.

Vintage Charlotte Winter Market

On November 17th, you can enjoy the Vintage Charlotte Winter Market with more than 60 vendors on hand with all kinds of items. Find the perfect gifts at The Fillmore during this event.

Speedway Christmas

You don't have to be a race fan to enjoy the Charlotte Motor Speedway from November 18th to December 31st. It will be filled with light displays you can drive through and enjoy with classic holiday movies playing and plenty more.

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever: The Musical

Starting on November 23rd and running through December 23rd, this is one of the best holiday events...

Are you planning to pop the question? The holiday season all the way through Valentine's Day is the most popular time of year for a proposal in Charlotte. If you're planning to get down on one knee, here are the top 10 proposal spots to consider throughout the city.

Freedom Park

A beautiful background found between the historic neighborhoods of Myers Park and Dilworth, Freedom Park offers plenty of options for a proposal. It covers 98 acres of beautiful space and many consider it to be the "Central Park" of Charlotte. Wait until sunset and propose with the beautiful seven-acre lake in the background or arrive at sunrise for the perfect early-day proposal.

Fahrenheit

A rooftop bar offering a 360-degree view of the city, Fahrenheit is a great spot to pop the question. Enjoy the comfortable chairs and a drink to celebrate after she says "YES" and you can even bring in a cozy atmosphere with the fire pits found here. The rooftop bar is located above Hyatt Place on the 21st floor.

A few other rooftop bars to consider include:

• Nuvole Rooftop TwentyTwo
• Rooftop 210
• City Lights Rooftop

One of the Charlotte Concert Venues

Maybe you want to propose with music in the background during the holiday season. You will have plenty of options with plenty of great concerts throughout the holidays. The Fillmore is a popular choice, while ...

Maybe you have little kids and you don't want to go to the haunted houses for Halloween. When you want something less scary than some of the spooky attractions, you may be looking for a pumpkin patch, corn maze, or hayride. Charlotte has plenty of all three.

While many of the Halloween attractions in the Charlotte area are rather scary, this list is filled with only the Not-So-Scary options suitable for all ages. Here's a look at the best pumpkin patches, corn mazes, and hayrides near Charlotte.

Hodges Family Farm Pumpkin Patch

Offering plenty of pumpkins, hayrides, and animals, this is a fun sot for the entire family. The pumpkins will start around $5 and go up from there. Hayrides are held on the weekends for $5 per person and those age 3 an under do get in free. Admission to the farm itself is free.

Hodges Family Farm Pumpkin Patch is located at 3900 Rocky River Road in Charlotte East and will be open every day through October 31st.

Riverbend Farm

Another good choice for the entire family, Riverbend Farm offers a farm-themed playground, wagon rides, animals, educational displays and a wagon ride through the pumpkin patch. Pumpkins are sold for 40 cents per pound and admission to the farm is $5.50 for those ages 2 and older. You can also enjoy the Air Cannon on the weekends for $1 for two shots.

Riverbend Farm is found at 12150 McManus Road in Midland and will be open every day through the end of October.

Hall Family Farm

Offering free admission and a playground to enjoy, Hall Family Farm is perfect for the entire family. They offer a corn...

Finding great things to do for Halloween throughout Charlotte isn't difficult. There are plenty of fun events and plenty of haunted houses and trails. If you love to be scared, you'll want to hit up this entire list of incredible haunted houses and trails this Halloween season.

Before we go any further, it's important to note, these choice are not for the faint at heart. You will have to be the judge of whether your children are old enough for the haunts or if they should wait another year or two. Here's the list of the top haunted houses and trails found throughout Charlotte.

BoogerWoods

Rated at the most entertaining haunt in the Carolinas, BoogerWoods should be very high on your list. It has won several awards and the original Flatback is back, making it even better this year. No matter the weather, BoogerWoods will be open on October 26th & 27th and November 2nd & 3rd.

A total of 14 scenes are found in BoogerWoods including:

• Mine Shaft
• Twisted Saw
• Club Booger
• Booger Meat Packing
• Boogerassic Park
• Booger Vortex
• Time Machine
• Booger Maze
• Texas Full Service
• And More!

Parking is free and you can take pictures with the BoogerBusters, along with getting your t-shirt, hats, and other gear. There will also be a large movie screen to watch while you're in line.

Tickets are $20 for general admission or $30 for fast pass admission. Make sure to bring cash, as they don't take cards.

Find out more about BoogerWoods on their website here.

The Haunted Mill

Another incredible haunted attrition is the Haunted Mill. This is actually a 120-year-old Mill and includes a total of three attractions including The...

Charlotte has plenty going on for Halloween and it's right around the corner. In fact, some of it has already started, but it's not too late to join in the fun. Here's a look at the top 10 Charlotte Halloween events for 2018.

The Great Pumpkin Festival and SCarowinds

Held at Carowinds every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday through October 28th, this event provides plenty of fun for the entire family. It's very family-friendly and includes:

• A Costume Parade
• A Foam Zone
• Mazes
• And More!

When 7pm rolls around, SCarowinds begins and it gets a bit spookier in the park. If you want to enjoy one of the best Halloween events in Charlotte, The Great Pumpkin Fest at Carowinds is the right choice.

The 13th Acre

Held in Monroe, NC, The 13th Acre is another great event for Halloween. It's a fun event with a redesigned trail filled with characters ready to frighten you. This isn't an event for everybody and you should probably leave the little kids out of this one. However, if you love a good haunted trail, The 13th Acre is the place for you.

This Halloween event will be held on Fridays and Saturdays through October 27th at 3718 Plyler Mill Road in Monroe, NC.

Scarrigan Farms

Every year in October, Carrigan Farms transforms into Scarrigan Farms with a trail filled with haunts and horrors. This is one of the most frightening trails you will find this Halloween and it's not for the faint of heart. Leave the little ones with the babysitter and come out to Scarrigan Farms on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays in October.

Creepy Crawly Critter-ween

Reedy Creek Park and Nature Center has the perfect family-friendly Halloween event for you to enjoy. It will be held on Friday, October 26th from 5pm to 8:30pm with plenty...

It's not here yet, but winter is coming. Before you know it, you'll be able to enjoy the holiday season, a chill in the air and sweaters, whether cute or ugly.

While the winter certainly brings with it colder temperatures, it's not all bad. With winter rolling in, you can enjoy a fun ski trip and you don't have to go very far. There are a few great skip trips you can take and they are all four hours or less from Charlotte.

Beech Mountain

Maybe the most famous place for skiing near Charlotte, Beech Mountain is only 2.5 hours away. This beautiful area for skiing is close to Banner Elk and Blowing Rock, which are both very popular mountain towns you can enjoy. Of course, the skiing is why you're going, but who doesn't want to enjoy a bit of shopping and great food while they’re at it?

Beech Mountain may not be the world-class ski resort you're looking for, but they do offer five to eight slopes with plenty of activities for the younger children, too. With the close proximity to Charlotte and plenty of things to do, you can't get much better than Beech Mountain for your ski trip.

Wintergreen Ski Resort

Found in Virginia, Wintergreen Ski Resort is a great choice, but it is a bit further than Beech Mountain. From Charlotte, it will take a good four hours to arrive in Wintergreen, VA. However, it's worth the drive and if you plan to go for the weekend or even for a mini-vacation, you're sure to have plenty of fun.

Wintergreen Ski Resort is found in Blue Ridge, which is known as one of the most beautiful areas in the country. The drive to get there is quite scenic and you'll certainly enjoy it. The resort gets plenty of its own snow and does make some every year, as well.

The right agent makes a huge difference. Some Charlotte listing agents have a specific way of marketing your home and making sure it gets sold. If you choose wisely, it can lead to a faster, more profitable sale of your home.

However, choose the wrong agent and you may be in for a ride you simply won't be thrilled to take. A good agent knows how to cut through the fluff and get your home listed properly and sold fast. Here are a few of the most common signs to look for when you want to choose the right Charlotte listing agent for your home sale.

Honesty

A good real estate agent will be honest with you, even if they know it's not something you want to hear. The truth can hurt a bit, especially when you're emotionally attached to your home. A good agent won't sugar coat things or keep the truth from you as it can be dangerous to get your home sold.

You may have an unrealistic perceived value of your home or you may think it's in better condition than it really is. Your agent should be willing to tell you these things without worrying about hurting your feelings.

They Use Stagers

A good listing agent will have a professional stager or two they can recommend to you. Staging goes a very long way to getting your home sold, especially in the age of technology. Since most potential buyers will first see your home online, staging matters. It will show up in ever listing picture and every showing.

They're Very Likable

Good listing agents are always very likable. If you like your agent, there is a good chance potential buyers will also like your agent. This is something you simply cannot go without as it makes a difference throughout the entire process.

They Know the Numbers

As a first-time home buyer, there's a ton of information you will have thrown your way. You have to think about the budget but remain excited about getting a new home. It's a balancing act you've never done before and it can become very overwhelming.

Hiring a great buyer's agent is the first step to making this balancing act easier. Your agent can help to ensure you're protected during the process and help you find the right home for you. However, there's more to the equation than just hiring the right agent.

A big part of the stress for first-time home buyers is the unexpected expenses. You've never been through the process, so how are you supposed to anticipate every expense? Here's a look at eight of the common home expenses most first-time buyers don't anticipate.

Moving Expenses

Moving, even just down the road, can get expensive. Before you decide to relocate to Charlotte, make sure your account for how much you will need for the moving costs. These costs can vary and can run thousands of dollars if you hire a professional mover. Even if you just rent a truck, it can get expensive if you're moving from out of town.

Closing Costs

You may have heard of closing costs, but you may not know how much the costs will be. Typically, the closing costs will cover all types of feeds from the loan origination fee to the attorney fee and more. This cost can range from 2% to 5% of the purchase price of the home. Sometimes, the seller will pay the closing costs or a percentage of the closing costs, but not always.

Due Diligence Money

Do you even know what a due diligence fee is? If not, you need to read this entire paragraph. The due diligence...

Living in Center City Charlotte offers several benefits from great shopping to amazing dining to an incredible location. It's one of the most popular places for new residents to choose to call home. However, before you decide Center City is the place for you, it's important to understand which schools serve the children here.

First Ward Creative Arts Academy

The elementary school for Center City students is the First Ward Creative Arts Academy. This school specializes in arts-integrated learning with plenty of elements of arts in the classroom including dance, music, visual arts and theatre arts. The school is found in Uptown Charlotte and provides a high level of education for those in the community.

They offer a unique perspective on learning that includes more than a traditional school. It's a hard school to explain, but once you see the way they do things, you'll understand. They want students to use their special talents and develop a passion for the arts.

Irwin Academic Center

Another elementary school serving Center City Charlotte is the Irwin Academic Center. This school is found just minutes from Uptown and offers six grade levels from kindergarten to fifth grade. They serve about 550 students per year with a full magnet program including Learning Immersion for K-2 and Talent Development for academically gifted- grades 3 to 5.

The school has been recognized as an "Honor School of Excellence" by the states ABC goals multiple times and offers a great education for children. The goal of the Irwin Academic Center is to create critical thinkers and lifelong learners. They offer more than most elementary...

Charlotte is filled with mixed-use developments and it seems like new ones pop up regularly. There's a reason for this and it's important to understand what mixed-use developments or MUDs are.

Whether you're shopping for a new place to live, a vacation home or you're trying to sell from a mixed-use development, understanding what these are will help you out. Here's a look at what MUDs are and why they are so popular in Charlotte.

Defining MUDs

Mixed-use developments are urban developments that combine social, residential, commercial and in some instances industrial into one. They are very pedestrian-friendly and offer a bit of a community within the community. Typically, these developments feature plenty of things residents can walk to without much issue including grocery stores, restaurants, shopping options and more.

While these are developments featuring different types of space, they can vary quite a bit. Some may offer ground floor retails, while others offer a ton of amenities. There really isn't one way to lump them all together and make them the same.

Mixed-use developments come with a ton of benefits, especially for growing cities. They can help create a stronger community while encouraging more walking and biking. They also create shorter commutes for workers and provide a way for homeowners to enjoy their neighborhood without the same amount of maintenance as a single-family home.

Why So Many MUDs in Charlotte?

MUDs are very popular in growing cities as they are great for those looking to live in a new city. Charlotte is a flourishing city and the urban growth is very important. MUDs allow for cities to add housing options by building up instead of out. They allow homeowners or renters to live close to work and close to downtown, as well.

The Charlotte...

The summer is always a busy month when it comes to real estate. More buyers and sellers are out trying to find a home or sell a home. Some of the Charlotte neighborhoods were far hotter than others. Here's a look at the top seven hottest neighborhoods in Charlotte for home searches from this past summer.

NoDa

The most searched neighborhood in Charlotte was NoDa. This neighborhood is already known as one of the most popular for many good reasons. It's filled with great restaurants, shopping options, nightlife, and the art galleries are some of the best you will find. With live/work condos being built, plenty of beautiful bungalow homes renovated mill homes and some modern homes. NoDa also appeals to a variety of buyers.

The average list price for this neighborhood is just over $335K. It may have been a hipster neighborhood, but it has evolved into a historic, fun neighborhood attracting all types of home buyers in Charlotte.

Wilmore

Next on the list is a unique neighborhood in the South End area of Charlotte that has become incredibly hot. It's one of the fastest growing neighborhoods in Charlotte and provides plenty for buyers to get excited about. The neighborhood offers the style of Dilworth with more affordability. The homes are not as big as most found in Dilworth, however.

Wilmore offers plenty of bungalow homes from the 1920s and 1930s with plenty of growth potential left. The average list price is nearly $407K. Buyer can expect this neighborhood to continue to be hot and just get hotter.

Southpark

It may have been higher on the list, but Southpark isn't as affordable as the...

While North Carolina may not seem like wine country, there are certainly plenty of places to go to drink wine. From bars to wineries, there's a bit of everything found throughout Charlotte. Even some of the state's best wines come from near the city.

It doesn't matter if you prefer red, white or a fruit wine, you will find it throughout the area. If you're looking for a great place to go out with friends or family for wine, here are some of the top spots for drinking wine in Charlotte.

Foxcroft Wine Co.

Anybody that knows anything about drinking wine in Charlotte has been to the Foxcroft Wine Co. This is simply one of the best spots for wine drinkers to enjoy. They provide a great food menu to go with the many wines you can choose from and they even have locations in both South Park and Dilworth.

Both locations are open from 10am to 11pm, Monday through Saturday and from 5pm to 10pm on Sunday. Find out more about the Foxcroft Wine Co. by visiting their website here.

Corkbuzz Restaurant & Wine Bar

Located in South Park, Corkbuzz Restaurant & Wine Bar is one of the most elegant choices on the list. They offer a wide variety of red, white and sparkling wines, along with cocktails and beer. The restaurant serves small plates and entrees to enjoy.

If you have an event you need a space for, they offer a beautiful private room. In addition, Mondays are the Buy a Bottle, Take a Bottle optional and Saturdays and Sundays offer half-priced Champagne.

Corkbuzz Restaurant & Wine Bar is open from 4pm to 10pm, Sunday through Thursday and from 4pm to 11pm on Friday and Saturday. They also open for lunch from 11am to 3pm on Saturday and Sunday.

Find out more...

Charlotte Center City has plenty of parks to choose from. When you decide to call this area of the city home, you'll gain access to some of the best parks, along with smaller, neighborhood parks. Here's a look at the parks found throughout Center City.

Fourth Ward Park

Offering a great park found in the historic Fourth Ward neighborhood, Fourth Ward Park is surrounded by old Victorian homes and luxury condominiums. It covers about 3 acres of space with walking trails and decorative fountains. The park also includes a playground.

Little Sugar Creek Greenway

Once it's fully completed, the Little Sugar Creek Greenway will feature more than 19 miles of trails, land connectors, sculptures, and fountains. It's found to the north of Uptown and will run to the South Carolina state line. The greenway provides a place for joggers, walkers, cyclists, and others to enjoy plenty of beauty as it runs through many different areas of Center City and Charlotte.

Pearle Street Park

A six-acre park purchased back in 1943 for $2,500 by the city, Pearle Street Park has been around since 1943. Today, it covers a total of 8.3 acres of space with a multipurpose field, full-court basketball court, and walking trails. It also includes a monument, which marks the park as the first Negro playground and the first African-American park in Mecklenburg County.

Thompson Park 

Found just outside Uptown close to CPCC and the Little Sugar Creek Greenway, ...

Known as one of the best wine events in Charlotte, the South End Wine Fest will be held on October 20th this year. The event will include 25 vineyards providing plenty of samples, along with food and entertainment. Proceeds from the event will help to support Classroom Central.

Past years have seen the event win several awards including being voted as the Best Charlotte Wine Event in both 2016 and 2017. In addition, the event has been a winner of the BOB Awards three years in a row and have been recognized several times.

The Wine

With so many choices, it can be hard to know where to start. The South End Wine Festival will include wine from all over the globe including:

• 2016 Jeff Runquist 1448
• 2015 Bodega Septima Malbec
• 2017 Creto Pinot Noir
• Rift Lodi Zinfandel
• Sokol-Blosser Evolution White Blend
• 2016 Casa Gran Del Siurana GR-174
• 2014 Anew Riesling
• 2016 Finca El Origen Estate Malbec Rosé
• 2016 Boschendal The Rose Garden Rose
• 2016 Josef Bauer Gruner Veltliner, Austria
• Fleuraison Blanc de Blancs Brut
• Pasqua Passimento Prosecco
• 2014 Rutherford Ranch Sauvignon Blanc
• 2009 Bricco Rosso Sagna Langhe Rosso DOC
• Stella Moscato
• 2014 Hob Nob Pinot Noir
• 2014 Bricco Dei Tati Barbera
• JM Fonseca Twin Vines Vinho Verde, Portugal
• 2013 Dover Chambourcin
• 2016 Dover Villard Blanc
• 2015 Dover Villard Blanc
• 2015 Dover Cabernet Franc
• And Much More!

Wines will be featured from Spain, Italy, South America, Washington State, Oregon, France, North Carolina, Australia, South Africa and all around the globe.

In addition to the wine, there will be three cider options on hand including Good Road Ciderworks,...