My reason for creating this Lake Norman Real Estate blog from the its inception in May of 2007  was and still is all about providing you with as much information and data as possible to help you make an informed decision when buying or selling a home in Lake Norman.

While I don’t talk a lot about our Property Search feature, I chose the company providing this program because they are local, innovative and provide great customer service.

Two of my favorite features are the “Neighborhood Analyzer” and “Research” tools.  I have discussed the “Research” tool in previous articles but as a reminder, once you do a home search and have specific property results, click on any of the properties for the details page.  Once on the details page you will see the word “Research” in bold dark red  just to the right of the listing price. Up will pop three options:

•  DealSniffer Compare this listing to others in the area
  Market Check  Look at homes recently sold in the area
  Neighborhood Analyzer Recent neighborhood market trends

Once you have clicked on “research” and found these three option, Just click on any of these to access more data about the property and it’s competition

Now, go back to the Lake Norman Real Estate’s home page and click on the round button “Search for Homes”.  You are now on the home page for a home search.   At the top right hand corner you will see a small logo with bars:  If you click on this icon you will go immediately to the Neighborhood Analyzer.  From there, just put in a neighborhood and you will get results like this one I just did for The Point:

This Neighborhood Analyzer feature has just been “overhauled” by my service provider and now includes:

• Average prices of both list and sales
• Homes sold per month
• Current inventory
• Interactive map with all currently active and recently sold properties
• Statistical data regarding listing and sales prices.

Pretty cool isn’t it?  As always, any feedback is greatly appreciated.  I will pass them along to my IDX company!

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Lake Norman Waterfront Real Estate: What is Available in YOUR price range?

Lake Norman Real Estate:  Waterfront Home Price Update: Part 1

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There are those of you who look knowing at the symbol above, probably own a smart phone with an app to read QR Codes and wonder why I am bothering to write about them.

Then there are the majority of you who may never have heard the term QR Code but vaguely recognize this type of bar code and wonder what the heck it has to do with Lake Norman real estate!

According to Wikipedia: A QR code (abbreviated from Quick Response code) is a specific matrix barcode (or two-dimensional code) that is readable by dedicated QR readers, smartphones, and, to a less common extent, computers with webcams. The code consists of black modules arranged in a square pattern on a white background. The information encoded may be text, URL, or other data.

I (and some other Lake Norman area real estate agents as well as many throughout the US) have started using QR Codes on my listing flyers in front of the properties so that folks driving by can simply scan the QR Code like the one above, and almost instantly get to the website I created for that property with multiple photos and all of the data about the property that they could possibly want up front.  It is predicted that QR Codes will be used consistently in real estate once everyone catches on.

If you have a smartphone, all you have to do is download a QR Code reader application.  It acts like a camera.  You simply point and shoot at the QR Code and it will quickly take you to the website.  Test it above.  You should get sent to a website for one of my listings.  Here is one for this blog…it will just take you to the home page:

Just as an FYI, many retailers have begun using QR Codes as well.  Locally you will see them at Harris Teeter, Lowe’s Home Improvement and others.  Yet another great technology to bring information to us even faster!

More Articles of Interest

A Glimpse Into Post Recession Lake Norman Real Estate

Lake Norman Area is Growing and Improving Despite the Recession!

Lake Norman Real Estate: Is Mooresville Really Bucking the Recession?

Lake Norman Real Estate: Wow! A Lot of Good News!

Lake Norman Relocation Resources

Lake Norman  Sports Resource Guide

How to get the Lastest Lake Norman News, Events and Coupon Savings!

I got this today from Inman News and thought I would pass it along.  I guess sometimes we just have to laugh no matter how hard times are!:

 For those of you who use our  home search function on this Lake Norman Real Estate site, you will notice a few improvements and additions this week!

Thanks to feedback from readers and the conversion of our Charlotte Regional Multiple Listing Service to “TEMPO 5″ several weeks ago, we can now offer even better tools for your Lake Norman area  home search:

• You can now search by “Subtype”.  If you are looking for a ranch, a two-story or various options like these, you can now narrow your search by choosing the subtype category

• Master Bedroom Downstairs has been added to the “Features”  section.  For example, you can search for a waterfront property with a master on the  main level.  About 50% of home buyers in our Lake Norman area are looking for a Master on the main level!

• Up to 16 photos per property are now available instead of the prior limit of 8.  Of course, the number of photos depends on the number the listing agent inputs into our MLS but this is a great improvement!

Please let me know if you have any other ideas about how to make our home search program better!

Related Articles

 How YOU can search distressed Lake Norman homes for sale

Lake Norman Relocation Resources 

So, what in the world does a curious Red-Eyed Frog have to do with Lake Norman?  Honestly?  Absolutely nothing…I just thought he was cute! 

I actually sent three photos to my web designer:  One was some roses for Valentines’ Day, one was a beautiful photo of a rock formation in Canada signifying the upcoming Winter Olympics and finally this little frog.  I guess cute won out over relevancy.  Considering the current economic struggles it isn’t such a bad thing to have a little fun.

I promise to return to Lake Norman photos next month but I hope at least some of you will enjoy my frog!  

To make your desktop calendar, go to the round button at the top of this site’s home page entitled: “Lake Norman Calendar”.  Click on this button and up will come an image of my Lake Norman photo wallpaper calender for February 2010.  All you have to do is right click and select “set as background”. 

While I have great fun taking pictures of Lake Norman, I would love to use one of your favorite photos depicting life here in Lake Norman!. If you’d like to submit a photo for a future calendar, please send it to… 

Articles of Interest

Lake Norman Real Estate:  What are “Seasonal” waterviews?

Lake Norman NC has Snow Skiing too!

Lake Norman Real Estate’s Business of the Week:  Think Green Recycling

Lake Norman Real Estate: How YOU can search for Lake Norman’s ”distressed properties”!