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Home Warranty..........It Can Be a Good Thing, Just Read the Fine Print!!

Assistant 2 — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 18:39:00 GMT

Home warranties don't always provide peace of mind

Herb Weisbaum TODAY

June 17, 2013 at 10:12 AM ET

Image Source / Getty Images

When you buy a house, you know things are going to break. Is it worth paying hundreds of dollars a year to repair or replace your furnace, washing machine, refrigerator or other major appliance when it breaks? Only you can decide.

Major home appliances are costly to repair and expensive to replace. That’s why some homeowners spend hundreds of dollars a year to buy a home warranty, sometimes called a service contract.

Home warranties are supposed to provide peace of mind. But in many cases, people who try to use them when something breaks down experience disappointment and frustration.

Online bulletin boards are filled with complaints:

· “I'm highly disappointed and angry!” – Kathy of Cordova, Tenn.

· “They don't do anything they said. All they want is your money.” – Mary of Lancaster, Texas

· “They made me wait a week, only to tell me my broken washer is not covered under my plan!!! So far, this is the second item they claim is not fixable under my plan!!! Save your money, and get your own repairs done!!!” – Rozelia of Oakland, Calif.

Home warranty companies have been the worst-graded category on Angie’s List for eight years in a row. Nearly half of the member ratings were unfavorable.

Cheryl Reed, the website’s director of communications, told me some of the complaints deal with poor service, but most result from unrealistic expectations about how a service contract works.

“People were disappointed because they just assumed the home warranty covered everything in their house in the way they wanted it covered,” Reed said. “They never really took the time to read the warranty and understand what the process was.”

For instance, you may think you need a new water heater, but the warranty company may decide it only needs to be repaired. Under the terms of the contract it’s their choice – not yours. Even worse, they may say the repair isn’t covered at all.

Angie’s List member Steve Donahue, who lives near Houston, complained after his home’s air conditioning system broke. The service technician diagnosed a number of problems, but the warranty company denied the claim. They said the humidifier hadn’t been properly maintained.

Donahue told me his system didn’t have a humidifier. You don’t need one in that part of the country. He called the warranty company to complain, but could never speak to anyone in charge.

“I paid a lot of money and I never did get much of a return out of it,” he said.

Stephen McDaniel, assistant executive director of the Service Contract Industry Council, told me he is concerned to hear about the complaints, but he doesn’t feel the industry has a problem. If people would read their contracts before they need service, he said, they would know what to expect.

McDaniel believes most people are happy they bought their home warranty. The ability to call for help 24/7, and have someone show up at your house within a set period of time – even after hours and on weekends if it’s an emergency – “is a valuable service” that’s worth the price, he said.

A perk for homebuyers

When you put your home on the market, you want a competitive edge. An increasing number of sellers believe a home warranty can do that – a little something extra for the potential buyer.

Nearly 80 percent of the homes in California are being sold with a warranty right now, according to real estate expert Ilyce Glink, who runs the website ThinkGlink.

“Buyers view them as a sort of insurance policy should something go wrong,” Glink said. “Buyers may assume everything is covered, but typically it only includes appliances that are working properly on the closing date.”

So, an ongoing leak would probably not be covered. A swimming pool or sprinkler system typically requires separate coverage.

(Note: In most states, a home warranty is not insurance, even though it may be backed by an insurance policy.)

Service contracts that come with the home are typically for one year. Then you get inundated with offers to extend the coverage.

Glink’s advice: Don’t do it.

She believes they are overpriced for the value they deliver. The problem may not be covered. The company may decide to repair rather than replace. Plus, you have to pay $50 to $100 every time the service technician comes to your house.

“Remember, their goal is to do everything they can to avoid paying for that repair or replacement,” Glink said.

The Service Contract Industry Council points out that anyone who has second thoughts about buying a home warranty can cancel at any time with a pro-rated refund.

Is this for you?

The editors at Consumer Reports say the peace of mind isn’t worth the price. “For most people, it makes more sense to put money in a home-maintenance fund,” they write.

One more important factor to consider: The warranty company decides which repair company comes to your house. You don’t have any say in that. If you have a trusted plumber, electrician or appliance service, a home warranty may not be for you.

The Service Contract Industry Council strongly believes in the value of a home warranty and says it has the happy customers to prove it. The trade group promises to help anyone who has a problem with a member company.

My advice: If you didn’t get what you paid for, file complaints with the state agency that regulates these services and the Better Business Bureau. If you think you’re right, don’t back down.

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Mortgage Rates are Slowly Creeping UP!

Assistant 2 — Thu, 13 Jun 2013 13:53:00 GMT

Mortgage rates are highest in a year

By Les Christie @CNNMoney May 30, 2013: 11:54 AM ETEmail

Mortgage interest rates have risen half of a percentage point from record lows.

NEW YORK (CNNMoney)

Mortgage rates have hit their highest level in more than a year, making homes more expensive for buyers who finance their purchases.

The rate on a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage jumped 0.22 percentage point to 3.81% this week, according to Freddie Mac. That's up 15% from the record low of 3.31% set the week of November 21, 2012 and the highest rate since it hit 3.83% the week of May 10, 2012. The 30-year rate was as low as 3.35% in early May.

The 15-year fixed-rate mortgage also spiked, up 0.21 percentage point to 2.98%.

Home buyers can blame it on Bernanke, according to Keith Gumbinger, vice president of HSH.com, a mortgage information company.

Related: Best deals on real estate

"Comments he made ... left the impression that the Fed's [stimulus] policy might start to be pulled back soon, perhaps as early as September," said Gumbinger. "That fostered a spike in interest rates as investors scrambled to adjust their positions."

The stimulus program, in which the Fed buys up as much as $85 billion a month in mortgage backed securities, has kept interest rates low by providing a willing buyer for loans. If the Fed pulls back on purchases, ordinary buyers will probably demand higher yields to take up the slack, pushing rates up.

Bond yields, which track mortgage rates, have climbed even faster than mortgage rates. The 10-year Treasury closed at 2.12% on Wednesday, 0.45 percentage points above its late April level. That implies mortgage rates will have some catching up to do.

As rates go up, the number of loan refinancings has declined, since they'll save less for homeowners. Refi applications fell 12% week over week, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association, the largest single-week drop this year.

But rates will probably have to rise much more to have much impact on buyers.

The rate increases over the past month have only added about $20 to monthly mortgage payments for every $100,000 borrowed, an increase most buyers will absorb. Eventually, though, the higher rates will limit how much buyers will bid on homes and dampen home price increases.

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Charlotte a STRONG contender to host the X Games!!

Assistant 2 — Wed, 05 Jun 2013 15:19:00 GMT

Jun 4, 2013, 8:26pm EDT Updated: Jun 5, 2013, 9:26am EDT

X Games exec says Charlotte bid a strong contender

Erik Spanberg

Senior Staff Writer- Charlotte Business Journal

A group of ESPN executives arrived in Charlotte on Tuesday to scout Charlotte Motor Speedway and get a closer look at the region’s bid to host the summer X Games for the next three years.

Scott Guglielmino, senior vice president of programming and X Games at ESPN, will fly here Wednesday morning as the site visit continues. On Tuesday afternoon, he spoke to me about the selection process from his Connecticut office at ESPN headquarters.

Charlotte is one of four finalists to host the four-day competition in extreme sports such as skateboarding, BMX racing and motocross. In 1995, ESPN created the games, which air on the Disney-owned cable sports empire’s various networks.

Other cities vying to host the games in 2014, 2015 and 2016 are Chicago, Detroit and Austin, Texas. ESPN is choosing one of the four cities to host the next three X Games. Los Angeles became the host city in 2003 and will stage the games again in August. No date has been set for the 2014 summer X Games.

ESPN will name the next host city by the end of this month. Last week, ESPN toured Detroit and Chicago. X Games representatives are now scouting Charlotte and Austin. A study of the summer X Games in Los Angeles several years ago determined ESPN’s made-for-TV competition generated $50 million in economic benefits for the host region.

An internal decision on where the games go next could be made as early as next week, Guglielmino told me. No public announcement is expected until later this month. ESPN is toying with the idea of revealing the next summer U.S. site during its coverage of the upcoming international X Games in Munich, slated for June 27-30.

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Plans for a New Mixed-Use Building in the Dilworth Area of Charlotte!

Assistant 2 — Thu, 30 May 2013 19:07:00 GMT

Seven-story apartment complex planned for Dilworth

By Eric Frazier

By Eric Frazier The Charlotte Observer

Posted: Wednesday, May. 29, 2013

Modified: Wednesday, May. 29, 2013

Crescent Communities on Wednesday announced plans for a seven-story luxury apartment building and street-level retail beside the Little Sugar Creek Greenway in Dilworth.

Officials with Charlotte-based Crescent said the project will include about 300 apartments on a 2.3-acre site they bought at East Morehead Street and Harding Place, across from Carolinas Medical Center.

Construction on the project, named Crescent Dilworth, is expected to begin this fall and finish in spring 2015.

“Dilworth’s features, adjacency to CMC and proximity to uptown Charlotte make it well-suited for a mixed-use community,” said Ben Collins, a vice president with Crescent Communities’ Multifamily Group.

Dilworth community leaders welcomed the project.

“It’s a wonderful location for multifamily, and especially high-end multifamily,” said Cynthia Schwartz, co-chairwoman of the Dilworth Community Development Association’s land-use committee.

The announcement comes six months after the Charlotte City Council rejected developer Lincoln Harris’ rezoning request for a Walgreens drugstore and office building just up Morehead from the Crescent property.

The Walgreens rezoning was for two acres at East Morehead Street and Kenilworth Avenue. Residents protested that the project would strain the neighborhood’s streets and infrastructure.

But Schwartz said developers of the Crescent Dilworth apartments had briefed the association on their plans, which won’t require rezoning.

She said the association expressed a few concerns about traffic flow, but she said the project’s height and scale seem appropriate considering the nearby medical buildings.

“There doesn’t seem to be any need for such a fight,” she said, referring to the battle over the Walgreens project.

She said the association viewed the parcel as a good location for future development near Little Sugar Creek Greenway.

Five buildings are on the site now, according to a representative for the developers. Schwartz said several are residentially zoned, but have been committed to office uses.

The $50 million project, a short walk from the Metropolitan development, will have street-level retail, two levels of parking and five levels of luxury apartments.

Collins said the facade will incorporate design elements from the greenway, such as the Tennessee fieldstone used in many of the greenway’s structures, as well as brick and cedar trellis elements common in Dilworth.

Studio, one- and two-bedroom units will be among the offerings. Walk-up units with a residential look will be situated along Morehead Street, developers said, while several deluxe 2,600-square-foot units will offer large private terraces.

Southern Apartment Group, originally responsible for consolidating the parcels for the site, will remain a partner in the project, officials said.

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NOW is the Time to Buy or Sell

Nationally, Appraisers are Putting Higher Values on Homes!

Assistant 2 — Wed, 15 May 2013 16:15:00 GMT

Home appraisals no longer derailing sales

NEW YORK (CNNMoney)

By Les Christie @CNNMoney May 15, 2013: 9:14 AM ET

Consider this one more sign that the housing market is heating up: Appraisers are putting higher values on homes again, allowing for more deals to go through.

During the housing bust, sales were often derailed by low-ball appraisals that fell far shy of a home's selling price.

For example, if a home cost $500,000 and required a 20% down payment of $100,000, the buyer would need to finance $400,000. But if the appraiser valued the home at $450,000, the buyer would only be eligible for a $360,000 loan -- making the home too costly for some buyers.

But now, as home prices climb and housing inventories shrink, appraisers are valuing homes at or above their selling prices, according to Lawrence Yun, chief economist for the National Association of Realtors.

Between 2008 and 2010, appraisals for more than a third of Seattle-based real estate agent Michael Ackerman's sales came in below the selling price. So he had to get creative.

"I started pulling out the key boxes at the homes so the appraisers couldn't get in," said Ackerman. "They had to call me to let them see the home. I would bring a packet of comparables along and explain what I used to price the home."

But now, with home prices posting such strong gains, those strategies may not be necessary anymore.

"I've closed 15 homes so far this year and none of the appraisals have come in below the selling price," said Ackerman.

He was certain a recent deal in Wallingford, Wash. was going to fall through when the buyer agreed to pay $755,000 -- well above the average $690,000 other homes in the area had sold for. When the appraisal came in at the full selling price "everybody's jaws dropped," he said.

And in some of the hottest markets, appraisals are coming in well above the selling price.

Agent Eric Tan said one appraiser did a "drive-by" of a West Covina, Calif., home he was selling in April.

"He didn't ask for any comps, to see the inside of the house, or even schedule a time to meet with me. He wrote up the appraisal right at the purchase price," he said. "I was able to sell the client's home for about $40,000 more than I thought the appraiser would value it."

In Jacksonville Beach, Fla., where prices have soared 15% over the past 12 months, agent Cara Ameer was "holding her breath" when it came time to get an appraisal on a two-bedroom townhouse she sold for $5,000 more than its $189,000 asking price.

"It was FHA financing and [the FHA is] typically much more strict," she said. That appraisal too ended up coming in above the selling price.

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The Charlotte Area Market Continues to Improve

Assistant 2 — Wed, 08 May 2013 13:12:00 GMT

2 reports show Charlotte-area housing market picking up

By Deon Roberts
deroberts@charlotteobserver.comBy Deon Roberts The Charlotte Observer

Modified: Tuesday, May. 07, 2013

Two reports released Tuesday show a Charlotte-area housing market that continues to strengthen in favor of sellers after buyers had the upper hand during the economic downturn.

CoreLogic, an Irvine, Calif.-based company that provides monthly reports on housing prices, said they rose 7 percent in the Charlotte-Gastonia-Rock Hill area in March from the same month a year ago. The figure includes sales of distressed homes. Nationwide, home prices, including distressed sales, rose 10.5 percent in March from a year ago.

Also Tuesday, the Charlotte Regional Realtor Association reported that Charlotte-area home prices increased by 1.1 percent on average in April from the same month last year, as inventory continues to dwindle. The April statistics on existing, not newly built, homes in the Charlotte region point to an ongoing shift in favor of sellers – and a market in which buyers continue to have fewer homes from which to choose.

According to the preliminary data from the association, the average sales price in April rose to $217,166 from $214,739 in April 2012. The number of sales increased 34 percent year over year, to 2,915 from 2,168.

Another statistic released Tuesday by the Realtor association doesn’t bode well for buyers: The inventory of homes for sale in April dropped 30.1 percent from a year ago to a 4.9-month supply.

Many in the real estate industry consider a seller’s market to be one in which the number of homes for sale is below a 6-month supply. The monthly supply measurement is an estimate of the time it should take for homes to sell.

As inventory keeps falling in the Charlotte region, it could result in more cases of multiple bids being made on homes and prospective buyers offering more than the initial asking price – both scenarios that some local brokers have reported this year.

The Realtor association’s April report also shows sellers are raising prices. The average list price last month was $275,150, up 4.5 percent from $263,391 a year ago.

On the bright side for buyers, more homes were put on the market in April versus the same month last year, according to the association. Last month, there were 5,115 new listings, up 11.7 percent from April 2012, giving buyers weary from too-few options more to pick from.

As the market strengthens for sellers, homes are selling faster than they were a year ago. The average number of days from when a home was listed until it sold fell to 142 in April, 13 fewer days than the same month last year, the association said.

The association also said Tuesday that foreclosures and short sales fell in April, accounting for 8.4 percent of new listings and 12.2 percent of sales.

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It's Official!! Sea Life Aquarium at Concord Mills will begin construction this July and Open in Spring 2014. It will feature a walk through underwater tunnel!!

Assistant 2 — Thu, 14 Mar 2013 15:42:00 GMT

Concord Sea Life aquarium scheduled to open in spring 2014

Construction set to start in July

Sea Life Aquarium

Sea Life operates more than 30 aquarium attractions around the world.

Posted: Wednesday, March 13, 2013 1:31 pm

CONCORD, N.C. -- Global visitor attraction operator, Merlin Entertainments (Merlin), has confirmed that it has reached an agreement with the City of Concord, Cabarrus County and The Mills, a Simon Company, to develop plans for a $10 million SEA LIFE aquarium to open in spring 2014 at Concord Mills, the largest outlet and value retail shopping destination in North Carolina.

“North America is a very important development market for Merlin, and we are delighted to be able to move forward with this exciting project in North Carolina,” commented Glenn Earlam, Managing Director of Merlin Entertainments’ Midway Attractions group. “We have already worked very successfully on two other projects with The Mills in Dallas and Phoenix; and in recent months we have also developed excellent working relationships with the Cabarrus Convention and Visitors Bureau, the City of Concord and Cabarrus County. These were key factors in our decision to come here. This support, together with our proven success in other key Simon Malls, underlined our belief that Concord, and particularly Concord Mills, is a perfect location for a quality family-based leisure facility.”

SEA LIFE is the world’s biggest aquarium brand with more than 15 million visitors a year and 50 superb attractions in Europe, USA and Asia Pacific. This will be Merlin’s sixth SEA LIFE Center attraction to open in the USA, and SEA LIFE at Concord Mills will highlight all of the qualities which have gained the brand the support and endorsement of marine experts worldwide. Initial plans call for more than 30 spectacular displays of diverse marine life for visitors to enjoy - everything from shrimp and starfish to seahorses, sharks and rays. In keeping with other SEA LIFE attractions, there will also be a unique element reflecting the Carolinas’ location based around the marine creatures most associated with the region. Finally, the stunning centerpiece will be a huge tropical ocean tank with a walk-through underwater tunnel.

The SEA LIFE focus is on quality of experience rather than scale, taking visitors on a seamless journey under the sea, which entertains, inspires and teaches both young and old. The attractions offer everything from viewing windows, giving a glimpse into the ocean itself, to enlightening talks, feeding demonstrations and many other ways to interact directly with some of the creatures. Conservation is also at the heart of the business and visitors will see strong evidence of SEA LIFE’s exciting Breed, Rescue and Protect activities around the world, including new projects developed locally. Merlin calls the SEA LIFE experience “fun learning.”

Set to begin construction during July 2013, SEA LIFE at Concord Mills will be the aquarium of the Carolinas. It will add a new dimension to the existing family-oriented shopping and leisure activities in Cabarrus County. Located close to interstate highways and the airport, as well as the world famous Charlotte Motor Speedway, which welcomes tens of thousands of visitors every year, Concord Mills is already acknowledged as being one of the region’s most important and exciting shopping destinations. It successfully combines quality, big name value retail stores, with some of the best family dining and entertainment venues like SEA LIFE.

“The SEA LIFE aquarium will be a welcome addition to Concord Mills’ successful mix of retail, dining and entertainment concepts,” said Gregg Goodman, president of The Mills. “We look forward to this next exciting venture with Merlin Entertainments and are confident that the millions of visitors who are already drawn to Concord Mills will be attracted to the unique SEA LIFE concept.”

John Cox, president and CEO of the Cabarrus Economic Development Corporation and Cabarrus Regional Chamber of Commerce said, “We are delighted that a global leisure company as dynamic and successful as Merlin is coming to our County, and bringing such a great attraction. It will not only bring jobs to Cabarrus County, but also be a showpiece for the Carolinas. We hope it is just the start of a long and mutually beneficial relationship with Merlin.”

Merlin also operates SEA LIFE aquariums in the USA at LEGOLAND, Calif.; the Mall of America in Minneapolis, Arizona Mills in Tempe, Ariz.; Grapevine Mills, Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas; and Crown Center Kansas City, Mo.

Merlin currently also has 12 other attractions in North America. These include the LEGOLAND Florida theme park resort and Water Park; LEGOLAND California theme park with its exciting Water Park, SEA LIFE aquarium, and hotel due to open in April this year; Madame Tussauds celebrity wax attractions in New York, Washington DC, Las Vegas and Hollywood; and LEGOLAND Discovery Centers in Chicago; Dallas/Fort Worth; Kansas City Missouri; and Atlanta, Georgia; with two more due to open in the Spring in Westchester, N.Y. and Toronto, Canada.

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Construction Has started for the Charlotte Knights Baseball Stadium!

Assistant 2 — Tue, 12 Mar 2013 19:30:00 GMT

View the progress at Charlotte Knights

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Four Great Reasons to Get Your Home Inspected BEFORE You Try to Sell It!

Assistant 2 — Tue, 26 Feb 2013 18:45:00 GMT

Get an Inspection Before Selling Your Home

According to the U.S. General Accounting Office, more than 85 percent of homebuyers who applied for a mortgage also requested an inspection -- not too surprising, since home inspections can reveal hidden flaws and potentially pricey repairs. But even though an inspection can make or break the deal, most sellers wait for the buyer to take the initiative (and chew their nails while awaiting the results). Here are a few reasons why you might benefit from getting your home inspected before you put it on the market.

Reason #1: Reassure prospective buyers.

Even after a walk-through or two, buyers rarely know exactly what to expect from a home inspection -- there's always the possibility of termites gnawing on that rustic log cabin or faulty wiring lurking behind those faux-finished walls. Providing a pre-inspection assures the buyer that no major surprises are in store; while they might not waive their own follow-up inspection, they'll at least feel more comfortable about placing a bid.

Reason #2: Buy time and save dough.

Even in a relatively new or completely renovated home, chances are a home inspector can find a red flag or two. After all, that's their job. When a fault is found during a typical home inspection, you may only have a few days to decide whether to make the repair or adjust the sale price appropriately -- and you'll need to find a solution that satisfies you and the buyer. A pre-inspection gives you more time to compare prices and treatment options from a variety of contractors. You may also avoid conceding a huge chunk of change for unpredictable repair costs like mold remediation or structural work.

Reason #3: Know where you stand.

Generally, your final selling price is determined long before the inspector ever sets foot inside your door. That leaves a huge question mark lingering over your negotiations -- are you going to be forced to drop your final figure again if a major problem is uncovered? By getting an inspection early, you'll know what concessions a buyer might request. That allows you to set your asking price accordingly and find out whether or not you're in a position to play hardball.

Reason #4: Prevent repeat repairs.

No matter how handy you are, there's always a risk of misdiagnosing a problem. But getting your home pre-inspected could help you avoid wasting money on unnecessary repairs. Say your toilet hasn't been flushing quite right, so you pay a plumber to replace it -- only to learn upon inspection that the problem was in your septic system. A pre-inspection helps you avoid doing double-duty, since the inspector can pinpoint the problem and recommend the right repair.

While the average home inspection costs a few hundred dollars, it can save time and money in the long run. To find a home inspector in your area, visit the American Society of Home Inspectors at www.ashi.org.

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2024 Olympics Coming to Charlotte??

Assistant 2 — Thu, 21 Feb 2013 14:56:00 GMT

U.S. Olympic Committee asks Charlotte to consider bid for 2024 Summer Games

Charlotte is among 35 cities that have been asked by the U.S. Olympic Committee to consider hosting the 2024 Summer Games. Pictured here is the Olympic cauldron during the opening ceremony for last year’s games in London.

photo BLOOMBERG

Susan Stabley

Staff Writer- Charlotte Business Journal

The United States Olympic Committee has asked 35 cities across the country — including Charlotte — to consider hosting the 2024 Summer Games, according to a report from The New York Times.

Letters have been sent to those mayors "to gauge their interest in making a bid," the Times reports.

The Times reports:

The cities that received the letter were Phoenix; San Jose, Calif.; Los Angeles; Sacramento; San Diego; San Francisco; Denver; Washington; Jacksonville, Fla.; Orlando, Fla.; Miami; Atlanta; Chicago; Indianapolis; Baltimore; Detroit; Minneapolis; St. Louis; Las Vegas; New York; Boston; Rochester; Charlotte, N.C.; Columbus, Ohio; Tulsa, Okla.; Portland, Ore.; Philadelphia; Pittsburgh; Memphis; Nashville and Davidson County; Austin, Tex.; Dallas; Houston; San Antonio; and Seattle.

Salt Lake City was the last city in the country to host an Olympics, in 2002 for the Winter Games. Past host cities for Summer Games have been Atlanta, St. Louis and Los Angeles, which hosted twice.

Such a bid might be a dream come true for starry-eyed local leaders who, since playing host to the 2012 Democratic National Convention, have their sights set on more high-profile events for the Queen City, such as the Super Bowl or the Olympics.

Charlotte is already in the running with about 20 other locales hoping to host the ESPN X Games

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Pulitzer Prize winner to speak at Davidson College on Feb. 26th-FREE admission

Assistant 2 — Tue, 19 Feb 2013 19:54:00 GMT

Pulitzer Prize winner to speak at Davidson

Posted by CW Web Adminon February 14, 2013in Davidson College, News|0 Comment

DAVIDSON – The Pulitzer Prize-winning biographer Robert A. Caro will speak at Davidson College at 8 p.m. Feb. 26 in the Duke Family Performance Hall.

Admission is free, but tickets are required. Tickets are available for pickup at the Alvarez College Union box office from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. on weekdays.

A reception and book signing will follow the lecture.

Caro has won virtually every major literary honor in American letters for his five major works.

He is best known for his four-volume biography of former U.S. President Lyndon B. Johnson, which the London Times called “the greatest biography of our era.”

Caro won his first Pulitzer Prize for “The Power Broker,” a 1975 study of New York politician Robert Moses.

In 2003, his second Pulitzer honored “Master of the Senate,” the third volume of his examination of President Johnson.

Caro’s other honors include two National Book Critics Circle Awards for best nonfiction book of the year, the National Book Award, the Gold Medal in Biography from the National Academy of Arts and the Francis Parkman Prize from the Society of American Historians for the book that “best exemplifies the union of the historian and the artist.”

He also received the National Humanities Medal, awarded by President Barack Obama.

Call the ticket desk at 704-894-2135 for more information.

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Wal-Mart....giving back to those who have served in the military!

Assistant 2 — Wed, 16 Jan 2013 21:04:00 GMT

NEW YORK — Why wait on Washington when there's Wal-Mart?

Wal-Mart Stores Inc., the world's largest retailer and the biggest private employer in the U.S. with 1.4 million workers here, said Tuesday that it is rolling out a three-part plan to help jumpstart the sluggish U.S. economy.

The plan includes hiring more than 100,000 veterans in the next five years, spending $50 billion to buy more American-made merchandise in the next 10 years and helping its part-time workers move into full-time positions.

The move comes as Wal-Mart tries to bolster its image amid widespread criticism. The company, which often is criticized for its low-paying jobs and buying habits in the U.S., recently has faced allegations that it made bribes in Mexico and calls for better safety oversight after a deadly fire at a Bangladesh factory that supplies its clothes. Wal-Mart said its initiatives are unrelated to those events, but rather are meant to highlight that companies don't have to wait for lawmakers in Washington, D.C. to fix the economy.

"We've developed a national paralysis that's driven by all of us waiting for someone else to do something," Bill Simon, president and CEO of Wal-Mart's U.S. business, said Tuesday at an annual retail industry convention in New York. "The beauty of the private sector is that we don't have to win an election, convince Congress or pass a bill to do what we think is right. We can simply move forward, doing what we know is right."

Any changes that Wal-Mart makes to its hiring and buying practices garner lots of attention because of the company's massive size. Indeed, with $444 billion in annual revenue, if Wal-Mart were a country, it would rank among the largest economies in the world. But critics say the changes amount to a drop in the bucket for the behemoth, and they question whether Wal-Mart's initiatives will have a major impact on the U.S. economy.

"America's largest retailers play an important role in our nation's economy and in the well-being of millions of lives," said Stuart Appelbaum, president of the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union. "Retailers like Wal-Mart could provide the nation with a much needed economic boost by paying higher wages and providing stable scheduling – while still remaining profitable and continuing to offer low prices."

The centerpiece of Wal-Mart's plan is a pledge to hire veterans, many of who have had a particularly difficult time finding work after coming home from Afghanistan and Iraq. The unemployment rate for veterans who served in Iraq or Afghanistan stood at 10.8 percent in December, compared with the overall unemployment rate of 7.8 percent.

Wal-Mart said it plans to hire every veteran who wants a job and has been honorably discharged in the first 12 months off active duty. The program, which will start on Memorial Day, will include jobs mostly in Wal-Mart's stores or in its Sam's Club locations. Some will be at its headquarters, based in Bentonville, Ark. or the company's distribution centers.

Dave Tovar, a Wal-Mart spokesman, said Wal-Mart hasn't worked out the details but it will "match up the veterans' experience and qualifications." Simon, who served in the Navy, said that veterans have "a record of performance under pressure" and "they're quick learners."

"I think that Wal-Mart has a tremendous opportunity to leverage operational skills that today's veterans bring," said Sean Collins, director of G.I. Jobs, a magazine and web site that highlight employment, education and small business opportunities for veterans.

Wal-Mart said first lady Michelle Obama, who spearheaded a White House drive to encourage businesses to hire veterans, has expressed interest in working with Wal-Mart and with the rest of the business community on this initiative.

In the next several weeks, Simon said the White House will meet with the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Department of Defense and major U.S. employers to encourage businesses to make commitments to train and employ American's returning veterans. The first lady on Tuesday called Wal-Mart's announcement "historic."

"We all believe that no one who serves our country should have to fight for a job once they return home," she said in a statement. "Wal-Mart is setting a groundbreaking example for the private sector to follow."

In addition to hiring veterans, Wal-Mart plans to spend $50 billion to buy more products made in the U.S. over the next 10 years. According to data from Wal-Mart's suppliers, items that are made, sourced or grown in the U.S. account for about two-thirds of the company's spending on products for its U.S. business.

Wal-Mart said that it plans to focus on buying more in areas such as sporting goods, fashion basics, storage products, games and paper products. The commitment comes as economics are changing for making goods overseas: Labor costs are rising in Asia, while oil and transportation costs are high and increasingly uncertain.

But even with the additional $5 billion that Wal-Mart plans to spend each year – the breakdown of $50 billion over 10 years – the amount that the company will spend each year on buying goods in the U.S. will only account for 2 percent of its total spending in the country. In the fiscal year that ended in January 2012, Wal-Mart bought $238.8 billion in goods for its U.S. stores.

"They sound impressive when you first hear the numbers but when you begin to look at them, it's a very tiny scale that doesn't add up to much," said Stacy Mitchell, senior researcher at the Institute for Local Self Reliance, a nonprofit national research organization.

The final piece of Wal-Mart's plan is to help part-time Wal-Mart workers transition into full-time employment if they so desire. Among the strategies, Wal-Mart said it will make sure that its part-time workers have "first shot" at the full-time job openings in the stores in their area.

Wal-Mart said the move will give part-time employees much higher earning potential. About 75 percent of its store management start as salespeople, who earn an average of $12.47 hourly. Managers, the company said, can make an average of $50,000 to $170,000 a year.

"There are some fundamental misunderstandings out there about retail jobs, and we need to do better at explaining the opportunities we offer," Simon, Wal-Mart's CEO, said.

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Today Show's real estate analyst is very optimistic about the housing market for 2013! Check out this video!

Assistant 2 — Mon, 07 Jan 2013 18:28:00 GMT

2013=Great Real Estate Market

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Charlotte New Year's Eve-For All Ages!

Assistant 2 — Fri, 28 Dec 2012 17:18:00 GMT

Charlotte-area New Year's Eve celebrations for all ages

By Hilary Trenda and Brittney Cason
htrenda@charlotteobserver.com

Posted: Friday, Dec. 28, 2012

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Simply Irresistible will perform at First Night Charlotte as celebrants count down to midnight. Photo courtesy of Moira Quinn.
Whether you want to ring in 2013 with a rowdy crowd of confetti-covered strangers or on a quieter, smaller scale, local New Year’s Eve celebrations aren’t hard to find. Here are a handful that caught our eye. (Remember to take a taxi and a brush up on the lyrics to “Auld Lang Syne.”)

Family-friendly

First Night: This alcohol-free salute to community celebration and visual/performance art is back for its fifth year. Events are held at NASCAR Hall of Fame; WBT’s “Holiday on Ice” rink; Charlotte Convention Center’s stage and outdoor terrace; Wells Fargo Atrium; The Green; and Duke Energy Main Stage at Levine Avenue of the Arts. Adult wristbands are $10; kids 5-12 are $5 with a banded adult, 4 and younger are admitted free.

First Night Kids runs noon-5 p.m. and is geared towards families with kids ages 2-10, with storytellers, puppets, mascots, circus performers, dancing and more. Kids Countdown will be 4:40-5 p.m. on Duke Energy Main Stage.

First Night Charlotte is 7-11 p.m. and features silent disco, a mocktail booth, aerialists and entertainment for teens and adults.

“Countdown to Midnight” is 10 p.m.-midnight at Duke Energy main stage, featuring the dance band “Simply Irresistible.”

Details: www.firstnightcharlotte.com.

John Tosco’s third annual variety show: The Tosco Music Party founder’s event is reminiscent of “The Ed Sullivan Show” and features comedy, dance, music and more. 8-10 p.m. at McGlohon Theater at Spirit Square, 345 N. College St. Tickets are $20.12. Details: www.ncbpac.org.

For the adults

Soul in the City: The South Charlotte Chapter of Jack & Jill America will host its annual NYE party 9 p.m.-1 a.m. at the Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Arts + Culture (551 S. Tryon St.). Tickets are $75 per person (tax-deductible) and include the nouveau Soul Food buffet, cash bar, live and dance music, silent auction and the chance to be the last guests to view the “America I AM: The African American Imprint” exhibit in Charlotte.Details: www.southcharlottejj.org.

Boom! New Year’s Eve Bash: Tickets to last year’s event sold out in two days. This year’s party runs 9 p.m.-2 a.m. at VBGB (920 Hamilton St.) and will include buffet, one drink on the house, and DJ on the tented, heated patio/dance floor. Tickets are $55 for men and $45 for women. Details: www.vbgbuptown.com or in person at VBGB or NoDa Brewing (2229 N. Davidson St.).

Rich and Bennett’s NYE Bash: Phoenix Nightclub (300 N. College St.) hosts three levels of partying, two DJs, party favors and a balloon drop and confetti cannons at midnight. 9 p.m.-2 a.m. $55-$75 (includes beer, liquor, wine, champagne and appetizers from Cosmos). Details: www.rockhouseevents.com.

Back to the Future NYE Bash: At Roxbury Nightclub (116 W. Fifth St.), DJ Jody spins hits from the ’80s and ’90s. 8 p.m.-2 a.m. $20. Details: 704-375-8090 .

RE:GENESIS: The Sound Council greets the new year at Central Station (2131 Central Ave.) with a glow-friendly 18-and-older party featuring music from Krikett, Madinfluence, Theoretical and more. 9 p.m.-2 a.m. $5 cover. Details: 704-313-4430 .

NYE x 2: Big Ben’s British Pub and Restaurant (2000 South Blvd.) will celebrate twice: One countdown will be held at 7 p.m. (midnight in London), and the second will take place in local time. Both celebrations will feature entertainment, champagne and party favors at both seatings. Table reservations are going quick, so calling ahead is strongly recommended. Details: 704-817-9697 ; www.bigbenpub.com.

Livin’ it up at the hotel: The New Year’s Eve party at The Westin (601 S. College St.) is conveniently located – if you pop too much champagne, you can just get a room. DJ Lil Betty spins. 9:30 p.m. No cover; VIP tables (including one bottle of premium champagne and seating for six) are $175. www.cltfun.com. Also at the Westin: Charlotte Salsa Dance Company hosts a Latin Dance Party 9 p.m.-2 a.m. in two of the hotel’s ballrooms. $25 person, or $40 couple. Details: 704-449-8112 .

Dinner and a show: The Comedy Zone (900 NC Music Factory Blvd.) will host two shows featuring headliner Shaun Jones and Carmen Morales: the 8 p.m. dinner show and the 10:15 “Welcoming the New Year” show. The latter will include final countdown to 2013 with champagne toast and party favors. General admission tickets for both shows range from $20 to $30 with dinner and dessert packages available. Details: 980-321-4702 ; www.cltcomedyzone.com.

Dinner and a murder mystery: The Old Courthouse Theatre presents its 22nd annual NYE murder mystery dinner theater and silent auction. Festivities begin at 7:30 p.m. in the fifth-floor ballroom at Charlotte Motor Speedway. “Dealt a Deadly Hand – Murder at the Pocono Royale Casino” spoofs “Casablanca” and the dream of hitting the jackpot. $85 per person/$170 per couple includes appetizers, dinner, dessert, wine, champagne toast, party favors, murder mystery and DJ. Details: www.oldcourthousetheatre.org.

Dinner and a party: City Tavern in SouthPark (4331 Barclay Downs Drive) offers a four-course meal for less than $40, then you can burn it off on the dance floor as DJ Rob Reeves spins. Free cover until 10 p.m.; $10 thereafter. Details: 704-442-4000 .

Another dinner and a party: The Grand New Year’s Eve party at 5 Church (127 N. Tryon St.) features a lavish four-course meal, champagne and beats by DJ Edward Shouse. A portion of proceeds will be donated to Levine Children’s Hospital. First seating ($85) is at 5:30 p.m.; second seating ($150) is at 9 p.m. Details: 704-919-1322 .

And another: Celebrate the new year on the waters of Lake Norman with three different cruise options. All include a dinner buffet (tickets start at $75 per person) and the pricier packages ($110-$175 per person) include hotel room and transportation to and from Queen’s Landing, 1459 River Highway, Mooresville. The Catawba Queen boards at 8:30 p.m., departs at 9 p.m. and returns at 12:30 a.m.; Lady of the Lake boards at 9 p.m., departs at 9:30 p.m. and returns at 1 a.m. Details: www.queenslanding.com.

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25 Tips to Having a Stress Free Christmas

Assistant 2 — Wed, 19 Dec 2012 20:33:00 GMT

Christmas 'To Don't' List: What Not To Stress About This Year

Posted: 12/19/2012 8:46 am EST | Updated: 12/19/2012 10:59 am EST-Huffington Post

Between buying and wrapping gifts, playing Santa and prepping and cooking a meal for 12, the joy of the Christmas season can quickly dissolve into stress if you're not careful.

Some simple tactics can help reduce the holiday stress and allow you to enjoy the season more, like letting go of past family arguments and making time for yourself, whether it be to get some extra sleep or go to yoga.

Just in case that's a little easier said than done for you this year, here is your official permission to stop stressing about these 25 things this Christmas. What holiday stressors will you stop worrying about this year? Tell us in the comments below!

1. Spending big bucks on the best presents. A homemade gift can be worth much more.

2. Crafting. On the other hand, if you just don't have the time, no need to stress over homemade gifts, either.

3. Thinking up the perfect present for everyone on your list. A gift certificate for a massage may not be the most personal choice, but she'll like it, we promise.

4. Giving the same gift to multiple people. Unless they live under the same roof, they'll never know!

5. If one of your giftees wants to return your gift. Don't take it personally!

Top of Form

Bottom of Form

6. Cooking everything yourself. It's okay to delegate!

7. Staging elaborate scenes with the Elf On The Shelf. Who has the time?

8. A homemade pie crust. No one will notice.

9. A last-minute addition to the guest list. They won't expect an elaborate, personal gift; they'll just be glad to have your company and hospitality.

10. A real Christmas tree.

11. Christmas-themed table decorations.

12. Sending Christmas cards/photos. You keep in touch with the people you want to keep in touch with already. Shoot your other friends a "Thinking of you" email and save yourself the stress of staging the family photo.

13. Arguments. They happen. Move on.

14. Wrapping stocking stuffers. That's what the stocking is for!

15. Attempting to be everywhere at once. Trying to make it to 4 p.m. Christmas dinner at your mom's house, dad's house and significant other's house is physically impossible. Don't ruin your own Christmas just to please others!

16. Accepting every holiday party invitation. It's important to say no to certain things to make time for yourself.

17. Going to church service on Sunday, Christmas Eve service on Monday and Christmas service on Tuesday. If things are getting stressful, just pick one.

18. Preparing a 100 percent traditional meal.

19. Inviting the whole family over for Christmas Eve or Christmas dinner. There's plenty of time to see everyone throughout the holiday season.

20. Professional-caliber wrapping. It gets torn, after all. Why not recycle some newspaper?

21. Spending the same amount of money on each friend/sibling/child. Just because a gift for one of them costs a little extra doesn't mean you love one any more than the other.

22. Dining out. Lots of restaurants are open on Christmas, and you can start a fun tradition. Others will even whip you up a more traditional holiday meal to eat in the comfort of your own home.

23. Buying a card for every present. A simple tag -- even something made out of wrapping paper -- will do.

24. Trying to cram in every single Christmas tradition -- going out to look at lights, building the perfect snowman, making sure you bake the Christmas cookies, having the house all decorated. If you run out of time for one (or a few!) of these traditions, remember: There's always next year!

25. Taking the lights down promptly.

For more ways to de-stress this holiday season, check out these tips from PsychCentral.com Founder, and HuffPost Blogger, Dr. John Grohol:

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Charlotte New Year's Eve-For All Ages!

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Charlotte-area New Year's Eve celebrations for all ages

25 Tips to Having a Stress Free Christmas