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237th Anniversary of the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence

Phil Puma — Sat, 19 May 2012 00:24:42 +0000

Plan to come out and celebrate this annual commemoration in Charlotte of the 237th Anniversary of the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence. The MecDec celebration has hosted four former Presidents (Taft, Wilson, Eisenhower and Ford), military Generals, a First Lady and countless dignitaries. We will celebrate the signing of the declaration, the spirit of our community and the distinct and rebellious history that binds our community together.

Events will include Military and Colonial Re-enactors, Historical Readings, horses, military parades, modern and urban Slam Poetry and good ol’ American-styled patriotic celebration of who we are as a people.

Don’t miss out on this free event so come out to Uptown Charlotte at Trade and Tryon Streets at 11:30 am to enjoy all of the festivities!

The May 20th Society is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization that endeavors to capture and celebrate Charlotte’s rebellious and visionary spirit and history—a history that began on May 20, 1775, when two dozen prominent civic leaders signed and approved The Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence (MecDec) – the first declaration of independence in America!Since 2003, The May 20th Society has been raising funds to bring history alive in Charlotte with world-renowned historical figures for its annual speaker series, and a noon commemoration of the MecDec.Celebrate the history of the MecDec with The May 20th Society.

Phil Puma
Puma & Associates Realty

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Paying Off Your Mortgage

Phil Puma — Wed, 16 May 2012 15:05:39 +0000

Ever since you signed the paper work on your Charlotte home have you been dreaming about the day you make that final payment? Paying off your mortgage if you are able to is a good idea for the obvious reasons, you will save thousands of dollars in interest. If you obtained a 30 year loan you will most likely pay more than twice the purchase price of the home before you actually own it.

Another top reason for paying off your mortgage is the satisfaction of actually owning your home. In addition, the mortgage payment is typically the highest of a household’s monthly expense, so not having to worry about that each month can bring peace of mind, especially in the case of a loss of a job or retirement.

Some financial advisors do however advise that paying off your mortgage is a bad financial move. Some arguments that the money should be invested as to gain a higher return in the long run. While this advise might sound good in theory there is no guarantee that a higher return can be achieved.

Paying off your mortgage has many benefits, but the question many homeowners ask is “How?”, especially in a difficult economy. Below are some strategies you can use to help you get to your payoff goal!

Keep an eye on interest rates and, if they fall, consider refinancing. If you can reduce your interest rate, shorten the term of your loan or both, refinancing can be an excellent strategy.
Overpay a fixed amount every month. Even if you can afford to pay an 5-20% of your total payment, it can add up to be 1-2 extra payments a year.
Biweekly mortgage payment plans. By paying half of your monthly mortgage payment every two weeks, you end up making the equivalent of an extra payment every year. Instead of making 12 monthly payments, you’ll make 52/2 = 26 biweekly payments — the equivalent of 13 monthly payments. This will shave years off your mortgage. Moreover, if you’re paid on a biweekly basis, this approach might match your budgeting process better than monthly payments.

In a difficult economy paying your regular monthly obligations can be difficult, and it can be very challenging to try to make any additional payments. They key is to make an attempt, every little bit counts and gets you closer to your goal!

Phil Puma
Puma & Associates Realty

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Mom’s Day at the Gardens

Phil Puma — Fri, 11 May 2012 11:43:53 +0000

Do you live in or around Charlotte North Carolina? Then you more than likely know that Charlotte area moms deserve the best, so we have a special weekend planned for Mothers Day in the Garden. The first 250 moms each day will receive a free potted plant courtesy of Rountree Plantation Garden Center. Other special activities going on that day include Tiffany Style Stained Glass demonstrations by artist Bob Yost and Mosaic Art demonstrations by artist Pat Groome. These demonstrations will occur on the hour starting at 10 a.m. Art pieces will also be available for sale. Best of all is that ALL MOMS get in for FREE!!!

Delicious picnic baskets, provided by Best Impressions Caterers, are available for pre-order. Please call 704-829-1252 by May 7 to reserve yours! Other food and beverage items will be available for purchase onsite.

Menu items for pre-sale include:

Picnic Basket for 4 – $58.00 per basket, includes the basket as a keepsake
Includes a choice of 4 sandwiches from the selections below:

Chipotle Chicken Breast Wrap
with fresh avocado, Monterrey jack cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, and chipotle ranch dressing

The House Club
roasted turkey breast, cheddar cheese, and apple-wood smoked bacon with honey mustard on a flaky croissant

Roast Beef Sandwich
with caramelized onions, provolone cheese, and a peppercorn sauce on a baquette

Vine-Ripe Tomato and Fresh Mozzarella Sandwich
on a French baguette with fresh basil and balsamic vinaigrette

Each Basket includes Marinated Vegetable Salad, Fruit Salad, 2 chocolate chip and 2 oatmeal raisin cookies with choice of Iced Tea or Lemonade

(Pre-sale reservations required, call 704-829-1252 to reserve yours!)

Spring Lunch for 2 – $28
includes a choice of 2 sandwiches from the selections below:

Chipotle Chicken Breast Wrap
with fresh avocado, Monterrey jack cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, and chipotle ranch dressing

The House Club
roasted turkey breast, cheddar cheese, and apple-wood smoked bacon with honey mustard on a flaky croissant

Roast Beef Sandwich
with caramelized onions, provolone cheese, and a peppercorn sauce on a baguette

Vine-Ripe Tomato and Fresh Mozzarella Sandwich
on a French baguette with fresh basil and balsamic vinaigrette

includes Fruit Salad and Marinated Vegetable Salad, 1 chocolate chip and 1 oatmeal raisin cookie with choice of Iced Tea or Lemonade

(pre-sale reservations required, call 704-829-1252 to reserve yours!)

Assorted sandwiches, desserts and drinks will be available for purchase onsite; including kids choices.

So come to the Botanical Gardens Saturday May 12, 2012 to May 13, 2012 From 9 am – 3 pm!

Thanks charlottes got alot for the info on this great Charlotte North Carolina event!

Phil Puma
Puma & Associates Realty

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Is an HOA Right for You?

Phil Puma — Thu, 10 May 2012 03:06:56 +0000

Are you looking for a new Charlotte NC home? Then, one thing you’ll need to consider is whether you would like to live in a HOA community. If you are not familiar, Home Owner Associations or HOA’s are a regulatory board found in planned communities, gated communities, condominium complexes and subdivisions. A Homeowners association collects fees or “assessments” from individual home owners to cover certain expenses. For example maintenance of common areas, insurance and health or safety improvements. A HOA also enforces rules and regulations set forth by the developer or property owner.

The Community Association Institute estimates that nearly one out of every six Americans lives in a community association. Before purchasing a Charlotte home that is regulated by an HOA, it is very important to read their bylaws. These are laws governed by the association. Always ask questions so that you can make an informed decision. Here are a few to help you get started:

Ask the HOA about parking limitations/restrictions, pet limitations/restrictions with respect to quantity, size and type, restrictions related to outdoor decor/furniture/grilling restrictions (for balcony/patio), and if there are any current outstanding assessments the new owner will be responsible for assuming.
Be certain to ask if there is any active litigation, as this may affect buyer financing, and also indicates possible red flags with property in general you will want your home inspector to do extra due diligence on.
If you don’t agree with something in the bylaws/restrictions, do you have any recourse?
What do monthly HOA assessments/fees cover? HOA fees typically cover common ground concerns such as landscaping, pest control, pool and fitness center maintenance, guard gate/security services and common area taxes. They sometimes cover utilities such as trash, water or cable television.
How often do HOA assessments/fees increase (and at what percentage), so you can be prepared for rising costs down the road? Also ask, will the members be able to vote on the rising cost?

There are a lot of positives and negatives in becoming a part of a homeowners association. It may or may not fit into your lifestyle and ideas. Read the agreement well before you consider a home with a homeowners association. Ask the homeowners in the community about the services they receive because of the agreement. The better you understand how all the locals feel about their association, the easier it will be for you to know if it is right for you. Also you want to know how the association deals with issues that arise. You want to know what you are getting yourself into before you fall in love with the new North Carolina house!

Phil Puma
Puma & Associates Realty

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Charlotte Dragon Boat Festival

Phil Puma — Sat, 05 May 2012 02:10:24 +0000

The first Asian Festival was organized under the leadership of Dr. Ki-Hyun Chun in 2000 at Marshall Park in uptown Charlotte. The purpose of the Festival was to unite all Asian communities in the Charlotte to celebrate the Asian-Pacific Heritage Month of May. Attendance in Festival continued to grow in the ensuing years, drawn by the colorful and diverse cultural presentations, food and retail selectioins. After a few years at the Wachovia Atrium, the Asian Festival moved to its current location at Ramsey Creek Park, and, together with the Dragon Boat Festival Race, continues to grow as the Carolinas’ premier Asian cultural event.

The Asian Festival consists of the following:

Cultural Performances
Dragon Boat Festival Race
Miss Asia Carolinas
Traditional Asian Food and Crafts
Vendor and Sponsor Booths

The 13th Annual Charlotte Asian Festival is a family-oriented event for the Asian and non-Asian community in and around Mecklenburg County and throughout the Carolinas. that is designed to celebrate the traditions and unique Asian-Pacific cultures represented in the greater Charlotte region. The organizers hope that in addition to providing an opportunity for local Asians and Asian-Americans to celebrate their heritage that the festival will serve as a cultural bridge to the community at large.

The festival celebrates Asian cultures, diversity, ethnicity, roots and history.The 7th Annual Charlotte Dragon Boat Festival Race is an exciting team competition. An important part of the Chinese traditional calendar, dragon boat racing originated over 2,300 years ago on the life-sustaining rivers of southern China.

The Charlotte race is an open competition to anyone 15 years of age or older. The Charlotte Asian Festival and Dragon Boat Festival Race are organized by the Carolinas Asian-American Chamber of Commerce, Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation, and the Charlotte Dragon Boat Association.

Please join us on May 5, 2012 at Ramsey Creek Park to celebrate the traditions and cultures of Asia.

Thanks Charlotte’s Got Alot for the info!

Phil Puma
Puma & Associates Realty

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The Four “C’s” in Mortagage Lending

Phil Puma — Wed, 02 May 2012 14:37:41 +0000

Are you wanting to purchase a new home in the Charlotte, North Carolina Area? Then you are most likely aware that having good credit and a steady job just does not seem to be good enough in today’s credit world when it comes to getting your home loan approved. You need to make an impression. Below are some great tips I would like to share with you.

Today’s lenders are a picky bunch when it comes to the loan approval. Even well-qualified borrowers are expected to jump through some pretty high hoops to qualify for financing. Have no fear. The tips below and suggestions can help you make the best possible impression on the lender of your choice. Just as job hunters may wonder what top employers want to see on a resume, prospective borrowers may be curious about what lenders look for on a loan application.

The four C’s

The answer may be summed up with a mnemonic called “The four C’s,”

•    Capacity, which refers to the adequacy of the borrower’s income to cover the interest and principal due on the loan, plus property taxes and homeowners insurance.
•    Character, which refers to the borrower’s track record of paying debts, as evidenced by his or her credit history and credit score.
•    Capital, which refers to the borrower’s down payment (or equity) as a percentage of the current value of the home.
•    Collateral, which refers to the safety and soundness of the home and the value of the home as determined by an appraisal relative to the agreed-upon purchase price.

Today’s mortgage broker might use a quadrant with “income,” “credit,” “assets” and “property” in the four corners, but his point is the same as that of the four C’s: What lenders like to see is strength and stability in all four areas.

Maybe your credit score has some dings or you need a stated-income loan. Borrowers who are qualified but whose down payment will be less than 20% of the purchase price of the home must withstand a second level of scrutiny. That’s because mortgage insurers also have to approve such loans, and they have “completely different qualification ratios”. Borrowers in this situation should discuss their options with a loan officer who is familiar with lenders’ and insurers’ guidelines.

Have paperwork in order

Lenders rely not on the borrower’s say-so but on a pile of paperwork to verify and document the borrower’s financial position. At a minimum, most borrowers are required to submit the following:

•    One month of paycheck stubs.
•    Two years of W-2 forms.
•    Three months of bank account statements.

Additional paperwork also may be required:

•    If you’re self-employed or earn more than 25% of your income from commissions or bonuses, you’ll need to hand over two years of income tax returns.
•    If you’re divorced, the lender will want a copy of your settlement to ascertain how much alimony or child support you’re obligated to pay or are entitled to receive and the duration of those payments.
•    If you’ve filed for bankruptcy protection within the past seven years, you’ll need to show your bankruptcy papers.
•    If you’ve deferred repayment of student loans, you should provide your deferral agreement as well.
“If (borrowers) have student loans that are going to be deferred for at least 12 months, that may help them qualify, so they would want to bring the account numbers for those loans. Student loans are counted as debt, but deferral of repayment may strengthen the borrower’s application.

Phil Puma
Puma & Associates Realty

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5825 Linden Ridge Lane #14, Charlotte, NC

Phil Puma — Tue, 01 May 2012 14:49:56 +0000

3 Story, Transitional – Charlotte, NC

View the Virtual Tour for 5825 Linden Ridge Lane #14, Charlotte, NC

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Phil Puma
Puma & Associates Realty
704-578-8851
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MLS#: 2074931
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The North Carolina Science Festival

Phil Puma — Sat, 28 Apr 2012 01:46:46 +0000

Want to have a fun and educational day in Charlotte, North Carolina? The North Carolina Science Festival is bringing two TV stars who specialize in science entertainment – Adam Savage and Jamie Hyneman, hosts of the Discovery Channel television show MythBusters– to the campus of the University of North Carolina at Charlotte.

“An Afternoon with Adam and Jamie” will begin at 2:30 pm on Sunday, April 29, 2012, in UNC Charlotte’s Halton Arena. During the 90-minute program, Adam and Jamie will share stories from behind the scenes of their popular show. They’ll also feature special video presentations of spectacular explosions and other “for fans only” outtakes. The program includes a moderated question and answer session. This is an official signature event of the North Carolina Science Festival. Charlotte’s Discovery Place is a strategic Partner of the Festival.

In each episode of their TV show, Adam, Jamie and their team of investigators apply scientific method to commonly-held beliefs, testing myths with lava lamps, rockets, sharks, port-a-potties and other items not found in the typical science lab. Their experiments have included converting a vacuum cleaner into a jet engine, swinging 360 degrees around a swingset and floating on a raft filled with helium. Adam & Jamie have the kind of jobs that many science geeks and teenagers would love to have. Attempting to debunk myths and urban legends and popular misconceptions through scientific testing and experimentation, the show they host has explored hundreds of myths over the last nine years.

BUY TICKETS online. Floor-level tickets are $75 per person, lower-level tickets are $45 per person, and upper-level tickets are $28 per person. A limited number of VIP tickets are available at $150 per person. Each VIP ticket includes a meet-and-greet reception before the event with an opportunity to have your photo taken with Adam and Jamie. VIP tickets also include reserved stage-front seating and a North Carolina Science Festival t-shirt.

Big Thanks to Charlotte’sGotAlot, This is a fun Charlotte, NC event!!!

Phil Puma
Puma & Associates Realty

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Helpful Tips When Moving with Children

Phil Puma — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 02:57:44 +0000

Have you found your dream home in Charlotte, North Carolina? Chances are, you know the stress you have been feeling preparing for your move, there’s so much to do! You’ve got to pack and unpack, notify the Post Office of your change of address, do closing paperwork on the home you’re selling and the home you’re buying in Charlotte, hold last minute yard sales, etc. It seems like a lot, and it is, but here’s a great checklist to help you get it all straight two months prior to your move.

Now, what about your kids? If you’re stressed out, imagine what’s going on in their young minds: Will I make new friends? Will I hate the school? Does anyone else like baseball as much as I do? How far away is McDonalds? I’ll never remember my new phone number, address, locker combination… They won’t be concerned about the same things as Mom and Dad. They will worry about things that directly affect them.

How do you settle your children’s nerves during a move to your new North Carolina home? Give them an opportunity to participate by working on small projects that address their own personal needs. Children of any age can help pack boxes. Have them label their own boxes so they get placed in their new room in the new house. Have them draw out a plan for their new room, or make a list of things they want to learn from their parents about their new town before they get there.

Pack plenty of music, movies, and games if you have a long cross-country drive to your destination. Keeping kids entertained when cooped up in a car all day goes a long way in soothing their nerves as well as Mom’s and Dad’s. Once you arrive, here are some great ideas for the whole family once you get settled in.

Phil Puma
Puma & Associates Realty

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Trace Adkins Live In Charlotte

Phil Puma — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 12:03:01 +0000

Can’t figure out what to do in Charlotte this Friday night? No worries! We’ve know right where you should be. The Trace Adkins Concert! Trace Adkins is one of country music’s most versatile and accomplished entertainers. His instantly recognizable baritone has earned 30 charted singles, 15 Top Ten hits and gold, platinum, and multi-platinum albums with total sales surpassing 10 million. He’s the author of A Personal Stand: Observations and Opinions from a Freethinking Roughneck. He was also a finalist on NBC’s “The Celebrity Apprentice,” where he charmed millions. His most recent role in The Lincoln Lawyer put him in the company of Matthew McConaughey, Ryan Phillipe, Jon Leguiazamo and William H. Macy in the box office-topping theatrical release.

His tenth studio album, Proud to be Here, features the Top Ten hit, “Just Fishin’” and latest single, “Million Dollar View.” The album was released in August 2011 on Show Dog – Universal Music and debuted at #2 on the Billboard country album char

Trace will be performing at the Ovens Auditorium , 2700 East Independence Boulevard, Charlotte, NC 28205 @ 8:00 PM!

Tickets start at just $37 and ranges up to $112. That you can purchase here.

Thanks CharlottesGotALot for the info on this jammin Charlotte North Carolina event!

Phil Puma
Puma & Associates Realty

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