About LuxuryRealEstate.com: LuxuryRealEstate.com, a Webby Award Honoree, has been voted ‘Best of the Web’ by Forbes magazine multiple times, praised by the International Herald Tribune, Town & Country, the Wall Street Journal and has been ranked ‘Best Website’ by consumers according to surveys by the Luxury Institute. Since its debut in 1995, LuxuryRealEstate.com has remained the #1 portal for luxury properties on the internet, consistently driving more traffic to member websites and generating more qualified inquiries than any other website. LuxuryRealEstate.com has several times more $1,000,000+ content of any near-peer.

Known in the industry for the last quarter-century as the Who’s Who in Luxury Real Estate network, a global collection of the finest luxury real estate brokers in the world, this group of more than 70,000 professionals in more than 60 countries collectively sells in excess of $190 billion of real estate annually, with an average sale price of $2,450,000. Members sell homes for record prices and handle transactions of incredible complexity and magnitude with complete discretion. Every member is carefully selected by Chairman/Publisher John Brian Losh, one of REALTOR Magazine’s 25 Most Influential People in Real Estate and broker of fine properties and estates through his Seattle-based brokerage firm, Ewing & Clark, Inc. For more information, please visit www.LuxuryRealEstate.com or www.Regents.com.

Yesterday, I enjoyed a informative real estate training session at Verdict Ridge Golf Course’s Clubhouse.  We also learned some updates about the course and housing from Scott Knox.  Scott shared a video with us about the transformation that the Golf Course will go through in the Fall to Bermuda Grass.  It was an interesting segment.  Verdict Ridge is already one of North Carolina’s most attractive courses, but I feel assure the addition of the Bermuda Grass will provide a even more beautiful back drop to the golfer that is already in love with the course and community.

We had a delicious lunch provided by Verdict Ridge’s Clubhouse Restaurant, “Guilties”.  Since it is open to the public, you should definitely try it out one evening.  It is equipped with a fully stocked bar and a lovely terrace looking out over the course.  Here is a link to Guilties’ Menu… http://verdictridge.com/golf/emailer2020/img/verdictridge/2012_Website_Menu(1).pdf

I thought you may also be interested to know that a new phase is opening right off the entrance on Kidville Road.  Six home lots and patio homes.  We have such a need in the area for patio homes and I think they will find these to be a hot commodity!  On their website, www.VerdictRidge.com, they provide information on several custom builders and Bellamy Homes is also expected to participate.

Here are some upcoming events outlined on the Verdict Ridge website:

Feb. 16th Guilties CLOSED lunch and OPEN dinner
Feb. 16th Ladies Bunco 7 PM

March 8th LGA Dinner

March 17th Member’s Spring Kickoff Golf Tournament

March 24th Murder Mystery Dinner

April 27-29 Men’s Member/Member

April 28th Off To The Races Derby Event

Here is additional Information on Rates:

Rates

Range Balls:

• $5.00 per bag (40-45 balls)
• Family Range Plan is included in all Golf and Sports Memberships.

Member Cart Fees: $18.00 per person for 18-holes

If you have any questions or if you would prefer to book your tee time over the phone, contact the Pro Shop at 704-489-1206.

Last, but certainly not least… Visit this link… http://verdictridge.com/golf/proto/verdictridge/grand_larceny/grand_larceny.htm

Verdict Ridge is offering a Guilty Golfer Card with Four Different Valuable offers to play the course.  All you have to do is visit the link, supply your information and receive a card.  Scott Knox was kind enough to provide me with a card, so … see you at the course!

As reported by News  at Norman…

East Lincoln Betterment Association (ELBA) will host the second of its “Winter Cultural Event Series” on Feb. 16. “Where Are We Now?” will be the topic for the February event that begins at 7 p.m. on Feb. 16 at Unity Presbyterian Church on Unity Church Road. This program will follow the current and future of East Lincoln, and will be presented by Darrell Gettys of the Lincoln County Planning Board and Kelly Atkins, director of planning. “Is East Lincoln ready for the active economy?” is one of the questions to be addressed. At the February meeting, ELBA will also hold a general session meeting; new board members and officers will be installed. For March 15, the meeting will be at 6 p.m. and will feature East Lincoln “Food Delights and Diversity.” For this event, local farmers will feature organic foods, seasonal foods, and diversity in offerings that will be shared. There will be a “local pottery” sale and other dining pleasures. Kevin Star of the Lincoln County Extension Service will partner with ELBA and Sally’s Y for this event. While these events are free to attend, the event will also be a membership drive for ELBA. All residents are encouraged to attend. A family membership is only $25 per year. With your membership, you will be contributing to the positive betterment of East Lincoln. For more information, visit the website at www.elbanc.org or call Peggy Tschudin, ELBA president at 704-842-7877.

Thank you News@Norman for your tireless work keeping Denver NC Area residents on top of area events!  To visit News@Norman ‘s website…

http://www.denverncnews.com/

I have been using Ken Gingras, with Housemaster for over 8 years, and found that he is one heck of an inspector.  He has never missed an issue and can easily provide you with qualified vendors and what you truly need to be concerned about with your new home.

Some issues can be scary to a buyer, but Ken and I know exactly what can be handled with ease and what can not.  As Ken has often said, there is absolutely nothing that can not be repaired.  He is a true professional and provides many different services, such as Termite, Radon, and more.  He has update equipment that most inspectors do not have.

Don’t be fooled.  All home inspectors are not alike and I put my reputation on the line for Ken with Housemaster.

Check out the information below on their complimentary Termite Inspection (a $75 value)!  Awesome!

HouseMaster Home Inspections

With all of the talk of Extreme Makeover Home Edition, there has just as much talk about those same charitable volunteers considering helping Habitat for Humanity of Lincoln County.  I personally have been involved in Realtor Care Days, where we make repairs to homes for people that do not have the means to do so themselves, but I have never built a home for a family.  I can imagine it is very rewarding whether you are on TV and Ty is there or not.

Considering all of the Facebook posts made by friends, I thought it was good time to look into Habitat for Humanity in Lincoln County.  You can find their website at http://www.habitatlcnc.org/.

Here is some information they provided about their organization…

About Habitat for Humanity of Lincoln County

Habitat for Humanity of Lincoln county was started in 1992, and since then has worked to build affordable housing for low income families in Lincoln County.  Our Mission is to provide decent, affordable housing to lower income families who would not be able to afford a home through a conventional mortgage.

Our Affiliate office and ReStore are located at 809 East Sycamore Street Lincolnton, North Carolina 28092; click here for hours and location. 

The ReStore is a fundraising division of Habitat for Humanity.  You’ll find all sorts of interesting things in our ReStore, mostly related to home repair or home furnishings — for more information, click here. 

Applications for home ownership are available at the ReStore located at 809 East Sycamore Street, Lincolnton, NC phone (704) 736-9490.

At their website, they provide information on how to apply for a new home, how to donate and volunteer.  There is additional information on REStore.  Check this out…

What is a ReStore?

A ReStore is a store that accepts donations of new and gently used items from individuals and businesses in the community, and sells those items to the public at a reduced cost, usually 50-70 percent of the original retail value. All proceeds go toward building Habitat homes with the local Habitat affiliate.

Our Mission

 Through the selling of donated construction and home related items:
- Increase the number of homes build with low-income families through Habitat for Humanity.
- Prevent usable items from being put in landfills.
- Provide quality building materials to the general public at discounted prices.

Schedule A Donation

To schedule a donation pickup, please contact our ReStore at:  704-736-9490.

They also provide a list of donations needed.  Consider visiting their store to purchase for your home!

They also take boat and car donations!

Just one more place you can help the community, that gives back to your community!

East Lincoln Christian Ministry is a wonderful place to visit for those in need this holiday season.  They have been known to offer help with power bills, provide free food and holiday meals.  They even provide toys for children at Christmas.  The volunteers are incredibly nice people, that have taken time out of their daily lives to help those in need. 

I know that Denver Baptist church provides a great deal of support to East Lincoln Christian Ministries and I am sure there are many more out there and I know as a community, we have all pitched in at one time or another to help them through Food Drives, dropping off gently used toys, clothes, furniture, appliances and more.

More and more often these days, we find ourselves in situations we have never been in before.  Lincoln County residents have faced losing their jobs, a construction and real estate downturn in a once thriving community.  It has affected us all and sometimes you just need a little help for a little while, visit Christian Ministries.

They are located at

4278 Catawba Burris Road

Denver, NC 28037

704.483.4415

When I did an online search to learn more about them, I did not find alot of information.  I did find this information from http://www.ncssm.edu/service/east-lincoln-christian-ministry-inc/ that you may find helpful.

There are many in community that may be in need of help, but don’t where to turn….Get the word out!  There are also many opportunities to volunteer, so if you can make a little time in your day to day life, I think volunteering to help those in our local community is a great idea.