Real Estate and Vegetable gardens

HI Folks!    ”I am back in the  saddle again”  It’s been awhile since I have written a blog.  A lot of things have happened this summer. 

I had a successful hay bale garden for tomatoes!  They were the best tomatoes I have had in years.  Especially the  Cherokee Purple tomatoes.

I planted White Half Runner beans in bags of potting soil and put up a rack for them to climb on. They grew beautifully!  Very flavorful and very prolific.

The squash, cucumbers,zucchini,and peppers were also a success.

I planted almost everything in a container of one sort or another and was able keep them watered and fertilized,With a minimum of physical labor. I hope to do this type of gardening again next year.

The Real Estate Market has improved this summer.  Some first time buyer have taken advantage of the $8000 tax credit!   If you qualify for a first time buyer(or have not owned property for at least  3 years) You will need to get a home under contract by the middle of October in order to close before the deadline (November 30)  The mortgage companies and  banks are taking up to 45 day to close now. 

There are still many Lake Norman properties available.  The owners have reduced the listed price on many of them. If you are interest in waterfront homes now is the time to buy.  There many bargains out there.

On a sad note, My Mother-in-law passed away this summer.  The Family will be putting her home and 17 acres on the market later in the year. The property is less than 3 miles from Lake Norman State Park.  It is a great rural property with both trees and cleared land bordering a creek. It has road frontage on both sides of the road.

If I can assist you in looking for real estate please contact me at nancy.shoemaker@cbunited.com

Nancy Shoemaker  Broker/REALTOR      704 663 9085

Coldwell Banker United, NC 28117

Century 21 Hecht merges with Coldwell Banker United, REALTORS

Just a few days ago our beloved Bob Hecht announced the merger of Century21 Hecht with the prestigious Coldwell Banker United, Realtors.  Although I will miss the Hecht Realty Company I look forward to working with the Coldwell Banker United, Realtors group.  I and all my co-workers at Hecht are going through tansition and training.  Everything is going slowely and smoothly which is making the move as pleasant as possible. I will continue to work at the Mooresville  NC  Office-467 River Hwy 28117.    Please visit my web site.  www.cbunited.com/NancyShoemaker

We  will offer the same great or even better service  for you so wheather you are a seller or a buyer please call me 704 663 9085 or email me nancy.shoemaker@cbunited.com

Nancy Shoemaker

 Coldwell Banker United, Realtors

Home Grown Tomatoes At Lake Norman

Well folks,  I have had my mind on some good old home grown tomatoes.  Not just any home grown tomatoe, but the kind that is tart tasting and high acid  content that I remember my father growing in his vegetable garden.  Not being much of a farm girl I had no idea that tomatoes were different until I read an article in the Southern Living Magazine about  Heirloom tomatoes.  It stuck with me and later on last summer my sister-in-law from Idaho came to visit.  She brought some of her Cherokee Purple (an heirloom varity)tomatoes with her.  They were delicious!  Well, every since then I have been thinking I might  try and grow some tomatoes.  A lot of people around here grow a vegetable garden, and we have done so in the past.  I think the tomatoes we grew in the past were hybred varitys and they lacked the taste I crave.     I am doing some research and I am surprised to find there are quite a number of varitys of heirloom tomatoes.  I bought some Marglobe seeds and started them in little peat pot things.  I hope to find some other kinds too.  I think I will be able to find some plants in a month.  I don’t especially have a green thumb but maybe my hubby will guide me.  I am going to be experimenting with them and maybe try some container gardening and straw bale gardening.

 

If you are a gardener looking for a place to relocate the Lake Norman and Troutman areas may be a place for you to practice your gardening skills.  Although I, myself, cannot brag about my gardens, I see many of my friends and neighbor making wonderful gardens.  This area has a long growing season.  No Frost  likely from the middle of April to October.  If you would like more information about this area call me at 704 663 9085

Nancy Shoemaker    REALTOR/Broker      nshoemaker @ c21hecht.com

Century 21 Hecht Realty

467 River Highway

Mooresville NC 28117

A Place For Nature Lovers

As I am writing there is a bright red male Cardinal eating sunflower seeds on the deck  just outside the window.  He is accompanied by his mate and a few Black Capped Chickadees eating their favorite seeds.  Here comes a gray squirrel but the birds won’t give up their place at the seeds.  We spread the seeds and corn about so the squirrels and raccoons can also find something.  There is a small red breasted bird that I don’t recognize flitting about. Tit -Mousess,  Blue Jays,   House Wrens, Carolina Wrens, Mocking Birds, Brown Thrushes  stops by every now and then.  Sometimes in the Spring we will see Gold Fenches making their way North.

 I stay with my Mother a lot of the time because of  her failing health.  Her home is right in the edge of the woods so we are fortunate to be able to view much of the types of wildlife that makes their home in this area.  We have had Opossums and Raccoons come and help themselves to the cat’s food.  The deer come right onto the deck to get the corn we have put out for the squirrels. The deer also seem to be partial to the hostas .  In the garden pond the Bull Frogs have taken up residence and serenade us on summer evenings.  Some times the Redheaded Woodpeckers build a nest in the hollow tree near the house.  We won’t cut the tree because we don’t want to destroy their environment.  Yesterday I heard one tapping on a tree.  After a quick search, I spied him high in the branches of a nearby tree.  In the summertime we have Hummingbirds fighting over the the Hummingbird feeders.  They even perch the branches above the feeders to stand guard over them.  If another Hummingbird come near he does a dive bomb attack to chase the interloper away.  Sometimes the Mockingbirds will have a nest near the house and they harass the cat when she walks across the yard.  It’s  funny to watch the bewildered cat’s reactions.

On a couple of occasion I have seen a wild Turkey on the road between my house and mother’s house (we live about a mile from each other.)  We  have spotted coyotes three time in the yard.  I am little afraid of them.  They are a threat to our pets. On rare occasions we will see a Red Fox.  They are beautiful, delicate looking animals.   And of course, I always delight in seeing the Canada Geese fly over honking as they hurry on their way.  The geese and the sea gulls came to this area after Lake Norman came into being.  I didn’t see them in this area when I was a child.  This time of the year the Hawks are more eaisly seen when the leaves are off the trees.  I think this is a migrating route for them.

  Whoa Nellie!   This blog is getting out of  hand.  I could go on and on.  My point is, that if you like to see wildlife (I’m talking about animals) Troutman and Lake Norman has an abundance of  little critters to enjoy.

If you are interested in an area that has wonderful opportunities for observing nature, Lake Norman and Troutman are   rural enough for that and close enough to the conveniences of Charlotte.  Call me or email me for more information about this area.

Nancy Shoemaker   Realtor/Broker   Century 21 Hecht

704 663 9085    nshoemaker @c21hecht.com

 467 River Hwy,     Mooresville, NC      28117     

Mild Winter Days in Lake Norman, NC # 2

 Well Folks,  We had that March snowfall the second day of March.  The weather forecasters warned us of a winter storm to come.  They said it would begin Sunday afternoon.  Like all the rest of the Troutman/Lake Norman residents, I went to the supermarket to get milk, bread, and eggs, along with some snack foods.   I built a nice fire in the fireplace to warm up the house and to have a fire going if we lost power. (sometimes happens)  So….I watched and waited all afternoon.  I’m just as excited as the children.   3:00 pm, no snow, 5:00pm, still no snow.  It gets dark outside at 6:15  so I am not going be able to watch it fall.    Like I said in the previous blog, that is what I enjoy the most about  snow. 

  Finaly!   About  7:00 pm it began to snow at our house in Troutman.  Every little bit I would open the door to watch it for a few minutes at a time.  About 10:00 we turned in and next morning there it was!  The most beautiful 4 1/2  inches of fluffy white snow and it would be melting before noon. The children had to hurry out to play before it gets gone. 

 Well, it’s  Tuesday and  it’s about gone now. In spite of our limited snow clearing equiptment the roads are clear.  The weather forecaster say it will be near 70 degrees before the end of the week,  We like to see the snow but we’re glad it doesn’t hang around too long. 

If you think you might like to live in area where folks get excited about 4 inches of snow, call me or email me for more information about the Lake Norman/Troutman NC area, where winters are mild and we enjoy four seasons.

Nancy Shoemaker    Realtor /Broker    704 663 9085

nshoemaker@ c21hecht.com

Century 21 Hecht Realty   467 River Hwy,   Mooresville,  NC 28117

Mild Winter Days in Lake Norman, North Carolina

Hi Folks, For the past couple of weeks we have been experiencing some delightful weather here in Troutman and and Lake Norman,  North Carolina!  Last week we had some 70 degree days  here in the middle of February.  Trees are blooming, Buttercups are blooming and days are warm and sunny.   I know it’s is too early for spring but I’m getting spring fever now.  There will probably be a cold snap and things will suffer frost bite.  Maybe an inch or two of snow yet to come. We do get excited about a few flakes of snow here.  I love watching it fall.  At my house, the two times we have had snow flurries this winter there was no accumulation.  In the past we’ve had some snow as late as March.  There is very little snow and when it does snow it’s gone in a day or two.  Hardly any snow shoveling to do.

 If you live in an area with lots of snow you might enjoy living in our area where we still have four seasons but the winters are very mild.  This area has many new construction homes available in all price ranges.  If you would like information about any of the homes on the market here, email me or call me I would be happy to help you.

Nancy Shoemaker       Realtor /Broker        Century 21 Hecht

467 River Hwy   Mooresville, NC 28117

nshoemaker @ c21hecht,com     703 663 9085

Places of worship In Troutman, North Carolina

  With in the city Limits of  Troutman  there are  Baptist,   Methodist,  Lutheran, and Presbyterian Churches .   Just outside of  Troutman about a  half of mile is the Church of God. As of yet we do not have a Catholic church or a Jewish Synagogue but they can be found in  Mooresville  and Statesville  just a few mile North or South of Troutman. With  my research I have found 16  various Places of Worship in the surrounding areas of Troutman.  to research some of these churches go to http://www.yellowpages.com and type in places of worship and zip code 28166. Call me or email if you would like to talk to a Troutman native.

Nancy Shoemaker   Realtor/ Broker      704  663 9085      nshoemaker @ c21hecht.com

Century 21 Hecht Realty  467 River Hwy  Mooresville NC 28117

Troutman Schools

The Troutman Community has three schools, Troutman Elementry School,Troutman Middle School, and the South Iredell High School.  These schools are Statesville /Iredell county school system even though they are in or near the city Limits.   We have experencesd some growth in the last few years resulting in more and more construction going on at each of theses  schools.

From an article in the Lake Norman Area /First impressons/ Newcomer’s Guide

With more than 20,000 students and more than 1,000 teachers and faculty members, Iredell-Statesville (I-SS )is another exception, fast growing school district.

The distrist includes 19 elementary, seven middle schools, five high schools, two alternative schools, the collaborative college  for Technolog and Leadership ( an early college high school), and the Visual & Performing Arts Center(a magnet school for artist and musicians)

For more information about the redistricting schedule click on the following

link.

http://toddlongcentury21.wordpress.com/2009/02/06/iredell-county-schools-redistricting-meetings-resume/

 

NancyShoemaker  Realtor/Broker  Century 21 Hecht

467 River Hwy, Mooresville NC 28117  704 663 9085

nancy shoemaker @ c21hecht.com

Troutman,NC Small Town USA

Hi Folks,  Recently I have been promoting my home town, Troutman NC.  I love our little community and I think some times it get over looked.  I found a great article in the Lake Norman Area, First Impressions, 2008/2009 Newcomers Guide.  The following information is From Making a Home in North Iredell.

Troutman, just North of Mooresville, is a small town surrounded by farm land with a population just over 2000, is expecting to nearly double their population in the next few years. With development beginning at exit 42 and another development at exit 45 similar to the Birkdale community in Mecklinburg county shopping will be more conveniently located for the current Troutman residents and future residents alike. Lowe’s has already opened the home improvement store with Wal-Mart planning to follow.  The 1328 acre Lake Norman State Park offers recreation in the form of swimming, boating , fishing, camping, hiking trails,biking trail, and camping. Many new subdivision are being developed on Perth road.  One of which is the Falls  Cove, a  Cresent Resources developement  with home starting at $400,000 homes and lots from $100,000. A ten acre amenity park with tennis courts, swimming pool, play ground, and nature trails are in the works for Falls Cove.  The town of Troutman has a unique little walking park right through the middle of town. It’s a lovely grassy strip with park benches to relax and visit with the neighbors as they come out to enjoy their spare time. On pleasantly warm days folks can be seen walking for exercise  and enjoying their outings with their pets or children.  It is a Norman Rockwell scene in the early evenings. If you are thinking about moving to a quiet little community with small town appeal you may want to consider the Troutman, NC area.

Nancy Shoemaker   Century 21 Hecht Realty    467 River Hwy    Mooresville, NC  28117       704 663 9085       nshoemaker @ c21hecht .com 

 

 

A New Subdivision for Troutman

Troutman has a new subdivision coming!  The name of it is Autumn Brook and it is located off Old Mountain Road on Wallace Springs Road.  Autumn Brook is a 46 acre retreat with only 57 exclusive home sites offered and will feature municipal water, curb, gutters, sidewalks, street trees, decorative lighting, and a beautifully maintained entrance and landscape. Each site is already approved for a septic tank which is included in the price of the lot.  We have several new subdivisions being planned for our  area.  Some are offering expanded amenities, some are offer only a minimum of amenities.   Don’t forget Troutman is just minutes from Lake Norman and public boat launches. If you think the Troutman, NC area might appeal to you, call me for more information.           Nancy Shoemaker,     704 663 9085 ,    Century 21 Hecht Realty    467   Mooresville, NC 28117

nshoemaker @ c21 hecht .com