Dining At Soul Gastrolounge - Plaza Midwood....A Must!

Today I enjoyed a beautiful midday brunch with my friend Andrea. We meet for brunch once a month to catch up due to our busy schedules. Today we had brunch at Soul Gastrolounge! This was my first time there and I absolutely loved it so I thought to share with my readers.

The immediate service was pleasing however the food was spectacular. The menu prices were very reasonable and the delicious meal (Chicken and Waffles) was worth very calorie. The atmosphere and energy of Soul was pleasant and cozy...just right for me. Enjoy a full bar and DJ while dining.

Soul Gastrolounge opened in 2009 in the up and coming area of Plaza-Midwoood just mins from Uptown Charlotte. The staff was quick and professional...I plan to visit Soul again immediately. Check it out!

Buyers! Five Simple Things To Ensure A Smooth Home Buying Experience

The process of buying a home can be an emotional, time-consuming, and complex process. There are a few things that you can do to help make the process go as smooth as possible:

1. Check your credit.
Before you apply for a home loan, regardless of your credit, it's a smart idea to obtain a copy of your credit report from the three major credit bureaus and review the information. If there are errors or things that need to be addressed, it's easier to address them before you have found a house, than after you have found a house and are trying to close your loan.

2. Get approved before you buy.
An approval means that a lender has reviewed your credit history, verified your assets and employment, and has approved your loan before you have found a home to purchase. As long as the home appraises for at least the purchase price, the loan should close. You would also have an advantage over buyers that may not have spoken with a lender first.

3. Find a great buyer's agent.
Traditionally real estate agents represent the sellers in a transaction. When you are not working with a buyer's agent, they are less likely to negotiate the best price or contingencies for you.

A buyer's agent's job and fiduciary responsibility (meaning legal duty) is to you, the buyer. Before working with an agent, establish if they are a buyer's agent or a seller's agent. After spending a lot of time with a Realtor, it's natural to feel like you're a team. But if they are not negotiating for you, then they are not on your team.

4. Protect Yourself.
Ask your Realtor for a copy of the documents you will be asked to sign if you decide to buy the house. Read them ahead of time so that you'll understand the questions that you will be asked, the things you need to know, and the decisions you will need to make.
5. Have reasonable expectations.
There is a lot of money at stake. No house is perfect. Understanding and remembering these two statements will help diffuse the negotiation stage, the inspection stage and the closing stage. Emotions are high for both buyers and sellers.
I was once a first time home buyer 7 years ago and I can truly say it's been a pleasure. Why rent an apartment, I was NEVER going to own it....

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Yolanda Hayes, Sold By Yolanda

I LOVE Home Buyers!

Today I woke up to a blog in my inbox from a mortgage loan officer. I was quite surprised that it was titled "I Will Never Be A Realtor" so of course I had to read it. In a nutshell, the lender mentions how hard real estate agents work for their clients when at the end of the day it's a chance that buyers 1) play games  2) very indecisive about what they want  3) can't get qualified  4) realtors have to work weekends etc.
As a loan officer, he goes on to say, the clients looking for financing to purchase a home is with a YES or NO deal. Nothing in between. There is no driving the client around, there is no "naaaa, I don't think I like this", no working long hours on the weekend etc.

Well, I had to blog this morning to tell all my past, current and future buyers that I absolutely LOVE what I do! Yes, I work long hours. Yes, I have buyers that change their minds every minute. Yes, I have tons of potential buyers with contact with bad credit but you know what....POSSIBILITIES ARE ENDLESS! Buying a home is not like buying a pair of shoes and I don't mind putting in a little extra work to get the job done. I love a challenge and I love being the one to hand a first time buyer the keys to their new home. 

So, if you are a buyer in need of a real estate agent or the advice of a licensed professional. Feel free to give me a call any time or sign up on my website http://www.soldbyyolanda.com/ 

The Madison Uptown Charlotte Luxury Condos

Move In Now!!  The Madison Luxury Uptown Condos

Located in the 2nd Ward, 26 amazing units of luxury condos rest on the streets of beautiful Uptown Charlotte. Starting at $399,000 1775-3586 square feet, The Madison has 12 marvelous floors with all time exclusive owner  amenities.

Enjoy 24- hour Concierge Service, Shuttle Service within 3-mile radius, 2 dedicated parking spaces, private elevator, fitness center on 3rd floor, 25% discount at Hilton Garden Inn Restaurant with optional professional cleaning service for hire. Each unit comes with distinctive design features such as:

• Marble and Hardwood Flooring
• Fireplaces in Living/Dining areas
• Marble/Tile in bathrooms
• Granite countertops in kitchen and bathrooms
• Recessed Lighting
• Ceiling heights up to 20'
• Cherry/Maple cabinets throughout
• Kenmore side by side washer/dryer
• Private Terrace

 Optional Upgrades:

• Custom Painting
• Wooden blinds/shutter
• Glass and stone tile kitchen backsplash

If you are in the market for a luxury uptown condo, contact your preferred agent Yolanda Hayes at 704-839-6005. Take a moment to read what my past clients have said about me: http://activerain.com/y_hayes2000