Help Me Pick A Safe Area To Live In Sw Charlotte (Huntersville: real estate, how much)

[lovesMountains]

Originally Posted by BigCountry

???

Absolutely nothing in that quote is actually fact...purely fictional...

BigCountry, you apparently enjoy where you live in Steele Creek, just like so many other people living there

I know no one place is a perfect fit for every family, but can you tell us specifically what you like about your neighborhood to help the original poster get a balanced picture about whether or not it's a good place for her family?

[nkjaws]

Originally Posted by lovesMountains

Here we go again

Loves if you want to roll your eyes at me go ahead, but in all honestly picking on me doesn't solve anything. Your opinion is of no lessor or greater value then mine to the OP. I live in this neighborhood, I said which areas were better then KB, I like Berewick and all the ammenities, etc., just am not so keen on the KB side of Berewick that we chose for the reasons that I listed.

[Gosox05]

Stay away from BEWAREWICK, Please research the Fort Mill area. You will be glad you did.

[lovesMountains]

Originally Posted by nkjaws

Loves if you want to roll your eyes at me go ahead, but in all honestly picking on me doesn't solve anything. Your opinion is of no lessor or greater value then mine to the OP. I live in this neighborhood, I said which areas were better then KB, I like Berewick and all the ammenities, etc., just am not so keen on the KB side of Berewick that we chose for the reasons that I listed.

nkjaws - it is never my intention to pick on you, and I am sincerely sorry if you feel that I have. You are certainly entitled to your opinions about the area you live in. It's just that your constant bashing of the area has gotten rather old, that's all. We ALL get it - you are disappointed with the area you bought in, you feel ripped off and angry - we HEAR you. But the truth is, others on this board are living (or have lived) in Steele Creek and don't feel the same way you do. So for every negative you post someone like me is likely to post a positive - not to upset you or thwart your efforts, but just to give newcomers a more balanced view of the area.

[New2Charlotte]

Originally Posted by Gosox05

Stay away from BEWAREWICK, Please research the Fort Mill area. You will be glad you did.

What do you mean by this? Personally I am concerned with the lack of progress as far as the amenities that were part of the master plan. Actually it's more like the complete lack of progress. Hopefully it's just slow going and not something more serious (like they don't intend to build everything out). I do know they have made changes to the master plan but I haven't heard any new details in a very long time.

[nkjaws]

Originally Posted by lovesMountains

nkjaws - it is never my intention to pick on you, and I am sincerely sorry if you feel that I have. You are certainly entitled to your opinions about the area you live in. It's just that your constant bashing of the area has gotten rather old, that's all. We ALL get it - you are disappointed with the area you bought in, you feel ripped off and angry - we HEAR you. But the truth is, others on this board are living (or have lived) in Steele Creek and don't feel the same way you do. So for every negative you post someone like me is likely to post a positive - not to upset you or thwart your efforts, but just to give newcomers a more balanced view of the area.

I am not angry about where we live. It is what it is, we make the best of it, we have boxers, we have a gun, we watch out for our neighbors. It isn't constant bashing. It is my perspective, there is a big difference. One could say the same about everyone on this forum as we all say similar things here and there as we can only speak about what we know and our experiences. The difference is that the popular idea is often the least critized, while the unpopular idea is often attacked. Also there will be 1,000 homes in Berewick, which is very large and while you may have lived in Steele Creek, you do not live here now and you don't live in this neighborhood. The OP asked what neighborhoods had more crime, less crime, schools etc. I gave her my opinion about this neighborhood, nothing more, nothing less. I know from reading other threads that I am not the only one that feels this way about the KB side of Berewick or Steele Creek.

[New2Charlotte]

Originally Posted by BigCountry

???

Absolutely nothing in that quote is actually fact...purely fictional...

Sounds like you purchased after the big price drops, the current base price of my floor plan is $35k less than I paid. I would get killed if I tried to sell anytime soon. The part that ticks me off is that the mccar model I almost bought is still close to the same price (up a tad I believe). And truthfully, aside from spec homes I haven't really seen any depreciation in berewick outside of kb.

Aside from that, my only issue with kb in berewick is that 1/2 the perimeter of my house is osb board rather than plywood like every other builder in the community. Not good for insulation or sound suppression. Other than that though I don't have any serious complaints about the workmanship.

So no, I wouldn't say its fiction at all... just lucky for you that you purchased after the price drops. I'd feel worse but I am not in the worst shape because there are others that paid more than I did. Hopefully the community ends up being all that we originally thought it would be and none of this will matter.

[Berewick Resident]

Originally Posted by New2Charlotte

Sounds like you purchased after the big price drops, the current base price of my floor plan is $35k less than I paid. I would get killed if I tried to sell anytime soon. The part that ticks me off is that the mccar model I almost bought is still close to the same price (up a tad I believe). And truthfully, aside from spec homes I haven't really seen any depreciation in berewick outside of kb.

Aside from that, my only issue with kb in berewick is that 1/2 the perimeter of my house is osb board rather than plywood like every other builder in the community. Not good for insulation or sound suppression. Other than that though I don't have any serious complaints about the workmanship.

So no, I wouldn't say its fiction at all... just lucky for you that you purchased after the price drops. I'd feel worse but I am not in the worst shape because there are others that paid more than I did. Hopefully the community ends up being all that we originally thought it would be and none of this will matter.

We live in Maccar, and the base price on our house is about the same as when we bought in late 2006. I'm not terribly disappointed, mainly because most of Charlotte slowed down on housing appreciation during the same period. I think that the housing crunch may help Berewick. We will get more people that can actually afford to live here because the banks are getting more strict with the loans. Just so long as the people that bought before the crunch don't foreclose and drive prices even lower.

I think the biggest threat to long term housing prices in Berewick is the crime and the fate of the new elementary school. If they can do something about the crime and the riff raff at the basketball courts which is a terrible eye sore for any perspective buyer driving into the neighborhood and the retail comes in (especially if it is higher end retail) then I think that Berewick could rebound quite nicely. Look at Baxter 10 years ago, it was not looking so hot. There was a crime problem in the unoccupied houses, people were complaining that their yards were too small, and the there was nothing around. Then Startbucks and some of the shops moved in and boom, prices went through the roof. I don't think that the market allows that much of a boom in Berewick, but we could see significant improvement after the retail comes in. The school situation could also make or break the neighborhood. Depends if the Dixie River Rd. School turns out to be more like Lake Wylie Elementary and Winget Park or more like Steele Creek elementary. CMS publishes statistics on both on their website and the differences are staggering.

Bottom line is, when we bought here we knew it was a risk. The market has dived a bit, and we have taken the hit for some of that, but the neighborhood still could have a big upside. We need to control the crime, manage the image at the manor house, and get higher end retail and we could be sitting in a good spot in 5 years.

[joce-joce]

I have read everyone's comments and their opinions and I want to thank everyone who took the time to answer. It was helpful...except I feel everyone is going back and forth and protected their own area. I feel its important to hear what people say from their own area as well as those who dont live there but know enough info to give an opinion. I know many have friends who also live in different areas who also know whats good and bad from each.

I'm just trying to make a major decision. I'm visiting there soon and I just want to know what areas is worth visiting and which ones I shouldn't even waste my time. can anyone please let me know the names of the great preschools and elementary schools in charlotte? I think my son will have to go to a preschool first since he's only 4 and he wont turn 5 til next February.
I still need help...

[carolina_guy]

Originally Posted by joce-joce

I have read everyone's comments and their opinions and I want to thank everyone who took the time to answer. It was helpful...except I feel everyone is going back and forth and protected their own area. I feel its important to hear what people say from their own area as well as those who dont live there but know enough info to give an opinion. I know many have friends who also live in different areas who also know whats good and bad from each.

I'm just trying to make a major decision. I'm visiting there soon and I just want to know what areas is worth visiting and which ones I shouldn't even waste my time. can anyone please let me know the names of the great preschools and elementary schools in charlotte? I think my son will have to go to a preschool first since he's only 4 and he wont turn 5 til next February.
I still need help...

Well based on this post and me not missing anything, I take it you don't require to live in SW Charlotte? Does that mean you can live anywhere in the Charlotte area? If that is the case, you can do so much better than living in Steel Creek. Yes, some people are happy there and never have any problems, but there are much nicer areas with better schools, better convenience, better amenities, and more family friendly. Within Mecklenburg county, the Huntersville/Cornelius area is the nicest, most family friendly, safest, and easily accessible to downtown Charlotte while still being affordable. If you looking for quality of life and location is not an issue, skip over Steele Creek and come visit northern Mecklenburg, aka Lake Norman!