A front elevation rendering of the proposed Foxcroft City Home structure.

A contentious rezoning dispute between Alan Simonini Homes and Foxcroft residents will be back before Charlotte City Council as early as next month for a vote after being brought before the City Council for the second time at its February rezoning meeting.

Simonini and Saratoga Asset Management are seeking to rezone more than 6 acres on Sharon Lane from zoning that allows 3 single-family homes per acre to a zoning that allows for more dense development with attached residential units.

According to the original petition that went before City Council in October, Simonini planned to develop 31 attached townhome units on the plot of land between Providence Road and Heathmoor Lane.

Simonini has since scaled back the plan for Foxcroft City Homes, as the project is to be called, to 24 attached townhomes targeted toward empty nesters. The acreage would have 12, 2-residence buildings.

Area residents have voice opposition and more than 1,200 signed a petition opposing the rezoning that allows for multi-family structures in a neighborhood of single-family homes, according to a Charlotte Business Journal report.

Plans for the residences start at 3,400 square feet and $1 million, which area residents question as targeting empty nesters, who typically choose to downsize.

Other issues complicating the rezoning request are stormwater runoff from development, which Simonini and Saratoga Asset Management said would be miitigated by plans for a stormwater management system to be implemented.

Current zoning would allow for 18 single-family homes. Simonini is seeking to build only 3 more structures and a total of 6 more residences.

Several residents, including owners who had sold their homes for this development, supported the plan saying as an advantageous change in the neighborhood and a nice transition between the current single-family landscape and the mixed-use activity at nearby Sharon Amity and Providence roads.

The City Council will likely vote on the petition in March.

A rendering of the proposed townhomes as submitted to the city by Pulte Homes.

A plot of land along Starmount Cove Lane just east of South Boulevard will become 95 new townhomes if Pulte Homes’ rezoning request meets city approval, according to a recent Observer report.

The currently vacant wooded lot is located near the Arrowood Station light stop on the Blue Line light rail. The attached condominiums would sit between South Boulevard and the adjacent Starmount neighborhood.

Current zoning for the property allows for 8 residential units per acre. At nearly 9 acres, Pulte’s plan calls for an increase in population density for the plot.

According to the site plan filed with the city, Pulte would build 2-story attached townhomes with front-load garages. The community, which has yet to be named, would be accessible from a network of private roads.

Pulte Homes built the gated Park South Station, a community of single-family homes and townhomes, located off Archdale Drive.

Charlotte City Council will decide on Pulte’s request in the coming months.

The latest land acquisition by a real estate developer affiliated with Lennar will add even more rental properties to the Queen City horizon.

The property purchased by Lennar in Uptown Charlotte.

LMC Block 42 Holdings LLC purchased 7 parcels of land close to Uptown for $23 million, according to a recent Charlotte Business Journal report.

The property, which is bordered roughly by the Lynx Blue Line, East Eight and East Ninth and North College streets, will be the site of a multi-phase, mixed-use development with plans for mid- and high-rise apartment buildings with ground-floor retail opportunities. The mid-rise property will likely be 5 floors of apartments with ground-level retail, while the high-rise plans include 30 floors of living above ground-level retail.

A later phase in the project could include more multi-family rental units or commercial real estate for office space or a hotel at the intersection of Eighth and College.

The site’s proximity to the Lynx Blue Line extension and First Ward Park were key reasons for Lennar’s interest in the property, according to the report.

Charlotte Regional Realtor Association

December sales were up 4.5 percent from year-ago figures, while 2016 had an increase of 8.4 percent for closed sales overall, according to the most recent report from the Charlotte Regional Realtor Association.

The Charlotte region saw its fifth consecutive year of increased median and average sales prices. Median sales rose 10 percent to $209,000, and averages sales prices rose 8.2 percent to $258,108 over year-ago figures.

For 2016, average sales prices in the CarolinaMLS region rose to $257,701, a jump of 6.5 percent over 2015’s average sales price.

Low inventory continues in the Charlotte region, however, dropping more than 25 percent from last year. Overall, Charlotte inventory was at a low 2.3 months supply of homes on the market, making for a very strong seller’s market.

“As we move forward into 2017 buyers may face limited choices, faster days on market and rising mortgage rates. However, positive job growth over the last year and a healthy local economy continue to boost consumer spending and housing demand, which should help sales remain steady throughout 2017,” 2017 Carolina MLS President Roger Parham said in a prepared statement.

In Mecklenburg County, median and average sales prices rose 12.3 percent to $219,000 and 8.8 percent to $277,267.

As inventory continued to drop, days on the market and list to close time also dropped. Mecklenburg County inventory fell more than 29 percent to 2,477 homes for sale in December 2016, down from 3,507 homes on the market in December 2015. Months of inventory saw a nearly 35 percent drop to 1.5 months supply, down from 2.3 months.

In the City of Charlotte, the median and average sales prices rose 9.3 percent ($199,000) and 7.3 percent ($262,192), respectively.

Market inventory for the city fell to 1,763 homes on the market, a drop of 35 percent. Months of inventory was just 1.3 months, down nearly 41 percent from December 2015.

Uptown Charlotte median and average sales prices also rose from the year-ago period. Median sales closed 2016 at $350,000, an increase of nearly 23 percent. Average sales rose 5.5 percent to $340,365.

Inventory fell to only 75 properties listed for sale in December 2016, a drop of more than 30 percent. The Uptown area had 2.5 months of inventory in December, down nearly 36 percent from December 2015.

Across the CarolinaMLS region, home sales jumped 3.4% from year-ago figures to 3,418 properties sold. However, overall sales were down 11% compared with September 2016 figures, according to the most recent report from the Charlotte Regional Realtors Association.

Average sales prices jumped 7.6% to $256,736, and median prices were up more than 12% to $209,690.

The inventory level for the CarolinaMLS region has dropped 23.1% to 2.8 months, which amounts to 10,570 homes on the market. October’s inventory represents a drop of more than a month’s inventory from 13,742 homes on the market a year ago in October.

Charlotte Regional Realtor® Association

October’s inventory level represents a strong sellers market. Six months of inventory is considered a balanced market, while inventory below that level favors sellers.

“The region continues to struggle with persistently low housing supply, which is having a direct effect on prices,” said the association President Maren Brisson-Kuester. “Unfortunately, until we’re able to see a substantial rise in inventory levels, buyers may be challenged with limited options as we close out the year and move into 2017.”

New residential listings increased to 2.7% to 4,150 compared to year-ago numbers.

In Mecklenurg County, the average sales price jumped nearly 5% to $273,345 from $260,739. The period from listing to sale close dropped 9.1% to 91 days from 100 days in October 2015.

Housing inventory for the county dropped nearly 25% to 3,315 homes on the market or just 2 months of inventory. In the same year-ago period there were 4,415 homes and a 2.9 months supply.

For the city of Charlotte, the average sales price of a home rose 4.4% to $266,358, while inventory dropped below 2 months to 1.8 months or just 2,369 homes on the market in October. That amounts to a drop of more than 35% in months of inventory.

The gorgeous kitchen inside this David Weekley-built Avignon home on this year’s Parade of Homes tour.

Get ready to window shop your way through some of the Greater Charlotte area’s newest and nicest homes this weekend!

The annual Parade of Homes begins Oct. 7 and lasts 2 more weekends through Oct. 23.

Whether you are in the market for a new home, a building site or just design ideas for a renovation, Parade of Homes is free and it’s fun.

This year’s parade includes more than 75 homes, including model homes, homes for sale and communities with available building sites.

The Parade of Homes web site offers a tool that allows you to choose the homes you want to see and then map your tour route. The parade can take you all the way from Lake Wylie to Lake Norman!

Twenty builders are represented on this year’s tour, including Alan Simonini Homes, Bonterra Builders, David Weekley, Saussy Burbank and Toll Brothers.

Parade home prices range from $200,000 to more than $1 million.

Some of the in-town and SouthPark neighborhoods on the tour include: Central Living at Iverson, Cherry, Eastover City Homes, Churchill Commons, Channing Hall and Avignon.

For a complete map of homes and list of homes on the tour, see the Parade of Homes Charlotte site. The tour is hosted by the Home Builders Association of Greater Charlotte.

Tour dates are as follows: Oct. 7-9, 14-16 and 21-23. Hours are 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays and 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Sundays.

An artist rendering of Central Living at Ideal Way from David Weekley Homes’ web site.

David Weekley homes has begun construction on the first phase of its new townhouse community in South End off Ideal Way near Mac’s Speed Shop.

The community, to be called Central Living at Ideal Way, is a 21-residence for-purchase project for Weekley.

That area of South End is historically mostly rental properties. The ever-increasing prices of land near Uptown is driving demand from potential buyers with the insurgence of businesses along the expanded Lynx Blue Line.

Weekley is offering three floor plans for the three-story townhouses. Floor plans range from two- to three-bedroom homes with 1,460 square feet to 1,740 square feet of living space.

Prices for Central Living at Ideal Way start in the high $380,000s and range to nearly $426,000.

The first phase of construction will complete one-third of the project.

Apartment construction in the area still outpaces for-purchase living, however, developers are responding to demand from people who want to own properties without giving up in-town locations.

Two other area townhome projects in the works are 53-unit South Point at South End and Helix with its 29 residential units.

Established in the 1950s, the Stonehaven neighborhood of Charlotte has become a popular community for its central location and proximity to Uptown, SouthPark and Cotswold areas of Charlotte.

The Stonehaven area is located between Monroe and Sardis roads just west of Independence Boulevard (Highway 74). It’s bordered to the north by Rama Road. The southern border is roughly Charlotte Christian and the McAlpine Creek.

There is no shortage of everyday amenities nearby, such as Rama and Sardis Swim & Racquet clubs as well as James Boyce, McAlpine Creek and Mason Wallace parks. The South Charlotte area is also home to several of the the city’s best golf courses and YMCAs.

SouthPark is about 5 miles away, and a commute Uptown via Monroe Road is only 9 miles. Traveling south to Ballantyne or the Arboretum is only a 15-20-minute drive. For everyday shopping, Cotswold is less than 5 minutes from Stonehaven.

A 1966 brick home in Stonehaven

Though begun in the 1950s, Stonehaven has homes dating through the 1960s and 1970s as well as newer construction post-2000. Many of the older homes have undergone extensive renovations and remodels. Stonehaven has mature trees and well-manicured lots.

The neighborhood consists of classic brick ranches, split-levels, contemporaries as well as traditional 2-story homes. Home sizes vary from less than 2,000 square feet to more than 4,000 square feet on a varying size of lots, most of which are more than one-third of an acre.

Stonehaven is an active community with many neighborhood events, though no formal homeowners association. The Stonehaven Community Association is strictly voluntary and used to support the many community events.

Homes in Stonehaven sell very well, with an average of 7 homes selling per month during the last 12 months for a total of 84 homes sold.

The average sales price for those homes was $286,381 and $126 per square foot. Sales averaged approximately 98% of list price, with many sales closing well above list price.

There are currently 25 Stonehaven properties listed for sale. Fourteen of the homes are under contract as of June 22. List prices range from $180,000 to $498,000.

Stonehaven children currently attend CMS’s Rama Road Elementary School, McClintock Middle School and East Mecklenburg High School.

In addition to the schools zoned for the neighborhood, there are a variety of public and private schools nearby, such as Charlotte Secondary School, a public charter school; Charlotte Christian School; Charlotte Jewish Day School; Charlotte Preparatory School; Providence Day School; and The Fletcher School.

Across the entire Carolina MLS region, home sales rose 5% to 4,026 properties sold compared to year-ago May figures and rose 11.4% from April 2016.

For Uptown, the average sales price rose 16% to $292,620. Inventory from year-ago levels took a major hit and dropped nearly 27% to just 2.7 months of inventory.

Average sales prices across the entire CMLS region saw a slight increase of 3.2% to $257,866.

Already-low inventory in the CMLS region was down from year-ago levels to 10,880, a 25% decrease. This brings inventory levels to 3 months for the entire CMLS region. In May 2015, inventory levels were at about 4.4 months, slightly closer to a balanced market.

The change from April 2016 inventory levels was a 3.5% increase, which is a good sign, however, inventory levels are still incredibly low across the region.

Six months of inventory represents a balanced market, where neither the buy or seller is at an advantage. Such low inventory levels puts the ball fully in the seller’s court, so to speak.

As such, the average list price is up from year-ago levels to $321,223, an increase of 10.7%.

Mecklenburg Co. inventory is at just 2.1 months, a drop of more than 34% from May 2015 with only 3,308 properties on the market in May. City of Charlotte inventory dropped by a third to 2,403 properties listed, which puts inventory levels at just less than 2 months.

Not surprising, days on market and days from listing to close both dropped from May 2015, as inventory continues to decline and demand increases.

“The CarolinaMLS region continues to post steady sales, despite challenges buyers face with limited inventory, price increases and shortened days on market. We are reassured by the small but steady increase in new listings over the past four months, which should help to improve the inventory picture as we head into summer,” CarolinaMLS President Maren Brisson-Kuester said.

Another hidden gem of an established neighborhood is SouthPark’s Woodbridge tucked away between Carmel and Providence roads adjacent to Charlotte Country Day.

The neighborhood, built in the 1970s, is in an ideal location that is convenient to most areas of town and is full of mature trees lining its quiet roads.

From Woodbridge, Providence Road leads into Uptown in about 20 minutes. To the south, Providence Road brings you right to Highway 51 and the Arboretum for shopping and dining or further south toward Ballantyne.

This 1.5-story renovated 1973 home in Woodbridge sold for $450,000 last year.

Some of the best shopping and dining in the city is less than 3 miles away in and around the SouthPark Mall and Phillips Place. Strawberry Hill is nearby for shopping at Fresh Market or grabbing a bite to eat at Aqua e Vino.

For recreation, there are numerous parks within 10 minutes of Woodbridge, such as Marion Diehl Park, James Boyce Park and Carmel Road Neighborhood Park. The nearby Levine Jewish Community Center also offers lots of nondenominational activities.

In addition, golf lovers will appreciate several championship courses within 15 minutes of home! For tennis players, Old Providence Racquet Club is less than 5 minutes away.

Woodbridge’s homes have such character and each is uniquely individual. Many of the homes have been completely renovated, though there are still diamonds in the rough and homes that need a little bit of TLC.

Homes in Woodbridge range from the $200,000s to the $500,000s. Square footage is typically from 2,000 square feet to mid-3,000s. There are more traditional homes as well as some with contemporary flair and even gambrel roofs.

There are currently 6 homes on the market in Woodbridge and 3 under contract as of April 6.

A total of 18 homes sold during the last 12 months for an average of 1.5 homes sold per month. That puts current inventory at about 4 months, which is equal to current Charlotte and Mecklenburg County inventory levels.

The average sale price for a Woodbridge home is $381,017 and about $160 per square foot.

Homes sales averaged 99% of list price, with many selling at or above list price.

The neighborhood is zoned for Sharon Elementary School, Carmel Middle School and Myers Park High School. In addition, Charlotte Christian and Charlotte Country Day.

Woodbridge is a wonderful place to consider if you like the feel of a mature neighborhood with well-maintained homes and proximity to the city’s best amenities.