August 27, 2014

Success in the Historic District! Why Buy Historic?

REALTOR® Greg Rapp just closed the sale on this elegant two-story home on a beautifully landscaped corner lot in the West Square Historic District in Salisbury, North Carolina

The City of Salisbury is the county seat of Rowan County, North Carolina. The population was 33,663 in the 2010 Census (growing 27.8% from the previous Census in 2000). Salisbury is the home to famed North Carolina soft drink, Cheerwine, regional supermarket Food Lion, and the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association. It is one of only two cities in North Carolina to have gigabit Internet capacity through its municipally-owned broadband system Fibrant.

Salisbury has developed a strong record of historic preservation stretching over several decades. It is the site of a noted prisoner of war camp during the American Civil War and has ten National Register historic districts. The city has many historic homes and commercial buildings dating from the 19th century and early 20th century, several of which are individually listed on the National Register of Historic Places

Success in West Square!

This beautiful all-brick home at 227 West Monroe Street in the West Square Historic District features a gracious living room and formal dining room, and new kitchen open to the den that has been beautifully renovated with gorgeous granite counters, high-end appliances, and superb pantry and cabinetry.  

Although situated in the historic district, 227 W. Monroe Street was built as recently as 1998 and on a challenging lot with a rolling terrain and steep slopes.  The owners made the most of this challenge with fabulous landscaping and intelligent structuring, connecting the double-car garage to the home with a portico, creating a pleasant outdoor seating area and a lovely walled patio off the the side. Talk about curb appeal!  Thanks to Greg Rapp, this lovely home has been sold!  But there are more opportunities to live in the historic districts in Salisbury.  Call Greg at 704.213.6846 to see what's here!


Why Live in an Historic District?

Salisbury proudly boasts 10 historic districts listed on the National Register of Historic Places.  

The quality and character in a historic home cannot be replaced by the newer homes today.  There is no question that these beautiful 19th and early 20th century homes were built to last!

Each historic district has its own character and 'claim to fame'.

The West Square was the first designated historic district in Salisbury and features grand-scale homes, often highlighted during the Historic Salisbury Foundation's annual October Tour of Historic Homes.  The North Main Historic District is the last remaining residential corridor into the City of Salisbury and features the most complete collection of architectural home styles of the turn of the 20th century.  Fulton Heights Historic District is known for its grid design of avenues, some with planted medians, sidewalks, and a small neighborhood park, creating one of the more family-oriented neighborhoods.  The Brooklyn-South Square district was once the site of the infamous Civil War prison that was burned to the ground when General Stoneman's troops took Salisbury at the end of the war. Both the Park Avenue/Long Street District and the Kesler Mill District are standing testimony to the textile mill era, with both grand homes, and charming mill houses dotting the shady streets.  

Often, tax credits and grant programs exist to assist owners of homes in the historic district with exterior maintenance.  And finally...each historic district in Salisbury is basically a downtown residential neighborhood, boasting mature shade trees, sidewalks, and proximity to downtown restaurants, shops, and entertainment.


Buy or List Your Historic Home

Now . . . with interest rates still fairly low, and the housing market back on the rise . . . is the time to:

(1)  List your historic home with Greg Rapp, specialist in moving historic properties in Salisbury and Rowan County, or;

(2)  Purchase . . . with the help of Greg Rapp. . .that historic home you've always dreamed of, with high ceilings, wood floors, fireplaces, all the amenities of the historic districts listed above, and CHARACTER in your home! 

Call (704) 213-6846 and let Greg show you the benefits of living in one of Salisbury's 10 Historic Districts.  There is something for everyone in Salisbury!



 

Greg Rapp 
Wallace Realty Co. 
704 213 6846 Mobile 
704 636 2021 Office 
www.realestatesalisbury.net 





August 10, 2014

You Want Visibility & High Traffic for Your Business?....Buy the Okey-Dokey General Store in Salisbury NC!

Location, Location, Location!!
 
REALTOR® Greg Rapp has the ideal location ~ with LOADS of visibility, high traffic, great parking, space galore...and all in a wonderful historic building ~ for your business venture!  It's time to check out the Okey-Dokey General Store space in Salisbury NC ~ right on the main drag (E. Innes Street) from the Interstate 85 into Downtown Salisbury!

Choosing a business location is perhaps the most important decision a small business owner or startup will make, so it requires precise planning and research. It involves looking at demographics, assessing your supply chain, scoping the competition, staying on budget, understanding state laws and taxes, and much more.

Most businesses choose a location that provides exposure to customers. Additionally, there are less obvious factors and needs to consider, for example: 
  • Brand Image – Is the location consistent with the image you want to maintain? 
  • Competition – Are the businesses around you complementary or competing? 
  • Local Labor Market – Does the area have potential employees? What will their commute be like? 
  • Plan for Future Growth – If you anticipate further growth, look for a building that has extra space should you need it. 
  • Proximity to Suppliers – They need to be able to find you easily as well. 
  • Safety – Consider the crime rate. Will employees feel safe alone in the building or walking to their vehicles? 
  • Zoning Regulations – These determine whether you can conduct your type of business in certain properties or locations. You can find out how property is zoned by contacting your local planning agency.
     
The Okey-Dokey General Store, 126 East Innes Street in Downtown Salisbury, North
Carolina ~ has all of the above.  Even zoning regulations are easy in Salisbury with the City of Salisbury's new One-Stop-Shop for info and permits!  This incredible ~ over 12,000 square feet, 8300+ above grade, 3-story building in Downtown Salisbury sees an over 22,000 car count per day. There perhaps is not a more excellent retail location in Salisbury, and there is the potential to upfit the second story to accommodate residential units. MLS# C56243 

 
The Okey-Dokey is a circa 1900 storefront in Salisbury, a city that treasures its historic culture and buildings.  The City of Salisbury offers incentive grants annually for facade improvements to any buildings that are located in the Municipal Service District.   The improvement grant programs offer financial incentives through matching grants for business and property owners to upgrade building facades, parking lots, signage and landscaping. Applications will be accepted throughout the year as long as funds remain, and all projects must be completed by May 30, 2015. 

The 24-block Municipal Service District runs from Jackson Street to Long Street and from Horah Street to Cemetery Street in Salisbury NC. This district was established in the early 1980s to provide a mechanism for generating tax revenues for downtown area improvements.  The city started the Innes Street Improvement Grants Program in 1996 as a result of the recommendations of a study by the Urban Design Assistance Team, which recognized the Innes Street corridor as essential to the future of Salisbury. Improvement of the corridor also is part of the Salisbury Vision 2020 Comprehensive Plan. Together, the two programs have generated more than $12 million in private improvements from $850,000 in public dollars invested since 1981.  You...as new owner of the Okey-Dokey General Store...are eligible for this grant program!



Location, Location , Location!! 

You might have heard people say that location is the most important thing for a business. Then, the next most important is ... location!  Look no further!


For many businesses, getting the right location can make the difference between success and failure.  If you're looking for a prime location...and love both visibility and a historic building...CALL NOW! CLICK HERE to call Greg Rapp: 704.213.6846

126 East Innes Street in Salisbury, North Carolina can be yours.  It's just a phone call away!






Greg Rapp 
Wallace Realty Co. 
704 213 6846 Mobile 
704 636 2021 Office 
www.realestatesalisbury.net 





August 09, 2014

Salisbury Real Estate . . . now on Circa Old Houses!

Greg Rapp, REALTOR® with Wallace Realty, can now be found on CIRCA Houses, a site specially crafted for all of those wonderful people out there, like Greg Rapp, who couldn’t imagine buying anything except an old house. 

Do you walk around wishing you could fix up every fixer-upper, restore every bygone-looking home, and salvage every old door and mantel thrown out onto the street? Trust us, we feel your pain! The world is stuck in a cookie-cutter crisis, but nothing is more exciting than discovering the charm of something with history and mystery. Which is why Greg Rapp has focused his real estate energies on marketing that special older home...and why the folks at CIRCA created a curated, online historic house marketplace that showcases the most beautiful old homes for sale all across the country. 


Let Greg Rapp & CIRCAOldHouses.com help you find your dream home.  Click HERE to Call: 704.213.6846 - to buy that older home you've always wanted...or to sell that older home.  Together...we can make it happen!



Greg Rapp 
Wallace Realty Co. 
704 213 6846 Mobile 
704 636 2021 Office 
www.realestatesalisbury.net 





 



August 06, 2014

August 02, 2014

414 Park Avenue ~ 5 Bed/4 Bath Victorian ~ Restoration Nearly Finished!


Update 3/23/2015:  The listed price on this 414 Park Avenue home is now $110,000 ~ down from $129,900.


At the gateway to the Historic Park Avenue/Long Street Historic District, 414 Park Avenue, the oldest house in the District with nearly 4,000 square feet of living space, is everything the restoration craftsman wants in a historic Victorian. 

Like many Victorian homes of its day, 414 Park Avenue's exterior is graced with a wonderful wrap-around front porch and (2) sitting balconies. The circa 1891 Victorian home features enormous rooms, hardwood floors, ample center hallways, and nine . . .yes (9) . . . fireplaces! Let Realtor® Greg Rapp (704-213-6846) show you this opportunity to make this gracious home your own.

This beautiful 5 bedroom, 4 bath Victorian is one of Salisbury's 10 Historic Districts. The North Long Street~Park Avenue Historic District was posted to the National Register of Historic Places in June of 1985.  The neighborhood features architecture from the late 19th and 20th century: Colonial Revival; American Bungalow/Craftsman; Victorian and Gothic.   


The architecturally significant periods are: 1900-1924; 1875-1899; 1925-1949.  There are over 46 properties considered "Contributing Properties". This house at 414 Park Avenue, already a jewel in the neighborhood's crown, will be a masterpiece when its restoration and rehabilitation are complete.

The asymmetrically-designed house is sheltered by a shingled roof enlivened by a projecting pediment gable, a hip extension, and hip-roofed dormers.The terraced and nicely landscaped front lawn and wide central walk is enclosed with charming picket fencing, and the concrete staircase from the city sidewalk to the veranda welcomes guests with an entry pergola at the gate ~ creating a sense of arrival. The over 500 square-foot wrap-around porch is straightforward in design without the more elaborate trimmings of the Victorian era and is a gracious entertaining or just-plain-relaxing area. Windows in plain surrounds and a second floor balcony all complete the façade. 


The home, with a good portion of its restoration process already been completed, retains much of its original charm.   Built as an elegant single-family residence, 414 Park Avenue has (5) bedrooms, (4) baths (presently 2 baths are operational, 2 are gutted for restoration). 

The home features 2 master suites, a huge wrap around porch & 2 balconies. You will be enchanted by the spacious rooms & versatile floor plan featuring hardwood floors through most of home. The first floor ceiling height reaches 11 ft. in most rooms. 

The center hall plan is finished with symmetrically molded surrounds, a turned baluster staircase, and original fireplace with its clean-lined mantel. Numerous original features still remain and include fireplaces and mantels in many of the rooms.  The library has a custom built computer station & a wall of shelves.

The renovated kitchen is delightfully large and sunny, and features granite counter tops and wonderful lighting. It opens with French doors to the renovated dining room with its built-in china cabinet. The kitchen additionally features a walk-in pantry and rear mudroom that opens to a walled patio space, that was once an enclosed room, and leads to the large back lawn with a detached one-car garage and alley off-street parking.

 

414 Park Avenue is just blocks from Salisbury's thriving Arts District, where the newly constructed Lee Street Theatre hosts play, music performances, comedy shows, and more.  The Rail Walk Studios & Gallery just around the corner hosts original works of 7 or more local artists.

This is a work in progress! This c. 1891 property shows signs of its history and the seller has priced it in relation to the average value of similar houses in the area with consideration for the work that needs to be finalized. The listing price of $129,900 reflects the remaining needed restoration vs. the grand scale of this 4000 square-foot home. The shingled roof is approximately 10-15 years old, and in good shape, and the present owner replaced a flat roof over the rear bedroom in 2013. The present owner installed a new HVAC system on the ground level but heat and air remain to be installed in the upper level.  There is no HVAC on the second story. FHA financing may be available with a 203K loan for this beautiful home. 

Need to know more?  Call Greg Rapp at (704) 213-6846. This spacious vintage treasure of a home can be yours!


414 PARK AVENUE 
Salisbury, NC 28144 
MLS #: R56745 
$129,900


Greg Rapp 
Wallace Realty Co. 
704 213 6846 Mobile 
704 636 2021 Office 
www.realestatesalisbury.net