The Bernhardt Luxury Lofts ~ Filling Quickly ~ Act Now to See!

The c. 1882 Bernhardt Luxury Lofts renovation and revitalization project on Main Street in Downtown Salisbury has been a fun and exciting process to watch...from hardware store to loft apartments with retail spaces beneath...from gutting and girders to a visit from Governor Pat McCrory to promote historic rehabilitation tax credits...this has been an exciting ride!

Original oil painting by Robert Richard Toth

The c. 1882 Bernhardt Hardware Store finally closed for business after having been the City of Salisbury's downtown hardware source as far back as 1927. Realtor® Greg Rapp approached developers Chad Vriesma and Bryan Wymbs with the concept of renovating the tired building into downtown living spaces and retail. The seed was planted and Calm Holdings LLC purchased the Main Street building in 2013 via Realtor® Greg Rapp. After meeting with architects and designers, work began on the historic structure in mid-2014.


Residents and businesses are already moving in!

Sweet Meadow Cafe moved from its long-standing location on Innes Street, just around the corner from the Bernhardt Hardware building, and has seen a boon in its bistro business.  In addition to great food, a full bar, and outdoor seating, the restaurant features wall displays of art by local artists!

A new bakery, Abigail's - A Cake Affair, will open imminently, and visitors to downtown Salisbury are already thrilled with the shop's elegant and sophisticated decor, pearl-grey walls, and tin ceilings.

Her reclaimed table tops are made from old floor joists from the circa 1882 building!  

Who wouldn't want Main Street for their business address?!  One more Main Street store front is still available, and interested business owners should contact Greg Rapp (704.213.6846) to grasp this opportunity.


Upstairs, six luxury lofts are winding the bend to completion. Some have exposed brick accents, while all have gleaming wood floors, and an array of the original large arched windows overlooking downtown. 
 
The windows provide a panoramic view of cityscape skylines, the main boulevards, the Historic Trolly, and shops, galleries, and restaurants bustling with activity provides an excitement reserved for city living. Greg Rapp/Wallace Realty has secured leases on three of the six lofts ~ and interest is high with folks coming more and more frequently to see these wonderful spaces. 

Loft #6, the most unique and a favorite that is still in construction process, will be a 2 & 1/2-story über-cool apartment with its own entry from the rear parking lot (all others have a common main entry with staircase/elevator up to individual private doorways), steps up to a wonderful mezzanine level overlooking the first floor living space, and yet another set of stairs leading to the loft Master Suite that overlooks the entire space. 

This apartment will feature a seamless kitchen/dining/living area on the first floor, which will be open to the soaring height of the second story ceiling, and will include a 1st floor bedroom, office/guest room, and ground level bath. Up the staircase to the mezzanine, we picture a family den or library space! (Note: the photo here is presented as conceptual and may not be an accurate representation of the finished space.) And then...how private...the Master Suite crowning this luxury space from above. Interested? Give Greg a call ~ 704.213.6846!

Residents have already moved into the two-bedroom loft above the Sweet Meadow Cafe, and two other lofts are leased.....BUT.....it's not too late for YOU to make one of these fine downtown lofts your home!  

Remaining units are the large east-facing one-bedroom (morning sunshine in your galley kitchen and living areas ~ how nice!), the two-bedroom multistory described above, and the two-bedroom unit facing Main Street (a private Christmas parade-side seat, anyone?). 

Often, older urban structures contain brilliant architectural characteristics that are part and parcel of a bygone building standard: soaring ceilings, hardwood floors, lots of windows, and rich finish materials. With the benefits of urban life becoming clearer and clearer, it's no wonder that people are showing a strong preference for it. You can be a part of this exciting renovation in Downtown Salisbury North Carolina.  Call (704) 213-6846 today to sign your lease in the Bernhardt Luxury Lofts!

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

Spacious C. 1850 Historic Cottage for Sale in West Square Historic District - Salisbury NC

The spacious circa 1850 historic cottage at the corner of S. Church Street and W. Monroe in the prestigious West Square Historic District of Salisbury North Carolina is for sale!  Greg Rapp, Realtor® with Wallace Realty is the agent to call!  Wait 'til you hear what an investment this fine home is!

The Kluttz-Dorsett House* at 429 S. Church Street in the West Square historic district was built in 1850 on E. Innes Street in Salisbury NC near Shaver Street.  The house was moved to Church Street in 1991, where it was set on a new foundation. This home is in very good condition!

This home may look small, but this one-story, 2-bedroom home is about 1700 s.f., not including the small free standing outbuilding.

From the street, one gets the impression of a cottage in the country-side. The pale taupe paint color of the house is accented by creamy white trim and the white picket fence that encircles the corner yard filled with cedars, pines, mature hardwoods, and flowering crape myrtles in the surrounding lawn.

Once within the house, you'll be stunned by the transformation from the cottage feel to a gracious home with large rooms and open windows that allow for full view of the serene and beautiful yard. The very large rooms are aglow with beautiful hardwood floors and period woodwork. The living room boasts of stunning columned opening to the dining room and a new gas log fireplace. 

All public areas of the home are painted in subtle neutral colors, and all the rooms are airy and air-conditioned.

429 S. Church Street includes 2 good-sized bedrooms and a completely renovated full bath. There is another space in the home, at the end of the hallway behind running the span of one bedroom and currently used for storage, that could easily accommodate another full bath or Master Bathroom upfit.

The kitchen, one of the most important spaces in any home, has a splendid arrangement of white kitchen cabinets against taupe walls, an undoubtedly perfect color combination, with a beautiful vintage porcelain sink with built-in drain boards.  This part of the home is a source of pride, especially on occasions for entertaining guests.

The large eat-in kitchen's focal point is the arched doorway opening to a small adjacent breakfast nook that the current owner utilized as a home office area. And the center hallway is large enough to serve as a small library. 

A former owner added a large glass Florida room to the back of the house, with a gas-log fireplace and access to a small rear porch and sitting deck.
 
Beyond this, you'll find the super-charming small free-standing outbuilding ~ wired for electricity ~ that would be absolutely perfect for an artist studio, potting shed or small work shop.

The deep front porch is perfect for letting multicolored flowers and plants greet you as you sit in a rocking chair and enjoy the fresh morning air. 

The location is ideal: a short walk to the library, downtown shops, restaurants and theaters, many banks and churches, and nightlife. Grocery and department store shopping is a handful of minutes away by car. 

The Feds announced that mortgage interest rates likely will be rising by the end of the year.  Now is the time to buy in historic Salisbury, North Carolina.  The asking price is approximately $40,000 below tax value and nearly half of what the current owner paid for the house plus upgrades.  The house is in excellent condition, and the current owner is a former interior decorator and a meticulous housekeeper, so the home shows well.

The Kluttz-Dorsett House at 429 S. Church Street is far less expensive than smaller condos, and carries no condo or HOA fees! The 2014 property taxes were just $1,690. The washer & dryer, stove, refrigerator, and hot-water-on-demand tankless water heater convey.  The home is an unbelievable bargain with its new foundation, electrical, and plumbing.  And a paved driveway at the rear of the home provides off-street parking.

This is a rare opportunity to own a circa 1850 home in the West Square Historic District at far below tax value!  Please call Greg Rapp, Realtor® with Wallace Realty, at (704) 213-6846 to see first-hand what a sound investment this historic home at 429 S. Church Street will make!

*This historic home carries Historic Salisbury Foundation's covenants and restrictions that help to preserve the historic character of the home.  Restrictive covenants, such as architectural guidelines, ensure not only a certain level of uniformity and standard of design, but also the consistent use of property within the community. The deed restrictions for 429 S. Church Street can be found on Deed Book 667 page 805. 




429 Church Street
Salisbury NC 28144-4931
MLS#: 3073309
$85,000

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

1900s Design ~ Biltmore's Fun Campaign ~ and Homes in Salisbury NC!

Check out this fun campaign our wonderful Biltmore in Asheville NC is running!

Biltmore is hosting the premier exhibition of Dressing Downton™: Changing Fashion for Changing Times through May 25, 2015. Both Biltmore House and Highclere Castle, where the Downton Abbey® series is filmed, are striking examples of 1900s design. 


To celebrate that era, the Biltmore is giving its Pinterest followers a chance to win a shopping spree in its online store where you will find many products in the spirit of the early 1900s!

Imagine you lived in a grand home of that time period. How would you decorate? What would you wear? Use pins from the Biltmore's “1900s Style” board or find your own inspiration on Pinterest and then fill out the form below to enter.


http://www.biltmore.com/landing/2015-1900s-style-pinterest-contest


Then. . . .  picture these styles as they really were, when people of the 1900s era built and lived in these fabulous homes right here in Salisbury, North Carolina:

♦ The J.R. Crawford House - circa 1900 - a stately 1900 Victorian on N Main Street in Salisbury. On the market for just $65,000!

http://www.realestatesalisbury.net/2014/07/circa-1900-victorian-pivotal-property.html

♦ The Wright-Kesler/Cannon Mills House - likely built in 1891, but not appearing in city directories until 1907 - a magnificent 5-bedroom home on Park Avenue in Salisbury NC ~ listed right now for $114,900!

http://www.realestatesalisbury.net/2014/08/414-park-avenue-5-bed4-bath-victorian.html

♦ The H.C. Lentz House - circa 1920 - a wonderful American Bungalow in the desirable Fulton Heights neighborhood! Oh! The Roaring Twenties!! - buy it for $69,000!

http://www.realestatesalisbury.net/2014/02/circa-1915-american-bungalow-with.html

♦ Brooklyn South Square Victorian Cottage - circa 1900 - built in 1900, a is picture-perfect, vintage cottage - for sale at $95,900!

http://www.realestatesalisbury.net/2014/11/picture-perfect-turn-of-century-cottage.html

♦ Granite Quarry Craftsman Bungalow - circa 1920 - Love the blue metal roof on this cottage style bungalow in peaceful little Granite
Quarry, North Carolina - yours for $79,900!

http://www.realestatesalisbury.net/2014/10/cute-as-button-circa-1920-american.html

♦  Post-War Spencer Cottage - circa 1947 - the cutest house EVER - for just $52,000!

http://www.realestatesalisbury.net/2014/11/an-awesome-find-cute-as-button-post-war.html

Any time you'd like to know more about these wonderful 1900s homes in Rowan County, North Carolina ~ just give Realtor® Greg Rapp a call - (704) 213-6846!  Or better yet...make an appointment to see them in person!  They just don't make homes like this any longer ~ and this is the perfect opportunity to make one of these 1900s beauties your own! 

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

The Bernhardt Luxury Lofts ~ Now Leasing!

Welcome to  

The Bernhardt Luxury Lofts,

the fabulous and most exciting restoration in Downtown Salisbury, North Carolina.

The soon-to-be completely renovated circa 1882 Bernhardt Hardware Building is now home to six upscale loft apartments above street level restaurant and commercial spaces in the East Square of Historic Downtown Salisbury.

 

In mid-summer of 2013, Greg Rapp of Wallace Realty sold the expansive hardware building at 111-115 N Main Street in Downtown Salisbury NC to Calm Holdings, a new partnership formed by Chad Vriesema and Bryan Wymbs. Vriesema and Wymbs have invested over $1.2 million in restoring and revitalizing the circa 1882 former iconic hardware store to make it a mix of high-end loft apartments on the second story and retail on the ground floor.  

Because of the preservation culture the restoration project embraces, The Bernhardt Luxury Lofts project is the recipient of both a City of Salisbury  Downtown Revitalization Incentive Grant, totaling $148,155 toward renovation of the building, water and sewer infrastructure and fire-suppression utilities; and North Carolina Historic Preservation Tax Incentive Grant.

The hardware store property, which over the years combined three separate buildings into one, has been restored to three distinct buildings, incorporating the Bernhardt name in the redevelopment because of its important historic connection to the property and to downtown Salisbury, North Carolina. 

Two of the six Bernhardt Luxury Lofts have already been leased, and while construction will continue May - August 2015, two lofts are ready for immediate occupancy. An open house and reception held on March 21st attracted over 400 people by invite-only to view the finished residential spaces, and the restaurant and bakery below. One commercial space on the ground floor remains available for lease. Prospective business owners should contact Greg Rapp at 704.213.6846. 

The restoration features include: 

• Granite countertops in kitchens & baths 
• Sprinkler system fire protection 
• 12’ ceilings, original wood floors 
• Elevator access 
• Multiple large arched windows in each unit
• Beadboard ceilings 

There are (6) apartments total:

• (2) 1-becroom / 1-bath, 700-1200+ square feet 
• (2) 2-bedroom / 2-bath, 1100+ square feet 
• (1) 3-bedroom / 3 bath, 1500 square feet 
• (1) 2-story, 2-bedroom / 2-bath, multi-level with ground floor, mezzanine, & upper master loft overlooking lower levels, private entrance

And best of all, The Bernhardt Luxury Lofts come with the amenities of downtown living!

Live, Work, and Play in Downtown Salisbury:

• Live theatre venues
• Independently owned bookstores, antique shops, candy shop, bicycle repair, barber and beauty shops, guitar shops, and more.
• Many locally owned restaurants in a 2-block radius
• Live music venues and nightlife
• Art galleries
• Monthly downtown events 

Interest in this wonderful restoration and revitalization project in Downtown Salisbury is high.  Contact Greg Rapp / Wallace Realty to learn more about leasing a loft in The Bernhardt Luxury Lofts, or establishing your business in the final remaining storefront.  704.213.6846 is the number to call.

* Interior photographs used here are artist conceptual graphics and may not accurately reflect the finished spaces.  

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

America's Favorite Architectural Style: The American Craftsman Bungalow! Priced Right!

It's America's favorite architectural style: The American Craftsman Bungalow!

These are the homes that were built by true craftsmen - the homes our grandparents or great-grandparents owned. They are becoming scarce in many communities as they fall into disrepair, or are bull-dozed to make room for modern, cookie cutter homes. However, in Salisbury North Carolina, these special, well-preserved residences are dream homes to those who crave their appeal. And Greg Rapp has just the American Bungalow for you!

Built in 1915 in a quiet, highly desirable neighborhood in Salisbury NC, this authentic American Craftsman Bungalow at 221 Wiley Avenue retains many original details: the beautiful wide front door with sidelights, many original lighting fixtures, and gorgeous masonry fireplaces.

This single-story rustic home has the classic details of the bungalow style ~ 10' ceilings, a long center hallway connecting all the elements, bedrooms to the left, living, dining, and kitchen areas to the right, and 2 large front parlors with their original masonry fireplaces intact. 

9-over-1 pane windows throughout the home let in tons of light. 

The living and dining room, like so many Bungalow floor plans, are graciously sized, and feature oak hardwood floors throughout, and working transoms over doorways to let cooling summer air waft through your home. 
 
 


The dining room's original 1915 details include a built-in china hutch and classic plate molding around the circumference of the room . . . and the beautiful vintage brass light fixture that appears to be original to the home. 

A particularly nice feature of the floor plan is the breakfast room nestled between the kitchen and dining rooms!

The kitchen has tile counter tops, lots of cupboard space, and features its original vintage cast iron, porcelain coated sink. 

The home has a separate laundry room with beadboard walls off the kitchen to the back (how nice!) with a window that overlooks the backyard and lets the afternoon sun come streaming in. 

This great bungalow has a large attic accessed via a staircase ~ a space that has wonderful potential for renovating to add additional second story living space. 

Here in North Carolina, and nearly everywhere else, the covered and railed front porch is everyone's favorite gathering spot, and when Wiley Avenue is your home, it will be yours too!  

Porches and the South work so well together, don't you agree?

And speaking of porches... an additional wonderful screened back porch, a 'sleeping porch', is just the perfect spot to take in summer evenings, overlooking your deep yard with brick patio and small cottage garage. 

This wonderful rustic bungalow at 221 Wiley Avenue retains many of its original architectural details ~ the original and gracious wide front door with sidelights, wood screen door, dentil woodwork, beamed eaves, and cornice brackets set this Wiley Avenue home apart from so many others that have undergone renovation only to lose these special details. 

The price, at just $69,000 (YES! Not $165,000 . . . just $65,000!) reflects some updating this rustic bungalow needs. The home is structurally sound*, but has literally been untouched for many years. Cosmetic and aesthetic updates are all it needs to become a museum piece Craftsman Bungalow!

The Fulton Heights Neighborhood in Salisbury NC, not only a national historic district, is noted for being family friendly. You'll nearly always see walkers, joggers, bicyclists, and even a dog-walking group along the grid of sidewalks in this historic district, where the homes nearly all date from the early 1900s when the first trolley system was installed that connect Fulton Heights to downtown Salisbury and on out to the Spencer Shops. The original trolley tracks are rumored to still be in place along what are now planted medians on some of the Fulton Heights avenues. In addition to having great walkability, the neighborhood has its own park, and is close to downtown Salisbury's many unique shops, restaurants, galleries, and performing arts theaters. Salisbury is well-known for its vibrant art scene! 

The American Bungalow was the darling of middle-class families and the dominate house style from 1905 until the 1920s. It quickly faded from favor by the early 1930s and many homes fell into disrepair over the following decades. Today, the Craftsman is one of the most often restored house styles in America due to its manageable size, open design, and prime location in first-rung neighborhoods near or surrounding the city centers across America.  The same is true of our 221 Wiley Avenue bungalow home in Fulton Heights.

Are you ready to have an authentic American Bungalow of your own? Now is the chance to make 221 Wiley Avenue your home, and at such an affordable price in such a desirable neighborhood, how can you go wrong? You know this is a special opportunity ~ so give Greg Rapp/Wallace Realty a call at (704) 213-6846 today and take a look at this wonderful property. A little vision and elbow grease and 221 Wiley Avenue is ready to be your personal showcase!

Call Greg Rapp for more details! 
 704.213.6846

 *The right front corner of the front porch will require some shoring up due to tree root intrusion there. Otherwise the foundation is in good shape.


221 Wiley Avenue
Salisbury NC 28144
MLS # R56086

$65,000

 

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

Cute 2-Bedroom Home in Salisbury! Quiet Neighborhood Yet Close to Downtown! Under $75K!

This house is adorabe!!! 

Here is your chance for a cute, low maintenance home with a rocking chair front porch!

232 AMERICAN DRIVE in Salisbury, NC, a newer home, built in 1989, with 928 square feet of living space.  Inside, you'll find a pleasantly sized living room with hardwood floors, which extend to both 13' x 13' bedrooms.

The combined kitchen and dining area is a nice open area. 

The bathroom has just had a new floor installed and was freshly repainted.

The home sits on a great, nearly 1/2 acre yard, and is on a quiet street yet close to downtown Salisbury shopping, dining, restaurants, and nightlife.

232 AMERICAN DRIVE had a new 25 year roof installed in 2012. It has gas heat and central air conditioning. The home is connected to City of Salisbury water and sewer, yet 2014 taxes were only $759.00!

If you're wondering if you're ready to make that home purchase, consider this: 

For the first time in weeks, average fixed mortgage rates moved lower, according to Freddie Mac's weekly mortgage market survey. Rates remain near May 2013 lows!
 
Freddie Mac reports the following national averages with mortgage rates for the week ending Feb. 26:

• 30-year fixed-rate mortgages: averaged 3.75 percent with an average 0.6 point, down from last week when it averaged 3.80 percent. A year ago, the 30-year FRM averaged 4.28 percent. 
• 15-year fixed-rate mortgages: averaged 3.03 percent with an average 0.6 point, down from last week when it averaged 3.07 percent. A year ago, the 15-year FRM averaged 3.32 percent. 
• 5-year Treasury-indexed hybrid adjustable-rate mortgages: averaged 2.96 percent this week with an average 0.5 point, down from last week when it averaged 2.99 percent. A year ago, the 5-year ARM averaged 3.03 percent. 
• 1-year Treasury-indexed adjustable-rate mortgages: averaged 2.44 percent this week with an average 0.4 point, unchanged from last week. A year ago, the 1-year ARM averaged 2.52 percent. (from RealtorMag.Realtor.org)

So now might just be the time...and at just $72,500 ~ this house is just the right low-maintenance home for the right person! Give a Greg Rapp a call ~ 704.213.6846 ~ if you'd like to see for yourself!

232 AMERICAN DRIVE
Salisbury, NC 28147
MLS #: R57380
$72,500

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