At Home With Jonathan Osman

This week, Jonathan is joined by Ely Portillo from the UNC Charlotte Urban Institute and volunteer Mecklenburg County Parks Commissioner Rick Winiker to talk about Charlotte's new Shared Streets program, which debuts this week.  Also, hear how the the stay at home orders impacted real estate sales in the Charlotte region.

Show Notes:

Charlotte Shared Streets program: https://charlottenc.gov/Transportation/Programs/Pages/CharlotteSharedStreets.aspx

Barcelona's Super Blocks program: https://vimeo.com/282972390

This week, Jonathan Osman is joined by Preston Sandlin of Home Inspection Carolina to go through how the home inspection process has changed as a result of social distancing. Also, a quick update on how the stay at home order has impacted real estate viewings in the Charlotte area.

The Charlotte housing market has slowed considerably due to the stay at home order and local restrictions but it is by no means dead. This week, Jonathan interviews Christopher Day with RMS Mortgage and Jaime Kosofsky with Brady and Kosofsky to learn how they have adapted their business to the new social distancing guidelines.  

Want to see the house the lady is singing about at the 4:55 mark: 13620 Castleford Drive Mint Hill.

Binge The Mecklenburgers with me here on Youtube

Rodric Lenhart with Everlong joined Jonathan to discuss investing in short term furnished rental properties versus traditional rental properties. He shares tips on how to make your property stand out from the competition and how important vacancy rate is. Plus, we discuss how the real estate industry feels like a MLM at the moment.  But first, a quick recap of the latest sales figures for the Charlotte region for March 2020.

This week, Mortgage Lenders tighten their standards for new loans, the concern servicers have over mortgage assistance, iBuyers cancel contracts and what to binge watch during social distancing.  Yes - we talk 90 Day Fiance and Tiger King!

Starting this morning, a Stay at Home order is in effect for residents and businesses in Mecklenburg County.  What does that mean for real estate? How can real estate agents adapt to work remotely to facilitate transactions?  

Danielle Chemtob from the Charlotte Observer and Ely Portillo from the UNC Charlotte Urban Institute joined Jonathan to discuss Opportunity Zones and how they are impacting the neighborhoods around Uptown Charlotte that are being redeveloped.

In this episode, I share resources for anyone that may be in need of food and housing assistance during the Covid-19 Pandemic.  

** Notes**

• Spectrum is offering 60 days of free internet for households with students that are home from school in the Carolinas.  844-488-8395
• Second Harvest Food Bank and Loves and Fishes offer food for those in need.  Also, children on the free and reduced school lunch program can obtain free sandwiches from the Loyalist Market in Matthews.  
• If your child is on the free and reduced lunch program, contact your school to coordinate delivery or pickup of meals.
• Crisis Assistance Ministry can offer emergency rent payment assistance. If you fall behind on your mortgage, the NCHFA can offer foreclosure assistance.
• Brian Moynihan, Bank of America, on Face the Nation stated that they will work with customers that are in danger of falling behind on their payments.  Reach out to your lenders if you are in danger of falling behind.

Preston Sandlin from Home Inspection Carolina joins Jonathan Osman to talk about the common issues uncovered during the home inspection process, what things to worry about and what things get overblown.  We talk everything from post-war houses to new construction.  

The stock market took a tumble last week as a result of fears of the CoronaVirus and led to mortgage interest rates to fall as well.  Mortgage lender Rebecca Richardson joined me to discuss why interest rates have fallen to the lowest point in recent history.