Search Tips

Our Search features every home "Listed" in the Charlotte Area MLS System
which covers an 11 county area of North & South Carolina surrounding Charlotte 

Our search tool has NO BIAS to any real estate listing firm.  You will see ALL listings available that match your criteria in whatever sorting order you choose!

* Test drive the Search Tool to see if you like it.
* After testing a bit, you will be Prompted to Register to continue to have unlimited access to all property details.  Once you register, you can then save your searches and favorites, add your comments, and receive automatic email or RSS updates when new listings come on the market that match your saved searches.
* Simply supply the information requested -once-...we will not call you unless you ask us to.  Log in when you return to search again.

We will email you occasionally because we want you to Remember Us when you need additional info or you are ready to tour neighborhoods or see houses. You can opt-out of emails at any time.  Our Goal is to "Win You Over" with exceptional service.
Please take the time to read our client Testimonials.

Additional Helpful Tips to Effective Searches:

• Lake Norman is an area - not a city.  To see listings in the very popular Lake Norman area search by typing in a list of the cities you are interested in.  For the more populated East side of the lake choose from Huntersville, Cornelius, Davidson or Mooresville.  For the West side choose Denver, Lincolnton, or Stanley.  For the North area choose Troutman, Sherrills Ford, Terrell, Catawba, or (up the river) Statesville.
• Status.  Homes listed on the MLS can be either Active, Conditional, Contingent, or Pending.  All but Active indicate that the homes have some sort of contract on them.  Conditional means the seller has accepted an offer subject to some condition(s).  Most often the conditions are financing, inspections or repairs.  Contingent means the seller has accepted an offer contingent on some event happening; usually the sale of another home.  Once a home is "pending" or sold it will no longer appear.  (Both Conditional & Contigent listings will say Conditional in the search under Statsu.)  Pending means the seller has accepted an offer and it is expected to close on the scheduled date without any issues barring something unforeseen.  Homes that are Pending or Sold will not show in the Search so as not to tease you with homes that are no longer available.
• Where.  Start by typing either a city, community (subdivision name), or zip code then choose which one you want from the auto-fill list you see.  For mulitple cities, repeat that process.
• Features.  Select features of interest from the list to search for.  Remember: If you select more than one feature, the results will include only listings that have all of the items you checked.  Try choosing only one or two options at a time.
• Central Air.  Having central air is so assumed in this market that many listing agents forget to list it.  Don't check that feature when searching unless you are searching homes under $100,000 or older than 1970.
• Square Footage ranges.  The Charlotte area MLS system requires all home listings to show the square footage in a calculated "range" rather than an exact number.  This is their policy and not something we can control. 
• Lot Size options.  A lot size shown in square feet can be converted to acres by dividing by 43,650.  Therefore, a lot listed as 14,550 square feet is .33 acres.
• Read the Post-It-Notes. that pop up with helpful tips for better searching.  
• Add Notes & Comments. to listings to keep your thoughts organized.  Just click and type in the "add a note" box under the photo slideshow for any home.
• Days On Market.  A listings days-on-market will start over from zero ever time the seller changes agents or pulls and relists thie property.  You cannot trust the days-on-market you see on any listings - anywhere.  Contact us for a property's true history.
• Sort your search results.  Click on the drop-down list of over a dozen different ways to sort your search results.  For instance, you can sort them so that the least expensive listings are at the top.
• Manage Your Searches.  After you have saved/named your searches and saved some Favorite homes, click on the "Manage Your Searches & Favorites" link at the top to see what you have saved and your options.
• Request Email updates.  You can receive automated notices whenever new listings come on the market that match your saved search criteria. When you first register or later under your "Profile" choose if you want to receive updates daily, weekly, or never. 
• Remember:  Add Findahomecarolina.com to your list of "safe senders" in your email account so that your updates don't end up in your junk mail folder.
• Foreclosures & such.  There is an option to search specifically for pre-foreclosures, short sales and bank-owned listings.  Since the MLS has no reliable field for this information, the tool does the best it can by searching the descriptive copy for key words.  It will only be able to find the listings where the listing agent has used the right words.
• Mapping.  You can choose to search only within the map area you have zoomed in on.  Just be aware that not all listings map properly (especially in new construction areas) and you could miss some this way.  Searching by City or Community (subdivision) name is more reliable.  Maps can also be viewed as Satellite or Hybrid images.
• Listing Price History.  In the property details you will see all known listing price changes.  However, if the listing was pulled and relisted under a new MLS# the history for the old MLS# will not show.  Contact us for the true listing history and days-on-market for any property.
• Schools.  You will only see the assigned schools for a property if the listing agent has put that information in the MLS.  Often they leave those fields blank.  Be aware that school assignments change and you should always contact the school administration for the most current assignment information.  New schools are always being built and district lines change often.
• Don't Be Too Specific.  If you are having trouble getting the search results you expect, click the Reset button near the bottom of the page and try being less specific.  Add additional criteria one at a time.  Remember that each search criteria is an "and" not an "or."  For a listing to match your search, it must match all of the criteria you select.
• When all else fails...  Like all complex programs, there will be bugs and glitches.  If you freeze it up, just close the window and come back in fresh.
• Contact Us.  If you have any technical difficulties, trouble finding what you want, general questions about the market, or specific questions about properties you are seeing -- contact us!  Email, call, or use the Chat feature on the web site.  We know this market inside and out and are very happy to help. 
• There's a BETTER Way...Searching on your own is fine if you are early in the process.  When you are seriously ready to find your next home, request a Gateway web site. With a Gateway you'll know immediately when homes that match your criteria hit the market, when the prices change, and when one is no longer available.  You will also be able to request information on the history of the home and neighborhood.  You'll be able to keep all your notes, questions, and answers organized in one place.  We're ready when you are! 
• Just Play With It - Have Fun - You Can't Break It!
  
  Happy Searching!