Auston Woods Apartment Homes Blog

Attention Auston Woods Residents, Employees, and Friends!

The Bobcats hope your 2012 is off to a great start. Below is the next installment of games for our Arena Insider members. As you can see below, there are two (2) more great games to choose from for January, and you can save on up to 48% off just for being an Arena Insider.

Check out these great January games:

Tuesday, January 24 at 7PM Bobcats vs. New York Knicks

• Don’t miss Carmelo Anthony and Amare Stoudemire’s visit to Time Warner Cable Arena.

Saturday, January 28 at 7PM Bobcats vs. Washington Wizards

• Adult Jersey giveaway to first 10,000 fans!
• White Winter Hat Giveaway with ticket purchase through your Arena Insider Link!

To order is easy. Simply click on the 'buy now' icon or link and purchase your tickets (prices will include TM fees).

Order early as the best seats will go fast!

Buy Now | More Info

Two festivals this weekend, what a great weekend to get out of your apartment in Charlotte, NC and enjoy the fresh air and fun of two of Charlotte’s longest running festivals.

Friday, Sep 23 from 4-9p is the 47th Festival In The Park.  The Festival in the Park brings with it good music, good art and good times. Big band music, great food, face painting and fun all by Freedom Park's lake.
 
This fun filled event is designed to promote and stimulate interest in the arts. It provides the opportunity for all to see, hear, and learn from over 150 artists and crafts people who actively demonstrate and display their art.

Nearly a thousand entertainers provide free ongoing performances at the main band shell and many stages surrounding it.

On Saturday, the 36th Annual International Festival from10:00a to 6:00p. The International Festival will be held in and around the Barnhardt Student Activity Center. UNC Charlotte’s longest running tradition attracts thousands of visitors each year to experience the sights, sounds, dances, food and cultures of the world.

Save the dates and spend some time this weekend in Charlotte walking through tents, listening to music and tasting great food from around the world while enjoying a fun atmosphere.

National house prices have dipped in 19 of the 20 largest metro regions, and declines in house prices are expected to continue given the 1.9 million in backlogged foreclosures. As the American economy shifts from buying to renting, with the number of renting households rising by 700,000 annually -- according to a USA Today analysis of Census data -- the number of homeowners fell by nearly 200,000 per year. Unemployment rates remain high and wages are down, which makes it more difficult for people to buy a house and prompts them to rent.

A number of studies continue to show that renting is better than owning for many Americans, with a house being a poor investment compared to renting and investing in inflation-adjusted Treasury bonds. In the paper "American Dream or American Obsession?," Wenli Li and Fang Yang from the Philadelphia Federal Reserve Bank concluded that the "adjusted real rate of return on housing actually falls below zero," and the national rate of return for homeownership between 1975 and 2009 was 1.3 percent, below the 3.375 percent return for stocks.

Home ownership translates into less money available for investment and owning a house limits mobility should a new job opportunity arise elsewhere. Some economists have even suggested that high home ownership rates correlate to high unemployment rates. Declines in house prices could make it difficult to sell if the house is worth less than its mortgage. Not everyone should own a house, and the recession has helped eliminate some of the stigma once associated with renting, now that 70 percent of Americans now agree that renting has its advantages over owning.

Article from National Multi Housing recent release

What kind of American city is the best for small business? They're the ones that have prosperous economies, are expanding rapidly, and are densely packed with like-minded entrepreneurs. And the top two are in North Carolina.

The two markets with the nation's top scores for small-business vitality, according to a new BizJournals study, sit 140 miles apart in the Tar Heel State. IN the nation’s rankings, Charlotte is No. 2, second to Raleigh.

BizJournals used a six-part formula to analyze the nation's 100 largest metropolitan areas, searching for the places that are most conducive to the creation and development of small businesses.

The two North Carolina markets emerge as the clear leaders, thanks to their outstanding records in four statistical categories with a direct impact on small-business activity:

1.Population: Raleigh and Charlotte picked up a combined total of 427,000 new residents between 2002 and 2007. Charlotte grew by 17.4 percent and dwarfed the national growth rate of 4.8 percent.

2. Employment: The entire country is endangered by the current recession.  But Charlotte had  outstanding job growth during the 2003-08 span—15.4 percent.  The U.S. gain was 5.8 percent.
3. Small-business growth: The number of small businesses grew dramatically in both markets from 2005 to 2006, the latest period covered by official statistics. Charlotte had a 4 percent rise. The national increase was 1.3 percent.

4. Small-business concentration: The typical U.S. market has 24.57 small businesses for every 1,000 residents. The North Carolina markets enjoy concentrations that are at least 10 percent bigger, with Charlotte at 27.07 per 1000.

And that's not all. Two other markets with North Carolina connections rank among the 30 best metros in the study, Greensboro and the Virginia Beach-Norfolk metro. 

The highest scores in the study went to areas that have prosperous economies, are expanding rapidly, and are densely packed with small businesses.

For more information see Portfolio.com

This week is a big week in Charlotte for family friendly events and festivities. Earth Day is Friday, April 22, and the city of Charlotte and the surrounding communities have planned many events to celebrate the day and the earth and to bring awareness to some environmental issues.

Join our Earth Day Celebration in Matthews, Saturday, April 23, 10am - 1pm at Stumptown Park. This celebration will have Interactive environmental education booths, crafts, live music, games, and more. This is a free event, so bring the whole family, celebrate Earth Day here in Matthews, and leave just a little greener.

But don’t forget, Easter is right around the corner. On April 21, in the West Charlotte Recreation Center #21158, don’t miss the Bunny Hop from 10-11:30 for children ages 2-5.  Come dance, play and take pictures with the Easter Bunny.

Then, on April 22 is the Easter Bunny Brunch at the Tom Sykes Recreation Center from 10 to 11 a.m for children ages 18 months to 5.  Make a craft and meet the Easter Bunny while enjoying brunch. An Easter egg hunt at Latta Park will follow. Pre-registration is required.

We all need a place to call home but even with the real estate downturn, many people continue to think that buying a home is a good investment and a way for them to build wealth. When times were good, this was not really the case for most people. Wherever you choose to live, make sure it’s for the right reasons. Owning a home can be rewarding. Renting an apartment home with Auston Woods can also be very rewarding. Don’t just take our word for it - check out this article on Yahoo Finance - Why Your Home is not the investment you think it is. In recent months, the housing market, interest rates and the economy have been the focus of many news stories and are key issues in the political arena. Consumers have been inundated for years with visions of the American Dream and why homeownership is a great investment.

As seen with the recent housing crisis, homeownership may not be right for everyone.

• If you bought in Rochester, N.Y., in 1980, you would have seen only a mediocre 4% annual growth for the next 25 years.
• If you bought in Dallas in 1986, as the oil boom went bust, your home wouldn’t have appreciated at all before 1998.

It is also important to look at the “net appreciation”. Most people do not subtract all of the interest paid to the banks, maintenance, decorating costs, closing costs, taxes, and insurance from the appreciation. In many cases, especially if you do not own your home for more than a few years, there is not true appreciation and in more and more cases, there is negative appreciation. Many do not realize the real financial and practical advantages HHHunt residents experience every year when they decide to rent an apartment home at one of our communities.

There are just a couple of points to consider and think about. Renting is a long term investment and very rewarding. Especially in the North Carolina area we are a respected and very diverse community. Be sure to take a look at our communities and our activities we have to offer. Our unique apartment homes at Auston Woods combine convenience, comfort, and technology for today’s lifestyle in our apartment homes. Our beautiful interiors are designed to optimize the way you live, work, and play. Contact us today to learn more about renting at Auston Woods, or feel free to stop in and take a tour of our community.

Apartments in Charlotte, NC

Re Salon and Med Spa is committed to keeping our clients informed and educated on what we have to offer. Thank you in advance for subscribing to our newsletter! We look forward to seeing you soon!

Have you Discovered Dysport?

Prescription Dysport is an injection used to temporarily improve the look of moderate to severe frown lines between the eyebrows (glabellar lines) in adults less than 65 years of age.

With just 1 injection into each of 5 points between and above the eyebrows, Dysport blocks the signal from the nerve to the muscles, ultimately resulting in a reduction of muscle activity and temporarily preventing contraction of the muscles that cause frown lines.

The results are amazing for this product, and our staff is on hand to answer any questions. Our special only lasts through the end of February, so call 704-334-8087 for more details today, or visit http://www.resalonandmedspa.com!

Our Current Special

Up to 50% off Dysport!

1 area = $187
2 areas= $300
3 areas= $375

(pricing subject to vary per patient)

Buy One, Get One Free Laser Skin Rejuvenation and Laser Hair Services.

Valid through April 1st 10% off all services.
Valid through April 1st
Book in advance for up to 20% off!

Book your next 3 appointments and receive 15% off of the the 1st two, and 20% off your 3rd! (Appointments may not be canceled and must be consecutive)

Apartment in Charlotte, NC

"Pimp My Valentine's Day"

Enter to win $200 and a limo ride* for your Valentine from OpenTable and Limos.com! Learn more.

Beat The valentine's Day Rush, February 14 is Just 2 Weeks Away!

OpenTable makes Valentine's Day seductively simple! Reservations are going fast, but with our vast list of restaurants, there are premium tables to be had Valentine's weekend. Book a Table for Valentine's Day.

1,000-Point Reservations, Earn Free Meals Faster

With just one of our special 1,000-Point Reservations, you earn ten times the Dining Points of a standard reservation. 2,000 Points gets you a $20 Dining Cheque from OpenTable, so you can reap your rewards after dining out only twice! Learn more.

OpenTable Diner's Choice, As Voted on by OpenTable Diners

Thanks to the Dining Feedback forms from diners like you, we've got ratings on everything. Want to pick a restaurant based on the wine selection? We've got a list for that. Looking for some place romantic? Good for groups? Open late? Kid friendly? We've got you covered. See All Lists for Charlotte.

Apartments in Charlotte, NC

Green living should become the motto of the present and future generations. It has become essential for all of us to educate our children about eco-friendly methods so that they learn to respect the environment they are born into. The love and respect for nature has to be inculcated right from childhood. Children of today are adults of tomorrow; hence values instilled today will reap rich dividends in the future.

The children who are brought up in a surrounding that is healthy and green would definitely get used to this kind of living. Therefore, when they grow up as citizens they will ensure that they do not do anything that would jeopardize the health of the planet. Which is why Auston Woods and HHHunt are committed to green living in all of our apartment homes.

There is a need today to develop new technologies which would facilitate green living. New researches are being done to find out new forms of green energy. The oil and coal reserves of our planet are fast depleting owing to massive industrialization.

We do our part to provide that all new communities developed by HHHunt save as many well-established trees as possible, and upon completion will exceed local standards for the size and number of trees re-planted within the community. Our company strives to exceed government standards for energy efficiency and water conservation during the development process and beyond. As a part of green living, people should be encouraged to use solar power for house lighting. These days, technology is also developed to run vehicles on solar power. Though, this is still in the gestation period, it would be a great alternative to gas and petrol used for running the vehicles.

The effects of irrational use of the natural resources should be explained to the people in detail. People in general have a tendency to misuse and waste fresh water. This has led to scarcity of water. Steps should be taken to curtail this wastage and make people more responsible. Similarly, people also tend to waste electricity by switching on lights unnecessarily. If one extra bulb is lit in every household, then imagine the amount power consumption. So we encourage you, our residents and customers, to join us in our efforts to sustain our environment.

Apartments in Charlotte, NC

Enjoy a culinary extravaganza during this 10-Day celebration of Charlotte's restaurant scene. From Friday, January 21, through Sunday, January 30, each participating upscale restaurant will offer a spectacular 3-course, prix fixe dinner menu for only $30 per person (not including tax and gratuity).

It's a royal opportunity to experience Charlotte's ever-expanding array of dining options and remarkable chefs, from popular favorites to new hot-spots.

Reservations are recommended. Peruse the participating restaurants to learn more about their offerings and how to book your table.

Also, explore options for transportation and parking during Charlotte Restaurant Week.

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