Mecklenburg Times: News for Mecklenburg, Union and Iredell counties Real Estate, Development, Construction, and Community News in the Charlotte area and throughout Mecklenburg, Union and Iredell counties

RALEIGH — The powers-that-be at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill say they are carefully investigating the unfolding scandal enveloping the school’s football program. Why? What else does anyone need to know? Just the basic facts paint a ...

DEAR BENNY: Your recent article about the man who wanted to gift his house to a friend raised a question in my mind. Suppose the house received a stepped-up basis after the man’s wife died. If he then gifts the ...

The time for systems of selling has passed. The time for sales manipulation has passed. The time for “finding the pain” has passed. The time for “closing the sale” has way passed. I wonder if you’re using yesterday’s approaches to ...

Dear Mr. Berko: My wife and I together were making $88,000 to $110,000 per year between 1996 and 2007 and were able to save almost $50,000 during that time, even with two kids. So in late 2006, we bought a ...

RALEIGH — In political circles, the time of year is known as silly season. It’s hard to imagine it getting any sillier. Angry candidates, smarting over incendiary ads, threaten lawsuits. They run from past words about this issue or that, ...

DEAR BENNY: You often advise homebuyers to refuse to pay junk fees at settlement. But how is it done? We are about to close on a refinance. We have done this once before about eight years ago. We have an ...

The definition of “referral” will surprise you and at the same time make you understand why you don’t get as many as you expect or ask for. The definition of referral is “risk.” Do you ask for referrals? Do you ...

Dear Mr. Berko: I continue to read in the local paper and on TV that revenues and profits for many companies are increasing by 10 percent or more, and then the stock market jumps 200 points or more. A 10 ...