With Hurrican Gustav monopolizing all the headlines this past week, it would be nice to get a break from all this talk about hurricanes and tropical storms, but unfortunately, it doesn’t look like that’s going to happen as 3 more tropical depressions or storms are forming in the Atlantic and could be headed our way as early as this weekend.
Hanna, the first of the 3 storms was initially projected to head out way by Friday, but according to the NWS, it has weaked quite a bit and is now hanging out near the Bahamas. While there is still a chance it could regain strength and begin moving our way, the weather geeks really don’t know how much strength it’s going to gain.
And given all the rain we received last week from Fay, it’s a pretty safe bet we’d all enjoy a bit of a break to allow the ground to dry out just a bit so it can absorb even more.  Yes, we need the moisture, but I think we’d all prefer a bit at a time instead of getting dumped on within justa few hours!
The other 2 possible tropical storms are still in their early stages out in the Atlantic, but Tropical Storms Ike and Josephine both have very good chances of gathering strength and heading towards the Carolinas. Given that we’re in the peak of hurrican season, I’m afraid we’re not out of the woods yet and probably won’t be given the current pace of storms.
Again, while we could definitely use the moisture, I don’t think anybody wants the huge amounts we took last week that caused flooding up in Cabarrus County, just north of Charlotte NC. But I guess we really can’t control it either, so all we’re left with is getting ourselves prepared, and saying our prayers that we don’t have repeate of Hurrican Katrina any time soon!
Filed under Life In the Carolinas, Opinions by 
As you probably know by now, my husband and I LOVE good food. So we’re always on the hunt for some good, unknown restaurants here in the Rock Hill, SC area. Well, I think we found another one today.
We saw an ad in one of the local circulars for a Cuban restaurant and since my husband spent 2 years living in Central America, he has a thing for all latin food. When he saw the ad he proclaimed, “We’ve got to check it out!”
So after running a few lunchtime errands together, we set off to find this little Cuban joint. Unfortunately, we couldn’t remember the exact address, but knew it was on Cherry St. in Rock Hill. After just a few minutes of driving up Cherry St., we got lucky and stumbled upon the place, Carlo’s Cafe.
The restaurant has a very distinct Carribean feel and with only 10 or so tables, it’s a very cozy atmosphere. We were immediately seated and upon looking at the menu, saw a full array of authentic cuban options.
I settled on the roast chicken and my husband had the fried stripped beef. Both came with fried plantains, which we absolutely LOVE, and black beans and rice. The food was delivered very quickly and as we’d hopped, it was hot and delish!
Overall, the prices were very reasonable, especially if you get the lunch specials which change every day and are only $5.99.
To finish things off we split a Tres Leches, which is a traditional latino dessert that literally means 3 milks. The way I describe it is a soggy cake, which when you understand how it’s made makes sense. It’s basically a white cake that has a mixture of 3 different types of milk poured over top of it. It’s then topped with a light frosting and whipped cream.
In a nutshell, Carlo’s Cafe on 1998 Cherry Rd in Rock Hill, SC is a fantastic little cuban restaurant and one I whole-heartedly recommend if you’re looking for something out of the ordinary. I don’t recall whan their hours are, but you can read reviews from others right HERE.
Go check it out. You won’t be disappointed!
Filed under Life In the Carolinas, Out and About in the Carolinas, Rock Hill SC by
Buyers and would-be investors often look to foreclosure sales to find real estate bargains. But newcomers to this market could find some unpleasant surprises if they go in blind. All homes should be thoroughly inspected by a professional home inspector before sealing the deal.
Why inspect if you can’t negotiate?
Foreclosure homes are usually “as-is†sales. This means that buyers cannot negotiate for the cost of needed repairs, as they may do in a traditional home purchase. Buyers must absorb repair costs themselves and consider this in their purchase offer at auction. So why get a professional inspection on a foreclosure property?
Too many foreclosure buyers think they’re getting a deal when, in fact, they might be purchasing a property with substantial and costly defects. The repair of these major issues could exceed the savings gained in buying a foreclosed property.
Sellers at foreclosure auctions are not usually obligated to disclose defects. But buyers can empower themselves by getting a professional property inspection before the auction that will provide valuable insights about the condition of the home. If pre-auction property inspections are not permitted at the foreclosure sale, buyers will need to weigh that risk carefully.
Knowledge is Power
Even with a significant influx of newly foreclosed properties due to the sub prime mortgage mess, the foreclosure market can be competitive, and it is often dominated by experienced real estate investors. Armed with the right information you can make informed bids and find the best home at the best deal. After all, a bargain isn’t a bargain if it costs more than expected down the line.
Remember, buying foreclosed properties can be a risky business, so be certain to consult with needed professionals, including a reputable, certified home inspector, to address questions about specific issues. More homebuyer and home maintenance tips are available online at housemaster.com.
This information is provided for general guidance purposes only. Neither DBR Franchising, LLC nor the local HouseMaster® franchise warrants its accuracy and assumes no liability related to its use. Contact the local franchise office and/or qualified specialists for advice pertinent to your specific house or circumstances. © Copyright 2008 DBR. Each HouseMaster franchise is an independently owned and operated business. HouseMaster is a registered trademark of DBR Franchising, LLC.
* * This information is provided with permission from HouseMaster.com. * *
Filed under Buy Your Dream House, Charlotte NC, Fort Mill SC, Home Buyers, Rock Hill SC by
After a long, but somewhat exciting off-season, my beloved Carolina Panthers are finally ready to kick things off again! Sure, they’ve played 4 pre-season games, but let’s face it, they don’t hold a candle to the regular season.
The pundits and know-it-all talking heads are pretty mixed up when it comes to where the Panthers will finish this season as the predictions are all over the board. I for one think they’ve underestimating them. I’ll go out on a limb and say they win 10 games, win the division, and make it to the NFC Championship game. Again.
Of course I could be totally wrong and they could fall flat on their faces, which of course would mean John Fox would probably get the boot. I like him so I’m really hoping that doesn’t happen.
Anyway, the long, dreadful wait is finally over as the Panthers kick off on Sunday against the favored San Diego Chargers at 4:15pm ET.
Go Panthers!
Filed under Carolina Sports Beat, Opinions, Rants & Raves by
I know this video has absolutely NOTHING to do with buying or selling real estate in the Rock Hill SC or For Mill SC area, but it’s just too funny not to post.
And don’t worry, real estate IS a complicated game so I won’t threaten you with se-curity or anything else Bon Qui Qui-ish. 
Enjoy!
