Last Call for Blessing Baskets + Holiday Happenings Around CLT 🧺✨

Christen Ripoli - REALTOR
Nov 11
7 min read

🌟Five To Try in the Greater Charlotte Area🌟

🎅 Holiday Cheer, Cool Cars & Cozy Winter Fun 🚗❄️

The holiday spirit has officially arrived in the Queen City! From Christmas markets and winter skating to craft fairs and classic car meetups, this week brings a little something for everyone. Whether you’re shopping for handmade gifts, taking advantage of military appreciation perks, or kicking off the Christmas season early, there’s plenty to love around Charlotte right now.

This week’s Five to Try is all about celebrating community, creativity, and connection - with a healthy dose of holiday sparkle. 💛

And as always, THANK YOU for the support, referrals, and love. Your trust keeps my business growing through relationships, and I’m forever grateful!

Let’s dive in!

1️⃣ Military Appreciation Week at the NC Zoo 🐘🎖️

The North Carolina Zoo is honoring our service members with free admission during Military Appreciation Week, Nov. 8-14. This special event welcomes active duty, retired, and veteran military personnel (plus one guest) to enjoy a day of outdoor fun and wildlife adventures.

🗓️ Nov. 8-14

📍 North Carolina Zoo, Asheboro

🔗 Details

2️⃣ 58th Annual Southern Christmas Show 🎄🛍️

It’s the most wonderful time of the year! The Southern Christmas Show is back at The Park Expo & Conference Center with festive décor, holiday music, artisan goods, and over 400 vendors. Save $4 when you purchase advance tickets and get your holiday shopping started early!

🗓️ Nov. 13-23

⏰ Thurs-Sat: 10 AM-9 PM | Sun-Wed: 10 AM-6 PM

📍 The Park Expo & Conference Center

🔗 Event Info

3️⃣ The Reserve Holiday Craft & Vendor Fair 🎁🎨

Find the perfect handmade gift at The Reserve Holiday Craft & Vendor Fair! Shop unique creations from local artisans, enjoy holiday treats, and support small businesses - all while getting into the festive spirit.

🗓️ Saturday, Nov. 16 | 10 AM-4 PM

📍 The Reserve Neighborhood Clubhouse, Waxhaw

🔗 Event Details

4️⃣ Cars and Coffee at Charlotte Motor Speedway 🚘☕

Calling all car enthusiasts! Cars and Coffee Concord is a free monthly event at Charlotte Motor Speedway where car lovers gather to show off their rides, sip coffee, and talk shop. Whether you’re a gearhead or just love classic cars, it’s worth the early wake-up!

🗓️ Saturday, Oct. 18 | 8-11 AM

📍 Charlotte Motor Speedway, Concord

🔗 Event Info

5️⃣ Outdoor Ice Skating Rinks in the Charlotte Area ⛸️❄️

Get ready to glide into the season! Outdoor ice skating rinks are popping up around the Charlotte area, offering festive fun for all ages. Whether you visit the Uptown Holiday Ice Rink, Whitewater Center, or Birkdale Village, this classic winter activity is perfect for date nights, family outings, or just soaking in the magic of the holidays.

🗓️ Opening mid-November (dates vary by location)

📍 Multiple Charlotte-area venues

🔗 Skating Details

NOTE: There's much more happening around Charlotte this week, so check out this Facebook group for tons of family-friendly events happening all over the Charlotte area. Family Fun in Charlotte and Union County I'm also trying to build up another group What's Up Charlotte. If you haven't already joined, I'd love your support!

🧺Thanksgiving Blessing Baskets🧺

This Thanksgiving, we’re assembling Blessing Baskets filled with holiday essentials, encouragement, and care for local families in need - and we’d love your help!

How to Get Involved:

✅ Build a basket with Thanksgiving staples (gift card for turkey/ham, stuffing, veggies, mashed potatoes, gravy, cornbread mix, dessert, and a handwritten note). Or, you can Venmo me $50 (or anything you can spare!) to cover the cost of a basket!

✅ Drop it off Nov. 18 from 5-7PM at Grapes Bistro & Wine Bar (6461 Old Monroe Rd D, Indian Trail).

✅ Enjoy a 50% off appetizer coupon from Grapes as a thank-you!

Whether you donate one basket or several, your kindness will help brighten someone’s holiday!❤️

👉 Sign up to participate here!

🏆 Vote for Me as Charlotte’s Best Realtor! 🏆

I’m thrilled to share that I’ve been nominated for CLTtoday’s Best Realtor of 2025 - and I’d be so grateful for your vote! 💛

Voting is open October 20 through November 25, and it only takes a minute to show your support (and vote for all your other Charlotte favorites - from coffee shops to event venues).

👉 Here’s how to vote:

1️⃣ Visit CLTtoday’s Best Awards

2️⃣ Choose Mobile Version or Desktop Version

3️⃣ Scroll to the “Real Estate Agent + Group” category

4️⃣ Vote for Christen Ripoli 🙌

Thank you for being part of my Charlotte community - your support means the world! 💙

Mortgage News

📈 Mortgage Rates Tick Up Slightly This Week

Rates saw modest movement this week, inching up across nearly all loan types. The 30-year fixed rate held steady at 6.34%, rising just 0.02%, while the 15-year fixed and jumbo loans followed with similar small increases. The 7/6 SOFR ARM, FHA, and VA products each rose by about 0.03-0.04%, reflecting minor fluctuations as the market responds to new economic data.

Despite the upward shift, rates remain comfortably below where they were in mid-summer - keeping borrowing conditions relatively stable heading into the holidays. Buyers who act before year-end may still find favorable conditions, especially as competition softens this time of year.

*Most recent mortgage rates according to https://www.mortgagenewsdaily.com/

Featured Homes

📍1152 Stone Marker Drive, Monroe📍

Welcome to 1152 Stone Marker Drive - a pristine, 2-year-old home in one of Monroe’s most desirable golf communities! This beautifully designed one-story layout features 3 bedrooms and over 1,800 sq ft of open living space, perfect for both relaxing and entertaining.

The kitchen is the heart of the home with a massive island, abundant storage, and seamless flow into the dining and living areas. The primary suite is a true retreat, complete with a light-filled sitting room, spa-inspired bathroom, and generous walk-in closet.

Step outside to a fenced backyard ready for gatherings, pets, or play. A widened driveway and 3-car garage offer convenience and curb appeal. Plus, enjoy resort-style amenities - pool, cabana, tennis, pickleball, fitness center, and a premier golf course - all just 25 minutes from Uptown Charlotte.

🔑 Highlights:

3 bedrooms | 2 bathrooms
1,863 sq ft of bright, open living
Kitchen with oversized island
Primary suite with sitting room + spa-inspired bath
Fenced backyard + 3-car garage
Resort-style amenities in Stonebridge Fairways
Zoned for Western Union Elementary and Parkwood Middle & High

Video of the Week

Check out this video featuring: You Don’t Need 20% Down to Buy a House! (2025 Housing Myth Busted)

Think you need 20% down to buy a home? That’s one of the biggest myths in real estate - and it’s keeping people from becoming homeowners every single day.

In this video, I break down the truth about down payments in 2025 with real numbers, real programs, and side-by-side comparisons of Conventional, FHA, VA, and USDA loans.

You’ll learn:

✅ How little you actually need to buy a home (it’s probably less than your car down payment)

✅ What “PMI” and “MIP” really mean - and when they go away

✅ How veterans, first-time buyers, and rural homeowners can buy with 0% down

✅ Why waiting for the “perfect time” could cost you thousands

💬 If you’re thinking about buying in the Charlotte or Union County area let’s talk! We’ll walk you through your real numbers and find the best strategy for you.

Charlotte Market Minute

📢 Charlotte Market Update | November 4th - November 11th 📢

A total of 834 properties were sold, with the average sales price coming in at $554,119 and the median sales price at $414,500. Properties spent an average of 55 days on the market and sold for 98.24% of list price - showing strong buyer engagement even as the market heads deeper into fall. The average price per square foot this week landed at $243.59. The most affordable property sold for $22,000, while the highest reached a remarkable $9 million. Whether you’re planning your next move or keeping an eye on the trends, Charlotte’s housing market continues to show steady demand and opportunity. Let’s connect and talk about your real estate goals!

📊 Here’s your weekly snapshot:

834 total properties sold
Average sales price: $554,119
Median sales price: $414,500
Average price per square foot: $243.59
Properties are selling for a median of 98.24% of list price
Average days on market: 55
Lowest sale: $22,000
Highest sale: $9M

Have questions about how this impacts your home plans? I’d love to help!

📩 Christen.Ripoli@gmail.com

📞 330.301.0687

🏡 Christen Ripoli, REALTOR® | Real

Discover "What's Up Charlotte?"

Looking for fun things to do around the Queen City? Check out the Facebook page What’s Up Charlotte? - your one-stop hub for local events, festivals, family-friendly activities, date night ideas, small business spotlights, and so much more!

It’s the perfect place to find weekend plans, connect with fellow Charlotteans, and uncover hidden gems in our city. Whether you’re new to the area or a longtime local, this community has something for everyone.

👉 Join the conversation here: What’s Up Charlotte?

Christen's Connections

"I know a guy" (and plenty of ladies too!). Are you in need of a connection? Maybe you want to have a deck added onto your home, or you need new blinds, or perhaps a cleaning service - I've got an extensive list of the best connections in the area. Consider me your own personal Yelp! Clicking on the link above will bring you to my quick connections list, but I have lots more saved in my Google Drive. Let me know how I can help!

Referrals

We love it when you have an incredible experience moving to the area and we're so grateful when you refer us to your friends and family considering making the move!

Share our channel with them as well as our other social media profiles so that we can keep in touch.

BEST WAY TO SEND ME A REFERRAL

1. Call (Let's talk about your referral)

2. Introduce me in a group text or email

Thank you in advance!!