Antiquing is one of my favorite things to do, and it's something my sister Julia and I have been doing together for years - she's the truly crafty one, painting and embellishing silver trays as a little side hustle, while I'm currently mid-project turning an armoire into a bar for my dining room. Our unofficial rule is that $8 is the price point; $6 makes us even happier. On this episode I sat down with Jeff to share the spots I actually shop myself, because there's no better way to spend a 100-degree summer afternoon than wandering an air-conditioned antique mall the size of a grocery store.

I take you through seven of my favorites: Main Street Antiques Mall at Merino Mill in Mooresville, which has the biggest record collection I've ever seen (and four restaurants on site, so you can make a whole day of it); Lake Norman Antique Mall on East Plaza Drive for furniture - that's where my armoire came from; the Broad Street Antique Market downtown, the owner's own high-end collection, open Friday through Sunday; Dragonfly Mission Thrift Store in Troutman, which donates its monthly proceeds to a different local charity; Resettlers Antique Mall in Statesville for retro metal patio pieces and iron planters; the Depot at Gibson Mill in Concord, one of the only places around still selling fabric by the remnant or the bolt; and the Sleepy Poet in Charlotte, beautifully curated and full of already-refinished furniture. I don't buy something every time I go - honestly, half the reason I go is to come home with ideas.

https://lakenormanhometeam.com/

Erik Sanchez of Melissa Sanchez Associates is a Realtor by trade and a golfer by weekend, and he came on to walk through ten courses across the Lake Norman region — from the newly renovated Peninsula Club in Cornelius to Warrior Golf Club down in China Grove. He breaks down which clubs are private, which ones will hand a non-member a tee time, why Birkdale's Arnold Palmer layout is one of a kind around here, and which greens will hand you a three-putt before you know what happened. Fair warning: he discloses his own membership up front, and he's honest about the courses he hasn't played.

https://lakenormanhometeam.com/

Melissa and Erik take a tour around Lake Norman to explore the area's most popular 55+ active adult communities. From Mooresville to Denver, they cover six standout neighborhoods including three Epcon-built Courtyards communities (Bloom Point, Lake Davidson, and Lake Norman), the sprawling and amenity-rich Bailey's Glen straddling Cornelius and Huntersville, the resort-style Trilogy in Denver, and the brand-new Retreat at Laurelbrook in Sherrill's Ford by Stanley Martin.

Whether you're drawn to lake access, lock-and-leave convenience, walkable downtowns, or resort-caliber amenities like indoor pools, pickleball, and on-site restaurants, the Lake Norman region offers something for every active adult lifestyle and budget — with new construction options ranging from the mid-$300s up to $550K. The team also discusses why North Carolina's mild four-season climate, Greenway access, and proximity to Charlotte make this region one of the most attractive retirement destinations in the country.

Melissa Sanchez & Associates | Coldwell Banker Realty Lake Norman
129 Mecklynn Rd Ste E
Mooresville, NC 28117

(704) 775-0258

https://lakenormanhometeam.com/