3508 Mallard Cove Court, Charlotte, NC 28269

This one's special, and you'll know it the moment you enter. Brick and white trim, a red front door, and a gabled roofline set this 3-bedroom, 2.5-bath home apart the second you turn into the cul-de-sac — 2,300 square feet on .348 acres in University City. Step past the arched transom over the door into a soaring, vaulted foyer where a staircase with a rich wood handrail leads up past a gallery wall, and the upgraded hardwoods carry you straight into a great room built for holiday gatherings, game days, or just having the gang over. The great room does the heavy lifting here: a two-story vaulted ceiling, a fireplace with a white mantle framed by arched windows, and an open loft railing above, so the upstairs family room looks straight down into the space instead of closing it off. From there, French doors and a transom window bring in the backyard view for a formal dining room with crown molding and chair rail, sized for real entertaining. The kitchen backs right up to it: granite...