New Updated Home for Sale in West Oak Forest!

1323 S Sherwood Dr, West Ashley SC

This is the perfect home for any young couple or first time homebuyer.  New and on the market, this fresh listing is sure to turn heads.  The sellers have meticulously updated the home over the last few years, making sure every last detail is in great order.  The entire home has been repainted inside and out, the kitchen has been completely redone with new cabinets, countertops, stainless backsplash, butchers block, light fixtures, and the fridge conveys!  The open floor plan looks great with gleaming hardwood floors, a spacious living/dining area, and modern fixtures and ceiling fans.  Both bathrooms have been updated, and the hall bath is equipped with a new sink and tiled tub.  Come see for yourself, this home is…

2188 Views, 1 Comments

Tips for spotting a good deal in Charleston real estate

Those out there that consistently make good money in real estate know the market.  That’s why you see a lot of us Realtors purchasing real estate…simply because it’s what we do, every single day.  We know the market.  But you can also do most of this work as well.  Almost everyone out there right now has access to the same information in the Charleston MLS as real estate agents do.  Whether you’re looking on Google, Trulia, or my own Charleston MLS Search website, you have basically the same information that we do.  Knowing the market before a good deal comes along is critical.  Study it, live it, breathe it…so that you know a great deal when you see one.

Look for changing market conditions.  For example, look for new developments that are coming up. …

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A Look at Belle Hall Subdivision in Mount Pleasant, SC

I've been showing a lot of property in the Mount Pleasant subdivision of Belle Hall recently, so I thought I'd share some of the statistics and information for the neighborhood.  If most of you don't know about this great Mount Pleasant community, it's becoming more and more popular.  Because of the fantastic location to downtown Charleston and the Sullivans Island and Isle of Palms beaches, Belle Hall is quickly becoming a favorite for those retiring to Charleston, or those that would like to move up into a better location and quality of home.

Belle Hall is a newer neighborhood with a few different subsections.  The most affordable subsections (and older) were built in the 90’s and are priced between 200K and 300K.  Some of the newer subsections are…

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Charleston in Top 5 Markets to Fare Well for 2010

According to SmartMoney.com, the "Top 5" areas in the country that should have home prices performing the best for 2010 are:

• Tacoma, Washington (increase of 2.44%)
• Memphis, Tennessee (up 0.99%)
• Pittsburgh (up 0.89%)
• Charleston, South Carolina (up 0.18%)
• Seattle (decline 0.50%)

Of course, one of the reasons being cited is because of Boeing building their 787 aircraft plant in Charleston, but also because the number of homes on the market in Charleston is declining, and our prices have remained in sync with household income over the past year.

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Free Parking in Downtown Charleston for the Holidays

I can feel the Holiday spirit!  Yes, that's right, the City of Charleston and Republic Parking are offering free two-hour parking vouchers for all of their downtown parking garage locations.  This free parking is still good from November 28th, to December 31st.

For all of you locals or visitors in the area, this is a great time of year to see Charleston.  The free 2 hour parking passes are perfect for a dinner downtown, or shopping for all of your friends and family.  You can print the coupon directly from your computer HERE.  This has been updated for 2012.

Here are the participating garages:

    S.C. Aquarium Garage,
    Camden Exchange Garage,
    Concord & Cumberland streets,
    Wentworth at St. Philip streets,
    County Garage at King & Queen…

4586 Views, 1 Comments

Video Blog on the Latest Charleston Market Info

Updates on the Charleston Real Estate Market

Here is some updated information on the extended Home Buyers Tax Credit, as well as some statistics on how the Charleston real estate market performed as a whole for the end of 2009.  Don't forget, the First Time Home Buyers Tax Credit has been extended until April 30th, 2010.

Play the video to take a look at what the Tax Credit did for home sales in October.  Pretty staggering, really.  Signed purchase agreements were up 67.8% in October from a year ago.

Video provided by the Charleston Trident Association of Realtors.

2346 Views, 1 Comments

Have a great December!

It's hard to believe there's just one page left on the wall calendar - but what a full page it is! As grateful as we are year round for all that we have, the holiday season makes us especially conscious of the value of home and family and reminds us of the importance of what we do for others. It's a wonderful time to share with family, friends, and neighbors, and a wonderful time to set something aside for those not so fortunate.

You'll probably see a lot of your neighbors at some of our dazzling December events:

• Experience Charleston's history and holiday spirit with the Charleston Tree lighting ceremony in Marion Square on December 5th from 4:30 to 6:00pm.
• Before you pack in another holiday meal, burn off a few calories at the Reindeer Run, a festival…

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Is the Charleston Real Estate Market Getting Better?

The Charleston real estate market has been in a slump for the past four years...When will this trend end?

Well, there is not going to be a clear-cut, definitive turnaround if you're looking for one.  Real estate, which has traditionally been a solid investment, has been jittery (at best), right along with every other market.  There isn't going to be a solid, radical change in direction in the Charleston real estate market in the immediate future.  There are just too many foreclosures and short sales coming up on the market, which are still keeping home values down.  While home values nearly doubled from 2000 to 2006, the average has fallen somewhere around 30% in most Charleston areas.

But are things getting better?

The Charleston real estate market…

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Real Estate Statistics for Downtown Charleston (The Peninsula)

I have been showing a lot of property in downtown Charleston on the Peninsula lately, and have noticed things seem to be a bit slow.  I was showing a property to some clients of mine and the listing agent had told me a surprising statistic.  She mentioned that downtown Charleston, on the Peninsula, has seen an increase in the volume of homes selling for the last 3 years.  She also mentioned that the Peninsula alone had a market entirely on it's own, outside of the rest of Charleston.  While I agree with her that the Peninsula has it's own market independant of other Charleston areas, I was floored that the market on the Peninsula saw an increase for the last 3 years.

I decided to delve further into the MLS and find out for my self the performance of the…

2098 Views, 1 Comments

What is an EarthCraft Home?

An EarthCraft Home is the idea that a healthy, comfortable home can be built that reduces utility bills, while protecting the environment.  The idea is to minimize environmental impacts, and to follow a systematic approach to homebuilding that utilizes the importance of understanding how the different components of a home work together.  This means that the home performs better, is more economical for the homeowner, but it costs a little more than your normal construction costs.

This can be achieved by using certain qualifying materials, addressing energy efficiency, indoor air quality, waste management, resource efficiency, durability, and water conversation.  While EarthCraft Homes may be a little more expensive up front, the idea is that it should…

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