Relocating to our beautiful Charleston, SC area?  This city is as naturally beautiful as it is historically rich, and its residents are a wonderful group of friendly people from all over the world.  The historic downtown district is loaded with century’s old glimpses into the past along with excellent shopping, dining, boutiques, galleries, antique stores and cafes galore.

 

People move to this great area for a multitude of reasons.  Corporate executives find themselves in fortunate circumstances when transferred here.  Health care professionals seek out the excellent medical facilities for career enhancement.  Military personnel are delighted to transfer here.  Retirement to the Greater Charleston area is a dream come true for many people each year.  Everyone cites the location, mild climate, access to water and beaches, beautiful natural surroundings, excellent health care and cost of living as main factors in deciding to make this area their home.

 

The North Charleston area is the shopping capital of South Carolina and is home to the Tanger Outlet Center, a 14,000 seat coliseum and Whirlin’ Waters, our most exciting water park just to name a few highlights.

 

Summerville is one of Greater Charleston’s real estate hot spots.  The area has grown 35% in the last five years, making it the fastest growing town in the state.  Summerville is Dorchester County’s largest city and has the reputation for the best school district in the State of South Carolina.

 

There is so much more I could share with you but I’m running out of room.  Can’t you tell I love it here!  After living in Connecticut most of my life, it’s like paradise here to me. 

 

As a full time, full service Realtor®, I am available to provide the professional services you deserve, whether buying or selling. I look forward to the opportunity to assist you with your home buying and mortgage finance needs.  Feel free to call me on my cell phone or contact me via e-mail.  I will get back to you.  It’s my pleasure to be of assistance to you.

Another City by the Ocean, Charleston

If you want to make your next move in life where the historic meets the sea, well that is Charleston, South Carolina.

It is a historic town that dates back to the 18th century, with its old storefronts and other building that have been well preserved for all to enjoy.  You still can enjoy a carriage ride pulled by horses, just as people did many, many years ago.  The other point of interest is the Port of Charleston, with its cruise ship berths, its imports and exports out of the port and of course, you have the military base. The beautiful boardwalk gives you the essence of being out among the wonderful ocean breezes.

There are also many businesses that have relocated to Charleston due to its vast availability to people which equals a work force. The town is very centrally located and, with the port readily available, it is easy to ship items in and out of the area.  This town also has a very successful tourism industry.  In 2007 it was up to $5.1 billion in tourist dollars.

Real Estate is still affordable on average.  There are many new developments that have been erected.  Many builders offer larger homes and larger lots in this area of South Carolina.  Many tourists have visited this area and love it so much, they come back and purchase a new home or a vacation home.

So, if you are looking for somewhere new and fresh with a light hearted atmosphere and beautiful surroundings, visit Charleston, South Carolina - you will be sure to fall in love.

Charleston, SC: A Great Place To Live and Work 

When we think of Charleston, SC, we think of miles of beaches and waterways, a wonderful year ‘round climate, entertainment, romance, performing and visual arts.  This is a great place to vacation but have you ever thought about living here? No?  Well, think again!  Outside magazine has cited this fine city as “the best place to live” and “a job market leader” by Biz-journals.  It’s becoming a great choice for seasoned professionals and for younger adults looking for a good job market and stability.  There are few places in the world where you find quality living and opportunity coupled with culture and excitement.

Regardless of your reasons for moving to Charleston, there are many reasons why you should purchase a home versus rent such as tax advantages.  Mortgage Interest and real estate taxes are tax deductible plus when you sell a primary residence and you’ve lived there for two years of the past five, and you are married filing jointly you can enjoy tax free profits.  If you are single or married filing separately, you can enjoy tax free benefits up to $250,000.  You can build equity over time and you enjoy the satisfaction of owning your own home.  Because you can borrow against your home, it can also serve as a source of funding.

Now is a good time to buy.  Interest rates remain low and there are some really good buys in the market.  Sales are more competitive and there are some incentives that are appealing to you as a buyer.

Fact is, the Lowcountry is a hot market with area growth ranking 22nd in the nation and 6th for job growth.

Owning a home is probably one of the biggest investments you will ever make and taking the plunge is now possible with as little as 3% down and sometimes zero down. Here are some advantages of ownership: It’s a great time to get a good deal on a home and a great way to buy with equity and then build on that equity over time; you can deduct the yearly mortgage interest and real estate taxes from your federal and state income tax if you itemize; and homeownership offers a sense of accomplishment and usually a first home leads to a better second home.

After you’ve decided that you want to buy, determine a price you can afford.  Any bank can pre-qualify you so you know what an estimated house payment and loan amount will be before you start looking.  Seek out a reputable real estate agent.  A realtor can find and show you more houses than you could possibly find on your own based on your criteria. You probably have an idea of what type of home you want by now. Insist on a home and pest inspection. Your professional realtor can assist you in options for attorneys, inspections, utility hook ups and repairmen.

So now is a good time to buy!  Selection is grand and pricing is great.  Mortgage interest rates remain relatively low. We are in a buyer's market in a lot of areas around the country. Buy armored with knowledge and take advantage of the present marketplace. 
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People who enjoy the richness of beautifully preserved historic architecture will find the city of Charleston, South Carolina a very unique location in America for Real Estate.

Charleston’s rich blend of unique historic homes is nestled within the five boroughs of the downtown area.  Surrounded by a landscape blessed with care and attention to every detail, homes are available with distinctive architecture dating back into the 18th and 19th centuries.  As an example, the French Quarter district contains homes exemplifying early Georgian design that are nestled within beautiful gardens and airy piazzas. Most of the real estate within the French Quarter is within the original walled city dating back to 1704 and has a distinctive bohemian atmosphere of pirate taverns and cobblestone streets that are lined with slate tile sidewalks.  

Another example of fine historic property is the borough of Harleston Village.  Located upon the peninsular area of Charleston, the architecture of these homes is distinctively antebellum in nature and dates to 1770.  A feature of this borough of Charleston is the blend of historic homes amid modern upscale townhouses.  Homeowners gather daily for walks along richly manicured streets and shops.

Charleston offers the advantage of hometown atmosphere and real estate choices that are among the finest in America.

Imagine yourself in the borough of South of Broad Street.  It was in homes of this area that George Washington slept in, Robert E. Lee dined in and Teddy Roosevelt socialized in.  It is indeed a rare combination of Georgian architecture and historic significance.  Investment in real estate of this borough is a financial reward and well as a sound choice.
 

Pricing is extremely important when trying to sell a home.  If the house is overpriced it will lose some of its appeal after a few weeks.  Some realtors say that if the house is under priced that it will likely draw more offers and will be able to drive up the price that way, but that doesn’t always happen either.  Basically, the price of the home needs to be comparable with other homes in the same locality, so check out the competition.

All personal feelings should be set aside from the situation.  Don’t make up a price based on original purchase price and all the improvements that have been done.  Invite in three real estate agents and get their opinions, some may be high and some mayb e low, so that there is an average price with no bias.  Do the research check out other homes in the neighborhood.  Look at houses that have been on the market for a long time and look at their pricing. Get a CMA (Comparative Market Analysis).  Calculate the price per square footage and compare it with other homes in the same neighborhood.  Make an educated decision on the price and make sure that there is room for some negotiation.

Once the price has been decided, make a plan.  Decide what to do if it doesn’t sell after a couple of months.  What can be done to sweeten the deal?  Look at what can be offered instead of changing the price. Remember that overall, it is buyer’s market; try appeal to as many buyers as possible.