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The month of January almost always reflects the New Years Resolutions of sellers to put their home on their market with a large increase in supply. February is the reaction to that supply and also the fulfillment of buyer’s resolutions to purchase a property. Since a closing period on a real estate transaction is 30-45 days, buyer activity in January reflects in February closings. Closings were up by 10% last month. Pending sales are up as well following a normal seasonal trend as the sales increase to the historically busy spring and summer market. 

Average prices dropped by more than $24,000. This is a strong indicator of seller motivation from January. Sellers were willing to reduce t...

Sustainability and energy efficiency are the key drivers in many of today's decisions regarding home renovations and remodeling. Because the roof covers a large and visible area of a home, homeowners need to be mindful of the roofing materials they choose when replacing a roof. As one of the most expensive components in a house, a roof is expected to last some 20 years before it needs to be replaced. Of course, this time frame will depend on a few variables. Some factors include the climate in your area, the quality of the roofing material used and the maintenance over the years. According to Forbes Home, the cost to replace the roof on an average-size home is $11,500.

Finding the right ...

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and for some of you it would be hard to part with a beloved Tiffany-style lamp that has long passed its decorative prime. Maybe it has sentimental value, and if that's the case, in your eyes Tiffany is timeless and will never go out of style. Certainly, it can be artfully blended with other decorative elements to make it look colorful and interesting.

All whites and grays

In a recent 1stDibs on-trend hues report, white received the largest decline (down 10 percentage points) over last year in terms of its popularity. Gray showed a similar favorability decline. Where white kitchens were once all the rage, reassuring colors that are found in nature su...

If you financed the purchase of your home with a mortgage loan, you have homeowners' insurance. That's because lenders won't approve you for a mortgage loan if you don't first buy one of these insurance policies. The cost of your homeowners' insurance policy will vary, depending on your home's location, size, age and other factors. Bankrate, though, reported that the average cost of this type of insurance in the United States stands at $1,428 a year for a policy that offers $250,000 in coverage.

These policies pay out if your home is damaged or destroyed by  a natural disaster. You'll also receive a payout if someone steals items from your home or if someone is injured on your property a...

Kitchen islands are a wonderful way to add much-needed storage, counter space, meal prep areas or seating to your kitchen. Islands are available in all sizes and materials to fit all budgets, ranging from ready-made versions to customized designs. There are five distinct types of kitchen islands to choose from:

Small rolling cart island — The least expensive option, the cart works well in any size kitchen, and is a great solution where space is limited. The cart can be rolled to the spot when needed and some carts can be folded up and stored away when not in use.
Small stationary island — This island works well in hardworking kitchens with limited space. Since it is stationary, it will n...

With spring just around the corner with warmer weather and longer days, its time to start your garden in Zone 8b of coastal South Carolina! A couple of weeks ago, I shared my process for starting seeds indoors. With the seeds sprouting in their trays, it’s now time to transplant them to a larger pot and hardening them off before planting them outside in the garden. To prepare for the process, I partially pack small peet pots with a mix of garden soil and compost. I try to leave the same amount of space in the peet pot as what I estimate is size of my seedling and the soil pod that contains its root ball. I also have labels or I write it on the peet pot so that I can identify the plant lat...

Cleaning carpets effectively requires a systematic approach and proper techniques and tools. Here's a step-by-step guide to help you thoroughly clean your carpets:

Supplies you'll need:

1. A vacuum cleaner
2. Carpet cleaning solution (commercial or homemade)
3. A bucket
4. Clean towels or microfiber cloths
5. A soft-bristle brush or carpet rake
6. A spray bottle (if using a homemade solution)
7. A wet/dry vacuum (optional)

Pre-vacuuming

Before you begin, vacuum the entire carpet to remove loose dirt, debris and pet hair. This step is crucial as it prevents larger particles from getting trapped in the carpet fibers during cleaning.

Spot treatment (if needed)

Treat any visible stains or spots us...

Strapped for cash? You might be able to liquify some of your home equity to cover expenses by using a home equity conversion mortgage, which is essentially a reverse mortgage backed by the Federal Housing Administration. The organization is federally insured by HUD; the agency guarantees the lender will be repaid.

These products, which have been gaining traction over the past five years, peaked in popularity in 2009. They work best for seniors who need more income and credit and intend to remain in their homes for the rest of their lives.

Playing by the rules

There are two main requirements for holding an HECM: You must be at least 62, and the principal must be repaid if you move out, ...

We have amazing new listings available in the South Strand! From Surfside to Murrells Inlet, check out these great homes!

1580 Gibson Avenue in Deerfield, Surfside Beach!

This 4100+ square foot home sits on a lakefront .34 acre lot and offers 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, office, game room, flex room, and a true Mother in Law suite. You have to see this gorgeous home today! Incredible opportunity now available in well loved Deerfield sitting between 17 Business and 17 Bypass in Surfside Beach!

Click here to know more...

8553 Hopkins Circle, Unit E in Southbridge Villas, Surfside Beach!

Welcome home to Southbridge Villas at Hopkins Circle! This 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom, top floor, end unit co...

Relaxing in a bathtub of warm soothing water is truly one of life's small pleasures. As the largest element in the room, the bathtub is also a key player in creating the desired ambiance and style for your bathroom upgrade or remodeling project. Whether you choose a classic clawfoot or a modern whirlpool tub, the bathtub is the place for destressing and relieving tense muscles. Of course, it also functions as the place we enjoy soaking and washing ourselves.

There are four basic tub styles to choose from: Freestanding, alcove, drop-in and corner. Each has its advantages and disadvantages:

Freestanding tubs command attention as the focal point in a bathroom. These tubs can be placed anyw...

For those of us seeking to live more peacefully and more simply with nature, the wabi-sabi world view is one you may be interested in learning more about. Some Americans will be familiar with the wabi-sabi art of kintsugi. Kintsugi's acceptance of imperfection by restoring or repairing damaged decorative objects is right in step with today's focus on sustainability.

What the kintsugi technique offers is a second chance for ceramics that have been broken or cracked by filling in the damage with urushi lacquer dusted or mixed with powdered gold, silver or platinum. The result is an imperfect piece of art that is stronger and more beautiful than the original. Wabi-sabi is all about embracin...

This article is the first of hopefully many articles as I provide tips and ideas on having a vegetable garden in Coastal South Carolina. Click through to learn what I’m growing and how I’m starting my seeds for this year’s garden. 

Some of you reading this article will not believe that in Zone 8b, it’s already time to start seeds. I’m too southern to plant my garden my summer garden until the week of Easter, but I’m starting some of my seeds indoors this week. There’s something symbolic about planting during the Easter season that I really enjoy: new life, new beginnings and hope of a full harvest!

This year, I ordered from the Burpee seed catalog the following plants and I’ve categoriz...

At the South Carolina Realtors Capitol Conference, I was thrilled to hear a housing market update from my favorite economist, Dr. Joey Von Nesson.

At the South Carolina Realtors Capitol Conference, I was thrilled to hear a housing market update from my favorite economist, Dr. Joey Von Nesson. Dr. Von Nesson is with University of South Carolina’s Darla Moore School of Business and delivered another thorough and easy to understand presentation. Here are a few of my biggest takeaways:

- We still haven’t experienced the most predicted recession in history. 

- Our economy, which was overheated by 6 trillion dollars of government stimulus money, is cooling down.

- The stimulus was mostly sp...

Working with professional experts means having the absolute best toolkit at our disposal that we are putting to work for you. From the first time we meet or talk, we are already putting together the plan and tools that will help you. We have created checklists and guides that can take you from overwhelmed to a solid plan. We provide market data by analyzing your property, properties similar to it, and what is going on around your property to help you understand where you are and where you need to be, and collaborate with you on a strategy based on facts not feelings. We walk you through the process of buying or selling a home every step of the way, making sure that you understand the ‘how...

A Fannie Mae HomeStyle loan lets you wrap both the price of the home you are buying and its estimated repair costs into a single mortgage. Say you are buying a home that costs $235,000 and you are putting a down payment of $23,500 on it. Say, too, that a contractor estimates that it will cost an additional $50,000 to renovate this property.

You would take out a Fannie Mae HomeStyle loan for $211,500 — the amount you need to finance after subtracting your down payment from the home's purchase price — plus the $50,000 you'll need for renovations and repairs. That will leave you with a total mortgage of $261,500.

You would use the $50,000 from this loan to fund the cost of your home repair...

Embarking on a kitchen remodeling project is an exciting adventure. It can transform the heart of your home into a functional and stylish space.

However, without careful planning and consideration, mistakes might be made, which could easily lead to costly setbacks and unsatisfactory results. To ensure a successful kitchen renovation experience, try to steer clear of these four common mistakes.

Underestimating the Budget

Perhaps the most significant mistake when it comes to remodeling your kitchen is underestimating the budget required for the project. Costs can quickly add up.

From materials and appliances to labor and unexpected charges, there are many expenses to consider. So, befor...

Plaster provides luminosity and texture to walls, transforming the appearance of any home. While plaster may be more expensive than drywall (it requires at least three coats to install), it is also more durable, virtually maintenance-free and visually more pleasing. Plastering walls does require troweling skills and patience, as you will need to let each layer dry before applying the next. Additionally, modern plasters utilize environmentally sound materials that align with today's eco-conscious consumers.

The following are the five different kinds of wall plasters currently available on the market:

White Venetian — A choice with a "wow" factor. This natural-looking texture is known for...

The first month of 2024 is in the rear view mirror! This January brought us what most Januarys bring us: more inventory. Fewer folks list their homes during the holidays and many make a New Year’s Resolution to sell their second home, investment property or finally make the move in the real estate market. What is special about January 2024 is that it continued the trend of more homes being put on the market. In 2022, 449 new listings were added in January followed by 493 in January 2023 and last month 664 new listings were added. That’s more than a 1/3 more listings than last January! That’s a lot of new years resolutions! 

When thinking about the market, I encourage you to always think ...

When you refinance, you are swapping out your current mortgage loan for a new one. Your lender will need to check your credit reports and credit score and make sure your monthly income is high enough for you to afford your new mortgage payment.

This comes with closing costs. How much you pay will vary, but you can expect to pay from 3% to 6% of your total loan amount in closing fees. Fortunately, you don't have to pay these fees upfront. You can roll them into your mortgage amount at closing, meaning that you'll spread these costs out over the life of your loan.

Closing a refinance can take time. But how can you speed up the process? Take the following steps:

Don't wait to gather your ...

Our goal is to help people achieve their goals. It might surprise you to learn that I help people make the decision to not buy real estate all the time. The time to buy real estate is not always “NOW”. Real estate is a good purchase in any market at any time. However, each person’s circumstances truly matter and we put people over property every time. If you’ve been thinking about buying a home in 2024, here are a few things to consider:

Presidential election year:

I’m not trying talk politics. I’d honestly prefer we didn’t. As a Realtor, we believe in the color purple. There are red and blue problems and I believe in purple solutions. That said, in a presidential election year, there’s...