First-Time Home Buyers

First-Time Home Buyers

If you are a first time home buyer, your knowledge about the process of buying a home is extremely important. For example, you should know that hiring a real estate attorney to handle your transactions is essential. You may be thinking that an attorney is to way to expensive but look at it this way, compared to the risk of moving forward on your own its worth it. You need someone to represent and give you advice on what is in your best interest and receiving this from an attorney and your agent is vital. Next, when you are looking for a home you should search for a neighborhood that is right for you. When evaluating a neighborhood, you should investigate local conditions. Depending on your particular needs and tastes, some of the following factors may be more important than others: quality of schools, property values, traffic, crime rate, future construction, proximity of schools, employment, hospitals, shops, public transportation, prisons, freeways, airports, beaches, parks, stadiums and cultural activities such as museums, concerts and theaters. If you are a first time home buyer with limited financial resources, it is wise to buy a home that meets your primary needs in the best neighborhood that fits within your price range.

Selling your Home in the Summer

Selling your Home in the Summer

If you want to sell your house, summertime can be the perfect season to do so because during the hot months, your landscaping and outdoor spaces come alive. In today’s market, buyers are looking for extended living areas and love usable outdoor space. Jon Seppala, president of Action Builders says that “backyards and outdoor patios have to be much more substantial than in the past. Built-in-grills, outdoor fireplaces, gazebos—people are looking for these features. We’ve had people who have fallen in love with the house and have decided to buy before they walked in the front door.” Here are some helpful tips to selling your home in the summer:

First, keep your home cool. Have the AC turned up to a comfortable level during showings and open houses. If you live in a region where the AC isn’t needed then open the windows and use fans to create breezes. The reason for this is to keep your prospective buyers focused on your wonderful home and not the humidity. Secondly, as the seller it is your responsibility to keep your yard, landscaping, and pool maintained. Overgrown trees, shrubs, and lawns curb the appeal of your home and can also turn a buyer off. Thirdly, as a courtesy to prospective buyers, you may also consider compiling a list of locally recommended handy men, gardeners, and pool maintenance companies. Finally, staging your home with a thorough cleaning is also important. Power washing decks, patios, and furniture can make dirty items look new again. Also, stage for an “event” and replace worn-out cushions and invest in simple outdoor accessories. Candles, glasses, and even a nice table setting can be the icing on the staging cake. The bottom line is to take full advantage of all your home has to offer and caring for the outdoor living spaces of your home can make or break a summer sale.

7 Reasons Why Now is the Time to Buy

7 Reasons Why Now is the time to Buy

The decision over whether now is a good time to buy real estate is one that is heavily debated. There is no doubt that the current economic conditions make many fell uneasy and very cautious when investing their hard earned money. But if you’re planning to buy a house in the near future, now is the time! Waiting for both housing prices and interest rates to fall may not be a good strategy for potential homebuyers since analysts don’t expect any significant declines in these two most important home-buying factors.

Why Now?

1. Interest Rates are increasing- Interest rates are near a 50-year low, according to housing analysts. Although mortgage rates vary from day to day, the 30-year rate at this level is an attractive inducement for first-time buyers, or buyers who want to either movie up to larger residence, or those trying to down size.

2. 30 Year Mortgage may disappear- As the economic recovery gains momentum; interest rates are expected to increase, making mortgages more expensive. Even a half-percent increase can add up to hundred dollars onto your monthly mortgage, depending on the amount of your loan.

3. Rent Rates increasing- Over the past year, rental rates have been increasing. Those homeowners that have had to sell their home on a short sale or faced foreclosure have had to turn to renting. An increase in renters a stabilization of supply of rental units has caused vacancy rates to diminish and therefore rental rates to increase.

4. Worst of price declines is likely over- Right now, home prices are in a state of fluctuation. They’re rising in some areas and falling in other. But just because homes prices might fall before they rise again shouldn’t keep you from making an offer on a home as long as you find the right house at the right price on the right terms.

5. Less Competition- There may be plenty of lookers at an open house these days, but with a weak sales pace, its proof that there are fewer serious buyers looking to make a deal. That makes it even less likely that you’ll find yourself in a bidding war, also allowing room for negotiation with eager sellers.

6. Larger Inventory- In many places it is taking months to sell a home, creating loads of inventory—from new homes to existing homes to foreclosures. A large selection gives buyers choices and drives down prices.

7. Motivated Home owners desperate to sell- Sellers of existing homes have also been offering attractive incentives for potential home buyers such as warranties, some even offering cash or have included furnishings as a bonus for potential buyers.

With this, there may not be a better time to buy than right now. It’s a buyer’s market, but like everything else in life, the bargain deals won’t last! Owning a home is a great accomplishment, something you can be proud of! So call SC Beach Real Estate today, and we’ll have you in your new home in no time!

Art Expo and Benefit in Surfside

ddlogo Art Expo and Benefit in Surfside


Art Expo and Benefit in Surfside

There will be an Art Expo and Benefit for Joshua DeGruccio at the Dunkin Donuts in Surfside this Wednesday evening from 5:00 PM to 10:00 PM. A portion of the art expo proceeds will be donated to Joshua’s family and to MUSC in Charleston, SC. Joshua was born May 10, 2011 with Hypo plastic Left Heart Syndrome (his aorta and the left side of his heart are too small). He has had two surgeries on his heart already including major open heart surgery on May 17. joshua1 Art Expo and Benefit in SurfsideThis is the first of three major surgeries he will need before he is 5 years old. After spending More than 2 months in MUSC recuperating and fighting two rounds of a serious stomach infection, Joshua is now home with parents and big-brother Adam. joshua3 Art Expo and Benefit in SurfsideA feeding tube was placed in his stomach before leaving MUSC for his food and medications and he has visits with his doctors here and/or in Charleston every week. His next heart surgery will be sometime this fall. For all that he has been through so far in his little life; Joshua is a beautiful baby with a wonderful disposition and personality. He has recovered from his first surgeries and the resulting complications very well. He is growing and gaining weight and will hopefully be taking bottles by mouth soon. He’s a little miracle! So come on out and show your support. Remember, a portion of the art expo proceeds will be donated to Joshua’s family and to MUSC in Charleston, SC.

 Art Expo and Benefit in SurfsideLon1 Art Expo and Benefit in Surfside

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Myrtle Beach Update

This week the Myrtle Beach area is welcoming the month of August with some last minute summer fun! As you may know, it is that time of year again and students everywhere are dreading the words “back to school.” With only a few weeks left families are flocking to the beaches to enjoy the end of summer. Along the Grand Strand there are several festivities happening this weekend that is sure to be a crowd pleaser. This weekend, August 5-7 there will be a Craftsmen’s Summer Classic Arts & Crafts Festival at the Myrtle Beach Convention Center. The festival will feature work by hundreds of talented artists and craftsmen from across the country. There will be something for every style, taste and budget with items from traditional to contemporary, functional to whimsical and decorative to funky. The event will start on Friday from 10 am until 6 pm, and continue on Saturday from 10 am to 6 pm, and on Sunday 11 am until 5pm. Also on Saturday, Bistro 90 will be presenting singer and pianist Liz King who will be entertaining dinner guests in the dinning room. Bistro 90 offers a casual fine dining experience at affordable prices and excellent service! Continuing the summer fun is the ongoing Summerfest at Barefoot Landing! Enjoy fireworks over the lake at 10:15 p.m. and enjoy boardwalk entertainers that will amaze and amuse the entire family. There will also be stilt walkers, magicians, Kids Karaoke, and Nick Pike from America’s Got Talent! So this weekend come on out and enjoy the excitement of the sun, fun, and the beach!

Myrtle Beach is Hot on the Home Market!

Myrtle Beach is Hot on the Home Market!

Recently, MSN.com has listed Myrtle Beach, South Carolina as one of the ten hottest vacation real estate market hot spots. According to the company Clear Capital, Myrtle Beach is one of the best places to find a deal on a vacation home. Tom Maeser, a real estate researcher says that the coastal city is a good place to find low prices, and states that “People are coming in and saying we don’t want a deal. We want a steal.” Maeser also says that “[Visitors] see what a wonderful place it is…they buy an investment property, put it in a rental program. So it’s a good investment.” In Myrtle Beach, the prices for real estate property have dropped and according to MSN.com, there has been a 34.5 percent decrease since the peak in 2006. However, since 2009, prices have only dropped one percent, which shows prices have steadied and this has added stability and potential for prices to rise again. With this in mind, these were major factors that helped Myrtle Beach land a spot on the list.

Upcoming Myrtle Beach Events

This weekend, The Grand Strand is hosting several local events. On Thursday, July 28, 2011, the Carolina Improv Company will present a new audience-interactive improv comedy. Audience members will have the chance to perform their own karaoke songs for the purpose of inspiring the players to create a series of improvised scenes, based on those karaoke tunes. This event will start at 7:30 p.m. at the Uptown Theater located at the Myrtle Beach Mall. On Friday, the famous comedian Bobby Collins will be performing at the Comedy Cabana. Collins has toured with celebrities such as: Cher, Julio Iglesias, Dolly Parton, Tony Bennett and many more! On Saturday, July 30, 2011, Frontiers a Tribute to Journey will be performing at House of Blues in North Myrtle Beach. The concert will feature hits from the famous rock n roll band and will begin around 8:30 p.m and tickets are on sale now!

Myrtle Beach Numbers Are Up

In June, builders broke ground on more single-family homes and apartments than any other month so far this year. The Commerce Department said that builders began work on a seasonally adjusted 629,000 homes last month making a 14.6% increase from May. Apartment construction flourished at 31.8% last month, single-family home construction rose 9.4%, and building permits increased 2.5%. With that said, new homes represent 20% of the housing market and impact a great deal in the economy. Each home built creates an average of three jobs for a year and generates about $90,000 in taxes. Builders are nearly 31% ahead of the 477,000 per-year pace from April 2009.

Builder Confidence Up

According to the National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI) for July builder confidence is up two points! The outlooks that increased most were the sentiments on current sales with the highest jump in confidence in sales over the next six months. Regionally, the index rose one point in the Midwest, three points in the West, and three points in the South, which now has the highest confidence level of all regions. However, the North’s index dropped but is still the second highest in confidence. NAHB Chief Economist David Crowe stated the following: “The strong rebound in sales expectations for the next six months likewise marks a return to trend. Basically, the market continues to bounce along the bottom, with conditions in some locations beginning to improve.”

Myrtle Beach International Airport Traffic

Myrtle Beach International Airport Traffic

The Myrtle Beach International Airport saw a 23% increase in passenger traffic for the month of June compared to the same time last year. The Executive Director for the airport, Mike LaPier discussed the figures with the Horry County Airport Advisory Committee meeting last week. During the meeting, it was revealed that the airport last month saw approximately 102,082 passengers compared to 83,418 passengers in June 2010. LaPier also stated that this year is about 9% ahead of the same period in 2010. Also, during the meeting, Mike Illes, construction manager for the Horry County Department of Airports, updated the committee on the progress of the airport’s terminal expansion project. The project is adding six gates and making that a total of 13 terminals. Illes stated that the project was in budget and is set to be finished in November 2012.

North Myrtle Beach Mini-Golf Tournament

North Myrtle Beach Mini-Golf Tournament

The North Myrtle Beach’s Wal-Mart, will host a Mini-Golf Tournament on July 23, 2011 at 10:00 a.m. at Mayday Golf in North Myrtle Beach. The cost for early registration is $60 and you can also register the day of the event for $75. The registration prices include registration for a team of four people, lunch at sonic after the event, and a swag bag for each team. This is a great family friendly event that will feature special treats for the children, including a visit from Sonic Drive-In’s Tator Tot and the Chick-fil-A Cow! This event will benefit McLeod Children’s Hospital and sponsors for the day will be Mayday Golf, McLeod Children’s Hospital, Children’s Miracle Network Hospital, Sonic, and Wal-Mart.

Myrtle Beach Rentals | Myrtle Beach Condos | Myrtle Beach Real Estate | Myrtle Beach MLS
Office: (843) 492-4411 | Toll Free: (866) 543-9078
Page loaded in 2.428 seconds.

Real Estate Blogsblog listing Top Real Estate blogs