Posts by : Alan Donald

Charleston SC Mid-Year Real Estate Market Update

Highlights
(click graphs & charts to enlarge)

• The Charleston Area is experiencing high growth, and our real estate market is hot. We are in a clear "seller's market" with 3.4 Months of Inventory.
• Median home price is up to $249,500. The cheapest home sold in the last 6 months for $10,000 in Walterboro. The most expensive home sold for $7.51M in Downtown Charleston.
• Selling activity has been brisk: 8,700 homes sold in the first half of the year, up by 10% over 2015.
• The average home in Charleston SC sells in 55 days and for 97% of list price
• The "hottest" areas of Charleston as of June 2016 were: Hanahan, James Island, and N. Charlest...

Events, News & Activities in Charleston, SC - July 2016 Edition

BBQ, Fireworks and Beach are what it's about in July! July is a month for vacations, tourists coming to visit the Holy City, and locals leaving to beat the heat.

But summer heat means great produce! Charleston has some great local farmer's markets where you can get yummy fruits and veggies, shrimp and boiled peanuts.

The most popular one is probably the one at Marion Square downtown each Saturday morning. There's also Monday at Freshfields at Kiawah, Tuesday at Moultrie Middle School in Mount Pleasant, Thursday at Park Circle in North Charleston, Saturday on John's Island on Maybank Highway and Sunday at the Pour House o...

BREXIT! How May This Affect Us?

Frankly, more than a little perplexing! The UK has voted to leave the European Union, after 40 years in it! And from a geopolitical perspective, a bit unsettling. 

This event may have both positive and negative repercussions...

How could this affect us here in the U.S? 

Long term it's hard to say, but short-term one thing is for sure: This move will create UNCERTAINTY and turmoil in the financial markets, as investors will no doubt flee the equity markets and go to safe havens (bonds, gold, etc.)

(You may not want to look at your IRA's and 401K's in the next few months to avoid serious heartburn.)

On the positive side, as demand rises for bonds, mortg...

Build Up Your Equity!

Stop wasting your money on rent! Interest rates are super low! Now's the time to get in on the "ground floor" in Mount Pleasant. This beautiful 1br/ 1 bath condo in the Meridian is conveniently located in the heart of Mount Pleasant. Within walking distance of Towne Center, only minutes from Isle of Palms beach, and very close to the 526 interstate. This is one of the larger 1 bedroom floor plans, on the ground floor.  It has been recently updated with crown molding, stainless steel appliances, freshly painted walls, trim & cabinets, new hardwood laminate floor in bedroom, tiled shower, tiled flooring in living areas and bathroom. The screened-in porch has French do...

Beautiful I'On Home With Loads of Parking!

Beautiful Lowcountry home with master bedroom on ground floor, built on a large lot that backs to green space with fabulous oak trees. The very long driveway allows you to fit all your guests for entertaining. There is also a detached, 2-car garage. With a large kitchen that opens to family room with wood burning fireplace it is the perfect setting for your guests. For more intimate entertaining there is a  separate formal dining area. Large master bedroom with walk-in closet, bathroom with dual vanities and a large shower (basketweave floor) are downstairs. Upstairs there are three more bedrooms, large walk-in storage and two full bathrooms. Re...

Top 5 Tips to Maximize The Space in Your Home

In our line of work we talk about Merchandising a lot. Merchandising is the art of presenting a product so it stands out against its competition, and that’s exactly why home staging is so important. It accomplishes two things:

a) it allows buyers to imagine the home as their own; and 

b) it maximizes the space.

The same techniques can be used to make a home you’re not selling more livable too.

Here are our TOP 5 Tips to Maximize The Space in Your Home: 

1. Fresh paint really does transform and open up a room. Just stick with neutral and light colors because, well...it’s science! Light colors reflect light rather than absorb it.
   
   
2. De-clutte...

Is This Summer The Ideal Time To Sell Your Charleston Home?

This is an opinion article about Charleston real estate and the value of your Charleston home.

If you’ve been following the news, you would have heard that the Federal Reserve is likely to raise interest rates when they meet on June 15th.  It’s been all over the news in these past few weeks. Here are a few of these articles: NY Times   Reuters   Forbes.

This may make it more expensive for people to own a home by raising their mortgage payments. A 1% rate hike decreases buying power by more than 10%, and also reduces the potential pool of buyers for your home, therefore decreasing demand and potentially lowering the market pric...

PRICE REDUCED!
Wake up to real Lowcountry views: This Southern Coastal style home on a premium lot features wonderful views of the pond and surrounding mature trees (including a beautiful live oak).

The home offers privacy at the back (pond) and at the front (HOA open space), and has a favorable east-to-west layout that provides the home with plenty of natural light and allows its owners to enjoy wonderful sunrises that grace the front of the house and beautiful sunsets over the lagoon and the trees in the backyard.

Flexible roomy open plan features a bedroom (or study) and a full bath downstairs, plus 4 bedrooms on the second floor, 3 full bathrooms and a flex space which could be used ...

One Bedroom, Ground Floor Condo

This beautiful 1 bd /1 bath ground floor condo unit in The Meridian is located in the heart of Mount Pleasant. Just a few minutes from the beach at Isle of Palms, close to hospitals and within walking distance to Towne Center Shopping Mall makes it very convenient. This is the larger 1 br. floor plan, with no stairs to walk up! Updates include crown molding, stainless steel appliances, freshly painted walls, trim & cabinets, new hardwood laminate floor in bedroom, tiled shower, tiled flooring in living areas and bathroom.  French doors with built-in blinds open onto the screened-in porch and allow you to enjoy the nice weather. Unit backs to wooded area ...

Charleston Real Estate Market Update - June 2016 Edition

(click graphs to enlarge)

This year's real estate market continues to outperform 2015.

Last year was the first time we ever experienced over 400 properties going under contract in one week, and it happened only 4 times in the whole year. This has already happened 8 times this year and we are only halfway through!

Median sales price is up by 5.3% year-to-date over the same period last year, but look at the graph (click to enlarge) to see what they've done in the last 10 years! Median sales price is now up to $237,000 for the whole MLS area. If we look closer there are 9 specific MLS areas where median sales price is ...

Events, News & Activities in Charleston, SC - June 2016 Edition

It's June here in the Lowcountry and things are starting to heat up. Spoleto Festival USA is still going on for the next couple of weeks, over 100 events between Spoleto (international) and Piccolo Spoleto (local artists only), visit their websites for a full list; www.spoletousa.org or www.piccolospoleto.com.

It's a good thing there is so much to do in Charleston since there are about 43 people moving to the Charleston Metro Area each day!

Kids home? Visiting Charleston? Summer mindset? If you're looking for something to do in the Holy City, here is your June event calendar:

JUNE, 2016 EVENTS

2: Cyndi Lauper, Chas Mus...

Mount Pleasant is BOOMING with new construction projects.   If you are interested in a particular neighborhood we can let you know if they are running any incentives or Spring/Summer promotions! If you have specific questions or would like more information give us a call, 843-900-0155.  We are in the busy season for Charleston real estate! 

Oyster Point - NEWLY RELEASED!  Permits are back and construction is starting on the 3 story townhomes.  Prices start in the low $500K's for the 2031 sqft Moultrie Plan which includes 3 bedrooms, 2/5 bathrooms, and a 3 car garage.  The larger plan, 2205 daft, is called the Hibben is starts in the mid $500K's with 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, and a 3 car g...

Beautiful brick home built on a premium cul-de-sac lot on the marsh. DOCK PERMIT in hand so you can kayak or keep a small boat on Boone Hall Creek!  At night the exterior landscape lighting provides a magical feeling. Inside, lots of upgrades include columns and architectural moldings, high ceilings, a wet bar, a media room (or 4th bedroom) and a sunroom that captures the beauty of the early morning light on the marsh. Nice size kitchen with granite counters, a large sink and stainless steel appliances. Hardwood floors on the main living areas. 

This is a fantastic home to entertain friends, family or business associates, or to live a quiet and private existence.

Call/text 843-900-015...

Great Value - JUST REDUCED!

Looking to move? This house is ready for you! This almost new Angel Oak Plan with 5 bedrooms (one bedroom & a full bath downstairs) has all the upgrades you could want plus more!  It sits on a premium lot with excellent pond view and a fenced in backyard! This home will absolutely wow you! It has a large family room, eat in kitchen, large bedrooms, a screened porch on a beautiful pond view homesite and a 2-car garage. Granite countertops, stainless steel appliances, fireplace, hardwood floors. Walk-in pantry. Room for everyone! 

This home is in one of Mount Pleasant's brand new premier neighborhoods, Oyster Point! Close to schools, hospitals, shopping, plac...

252 Cooper River Drive: One of the Best Views of Charleston Harbor
PRICE REDUCED! BEST DEAL IN THE TIDES!

Buy this luxury, 2-br waterfront condo at The Tides in Mount Pleasant and enjoy all the FREEDOM you always wanted. No more busy weekends and evenings with "honey-do" lists of home maintenance, yard work, home upgrades, roof leaks, termite treatments, lawn mowing or any of the thousands of chores that a single family, detached home generates.

This luxury waterfront condo in the heart of Mount Pleasant is virtually maintenance-free and is located 10 minutes from Downtown Historic Charleston and the beaches.

Wish to travel? Just lock up and go! This condo has extra security features ...

Warrick Oaks, Mount Pleasant

Cool luxury cottages in Old Mount Pleasant.

Welcome to Warrick Oaks, a community of luxury cottages nestled in Old Mt. Pleasant. Each of the 12 single family houses is designed for easy living with standard amenities including a private elevator to all 3 levels, secure garage, three bedrooms with en-suite baths, and a popular open floor plan. Custom features throughout. Gas range. Granite. Gas fireplace and much more...

Call/text 843-900-0155 for current pricing and availability.

It shows that in every area (except for North Charleston and Daniel Island) prices are supposed to rise in the next 2 months.

In a Seller’s Market: Is it Time to Downsize?

A study by Edelman Berland reveals that 33% of homeowners who are contemplating selling their house in the near future are planning to scale down. Let’s look at a few reasons why this might make sense for many homeowners, as the majority of the country is currently experiencing a seller’s market.

In a recent blog, Dave Ramsey, the financial guru, highlighted the advantages of selling your current house and downsizing into a smaller home that better serves your current needs. Ramsey explains three potential financial advantages to downsizing:

1. A smaller home means less space, but it also means less time, stress and money spent on upkeep.
2. L...

Is the Capital Gain Tax Preventing You From Selling?

Do you own an investment property that has appreciated nicely (thank you very much) but you are hesitant to sell it because of the Capital Gains Tax liability it would generate?

Would you like to know HOW you can defer the Capital Gains Tax without interest or penalty?

Take advantage of this HOT SELLER'S MARKET!

Call us or text us on 843-900-0155 to find out more about TWO tax deferment strategies that you may be able to use for better estate planning and tax deferral!

Find out HOW MUCH your property is worth with this easy, free online market value estimator!

Real Estate Market Update January - May 2016