Posts by : Alan Donald

OYSTER POINT SPECIAL - MOUNT PLEASANT: Premium Lot, Loads of Upgrades, Ready NOW!

Immaculate 5 bedroom home built on a premium POND LOT, has a BEDROOM & FULL BATH DOWNSTAIRS, all the UPGRADES you wished for, excellent POND VIEWS, SCREENED IN PORCH and a FENCED BACKYARD! GRANITE counters, kitchen ISLAND, FIREPLACE, HARDWOOD FLOORS, STAINLESS STEEL APPLIANCES, WALK-IN PANTRY. Master and downstairs closets upgraded by CLOSETS BY DESIGN.

What more could you ask for?

OYSTER POINT is the PREMIUM COMMUNITY in Mount Pleasant. Enjoy the 18,000 square foot clubhouse with fitness facilities and function hall equipped with an 80'' screen for movie nights. Or play tennis, jewel lawn or bocce. To re...

Charleston Real Estate Market Update - May 2016 Edition

Our real estate market here is the busiest it’s ever been, busier than 2005-6. Through March we are up 7.3% in transactions over the same period from 2015. And median sales price is up to $235k, which is up about 5% over the same period from 2015. (Click the graphs to view larger images)

Prices are up, so short sales and foreclosures are almost non-existent and we are deeply in a "sellers' market" in most MLS areas.

New construction is abundant in many areas. Buyers can still find new homes in the area with upgrades like granite counters and hardwood floors for under $110 per square foot.

Mortgage rates are still very low. The 15...

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

May is here and the spring weather has been spectacular. May is a big month for Charleston because of the Spoleto Festival USA and it’s sister festival the Piccolo Spoleto. These start in late May and run until June 12.

These festivals offer a vast array of events and are the greatest cultural activity in Charleston SC each year.

The Greek Festival is also another highlight for May.

Kudos to some of our local high schools that won awards from US News and World Report. Academic Magnet High School and Charleston School of the Arts were awarded Gold Medals while Wando High School in Mt Pleasant received a Silver Medal.

Acade...

Dealing With Multiple Offers

In a "hot" market like the Charleston, SC market is in right now, multiple offers have become a common occurrence. The South Carolina Association of Realtors has written a new form to deal with multiple offers, so that listing agents can notify all buyers' agents of a multiple offer situation. In this short video Alan Donald discusses how multiple offers are dealt with. 

Buying New Construction in Mount Pleasant, SC

There are a number of new home developments in Mount Pleasant, most of them located North of IOP Connector. As a matter of fact, in that area 56% (almost 6 out of 10) "pending" transactions are for new construction homes. 

The two largest developments in the area are Oyster Point by DR Horton and Carolina Park (multiple builders). Both developments have a range of products from townhomes (attached) to custom/semi-custom built homes. Other smaller subdivisions like Magnolia Village (Beazer Homes), Tidal Walk (DR Horton), Porchers Preserve (Pulte Homes) and Tupelo (Ryland Homes) are selling swiftly.

One of the main difficulties about buying a...

Who Can Operate a Golf Cart in South Carolina?

by Inspector Chip Googe, Mount Pleasant Police Department

Summer is on the way so we want to take this opportunity to remind everyone about the golf cart laws for the State of South Carolina. If you wish to read the full law, it is listed below:

• The driver must be at least 16 and have a valid driver’s license.

• Golf Cart must be insured.

• Must be registered with the DMV, and have permit.

• Operate on a secondary road where posted speed limit is
35mph or less and within 4 miles of the registered address.

• Can only cross a primary road to get to another secondary
road.

• Can only operate during daylight hours, regardless of...

MOVE-IN READY!  This home was completed last Summer and is basically brand new.  Many high end upgrades and a stunning pond lot!  Enjoy the view from your screened porch or step out onto your deck to do some grilling in the sun. 

This beautiful home has 5 bedrooms (one on the main floor that is not the master) and 3 full bathrooms.

We will be hosting an OPEN HOUSE this Saturday from 11am until 1pm.  Come stop by to say hi and be sure to bring any friends, family, or colleagues looking to move into Oyster Point, one of the hottest neighborhoods in Mount Pleasant! Questions?  Give us a call, 843-900-0155.

See you Saturday!

2216 Dewees Creek Drive

Mount Pleasant, SC

MLS# 16009621...

Move in ready, quick closing possible! Why deal with uncertainties? Don't have to worry about locking in interest rates, completion date, color selections, construction issues or trying to visualize what you are building.

This almost new Angel Oak Plan with 5 bedrooms & FULL bath downstairs has all the upgrades you wish for plus 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! Garage monkey stora...

Charleston Real Estate Market Update - April 2016 Edition

Our real estate market is booming. Activity is extremely high and inventory is low.

Prices are going up, but at a very reasonable pace. Buying activity in January and February was up by 10% over 2015 and prices were up 6.6% year-over-year. Median sales price is above $232,000.

It will be interesting to see if buying activity can exceed the 2005-2006 records.

2015 was the 3rd busiest year ever for us. And 2016 will likely top 2015 (so far 3,500 homes have changed hands in the first three months of the year), but we don’t know if we’ll break the record numbers set in 2005-6.

We would describe the Charleston real estate market ...

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

April is here, the azaleas are in bloom and Charleston is showing its beauty! Summerville just had a boom weekend with its Flowertown Festival. What a great month to take a stroll through Middleton or Magnolia Gardens. It’s truly a must see. We just had 35,000 people in town for the Cooper River Bridge Run. It was a little rainy, but that didn’t really seem to bother anyone. The big events this month are the WTA Volveo Car Open tennis tournament at Daniel Island that goes from April 2-10 and all the house and garden tours. The 69th Annual Festival of Houses and Gardens goes on all month until the 25th. And the farmer’s mark...

I read this article that was sent to me by Bill Sandvig of Movement Mortgage and thought it would be worthwhile sharing.

"We could all use a little good economic news these days, what with the state of the U.S. stock market and financial crises happening all over the globe. Well, it’s our lucky day — we found some great news!

Financial services giant Morgan Stanley has released its financial outlook for 2016, and it’s looking positively rosy. According to their experts, low unemployment, lower household debt, a strengthening dollar with improved purchasing power, and lower energy costs are all contributing to the economic recovery. In fact, numerous financial experts are weighing in wit...

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

March is here, the weather is warming up and so is the event calendar. March will feature the 11th Annual Charleston Food + Wine Festival and Charleston Fashion Week. Get prepared for the Bridge Run, the WTA tennis tournament on Daniel Island, and Flowertown Festival at the beginning of April.

Here is our March calendar of events:

2-6: 11th Charleston Food + Wine Festival

4-6: Bach Festival, First Scots Presbyterian Church

5: Front Beach Fest, Isle Of Palms

6-9: 17th Annual Kiawah Golf Resort National Pro-Am, Ocean Course

8,9: Moves, NY City Ballet, Gaillard Auditorium

10: Leon Russell, Charleston Music Hall

10-13: ...

Charleston Real Estate Market Update - March 2016 Edition

All the great events, restaurants and accolades have put Charleston on the national and international radar, so many people and businesses are moving here. Our real estate market continues to outperform many others and it is on a sustainable growth path, as demand is being generated by employment creation and baby boomers retiring, not by speculation. 

Last year was our 3rd busiest year ever, and our median sales price was the highest ever. We sold over 15,000 homes with a median sales price of $235,000. So far in 2016, each week has been slightly better than the same week from last year. So, this year looks like it may end up be...

How to Estimate Property Taxes for New Construction Homes

The current property tax paid on new construction homes is not an accurate estimate of what a buyer will end up paying, since the tax amount that appears on the public record is just for the LAND, without the improvements

Once a county issues the Certificate of Occupancy and registers the Deed in the buyer's name, they know there what improvements were built on that particular lot, and the assessed value will now be re-assessed to the purchase price for property tax assessment.

If you are or are thinking of building a new home, and are interested in ESTIMATING how much property tax you will pay in your second year, visit this li...

How Are You Going to Hold Title to Your New Home?

Closing attorneys will ask the buyers this question during the document preparation period before the closing.

In South Carolina, the buyers can hold title to their property as “tenants in common” (TIC) or as “joint tenants with right of survivorship” (JTROS).

If two buyers take title as TIC, each buyer will own a one-half interest in the property, and upon the passing of either buyer, his/her 50% interest would go through probate and be disposed of according to their Will. If the buyer dies without a Will, it would go to his/her legal heirs.

If the buyers take title as JTROS, each buyer would own a one-half interest in the property. S...

Events, News and Activities in Charleston, SC

Charleston SC Real Estate Market Update - February 2016

The real estate market in Charleston continues to rage on.  Buying activity was at unprecedented levels through the November through January months, where we normally see a bit of a slowdown.  Click on the image to see full-size graph. 

2016 will surely set many records. The end of the year numbers for 2015 are in and we had a great year indeed! 

• 15,490 homes and condos were sold for a 13.9% rise over 2014 and the 3rd busiest year ever.  
• Seven MLS areas were up over 20%.
• Median sales price rose to an all-time high of $235,000, 5.9% above 2014's.
• Eight MLS areas had median prices that increased more than 10% above 2014. 

Great Price in Mount Pleasant

WOW! Look at this price! 3 bedroom, 2 bath home in the heart of MOUNT PLEASANT on a POND LOT, with hardwood floors and a great master. Only $278,000. First time home buyers - investors - retirees. Call/text 843-900-0155 now to see it TODAY before it's gone! Pics/details at: 
https://www.buyhomesincharleston.com/…/…/residential/16002139