Do you have commitment issues?  

Do you often experience buyers remorse?

Many buyers who find a house that looks perfect after house-hunting for only a couple of weeks hesitate to make an immediate commitment and write an offer. They want to “make sure they have looked at all available options” before making an offer. Whether you are in a buyer's or seller's market, the best homes usually get snapped up quickly. If you have given careful thought to your buying criteria, when you find a great home that fits those criteria and is well-priced, you may not have much time to think it over without losing it.

Although it is difficult to make such an enormous purchasing decision without at l...

THE SHERLOCK HOLMES EFFECT - THE BUYER'S HOME INSPECTION

Did you know that you can use a Reverse Mortgage to purchase a new home?  

Jerry Garner, Reverse Mortgage Specialist, and I hosted a webinar on how to Retire in Style using a Reverse Mortgage for purchase.

You can watch it below:

What is a Reverse Mortgage?

A REVERSE MORTGAGE (RM) is a type of home equity loan that allows you to borrow against your home while still keeping title to it. It may be an ideal tool if you are a "house-rich, cash-poor" retired person.

Similarly to a "normal" (or forward) mortgage, your home is used as the collateral for the##contactfirstname$$, lender, except that in an RM the lender pays you (and adds the payment or draw, plus interest) to your balance.

Are you (or someone close to you) planning for retirement?  Watch this video!

FREE Webinar- In Cased You Missed it! Charleston, SC Real Estate and Reverse Mortgage Professionals Discuss How to Retire in Style Using a Reverse Mortgage for Purchase.

Do you want to... 

• Live closer to family?  
• Be close to the beach?  
• Move away from cold and snowy winters?
• Play golf year-round?
• Own a one-story home with all the luxury "bells & whistles"?

Do you think you may not have the income or credit score to be able to do it? Think again!

Watch the above video to learn how a Reverse Mortgage for Purchase can help you "retire in style"!

Alan Donald, CEO of The Alan Donald Real Estate ...

Webinar this Saturday, August 17, at 10:00 am EST.

Charleston, SC - August 15, 2013. Alan Donald, CEO of The Alan Donald Real Estate Team at Keller Williams Realty and Jerry Garner, Reverse Mortgage Specialist at TowneBank Mortgage are teaming up to host a free webinar covering the different options that seniors can use to leverage equity in their primary home to buy a retirement/vacation home, swap their current home for a better one or buy an investment property to increase their monthly cash flow.

"Traditionally when people hear of reverse mortgages they think it is just a method to take cash out of their home to help ends meet," said Alan Donald.  "This is not always accurate: Jerry...

Is your family increasing in size? 

Are you having a new baby?

Just get a good promotion?

Watch this video!

Considering upsizing to a new home?

Let me tell you, you are part of 43% of the market that wants to upgrade or upsize your home. However, you are the segment that is hardest hit by the market dynamics at the moment... two fold! One, prices are going up- they have gone up about 12% on average in the U.S. over the last year.  Two, interest rates are going up substantially. 

Let me give you an example of a typical family that wants to upsize and how this has changed from one year to the next.  Here is a family that wanted to buy a $360,000 home last year and would pay a 3.5%...

Top 5 Home Buyer Concerns

Let's face it: The real estate market in the Charleston, SC area has changed substantially! Three years ago it had abundant listings, double-digit absorption rates and very eager sellers. Interest rates were low and going nowhere, and there was little urgency. Home prices were declining and buyers could take their time finding the right home, negotiating the right price and waiting for the market to touch bottom. 

Today the story is completely different: The local real estate market in some areas of the Charleston, SC, metro area (specifically in Mount Pleasant and Daniel Island, SC) are now under-supplied and prices are rising once again.

From our experience,...

Smelly Affairs

The sense of smell is a powerful motivator. When prospective buyers walk into a house, their senses are alert to visual, audio and smell stimuli to form that “first impression” .

It is well known that buyers respond more positively if they smell freshly baking oatmeal cookies instead 
of the lingering odors of mold, cigarette smoke or a household pet. 

Because you are used to some smells, you may not notice odors that visitors are aware of as soon as they walk in the door. Before placing your home for sale, 
ask a friend or neighbor to give it a "sniff test". If they notice any odors, you bet potential buyers are going to notice them too.

So, how do you 
get rid of th...

Why Is My Home Not Selling?

If you have had your home on the market for several months, you may start to wonder why it just isn't moving. How can you encourage buyers to look at your house and introduce new "zest" into the sale?

The first thing to do is to get together with your REALTOR and discuss showing activity and feedback received from buyers and showing agents. Is it the CONDITION of the home? Is it the PRICE? Has it been EASY TO SHOW on short notice? It's a numbers game - the more showings you get, the faster it will sell, if it is priced right. 

CONDITION - Does your home look the very best it can? With many options to choose from, buyers prefer to buy "move-in-ready" homes th...

What Would Your Mother-in-Law Think?

You can bet on it - the KITCHEN is one of the key areas of a home that most buyers will look at to short-list their preferred homes from a long list of available listings. A smart seller will devote time, attention and money to make the kitchen sparkle! Although many buyers want an updated kitchen (solid surface countertops, modern cabinets, stainless steel appliances, etc.), your kitchen does not have to be state-of-the art to be appealing.

Think first impressions: What would you do to impress your mother-in-law if she was coming to visit?

The first step towards enhancing the appeal of your kitchen is giving it a thorough cleaning and tidying up. M...

Why You Should NOT be Present During Your Home Showings!  

Once your home is listed for sale, it may be a difficult thing for you to step aside and let your REALTOR take over. Essentially, once you list the home, it ceases to be "the place you live in" and becomes a "showroom designed to attract buyers".

When prospective buyers arrive, you may be tempted to hang around to point out the hidden cabinet behind the kitchen door, the energy-saving features, the irrigation system or the electronic fence. But your presence most likely will be a hindrance, rather than a plus. If you really wish to sell, it is always best if you and your family leave the house whenever it is being shown!

The ...

USING CREATIVE NEGOTIATIONS

If a Buyer has an 850 Credit Score, 45%  down payment and does not have to sell a home, his/her offer on your home may be a strong one! However, many Buyers are not in this situation. And while as a Seller you would  like to get your asking price, on a cash deal with no contingencies, an experienced listing agent will prepare you for the possibility of receiving offers that involve less than ideal conditions and may require some compromise.


Experienced REALTORS® know how to structure creative offers to try to make an offer work, given that “a bird in the hand is worth more than two in the bush”. If a Buyer is low on cash, your Seller counter-offer may includ...

Keeping the Transaction Together

One of the most critical services a REALTOR can provide, is the ability to "keep the deal together" until closing.

Many Buyers and Sellers believe that, once the contract is signed, it is a binding commitment on both parties and things will flow smoothly to the closing. This is not the case! In a Seller's market where prices are rising, Sellers may receive backup offers for higher price than the first contract they accepted, and are "chomping at the bit" to see the first contract fall through. In a Buyer's market, the Buyers may see another property that offers better value than the one they just wrote a contract on, and may find the way to get out, usin...