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Overrated Home Features - Top 5

Michael Johnson, Metro Charleston SC (Carolina One Real Estate) — Sat, 25 Jun 2011 14:22:45 -0400

Overrated Home Features - Top 5

Times change - People change! We can all look back on our lives and point to a few things seemed like a good idea at the time, but now seem just plain silly or unattractive. How about parachute pants from the 80's or MC Hammer pants from the early 90's? It is no different when we look at housing.

Yes, there actually was a time when that ugly green stove and that unattractive yellow tile that we still see in homes built in the late 70's and early 80's was a desirable. The trend of popcorn ceilings that we saw with every new home built until the turn of the century is now out of style.

Every buyer is different and each have different taste. Here is a list of what I perceive are the 5 most overrated items that people have paid for in the past but from which buyers today are largely less interested in paying for.

5. Marsh View - although not an item of interest in most of the country because of geography, this has been a big item for those along the southern Atlantic Coast. Now, if you have a tidal creek or body of water associated with the marsh that will allow you access to a lake or "deep water," this can be a huge selling point. But, many people just have the marsh and expect it to add a lot of value to the home. Buyers have gotten wise to the fact that having a marsh view sometimes just means enjoying the sometime rotten smell of bluff mud.

4. Garden Tub - back in the day, a home with a garden tub in the master bath was a luxury that many people (mostly women) had to have. Today, most buyers have come to realize that they never use that wonderful big tub and it just takes up too much space. When building a new home, many buyers have opted for the enlarged shower with several nozzels for water to shoot out from everywhere, which they feel is much more practical.

3. Pool - This use to be a big item for home owners. Now don't get me wrong there is still a good portion of the population that likes having a pool. But, a growing number of people either do not want to pay more for the home because it has a pool, or they are not interested in the pool at all. Why? Liability! The changes in tort lawsuits over the last 20 years has caused many to believe the liability and insurance costs of owning a pool is simply not worth it.

2. More Square Footage - who wouldn't want a bigger house? It's the American Dream! Over the last 50 years our family sizes in America have decreased but our homes have gradually gotten bigger. But, more and more home buyers are learning the hard truth that bigger is not always better. Home buyers are now taking into account the utility of the home (how it is used), the quality of home build, and how much the home will cost to run on a day to day basis (electricity, water, ..etc). Green initiatives that make a home energy efficient are also becoming a bigger concern with each passing year.

1. Golf Course View - I love golf! I'm not very good but I love to play. Because I'm not very good, every time I play I loose about 5 -10 balls (depends on the course). These MIA (missing in action) golf balls usually hit a house or fly into the yards of the people living right on the golf course. I am not alone in my level of play. Golf courses are filled with people like me! Living on a golf course seems like a cool idea but I know a number of people that live on a course that will never do it again because of bad golfers like me. Unless the home is situated in such as way on the golf course as not to get hit, just being on a golf course is losing its draw.

If you have a home anywhere in the Charleston Metro Area and would like to get more information about selling your home, please contact me for a free home evaluation.

I also work with buyers. If you are interested in more information about buying a home please contact me and I would be glad to meet with you or email you a list of homes.

Michael J. Johnson, Realtor, ABR

843-817-5299

Crowfield Plantation Homes For Sale - Goose Creek SC

Michael Johnson, Metro Charleston SC (Carolina One Real Estate) — Thu, 19 May 2011 10:27:01 -0400

Crowfield Plantation Homes For Sale - Goose Creek, SC

108 Margate Circle

$159,750

Welcome to beautiful Crowfield Plantation! This quality home has 3 Bedrooms and 2.5 baths and sits on a larger than average wooded lot at nearly a quarter acre. The home features a formal living room, formal dining, and large family room with a fireplace. The kitchen has updated appliances, all of which are being offered with the home. All 3 bedrooms are located on the upper level. This house is a must see at this price!

Click Here For More Pictures and Information

If you have a home anywhere in the Charleston Metro Area and would like to get more information about selling your home, please contact me for a free home evaluation.

I also work with buyers. If you are interested in more information about buying a home please contact me and I would be glad to meet with you or email you a list of homes.

Michael J. Johnson, Realtor, ABR

843-817-5299

Quotes of the Day -Trials - 12 May 2011

Michael Johnson, Metro Charleston SC (Carolina One Real Estate) — Thu, 12 May 2011 13:34:06 -0400

Quotes of the Day

12 May 2011

"A gem cannot be polished without friction, nor a man perfected without trials." - Lucius Annacus Seneca

"Our trials, our sorrows, and our grieves develop us." - Orison Sweet Marden

"Trials teach us what we are; they dig up the soil, and let us see what we are made of" - Charles Spurgeon

Photo by George Stojkovic

Seven Reasons to Sell Your Home, For Sale By Owner (FSBO)!?

Is Now the Right Time?

How to Buy a New Construction House

If you have a home anywhere in the Charleston Metro Area and would like to get more information about selling your home, please contact me for a free home evaluation.

I also work with buyers. If you are interested in more information about buying a home please contact me and I would be glad to meet with you or email you a list of homes.

Michael J. Johnson, Realtor, ABR

843-817-5299

Buyers and Sellers Beware Your Use of Social Media

Michael Johnson, Metro Charleston SC (Carolina One Real Estate) — Tue, 19 Apr 2011 11:24:24 -0400

Excellent blog post by Elizabeth and William Spear from Ohio. In this new world of social media, it has become easier to stay connected with both good and bad results. If you are in the process of selling or buying a home, self censor your social media posts.

Via Liz and Bill Spear RE/MAX Elite Warren County Ohio: Cincinnati to Dayton (513.265.3004 www.LizTour.com):

Buyers and Sellers Beware Your Use of Social Media

Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter and a host of other platforms have connected us in ways our parents would have never dreamed of! Immediate connections and sharing of information, and maybe some info we'd just as soon NOT know!

But in all that sharing of information, you need to consider that it's just not your friends who might be looking, especially if you're in the midst of buying or selling a home! Depending on your privacy settings, you might be sharing information that will actually harm your negotiating position. As agents, we're always mindful that our social output affects both ourselves and potentially our clients.

If you're a seller, your name is EASY to find on public records searches, and depending on whether the residential property disclosures are online with the home, the buyers won't have to look far.

And it's easy for the buyers to check LinkedIn, Spokeo.com, Facebook, etc. to look for leverage. Hmm....you DID work for Company X who just announced 500 people being laid off? Facebook status update about how excited you are to move to San Antonio? Perhaps a court search indicates that a divorce is imminent? Obviously some of these things you CAN'T control, but it's a small world and getting smaller fast. You never know when one of your 237 Facebook friends may also be friends with your prospective buyer and tipping them off to what's going on with you!

And the buyer, well they get the benefit of a little more privacy UNTIL the offer is written. And unless their name is along the lines of John Smith, the seller can now check them out in the same way....we know it happens, because during a recent deal our seller knew the buyer's occupation and where they were moving from.

So if you're looking to buy or sell a home, you might want to self-censor your social media involvement until you're through the process. Your real friends will understand!

You just never know who's reading!

Serving Warren County's residential real estate needs,
Liz and Bill aka BLiz

The Liz Spear Team
Elizabeth & William Spear
RE/MAX Elite
Two locations: Lebanon & Mason, OH
Office direct: 513-248-3660
Liz direct: 513-265-3004
Fax: 866-302-8418

MailTo: Liz@LizSpear.com Visit: http://www.LizTour.com

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If you have a home anywhere in the Charleston Metro Area and would like to get more information about selling your home, please contact me for a free home evaluation.

I also work with buyers. If you are interested in more information about buying a home please contact me and I would be glad to meet with you or email you a list of homes.

Michael J. Johnson, Realtor, ABR

843-817-5299

Wordless Wednesday - Southern Bloom

Michael Johnson, Metro Charleston SC (Carolina One Real Estate) — Wed, 06 Apr 2011 20:26:32 -0400

Wordless Wednesday

Southern Bloom

Photo take at Azalea Park in Summerville SC during the town's annual Flowertown Festival.

Seven Reasons to Sell Your Home, For Sale By Owner (FSBO)!?

Is Now the Right Time?

How to Buy a New Construction House

Who is Seeing What? - Goose Creek Real Estate Showings Report

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If you have a home anywhere in the Charleston Metro Area and would like to get more information about selling your home, please contact me for a free home evaluation.

I also work with buyers. If you are interested in more information about buying a home please contact me and I would be glad to meet with you or email you a list of homes.

Michael J. Johnson, Realtor, ABR

843-817-5299

How to Buy a New Construction House

Michael Johnson, Metro Charleston SC (Carolina One Real Estate) — Tue, 05 Apr 2011 20:39:48 -0400

How to Buy a New Construction House

New construction is a very appealing option to many buyers in today's market. It can be a little less expensive, especially in this market, to buy as apposed to a re-sale. Why? Because many builders can afford to reduce their prices and still make a profit whereas home owners who bought their home 3-5 years ago may not have the equity to drop their price as needed.

BUT.........

....there are several things you need to consider and questions you need to ask before you sign on the dotted line.

1. Am I Comparing Apples to Apples - by this I mean, are you making a proper comparison with the re-sale and the new construction house. Don't be fooled by the new construction ad that is equivalent in square footage and to the re-sale home but has a much lower price. More often than not that is a base model home that will require much more financing to possibly get the house to what you would like it to be. i.e. granite counter tops, wood floors, crown molding, etc.

2. Are the Neighborhoods Comparable - with this I am not talking about who lives in the neighborhood but rather what does the neighborhood look like. Many times a builder will come though and wipe out most if not all of the trees and then start building spec. homes. Most people want at least a little vegetation around them and older established neighborhoods are the ones that often offer this. Also, what are the amenities offered? Parks, walking trails, tennis courts, and community pool are all things you may or may not find in new construction areas. Always ask the question, "What is my HOA dues paying for?"

3. What Construction Phase is the Community in? Many neighborhoods build several phases over an extended period of time. It is important to know about how long the builder has until he completes the community. Why? Because it may determine how long you will need to stay in the home before you are able to sell it. If you are one of the first homes built in a neighborhood that will take 5 years or more to complete, plan on staying the duration. The last person you want to compete with when selling your home is the builder who can build the same plan for less money.

4. Don't Eat up Your Equity Before You Move In! The trap many buyers fall into is the lure of the really low priced new construction home only to find that when all the upgrades are added into the home they have paid much more than they originally wanted to pay. Set a limit on the amount you plan to use for upgrades and stick to them. Also note that there are many things that you may find cheaper to purchase from an outside source. i.e., kitchen appliances. In addition ask to tour the design center before making a purchase. Many new construction companies will have no problem with you doing this. This will give you an idea of what to expect.

5. The New Construction Agent is Not on Your Side! The agent that works for the builder is usually a nice person and although they mean you no harm, they are not your buddy and they are not working for you. Their job is to lookout for the builder. If only there were a way for you to have representation and not have to pay for it...hmmm.....oh wait there is a way!

Find your friendly neighborhood Realtor and ask them to go with you to ensure you are properly represented, and in most cases it is at no cost to you. Most builders will gladly pay our service fees so that you are properly represented. Most have one catch - you must either mention that you have a Realtor at first meeting or bring your Realtor with you at first meeting. Don't be fooled by the widely propagated myth that you will get a better deal without a Realtor. The only thing you will get by not having a Realtor is a lot of headache and quite possibly a higher mortgage payment every month.

For more tips on buying a new construction home or a re-sale home, contact Michael Johnson with Carolina One Real Estate.

Other Related Blogs:

Seven Reasons to Sell Your Home, For Sale By Owner (FSBO)!?

Is Now the Right Time?

Crowfield Plantation Real Estate 2010

Who is Seeing What? - Goose Creek Real Estate Showings Report

If you have a home anywhere in the Charleston Metro Area and would like to get more information about selling your home, please contact me for a free home evaluation.

I also work with buyers. If you are interested in more information about buying a home please contact me and I would be glad to meet with you or email you a list of homes.

Michael J. Johnson, Realtor, ABR

843-817-5299

Who is Seeing What? - Goose Creek Real Estate Showings Report

Michael Johnson, Metro Charleston SC (Carolina One Real Estate) — Mon, 04 Apr 2011 12:33:29 -0400

Goose Creek Real Estate Showings Report

Is your house being shown? If not, why not? These are a few of the most important questions a seller in today's market can ask. Very few homes are sold without being shown. All buyers like to preview a home before even considering making an offer. It is easy to simply tell ourselves that we are in a "bad market" and that buyers are simply not looking at homes. But, as the graph below show, that is simply not true.

What are buyers looking at? The graph below illustrates that in the first quarter of 2011 there are buyers still looking to buy in Goose Creek South Carolina. The graph breaks the price range in increments of $20K up to $250,000. As you can see the largest percentage of buyers are looking at the two price brackets of $120K-$160K. If you have or had a house in the price range in Goose Creek but had no showings in the first quarter of 2011, here are a few reasons why that could be:

Bad pictures or not enough pictures in the Multiple Listing Service.
Location - is your house in a perceived less than desirable location. (Price may need to be adjusted to compensate.)
Price Per Square is too high - low square footage in a given price bracket will deter buyers from looking at your home.
Curb Appeal and Condition - many buyers drive by a home before asking their agent to show the home to get a feel for the neighborhood and to get a first impression of the home. The exterior of your home is the first impression that turn some buyers off.

Summary - 1/1/2011 - 4/5/2011

Total Between
$0.00 And
$250,000.00

Number Of Showings

For This Report
% At Price Level

Monthly
Avg

Weekly
Avg

Showings
Per Listing

Monthly % Inc/Dec

Prior Month Showings

3829

1238.3

285.1

6.8

Price Analysis

Price Range

Number Of Showings

For This Report
% At Price Level

Monthly
Avg

Weekly
Avg

Showings
Per Listing

< $20,000

502

13.1

162.3

37.4

4.7

$20001 To $40000

137

3.6

44.3

10.2

6.5

$40001 To $60000

417

10.9

134.9

31.1

8.5

$60001 To $80000

280

7.3

90.6

20.9

5.7

$80001 To $100000

443

11.6

143.3

33.0

8.1

$100001 To $120000

291

7.6

94.1

21.7

5.1

$120001 To $140000

522

13.6

168.8

38.9

6.9

$140001 To $160000

551

14.4

178.2

41.0

7.2

$160001 To $180000

280

7.3

90.6

20.9

6.5

$180001 To $200000

100

2.6

32.3

7.4

4.2

$200001 To $220000

106

2.8

34.3

7.9

4.8

$220001 To $240000

138

3.6

44.6

10.3

6.3

$240001 To $260000

1.6

20.1

4.6

5.6

TOTAL

3829

100.0

If you are considing putting your home on the market or if you have tried unsuccessfully to sell you home and would still like to sell, give me a call at 843-817-5299. I arm my clients with reports like these so they can make informed decisions about selling in today's market.

Other Related Blogs:

Goose Creek Homes Sold

10 Reasons Why Your Home Did Not Sell (2010)

Seven Reasons to Sell Your Home, For Sale By Owner (FSBO)!?

Is Now the Right Time?

Crowfield Plantation Real Estate 2010

If you have a home anywhere in the Charleston Metro Area and would like to get more information about selling your home, please contact me for a free home evaluation.

I also work with buyers. If you are interested in more information about buying a home please contact me and I would be glad to meet with you or email you a list of homes.

Michael J. Johnson, Realtor, ABR

843-817-5299

Do buyers need real estate agents?

Michael Johnson, Metro Charleston SC (Carolina One Real Estate) — Tue, 29 Mar 2011 15:32:15 -0400

This is an excellent post by Kathleen Moriarty, a real estate agent in Dobbs Ferry, NY. Do buyers need an agent? This post explains why.

Via Kathleen Moriarty (Better Homes and Gardens - Rand Realty):

In one of my recent blogs (http://activerain.com/blogsview/2193545/do-real-estate-salespeople-make-tons-of-money-), I debunked the myth that real estate professionals are millionaires. However, salespeople are paid a commission to do whatever it is they do. Both sellers and buyers often want to buy or sell a home themselves; why do they need an agent?

Sellers wonder what salespeople could possibly do that's worth paying for; after all, don't agents just throw the property in MLS and then unlock the doors so buyers can take a look?

And buyers sometimes assume if they just go to enough open houses, they'll find the home they want, place an offer, get a mortage and move in. Nothing else is required, is it?

I'm going to focus today on the buyer side of the equation only.   What specifically does an agent for the buyer actually do to earn their share of commission? Obviously, a buyer agent supports the buyer (you) and represents your interests; they maintain confidences, and provide loyalty and care. How hard could that be? Is this really more meaningful than making arrangements to open a door of a vacant home? The answer is Yes!!!

Understanding your true needs: First, any good buyer agent will need to find out exactly what you want, not just at a high level, such as your need for a 3 bedroom/2 bath condo for $500K. But a buyer agent will want to know, when you close your eyes and picture yourself in your new home, what is the vision in your head?

Do you want a sunny spot for a garden?

Do you want a back yard, and should it be fenced?

Do you need space for visiting in-laws, and do you want that space right near your room, or far away in the basement?

Are you a chef who requires a world-class kitchen or would a small efficiency kitchen work fine?

Are you in a rush to purchase because you want to be in your home before the kids start school in September, or are you willing to take your time to find the "perfect" house?

How much are you pre-qualified for? If you're not pre-qualified, do you have an expert that can help, or do you need one?

Regardless of your pre-qualification status, how much are you really comfortable spending, since that may be a different amount.

Do you want a fireplace? A pool?

Do you have a limit to what you wish to pay in taxes, utilities, and other charges?

The list goes on. It's our job to figure out exactly what would make you happy.

Finding and viewing potential matches: Sure, you could do a realtor.com, trulia.com or zillow.com lookup by yourself. But agents have access to a lot of information such as history of the home - has it been for sale before? Has the price recently been reduced or increased? What are the actual taxes? Are there any developments or building issues going on in the location you wish to move to? We'll work to select only those properties that are worth your time to view, and then we'll call and schedule and cancel and reschedule the appointments as necessary. We'll also preview the properties ourselves to make sure they're going to meet your needs. And then of course we'll take you to see them. We'll explain the particular benefits, and the potential downfalls for each home. We'll listen to your likes and dislikes so we can better target future showings. And then we'll repeat the process as often as possible until we find the right home for you.

Validating the information: If you're looking at a co-op or condo, we'll verify the fees with the management company. What is the fee for maintenance? Does that include taxes? What % of that fee is tax deductible? Is there a parking fee? Are there assessments? If yes, when do they start and end, and how much are they? When was the last one? If you're looking at a single family home, we'll validate all information. What are the town/state and village taxes?   We'll verify the square feet with the town records. Any data points that we have will be validated and clarified if necessary.

Putting in an offer:   We'll make sure you have all the data you need to come up with a great offering price. We'll gather comparables so you'll know what similar homes recently sold for. We'll fill out the necessary paperwork, contact the seller's agent to make sure there haven't been any last minute changes, and we'll submit the offer. And then we'll negotiate on your behalf. We'll let you know what contigencies you should consider, and will ensure your offer includes them.

Completing the purchasing process: Once we have an accepted offer, we'll do all the work required to make the rest of your buying process simple. If you don't have your own, we'll provide you with names of expert real estate lawyers, home inspectors, mortgage brokers, and anyone else you need to finalize your transaction.   We'll obtain all documentation from the management company if you're buying a co-op, and we'll walk you through all the documentation requirements. We'll ensure appraisers have access to the home, we'll do whatever we can to ensure contracts are completed expeditiously and we'll hold your hand until you're at the closing table and have signed your documents.

In a nutshell, buying a home can be incredibly complicated. The buyer's agent job is to make a potentially very difficult process extremely simple and to make sure your dream home doesn't escape from your grasp.

Kathleen Moriarty

914-419-0270 (cell)

www.kathleenmoriarty.com

If you have a home anywhere in the Charleston Metro Area and would like to get more information about selling your home, please contact me for a free home evaluation.

I also work with buyers. If you are interested in more information about buying a home please contact me and I would be glad to meet with you or email you a list of homes.

Michael J. Johnson, Realtor, ABR

843-817-5299

photo compliments of www.greatersummerville.com

Flowertown Festival 2011 - Summerville SC

Michael Johnson, Metro Charleston SC (Carolina One Real Estate) — Tue, 29 Mar 2011 15:11:39 -0400

Flowertown Festival 2011

Summerville, SC

April 1st-3rd

One of the sure signs that spring is upon us here in the Metro Charleston SC area is the blossoming of the many azalea flowers and the festival that celebrates this - The Flowertown Festival. The Flowertown Festival is held every year in Summerville, SC and has been for nearly 40 years. The festival was started to raise money for the local YWCO (Young Women's Christian Organization). The festival has expanded from its humble beginning back in 1973 to a large and much anticipated event that is now considered among the top 20 events in the southeast. Today the festival is sponsored by the Summerville chapter of the YMCA and features games, rides, food, crafts, and other various booths.

This year the festival will begin on Friday April 1, 2011 with hours of 9am-5pm. The festival will continue on Saturday from 9am-5pm and then conclude on Sunday with hours of 9am-4pm. The Flowertown festival is held on South Main Street in downtown Summerville and Azalea Park. The street is closed to traffic during that time.

For more on the Flowertown Festival, visit their website by clicking this link.

Search Summerville Homes Under $300K

Other Blogs:

The Ponds - Summerville SC

Wescott Plantation - Summerville, SC - Market Report

Crowfield Plantation Goose Creek SC

If you have a home anywhere in the Charleston Metro Area and would like to get more information about selling your home, please contact me for a free home evaluation.

I also work with buyers. If you are interested in more information about buying a home please contact me and I would be glad to meet with you or email you a list of homes.

Michael J. Johnson, Realtor, ABR

843-817-5299

Isle of Palms, South Carolina -Charleston Beaches

Michael Johnson, Metro Charleston SC (Carolina One Real Estate) — Thu, 17 Mar 2011 21:03:56 -0400

Isle of Palms, SC

One of the many great things about living in the Metro Charleston SC Area is the numerous beautiful beaches in the area. The main shore of the Charleston metro is protected by barrier islands. These barrier islands wrap around the coastline of South Carolina making for the great beaches we enjoy.

One of the more popular beaches is the Isle of Palms. The Isle of Palms is a barrier island just to the east of Mount Pleasant. Isle of Palms has a small town fill to it with several small businesses. Most of the island is filled with beach homes that are sometimes used for primary residence, but most likely used as seasonal beach rentals, or time shares.

The beach area has a lifeguard area during the summer near the County Park. The County Park has some great resources for beach-goers such as a changing area, outdoor showers, bathrooms, and parking. Another popular hangout is the Windjammer. The Windjammer is a great spot for local 20 and 30 somethings to hand out, enjoy some music, and play volleyball. Several popular bands got their start here (Hootie and the Blowfish) and every now and then return on occasion for performances.

Search Isle of Palms Homes Under 1 Million Dollars

Other Recent Blogs:

Charleston SC Homes Sold Statistics Jan 2011

How to Price a Home in Today's Market

Mount Pleasant SC Homes Sold Stats 2010

If you have a home anywhere in the Charleston Metro Area and would like to get more information about selling your home, please contact me for a free home evaluation.

I also work with buyers. If you are interested in more information about buying a home please contact me and I would be glad to meet with you or email you a list of homes.

Michael J. Johnson, Realtor, ABR

843-817-5299

Goose Creek Homes Sold

Michael Johnson, Metro Charleston SC (Carolina One Real Estate) — Mon, 14 Mar 2011 19:59:11 -0400

Goose Creek Homes Sold

Here is a market comparison report of January and February of 2011 and 2010. As you can see the Goose Creek market is pretty much on par with 2010 with regards to the number of homes sold. But, the dollar value of homes sold has dropped. This is due to home prices dropping nationwide as well as our local market. Today's market takes a proactive approach to selling. We must me proactive in determining the price, conditioning the house correctly, and marketing. I fully expect to see the market increase come spring. If you are considering selling your home in Goose Creek in the next year or so, now is the time to ready yourself.

Market Comparison Statistics Report

City:GOOSE CREEK

	JAN	FEB
Comp 2011 S:	30	40
Ref 2010 S:	25	43
% Change S:	20.00%	-6.97%

Dollar Volume of Sold Listings

	2011	2010	Diff	% Chg
JAN	$4,386,551	$3,915,258	-$471,293	12.03%
FEB	$4,132,067	$7,005,564	$2,873,497	-41.01%

Other Related Blogs:

10 Reasons Why Your Home Did Not Sell (2010)

Seven Reasons to Sell Your Home, For Sale By Owner (FSBO)!?

Is Now the Right Time?

Crowfield Plantation Real Estate 2010

If you have a home anywhere in the Charleston Metro Area and would like to get more information about selling your home, please contact me for a free home evaluation.

I also work with buyers. If you are interested in more information about buying a home please contact me and I would be glad to meet with you or email you a list of homes.

Michael J. Johnson, Realtor, ABR

843-817-5299

How Money Works - Zan Monroe

Michael Johnson, Metro Charleston SC (Carolina One Real Estate) — Mon, 07 Mar 2011 09:53:35 -0500

Last week I sat in on an office training session. It was a bit unusual because the training session was strictly audio. A CD was played from a recent Ninja Conference in Colorado in which the final speaker was Zan Monroe. I've had the privilege of seeing Zan speak live a few times, so although it felt a bit awkward to huddle around a CD player with other agents, I knew it would be good.

Zan Monroe has recently released a book entitled "How Money Works" and he spoke about it during this training session. He said that his mother taught him many life lessons and gave him 7 key points about money that I thought were fantastic nuggets of truth:

You are Your 1st Investment. Invest in you mind. In ten years your world will be the same except 1) the people you meet; 2) The Places you go; 3) What you read.
Do What You Enjoy! You'll be good at it. - "Talent does what it can, genius does what it must."
As a Man Thinketh So is He - we are all "root bound." This means that much like a potted plant, our roots can only grow to the level of our own confinement.
Spend Less That You Earn - "Money is Frozen Productive Work."
Capitalism & Freedom - Free Enterprise allows you the freedom to be successful.
Profit is Better Than Wages - Income-Expenses = Profit
Real Estate is the Only Real Investment - real estate has a proven larger return on investment that the stock market in the long run.

Other Recent Blogs:

Charleston SC Homes Sold Statistics Jan 2011

Crowfield Plantation Real Estate 2010

Mount Pleasant SC Homes Sold Stats 2010

If you have a home anywhere in the Charleston Metro Area and would like to get more information about selling your home, please contact me for a free home evaluation.

I also work with buyers. If you are interested in more information about buying a home please contact me and I would be glad to meet with you or email you a list of homes.

Michael J. Johnson, Realtor, ABR

843-817-5299

Search Mount Pleasant Homes

Quotes of the Day - 1 Mar 2011 - Self Awareness

Michael Johnson, Metro Charleston SC (Carolina One Real Estate) — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 13:52:31 -0500

Quotes of the Day

Self Awareness

1 March 2011

"Everything that irritates us about others can lead us to an understanding of ourselves." - Carl Jung

"Man is least himself when he talks in his own person. Give him a mask, and he will tell you the truth." - Oscar Wilde

"Appreciation is like looking through a wide-angle lens that lets you see the entire forest, not just the one tree limb you walked up on." - Sara Paddison

Other Recent Blogs:

Why a HAFA Short Sale?

How to Price a Home in Today's Market

Search Goose Creek Homes

Search Summerville Homes

If you have a home anywhere in the Charleston Metro Area and would like to get more information about selling your home, please contact me for a free home evaluation.

I also work with buyers. If you are interested in more information about buying a home please contact me and I would be glad to meet with you or email you a list of homes.

Michael J. Johnson, Realtor, ABR

843-817-5299

South Carolina Wildlife Expo in Charleston

Michael Johnson, Metro Charleston SC (Carolina One Real Estate) — Thu, 17 Feb 2011 15:36:01 -0500

South Carolina Wildlife Expo in Charleston 2011

Looking for something to do this weekend in Charleston? The South Carolina Wildlife Expo will be here on February 18-20 2011, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. There are a ton of events each day. These include:

The Ducks Unlimited Oyster Roast

Busch Wildlife Sanctuary Show at Gaillard Auditorium

Fly Fishing Demo

Retriever Demonstration (Duck Dogs)

Cue Camp with BlackJack BBQ

Birds of Prey Flight Demo

Most of these events have a price tag associated with them so be sure and check out the website at www.sewe.com

If you are in the area and decide like many people that you would love to live here, give me a call (843-817-5299) or send me an email. I'd be happy to send you a list of homes in the Charleston area that fit your criteria.

Other Recent Blogs:

Charleston SC Homes Sold Statistics Jan 2011

Crowfield Plantation Real Estate 2010

Mount Pleasant SC Homes Sold Stats 2010

If you have a home anywhere in the Charleston Metro Area and would like to get more information about selling your home, please contact me for a free home evaluation.

I also work with buyers. If you are interested in more information about buying a home please contact me and I would be glad to meet with you or email you a list of homes.

Michael J. Johnson, Realtor, ABR

843-817-5299

HAFA Short Sale Chart

Michael Johnson, Metro Charleston SC (Carolina One Real Estate) — Wed, 16 Feb 2011 12:37:58 -0500

AFA Short Sale Process

HAFA (Home Affordable Foreclosure Alternatives) is a program that was initiated by the government for Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and US Treasury homes that need to do short sale. Below is a flow chart that helps the home owner and the real estate agent through the process of dong a HAFA short sale.

Here are a few definitions that will make this chart easier to understand:

Servicer - the company to which the borrower makes payments.
SSA (Short Sale Agreement) - the agreement outlines the roles and responsibilities of the servicer and borrower and provides key marketing terms.
RASS (Request for Approval of Short Sale) - the documents that the borrower submits to the servicer to request approval of a short sale contract based on a previously issued SSA.
HAMP - Home Affordable Modification Program

For more information about HAFA short sales in the Charleston, SC real estate market, please give me a call or send me an email. I'd be happy to sit down with you to determine if you qualify for this program.

Other Recent Blogs:

Why a HAFA Short Sale?

Charleston SC Homes Sold Statistics Jan 2011

How to Price a Home in Today's Market

Crowfield Plantation Real Estate 2010

If you have a home anywhere in the Charleston Metro Area and would like to get more information about selling your home, please contact me for a free home evaluation.

I also work with buyers. If you are interested in more information about buying a home please contact me and I would be glad to meet with you or email you a list of homes.

Michael J. Johnson, Realtor, ABR

843-817-5299

Why a HAFA Short Sale?

Michael Johnson, Metro Charleston SC (Carolina One Real Estate) — Wed, 09 Feb 2011 15:31:26 -0500

Why a HAFA Short Sale?

Once you understand what a HAFA Short Sale is, you next questions should be "Why should I use a HAFA Short Sale." What are the advantages to me?

Advantages - If you qualify for a HAFA short sale on your home, the advantages over a conventional short sale are many. These include:

Seller's receive $3,000 toward relocation assistance.
Sellers are released of all liability on 1st and subordinate liens.
The Short Sale is Pre-Approved. This is important because now you no longer have to feel like you are shooting in the dark.
Purchase agreements are approved or denied within 10 business days (10-30 days realistically). The short sale must be approved if it meets the pre-approved terms.
The foreclosure sale must be suspended a)while eligibility is determined, b)the property is marketed, or c)closing is pending.
Sellers cannot be required to sign a note or pay any additional amounts to satisfy liens.

What banks are participating in HAFA? Home loans owned by Fannie Ma e or Freddie Mac are eligible to participate in the HAFA program (other eligibility requirements are involved). Click Here to find out if your home is owned by either Fannie or Freddie.

For more information on the HAFA program visit. www.makinghomesaffordable.gov

Other Recent Blogs:

What is a HAFA Short Sale

Charleston SC Homes Sold Statistics Jan 2011

Crowfield Plantation Real Estate 2010

Mount Pleasant SC Homes Sold Stats 2010

If you have a home anywhere in the Charleston Metro Area and would like to get more information about selling your home, please contact me for a free home evaluation.

I also work with buyers. If you are interested in more information about buying a home please contact me and I would be glad to meet with you or email you a list of homes.

Michael J. Johnson, Realtor, ABR

843-817-5299

What is a HAFA Short Sale

Michael Johnson, Metro Charleston SC (Carolina One Real Estate) — Tue, 08 Feb 2011 11:57:45 -0500

What is a HAFA Short Sale

Before 2008 very few real estate agents knew what a short sale actually was. We didn't have too. The expectation before then was if you buy a house, a few years later you should be able to make enough money to pay off the loan, pay a real estate agent to market the home, and usually have good amount of money left over to put in the bank. Well, times have changed. The dip in the economy, including real estate, has made the term short sale a necessary evil.

What is a short sale? A short sale occurs when a seller must sell their home due to a recent hardship, but the market value of the home is below what is owned to a lender. A stipulation to selling the property at a price that is below the owed amount requires "third party approval." In most situations, the third party is the bank.

Problem! Over the last few years, most short sales have been more of a headache than a viable alternative. Why? Banks are not set up to loose money. The structure of the banks' collection department rarely had any incentive to see a short sale through and every bank had a different process.

The bureaucracy within the structure of many banks gave more incentive to executives within the collections department to drag out the process in hopes of getting a better offer, and/or allow the house to go to foreclosure. All the while, the seller had no idea what the bank would accept. If the bank rejected the offer and time expired on the sellers, the house would then be transferred from the collections department to the foreclosure department. This allowed the collection department executives to no longer have an overdue collection on their department's books making that department's numbers look good. That all is suppose to change with the introduction of HAFA.

What is HAFA? HAFA (Home Affordable Foreclosure Alternatives) is a program that began in April 2010 that is designed to add uniformity and standardization to the short sale procedure. Under HAFA, short sales can be preapproved on the first mortgage only, documentation is standard, and specific time lines are set for approval and closing.

For more information on the HAFA program visit. www.makinghomesaffordable.gov

Other Recent Blogs:

Why a HAFA Short Sale?

Charleston SC Homes Sold Statistics Jan 2011

How to Price a Home in Today's Market

Crowfield Plantation Real Estate 2010

Mount Pleasant SC Homes Sold Stats 2010

If you have a home anywhere in the Charleston Metro Area and would like to get more information about selling your home, please contact me for a free home evaluation.

I also work with buyers. If you are interested in more information about buying a home please contact me and I would be glad to meet with you or email you a list of homes.

Michael J. Johnson, Realtor, ABR

843-817-5299

Charleston SC Homes Sold Statistics Jan 2011

Michael Johnson, Metro Charleston SC (Carolina One Real Estate) — Thu, 03 Feb 2011 08:41:54 -0500

Charleston SC Homes Sold Statistics

Jan 2011

Below are the Market Statistics and Sold Terms for homes that were sold in January 2011 in the metro Charleston SC real estate market. There are a few things that are interesting to note about this graph.

The first thing that jumps out at me are the number of conventional loans that are being used to buy homes as opposed to FHA. These numbers are based on all sales in the three major counties; Charleston, Berkeley, and Dorchester. The primary appeal of an FHA loan over Conventional is the low 3.5% downpayment of an FHA loan. Many people are forgoing the lower down payment of an FHA loan so that they can, in most cases, avoid paying mortgage insurance (MIP). The Convential loan does usually require a larger down payment. These numbers vary a little when broken down by county and city but the percentages are about the same with Conventional loans being the dominant loan.

Another interesting note is the difference in the Average List Price to the Average Sold Price in a few of the loan types. As you can see Cash loans and Seller Financed homes take the biggest dip in price. There is always negotating power when offering cash over financing. In January of 2011 the List Price to Sold Price of homes sold with Cash dropped by an average of nearly $26K, and homes sold with Seller Financing dropped on average of nearly $36K. In contrast, homes sold using an FHA loan only dropped on average about $5K from list price to sold price.

Other Recent Blogs:

How to Price a Home in Today's Market

Crowfield Plantation Real Estate 2010

Mount Pleasant SC Homes Sold Stats 2010

Crowfield Plantation Real Estate 2010

If you have a home anywhere in the Charleston Metro Area and would like to get more information about selling your home, please contact me for a free home evaluation.

I also work with buyers. If you are interested in more information about buying a home please contact me and I would be glad to meet with you or email you a list of homes.

Michael J. Johnson, Realtor, ABR

843-817-5299

Funny Quotes of the Day - 30 Jan 2011

Michael Johnson, Metro Charleston SC (Carolina One Real Estate) — Sun, 30 Jan 2011 09:57:25 -0500

Funny Quotes of the Day

30 Jan 2011

"A lot of people are afraid of heights. Not me, I'm afraid of widths."
-Steven Wright

"Money won't buy happiness, but it will pay the salaries of a large research staff to study the problem."
Bill Vaughan

"Gun control? We need bullet control! I think every bullet should cost 5,000 dollars. Because if a bullet cost five thousand dollar, we wouldn't have any innocent bystanders."
Chris Rock

photo by www.freedigitalphotos.net

Other Recent Blogs:

How to Price a Home in Today's Market

Crowfield Plantation Real Estate 2010

Mount Pleasant SC Homes Sold Stats 2010

Crowfield Plantation Real Estate 2010

If you have a home anywhere in the Charleston Metro Area and would like to get more information about selling your home, please contact me for a free home evaluation.

I also work with buyers. If you are interested in more information about buying a home please contact me and I would be glad to meet with you or email you a list of homes.

Michael J. Johnson, Realtor, ABR

843-817-5299

Quotes of the Day - Action - 28 Jan 2011

Michael Johnson, Metro Charleston SC (Carolina One Real Estate) — Fri, 28 Jan 2011 08:00:15 -0500

Quotes of the Day

Action

28 Jan 2011

“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did. So throw off the bowlines, sail away from the safe harbor, and catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream.” – Mark Twain

“I believe life is constantly testing us for our level of commitment, and life’s greatest rewards are reserved for those who demonstrate a never-ending commitment to act until they achieve.” -Anthony Robbins

“Move out of your comfort zone. You can only grow if you are willing to feel awkward and uncomfortable when you try something new.” -Brian Tracy

(Photo by www.freedigitalphotos.net)

Other Recent Blogs:

Crowfield Plantation Real Estate 2010

Mount Pleasant SC Homes Sold Stats 2010

Crowfield Plantation Real Estate 2010

If you have a home anywhere in the Charleston Metro Area and would like to get more information about selling your home, please contact me for a free home evaluation.

I also work with buyers. If you are interested in more information about buying a home please contact me and I would be glad to meet with you or email you a list of homes.

Michael J. Johnson, Realtor, ABR

843-817-5299

How to Price a Home in Today's Market

Michael Johnson, Metro Charleston SC (Carolina One Real Estate) — Thu, 27 Jan 2011 10:28:13 -0500

Competitive v/s Compelling Pricing

In today's market price is king when selling your home. A home should absolutely be in top notch condition to attract the most buyer candidates, but if the home is overpriced when compared to other homes in your area you have very little chance of getting your home sold in this today's market.

Today during our office sales meeting our Broker in Charge showed us a video put together by Russ May, a Real Estate Agent from Wilmington, NC. In this well thought out video, Russ demonstrates the importance of pricing a home in a manner that is not just competitive, but rather pricing the home so that it is compelling to the potential buyer.

Other Related Blogs:

10 Reasons Why Your Home Did Not Sell (2010)

Seven Reasons to Sell Your Home, For Sale By Owner (FSBO)!?

Is Now the Right Time?

Crowfield Plantation Real Estate 2010

If you have a home anywhere in the Charleston Metro Area and would like to get more information about selling your home, please contact me for a free home evaluation.

I also work with buyers. If you are interested in more information about buying a home please contact me and I would be glad to meet with you or email you a list of homes.

Michael J. Johnson, Realtor, ABR

843-817-5299

Mount Pleasant SC Homes Sold Stats 2010

Michael Johnson, Metro Charleston SC (Carolina One Real Estate) — Mon, 17 Jan 2011 18:45:18 -0500

Mount Pleasant SC Homes Sold Stats 2010

Mount Pleasant South Carolina is part of the Charleston Metro. Mount Pleasant is a very desirable area and as such the homes run higher in price than most other parts of of the Charleston Metro. Some popular neighborhoods include, The I'on, Dunes West, The Old Village, Park West, and Belle Hall, just to name a few.

Below are the real estate market stats for Mt Pleasant for 2010.

Note the acronyms/abbreviations -

$ = Price

Avg $/Sqft =Average Price Per Square Foot

Avg DOM = Average Days On Market



Month	Year	Monthly Sales	Avg List $	Avg Sale $	Avg $/Sqft	Avg DOM	Current Inventory
January	2010	64	$392,842	$367,860	$154	166	1368
February	2010	95	$391,975	$368,655	$158	147	1374
March	2010	113	$419,784	$394,528	$152	101	1444
April	2010	121	$344,325	$322,569	$152	115	1464
May	2010	145	$340,117	$321,616	$145	118	1429
June	2010	155	$388,470	$368,062	$153	120	1406
July	2010	117	$410,102	$390,119	$154	140	1364
August	2010	131	$476,505	$452,823	$159	124	1329
September	2010	120	$396,542	$368,553	$149	110	1330
October	2010	98	$374,607	$352,602	$145	78	1278
November	2010	110	$378,616	$360,220	$145	116	1207
December	2010	90	$354,674	$335,533	$147	112	1204
Annual:		1359	$389,461	$367,497	151	119	1350

If you have a home anywhere in the Charleston Metro Area and would like to get more information about selling your home, please contact me for a free home evaluation.

I also work with buyers. If you are interested in more information about buying a home please contact me and I would be glad to meet with you or email you a list of homes.

Michael J. Johnson, Realtor, ABR

843-817-5299

Crowfield Plantation Real Estate 2010

Michael Johnson, Metro Charleston SC (Carolina One Real Estate) — Fri, 14 Jan 2011 18:21:08 -0500

Crowfield Plantation is a large community located in Goose Creek, SC. The neighborhood consists of 27 different subsections with homes ranging from the low $100K price point up to 1 million dollars. The following are the sales stats for Crowfield Plantation for 2010.

Note the acronyms/abbreviations -

Avg $/Sqft =Average Price Per Square Foot

Median Sold $ =Midian Sold Price

Avg DOM = Average Days On Market

Other Blogs:

Tanner Plantation

The Ponds - Summerville SC

If you have a home anywhere in the Charleston Metro Area and would like to get more information about selling your home, please contact me for a free home evaluation.

I also work with buyers. If you are interested in more information about buying a home please contact me and I would be glad to meet with you or email you a list of homes.

Michael J. Johnson, Realtor, ABR

843-817-5299




Month	Monthly Sales	Avg List Price	Avg Sale Price	Avg $/Sqft	Median Sold $	Avg DOM	Current Inventory	Months Inventory
January	7	$245,408	$229,685	$104	$185,000	165	109	15.57
February	12	$216,365	$209,579	$98	$188,000	134	111	9.25
March	20	$211,931	$205,180	$100	$177,700	116	111	5.55
April	14	$197,610	$195,598	$98	$176,000	126	124	8.85
May	12	$205,550	$199,116	$95	$192,000	138	116	9.66
June	13	$188,599	$184,500	$99	$195,000	59	121	9.30
July	9	$184,097	$179,538	$92	$162,500	52	115	12.77
August	13	$244,599	$236,105	$102	$240,090	118	112	8.61
September	9	$206,107	$200,530	$96	$185,000	195	103	11.44
October	12	$195,518	$188,953	$94	$162,500	90	105	8.75
November	4	$188,475	$182,625	$102	$198,500	308	108	27.00
December	6	$214,994	$204,166	$100	$197,000	100	102	17.00
Annual:	131	$208,546	$202,027	98	$187,000	122	111	10.16

Newbies- Answers To Your Top Active Rain Blogging Questions

Michael Johnson, Metro Charleston SC (Carolina One Real Estate) — Fri, 14 Jan 2011 18:08:13 -0500

This was a post that was done several months back by Nestor & Katerina Gasset. Although I'm not a newbie, it has some good ideas to help improve your blog. I used the GMAIL idea to convert some info I had in WORD. For anyone who has ever tried it, WORD does not convert well to the WYSIWYG format. GMAIL editor does wonders.

Via Nestor & Katerina Gasset Realtors® Wellington Florida Luxury Homes (International Properties and Investments, Inc.):

Newbies- here are the answers to some of your most asked questions. I have included the links where you can find the tutorials in detail.

Question #1- How do you get colored text, different sized fonts on your blog?

How To Jazz Up Your Blogging- Free and Easy!

Update: Since writing that post there is another great tool that has actually become my favorite Active Rain blog editor. It is using Gmail as an editor. With the Mac- you just drag and drop right from Gmail into your Active Rain WYSIWYG editor. You don't need to know html. It will cut your blogging time in half.

Question #2- How do you get your screenshots with arrows and...?

Cool Tool I Use To Get Those Screen Shots and Torn Edges

Update: With the Mac- you don't need anything except your keyboard to do great screen shots fast and super easy. Just click Shift, Command, 4- then drag your curser over the part of the screen you want to capture, release and there it is! You can then drag the screen shot into Pages or Keynote and use Inspector and the Tool Bar to add your arrows, etc. Again, our Macs increase productivity and save so much time.

Question #3- Where do you get those cool safe images to use on your blog?

Clip Art You Can Use For Business and Commercial Purposes

Since I wrote this post the clip art site we use has increased to over 7 million images and added on all kinds of web graphics. Their 3D art is the best I have ever seen.

Copyright © By Katerina Gasset 2010 *Newbies- Answers To Your Top Active Rain Blogging Questions*

If you have a home anywhere in the Charleston Metro Area and would like to get more information about selling your home, please contact me for a free home evaluation.

I also work with buyers. If you are interested in more information about buying a home please contact me and I would be glad to meet with you or email you a list of homes.

Michael J. Johnson, Realtor, ABR

843-817-5299