Eddy's Blog

Decorate Using the Two-Thirds Rule

2008-02-19T12:52:12Z

I don't know how many times I've decorated a coffee table, or tried to add some accent pieces to a room, but something just wasn't right. You can use the most exquisite ornaments, but if they aren't in scale or in proper proportion with the rest of the room, your design will never work.

Basic math is all you need to determine if you're on the right design track. Just remember one simple fraction - two-thirds. This rule applies to everything from drapery, to the amount of furniture in a given room, the size of a fireplace mantel, wall paper, or even the number of accessories on a coffee table.

When looking at drapery, the panels along the sides of the window should be one-third the width of the window. A fireplace and mantel should be about one-third the size of the wall. The artwork or mirror hanging above the back of a bed or sofa should be about two-thirds the width of the sofa or bed.

Most people buy sofas that are too large, and rugs that are too small for their homes. Your furniture should take up about two-thirds of the floor space leaving one-third vacant for traffic flow. Even a coffee table should be about two-thirds the width of your sofa.

A large dresser in a small room doesn't have to be a bad thing, if you balance it out with a dark wall color, large framed artwork and luxurious carpeting.

One of the worst decorating mistakes is hanging a small chandelier in a large room. Calculate the diameter of the room by multiplying the width of the room by two. Whatever your total diameter is in feet, the chandelier should be the same diameter in inches.

You can use the two-thirds rule with flower arranging as well. Your vase should be about one-third the height of the arrangement. When hanging wallpaper border, measure the height of your walls and divide by three. Hang the border about one-third from the top or two-thirds from the bottom.

I won't promise all your decorating ventures will be successful, but use the two-thirds rule and at least the proportion will be right on.

Nutshell Realty, Hudson Valley real estate experts. Visit NutshellRealty.com for an online guide to Hudson Valley, Catskill and High Falls NY real estate.

Less First Time Buyers Equals More New Homes For Sale

2008-02-18T14:55:31Z

One of the best things about buying a new home is the untouched - pristine- cleanliness that you are also buying. If you have always dreamed of owning a brand new home, this is the time to find a bargain. At the moment you can choose from a wonderful selection of homes with luxurious touches.

It is generally accepted that most people buying a brand new home are stepping up the realty ladder and are not first time buyers. They have usually done their groundwork with the smaller, older home and are gleefully anticipating a sparkling new home.

However, before buying a new home, the existing home must be sold and this will often be to a first time buyer. There has been a shortage of first time buyers which means less home owners have been able to make the transition up to a brand new home. This explains the problem of why less new homes are being sold in the property market today.

To a lesser extent, this lack of first time buyers is a side-effect of the realty crisis. It takes nerve to step into the realty market and take on a huge debt when you could just carry on renting. Reading of so many foreclosures has kicked the self-confidence out from under a number of younger buyers. They have 'cold feet' and are opting to stay renting, or stay in mum and dad's basement suite.

These figures have been confirmed after some hard mathematical calculations by the National Association of Realtors (NAR). Adding together the national birth rate, and the number of illegal and legal immigrants, the numbers would predict that approximately 1.2 to 1.5 million households will normally start up annually.

These newly-formed households are comprised of renters who have finally saved a down payment, or adult children who have been living in the parents' basement and are finally ready to move out. Each year a certain proportion of them are ready to invest in a home of their own.

Actual figures show that in 2007, only half of the expected number of new households were started up. To some extent this has caused the property markets to come to a standstill.

In many areas of the USA, builders have a stockpile of brand new homes. Predictions are suggesting that the equivalent of a nine month supply of homes is stockpiled across the nation. In South Carolina, there are over 800 new houses waiting to be bought from several different contractors.

The good news is that according to the Mortgage Bankers Association's (MBA) weekly survey, first time buyers may be returning to the fray. There are many good reasons why now is a good time to buy your first home, and first time buyers are aware of this and are timidly stepping back into the market. Hopefully they will be encouraged by the large selection they will have.

The MBA announced that the volume of mortgage application requests has just gone up by three percent over the previous week. Copious amounts of media coverage have educated the public into what went wrong. Repeated decreases in the mortgage interest rates have increased public understanding of mortgages. Purchase applications also rose by twelve percent.

The NAR says that as homes are continuing to be built at the same rate, the glut of new homes will grow even larger. All these facts may point to a buyers' market in the new housing section of realty.

With this in mind, it is possible that deals can be found on the new homes market. Perhaps some optional extras can now be tacked onto the asking price; maybe landscaping or a luxury deck?

Eddy Kicker, a Relocation Specialist who focuses on Greenville SC Real Estate. Or if you want to see Mauldin real estate, Eddy welcomes the opportunity to assist you.

Kids Bedrooms and The Prospective Buyer

2008-02-18T14:55:06Z

There is one thing that you can count on when trying to sell your house: the kids' bedrooms will always look disastrous! If you do have a 'creative' child, one way to balance this is to ensure that the rest of the house looks spick and span.

The real estate agent may explain all about how to 'home-stage' our house for a viewing, but there is never enough time to get around to every corner of the house.

Kids have loads of 'stuff', but perhaps that is not the real problem. The biggest complication is that they want all the 'stuff' out on display at the same time. They think this looks great and very interesting and we think it looks like a cluttered mess!

How to solve the problem and still keep the peace? Just for the duration of the sale time, perhaps you could push some extra shelves inside the closet. The closet doors could be left open with all the toys and fun jumble on display - but it is quickly closeable! This way the 'interesting' stuff is out of sight.

Book shelves can look untidy, and they will always be on display. Keep only books and 'book shapes' on the shelves. This means boxes or storage tins can be stacked on the bookshelf, but keep them all together. A good idea is to use the lowest shelf and stack them with the large books. Stack all books according to size - it helps!

One of the newer ideas that seems to work is the 'hammock' that spans from corner to corner with a selection of stuff crammed into it! At least this is not taking up floor space, so it does not reduce the spacious feel of the room.

Find a space in your garage to keep seasonal clothes, sports equipment or treasured (or cumbersome) artwork. You can also stack stuff under the stairs, in the attic or in a dry basement area. Some people even go to the extreme of hiring a short term storage space to get some of the clutter away from their home.

When you move into your new home, plan storage into the design of your child's bedroom. Include lots of lower level storage space. Look for beds with large and easy to open drawers underneath. Use chests that double as a seat when a cushion is thrown on top.

You can be creative with storage space - a child's rocking cradle can be used to house all her dolls/soft toys. Another way to store toys that can look fairly cute is to hand paint a wooden rocking chair and keep all the soft toys on that. A toy box (with a hinged lid) can hold all manner of toys.

Stacking boxes with very large ones at the bottom of the pile can look great. Paint each one in a different bright color and use each box for only one type of toy, e.g. building blocks, model cars, doll clothes, Lego bricks, etc. Sets of six boxes can be bought with the largest box being about eighteen inches square.

These blocks can be painted in more subtle tones to match more sophisticated color schemes as the child ages. This way the boxes could always be a part of their bedroom furnishings. (I.e., eventually becoming filled with art and craft accessories, CD's, stationery, make-up, hair accessories, etc!)

Some of these ideas may help to allay that panicky rush to the kids' bedroom after the realtor phones. If the rest of the house is immaculate, it is okay to have one room looking like a disordered jumble. It makes the rest of the house look impeccable!

Eddy Kicker, a Greenville SC REALTOR. If you want to see Greenville real estate listings, Eddy welcomes the opportunity to assist you. Visit EddyKicker.com.

The Secret of Greenville

2008-01-31T13:04:58Z

South Carolina is the new up and coming real estate secret. Prices have been steady here, in spite of a national dropping of realty sales and house prices. The Upstate is the fastest growing region in the state and positioned as it is, between Charlotte and Atlanta, its future development and growth prospects are said to be bright.

The largest city in the Upstate is Greenville, a beautiful town to call your own, and awarded the 'Great American Main Street Award' in 2003. Greenville builders have been anticipating the growth curve and there are currently around 1500 brand new and sparkling homes for sale in this delightful town.The largest number for sale is in the price range spanning from $150,000 - $300.000.

There are also more than 1300 existing condos in the downtown area - a very scenic and appealing downtown with natural waterfalls.

The average price for a brand new home in the Greenville area is running at $300,000, although if you are interested there are several homes running all the way up to $2.2 million. The homes in the $300,000 price ranges will often have the luxury of finished exteriors in brick or stone and many of the builders will also build your custom design home for you.

This luxury is also found inside as well with expensive interior finishes that include crown molding, glamour style master baths, media rooms and stylish light fixtures with ceiling fan. Kitchens are bang up to date with stainless steel appliances, granite or top quality counter tops and your choice of the latest colors in paint.

Many of the builders are eager to reduce their inventory and are offering some great incentives. The majority of new homes are spread all over the Greenville, S.C. area.This area includes all of Greenville County, and Parts of Anderson, Pickens, Spartanburg and Laurens Counties. There are concentrations of homes in Simpsonville (364) Greer (190) Greenville (190) Taylors (87) and Easley (85)

For golf fanatics you can even buy your new home on a golf course! There are over 50 golf courses here: one for every week (plus a short holiday!) The climate runs from 32 in January to 88 in July. There are also traditional homes, estate homes and patio homes for sale here in Greenville.

Following BMW, several German companies are based here; in fact over 245 companies from 20 countries call this place home. Needless to say employment figures are good and the Expansion Management Magazine has listed Greenville as one of "America's Top 50 Hottest Cities".

However, this city has peaceful areas too, and was voted by Bike Magazine as in their top 5 "Best Places To Live and Ride".

So Greenville is not such a secret, after all?

This article was written on behalf of Eddy Kicker, a Relocation Specialist who focuses on Greenville SC real estate. Or if you want to see houses for sale in Simpsonville SC, Eddy welcomes the opportunity to assist you.

The Nightmare Decision: Selling First or Buying First?

2008-01-31T13:03:42Z

How to solve the dilemma of being stuck with two houses at once? This is the mystery when selling your existing home because you have to move and re-buy. Real estate agents are often asked this question: shall I buy first or sell first? Nobody wants to answer that question, as there is no correct answer. Or maybe there is, but no-one wants to hear it.

So here it is.

It is better for a seller to sell the property before buying a new home and then go into rented accommodation while looking. Ugh! There - it's out there now.

Of course, this is only one viewpoint, so let's look at the pros and cons.

With anything in life, you must look at the worst scenario before you make a decision. You cannot risk losing your house simply because you cannot bear to have your life disjointed for a month or two. If you think it has been difficult at times to make the payments on your home, how will it be to make two payments on two houses every month?

If you are in a position where you know you can afford to make two mortgage payments, maybe you could ignore this advice. However, it can be very difficult to be cleared for two loans at once, even if you think you can afford it, so get pre-approved for two loans before you act. If you do move out, try and leave some furnishings in the home, to help it look 'lived in'.

There is a sneaky way around this - that is by pretending that you are renting out your existing home. This shows you have a (falsely) higher income than you really have. Don't let an unscrupulous broker talk you into this scenario. Apart from the fact that it is a federal crime, you could still lose your home anyway.

In these types of situations where a bridging loan is requested and approved, the original home (#1) is still on the market, waiting for a buyer. Meanwhile you move into the new home (#2) and start paying two mortgages.

Suppose that the market is slow and there are no buyers for house #1? After three months you are still paying two mortgages and then the market plunges. You have to drop the price of house #1 considerably, meantime house #2 has also dropped from the price you just paid for it, and on top of all this you are paying two huge mortgages.

Three months have passed and no sign of a buyer; would those three months have been better or worse for you if you had been living in rental accommodation? Once you have answered that question, you know the answer that will suit your lifestyle.

It's not all bad; there are some advantages to selling first and buying later. Obviously, by vacating your home at a date that specifically suits someone else, it is an added incentive to a buyer to choose your home.

Once your home is sold and you decide to buy, you will be in a better position to offer a lower price if you are not involved in a chain. How about this one: after living in rented accommodation, you will REALLY appreciate your new home?

This article was written on behalf of Eddy Kicker, a Relocation Specialist who focuses on Greenville South Carolina real estate. If you are planning to buy or sell a home in the Greer SC real estate area, Eddy welcomes the opportunity to assist you.

The House Hunt: How Many Homes Should I See?

2008-01-04T17:29:34Z

So, you are beginning the hunt for a new home, and you ask yourself the question that most buyers ask, "How many homes should I see?" There are different theories on this. They range from the golden rule claim that you MUST see many properties to a mild suggestion of staying within a 5-20 house range. The truth is, there is no set-in-stone answer to this question. The good news is, there is much you can do to narrow down your search and help you find the home looking for, hopefully sooner rather than later.

Here is an estimated break-down on what happens for most buyers: 43% will look at 2-10 homes before purchasing, 27% will check-out more than 20 properties, 22% will see 11-20 homes, while 8% may fall in love and purchase the first home they see. But, these are statistics, and at the end of the day who knows where you will fit into these. The key is to find a realtor whom you trust and who knows the market you are bidding in. Next you should clearly share with them what you are looking for. And, no, there is nothing wrong with purchasing one of the first homes you see- so long as you know it is what you want.

Some questions to clarify with yourself and your realtor before starting your house hunt:

- What are your central objectives for purchasing? Is this going to be your dream home, or somewhere you envision staying for only a few years? Is this a family home or an investment property?

- What are the most important elements you are looking for in your new home? Is it the neighborhood or perhaps the size of the house? Is it important that there are good schools near-by? Prioritize these and other features in order of importance.

- If you are buying as a couple, do you both have the same vision of what you are looking for? Deciding up front what you want, collectively, can greatly help simplify and clarify your search down the line.

- Have you finalized your financing? Do you have pre-approval for your mortgage and do you know what price you are comfortable with within your pre-approved range?

Another question to ask yourself is, "Am I being realistic with my parameters?" Buyers can spend forever trying to find a "great deal" on a house. They tend to think that the only way they'll get what they want is at the expense of someone else- in this case the seller. But, in real estate, a win/win situation is what makes for a great deal. When good negotiations are made, both buyer and seller are pleased with the final deal. Remember this, as you define your search parameters. Finding a home that is 20% below market value may take you forever- if never. But, knowing what you are looking for will lead you towards a quicker and easier search for your home.

Eddy Kicker is a Relocation Specialist who focuses on Greenville South Carolina real estate. Mr.Kicker is a Greenville REALTOR ® with over 20 years of sales and marketing experience.

Paying the Penalty

2007-12-12T15:46:34Z

The interest rate has just dropped and you wonder if you should try and get a lower rate on your mortgage, but there are penalties involved in breaking your mortgage agreement. Hmmm...what to do?

Once we are indebted to a mortgage broker or a bank, that financial institution prefers us to stay the course. They have already calculated that they will be receiving X amount of dollars from you for the next five years (or three years etc) and these figures are in their investment portfolio. Your money has been ear-marked by them as their known quantity of 'spending money', usually to be invested in the stock market.

The finance companies like things neat and tidy. They discourage you to mess about with their plans. And they certainly do not like to lose money, hence the penalty for changing your mortgage (you will only change it if the rate goes down).

However, they are willing to talk to you about a change in your mortgage, so it is worth making an appointment to see what their calculations and advice amount to.

The two main factors to take into account are: how much the drop in interest rates amounts to and how much is the penalty. Each contract may have a different penalty. Some companies use a set amount, say $3,000 and some companies charge you three months extra payments, and there are many variations in between.

The Internet has many mortgage tables to help you to calculate your exact repayment differences. Just one quarter per cent is a minimal difference, but one per cent is a big difference, as this example shows:

In this example the amortization is 240 months (this is 20 years, the complete length of time of the loan - regardless of the smaller mortgage periods) and the interest rate is 7.5%. Let us imagine that hypothetically, the interest rate has been gradually dropping and it is now at 6%.

Your monthly repayment is $1,550 and you have two more years ( 24 months) left to pay at this rate.Even if you have the three month penalty clause to pay and you add it onto your total mortgage, your monthly payments, albeit with this slightly larger mortgage amount (the penalty of $3,000) will be lower. They will be $1291 and your savings over the last two years of your repayment period will be $5,016.

Many times the interest rate is not so marked as the example, but contra to what most people think, it is worth looking your figures up on a mortgage table, or phoning your bank to check.

Provided by the writing team of Eddy Kicker. Eddy is one of the top real estate agents in the nation, and specializes in helping people relocate to the Greenville real estate market. If you're looking to buy or sell Mauldin real estate, be sure to visit Eddy at www.eddykicker.com.

On the Fence Part Two: Legal Issues and Fence Building

2007-10-12T17:24:08Z

So you've decided that you need a fence, and even know what type of fence to want to build. Now you must consider the other issues involved, such as knowing where your property lines are, what building restrictions are in place, as well as the feelings of your neighbor. You need to take all of these things into account before you put nail to post, or you could have a costly disaster on your hands.

Something that you need to do before you start building is to have an updated land survey on hand. Already existing fences may or may not lie right along the property line, so don't use them as a guide. Be sure of where your property ends and your neighbor's begins.

Once you've located the boundaries, decide with your neighbor if you want it to sit on the property line. This would mean that both of you own the fence, and would be jointly responsible for building costs, maintenance, and repairs. You would also need to agree on the type of fence you choose. Negotiating a joint fencing project can be a tricky venture, as your neighbor may not want a fence in the first place, or want something wholly unsuitable for your needs. Or they may want the cheapest, most unattractive fence on the market. Be patient and polish off your negotiation skills. And be sure to handle discussions like an adult. You don't want the building of a fence to come between you!

If you prefer to be more in control of your fencing options, you may decide to install the fence just a few inches away from the property line, thereby making it solely your responsibility. You must take care of all repairs yourself, but you also have autonomy over the design and materials used.

Even if you decide to own the fence outright, it is a good idea to take into consideration your neighbors' needs in terms of view and privacy. You don't want to block out all of their incoming sunlight, and in fact, you may have to remove or alter the fence if its presence affects your neighbor's quality of life. While they can't make you tear down a fence simply because it's not to their tastes, having good neighborly relations means listening to their concerns.

You also want to assess your true needs for installing a fence. Make sure that your reasons are valid, like keeping neighborhood animals off your yard, or to have a little privacy in your backyard. The reason that this is important is because there is something called a "spite fence," where a fence is put up that serves no other purpose than to irritate your neighbors. This can take the form of an ugly fence, or one that is high and imposing. If your neighbor feels that this is the case with your fence, and they can prove that you installed it with malicious intent, they may have legal standing to sue you to have it removed.

Another critical step is to obtain the necessary permits before putting up your fence. Some communities have ordnances in place which limit the size and style of fencing materials you can use. Know your local restrictions before you buy! If you don't, you may end up with a giant headache and sizable expenses.

Adding a fence to your property can add definition, beauty, and safety. But there are issues involved that must be considered and dealt with before you build. First and foremost, talk to your neighbors and get their input. Compromising a little now can save you a lot of grief later.

Eddy Kicker is a real estate agent that provides top quality service in the Greenville South Carolina real estate market. Contact Eddy today for more information on how to sell your Greenville home.

On the Fence Part One: How to Choose a Fence

2007-10-12T17:23:35Z

Many families decide to add a fence to add value and security to their property, but have no idea how to begin the process, or which fence is right for them.

The first thing you need to do when selecting a fence is to think about the purpose that it will ultimately serve. If you require privacy, want a safe space for your children to play, or if you want to add a decorative border to your garden; there are fences that will satisfy every homeowner's need and taste.

Fences can be used to keep children and pets in, while keeping predators out. Wood panel fences serve this purpose well because they are fairly tall, and you can get styles that have no sizable gaps between panels, where small kids and animals can escape.

Wood panel fencing is also the best option for providing privacy, and can be stained or painted to suit your landscape decor.

Vinyl fencing on the other hand offers less privacy, but it is essentially maintenance free. Available in a variety of colors and styles, vinyl is a an excellent choice for families who don't want to have to worry about costly maintenance work. Vinyl stands up well to the elements and to general wear and tear.

You should definitely install a fence if you have a swimming pool or some other potentially hazardous feature on your property. You need to protect your own children and pets, as well as keep others out as well. In many areas it is a legal requirement to fence off a pool, but is also your moral responsibility.

Decorative fencing comes in many styles. Polymer fencing is a low-maintenance option that has the same attractive look as iron, but is less expensive and has a much longer life. These types don't offer much privacy, but can offer some protection from trespassers and stray dogs.

Post-and-rail fences can give your yard a charming rustic feel, but have gaps that are too large to keep dogs and children from sneaking in between the railings. These fences are great for decorative borders in your garden, or if you have larger livestock that you need to contain. These also offer little in the way of privacy, so again, be clear with what your needs are before you start building.

Chain link fencing is the most economical option for protecting your yard, but they can look unsightly. Fortunately, these fences are now available with vinyl coatings that you can get in a few different colors. This can take away the utilitarian feel of the fences, and blend it in with your landscaping. While chain link offers no privacy and has little decorative appeal, this type of fence is great if you are looking to contain pets and kids, particularly if they like to play baseball or soccer in the yard.

Before choosing your fence, look at how your family uses the yard. Do you have special plants that you want to protect from roaming animals? Do you want a private area to sunbathe? Looking at your lifestyle needs as well as your budget constraints will lead you to the fence of your dreams. And if you select your fence carefully, it can add a great deal of value to your home, as well as give you peace of mind.

Eddy Kicker is a top producing real estate agent in the Greenville South Carolina real estate market. Eddy can help you with all aspects of buying a Greenville SC home.

Family Friendly Real Estate: Finding the Right Home for Your Family

2007-10-12T17:23:04Z

Purchasing a family friendly home can be a difficult task as there are so many factors to consider such as space, safety, and the spirit of the community. It can be hard to find a home that you love that also meets all your needs, but it definitely can be done! You just need to pay attention to certain things when you begin your home search.

One thing that is key to getting a good family home is to find a property that is located in a family friendly neighborhood.

How do you know if the area you are considering is going to be child friendly? Try to find a home that is located off of the main thoroughfares. You want your children to be able to bicycle around the neighborhood and play with their friends. You don't want to worry about speeding cars and reckless drivers.

Drive around the area on the weekend to see if there are kids playing outside. Are there any bikes and toys in people's yards? Also, be sure to check for playgrounds in the area. Having a playground located close to home means that you will have a convenient and safe place to take your kids. Your kids can find playmates to hang out with, and you will be able to meet parents in the area who have similarly aged children.

Is there a school nearby? Then there is a good chance that the neighborhood will be filled with families. Check out the school to make sure that your child will be happy there. Also, research how the school fares in terms of academics and testing, and what after school activities are in place.

Parks and green spaces are great for families, as you can play sports, walk, bike, or picnic in the great outdoors. Parks are also great places to bring the family pooch, which makes neighborhood parks great for the whole family.

If you can, talk to people in the neighborhood to get their take on the area. Do they have kids? Is it a safe area? Getting an inside perspective can provide you with a wealth of valuable information.

As for the house itself, you should look for family friendly features such as fenced off yards. Having a fence keeps your kids and pets safe. The bigger the yard, the more fun a child can have in it playing softball, climbing trees, or just running around playing tag. If you can find a nice property with an already existing play set, you can save yourself a lot of money.

When you find a nice property, examine the layout of the house and think about your needs for space, privacy, as well as any safety issues that may come up. How many bedrooms do you need? In the future will you have anymore kids? Will your parents need to move in? It is best to think ahead so that you do not have to move again before you're ready.

If you find a place that isn't big enough, but is in a great location, consider the possibility of adding on to the home. Would renovations be within your budget, and would property lines allow for it?

Finding a house that meets your children's needs as well as your own will result in a lengthy love affair with your home. Doing a little bit of homework in the early stages of your home search will pay off in the long run for you and your family.

Eddy Kicker is a top Greenville South Carolina real estate agent, who specializes in helping buyers relocate to Greenville SC. Be sure to check out the great family friendly homes in the Greenville real estate market!

Greenville Real Estate: A Stable Market in an Unstable Time

2007-10-10T15:38:03Z

Media outlets across the country have been reporting on the slowdown of the national real estate market. In the same breath they mention the downturn of the economy, and the relationship between the two. The word "recession" is tossed around, even though we are not currently in one. This creates fear on a national level. People are afraid that the economy is going to continue to slide, and see this as a dangerous time to buy or sell property. The result is that people are afraid to enter the real estate market. The industry then comes to a grinding halt. The economy is affected as a result, and all the media's doomsday predictions come true. It becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy.

It is important to keep in mind that news makers are just that: news makers. They need a story that will grab the nation's attention. Ever since the start of the recent housing boom, the media has been waiting for any sign of a slowing market. They have now jumped on it. While it is true that some areas of the country are seeing a distinct slowdown of the market, others are continuing to be stable. Greenville South Carolina is just such a place.

Compared to last year, the average price of sold properties is up by 2% over last year, when the real estate explosion was at its peak. Also, there continues to be a boom in terms of inventory on the market. There are over 1500 new homes on the market that have never been lived in, and around 4,000 existing homes on the market as well. Buyers have a great deal of choice in the Greenville area, and prices are reasonable.

For sellers, it is still a good time to sell your home. The average number of days that a home is on the market is comparable to last year's numbers. While there has been a slight decrease in the number of home sales, the market is still moving ahead at a stable pace.

Certainly Greenville is fairing much better than the national market. Homes are selling at a consistent rate, and hundreds of new homes are continuing to enter the market, making this a great place for buyers and sellers alike.

Don't let the headlines scare you, this is a great time to invest in Greenville real estate.

Eddy Kicker is a Greenville SC REALTOR® with over twenty years of sales and marketing experience. Contact Eddy today for more information on the Greenville real estate market.

Bryson Homes Comes To SC

2007-08-01T17:16:32Z

There is a new player on the home construction front in South Carolina. With an established reputation of excellence in the home construction field, Bryson homes has brought their innovative home styles to the upstate market. Their first community, The Landing as Savannah Pointe has recently opened and is offering some fantastic homes with great custom design elements. This company has been in operation since 1977 and has refined it's home offerings to meet with the discerning tastes of today's home buyers. The South Carolina home market is an exciting place right now as it is one of the most secure markets in the nation. The state's strong economy is another asset in the equation that is creating some real attraction to South Carolina.

Bryson Homes has begun with an offering of ranch and two-story homes that range anywhere from 1,400 to 3,000 square feet in total. The area that they have created at Savannah Pointe is one of luxury and value with many of the homes starting in the $160,000 range. These homes are fully upgradeable depending on the needs and the wants of buyers. Homes come with hardwood foyers, beautiful master bathrooms, artistic moldings and intelligent design. Essentially these homes are designed with the needs of the home owner in mind but have retained a truly artistic feel combined with excellent value.

As with most custom homes there is an endless number of upgrades that are available to buyers. Granite counter tops, hardwood flooring and custom fireplaces are only a few of the upgrade options that are available. The homes have some great design features too utilizing arches and cathedral ceilings that bestow a feeling of open space and give the rooms a classical feeling. Bryson Homes is gearing up to take the South Carolina housing market by storm with their intuitive designs and there are a number of projects in the future for Bryson in South Carolina including a townhouse community and a few other home developments.

Eddy Kicker is a REALTOR servicing the Greenville, SC real estate market. Eddy is a dedicated professional that offers the best in customer service and attention in relocation to Greenville. Contact Eddy today for more information on South Carolina real estate.

Greenville, SC Real Estate

2007-08-01T17:15:23Z

In a time where people are wondering what the decline in the real estate market will have on the nation in terms of effects, buyers are also seeking out areas that have not been hit as hard as others. Across the nation real estate investors are starting to sweat as they see the demand for homes in the elite areas going down in favor of more stable and suburban areas. Areas such as Greenville, SC. One aspect of Greenville that has helped it to retain a strong real estate sector is the diverse economic core which is currently one of the best performing economies in the nation. This is a refreshing statistic to business owners and residents of the Greenville area as media is full of stories about the reclining economy and the crumpling of big name real estate markets.

Even within the state there is a dramatic difference between the real estate markets. Greenville's market continues to grow as coastal areas and traditional vacation markets such as Myrtle Beach and Charleston are still in recession. Of course the big question here is: "What does this mean for buyers and sellers in the Greenville market?" What it means is there is going to continue to be excellent value to be found in and around Greenville and the economy to support a growing population. If a large scale economic slump is going to cause a softer economy then the solid economy in South Carolina will ensure that the business sector stays strong and vital while the effects of that strength can bolster a community from the ground up.

One must ask: "What is it that has caused the slowing of the national real estate picture?" Did prices finally just get so high that the average home buyer can no longer reasonably afford a home? Did supply out-distance demand? Do some sellers simply refuse to acknowledge that they are no longer in control of the market? It really is a combination of all of these things. The market has definitely changed and in a state of evolution and buyers and sellers alike need to maintain a position of flexibility to prepare for whichever way the market fluctuates.

Eddy Kicker is a REALTOR servicing the Greenville, SC real estate market. Eddy is a dedicated professional that offers the best in customer service and attention in relocation to Greenville. Contact Eddy today for more information on South Carolina real estate.

Getting Rid Of Clutter

2007-07-03T16:27:16Z

A major aspect of home sales is presentation. Let me rephrase that, home sales is ALL about presentation. When your home goes on the market it must present the best face it has ever had. The simple truth is that it is a highly competitive market right now and sellers are looking to find any leverage that they can in order to get their home noticed by the buyers. As markets around the country have cooled off, sellers have had to go to greater and greater lengths to separate their homes from the masses of other listings, and so home staging has evolved. Home staging is now a business all to itself with companies popping up in almost every city. Home stagers offer a good service, but you as a seller can also do much of it yourself.

A major aspect of any home staging is the removal of clutter. This is easy to see in almost any home. For the sake of this article we will refer to it as clutter, but what you are really dealing with here is signs of life, occupation and daily use. Clutter can be classified as almost anything that is not essential to the visual impact of the home. This even applies to excess art and decorations and the trappings that you have chosen to make your home uniquely "you." In order to show properly, the home should be depersonalized. Unfortunately, all those things that make your home yours can get in the way of a buyer feeling comfortable and "at home" in your home. In an ideal situation buyers will come into the home and have no trouble seeing themselves living there. They should have the ability to visualize their furniture and decorations without the distraction of having to mentally cancel out portraits of the family and other overly personal items. The best course of action is to try to picture your home as a show home. you may have seen one or two of them in your time. The one thing that is the same about all show homes is the fact that they really don't look lived in. Now this is almost impossible to achieve in a home that is currently being lived in however it can be utilized as a bit of a guide as to what you can shoot for in staging the home.

Eddy Kicker is a REALTOR servicing the Greenville, SC real estate market. Eddy is a dedicated professional that offers the best in customer service and attention in relocation to Greenville. Contact Eddy today for more information on South Carolina real estate.

Custom Homes In Greenville, SC

2007-07-03T16:25:58Z

The Greenville, South Carolina real estate market has continued to show good growth in spite of that National market's cooling off. In fact, South Carolina in general is seeing great expansion and continued success as it is becoming known across the country as one of the best places to live. There are several factors that have contributed to South Carolina's reputation as a premier spot to reside and one of those factors is the highly valuable nature of property and homes in this area. As of right now there are approximately 1419 active, never before listed custom homes available in the Greenville area.

No matter what you are looking for in a new home, chances are that there is something that will pique your interest in and around the Greenville area. Most of these custom designed homes start in price around $300,000 and range up to a high of over $2 million. Currently there are 9 new developments of interest. Each one of these new developments offers a distinct style of living and beautiful homes on large parcels of land. From the smaller developments such as Carolina Oaks which offers 78 wooded home site's on 1/3 to 1/2 of an acre to the stunning $1 million plus homes that lay in Cobblestone. Many of these developments have taken a page out of the condos book and incorporated many extra elements into their design. Community pools, clubhouses, tennis courts and access to great golf courses all add value to these thoughtfully designed communities.

The business atmosphere in Greenville is also a highly attractive factor of the area. Originally known as "The Textile Capital Of The World" Greenville has since become a major center for commerce, playing host to such companies as BMW and Michelin. In fact Greenville has become somewhat of an popular area for automotive companies. A recent development between several major players such as Clemson University, Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE), BMW, Microsoft, Michelin, IBM and others have come together to form the International Center for Automotive Research. Along with other major industrial concerns Greenville's economy is strong and helping to move this city into a new era of prosperity and development.

Eddy Kicker is a REALTOR servicing the Greenville, SC real estate market. Eddy is a dedicated professional that offers the best in customer service and attention in relocation to Greenville. Contact Eddy today for more information on South Carolina real estate.