real estate: Newspaper readership decline
- 01/06/08 03:05 AM
Everyone keeps saying it is happening across the country. I used to enjoy the paper on the weekends, and now I see where our local paper, the Post & Courier is acknowledging the fact that due to declining readership, they have decided to do away with the business section of the paper on Sunday's. I believe this trend will continue as more and more people get their news from the internet sites. I read more news there, and see it duplicated in the paper the next day. That brings me to my next point, if less people are reading the paper, … (7 comments)
real estate: GRI designation
- 10/15/07 07:43 AM
I have read about the subject on designations in real estate, and some people feel strongly that the more you have, and the quality of those that are recognized by the Realtor community, have benefited those individuals greatly. The big one I am bringing up today is the GRI designation. I told myself I wanted to attain this designation at some point in my career, and wonder out loud when that time should be: when business is slow, when I have achieved a certain level of business? It's a lengthy course that will require travel away from my home city to complete … (17 comments)
real estate: Conde Nast Travel and Leisure survey ranks Charleston number 1 most friendly city
- 10/15/07 06:59 AM
Just wanted to share the latest survey. Conde Nast Travel and Leisure Survey Atlanta Austin Boston Charleston Chicago Dallas/Ft.Worth Denver Honolulu Las Vegas Los Angeles Miami Minneapolis/St Paul Nashville New Orleans New York Orlando Philadelphia Phoenix/Scottsdale Portland,Oregon San Francisco Santa Fe Washington, DC Charleston
Home to the friendliest people in the country. Best Feature Historical sites/monuments (4.85) Worst Feature Sports fan's vacation (2.74) Rank according to: Visitors Residents … (0 comments)
real estate: Are sellers unrealistic?
- 10/15/07 03:44 AM
You can see people or signs marketing their home stating they are below market value or below appraised value and think that will make the home sell. They will also disclose that if the home is sold using a realtor the price of the home will be increased. This increased price will cover the costs of professional commissions. As a seller this can backfire and would encourage you to market your home at the best value that would include professional fees, just like when you go to the doctor. Market value is determined by what a buyer will pay for something and … (7 comments)
real estate: Home staging course
- 10/11/07 06:24 AM
Is anyone familiar with the Accredited Home-Staging Specialist designation course, through RealtyU? It sounds like a good course to take, but just curious if anyone on AR has taken it or knows anything about it that would tell me not to do it. It's $199 to take it online. Not a bad price, but will it be worth my time? I am reading more and more about the importance of staging, and as a Realtor, it helps to have knowledge in as many categories as we can. I know it will not replace what a professional stager can provide, but just … (17 comments)
real estate: Buyer's Rep Agreements
- 10/09/07 07:52 AM
Our company is complying with a state license law that requires the office to keep a copy of a Buyer's Representation Agreement on file in the office, 2 days after obtaining a signature. It'll be interesting to see how many of these start flowing into the office. A lot of agent's say they are working with buyer's all the time and there really is no evidence of that unless the buyer's sign a contract to purchase. Many people hate these agreements, and don't want to sign one. They say they are just looking and don't want to be locked in to anything. … (3 comments)
real estate: Judgment Day for Condo Market: Boom or Bust?
- 10/09/07 07:27 AM
Thankfully, many condo projects in and around the Charleston area are on hold for now. Interesting numbers below. Many condo projects that were started during the real estate boom are just being completed, and developers and the banks that loaned buyers money are holding their collective breath that buyers will close - rather than abandon their deposits and walk away.''We're at the riskiest point of the condo lending cycle as these projects are being completed,'' says Jefferson L. Harralson, a bank analyst at Keefe, Bruyette & Woods. ''In the coming weeks and months, we're going to find out what the demand … (5 comments)
real estate: Charleston Tricounty statistics
- 10/08/07 08:18 AM
Below are the market statistics for the Charleston area through October 4, 2007: These numbers aren't the best to look at, but paints the real picture.
Real Estate Market Statistics For the Charleston Tri-county area
*YTD 1/1/07-10/04/07 statistics from www.charlestonrealtors.com … (0 comments)
real estate: Mortgage Cancellation Bill Passes House
- 10/05/07 09:16 AM
The U.S. House of Representatives voted on Thursday to get rid of a tax burden for homeowners who have had a loan forgiven or foreclosed on their home because they were unable to make their mortgage payments. The Mortgage Cancellation Tax Relief Act, H.R. 3648, passed by a vote of 386 to 27. Similar legislation is making its way through the Senate. The current tax code requires a lender who forgives debt to provide a Form 1099 to the IRS stating the amount the borrower has been forgiven. This disclosure applies whether it is a short sale, foreclosure, deed in lieu of … (2 comments)
real estate: Active rain spell-checker....some bloggers really need to use it
- 10/03/07 07:34 AM
I hate to harp on spelling, but sometimes it gets aggravating when you are reading a post and you have to mentally correct the spelling. I am not going to go into great lengths with this post, but I certainly hope that it makes sense to anyone that they might need to double check for spelling errors before writing a blog on AR. Here is a tip: type your blog in Microsoft Word, then run spell check and edit as needed before you post it to AR. You can also use the spell-checker feature on here. Sorry if anyone is offended by … (17 comments)
real estate: Home "flippers" and their lost dream
- 10/03/07 03:31 AM
Lots of people are learning an expensive lesson. The TV shows made "flipping" look so easy, everyone was getting in on it. Speculators who bought multiple homes were once a boon to the U.S. economy when they pushed home prices to record levels over a five-year period. Many are stuck with unoccupied properties they cannot sell and mortgages that are bigger than the appraised value of the home, a situation known as being "upside down." The glut of unsold homes comes as lenders are making it harder for borrowers to get loans, causing defaults to escalate and home prices to decline further. Investors that … (8 comments)
real estate: When Buying a Home Be Sure to Check Out Possible Landscape Hazards
- 10/01/07 05:56 AM
Don't just look at the inside of a house before you buy it. Landscaping is something most of us think about from the perspectives of what pleases our eyes and what will give us privacy. But the American Society of Home Inspectors, (ASHI) is encouraging homebuyers to consider how a property's landscaping may affect the home. "Sometimes people tend to look at the house briefly and then go inside and then start looking at where they will put their furniture or just kind of enjoying the layout of the house," says Frank Lesh, President of ASHI. What ASHI wants is for … (9 comments)
real estate: For Most Buyers, the Mortgage Market Is Healthy
- 10/01/07 05:11 AM
I did an open house yesterday and was quizzed by a visitor on the NAR statistics being too optimistic, and interest rates rising right after the FED lowered the prime rate. I countered that some markets are suffering, while others are doing ok. Here in Charleston, sure our market is down, but we have a strong and diverse economy and business is good if you price your home correctly. Some people hear what they want to hear, and that is all the negative news. I am always having to try to convince someone that things aren't as bad as reported. Read … (3 comments)
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real estate: Halloween in Charleston
- 09/26/07 02:57 AM
With over 330 years of history and happenings, what better place to spend Halloween than in historic Charleston, South Carolina? Charleston has everything a fright seeker desires; from special ghost tours, costume hoe-downs, extravaganzas and more, there's something guaranteed to raise every hair and chill every bone! West Farm Corn Maze - Sept. 21 - Oct. 28 Experience good old-fashioned fun at the West Family's 6-acre corn maze. The maze features over 3 miles of trails in the shape of the state of SC. Guests will be provided a map upon entry, but will have to use their best map-reading skills … (0 comments)
real estate: Overpricing a Home in today's market
- 09/17/07 06:12 AM
I noticed a listing come up in the neighborhood adjacent to mine this past week and it took me by surprise, so I stopped by the house to see for myself. It was an ordinary house for the neighborhood, and had no outstanding characteristics, but had a listing price of $400,000. Most of the homes in that section are brick, under 2000sf and built in the 1960's, and mid 250's is a good price range. If this house was updated completely, it could possibly fetch that price, but this one was a dud! No picture on the MLS, listing agent's number … (12 comments)
real estate: House painting tips
- 09/13/07 06:30 AM
As much as this makes sense to me, so many people don't get it when it comes to paint and how it can turn off prospective buyers.
A great exterior paint job should make passersby think, "What a lovely home." But if you get it wrong, people who drive by will wonder, "What were they thinking?"If your clients are considering a fresh coat of paint on the outside of their home, they may want to take some advice from color consultant Paul Helmer. He offers these suggestions for painting various parts of the home: The roof. Think of the roof as one … (6 comments)
real estate: An Industry in Change: The Agent’s New Role as a Consultant
- 08/06/07 05:59 AM
The residential real estate brokerage industry appears to be about half way through a 10-15 year industry transition - one that is creating confusion and frustration, but above all, huge opportunities. That's the message of the 2007 Swanepoel TRENDS Report that, since its release in February, thousands of brokers and agents have used as a roadmap to reposition their businesses for the future. "If brokerages, Realtors and Realtor Associations are to remain relevant and effective, they must clearly understand the changing real estate environment and the new, evolving real estate business models," states Stefan Swanepoel, industry consultant and author of the report. According … (0 comments)
Everyone keeps saying it is happening across the country. I used to enjoy the paper on the weekends, and now I see where our local paper, the Post & Courier is acknowledging the fact that due to declining readership, they have decided to do away with the business section of the paper on Sunday's. I believe this trend will continue as more and more people get their news from the internet sites. I read more news there, and see it duplicated in the paper the next day. ;)
;)
