James Schiller's (jeschiller) Blog

Oyster Point Mount Pleasant SC Homes for Sale

James Schiller, Brand Name Real Estate (James Schiller Company, LLC) — Thu, 15 Sep 2016 00:38:58 -0700

Oyster Point development in Mount Pleasant SC is DR Horton's largest and most impressive community in the United States. The famous respected home builder has slated 956 homes for this 8 year build out neighborhood.. The community has amazing amenities and Oyster Point will surely be a favorite for years to come. James Schiller Charleston SC Realtor

Daniel Island Park Homes For Sale | Daniel Island Real Estate

James Schiller, Brand Name Real Estate (James Schiller Company, LLC) — Thu, 28 Jul 2016 23:28:51 -0700

Daniel Island Park is Daniel Island's premier luxury community of the island. Located on the West side (I guess depending on where you are), this side of the island is home to the only two golf courses (private as well), the pool, and amenities centers. Homes for sale on Daniel Island Park are as you might imagine more expensive than the other parts of the island due to it's proximity to waterfront riverfront property, the Daniel Island club, and of course the two golf facilities. Daniel Island started development about 15+ years ago, and has steadily become one of the Charleston areas most desired communities. Home to many of the area's prominent figures, and even a couple celebrities the island hosts multiple concerts at the once Family Circle Cup stadium now called the Volvo stadium. Real estate Daniel Island SC has steadily been going up for the last 8 years since the economic and housing crash has rebounded. Development is in full swing and homes are being gobbled up quickly. Located just outside Mount Pleasant the island is situated favorably off I526 so it's easy to get to the interstates, the airport and Mt Pleasant for even more options for dining and entertainment. There are a few schools on the island, but public and private all of which are extremely highly rated and tough to get into. Daniel Island is also home to one of the only professional soccer teams in S.C, and definitely the most well known and well respected. Soccer fans can enjoy very competitive games and also see many of their favorite European and MLS teams come to the area to play exhibition matches with The Battery.It comes as no surprise that waterfront homes on Daniel Island are the most sought after properties, but they usually begin around $2.5 Million for deep water. There are more affordable homes for sale on the Island in the 500s as well, with most under that being a condo or townhouse. James Schiller Charleston SC Realtor

The BEST Realtor WEBSITES I Have Ever SEEN!!

James Schiller, Brand Name Real Estate (James Schiller Company, LLC) — Tue, 21 Jun 2016 06:06:42 -0700

There is no shortage of Realtor real estate agent websites providers out there these days. It was just a few years ago that there were only a few but now there are probably over ten at least (those that provide RETS IDX data) so where is an agent to choose? Great question. I was searching around for homes for sale on Sullivan's Island SC when I started thinking. As a broker in Charleston SC a few years ago I went on the hunt for the best real estate platform I could find, one that I was in control of 100%, where I could do ALL the work myself (if I so choose to), where it was 100% FULLY customizable, I could create pages with custom URLs, and still have ALL the features as Zillow and Realtor.com. CLICK BELOW TO VIEW EXAMPLE OF REAL WORKING SITEShttp://searchrealestate.co/http://greathomesofcharleston.com/ After months of searching I found it. I called around and did demo after demo and nothing was providing with what I wanted until now. Unlike ANY other real estate IDX website companies out there such as (Market Leader (awful), broker IDX, Plaster, BoomtownROI none of them have the full set of bells and whistles this does coupled with full customizable design as you want it (provided you know how to). Unless you're very knowledgable with Wordpress, CSS, and some HTML (for advanced users) you wouldn't want to try it yourself. That said, even the other providers still do not offer the flexibility that this one does.The best part isn't even has amazing it is on the front end, it even has a built in CRM that tracks user behavior dashboard, Google analytics dashboard, school data, subdivisions list, map search with hot zones, condo development lists, there just really is too much to go into. YOU HAVE TO LOOK INTO IT.. Now I just sit back and wait for my phone or email to go off for a lead. James Schiller Charleston SC Realtor

Luxury Condos Charleston SC

James Schiller, Brand Name Real Estate (James Schiller Company, LLC) — Wed, 24 Feb 2016 21:58:37 -0800

Charleston SC has become a hot bed of media hype in that last decade so it comes as no surprise that there has been a dramatic rise in prices, and development. None more surprising than the condo market in the low-country as space becomes scarce developers are forced to build up. Condos in Charleston SC vary from small studios downtown, small one bedroom beachfront condos, to large palatial mid-rise waterfront stunners. If luxury condominiums is your cup o' tea here is a comprehensive list of the most popular Charleston SC luxury condos for sale:One Vendue Range - Located in the very desirable downtown Charleston French Quarter district, these waterfront condos are within walking distance of many 4 star dining establishmentsThe People's Building - 18 Broad St used to be an old commercial space in the early 1900s that was converted to residential condos.The Renaissance on Charleston Harbor - Mount Pleasant's first luxury mid-rise condo development, these condos offer just about anything any condo lover could want or need.The Tides - Also located in Mt Pleasant, just on the other side of the bridge from downtown and sort of accross the street from The Renaissance, these condo are also mid-rise waterfront.The Bristol - Offering a marina and close convenience to downtown the Bristol waterfront condos has a lovely gym, sauna, and pool for every owner.Fort Sumter House - a.k.a 1 King St Charleston, was also like The People's building in that it too was an old commercial space (bank I believe), converted in the mid 1900s to condos.The Albemarle - Located just on the other side of the bridge from downtown in West Ashley, these lovely condos have a gorgeous clubroom, pool, workout facilities, owners storage, and more.175 Concord St - These fairly new luxury condos are also in the French Quarter, near waterfront park in downtown Charleston.Prioleau St Condos - Also in The French Quarter, these condos are very desirable because of their location in downtown.Dockside - Located at 330 Concord st, The Dockside condominiums are true "high-rise", and Charleston's first and only real luxury high rise on the waterfront. The build is going through a large renovation because it is now over 20 years old.Anson House - Near the aquarium and Dockside just on the other end of Calhoun St, these condos will give you great proximity to most of downtown's hot spots.The Oaks at Riversedge - Located on Daniel Island, these waterfront condos also have their own marina, and offer wonderful amenities in a secluded setting.Bee St Lofts - These Charleston Lofts were built to be an answer to the demand of students and employees of MUSC and the VA hospital downtown.Factors Walk - 5 Middle Atlantic Wharf St was built in the 2000's after an old crumbling structure from years ago couldn't be saved. James Schiller Charleston SC Realtor

Info on Purchasing Homes in Charleston SC

James Schiller, Brand Name Real Estate (James Schiller Company, LLC) — Fri, 02 Jan 2015 23:23:25 -0800

When it comes to real estate in Charleston SC there are some things that make it a little different than your average run of the mill metropolitan city. On a macro-level, owning property in the Charleston SC tri-county area will most likely require you to have flood insurance as well as wind and hail insurance which you may not be used to carrying where you are moving from. Although our property taxes are fairly cheap as compared to a lot of cities, the insurance expense off sets it. There are ways to decrease your house insurance in Charleston SC, so make sure to consult with a reputable agent to take advantage of the possible discounts.Another factor to consider about buying a home in Charleston SC is that the town is one of the busiest, and most loved cities in North America, from a tourism standpoint, thus living here year around sometimes gets frustrating in the height of the season. Honestly, there really isn't a "tourist season" anymore because it's pretty much all year now, whereas just 15+/- years ago it primarily was mostly April-Oct.Lastly, real estate isn't cheap here as you might expect, I feel like a lot of people from around the U.S. think because it's South Carolina that property must be cheap. Yes, depending on where you are coming from it is (except NY, NJ, CT, DC, Boston, California, Chicago, Miami, etc), but to everyday middle America, and the midwest; real estate is out of reach for most. Doesn't mean you can't find a home, but you will be limited on the size of land (usually very small lots), size and quality of home as well unless you can spend at least $500k for a modest home. If waterfront properties are your thing, then don't even consider Charleston if you don't have a least $400,000 and then you'll likely only be getting a small condo. For this reason fractional homes in Charleston SC are very popular because if you only wish to visit a few times a year then why not get something like partial ownership. Beachfront homes in the Charleston SC area usually start well over $1 Million as you might expect, and if you find one just over the $1 Million mark you had better scoop it up. There are beachfront condos available as well that offer you more affordability but be aware that most of the condominium and villas have hefty HOA and regime fees since most are in gated resorts. James SchillerCharleston SC Area Real Estate BrokerP: 843.478.8061 W: http://searchrealestate.co/James Schiller Charleston SC Realtor

Golf Course Homes Charleston SC

James Schiller, Brand Name Real Estate (James Schiller Company, LLC) — Wed, 24 Sep 2014 02:12:42 -0700

Charleston South Carolina Golf Homes | Golf Communities in Charleston SC James Schiller Charleston SC Realtor

Homes For Sale The Old Village Mt Pleasant SC

James Schiller, Brand Name Real Estate (James Schiller Company, LLC) — Thu, 11 Sep 2014 07:26:52 -0700

The Old Village Homes For Sale Mt Pleasant SC | Listings For Sale in The Old Village Mount Pleasant SCWhy is it that The Old Village is so darned popular? Considered to be one of the most desirable neighborhoods in ALL of Mt Pleasant you have to understand what makes it different than the standard PUD of today's developments. Homes for sale in The Old Village will likely get you a very large lot, at least .50 acre in most cases which is very rare in Charleston SC and in Mt Pleasant for sure. Two, there aren't any CCRs, because the neighborhood was developed before there were such things as PUD (planned unit developments), what we know today as "subdivisions". Thus, there isn't any risk of getting a nasty gram from the HOA because your boat is being stored in the driveway, you haven't had time to mow your lawn yet and the grass is a little long, you forgot to pull your trash bin in for 48 hrs, or any of the other 100 reasons living in a PUD is annoying. Third, location, location, location. The Old Village is really close to Sullivan's Island, one of the areas most beloved public beach communities, it has it's own little tiny town inside with a gym, restaurant, sandwich shop, Alahambra Hall and old timey pharmacy. Just around the corner is the fun stuff; Red's Ice House, Shelter bar & grill, and all the other fun places on Shem Creek. Not to mention- Wild Wing, Art's Bar, Starbucks, and about 4 grocery stores you could walk to almost.Lastly, there is a school in The Old Village, ball park, HUGE live oak trees, sidewalks, the Pitt St bridge which is now a park with long dock out to the water where you can fish. As far as the best waterfront homes in Charleston SC. WOW.. If you can afford one of them, the homes on the water in the back of The Old Village are to die for! They sit on huge lots, with direct deep water unobstructed stunning views of Charleston harbor with a deep water dock on them. So.. If you are moving to the Charleston SC area, or possibly plan to this is definitely a neighborhood you should call me to see. James Schiller - Search Listings MLS Charleston SCP: 843.478.8061W: http://SearchRealEstate.co James Schiller Charleston SC Realtor

Oceanfront Homes Kiawah Island For Sale

James Schiller, Brand Name Real Estate (James Schiller Company, LLC) — Wed, 10 Sep 2014 10:17:22 -0700

Beachfront Homes For Sale Kiawah Island SC | Kiawah Island SC Waterfront Homes If you haven't heard of Kiawah Island by now than you might want to get out from under that rock and check it out. Seriously one of the most desirable pristine, seemingly untouched beachfront communities on the planet. Somehow the developers of Kiawah Island figured out how to make it feel like you are in another world of nature, wildlife, and luxury without it feeling like a resort that has 6 PGA ranked courses, one of which is one of the top 5 most respected in the WORLD. It's not uncommon to see deer, bobcats, many alligators, herons, egrets, spoonbills, sea turtles, and more ALL the time. Ever walked on a beach and felt like no one else was there, and that it has never been walked on by humans. This is the place. As one might imagine given the spendor and opulance of Kiawah Island, the property there is pretty expensive for the average person. With celebrities and the uber wealthy owning second, third, fourth homes on Kiawah you had better be willing to pay up. The cheapest homes you can get on Kiawah Island is $50,000 - $250,000 for fractional ownership of a couple weeks or more. The cheapest FULL ownership you'll find is about $500,000 for a 1000 sq ft older condo, not on the ocean. Every home on Kiawah Island is a stunner, custom built gem. The developers, and architectural review boards have only a few already approved high-end luxury home builders, and if you bring your own builder then they had better be able to prove they are up to snuff. There is a very nice member club called "The Sandcastle" that is on Kiawah for owners to enjoy, with a large pool, cabanas, clubhouse, grill, lounge, and creek side boat ramp. There is a lot one should consider when looking at homes to purchase on Kiawah Island about Dues, Regimes, and the like. Beachfront homes on Kiawah Island SC as you guessed by now start well over $2 Million for a house, and in many cases oceanfront condos on Kiawah Island SC are well over $1 Million. However, once you get there and check it out for yourself you'll see why. If Kiawah sounds like just the thing you're looking for then please call me and we'll find you something of your own. James Schiller Charleston SC Area Real Estate Broker P: 843.478.8061 W: http://searchrealestate.co/James Schiller Charleston SC Realtor

Charleston SC Luxury Custom Home Builder

James Schiller, Brand Name Real Estate (James Schiller Company, LLC) — Tue, 09 Sep 2014 12:34:21 -0700

Custom Home Builders Charleston SC, serving: ALL the islands, Mt Pleasant, Folly Beach, historic Downtown. Fine New Construction Charleston SC Contractor. When looking for a custom home builder to build in coastal areas it's imperative that you have one that truly knows the risks involved with hurricanes, proper building codes, and knows the most reliable strong materials. So your home can withstand the winds, rain torrents, and harsh heat and sun that is the southern United States. There are tons of home builders in Charleston SC, but none other than Sand Dollar Homes, the custom home builder of Charleston for luxury and designer homes. Building your dream is what we do best, and most of our homes, custom remodel jobs, and renovations start at $500,000 and can be seen in Kiawah Island, historic downtown homes, Daniel Island, Mount Pleasant, Sullivan's Island, Isle of Palms, Wild Dunes, and Folly Beach. The large national home builders are great for price conscience buyers that want a new home, but unfortunately they won't offer you the level of quality, detailed craftsmanship, design options, floor plans and attention your new dream home deservers. Sure you can drive around and look at new constructon Charleston SC, but you'll likely only find spec homes built with vinyl siding, cheap finishes, only a few floor plans to choose from, and they will build the house as fast as they can. There are things to be wary of when building a tract home with a large national builder that an agent can look out for. James SchillerCharleston SC Area Real Estate BrokerP: 843.478.8061 W: http://searchrealestate.co/James Schiller Charleston SC Realtor

Daniel Island SC Real Estate For Sale | Agent

James Schiller, Brand Name Real Estate (James Schiller Company, LLC) — Tue, 09 Sep 2014 12:04:33 -0700

Daniel Island SC Real Estate | Waterfront Homes & Lots Daniel Island SC |Agent Listings MLSOne of the Charleston areas new up and coming favorite communities Daniel Island has been growing fast because of it's private little feel, proximity to 526 interstate, and yet it's close enough to downtown and Mt Pleasant. Offering buyers options like: waterfront homes, golf course homes, condos, townhomes, and even mid rise waterfront condos. Expect to pay over $3 Million for the very highend custom riverfront homes on Daniel Island, but don't worry Daniel Island also has property (condos) in the $100s - $200,000 range. If building new is your type of thing there are still tons of land and lots for sale Daniel Island as well.Daniel Island is home to the Family Circle Tennis center, two stunning golf courses, walking trails, soccer fields, and green space parks. There are essentially 5 "neighborhoods" on Daniel Island and 5 or so surrounding the Daniel Island area.Smythe Park - Center Park -Daniel Island Park - Most popular because it's close proximity to the water, the two golf courses, and the marina at The Oaks at Riversedge Condos (luxury waterfront).Edgefield Park - (newest Developement) outside Smythe ParkParkside - Condos near the parkPier View - High-end Condos SURROUNDING DEVELOPMENTS: (not on the island), most are down hwy 41. Beresford Creek Beresford Hall Pinefield Plantation Nelliefield Plantation Rivers Reach Point The Retreat at Beresford James SchillerCharleston SC Area Real Estate BrokerP: 843.478.8061 W: http://searchrealestate.co/charleston-scJames Schiller Charleston SC Realtor

Sullivan's Island Real Estate For Sale

James Schiller, Brand Name Real Estate (James Schiller Company, LLC) — Tue, 09 Sep 2014 11:38:27 -0700

Sullivan's Island homes for sale | Beachfront Homes Sullivan's Island SC | Lots for Sale Sullivan's IslandSullivan's Island property is one of the Charleston SC area's best little beach communities, because of that there aren't many owners that want to sell, so the prices are high. Quaint and quiet most of the time home for sale on Sullivan's Island will offer prospective buyers the Charleston lifestyle they've come to love. Close to Mt Pleasant where shopping, fun, and dining is abundant, and next to Isle of Palms where you can quickly play a round of golf in the Wild Dunes Resort. If you prefer to build your own home vs live in a pre-existing one there are also lots for sale on Sullivan's Island, but beachfront and waterway front. James SchillerCharleston SC Area Real Estate BrokerP: 843.478.8061 W: http://searchrealestate.co/James Schiller Charleston SC Realtor

Best Luxury Neighborhoods Mount Pleasant SC

James Schiller, Brand Name Real Estate (James Schiller Company, LLC) — Mon, 08 Sep 2014 03:05:11 -0700

If you have every visited Mount Pleasant SC then you'll know it's a pretty large community and therefore are a lot of neighborhoods to choose from. So which ones are the best Luxury subdivision in Mt Pleasant, South Carolina? I am a realtor in Mount Pleasant SC so I have tried to point out my favorites, and I know people have their own ideas of what luxury is, but here are my personal feelings on them. 1.) Hamlin Plantation - With very large custom homes on the water and marsh located in "The Sound" section as well as nice large custom homes not on the water, luxury townhomes, and some moderate houses Hamlin Plantation in Mount Pleasant is one of the best. 2.) I'On Village - Located in more central Mt Pleasant vs the northern end, I'On has been a favorite since it's inception. With large gorgeous custom homes on a big pond, stunning huge live oak trees in the neighborhood, and some marshfront homes you're bound to find something you'll love. Adjacent to it is Olde Park, a community with uncommonly large lots, custom homes, and some on water/marsh. 3.) Dunes West - Gated Country Club community with two pools, 18 hole golf course, club house, fishing ponds, and walking trails, Dunes West is one of the north area's premier developments. Started in the late 90's Dunes West has very large lots in some cases, golf course homes, and huge waterfront homes.4.) Rivertowne - Very much like Dunes West, Rivertown is just on the other side of the entrance to Dunes West, and offers pretty much the same experience, quality of homes, and options. 5.) The Old Village - Not as many "luxury homes" persay in The Old Village, but the ones that ARE there are stunning. Definitely one of the most desirable neighborhoods in Mt Pleasant, The Old Village has some of the BEST homes, and lots in the entire area situated directly on DEEP water ocean over looking the harbor. 6.) River Reach at Remleys Point - Larger than average lots, this development features homes on the Wando river, gorgeous live mature oaks, and custom homes.7.) Hobcaw Creek - One of Mount Pleasant's first luxury creek front communities, this development features large trees, large lots, pool, amenities, custom homes and a boat launch for residents.8.) Hobcaw Point - James SchillerCharleston SC Area Real Estate BrokerP: 843.478.8061 W: http://jamesschiller.com/James Schiller Charleston SC Realtor

Charleston South Carolina Realtor

James Schiller, Brand Name Real Estate (James Schiller Company, LLC) — Tue, 22 Jul 2014 03:51:33 -0700

Old Profile Contents About me:I have been a real estate agent in Charleston S.C. since 2006 and have loved it ever since. But I have actual working in the real estate industry because of 13 years as a home mortgage financing expert. started in the real estate industry as a loan officer in 1998 as a Media Arts graduate (yet another advantage) at the University of S.C. I founded my own wholesale mortgage firm in 2002 (closed 09') where my company had 13 associates, 2 offices, and was the preferred lending company for many developers and real estate companies and $85 Million in closed business. My experience in the mortgage side of real estate futher will help my Charleston SC real estate buyers and sellers I think more than agents without this valuable knowledge. I began selling real estate in Charleston, SC as a licensed and accredited agent with the National Association of REALTORS® with the intention of helping prospective buyers who wanted someone with a little more knowledge in other facets of the buying process. I was also licensed and accredited property and casualty insurance agent specializing in home, wind, and flood insurance for my clients for 2 years from 2009-2011 with the Bray Insurance Group. IF YOU WANT TO SELL YOUR HOME -Real estate buyers and real estate sales regardless of it's in Charleston SC or not begins with the internet. PERIOD. 95% of all buyers begin the shopping process of buying a home by searching the web for homes for sale, and the internet is the grand daddy king of ALL digital media. What people see online is where they form their opinion.Being a media arts graduate I was educated in media and also required to study things like photography, lighting, and video as part of my major. Thus; I am best choice for selling a home because I understand how to achieve getting perfect photographs and videos to showcase your home. Your home is your biggest investment and consequently you should get the highest dollar for it you can. Too many agents don't know or don't care to take the time to make sure they market your home correctly, by having tons of excellent eye-popping pictures or video. I too am a marketing expert and especially digital media and web based marketing so instead of hoping I know how to expose your home to all the right web based media outlets you can rest assured you are in the best hands. James SchillerCharleston SC Area Real Estate BrokerP: 843.478.8061 W: http://searchrealestate.co/James Schiller Charleston SC Realtor

Charleston, SC Real Estate Market Stats

James Schiller, Brand Name Real Estate (James Schiller Company, LLC) — Wed, 05 Jun 2013 01:09:08 -0700

Up until recently, probably the last 8 months, the Charleston SC real estate market has been doing fairly well as compared to the rest of the country. Which has been the case since I moved here in 99'. Seeing how Charleston was voted #1 Tourist city in the World be Conde Naste magazine it comes as no surprise that as those who have never visited, come here to see what it has to offer then want to buy real estate. The lifestyle here in Charleston, is pretty unique and a lot of people from other parts of the United States and the world want a piece of the Charleston SC property pie. TO SEE the Latest Charleston, SC Real Estate Stats Click --> HEREIt's not just downtown Charleston, SC either. Outlying towns like Mount Pleasant, Sullivan's Island, Daniel Island, West Ashley and Folly Beach offer a neighborly feel only minutes from Downtown Charleston South Carolina. If resort living is more your style, Kiawah Island, and Wild Dunes will be your area of choice for buying a home. Wild Dunes located on Isle of Palms SC offers two signature PGA golf courses with homes all around them, both of which are on water; one on the ocean, and one on the inlet waters ways of the Isle of Palms.So if you or someone you know wants to see what all the whoopla is about please tell them to come visit for themselves.James SchillerCharleston SC Area Real Estate BrokerP: 843.478.8061 W: http://searchrealestate.co/James Schiller Charleston SC Realtor

Downtown Charleston, SC Real Estate Listings MLS

James Schiller, Brand Name Real Estate (James Schiller Company, LLC) — Tue, 21 May 2013 02:45:09 -0700

Downtown Charleston, SC is considered by many historians and tourism enthusiasts to be one of the (if #1) best towns in the United States for visiting, vacactioning, and seeing gorgeous homes. The houses for sale downtown Charleston, SC can vary drastically from community, and street so quickly. Just one block from one another a home maybe in excess of $2 Million while the other is just over hundred thousand. No matter what the one thing that you will enjoy about Charleston, SC real estate is the historic value that exists in almost all of them. Rarely are there any new construction homes in downtown Charleston, SC anymore, but they do exist. Most of the new construction in downtown Charleston, SC is a lot of times condos because the dirt space is so limited, and developers who purchase the location must build upward. However recently the city has seen investors buying and renovating old homes like new. Many of the homes in downtown Charleston, SC are so old, often times over 100 years old that they can't be torn down because of the historic significance & preservation required from the architectural review board. However, they are more or less a brand new home because everything has been replaced except for the look, floor plan, style. It's a good thing that the ARB is so strick with the building requirements of homes downtown because it's that charm that brings so many visitors to the Charleston, SC area, and recently Charleston, SC voted best city in World to visit.

Ph: 843.478.8061James Schiller Charleston SC Realtor

How Do Real Estate Websites Work as Compared to Zillow, and Trulia?

James Schiller, Brand Name Real Estate (James Schiller Company, LLC) — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 06:58:05 -0700

Many of us Charleston SC real estate brokers and agents have our own websites with real estate listings, but how does the public choose which to search properties? What makes ours different from Zillow or Trulias? With Zillow pushing so hard to take over the real estate search market how do you make your home search on your website stand out and does it matter to the public and prospective clients?Let me explain. Zillow, Trulia, Movoto, & Realtor.com are not a real estate companies, nor are they in the business of selling real estate so what sense does it make to take their information as fact? They are tech companies, web companies, that make their profits by selling agents like myself ad space, or leads they derived directly from the listings we as agents put on MLS.As a member of the National Association of Realtors and Charleston Trident Association of Realtors I feel it is my duty to fully inform the public and prospective clients about the truth of online property search websites such mine. However, I am not sure the public understands what they are looking at and thus the motivation for this article. Primarily this is to help other agents with their prospective buyers.The problem is with using "listing information aggregators", such as the ones above is. They are notorious for publishing outdated properties that are no longer on the market. I have had prospective clients call me and ask about a property only for me to tell them that home isn’t for sale. They say to me, “but I saw it on Zillow”. I regularly receive inquires from prospective buyers who’ve seen this or that property for sale on Zillow or Trulia. When I look it up I find that the property is in escrow (under contract), or was recently sold, or was sold literally years earlier.Read MORE..--> James SchillerCharleston SC Area Real Estate BrokerP: 843.478.8061 W: http://searchrealestate.co/James Schiller Charleston SC Realtor

How to Pick Right Floor Plan..

James Schiller, Brand Name Real Estate (James Schiller Company, LLC) — Sun, 17 Feb 2013 22:50:17 -0800

Ok.. So you have decided you want to build a new home, and you have obtained mortgage financing , now you have to figure out what kind of new construction home build you want to do? Do you want a new fully custom home, tract built, or semi-custom? Well, regardless of which of those you choose aside from the choice of which home builder you want to hire to build it the next most important factor is your floor plan.You might not think it’s that important because most are just so excited about having a new house, that their real estate agent will usually run them through a local community by a large national home builder and push them into something without sitting them down to discuss how they should pick out a plan. After all the agent isn’t the one that will be living there day in and day out, you will. Trust me you don’t want to get sucked into a house because you think it’s pretty on the inside or you like the vaulted ceilings, tile floors, or whatever only to regret it in a year because you now realize that the floor plan doesn’t fit your daily family needs. Unfortunately this happens all to often.If you are going fully custom you will need to hire an architect and then you and your architect will usually talk about all these factors. Hiring an architect (if you can afford one) is definitely the way to go if you are building a custom home, because they can tailor the home to your needs, and they will suggest things you otherwise would have never thought of.Let’s go over the questions you need to ask yourself when choosing a floor plan:1.) How large is your family? Do you planning on having children? Although, you might not have kids now, if you plan on having them you should think about things like where is the laundry room (1st or 2nd floor), how large are the bedrooms and closets in the bedrooms, where are the bedrooms in relation to the exits of the home, where are the bedrooms in relation to the master bedroom and stairs. I think everyone knows that open floor plans are the rage, but when having children it is a must have. By having a very open floor plan allows you to be able to cook in the kitchen, sit in your office, or dining room and still easily see the kids to keep an eye on them.2.) How old are you? How long do you plan on living in this home? If you are older and getting close to retirement you need to consider a one story home, house plan on a slab foundation instead of crawl space, or one with an elevator. Yes; I said elevator. Here in Charleston SC, real estate is commonly known to have elevators because much of our area is in a flood zone, and the lots are fairly small so homes can be close to one another and parking is best suited under the home. You may be nimble now, but as we age it becomes harder and harder to walk up stairs and get around and a home that accommodates your mobility needs is key. Where is the master bedroom located? Obviously, you won’t want to build or buy a newly built home with the bedroom upstairs if you are in your 60′s now and this is to be the last home you live in. To that I also go further and say you should also think about the size of lot you want to build on, or do you want a condo instead. Many seniors opt for a “patio home” which is usually a small one story home on a slab with a small lot so as to keep the yard upkeep manageable. You may find the best home and community until later realize you are spending $200+ month on landscaping costs because you built a home on a large lot and you can no longer do the landscaping yourself.3.) Closet space - I know this probably applies to mostly woman and is likely the most obvious of the things to consider when picking out or designing a floor plan. If you can’t have your dream, gigantic closet as far as sq footage is concerned think about building the house with 9 ft ceilings and then you can have more room for two rows of hangers, and shelves without needing a lot of extra sq footage.4.) Storage- Do you tend to collect and hold onto material things? Do you have a lot of family heirlooms? If this applies to you then you need to consider how much space is available for storage, and what unused space in the home can be converted to a storage space. Many home plans have tiny nooks here and there that can be fitted with a door and lined with plywood to make for extra storage space. But wait; how accessible is the storage space that is in the home? Meaning, are you going to have to squeeze in and out of closets, and walls to get to your storage spaces. You may want to consider having a floor plan that has storage in the main parts of the home and not just the attic or basement because if you need to access things you put into storage a lot it will get annoying to go up and down the stairs.So.. If you are looking to build a new home in a development with a large builder and pick one of their existing home plans, build your own custom home with a local Charleston home builder, or buy a house plan from the internet you need to really do your best to think long and hard about it, because you don’t want to be in a home you don’t enjoy everyday. Secondly, if you notice there are annoying things with your home layout there is a good chance that prospective buyers in the future will notice it too. A good real estate agent in Charleston, SC or wherever you are considering building should have this discussion with you so you don’t make the wrong choice.James SchillerCharleston SC Area Real Estate BrokerP: 843.478.8061 W: http://searchrealestate.co/James Schiller Charleston SC Realtor

It's STILL cheaper to Own than rent in Charleston SC

James Schiller, Brand Name Real Estate (James Schiller Company, LLC) — Tue, 09 Oct 2012 04:40:24 -0700

Buying a house in Charleston, Mount Pleasant, or even Daniel Island is now cheaper then renting according to a new report from the real estate website Trulia. In virtually every U.S. city it’s better to buy a house then to rent. “Despite the recent home rebound, rents continue to rise faster then do home prices, and mortgage rates are at record lows,” said J. Kolko, Trulia’s chief economist, in a news release by The Daily. On average, buying is now 45% cheaper then renting in the 100 largest U.S. cities – a savings of almost $800 a month. With more and more home owners having to leave their homes due to job loss, and a poor economy forces those same people to rent thus increasing the demand for rental properties forcing rent costs upward. Furthermore, mortgage lending is still very tight and less people are qualified to purchase. These factors result in an almost 5% surge in rental rates in the past year and a glut of 30 yr mortgages around 3.5 percent. Trulia looked at the average age price of all homes for sale and the average rent of all homes for lease between the beginning of June and the end of Aug. It spread its search from the inner cities to the suburbs. Trulia also baked in various expenses like closing costs, maintenance, renter’s insurance, and taxes. After the analysis was completed in the winter, it was better to buy in 98 of the top 100 markets including Charleston, South Carolina’s. Purchase mortgage rates have dropped while rents have increased. The study however, is built on some big assumptions, primarily that the hypothetical buyer puts down 20% and qualifies for a great mortgage AND doesn’t sell for 7 years. With that said, even in a case where the homeowner got just a 4.5% mortgage and only stayed in the home for 5 years, the result was still almost the same. It was cheaper to buy in 96 markets. Nevertheless, some 6 million properties remain close to foreclosure, and most potential buyers still find it difficult to save up the 20% for down payment. Although there are still loans that only require 3.5% down. Mount Pleasant Real Estate Agent - James SchillerJames Schiller Charleston SC Realtor

Building a New Home Charleston SC

James Schiller, Brand Name Real Estate (James Schiller Company, LLC) — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 02:37:24 -0700

If you have never built a new home choosing where to begin can be difficult. So I have detailed for prospective home buyers; and those looking to build a starting place for thought. 1.) Fully Custom – Just as its name states, custom homes are as YOU want them. As the prospective home owner you would be expected to hire an architect whereby with regular meetings you, your architect, and home builder would design a home according to your direction, and vision. After you have signed off on the design of your home it then has to be stamped by a licensed engineer to make sure its design features are structurally sound. Beware of a fully custom home because they take much longer to build, and they require many many meetings with a plethora of different people all of which are there to make sure you get exactly what you want. Also, here in Charleston, South Carolina, and downtown specifically there is an ARB (architectural review board) which over-sees the construction of every building in historic Charleston. However, there is a good reason for this. Aside from the normal responsibilities of ensuring the safety of each property, it too is responsible for preserving the look and historic significance of one of the United States most respected and historically relevant cities in the country. If you are considering building in Mount Pleasant, Folly Beach, Isle of Palms, or surrounding areas there is less chance you have to be too concerned with having each phase of your design and construction signed off on from an aesthetic point at least. However, many newer suburban communities also have restrictions and rules that have to be adhered to there to preserve a consistent feel of the neighborhood. For instance Kiawah Island home builders have to make sure their customers know that they can not use white for their exterior trim color.1.a Next are the finishes, i.e. type of cabinets, trim, hard wood floor species, stain colors, electrical fixtures, plumbing fixtures, tile, exterior materials, carpet styles, paint colors, and many more options. It is common for your builder (general contractor) to have a few design partners that will help you when choosing from the hundreds or thousands of options available to you with each phase of construction. It is fairly safe to say that the more elaborate and detailed your home is with design elements the longer it will take to build.2.) Semi-Custom – A semi-custom home usually refers to a type of new construction home whereby the builder will either provide you with a multiple different home plans to choose from. Yet the home buyer can make small changes to the plans, but usually not to the structural elements as well as they get to choose the finishes mentioned in 1.a. This kind of home is probably your most commonly used option, and many of your local & national builders prefer to offer this as it is the most flexible to most people. You feel as if you are getting a fully custom home without having the additional time, and expense of hiring and meeting with an architect. Since the builder is familiar with the floor plans they usually are fairly confident with giving you a estimated close date and cost depending on the finishes you choose.3.) Spec (Speculative) – Spec homes are where a builder (national or local) will pre-build a newly constructed home, choose the floor plans, and the finishes, landscaping, etc. hoping that a prospective buyer will be interested in buying it as he or she designed it. They are “speculating” that there are enough interested buyers in the market, hence the name “spec home”. These homes are usually built in established neighborhoods often times in nicer communities consisting mostly of custom homes.4.) Tract Home – Usually your most affordable option – As defined by Wikipedia – Tract housing is a style of housing development in which multiple similar homes are built on a tract of land which is subdivided into individual small lots. Tract housing developments are typically found in North American suburbs that were modeled on the “Levittown” concept and sometimes encompass large areas of dozens of square miles.These types of homes although new are usually of lesser quality then the first three options because the home builder(s) know exactly what it costs them to build each home as cheaply as possible because believe it or not most of their profit is in the land. Most of the national builders whose names you’d recognize such as: DR Horton, Beazer, Pulte, KB, and Centex, are considered tract builders. The expense and “power” is in the dirt. If you own the dirt or tract of land to build then you have the power because buyers have no other choice other than to buy your product if they want to live in certain areas. These builders will buy large pieces of land all over the country and develop the dirt, but in order to compete with local builders will many times offer a semi-custom feature into their plans. Whereby, they will have usually offer 6, sometimes 8 floor plans to choose from, and offer a hand full of different finish options. Such as: 3 types of pre-finished hardwood flooring, 4 types of ceramic tile or vinyl, 3 styles of carpet, 3 different exterior wall coverings, etc.Precision Construction is Charleston’s SC best Affordable Home BuilderJames SchillerCharleston SC Area Real Estate BrokerP: 843.478.8061 W: http://searchrealestate.co/James Schiller Charleston SC Realtor

Online Home Search Tools

James Schiller, Brand Name Real Estate (James Schiller Company, LLC) — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 02:23:58 -0700

As a member of the National Association of Realtor and Charleston Trident Association of Realtors I feel it is my duty to fully inform the public and prospective clients about the truth of online property search tools. Not that there is anything deceitful, but because I feel us as agents need to set the record straight. If you haven’t noticed every real estate agent and real estate company now-a-days has a “free” home search, Search Homes Here, or “Search homes for Sale” tool built into their website. That is primarily so that their prospective buyers and sellers do not navigate off their site to search homes elsewhere. I am a real estate agent in Charleston South Carolina and I too have one of these online Charleston South Carolina homes- for sale search tool buttons for my customers / prospects. We have all seen them; if you have purchased a home or are considering buying a home in the last 7 years or so you have more than likely used one of these.But; what are they really? What’s the deal behind them and who has the best one to use? Who has the best and easiest online property / home search tool? Truth is they are all mostly the same. It is all the same information and no one company has more info then the other, and the reason is because the real estate boards insure that every agency has a level playing field. The biggest difference is that they are all dressed up to look different, however they are all providing the user with the same information everyone else has.The multiple listing service or MLS at least here in Charleston (I believe everywhere in the U.S.) provides (for a small monthly fee) website code that real estate companies and/or Realtors can embed into their websites so that you as a customer can search homes or property at your leisure- including myself. If you click HERE you will see that you can search Charleston area real estate and Charleston homes for sale.You are probably asking yourself how does the local / county / city MLS home search tools compare to Zillow or Trulia? Good question. From my understanding these companies use the MLS same information as real estate companies, but they also subscribe to a technical feed from city and county records, and compile and collect information from each local government office into their websites that include past and recent sales.Their information is exactly the same as agents and realtors have, but they unlike most local real estate companies have more capital to invest into more web development and design to construct their tool to be able to process more information, faster.Charleston's SC Trusted RealtorJames SchillerCharleston SC Area Real Estate BrokerP: 843.478.8061 W: http://searchrealestate.co/James Schiller Charleston SC Realtor

Latest Real Estate Opinions and News

James Schiller, Brand Name Real Estate (James Schiller Company, LLC) — Sat, 22 May 2010 03:05:37 -0700

It’s been a while since I have posted an opinionated piece because most of my posts are more geared toward news and information for the public and how it pertains to the industry of real estate. However in this case, I couldn’t shake this ludicrous idea by a writer at the Wall St. Journal. I have always respected the Wall St. Journal, but this one has me baffled. I have been in the real estate industry for going on 14 years now- 12 years in mortgage financing, almost 4 years as a real estate agent and now almost 2 writing insurance. Considering most of my experience has been financially related I tend to follow those trends the most seeing as there wouldn’t be sales of real estate without money to finance them. Let’s face it, there aren’t that many people liquid enough to pay cash so truthfully it all revolves around money. Even insurance revolves around money and is a great indicator of overall economic health. Each property has to be insured, each business, each profession has to have insurance, and yes almost every mortgage has insurance. With that said, the piece from the Wall St. Journal by James Hagerty goes like this: “U.S. home prices will begin a gradual recovery by next year, according to a survey of 92 economists and other housing analysts by MacroMarkets LLC.” They then go onto write; “The analysts surveyed by MacroMarkets on average expect home prices, as measured by the S&P/Case-Shiller national index, to rise about 12% in the five years ending Dec. 31, 2014. As of Dec. 31, that index was down about 28% from its peak level in mid-2006”. Obviously I am assuming that Mr. Hagerty is just going off research and information given to him by MacroMarkets and these 92 economists, but I can’t believe the editors of the Wall St. Journal let this go to print. I can’t lay all the blame on the Wall St. Journal because they are apparently getting their info from these economists. I am sure out of 92 economists they most likely have many more years then I analyzing data, but let’s look at the facts and you decide for yourself. National Mortgage News (an industry news subscription service) sends me monthly emails about the latest data coming from multiple outlets such as: National Association of Mortgage Bankers, national appraisal companies, commercial finance institutions, etc. Remember financing tells the truth about what’s really happening. Of 11 articles 7 of them were negative, but a few are really telling. I am just going to give you the blurb “gist” of the piece. 1.) Residential delinquencies climbed to yet another new high at March 31 with 10.06% of all mortgagors behind on their payments, according to new figures released by the Mortgage Bankers Association. Think about it… If delinquencies are on the rise, as they have been continuously for almost 3 years how are home prices going to go up? When people are having to short sale their homes, get foreclosed on or bank sales increase, then home prices will inevitably continue to fall. 2.) Loan applications to buy new or existing homes plummeted 27% last week, reaching a 13-year low, according to new figures released by the Mortgage Bankers Association. If loan applications plummeted on purchases by 27%… Well you don’t have to be a rocket scientist to see that home prices aren’t going to go up if there aren’t any sales. 3.) The loan buyback plague continued on unabated in the first quarter with three seller/servicers, accounting for about three-fourths of the industry’s repurchases, according to an analysis done by National Mortgage News. Here is how this works. When I loan is originated by a company, they then sell that loan to a larger institution (usually Bank of America, US Bank, Wells Fargo, just to name a few). If those loans under perform and have too many delinquencies within the first year then the originating company has to buy that loan(s) back. Another scenario is; if the purchaser audits the file after purchasing it and doesn’t like something in the file they can also force the seller to buy it back. Why is this bad? If the buy backs are due to delinquencies then that means those home owners can’t afford their payments, or lost their job, etc. Therefore, eventually their home will have to be sold and most likely for less than they paid for it. Subsequently sending home prices down. My last bit to this post has nothing to do with the news articles written by the National Mortgage News, but about financing, FHA, VA, and FNMA. Our government is currently at a 94% debt to income ratio. Meaning the U.S. really doesn’t have money to be buying mortgages from banks, and to decrease their risk of having delinquent loans they will have to increase the amount of money buyers will be required to put down, resulting in less people that qualify to buy. Secondly, the U.S. Fed recently quit buying treasury bonds (security instruments backed by mortgages), and If little to no one is buying mortgage backed securities in large quantities then eventually mortgage rates will increase, subsequently, making it harder for people to qualify for home purchases. The less people qualify the less sales will happen therefore sending home prices down. Simple supply and demand. Yes; there may be some tiny bits of data compared to the rock bottom days of a year or two ago that might lead economists to believe the trend is for prices to go higher, and yes home sales might have been increasing over the last couple months. However, the increase in home sales is due to one reason and one alone. The home buyer tax credit was about to expire so those people that were otherwise too afraid to purchase finally had reason to. Now that the credit is gone, so goes the buyers. The overall picture in my opinion is not good, not good at all. As a whole the real estate market is posed to continue to slide, and as the U.S. economy continues to flounder the housing outlook is sure to follow. I am not a pessimist by nature so don’t get me wrong. Yes, everyone should stay positive and believe we can make a change for the better. Believe me I want nothing more than to be wrong, but being realistic is something I am, and the facts point me in that direction. James Schiller Charleston SC Realtor

4 tips for buying a house in a buyer's market

James Schiller, Brand Name Real Estate (James Schiller Company, LLC) — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 04:03:59 -0700

By Holden Lewis • Bankrate.com Now is a great time to buy a house. Prices are falling, and so are mortgage rates. Millions of houses are for sale, and sellers are getting anxious. That's one way of looking at it. Alternatively, you could say: This is a bad time to buy a house. Prices might be lower in a few months. Same with mortgage rates. With more than 4 million houses on the market nationally, and more being added daily, sellers are bound to become desperate. Why not wait them out? In many places, it's a buyer's market in real estate, with sellers outnumbering potential purchasers. The resulting downward push on prices makes buyers happy. But it complicates matters for buyers, too. In some markets, there are too many choices to sort through. Even more bewildering, buyers wonder if they should wait a few months. "They're worried that they're going to buy too soon, and the figures will reduce, and by the time they go through the transaction, they'll have negative equity," says Mario Villena, vice president of Homekeys, a Miami-based online real estate brokerage. But, Villena adds, in every market there are people who are serious about buying and don't get sidetracked by market forces that aren't under their control. If you find the right house at the right price, buy it If you're serious about buying a house, this is both the first step and the final goal. To put it more precisely, you have to decide whether you will actively shop and then negotiate a fair deal, or if you'll just passively browse houses, hoping to stumble on a steal. You're more likely to succeed with the active approach instead of waiting (possibly in vain) for prices to fall further. You can't predict when the local market will hit bottom. Even if prices do fall, someone could buy your favorite house out from under you. James Schiller, a real estate agent with the Brand Name Real Estate on Isle of Palms, S.C., draws this analogy: "It's like when you find a car that you like, and you wait for it to be on sale, and then the sale comes and they don't have it in the color you wanted. Theoretically, you saved 5-10 percent. But you don't have your car." There's always the possibility that you'll buy a house and then the value will fall. In the 1990s, Southern California and South Florida had housing slumps in which it took years for prices to recover their previous levels. It could happen again, there or elsewhere. For that reason, "buy a home that can grow with you if necessary," says Elizabeth Razzi, author of "The Fearless Home Buyer." 1.) If you find the right house at the right price, buy it. 2.) Put technology and a buyer's agent to good use. 3.) Negotiate effectively. 4.) Avoid gimmicks.James Schiller Charleston SC Realtor