April 18, 2012
April 18th, 2012 by Meg Lagares Housing crisis? Charleston may be on the upswing!
Buyers beware! If you are coming to this fantastic city thinking we are still in the midst of a crisis, you may want to do your homework first.
1) Are sellers still negotiating? Not as much as you think. The power is switching, there are multiple offers being written. Don’t expect to walk in and get carpet allowances, closing costs or other negoiable items. Full prices are being paid.
2) Are there many houses to choose from? Not as many as before, and not the prices that we were used to months prior. Prices are increasing and sellers are getting what they asking for.
2) What does that mean for us buyers? That means you need to act fast and not wait. It’s not a buyers market anymore in Charleston
Is this bad news? No! Interest rates are still low and buying is still a great option. It’s a long term investment and a life choice.
Remember if you are looking for a realtor in Charleston, I’m here to help! Have a great day!
March 15, 2012
Are you ready to sell your home? Great! Are you really ready? Let’s go over a check list.
1) How is your curb appeal? That is the first impression that people see when they drive up to your home. Step outside and really look at your home with new eyes. Does your yard look nice and well kept? Is your front door newly painted and inviting? Does the outside light work? All these things count and are important!
2) Have you walked around your home? Really walked around it lately? Are you tripping over toys? Is there too much furniture? How about clutter? We all have too much stuff, now is the time to clean out and get rid of things. Have your garage sale now before you sell. This way you can scale down and de-clutter before you show. The house will look better and will be easier to keep clean!
3) Have you been meaning to paint, wash walls, steam clean carpets but haven’t had time? Well, guess what? This is the time! Make your house shine! You want your house to be clean and spotless and look beautiful. Everyone loves clean! You may no longer see the finger print marks on the walls, but potential buyers will. A little elbow grease will go a long way.
February 7, 2012
They say it’s a buyer’s market. That is true, but that will change. So sellers, let’s look ahead. Are you prepared to sell your home?
1) How does it look? Would you buy it now? If you are considering selling your home in the future, but you have some time, now is the time to get it ready. You’ve always meant to upgrade the tile, do it! The bedrooms need a new coat of paint, now is the time. The yard needs some TLC, go play in the dirt.
2) How are my finances? Talk with your lender. Do you need to have a long term plan to get them in order before you move on? You can fix things with help, don’t give up.
3) How much money will I need when I go to sell? Talk to a realtor and realistically figure out the sales price. Prices are not what they were 5 years ago. Get some comps of what has sold around you. Then you will need to add in some items like your commissions, deed stamps, deed preps, recording satisfaction, your mortgage payoff, inspections, taxes etc. Your experienced realtor will be able to help guide you though all of these things.
Time may be on your side.. Planning ahead can save you effort and money in the long run. Good luck and as always, if you have any questions, please call or contact me! Have a great day!
January 31, 2012
Do you know what most people’s biggest investment is? Usually it’s their home! Do you consider your home an investment? You should! And with all investments sometimes they go up and sometimes they go down. You don’t always have control over every aspect of the housing market, however there are things you can do to help protect yourself.
1) Buy Safe…what does that mean? Buy in a location that has a known reputation for resale. Do some research. Are people leaving the area because of crime? Are the schools good? Today you can find lots of great information online.
2) Get involved..Stay involved in your neighborhood. Join the HOA, get to know your neighbors, go for walks, bike rides around your community.
3) Protect your investment..How? Keep up repairs, paint, keep the yard looking nice. Keep your house updated. If you ever decide to sell, the house will already be ready and you won’t be scrambling to update the house for someone else. You will enjoy your home and your investment.
I hope this information was helpful. As always if you have any questions, please call or contact me. I would love to be your realtor! Have a great day!
January 26, 2012
Are you afraid to buy your first home? Well I’m here to help you conquer those fears in 3 easy steps!
What is step number 1?
Before you even start looking for that dream home, do you know how much you can afford? This is a very easy step actually. Talk to an experienced lender and they can help you determine how much house is right for you. They can also pre-qualify you for a loan. Once you have a pre-qualification letter, the sellers will take you much more seriously, so it’s a win-win situation!
On to step 2…
Sit down and consider where you would like to live. Take into consideration what is most important to your everyday needs and wants. Is it the school district? The distance to work, the gym, shopping? Think about the amenities you desire and the proximity to your new location!
We are already to step 3!
This final step is very important and you should take some time to really consider what you want from your new home. Your house is a big investment and you want to be comfortable in it for years to come. Do you want a single family home, a condo or a townhouse? Each one has different benefits to every person. Think about how many bedrooms, bathrooms, the square footage you will need. Also do you want a garage? Or a yard? All things to consider.
There! Hopefully that helped answer some questions for you. If you have more, I am happy to personally answer them for you. Also if you are ready to make that step into home ownership, I’d love to be your realtor! Please call or contact me! Thanks so much!
Saturday January 21, 2012
January 17, 2012
Yum! It’s Charleston Restaurant Week! From January 12-22, Charleston restaurants roll out the red carpet and set the table with a pre-fixed menu of $20-40. This way you know what you are spending before you go out and try some of the best food Charleston has to offer! It’s a great way to try some new places around the area.
Some of my favorites are 17 North Roadside Kitchen in Mt Pleasant. It is offering the 3 for $30 menu. 17 North is a fun place with a fire pit out back and live music, also a great place to bring the kids!
Charleston Crab house is also a great place for seafood and some yummy she crab soup. There are a few locations which make it very convenient where ever you happen to be! They are offering a 3 for $20 menu!
If you happen to be near the Isle of Palms and want an ocean view, try Huck’s or even an intercoastal view you can try Morgan’s Creek Grill. Both have great food, great service and great views! And at 3 for $30, it’s a great deal as well!
If you want some more suggestions go to charlestonrestaurant.com and check it out!
Hope you can try some new restaurants this week! As always, I’d love to help you find a great place here in the low country… if you leave me your contact information, I’ll get right back to you! Have a great day! Thanks so much!
Saturday January 7, 2012
What a gorgeous day to be in Charleston! It’s going to be sunny and 73 today! Just about perfect.
It would be a great day to go to one of our many parks. If you are downtown, check out The Waterfront Park. It’s an 8-acre linear park and pier along the Charleston Harbor entry. There’s a walking/jogging path and a long pier with picnic tables and a wooden swing.
If you want to do some fishing, try the Mt. Pleasant Pier at 71 Harry Hallman Blvd.. Fishing passes are available for purchase and you can even rent a rod! Enjoy the spectacular views of the Charleston Harbor and the Ravenel Bridge!
If you want to add some history to your day, come to the Charles Pickney National Historical Site at 1254 Long Pointe Rd. The National Park Service preserves a remnant of Founding Father Charles Pickney’s plantation, Snee Farm.
Boy all these wonderful places right here in the Lowcountry! No wonder Charleston is a great place to live and work. If you are looking for a new home, I am here to help you every step of the way. Please call me or fill out my contact form and I will get right back to you! Have a great day. Thanks so much!
January 5, 2012
Hello Charleston!
Brrrr….another chilly morning, but we know that in just a few days the weather is going to change back to the weather we love! But in the meantime if you are looking for some fun things to do while you are visiting, here are some great suggestions:
Arrrr, Mateys- try a Charleston Pirate tour! Located at 79 Cumberland st, Charleston. 843-442-7299. Tour the Holy City either by walking or with a chartered excursion!
Or maybe you’d like a private Charleston Tea Party Tour? A Charlestonian guide will pick you and up to 15 guests by van to her friends’ private homes and gardens. Call 843-577-5896
Maybe a Culinary tour is more to your liking? Walk, Talk and Taste your way through Charleston. Experience history through our unique lowcountry cuisine. 843-727-1100
I hope one of these suggestions will make your stay here wonderful. Check back often for more things to do in the Charleston area.
Also remember if you are moving to Charleston, I would love to help you find the right home. Please call me at 843-754-6698, or fill out my contact information and I will get right back to you. Thanks so much!
I have affiliated myself with a new brokerage
January 4th, 2012 by 
Hello World. Just wanted to say hello and let all my past, present and future clients know that I have changed brokerages. The brokerage I am affiliated with now is extremely progressive, paperless and virtual. What this means is that I will not be spending a lot of time pushing paperwork as I did before. Now I will have more time to spend with my beloved clients. Feel free to reach out to me any time. Also, you can take a look at my new brokerage here.
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