COLUMBIA, S.C  — South Carolina REALTORS® (SCR) today released its September 2020 statewide real estate market data. It’s proving to be another unusual season as the state continues to see record sales and strong buyer activity into the fall.   Statewide there was a 15.4% increase in one-year closed sales during September. Areas […]

Banks are concerned about making loans that will be repaid not about making loans that are tax deductible for homeowners.  It is good business for the bank but how is the homeowner supposed to know? Most homeowners and potential homeowners are aware there are tax benefits associated with ownership.  For instance, mortgage interest and property […]

It seems like most homes have sprinkler systems and if they do, they have some form of controller to automatically turn the water on and off for the time and days you feel necessary.  It seems like basic functionality and if it isn’t broken, you may not feel the need to replace it. Today, there […]

More people grill in July, June & August than any other months and correspondingly, there are more injuries, as well as fires, due to grilling accidents in those months. Even though Labor Day is in September, we still need to be aware of safety. Close to 20,000 patients per year visit the emergency room due […]

Forbearance is a temporary postponement of mortgage payments.  The lender can grant this option to a borrower instead of forcing the property into foreclosure.  The CARES Act provides protections for homeowners with mortgages that are federally or Government Sponsored Enterprise backed or funded such as FHA, VA, USDA, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. A mortgage […]

During the first major stay-at-home event that most of us have experienced in this country, a pool can give you and your family enjoyable recreation without leaving the home.  For those without a pool, the NPD group reports that the Covid-19 pandemic has increased pool building by 161% this year. When your children are small, […]

There are hundreds of thousands of people who believe, for one reason or another, they cannot afford to buy a home currently.  Some people  may not for any number of reasons but it would be very surprising to know how many who can buy but have gotten some bad information along the way.  It’s worth […]

People are always looking for a “down and dirty” way to determine the value of a home and square footage seems to be one of the most common things used by people whether they are buyers, sellers or real estate agents. While it seems straight forward, there are several variances that can lead to inaccurate […]

“Experience and understanding of the subject property and the marketplace are critical to having confidence that a value is accurate.” The seller can put a price on the home but the value is ultimately, determined by the buyer. Individually, a buyer could pay over market value because they love the location, or the elevation of […]

You’ve done your homework, contacted a mortgage company and believe you are pre-approved. That part of the process is finished and you can concentrate of finding a home and moving…or can you? Pre-qualified and pre-approved are two different things but some people, including some in the business, use the terms interchangeably. Pre-qualified is an opinion […]

Homeownership is a privilege and a responsibility. Even after decades of owning a home, you may still need some help to handle some of its challenges by focusing on the three “M”s of homeownership: maintenance, minimizing expenses and managing debt and risk. While many people recognize the benefits of annual wellness, financial, vehicle and equipment […]

Need a little social interaction during self-isolation? The digital world makes it easy to host a gathering where nobody has to leave their home. Here is how to throw your own virtual party!

The link below is a Podcast from my “real estate guru” Brian Buffini’s interview with the Chief Economist and Senior Vice President of Research at the National Association of Realtors, Dr. Lawrence Yun.  Very uplifting and based solely on STATISTICS!!  – Cynthia Stanley In the current climate, there is a lot of misinformation and uncertainty in […]

The events of the past few months have been unprecedented. Now more than ever, it is important to stay on your A-game and keep your spirits lifted. Be sure to spend some time taking care of yourself! As you continue to navigate your new normal, I want to share some tips for focusing on your […]