The Elms
charleston real estate rentals said: In a quiet suburb of Charleston, The Elms has established a new level of life experiences for active...
[More]
Greenville News - The Charleston, Myrtle Beach and Greenville metropolitan areas are expected to be among the nation's " front-runners " in the housing recovery this year, according to a trade magazine report.
Builders magazine's online version ranked Charleston 5th, Myrtle Beach 15th and Greenville 19th in its listing of top 20 healthiest markets in the nation. The rankings were based on building permits, resale values and job and income growth from 2009 data and 2010 projections.
Mark Nix, executive officer of the Home Builders of South Carolina, said getting people happy and thriving is tied to jobs, quality of life and affordable housing. Charleston has done a good job at bringing jobs to the market. For example the new Boeing 787 plant in North Charleston.
(Money Magazine) -- If you've been holding off on a real estate purchase, glimmers of the turnaround in the housing market may have you wondering if it's finally time to make your move. While home prices remain low, they're no longer free falling in most markets. Mortgages are historically cheap. And the sweet tax credit that was offered to new buyers last year has been extended to April 30 and expanded to include some current homeowners.
Current homeowners who sign a contract to buy a home on or before April 30th get a dollar-for-dollar reduction on their taxes of 10% of the purchase price of the house, up to a maximum of $6,500 (first-time buyers get up to $8,000)
HOW MUCH COULD YOU LOSE BY WAITING.....
Besides the loss of the tax credit, the biggest game-changer facing buyers is a potencial jump in mortgage rates. If the Fed moves ahead with it's plan to stop buying mortgage backed securities at the end of March, the rate on the 30 year fixed mortgage is expected to increase nearly a full percentage point from today's 5.1% to 6.1% by the end of 2010, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association. On a $300,000 fixed rate mortgage, that's an extra $174.00 a month!
JSP REALTY of Mt. Pleasant is now offering new custom homes in Phillips Park. Phillips Park is located just past the corner of Ben Sawyer Blvd. and Rifle Range Rd. This convenient community is only minutes to Sullivans Island & Isle of Palms beaches. Several excellent restaurants and shops are within walking distance. The Bi-Lo and Publics grocery stores are just across the street. Historic downtown Charleston is less than 15 minutes away. The neighborhood offer a unique blend of young working professionals and newly retired couples. The building lots are small but we offer several floor plans and include many custom features such as, metal roof, hardi-plank siding, hardwood floors, stainless steel appliances, and crown molding all standard. The average size home is approx. 2,100 square feet at $172.00 per sqft. or $361,200. This price includes the lot and we currently have four lots available for sale.
Charleston is a relatively small and very friendly Southern city. Many good private and public schools. Many home buyers looking for new schools move to Mt. Plesant. Other areas of Charleston also offer great schools such as the Charleston School of Arts in North Charleston. Local college options would be the College of Charleston in historic downtown Charleston and MUSC - Medical University of South Carolina.
Charleston Beaches.....
Charleston offers a great selection of beaches, such as, Sullivans Island, Isle of Palms, Folly Beach, Kiawah Island, and Seabrook Island.
Excellent year-around weather....
Charleston enjoys a semitropical climate with four seasons! Summers are warm and humid and winters are short and mild. Spring & fall are my favorite seasons with low-humidity and temps in the low 70s.
Real estate prices are low for all you get....
Even during the top of the market boom, sales prices have never greatly exceeded the actual home values. The home values have adjusted down approx. 20%. Single family homes start in the mid $100,000, condos, and town homes.
Stable and growing economy....
Charleston's economy is created from many privately owned businesses and some new large corporations. Boeing Commercial Aircraft is now building a new 787 plant which will be completed in 2011. The Boeing plant is expecting to hire 3,700 new employees. This should bring in additional Boeing subcontractors.
Charleston is a culinary and art destination.....
Charleston is well-known for it's many great restaurants offering Lowcountry cuisine. Historic downtown boasts many art galleries, antiques, and museums.
City of history....
From the battery, Fort Multrie, Fort Sumter, and the many plantations around the city.
Boating....
If you do not have a boat you make sure a friend has one! Boating and fishing/shrimping are two activities that draw so many to live in the southeast coast. Charleston is a boating city with many rivers, creeks, and of course the harbor and Atlantic. Come visit soon!
Many banks/lenders are still advertising rock-bottom interest rates, but for most borrowers, rates are rapidly rising into the 5% - plus category. The window of opportunity is closing fast. During the week of Dec. 31, the average 30-year, fixed-rate loan closed at 5.14%, according to mortgage giant Freddie Mac. That rate is significantly higher than the 4.71% it averaged at the beginning of the month, and experts say rates will go higher yet!
" Interest rates are up and they're not going down below 5% again," said Mark Zandi, chief economist for Moody's Economy .com.
Homebuyers are still getting low rates between 5%-6% so home sales should rise!
It really is starting to feel like Christmas in Charleston, South Carolina. I have several new clients who called or emailed me this month on hopes to live soon live in Charleston. One in particular is a beautiful family from New York city. They explored my web site and found several excellent homes in Ion, a new community not far from downtown Charleston in Mount Pleasant. I also suggested we consider Daniel Island where I live and work.
I was able to find them several large custom homes that are presently on the market well under value due to the present market conditions. One home on Daniel Island was featured in Southern Living and sold for $1, 950,000 a few years ago and it is now on the market for $1,400,000.
So tis the season for great buys....Ho-Ho-Ho! Talk to Mike....
