York County is growing exponentially, and knowing the differences in each subdivision will help you and your family decide which is right for you!
Abrial Ridge is a USDA-eligible community in York, South Carolina. It is across the street from York Comprehensive High. Here you can experience small-town living while still being centrally located to many restaurants and shops. The builder, D.R. Horton, designed the flexible 2-story plans to focus on a family lifestyle.
SC Housing is making homeownership dreams a reality for South Carolina's public service heroes through the 2024 Palmetto Heroes Program, offering $12,000 in down payment assistance along with competitive interest rate loans.... and Homeland Realty Group is here to help guide you through the process!
The program returns April 15 and is available to service personnel who provide vital support to South Carolina communities, including teachers, nurses, law enforcement officers, correctional officers, fire fighters, emergency medical technicians, paramedics, veterans, active duty military, and National Guard members.
Eligible participants can benefit from a competitive, fixed-rate mortgage through SC Housing’s First-time Homebuyer Program and receive $12,000 in forgivable down payment assistance.
Forgivable.
Read. That. Again.
The initiative, available on a first-come, first-served basis starting April 15, requires an executed sales contract on a home. Rates for the program will be quoted on Monday, April 15.
Contact us today at Homeland Realty Group for more information!
New homebuyers often tell their agents that they are looking for their “starter home.” Several factors go into this approach. These are typically younger buyers, often without children. They may be looking for a maintenance-free home, like a condo, or they might assume that starter homes are more budget-friendly. There are plenty of good reasons to buy a home with the assumption that it’s only for a few years, but it’s usually wise to consider the fact that it might be for much longer.
As 2020 demonstrated so clearly, things can change without warning. Homebuyers choosing a small condo to live in it for only a few years might later find themselves trying to carve out space for children due to employment challenges or market changes. The good news is that many times— once you add in association fees, taxes, and other costs—an older home that needs updating could be just as economical as a brand-new condo with all the latest design features. When buying your first home, it’s important to consider how you would manage if you needed to stay longer than expected. An older home might offer a yard where you could expand, or extra rooms which can become bedrooms. These options can give you flexibility as your lifestyle changes over the years. If you buy your first home with the future in mind, you can protect yourself from unexpected income changes, real estate price booms, or any other outside influence. Don’t discount the older fixer-upper simply because you plan to move in a few years—plans change, and giving this some prior thought can help you adjust more painlessly in the future.
It seems that everywhere you turn there are companies who advertise buying ugly houses. These messages offer to quickly buy any house, regardless of the condition. The problem is that their offers are often significantly below market value. If you’re a seller whose home needs some attention, you might think these companies are your only option. Some of the offers sound attractive; quick sale, all cash, no commissions, and no fees. But before you do anything, it’s worth your time to call a local real estate agent for a second opinion.
1. Free Advice – The real estate agent will not charge you anything to look at your home.
2. Your House Might Not Be that Ugly – You may be surprised that your home is quite marketable. A few years ago, a 1950s mid-century modern home would have been considered a tear-down. These ranch homes now command top dollar and are in very short supply.
3. A Path Forward – If your home does have some issues, the agent can offer some ideas about moving forward. They can suggest local contractors to provide repair/upgrade services or market to investors who might still offer significantly higher prices than the quick-sale guys.
Even outdated houses sell. We are in a seller’s market in almost every part of the country. Selling your home has a large financial impact on you and your family. Don’t make assumptions about value. Reach out to a real estate agent. Make sure you understand all your options so you can get the best offer possible.
There is a lot of attention paid to first-time homebuyers. Most real estate agents and lenders have some kind of guide to help first-time homebuyers navigate their first home purchase, but what about the first-time seller? Selling your home for the first time can be just as confusing as a home purchase, so here are a few things to remember as you navigate your home sale. Before that first showing, it’s important to prepare. This involves not only cleaning, decluttering, and staging the home, but also learning about your local real estate market and finding the best agent for your needs. Interview more than one agent and ask lots of questions. Learn about their services: do they include professional photography, video, or virtual tours? Ask for a comprehensive market analysis (CMA) and ask each agent their suggestion for the listing price and their method for arriving at that number. Use this information to determine the best agent to assist you. Once you have an agent, stay involved. Discuss the plan for showings and open houses. Try and be flexible to allow for as many potential buyers as possible to view your property. Review the listing online for accuracy and stay in touch with your agent for feedback from showings. Once you start getting offers, respond as quickly as possible. It’s not just about the price; watch for terms, such as length of escrow and contingencies, when evaluating these offers. Be prepared to move so that you can take advantage of a good offer, such as all-cash. The most important aspect of a successful home sale is the relationship you have with your agent. Be transparent about your needs, concerns, and goals; insist that your agent do the same, and working together you will navigate through your first home sale successfully.
Most homebuyers realize that they can’t expect a perfect home inspection report when buying a resale home. Cosmetic flaws and minor repairs are easily managed and shouldn’t be dealbreakers. That said, some issues are more serious and should give the buyer pause if not addressed adequately.
1. Leaky and Rundown Roofing – Watch for signs of current or past water damage.
2. Poor Drainage – Drainage issues can cause serious damage to the home foundation, siding, and basements.
3. Foundation Issues – Signs of foundation problems can include cracks around doors and windows or uneven floors. Foundation problems can cost thousands of dollars to correct.
4. Plumbing Problems – Major plumbing issues should be considered carefully and further explored.
5. Pest Infestations – Termites and other wood-eating pests can cause extensive damage that can be hard to find and costly to repair.
6. Mold – That “musty” smell could be due to hidden mold and further investigation should be taken as mold can be dangerous to the health of the family. Depending on the type of mold, it can be very difficult to remove entirely.
7. Faulty Heating System – A malfunctioning furnace can be a fire hazard.
8. Electrical Wiring – Faulty wiring can cost thousands of dollars to repair.
9. Structural Damage – Sagging joists, rafters, and door jambs can be evidence of larger issues.
10. Deferred Maintenance – A home in poor condition could be hiding more serious issues due to chronic neglect.
Homebuyers should be alert to these issues and know the costs to repair before concluding the sale. Home sellers should address these issues before putting the home up for sale to ensure they get the best possible sales price.
Interest rates tend to fluctuate over time. As a real estate investor, it's important to understand how changes in interest rates can impact the housing market.
How Rising Rates Affect Home Buying
When interest rates rise, it generally slows demand in the real estate market.
Here's why:
Opportunities for Savvy Investors
However, a savvy real estate investor can find opportunities even in a rising rate environment:
Creative Financing Options
There are also financing options like adjustable-rate mortgages (ARMs) and interest-only loans that can provide lower initial payments:
Key Takeaways
The key is keeping your real estate investment goals and financial position in mind. While rising rates present challenges, they also create possibilities for strategic investors.
By following these tips, you can make smart real estate buys even in today's rising interest rate environment.
Welcome to the nuances of real estate speak, where not everything is as it seems. You can’t simply place a bed in any size average space and call it a master bedroom.
There are, in fact, a number of legal bedroom requirements—and both home buyers and sellers had best know them to avoid misunderstandings related to size and square footage. So what makes a bedroom a bedroom?
“Since a home and/or master bedroom can go through many incarnations over its life, sellers should be familiar with what makes a bedroom a legal bedroom prior to listing their home, to ensure there are no issues holding up the sale when a buyer has been secured,” says Carl Ekroth of Douglas Elliman in New York City.
Bedrooms are one of the most important selling features of a home, notes Mark Abdel, a real estate professional with Re/Max Advantage Plus in Minneapolis–St. Paul.
So it’s no surprise that homeowners want to move a bed into a space and then slap that label on rooms of almost any size.
“Sellers can usually set and get a higher price the more bedrooms a home has,” Abdel says. But getting creative with your habitable space and trying to wedge a standard bed or twin into too few square feet just won’t fly. In fact, there are legal bedroom requirements and minimum bedroom sizes to take into consideration.
Legal bedroom requirements vary by state, but here are six ways you can tell if your room is a bedroom rather than just an average “room”:
Have you asked yourself, “Does a bedroom have to have a closet?” Well, according to legal bedroom requirements, a bedroom does not need a closet (or a walk-in) to be considered official (forget the en suite bathroom). Your significant other might disagree, but legally, at least in most states, it does not.
Closets are expected in newer homes and definitely in master bedrooms, but older ones might require a more creative approach to stowing your clothes.
So what can you call a room or space that doesn’t hit these average 7-foot requirements? Based on your state, you could get away with calling it an “office,” “nursery,” or “bonus room.” Because bedroom or not, just about any indication of extra space will make most buyers’ eyes light up.
If your space is short a foot or two, you might consider an interior remodel project to add square feet and fit the bed you want (even a king-size bed or California king). But most homeowners will try to fit a standard full-size bed, twin bed, or queen-size bed, along with a dresser, in the space to accommodate the size average requirements. But don’t let dreams of more square feet in your average room put you off—a quick reno in your home or apartment might be the solution, depending on your budget.
If you’re still not sure what makes a bedroom a bedroom, we are happy to help you figure that out.
Real vs Personal Property in a Real Estate Transaction
When buying or selling a home, often misunderstandings occur over the distinction between “real” and “personal” property. Real estate agents across the nation frequently end up playing referee in situations fueled by misconceptions, which can create tension and sometimes even kill a sale. Understanding the difference is important to anyone engaged in a real estate transaction.
In simple terms, “real” property is the land and anything permanently attached to it, while “personal” property are items that are moveable. In this sense, real property obviously includes the home itself, along with other structures, such as a detached garage or barn, etc. It typically includes fixtures inside the home, such as lighting, faucets, built-in appliances, garage storage or racks, even curtain rods. “Personal” property, being moveable, would usually include everything else. A refrigerator that is not considered a built-in could be included on this list. So would a free-standing BBQ Island, or a mounted TV. As you can see, some of these items may be controversial if there is not a clear understanding about what the seller intends to take with them when they move in the contract. The best practice is for a seller to provide a list of any item they intend to keep that could be confusing and ensure it’s spelled out on the contract. This way, both parties have a clear understanding of the sale and the buyer does not plan a family BBQ on move day and find it gone.