Keeping It REAL - by Bettsy Tyler

 First, the tid-bits:   Highest priced home sold in August - SC County - $4.2 mil  Brand New - 5 bedrooms and 6 baths, 4300 sf with an apartment over the garage. Location - 2 blocks to West Cliff.    Least expensive home sold for $446,000 . 2 bedroom and 1 bath, 765 sf home in Boulder Creek 217 homes sold in the county in August, 179 in July, 229 in June. That doesn't tell you much, but looking at this graph tells you a lot about what is happening in the market today.     I like charts. This one shows how fast the market is moving compared to this time one year and two years ago. The number of homes selling each month are very close to the number of homes available to buy. This is definitely not a normal market and not one I’ve ever seen in my 20+ years of watching the real estate market. Just to compare - here’s how the last 17 years has looked:     The two lines have never touched like they are doing today. As ...

The pandemic has changed the way many of us live, work, and attend school—and those changes have impacted our priorities when it comes to choosing a home.  According to a recent survey by The Harris Poll, 75% of respondents who have begun working remotely would like to continue doing so—and 66% would consider moving if they no longer had to commute as often. Some of the top reasons were to gain a dedicated office space (31%), a larger home (30%), and more rooms overall (29%). 1 And now that virtual school has become a reality for many families, that need for additional space has only intensified.  If you’re feeling cramped in your current space, you’ve probably considered a move. But what type of home would suit you best: A larger, move up home offering you more space or a second home that offers a convenient escape? Let’s explore each option to help you determine which one is right for you .   WHY CHOOSE A MOVE-UP HOME? If you are struggling...