Keeping It REAL - by Bettsy Tyler

  There’s a lot to consider when selling your home, from the market and appraisals to where you’ll go next. Don’t forget, however, that design is also a key factor. It’s often one of the first things buyers notice when they walk into a home.  Changes like new security features or upgraded siding can add value to your home now and be highlighted when you market it for sale later. To get the most out of your updates, focus on these popular home design features that will wow buyers in 2022.  Keep in mind, not all of these will work well in every house. If you plan to buy, list or renovate a property, give us a call. We can help you realize your vision and maximize the impact of your investment. Eco-Friendly Fixtures Millennials account for the largest share of current homebuyers, and sustainable living tops their list of priorities.[1,2] Consider how you can leverage eco-friendly design features, like energy-efficient windows, low-flow water fixtures, and native land...

 It's Anybody's Guess But...  With 10 years having now passed since the Great Recession, the U.S. has been on the longest period of continued economic expansion on record. The housing market has been along for much of the ride and continues to benefit greatly from the overall health of the economy. However, hot economies eventually cool and with that, hot housing markets move more towards balance. Housing market forecasts are essentially informed guesses based on existing patterns, and there are plenty of guesses going around, While the real estate pace of 2021 appears to be reverting to seasonality as we approached 2022, demand is not waning. Increasing interest rates will almost certainly have a greater impact on the national housing market as we move into 2022 than any other factor. Sellers remain in an advantageous position as long as the inventory remains at or near its current level. Housing supply is and will likely remain a challenge for some time as labor and mate...

 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 ...