Congratulations to the 2020 Realtor Service Award Recipients

Realtor Service Awards 2020

Each year, the Hilton Head Area Association of Realtors recognizes Realtors® who have done exceptional work to advance their association, education, and community. These members epitomize what it means to be a Realtor®.

Only a small percentage of the Realtor Association is honored with this distinction. The award recognizes those professionals who are passionate about the real estate industry and their community while adhering to the Realtor® Code of Ethics. These individuals have achieved higher levels of education, served in leadership positions within the association, and volunteered for several organizations in the community.

The following Charter One Realty sales professionals…

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Benefits of Homeownership

Over the past year, our homes have become an integral part of our lives more than ever. They’re much more than the houses we live in. They’re our workplaces, virtual schools, and safe havens that provide shelter, stability, and protection through the evolving health crisis. Today, 65.8% of Americans are fortunate enough to call their homes their own.

As we continue to think about the future, our goals for the year, and what we want to achieve well beyond 2021, it’s a great time to look at the benefits of owning a home. Below are some highlights and quotes on the benefits of homeownership shared by the National Association of Realtors (NAR). From feel-good motivations to economic and social impacts on the local community, these items may give you…

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In today’s housing market, there are clear financial benefits to owning a home: increasing equity, the chance to build your net worth, and appreciating home values, just to name a few. If you’re a renter, it’s never too early to think about how homeownership can propel you toward a stronger future. Here’s a dive into three often-overlooked financial benefits of homeownership and how preparing for them now can steer you in the direction of greater financial security and savings.

1. You Won’t Always Have a Monthly Housing Payment

Personal finance advisor Dave Ramsey explains:

“Every payment brings you closer to owning the house. When you pay your rent, that money is spent. Gone. Bye. Not returning. But when you pay your mortgage, you work toward…

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closet remodels

We are gathering the best closet remodels and organization tips today! We get inspiration for custom closet designs from sources like interior designers’ photos, walking through our listings, on Pinterest and Instagram, and even on home design TV shows. 

There are so many options for functional, maximized closets, so we narrowed down how to get your dream closet by time and budget investment. If you’re in the market for a custom closet, or ready to DIY with organization to refresh your closet space, read on!

We rank closet remodels from difficult to easy. To help you navigate this article, please note: 

  • The “difficult” means the effort calls for the most time and budget investment. This type of design will require a large budget, possibly…

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Appraisal vs. inspection

If you’re planning to buy a home, an appraisal is an important step in the process. It’s a professional evaluation of the market value of the home you’d like to buy. In most cases, an appraisal is ordered by the lender to confirm or verify the value of the home prior to lending a buyer money for the purchase. It’s also a different step in the process from a home inspection, which assesses the condition of the home before you finalize the transaction. Here’s the breakdown of each one and why they’re both important when buying a home.

Home Appraisal

The National Association of Realtors (NAR) explains:

“A home purchase is typically the largest investment someone will make. Protect yourself by getting your investment appraised! An appraiser will…

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Down Payment

Is the idea of saving for a down payment holding you back from buying a home right now? You may be eager to take advantage of today’s low mortgage rates, but the thought of needing a large down payment might make you want to pump the brakes. Today, there’s still a common myth that you have to come up with 20% of the total sale price for your down payment. This means people who could buy a home may be putting their plans on hold because they don’t have that much saved yet. The reality is, whether you’re looking for your first home or you’ve purchased one before, you most likely don’t need to put 20% down. Here’s why.

According to Freddie Mac:

“The most damaging down payment myth—since it stops the homebuying process before it can start—is the…

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