Charter One Realty Blog - November, 2021

2021 Thanksgiving in the Lowcountry

This is the best time of year to be thankful in the Lowcountry! With a steadily hot real estate market, countless new neighbors, incredible local restaurants, shops, and a thriving arts scene - the Lowcountry community is strong and thriving. 

Our corner of the Lowcountry is full of wonderful people, outstanding natural habitats, and bustling tourism. We welcome guests with open arms and it's no wonder why so many visitors end up as residents.

We are so grateful to live where others vacation, and this time of year, we like to take extra time to share our appreciation for the community. 

Check out some of the things we are extra thankful for this year!

Quality Time & Activities in the Lowcountry

We find that the Lowcountry…

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Lowcountry Black Friday Sales: Shop Local

Shopping season is about to move into full swing, and we are all about shopping local. If you want to support the community during your Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, and Cyber Monday shopping, read on to learn about Lowcountry stores with Black Friday sales. 

This holiday season, it is important to look past the big box stores and shop local when you can. We’re sharing our favorite places to shop for home items, gifts for friends and loved ones and colleagues. 

If you like to shop in person, consider picking up gift cards at your local coffee shop and/or favorite restaurants while you’re out and about. If you prefer to shop online, great! Nearly all of our local shops, restaurants and service providers offer online shopping now.

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How to Sell Your Home During The Holidays: Three Easy Tips

If you plan to put your house on the market this season, we have a few suggestions to help you sell. Buyers tend to be extra motivated during this time of year, so we have gathered our best tips to help your listing stand out among the current inventory.

If you love to decorate for the holidays and/or have a busy hosting schedule coming up, you may be wondering, “How do I sell my home during the holidays without getting in the way of my life”?

Even in this fast-paced market, you must consider the possibility that your home may not sell right away, meaning the marketing materials (photos, videos, etc.) should be free and clear of decor.

You’ll also need to have some flexibility in your schedule for the inevitable showings.

If you want to take…

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Sellers: You’ll Likely Get Multiple Strong Offers This Season

Are you thinking about selling your house right now, but you’re not sure you’ll have the time to do so as the holidays draw near? If so, consider this: even as the holiday season approaches, there are plenty of buyers out there, and they really want your house. Here’s why selling this winter is a win for you.

Today’s buyers are still dealing with a limited number of homes for sale. Thanks to continued low inventory, those buyers are competing with one another for their dream home. And when that happens, if your house is one of the few on the market, it will rise to the top of the pool – and it will be worth it.

According to the latest data from the National Association of Realtors (NAR), the average seller received 3.7 offers on their…

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What’s Happening with Home Prices?

Many people have questions about home prices right now. How much have prices risen over the past 12 months? What’s happening with home values right now? What’s projected for next year? Here’s a look at the answers to all three of these questions.

How much have home values appreciated over the last 12 months?

According to the latest Home Price Index from CoreLogic, home values have increased by 18.1% compared to this time last year. Additionally, prices have gone up at an accelerated pace for each of the last eight months (see graph below):

The increase in the rate of appreciation that’s shown by CoreLogic coincides with data from the other two main home price indices: the FHFA Home Price Index and the S&P Case Shiller Index.

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Two Graphs That Show Why You Shouldn’t Be Upset About 3% Mortgage Rates

With the average 30-year fixed mortgage rate from Freddie Mac climbing above 3%, rising rates are one of the topics dominating the discussion in the housing market today. And since experts project rates will rise further in the coming months, that conversation isn’t going away any time soon.

But as a homebuyer, what do rates above 3% really mean?

Today’s Average Mortgage Rate Still Presents Buyers with a Great Opportunity

Buyers don’t want mortgage rates to rise, as any upward movement increases your monthly mortgage payment. But it’s important to put today’s average mortgage rate into perspective. The graph below shows today’s rate in comparison to average rates over the last five years:

As the graph shows, even though today’s…

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Experts Project Mortgage Rates Will Continue To Rise in 2022

Mortgage rates are one of several factors that impact how much you can afford if you’re buying a home. When rates are low, they help you get more house for your money. Within the last year, mortgage rates have hit the lowest point ever recorded, and they’ve hovered in the historic-low territory. But even over the past few weeks, rates have started to rise. This past week, the average 30-year fixed rate was 3.14%.

What does this mean if you’re thinking about making a move? Waiting until next year will cost you more in the long run. Here’s a look at what several experts project for mortgage rates going into 2022.

Freddie Mac:

“The average 30-year fixed-rate mortgage (FRM) is expected to be 3.0 percent in 2021 and 3.5 percent in 2022…

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Winter Events in the Lowcountry

Fall and Winter Events in the Lowcountry. Take a look at some of the exciting events planned for our area. Click here to jump to Beaufort events. 

Hilton Head Island and Bluffton Events

All Month Long

The Coastal Discovery Museum provides tours, walks, programs, and exhibits about the Lowcountry. Events are scheduled daily. To learn more about the Coastal Discovery monthly events, contact 843-689-6767 or visit CoastalDiscovery.com.

Hilton Head Island Farmers Market

The Hilton Head Farmers Market gathers every Tuesday from 9:00 am-1:00 pm at the Coastal Discovery Museum's Honey Horn campus. The HHI Farmers Market roster includes area growers providing the freshest local produce, pasture-raised chicken, fresh eggs, free-range rabbit,…

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Lowcountry Real Estate Market Report - October 2021

The U.S. housing market remains robust, with strong activity reported across both rental and residential housing fronts. Single-family rent prices are increasing rapidly, as demand for single-family housing and inventory constraints forces some buyers to rent, increasing competition and pushing rents up across the nation. Meanwhile, sales of new construction single-family homes recently hit a six-month high, rising 14% to a seasonally adjusted rate of 800,000, according to the latest data from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. 

As temperatures drop, existing home sales continue to be plentiful, buoyed by strong demand, low interest rates, and a slight uptick in new listings in recent months, according to the National Association of…

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Signature Sales October 2021 - Charter One Realty

Charter One Realty's consistent investments on behalf of Buyers, Sellers, and Communities for over three decades pay dividends for our clients. Like the international luxury brands, Charter One Realty employs world-class marketing with a global reach. 

But one need only look at actual sales in the area’s luxury communities, and at the area’s $1,000,000+ transactions to understand that Charter One Realty is the Lowcountry’s Leading Luxury Brand. 

Announcing our October 2021 Charter One Realty Signature Sales. Like the international luxury brands, Charter One Realty employs world-class marketing with a global reach. And when it comes to Luxury Properties, we dominate the market.

We successfully listed, marketed, and negotiated the sale of 23…

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