The Lowcountry in September: A Month of Fun and Festivities

Blue + BBQ: A Celebration of History and Flavor

Join us in Historic Mitchelville Freedom Park on September 9th for the annual Blue + BBQ event!

This year's event features a BBQ Cookoff with 2022 SC Chef Ambassador Chris Williams, and local BBQ Master Chef Thomas Baker. There will also be live music, arts and crafts, and a variety of food and drinks.

The event is a fundraiser for the Mitchelville Freedom Park Foundation, which works to preserve and promote the history of Mitchelville, the first town founded by formerly enslaved people in the United States.

The all-blue theme of this year's event is a nod to the history of Mitchelville. The town was founded in 1862 by formerly…

252 Views, 0 Comments

Read Full Post

The Best August Events in the Lowcountry

Kick off your weekend with live music and stunning sunset views at Sunset Celebrations in Hilton Head!

Every Friday night from June 23 to August 18, you can enjoy free concerts by local bands at Shelter Cove Towne Centre. Bring a beach chair or blanket, pick up some take-out food from one of the restaurants, and relax on the lawn as you listen to the music. Coolers and pets are welcome, so you can bring the whole family.

The lineup for August includes:

  • August 4: Tower of Funk & the Choosy Mothers Horns
  • August 11: Cranford Hollow
  • August 18: Deas-Guyz

In addition to Sunset Celebrations, you can also enjoy a murder mystery dinner theater experience at The Dinner Detective in Savannah. This…

228 Views, 0 Comments

Read Full Post

Home Prices Are Rebounding




If you’re following the news today, you may feel a bit unsure about what’s happening with home prices and fear whether or not the worst is yet to come. That’s because today’s headlines are painting an unnecessarily negative picture. If we take a year-over-year view, home prices did drop some, but that’s because we’re comparing to a ‘unicorn’ year when prices peaked well beyond the norm.

To avoid an unfair comparison to that previous peak, we need to look at monthly data. And that tells a very different and much more positive story. While local home price trends still vary by market, here’s what the national data tells us.

The graphs below use recent monthly reports from three sources to show the worst home price…

590 Views, 0 Comments

Read Full Post

How Remote Work Expands Your Homebuying Horizons




Even as some companies transition back into the office, remote work remains a popular choice for many professionals. So, if you currently enjoy working from home or hope to be able to soon, you’re not alone. According to a recent survey, most working professionals want to work either fully remote or hybrid (see below):

This trend is good news if you’re looking to buy a home because a remote or hybrid work setup can help you overcome some of today’s affordability and housing inventory challenges.

More Work Flexibility Equals More Home Options

Remote or hybrid work opens up a world of opportunities. That’s because it allows you to broaden your search for your next home since you’re no…

378 Views, 0 Comments

Read Full Post

Renting or Selling Your House: What's the Best Move?




If you’re a homeowner ready to make a move, you may be thinking about using your current house as a short-term rental property instead of selling it. A short-term rental (STR) is typically offered as an alternative to a hotel, and they’re an investment that’s gained popularity in recent years.

While a short-term rental can be a tempting idea, you may find the reality of being responsible for one difficult to take on. Here are some of the challenges you could face if you rent out your house instead of selling it.

A Short-Term Rental Comes with Responsibilities

Successfully managing your house as a short-term rental takes a lot of time and effort. You’ll have to juggle tasks like dealing…

221 Views, 0 Comments

Read Full Post

Momentum Is Building for New Home Construction




If you’re in the process of looking for a home today, you know the supply of homes for sale is low because you’re feeling the impact of having a limited pool of options. And, if your biggest hurdle right now is that you’re having trouble finding something you like, don’t forget that a newly built home is a great option.

As a recent article from the National Association of Realtors (NAR) says: 

“Home buyers continue to be met with limited housing options during what’s typically the real estate market’s busiest season. . . . The current supply of existing homes is about half the level it was in 2019 . . . Meanwhile, the market for new construction is a bright spot.”

Here’s a look at a key metric…

195 Views, 0 Comments

Read Full Post

Today’s Housing Inventory Is a Sweet Spot for Sellers




One of the biggest challenges in the housing market right now is how few homes there are for sale compared to the number of people who want to buy them. To help emphasize just how limited housing inventory still is, let’s take a look at the latest information on active listings, or homes for sale in a given month, as it compares to more normal levels.

According to a recent report from Realtor.com: 

 “On average, active inventory in June was 50.6% below pre-pandemic 2017–2019 levels.”

The graph below helps illustrate this point. It uses historical data to provide a more concrete look at how much the numbers are still lagging behind the level of inventory typical of a more normal market…

171 Views, 0 Comments

Read Full Post

Reasons Your Home May Not Be Selling




When it comes to selling your house, you want three things: to sell it for the most money you can, to do it in a certain amount of time, and to do all of that with the fewest hassles. And, while the current housing market is generally favorable to sellers due to today’s limited housing supply, there are still factors that can cause delays or even prevent a house from selling.

If you're having trouble getting your house to sell in today's sellers’ market, here are a few things to think about.

Limited Access – If You Can’t Show It, You Can’t Sell It.

One of the biggest mistakes you can make as a seller is limiting the days and times when buyers can view your home. In any market, if you want to maximize…

198 Views, 0 Comments

Read Full Post

Two Questions To Ask Yourself if You’re Considering Buying a Home




If you’re thinking of buying a home, chances are you’re paying attention to just about everything you hear about the housing market. And you’re getting your information from a variety of channels: the news, social media, your real estate agent, conversations with friends and loved ones, overhearing someone chatting at the local supermarket, the list goes on and on. Most likely, home prices and mortgage rates are coming up a lot. 

To help cut through the noise and give you the information you need most, take a look at what the data says. Here are the top two questions you need to ask yourself about home prices and mortgage rates as you make your decision: 

1. Where Do I Think…

129 Views, 0 Comments

Read Full Post

Americans Still View Homeownership as the American Dream




Everyone’s interpretation of the American Dream is unique and personal. But, for many people, it’s tied to a sense of success, freedom, and prosperity. These are all things that owning a home can help provide.

A recent survey from Bankrate asked respondents which achievements they feel most embody the American Dream. The responses prove owning a home is still important to so many Americans today (see graph below):

As the graph shows, homeownership ranks above other significant milestones, including retirement, having a successful career, and earning a college degree.

A recent report from MYND helps shed light on why so many people value homeownership. It finds:

“. . . nearly…

158 Views, 0 Comments

Read Full Post