If you’ve given even a casual thought to selling your house in the near future, this is the time to really think seriously about making a move. Here’s why this season is the ultimate sellers’ market and the optimal time to make sure your house is available for buyers who are looking for homes to purchase.

The latest Existing Home Sales Report from The National Association of Realtors (NAR) shows the inventory of houses for sale is still astonishingly low, sitting at just a 2-month supply at the current sales pace.

Historically, a 6-month supply is necessary for a ‘normal’ or ‘neutral’ market in which there are enough homes available for active buyers (See graph below):

Impact on Housing Market

 

When the supply of houses for sale is as low as it is right now, it’s…

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Right now, the housing market is full of outstanding opportunities for both buyers and sellers. Whether you’re thinking of buying your first home, moving up to a bigger one, or selling so you can downsize this spring, there are perks today that are powering big moves for people across the country. Here are the top two to keep on the radar this season.

The Biggest Perk for Buyers: Low Mortgage Rates

 Today’s most compelling buyer incentive is low mortgage interest rates. The 30-year fixed-rate is now averaging just over 3%. While that’s slightly higher than the record-lows from 2020 and earlier this year, it’s still way lower than historic norms, making purchasing a home an ongoing perk for hopeful buyers (See graph below):

Mortgage Rates 2021 

This is a huge…

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If you are looking for things to do in Beaufort, you are definitely in the right place. It’s hard to go wrong when visiting this charming town located right on the water. Picturesque naturescapes and centuries of history make this hidden gem a growing attraction to out-of-towners who previously only visited Hilton Head when in this area.

It’s no secret the Lowcountry is known for outdoor activities. Downtown Beaufort and surrounding areas offer a plethora of options, from admiring the many waterways, taking a boat out for another point of view, exploring nature trails and parks, visiting the gorgeous beaches, and endless golfing - there is much to do.

We used the inspiration of budding Spring weather to curate this list for you. It’s the ideal time…

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Last year started off with a bang. Unemployment was under 4%, forecasters were giddy with their projections for the economy, and the residential housing market had the strongest January and February activity in over a decade.

Then came the announcement on March 11, 2020, from the World Health Organization declaring COVID-19 a worldwide pandemic. Two days later, the White House declared it a national emergency. Businesses and schools were forced to close, shelter-in-place mandates were enacted, and the economy came to a screeching halt. As a result, unemployment in this country skyrocketed to 14.9%.

A year later, the economy is recovering, and the U.S. has regained more than half of the jobs that were originally lost. However, some businesses are…

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When thinking about selling, homeowners often feel they need to get their house ready with some remodeling to make it more appealing to buyers. However, with so many buyers competing for available homes right now, renovations may not be as vital as they would be in a more normal market. Here are two things to keep in mind if you’re thinking of selling this season.

1. There aren’t enough homes for sale right now.

A normal market has a 6-month supply of houses for sale, but today’s housing inventory sits far below that benchmark. According to the National Association of Realtors (NAR), there’s only a 1.9-month supply of homes available today. As a result, buyer competition is high and homes are only on the market for about 21 days, during…

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According to data from the most recent Origination Insight Report by Ellie Mae, the average FICO® score on closed loans reached 753 in February. As lending standards have tightened recently, many are concerned over whether or not their credit score is strong enough to qualify for a mortgage. While stricter lending standards could be a challenge for some, many buyers may be surprised by the options that are still available for borrowers with lower credit scores.

The fact that the average American has seen their credit score go up in recent years is a great sign of financial health. As someone’s score rises, they’re building toward a stronger financial future. As more Americans with strong credit enter the housing market, we see a natural increase in the…

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Charter One Realty's consistent investments on behalf of Buyers, Sellers, and Communities for over three decades pays 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.

Luxury Sales Charter One Realty

ADDITIONAL SALES

3 Cobalt Lane* | Palmetto Bluff | $1,650,000

24 Boat House Street | Palmetto Bluff | $1,815,000

346 Bamberg Drive* | Belfair | $1,450,000

1 Ribaut Drive | Hilton Head Plantation | $1,537,500

26 Hampton Lane | Colleton River | $1,525,000

14 Amethyst Lane | Palmetto…

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Raise your hand if you are ready for some new decor! If you are thinking about refreshing your home, a great place to start is in your main living room. Minor changes can go a long way in turning your current space into your dream living room.

The change of season has sparked our inner “interior design senses” and we’ve been dreaming of redecorating. If it feels like the perfect time to switch things up, you’re in the right place.

In today’s article, we will cover dream living room designs for a variety of aesthetics. Whether you are sprucing up your current room with a few new pieces, or donating the whole room and starting from scratch, we have plenty of inspirational ideas for you!

So, what makes a dream living room design really come to life?…

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Buyer demand continued to be robust in February, leading to many multiple offer situations as housing supply continues to remain severely constrained in most segments. This imbalance of prospective buyers to available homes for sale will continue to support multiple offers and, with it, higher home sales prices, as we go into the typically busy spring market.

Hilton Head & Mainland Real Estate Market Update - February 2021

For the 12-month period spanning March 2020 through February 2021, pending sales in the Hilton Head region were up 37.6 percent overall. The price range with the largest gain in sales was the $650,001 and above range, where they increased 110.8 percent.

Market-wide, inventory levels were down 67.4 percent. The property type…

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Spring Housing Market

Spring is almost here, and many are wondering what it will bring for the housing market. Even though the pandemic continues on, it’s certain to be very different from the spring we experienced at this time last year. Here’s what a few industry experts have to say about the housing market and how it will bloom this season.

Danielle Hale, Chief Economist, realtor.com:

Despite early weakness, we expect to see new listings grow in March and April as they traditionally do heading into spring, and last year’s extraordinarily low new listings comparison point will mean year over year gains. One other potential bright spot for would-be homebuyers, new construction, which has risen at a year over year pace of 20% or more for the last few months, will…

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