Our goal this year is to take on home organization with a new motivation. We admire others’ clean spaces and looking at their beautifully styled homes, but we know the best home is always the one we’re in, shared with loved ones. You can make your home as enviable as those in the magazine with a few organization tricks that instantly improve a space. Plus, the feeling of a freshly tidied room helps us move about the day with a clear mind and encourages us to be creative. 

This year, it’s all about tackling the smaller spots in our homes that can make a big difference in our daily lives. So now that you’ve stored the holiday decor and the house is primed for some extra attention, check out how we are approaching home organization after all this time at…

534 Views, 0 Comments

Optimistic about Real Estate

This year will be remembered for many reasons, and optimism is one thing that’s been in short supply since the spring. We’re experiencing a global pandemic, social unrest, an economic downturn, and natural disasters, just to name a few. The challenges brought on by the health crisis have also forced many homeowners to reevaluate their space and what they need in a home going into 2021. So, experts are forecasting that next year is one in which we can be optimistic about real estate for three key reasons.

 

1. The Economy Is Expected to Continue Improving

Tim Duy from the University of Oregon puts it this way:

“There is nothing fundamentally ‘broken’ in the economy that needs to heal…there was no obvious financial bubble driving excessive…

695 Views, 0 Comments

Beaufort Real Estate Update | November 2020

November saw the Dow Jones Industrial Average top 30,000 for the first time, while mortgage rates reached new record lows again. These new records have provided encouragement for buyers to move forward on home purchases, which continued to remain strong overall for the month.

New listings in the Beaufort Region were up 8.3 percent to 222. Pending sales increased 56.4 percent to 244. Inventory shrank 41.0 percent to 544 units.

Prices moved higher as median sales price was up 12.6 percent to $270,168. Days on market decreased 20.5 percent to 70 days. Months supply of inventory was down 54.3 percent to 2.1 months, indicating that demand increased relative to supply.

Showing activity remains higher than…

381 Views, 0 Comments

New Year's Events in the Lowcountry

We are excited to celebrate the end of 2020 and start the New Year with hope and motivation to tackle our plans and projects. But first, we must reminisce on how far we have come!. Let’s set aside some time to reflect and think of how we can make next year better than ever.

Itching to get out your party outfits and wish 2020 a not-so-fond farewell? You aren’t the only one. Yes, our parties will be much smaller this year but we still managed to track down a few Lowcountry New Year’s events you can attend while wearing your most glamorous mask.

The last holiday of the season is usually host to the largest gatherings of all, but our caring community urges residents and visitors to mask up and maintain the necessary social distancing. Unfortunately,…

598 Views, 0 Comments

It is safe to say we are all looking forward to the New Year. 2020 has been tough in many ways for lots of folks here in the beloved Lowcountry. We’ve come together in many ways as well and as we close out this year, we look ahead with hope for a safe and beautiful 2021.

With so much of our time spent at home lately, freshening up our spaces has been top of mind. In keeping with our love of all things “home”,  we’ve rounded up 2021 interior design trends we think you’ll love.

If you didn’t get a chance to redo your interiors during 2020, you may have at least reimagined what your home could look like. Whether it’s embracing cozy colors, incorporating vintage items, or adding plants in your home, now is a great time to dream and plan a refresh. 

515 Views, 0 Comments

Selling Your Vacation Home

This year, the opportunity to work remotely has increased the demand for vacation homes. Gay Cororaton, Senior Economist and Director of Housing and Commercial Research at the National Association of Realtors (NAR), notes:

Working from home is a positive factor in demand for vacation homes.

Buyers are taking advantage of the fact that working from home might be someplace other than their primary residence – at the beach, in the mountains, or somewhere in between. NAR explains:

Sales in vacation-home counties increased 48% on average year over year in the third quarter; overall, 81% of vacation-home counties saw a year-over-year sales increase.

Is it Time to Sell Your Vacation Home?

If you’ve been thinking about selling your…

367 Views, 0 Comments

If you’re one of the many homeowners thinking about taking your house off the market for the holidays, hang on. You definitely don’t want to miss the great selling opportunity you have right now. Here’s why this month is the optimal time to make sure your house is available for holiday buyers.

The latest Existing Home Sales Report from The National Association of Realtors (NAR) shows the inventory of houses for sale has dropped to an astonishing all-time low. It now sits at a 2.5-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):

Selling a home during the holiday season

 

When the supply of houses for sale is as low as it is today,…

528 Views, 0 Comments

Palmetto Bluff Holiday Events

The holiday season is upon us! One of our favorite ways to celebrate is by attending one of the many Palmetto Bluff events that capture Lowcountry holiday spirit. This year’s celebrations and parties are not exactly what we are used to, but perhaps a break from the typical hustle and bustle of December is what we all need. 

For a classic southern escape to remember, check out Montage Palmetto Bluff. There is no place better to unwind and recharge, and they always feature holiday activities that we look forward to. In this article, we cover all the festive fun they have coming up in chronological order! 

 

Nightly Menorah Lighting 

Hanukkah begins Thursday, Dec. 10, and each evening, the Montage Palmetto Bluff Hotel is holding a…

609 Views, 0 Comments

Homebuyers During the Holidays

Black Friday and Cyber Monday are behind us, yet finding the perfect holiday gifts for friends and family is undoubtedly still top of mind for many right now. This year, there’s another type of buyer that’s very active this holiday season – the homebuyer.

Each month, Showing Time releases their Showing Index, which tracks the average number of appointments received on active U.S. house listings. The most recent index notes:

The Showing Index reported a 60.9 percent jump in nationwide showing traffic year over year in October, the sixth consecutive month to see an increase over last year.

 

Here’s the breakdown of the latest activity by region of the country compared to this time last year:

  • The Northeast increased by 65.5%

559 Views, 0 Comments

Hilton Head Real Estate Update | November 2020

November saw the Dow Jones Industrial Average top 30,000 for the first time, while mortgage rates reached new record lows again. These new records have provided encouragement for buyers to move forward on home purchases, which continued to remain strong overall for the month.

New Listings were up 13.4 percent to 549. Pending Sales increased 44.0 percent to 563. Inventory shrank 46.2 percent to 1,186 units.

Prices moved higher as the median sales price was up 28.5 percent to $391,850. Days on market decreased 7.9 percent to 129 days. Months supply of inventory was down 58.3 percent to 2.0 months, indicating that demand increased relative to supply.

Showing activity remains higher than the same…

241 Views, 0 Comments