Charter One Realty Blog - Charter One Realty

Meet the Agent: Jennifer Johnson

For Charter One Realty agent Jennifer Johnson, real estate isn’t merely a line of work — it’s a calling. This top-performing agent has been representing buyers and sellers in the Lowcountry since 2017, and she's established quite a track record. 

Jennifer tells Charter One Realty about her affinity for real estate and her deep connection to the Lowcountry and shares some advice for buyers.

Charter One Realty: When did you know that you wanted to pursue a career in real estate?

Jennifer Johnson: I knew I wanted to pursue a career in real estate when I was a first-time homebuyer. I realized that I can help homebuyers locate or sell real estate and deliver an exceptional experience just like my first agent did. She made it look easy. Now I know it's…

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Charter One Realty Welcomes Stephanie Kollstedt

HILTON HEAD ISLAND, SC, December 2022 – (CharterOneRealty.com) Charter One Realty, the Lowcountry's #1 Ranked Real Estate Brokerage, is proud to welcome Stephanie Kollstedt to its team of talented and dedicated agents. Stephanie joins the company as an agent, partnering with Alison Melton and Sabeth Biangone of The Melton Group and will work out of one of the firm's Bluffton locations at the front gate of Berkeley Hall.

Stephanie relocated to the Lowcountry in 2021 from Cincinnati, Ohio, along with her husband, Jon, and her sons, Ayden and Hunter. Stephanie holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Cincinnati and an Associate's Degree in Real Estate from Hondros College. She began her career in real estate as a Sales and Marketing…

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Charter One Realty Welcomes Bland Kiser and David Jetton to Their 11 Park Lane Office

HILTON HEAD ISLAND, SC, December 2022 – (CharterOneRealty.com) Charter One Realty, the Lowcountry's #1 Ranked Real Estate Brokerage, is proud to welcome Bland Kiser and David Jetton to its team of talented and dedicated agents. Kiser and Jetton have partnered to form the Kiser Jetton Group and will work out of one of the firm's Hilton Head Island locations, 11 Park Lane. 

Bland Kiser has been a Hilton Head Island & Bluffton, SC resident since 1976. Bland has an extensive, proven track record of luxury real estate sales experience and achievements in South Carolina (plus Colorado and the U.S. Virgin Islands) during his nearly 25-year career. Bland is proud to serve all his clients with the highest professionalism and enthusiasm. Whether it is an…

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Planning to Retire? It Could Be Time To Make a Move.

Planning to Retire? It Could Be Time To Make a Move.

If you’re thinking about retirement or have already retired this year, you may be planning your next steps. One of your goals could be selling your house and finding a home that more closely fits your needs.

Fortunately, you may be in a better position to make a move than you realize. Here are a few things to think about when making that decision.

Consider How Long You’ve Been in Your Home

From 1985 to 2008, the average length of time homeowners typically stayed in their homes was only six years. But according to the National Association of Realtors (NAR), that number is rising today, meaning many homeowners are living in their houses even longer (see graph below):

When you…

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You May Have More Negotiation Power When You Buy a Home Today

You May Have More Negotiation Power When You Buy a Home Today

Did the frequency and intensity of bidding wars over the past two years make you put your home search on hold? If so, you should know the hyper competitive market has cooled this year as buyer demand has moderated and housing supply has grown. Those two factors combined mean you may see less competition from other buyers.

And with less competition comes more opportunity. Here are two trends that may be the news you need to reenter the market.

1. The Return of Contingencies

Over the last two years, more buyers were willing to skip important steps in the homebuying process, like the appraisal or the inspection, in hopes of gaining an advantage in a bidding war.  But now, things…

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Ready To Sell? Today’s Housing Supply Gives You Two Opportunities.

Ready To Sell? Today’s Housing Supply Gives You Two Opportunities.

At first glance, the increase in housing supply compared to last year may not sound like good news for prospective sellers, but it actually gives you two key opportunities in today’s housing market.

An article from Calculated Risk helps put the inventory gains the market has seen in 2022 into perspective by comparing it to recent years (see graph below). It shows supply has surpassed 2021 levels by 58%. But the further back you look, the more you’ll understand the bigger picture. And if you go all the way back to 2019, the last normal year in real estate, we’re roughly 35% below the housing supply we had at that time.

Opportunity #1: Take Advantage of More Options for…

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What Every Seller Should Know About Home Prices

What Every Seller Should Know About Home Prices

If you’re trying to decide whether or not to sell your house, recent headlines about home prices may be top of mind. And if those stories have you wondering what that means for your home’s value, here’s what you really need to know.

What’s Really Happening with Home Prices?

It’s possible you’ve seen news stories mentioning a drop in home values or home price depreciation, but it’s important to remember those headlines are designed to make a big impression in just a few words. But what headlines aren’t always great at is painting the full picture.

While home prices are down slightly month-over-month in some markets, it’s also true that home values are up nationally on a year-over-year…

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What’s Going on with Home Prices? Ask a Professional.

What’s Going on with Home Prices? Ask a Professional.

If you’re thinking about buying or selling a home this year, you may have questions about what’s happening with home prices today as the market cools. In the simplest sense, nationally, experts don’t expect prices to come crashing down, but the level of home price moderation will depend on factors like supply and demand in each local market.

That means, moving forward, home price appreciation will continue to vary by location, with more significant changes happening in overheated areas. Here’s a quick snapshot of what the experts are saying:

Danielle Hale, Chief Economist at realtor.com, says:

“The major question on the minds of homeowners and aspiring buyers alike is what will…

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Prioritizing Your Wants and Needs as a Homebuyer in Today’s Market

Prioritizing Your Wants and Needs as a Homebuyer in Today’s Market

There’s no denying mortgage rates are higher now than they were last year. And if you’re thinking about buying a home, this may be top of mind for you. That’s because those higher rates impact how much it costs to borrow money for your home loan. As you set out to make a purchase this winter, you’ll need to be strategic so you can find a home that meets your needs and budget.

Danielle Hale, Chief Economist at realtor.com, explains:

“The key to making a good decision in this challenging housing market is to be laser focused on what you need now and in the years ahead, . . . Another key point is to avoid stretching your budget, as tempting as it may be given the diminished…

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What Buyers Need To Know About the Inventory of Homes Available for Sale

What Buyers Need To Know About the Inventory of Homes Available for Sale

If you’re thinking about buying a home, you’re likely trying to juggle your needs, current mortgage rates, home prices, your schedule, and more to try to decide if you want to jump into the market.

If this sounds like you, here’s one key factor that could help you with your decision: there are more homes for sale today than there were at this time last year. According to Calculated Risk, for the week ending in November 18th, there were 47.7% more homes available for sale than there were at the same time in 2021. And having more options for your home search may be exactly what you need to feel confident about making a move.

Here’s a look at where the increased housing…

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