Charter One Realty Blog - Charter One Realty

Charter One Realty Closes Four Oceanfront Homes in October

Hilton Head Island, SC, November 2021 – The luxury market is moving in Hilton Head Island, SC. In the past thirty days, Charter One Realty, a local brokerage serving the Coastal Lowcountry, closed four oceanfront homes on the Island with sale prices ranging from $3.7M to $7.4M.

23 Black Skimmer Road is a spectacular oceanfront home in Sea Pines offering 6 bedrooms, 6 full baths & 2 half baths. Two covered porches offer views of the private swimming pool and the Atlantic Ocean. The property sold for $7,475,000. The buyers were represented by The Wedgeworth Team with Charter One Realty.

23 S. Beach Lagoon Drive is a luxurious nine-bedroom home overlooking the ocean in Sea Pines. oceanfront home in Sea Pines offering 6 bedrooms, 6 full…

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Supporting The Lowcountry: How to Give Back This Season

With so much going on in our lives and the world, it is important to make time for charitable giving. With the holiday season officially upon us, it is always nice to take a moment to reflect and appreciate the things we have. During that moment of reflection, think about the ways you are connected to the Lowcountry and how you could deepen the relationship by supporting your neighbors in need. 

Giving back during the holidays doesn’t always require funds. Finding charities that align with your beliefs means you can make your resources of time or money meaningful for the organization and your family as well.

Whether it’s supporting the community, keeping kids safe, finding homes for animals, maintaining our beautiful scenery, or something else dear…

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Sellers Have Incredible Leverage in Today’s Market

With mortgage rates climbing above 3% for the first time in months, serious buyers are more motivated than ever to find a home before the end of the year. Lawrence Yun, Chief Economist for the National Association of Realtors (NAR), puts it best, saying:

"Housing demand remains strong as buyers likely want to secure a home before mortgage rates increase even further next year."

But the sense of urgency they feel is complicated by the lack of homes for sale in today’s market. According to the latest Existing Home Sales Report from NAR:

“From one year ago, the inventory of unsold homes decreased 13%. . . .”

What Does This Mean for Sellers Today?

With buyers eager to purchase but so few homes available, sellers who list…

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Renters Missed Out on $51,500 This Past Year

Rents have increased significantly this year. The latest National Rent Report from Apartmentlist.com shows rents are rising at a rate much higher than the three years leading up to the pandemic:

“Since January of this year, the national median rent has increased by a staggering 16.4 percent. To put that in context, rent growth from January to September averaged just 3.4 percent in the pre-pandemic years from 2017-2019.”

Looking back, we can see rents rising isn’t new. The median rental price has increased consistently over the past 33 years (see graph below):

If you’re thinking of renting for another year, consider that rents will likely be even higher next year. But that alone doesn’t paint the picture of the true cost of…

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The Mortgage Process Doesn’t Have To Be Scary

Some Highlights

• Applying for a mortgage is a big step towards homeownership, but it doesn’t need to be one you fear. Here are some tips to help you prepare.
• Know your credit score and work to build strong credit. When you’re ready, lean on your agent to connect you with a lender so you can get pre-approved and begin your home search.
• Any major life change can be scary, and buying a home is no different. Let’s connect so you have an advisor by your side to take the fear out of the equation.

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Does Your House Have What Buyers Want?

The rise in remote work is changing what many Americans want in their homes. Many companies are choosing to delay reopening or go remote full-time, and today’s buyers are looking for homes with more space to support their work needs.

As a seller, if you no longer need the extra room you have in your home, rest assured there are buyers who do.

Remote Work Is Here To Stay

Remote work remains a reality for many Americans. A recent poll from Garter, Inc. shows many organizations have not yet returned their offices:

“. . . 66% of organizations are delaying reopening their offices due to new COVID-19 variants.”

And it’s not just companies that are choosing to remain remote for the time being – workers are seeking more…

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Housing Challenge or Housing Opportunity? It Depends.

The biggest challenge in real estate today is the lack of available homes for sale. The low housing supply has caused homes throughout the country to appreciate at a much faster rate than what we’ve experienced historically.

There are many reasons for the limited number of homes on the market, but as you can see in the graph below, we’re well below where we’ve been for most of the past 10 years. Today, across the country, there is only a 2.4- month supply of homes available for sale:

The Opportunity 

This lack of homes for sale is creating a challenge for many buyers who are growing frustrated in their search. On the other hand, this is a huge opportunity for sellers as low supply is driving up home values. According to CoreLogic,…

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There Are More Homes Available Now than There Were This Spring

There’s a lot of talk lately about how challenging it can be to find a home to buy. While housing inventory is still low, there are a few important things to understand about the supply of homes for sale as we move into the end of the year.

The Number of Homes for Sale Usually Peaks in the Fall

In the residential real estate market, trends generally follow a predictable and seasonal pattern. Typically, the number of homes available for sale (or active monthly listings) peaks in the fall. But in a chapter where so little feels normal, the question becomes: should we expect a fall peak this year?

If we look at the active monthly listings for 2021 (shown in the chart below), we’ll see that the number of homes on the market has increased…

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Knowledge Is Power When It Comes to Appraisals and Inspections

Buyers in today’s market often have questions about the importance of getting a home appraisal and an inspection. That’s because high buyer demand and low housing supply are driving intense competition and leading some buyers to consider waiving those contingencies to stand out in the crowded market.

But is that the best move? Buying a home is one of the most important transactions in your lifetime, and it’s critical to keep your best interests in mind. Here’s a breakdown of what to expect from the appraisal and the inspection, and why each one can potentially save you a lot of time, money, and headaches down the road.

Home Appraisal

The home appraisal is a critical step for securing a mortgage on your home. As Home Light explains:

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Looking To Move? It Could Be Time To Build Your Dream Home.

While today’s supply of homes for sale is still low, the number of newly built homes is increasing. If you’re ready to sell but have held off because you weren’t sure you’d be able to find a home to move into, newly built homes and those under construction can provide the options you’ve been waiting for. The latest Census data shows the inventory of new homes is increasing this year (see graph below):

With more new homes coming to the market, this means you’ll have more options to choose from if you’re ready to buy. Of course, if you do consider a newly built home, you’ll want to keep timing in mind. The supply shown in the graph above includes homes at various stages of the construction process – some are near completion while…

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