Charter One Realty Blog - Charter One Realty

What Is the Strongest Tailwind to Today’s Recovering Economy?

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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To Renovate or Not To Renovate Before You Sell

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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What Credit Score Do You Need for a Mortgage?

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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Signature Sales January and February 2021 - Charter One Realty

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.

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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Dream Living Room Designs

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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Lowcountry Real Estate Market Report - February 2021

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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Will the Housing Market Bloom This Spring?

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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Turn to an Expert for the Best Advice, Not Perfect Advice

As we approach the anniversary of the hardships we’ve faced through this pandemic and the subsequent recession, it’s normal to reflect on everything that’s changed and wonder what’s ahead for 2021. While there are signs of economic recovery as vaccines are being issued, we still have a long way to go. It’s at times like these we want exact information about anything we’re doing. That information brings knowledge, and this gives us a sense of relief and comfort in uncertain times.

If you’re thinking about buying or selling a home today, the same need for information is very real. But, because it’s such a big step in our lives, that desire for clear information is even greater in the homebuying or selling process. Given the current level of overall…

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How to Make a Winning Offer on a Home

Today’s homebuyers are faced with a strong sellers’ market, which means there are a lot of active buyers competing for a relatively low number of available homes. As a result, it’s essential to understand how to make a confident and competitive offer on your dream home. Here are five tips for success in this critical stage of the homebuying process.

1. Listen to Your Real Estate Advisor

An article from Freddie Mac gives direction on making an offer on a home. From the start, it emphasizes how trusted professionals can help you stay focused on the most important things, especially at times when this process can get emotional for buyers:

Remember to let your homebuying team guide you on your journey, not your emotions. Their support and…

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The Best Mudroom Designs for Organization

Photo: Petite Haus

Today’s article features what we feel are the best mudroom designs in regard to the use of space. Lots of new homes are being built with an owner’s entrance (also called a mudroom) but lots of homes don’t have a dedicated space for this function. Many are taking to converting their laundry rooms into “two-fers” that serve as both a laundry space and the organized catch-all we call a mudroom.

The springtime energy creates a buzz to be out and about, and the best mudroom designs can very well make our lives easier. Regardless of why you’re designing this ultra-useful space, remember the most important thing when you start designing: how your family functions.

Ask yourself a few questions before you lay out your ideal room:

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