When the kids go back to school, every parent is on the hunt for some fresh deep cleaning tips. With the much-needed silence also comes the reality that the house is...pretty messy. 

Summer break means more fun and a lot more mess. For most families, this season is a time for messy outdoor play, snacks on the couch, somehow tracking pounds of sand in from the beach, and lots of other activities that slowly but surely turn the house upside down. Now that the new school year is almost upon us, we are sharing our deep cleaning tips to get you started on the long journey back to “clean”! 

Who doesn’t love a fresh start for the kids and your family? Though cleaning and organizing is not everyone’s favorite thing to do, the payoff is rewarding, especially…

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With so many properties being purchased and built around the country, many of us are excitedly planning how to turn our houses into homes. Here in the Lowcountry, interior design inspiration is drawn from our natural surroundings with everything from color, building material, and decor textures being guided by our environment. 

This makes windows a huge factor in terms of design. If you’re building a home, include as many windows as you possibly can! If you purchased a home and want to make the most of the windows you have, be sure not to block them with furniture and dress them beautifully.

So, how do you add window treatments that enhance your Lowcountry interior design without deteriorating from the gorgeous views outside? 

First, when…

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After months of declines, the inventory of homes for sale nationwide is beginning to increase as more sellers come to the market, looking to capitalize on record-high sales prices while providing a much-need boost of supply to America’s epic housing shortage. This is encouraging news for homebuyers, who have struggled with a lack of supply and rocketing sales prices during the pandemic.

Hilton Head & Mainland Real Estate Market Update - July 2021

For the 12- month period spanning August 2020 through July 2021, pending sales in the Hilton Head region were up 38.0 percent overall. Market-wide, inventory levels were down 59.2 percent. The property type that lost the least inventory was the condo segment, where it decreased 48.1 percent. That amounts…

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In today’s real estate market, mortgage interest rates are near record lows. If you’ve been in your current home for several years and haven’t refinanced lately, there’s a good chance you have a mortgage with an interest rate higher than today’s average. Here are some options you should consider if you want to take advantage of today’s current low rates before they rise.

Sell and Move Up (or Downsize)

Many of today’s homeowners are rethinking what they need in a home and redefining what their dream home means. For some, continued remote work is bringing about the need for additional space. For others, moving to a lower cost-of-living area or downsizing may be great options. If you’re considering either of these, there may not be a…

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With home prices continuing to deliver double-digit increases, some are concerned we’re in a housing bubble like the one in 2006. However, a closer look at the market data indicates this is nothing like 2006 for three major reasons.

1. The housing market isn’t driven by risky mortgage loans.

Back in 2006, nearly everyone could qualify for a loan. The Mortgage Credit Availability Index (MCAI) from the Mortgage Bankers’ Association is an indicator of the availability of mortgage money. The higher the index, the easier it is to obtain a mortgage. The MCAI more than doubled from 2004 (378) to 2006 (869). Today, the index stands at 130. As an example of the difference between today and 2006, let’s look at the volume of mortgages that originated when a…

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Over the past year, many homeowners realized what they need in a home is changing, especially with the rise in remote work. If you’re longing for a dedicated home office or a change in scenery, now may be the time to find the home that addresses your evolving needs.

Working from Home Isn’t a Passing Fad

Before the pandemic, only 21% of individuals worked from home. However, if you’ve recently discovered remote work is your new normal, you’re not alone.

A survey of hiring managers conducted by Statista and Upwork projects 37.5% of U.S. workers will work remotely in some capacity over the next 5 years (see chart below):

Remote Work

Working from Home Gives You More Flexibility and More Options

If you fall in that category, working from home may…

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Key Trends in Real Estate

As we move into the second half of the year, one thing is clear: the current real estate market is one for the record books. The exact mix of conditions we have today creates opportunities for both buyers and sellers. Here’s a look at four key components that are shaping this unprecedented market.

A Shortage of Homes for Sale

Earlier this year, the number of homes available for sale fell to an all-time low. In recent months, however, inventory levels are starting to trend up. The latest Monthly Housing Market Trends Report from realtor.com says:

“In June, newly listed homes grew by 5.5% on a year-over-year basis, and by 10.9% on a month-over-month basis. Typically, fewer newly listed homes appear on the market in the month of June…

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If you’re a prospective buyer or seller, it’s important to understand the current real estate market conditions and how they affect you. The Counselors of Real Estate (CRE) just released its Top Ten Issues Affecting Real Estate report. Here are three hot topics from the list and how they impact today’s housing market.

Technology Acceleration and Innovation

The past year ushered in many changes to the real estate industry, especially when it comes to technology. The CRE report elaborates on this:

Lockdown-driven changes in our work, in the economy, in social structures, and in our personal behavior have pushed our reluctance aside. The acceleration and adoption of technology during the pandemic has impacted everything, and real estate is no…

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One of the hottest topics of conversation in today’s real estate market is the shortage of available homes. Simply put, there are many more potential buyers than there are homes for sale. As a seller, you’ve likely heard that low supply is good news for you. It means your house will get more attention, and likely, more offers. But as life begins to return to normal, you may be wondering if that’s something that will change.

While it may be tempting to blame the pandemic for the current inventory shortage, the pandemic can’t take all the credit. While it did make some sellers hold off on listing their houses over the past year, the truth is the low supply of homes was years in the making. Let’s take a look at the root cause and what the future holds to…

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If you are in the market for home construction in the Lowcountry, you are certainly not alone. Chances are you’re looking at a variety of Bluffton home builders and Hilton Head home builders, and perhaps some national names too. 

Designing your dream home is an exciting process. With so many choices to make during your build, it is important to select a builder that fits your needs both from a design and functional perspective. So many of the builders here are locally grown companies; simply meeting and getting to know each one will help you know who feels like the right fit for your project.

Some of our favorite builders include (in alphabetical order):

Coastal Signature Homes

H2 Builders

Kendrick Construction

Randy Jeffcoat Builders

…

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