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January 2011 - Posts

Monday, January 31, 2011 9:07 AM

If you're selling your home in Charleston, don't forget about all the clutter you've accumulated

Let's face facts, all of us have too much stuff. Sure, it's hard to get rid of things, we bought them, may have used them and might need them again. And many of us move from home to home and move stuff that we haven't seen in years and may
Posted by Howard Arnoff | 0 Comments
Saturday, January 29, 2011 7:53 AM

It's just my opinion but rent to own is silly whether it's a home or a TV

I seem to get an inquiry about renting to own a home or a lease purchase option every once in a while and I can't help but think that it isn't such a good deal. Usually, the person has some credit issues, doesn't have enough for a down payment
Posted by Howard Arnoff | 0 Comments
Friday, January 28, 2011 9:45 AM

Charleston foreclosure activity on the rise

There are a lot of foreclosures for sale in Charleston, seemingly more every day. But a little perspective is in order. According to RealtyTrac , Charleston is ranked 48th of all metropolitan areas covered. Here are the totals for last year: 7900 properties,
Posted by Howard Arnoff | 0 Comments
Thursday, January 27, 2011 8:43 AM

Comparing the Charleston real estate market with others

We all know that the media focuses on bad news, after all, that's what sells. And when the media writes about housing, it's really no different. Many of the headlines would make you think that either you can steal a home for pennies on the dollar
Posted by Howard Arnoff | 0 Comments
Wednesday, January 26, 2011 11:33 AM

[Charleston home values] Case Shiller, Zillow and Charleston MLS median price

Everyone wants to know whether home prices went up, down or stayed pretty much the same and depending on where you are getting your information and what kind of information you are looking at, the answer could actually be all three. According to the Charleston
Posted by Howard Arnoff | 0 Comments
Tuesday, January 25, 2011 7:31 AM

It's the spring selling season in the Charleston real estate market

... but not all Charleston home sellers seem to understand how to price their home for sale. Or to take the famous quote of Alfred Lord Tennyson and adapt it to real estate, "in the spring a homeowner's fancy lightly turns to thoughts of overpricing
Posted by Howard Arnoff | 0 Comments
Monday, January 24, 2011 7:50 AM

[New] Charleston home buying guide

Years ago before blogs, likes and tweets, websites were the only presence on the Internet that real estate agents had. Back then, websites were considered to be static because the agent wrote all the content and there was no interaction with the consumer.
Posted by Howard Arnoff | 0 Comments
Saturday, January 22, 2011 7:53 AM

Do you [want, need or like] a fireplace in your home

If the kitchen is now the "heart of the home", the fireplace has long been the crown jewel of the family room. But it appears that due to environmental and health concerns, the NY Times is reporting that The Love Affair With the Fireplace Cools
Posted by Howard Arnoff | 0 Comments
Friday, January 21, 2011 8:45 AM

[Casting call] HGTV's "The Unsellables" is coming to Charleston

HGTV's " The Unsellables " is coming to film in Charleston and are looking for homes that are owner occupied and could benefit from their team of professionals. Each episode features a family that just can't seem to get their house sold
Posted by Howard Arnoff | 0 Comments
Thursday, January 20, 2011 8:50 AM

[Charleston mortgage report] As the pendulum swings, tougher requirements to qualify

Overreaction is typical and mortgage lending is no different. Just a few short years ago, about all anyone had to do was "fog a mirror" and they were pronounced qualified to buy a home. We've seen how that worked out since homeowners with
Posted by Howard Arnoff | 0 Comments
Wednesday, January 19, 2011 10:12 AM

Mount Pleasant homes for sale are selling quickly

... especially those priced for less than $250,000. Mount Pleasant is one of the most popular places to live in the Charleston area. With close proximity to both downtown Charleston and the beach, highly rated schools and with great shopping and dining,
Posted by Howard Arnoff | 0 Comments
Tuesday, January 18, 2011 7:01 AM

Where are you searching for Charleston homes for sale

... and is it really the best and most accurate source. Recently, some of the big national real estate sites have hooked up with some of the most popular Internet portals. Yahoo is using Zillow, CNN is using Trulia and MSN/AOL is using MOVE (in case you're
Posted by Howard Arnoff | 0 Comments
Sunday, January 16, 2011 8:52 AM

[Plan ahead] Buying a home in Charleston

Since it's NFL playoff season, preparing a game plan makes a good analogy when buying a home. I realize that some buyers just want to see homes. They'll search online, find something they like and either call or email to schedule a showing. They
Posted by Howard Arnoff | 0 Comments
Saturday, January 15, 2011 8:54 AM

[False hope] Should all short sales be eliminated

My friend Jonathan Dalton in Phoenix recently suggested that all short sales be eliminated , a controversial issue to say the least. The past few years have been called the year of the short sale in Charleston real estate. And this year and most likely
Posted by Howard Arnoff | 0 Comments
Friday, January 14, 2011 9:36 AM

How important is dollars per square foot when determining Charleston home prices

The simple answer is very important but it isn't the only factor. Yesterday, when I posted the Charleston real estate report , I pointed out an error in the dollars per square foot in May 2010 where Charleston MLS statistics (screen shot to the left)
Posted by Howard Arnoff | 0 Comments
Thursday, January 13, 2011 9:19 AM

Charleston real estate market report, sales, inventory and home prices, 2010 year end recap

2010 was a very solid year for the Charleston real estate market. We've talked extensively about how the home buyer tax credit drove sales higher during the first half of the year primarily for homes selling for less than $300,000 and while the second
Posted by Howard Arnoff | 1 Comments
Tuesday, January 11, 2011 8:11 AM

Discount brokerage ZipRealty to shutter offices in 11 markets

Inman News is reporting that discount brokerage ZipRealty is closing offices in 11 markets and will emphasize agent expertise over discounts. "ZipRealty Inc. is closing company owned and operated brokerages in almost a dozen markets, and will begin
Posted by Howard Arnoff | 0 Comments
Monday, January 10, 2011 9:55 AM

Finding a Charleston real estate agent [Reviews, testimonials, referrals]

I got two emails yesterday. Well, actually I got a lot of emails which is typical but what I meant was two were especially interesting. One was from a client who bought a home last year. Here's an excerpt: “We are so very happy with our home.
Posted by Howard Arnoff | 0 Comments
Saturday, January 08, 2011 8:35 AM

Charleston home sales by price range [2009 vs 2010]

2010 was a very good year for home sales in the Charleston real estate market. The first half of the year was highlighted by sharply higher sales due to the home buyer tax credit and while sales dropped sharply at the expiration in July, they held very
Posted by Howard Arnoff | 0 Comments
Friday, January 07, 2011 8:49 AM

Is now a good time to list your home for sale in Charleston

Well, that depends. If you have to move because you have been relocated for your job or if your circumstances have changed since you purchased your home such as either outgrowing your current home because you've had several children or maybe your
Posted by Howard Arnoff | 0 Comments
Thursday, January 06, 2011 8:05 AM

The big story this year in Charleston real estate, Boeing relocation

As progress continues on the new Boeing facility in Charleston, more and more Boeing employees are relocating to Charleston and that's good news for the Charleston real estate market. Last year I helped one Boeing employee relocate to Mount Pleasant
Posted by Howard Arnoff | 0 Comments
Wednesday, January 05, 2011 2:13 PM

Too many Charleston real estate agents, you be the judge

A funny but true quote from my friend Jay Thompson, The Phoenix Real Estate Guy , ”You can’t swing a dead cat and not hit a real estate agent". A lot of real estate agents would like to see it become more difficult to get a real estate
Posted by Howard Arnoff | 1 Comments
Tuesday, January 04, 2011 8:59 AM

Charleston mortgage report and forecast for 2011

Last year we saw the lowest mortgage rates in (modern) history. With 30 year fixed rate mortgage loans being offered for as low as 4 percent, Charleston home buyers were able to either buy a little more home for the money or reduce their monthly payment.
Posted by Howard Arnoff | 0 Comments
Monday, January 03, 2011 8:27 AM

[Days on market] How long has this home REALLY been on the market

Now is the time of year when a lot of homes for sale come on the market but some have already been for sale and are being relisted and refreshed. The other day, listings for over 500 homes expired unsold but many will be coming back onto the market with
Posted by Howard Arnoff | 0 Comments
Saturday, January 01, 2011 11:31 AM

[You're number one] Happy New Year 1.1.11

If you're fascinated with numbers, today's date (and time) is worth capturing, and of course, even better will be November 11th. And if you're thinking about relocating to Charleston, our weather today should inspire you to get away from the
Posted by Howard Arnoff | 0 Comments
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