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October 2011 - Posts

Monday, October 31, 2011 12:31 PM

The Charleston single house

The most famous architectural style of home that you'll find in Charleston is the Charleston single house. It's been said that the reason the narrow side of the home faces the street is that property taxes were based on the width of the lot and
Posted by Howard Arnoff | 0 Comments
Saturday, October 29, 2011 7:17 AM

[Trick or treat] One more reason to live in Charleston

Well, Mother Nature simply must be playing another trick on the Northeast this Halloween weekend with not just a little snow but quite a storm. That's no treat. Just about every client I have who was considering relocation to Charleston was concerned
Posted by Howard Arnoff | 0 Comments
Thursday, October 27, 2011 8:11 AM

Should we move all holidays to have 3 day weekends

I just heard where a state representative somewhere was going to introduce a bill to have Halloween celebrated on a Saturday every year and it got me thinking (which is a dangerous thing). Now don't get me wrong because I'm in favor of having
Posted by Howard Arnoff | 0 Comments
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Wednesday, October 26, 2011 8:19 AM

[Unloved and unsold] What's a home seller to do

The other day, a client asked me to look up a home that she had seen earlier this year to see if it had sold and if so, what the selling price was. And it didn't come as a big surprise to me that the home hadn't sold and the listing was withdrawn.
Posted by Howard Arnoff | 0 Comments
Tuesday, October 25, 2011 7:17 AM

[Trending] A more sensible approach to housing

It just seems that people are taking a more sensible approach to housing these days and that's a good thing (as Martha might say). What I've noticed from talking with a variety of people lately is that buyers are more realistic about their financial
Posted by Howard Arnoff | 0 Comments
Monday, October 24, 2011 8:24 AM

Will this refinance program be any more successful than prior failures

The administration is to announce a turbo-charged HARP (Home Affordable Refinance Program) today in Nevada, the foreclosure capital of the United States designed to allow underwater homeowners who are current on their mortgage to refinance at lower rates
Posted by Howard Arnoff | 0 Comments
Saturday, October 22, 2011 7:43 AM

The news is not always correct

Whether you get your news from television, the newspaper, online or perish the thought, word of mouth, the news is not always correct. I was talking with someone yesterday who knows that I am a Charleston real estate agent so the obvious question, how's
Posted by Howard Arnoff | 0 Comments
Friday, October 21, 2011 8:52 AM

Today's fresh catch, a new featured listing every day

Every day, there's always an interesting listing that can be found in the Charleston MLS. The world of Charleston real estate is 24 / 7 / 365 and while there is generally less activity over the weekend or on a holiday, something always seems to catch
Posted by Howard Arnoff | 0 Comments
Wednesday, October 19, 2011 8:32 AM

Bought as a foreclosure, sold as a short sale

Sometimes, the Charleston MLS offers an interesting history about homes for sale. I was looking at a home for sale in Charleston recently and when you look up the history of that listing, you find that it was originally purchased as a foreclosure and
Posted by Howard Arnoff | 0 Comments
Tuesday, October 18, 2011 8:57 AM

How to make a successful lowball offer

Everyone buying a home wants to get a good (or great) deal and why not. But some home buyers seem to think that because the media reports pretty much nothing other than bad news about the housing market that they can simply sweep in and steal a home with
Posted by Howard Arnoff | 0 Comments
Monday, October 17, 2011 7:24 AM

NOW is the time to buy a home for less money

Seasonal factors play an important role in home prices so if you are thinking about buying a home in Charleston sometime in the reasonable future, I'd suggest you think about buying from right now through February. Here's why: home prices are
Posted by Howard Arnoff | 0 Comments
Saturday, October 15, 2011 5:15 AM

Susan G Komen Lowcountry Race for the Cure

... is today at the Family Circle Tennis Center on Daniel Island. Get involved!
Posted by Howard Arnoff | 0 Comments
Friday, October 14, 2011 7:45 AM

Charleston real estate market report, sales, inventory and home prices, September 2011

September was another solid month for the Charleston real estate market with sales higher than September of 2010 by just over 10 percent. You can generally divide real estate into two 6 month periods and September marks the beginning of the slower season
Posted by Howard Arnoff | 0 Comments
Thursday, October 13, 2011 10:10 AM

Charleston mortgage report: Mortgage rates rise sharply this week

Why do mortgage rates tend to decline slowly but rise sharply. That's the case this week off a better than expected jobs report (which in my opinion wasn't exactly a great report with a dismal 9.1 percent unemployment rate and only 103,000 net
Posted by Howard Arnoff | 0 Comments
Wednesday, October 12, 2011 8:11 AM

Charleston named number 1 tourist destination in America

by readers of Conde Nast Traveler. And it's been the big buzz around Charleston and the Charleston hospitality industry for the past day. As an example, my wife who is in the hospitality industry came home last night and the first words out of her
Posted by Howard Arnoff | 2 Comments
Tuesday, October 11, 2011 8:04 AM

[Patience] The art of negotiation

Many Charleston real estate agents might tout that they are great negotiators (I believe in one of my profiles I refer to myself as a skilled negotiator). But did you know that the agent really doesn't negotiate a contract but negotiates on behalf
Posted by Howard Arnoff | 0 Comments
Sunday, October 09, 2011 7:02 AM

Summerville to be featured on NBC's Football Night in America

As part of tonight's pregame show on NBC's Football Night in America, a story about the Town of Summerville will be a featured segment airing at approximately 7:30 Eastern time. This was homecoming week for the Summerville High School. Coach John
Posted by Howard Arnoff | 1 Comments
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Saturday, October 08, 2011 6:30 AM

[Surprise] Not all foreclosures are good deals

It's been said that you can get a good deal in today's market by buying a foreclosure from 20 to 40 percent below market value. And while there are many lender owned homes available for sale in Charleston that can offer you that opportunity, not
Posted by Howard Arnoff | 0 Comments
Thursday, October 06, 2011 6:32 AM

Steve Jobs: Insanely Great

My first computer was an Apple and I'm fairly certain my last (whatever it will be called) will also be by Apple all thanks to Steve Jobs. I watched television coverage last night of his passing, woke early this morning and read many articles on the
Posted by Howard Arnoff | 0 Comments
Wednesday, October 05, 2011 7:09 AM

Short term extension of national flood insurance program likely

... as part of a bill that the House passed to keep the government running through November 18 according to Housing Wire . The Senate passed the measure last week. The President is expected to sign it but a longer term (5 year) solution is necessary in
Posted by Howard Arnoff | 0 Comments
Tuesday, October 04, 2011 7:17 AM

Charleston home sales up month over month, year over year

Good news in the Charleston housing market. Home sales were higher in September 2011 than in September 2010. But even more important, sales during the first 9 months of the year are also higher than during the same time last year and that is especially
Posted by Howard Arnoff | 0 Comments
Monday, October 03, 2011 7:58 AM

Charleston's top real estate companies

(By number of transactions) Year to date 2011 Some people who aren't familiar with the Charleston real estate market are often surprised that the large national franchises are not the top real estate companies in Charleston based on the number of
Posted by Howard Arnoff | 0 Comments
Saturday, October 01, 2011 7:03 AM

Think Pink! October is National Bre*st Cancer Awareness Month

... and my website is PINK this month. Based on the number of visitors to CharlestonOnlineHomes.com during October, I'll make a generous contribution to Susan G. Komen For the Cure . Join me by making a donation too! Here's a partial screenshot
Posted by Howard Arnoff | 0 Comments