Help Us Rebuild Charleston

Hurricane Matthew didn’t hurt real estate prices in Charleston, but there are still many out there who need help. Would you like to join us in assisting them? 

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Selling your Charleston home ? Get a free home value report

Today we’re in the city of North Charleston in a neighborhood called Park Hill. Hurricane Matthew just rolled through here a couple of days ago, and the majority of the houses along the street I’m currently standing at have flooded. We decided to come down here and lend a hand to the people in this community because that’s what we do in Charleston.

A lot of people have been asking me what all this storm’s impact means for the real estate market. Overall, this won’t hurt Charleston’s real estate prices. Just because this is a hurricane-prone area doesn’t mean that the market suffers after one hits.

Get in touch with us if you’re interested in assisting those who have been affected.

If you’re interested in assisting us with rebuilding this neighborhood, you can get in touch with us on Twitter at #rebuildparkhill or visit our website we’ll soon be launching called rebuildparkhill.com. There you’ll also be able to see pictures of some of the houses that we’ve worked on to get a better idea of the devastation and how we’re rebuilding.

We’re still in business, so if you have any questions please give us a call or just reply to this email. We look forward to hearing from you!

Top 3 Low-Cost Ways to Add Value in Charleston

Buying a Charleston home? Get a full home search

Selling your Charleston home ? Get a free home value report

Today I'm happy to be joined by Tommy Welch of 1st Class Painting & Restoration to talk about the top three things you can do to get the most value for your home.

It's a great question, Tommy said, and provided a contractor's perspective. First and foremost, (and yes, Tommy says he's a bit biased) you've got to make sure your paint is solid and neutral. He loves a good hot pink or your daughter's bright blue bathroom, but not when you're selling your home. It's not just important to be neutral, it's important that the quality of the work is good, so hire a professional.

Secondly, Tommy said, know that buyers go straight to kitchens and bathrooms when they view a house. You want the kitchen to be functional, clean, and open. If your flooring is up to date, you're probably ahead of the curve. Take a few minutes and take a non-biased look at your kitchen and bathrooms to look for what stands out as needing to be fixed or updated.

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These are game-changers when it comes to listing your house.

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Lastly, don't forget the outdoors. We live here in Charleston so we can spend 365 days a year outside, so spruce up your yard. Keep the lawn cut, get rid of overgrowth, and make sure fences and decks are properly sealed, clean, and safe. You want people viewing your home to walk outside and think "Wow! I can hang out here!"

All these things aren't just cost-effective, they're game-changers when it comes to listing your house and making a move. Tommy would love to come out and give you a totally free estimate on any of these things. You can call him at 843-324-6006 or you can email him at Tommy@1stClassCharleston.com.

Who Pays What in a Real Estate Transaction?

Buying a Charleston home? Get a full home search

Selling your Charleston home ? Get a free home value report

Today, I’m talking about who pays what in an average real estate transaction in the surrounding area. How much are the entire closing costs for the buyer and the seller?

When you’re buying or selling a home, people often overlook how much a transaction will actually cost them. What’s interesting about this is that you can find all kind of calculators online, but every state has different regulations. As a general rule of thumb you have fees that account for up to 1.5%, if you're selling, and 3.5% if you're buying, of your entire transaction. This also includes mortgage fees, attorney fees, deed stamps, title insurance, and homeowner’s insurance. The homeowner’s insurance brings up the percentage for buyers compared to sellers.

If you present an attractive offer to a seller, they might be willing to help you pay for these fees out of their own pocket. This reduces the amount of money you pay out. If you’re a seller, closing costs can come out of a home’s equity. Additionally, you need to consider comission fees for real estate agents, which are between 5% and 7% depending on the services you receive from the agent.

If you’re thinking about buying or selling in Charleston, give me a call or send me an email. I’d be happy to serve your local real estate needs and answer any questions you might have!

Finding the Perfect Charleston Home in the Best School District

Buying a Charleston home? Get a full home search

Selling your Charleston home ? Get a free home value report

Today, I'll review some tips for finding the perfect home in the perfect school district for your children.

Stop talking about it. Get out there and look for the best school! Do some research online and visit. Many schools are happy to have you come by and give you a tour of the campus.

It's important to select a hyperlocal Realtor that knows every market inside and out. That's what I do. I can help you find the perfect neighborhood with the school of your dreams.

If you're interested in a certain neighborhood, drive through it in the afternoon when school lets out. How many students are walking home? How many kids in the area are outside playing, and are they about the same age as your kids?

You can also use the search tool on this blog to define the scope of your home search. Most home search tools let you plug in the price range, city, and zip code. Our home search tool lets you enter the school name or district you're interested in so you can find the best deals in that area.

If you have any questions, give me a call or send me an email. I would be happy to help you!

Questions to Ask Yourself when Balancing a Home Buying Budget

Buying a Charleston home? Get a full home search

Selling your Charleston home ? Get a free home value report 

Today’s topic involves financial planning when buying a home. We suggest breaking down a budget to avoid difficulties in the future. Firstly, ask yourself the following four questions to help determine your personal budget.

• How much can you afford to spend on a home?
• How much is a comfortable monthly payment?
• How much would a bank be willing to lend you on a monthly basis?
• How does that amount of the bank translate into a listing price?

Next, we have suggestions for you to keep in mind when determining your budget. Here is our advice:

1. Take your overall income and remove your expenses. Identify monthly expenses and add them all up. You’ll want to include anything that might show up in your credit report such as a car payment, student loans, or credit card debt. Subtract those expenses from your total income.
2. Banks lend approximately forty percent of available income. Leftover income goes towards a housing payment.
3. For every seven to eight dollars spent monthly, you have a thousand dollars towards your home. For example, if you want to buy $100,000 home, you’d want a $700 or $800 monthly payment ideally.

If you have any questions about the buying process, or if you need real estate assistance of any kind, please don't hesitate to reach out to us. We would love to hear from you!

Is an Early Offer on Your Charleston Home a Bad Omen?

Buying a Charleston home? Get a full home search

Selling your Charleston home ? Get a free home value report 

I have a lot of people asking me what they should do with early offers on their home. Should they take them? Should they ignore them? What are you to do?

Here's what we know statistically: when a home is priced right and in good condition, it has a 40% chance of selling in less than 30 days. In the following 60 days, the home then only has a 16% chance to sell.

Sometimes sellers will get nervous and think that they've sold their home too quickly and for not enough money. This is not the reality of the situation. What happens is that buyers jump when they see a good home come onto the market.

If you get an offer quickly, its only a validation that you've priced your home well and that it is a desirable property.

If you're having trouble choosing from multiple offers on your home, please don't hesitate to give us a call. I'd love to consult with you and help you to make the best decision possible.

As always, refer to me as your #1 resource for real estate in Charleston!

Don't Miss Out on the Best Time to Sell Your Home

Buying a Charleston home? Get a full home search

Selling your Charleston home ? Get a free home value report 

A lot of people have been asking me when the best time to sell a home is. A lot of people tend to think that the summer is the best time to sell because it's the busiest season. However, here in Charleston we have phenomenal weather all year and we're also seeing a lot of people move to our city.

With this being said, there really is no 'best time' to buy or sell a home in Charleston. We don't have much seasonal shift due to weather, so we are very lucky with the market that we have.

In the winter months we still have a lot of buyers out looking for homes, so don't be afraid to list your home despite it being a slower time for the real estate market. The winter is actually a great time to sell a home because inventory drops off and home prices rise as a result.

If you're thinking about selling your home during the fourth quarter of this year, please don't hesitate to contact me. I would be happy to consult with you about selling for top dollar!

Come Watch the RiverDogs with Us!

Buying a Charleston home? Get a full home search

Selling your Charleston home ? Get a free home value report 

Click here to RSVP by May 22nd with # of tickets!

If you're receiving this email then you are one of the special ones we've chosen to invite to RiverDog Stadium on June 5th. We've got 500 VIP seats set aside for friends and family of the Jeff Cook Real Estate team. 

This is our way of thanking you for your referrals, telling people about our service, and generally helping our business to succeed. We would like to take this opportunity to thank anyone who has ever worked with us, because we wouldn't be here without your support and patronage. 

Once again, this will be taking place on Friday, June 5th, and there will be a big fireworks display. If you plan on attending, please click the RSVP link below and let us know how many tickets you'll need (we're fine with giving away multiple tickets to one person).