We are all proud of our home towns. After all, as Realtors, we sell our towns, and it is much easieir to sell what we love.I think Beaufort, SC is the prettiest, most charming little town on the East Coast, and there's no other  city or town I would prefer to live.Beaufort is so lovely that the producers of Forrest Gump subsituted Beaufort for the fictitious Greenbow, Alabama.Besides having gorgeous waterways and  vistas around every turn, Beaufort is  pound-for-pound one of the most historic towns in the country. We are the second-oldest city in South C arolina.The military has a  strong and positive influence, with three installations. including a Naval hospital, air station and Parris ISland, where they "make Marines."We have the beach, pictured above,, and numerous boat launches to ... 01/02/2016

I came across some new images of City Walk, a downtown Beaufort neighborhood of note, because it is brand new.This may be one of the last -- if not the last -- new commuities in Downtown Beaufort, so I wanted to share this newfound information.In the picture to the left, City Walk is highlighted in blue, just a hair over a mile to the shops and restaurants of Bay Street in Historic downtown  Beaufort.Were  you to walk, your path would take  you right along the  BEaufort River, so your downtown     promenade will be pleasant.There are two homes currently listed in the Beaufort MLS. The first home pictured here is listed at $419,000, while the second home below is listed at $435,432. I can't overstate how exciting it is to see a new neighborhood in the downtown Beaufort area, as there are... 01/01/2016

I wanted to take a few moments to wish the AR community a very happy New Year, and a prosperous 2016.If current economic and housing trends continue, I think we can all look forward to another year of a strengthening housing market.I know I speak for all of  you when I say how much i enjoy being a part of the Active Rain family of Realtors and real estate-related professionals.Happy New Year, everyone! 01/01/2016

A new neighborhood has been born in downtown Beaufort, SC. MEmbers of the Beaufort MLS were notified a few days ago that CIty Walk neighborhood has sbeen ad ded as a minoro ar ea to the downtown  "Beaufort" Major real estate area.This is quite exciting for local real estate watchers, as it is not everyday that a new  neighbohood is created in d owntown   Beaufort. But, sure enough, there it is,  right off  North Street, and overlooking Battery Crreek, one of Beaufort's main waterways. From City Walk, the shops and restaurants of Bay Street are just a few minutes walk away.HOmes in City Walk will begin in the mid $300,000,  and be  priced up top the low $500,000 range. This community  will feature archiecture in the style of popil;ar commmunities such as Habersham, Battery    Point and N... 12/29/2015

I paid a visit this morning to Celadon, a community enjoying a renaissance under its second development team.I was happy to see some nice new model homes "on the ground," as activity is always a sign of a communities health.Originally conceived as a community with a Mediterranean theme by the original developer, Celadon has shifted gears with the new development team, opting instead for the neo-traditional style homes which have proven so popular in communities like Habersham, Newpoint,and Battery Point.There are four homes available for sale in Celadon, ranging from $315k to $525k, with a median asking price of $384,900.In the past 12 months, there have been two sales in the Celadon community, at $290,000 and $330,000.Celadon is conveniently located on Lady's Island, just 3.2 miles fro... 12/27/2015

I hope everyone has had a pleasant holiday season. And so we end up another banner year with the Beaufort, SC real estate market.  Through Dec. 26,  2015, there were 1589 home sales for the year, at a median sales price of $195,919. Total volume of homes sold has been $375 million. These statistics represent increases of 4 percent, 3 percent, and 7 percent, respectively, over 2014, when 1523 homes were sold at a median price of $189,900, and total volume of $347 million.. As we wrap-up 2015, I am taking just a few minutes to update my database and contact records. Despite the strengthening Beaufort Real estate market, there are still tremendous opportunities, particularly with vacant land, which is recovering more slowly than the residential market. If you are considering taking advanta... 12/26/2015

Hard to believe another year is over. The accompanying picture is reason #999 that I love my hometown of Beaufort, SC -- the Boat Parade, a few weeks ago.Several thousand people lined the waterfront in downtown Beaufort to watch lighted and decorated boats parade. Like so many great Beaufort traditions, it is one revolving around the water.Beaufort is a county of some 90-plus inhabited islands.Also, as we head into another year, I am really appreciative that we have a forum like Active Rain to share ideas and network.I'm also thankful that Active Rain is back in the hands of a Realtor, Ben Kinney, and no longer owned by Zillow.I think 2016 will be another great year, and look forward to another year of exchanging ideas on AR.Merry Christmas, and Happy Holidays, everyone!! 12/25/2015

Beaufort,SC is a waterborn community. I was once told there are over 90 inhabited islands in Beaufort County.I don't know if that f igure is correct (there coud be more!!), but I know there's a  lot. And hundreds of homes are set against the backdrop of deep-water, one of Beaufort's real attractions for those buying property.In addition to location, one of the most important elements in determinng value of a deep-water property is dock length. Take a 450-foot dock. It is much more expensive to build such a lengthy dock as opposed to, say a 50-foot dock.Ever begin a blog post that you feel like is going nowhere? With this in mind, I'm going to  do like  Hemingway and, when the words aren't coming,  just walk away.................  12/17/2015

I showed a newly-listed foreclosure over the weekend on Lady's Island, one of Beaufort's  most sought-after residential communities. The asking price was $62,000, which is an attention-getting price for this area.My buyer loved it, and wanted to make an offer. By the time I called the listing agent to ask a quick question about the property, three offers had already been submitted.All of these offers had been submitted on Day 1 of the listing.Sometimes, offering full-price is not good enough.Many buyers are uncomfortable with offering more than asking price. They shouldn't be, because asking price does not equal market value. As we say in the real estate business, you can ask whatever you want.In most cases, sellers ask more than market value, which results in extended listing periods a... 12/07/2015

At the risk of sounding overly sarcastic, most -- not all, but most -- streets have homes on either side.For instance, waterfront homes with deep-water docks generally sit across the street from homes which may have a sliver of waterview.  Some of the homes across the street have no waterviews at all, despite their relative nearness to the water.Despite their location on the same street or in the same neighborhood, these homes (deep-water vs. non-waterfront) have signicantly different values..........Right?!?!Yet, Zillow seems to treat all these homes the same.My jaw dropped recently as I was looking at recent "similar sales" to my current deep-water listing just outside historic Beaufort, SC. My listing has 8 feet of water at low tide. The threshold to categorize property as deep-water... 11/30/2015

I like to fancy myself to be a pretty decent photographer. Recently, when I listed a deep-water property just outside of Beaufort, I took some "placekeeper" pics until the professional   photographer I use  could shoot the home. My handywork, to the left, was not bad, or so I thought. I featured the all-important dock, the blue skies so prevalent in the Carolina Lowcountry, and the ubiquitous Spanish moss which drapes the trees down this way.Then came Tony, my real estate photographer, and he absolutely put my poor little photo to shame.The moral to this story is that there is real value to hiring a professional.Now, my home and deep-water property show beautifully to prospective buyers in Beaufort, SC, and Boston, MA.BEHOLD. THE WORK OF A TRUE PROFESSIONAL --     11/30/2015

I have seen more than a few sellers get upset through the years when a buyer requests closing cost assistance.Even when the closing costs are rolled into the price of the home, some sellers still insist that they "are not going to pay for the buyers' closing costs, because nobody helped me with mine."The first rule of thumb, sellers, is to not worry about things that don't matter. Focus on your bottom line.When a buyer rolls "seller-paid" closing costs into the price of the home, the seller is not actually "paying" for the buyers' closing costs. Rather, the seller is actually allowing the buyer to finance his/her closing costs.Sellers, if your bottom line is $150,000,  it doesn't matter if your home sells for $150,000 with you providing no closing costs assistance to the buyer, or if yo... 11/29/2015

Anyone who has been in this businiess knows people can make some pretty ludicrous requests.Just yesterday day, after completing a home inspection on behalf of my buyer-clients, the inspector sent me following text, "You owe me a car wash!"My response?"You got it, my friend. Thanks a bunch."At some point, we all go abovoe and beyond in this business, and home inspectors are no different. This inspector, Wade Tholen, got stuck in 2 feet of standing water last week trying to acess this same 3-acre property, and was fortunate to be pulled out by a neighbor with a tractor.After several days of sunny weather, Wade went out yesterday to try again.He made it, but not before accumulating an enormous coating of mud on his vehicle..Kudos, Wade, for your doggedness and determination.  11/16/2015

Located just over the Beaufort River from Historic Downtown Beaufort, Hamilton Village is one of the growing number of high-end condos popping up in the Beaufort area.Hamilton Village residents enjoy views of the Beaufort River, and Historic Beaufort. There is an attractive pool on the grounds, and dock space available on Factory Creek, which flows behind Hamilton Village. Current prices begin in the high $400,000 range. All units are one level, and enjoy nice finishes and upgrades. Residents enjoy all the amenities of Beaufort, from the Lowcountry's endless water views, fishing, golf, and more. The beaches of Hunting Island State Park are just down the road.The photo to the right illustrates the view towards downtown Beaufort from Hamilton Village.There are currently two Hamilton  Vill... 09/15/2015

If you've seen the Oscar-nominated films  The Big Chill and The Great Santini, then you've already paid a cinematic visit to 1 Laurens St, Beaufort's most recognizable home. 1 Laurens  St, dubbed  "Tidalholm by original owner Edgar Fripp, is currently on the market for $2.9 million, and just one example of the  Old Point's rich and fascinating real estate scene. Located in the heart of the Beaufort Historic District, the Old Point is one of the best preserved and sought-after Historical Neighborhoods in the state. In 1996, when my family was seeking our first home in Beaufort, there were still "fixer-uppers" to be had in the low $100,000 range in Old Point. The least expensive home currently available in the Old Point is listed at $429,000, while the most expensive home is the aforement... 08/25/2015

There are some things you can't change about a property, like it's location. (I know, I know, you can technically move a house)There are things which can be changed, however, like a fence, a pool, countertops, garages, and more.Take a home without a fence. In many cases, a fence can be built the day you take possession of a home. Likewise, a pool and garage can oftentimes be added. Countertops can be swapped. Rooms can be painted. These are all fixable  "problems."The better question is -- Do neighborhood restrictions prevent me from building a fence, pool, garage, or anything else the buyer is looking for?Great neighborhoods like Habersham, Battery Point and Newpoint simply don't have enough yard to install a pool. Other neighborhoods, like Old Tabby Park on Cat Island back up to the g... 08/18/2015

The Beaufort real estate market enjoyed a strong first half of the year, as Beaufort's real estate market stats just released indicate sales and values are up, while inventory and days on the market (DOM) were down.Through  the first six months (June 30) of 2015, there were 790 closed sales, an increase of 9.9 percent from 719 over the same period in 2014, according to Beaufort County Multiple Listing Service (MLS) stats.Beaufort County MLS indicated values were up 7.7 percent, from a median  price of $182,000 in 2014 to $196,000 the same period in 2015.Percentage of-sale-price-to-list-price were up as well, , with Beaufort County homes fetching 96.2 percent of the asking price versus 95.9 percent during the same period in 2014.And while homes were fetching more, days on the market redu... 08/06/2015

So, the lease is up, and your tenants are now month-to-month.Maybe it's time to put the home on the market.You discuss with your tenants, who agree to allow showings with 24-hour-notice, as long as they get the standard 30 days to  vacate when the house goes under contract. But, a few weeks into the listing agreement, you haven't had any showings.In the world of real estate, some buyers and their agents can't provide 24-hour-notice, but you also  notice  another trend -- even when given 24-hours-notice, the tenants are not allowing showings.It's decision time. Vacant houses are always available to show on short notice, and they tend to show better than a leased home.Do you give the 30-day notice to your tenant, and risk going several months without that rent money?I encountered this exa... 08/06/2015

In a soon-to-be aired episode of HGTV's "Vacation House For Free," we will get to hear the owner of the feature home proclaim that her street, Craven Street in Beaufort's Historic District, is the "prettiest street in America."Fair enough. From its circa-early 1900s Victorian row in Beaufort's Old Point neighborhood, to a stunning block and a half which features the spectacular Rhett House, The old Craven House Inn, The Historic Rectory for the St Helena's Parish and the Secession House, where some of the earliest talks of seceding from the Union took place in the 1850s, Craven Street is definitely ONE of the prettiest streets in Beaufort, making it, by default, one of the prettiest streets in America, because Beaufort is one of the prettiest towns in America.So, I got to thinking, what... 08/05/2015

It's not everyday you find a brand new community popping up in a built-out downtown area like HIstoric Beaufort, SCwhich is more than 300-years-old, and one of the most historic towns in America..It happened a few years ago with Fuller Street Cottages, and more more recently Midtown Square, both of which boast newer, traditional style Beaufort homes in the downtown area.But, here we are in the summer of  2015, and City Walk is emerging in downtown Beaufort. ALthough not located in Beaufort's Historic District, City Walk is very much in the heart of Beaufor's downtown community,  on the banks of Battery Creek.Some details are still being ironed out, but preliminary plans are to have homes in the $300,000 to $500,000 price point, according to those close to the development.Believe me when... 08/04/2015