With the interest rates of late being so low we had been discussing refinancing our home.  After doing some checking and getting various quotes on interest rates we decided this was something we needed to explore.  After finding one of the lowest rates around we worked with a lender to get a good faith estimate and much to our surprise we decided that refinancing would save us a tremendous amount of money each month and over the course of the loan.  Refinancing may not be an option for everyone, but it certainly is something that everyone should consider.  There are a lot of first time home buyers feverishly trying to take advantage of the $8000 tax credit that will soon end so we are seeing financial institutions offering some awesome rates to another group of folks who are looking to... 10/08/2009

Today we are seeing more and more people looking to downsize at earlier ages.  Used to be when people wanted to downsize it was in preparation for retirement.  Not the case any more.  Today many people are starting out in larger size homes and once the kids leave the nest people are looking to move to smaller homes and enjoy another phase of their lives.  The downsizing is also having an effect of folks that want to spend more time enjoying leisurely activities and less time on maintenance and upkeep of a home.  Wonderful options are available on the market for people looking to downsize and whether you are looking for a smaller home or a community with smaller homes and active lifestyles there are so many options to meet every need.  We would love to meet with you and learn what your ... 09/26/2009

Greetings, Improve your Real Estate blog's traffic and gain leads by submitting the blog's url address to the below 19 locations for free.  This can be time consuming yet the url address only needs to be submitted once. The first three listed are the major engines with the remainder being smaller engines or directories. Either way, the blog's content gains exposure! To read more, go to http://www.yourrealtyportal.com/blog/?p=379 To Your Success, Jennifer Stalford www.YourRealtyPortal.com "For the Savvy Real Estate Professional" 09/25/2009

The design of Lake Shore on Lake Wylie in Tega Cay, South Carolina, takes into account lifestyle and amenities. Located on a peninsula on 12,000-acre Lake Wylie, not far from uptown Charlotte and Charlotte/Douglas International Airport, the community is a welcoming residential, recreational destination for homeowners. The name “Tega Cay” is a derivation of a Polynesian phrase that means “Beautiful Peninsula”, and it is truly a magnificent location for the community of Lake Shore. Residents of this community's 1,200 single-family homes enjoy the many recreational opportunities on the lake, plus a beach club, parks, hiking trails, tennis and golf. Homes in Lake Shore range from in price from $200,000 to more than $700,000. With over 465 acres, the community offers its residents lakeside ... 09/22/2009

Life events can effect our credit drastically. We run into people everyday who had great credit at one time but now they find themselves in a situation where they cannot qualify for a home loan. It does not take very long and a great credit score can go down quite quickly. Sometimes it is a job lay off (there are almost 7 million Americans drawing unemployment checks right now), an accident or an illness. These things many times come upon us without warning. Many times people find themselves unprepared for these emegencies. The bills keep coming due every month and the income has been drastically reduced. Before long they start to fall behind and new lates begin to show up on their credit reports. We have seen one new late drop a credit score 100 ponts while the average is probably mor... 09/15/2009

Greetings, Recently there have been several WordPress Blog updates and some users have found that their Plugins no longer function properly. If you have or will be upgrading to Version 2.8, here are 5 must-have tools that still work and are essential for every Blog. To read about these key tools, please go to http://www.yourrealtyportal.com/blog/?p=327. To Your Success, Jennifer Stalford www.YourRealtyPortal.com "For the Savvy Real Estate Professional" 09/09/2009

Not too long ago when you talked about empty-nesters the impression was one of older individuals who slow down and don't have much going on.  Today when you say empty-nesters you talk about folks who have an active lifestyle, can set their own schedule and the kids are finally out of the house (until of course someone returns home).  Folks are living longer and staying active and even though they become "senior" in years there is really no senior in their living habits.  Empty-nesters tend to get involved in activities and social groups that they never had time for when working and raising families.  Now empty-nesters can set their own schedules and participate in activities on their own time.  They can truly enjoy living the lifestyle they have often dreamed of whether that means takin... 09/08/2009

A Real Estate Agent friend of mine, understandably upset, told me last week that after eight months of hard work of getting a buyer for a luxury short-sale home and all parties have agreed to the price am now being asked by the bank to cut her commission that was already agreed upon. I researched lenders to find out their commission policy for Short Sale. To find out the best internet resource I found, go to http://www.yourrealtyportal.com/blog/?p=254 and read the blog. To Your Success, YRP Jen www.YourRealtyPortal.com "For the Savvy Professional" 09/01/2009

Immaculate Waterfront Home at Lake Shore. This home comes furnished and ready to move into. Architect designed lower level completely finished iwth NANO Wall doors that collapse for inside and outside entertaining.  72 inch screen and projector. Outdoor kitchen with gas and charcoal grills, wood burning fire pit, gas burning crystals, waterfall with eternity edge and hot tub. Wine room, workout room and steam bath/shower. Electric fence for pet lovers. To directly access this property, use this shortcut: http://www.fizber.com/south-carolina-buy-single-family-home-11646562.html 08/30/2009

"Home appraisals continue to be a hot-button issue. Addressing the appraisal element of the real estate industry is an important piece of the puzzle in trying to avoid a future housing crisis. In January, I wrote about Home Valuation Sites, Paper Appraisals and the importance of the Traditional Appraisal. So it's no surprise that on May 1st, Regulators pushed through a new law called The Home Valuation Code of Conduct. The Freddie Mac website describes the Code as ... "the result of a joint agreement between Freddie Mac, the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA), and the New York State Attorney General to enhance the independence and accuracy of the appraisal process, and provide added protections for homebuyers, mortgage investors and the housing market." A Pro for the Code" ....... To... 08/24/2009

It is amazing the number of people that continue to relocate to our area with their jobs and to get closer to their family.  Many folks relocating to the area are trying to figure out where to live which is typical of anyone moving to a new area.  When looking to purchase a home folks should consider distance to work, schools, convenience to many amenities such as shopping, restaurants, hospitals and proximity to interstates.  Many newcomers coming to the area will try to figure out on their own even though they don't know much about the area.  Since the purchase of a home is one of the largest purchases a person will make it is important to make the right decision.  This is where the expertise of a Realtor can be your best bet.  Find a fulltime Realtor that is familiar with the area, ... 08/13/2009

Today many folks are adding value to their homes by doing remodeling and major renovation projects in hopes of adding upgrades that many potential buyers are searching for.  If you are considering such a project here are a couple of tips to keep in mind.   *  If you have a homeowners association make sure you understand the convenants and restrictions before beginning the project. *  Get several quotes from reputable contractors in the area.  Make sure you are comfortable with the contractor you select and have an understanding of project details, deadlines and so forth. *  Listen to your contractor.  Most are experienced with home renovations and they may offer tips they have learned from previous projects.  Be open minded, but remember the final decision belongs to you. *  Establish ... 08/07/2009

A year has passed since our last article on Lake Ridge at Tega Cay. There have been changes to the master planned home community. So what are the changes and has anything been built or going to be built in Lake Ridge at Tega Cay? Why hasn’t Toll Brothers built homes in Lake Ridge at Tega Cay yet? To recap, Lake Ridge is a new home community in Tega Cay developed by Drake Capital LLC. Lake Ridge Tega Cay is a 435 acre master planned community with 150 acres of the 435 acres dedicated to planned parks, walking trails, and recreation. 75% of the planned new homes will be adjacent to a wooded conservation area. Carmen and I toured the Lake Ridge area recently and spoke to the Drake Capital developer Jeff Leforce.  Here is a recap of Lake Ridge’s latest changes and progress. The economy and ... 07/28/2009

Now more than ever is the perfect time for first time home buyers to seriously consider real estate as an investment.  Interest rates are at incredible lows and with the $8000.00 tax credit program you will never have a better opportunty .If you have been renting and are in a position to make your first home purchase it may be one of the most sound investments you will ever make.  To assist you with understanding some of the programs available check out the attached link and if you would like to speak to knowledgeable real estate professionals who can help answer your questions contact The Guilliams Team today.  http://www.facebook.com/ext/share.php?sid=118806965336&h=MiMng&u=DesZ9&ref=mf 07/27/2009

Having officially become a city in 1982, Tega Cay is one of the newest municipalities in the state of South Carolina.  Located on a 1,600-acre peninsula bordered by Lake Wylie, Tega Cay is community distinguished by its strong emphasis on quality of life.  Loosely translated, the municipality's name means "beautiful peninsula" in a Polynesian dialect, which is a perfect label given the towns safe, friendly atmosphere.  Tega Cay is a recreational paradise, offering its more than 4,044 residents public golf, tennis and swimming facilities, with numerous marinas, and abundant hiking and biking trails. 06/30/2009

The Carmen Miller from Century 21 First Choice  is having a mega open house event this Saturday June 27th 2009. You are invited to several spectacular homes for sale in Tega Cay, SC. The following are 4 open houses schedule for this Saturday June 27th. 1450 Finsbury- Lake Shore- 1:00- 3:00 2301 Pine Run- Lake Shore 12:00 – 2:00 12092 Spinnaker- Tega Cay- 12:00 – 2:00 5045 Suwarrow cir- Tega Cay- 12:00 – 2:00 For more details go to Tega Cay Real Estate   1450 Finsbury Ln., Tega Cay, SC 29708 $459,900 Open House Saturday June 27, 2009 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM Single Family Bedrooms: 4 Bathrooms: 2 Full, 1 Half Square Feet: 3,100 2301 Pine Run Tega Cay, SC 29708 -319,900 Open House Saturday June 27, 2009 12:00 Noon to 2:00 PM Single Family Bedrooms: 4 Bathrooms: 3 Square Feet: 2,600 12092 Spinna... 06/25/2009

The asking price you set for your home significantly affects whether you will profit in the sale, how much you will profit and how long your home will sit on the market. Your real estate agent's knowledge of the overall market and what's selling - or not selling - will be invaluable in helping you determine the price. The objective is to find a price that the market will bear but won't leave money on the table. Here are some points to consider: Time. Time is not on your side when it comes to real estate. Although many factors influence the outcome, perhaps time is the biggest determinant in whether or not you see a profit and how much you profit. Studies show that the longer a house stays on the market, the less likely it is to sell for the original asking price. Therefore, if your goal... 06/05/2009

It’s hard to believe that Tega Cay, Fort Mill, Baxter Village, Lake Wylie, and other areas of York County have been under water restriction since mid Summer 2007.  Tega Cay has been following Stage 3 water restrictions since October 2007. The Tega Cay Council voted Monday to ease restrictions to Stage 1 voluntary restrictions. You now can water lawns, wash cars, pressure wash, etc with no limitations but are advised to voluntarily conserve water. The goal is to conserve 3 to 5% in overall water consumption. I took a look at the Catawba-Wateree Drought Management Advisory Group’s Low Inflow Protocol advisory history list. Here is a drought stage timeline of our area: June 2007 Stage 0 July 2007 Stage 1 August 2007 Stage 2 October 2007 Stage 3 January 2009 Stage 2 April 2009 Stage 1 See t... 05/09/2009

  Now more than ever is the perfect time for first time home buyers to seriously consider real estate as an investment.  Interest rates are at incredible lows and there are a number of outstanding programs and incentives available to first time home buyers.  If you have been renting and are in a position to make your first home purchase it may be one of the most sound investments you will ever make.  To assist you with understanding some of the programs available check out the attached link and if you would like to speak to knowledgeable real estate professionals who can help answer your questions give us a call today.   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mA4zE2vUK-U&feature=player_embedded 05/01/2009

Just wanted to say that while it's always difficult to forecast the housing market, with the rates so low the market is starting to pick up again. So if you are thinking of selling or buying a home, now would be a good time to take action. In addition, you might want to take advantage of the traditionally more active seasonal market with warm weather upon us. If you'd like to get together to talk about it, please call or email our team. Or if you hear of any family, friends or work colleagues who are considering a move and would like some advice about timing the market, please have them contact us. We would be happy to help out. 04/21/2009