New Year's Day - Take the Polar Bear Plunge!

What better way to jump-start the new year than by taking a dip in the chilly Atlantic? Two polar bear groups are taking the dive at 2 p.m. Thursday, one at Sullivan's Island and one at Folly Beach. At Sullivan's Island, the Dunleavy family organizes the event, which benefits the Special Olympics. Snapper Jack's on Folly hosts the plunge there to benefit the Lowcountry Food Bank. Crazy costumes are encouraged. There is no charge, but donations to the causes are gladly accepted. For more information about the Sullivan's Island dip, call 843-883-9646. For more information about the Folly Beach plunge, call 843-588-2362.

New Years Eve, Charleston! Alcohol free family events

Here are a few of the family-friendly, alcohol free options for celebrating New Years Eve.

Happy New Year, Charleston! 4pm-10:30pm and will centered around Marion Square in downtown. There will be a "KidsFest Tent" along with lots of live music, arts&crafts and food vendors. Some of the highlight events and other downtown alcohol free venues are below:

Marion Square - Main Stage
4-4:30 - Drum Circle, Opening Ceremonies, Ballerina event
6:30-7:20 - Adande African drum & dance
7:30-8:45 - Blue Dogs
8:45-9:15 - Electric Company
9:15-10:30 - Blue Dogs

Kids Fest Events
4:30-8 - Arts & Crafts, Face & Body art
4:30-5:20 - Music & Sing-a-longs
5:30-6:15 - Electric Company
6:20-7:15 - Dancers/Drummers and Music/sing-a-longs
7:15-9 - Electric Company

Under the Tent
4:30-5:30 - Great Horns of Charleston
5:30-6:45 - Clay Ross Trio
6:45-8 - Great Horns and Charleston Singleton

Second Presbyterian Church - 342 Meeting Street
4:30-5:10 - Family concert
7:35-8:15 - Chamber music
9-9:45 - Brass concert

Citadel Square Baptist Church - 328 Meeting Street
4:45-5:45 & 6:30-7:30- Voices of Deliverance

Theatre 99 - 280 Meeting Street
7-7:30 - Improv Riot
7:45-8:15 - The Have Nots!
8:30-9 - Improv Riots
9:-9:45 - The Have Nots!

For more info, call 843-724-7305

Recycle your Christmas Tree

Charleston County Residents can recycle their trees and get something in return!

With the assistance of County residents, Charleston County’s Solid Waste and Recycling Department will be recycling real – not artificial – Christmas trees and turning them into compost for residents to use for gardening this spring.

Christmas trees can be dropped off at the Bee’s Ferry Landfill (1344 Bee's Ferry Road in West Ashley) to be recycled. Hours of operation are Monday - Friday from 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. and Saturday from 8 a.m - 3:30 p.m.

All tinsel and ornaments need to be removed before a Christmas tree is brought to the Bee’s Ferry Landfill or placed on the curb for pick-up.

In order to encourage tree recycling, residents who bring their tree to the Bees Ferry Landfill between January 3 and 10 will receive a free bag of compost in return. In addition to receiving a free bag of compost, Charleston County residents can purchase compost for just $10 per ton at the Bee’s Ferry Landfill. Residents can bring buckets to fill or for a large amount, drive in a pick-up truck to have it loaded.

Charleston County residents who live within a municipality can recycle their trees without going to the Bees Ferry Landfill. These residents can put their Christmas tree on the curb for their municipality’s yard waste pick-up. The municipality’s haulers will then take the trees and other yard waste to Charleston County's Bee's Ferry Landfill, where it is composted by Charleston County’s Solid Waste and Recycling Department.

Residents should check with their municipality to find out their yard waste pick-up day and other requirements.

Great Reasons to Move to Charleston, South Carolina

Below are a list of awards and recognition that Charleston, SC received during 2008. These are just the tip of the iceberg on why you would want to live in Charleston.


-Travel + Leisure magazine names Charlestonians the friendliest people in America and ranked us #4 in its "World's Best Awards"
-Conde Nast named Charleston the #2 travel destination in the US and ranked Kiawah Island as the #2 island in the US
-Parade magazine names us one of the give Great American Cities
-Luxury travel expert Andrew Harper put us in the top 10 Places in America to see before you die
-Yahoo.com ranked us the #3 spot to see before you die
-Southern Living made us their top spring vacation destination
-Orbitz.com said we are the 6th fastest growing city in the US for a winter get-away
-Golf World Readers's Choice awards named Kiawah Island Golf Resort the best resort course in the US and it ranked Kiawah as the #1 golf destination in North American and Europe
-Charlotte Parent magazine named us the best weekend get-away
-American Style magazine ranked us the #6 best arts destination among mid-sized cities


If you want to check out living in Charleston, SC, go to my website to view available homes, http://www.charlestonpierpartners.com/ or give me a call at 843-209-9667

Great Reasons to Move to Charleston, South Carolina

Below are a list of awards and recognition that Charleston, SC received during 2008. These are just the tip of the iceberg on why you would want to live in Charleston.

-Travel + Leisure magazine names Charlestonians the friendliest people in America and ranked us #4 in its "World's Best Awards"
-Conde Nast named Charleston the #2 travel destination in the US and ranked Kiawah Island as the #2 island in the US
-Parade magazine names us one of the give Great American Cities
-Luxury travel expert Andrew Harper put us in the top 10 Places in America to see before you die
-Yahoo.com ranked us the #3 spot to see before you die
-Southern Living made us their top spring vacation destination
-Orbitz.com said we are the 6th fastest growing city in the US for a winter get-away
Golf World Readers's Choice awards named Kiawah Island Golf Resort the best resort course in the US and it ranked Kiawah as the #1 golf destination in North American and Europe
-Charlotte Parent magazine named us the best weekend get-away
-American Style magazine ranked us the #6 best arts destination among mid-sized cities

If you want to check out living in Charleston, SC, go to my website to view available homes, http://www.charlestonpierpartners.com or give me a call at 843-209-9667

Happy Holidays to All!

Randall Sandin, 843-209-9667, rsandin@carolinaone.com

Serving Charleston & Folly Beach, South Carolina

http://www.CharlestonPierPartners.com

Preferred Lender Contact List

With rates at an all-time low, many people are buying now or re-financing their current home. The general rule of thumb is that you need to shave 1 percentage point off your current mortgage for it to be worth re-financing.

Here are some of our preferred lenders:

Carolina One Mortgage - Joel Greer, 843-327-1575, joelgreer@gbmail.com, http://www.joelgreerloans.com/

Carolina One Mortgage - Leah Odom, 843-813-0123, leah.odom@gmail.com, http://www.leahodom.com/

First Federal - Ted Honney, 843-708-0250, thonney@firstfederal.com, http://www.tedhonney.com/

New South Mortgage, Greg Schoonover, 843-708-3776, gschoonover@newsouthmtg.com, http://www.newsouthmtg.com/

Goodmortgage.com, Keith Luedeman, 704-523-3886, ext. 201, keith@goodmortgage.com, http://www.goodmortgage.com/

Feel free to call any of the above lenders and they will help you with buying or re-financing.

Happy Holidays,

Randall Sandin, 843-209-9667, rsandin@carolinaone.com
http://www.charlestonpierpartners.com/

Check out the new Website

Make sure you check out our new website for Charleston, SC real estate:http://www.CharlestonPierPartners.com

You can search the entire Charleston MLS or just look at listings for certain areas or neighborhoods. There is also general info about the areas where we specialize in real estate buying and selling for our clients.I hope you check it out and please send any feedback. The site is just starting out and any thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks, Randall

Randall Sandin is a professional Realtor in Charleston, SC.
He can be reached at 843-209-9667 or via email at rsandin@carolinaone.com
View his website at http://www.CharlestonPierPartners.com
Check out his blog at http://www.RandallSandin.com

Charleston Port loses biggest customer

Charleston just lost the biggest customer of the local port which will have an impact on the local shipping business. Hopefully they will be able to resolve this and keep Maersk in Charleston. Below is the article from the Charleston Regional Business Journal on the situation.

Maersk Line, the S.C. State Ports Authority's largest shipping customer, just announced that it will leave the Port of Charleston when its contract expires at the end of 2010.

The Danish company said it will begin ramping down its business with Charleston in early 2009. Maersk makes more than 400 ship calls here every year and represents about 20% of the port's container business. Its decision to leave is likely to have a profound impact on the local maritime industry and related businesses across the state, including trucking companies and commercial developers.

Its South Atlantic Express service, which calls on Charleston twice a week, will be moved to other nearby ports starting in January. That means the Port of Charleston, which has already been hammered by declining world trade, will lose 104 ship calls next year.
MaerskMaersk has a license agreement with the SPA to operate its own dedicat
ed terminal, largely with labor supplied by the International Longshoremen's Association. Earlier this year, the company said it would take the SPA up on its offer to move to a common-user gate that is operated by SPA employees, which would be a less-expensive alternative for Maersk.

But such a move requires the permission of the three local ILA chapters representing longshoremen, checkers and clerks. They collectively voted against that move last week.
In its statement, Maersk said it could no longer bear the cost disadvantage between the Port of Charleston and its competitors operating out of the common-user gate.

"It would be unfair to our shareholders, customers and our employees to continue to operate in this environment," Maersk spokesman Dana Magliola said.

ILA Local 1422 President Ken Riley did not immediately return a phone call this afternoon. But he said earlier that Maersk's request would be "in violation of an international contract" between labor and shipping companies.

"This is national law," he said. "It would actually jeopardize the relationships between Maersk and the ILA up and down the coast."

He accused the SPA of trying to squeeze out labor and said the quasi-state agency could offer to lower the company's costs in other ways.

SPA spokesman Byron Miller said port executives would issue a comment on the situation later today.

For its part, Maersk blamed the ILA's unwillingness to cooperate.

The SPA offered a "workable solution," Magliola said, but "the local ILA refused to consent, and so we are forced to move."

Do not miss "The Festival of Lights" on James Island

I posted this event earlier but wanted to make sure everyone saw it and did not miss the event. My family drove through the other night and it was fantastic. More lights and themes then you can imagine along with Santa's workshop where kids can see Santa, you can roast marshmellows, see life size greeting cards and a huge sand castle of Santa. Food is inexpensive and is only $10 per car and you can loop through as many times as you like.

Dec. 1 - Jan. 4: Holiday Festival of Lights at James Island County Park - Magic is the discovery of the extraordinary, a moment when everything else is forgotten, and when wonderment is shared. Magic embraces and connects us. Find your magic in the millions of sparkling lights and hundreds of displays at the Holiday Festival of Lights. Event Website

For all your real estate needs, contact Randall Sandin, 843-209-9667, rsandin@carolinaone.com
http://www.charlestonpierpartners.com

Wow on the current mortgage rates!

Wow is all I can say with the 4.75% rate on the 30 year fixed!! If you are lookign to buy, it cannot get much better than this and what a great time to re-finance. If you need a contact for a qualified lender, please let me know and I can refer you to one of my trusted lender partners.

Happy holidays!
Randall Sandin, 843-209-9667, rsandin@carolinaone.com
http://www.CharlestonPierPartners.com

Reasons to Hire a Leading Real Estate Company

For your biggest asset, make sure you are using&trusting someone with the tools to get the job done in today's challenging market. Here are some things to look for with a market leading company such as Carolina One Real Estate in Charleston, South Carolina.

-Education, experience and longevity that show a track record of success.
-Service providers that can assist during the process such as lenders, relocation specialists, etc.
-Price guidance from current information and trends.
-Professional networking among fellow company agents to bring a buyer faster.
-Up-to-date market condition analysis and information.
-Seasoned, professional and experienced agents who can handle the transaction from start to finish and sometimes beyond.

Randall Sandin, 843-209-9667, rsandin@carolinaone.com, http://www.CharlestonPierPartners.com

Custom Home on Johns Island redcued to $400,000

Just reduced to $400,000 - call Randall to schedule at showing today at 843-209-9667.

This custom built Lowcountry home in The Villages at St. Johns Woods features an open floor plan with Brazilian Cherry hardwood floors, Anderson windows&doors, double crown molding throughout, 10 foot ceilings on the first floor and a solid mahogany front door. The kitchen has high quality cabinets, stainless steel appliances, gas stove and granite countertops. The spacious master opens up to a screened porch and the master bath has a large jetted tub, separate shower, dual sinks and a walk-in closet. This home is full of light due the oversized windows throughout the home. There is a full front porch and large screened porch in the rear. The rear porch has a natural gas hook-up for your grill. The fenced in backyard gives plenty of privacy to this home and is the perfect space for pets and gardening. The garage has an oversized 18 foot wide garage door that easily fits two large vehicles and there is enough space to add a storage room or workshop above the garage. The Villages at St. Johns Woods is Lowcountry living at its finest with sidewalks, walking trails and a community pool.

Forclosures declining in South Carolina

South Carolina’s foreclosure rate keeps falling. In November, the rate dropped 0.49% from October, to 2,021 properties. Nationwide, foreclosures in November were down 7%.

That’s significant, according to RealtyTrac, a national tracking firm whose data also is used by The Wall Street Journal to follow foreclosure trends. Foreclosure notices went from one for every 452 homes in the U.S. in October to one for every 488 homes in November. In September, the ratio was slightly higher, at one in every 475 homes.

RealtyTrac is forecasting that the trend will increase in the first few months of 2009.
“Foreclosure activity in November hit the lowest level we’ve seen since June, thanks in part to recently enacted laws that have extended the foreclosure process in some states, along with more aggressive loan modification programs and self-imposed holiday foreclosure moratoriums introduced by some lenders,” RealtyTrac CEO James J. Saccacio said.

The state had 2,021 properties in some state of foreclosure in November, compared with 2,031 in October. The October number was a 7.7% drop from September’s numbers.

Those figures put South Carolina at 24th out of the 50 states and Washington, D.C. The states with the highest foreclosure rates were the ones industry watchers have come to expect: Arizona, Florida and Nevada. For comparison, Nevada had 13,962 foreclosures for the month.
But the foreclosure help that some homeowners received after the subprime mortgage market collapsed wasn’t a permanent fix for many homeowners.
The U.S. Office of Thrift Supervisions reports that more than half of homeowners who received mortgage help during the first part of the year are delinquent with their current loans.

For more info, call Randall Sandin with Carolina One Real Estate at 843-209-9667, rsandin@carolinaone.com

Google Street Maps now in Charleston, South Carolina

Google has opened Charleston’s streets to the world. But only virtual traffic should increase.

The Web search engine launched Street View imagery of the Holy City in its maps function on Tuesday. With a few clicks, users can get a street-level view of shops — and pedestrians — on King Street, law offices on Broad Street or the Custom House.

Street View maps are available throughout the area, but the database is far from a complete compendium of the Lowcountry. The maps stop short of the intersection of Broad and East Bay streets, for example, and go up King Street no farther than Spring Street.

Users who look on U.S. Highway 52 can see the turn-off to the Mt. Holly Commerce Park, where Google recently opened one of its newest data centers, but you won’t find Street View images of the data center. Google has limited access to its data center, citing competitive and privacy concerns.

Look up your business.

Charleston SC homes selling faster but for less money

Homes in the Charleston area are selling for less but are moving more quickly off the market.

Median home prices took a 7% dive in November compared with the same month last year.
The median price of homes sold last month was $185,503, compared with $200,000 in November 2007, according to figures released Wednesday by the Charleston Trident Association of Realtors multiple listing service.

The average number of days on the market for homes sold last month was 105, the lowest all year. The average number of days on the market in October was 129. In November, 128 homes moved in less than a month; 117 homes that closed that month took more than 121 days to sell

The year-to-date median price of homes sold is off 3% from last year’s number. The median price of homes sold between January and November 2007 was $209,718, compared with $202,702 this year.

A total 435 transactions closed last month. The majority of those homes, 13%, fell in the $200,000-$249,000 price range.

The residential market in Berkeley County continued to show signs of improvement in November. For the third consecutive month, median sale prices increased and average sale prices are at their highest level, $237,671, since peaking during the summer of 2007. Charleston County sales totals and prices fell slightly, while Dorchester County remained steady.

The current inventory of homes on the market as of Dec. 10 is 10,462.

Holiday Events in Charleston, SC

Here are some great holiday events going on in December.

Christmas on King Street through 12/31/08 - King Street in Charleston is one of the most charming and exclusive shopping districts in the country. We're also one of the most culturally diverse, artistically gifted cities anywhere. This holiday season we're launching a special tradition, "Christmas on King Street." Sign up for our newsletter on our website and you'll hear about our historic shopping, fabulous dining and hotel packages during the holiday season. The possibilities are endless. It's Christmas on King Street, and we're making the Holidays a magic time for all. Event Website

Dec. 7-23: Holiday Entertainment & Santa at Marion Square - Children's choirs, church choirs, gospel, classical, folk, storytelling and other entertainment dazzle audiences at Marion Square. Bring your Christmas wish lists to the North Pole Mailbox and visit with Santa, Mrs. Claus and their Elf assistants in the magically decorated park. Admission is free! Mondays-Fridays: 10am-6pm; Saturdays and Sundays: 10am-4pm. Event Website

Dec. 1 - Jan. 4: Holiday Festival of Lights at James Island County Park - Magic is the discovery of the extraordinary, a moment when everything else is forgotten, and when wonderment is shared. Magic embraces and connects us. Find your magic in the millions of sparkling lights and hundreds of displays at the Holiday Festival of Lights. Event Website

Charleston named a Great Place to spend Christmas

Charleston, SC was just named one of the "10 Great Place to Spend Christmas" by Travel + Leisure magazine along with Bali, New Zealand, Boston, Puerto Rico, Edinburgh, Montreal, Munich, Park City (Utah), and Santa Cruz (CA).

The magazine recommended that visitors indulge on roasted pecans, adult eggnog and choir performances at Drayton Hall; reserve a room at Wentworth Mansion or dine on a rack of lamb at the Peninsula Grill.

Need a Lowe's 10% off certificate for the holidays?

Please let me know if you need a 10% off certificate to Lowe's for your home and holiday needs. Just email me your name, full address and email and I will get it sent out to you within a week. Please note that if you have already received one, Lowe's will not send out a second certificate.

Thanks, Randall

Jaws for Thanksgiving Dinner?

The body of a great white shark, one of the ocean's rarest and most powerful apex predators, was discovered last week washed ashore on Morris Island.

What killed the 13-foot, 2-inch female shark remains a mystery, though biologists are hoping that examination of tissue samples might shed some light on how the animal wound up dead on the beach, said Bryan Frazier, biologist with the S.C. Department of Natural Resources.
The shark did not appear to have suffered any fishing-related wounds, nor had it suffered any obvious forms of trauma, Frazier said. And though enormous by most standards, the fish actually was still quite young, at an estimated 10 to 13 years old, Frazier said.

Great whites don't mature sexually until they reach about 14 1/2 feet in length, he added. They can reach a length of more than 20 feet.

A visitor spotted the dead shark about a mile from the lighthouse on Morris Island, an uninhabited barrier island near Charleston. He reported the find to a marine mammal stranding hotline, which contacted DNR officials.

South Carolina Home Appreciation ranked 6th in USA

South Carolina ranks sixth in the rate of appreciation for single-family homes over the past year, according to third-quarter statistics released Tuesday by the U.S. Federal Housing Finance Agency.

Nationally, home values dropped 4% from the third quarter of 2007 to the third quarter of 2008, the report said. During that time in South Carolina, values rose 2.42%.

The nation’s 4% four-quarter decline was the largest four-quarter drop in the history of the index, which started in 1975.

The quarterly report from the Federal Housing Finance Agency is based on sales and refinancing data for existing single-family homes. Transactions included in the data are conforming, conventional mortgages purchased or securitized by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac.

The report ranks states and metro areas only by yearly changes, but it also lists value changes for the third quarter of 2008. Those quarterly numbers are negative for most states and metro areas.

During the third quarter, home values dropped 0.45% in South Carolina, compared with a 2.68% drop nationally.

Among metro areas ranked by appreciation from third quarter 2007 to third quarter 2008, the Augusta-Richmond County MSA, which covers parts of South Carolina and Georgia, was No. 2 in the nation. The area, which saw values increase 5.48% over the year, fell behind only the Austin-Round Rock MSA in Texas.

The Charleston-North Charleston-Summerville MSA came in at No. 65, with 1.37% appreciation over the last year. The area’s values fell 0.30% during the third quarter of 2008.

The Columbia MSA is listed at No. 24, with 2.92% appreciation during the year. For the quarter, home values dropped 0.05%.

The Greenville-Mauldin-Easley MSA was No. 9 in home appreciation during the past year, at 4.55%. For the quarter, the Upstate MSA saw home values drop 0.61%.

Also in the Upstate, Spartanburg was No. 11, with a 4.12% appreciation rate over the year and a 2.2% increase in the third quarter. Anderson was No. 39, with 2.28% appreciation over the year and a drop of 1.86% over the most recent quarter.

“The impact of foreclosures and tightening credit conditions weighed heavily on house prices in the third quarter,” FHFA Director James B. Lockhart said.

To discuss buying or selling a home, please give me a call at 843-209-9667 or email me at rsandin@carolinaone.com
Thanks, Randall Sandin

http://www.charlestonpierpartners.com

Freddie Mac & Frannie May Suspend Foreclosure Sales through Jan, 2009

Freddie Mac & Grannie May announced they has ordered its national network of mortgage servicers and foreclosure attorneys to suspend all foreclosure sales and evictions involving occupied single family and 2-4 unit properties with Freddie Mac-owned mortgages between November 26, 2008 and January 9, 2009. The suspension will help servicers implement the Streamlined Modification Program recently announced by Freddie Mac, Fannie Mae, the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA), HOPE Now and 27 mortgage servicers. The temporary suspension is also expected to give servicers more time to help borrowers avoid foreclosure.

The temporary suspension of foreclosure sales is the latest in a series of efforts to help troubled borrowers. Other recent initiatives have included, delegating expanded workout authority to servicers, doubling the amount of money servicers are paid for successful workouts, and paying non-profit organizations to reach out to worried borrowers.

James Island Prevails in fight with city...for now

The town of James Island has prevailed in the latest round of its ongoing fight with the city of Charleston over its incorporation.

But the fight isn’t over. The city plans to appeal the decision to the state Supreme Court, Mayor Joe Riley said in a statement.

S.C. Circuit Court Judge Cordell Maddox Jr. ruled this month that the town’s third attempt to become a municipality complied with state laws. The ruling also said state incorporation laws passed in 2005, which gave the supporters of the town a third shot at incorporating, are constitutional.

“We are, of course, disappointed but believe that our positions are correct and therefore hope that we will prevail before the Supreme Court of the state of South Carolina,” Riley said in the statement.

Town officials could not be reached for comment early Thursday.

The city of Charleston had filed the lawsuit in 2006, and the judge heard arguments from city and town officials in the spring.

The town’s first and second efforts to incorporate were struck down by the courts in 1996 and 2004. At issue in all three cases have been the methods the town used to establish contiguity between parcels included within its borders. Parcels within a municipality must be contiguous.

The city of Charleston argued in the latest lawsuit that the 2005 state laws governing incorporation were unconstitutional as written and that the town’s delineation of its borders in the incorporation petition did not comply with state laws.

The city also challenged the contiguity of parcels in the town and the public status of some roads used to connect parcels.

Behind the lengthy legal fight is a battle over properties on James Island. The city of Charleston has annexed many parcels on the island, and the town’s incorporation blocks the city from bringing in more.

The town of James Island provides limited services to its businesses and residents. Many services are provided by the same entities now as they were before the town was formed. Those include the James Island Public Service District and Charleston County.

Move or Remodel??

Unsure whether you should move or remodel? You're not alone. Many homeowners face this situation at one time or another. Maybe your kitchen is outdated or that one bathroom just isn't cutting it anymore or you just need more space. Whatever the case may be, coming up with an answer isn't easy.So how do you decide what to do? There are many factors that come in to play but it ultimately comes down to what makes the most sense for you - financially and emotionally.

One of the first things you should do is to create a list of pro's and cons of moving versus remodelling. Pretty quickly, you will get a better picture of what your most realistic options are.For example, you're happy living in your current home and neighborhood but need more space. You research the possibility of adding more space to your home such as a dormer, addition or finishing your basement and find out that these are viable options. Now is the time to ask yourself some serious questions such as:

Can I afford to remodel? Analyize your entire financial picture and options - Savings, home equity loan, home equity line of credit, etc....

How do to find a reputable contractor? Ask your trusted realtor, friends and neighbors, search online - do your homework

What would my estimated renovation costs be?Get bids from numerous reputable contractors - then add up to 20%

What is the estimated time for project completion? Plan on adding extra time for unexpected delays and hiccups

Will I be able to recoup my renovation costs upon selling? Depends on how long you plan on staying in your home after the remodel and on what projects you do. New high tech siding, kitchen and bathroom remodels tend bring the highest ROI

How long will it take me to sell and find a new home?Depends on numerous factors but pricing your home right from the start and using a local experienced real estate agent is a good start.

Renovating your current home and making it your own can be a personally satifying achievement. However, you should take into consideration the level of improvement and personalization you are thinking of making. Will your addition or interior customizations make your home stand out like a sore thumb in your neighborhood? If you overdo it, you could make your home harder to sell in the future. Finding the right balance is key.Emotionally, both moving and remodelling can take a toll on you. No matter how well you plan, hiccups will arrise along the way. Be prepared and remain flexible.

James Island News

Just a quick update for James Island residents:

- They have started putting in the new pier at Sunrise Park. This will make a great place to put in kayaks and really enjoy the area. Make sure you check it out.

-The Boathouse Restaurant is coming to James Island. It was just announced that the Boathouse will take over the spot currently held by Mimi's Cafe. Mimi's will close at the end of the December and the Boathouse will do some work and open in March. That is great news for the sushi fans on James Island.

OPEN HOUSES - Sunday, Nov. 16th, 1-3pm

We are hosting four OPEN HOUSES this weekend on James Island.

Sunday, Nov. 16th from 1-3pm.

Please come by and you will be entered in a drawing for free passes to the Holiday Festival of Lights at James Island County Park.

Here are the properties:

900 Longwood Lane, Patriots Plantation subdivision
MLS# 2831623, $460,000
click here for the VISUAL Tour

661 McCutchen St., Cleaview subdivision
MLS# 2828798, $315,000
click here for the VISUAL TOUR

775 Willow Lake, Eastwood subdivision
MLS# 2825879, $459,900
click here for the VISUAL TOUR

1530 Fort Johnson, #4L, Brigadier Condos
MLS# 2827414, $80,000 - not a short sale
click here for the VISUAL TOUR

October Market Number from the Charleston Board of Realtors

The Charleston Trident Association of Realtors released its October data from the Multiple Listing Service. The highlights follow:

• Home sales and prices in Charleston posted declines in October.
• Last month, 549 homes sold, compared with 792 in October 2007, a 30% decline.
• Median home prices fell 7%, from $208,705 in October 2007 to $195,000 last month.
• Year-to-date sales were down 23%, from 792 through October of last year to 549 during the same time period this year.
• Year-to-date prices remained relatively steady, dropping 2% from $210,000 to $205,000.
• The largest number of homes sold last month were in the price range of $200,000 to $249,000. Eighty homes sold in this category.
• Two homes sold for less than $20,000 and 19 sold for more than $1 million.
• Certain areas of the Lowcountry showed a price increase despite the depressed economy.
• The median price of homes on James Island increased 2% compared with October 2007, and Folly Beach and Sullivan’s Island posted price gains of 18% and 11%, respectively.
• The average number of days on the market in October was 129, though 138 homes were on the market for a month or less before selling. An additional 200 homes that were sold last month sat on the market at least 121 days before moving.
• Condominium sales continue to support the median market price for the month, with 49 total sales with a median price of $209,000.

Randall Sandin

843-209-9667

Carolina One Real Estate

Great weekend fun in Charleston, SC

If you are looking for some low-cost family fun this weekend, make sure you check out the Farmer's market in Marion Square in downtown Charleston. This is not your ordinary farmers market with just fruit and veggie vendors. In addition to great local and organic produce (my wife had some incredible apples and I was able to purchase some watermelon radish), there are numerous food vendors with everything from homemade donuts to fresh squeezed lemon juice to muffalata sandwiches. The biggest line was at the homemade crepe stand. Live music came from a little stage and there were more vendors selling everything from local artwork to fresh basil to organic pasta. For the kids, there are a number of jup castles and pony rides are also available. Make sure you check it out this weekend.

Randall Sandin
843-209-9667
Carolina One Real Estate

Simple Tips to Staging your Home

Staging your home has become even more critical in today's challenging market. We hire a staging consultant for all our listings, at our cost, to give us feedback on what to do to put the home in top saleable condition. If you need a contact for staging, please call or email me. Here are some simple tips to start with in staging a home.

1. Add flowers: this freshens the home and adds a touch of color
2. Freshen up: do the small stuff, new shower curtain, fresh towels and new guest soaps in each bath
3. Make it smell like home: Set out potpourri or fresh bakes goods to give a homey scent
4. Set the table: Set your dining and breakfast tables with nice dishes and napkins
5. Change the entrance: Add a fresh doormat with a cure or clever saying...stay away from sports teams
6. Create space: Remove some large pieces fo furniture to creare a sense of openness
7. Clear the counters: Put away kitchen appliances and other items to give the illusion of more counter space
8. Dress up the fireplace: Put wood in the fireplace or flowers to make it look nice
9. Depersonalize: Remove family photos and momentos so the viewer can see it as their home
10. Water the lawn: Turn on the sprinklers or water before a shower to give a nice sparkle to the lawn

Please let me know if I can be of any help with your real estate needs.

Randall Sandin, 843-209-9667, rsandin@carolinaone.com
http://www.CharlestonPierPartners.com

Search the Entire Charleston, SC MLS

If you are starting your home search, make sure you use a site that gets you access to the entire Charleston Multiple Listing Service. Many real estate sites just list homes of agents who advertise or pay in some way to be on the site. If you are looking to buy a home in Charleston, SC, please visit my site, http://www.CharlestonPierPartners.com and you can search all available properties or you can click on the link on this site. The site is updated with the most current info every night.

Thanks and please call if I can be of assistance,
Randall Sandin
Carolina One Real Estate
843-209-9667
rsandin@carolinaone.com

Do not be afraid of FHA loans

Many borrowers are now finding the easiest path to home ownership is through an FHA Loan. First off, what is an FHA loan? The FHA loan is backed by the federal housing authority so the banks know they have some security in the loan in case the borrower defaults. FHA loan are also a little more leniant in regards to credit scores. They do require a 3% down payment and that will move to 3.5% at the beginning of the year. However, you can ask for up to 6% in concessions from the seller for closing costs, insurance costs, etc. The home must be approved by an FHA approved appraiser. In the past, they were very picky on items but that has been relaxed recently so most homes in decent condition are being approved. There are no fears in using an FHA loan in today's market and they are becoming the choice for those with a little money down and with lower credit scores. Please email me at rsandin@carolinaone.com for more info.

Food Drive - Charleston, SC

Charleston Pier Partners is going to be conducting a food drive from today through November 21st. For all our local friends, if you would like to donate a few cans or boxes, please let us know and we will come pick it up from your home or office. Just hit reply to this email and we will go from there. For our out-of-town friends, please make sure you give this holiday season. We need to count our blessings and do our best to give back to those who are less fortunate. Our goal is to exceed the combined weight of the Charleston Pier Partners (Matt&Randall) which means we have to collect & donate over 500 pounds of food...we need your help!

Please give us a call or email and we can arrange a pick-up. All of the food we collect will be donated to the Lowcountry Food Bank. You can email rsandin@carolinaone.com to donate.

In advance, thanks for your help.

Randall Sandin, 209-9667, rsandin@carolinaone.com
Matt Poole, 830-0027, mpoole@carolinaone.com

Charleston area November Events

Holiday Festival of Lights, starting Nov. 14th at James Island County Park. Magic is the discovery of the extraordinary, a moment when everything else is forgotten, and when wonderment is shared. Magic embraces and connects us. Find your magic in the millions of sparkling lights and hundreds of displays at the Holiday Festival of Lights. On Thursday the 13th, be the first to see the lights at the Fun Run & Walk, go to the Event Website for more info and to register for the race.

Nov. 8, 15, 22 &29: Plantation Days, Middleton Place, Craftworkers demonstrate the skills practiced by slaves as they prepared the antebellum plantation for harvest time. Each Saturday from 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. a different aspect of 18th and 19th-century plantation life will be explored: Domestic Skills, African American Traditional Arts, Low Country Foodways and the Plantation Natural Environment. Regular admission. (843) 556-6020.

For those of you looking for a run during November, here is a list of area races and websites.

11/8- 7th Old Village Harbor 5K Run & Walk, Mt. Pleasant, Website
11/15- Atlantic Bank & Trust Folly Beach 10-mile Run and 5-mile Walk, Folly Beach, Website
11/22- Inaugural Clemson-Carolina Challenge 5K Run, Website11/17- 31st Knights of Columbus Turkey Day 5K Run, Charleston Historic Area,Website

5 Question to ask your Potential Listing Agent

If you are thinking of selling, it is important to have the right agent in today's challenging market.

5 Questions to Ask Your Potential Agent

1. Where do they rank among their peers?
2. What have they accomplished in this challenging market?
3. What are they doing different in this market?
4. How does their marketing plan specifically apply to your house?
5. Are they there after the sale?

Give me a call at 843-209-9667 to get my answers to the above or email me for the. Have a happy haloween.

Randall

Great Investment Opportunity for Cash Buyer in James Island

1530 Fort Johnson Road, #4L, Charleston, SC - only five minutes from the beach!This is NOT a short sale. A great opportunity for any investor client you may have...$90,000 for a 2 bedroom, 2 full bath, 3rd floor condo in the Brigadier Condos. Our client says sell and sell now.

There is litigation with the building that will most likely result in a $2000-$3000 assessment in the near future according to the HOA. The unit had previously been rented for $750 per month and is vacant and very clean. Monthly regime is $245. With the litigation, this will most likely need to be a cash buyer which is reflected in the listing price. MLS# 2827414.

For more info, please give me a call at 843-209-9667.

How does the First Time Home Buyer Credit work?

I have gotten a lot of questions about the first time home buyer credit that was passed into law recently and here is a brief summary. This program allows eligible first time home buyers from 4/9/08 through 6/30/09 to receive up to a $7500 tax credit on their home purchase. Certain income restrictions apply and the credit is paid back over the next 15 years on your income taxes. It is in essence, a tax-free loan from the government. So if you have recently bought your first home, you can put the credit on your 2008 tax returns. For those buying after Jan. 1, 2008 and before June 30, 2009 it will go on your 2009 taxes.

The reason the gov't passed this program is a for a hopeful domino effect. This extra money will encourage someone to buy their first home thereby enabling the seller to buy a new home and so on. They are hoping this will add new buyers to the current slow market.

Feel free to call or email if you have any questions on this, it is an excellent program for first time buyers but just remember you do pay the money back...it is now free as some people are saying.

Up to 100% financing with Doctor Loan program

One of my mortgage contacts has a great program for licensed medical doctors. This program is through Josh Feldman at SunTrust Bank and his number is 843-958-1316 and email is joshua.feldman@suntrust.com. Here are the details and feel free to call Josh for more info.

The Doctor Loan Program
Up to 100% financing
No monthly mortgage insurance payments
Eligible on purchase and rate/term refinances
Construction loans, fixed rate, ARM and interest-only financing available
Loan amounts up to 1.5 million

New Listing on James Island

900 Longwood Lane in Patriots Plantation - Give me a call at 209-9667 for a personal showing.

This 3 bedroom, 2 1/2 bath home in Patriots Plantation has been impeccably kept by the current owners. The 2600 sq. foot plus home has an open floor with a kitchen and dining area that are meant for entertaining. Gorgeous hardwood floors, smooth kitchen counter tops, smooth high ceilings & crown molding are just a few of this home's features. There is a sunroom that overlooks a large backyard and newly expanded deck. The master bedroom has a trayed ceiling and a large master bath with whirlpool tub and walk-in closet. There is also a room off the master that will make an excellent home office or nursery. The two additional upstairs bedrooms are oversized with lots of closet space and a Jack and Jill bathroom. Fresh landscaping and three new palm trees welcome you upon entering the home. Right side of fence has extra large gates for boat storage area in sideyard. The home is on a quite cul-de-sac and the lot backs up to an eagle sanctuary and protected grounds.

Is this a good time to buy a home?

I have gotten this question many times recently and always answer with that it depends on your personal situation. Real estate runs in cycles and we are currently in the low end of the cycle where buyers have the advantage over sellers. Many buyers right now seem to be sitting on the fence waiting for the market to bottom out to get the best possible deal on a home. The only problem here is that the only way you know when the cycle hits bottom is when it is already on the way back up. Ask your agent or give me a call if you have any other questions. Everyone's answers to the above question depends on the current family and financial situations and a good Realtor can help guide the way to that answer.

Charleston, SC - ranked #2 US City to visit

Charleston was recently ranked the #2 US city to visit in a study by Conde Nast. We bumped past New York City and San Fransico remained #1 for the 16th straight year. Here is the link:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap_travel/20081020/ap_tr_ge/travel_brief_readers__choice

Positive news in today's paper

The Post & Courier reported some positive news in the our paper today. At a meeting of local Realtors, Mayor Joe Riley and Charleston County official, there was a positive forecast of over 85,000 new residents moving to the area in the next 10-12 years. This equals to a need of 42,000 new homes in the area to handle the increased population. Area Realtors viewed this is a positive for the business however the city & county are being cautious on how to handle the growth of the area in a healthy and manageable fashion. The big picture is that people still want to move to our area which is a great thing.

Neighborhood Open House, Sunday 1-3pm, The Villages in St. Johns Woods, Johns Island

Neighborhood Open House


The Villages in St. Johns Woods, Johns Island


Sunday, Oct. 19th, 1-3pm




Six houses will be open for viewing including my below listing:



4081 Easy Amy Lane, $408,000, 3 bed, 2 bath, 2 car garage, screened porch

This custom built Lowcountry home in The Villages at St. Johns Woods features an open floor plan with Brazilian Cherry hardwood floors, Anderson windows & doors, double crown molding throughout, 10 foot ceilings on the first floor and a solid mahogany front door. The kitchen has high quality cabinets, stainless steel appliances, gas stove and granite countertops. The spacious master opens up to a screened porch and the master bath has a large jetted tub, separate shower, dual sinks and a walk-in closet. This home is full of light due the oversized windows throughout the home. There is a full front porch and large screened porch in the rear. The rear porch has a natural gas hook-up for your grill. The fenced in backyard gives plenty of privacy to this home and is the perfect space for pets and gardening. The garage has an oversized 18 foot wide garage door that easily fits two large vehicles and there is enough space to add a storage room or workshop above the garage. The Villages at St. Johns Woods is Lowcountry living at its finest with sidewalks, walking trails and a community pool.

New Public Pier on James Island

The 2.5-acre plot of waterfront property on James Island known as Sunrise Park is expected to undergo a few changes in the coming months, namely the addition of a pier.

The city of Charleston has budgeted up to $450,000 to build a 190-foot pier with a 20-foot by 20-foot pierhead and a 40-foot floating dock at the park, which was officially renamed Milton P. Demetre Park in 2000. The park is located on Wampler Drive near the James Island Yacht Club.

But parkgoers are split on whether the pier will make the park more enjoyable or take away from its quiet charm and air of solitude.

On one hand, the pier will afford a place in the park for anglers and crabbers and also give canoeists and kayakers access to the water.

“This is an opportunity to keep it a passive park and give the public some other options,” City Council- woman Kathleen Wilson told The Post and Courier.

Some residents, however, see the park as a sort of natural sanctuary that, if given a pier, would attract too many people

Wilson said the city is communicating with park’s neighbors about pier plans and efforts that will be made to prevent parking and traffic problems and to keep the park passive. Park hours — dawn to dusk — will be posted, she said, and police are being asked to patrol the area to keep it from be- coming a late-night hangout.

Current Economic Situation

Our head person at Carolina One Real Estate sent out the following on ways to look at and handle the current financial situation that is affecting everyone. I thought this was a pretty good perspective for anyone:

1. There have been other crises in all of our lives ... maybe financial, maybe health, maybe a disaster (an accident or fire). And - for those who remember - there have been other challenging real estate markets: 18% interest rates, Hurricane Hugo, Naval Base closing, 9/11. Reflect back. Whatever it was, how did you handle it? What pulled you through? Have a determination that this is not going to beat you; you are going to beat it. It all starts with our personal mental attitude; let's get tough. Everything is cyclical. Nothing lasts forever.

2. Fear is physical. Face it. And deal with it in a physical way ... get exercise and work it out of your body. Work out, walk, bicycle ... it doesn't matter what you do, but do something every day. It's good for your health - physically, mentally, emotionally - and it conquers fear.

3. You've heard, "You are what you eat." You are also what you think. It's important to know what's going on in the world but fill your head - and your thoughts - with more than negative media. Seek out positive, affirming messages ... books, CDs, people who nourish you.

4. With any investment, is it smarter to buy when it's high or low? Embrace the "pessimism" and find the advantage. Whether it's the stock market or the real estate market, this is exactly the time to make a smart investment rather than in the midst of the hot market of 3 years ago. It just makes sense. Let's help our clients find the opportunity in this market. They need us; what you do everyday makes a real difference.

5. Offer to help someone less fortunate. It helps us count our many blessings and puts everything else in perspective.

Win a free gas card

Sorry it has been so long since my last post, I was on vacation for a week and then took a week to get caught up on everything.

The real estate company I am work for, Carolina One Real Estate, is giving away a $25 gas card each day to drive more traffic to the website. All you do is enter your name and email and your info is not sold or used for any other reasons. It will ask if you are working with a realtor and if you put in my name, Randall Sandin, I will win a second $25 gas card that I will give to you as well. So you will win $50 in gas. I have already had one winner of $50 and would like to see a lot more. Here is the link so go sign up right away. Feel free to sign up every member of your family including kids and dogs!!!

http://www.carolinaonerealestate.com

Some articles on Charleston SC - A Great Place to Live

Here are some articles that show what a great place Charleston is to live!

Life on Vacation: History keeps pace with the present in Charleston, S.C.
http://www.usatoday.com/travel/destinations/secondhomes/2008-09-11-greater-charleston_N.htm

CNN article on Charleston:
Charleston reveals new treasures with each visit
http://www.cnn.com/2008/TRAVEL/getaways/09/15/charleston.tourism/index.html

Banking News

Here was an article on msn.com about all of the banking news of today.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26723140?gt1=43001

More Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac info

This is a brief overview from the legal counsel of Carolina One Real Estate:

I wanted to take a minute and try to summarize the news regarding the government’s takeover of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and how it may impact the mortgage and housing markets. In the short term, the rescue is likely to help bring mortgage rates down and should improve credit availability and affordability. While it will not solve all the problems the housing market is facing, it is a significant step.

As for specifics, Federal officials on Sunday announced the takeover of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, putting the government in charge of the twin mortgage giants and the $5 trillion in home loans they back. The government’s move extends as much as $200 billion in Treasury support to the two companies and represents a dramatic attempt to shore up the nation's housing market. It places the two companies into a "conservatorship" to be overseen by the Federal Housing Finance Agency. Under conservatorship, the government would temporarily run Fannie and Freddie until they are on stronger footing.

In simplistic terms, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are quasi government agencies which are run as private companies, but have operated with the implicit backing of the government. That guarantee has now become explicit. Their role, when created by Congress, was to help promote the flow of money in the mortgage market. An individual deposits money in a checking or savings account at a Bank. The Bank then lends that money to an individual who wants to buy a home and secures the loan with a mortgage. That mortgage is then, in many cases, purchased by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, allowing the Bank to make another loan to another homebuyer. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac then package the loans into securities and sell them to investors or Wall Street. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac then use that money to buy more mortgages from the Bank. And the cycle continues.

The problem is that, with the changes in the housing market and increasing levels of default, investors have been more hesitant to buy these mortgages or to lend money to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Without this constant infusion of money, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are unable to continue to purchase the same number of mortgages from the Banks. That makes fewer loans available, increases mortgage interest rates and results in a squeeze on the credit and housing markets. With the Treasury Department now standing behind Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and being willing to inject the necessary money, the capital markets, and the mortgage cycle I talked about above, should flow more freely.

The stock market responded well to the news today and it should help stabilizing the credit markets which should, in turn, help the housing market as well.

Freddie Mac & Fannie Mae Bailout

Below is an overview of the Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac bailouts from Leah Odom here at Carolina One Mortgage:

As you may have heard by now, the Federal government, through the newly created Federal Housing Finance Agency, has taken over Fannie Mae (FNMA - The Federal National Mortgage Association) and Freddie Mac (FHLMC - The Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation). This was done to try to shore up confidence in Fannie and Freddie, which together have lost over $14 Billion in the last 4 quarters.

Why does this matter? Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac own or guarantee almost half of the $12 Trillion in outstanding mortgage debt in this country. Financial markets have lost confidence in Fannie and Freddie as a result of their huge losses. Their stock values have dropped by over 90%, and foreign banks and other investors have been unloading their holdings of FNMA and FHLMC stock. This has caused FNMA and FHLMC to have to raise capital by selling bonds at "higher than treasury" market prices. So, while long term treasury interest rates have been dropping, rates on mortgage bonds have been going in the opposite direction. This move by the Federal government, and the full backing of the U.S. Treasury that comes with it, should help to bring FNMA and FHLMC's borrowing costs down which will ultimately lead to lower mortgage rates.

Who wins and who loses? If it goes as planned, the winners will be the embattled housing industry. With lower borrowing costs and lower mortgage rates, mortgage lenders may loosen up some of the tighter underwriting rules that they are forcing on the system. Hopefully this will reduce the backlog of inventory of both new and existing homes on the market. Obviously this would be good for real estate agents, builders and lenders alike! The losers are likely to be the current stockholders of FNMA and FHLMC stock, which may be worthless after its all said and done.

Will this work? It certainly should! What we know for sure is that the status-quo with FNMA and FHLMC would certainly not work. They could not have continued on with their viability in question, their stock prices continuing to plummet on every bit of bad news, and their borrowing costs continuing to rise.

Should I get excited about this? Yes! You should get excited because this will definitely boost confidence in the credit system. Lower interest rates will get some of the "fence-sitters" and the "want to moves" back in the game. Hopefully bad news in the mainstream media of the pending demise of FNMA, FHLMC and the whole mortgage industry will now be replaced by positive news on lower interest rates, rising home sales and increasing consumer confidence.

Hurricane Tracking Website

Here is a great link for the latest updates during storm season, this is the gov't site so does not bring ratings & advertising in the forecast: www.nhc.noaa.gov

Foreclosures - up nationally, down locally.

With everyone reading about the massive numbers of foreclosures across the country on the front pages of the paper each day and hearing about it on TV & radio, it is important to note that as a state and as a local region we are in a much better position than others across the country. Here is some data on foreclosures from the realtytrac.com website.

State rankings for highest number of foreclosures in second quarter 2008:
1. Nevada
2. California
3. Arizona
4. Florida
5. Colorado

South Carolina is ranked #35 in the country!

Locally, from first quarter 2008 to second quarter 2008, foreclosures are DOWN 33% in Charleston county, DOWN 9% in Dorchester county but UP 21% in Berkeley County.

It is very important to remember that real estate is a local business not a national business. Mistakes that have been made in regards to overbuilding and lending are affecting us in Charleston but not nearly as much as the majority of the country. Your comments and feedback on this are greatly appreciated.

Housing & Economic Recovery Act of 2008

Many of you have been asking what does this law mean to me?? Here is a brief overviewof the key points, please call or email with any questions.

First Time Home Buyer Tax Credit: Eligible first time home buyers from 4/9/08 through 6/30/09 can receive up to a $7500 tax credit on their home purchase. Certain income restrictions apply and the credit is paid back over the next 15 years on your income taxes. It is in essence, a tax-free loan from the government.

FHA Reform: Recently FHA insured loans have come back into the market as a prime method of financing. Inspection requirements have being lowered so that most homes can get approved for an FHA loan. FHA loans levels have been increased in all areas. VA loan limit have also been increased temporarily.

FHA Foreclosure Rescue: This is a refinance program for only primary residence homes. Lenders have to agree to write down the value of the mortgage and FHA will lend up to 90% of the home’s appraised value with a limit of $550,440 nationwide. Borrowers must share 50% of the home’s future appreciation with the FHA. The program comes into effect on Oct. 1, 2008. If you are in this situation, please give us a call so we can confidentially get you to the appropriate contact for this program.

Property Tax Deduction: For property owners who do not itemize their tax deductions but do pay property taxes are eligible for a $500 tax deduction ($1000 deduction for married couples) on their 2008 returns. This will be very beneficial to people who do not have a mortgage.

For more information on the above programs, please let us know. As always, please contract mewith any questions or comments. I look forward to assisting you in your real estate needs in the future.

Here is our new logo

Here is the new logo for Charleston Pier Partners - we are ordering tshirts soon so send me an email if you want one soon.

5 Reasons to hire a real estate agent

Here is an article that was in US News & World Report on why everyone should use a real estate agent to sell or buy a home.

Selling your home is a daunting task full of potential blunders for a novice. Here’s why an agent is worth the commission.By Luke Mullins, U.S. News & World Report

Judy Moore of Re/Max Landmark Realtors in Lexington, Mass., says that today's topsy-turvy housing market is just too treacherous to go it alone. She offered five reasons why homeowners are better off selling their property with an agent:

1. Employ an expert: A typical property owner does not have anywhere near the home-selling experience of a real-estate agent. Agents can recommend relatively simple improvements — painting, repairing, decluttering — that can help a home sell faster and for a better price. "The Realtor is the neighborhood expert," Moore says. "We can walk through a property and see right away what needs to be done to [get the home sold]." Independent sellers might not be aware of these tricks of the trade.

2. Use better tools: Homeowners using agents can get their property listed on Realtor.com, "which has more far-reaching access to market that property — with over 3 million properties on it — than the for-sale-by-owner sites, which have tens of thousands," Moore says. Independent sellers do not have access to this service. (Realtor.com is an MSN Real Estate partner.)

3. Sidestep lawsuits: Agents can also protect sellers from potential litigation. "There are all kinds of liability issues that a seller could potentially face when ... dealing one-on-one with a buyer," Moore says. A homeowner could, for example, tell a potential buyer that hardwood floors extend to all corners of the house underneath the wall-to-wall carpeting. But if even one room has concrete flooring, the homeowner could be sued, Moore says. Agents, who have experience dealing with these liability issues, can help homeowners dodge such scenarios.

4. Duck the riffraff: Independent sellers might not have any idea whom they are letting into their homes during open houses. These potential buyers might not have the credit to make the purchase — and would therefore be wasting the homeowner's time — or could even "try to rob them later on," Moore says. "It's a very scary kind of thing." She says that homeowners working with agents will have qualified buyers visiting their properties.

5. Avoid hardball tactics: It's a buyer's market out there. And with all the information available online, today's well-informed buyers are tough negotiators. Real-estate agents have been through the home-selling process before and are trained in negotiating tactics, giving them a potential edge in hammering out a deal in the seller's best interest. "It's hard to do that with your own property, particularly if you are not a professional," Moore says.

Home Sales/Price Comparison to Last Year

I received this from another agent and he does a great job of showing the true numbers and how they compare from last year to this year. As you can see, the number of homes sold is down but prices have remained pretty steady compared to other markets.

Here are the sales of single family homes so far this year compared to the same time last year for the entire MLS and a few selected areas. First line for each area is from 1/1/07-7/8/07 while 2nd line is from 1/1/08-7/8/08 and the 3 line is percentage change from '07 period.

Area sales median sales price

All 5411 $222,575
MLS 3610 $212,000
-33.3% -4.8%

James 317 $292,500
Island 185 $274,000
-42% -6.3%

West 549 $247,500
Ashley 365 $249,911
-33.5% +1%

Mt. P. 687 $415,000
529 $398,000
-23% -4.1%

Summ/GC 2151 $192,879
1480 $175,000
-31.2% -9.3%

N. Chas 440 $157,000
321 $164,700
-27.1% +4.9%

Is it a Good Time to Buy?

This was a good article that was on the real estate site, Inman News, that I thought shows how it could be a great time to buy for one person but the wrong time to buy for another person.

It is hard to imagine or understand, but not everyone trusts real estate agents or Realtors. According to a Harris poll, 20 percent don't trust us at all and only 7 percent trust us completely.
As an industry we shoot ourselves in the foot when it comes to being trustworthy. Examples include the press releases and other information from the National Association of Realtors (NAR). NAR is a huge trade association and exists to promote our industry. As such, NAR likes to put a positive spin on buying real estate.

In the land of NAR it is always a great time to buy real estate. The truth is it isn't always a good time to buy real estate, not every market is the same, and not everyone who can buy real estate should be buying real estate. In recent months NAR has started telling consumers that real estate is local, which is true.

Some real estate companies and agents like to make general statements, which are misleading and breed distrust. One company had signs up all over town advising buyers not to miss out on this great buyer's market. It sounded like a kind of cheap salesman's trick -- they were saying, "Hurry and buy now before they are gone." They also give their agents seasonal marketing materials with messages for every season outlining why it is the best time to buy or sell real estate.

Instead of just publishing numbers and statistics, as an industry we like to put a special spin and paint a rosy picture of the housing market. The general public sees right through it. We are treating them like idiots when we take the numbers and weave them into a fairy tale that ends with: They bought real estate and lived happily ever after.

We should be saying that real estate has appreciated but past performance is no guarantee of future appreciation, and that there are tax advantages to home ownership, emotional advantages, and we all need a place to live. When I am asked if it is a good time to buy, my answer is and always has been the same: It depends.

For people like me, it is a good time to buy and sell real estate. Owning a home that is almost paid for has advantages. It could be sold quickly, because it could be priced for 2008, not 2005. The proceeds could be used to buy another home, and as a Realtor I know where the bargains are and how to negotiate a deal.

For my neighbors two doors down who bought a townhouse three years ago, it is a bad time to buy real estate. They would take a loss if they sold, as it is worth less now than when they bought it and townhouses are the hardest type of housing to sell in my market. I would advise them not to sell, and if they have to leave for some reason they should consider renting it out.

As an industry, when we make general statements to promote sales we are not promoting sales -- we are instead breeding distrust. Do we expect consumers to trust us when the foreclosure rate has gone through the ceiling and we are still telling buyers that now is a good time to buy? Apparently, for some who bought it the last couple of years it was not such a good time to buy, yet we still repeat the same old message. It might really be a good time to buy real estate, but it depends.

Recent Testimonial

I was very pleased to receive the following note from one of my past clients:

Holly and I were both very pleased with the service that we got from you throughout the entire homebuying process. You listened very well, worked with our schedule, and stayed patient as we took our time looking at many houses. When we were making offers and negotiating, your imformation and knowledge of the area was very helpful. I also appreciate your willingness to fully inspect the home that we were interested in by crawling under the house and up in the attic with me. We will recomend you to any of our friends who are interested in buying a home. Thank you very much, Steve.

New Rental Listing in West Ashley

I have a 2 bedroom, 2 full bath brand new condo that will be available August 1st. The condo is in the Colony at Heron Reserve and features a large living area, stainless steel appliances and a community pool. Rent is $1200 per month and is available for a 9 to 12 month lease. The Colony at Heron Reserve is right off of Glenn McConnell in West Ashley which is conveniently located to downtown, a nearby Super Walmart and West Ashley Park. Call me at 209-9667 if you would like to take a look.

Hurricane Guidelines

With hurricane and storm season upon us, I thought it would be good to post basic tips of things to do when a tropical storm/depression or hurricane occurs:

-Have on hand a battery powered radio and flashlight with extra batteries
-Listen to local media to keep up with the most current storm info
-Don't use candles or kerosene lamps as a source of light
-Secure all outside patio furniture and items
-Store drinking water, fill the bathtubs if you are caught without bottled water
-If power is lost, turn off all major appliances to reduce power surge when electricity is restored
-Review your local evacuation plan
-Fuel your vehicle at first warning
-Know where the shelters are located
-If you are evacuated during a storm, turn off your AC and all small appliances before you leave

New Testimonial

I was able to help a young lady get a summer rental in Charleston so she can work at some of the downtown restaurants and she was kind enough to send me the following note. Along with helping people buy and sell real estate, I also help many people rent homes and rent their properties, if you or someone else are in that situation, please give me a call.

Mr.Sandin,
I just wanted to say thanks again for everything and all your help. You have made this summer unforgettable and like a dream come true. You went out of your way to help me and I couln't be any more grateful. Thanks!!!!!!!!
-Tina

Money Saving Tip

With the economy being tight, I thought I would put on some practical money saving tips. Last week, I keep getting flyers in the mail to switch to Direct TV for about $45 per month. I currently pay about $70 for my Comcast service. I called Comcast and after being on hold with their horrible automated machine, I finally reached a person. I told her I was considering changing my service and asked if there was anything she could do to help. She immediately dropped by rate to the $45 per month for the next year. A savings of $300 for the year. Give it a try.

Want up-to-date Real Estate listings?

If you have a certain area where you would like updates on what homes come on the market, price changes and sales; just send me an email of which area you would like to follow. It can be as broad as all of Charleston or as specific as a certain neighborhood or street. I can set my MLS system to email you each time something occurs for your search area. This is no charge for this service and it is a great way to stay current on today's ever changing real estate market. I currently have many people set up for their own neighborhoods just so they can see what is happening. Thanks and give me a call or email with a request on any questions.

OPEN HOUSES - Sunday 1-3pm, Eastwood subdivision, James Island

We are hosting two open houses from 1-3pm this Sunday in the desirable Eastwood subdivision on James Island. Here are the homes:

775 Willow Lake - You will love the layout of this three bedroom two and a half bath home in one of the most desired subdivisions on James Island. When driving up to the home you will notice the details with the well cared for landscaping with irrigation, great fencing and the three year old built in pool. When entering the home notice the view through the family room to the inviting screen porch and back yard. Notice the hardwood floors, plantation shutters, and the see through fireplace in the kitchen and family room. You will be wowed when entering the kitchen and seeing the five star gas range. This range has six burners and a griddle just to name a few of its features. Yes, this kitchen features granite counter tops, hanging bakers rack, compactor and a dishwasher all overlooking the well groomed back yard through the french doors and large windows. Upstairs you have a large master suite with a shower and jetted tub with the walk in closet. The 14 x 20 FROG is currently being used as a bedroom but would make a great upstairs living area or media room. Additional house features include built in speakers on the screen porch and master bedroom, large two car garage with an additional storage area and an outside storage shed and parking pad. The location can not be beat. You are just a short walk to Sunrise park and just minutes to both downtown Charleston and Folly Beach.

727 Swanson Avenue - If you are looking for a home that lives as well outdoors as it does in, you have found it! The backyard features a pool, screened in porch and approximately 370 square feet of bench-lined deck space. When driving up notice the green areas and how this home is nestled in the oaks. Upon entering you will immediately notice the open spaciousness of this distinctive floor plan. The living room and master bedroom feature a bank of windows overlooking the lush back yard and built in pool. The large inviting master bath features a jacuzzi tub and stand up shower. The flooring consists of carpet,heart pine and tile. The kitchen has been meticulously updated with a new island, lighting, tile floors and granite counter tops.

Need a Realtor in another market?

One of the big advantages with our change to Carolina One Real Estate is our new national affiliation with the Leading Real Estate Companies of the World. Leading RE offers us access to a referral network of agents that work for similar types of companies throughout the United States and the rest of the world. What does this mean to my clients? If you have family or friends that are looking to buy or sell real estate outside of the Charleston market, I can introduce them to a qualified real estate professional in their market. This can greatly cut down the time of buying or selling a home if you can find the right agent quickly. If I can be of any assistance or if you know someone that needs help finding a Realtor, please let me know. Thanks and have a great weekend.

A Little Friday Morning Humor

I was reading the newspaper this morning and saw there was an attempted bank robbery yesterday on James Island. The robber came into the bank, poured some liquid on the floor, handed the teller a note that said he would burn the place down and wanted money. The clerk gave him some money and he was out the door. Needless to say, the robber was apprehended within hours as he had written the note on the back of his cell phone bill that had his name and address. Have a great weekend.

Market Statistics - First quarter 2008

Click on the below link for complete market statistics for the Charleston MLS area for January through March 2008. Each area is broken by active homes on the market, homes sold, days on the market, median sales price, average sales price and list price to sales price ratio.

http://images1.e-net.com/pruosha/marketstat/activity.pdf

Excellent Article on Money Management

I read this article on MSN.com this morning and though it was worth putting out to everyone. It is three common financial moves that many people make and some reasons to reconsider these options. Hope you find this of help.

http://articles.moneycentral.msn.com/SavingandDebt/ManageDebt/The3WorstMoneyMovesYouCanMake.aspx

Name Changes

Hello All - As many of you are already aware, Prudential Carolina Real Estate will now be known as Carolina One Real Estate. The main reason for the change was that with the national franchise affiliation, a significant amount of dollars were sent outside the Charleston market just for the franchise name and the franchise requirements made a little difficult to act quickly as our market continues to change. Now as Carolina One Real Estate, our company has the freedom to control all of our dollars and keep them local. We can react quickly and do what is best for our buyers and sellers.

Carolina One Real Estate will be affiliated nationally with the Leading Real Estate Companies of the World, http://www.leaadingre.com, this will give us national and international exposure that we never received as a franchise. Major companies such as Allen Tate in Charlotte and Long & Foster in the northern Virginia area are in the same affiliation. This move is a huge positive for the company and all of the agents as our market continues to change and adapt to the current real estate market.

Additionally, our team is changing its name. Formerly Cheryl Hardy Associates, we will now be known as Charleston Pier Properties. Our team - Matt Poole, myself and our office manager Susan Morosko, is very excited to make this change and begin branding our new team name and company name. Last year, we were ranked #9 our of all 1000 plus Prudential agents and plan to meet or exceed that level for 2008.

My phone numbers are all the same and my new email address is rsandin@carolinaone.com. The old address will still get to me without a problem.

I will be sending out more info in the very near future with our new website and logo. Please call me at 209-9667 or email with any comments or questions.

Want the most up-to-date search results?

If you are looking for a home or just want to get a feel for a certain area...I can send you all of the info of what is new on the market and what price changes have occurred on a daily basis. Just email the area you want to get info on along with a price range and I will set up my system to email you each day all of the new activity. There is no obligation for this service. This is a great way to get a feel for the market or just to check out what is for sale in your neighborhood.

If you are interested, please email your name, email address and the area & price range you are interested in to rsandin@prucar.com.

18th Annual Sea & Sand Festival, Sat. 4/19 from 10am-5pm, Folly Beach

Make sure you check out the Sea and Sand Festival this Saturday at Folly Beach. There will be two bandstands with music running from 10am-5pm. One will be by the Park and one will be at the end of Center Street. There will be booths for food, artists & craftsmen along with pony rides, a jump castle and a climbing wall. I hope to see you there.

I-526 Expansion

As most of you are aware of there is a big debate on how to handle the traffic issues on James Island and Johns Island especially with the proposed expansion of I-526. Here are a few websites that give both sides of the story along with the current proposal and other ideas to handle our traffic situation.

www.scdot.org/i526

www.newwaytowork.com

www.no526.com

New Testimonial

"This past year I moved to Charleston in need of buying a house very quickly and the difficult part was I had never been to Charleston. Fortunately, was put in contact with Randall Sandin and Matt Poole and they were immensely helpful. It was the first time I had ever attempted to buy a house and I had no idea what I was doing. They guided me through the entire process and answered the millions of questions I had. They spent so much time helping me and managed to get all the paperwork processed extremely fast. I have no idea how they did everything, but they did and it was amazing." - Elizabeth

How do Real Estate Tax Sales Work?

This is a great question that I have gotten from a few clients recently. Below is an excellent article from Inman news that gives a general overview of real estate tax sales and how they work. Inman news is a real estate website with updated articles and info on a daily basis, they offer a free email update and you can get it by signing up at http://www.inman.com/.

http://www.inman.com/buyers-sellers/columnists/ilyceglink/get-a-bargain-buy-real-estate-tax-sale

New listing in Jamestowne Village

Welcome to 1407 Swamp Fox Lane in Jamestowne Village.

$249,000, 3 bedroom, 2 bath, 1348 square feet.

Lets talk Curb Appeal! Pulling into the driveway you will be greeted by the large front porch and colorful landscaping. Just minutes from Downtown and Folly Beach the location of Jamestowne Village can't be beat. When walking into this home you will immediatly notice how well this home has been cared for from its floors to the exterior landscaping. The large back yard is perfect for outdoor gatherings and the inviting front porch will be a great place to have your morning cup of coffee. If you would like to view the property, please give me a call at 209-9667.

Mortgage Update

Everyday the mortgage industry seems to change and I will do my best to keep you up-to-speed. Starting April 1, 2008, 100% loans are pretty much a thing of the past. The reason behind this is that the mortgage insurance companies are no longer will to take the risk of insuring a home without some sort of downpayment...typically 3%. There are a few random programs out there that may allow you to bypass there but they are rare, one is a 100% loan from Bank of America but is only available to doctors. The general public is pretty much out on 100% loans that include mortgage insurance. There are a couple options:

• If you have excellent credit, you could get an 80/20 loan where the 20% downpayment is in the form of a second mortgage, the rate on the second mortgage will be higher but how much higher will depend on your credit score
• There is a non-profit down payment assistance program that is available. The program has the seller paying 3% of the home's sale price towards the down payment of the home along with paying a $499 funding fee to the non-profit program. This program usually runs with an FHA loan that has lower credit requirements for the borrower and allows up to 6% in concessions from the seller.

If I can be of any assistance or you would like more info on the above programs, please give me a call at 209-9667.

New Waterfront Listing

We are pleased to announce the listing of 301 Lord Calvert Drive in West Ashley for the price of $1,600,000. A rare opporunity to create a true Charleston waterfront estate.

Drive through your very own avenue of oaks to your home on Old Wappoo Creek! This property consists of 3.6 total acres of which 1.6 is high land. This home was an architectural wonder for its time and was designed by the previous owner to maximize views while enduring Charleston's coastal weather. With updates to the home, current dock and existing tennis court, this home would be reborn to the palatial estate from its previous years.

To schedule a private showing please call myself at 209-9667 or call Matt Poole at 830-0027.

More Website Exposure for Listings

I am happy to announce that all of our listings will now be featured on www.FrontDoor.com, the official real estate website of HGTV. Front Door partnered nationally with Prudential Real Estate to offer over 140,000 national listings on the website. There will be cross promotion of both Prudential listings and the Front Door/ HGTV products between the two companies. This is another in a long list of powerful websites we can put your home on to reach the largest number of potential buyers locally, regionally and nationally. For more info on selling your home, give me a call at 209-9667 or email me at rsandin@prucar.com

Folly Pier Opening Celebration - March 16

Folly Pier is re-opening today after being closed down for repairs the last few months. There will be many family events along with free fishing and fee parking. An art fair is also occurring in the park from 1-4 pm today with live music and local artists. As always, it will be a great day at Folly.

New FHA loan limits for Charleston

New federal housing limits for the Charleston area were finally announced last week. The new limit for an FHA loan for a single family home is $335,000. Here are some details on the advantages of an FHA backed loan.

The most popular FHA home loan program for a first time home buyer is by far is the 203(b). This is your standard fixed rate loan for 1-4 family owner occupied houses and only requires a minimum of 3% from the borrower. This loan also permits 100% of their money needed to close to be a gift from a relative, non-profit organization, or government agency.

The main advantage to a FHA home loan is that the credit criteria for a first time borrower are not as strict as Conventional Loans sold to Fannie Mae (FNMA) or Freddie Mac (FHLMC). Someone who may have had a few credit problems or no traditional credit should not have a problem obtaining FHA financing. Also, FHA home loans are assumable, allowing a person to take over the mortgage without the additional cost of obtaining a new loan. In addition, the seller or lender must pay for part of the "traditional" closing costs(called non-allowable costs) while a borrower's allowable costs can partially be wrapped into the loan. The monthly mortgage insurance premium is cheaper for an FHA loan verses a conventional loan with 3% down. Finally, FHA loans may may require less income to qualify as they will exceed the Conventional debt ratios of 28/36% as their standard is 29/41%.

Many people make the mistake and assume that FHA loans are only available for first time home buyers. This is not true. FHA loans are available to anyone, whether your first or fifth home and can be used to purchase a home or refinance a home. If refinancing a home the current loan DOES NOT have to be an FHA loan.

For more information, please give me a call at 209-9667 and I can refer you to a qualified mortgage professional.