Recent Testimonial

It is great to get notes like the below from clients...

"Randall was an absolute joy to work with. He guided us through the process from the beginning to the end and beyond. He was detailed, thoughtful, and listened to all of our needs and wants. This was our first home buying experience and Randall made the process better than we could have ever imagined. He was a great help from finding a great house to dealing with the mortgage company and everything and anything afterwards. We have absolutely no second thoughts about recommending him to anyone. We trust Randall completely and will definitely use him again for all of our real estate needs." Cassie & Shiran

How does the rate drop affect you?

Yesterday was a wild day in the financial market with the Fed cutting 3/4 of a point off of the federal funds rates. The big question everyone is asking is "how will this affect me?". Hopefully I can give you a little guidance of what to expect next. First off, a drop of the Fed rate is not directly tied to mortgage rates. Mortgage rates are indirectly tied to the yield of the 10 year bond market. In spite of that, yesterday saw a decline in mortgage rates to levels such as 5.125% or 5.25% for a 30 year fixed conforming loan. If you are in the buying process currently, it would be a smart move to lock in this low rate. The last time the Fed made a major cut, mortgage rates dropped for a few days and then crept back up to the previous levels. If you need a mortgage contact, I have several preferred lenders and would be happy to pass their names to you, you can reach me at 209-9667 or rsandin@prucar.com.

I am attaching a link to bankrate.com which gives a great oversight on the entire situation. Over the coming weeks, you can expect rate drops for home equity lines and variable rate credit cards but for mortgages, we will have to wait and see what happens next.

http://www.bankrate.com/brm/news/fed/main-jan2008.asp

Right now, with the larger numbers of homes on the market and interest rates in the low 5% range, it could not be a better time to go after that first home or to make an upgrade. Please let me know if I can be of any assistance.

Mortgage Rates are Creeping Down

Good news is coming from the mortgage industry this week - rates are creeeping down to levels we have not seen in years. This week, my preferred lenders have been quoting rates for a 30 year fixed note in the 5.5% to 5.75% range. That is a rate you cannot beat!

If you were holding off on buying a new home until the start of the year, now is the time to get moving. These low rates will save you thousands of dollars over the life of the loan.

If you need to re-finance or get out of the adjustable rate mortgage, give me a call at 843-209-9667 or email me at rsandin@prucar.com and I will be happy to refer you to one of my preferred lenders who can get you an immediate quote and good faith estimate.

Have a great day!

Selling Tips for Your Home

In the competitive Charleston market, the little things can make a big difference in the sale of your home. Here are a few simple thoughts that could take your home from being "For Sale" to "Sold":

• Spring Cleaning - Make sure your home sparkles. Dirt and grime lead to a negative first impression which could be the difference to the potential buyer. Strive for dirt free and a big plus is washing those windows. Hide trash cans, ashtrays, the laundry hamper, the kitchen sponge, the cat's litter box, etc.
• Paint - Dark walls tend to make a house look smaller. Off-white and earthy tones draw in lots of light and make everything appear larger. A fresh coat may also be necessary in some rooms. Make sure your curtains are open to bring even more light into the rooms.
• Furniture - Most rooms contain too much furniture which makes rooms look smaller. Reduce the number of pillows on your couch and put up those afghans and blankets. Remove the leaves from your dining room table and go with just four chair unless you have a very large dining room.
• Outside - Curb appeal it the first impression a buyer gets of your home. Make sure your lawn is mowed and the edges neat. A buyer driving by a house with an overgrown lawn may not even take the next step of seeing the inside of the house. Put flowers near the front door. Consider painting the front door as this is an inexpensive way to freshen the outside appearance. Only have high-quality lawn furniture on your porch or deck. A good powerwashing could be a huge benefit.
• Marketing - Make sure you have an agent who does more than put a sign in the yard and list your house on the MLS service. A combination of print, internet and direct marketing is the key to selling a home in the Charleston market. We use a combination of 20 plus local and national websites, extensive print advertisers and a direct mail campaign to get our sellers in that "SOLD" category. To find out more, give me a call at 209-9667 or email me at rsandin@prucar.com

Thanks for reading today's blog entry and have a great week.

Good News Regarding Mortgage Insurance

Congress renewed the legislation making mortgage insurance premiums (PMI) tax deductible for many homeowners. For taxpayers earning under $100,000 per year, mortgage insurance premiums will continue to be fully deductible on your taxes. For those of you with incomes over $100,000, there are some partial deductions that may be available. Make sure you take advantage of this when you file your 2007 taxes.

First Blog Entry

Welcome to my first blog entry. My name is Randall Sandin and I am a Realtor with Prudential Carolina Real Estate in Charleston, South Carolina. I am based out of the Folly Beach office. For those of you who have not experienced Folly Beach, it is an eclectic beach town that has something to offer everyone.

This is the first of many-to-come entries on http://www.CharlestonSCRealEstateBlog.com/. The purpose of the blog is to give clients and customers valuable information about the Charleston SC real estate market along with some fun stuff about the current happenings in the area.

If I can be of any assistance with your real estate needs, either buying or selling, please call me at 843-209-9667 or email me at rsandin@prucar.com.

Happy New Year and best wishes to all for a happy and prosperous 2008!