The Value in Real Estate Many people believe that real estate appraisals are used to create or establish value.  That is not the case!  Lenders, investors, governmental agencies and businesses use appraisals as a supported estimate or opinion of value.  Determining value in the real estate market is generally based on four elements: Scarcity - in areas where there is too much property, the value decreases.  On the flip side of that, when an area sells most of its properties, the balance tends to increase in value. Demand - there must be a demand for the property and the ability to pay for it. Utility - The property must be useful, satisfying your wants and needs.  This is called subjective value Transferability - ownership must be able to be transferred from one party to another.   In a... 05/05/2010

  Goose Creek, SC 29445 Real Estate Market Statistics for March 2010 Goose Creek, SC 29445 Real Estate Market Statistics - March 2010 New Listings Total 101 Average List Price $171,645 Median List Price $159,000 Sold Listings Days on Market (DOM) 98 Total 52 Average List Price $168,345 Average Sold Price $163,846 Median Sold Price $155,500 % Selling Price/Listing Price 97% Current Active Listings as of April 24, 2010 Days on Market (DOM) 137 Total 349  Summary: There was a small decrease in homes listed in the Goose Creek SC , from 355 to 349.  The homes that sold, sold an average of 97% of their listed price and sold in 98 days.  The average days on the market for homes sold went up from 78 to 98 days.  The real estate market for sellers is not getting any easier with more homes coming... 04/24/2010

  3 REASONS to Buy a Home in Goose Creek or in the Charleston, SC Area before April 30th 1.) Tax Credit = FREE Money, $8000 for First Time Home Buyers and $6500 for Second Time Home Buyer. 2.) Low Interest Rates = HUGE SAVINGS over the life of 30 year mortgage and it greatly improves the buying power of home buyers. 3.) Motivated Sellers = most sellers in Goose Creek and in the Charleston, SC area know if they don't sell now, the number of buyers buying after April 30th may drop significantly. Charleston, Goose Creek, & Hanahan Real Estate For Sale Charleston SC Homes Goose Creek SC Homes Hanahan SC Homes Ladson SC Homes North Charleston SC Homes Mount Pleasant SC Homes Folly Beach SC Homes Isle of Palms SC Homes Sullivans Island SC Homes Matt Naumann – Charleston & Goose Creek, SC Real... 04/24/2010

Crowfield Plantation in Goose Creek SC is one of the largest neighborhoods in the Charleston SC Metro.  It has traditionally been the best selling neighborhood in Goose Creek as well as one of the best selling neighborhoods in the entire Charleston Metro area.  The last year has been no different.  Although there was a little slump at the end of 2009, the last two months have seen a rebound.       Crowfield's popularity is owed to its family friendly atmosphere, its wooded beautiful landscape, and its central location to the Charleston Metro.  The neighborhood amenities include a children's park, over 15 miles of walking trails, swimming pools, a huge pond, and a golf course.  Other Blogs: Liberty Hall Plantation, Goose Creek SC The Elms Plantation Charleston Real Estate Housing Appreci... 04/22/2010

  Prevent Foreclosure in Goose Creek, SC 29445 - Know your Options Do you know your options, when it comes to preventing foreclosure?    If you are a Home Owner, who has fallen behind in making your mortgage payments and you see no way in catching up.  There is no better time than now to consider your options in dealing with your home.  Unfortunately, many Home Owners owe more than what there homes are worth in the Goose Creek, SC market.  If you are Home Owner, who may be in this situation, you have 4 options: Loan Modification or HAFA (i.e. Home Affordable Foreclosure Alternatives Program (i.e. work with the bank to reduce payments or create repayment plan to get caught up). Let it go into FORECLOSURE (i.e. walk away and do nothing). Give it back to the BANK (i.e. Deed in lieu of Fore... 04/16/2010

Liberty Hall Plantation is one of the many new neighborhoods in Goose Creek, SC (a suburb or Charleston SC).  It is a community built and designed by Centex.  The neighborhood features a community pool and a playground area.  Here is a good look at the Community Map.   Home sales in the community have shown a decrease in the last few years for a few different reasons.  First, the economy's downturn has caused a slowdown in resales and also new construction sales.  Second, this is a common trend in a new neighborhood.  As the neighborhood matures, the number of homes that need "to be built" dwindle and thus the sales shrink as well.  Third, resale homes in new construction areas during an economic decline are simply harder to sell.  Why?  There are quite a few foreclosures and short sale... 04/15/2010

  3 Reasons FOR SALE BY OWNERS, FSBOs, in Goose Creek and the Charleston, SC Area need to turn the Sale of their Home over to a REAL ESTATE AGENT There are 3 Big Reasons for For Sale By Owners to reconsider their decision to list with an agent.  1.) Establishing the Listing Price - Many FSBOs, in attempts to break even, will overprice their home in relation to the overall market, which will result in few showings and not their sale of their home.  By listing with a Real Estate Agent in Goose Creek or in the Charleston, SC area you will have your home listed with a price based on the condition of the home and local real estate market conditions verses a home seller's opinion. A properly priced home will be on the market less than a home that was overpriced for market. 2.) Time - Many FSB... 03/30/2010

  Goose Creek, SC 29445 Real Estate Market Statistics for February 2010 Goose Creek, SC 29445 Real Estate Market Statistics - February 2010 New Listings Total 107 Average List Price $164,775 Median List Price $149,900 Sold Listings Days on Market (DOM) 78 Total 37 Average List Price $175,582 Average Sold Price $172,211 Median Sold Price $160,000 % Selling Price/Listing Price 98% Current Active Listings as of March 30, 2010 Days on Market (DOM) 135 Total 355  Summary: There was a significant decrease inhomes listed in the Goose Creek SC , from 409 to 355.  The homes that sold, sold an average of 98% of their listed price and sold in 78 days.  The average days on the market for homes sold went down from 85 to 78 days.  The real estate market for sellers is not getting any easier with more... 03/30/2010

Best Neighborhood near the Naval Weapons Stations, Goose Creek, SC If you are looking for a great neighborhood in Goose Creek, SC, this is one of the best! Liberty Hall Plantation was use to be a 18th century rice plantation. If you like history, check out Michael James Heitzler’s book, Goose Creek: A Definitive History : Planters, Politicians and Patriots for local history of the area. Development into a residential community began in 2004 by Centex Homes. There are 4 subsections within the neighborhood. Waterford is the first section composed of townhomes ranging from 1365sqft-1700sqft with 2 and 3 bedrooms starting in price around $100K.  Fosters Creek subsection is modeled after downtown’s Charleston single homes with the most notable feature the large front porches and double side ... 03/30/2010

Four days before the annual 10K Cooper River Bridge Run in Charleston SC and it is sold out!  With 38,005 participants signed up registration has been closed down. But, if you still want to be a part of the event and didn't register there is still a way! How?  You can purchase a Charity Bib for $150 and run for Charity!  You can choose from one of 8 charities and all proceeds will go to the charity.  For everyone else who has already registered your next step is to pick up your race packet (unless you had it mailed to you).  You can pick up your packet at Gaillard Auditorium on Thursday, March 25, from noon to 8pm, or Friday, March 26, 8am to 8pm. The Cooper River Bridge Run began in 1978 and now has become a highlight event for Charleston residents and draws worldwide participation.  C... 03/23/2010

The Tea Ladies of the St. James Goose Creek Parish Area Host 2nd Annual Tea at the Creek  The Tea Ladies of the St. James  Tea Ladies of Goose Creek raised money for this Historical marker at First Annual   Goose Creek Parish Area Invite you to attend the 2nd Annual "Tea at the Creek" Saturday, March 20, 2010 From 2:00 PM-5:00 PM Metro North Church 109 Central Ave., Goose Creek   Tickets are $15.00 for adults, $10.00 for youth.     Debbie Hayes of ETV's "Making It Grow" will     Demonstrate container gardening.      Metro North Dancers will also entertain.  Great food, door prizes, raffle and    Silent auction items.     The proceeds will help fund the restoration of the historic Strawberry Chapel of Ease.                                                                                  ... 03/10/2010

  Goose Creek, SC 29445 Real Estate Market Statistics for January 2010 Goose Creek, SC 29445 Real Estate Market Statistics - January 2010 New Listings Total 114 Average List Price $159,254 Median List Price $153,749 Sold Listings Days on Market (DOM) 85 Total 21 Average List Price $157,770 Average Sold Price $151,496 Median Sold Price $134,000 % Selling Price/Listing Price 96% Current Active Listings as of Feb. 15, 2010 Days on Market (DOM) 134 Total 409  Summary: There was a huge increase homes listed in the Goose Creek SC , from 315 to 409.  The homes that sold, sold an average of 96% of their listed price and sold in 85 days.  The average days on the market for homes sold went up from 80 to 85 days.  The real estate market for sellers is not getting any easier with more homes coming ... 02/15/2010

Avoiding Foreclosure in Goose Creek, SC 29445 - Short Sale If you are a Home Owner, who has fallen behind in making your mortgage payments and you see no way in catching up.  There is no better time than now to consider your options in dealing with your home.  Unfortunately, many Home Owners owe more than what there homes are worth in the Goose Creek, SC market.  If you are Home Owner, who may be in this situation, you have 4 options: Loan Modification (i.e. work with the bank to reduce payments or create repayment plan to get caught up). Let it go into FORECLOSURE (i.e. walk away and do nothing). Give it back to the BANK (i.e. Deed in lieu of Foreclosure). SHORT SALE (i.e. sell it for less than you owe). Since every Home Owner's situation unique, the first step is to sit down with a RE... 02/12/2010

The 9 Steps to Home Ownership in Goose Creek and the Charleston, SC Area Step - 1 Make the Decision to Buy It seems obvious, but it's good to note that the first step to buying a house is making the decision to buy. Consider the reasons you want a new house and write them down. Determine how long you want to live in the new house - does buying still make good financial sense? Can you afford a house that will meet your list of requirements? A good rule of thumb is your mortgage payment should not exceed 1/3 of your net monthly income. Step 2 - Seek Professional Guidance I'd like to schedule a time to meet with you to hear the reasons you want to buy a house and your plans for the future. We'll talk about neighborhoods, schools, economic factors liable to affect the market today and tomo... 02/11/2010

Goose Creek, SC 29445 Real Estate Market Statistics for December 2009 Goose Creek, SC 29445 Real Estate Market Statistics - December 2009 New Listings Total 66 Average List Price $166,468 Median List Price $158,272 Sold Listings Days on Market (DOM) 80 Total 33 Average List Price $167,717 Average Sold Price $163,060 Median Sold Price $154,000 % Selling Price/Listing Price 97% Current Active Listings as of Jan. 20, 2009 Days on Market (DOM) 138 Total 315  Summary: There was a small drop in homes listed in the Goose Creek SC , from 318 to 315.  The homes that sold, sold an average of 97% of their listed price and sold in 80 days.  The average days on the market for homes sold went up from 60 to 80 days. Note:  A well priced home will sell faster and closer to the listing price. Buying Tip... 01/20/2010

Goose Creek Real Estate - Goose Creek South Carolina is a suburb city of Charleston SC.  The real estate market in the Metro Charleston area has seen a decline in recent years, as has most of the country, but overall the market has stayed pretty sound.  I say sound because the last few years has been the effect of the market balancing itself from the real estate bubble that occurred during the mid years of this decade.  The chart below shows the rise and fall of homes sold during 2009 in Goose Creek, SC.  The year started off extraordinarily slow but with government incentives for first time home buyers the year ended strong, save December.  The primary culprits for the low home sale numbers throughout the year included higher unemployment and tighter lending guidelines. The next chart ... 01/19/2010

The Window of Opportunity to Buy & Sell a Home is Starting to Close on Home Buyers and Home Sellers in Goose Creek and the Charleston SC Area From the Home Buyer’s perspective, there are 4 Big Reasons Why you should buy in the next 3 months: 1.) Low Interest Rates 2.) First Time Home Buyer Tax Credit – FREE $$$$$ 3.) Low Home Prices - Summerville, Hanahan... 4.) Lots of Home For Sale - Goose Creek, Charleston, Mount Pleasant...   In the next 3 months, the low interest rates will start rise due to the government discontinuing their mortgage buying program and deadline eligibility for the First Time Home Buyer Tax Credit will run out at the end of April.   By not taking advantage of the low interest rates and the First Time Home Buyer Tax Credit, you are literally missing out on   From th... 01/19/2010

Last November Congress passed The Worker, Homeownership, and Business Assistance Act, which extended the $8000 tax credit for first-time home buyers and expanded the credit to include $6500 for qualifying repeat home buyers. The new deadline for the tax credits is April 30, 2010 for a contract; June 30, 2010 for closing. That means you must have a contract written and ACCEPTED by the seller on the house you want to buy no later than April 30. The sale must be COMPLETED by June 30. Claim the tax credit when you file your 2009 taxes if you close before you file, or simply amend your 2009 tax return if you close after your taxes have been filed. Note that this credit DOES NOT reduce the amount of your taxable income. It actually contributes to the amount of your tax refund check or reduces... 01/17/2010

Home Owners Who are Thinking About Selling in the Goose Creek and the Charleston SC Area Should try to Sell Their Home Now! A lot of homeowners took their homes off the market in Goose Creek and in the Charleston SC area during the holidays.  Many home sellers were thinking about putting their homes back on the market in hopes that home prices will go up and home buyers are buying.  Based on the article, the real estate market will be an even tougher market with home inventories increasing due to foreclosures and the rentry of homes back on the market for spring, rising interest rates will reduce the buying power of many home buyers, and the end tax credit many reduce the motivation of a lot of home buyers to buy.  With less home buyers potentially buying, the only way to sell your home... 01/12/2010

Crowfield Plantation is a vibrant community in Goose Creek South Carolina, a suburb of Charleston. Crowfield is the largest community of its kind in the Charleston metropolitan and is comprised of 27 subsections/neighborhoods. It is centrally located with easy access to downtown, Charleston Air Force Base, and The Navy Weapons Station. The early neighborhoods began being built in the late 1970's and early 1980's by WestVaco Development Corporation. The neighborhoods development continued through the new century and while most of it is complete there are still a few new homes being built in a few neighborhoods. Crowfield has 4 pools, two tennis courts, a lake, six parks, a golf course and 26 miles of leisure trails. Note that access to some amenities may require a fee. The following is ... 01/09/2010