Nexton

If you have not taken a Sunday drive or stroll through Nexton you should. I call it "Nexton - the next generation" because at times it seems so forward thinking and next generation type of stuff.  Plus, it's beautiful out there.  There are some pretty cool things going on in Nexton and so let me tell you about a few of them. It's South Carolina's first  gigabit/gifafi community. Now, I'm no technical person but I do know that a gigabit is very, very fast.  I have Comcast and I'm assuming the speed I have compared to gigabit is similar to a tortoise and cougar.  Another great feature is you never really need to leave.  You can work, shop, exercise, eat and live all in the same spot. How convenient is that?   Nexton is currently working on becoming the third largest job center in Charleston which will include 6 million square feet of commercial space.  Half of the 4,500 acres is dedicated green space so after that crazy stressful day you can walk on over to the local Starbucks, grab a coffee and then walk on home. After that last sentence I'm thinking I should move to here. Currently, the Nexton fee that upkeep's the pools, parks, landscaping, etc for only $50.22/month.  At Nexton you have a variety of options for your home choice. They range from apartments, townhomes to lovely Southern charm type homes. Some residents can look out there windows and enjoy the summer concert series. I went last year and saw Honey Smoke there and had a great time. The new Nexton Elementary is right next door for the kiddos to walk or ride their bikes to school if they choose. For your choice in homes click HERE to see what they are offering but then call me to represent you as a buyer's agent. It cost you nothing but gives you an added sense of security and peace knowing I have your back. It's always a good idea to have a Realtor represent you with new construction and it cost you nothing. 

Time to check out Nexton in Summerville, SC

Call Jason at 843.696.8627 or go to LiveinSummerville.com for more information on us representing you in buying or selling your home. We also love referrals. 

-Jason Gregg, Realtor
843.696.86278
Jason.Gregg@kw.com

Choosing an Agent can be stressful

 "Summerville, SC is a fantastic place to live and I would not go anywhere else.  Jason was a great agent and helped us get our home under contract in just a few days."

Jason Gregg is a Realtor that specializes in Summerville, SC homes

     It's very difficult in our region to choose a Realty Company because there are just so many and so many agents. Also, within each company you will find both good agents and bad agents.  So, with all these choices how do you choose?  It starts with asking questions like how long have you been in the business, what percentage do your listings sell for, how and how often will you communicate with me, do you have references and how much will it cost me for you to be my Realtor?

     Agents have to go over agency laws with you at the beginning of your working relationship and explain them to you so you understand what type of relationship you're going to have. The sole purpose of this is so you understand what you're getting into and not get scammed.  Also, if any agent is hesitant and tries to talk you out of interviewing other agents I would take that as a red flag. I have no problem interviewing for the job to be your Realtor because of my experience, training and confidence in how I run my business.

    If you look at the chart below I believe it makes it easy to see why Keller Williams (KW) is the best choice as your real estate brokerage. I am a very successful agent and only want to be associated with the best brand which is why I chose KW. They excel at every level of real estate, residential and commercial, and have proven strategies from a tiny parcel of land up to luxury homes in the millions. They have strong brand recognition both nationally and globally and they provide top training and keep up to date with current technology.  You'll see below that our company not only is more productive but destroys the averages of the rest of the region.  In the chart you'll see the stats for CTAR (Charleston Trident Association of Realtors) and in the Red you'll see the KW stats.  I believe they speak for themselves. Please contact me if you don't understand this chart or have any questions about it. I'd be happy to go over it and also explain how I run my KW business. Also, if are considering real estate as a career we provide profit sharing with increase one's passive income.  Personally, I call it free money.  With large real estate teams (especially ones that advertise a lot) you often don't get the personal touch or you are just a number to them. They also promise a lot but often times have small writing that ends up not being a good deal. With brand new agents they don't have the experience to write the contracts or to properly negotiate on your behalf. With Jason you get a great company backing you, that personal touch, lower stress selling or buying (there is always some level of stress but I reduce that drastically with my proven strategies), a company with over 155,000 agents to network your home to (including globally) and my personal and relevant experience as a Realtor.

**Stay tuned for my next couple blog posts on mortgages and Nexton!

Need to buy or sell?

Choose Keller Williams Realty

Choose Jason Gregg

843.696.8627

Jason.Gregg@kw.com

2017 Home Renovations

My wife and I just updated our kitchen and we did the work ourselves. Instead of dropping thousands of dollars on new cabinets we consulted Sherwin Williams and learned now to repaint them at a fraction of the cost. We removed the doors, primed & painted (doors and frames) and installed new hinges and hardware and they look great. We even did a slight distressing of them for some character. We added shiplap boards bought from Lowes that came in a kit and installed them on our island.   Now, I am nowhere even close to being handy but I can paint, do hardware, and cut boards which is all we did but it looks amazing. So, this got me thinking - how can I help others sell their home but not lose money when it comes to renovating?  My next door neighbor put nearly $70K into a home renovation and also bought the house for a high dollar amount so now she is swimming in debt and her home will not sell because it's over priced due to the renovations.  You have to make sure your investment is going to be worth it.  Check out our before and after pics...

Here is a before pic of our kitchen:   

Here is our kitchen after (still need to put back splash up) which cost under $1k:

       I read an article at http://www.realtor.com/news/trends/best-and-worst-renovations-to-make-in-2017/?identityID=56c6204b698ab9a903015dbf&MID=2017_0113_WeeklyNL&RID=3739612622&cid=eml-2017-0113-WeeklyNL-blog_1_renovations-blogs_trends and found it to be very useful and relevant.  It provides research on the 2017 top home renovations, contractor costs and the ROI (Return on Investment) on a variety of projects. Strange enough the number one renovation is completely unseen but the ROI is over 100% which means you can get all your money back and then some.  The ROI on placing insulation in your attic is around 108%.   The next top renovation is changing out your front door for an attractive solid steel door. According to Realtor.com the average ROI is 64% on home upgrades and renovations. Of course we all know that buyers buy for the kitchens and bathrooms so  those are the big renovations that sell. So, take a look at their chart and see what you think you need to do to get the most out of your home.  It's also a good idea to understand that many upgrades do not increase value, though they may help sell your home faster. Things such as replacing the roof when it's needed or getting new HVAC does not increase the value...that is considered maintenance but if those things are not done you're going to have a difficult time selling.

     Of course, nothing is better than having an experienced and trained Realtor come in and view your home and give you ideas. Also, if you're unsure about your home and it's current condition you can hire a licensed home inspector to come and in give you an evaluation and they will also provide you with ideas on what needs done. The price of a local inspector runs from $250-500 (depending on size of your home).

If you'd like me to come in and give you ideas on selling your home I'd be happy to assist. I can also help you stage your home to get the most viewings, and money, on your home and work with a staging specialist if needed. Call me today (or tomorrow) for any real estate questions or to sell your home. I also love referrals... 

Jason Gregg, Realtor
843.696.8627
Jason.Gregg@kw.com
www.Palmettodreamhomes.com

It's 2017...What's your new start?

Can you believe it... 2016 is closed out and we are entering 2017.  To some you are sighing a huge sigh of relief that the year is over and some of you are mourning the end of '16.  I, for one, am in the middle of that spectrum. I had a great year with family, success in my real estate business and much more but struggled with some health issues. Let's just say I am a cancer survivor now but with one less ear.  Yup, you read that correctly. I am the official one-ear'd Realtor. The cancer was inside of my ear so unfortunately they had to remove 2/3 of my left ear leaving me deaf on that side. Sometimes, life just kind of sucks and we gotta make the best of it.

So, with that in mind I am going to give you "12 Characteristics of Tough Minded Optimists."

1. Optimists are seldom surprised by trouble

2. Optimists look for partial solutions

3. Optimists believe they have control over their future

4. Optimists allow for regular renewal

5. Optimists interrupt their negative train of thoughts

6. Optimists heighten their powers of appreciation

7. Optimists use their imaginations to rehears success

8. Optimists are cheerful even when they can't be happy

9. Optimists believe they have an almost unlimited capacity for stretching

10. Optimists build lots of love into their lives

11. Optimists like to swap good news

12. Optimists accept what they cannot change. 

What's your favorite? Mine is #8 and #12. Nobody says we have to be happy all the time but despite our circumstance we can be cheerful. We can use manners, be polite, give compliments, wish someone a good day and we don't have to drag others down that are around us. Number 12 is basically the serenity prayer which we've all seen and heard.

Summerville, SC drivers need some serenity prayers...

As we all enter into another phase, another year, another transition let's all celebrate that change and be a tough-minded optimist.

Happy New Years,

-Jason

Call me for your real estate needs...843.696.8627 or go to www.palmettodreamhomes.com

December and CHRISTMAS CALENDAR OF EVENTS and Market update

Merry Christmas! December and the holiday season is upon us and there are some great holiday events. The Sound of Charleston from Gospel to Gershwin will be at the Circular Congregational Church all month.  The Holiday Festival of Lights at the James Island County Park is always a favorite. There will be plays, music, parades, and tree lightings all month.  What a great time of the year in Charleston with temperatures in the mid 60’s. 

Here is your December calendar of events:

1-3: Holy City Messiah, CSO, Various Lowcountry Churches

2: Melissa Etheridge’s Holiday Trio, Chas Music Hall

2-4: 4th Annual Made in the South Weekend, Charlestowne Landing

3: N Charleston Christmas Parade and Festival

3: IOP Holiday Street Festival

3: 26th Annual Reindeer Run, starts at Southend Brewery

3: Holiday Swing w/ Chas Jazz Orchestra, Chas Music Hall

3,4,10: 33rd Annual Spirituals Concert, Drayton Hall

3: Pint of Hope, Hoppy Holiday Market, Freehouse Brewery

4: Charleston Christmas Parade and Tree Lighting

Dec 6: Christmas tree lighting from 5-7:30 in Summerville

8-21: 21st Annual Charleston Christmas Festival

9-11: Nutcracker by Charlotte Ballet, Gaillard

10: Folly Beach Christmas Parade

10: Holiday Parade of Boats

11: Mt Pleasant 21st Annual Christmas Light Parade and Tree Lighting

11: Christmas Parade at 2:00 in downtown Summerville (best to arrive early for parking and a location to sit)

14: Elf, Chas Music Hall

15: Skylark Vocal Ensemble Christmas, Grace Cathedral

15: CSO String Quartet, Historic Library Society

15: The Tenors, Gaillard

17: CSO Holiday Pops, Gaillard

17: Night Before Christmas by Charleston Chamber Music, Sottile Theater

20-21: Christmas in Wales, Circular Congregational Church

21: Christmas Carol Walking Tour with Tim Lowry at either 5:30 p.m. or 7:00 p.m.

21: Special Holiday Extravaganza, Gaillard

21: It’s a Wonderful Life, Chas Music Hall

28: Blue Dogs, Chas Music Hall

30,31: Shakey Graves, Chas Music Hall

31: 4th Annual Charleston Rose Ball, Johnson Hagood Stadium

31: 5th Annual Yorktown Countdown

31: Folly Beach Flip Flop Drop

Jan 1: Bill Murray Look-a-Like Polar Bear Plunge

The Charleston and surrounding area’s real estate market continues to do extremely well and reflects the wonderful state of the economy overall here.  Overall, we are up 10% year to date in the number of transactions and we may sell over 17k home this year.  It will either be the busiest or the second busiest year ever.  And median sales price is up almost 5% to $244k.  40% of the properties currently under contract are new construction.  And this new construction is spread out over the entire tri-county area from Summerville to Johns Island and from Mt Pleasant to rural West Ashley.  The Volvo plant has brought several new subdivisions to the Summerville area and a new interchange on I-26 is being added.  Boeing is continuing to expand and seems very pleased here.  Some people are just beginning to figure out that they call us Silicon Harbor because there are so many software and digital IT companies here.  Of course, new restaurants and breweries continue to open daily and the cruise ships continue to bring new tourists into town.

Sales Pitch Vs Sales Record

Moving to Summerville, or anywhere in the Charleston/Trident region, can be challenging because there are so many real estate agents. I bet you know at least 2-4 agents if you live here, right? This is even more difficult if you are relocating and you don't know anyone so you are literally throwing a dart and choosing whoever you land on. I am a Realtor with Keller Williams and I have had a very successful year. I am in this career for the long haul, good market or bad, which means customer service and satisfaction is my number one priority. 

Recently, my wife and I interviewed companies to provide us a screened-in porch. We narrowed our search down to 2 companies and now we have the challenging job to choose one. I have spoken to each sales representative and I believe we have our decision made. It came down to the record of the company, not the sales pitch. The one salesman told me on the phone yesterday that he will not speak negatively about his competitor but his record speaks enough for him. He said to me, "I'm not a salesman - I'm a builder and we do a great job."  I love that! That's the way I do my business. I can do a great sales pitch but I prefer to be genuine and build a relationship and then partner together to get your home sold. There are born salesman out there that can sell you anything. Have you ever been to a Timeshare sales presentation and walked away with one and the next day you are asking, "How did that happen?"  Great Sales Pitch.  On a side note, if you purchase a timeshare you have 5 days to cancel it under SC law. 

Real Estate is like this

Many real estate agents have fantastic sales presentations but lack the sales record (price, days on market, expired homes, number of homes sold, positive referrals, etc). Real estate is basically the 80/20 rule.  Eighty percent of sales are done by 20% of agents but honestly I think that is more like the 90/10 rule. There are large teams out there that spend a ton of money advertising but their homes sit on the market longer, much longer, than mine. Guess what....the longer a house sits the less money you get. I see pictures on the MLS that are from a cell phone and look awful and you are paying that person the same amount you are paying me to get professional photos done, video, 3-D, fliers, open houses and more.  Anyone can pitch...this does not mean they can sell!

Is this what you want to see? 

I'm going to strongly recommend you interview multiple agents when you decide to list your home and don't fall prey to the sales and marketing gimmicks you hear on the radio, billboards and TV. I am so confident in my sales record and abilities that I am happy to interview against other agents for the job of your Realtor. I think you'll see the difference!

Make sure your loved ones and friends get a strong agent when they are ready to sell.  Call me today and I'll treat your family and friends like my own.

-Jason
843.696.8627

Just how affordable is housing right now?

This article was sent to us from Lucey Mortgage in Mount Pleasant. It's great information on our market and makes a lot of sense. Call one of us if you need help with real estate...

The Truth About Housing Affordability

From a purely economic perspective, this is one of the best times in American history to buy a home. Black Night Financial Services discusses this in their most recent Monthly Mortgage Monitor.

Here are two of the report’s revelations:

1.     The average U.S. home value increased by $13,500 from last year, but low interest rates have kept the monthly principal & interest payment needed to purchase a median-priced home almost equal to one year ago.

2.     Home affordability still remains favorable compared to long-term historic norms.

The report explains:

“Even though the value of the average home in the U.S. increased by about $13,500 over the last year, thanks to declining interest rates it actually costs almost exactly the same in principal and interest each month to purchase as it did this time last year.

Even taking into account the fact that affordability can vary – sometimes significantly – across the country based upon the different rates of home price appreciation we’re seeing, that’s a pretty incredible balancing act between interest rates and home prices at the national level…

Right now, it takes 20 percent of the median monthly income to cover monthly payments on the median-priced home, which is well below historical norms.”

However, the report warns that affordability will be dramatically impacted by an increase in mortgage rates.

“A half-point increase in interest rates would be equivalent to a $17,000 jump in the average home price, and bring that ratio to 21.5 percent. This increase is still below historical norms, but puts more pressure on homebuyers.”

Bottom Line

If you are ready and willing to purchase a home of your own, let's get together to find out if you are able to. Now is a great time to jump in.

Lorcan Lucey
Lucey Mortgage Corporation
861 Coleman Blvd. Mt Pleasant SC 29464
 
Office:  843-884-8133
Mobile: 843-224-3650
Fax:       843-884-6575
NMLS License Per/Corp 185300/185310
lorcan@luceymortgage.net
www.luceymortgage.net