Should I rent...or Should I Own?

I get asked this a lot as a local Realtor here in the Tri-County and especially of those transplants from the Northeast (which I am one of).  Just a side note - how long must one live here  before the term Transplant is no longer used? I've been here 10 years - is that long enough?  OK -back on track!  When I get asked rent or own my initial question is the same, "What is your long term goal."  Even despite my loss of a pay check there are times I recommend renting because it's better for the client. So, what are some of the reasons to rent and not own?

1. If you are only here short-term for a job

2. I think it's a great idea to rent for 6-12 months before investing in a home to learn the area.  Some locations or more family oriented and some are more single oriented.  

3. It definitely depends on the market. With interest rates so low right now you can save a ton of money over the next 15-30 years in payments.  Interest rates are going to go up after the election (My prediction) so it would be a financial advantage to purchase now rather than rent. Also, our rental markets are really hot right now so rent prices are some of the highest they have ever been. 

4. If you just don't want any maintenance or lawn care then maybe renting is a good option. Of course you could also buy and pay someone but many complexes now have pools, gyms, tennis, etc and some people find value in those.  

Here is a great short video link about renting vs buying.  

http://www.realtor.com/videos/is-renting-or-buying-the-smarter-choice-/60370d0c-6dd0-4397-a297-b698e70bd8c0

Call me if you have questions on buying or renting...or about any real estate question.

Who do you know looking to buy a home, sell a home or invest in real estate?  I love referrals!

Jason

843.696.86278

Jason,Gregg@kw.com

www.palmettodreamhomes.com

Ranch for sale in Summerville (Legend Oaks)

Open House Sunday 1-4:00

Everyone loves Legend Oaks and there's a great reason for this.  The people are nice, the homes are nice, the amenities are great and it's connected to great schools.  Buyer's can usually find some of these aspect in a subdivision but not all. This is why Legend Oaks continually remains a hot real estate market and now there's a great new ranch home for sale.  Did you know that in the last 6 months 67 homes in LO sold that were listed in our MLS (Multiple Listing Service) and only 7 of those were Ranch style homes.  Pretty interesting if you ask me.  I dug a little deeper on those 7 ranches and came up with the following market data:

• 7 ranches closed in the last 6 months in LO



Kitchen opens up nicely into the dining and living room

• Average sold price $242,486.00
• Average days on market was 49
• Average price/square foot -  $116,78

Real estate is all about price, location and condition and these numbers don't give any information on the condition of the home.  Let me tell you about 137 Back Tee Circle.  This move-in ready 3 bedroom/2 full bath home is ready for you and your family.  It has an extended driveway for more room (which is always useful), it backs up to complete privacy with woods behind it which you can enjoy on your huge concrete patio.  The 2 car garage not only will hold you car but also your toys (kayaks, mower, golf cart, tools, Christmas decorations, etc) and the open concept yells for a party.  Walking through the front door you notice the open concept and ability to talk to everyone from the kitchen.  After all, it's the kitchen where everyone congregates and not only can you talk to everyone but you can also enjoy the fireplace too.  If the 3 bedrooms are not enough use the finished room over the garage (FROG) as your 4th bedroom or make it into a man-cave. Drive your gold cart to one of a couple pools or to the country club for lunch and a round of golf or a round of tennis.

Come out and see me Sunday between 1-4:00 (August 14th) and tour the home and see if this home is meant to be yours. Ranch homes do not last long so take advantage of this opportunity and call me today to see it.  

Open Living Room

New Town Home On The Market

Great Summerville, SC home for sale

5 minutes to I-26

You are going to love 1001 Yellow Hawthorne Circle located in Summer Wood.  This home has 2 spacious bedrooms and 2 1/2 baths with just under 1,400 square feet. Inside, you'll find beautiful laminate hardwood floors that is very warm and welcoming.  The kitchen has white cabinets and ceramic tile floors and it also boasts a rare garage for a town house.  All the appliances are included in this too. You can sip your morning coffee or grill out on the private screened-in porch and since it's screened you won't get eaten by our state bird - the mosquito.  You can you have choice of swimming in one of multiple pools and live the care-free lifestyle because you won't have to mow or do any exterior work.  Click the link for more information and pictures... http://1001YellowHawthornCircle.BeautifulHome.ForSale

5 minutes to Historic Summerville, SC

Please come out and see me Sunday from 1-3:30 for an open house and check it out. If it's not for you maybe you know someone looking for a great maintenance-free home and can refer it to them.  Also, if you are looking to buy or sell I'm happy to help you any way I can.

Questions - call me at 843.696.8627

-Jason
Keller Williams Realty
Jason.Gregg@kw.com

Do you know anyone looking to buy a home, sell a home or invest in real estate? Call me so I can help them.  You don't want yourself, or your friends or family, being represented by a weak agent.

Cuppa Manna

As a Realtor I have the luxury of making my office pretty much wherever I want it to be and yesterday I chose Cuppa Manna.  It had been a long time since I had passed through these doors as it was formerly Single Smile Cafe and Single Smile was not my cup of Joe (no pun intended - yes it was). I always felt crowded in there because I felt I was surrounded by stuff everywhere. I also felt like I was walking into a flea market but not at Cuppa Manna.  According to the website it was bought in August 2015 by Mike and Janice Taylor.  It's obvious the new owners have a different vision yet kept the cozy atmosphere of a local coffee shop with good coffee. Cuppa Manna is very different now it's a big improvement.  While I was there I decided to branch out from my normal cup of plain coffee and enjoy a Tiramisu Latte - I was not disappointed. The coffee was good and the staff was very friendly. I was able to walk around the shop without bumping into tea storage containers or feel the fear of knocking something off the wall or breaking china sets. I also appreciated the fact that the tables had large electrical strips allowing me to easily plug in my computer. My only complaint was that at times the staff was loud and when I was on the phone it was difficult to hear and stay focused. Other than that I recommend giving it a shot. I know I'll be back with computer in hand and hopefully listing another house.

 Check out my new listing under the Real Estate Tab here.  It's a Summerville townhome under $120K

-Jason

Who do know looking to buy a home, sell a home or invest in real estate? If you know anyone please call me at 843.696.8627.

Real Estate Market Stats

Everyone says we have a "strong market" here in Summerville, SC but can your realtor explain what that means?  On a side note, if you don't have a Realtor but need one please call me at 843.696.8627 so I can offer you my services.  We are in a strong market but I, many may argue, believe we are in a shift and that shift will start in January 2017 (if not a little sooner). I don't see a drastic drop in the market like in the past but a gradual decline (some may not even notice it but it'll be there).  Make sure you hire a Realtor that knows the market. Would you hire a surgeon that could not describe physiology?  I would hope not!

The Summerville, SC Scene-

The numbers

The MLS is divided up into section and there are 3 in Summerville:
61 - N. Charleston, Ladson (dorchester area) and Summerville
62 - Summerville, the rest of Ladson and Ravenell to HWY 165
63 - Summerville to Ridgeville (this included the downtown area)

The following numbers are residential sales from January - June (by the way this has been our 3rd best year ever in sales). These number all represent an increase from the same time in 2015.
61 - 539
62 - 305
63 - 700 (wow)

The following describes the months of inventory (MOI) we have in each section.  You should know that 6 MOI is a healthy and balanced market with equal buyer and sellers.  Anything below 6 represents a strong sellers market (less inventory) and anything over 6 represents a buyer's market (more homes on the market than buyers).
61 - 3.5 MOI
62 - 1.8 MOI
63 - 2.6 MOI

** this tells me we remain in a strong sellers market which I agree with based on my sales and experience.  NOW Is the time to list your home because it'll sell. Call me TODAY for more information.**

The following information is the median sales price for 2016
61 - $192,000.00
62 - $175,000.00
63 - $215,000.00

Summerville, SC has a great market...List with me Today

If you, or anyone you know, if looking to...Buy a Home or Sell A Home... Please contact me today!!

Jason Gregg, Realtor

Keller Williams Realty

843.696.8627

Jason.Gregg@kw.com

www.Palmettodreamhomes.com

Happy 4th of July... a time to ponder and celebrate

Yesterday my family and I enjoyed a day out on a friend's boat and we watched the fireworks over Patriot's Point.  It was a great time being all together and just being on the water was so relaxing. Most people do New Years Resolutions and by January 4th they no longer exist in their world.  I refuse to make resolutions because I never keep them and then I get angry with myself - it's just a bad cycle.  I find it's better to evaluate things 1/2 way through the year and then set a plan to reach your goals. This year has been pretty rough with surgery, finances, recovery, etc...  I want the 2nd half of the year to be better and in order to make this happen I have to change my mindset. My new favorite quote comes from a class I'm taking called BOLD (Business Objective: A Life by Design). It's a great coaching and training class and my favorite BOLD Law is the following: "Change the way you look at things and the things you look at change."  I love this because it gives me the power to change my perspective.  I can be a victim or I can be a hero. I can view myself as poor or see myself as rich.  I can walk down the street with my head down or I can boldly walk upright and say Hi to everyone.  As part of my assignments I read the following poem and I'll leave it as such:

The Victor
by C.W. Longenecker

If you think you are beaten, you are.

If you think you are not, you don't.

If you like to win but you think you can't, 

It's almost a cincy you won't.

If you think you'll lose, you're lost.

For out in the world we find

Success begins with a fellow's will.

It's all in the state of mind.

If you think you are outclassed, you are.

You've got to think high to rise.

You've got to be sure of yourself before

You can ever win the prize

Life's battles don't always go

To the stronger or faster man.

But sooner or later, the man who wins

Is the man who thinks he can.

-Jason

need to sell a home or looking to buy a home....call me at 843.696.8627

I don't need an agent - I can sell on my own...

FSBO -  For Sale By Owner

The Summerville market is booming and homes are selling fast. Let me help you, your friends and family sell your home for top dollar and quickly. 

     I was naive enough to once think I could sell a home on my own - oh was I wrong.  Long before the days I turned Realtor I was relatively arrogant and stubborn (hard to believe) and thought how hard can it be.  Currently, I'm in a great class with Keller Williams (who I work with as a Realtor) and I am looking to take my business to the next level and honestly help people by giving them real estate service with value. I run across FSBO's a lot and I hear the same argument. No matter how much it pains me that they are going down the wrong road most people have to learn through the process of pain and pleasure.  90% of our decisions are based on avoiding pain and often times for home sellers they think they can can save money by not listing it with a listing agent (like myself and one that specializes in Summerville, SC real estate).  Below you'll find 7 reasons not to sell FSBO. Also, let me add that I just read today FSBO sellers get 0.85 cents on the dollar selling it on their own and significantly less exposure because buyer agents only want to deal with qualified, licensed agents to represent the other side of the transaction. The following information comes from my own research, experiences and this article (http://www.knot6.com/having-for-sale-by-owner-grief/).

Here are 7 reasons you should reconsider selling on your own...

1. MLS: Over 90% of people find their homes online and through agents. The best way people do this is through listing their home in the local MLS (multiple Listing Service). At Keller Williams we have two systems, the MLS and KWLS and once I put it on our KWLS your home goes to 350 real estate sites. You, as a FSBO are not allowed to put your home on our MLS which means that over 5,000 agents do not know your home is for sale.

2. Showing:  SAFETY is your number 1 concern.  As a Realtor I know every agent/buyer in and out of your house because we have digital lock-boxes that track them. If you list it on your own you have to be home for every showing and you never know who's coming into your room or your home or who's keeping track of your valuable items. Also, Realtors must go through background checks so there is an added safety feature. Lock-boxes keep the wrong people out of your home and the right type of buyers in your home and the ability to track them all. Call me to list your home and avoid the safety scares!

3.  As a Realtor I don't want to deal with the homeowner: A buyer's agent signs a buyer's agency agreement with a client and then the seller's brokerage pays that buyer's agent his/her commission. Working with a homeowner there is no true way to know if the buyer's agent will get paid so most agents will not show your home without it being represented by a broker (such as Keller Williams Realty).  This means that most buyers coming inside of your home are probably not properly qualified to buy or unrepresented which is grounds for a disaster or lawsuit. As a Realtor I will not accept an offer without pre-approval or proof of funds. Using an agent gets your more leverage and more exposure to buyers.

4.  Pricing: I just spoke to a gentleman doing a FSBO who has his home priced $170,000 too high. You heard me correctly!  Yes, I wish I were kidding but the comps show his house should sell around the $475-500K mark but he has it around $660K.  I do not set the price and you do not set the price - the market does! You need to hire someone, Jason Gregg, who knows the market and will price your home to sell. I just had a house go under contract in 4 days because it was priced right. I was upfront with the FSBO gentleman and told him he's way overpriced and I'd be happy to help him price it more appropriately but I have not heard back from him. Every homeowner thinks his/her home is worth more than it is. Guess what? Homes that are overpriced do NOT sell.  Please do not make this personal - it's business. You will find agents out there that will list at any price you want because they want business but you don't want them - you want honesty! The longer your home sits unsold the more costly it becomes!

5.  I fought the law and the law one: Real estate contracts can get you into trouble quickly and unless you have a knowledgeable agent that understands them you are likely to get into legal trouble. One word, one sentence, one paragraph can be extremely costly so either hire me or you better be very familiar with contracts. 

6. Do you want to make less money?   Typically buyer's instantly knock off 6% from their purchase price because they know they can. If you had a listing agent you would probably make more due to our negotiating skills and our understanding of the contracts.  Less than 7% of FSBO end up selling on their own and if they do they make less money. Hire me to get you more money and make this stress free.  What's your time worth? What's your stress level worth? Trust me -  I know what i'm doing and REAL estate is stressful. 

7. So many people: How ready are you to deal with, negotiate with, schedule, follow up with, etc regarding your home? Here are just some of the people you'll have to deal, negotiate, schedule and call: the buyer's, their lender (mortgage lender, underwriter, banker), home inspector, CL100 Inspector, appraiser, seller's attorney, buyer's attorney, and buyer's agent (if they have one).  

Let me take the stress out of all this for you. Give me a call today

-Jason Gregg, Realtor

Keller Williams Realty

Jason.Gregg@kw.com

843.696.8627