Summerville SC - Wind Turbine Parts Manufacturer to Bring 190 New Jobs to Area

 The year 2009 ended on a positive note for the economic future   of the Charleston SC Tricounty area. Boeing formally announced their expansion plans for the Dreamliner Final Assembly Plant with an anticipated 3800+ new jobs and the Clemson University Restoration University announced the Charleston Naval Complex, North Charleston as the site of their 98 million dollar Wind Turbine Test Facility…

 So, on paper very promising …but like most consumers my confidence is raised immeasurably by seeing tangible progress… Well the Boeing construction is hard to miss and just yesterday March 9, 2010 the first company ...

Down Payment Assistance – First Time Home Buyers - SC Palmetto Heroes Program

Announcing Down Payment Assistance for Police Officers, Firefighters, EMS and Teachers –The 2010 Palmetto Heroes Program is offered by the State Housing Authority and provides both reduced mortgage rates and down payment assistance for qualified First Time Home Buyers who are certified in one of the professions listed above. The funds are limited and loans will be granted on a first come first served basis.

First Time Home Buyer - Tax Credit Recap

As a reminder First Time Home Buyers wishing to take advantage of the Tax Credit must have a  Purchase Agreement for a primary residence  signed no later then April...

HAFA – Homeowners, REALTORS, Servicers, Investors – Here comes the Streamlined Short Sale Program…So what do you think?

I could initiate this blog with some stats about the number of homeowners who are facing pre-foreclosure but the media at large is doing that sufficiently well enough. The numbers are growing and REALTORS in an effort to assist buyers and sellers have been attending classroom and online educational sessions in droves with the goal of increasing the % of successful short sale transactions and reducing the # of Foreclosures. One caveat before I continue –

“SHORT SELLING IS NOT THE ONLY PRE-FORECLOSURE OPTION FOR HOMEOWNERS”

In fact with the institution of the HAFA ( Ho...

This time of the year finds many real estate practitioners fine tuning their 2010 business plan and unlike last year there is a decidedly optimistic Buzz in the air.  Perhaps I am looking through Charleston SC Rose Colored Glasses?

True the 4th quarter is not closed but the purchase trend for the final quarter is undeniably positive due in strong measure to the First Time Home Buyer Tax Credit ( Extended & Expanded) and exceptional mortgage rates.  Looking forward to 2010 the Tax Credit has been expanded to include Current Home Owners which will support the continued purchase momentum. And here in Charleston SC we have received a true Christmas Bonus with the announcement of the Boeing E...

New Home Buyer Tax Credit - Impact on Current Home Owners and Members of the Military

Although there was a plethora of speculation regarding the Tax Credit extension most everyone was simply waiting for the timing of the announcement ! Hard to argue with the impact of the Tax Credit ( at least on the surface) and for the local perspective lets take a look at the numbers for the Charleston SC area.

CHARLESTON SC REALTORS  ECSTATIC OVER BOEING ANNOUNCEMENT

The real estate industry is cyclical - not to be confused with seasonal - which we are accustomed to planning for each year. Here in the Charleston SC area we remain in a strong Buyers Market; you would have to have been living underground for the past 2 years not to have noticed the real estate market shift from seller to buyer - the price decline and the overall reduction in # of transactions.

 A quick recap of some of the broader local numbers reveals the following (all figures extracted from the CTAR MLS database)

HOME BUYER TAX CREDIT - EXTENDED AND EXPANDED!

*President Obama is anticipated to sign this Bill tomorrow!

 House lawmakers today passed the Bill extending the First Time Home Buyer Tax Credit - for Purchase Agreements signed no later then April 30, 2010 and closed no later then June 30, 2010.

The tax credit equates to up to 10% of the home's purchase price and remains capped at $8,000; however qualifying income levels have been raised to $125,000 for single tax filers and $225,000 for joint filers up from the original levels of $75,000 and $150,000 respectively.

 In addition the Bill also creates a $6,500 tax credit for homeowners who have owned their current home for a period o...

This weekend Keller Williams Realty will be holding an Open House Event in Charleston and the Greater Charleston SC area. Over 100 homes in the tri-counties of Berkeley, Dorchester and Charleston will be open to the public on Saturday or Sunday from 2 - 5PM....

You can visit the entire list of participating properties online by going to   http://www.kwcharleston.com/pages/HomeTour.shtml....

For information on two homes that I am personally marketing please click on the following link: http://www.heatherlord.com/listings/index/mlsnumbers:2901950,2906042

Just look for the red & white Keller Williams Realty signs ... oh and if you are driving in the communities of Wescott Plantation or Ar...

Announcing - Closing Cost / Down Payment Assistance using the $8,000 First Time Home Buyer Tax Credit

First-time homebuyers (and Realtors!) have been eagerly awaiting the official announcement from Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) regarding the use of the $8K Tax Credit to assist with Down Payment and Closing Cost Fees.

Well, it has finally arrived, and it's exciting news for anyone thinking about purchasing that first home. (Click on the Graphic to read the Official Mortgagee Letter)

Basic Info on the Down Payment Assist Program

Previously, first time buyers could get the $8K credit, but only as a part of their tax return. A nice be...

Be a Smart "Condo Consumer!"

Many people in Charleston--busy professionals, singles, older folks, and so on--enjoy condominium ownership. They like being free from routine exterior maintenance and yard work, and enjoying amenities like swimming pools and tennis courts. From one bedroom flat style condos to tri-level condos on the water you can find a property to suit any lifestyle and budget.

 There are many pluses to owning a condominium, or "single family attached" home. But there are other factors you must also consider. Of course, you know there are monthly condo fees over and above your mortgage payment. But there's more to the story. So, let's take a few moments to review some o...

Introducing Walk Score to www.HeatherLord.com

I am so jazzed to let everyone know that I have added the Walk Score application to my Property Search Program.... This tool provides a  great way to determine the accessibility of local shops, restaurants, schools etc. to a specific address.

 Finding the Perfect Home - So much more than just a structure:

 When you purchase a new home - you buy so much more than a structure - you are buying into the neighborhood, the amenities, the school district, in short a lifestyle... and this new application is just another tool to help prospective homeowners find the perfect home.

It is my personal experience that home buyers want to know...

Downtown Charleston Living: Culture at Your Doorstep!

A truly unique aspect of living in downtown Charleston SC is the proximity to the very best cultural experiences the Low Country has to offer. From First Friday gallery crawls on Broad Street, to symphony performances at the Galliard Auditorium, improv comedy at Theater 99 and the live music pumping from countless club doorways on East Bay Street, there seems to be a fresh cultural experience around every Charleston corner.

 And then, it gets really good! For two amazing weeks, Charleston becomes the cultural capital of the Southeast.  That's when Spoleto Festival USA arrives to delight your senses and kick off summer in Charlesto...

 A Painters Palette  -  Spring in Charleston SC -  Just another reason I live here!

I don't know about you but I love this time of year! The threat of frost has passed (based on typical weather patterns) the pollen, while still lingering is not the yellow plague of just a couple of weeks ago and..... humidity levels are not yet stifling.

 The first Spring I experienced in Charleston was exceptionally beautiful, the year 1992. I remember passing streams of lavender colored Wisteria and blasts of deep magenta Azalea blooms - pristine white Dogwood trees and sunshine yellow Carolina Jasmine... well you get the idea.

 During that first Spring, I found myself constantly thinking about m...

This may be redundant for many folks but my experience to date suggests that many people still don’t know about the government incentive to assist First Time Home Buyers. So, if you already have a clear understanding of how this tax credit works and who is legible to take advantage of it… skip this post and read my next one!  

How much can I claim for the tax credit?
Probably the first question on everyone’s mind… Borrower’s can claim up to $8,000 or 10% of the home’s value whichever is less.

Who is eligible for this tax credit?
First time home buyers or those who have not owned a principal residence in 3 years prior to the purchase. This applies to BOTH purchaser and purchaser...

Ok – so let me set the stage; so to speak…. It is Saturday morning, second cup of tea and I am answering Arch Telecom calls.

For those unfamiliar, Arch Telecom provides an 800# service with recorded information for each of our listings… and I love these calls! Yep, I sure do and no I am not masochistic, occasionally overly optimistic but never masochistic! I cannot think of a better way to speak to potential buyers who are truly in the moment – i.e., they are physically outside the home that has caught their eye or reading a real estate book etc.

So my first call of the morning was an inquiry about a 3/2 home listed in Goose Creek SC… The young woman shares with me that she has ...

Technorati Directory Information

First, I want to say that I do understand that Blog articles should provide relevant content of value to the reader.... Otherwise this channel of communication is relegated to nothing more than an online advertising medium.

That being said I am taking my liberties with this post and will ask my readers for their forgiveness.

Two years ago I began my quest for a website - How embarrassing is that admission??? I am unsure how may providers I contacted, how many sites I perused or how many times I was ready to take the plunge - numerous, myriad, copious... well you get the picture.

I have graded many a site using HUBSPOT's web grading tool - http://website.grader.com and learned much ab...