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Do you want to get your home sold quickly and for the highest amount of money?  I am sure you do!  Here are a few tips that will help you get this done

1. Make sure that your home is SUPER CLEAN   Make it shine from top to bottom and don't forget to clean your windows and carpets, as well  It needs to SMELL clean, too.  If you have "doggy odor" or "kitty litter odor"  it is going to be a real turn off to potential buyers

2. Clear out the clutter.  Get rid of furniture if you need to - rent a storage unit - but too much furniture makes a home feel smaller and claustrophobic.  Remove unnecessary items from countertops, bathtubs, and shower stalls.  And by the way, make sure your bathroo...

Please come to my Open House tomorrow Friday, the 18th, at 37 Eastlake in Ion  in Mt Pleasant, SC

11:00 to 1:00

Champagne and light appetizers served!   Listed at $740,000

In an article from CNN Money earlier this week, they looked at this issue as we are entering 2011 

Here is what they said "Perhaps not surprisingly, ti makes more financial sense to rent than buy today in many US cities...

BUT that may finally be changing. Moody's chief economist Mark Zandi expects the trend to reverse this year in many major cities

By mid 2011 and certainly by end of 2011, buying will be superior to renting in most parts of the country." Zandi says.

As one person recently said "Rents are just like adjustable mortgage rates. They adjust often and most times they adjust upwards."

As everyone knows, the whole financing and lending process has changed and continues to change.   Here are a few things that might be helpful to you as you prepare to purchase a home

Tighter, and in some cases still-evolving, loan underwriting standards make it more critical than ever for buyers to make sure they're financially qualified for the purchase.

If your lender gives you a prequalification rather than a preapproval, push harder. WHat you need is a prequalification letter - and the only way to obtain that is to make sure that your lender has verified - to their satisfaction - all of your income and assets. And be prepared to full explanations for all  The paperwork is time...

Scam artists have come up with yet another scam to try to cheat homeowners, realtors an even attorneys

I have personally jus

Of course, everyone these days is curious about a short sale and the procedure

Here are a few items that may be interesting

Each potential short sale is considered on a case by case basis

A borrower whose mortgage payments are up to date will NOT be considered for a short sale unless there is proof of iminent hardship

Any possible tax implications must be reviewed by the seller's tax attorney and/or tax accountant or CPA

This must be an arm's length transaction. The seller's family members may not make the purchase. This would also include any business associates.

If you are considering selling your home as a short sale, please contact me for further help.

I would be more than happ...

In a foreclosure a homeowner who loses a home to foreclosure is ineligible for a Fannie Mae backed mortgage for a period of 5 years

In a short sale the homeowner who successfully negotiates and closes a short sale will be eligible for a Fanie Mae backed mortgage after only 2 years

A short sale is not reported on a credit report and is therefore not a challenge to employment

Sometimes in a successful short sale, it is possible to convince the lender to give up the right to pursue a deficiency judgement against the homeowner

PLEASE call me if you would like to purchase a short sale or bank owned property  OR if you need help with the sale of your home!

If you are thinking about purchasing a home here in downtown Charleston , Mt Pleasant, the islands or Folly Beach please give me a call!

Our partnership with Bank of America gives us some really nice perks  - and this is one of them!

Call me for more information on SAVING money on your purchase costs

Here are some low cost remodeling ideas for you

Install granite tile instead of a slab.

Everyone seems to be hot for granite kitchen countertops these days

Rather than a slab - which can be about a $5000.00 upgrade depending on the size of your countertop - use granite tiles. Putting in 12 inch granite tiles can cost about $300.00 in materials for the same size countertop . Then just add the cost of labor on top of that unless you are a do it yourselfer!

Adding or replacing bathroom tile can make your bath look lots cleaner than it looked. Inexpensive tiles can do the trick - $1.00 to $2.00 per tiles - and this goes for backsplashes in the kitchen, too!

Do you know how a short sale got its name?

When the owner accepts an offer for his house that is for LESS than what he owes - and the bank accepts it - it is called a "short sale"  The sale price is short of the full amount of the mortgage

Now, do you know why short sales fail?   Here are some interesting numbers

1. 4% fail because the buyer cannot get finance

2. 4% fail because the appraisal does not support the sale price

3. 10% fail becuase the second lien holder won't sign off

4. 67% fail because of red tape/indecision on the part of the LENDER!!

If you are a buyer or a seller in this short sale or foreclosure situation, make sure your Realtor is knowledgable in this area. S...

Interesting new statistics for the Charleston, SC area.

Downtown Charleston has 45 months worth of inventory right now. The normal or neutral real estate market has 6 months worth of inventory.

Mt Pleasant, SC has a little over 21 months worth of inventory

West Ashley area has a little over 20 months worth of inventory

What does this say to us?

If you have a home that you truly want to sell, you must price it to sell.

You must price your home to sell and you must have it looking better than anyone else's if possible! Usually, you only get one shot with a potential buyer .

A good realtor can price your home to sell within 30 to 60 days

Please call me if you want your to get your ho...

Good news on the "home front"!

The Charleston area residential real estate market continues to show signs of a strong recovery, according to the latest data from the Charleston Trident Association of Realtors.

As of December 10, the increase in sales was an unprecedented 80% and the third consecutive month of increases.

This type of activity is uncharacteristic for November and likely attributable to the passing of the original homebuyer tax credit. This tax credit has been extended, by the way, to April 30, 2010 and expanded to include provisions for existing homeowners.

Inventory is at this year's lowest level.

Charleston County showed the greatest gains in the region during the mo...

Just to let you all know... if you hire me to market and sell your home, you WILL get a home warranty put on your home at no charge to you. Now, this may make quite a difference for you - all you have to do when you have a problem with items covered under the warranty is pick up the phone, call one number and pay a small fee for the home visit.

For those of you who fell in love with the property I had for sale on Seabrook Island... it is now under contract! 

But if you are interested, I will be delighted to find another for you!

Have a great weekend and please check out my latest listing near Folly Beach at Seaside Plantation. A 3 bedroom home in fabulous condition and PRICED TO SEL...

Great news for the first time home buyer!  The tax credit has been extended!
Remember that this tax credit is good for the first time home buyer and is a tax credit up to $8,000.00

Something new, too!

If you have lived in your home for 5 consecutive years (of the past 8 years) you may qualify for a $6500.00 tax credit if you sell your home and buy a new one!  Wow!

So, if you are thinking of moving, NOW is the time!!

All contracts must be in effect by April 30, 2010

Call me and I will give you the details

Or check out my website www.georgiabellhomes.com and email me your questions

Have a wonderful day!

Well, we are certainly in the right place at the right time!

Conde Nast - the luxury travel magazine - has named our beautiful city as the second most fabulous place to visit (and live)

We are second only to San Francisco, California and frankly, I find that debatable...

I have been to San Francisco - it is beautiful - but, honestly, Charleston is far more livable and far more desirable. Of course, that is only my opinion... but I hear from those out on the West Coast that they LOVE, LOVE, LOVE, Charleston, SC

Our restaurants are simply outstanding - delightful cuisine, 5 star service, friendly staff etc etc

And how about the gracious hotel personnel... smiling faces and always helpf...

Abu Dhabi is projected to be the strongest performing market in the MENA region (middle East/Nort...

Many buyer's are in a paralyis by analysis mode right now. Afraid that the market is going lower and believing that there are just so manyproperties on the market right now, they don't feel any urgency to buy now

If you are feeling that way, I think I can help you

If, for example, you are looking at Charleston, SC to purchase a property., I can get facts and more facts for you - including statistics that will be helpful - to help you have a firm grasp on the market.  Armed with figures and facts, you can feel much more certainty about your purchase.

Low interest rates is so much more important right now than mst people/buyers realize...Rates are now at late-1950's levels  They have now...