South Carolina

We’ve talked about the recent spring 2023 numbers for home prices in South Carolina, and it’s clear that home sales have taken a big hit. Compared to April of last year, home sales have actually dropped by 23.4%. But now, we have some fresh data from South Carolina REALTORS. Are there any new South Carolina […]

Big city living isn’t for everyone. All the road congestion, the constant noise, and the challenges in forming relationships are reasons why people turn away from the packed cities. Luckily for you, if small-town life is calling your name, South Carolina has some of the nation’s best and prettiest towns! These small towns are the […]

South Carolina Home Sales Update: Spring 2023 The SC REALTORS recently dropped their update on the South Carolina housing market. The state saw across-the-board declines in home sales, putting the total April 2023 home sales down 23.4% year-over-year. We’ve been reporting on similar trends nationwide, so it’s not exactly breaking news, but trust us, there’s […]

March 2023 Monthly National Real Estate Report: Home Sales Down After months of higher mortgage rates and housing affordability challenges, the data from the first quarter of 2023 are unsurprising. The National Association of Realtors reports existing home sales fell 2.4% nationwide. The news hits with a reminder that real estate markets have been a […]

Fannie Mae Pushes Out Its Recession Predictions Predictions of the economy’s slowdown may have been exaggerated or, at the very least, premature. That’s Fannie Mae’s recent conclusion, which pushes out the timing for when it believes a recession is due and also saw the government-backed mortgage lender cutting its mortgage origination forecast for 2023 by […]

These Lenders Made the Most Mortgages in 2022 The top lenders in America in 2022 featured some familiar names in the world of mortgages. One notable change for 2022 was more traditional depositories (bank organizations that can accept deposits) cracked into the top 10. This reflects a greater confidence in working with banks for mortgage […]

Existing Home Sales Take a Positive Turn After a year of slumping home sales, market experts are seeing some positive signs that suggest a turnaround may be headed our way. This could be good news for home sellers and real estate investors waiting to enter the market. The activity could also spur local economies and […]

The States With the Lowest Real Estate Taxes in 2023 If you’re “average” regarding real estate taxes, then you can expect to pay nearly $3,000 a year. That’s no small amount, and it comes before considering other ownership expenses, like maintenance, renovation, and closing costs. Needless to say, real estate taxes can take a big […]

A typical home buyer story is simple: a couple wants to raise a family, and renting isn’t cutting it. With that in mind, you might speculate that millennials would be snatching up the most homes. But that’s not the case. According to recent National Association of Realtors (NAR) research, the largest generation of home buyers […]

Be Aware: Homeowners Insurance Is On the Rise The average premium for homeowners insurance rose 12% from 2021 to 2022, with an average annual increase of $134. That’s a stark jump for one year. In fact, the jump was so significant that it’s worth taking a minute and asking why insurance is rising. Is it […]

The Best US Markets for First-time Home Buyers People are looking for homes again; in some markets, it’s a great time to be a home buyer for the first time. Take Austin, Texas. Texas’s capital is becoming a buyer boomtown. People from the East and West Coasts are getting sick of high real estate prices […]

Cash Sales Are Up— What That Means for the Housing Market It’s common knowledge the all-cash offer makes the real estate transaction process easier both for the buyer and the seller. Knowing the buyer doesn’t need to work with a lender, which has a long underwriting process and no guarantee of financing approval, incentivizes the […]

HELOC Rates Dropped — Should You Take Out a Home Equity Line of Credit? The Federal Reserve raised interest rates throughout 2022, leading to higher rates everywhere, including mortgage rates. That might have some investors and homeowners scared to take out more loans. But a recent dip in Home Equity Line of Credit (HELOC) rates […]

These Metro Areas Had 2022’s Highest Home Price Gains Are high rates on mortgage loans going to cause a bubble to burst in housing prices? Not if you go by the late 2022 numbers. The year-end data shows home prices are still on the rise despite interest rates being near-double what they were a year […]

Home Prices Are Going Up–And What That Means For You High interest rates. Questions about housing inventory. Inflation potentially pointing to even higher interest rates. Read the headlines, and you’d expect the average mortgage cost to increase throughout 2023. If mortgages are more difficult to afford, you’d think market activity would slow, inventory would rise, […]

More people are approaching retirement, and that’s not an overstatement. Baby boomers—people born in the post-war era from 1946-1964—are ready to kick their feet up and start relaxing. They’re starting to retire at increasing rates, with all reaching retirement age by 2031. The only question is: where will they retire? That the baby boomers have […]

Where the Mortgage Industry Is Heading in 2023 Rising interest rates in 2022 have spooked many home buyers. It wasn’t easy seeing inflation run rampant throughout the year, driving up the cost of everything from gasoline to the interest rates on new mortgages. But trends at the end of 2022 could hint at what real […]

Top National Real Estate Trends to Watch in 2023 The real estate market has had quite an up-and-down ride over the past few years, with supply plummeting, demand skyrocketing, and home prices and annual percentage rates (APRs) adjusting accordingly. Projections for real estate trends in the country for 2023 certainly aren’t black and white, but […]

New Construction Is Down For 2023 The recent downturn in housing starts and building permits is a cause for concern for home buyers. Over the long term, the shortage of new housing construction means fewer options in terms of housing choices and can lead to higher prices due to limited overall supply. After a highly […]

What Housing Markets Will Boom In 2023 Housing sales activity cooled during 2022 thanks to rising mortgage rates and inflation. However, what’s happening is more of a correction as sales activity approaches near pre-pandemic levels in many markets. And, not every market is poised for a dramatic slowdown in 2023. Experts predict that housing markets […]

  Tourists come to South Carolina for its beautiful beaches and warm weather, but what about calling it home? Every state has its own quirks that attract people to live there. Now, with more remote work, people are evaluating their living situation and determining if where they live now is the best place for them. […]

  More people are deciding to call the Southern United States home. The weather is excellent, the people are friendly, and there’s always something to do. What’s not to love? Choosing the best state for Southern living depends on your preferences. Take a look living in Tennessee vs South Carolina.  Both states have unique benefits […]

Florida vs South Carolina: Which is the Better State? People migrate to the Sunbelt for various reasons. Maybe it’s the allure of a lower cost of living, more temperate climate, and job prospects. Florida has long been an East Coast destination, but what about nearby South Carolina? When comparing South Carolina vs Florida living, you […]

Condo living provides residents with several advantages. You don’t have to worry about yard work or exterior maintenance. That’s all taken care of by the condo association. And, if you’re looking for a second home or investment property, condos can be a great option since they’re often easy to rent. South Carolina has some fantastic […]