The fall real estate season: Why buyers and sailors are active now
New listings: My top picks for downtown Charleston under $1m
Community Blues: Enough Pie's Indigo Vat Shack
Dear Friends,
October is here! It's officially my favorite time of year. The spectacular sunsets, the golden marsh, the cool(er) evenings... what's not to love? October is also a wonderful time for real estate in Charleston. Read on to find out why...
Fall sunsets: Inspiring desire for Lowcountry living since... forever.
The Fall Real Estate Season: Why Buyers and Sellers are Active Now
Fall is historically an active time for buying and selling in Charleston, rivaling the spring season. Here are some reasons why.
A RETURN TO ROUTINE
With the end of the summer travel period and the advent of the school year, the fall is a time of a return to routine. Routines make it easier for sellers to show their homes and for buyers to schedule time to look.
A BREAK IN THE HEAT
Temperatures in October average around 75 degrees in Charleston, a welcome break from the 80-90+ degree temperatures of July, August, and even September. This sort of pleasant weather makes for pleasant real estate showings.
VISITORS WITH EYES FOR REAL ESTATE
Fall is a prime time for visitors to Charleston. Events like the Preservation Society's Fall Tours and the Gibbes Museum Distinguished Lecture Series attract visitors with special interest in the architecture and culture of our city, and many of these visitors eventually become full- or part-time residents.
END OF YEAR APPROACHING
There can be financial benefits to buying or selling before year's end, so many buyers and sellers are eager to sign on the dotted line before the ball drops. While your CPA or financial advisor is the best person to consult about this, here are some reasons to buy/sell before year end courtesy of Realtor.com.
Data source: Charleston Trident MLS.
LOOKING TO BUY OR SELL BEFORE 2017?
BUYERS:
Connect with an agent now, and make sure that agent knows what you are looking for so you can schedule a showing as soon as something hits the market.
Make sure your agent's schedule jives with yours. Are you local and need to look at homes after work? Or are you visiting and need to block off a couple days in a row for showings? Make sure your agent is available and planning ahead.
If planning to finance your home purchase, get pre-qualified now. This will ensure your ability to make an offer confidently and quickly when the right home comes along.
Plan for 6-8 weeks from contract-to-close for financed transactions and 4-6 weeks for cash transactions.
SELLERS:
Aim to get your house on the market ASAP, by mid-to-late October at the latest. At William Means, if you are ready to put your home on the market, we can have the home officially listed within a 1-2 weeks (or less!).
Price competitively and/or be willing to negotiate.
Make a plan to accommodate for holiday showings (Thanksgiving week in particular is a popular time for showings).
Be prepared to pack and move. You never know when the right offer might materialize.
New on the Market:My Picks for...
Got the Blues? Visit Enough Pie's Indigo "Vat Shack" in Charleston's Upper Peninsula
Basic white T's no more. Photo credit: Hart Hagerty
My indigo goods! (1) Silk/wool, ready for my next sewing project, and (2) a unique pair of ombre Hart Tassels, ready for my next cocktail party.
Ready to get your hands blue?
The next Community Dye Day is October 15 (9 am - 12 noon) at the Vat Shack, located in the park behind Joseph Floyd Manor, 2106 Mount Pleasant Street, Charleston, SC 29403.
