If you’ve been following foreclosure news, you already suspect that cashing in on foreclosed home opportunities in Myrtle Beach must be getting more difficult. According to CoreLogic’s Insights report at the end of last month, foreclosure inventory across the nation had dropped 35% from a year earlier. Whenever the number of available bank-owned homes shrinks, the tighter market produces some predictable results: the best deals are usually snatched up quickly with multiple offers and/or higher-than-asking prices, while questionable deals—foreclosed homes priced over market or requiring too many dollars in repairs—seem to predominate.

If you are investigating the market for foreclosed homes in Myrtle Beach, that doesn’t mean you will have to settle for a dubious acquisition. It does mean that you should plan to do some tough-minded calculating (with a freshly sharpened pencil)!

If you are newly interested in buying a foreclosed home in Myrtle Beach (and some good ones are still coming onto the market), experienced foreclosed home buyers tend to agree on some basic precepts:

1. Factor in All Costs

A very low price tag on a Myrtle Beach foreclosed home is a tempting opportunity—and a signal that you’ll need to do more than the usual amount of investigating. Especially in a tight market, a price that’s lower than expected often signals a high degree of disrepair that will require a great many improvements—ones the previous owners weren’t able to make. Such a deal can still be worthwhile, but requires doing the research to determine what kind of time and money it will take to make the place livable.

2. Offer Your Best

Whenever the foreclosure market tightens, the properly priced offerings begin to sell quickly. If so, when you find a foreclosure you know is one you want, be prepared to write your best offer earlier rather than later. If the home is attractively priced, it’s risky to go in low, hoping to nudge the banks’ price lower. It will be worth spending the time to double-check the comps and fine-tune your initial offer. If you don’t, it is increasingly likely that someone else will.

3. Work with a Specialist

Since all real estate agents don’t have the same amount of experience, if you’re looking to purchase a Myrtle Beach foreclosed home, there’s no substitute for working with someone who is well-versed in these specific transactions. Not only will an experienced agent be able to help you identify prospective buys, but dealing with the bank to successfully nab a foreclosed home isn’t always a cut-and-dried process. It may take more than one attempt before you succeed in writing a winning offer—but whatever it takes, it’s certain you’ll be ahead of the pack when you have a knowledgeable pro by your side.

Thinking of buying a home this fall? Whether you’re specifically searching for a foreclosed home in Myrtle Beach —or simply looking for your next home—I’m here to provide the resources and up-to-the-moment information that helps create winning offers! Trust in your Local Myrtle Beach Real Estate Experts at Plantation Realty Group to help you! (843) 796-2111

“At the end of the day...” “The bottom line…” “When all is said and done…”

The final verdict on whether any activity is ultimately deemed a triumph comes down to how successfully it addresses future circumstances. It’s especially relevant when you find yourself at the outset of searching for a new Myrtle Beach home.

That’s not always as easy as you might think. The pressures of the moment (especially when the change of residence is mandated by outside factors—like a job transfer or quickly approaching school registration deadline)—can loom so large that when you find a house that’s perfect for the family now, second thoughts about the distant future don’t even surface.

Better idea: before you even start, take a breath! The search for your new home in Myrtle Beach will ultimately be much more successful when you start out with an unhurried appraisal of your family’s requirements, not only as they are in the immediate future, but further downstream as well.

To accomplish that, the first order of business is to make as good an approximation as you can of the likely longevity of your family’s stay in your new home. If it’s quite likely that you’ll be moving in five years or less, your planning horizon can more comfortably center on today’s requirements. If a longer stay is possible, longer-term considerations really need to be addressed seriously. Not doing so can wind up creating a lot of extra effort and expense you might have been able to avoid.

Of course it’s the unique makeup of the household that will determine the size, type and features you target for your new home in Myrtle Beach. Especially when children are part of the picture, their ages will be a leading factor in your house hunt. Families with toddlers usually find themselves automatically gravitating towards properties with smaller, more contained yard spaces that are easily child-proofed. But when they hit the 5-to-10 year-old age group, the target is more likely to include properties with ample space for children to play—and a neighborhood with a lot of other kids. It’s an important time for them to be discovering their talents, interests and abilities.

It might seem to be an abstraction right now if you are under the gun, but later on, how valuable might it be to have a house with a guest suite on the main level for visiting in-laws? And if the kids are nearing adolescence, most parents and their offspring will value a new home that enables the teen to have a room of her or his own—welcome respite for everyone!

If there truly is no way to realistically appraise how long your stay will be, rather than just shrugging off the possibility of taking the long term into account, you might be on the lookout for a new Myrtle Beach home that features a layout with a lot of flexibility, such as one with a semi-detached bedroom that could be converted into an office (or even rental space).

Buying a new home in Myrtle Beach is always a substantial commitment—one that warrants going the extra mile to project how it will fit your unique household now and into the future.

If you will be looking for a new Myrtle Beach home in this fall, I hope you’ll contact me to discuss today’s choices and those that will be coming on the market!

If you have been doing groundwork with an eye toward investing in Myrtle Beach real estate, chances are you’ve also been watching some new national movement in housing sales. Last month’s Real Trends Housing Market Report showed U.S. sales of 5,880,000 units (a 5.1% increase over June 2013 numbers): “a substantial improvement over the five prior months.” Prices also continued to rise across most of the nation, though at a slightly slower rate. It’s the consistency of the appreciation that has continued to attract investors.

Those investors are drawn for differing reasons—since investing in real estate in Myrtle Beach can advance a variety of financial strategies. For investors who purchase residences in order to rehab and flip, any continuation of price appreciation and rising sales volume is encouraging news. For others who plan to hold long term to maximize rental income potential, still low mortgage rates continue to undergird a historically attractive environment.

Whether investing in Myrtle Beach real estate becomes the high point of a portfolio or a footnote depends on such a wide variety of factors that entire books continue to be written about them. Here are a few—with a couple of the ways they can be viewed:

Not only does location play a critical part in how the underlying property is valued, it also can be the deciding factor influencing rental income where rental income is the main goal. Some of the best performing rental property investments can be those located close to transportation and other amenities like restaurants, shopping and parks: key attractions to tenants (and buyer-investors) alike. On the other hand, a good deal in an iffy location can pay off—but only if it passes a critical analysis.

A storied strategy for winning a higher ROI on a Myrtle Beach real estate investment is to target properties situated in less-developed areas—areas promising a better-than-average pace of development in subsequent months or years. Such properties hold the likelihood of outstanding appreciation for the long term investor with ample time and patience.

Investments can be acquired only when sufficient capital is available–but successful investing is about more than just finding the least expensive property. Success means creating a budget in line with the expected return, leaving padding for unexpected expenses, and then scouring the available properties that can realistically fit that template. It’s a simple truth that hard-headed budgeting is a skill worth developing: often the best deals materialize from the best plans.

Whether you’re looking to buy and flip or buy and hold, investing in Myrtle Beach real estate can be both profitable and exciting. The assistance of an experienced and well-connected agent will prove invaluable when it comes to uncovering potential Myrtle Beach real estate investment opportunities.

For all of your Myrtle Beach Real Estate needs, please Trust in your Local, Real Estate Experts at Plantation Realty Group! (843) 796-2111

As a homeowner in Myrtle Beach, you are pleasantly reminded each April 15th that the interest portion of your mortgage payments is 100% tax deductible. When you own Myrtle Beach rental property, though, the tax implications are considerably different. You need to report rental payments you receive from your tenants as income—but you’ll also be able to write off some related expenses, as well.

Each of the more than 22 million landlords in the United States are subject to the same rules and regulations. If you’ve recently become one of them (or will soon join their ranks), here is a quick look at the kinds of items you will want to track to take full advantage of the tax benefits:

• Almost everything you do to improve, fix, or maintain your rental is a potential tax deduction, so you’ll want to save all receipts and documentation. It’s easiest to set up a file, folder, or box at the beginning of each year—and keep it handy. If you don’t, it’s all too easy to let some money-saving deductions slip past.
• If you plan to manage your Myrtle Beach rental yourself, it’s helpful to use one of the popular computer financial programs to keep track of receipts. The reporting features in these software packages make tax preparation a lot easier—and lessen the likelihood of mistakes in your income reporting. If you’ve hired a property management firm, no need to worry about this detail: they will handle the tracking.
• If your Myrtle Beach rental has a mortgage, the interest portion of the payments will generally be deductible. One exception: if you refinance for an amount greater than that which was previously owed, the excess is not considered a rental expense.
• How you use your Myrtle Beach rental is a major factor determining its tax treatment, so it will be advantageous for you to acquaint yourself with the rules right off the bat. An early discussion with your tax consultant will clarify the choices. While a reliable property management company will do the lions’ share of the record keeping, at least until you have experienced a year or two of filing as a landlord, it’s wise to have an accountant prepare your returns.

For more information about the Myrtle Beach Real Estate Market, please Trust in your Local Real Estate Experts at Plantation Realty Group! (843) 796-2111

When you are selling a home in Myrtle Beach, two underlying unknowns are always present. How long it will take? Is one. The second is what will the final selling price be?

The answer to that second one at least partially depends on actions the person selling the home controls, since performing renovations and add-ons boosts a property’s salability. But which renovations add the most value? Even though considerable study has been given to the issue, for any given home it’s difficult to pin down which are most likely to have the greatest impact.

Even so, some general observations are widely accepted:

ITEM: Some kinds of renovations show a much higher return than others. Replacing a traditional entry door with a steel door, for instance, often generates about a 100% return on the investment. A sunroom addition, on the other hand, is likely to result in closer to a 50% return when the home is sold. The web site remodeling.com presents national averages tabulated each year.

ITEM: The old focus on “location, location, location” applies to improvements, too. Selling a home in different areas of the country can influence how much you can rely on the previous item. For instance, some reports say that a backup generator is one of the worst investments a seller can make if they hope to recoup the add-on cost. Yet in areas where dangerous storms have a history of knocking down the power grid for days on end, a well-integrated generator can prove to be a highly marketable add-on.

ITEM: Some repairs that are not undertaken constitute such red flags that, though minor, they can seriously retard a sale. A broken screen door is a good example of an easy-to-remedy detail that can have a disproportionate effect, drawing prospective buyers’ attention from an otherwise well-maintained property.

ITEM: Some other kinds of repairs are essential for a different reason. A homeowner selling a Myrtle Beach home might be tempted to decide that replacing the garage roof, for example, simply isn’t worth the expense. Although it could be true that the garage roofing might not be important to buyers, it could prove vital if it prevents the bank from lending on the property.

So, how can a seller know what to do? Luckily, the answer is simple. Your veteran Myrtle Beach Realtor® will be able to offer expert advice based on current market experience—to advise you on which repairs or improvements are a good or necessary expense (and which can be tabled for now).

If you are thinking of selling your Myrtle Beach home in the future, please contact your Local Myrtle Beach Real Estate Experts at Plantation Realty Group to help you! (843) 796-2111

If you have been doing groundwork with an eye toward investing in Myrtle Beach real estate, chances are you’ve also been watching some new national movement in housing sales. Last month’s Real Trends Housing Market Report showed U.S. sales of 5,880,000 units (a 5.1% increase over June 2013 numbers): “a substantial improvement over the five prior months.” Prices also continued to rise across most of the nation, though at a slightly slower rate. It’s the consistency of the appreciation that has continued to attract investors.

Those investors are drawn for differing reasons—since investing in real estate in Myrtle Beach can advance a variety of financial strategies. For investors who purchase residences in order to rehab and flip, any continuation of price appreciation and rising sales volume is encouraging news. For others who plan to hold long term to maximize rental income potential, still low mortgage rates continue to undergird a historically attractive environment.

Whether investing in Myrtle Beach real estate becomes the high point of a portfolio or a footnote depends on such a wide variety of factors that entire books continue to be written about them. Here are a few—with a couple of the ways they can be viewed:

Not only does location play a critical part in how the underlying property is valued, it also can be the deciding factor influencing rental income where rental income is the main goal. Some of the best performing rental property investments can be those located close to transportation and other amenities like restaurants, shopping and parks: key attractions to tenants (and buyer-investors) alike. On the other hand, a good deal in an iffy location can pay off—but only if it passes a critical analysis.

A storied strategy for winning a higher ROI on a Myrtle Beach real estate investment is to target properties situated in less-developed areas—areas promising a better-than-average pace of development in subsequent months or years. Such properties hold the likelihood of outstanding appreciation for the long term investor with ample time and patience.

Investments can be acquired only when sufficient capital is available–but successful investing is about more than just finding the least expensive property. Success means creating a budget in line with the expected return, leaving padding for unexpected expenses, and then scouring the available properties that can realistically fit that template. It’s a simple truth that hard-headed budgeting is a skill worth developing: often the best deals materialize from the best plans.

Whether you’re looking to buy and flip or buy and hold, investing in Myrtle Beach real estate can be both profitable and exciting. The assistance of an experienced and well-connected agent will prove invaluable when it comes to uncovering potential Myrtle Beach real estate investment opportunities.

If you’re looking for such an agent, I hope you will contact your Local Myrtle Beach Real Estate Experts at Plantation Realty Group! (843) 796-2111

When the American Institute of Architects reports on emerging trends, sooner or later they’ll be showing up in the Myrtle Beach listings. That’s been true of one trend the AIA started reporting in 2010: the move to ever-larger square footages.

But now a more interesting finding is developing. It’s one of the principal findings in the AIA’s 2014 Home Design Trends Survey—one that falls into the category of “emerging home characteristics”—one likely to become more commonplace in coming years. Combining several different attributes, it is best summarized by the single term “accessibility.”

“Residential architects report that the most significant trend in home layouts is improving accessibility,” writes Kermit Baker, the AIA’s Chief Economist. With a large segment of the population reaching retirement age and beyond, concern about the physical demands of daily living concerns more and more homeowners. Predictably, baby boomers will prefer to remain in their own homes as long as possible, creating both a huge market for remodeling design ideas that increase ease of use without losing attractiveness, and a resale market for the homes thus improved.

Almost two-thirds of responding architects report increasing popularity for interior accessibility designs: things like wider hallways and fewer steps. And more than half of the respondents said the same for accessible homes sporting on-grade entrances or ramps: features that make getting into and out of the house easier.

The Wall Street Journal just published a report on the same phenomenon. Its story, “Luxury Homes Accessible to All,” accentuated the desire by some homeowners for accessible designs “before they actually need them, with an eye to the future.” One Asheville, N.C. couple, although only entering their sixties, shaped their new home to accommodate their needs in case they someday need special assistance. With every doorway 4 feet wide, hardwood floors, a lighted interior staircase and curbless shower stalls, it’s estimated that the extra elements cost about 3% of total construction costs.

Does this mean that in Myrtle Beach, accessible homes will increasingly dot the listings? I bet we can count on it. But, as The Journal also points out, when it comes to selling psychology, words count. They quote one consumer housing specialist who says that in listings across the country, handicap and disabled/disability may be growing in prominence—but descriptors like wide hallways or open floor plan will “better attract buyers who are in the market for such homes.”

If you are in the market for one of Myrtle Beach’s accessible homes—or will be listing one that fits the bill—I hope you’ll give me a call. It’s a growing market that promises great new solutions to an age-old problem! Trust in your Myrtle Beach Real Estate Experts at Plantation Realty Group to help you find what you're looking for! (843) 796-2111

The Myrtle Beach listings aren’t dominated by any particular kind of seller—like local listings everywhere, all kinds of homeowners are represented. One attribute they generally have in common is the motivation to make their sale happen quickly. Sometimes that’s because they have settled on a new home purchase and want to avoid months of paying double duty on multiple residences. Sometimes a seller is relocating; sometimes there’s been a death or divorce. Regardless of the reason for entering their property in the Myrtle Beach listings, most sellers are strongly motivated to do what it takes to accomplish a sale.

Even in what has proven to be a generally strong market, a quick sale can be harder to accomplish during the summer months when buyers have other priorities on their minds—like vacations or the impending start of school. It might seem to be a less than optimum environment to enter the Myrtle Beach listings, but the fact is, sales DO happen during the vacation months: and they can happen quickly—especially when the seller avoids some common missteps:

Not Perfecting the Homes Appearance

Sometimes it’s actually fairly easy to make minor remodeling changes that will make a home appear nearly “like new”—in person and in the listings. Another commonly missed step is a one-time extremely detailed deep cleaning (professionally when necessary). A home purchase is an emotional investment as well as a rational one, with the ‘clean as a whistle’ dimension sure to add considerable appeal to prospective buyers.

Not Taking Advantage of the Home Staging Industry

Based on statistics, professional home stagers give homes a look that buyers prefer. Of course, the decision to stage depends on the home sellers’ budget—but some stagers work within all budgets, so a consultation may be worth considering in any case. Consider staging as interior design for the sales process. It’s also true that staged interiors also tend to display better in the listings.

Being Present During the Buyer Visit

No matter how sensible being there to answer any questions a potential buyer might have, remaining present during a showing is usually a misstep. Experts state that in practice, this tends to discourage substantive movement toward a sale.

Ignoring Offers

You may be on vacation and have trouble getting to a place where documents can be signed—but that’s not a reason why ignoring a low offer becomes a good idea. Yes, there are some offers that are just too low, but the way to respond is to counter the offer. By ignoring any legitimate offer, a Myrtle Beach Home Seller could be walking away from a buyer who has financing and may actually be willing to negotiate for a home (sometimes it’s the one they really have settled on). Sellers who benefit most from this kind of negotiation are likely to have done the work necessary to make their home sellable at top price.

If you are looking to add your home to the Myrtle Beach Listings this summer, contact your Myrtle Beach Real Estate Experts at Plantation Realty Group ASAP to discuss a marketing strategy that’s right for your property! (843) 796-2111

“You never get a second chance to make a first impression.”

It’s a saying that job applicants (at least the successful ones) take to heart. It’s why a lot of serious primping goes on before a blind date. It’s why movie directors spend as much time as it takes to light and prepare the first shot that will introduce their lead actress. And if you’re going to have a house for sale in Myrtle Beach this summer, it’s why it’s worth it to take pains to make its first impression as strong as possible.

Making any Myrtle Beach house for sale’s debut a success doesn’t have to break your back or your bank account. Here are some simple, affordable projects that can be done in a single weekend:

Update Exterior Lighting

For prospective buyers whose first look at your house for sale comes in an evening drive-by, exterior lighting plays a leading role. If your lighting setup is more than ten years old, you may be able to do a quick transformation by replacing outdated fixtures with stylish new ones. If twilight showings are likely, consider adding a lighted path from driveway to door.

Warm Up the Front Porch

There’s an emotional component that goes into making a house for sale—one that’s truly “inviting.” Often, the key factor is whether prospective buyers can easily picture themselves and their family enjoying an afternoon or evening in the place. Think about whether investing in a few pieces of attractive, comfortable-looking outdoor furniture you could place on the front porch (or other outdoor space) could help buyers picture themselves enjoying a leisurely after-dinner conversation…and whether a comfy indoor/outdoor rug and some outdoor decorative pillows might complete the picture.

Invest in Simple Landscaping

Even just a few flower pots or window planters will invariably work to cheer up an otherwise ‘just okay’ exterior. When a prospective Myrtle Beach buyer drives up to a house for sale, a few large pots along the driveway and/or porch—sometimes with the addition of a couple of inexpensive window boxes—can make a real difference. Fill them with easy-to-care-for annuals like marigolds, petunias, or impatiens. Don’t freely mix colors in any one box or pot: that can mute the cheerful effect that a solid mass of yellow, pink or red conveys.

Trim Up!

You don’t necessarily have to paint the whole exterior before you list your house for sale—but it is a good idea to spruce it up by painting (or replacing) the front door, shutters, and trim. It’s a quick, affordable way to give the entire house a facelift without spending tons on painters and paint!

Mothball the Mailbox

Potential buyers may be searching for the address, so a mailbox with old, peeling house numbers can sabotage an entire showing. A new mailbox with bright, shiny numbers will waylay that possibility. For brick mailboxes, just replace the old house numbers and flag.

If you are thinking of listing your house for sale in Myrtle Beach, August is prime time to start the ball rolling! Contact your Myrtle Beach Real Estate Professionals at Plantation Realty Group to help you sell your home quickly! (843) 796-2111

Negotiating tactics. It’s a topic that business authors adore. This is perennial best-seller territory…so much so, you could probably fill a moderate-sized home library with titles like The Art of the Deal and Getting to Yes.

When it comes to negotiating a home purchase in Myrtle Beach, fine-tuning your offer—finding the balance between writing a winning offer and writing the most advantageous offer—can present a real challenge. Add to that the national headlines that tell us that there are more bidders out there vying for the same properties, and it makes sense to listen to what the experts have to say about the most successful tactics. When you’re negotiating a home purchase in Myrtle Beach, some of the most repeated generalities are applicable:

Keep your cards close to your chest

Kenny Rogers sings about it, and every poker player agrees: when you’re negotiating, it’s almost always prudent to volunteer as little information as possible about yourself and your home search. If you aren’t considering any other properties, don’t let the sellers’ agent in on the fact. Never lie, of course; but find a polite way to be vague. The less you say about personal connections to the property, the better. Stick to the numbers and terms.

Keep Your Paperwork Smart

Likewise, if you are approved for, say, a $350,000 loan, but are writing an offer for $325,000, instruct your mortgage broker prepare a pre-approval letter with the amount of your offer—not your full buying power (that’s just asking for a higher counter offer!).

Negotiate for the win, not just to win

If you get caught up in negotiation, it can cause you to lose sight of the big picture, which is winding up owning the property you want. If a seller won’t budge on price, ask yourself if the property is actually worth the price they are asking. Canny buyers keep in mind that this isn’t about “winning” by getting sellers to come down to your bid, it’s about winning by getting the Myrtle Beach home purchase that makes sense for you. If the comps support the price (and you know you’ll be delighted with the house) do be open to weighing the merits of the deal…even if it’s not as rock-bottom as you had hoped.

A home purchase in Myrtle Beach is a complex, sometimes emotional process—but going in with the right mindset can make all the difference. Good luck hunting!

If you are looking to Buy or Sell this Summer, please contact your Myrtle Beach Real Estate Experts at Plantation Realty Group to help you find your perfect property! (843) 796-2111