How to Choose a Home Builder Don't find just the right home to buy ? Building might be an option and to choose the right builder is crucial. Here are some tips to help you choose a builder. Make a List of Possible Builders Once you have thought about the type of home you want, you can create a list

One of Charleston's most popular events is Restaurant Week.  Charleston is the destination for world renowned food and master chefs. The participating restaurants have a set price between $20 and $40 for a 3 course meal.   Perhaps you'd like to try a top of the line steak house restaurant and know y

PlantationsWhat are plantations? Plantations can be defined as large farms in the colonies that used the enforced labor of slaves to harvest cotton, rice, sugar, tobacco and other farm produce for trade and export. Crops were planted on a large scale with usually just one major plant species growing

Stunning Cobblestone Street and Alleys My hometown Charleston, SC is an amazing place with a fascinating history. One of the many historic sites and features are the few remaining cobblestone streets. What is it about cobblestone streets and paths that take us to the past as we carefully navigate th

Who would have guessed  ?!   ...that there is a small new neighborhood behind Sea Island Shopping Plaza in Mount Pleasant ? I take Chuck Dawley Blvd daily on my way to work and had noticed a small sign announcing a new neighborhood. For weeks I drove by that sign thinking "oh, I should turn here and

September is a month most everyone in the Lowcountry has been waiting for...the official start to oyster season! You may have heard 'only eat oysters in a month with the letter R'.  You're sure to hear of oyster festivals happening all over from now until April.   Many people have their own oyster p

Fall is here and soon the holiday season is upon us. While that brings with it a lot of joy and excitement – it also brings with the most dreaded season for landlords to fill their units. Simply put – people don’t like to move between Thanksgiving and the New Year so renting property can be both dif

 MOJA  FESTIVAL  Charleston SC   Sept. 29 - Oct 10, 2016  The year 2016 marks Charleston’s 33rd annual MOJA Arts Festival: A Celebration of African-American and Caribbean Arts. Selected as one of the Southeast Tourism Society’s Top 20 Events for many years, the MOJA Arts Festival has an exciting lin

Whether you're visiting Charleston or if you're lucky enough to live here, there is always something to do!  You will have to mark your calendar for the events you'd like to attend.  There are some weekends with so much going on unfortunately, you simply 'can't do it all'.   There are Festivals: Moj

In general there are two types of ownership in a townhome community....Fee Simple and Condominium.Fee Simple almost always means that you are responsible to pay for the exterior maintenance of your townhome. Although you will pay a monthly fee, it generally only includes coverage of the common areas

Do you know anything about the real estate market where you live?  Many people whether they rent or own a home don't really know what's going on in the real estate market.  Unless a neighbor happens to sell a home you really don't know the true value of the surrounding properties.  If you're renting

What is a Termite Bond?  A termite bond is a contract between a home owner and a termite control company. The bond allows the homeowner to pay what is essentially a retainer fee to a pest control company. The bond outlines the frequency and type of treatment to be provided, and may include re-treatm

Mom and the Hurricane  Well, it could not have been better timing, or so I thought ! I had invited my mom to visit me here in Charleston.  October is the perfect month when the weather is no longer hot and humid but still warm and definitely warmer than in Germany at this time of the year.  And then

                        Charleston's Top 5 Museums Charleston, SC, is one of America's most historic cities, with a rich cultural, natural and military heritage. There's no better spot to experience Charleston's past than in its many museums: The Charleston Museum The Charleston Museum was founded i

If you're thinking of buying a home in Charleston or anywhere else for that matter, you should have a home inspection.  A home inspector is paid by you and works for you.  The inspector should inspect the house from the roof down to the foundation and everything in between.  He has an obligation to

PLANTS AND THE BEACH Aside from the striking natural beauty that plants provide, they are crucial parts of beach ecosystems. Plants are among the first forms of life to inhabit beaches and dunes. Once plants have taken root, sands begin to stabilize, slowly at first, then faster as more plants take

Owning your own home is an accomplishment. After all, in order to do so you have to have a decent credit score, a few thousand dollars in savings and a desire to maintain the home. If you own your home, have been there long enough to have 'built equity' and are ready to 'move up' to a larger home, c

           4 Tips for Buying a Home If You're Disabled Don't let a disability stop you from being a home owner ! Yes, it takes patience and the prospect of buying a home may seem daunting. You as the buyer may need a house in a certain location and/or with specific modifications, and that can be cos

They call it Passive Income.  Whether you own a home yet or not, you can own a rental, investment property and let the tenant pay your mortgage! Many people are now buying inexpensive homes or condos for the sole purpose of renting them out.  For some people and properties it's all about the tenant'

                                           Too Scared !!?? Buying a new home can be exciting but also scary ! Viewing homes, deciding, inspection, repairs, due diligence, insurance, a mountain of paperwork, etc. Working with a competent lender and hiring a professional real estate agent can take awa