The paving of Poastal Way Road will begin at Gardner Lacy and end at Carolina Forest Blvd. I am hoping to see them continue it soon to the Tanger Outlet Shopping Center just East of Carolina Forest Blvd. I won’t hold my breath.

The widening of Carolina Forest Blvd is set to be completed 120 days after beginning, and River Oaks Drive widening is scheduled to take 90 days. In addition to the latest two road projects, the South Carolina Department of Transportation plans on lengthening the turn lanes East bound into Carolina Forest from Highway 501 to 700 feet.

These changes should make a big difference in the traffic flow around Carolina Forest during school times, and early morning commute to work. I am excited to see the changes take place, and believe that  a reduction in the congestion will continue to make Carolina Forest the desired area to live in Myrtle Beach.

This Thursday will kick off the grand opening weekend for the Market Common, the 26 acre retail and residential living area on the renovated Myrtle Beach Airforce Base. This is a very exciting moment for the Myrtle Beach Area, and Governor Mark Sanford will be present during the ribbon cutting ceremony. There are numerous events scheduled for the upcoming weekend that you just don’t want to miss.

 Following the ribbon cutting ceremony scheduled for Thursday, there will be a jazz performance from 1:00-3:00pm. There will also be several promotions going on throughout the day ending with a fireworks display around 8:30pm. Many other businesses will hold their businesses open to the public Friday evening. Throughout the weekend you can expect celebrity sitings, and on Sunday, the Piggly Wiggly grocery store will be hosting a cookout.

If you are in the Myrtle Beach Area April 3-6, take some time out of your day to visit the new Market Common. The ribbon cutting will take place this April 3, 2008 around 12:00pm. I’ll see you there.

New Homes in Myrtle Beach:

Pros:

1. Choose Upgrades and Lot Location- One of the biggest advantages of buying a new home is that you get to pick your location within the community. You can choose with ease whether you want to be on a lake, on a corner lot, backing to conservation or backing to another house. Also when building a new home it is easier to pick out what countertops, flooring, structural changes or any other upgrades than it is when purchasing a resale
2. Builder Incentives- Many homebuyers today are going to the neighborhoods where the builders are offering the most incentives. From what I have witnessed the larger more well-known builders like Centex, DR Horton, Beazer and Lennar seem to be offering the most incentives. There are several ways that these builders are enticing buyers to purchase in their neighborhoods and not elsewhere. Some of the most common incentives that I see are large discounts in pricing, zero lot premiums, paid closing costs, rate buy-downs on your mortgage and upgrade packages.
3. Time to Prepare for the
   Move-
   Building a new home often takes between 4-6 months, therefore you have time to prepare yourself for the move. This is a big advantage in the Myrtle Beach Area, as most of our buyers are relocating from other areas. There is also an excitement built up by watching your own home being built.

Cons:

1. Lack of Furnishings: When you purchase a new home, most commonly you can expect to purchase common necessities before the new house feels like a home. Some of the most common purchases of a new home owner are Refrigerator, Washer/Dryer, Window Treatments and usually some outdoor shrubs.
2. New Neighborhood: In the Myrtle Beach area, most of the new neighborhoods are mostly clear cut lots with very few remaining trees if any. Many home owners like the shade, privacy and beauty that trees offer to a more established neighborhood.
3. In a Hurry, to bad: If you are in a rush to move into your home, obviously that can’t happen unless you buy a “spec home” or a standing inventory house. With these purchase though you commonly miss out the ability to pick your upgrades. If you are in a time crunch to move, you most likely will want to go with the resale which has a normal closing date of 30 days after contract.

Resale Homes:

Pros:

1. TLC- That is right; when you purchase a resale, you are not just buying a house, you are purchasing someone’s home. People have taken time and placed their love into caring for the home. With this time, love and care comes plenty of extras that new houses do not offer. Resale homes tend to have more appliances, better paint schemes and blinds and drapes.
2. Established Community- Around a resale home, you will mostly find a more established community. Within this community, residents have found a sense of purpose, and usually the Home Owner’s Association is established. Also, you will find better green spaces and treed areas within the established community.
3. Ready to Move… No Problem – With a resale, it is usually easier to pick up and move rather than waiting several months for your home to be built.

Cons:

1. Condition- When you purchase a resale, obviously all of the appliances, the HVAC unit and the structural components of the home are not going to be as new as the newly constructed house never lived in. To overcome this, most home buyers will have a home inspection completed, and ask for any immediate repairs to be addressed.
2. Finding the Perfect Home: In today’s market there are a lot of homes on the market, and you may have to look at them all to make sure that you are getting a great deal compared to the new home down the street. New home builders have made it very difficult to compete against, but if you look hard enough, you can find great deals with most if not all the bells and whistles that you are looking for.

Whether you are looking for a new home or a resale in the Myrtle Beach Real Estate Market, I feel that there are opportunities out there to get a great home at outstanding prices.

The rental rates go up in March, because demands for the rooms go up in Myrtle Beach around this time. It is true that our busiest season is from Memorial Day to Labor Day on the ocean, and the spring season is great for golf course condo rentals. There are several different types of vacation rentals to choose from, and people buy them for different reasons. Most of the time, the purchasers are planning on using the condo, house, or villa for a week or two throughout the year. Some people may buy a vacation rental property in

If you are purchasing a condo that allows vacation rentals in Myrtle Beach, there are a few things that you may want to consider. First of all, the Home Owner’s Association and how it is run is a crucial factor that should guide your decision making process. In

Another real important aspect is the rental split. I am speaking of the charge for securing a guest, making sure the guest is well taken care of, cleaning after the guest and any other items that go along with vacation rental management. Typically the rental split is higher for the onsite rental companies that offer more services to the guest, and less expensive for third party off site rental agency, that typically manages check-in and check-out procedures.

Before ratifying a contract on a rental unit, you should also take a look at the Covenants and Restrictions, “Minutes from the last meeting”, and the budget for the building. Also, ask to see if there are any anticipated special assessments coming up. Knowing about special assessments can be the biggest deal breaker. To me this means that the HOA is not preparing the budget effectively in order to take care of common maintenance. There is a lot involved with Home Owner’s Associations. Just make sure that you do your diligence before purchasing a condo.

Vacation rental homes are quite different that oceanfront condos in Myrtle Beach. There is usually not a Home Owner’s Association involved. Therefore, you have to worry about all of the exterior maintenance, lawn service, pool service, trash pick up, insurance coverage, and all other aspects that may be covered with the typical association coverage. Rental rates are typically higher for a house, and the rentals are usually contracted out to third party rental companies. Rental Houses run pretty ramped in Cherry Grove,

10. Friends, family members and even past co-workers have moved to the Myrtle Beach Area for Retirement.

9. The Information that baby boomers have gathered and researched read great reviews for the “Grand Strand”, and they ended up moving here.

8. Myrtle Beach is closer to home than

7. The baby boomers are looking for a change of lifestyle to a more relaxed and laid back environment.

6. Senior Communities are readily available in Myrtle Beach offering active lifestyles for the retirees.

5. Housing is less expensive than most Northern Areas. Baby boomers tend to pull some equity out of the home during the move, and enjoy a more comfortable retirement.

4. Property Taxes in this area are traditionally less expensive than most North Eastern Areas, especially states like New Jersey and New York.

3. Golf has become a popular sport amongst baby boomers. Myrtle Beach is sometimes referred to as the “Coastal Golf Capital of the World”.

2. Entertainment and Dining facilities are all over the Myrtle Beach Area. Baby Boomers that retire to this area find something to do almost all the time. There are usually great senior specials to take advantage of, and many times, the local newspaper will offer great deals as well.

1. I believe that the number 1 reason that baby boomers are retiring to the Myrtle Beach Area is because of the warmer climate, and the many bodies of water that make up South Carolina’s Low Country. It does get a little warm in the summer in the Myrtle Beach Area, but it is a trade for the very mild winters that we witness, and the absolutely beautiful spring and Fall Seasons that we have.

Although it is a “Buyer’s Market” in the Myrtle Beach Area now, when the market turns a little to the better in the Northeast, I expect a drastic increase of activity along the “Grand Strand”. There is so much going on here as one of the nations top retirement destinations.

Carolina Signature Homes, the builder, has finished off a third floor bonus room that can be used as a media room or another bedroom, because there is a closet.The exterior is all brick with a stucco accent, and the curb appeal is grand with beautiful landscaping. The interior floors consist of tile in the wet areas, upgraded carpet in the bedrooms, and hardwood floors in foyer, hallway, living room, breakfast room and dining room. There will be several upgrades including chair railing, crown moldings, cabinetry, countertops and much more. 

For information about the Brighton Lakes Community itself, take a look at the Brighton Lakes section of this website. If you have any questions at all, please call Darren Woodard at 843-267-4627.

Brighton Lakes
Asking $449,900
117 Ocean Sands Court

 Walker’s Woods is centrally located on Carolina Forest Boulevard, not far from area schools, entertainment, dining and the areas best golf courses. The neighborhood has a very nice clubhouse facility with a swimming pool and childrens play area. Please email me at darrenwoodard@chicora.net or call me 843-267-4627 with any questions that you may have about this great home.

Walkers Woods
Asking $173,900
6016 Quinn Road

Asking $155,000
230-d Connemara Drive

WATERWAY PALMS PLANTATION
Asking $108,000
Lot 366 Waterway Palms Plantation

WATERWAY PALMS PLANTATION
Asking $149,900
Lot 342 Waterway Palms

1. Declutter- I believe that clutter is the number 1 turnoff when a prospective buyer is viewing your home. Throw away, donate or place the objects that have no immediate use in storage. Better yet, have a garage sale and use the money to repair/replace some of the other objects that I am going to talk about. Nonetheless, make your property as free of these useless objects as possible. Clean of your counters; remove some of your furniture to open up rooms and dust and air out the place.
2. Hide Your Trophies and Achievements- I know that you probably don’t like this idea, but you want the prospective buyer to view the home and not read about your life history. Also, you may have something that you are proud of that could turn-off the buyers. For example, you may have a Deer Head or War Medals that the Buyer just can not look past. By hiding these trophies or achievements you will increase the probabilities that buyer’s will view your home for what it is.
3. Remove Personal Photos and Family Memories- I know that this is the most difficult item about selling your home to swallow. But, the truth is, this is a big item to consider. You want the Prospective Buyer to view the home as their own. We have a saying that, when a Buyer begins to imagine their furniture in the rooms of the house, they are one step closer to making an offer. By taking down person photos and family memories you increase the chances that the buyer will be able to imagine the home as their own.
4. Destroy Odors-Ask someone their honest opinion of how your home smells. Something that you live with and smell everyday might not be appealing to a prospective buyer. Notice that I said, “Destroy Odors” and not “Cover Up Odors”. Destroying the odor will make sure a pleasant experience for the Buyer. If you just cover up the odor, the buyer will most likely not enjoy the smell that you are covering it up with.
5. Spend Money on the Curb Appeal- Besides paint and mild fixer uppers on the inside of the house; I wouldn’t spend much money on the inside of the home. Where your money will go a long way is on the outside of your home, particularly the front. Spend money on improving landscaping, painting the front door, adding planters on near the front door and so on. Prospective Buyers spend a lot of time looking at the front of your house. They look at the front of the home when they are driving up to the property, when they are waiting on the door to be unlocked and when they leaving the property. Curb Appeal is the first and last impression.
6. Make your Home Current and Trendy- I can’t give you much advice on this, but I would recommend that you don’t spend a lot of money and use the furniture that you have to accomplish this. Pick up some Home Decorating Magazines for tips on how to make your home look current with little money. Buyers want to purchase homes that are up-to-date.
7. Spacious and Open Feeling- This has to do with decluttering your home and removing Furniture that may take up to much space, removing items that you don’t use often. Spacious does not only mean your living room. The Master Bedroom, Bathrooms and Kitchen are just as important. Make sure that the countertops are decluttered and that the closets are neat and clean.
8. Lighten the Home- Open up the blinds, paint the walls a neutral color, and purchase lighter window treatments. If the home has a light feeling, it will add a feeling of warmth to a prospective buyer.

Getting your home ready for sale is not one of my clients’ favorite activities, but the ones that take the time to get their home ready for sale, are glad that they did when the offer comes in. It is proven that homes that are well taken care of bring offers closer to asking price.