How Much Do Plantation Shutters Cost, and How Do They Pay Off?

Plantation shutters—window blinds with wide wooden louvers or slats—may hail from the South, but they're everywhere these days, because they make a dramatic window decor statement without looking flashy. They look elegant from a home's interior and exterior, and they can lend a decidedly upscale look to your windows. This all might have you wondering: How much do plantation shutters cost?

Granted, as far as window treatments go, they don't come cheap on the spectrum of blinds.

“Plantation shutters can be a bit pricier than other shutter styles, like board and batten or flat panel,” acknowledges Charlie Capps, director of home and garden for Hooks & Lattice.

According to Home Advisor, homeowners typically spend a total of around…

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❤️ Real Estate Crush of the Week: 2 Robin Street

Condé Nast just voted Hilton Head Island the top US Island for the fourth year in a row. We love Hilton Head too and want you to get in on the action. Here is a great home as a primary residence or investment property. 5th row ocean! Who could resist?!

In case 5th row ocean isn’t enough:

• 4 beds and 3 baths in just over 2000 sqft

• large windows that let in all the beautiful South Carolina sun

• lush gardens around the private pool and spa

• beautiful wood flooring

• $80k in rental income last year

• you can basically skip to the beach!

Let’s go check it out! This is the perfect time to buy a little slice of heaven.

2 Robin Street l Hilton Head Island

$895,000

Listed by Jim Paris,…

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'Smart-Sizing'

The new movement for older home buyers.

Robin and Stefanie Wohnsigl, a couple who recently moved to the Four Seasons at Kent Island active-adult community in Chester, Md., have been on a four-year journey to find the right place for their retirement.

“We sold our big house in Great Falls four years ago and downsized to n apartment in Reston,” says Robin Wohnsigl, a retired Air Force colonel and airline industry executive. “The apartment was great, it had indoor and outdoor swimming pools, and we loved Reston, but we had downsized too much plus we wanted a backyard for our dog.”

The Wohnsigls moved from an 8,000-square-foot house to a 1,500-square-foot apartment before their recent transition to a 3,700-square-foot single-family…

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❤️ Real Estate Crush of the Week: 5 Rockingham Street

Since love is in the air in Palmetto Bluff with the Bieber wedding, I couldn’t resist this beauty that is within walking distance to Wilson Village. This home is so full of light, and look at that fireplace. Wow! There are so many gorgeous features.

Make sure you check out:

• FOUR…4…en suite bedrooms!!

• the interior doors are my fav - love those panels

• that tub

• beautiful hardwood and tile floors

• porch spaces galore

• you can walk or bike to all your amenities in the Village

• 5 years of rental history if you want an investment instead of primary residence

We could go see it today and try to catch a glimpse of the wedding! Let’s go.

5 Rockingham Street l Bluffton

$1,195,000

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Mortgage Broker vs. Bank: Which Is Better for Buying a Home?

When you’re looking for a mortgage, to either buy a home or refinance one, you can use a mortgage broker or deal directly with the bank.

Using a broker to get a home loan instead of going directly through a bank loan officer or other mortgage lender has its pros and cons. Depending on your needs and situation, you'll have to decide which is right for you.

Going it alone

If you go it alone, you deal with the bank directly. If you're a regular customer and have a great relationship with your local bank or community bank, for example, you might receive better terms and interest rates. A local mortgage lender may work with you, especially if you already have accounts with the financial institution.

If you don't have a good working…

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❤️ Real Estate Crush of the Week: 20 Sterling Pointe Drive

I picked this one for all of you who crush on small, quiet neighborhoods. This is it! New construction on a quaint street built on the marsh. You can walk a couple hundred feet and you’ll be at your community dock where you can throw out a crab trap or sit and watch the dolphin swim by. Who wouldn’t love that?

If the neighborhood isn’t enough for you, check out the rest:

• 4 bedrooms and 4 baths in over 3,300 sq ft

• fresh, bright, and airy floor pan

• those floors…

• HUGE kitchen island

• who wouldn’t be inspired to cook in that kitchen?!

• the amazing views

• great north end location making it easy to get off island

Let’s go and see it!

20 Sterling Pointe Drive l…

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Negotiation: There’s More to it Than You Think!

When you think of real estate negotiations, what comes to mind? For most buyers and sellers, price tops the list. While this is certainly an important part of any real estate deal, did you know there are at least six others areas of potential negotiation?

Closing costs: In addition to the price of the home, buyers must pay closing costs that cover lender fees and other charges. Buyers may ask sellers to help pay for these costs with a flat dollar amount or a percentage of the fees.

Closing date: Do you need to close on a home quickly? Perhaps you need a little more time to search for your next home. There are also different advantages to closing at the beginning and end of the month.

Personal property: What will be included with the four…

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❤️ Real Estate Crush of the Week: 25 Crystal Beach Circle

All I can say is…”Wow! Yes Please!” Where do I even start? The white kitchen. The large bedrooms. The views. THE GUEST HOUSE. The free form pool. Two docks.

But it doesn’t end there:

• a golf cart for quick trips to Old Town Bluffton

• open floor plan

• 3 beds, 2.5 baths in the main house and 2 beds, 2 baths in the guest house

• again…that backyard

• over 3,600 sqft

• brick fireplace

• the lush landscaping and location, location, location

This place is for you! I wouldn’t lie about that.

25 Crystal Beach Circle l Bluffton

$1,250,000

Listed by Kevin King, Charter One Realty

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11 Mortgage Questions You Don't Want to Ask

You can’t shock your loan officer. They’ve heard it all before. Count on the fact that your loan officer has answers to all the uncomfortable mortgage questions you may be too afraid to ask. Itchy topics like getting a home loan with no job, taking an ex off your mortgage after divorce, and filing for bankruptcy aren’t as scary as you think.

Opening up your personal life and your finances to someone you just met isn’t easy. Understandably, many borrowers are hesitant about laying all their cards on the table. Vanguard’s 2017 research found that a strong financial relationship is built largely on emotional trust. In short, looking out for a borrower’s interest. Finding a loan officer who’s not only willing but happy to answer some of your stickier…

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❤️ Real Estate Crush of the Week: 203 Caldwell Circle

I picked this Crescent neighborhood beauty because she and I go way back! This is my first house when I moved to the Lowcountry. I know all her nooks and crannies. I know that you will absolutely love the big windows that lets all the light in every morning, and I know you will love the wooded area in the backyard where all the birds hang out and play.

Quite frankly, this is an oldie but a goodie!

• the perfect 3 bedroom 3 bath home just under 2,600 square feet

• his and her closets

• built-ins (who doesn’t love built-ins!?!)

• a Carolina room and a covered lanai

• new roof and exterior paint

• it’s in the Crescent which is golf cart friendly and close to everything

I LOVE this house. Let me show…

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