When you are in the market to buy a house—or need to sell your current home—that is the time to use an experienced real estate agent. An inexperienced agent can cost you time and money, and unfortunately maybe even put you at risk of losing out on your dream home.

Gauging Experience 

Instead of asking how much experience an agent has, ask how many times the agent has renewed their real estate license. In Oklahoma, for example, real estate licenses are issued for three years, New Hampshire's term is two years, and California has four-year terms.

Search your own state's real estate commission—or equivalent office—website to find how long licenses last. Knowing how many times an agent has renewed a license allows you to…

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#1: Be yourself

In life, and in real estate, being yourself can take you far. In any business and in life, a person can tell when someone is being disingenuous. That’s not to say that you shouldn’t be your best self when talking with potential clients, just don’t be afraid to insert your personality into your conversations.

#2: Choose a supportive brokerage

Often overlooked is the importance of selecting a brokerage. Not only will the brokerage you partner with have a huge impact on your financial earnings, but it will ultimately greatly impact your career satisfaction. You want to find a brokerage who is going to support you and who wants you to win. 

#3: Network constantly

A large portion of your activities as a new agent will be…

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There is magic in those early morning hours before the rest of your house wakes up. I love to sit in the stillness of the dawn light while the world slowly wakes up; when the birds begin to chirp, animals begin to stir, and the light is a magical thick yellow-y orange. There isn’t a better time to rein in your day than before it starts. It’s the perfect time to center yourself and set up how you want the day to play out. There will always be surprises, but this way you start with ownership. Don’t turn on the computer or focus on what happened yesterday. Take the time to begin with something fresh. Journal, blog, read, or sit in the stillness. Fill up your tank. The surprises that do flow in throughout your day will be more manageable. Sleep is still #1…

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With real estate being so busy these days, we know that you are looking for Best of the Best when it comes to Realtors in the Lowcountry. We're sure you know a lot of Realtors and some you like and some you don't. Being the best is important to our team, and working hard for our customers with strong integrity means even more. We have high expectations and treat each of you the way we would like to be treated. Trust is #1 in our book, and we do not take this lightly in anything we do. We know how to get the job done and take pride in paying attention to the details. Let us show you what it means to work with Realtors that care about building and growing relationships. Reading this article by Million Dollar New York's Ryan Serhant, had us thinking...maybe…

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Live the Bug Free Life!

So you want to add a screened-in porch to your property to have a light-filled, breezy, bug-free place to relax? Join the club! But before you launch into construction, you'll of course have to consider how much the renovation will cost. According to 2020 research by Improvenet, "a wrap-around porch that contains windows and screens can run up to a maximum of $30,000." But this is if you're starting completely from scratch, without an existing porch. The good news: There are a few tricks of the trade that will help keep spending down (or up, if you're looking to make yours large and luxe), and the price tag can be well worth it from an investment standpoint.

Here are three things that will hugely impact the final cost of your…

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What Is a 1031 Exchange and Why Is It Important?

A “1031 exchange” is the nickname used to discuss Section 1031 of the U.S. Internal Revenue Service’s tax code. This section states that if an individual exchanges one investment property for another via a 1031 exchange, they may be able to defer capital gains (or losses) that they would otherwise have to pay at time of sale.

Section 1031 applies to “property” beyond real estate, but many 1031 cases deal with buildings and land. We’ll only discuss 1031s in relation to real estate.

WHY IS A 1031 EXCHANGE IMPORTANT?

So why is a 1031 exchange important? It allows real estate investors to defer paying capital gains and potentially build wealth through real estate investing.

Think about it…

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How to Price Your Stuff so It Sells

Pricing your merchandise right is crucial when you're having a yard sale. If you set the prices too high, your stuff won't sell. If your prices are too low, you lose money you could have made. To make the process a little easier, here are a few dos and don'ts of garage sale pricing.

10 Yard Sale Pricing Dos 

    • Price everything before the sale starts.
    • Price each item individually. The only exceptions are groups of like items that are all priced the same, such as books. Place all of these on a table together. Make a simple sign with big lettering that says "Books $1 each" or whatever price you've set. Hang the sign on the front of the table or on the wall behind it.
    • Use a fine-point marker to write…

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When inventory is low and eager buyers are driving prices up, how can a seller best strategize for a successful home sale--and avoid pitfalls?

Real estate sellers might think that a “hot” market means fast, easy money for their home. After all, a hot market means low inventory combined with lots of buyers looking for the perfect place. In many instances, a hot market does indeed mean a faster sale at or above asking price. However, there are some pitfalls that a house seller in a hot market needs to be aware of before watching the money roll in.

Get Your Home and Property Ready to Show

One of the “lucky” aspects of a hot market is that outdated or quirky homes sell more quickly than they otherwise would. As buyers become more and more…

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A key. A perfect fit. Without a key, the door will not open. 

Let me be your key to success. Year-end is approaching quickly. How good do you feel about it? It isn’t always about how much money you made or how many houses you closed. You are new to the game after all, and there is a learning curve in real estate. Ultimately it is a game of longevity, but you won’t be able to stay in the industry without a plan. Real estate builds on itself. How do you feel? In order to stay in this game and really any game, you need to feel productive, confident and satisfied. Are you organized, did you make enough to invest another year in “the game,” are you satisfied with your personal psychology? Success is a feeling. The end result is about relaxing and having…

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Remodeling Homes Around Pets

When it comes time to remodel or make home improvements, some pet owners go to extremes to provide a pampered environment for their pets. From building in-the-wall cat tunnels to designing outdoor dog runs, homeowners with pets drop big bucks on remodels that they hope their pets will enjoy.

 According to The Humane Society, almost four out of every 10 households in the U. S. own at least one dog, and about the same number own cats. HSUS says there are 73 million dogs and 90 million cats living in American homes.

The American Pet Products Manufacturers Association estimates higher numbers of pet ownership than HSUS. The APPMA says six out of 10 households have a pet and pet owners spend more than $40 billion a…

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