Unlocking Coastal Living

Every time I drive through parts of Berkeley County and Summerville, I am amazed by the amount of new construction taking place. New neighborhoods continue to expand, model homes are busy, and builders are offering incentives that can make a significant difference to a buyer's monthly payment.

Naturally, it makes me wonder how established neighborhoods are performing.

If you own a home in Tall Pines Plantation, Wescott Plantation, Scanlonville, Harbour View, Copahee View, or Whitehall, are buyers still interested in pre-owned homes? Or are they choosing new construction instead?

I recently reviewed more than 2,000 pending pre-owned home sales and compared them to hundreds of pending new construction sales throughout the Charleston area. While every neighborhood tells its own story, the overall results were encouraging for homeow...

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One of the questions I find myself wondering about lately is whether all of the new construction taking place throughout the Charleston area is changing the market for homeowners who may be considering selling an existing home.

It's a fair question.

Drive through parts of Berkeley County, Summerville, Goose Creek, or even portions of Mount Pleasant and you'll see new homes being built at a pace that would have been difficult to imagine a decade ago. Builders are opening new phases, releasing new lots, and offering incentives designed to attract buyers.

At the same time, thousands of pre-owned homes continue to come on the market and successfully go under contract.

So what does the data actually tell us?

I recently reviewed more than 800 pending...

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For years, downsizing was considered a simple financial decision. Sell a larger home, buy something smaller, reduce your expenses, and enjoy the savings.

Today's housing market has complicated that equation.

Many homeowners who begin exploring a move discover that a smaller home does not always translate into dramatically lower monthly housing costs. In some cases, the savings are much smaller than expected.

The Math Has Changed

When homeowners think about downsizing, they often focus on the price of the next home.

What many don't initially consider is the interest rate attached to that purchase.

Over the past several years, mortgage rates have changed significantly. Homeowners who purchased or refinanced during periods o...

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I have shown hundreds of homes over the years, and if there is one thing homeowners tend to have in common, it is that we all have a list of things we mean to get around to someday.

The attic.

The dryer vent.

The HVAC service.

The irrigation system.

And apparently, the tankless water heater.

Terry and I built our home in 2022. Like many homeowners, we knew we had a tankless water heater, appreciated the endless hot water, and never gave it much thought beyond that.

Recently, we decided it was probably time to schedule a flush and maintenance service. We weren't having any problems. Nothing was leaking. The hot water worked perfectly. We simply thought it would...

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Buying your first home in Charleston, SC often involves more than just saving money and getting approved. Job changes, credit preparation, and life events can all impact timing. The buyers who succeed are the ones who stay consistent, adjust when needed, and keep moving forward—even when the process doesn't go as planned.

The Long Road to "I Did It"

There are some buyers you work with for a season.

And then there are some you've been quietly walking alongside for years—without ever calling it that.

He grew up alongside my son—one of those familiar faces who's just always been part of life. Ou...

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