Unlocking Coastal Living

Every now and then someone asks me about Scanlonville. Usually it starts with a simple question. They were driving through Mount Pleasant, saw a home for sale, heard someone mention the neighborhood, or noticed that homes there seem very different from one another. Before long they ask, "What's the story with Scanlonville?"

That's actually one of my favorite conversations because Scanlonville isn't really a subdivision in the way most people think about subdivisions. When people hear the word neighborhood in Mount Pleasant, they often picture a planned community with matching homes, a neighborhood entrance, and a homeowners association. Scanlonville is something entirely different.

What many people don't realize is that Scanlonville is one of the most historically significant communities in Mount Pleasant. Its roots stretch back to the years following the Civil...

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If we were sitting across from each other at a restaurant, sharing a meal and talking about real estate, there is something I would tell you that might surprise you.

Not every home that sits on the market has a bad Realtor.

Not every home that sits on the market is overpriced.

And not every home that sits on the market has something wrong with it.

Recently, I went back through my own listing history and looked at the homes that took longer to sell than average. I expected to find a common mistake. Maybe poor pricing. Maybe weak marketing. Maybe condition issues.

What I found was something entirely different.

Most of those homes had a story.

One seller...

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I have a new Tall Pines listing preparing to come on the market, so lately I've been spending some time studying the neighborhood.

Not because I need statistics for a presentation.

Because before I advise a seller on repairs, pricing, and expectations, I want to know exactly what buyers are responding to today.

Tall Pines is a neighborhood I know well. Over the years, I've listed five homes here and represented buyers on two others. I've walked these streets, negotiated contracts, attended inspections, and helped both buyers and sellers understand what makes this neighborhood special.

One of the biggest reasons people continue to look at Tall Pines is simple: there is no HOA.

Now, there is a civic group recorded with Berkeley County, and homeow...

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One of the hardest conversations I have with sellers is helping them understand the difference between marketing and presentation.

I can put your home in the MLS. I can advertise it on Facebook. I can create videos, postcards, brochures, websites, and social media posts. I can spend money every day making sure buyers know your home exists.

But marketing only gets buyers through the front door.

Once they walk inside, the house has to do the rest.

There are really two things that drive results when selling a home.

First, the home has to be priced well enough to encourage buyers to schedule a showing.

Second, when they arrive, the home has to give them a reason to remember it.

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One of the first things I tell buyers when we start looking at homes is that I'm probably going to be the devil's advocate during our showings.

That usually gets a laugh.

Then I explain what I mean.

If you fall in love with a house, I'm not going to try to talk you out of it. In fact, if you decide it's the right house for you, I'll do everything I can to help you get it.

But I'm still going to point out the things you may not love.

Not because I want to ruin the excitement.

Not because I want you to keep looking.

And certainly not because I don't want you to buy the house.

I do it because buying a home is em...

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