Charleston Real Estate Market Blog

When purchasing a home, you'll encounter plenty of jargon. In real estate, terms like ratification and earnest money are discussed before you even make an offer on a home. Plus, mortgage lenders have their own language to discuss how you'll be paying for the largest investment of your life. Although buying a home can be daunting, learning some of the most common terminology can help with each step of the process.

Earnest Money

When you make an offer to purchase, you'll need to include an earnest money deposit as part of your written agreement to show the sellers that you are "earnest" in your intent to buy their home. The amount is typically 1-3% of the purchase price, so on a $200,000 home you can expect to pay roughly $2,000. This deposit will

In a strong sellers' market, home buyers are told again and again that they have the lower hand when it comes to making offers. However, cash buyers have the strongest negotiating power of any type of home buyer for several reasons. For these cash buyers, it's still a sellers' market - but with more advantages. And in a multiple offer situation, sellers might choose the cash buyer even if his offer price is lower because there are fewer unknowns (and fewer causes for the home to fall out of contract).

Financing is Not a Concern

In our current housing climate of stricter mortgage rules and escalating prices, financing is a very common reason that real estate deals fall apart. Even buyers who have a pre-approval letter in hand when they make an

Mount Pleasant is one of the most coveted communities around Charleston, SC, and for good reason. Living in this desirable area puts a resident within walking, biking and short driving distance of many fantastic activities. Mount Pleasant is the Keadle Real Estate Group's specialty! We endlessly boast about the fulfilling lifestyle that this sought after community has to offer. If you are considering this popular area as a possible location for your upcoming home purchase, you won't look anywhere else after you read these top 6 things to do in Mount Pleasant:

1. Take a short trip to the beach. Depending on a home's location, you might want to hop on your bike to reach one of the area's 2 acclaimed beaches. If you aren't within biking distance,

When buyers or sellers enter the real estate market, they come armed with real estate myths that have been circulated many times over from one year to the next. At Keadle Real Estate Group, our expert Charleston real estate professionals frequently hear the same misleading notions about when and how to buy and sell a home. To clear the air, here are 4 of the most common real estate myths and the truths that hide behind the fallacies:

1. Myth: Your home must be empty in order to garner the highest possible price.

Truth: While your home shouldn’t be cluttered or unkempt, you do not need to move out of your home or live with a bed and a few utensils before you list your home for sale.

2. Myth: Wait until the spring to list your

Some home buyers can’t look past a backyard with neighbors close by. Whether the house backs up directly to the home behind it or the neighbors on either side are closer than you’d like, know that there are ways to create privacy when you have a smaller lot size. All that’s required is a good idea and a vision.

Install Shutters or Curtains on Your Screened Porch

In our Charleston South Carolina market, a screened porch is a must for many home buyers. However, if you visit a listing and worry that the porch is too exposed for relaxation, we have two solutions. The more affordable option is to put up curtains so that you can choose whether to leave them open or closed. This is an easy, do-it-yourself fix that can also help keep your back porch

Despite its location just across the harbor from historic Downtown Charleston, Mount Pleasant has few historic homes for sale at any given time. Some buyers assume that the suburb’s close proximity to one of the South’s most historic port cities means that Mt. Pleasant must have a large historic district. Although the number of historic home listings is small, they leave a big impression on buyers with their gracious porches, expansive water views, Charleston charm, and rich history.

Almost all of the historic homes are located in the Old Village community which was founded in 1680. A 67 acre plantation named Mount Pleasant originated the town’s name. The plantation’s original house still stands, and this circa 1755 Hibben House is on the National

Want to live as close to the beach as possible? Who wouldn't! We talk to so many buyers (especially those relocating) who have dreamed of living near the beach.

Mount Pleasant is a fantastic suburb to consider for this lifestyle since most of its homes are within 5 to 15 minutes of 2 of Charleston's best beaches (Sullivan's Island and the Isle of Palms).

If you want to live within biking distance of the beach, these are the neighborhoods you'll want to consider. Just click on the neighborhoods to view current listings, pricing, community photos, school info, and more!

Bike to Isle of Palms via the Connector in Mt. Pleasant

You'll find mostly single family homes in this category. Living near the Isle of Palms Connector is ideal for easy

While Mount Pleasant is known for its fantastic public schools, wide range of entertainment, and neighborhoods with full amenities, perhaps the only downside to living in this upscale suburb is the traffic. It’s been recently named the 9th fastest growing city in the country, so commuting is an important factor to consider when buying a home. The communities with the closest proximity to Downtown especially (see below, Ravenel Bridge) are some of the most expensive due to the high demand from home buyers. Keep this trade off in mind when comparing neighborhoods because generally the best locations tend to have the highest prices per square foot. However, if a shorter commute leads to a better quality of life, more time spent with family, and less

Many home buyers are eager to purchase a home because they understand that now is a good time to buy: prices are rising quickly, interest rates are low, and the inventory of homes for sale is shrinking. However, not all of these buyers who are willing to purchase are able to at the moment. Perhaps they have a home they need to sell in order to qualify for (or feel comfortable taking on) a mortgage. Or perhaps they need to save money for a down payment, work to improve their credit score, or wait for divorce paperwork to get settled. Although these home buyers want to purchase, a financial or personal setback delays their time frame by 6 to 12 months.

Buyers might consider lease to purchase homes because they seem like an ideal solution. In these

As one of the nation's top 10 fastest growing cities, Mount Pleasant is Charleston's most popular area to live. The past decade has seen a surge of activity from home buyers, and new construction communities have popped up throughout the suburb in an effort to meet this rising demand. As real estate agents who specialize in helping buyers relocate, we're asked on an almost daily basis to give both pros and cons for Mt. Pleasant - so we've decided to sum up these conversations in a blog:

Pros: Why Home Buyers Choose to Live in Mt. Pleasant

Great Public Schools
Mount Pleasant is known for having some of the best public schools in Charleston, which is why you'll find very few private school options. Almost all residents choose to go the public