All Blog Entries by Lee and Katherine Keadle

Once you’ve visited the “Holy City,” its appeal is undeniable. Charleston is a metropolitan area with a small town feel, which is nearly impossible for other cities and towns to accomplish. It’s no wonder that Charleston is consistently voted to be one of the best places in the U.S. to live, work, and visit. At The Keadle Real Estate Group, we cannot argue with its beauty or intrinsic charm, as we are long-time devoted residents of Charleston. If you are considering purchasing Charleston Real Estate, here are 5 advantages to buying in Charleston:

1. Historical significance: First settled in 1663, Charleston has a palpable history coursing through the city’s streets and buildings. It provides its residents with the benefit of living in close

We’ve included below some of the most frequently asked questions we get from home buyers in case you’ve wondered some these questions yourself!

• Lot sizes in Charleston: Many buyers are surprised to learn that the average lot size for a newer home is about .2 acre unless you’re looking in the $500K plus price range. For older homes built in the 1980’s or before, you’ll find an average lot size of about .4 acre. With the exception of Dunes West, acre sized lots are difficult to find under $1 million unless you look in the rural areas like Johns Island, Wadmalaw, or Rural West Ashley (areas known for their farmland and horse pastures).
• Waterfront homes: Because waterfront properties are the most sought after in Charleston, this demand drives up

We’ve included below info and tips from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau that can help you plan for your home purchase:

• Many Americans don’t realize that Federal laws allow them to get a free credit report check every 12 months from all 3 of the credit reporting companies (Experian, TransUnion, and Equifax). Not only is this a good way to catch identity theft, but it also helps you keep the info on your credit reports accurate and up to date. Correcting mistakes on your credit report can help increase your score in less than 30 days. The authorized, free website to do this is www.annualcreditreport.com
• Generally the higher your credit score, the less you’ll pay for a mortgage. If you’re several months out from purchasing a home,

Because Charleston is full of famous historic sites, we wanted to let you know about a new option that is now available. McLeod Plantation Historic Site opened to the public in April after several long awaited years of research and restoration. This 36 acre plantation is located on James Island and overlooks Wappoo Creek.

When it was established in 1851, it served as a sea island cotton plantation. At this heritage site, visitors can trace the emergence of Gullah Culture in the Lowcountry, tour the McLeod family home and slave cabins, learn about the dynamics of plantation life before and after slavery, and view the 600 year old McLeod Oak.

Its hours of operation are currently Tuesday through Sunday (9 AM to 4 PM), and it is closed on Mondays.

If there’s anything we learned from the housing market down turn of 2008, it’s that buyers need to purchase homes they can afford. Too often as real estate agents, we see buyers with plenty of debt and only a moderate income getting half a million dollar homes. Some buyers assume that if a lender is able to creatively get them qualified for a $500K home, that should be the price range they shop for. However, you need to make your own personal decision on what price range and monthly mortgage payment you’re comfortable with.

Get Pre-Approved for a Home Loan

Getting pre-approved should be the first step in your home search for several reasons. The most obvious reason is that knowing what you can afford can make a difference in the size, quality,

Year to date, we’ve seen a 17.5% increase in the number of transactions when comparing the same months in 2014. This year it is estimated that 14,000 homes should sell by December 31, making it the 3rd busiest recorded in Charleston's history. Here are some stats as of August 15 for the current Charleston real estate market:

• Days spent on market: 84 (this is a 17% drop compared to last year); some of the hottest markets like James Island are seeing a 31% drop in days on market; West Ashley inside Interstate 526 is seeing a 33% decrease in time spent on market
• Median sales price: $243,500 (compare to $230,000 the year before)
• Properties sold so far this year: 8,587 closed (this is the 17.5% increase year over year); 2,008 homes are

One of Charleston's not-so best kept secrets is their collection of well-known islands that are home to glorious beaches with stunning sand dunes, abundant wildlife, rivers, marshes, mighty oak tree, sporting activities, championship golfing and various eateries. At the Keadle Real Estate Group, we believe anyone considering purchasing Charleston Real Estate, area should be familiar with the Islands of Charleston and Charleston beachfront property in order to choose the perfect place to live and be informed as to the perks of living in this amazingly diverse location. Here are some of the most notable islands that attract widespread attention for their overwhelming beauty, versatility in activities and remarkable real estate:

• Sullivan’s Island:

Buying a home is an exciting, life-changing experience. But it also comes with many responsibilities and costs that overzealous buyers tend to overlook. For a smooth home-buying experience, avoid making these top three mistakes.

Overspending

By far, the biggest mistake home buyers make is thinking they can afford more than they really can. Even if you get approved for a $250,000 loan, it doesn’t necessarily mean you can afford a home of that price. Can you easily afford your rent or mortgage payment each month, or will you be struggling to make ends meet?

Home buyers often make the mistake of only considering how much it costs to buy a home and not the costs of owning one. Just a few of the monthly costs you’ll need to consider include:

Various types of adverse weather can be found in any region. Living in Charleston, SC, requires that you know how to prepare for tropical storms and hurricanes. Since 1980, there have been 2 tropical storms and 4 hurricanes to make landfall in South Carolina. Though luck certainly favors the prepared when storm season is in full swing, Charleston beachfront properties can be at risk. Follow these 5 tips on how to prepare for a tropical storm provided by the Keadle Real Estate Group which will also assist you with general emergency preparedness:

1. Purchase essential items to last a period of 2 weeks. You will need 1-2 gallons of water per day per person and per pet to ensure there is enough water for drinking, sanitation and food preparation. You

The Old Village of Mt. Pleasant is home to some of the best schools in South Carolina. Ranked the second best in the state, homes in Old Village are in high demand because of the top-notch educational opportunities offered here. Three schools can be found in Old Village: Mt. Pleasant Academy, Moultrie Middle School and Wando High School.

Mount Pleasant Academy

Mount Pleasant Academy has had the distinct honor of being awarded a National Blue Ribbon of Excellence for the high performance of its students. Celebrating more than 200 years, the school is the oldest in South Carolina. Some of the many amenities the school offers are acoustic panel-lined walls in the music room, a special room for volunteers and PTA to meet and an art room with an