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7. Furnaces – A proper inspection will ensure that the burner, the blower, and the heat exchanger are all in working order. It should also ensure that there are low levels of carbon monoxide being produced and that no rusting or debris clogging up the works.

8.  Garages - Many of the standards of a home apply to a garage. The more common mistakes in garages are things such as “do-it-yourself” wiring, unsafe overhead door mechanisms, improper firewall separation between the house and garage, and the lack of a fire rated door between home and garage.

9. Insulation and Ventilation - This can be one of the most common causes of high heating bills. A lack of sufficient insulation can also cause moisture problems and cost the homeowner a lot of

Most home buyers know that they need to get a home inspection before they purchase a home, but many buyers know very little about the actual home inspection process. Home inspections are usually required by the mortgage lender, and we strongly recommend getting this performed. It’s important for new home buyers to familiarize themselves with this process as it makes them knowledgeable about the home they are purchasing. In understanding the process, it is necessary to define exactly what a home inspection is, and what an inspector's responsibilities are.

A home inspection is simply a visual inspection of a structure and property, and it is made by a trained and qualified professional. This inspector should be able to accurately assess the condition

Around the summer of last year, the Charleston real estate market (like many others around the country) experienced a drop in home prices.  Fluctuations are natural in real estate markets and anything else that is economically based.  Most of us are familiar with the charts that have a wavy line that steadily rises with a pattern of high points (called crests) followed by low points (called troughs).  The Charleston real estate market had experienced such a rapid increase of home prices in the eight years before that a drop in the market was predicted months before it started to happen.

Most real estate experts agree that this is the lowest point – the trough – of real estate prices.  Some experts even believe that prices are starting to go up again

One of the most important aspects of any home that you move into is, without a doubt, the area. Homes may look fantastic online, but there is always the possibility that the area the home is in may be less than desirable.

Whether you’re moving across the country or across town, it’s a good idea to do a little research and find out as much as possible about the place that you are considering calling home. The logical place to start your research is the internet.  However, when you have questions, be sure to talk with your realtor. You may want to find a Realtor who specializes in the area that you are interested in. Realtors are a great source of information, and usually they know more about a given area than just about anyone.

When you start

When you’re looking at homes to buy in Charleston, SC, be sure to keep in mind the basic real estate principles of progression and regression.  In a nutshell, these principles state that it is better to buy a lower priced home in a neighborhood of varying real estate prices in Charleston or in any other real estate market. 

In a neighborhood where home prices vary, the lower priced homes will increase in value because of the higher priced homes.  The more expensive homes raise the property value of the less expensive homes.  This idea is called the principle of progression.

On the other hand, the more expensive homes “go down in value” because of the less expensive homes.  These higher priced homes will not literally depreciate in value

Some home buyers (especially first-time home buyers) think that a down payment is the only cost of buying a home.  However, they soon realize that their down payment is one of many costs that require cash or a check upfront.  So, how much should you expect to pay before closing on your new home? 

Depending on the type of mortgage you choose, you will probably make a down payment anywhere between zero and twenty percent of the purchase price of your home.  This range is very large, but the good news is that you get to choose what size down payment you’ll make in the very early stages of house hunting.  You can talk with your home loan officer to find out what mortgage type is best for you (and this decision will largely be based on how much money

Buying a home for the first time can be a very overwhelming experience.  After all, we were once first-time home buyers, and we remember buying our first home.  Add our personal experiences to the experience we’ve had helping first-time buyers, and you’ve got quite a bit of useful information.  So, we’ve made a list of tips for those of you considering buying your first home.

1)  Weigh the pros and cons of renting versus buying a home.  Since there is a ton of information available on this point alone, we’ll only do a quick run through of things to consider.  Remember that when you rent, you typically only pay the bills, the rent, and maybe renters’ insurance.  When you buy a home you can expect to pay the bills, the “permanent rent” (A.K.A.

Finding a neighborhood that is a good match for you can be very difficult.  So, we’ve come up with seven steps to find the right neighborhood for you.

1)  Look at a map of the Charleston area.  Start getting familiar with the area you plan to move to.  Note the size of the area, and try to find the main roads.  You can use an old-fashioned road map, or you can find an interactive map on the internet.  You can even look up the area on the internet to read more about it.  It is good to have a basic understanding of the area before you try to find a more specific section, like a neighborhood.   

2)  Talk with your real estate agent.  Be sure to tell him or her what is most important to you regarding the neighborhood you’re looking for.  Are

Some sellers are very reluctant to accept multiple contingencies.  So, try to scale down your contingencies as best as you can.  Two contingencies are easy for home buyers to avoid.    

For example, get pre-approved for a home loan before writing a contract (and even before you start looking seriously).  If you know that in your time frame you’re going to need to write a contract in the next two or three weeks, go ahead and get pre-approved.  Many sellers’ agents make pre-approval a requirement for submitting a contract anyway.  They won’t even consider an offer until they know that the potential buyer afford it.  So, go ahead and knock out the contingency stating that you need to be able to get financing. 

Another way to cut down on your

A person’s offer to buy a home is conditional on certain things.  Conditions are often worked into an offer to buy a home in order to protect the buyer.  In a real estate contract, we call these conditions "contingencies."  Your real estate agent should be able to help you foresee potential problems concerning your real estate purchase.  If something goes wrong during the purchasing process, you want to be able to cancel your contract without being penalized (usually the penalty is losing your earnest money deposit).  We’ve listed some of the most common contingencies used in contracts to buy real estate.

1)  Being able to obtain financing.  If you have not gotten pre-approved for a home loan, you want to put in your offer that you will only buy the