Greenville SC March 09 Updates
March 30, 2009:
Good morning! Hope you had a wonderful weekend. I had a busy one. Showed about 14 homes Saturday. Very nice young couple who are first time homebuyers, relocating to Greenville. We put in an offer this morning on a very nice home in Greenville. Hope we get it worked out!
Hey folks, got to put out another highly recommend. After finishing up with my young couple Saturday about 3, I decided I better get something to eat. Stopped at Morettis Pizza on Butler Rd. There is a great little write up here. Wow! If you want some great Italian food and pizza, please stop by...I believe Mr. Morettis is the owner and from all the great pictures and stuff on the walls, I'd say he moved down from New York! Just a great place and I highly recommend.
So what happened in the Greenville MLS since Friday? We had:
101 New Listings
82 Price Changes
46 Sold
31 Expired
Pending up a bit to 691.
Thought I'd do a neighborhood focus for you today on Lismore Park. Currently we have:
12 Active Listings with an average list price of aprox. $197,000
1 Contingent Contract with a list price of $179,900
1 Pending Contract with a list price of $164,900
Over the past 365 days 13 homes sold with an average list price of $202,838.
The average sold price was $196,823 or 97% of list.
The average days on the market was 121 and the average sold price per sq. ft. was $83.
It's really pretty in Greenville today! The leaves are starting to come out, some flowers are blooming and the dogwoods will be too soon. I hope you have a wonderful day. Call me at 864-335-8490 if I can help.
Tax Credit
Can you believe March is almost over? Hey you first time buyers, now is the time to buy to take advantage of the $8,000 first time homebuyers tax credit. I'd do it now rather than later. As we get into the spring you will have more buyers in the market. I've seen a lot of good deals out there and sellers willing to move on price. Just submitted and offer this morning for a great family from MA. We are quite a bit under list but I think our offer is fair based on the updating needed. Hope it works out!
So what's going on in the big city of Greenville this weekend? Legally Blond the Musical is playing at the Peace Center. By popular demand, The Real Housewives of Oconee County continues at Cafe and Then Some. The Diary of Ann Frank is at the Warehouse Theatre. Banff Film Festival will be at the Camelot showcasing mountain themes like ice climbing and snowboarding. Main St. Jazz will crank up for the second week right outside my office this afternoon at 5:30. Final performance of Jazz it Up by Greenville Symphony Orchestra is today. Domaine Serene Wine Dinner at High Cotton. Actually this in on the 31st. Wine presentation by High Cotton and Advintage Wine Distributors. Love me some High Cotton.
Hey, just a quick note before I have to step out. It's kind of funny, I see so many realtors in the area who advertise as "award winning buyers agent", "dedicated buyers agent", etc. Then I look elsewhere in a different search and see them advertising as a award winning listing agent, etc. Folks, the reason there are so few exclusive buyers agents is that most agents don't want to give up the income when their past buyers decide to sell. Could I make more money if I listed my past buyers houses? Yes. But again, I say you can't be a jack of all trades, nor can you serve two masters. I've been successful at exclusive buyer agency because that is what I have focused on. That's what I live. You get good by specializing....don't you? You avoid dual agency and and all the other problems of trying to be two things....don't you? I am thinking about doing a FSBO page for my past buyers. Why, because you as the buyer really should look at all options, and the FSBO may be the home for you. Have a great day, I will!
Good morning! Hey, shot the Greenville High, Pendleton High School Soccer Game last night. Greenville won 8-0!
195 New Listings
145 Price Changes
71 Sold
50 Expired
684 Pending (up a bit)
Three small bungalows in the Augusta Rd. area are priced from $175,000. Folks, this is pretty decent pricing if they are in good shape. There is a price reduction in Barrington Park, traditional home with 4 bedrooms that started at $469,900, currently $412,900. That area is popular because of the schools, Riverside and Buena Vista. I meant to tell you, I saw a nice 1 bedroom condo pop up in Court St. Condos in downtown Greenville for $219,900. Gated with HOA of $203/mo. Good area close to the Peace Center for The Performing Arts. Lot up in Five Forks Plantation, think I've seen a foreclosure in there too! There's a nice 4/3 in popular eastside Hammett Creek for around $550,000. Two in Morning Mist if you want to be down Georgia Rd. in Simpsonville. There's 3 up in Pelham Falls, very popular location just off Pelham and Highway 14.
Folks, beware the emailed listing. I get numerous inquires from people considering the area. Not really sure, but want me to email a few listings based on their criteria. I'm always hesitant to do this because if the looker is asking this of a number of agents then it comes down to who sends the prettiest listing. What I mean is this, I've seen perfect homes based on buyers criteria in terrible locations, or the builder is terrible, or....well you get the idea. 95% of my business is with people who have never been to this area. And a lot of agents here will tell you what you want to hear. Buying is a process, we meet, we look at homes, we form opinions, we adjust. It's the only way to do it and be successful at it. And remember, always use an exclusive buyers agent who does not list any homes. It's in your best interest.
March 21, 2009:
I am so glad spring is here. Downtown jazz was going on right outside the office. Good crowd!
Thought I'd make quick mention of the First Time Home Buyer Credit now available to first-time home buyers. This is a great incentive to buy now.
The bill provides up to a $8,000 refundable tax credit for first-time home buyers of a principal residence on or after January 1, 2009 and before December 1, 2009.
Credit does not require repayment.
For more details give me a call at 864-335-8490! Have a wonderful weekend. I'll be back Monday... God willing.
March 18, 2009:
Good morning! Been away for a few days, got some catching up to do. Let's look at the Greenville SC mls over the last 5 days. We had:
209 New Listings
179 Price Changes
96 Sold
85 Expired
668 Pending (this number has moved down)
Let's look at the solds:
Had one in Cobblestone, a Simpsonville neighborhood close at just over 1.3 million. Had one close on 3/17 in popular Pelham Falls for $280,000. Was listed at $287,500. Closed at $106.54 a sq. ft. which is in line for Pelham Falls. If you are looking for eastside for Buena Vista, Riverside middle or Riverside High check Mallard Creek, one just closed in there for $248,500. Looks like the homeowners is $200 per year in there. Wow, there's a 2/2 that closed in the Lofts @ Mills Mill for $165,000. I see a 2/1 that closed in the Augusta Rd. area for $147,500. Probably a flip. Honorable mentions are Forrester Woods, Squires Creek, Parkins Mill area, Planters Row, Silverleaf, all decent areas. Folks, from a far I know these neighborhoods don't mean anything so if you have any questions, I'm just a call away. You can contact me here.
Hey, Happy St. Patty's Day late! I'm sure there was plenty of celebrating going on downtown, especially with the weather warming up! In the 70's yesterday. You know I like to eat out so I wanted to give out a highly recommend to Quaker Steak & Lube. My wife and I stopped in there last week and man was it great, lots of good wings, hamburgers and most importantly the service was great! Hope you have a great day. Look for some new and updated pages soon! Looking forward to Spring, how about you? Let's go play some golf....
Good morning folks! Looks like we've got some rain and colder temps moving in. Hey, that's Carolina for you. May get about an inch and temps around mid 40's. No problem, got some showings today so that's great!
I though we were supposed to start Downtown Jazz at the Hyatt. May be rained out. Anyway thought I'd check upcoming events for you. The Diary of Ann Frank is at The Warehouse Theatre this weekend. The Estonian National Symphony is a the Peace Center today. Dia Latino dances in at the Peace Center. Boys II Men are coming to the Peace Center, the 14th. Hey want to catch some motorcross, go to the Bi-Lo Center tomorrow for FMX Freestyle Motorcross 2009. New Kids on The Block will be there on the 17th.
March 11, 2009:
Good morning. Just had a great closing yesterday with a super nice couple moving back to the Greenville area. Want to talk about that just a bit. They came to town a few weeks back looking to downsize. We looked at a number of townhomes and single family homes in Taylors, Greer and Simpsonville. Found a super 2 bedroom priced right in St. James Place. These types of neighborhoods are perfect for those couples with grown kids who are trying to downsize and want little yard maintenance. For around $60 a month you get all your lawn maintenance covered. In a great Greer location too.
When we first walked in I immediately saw the value. They did too, and that's why it is important to look at a number of different homes in different areas. I can see it right away because that is all I do, look at homes and compare. We made an offer, it was accepted and we did the walk through yesterday morning before the close. The owner who was 92 came with his son to show us how to operate the sprinkler and the gas logs. Folks, as nice a home as you will see for the money and in great condition. I love it when people take care of their homes and walk throughs go that well. Then we went to close.
I wanted to finish up with a few comments on closing attorneys. In SC, generally there is only one attorney at the closing table. The attorney is supposed to act neutral and fair to all parties. The buyer normally picks the attorney and pays their fees. The attorney orders the title search and handles all normal closing procedures. But mainly they account for funds and disbursements, and ensure that proper law is followed for SC. That's fine but on occasion I will have a buyer purchase a home that is being sold through a relocation company. In my experience I have never had a smooth transaction when this happens. First of all there are about 40 pages of addendums that the relocation company requires the buyer to sign, then most of the time the relocation company insists that the buyer use their closing attorney. Folks, I've just about gone to battle over this. In South Carolina the buyer has the right to use what ever closing attorney they choose, period. Keep that in mind and don't be pushed into using the seller's closing attorney. Although they are supposed to be neutral, I am more comfortable in using an attorney my buyer selected.
As a matter of fact I saw a relo. attorney who got so upset because we would not use him to close (He still got paid because he represented the seller) that he wouldn't release keys to the home at the closing table because the HUD was not sent to him 24 hours before close. Now here are my people with a moving truck sitting out in front of their home they just bought and they can't get in. How I wish I could name names. Anyway, I hope you have a great day! See you tomorrow, God willing.
Hey, what a great weekend! I was sitting by the pool yesterday, temp was in the mid 70's thinking about the snow we got one week earlier.... Gosh what a beautiful weekend. Didn't have any showings Saturday so I took off to Charleston to photograph the Greenville High, Bishop England girls scrimmage. Bishop England is a 7 time state champion, but the Greenville girls hung in there and kept it close.
Let's see what happened in the Greenville MLS over the weekend. Since Friday we had:
116 New Listings
82 Price Changes
38 Sold
44 Expired
674 Pending
There is a 3 bedroom 3 bath in the Augusta Rd. area at around $375,000 with decent sq. footage. There is a 4 bedroom 3 bath ranch on aprox. 1 acre in Botany Woods, another established neighborhood close to shopping. I see a price reduction on Club Forest Drive in Chanticleer if you want Greenville Country Club. If you are looking for Simpsonville, there is a new listing in the ever popular River Walk. Great neighborhood for kids, nice pool, tennis, etc. Please call me at 864-335-8490 for more info. or a showing.
Hey, we just had the 32nd Reedy River Run in downtown Greenville this past weekend. I ran in it years ago. Looks like we had about 5,000 runners this year, a self imposed limit. Glad we had the great weather for it. Yesterday we had the Downtown Irish Festival (Return to The Green) which broke attendance records. Folks, I'm really glad spring is almost here. There are so many fun festivals and things to do as the temps rise and the grass greens. I will surely keep you posted! I've got some showings today, hope you have a wonderful day too!
March 6, 2009:
Good morning! I had a buyer client call yesterday who lives up north, who is putting his home on the market. He wanted to get a feel for pricing in the Greenville area. This is good information so I though I would just put my response here without the attached reports.
Folks, there is price pressure but again in my opinion Greenville is doing much better than most of the country. It appears sellers are moving pricing closer to market. Again, my analysis here is only for Greenville, Simpsonville and Greer.
I've got a fun weekend, might be able to photograph a little high school soccer. Ya'll take care now....
March 4, 2009:
Hey folks. Had a nice fellow call from New York yesterday looking into the area. He owns property in the Catskills mountains. He of course is interested in a milder climate. He had a number of questions about the area. I'm sending him a nice Greenville South Carolina info. packet today. If you would like one, just give me a call at 864-335-8490. I'll just answer some of the questions here I answered for him.
Weather: just beautiful, we get a very nice change of seasons with not too many extremes. We just got about 4-6 inches of snow March 1 which is not unusual. But guess what? Saturday is going to be in the 70's. We've already got the flowers blooming. They will continue to do so throughout April and May. Temps. will be around the 70's, can be breezy though. Grass will start to green soon, time to fertilize. Things start to warm up in June and reach a maximum in August. June you will see 80's and some 90's. August can go well into the 90's. Fall.... as pretty as you'll see. Temps will start dropping quickly from August although I do leave my pool open to mid September. Again, you will start to move to the 70's and 60's with some colder days mixed in. About mid November you will see 40's and 50's. January is probably our coldest month. We can get down to 0 but not often. So....how do you like that for a change of seasons? You get it all here.
Areas: You really can't get a clear picture of any area from afar, especially on the internet you just have to come visit. I can answer questions though. When I do a mls search for people and they are not sure where they want to live, I start with Greenville County. Greenville County includes all the major towns. Simpsonville, Taylors, Travelers Rest, Greenville, Greer, Fountain Inn. I really consider all this Greenville. Spartanburg and Anderson are totally separate. They are their own towns with their own flavor. Anderson is about 45 minutes from downtown Greenville and Spartanburg is about 30. Then there is Oconee and Pickens County. You are going to find it much more rural in these areas. There is a lot of open country here that is much more hilly than Greenville. You see Greenville is in the foothills of the Great Smokey mountains and Pickens and Oconee are more so. You will see about a 5-7 degree temp. change as you go towards Pickens and Oconee. Now is Oconee rural, you betcha. But it also has some of the most expensive real estate in the Upstate at Cliffs Communities. There are two popular lakes here, Lake Kewoee and Jocasse. Lake Keowee is home to celebrities and pro athletes alike.
Lake Keowee was constructed by Duke Power Company to generate hydroelectric power. It is truly a beautiful place. Lake Jocasse is just as pretty with many waterfalls to enjoy. I've got good friends who ski up there all the time.
People: Folks, I tell people interested in the area to just come and visit. Stay at a downtown hotel and just talk to the people you meet on the street at restaurants and shops. People aren't shy to tell you how much they love Greenville. And no Tom Brokow, it's not all bigots and rednecks down here in the South. You will find people from all over the country who have made Greenville home and love it here. I currently have people interested in the area from most every state. I've helped people from California to New York, from Florida to Colorado. You'll find Southerners who speak and say thank you. Come on and visit, I'll be glad to tour you! I might even take you to the Cateran Lodge for some good Southern meat and three.
Good morning. Greenville County Schools are closed today. Why, well Greenville county goes pretty far north into Travelers Rest. It can be rather hilly up there and lots of trees, etc. Anyway it's currently about 20 degrees here and plenty of snow remaining in the shadowy areas. I haven't taken a look at the Greenville MLS since Friday so let's jump in. In the last 5 days we had:
183 New Listings
176 Price Changes
89 Sold
143 Expired
723 Pending (slightly up)
I see a $10,000 reduction on a 3/2 Augusta Rd. home that has been renovated. They are offering a flat screen TV. Renovations off Augusta Rd. you just have to go look at. Like anything, some are done well and some are passable. It's like anything. If you are looking for a popular low maintenance patio home neighborhood, check out Batesville Ridge. There's a 3/2 that's been reduced in there. Plantation shutters, hardwood floors, fenced back yard. Call me if you'd like to look 864-335-8490. There's a new listing in Baucom Park. Remember we talked about a bank owned property in there last week for $159,000. This one is a 4/3 for around $350,000 which is about right for the neighborhood. Folks if you are looking for that older neighborhood charm, there is a new listing in Botany Woods on the east side, close to shopping. This is a 40 year old ranch so it's not for everybody. I see 3 in Cobblestone, a very popular Simpsonville address. You are going to be in the 600's and up there.
If you are looking for JL Mann High School there is a new listing in Forrester Heights. Good sq. footage with 5 bedrooms. Speaking of schools, I see a couple of listings in Hammett Creek. Schools currently are Buena Vista Elementary, Riverside Middle and Riverside High. I see two in the popular Holly Trace in Simpsonville. There is a wide range of ages of homes in here and updating too. Good location though. If you are looking for a retirement village, check out Rolling Green. I see a 3/2 in there for $194,000.
Let's check the Greenville Calendar for the rest of the week. The 48th Annual Southern Home and Garden Show will be at the Carolina First Center the 5th through the 8th. The Ethos Percussion Group will be at the Peace Center for The Performing Arts on the 6th. Hey, Return to The Green Irish Festival will be at Falls Park on the 8th. I'll have to check that out if I'm not showing! Gotta run, busy day, I'll be back tomorrow God willing....
March 2, 2009:
Let it Snow
Good morning! Yes folks we actually got some snow, 150 schools and businesses are closed and the stores are out of bread and milk! Browsing through the news I see we got about 6 inches. Sure was pretty but I think we have about 70,000 without power. Traffic is at a standstill on I85 for miles and miles. At 5:45 am it's about 29 degrees and not going to warm up too much today so it may stick around a day or two.
Good morning! Hope you had a wonderful weekend. I had a busy one. Showed about 14 homes Saturday. Very nice young couple who are first time homebuyers, relocating to Greenville. We put in an offer this morning on a very nice home in Greenville. Hope we get it worked out!
Hey folks, got to put out another highly recommend. After finishing up with my young couple Saturday about 3, I decided I better get something to eat. Stopped at Morettis Pizza on Butler Rd. There is a great little write up here. Wow! If you want some great Italian food and pizza, please stop by...I believe Mr. Morettis is the owner and from all the great pictures and stuff on the walls, I'd say he moved down from New York! Just a great place and I highly recommend.
So what happened in the Greenville MLS since Friday? We had:
101 New Listings
82 Price Changes
46 Sold
31 Expired
Pending up a bit to 691.
Thought I'd do a neighborhood focus for you today on Lismore Park. Currently we have:
12 Active Listings with an average list price of aprox. $197,000
1 Contingent Contract with a list price of $179,900
1 Pending Contract with a list price of $164,900
Over the past 365 days 13 homes sold with an average list price of $202,838.
The average sold price was $196,823 or 97% of list.
The average days on the market was 121 and the average sold price per sq. ft. was $83.
It's really pretty in Greenville today! The leaves are starting to come out, some flowers are blooming and the dogwoods will be too soon. I hope you have a wonderful day. Call me at 864-335-8490 if I can help.
Tax Credit
Can you believe March is almost over? Hey you first time buyers, now is the time to buy to take advantage of the $8,000 first time homebuyers tax credit. I'd do it now rather than later. As we get into the spring you will have more buyers in the market. I've seen a lot of good deals out there and sellers willing to move on price. Just submitted and offer this morning for a great family from MA. We are quite a bit under list but I think our offer is fair based on the updating needed. Hope it works out!
So what's going on in the big city of Greenville this weekend? Legally Blond the Musical is playing at the Peace Center. By popular demand, The Real Housewives of Oconee County continues at Cafe and Then Some. The Diary of Ann Frank is at the Warehouse Theatre. Banff Film Festival will be at the Camelot showcasing mountain themes like ice climbing and snowboarding. Main St. Jazz will crank up for the second week right outside my office this afternoon at 5:30. Final performance of Jazz it Up by Greenville Symphony Orchestra is today. Domaine Serene Wine Dinner at High Cotton. Actually this in on the 31st. Wine presentation by High Cotton and Advintage Wine Distributors. Love me some High Cotton.
If you just need a good wing fix stop by Quaker Steak and Lube!
Hey, just a quick note before I have to step out. It's kind of funny, I see so many realtors in the area who advertise as "award winning buyers agent", "dedicated buyers agent", etc. Then I look elsewhere in a different search and see them advertising as a award winning listing agent, etc. Folks, the reason there are so few exclusive buyers agents is that most agents don't want to give up the income when their past buyers decide to sell. Could I make more money if I listed my past buyers houses? Yes. But again, I say you can't be a jack of all trades, nor can you serve two masters. I've been successful at exclusive buyer agency because that is what I have focused on. That's what I live. You get good by specializing....don't you? You avoid dual agency and and all the other problems of trying to be two things....don't you? I am thinking about doing a FSBO page for my past buyers. Why, because you as the buyer really should look at all options, and the FSBO may be the home for you. Have a great day, I will!
Good morning! Hey, shot the Greenville High, Pendleton High School Soccer Game last night. Greenville won 8-0!
195 New Listings
145 Price Changes
71 Sold
50 Expired
684 Pending (up a bit)
Three small bungalows in the Augusta Rd. area are priced from $175,000. Folks, this is pretty decent pricing if they are in good shape. There is a price reduction in Barrington Park, traditional home with 4 bedrooms that started at $469,900, currently $412,900. That area is popular because of the schools, Riverside and Buena Vista. I meant to tell you, I saw a nice 1 bedroom condo pop up in Court St. Condos in downtown Greenville for $219,900. Gated with HOA of $203/mo. Good area close to the Peace Center for The Performing Arts. Lot up in Five Forks Plantation, think I've seen a foreclosure in there too! There's a nice 4/3 in popular eastside Hammett Creek for around $550,000. Two in Morning Mist if you want to be down Georgia Rd. in Simpsonville. There's 3 up in Pelham Falls, very popular location just off Pelham and Highway 14.
Folks, beware the emailed listing. I get numerous inquires from people considering the area. Not really sure, but want me to email a few listings based on their criteria. I'm always hesitant to do this because if the looker is asking this of a number of agents then it comes down to who sends the prettiest listing. What I mean is this, I've seen perfect homes based on buyers criteria in terrible locations, or the builder is terrible, or....well you get the idea. 95% of my business is with people who have never been to this area. And a lot of agents here will tell you what you want to hear. Buying is a process, we meet, we look at homes, we form opinions, we adjust. It's the only way to do it and be successful at it. And remember, always use an exclusive buyers agent who does not list any homes. It's in your best interest.
March 21, 2009:
I am so glad spring is here. Downtown jazz was going on right outside the office. Good crowd!
Thought I'd make quick mention of the First Time Home Buyer Credit now available to first-time home buyers. This is a great incentive to buy now.
The bill provides up to a $8,000 refundable tax credit for first-time home buyers of a principal residence on or after January 1, 2009 and before December 1, 2009.
Credit does not require repayment.
For more details give me a call at 864-335-8490! Have a wonderful weekend. I'll be back Monday... God willing.
March 18, 2009:
Good morning! Been away for a few days, got some catching up to do. Let's look at the Greenville SC mls over the last 5 days. We had:
209 New Listings
179 Price Changes
96 Sold
85 Expired
668 Pending (this number has moved down)
Let's look at the solds:
Had one in Cobblestone, a Simpsonville neighborhood close at just over 1.3 million. Had one close on 3/17 in popular Pelham Falls for $280,000. Was listed at $287,500. Closed at $106.54 a sq. ft. which is in line for Pelham Falls. If you are looking for eastside for Buena Vista, Riverside middle or Riverside High check Mallard Creek, one just closed in there for $248,500. Looks like the homeowners is $200 per year in there. Wow, there's a 2/2 that closed in the Lofts @ Mills Mill for $165,000. I see a 2/1 that closed in the Augusta Rd. area for $147,500. Probably a flip. Honorable mentions are Forrester Woods, Squires Creek, Parkins Mill area, Planters Row, Silverleaf, all decent areas. Folks, from a far I know these neighborhoods don't mean anything so if you have any questions, I'm just a call away. You can contact me here.
Hey, Happy St. Patty's Day late! I'm sure there was plenty of celebrating going on downtown, especially with the weather warming up! In the 70's yesterday. You know I like to eat out so I wanted to give out a highly recommend to Quaker Steak & Lube. My wife and I stopped in there last week and man was it great, lots of good wings, hamburgers and most importantly the service was great! Hope you have a great day. Look for some new and updated pages soon! Looking forward to Spring, how about you? Let's go play some golf....
Masters, Augusta National!
Good morning folks! Looks like we've got some rain and colder temps moving in. Hey, that's Carolina for you. May get about an inch and temps around mid 40's. No problem, got some showings today so that's great!
I though we were supposed to start Downtown Jazz at the Hyatt. May be rained out. Anyway thought I'd check upcoming events for you. The Diary of Ann Frank is at The Warehouse Theatre this weekend. The Estonian National Symphony is a the Peace Center today. Dia Latino dances in at the Peace Center. Boys II Men are coming to the Peace Center, the 14th. Hey want to catch some motorcross, go to the Bi-Lo Center tomorrow for FMX Freestyle Motorcross 2009. New Kids on The Block will be there on the 17th.
March 11, 2009:
Good morning. Just had a great closing yesterday with a super nice couple moving back to the Greenville area. Want to talk about that just a bit. They came to town a few weeks back looking to downsize. We looked at a number of townhomes and single family homes in Taylors, Greer and Simpsonville. Found a super 2 bedroom priced right in St. James Place. These types of neighborhoods are perfect for those couples with grown kids who are trying to downsize and want little yard maintenance. For around $60 a month you get all your lawn maintenance covered. In a great Greer location too.
When we first walked in I immediately saw the value. They did too, and that's why it is important to look at a number of different homes in different areas. I can see it right away because that is all I do, look at homes and compare. We made an offer, it was accepted and we did the walk through yesterday morning before the close. The owner who was 92 came with his son to show us how to operate the sprinkler and the gas logs. Folks, as nice a home as you will see for the money and in great condition. I love it when people take care of their homes and walk throughs go that well. Then we went to close.
I wanted to finish up with a few comments on closing attorneys. In SC, generally there is only one attorney at the closing table. The attorney is supposed to act neutral and fair to all parties. The buyer normally picks the attorney and pays their fees. The attorney orders the title search and handles all normal closing procedures. But mainly they account for funds and disbursements, and ensure that proper law is followed for SC. That's fine but on occasion I will have a buyer purchase a home that is being sold through a relocation company. In my experience I have never had a smooth transaction when this happens. First of all there are about 40 pages of addendums that the relocation company requires the buyer to sign, then most of the time the relocation company insists that the buyer use their closing attorney. Folks, I've just about gone to battle over this. In South Carolina the buyer has the right to use what ever closing attorney they choose, period. Keep that in mind and don't be pushed into using the seller's closing attorney. Although they are supposed to be neutral, I am more comfortable in using an attorney my buyer selected.
As a matter of fact I saw a relo. attorney who got so upset because we would not use him to close (He still got paid because he represented the seller) that he wouldn't release keys to the home at the closing table because the HUD was not sent to him 24 hours before close. Now here are my people with a moving truck sitting out in front of their home they just bought and they can't get in. How I wish I could name names. Anyway, I hope you have a great day! See you tomorrow, God willing.
Shriners Hospital for Children, Greenville, SC
Hey, what a great weekend! I was sitting by the pool yesterday, temp was in the mid 70's thinking about the snow we got one week earlier.... Gosh what a beautiful weekend. Didn't have any showings Saturday so I took off to Charleston to photograph the Greenville High, Bishop England girls scrimmage. Bishop England is a 7 time state champion, but the Greenville girls hung in there and kept it close.
Let's see what happened in the Greenville MLS over the weekend. Since Friday we had:
116 New Listings
82 Price Changes
38 Sold
44 Expired
674 Pending
There is a 3 bedroom 3 bath in the Augusta Rd. area at around $375,000 with decent sq. footage. There is a 4 bedroom 3 bath ranch on aprox. 1 acre in Botany Woods, another established neighborhood close to shopping. I see a price reduction on Club Forest Drive in Chanticleer if you want Greenville Country Club. If you are looking for Simpsonville, there is a new listing in the ever popular River Walk. Great neighborhood for kids, nice pool, tennis, etc. Please call me at 864-335-8490 for more info. or a showing.
Hey, we just had the 32nd Reedy River Run in downtown Greenville this past weekend. I ran in it years ago. Looks like we had about 5,000 runners this year, a self imposed limit. Glad we had the great weather for it. Yesterday we had the Downtown Irish Festival (Return to The Green) which broke attendance records. Folks, I'm really glad spring is almost here. There are so many fun festivals and things to do as the temps rise and the grass greens. I will surely keep you posted! I've got some showings today, hope you have a wonderful day too!
March 6, 2009:
Good morning! I had a buyer client call yesterday who lives up north, who is putting his home on the market. He wanted to get a feel for pricing in the Greenville area. This is good information so I though I would just put my response here without the attached reports.
Tom,
I've attached a comparative market analysis for Kilgore Plantation. I had to go back to June of last year to get two closed sales. At the top you will see a summary. Then active listings, then the two sold listings. Starting at the bottom, one listing was on the market for only 18 days (DOM) and the other 115 so the average is 66. SP is sold price so these two listings sold at an average closed sales price per sq. ft. of $146. If I divide the average sold price by the average list price then sold to list price is 95.8%. which is right at what Greenville MLS historically has sold for overall on average in my experience.
So I thought, let's see how things have done in Greenville, Simpsonville and Greer from November 6 to today. I pulled solds in the 500-1 million price range. Remember, this is when everything started falling apart and we went into the slowest selling time of the year.
That is the second attached report. I eliminated one sale that was grossly overpriced and not representative. So what do we get? On average the three comparative markets for you, Simpsonville, Greer and Greenville homes in the Kilgore Plantation price range are selling at $155 per sq. ft. Sold to list price is 95%. This is right in line with Kilgore.
So what can we infer. Tom, it's going to come down to the seller's motivation. As the economy worsens the motivation will increase if the seller is in a pinch. In Greenville it's going to come down to area, price range and motivation. At least now you have some sort of a feel.
Folks, there is price pressure but again in my opinion Greenville is doing much better than most of the country. It appears sellers are moving pricing closer to market. Again, my analysis here is only for Greenville, Simpsonville and Greer.
I've got a fun weekend, might be able to photograph a little high school soccer. Ya'll take care now....
March 4, 2009:
Hey folks. Had a nice fellow call from New York yesterday looking into the area. He owns property in the Catskills mountains. He of course is interested in a milder climate. He had a number of questions about the area. I'm sending him a nice Greenville South Carolina info. packet today. If you would like one, just give me a call at 864-335-8490. I'll just answer some of the questions here I answered for him.
Weather: just beautiful, we get a very nice change of seasons with not too many extremes. We just got about 4-6 inches of snow March 1 which is not unusual. But guess what? Saturday is going to be in the 70's. We've already got the flowers blooming. They will continue to do so throughout April and May. Temps. will be around the 70's, can be breezy though. Grass will start to green soon, time to fertilize. Things start to warm up in June and reach a maximum in August. June you will see 80's and some 90's. August can go well into the 90's. Fall.... as pretty as you'll see. Temps will start dropping quickly from August although I do leave my pool open to mid September. Again, you will start to move to the 70's and 60's with some colder days mixed in. About mid November you will see 40's and 50's. January is probably our coldest month. We can get down to 0 but not often. So....how do you like that for a change of seasons? You get it all here.
Areas: You really can't get a clear picture of any area from afar, especially on the internet you just have to come visit. I can answer questions though. When I do a mls search for people and they are not sure where they want to live, I start with Greenville County. Greenville County includes all the major towns. Simpsonville, Taylors, Travelers Rest, Greenville, Greer, Fountain Inn. I really consider all this Greenville. Spartanburg and Anderson are totally separate. They are their own towns with their own flavor. Anderson is about 45 minutes from downtown Greenville and Spartanburg is about 30. Then there is Oconee and Pickens County. You are going to find it much more rural in these areas. There is a lot of open country here that is much more hilly than Greenville. You see Greenville is in the foothills of the Great Smokey mountains and Pickens and Oconee are more so. You will see about a 5-7 degree temp. change as you go towards Pickens and Oconee. Now is Oconee rural, you betcha. But it also has some of the most expensive real estate in the Upstate at Cliffs Communities. There are two popular lakes here, Lake Kewoee and Jocasse. Lake Keowee is home to celebrities and pro athletes alike.
Lake Keowee was constructed by Duke Power Company to generate hydroelectric power. It is truly a beautiful place. Lake Jocasse is just as pretty with many waterfalls to enjoy. I've got good friends who ski up there all the time.
People: Folks, I tell people interested in the area to just come and visit. Stay at a downtown hotel and just talk to the people you meet on the street at restaurants and shops. People aren't shy to tell you how much they love Greenville. And no Tom Brokow, it's not all bigots and rednecks down here in the South. You will find people from all over the country who have made Greenville home and love it here. I currently have people interested in the area from most every state. I've helped people from California to New York, from Florida to Colorado. You'll find Southerners who speak and say thank you. Come on and visit, I'll be glad to tour you! I might even take you to the Cateran Lodge for some good Southern meat and three.
Good morning. Greenville County Schools are closed today. Why, well Greenville county goes pretty far north into Travelers Rest. It can be rather hilly up there and lots of trees, etc. Anyway it's currently about 20 degrees here and plenty of snow remaining in the shadowy areas. I haven't taken a look at the Greenville MLS since Friday so let's jump in. In the last 5 days we had:
183 New Listings
176 Price Changes
89 Sold
143 Expired
723 Pending (slightly up)
I see a $10,000 reduction on a 3/2 Augusta Rd. home that has been renovated. They are offering a flat screen TV. Renovations off Augusta Rd. you just have to go look at. Like anything, some are done well and some are passable. It's like anything. If you are looking for a popular low maintenance patio home neighborhood, check out Batesville Ridge. There's a 3/2 that's been reduced in there. Plantation shutters, hardwood floors, fenced back yard. Call me if you'd like to look 864-335-8490. There's a new listing in Baucom Park. Remember we talked about a bank owned property in there last week for $159,000. This one is a 4/3 for around $350,000 which is about right for the neighborhood. Folks if you are looking for that older neighborhood charm, there is a new listing in Botany Woods on the east side, close to shopping. This is a 40 year old ranch so it's not for everybody. I see 3 in Cobblestone, a very popular Simpsonville address. You are going to be in the 600's and up there.
If you are looking for JL Mann High School there is a new listing in Forrester Heights. Good sq. footage with 5 bedrooms. Speaking of schools, I see a couple of listings in Hammett Creek. Schools currently are Buena Vista Elementary, Riverside Middle and Riverside High. I see two in the popular Holly Trace in Simpsonville. There is a wide range of ages of homes in here and updating too. Good location though. If you are looking for a retirement village, check out Rolling Green. I see a 3/2 in there for $194,000.
Let's check the Greenville Calendar for the rest of the week. The 48th Annual Southern Home and Garden Show will be at the Carolina First Center the 5th through the 8th. The Ethos Percussion Group will be at the Peace Center for The Performing Arts on the 6th. Hey, Return to The Green Irish Festival will be at Falls Park on the 8th. I'll have to check that out if I'm not showing! Gotta run, busy day, I'll be back tomorrow God willing....
March 2, 2009:
Let it Snow
Good morning! Yes folks we actually got some snow, 150 schools and businesses are closed and the stores are out of bread and milk! Browsing through the news I see we got about 6 inches. Sure was pretty but I think we have about 70,000 without power. Traffic is at a standstill on I85 for miles and miles. At 5:45 am it's about 29 degrees and not going to warm up too much today so it may stick around a day or two.
So, I promised a market update for the year to date. Let's see what is going on. I'm going to focus on Greenville County and not the MLS as a whole. The MLS as a whole can really skew the numbers for what is happening close to Greenville SC. Why, well for instance, Spartanburg is selling much slower than Greenville. So here's what's happening in the core of the upstate.
As of 6 am this morning, for single family homes and condos, townhomes, $100,000 and above in Greenville County:
3368 Active Listings
Average List Price $314,336
High List Price $3,950,000
Low $100,000
Closed Sales 344
Average Sold Price $226,332
High Sale $1,500,000
Low $100,000
Average Days on The Market 99
So how does sales compare to last year for the same time period?
Closed Sales 671
Average Sold Price $223,263
High Sale $1,695,000
Low $100,000
Average Days on The Market 102
So, what can we get out of this. On average volume has slowed but prices are holding, homes are selling quicker. This right in line with what I am seeing. Great time to buy folks because there are more sellers in the market at this time than buyers overall. Hope you have a wonderful day!
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