Condos were once thought of as only a short-term rental, or a steppingstone to owning your own single-family home, however, despite what many people believe to be true, condos, unlike apartments, are owned by the tenant, making them a homeowner.  The only catch to this would be if the homeowner has chosen to use their personal condo as a rental. Many people historically would frown upon condo living as a long-term option for a few reasons, the most popular being that the condo would be rented and not owned, which is fiction vs. fact. The second being that you would lose out on many of the perks that often come along with homeownership, and while some perks may differ, there are plenty of reasons to love condo living just as much as a single-family home.

Related: Questions to Ask Your Home Inspector

While you may not own a large lot with a sprawling backyard, there are quite a few perks to choosing to call a condominium home, many of which are starting to sway buyers to consider more than just the traditional single-family home as a buying option.

Affordability

One of the biggest perks is simply affordability. While in some cases, high-rise buildings and luxury condominiums are accompanied by high price tags, there are many buildings that are more geared toward young families, singles, or those wishing to stay within a respectable budget. With more affordable housing, this allows for more people to enjoy the perks of homeownership without breaking the bank or going well above their desired budget.

Amenities

The amenities are easily a main reason to fall in love with condo living. While each building often has a unique range of amenities, you can enjoy perks ranging from swimming pools, door service, gardens, fitness centers, business centers, movie rooms, and so much more, making your home feel like a near vacation with everything only steps from your front door.

Related: Buying a Vacation Home

Location

It’s no secret that condo living often boasts the best locations. Whether the building is perfectly placed downtown, along the beaches, or near major shopping centers, you generally don’t have to travel far from home to enjoy all the city has to offer. While smaller condo building can generally be found in most cities, larger cities such as Myrtle Beach or Holden Beach boast multiple different options ensuring you can find the perfect home, in the perfect location.

The best part of condo living is that it offers a large variety of styles, affordability, amenities, and more, which allows for those with all tastes and budgets to still find a home in their preferred neighborhoods. Whether a high rise condo building boasting near panoramic views of the water, or a smaller building with a cozy fireplace in the lobby, condo living can be for anyone and everyone.

If you’re currently searching for a new home, regardless of the home style, are ready to sell your home and need a qualified seller’s agent to assist you, or if you have further questions regarding Carolina Real Estate, please feel free to contact our office at any time.  

More Information for Buyers

• How to Make an Offer on a Home
• Should I Buy a Single-Story or a Two-Story Home? Part One
• Should I Buy a Single-Story or a Two-Story Home? Part Two
• Why Your Offer May Not be Accepted
• Buying a Vacation Home
• Forgotten Costs When Moving

Your home inspector is there to try and help bring awareness to any major problems that may lie within the home you are hoping to purchase, however oftentimes home buyers don’t understand exactly what a home inspection covers, what their home inspector is looking for, or what questions they should ask post inspection. 

Related: Buying a House in the Fall or Winter? Make Sure to Check These Things

First and foremost, understanding what is covered, or rather, inspected is crucial in generating your own personal questions for your inspector. As a general rule of thumb, your home inspector will be looking at things such as: 

• Roof & Roofing materials such as gutters or chimneys
• Home’s Exterior such as siding
• Structure and frames/foundations
• Heating/Cooling Systems
• Plumbing
• Doors & Windows
• Interior
• Fireplace (if applicable)
• Electrical

While you will get a report of the findings during the inspection, you may still want to ask some questions. Oftentimes understanding a home inspection report feels as if you’re reading another language, and thus, getting clarification is always a good practice. A few common questions you should ask your home inspector could be: 

• Are there any problems with the foundation?
• Is mold present anywhere within the home?
• What items will need immediate repair?
• What will need replacement in the next 12 months?
• Is there any corrosion? – This should always be asked for areas that are coastal as salt corrosion can cause a long list of damages.

Related: Things to Know Before Buying a Historic Home

Regardless of how well you know your real estate agent, the seller of the home, or your home inspector, you should always go through your inspection report thoroughly. In addition to the common questions listed above, should you have any questions while going through the report, tag the page, take notes, and formulate a list of your questions to discuss with your agent and/or home inspector. 

With the current market, many buyers are choosing to purchase homes “as is” in an effort for their offer to look more appealing than others. While this may boost your chances of acceptance, you need to be careful when doing so as it could lead you to purchase a home that requires more work or maintenance than you may have expected. If you are planning to purchase a home as is, asking the question, “what items will need immediate repair?” is key in budgeting for both your purchase as well as the repairs needed as soon as escrow closes. 

If you’re currently searching for a new home, are ready to sell your home and need a qualified seller’s agent to assist you, or if you have any questions regarding Carolina Real Estate, please feel free to contact our office at any time. 

 

More Information for Buyers

• How to Make an Offer on a Home
• Should I Buy a Single-Story or a Two-Story Home? Part One
• Should I Buy a Single-Story or a Two-Story Home? Part Two
• Why Your Offer May Not be Accepted
• Buying a Vacation Home
• Forgotten Costs When Moving

Buying a House is an exciting time, however one thing many potential buyers don’t realize is that there are certain things you should look for pending on when you’ll be house hunting. There isn’t necessarily a right or wrong time to purchase a home, however, if you plan on buying a house this Fall or Winter, here are a few things you should be sure to look for prior to placing an offer.

Related: Things to Know Before Buying a Historic Home

Drainage

One of the things that many buyers who purchase in the warmer and drier months fail to check is the potential for poor drainage. Luckily when buying a house in the Fall or Winter if any part of the home or the property has any drainage issues it may be more apparent or easily visible. Drainage problems can lead to a multitude of problems, from standing water, cracking concrete, breeding grounds for pests, etc. so make sure to look for any puddles, standing water or low points throughout the property so you can understand any drainage issues prior to purchase.

Gutters

If the home has gutters, what kind of condition are they in? While you’ll want to check that the gutters are intact and attached to the home properly, checking for any clogs or areas where debris build up is common are great ways to ensure that the gutters are draining properly, as well as prepare you for any areas that may need extra attention throughout the year to help avoid future clogs.

Mature Trees

While mature trees often add a stunning visual appearance or boost your curb appeal, if the trees are too mature, have rot or other diseases, or are too close to the home, you may risk the tree falling in the future which could cause damage to the home. Likewise, if you find a questionable tree and choose to remove the tree prior to move in, you’ll be looking at tree removal expenses. While this is both a problem in the dry summer months and the Fall/Winter, often windstorms in the cooler months are easy ways for older trees to fall.  

Related: Most Popular Home Styles in the Carolina’s

Black Mold

It’s no secret that moisture can lead to mold growth, and while mold can grow all year round, the wetter months are more prone to exponential mold growth, especially in areas where moisture can be trapped easily. One of the most common places you’ll find mold in cooler temperatures is in the windowsills. Make sure to inspect each window when buying a house, as well as the underside of sinks, showers, bathtubs etc. to make sure that the areas have stayed dry or been cleaned regularly to avoid the dangers of mold accumulation.

If you’re currently searching for a new home, are ready to sell your home and need a qualified seller’s agent, or if you have any further questions regarding Carolina Real Estate, please feel free to contact our office at any time.

 

More Information for Buyers

• How to Make an Offer on a Home
• Should I Buy a Single-Story or a Two-Story Home? Part One
• Should I Buy a Single-Story or a Two-Story Home? Part Two
• Why Your Offer May Not be Accepted
• Buying a Vacation Home
• Forgotten Costs When Moving

Historic homes are a common site along the east coast, from plantation style homes further to the south, large estates and manors, the homes that can be found within both North and South Carolina are often nothing short of breathtaking. While visually many of the historic homes that can be found in the Carolina’s are near perfection, there are a few key elements you want to focus on if you are planning on purchasing an older home.

Renovation Restrictions

While not true for all historic homes, many of them may have renovation restrictions in place. These restrictions may limit the amount of updating or renovations that can be done due to trying to preserve the historic architecture and integrity of the home. Looking up any restrictions is key in understanding the future of your potential new home, and if you’re able to create your dream home within the set guidelines.

Related: What Time do I Get my Keys After Closing Escrow?

Home Inspections

When purchasing a historic home getting a home inspection is vital in understanding the amount of work that is needed to either maintain, upkeep, or renovate the house. Once you have your inspection you can create a timeline of sorts that outlies any repairs that may be needed, when they’re needed, as well as cost associated with each repair so you can budget accordingly and ultimately see if with the given repairs and budgets you’d still like to move forward with your purchase.

Lots of Elbow Grease

Older homes are nearly always more work, from small updates and repairs to more large ticket items that need maintenance, most people who choose to purchase an older home are generally handy and able to tackle all the little projects as they arise without having to hire an outside vendor.

Outdated

Naturally, older homes and historic homes, while they may boast elegant charm and character, due to being built before many modern-day conveniences can leave them quite outdated. This can be simple things such as a lack of outlets, to more extreme issues such as improper or poor plumbing and electrical throughout the home.

Related: Most Popular Home Styles in the Carolina’s

Owning a historic home can be a huge blessing and many homeowners take immense pride in restoring or maintaining the integrity of their home’s character over the years, even if they’re adding a few more modern-day finishes. Whether you’re looking for the perfect house to restore or want a turnkey property, oftentimes historic homes can provide both aspects as long as you do the needed research.

If you’re currently searching for a new home, whether a historic home or not, are ready to sell your home and need a qualified seller’s agent, or if you have any further questions regarding Carolina Real Estate, please feel free to contact our office at any time.

More Information for Buyers

• How to Make an Offer on a Home
• Should I Buy a Single-Story or a Two-Story Home? Part One
• Should I Buy a Single-Story or a Two-Story Home? Part Two
• Why Your Offer May Not be Accepted
• Buying a Vacation Home
• Forgotten Costs When Moving