Living and Working in Charleston SC

I”ve always report the real numbers here at allthingscharleston and my message all along has been, “maybe this is a good time to buy; maybe it’s not.  It depends on your situation.”  I’m less optimistic than my fellow real estate agents and besides, any message that says, “Now is a great time to buy.” is bound to be perceived as self-serving anyway.  What do you expect the real estate association to say?  “The market is crap and if you’re smart, you’d wait it out at least another six months?”  In fact, that probably is the best advice for most of you; however, if you’re moving to Charleston or are ready to move UP in price, this can be a good time.  Also, there is a lot of good news about Charleston on the natoinal scene.  It really is a great place to live depending on what you’re into.  If you want amusement parks and a world class nightlife club scene, Charleston probably isn’t your place.  But if you like good food, fun and friendliness, Charleston is awesome.  The weather is great if you know how to take care of yourself in the heat.  (like stay inside if you’re from Minnesota) 

If you’re interested in learning more about Charleston, this is a great link, particularly if you are comparing cities.

http://www.pressomatic.com/ctar/upload/Charleston_Real_Estate_GoodNewsAboutCharlestonMarket.pdf

Let me know your thoughts.

There’s a new leading indicator in the MLS stats that is an equalizer.  It’s the average price per square foot.  It was tricky trying to base home prices based on the average or median price because, what if most buyers are spending their bugdet and getting more home for their dollar?  In May, the average price per square foot was $128 vs $159 May last year, and $130 in April.

You can qualify for 30% toward materials up to $1,500 for roofing, siding, heat pumps, air conditioning and so on.  http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=products.pr_tax_credits#c3.  It just takes a little research, an estimate and the right forms and you’re all set.  It’s best to consult with your tax professional before making any final purchase decisions.  http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f5695.pdf is the link to the form you will need.  There you are.  You have the two references you need so go ahead and call your contractor.  Oh, yes there is a catch.  You’ll have to wait until tax time next year before your credit materializes.  I wouldn’t wait since you never know how long we’re going to keep on funding programs out of any empty bucket.  Hope this helps folks.