Cute little home with great split bedroom floor plan. This home does have a 2 car garage-seller removed doors and used as living space, but would be easy to turn back into a garage. The master suite offers double trey ceiling, dual vanities, garden tub and separate shower. Open floor plan is light and bright. On a large, level lot on a cul-de-sac street.

Cute Bungalow in thriving Laurens Rd/ Pleasantburg Area! Covered rocking chair front porch greets you at the entrance of the home. Carpet over hardwood floors in the living room lead you through French doors to the dining area, then on to the kitchen and den. The back yard is large for the area and is fenced on three sides. Come show this home some love and she will shine!

Cute 3 bedroom 2 bath ranch in the heart of Spartanburg. Located on a quiet little road just minutes from everything. This home features a large, almost ½ acre, level lot with fenced in backyard. Long driveway and extra parking located inside fence as well as the 1 car garage. This home has a large living room that is currently used as part formal living/part dining room. The cozy den opens up to the breakfast room as well as the kitchen with access to the large backyard. The master features a full bath with tiled tub/shower combo. Storage shouldn't be a problem with a storage room off the garage as well as a large outbuilding. So much house near everything in Spartanburg.

Adorable home with great curb appeal. Enter into the large living room that is open to the kitchen and breakfast area with sliding glass doors leading to the large backyard area. Looking for large bedrooms? The second bedroom is as large as the master!! This 3 bedroom 2 bath home has been very well kept and it shows. Don't miss your opportunity.

Great clear lot ready to build!  Lot already has water and sewer and some of driveway...just ready for your new home.  Lot is fenced on 3 sides and the back is a privacy fence. There are some mature trees in "backyard" of the lot.  Located in great subdivision and walking distance to Crestview Elementary!

Great 5 bedroom home in quiet subdivision. You will love the charm of the circular driveway, stone accent front and side porch that looks over an in ground pool. As you walk in the home you will notice the beautiful hardwood floors that surround the living areas. Great open floor plan with great room, kitchen, and breakfast area all open. Gorgeous French doors lead you to a large formal living room. You will love cold nights by the beautiful stone wood burning fireplace in the family room! Enjoy the view of the Golf Course and lake from the large sunroom or deck. Large master is located on main level and has a walk in closet. Office/2nd bedroom also located on main level, as well as, a large laundry/half bath. As you go downstairs, you will find a nice open "bonus" area that can be used for many things. There are 3 bedrooms located downstairs as well as 1.5 baths, and another large laundry room. One of the baths features a nice, tranquil SAUNA off of the shower area! Enjoy your summers by the in ground pool that is conveniently located off the downstairs laundry and bath area that makes a perfect "changing" area for pool users. Did I mention that the Seller's are considering leaving the HOT TUB?! The extra lot features a large garage/workshop and a boat ramp to the lake! So many possibilities and lots to offer...make this house your new home!!

3 bedroom 2 bath home walking distance to the newly revitalized downtown Greer.  This home features a cozy, warm gas log fireplace in the roomy living room.  The large kitchen features a breakfast area and tile flooring.  Large master features a full bath and 2nd bedroom features dual closets.  The backyard is wooded and very private with a partially fenced area (was used for a dog).  Great outside storage building and large 2 car detached garage.  The 30x25 garage features room that can be used as additional storage or office.

Great open lot in convenient location.  Located just off Highway 14 and minutes from downtown Greer.  Nice quiet area and lots of room.

ADORABLE starter home! Sunny and cheery home featuring living room with hardwood floors, formal dining rm and eat-in kitchen. Mud room with stackable washer/dryer that remains. Large 1.5 acre lot offers many possibilities and gives you room to breathe while being really convenient to town!

Affordable home in the country! Large lot with circular driveway. Open, split bedroom floor plan. Living room with vaulted ceiling and wood burning fireplace.  The master suite offers a sitting area/office/nursery, dual vanities, garden tub and separate shower. Laundry room and deck off rear of home.

Details on Tax Credit Extension:

• $8000 tax credit for first-time homebuyers extended for buyers who sign a contract by April 30, 2010 (and who close by the end of June).
• $6500 tax credit offered to homebuyers who have lived in their current residence at least five years and who want to “trade up” (buy a new primary residence).
• Couples earning as much as $225,000 a year and individuals earning up to $125,000 would qualify (up from $75,000 for individuals and $150,000 for couples).
• Tax credit not applicable for those buying homes worth more than $800,000.
• Those who sell their new home or stop using it as their main residence within three years would have to repay the credit.

Will the Tax Credit Extension Help?

According to a recent survey Zillow conducted through Harris Interactive, nearly one in five (18%) prospective first-time home buyers said extending the $8,000 tax credit would be the primary influence on their decision to buy a home before the end of 2010, potentially stimulating an additional 334,000 home sales. The caveat here is the survey asked first-time homebuyers if they would purchase a home prior to the end of 2010; this bill will only go through April 2010, not the end of 2010 and it involves a different type of buyer, as well.

We are here to help you with your questions about this extension and to help you take full advantage of any credits available!

1. Consider the curb appeal.

Landscaping is nice, but not in everyone's budget. At minimum, lawns should be freshly mowed, leaves raked, or snow shoveled. Consider a hanging or potted plant for the entrance. Sweep the porch, deck and all walk ways and ensure garbage and recycling are tucked neatly away from the front of the house.

Scrub your front door, porch, outside railings and steps. This is cheaper than repainting and makes a world of difference. Once the outside entrance is clean, decide if the paint really needs a touch up.

2. Get rid of clutter!

Pick one closet or area at a time so the task isn't as daunting. Look at every item with a very critical eye and ask yourself why you're keeping it.

Remember that how you live in your home and how you sell your house are two entirely different things. You're going for a "show home" look!

Forget about hanging onto items for a garage sale. Pick your favorite charity and donate it. You paid for these things long ago, why not just give them away to others who REALLY need them?

You'll probably have to edit the same closets a number of times to really whittle them down to the "essentials". If rooms and closets still look cramped, rent a storage locker.

Removing clutter is an important starting point. Draw attention to the room's best features and create a focal point, as seen here in a home office.

3. Turn excess inventory into cash.

If you have a collection of items for projects you never got around to, return them. This also applies to the two-year supply of light bulbs, canned goods or paper products sitting in your basement. Without a receipt you won't get cash, but you will have a store credit that you can use once you move. Less clutter and less stuff to pack, move and unpack again!

4. Watch where the eye goes.

There are speedy and low cost solutions to many of the little problems that together make a home seem shabbier than it needs to.

Walk along each corridor and into every room and check where your eye is drawn (better yet, ask a critical friend or family member). If the eye is drawn to the chipped white paint on the door frame, take some "white out" and fill it in. If it's those old nail holes in the wall, see if you can hang a picture to cover them.

Glue any peeling wallpaper. If it's really horrible and you can't afford the time or money to fix it properly, hang pictures and strategically place baskets. You won't cover the problem entirely (which would be wrong anyway), but you will draw your audience's attention away from the problem and onto something more visually pleasing to focus on.

5. Find a fix-it person.

Ensure cupboards open and shut and that no taps are dripping. Look in all rooms for things you never got around to fixing and decide which ones might be distracting to potential buyers. No, it's not OK for door handles to fall off, even if you have learned to ignore it!

6. Clean, clean and clean again.

Most mortals can't live in a spotless environment all the time. This can be one of the more stressful aspects of having your home on the market— but it's worth the effort to sell your home for top dollar. You can hire a professional service to come in and deep clean everything; then take 20-30 minutes each day to maintain it.

Don't neglect hallways. They lead potential buyers through your home and should be bright and clutter free. Remember you're trying to maximize the feeling of space in your home!

Appliances should sparkle even if you're not including them with the house. After all, you might throw them in later as a negotiating tool. Counter tops, taps, sinks and bathtubs should be shiny and free of water spots.

If you have a pedestal sink, don't forget the dust that collects on top of the plumbing where it attaches to the wall. If the whole sink is spotless and the taps aren't dripping, it will look new!

Dust shelves and vacuum or "Swiffer" the floors. Naturally, all beds should be made. At a recent open house for a home listed over $500,000 (and over 60 days on the market), they hadn't even bothered with these two simple steps! It made you wonder what bigger things had been neglected.

Remember clean windows let in more light and look newer. Hire a service if you have to— it's worth the investment.

If all this attention to detail seems over the top, remember that a very clean home leaves the impression that the house is well cared for. This helps put buyers at ease— especially a first time buyer who may be worried about the responsibilities of owning a house.

7. Let in some air.

Open some windows for at least 10 minutes. There is nothing worse than walking into a stuffy house or one that smells of smoke and pet odors.

8. Let in some light.

It might be mood lighting to you, but if you're trying to sell your home, keep it bright! Dimly lit rooms tend to look small and dingy— especially during the day. If you have a particularly dark room, consider investing in a floor lamp that will bounce light off the ceiling.

If your walls are so dark that they're sucking up all the light, consider repainting. You can even buy a small can of a lighter shade of your wall color, mix it with glaze and rub it onto the wall. It will reflect light and give the room a more open feeling. This approach saves much of the preparation and clean up involved in repainting.

9. Don't forget fresh flowers.

You don't need to spend a fortune to have fresh flowers throughout your home. Even a daisy in a bud vase brightens a bathroom counter. Ask your florist which blooms last a week. You can also use potted flowering plants that are in season for a low-cost solution.  Don't use plastic or obviously fake flowers, especially in an expensive home!

10. Carefully consider music.

Soft background music can help create a soothing environment and camouflage neighbor and traffic noise. But make sure the volume is very low. Blaring TVs are definitely a no-no, but you'd be surprised how many people leave them on for showings!

Does your house look like a show home yet?

Step back and look at your home with the eye of a highly critical buyer. Beware of  "the sock on the TV syndrome." In other words, something has been sitting for so long in one place in your house that you don't even see it anymore.

For more suggestions on how to get your home sold, give us a call, we’ll come to you with a market analysis to help determine the market value and show you how to get your home ready for the market.

The clock is ticking and time is winding down. If you are thinking about buying a house in order to take advantage of the $8000 first time home buyer tax credit, you need to act now.

As it currently stands, there are just under 90 days left to do so. If one is to approximate an escrow period of 30 days, they would see that the window of opportunity is closing fast.

When President Obama signed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of February, it extended the termination date for the first time home buyer tax credit to December 1, 2009. This has resulted in great benefits for first time home buyers and a significant impact on the housing market. The National Association of Realtors estimates that as many as 2.5 million first time home buyers will take advantage of the $8000 tax credit this year.

There is a fantastic inventory of homes available right now, and with mortgage rates poised to rise, waiting another few months to start searching for a home could end up costing you tens of thousands of dollars.

Even if you have only fleetingly considered taking advantage of this credit, call me right away, I am happy to answer any quesitons you have.

If you live or have lived in the Upsate Area of South Carolina, you already know this to be true, but AARP has done a poll and the results are in!  Greenville is the #2 place in the country to live the simple life.  The survey was based on the several different criteria that included housing apprectiation, cost of living, education, hiking and biking trails and even the stress index! 

"Back in the late 1960s downtown Greenville was withering away, suffering the same fate that wiped out thousands of Main Streets. Now, thanks to 30 years of redevelopment—including a pedestrian-friendly Main Street, a performing arts center, condos, and the stunning Liberty Bridge—what was once a desolate stretch of offices is now a vibrant town center. "   States the article. C

Click the link below to read the full story, and keep in mind that if you know anyone that is considering this fantastic location, we would love to help them relocate!

http://www.aarpmagazine.org/lifestyle/the_simple_life.html

Mortgage finance giant Freddie Mac said Thursday that average rates on 30-year fixed-rate mortgages dropped to 4.85% last week, from 4.98% the previous week. This was the lowest in the history of Freddie Mac's survey, which dates back to 1971, and was down a full percentage point from a year ago. These are truly historic times and they present a great opportunity to anyone who is thinking of buying.

If you or someone you know is ready to take advantage of historic low prices and historically low interest rates, please call me or send me your referral. Don't let this opportunity pass you by.

• The tax credit is for first-time home buyers only.
• The tax credit does not have to be repaid.
• The tax credit is equal to 10 percent of the home’s purchase price up to a maximum of $8,000.
• The credit is available for homes purchased on or after January 1, 2009 and before December 1, 2009.
• Single taxpayers with incomes up to $75,000 and married couples with incomes up to $150,000 qualify for the full tax credit.

Call  864-895-9791 for more information on how you can take advantage of this program.

If you have not owned a home in three years, you qualify as a first time home buyer. If you buy a home after April 9, 2008 and before July 1, 2009, you qualify for this credit. Call your friends who just bought a home since April 9th and tell them they may take $7,500 off their tax bill if they qualify. It has to be your principal residence, so rentals do not count.

The tax credit is 10% of the cost of the home, up to a maximum of $7,500. This is not an additional deduction that lowers the amount of income to be taxed, it is a tax credit. In other words, you take $7,500 off your tax bill. But there is a catch; the credit you receive now is actually an interest-free loan that must be repaid.

The loan has no interest, and will be paid back over 15 years. You get the credit on your 2008 taxes, but you start paying it back on your 2010 taxes that are due in 2011, so you get at least two years without a payment. You pay back 6.67% of the credit each year, so for a $7,500 credit the payment is $502.50 per year. If you stay put for 15 years, you pay it off with no interest.

What happens if you sell the house? You pay the balance back at the closing. So, you get $7,500 now, and pay the rest of it back if you make money on the sale of your house. What happens if you do not make enough money when you sell your house? They forgive the rest of the debt.

Other restrictions stipulate that you have to buy your first house in three years before July 1, 2009, not have super high income, not use bond financing and buy anywhere in the US.

If you'd like to learn more about this program, please call me!

Home prices are one factor in determining your cost of ownership, but so are interest rates and financing availability. Even though interest rates have gone up in the last six months, they are still near historic lows. Since your monthly mortgage payment is a combination of paying down your principal and paying the interest owed, if home prices come down a little further but interest rates go up, it could cost you even more to service a mortgage on an identical home!

While a home is a major investment, it is also the center of your personal life. It's important to live in a home that reflects your taste and values, yet is within your financial "comfort zone." To that end, it may be more important to lock in today's relatively low interest rates and low home prices, rather than to hope for a further break in prices in the future.

Please give me a call if I can be of any assistance in determining how much home you can afford in today's market.