Upstate Real Estate News

Lion King performer gives Greenville high praise

For the last month, the the Lion King has performed at the Peace Center. As with any Broadway show when they roll into town, Greenville has the priviledge of hosting the cast and crew.

Fortunately for us, one of the understudies has an active blog where he and his wife posts about their adventures on the road. Our fair city is no exception: Mike and Angela Hollick have written extensively on the downtown as well as local businesses.

"So then why is Greenville, SC just the most glorious place right now?," Angela writes.

"Perhaps because it's a cute little city that's impeccably maintained. Maybe because the local people we've met are genial and very taken with The Lion King. It could be because…

If you are looking to move to Greenville, SC and want to get a feel for the local flavor, there are several amazing sites that give a unique perspective.

The typical first stop for people wanting to know about an area is local real estate and news websites. While we specialize in giving as much valuable data as we can, if you dig a bit deeper, you'll find there are other sites that show the uniqueness of an area, not just the facts regarding real estate.

When I was looking to move to this area several years ago, I used these two key sites to stay abreast of the flavor of the area. Needless to say, they were great resources.

Greenville Daily Photo

As the name suggests, they provide a daily snapshot of a Greenville, SC scene along with a bit of…

When touring a potential home to buy, sometimes the residence can give hints as to its general condition. These signs certainly do not show the complete health of the property, but they are indicators that further inspection may be necessary.  As I show homes in the Greenville, SC area, here are a few things I typically look for on behalf of my real estate clients.

1. Age

When thinking of age, we naturally consider the overall age of a home.  But unlike the human body, a home does not age at an equal rate.  A 50-year old home that has been maintained will most likely have great bones and plenty of charm and character...once you remove the shag carpets, that is.  But if that 50-year old home still has its original roof, then you have…

Greenville, SC is once again making national headlines as a great place to live and work. This time we are in the real estate section of the New York Times where they discuss the development of Verdae.

Located near the Shops at Greenridge at the intersection of Laurens and Woodruff Rd., the New York Times describes Verdae as “…a city within a city, designed with a walkable ‘live, work, play’ ethos. A master plan approved in 2005 includes single-family homes, town homes and apartments, retail and office buildings, a retirement complex and a large medical building. A 20-acre recreation area called Legacy Park is already finished.”

Homes are currently on the market in Hollingsworth Park at Verdae. Prices range between $250,000-500,000 with…

Part of the consideration in selling a home is how much it will cost to sell it and how much money will be earn from the transaction. The Greenville, SC real estate market is no different.

As mentioned in previous articles, the profit you need to make from a home has no bearing on what a potential buyer will pay, but counting the cost beforehand allows you to know if it makes economic sense to sell now or wait.

We all can get emotionally vested in our homes: that is no criticism or surprise.  Selling a Greenville home by the numbers helps a homeowner have a proper expectation of what is reasonable in the market today.  It also keeps a home from languishing on the real estate market and further hurting the seller’s position.

Factoring the overall costs…

Buying your first home is one of the most important events in your life. Finding the best Greenville, SC real estate for your money is essential because not only are you buying a home, you are purchasing a major investment. Even if you plan on moving again someday, it is still worthwhile to get a home that is worth your financial commitment.

1. Talk to the bank
Get all your finances in order with as little outstanding debt as possible.  See your loan officer at your bank and find out whether you can be pre-approved for a loan and for how much.  Doing this before you search for a home insures you are not looking for “too much house”.

Keep in mind the bigger a down payment you have, the less you will pay in interest. When dealing with a twenty or thirty…

1. Think curb appeal.
They say you're not supposed to judge a book by its cover, but we all do. A buyer's first impressions are based upon a Greenville, SC, home's curb appeal. Fresh mulch, a well-manicured lawn, and the home's overall appearance can give the intro your home needs.

2. Make your interior look great.
Many small things we overlook everyday may be immediately spotted by a potential buyer. You will want your interior to appeal to as many buyers as possible so that they fall in love with your home.

3. Consider the season.
Historically, spring is usually the best time to put your home on the market. This is when the buyers are out in numbers so don't miss out on this important marketing window.

4. Hire the right Greenville, SC Realtor.

While the Greenville Drive waited for the rain to clear, they captured this spectacular picture of a double rainbow.

The Greenville Drive is a minor league baseball team located near the West End of Greenville, SC.  Watching the ballgame is a great and inexpensive way to spend a beautiful evening.  My wife and I typically get supper from any number of the restaurants in downtown Greenville, walk to the game, and then afterwards cap it off with an ice cream at Spill the Beans. 

A popular development adjacent to the Greenville Drive is the Field House at West End.  It is housed in a mixed use building that has restuarants on the ground level and great condos on the floors above.  

New data released by the South Carolina Department of Commerce proves once again that South Carolina is a great place to live and work.  Part of the allure of Greenville, SC is not only its future viability but also how the city (and state) is currently faring economically.

Part of these gains were driven by a recovering real estate construction market:

If you are looking to remodel your kitchen or maybe build a new one, here is a list from Addison Homes on the latest kitchen building trends.

Outdoor kitchens. Once you experience a true outdoor kitchen with a full range of function, you'll never go back to a rollout charcoal grill again. Outdoor kitchens have become a legitimate industry. Manufacturers offer improved products that better withstand the weather (such as polymer-based cabinet fronts) and refreshment centers that more aptly accommodate outdoor needs, such as snacks and beverages.

New fronts. Raised-panel cabinet fronts are a mainstay in kitchens, but the natural wood look is waning a bit in favor of paint finishes in deep reds and lighter greens. Designers mix and match painted and…