THANKS FOR VISITING POOK'S SUN CITY CAROLINA LAKES NEWS!

Pook's Sun City Carolina Lakes News is both a website and a blog.  It contains up-to-date information about Sun City Carolina Lakes, a premier 55+ Active Adult Del Webb golf course community located in the panhandle of Lancaster County South Carolina, just a short distance south of the Ballantyne Area of beautiful Charlotte, North Carolina.  Looking for an affordable active lifestyle?  Sun City Carolina Lakes is the 55+ community for you!

The tabs above provide access to a wealth of information about Sun City Carolina Lakes and include up-to date stats for real estate sales in the community, as well as links to places and resources that you'll want to visit often.  

Want to search for homes for sale in Sun City Carolina Lakes?  Begin your search for Sun City Carolina Lakes resale homes right here!  Using the same property search tab, you can also search for homes for sale at two nearby 55+ Active Adult communities - TreeTops by Lennar and Carolina Orchards by Pulte.  Or, better yet, contact me to create a personalized search for you through the Canopy Multiple Listing Service (CMLS).  Doing so will create a portal that will allow you access to all that's out there.  If you would like me to create a personalized search for you with automatic updates, please contact me at PookBelliniHomes@gmail.com. 

As a blog, this site contains great articles and infographics about real estate and other topics of interest.  You'll want to come back regularly to see what's new!  

Blog postings are found just below this message, with newer postings at the top and older postings further down.  Since there is a limit to how many postings appear on a page, you will need to click on "older posts" (lower right corner of each page) to see older posts that do not currently appear on the main page. There are lots of posts hiding there... don't miss them!  You can also find postings by going to the ARCHIVE on the left sidebar.

Please be sure to go to my NorthGroup Real Estate website for more great information.  That website also allows you to search for homes, as well as check out mortgage and warranty information, and much more!

If you would like to receive my newsletter, please contact me at:

PookBelliniHomes@gmail.com 

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Please use the above tab labeled  

ACTIVE / UNDER CONTRACT / SOLD YTD

to view all currently Active, Under Contact, 
and Sold (Year-to-Date) listings in Sun City Carolina Lakes.  

Use the above tab labeled
UP-TO-DATE STATS FOR SCCL
to view the most current sales stats for
 New Listings, # of Homes for Sale, Pending Sales, Closed Sales, Average Days on Market, Months Supply of Homes for Sale, Average Days List to Close, and Average Percent of Original Price. Includes interactive graphs with monthly data going back to 2015. 
______________________________________

BLOG POSTINGS BEGIN BELOW

Since there is a limit to how many postings appear on a page, you will need to click on "older posts" (lower right corner of each page) to see previous posts. There are lots of posts hiding there... don't miss them! Alternatively, you can go to the BLOG ARCHIVE on the left sidebar and search for postings by date and title.

SCCL PRICE REDUCTIONS CONTINUE TO INCREASE

While price reductions became more prevalent during the last quarter of 2025, they have increased significantly since the beginning of 2026.  As you can see in the chart below, there have been a total of 56 price reductions in SCCL since January 1.  

 

 

 

With 57 single family homes, 3 Carriage Homes, and 17 Villas currently ACTIVE on MLS, it is important for Sellers to understand the current market and price their homes appropriately.  Use the tabs at the top of this page to follow the SCCL market and check out some of my recent postings (see links below) for valuable information.

The Price You Set Can Make (or Break) Your Sale

The Top 2 Things Homeowners Need To Know Before Selling

You May Not Want To Skip Over That House That’s Been Sitting on the Market

Thinking about Selling Your House As-Is? Read This First.

Why 50% of Homes Are Selling for Under Asking and How To Avoid It

OUR CHANGING MARKET 

 

Sound decisions can only be made with accurate and reliable information.  If you haven't had a chance to read the postings listed above, please be sure to do so.  It's in your best interest to be well-informed.

If you have questions or would like to discuss our current market, please contact me.  I'm always happy to answer your questions. If you're currently working with a real estate professional, this is not intended to be a solicitation. 

 

 

 

SC Ranked as America's #1 Most Desirable State

Article Courtesy of Charlotte Stories

South Carolina Was Just Ranked As America’s #1 Most Desirable State According to US News

South Carolina was just ranked as the #1 most moved-to state in America, according to US News latest migration report. The report that analyzed online search behavior found the Palmetto State ranked #1 among states people were most interested in moving to last year. North Carolina also placed high at #4 in America, reinforcing the Charlotte region’s pull on would-be movers.

The Price You Set Can Make (or Break) Your Sale

Article Courtesy of Keeping Current Matters

There’s one decision you’re going to make when you sell that determines whether your house sells quickly, or it sits. Whether buyers make an offer, or scroll past it. Whether you walk away with the maximum return, or you end up cutting the price later.

And that’s your asking price.

 

The #1 Mistake Sellers Make Today: Trusting the Wrong Number

If you’re thinking of moving and trying to figure out what your house may sell for, it’s tempting to start with an online home value tool. They’re fast, free, and easy. And you don’t have to talk to anyone. But here’s the problem: they don’t know your house.

And that can be a bigger drawback than you realize.

Where Online Estimates Fall Short 

Online tools often lag behind the market. They look in the rearview mirror, relying on closed sales and delayed information. And in that sense, they’re using incomplete data.

That’s not a miss in how these systems are built. Some information just isn’t available online. Bankrate explains:

“While these tools can be a useful starting point, keep in mind that they typically do not provide the most accurate pricing. Algorithms can only rely on the information available; they can’t account for things like a home’s condition or renovations made since the last public information was updated.”

They can’t see:

• The unique features that make your house special
• All the work you’ve put in to keep it in good condition
• Or, how in-demand your specific neighborhood is right now

So, while they may do a good job in some cases, they can’t be as accurate as a local agent who has boots on the ground day in and day out.

In a market where buyers have more options, a seemingly small margin of error can cost you thousands if you price too low, or weeks of lost momentum and time if you price too high.

If you want to sell for the most money and in the least amount of time, you don’t want the fast answer on how to price your house. You want the right one.

That’s why the savviest homeowners today don’t rely on algorithms when it actually matters. They rely on people, specifically trusted local agents.

What an Expert Agent Brings to the Table

According to 1000WATT, sellers overwhelmingly believe real estate agents have the best sense of a home’s true value, far more than any automated tools.

 That confidence isn’t accidental. As Bankrate puts it:

“A professional appraiser or real estate agent can visit the home in person, assess the neighborhood as a whole as well as the individual property, perform more thorough market research, and consider subjective details.”

And those details matter. A skilled local agent doesn’t just pull reports. They know what’s happening right now:

• What buyers are paying this month, not last month, or even last year
• How your home compares to the current competition in your neighborhood
• Which features add value based on what buyers are willing to pay for today
• How to price your house to create urgency in this market

And once an agent steps foot in your house, they may even find your online estimate undershot your value. So, if you stuck with the estimate you got online, you’d actually be leaving money on the table. And no one wants that.

Bottom Line

While online tools can give you a rough starting point, only a local expert can give you a price that actually works.

If you want to know the right number for your house, not just the easiest one to find, connect with a local real estate agent.

You May Not Want To Skip Over That House That’s Been Sitting on the Market

Article Courtesy of Keeping Current Matters/The KCM Blog

When you see a house that’s been sitting on the market for a while, the reaction is almost automatic. You start thinking:

• What’s wrong with it?

• Why hasn’t anyone bought it yet?

• Am I missing something?

That mindset made sense a few years ago. But in today’s market, you may actually miss out.

More Time on Market Isn’t Automatically a Concern Anymore

A few years ago, homes sold in just a matter of days. Sometimes, hours. Anything that lingered longer than that raised concerns. But that’s no longer the baseline.

Inventory has grown. Buyers have more choices. And homes are taking longer to sell across the board. Those are some of the reasons why the typical time it takes a home to sell has climbed this year:

 

And it’s not that 73 days is slow. That’s actually pretty normal for this time of year. It just feels slow because you heard so much about houses being snapped up in the buying frenzy a few years ago.

That shift alone explains a lot of what you’re seeing. It’s not necessarily that there’s anything wrong with the house itself. Although, let’s be honest, sometimes that is the case.

Most of the time today, a house that’s taking longer to sell simply means:

• There are a lot of homes for sale in that area

• The seller priced a little too high at first

• The home didn’t photograph as well online

• Buyers passed it over for flashier listings nearby

• The timing just wasn’t right when it first hit the market

None of those are necessarily deal-breakers.

What Buyers Often Get Wrong About These Listings

Because even though you may assume a house that hasn’t sold must have hidden issues, the reality is, that’s not always the case. And, if the house does have issues, it’ll show up quickly in your inspection.

That’s information you can use to negotiate. Not a reason to walk away automatically. And in many cases, that’s where buyers find the best deals.

The key is knowing which homes that have been sitting for a while are worth a second look – and which ones aren’t. That’s why working with a local agent makes a real difference. They’ll be able to look at disclosures and more to help you uncover hidden gems other buyers may overlook. 

Bottom Line

A home sitting on the market isn’t always a warning sign. Sometimes it’s an overlooked opportunity.

If you want help identifying which homes are worth a second look (and which ones to skip), talk to a local agent.

Thinking about Selling Your House As-Is? Read This First.

Article Courtesy of Keeping Current Matters/TheKCM Blog

If you’re thinking about selling your house this year, you may be torn between two options:

• Do you sell it as-is and make it easier on yourself? No repairs. No effort.
• Or do you fix it up a bit first – so it shows well and sells for as much as possible?

In 2026, that decision matters more than it used to. Here’s what you need to know.

More Competition Means Your Home’s Condition Is More Important Again

Over the past year, the number of homes for sale has been climbing. And this year, a Realtor.com forecast says it could go up another 8.9%. That matters. As buyers gain more options, they also re-gain the ability to be selective. So, the details are starting to count again.

That’s one reason most sellers choose to make some updates before listing. 

According to a recent study from the National Association of Realtors (NAR), two-thirds of sellers (65%) completed minor repairs or improvements before selling (the blue and the green in the chart below). And only one-third (35%) sold as-is:

 

What Selling As-Is Really Means

Selling as-is means you’re signaling upfront that you won’t handle repairs before listing or negotiate fixes after inspection. That can definitely simplify things on your end, but it also narrows your buyer pool.

Homes that are move-in ready typically attract more buyers and stronger offers. On the flip side, when a home needs work, fewer buyers are willing to take it on. That can mean fewer showings, fewer offers, more time on the market, and often a lower final price.

It doesn’t mean your house won’t sell – it just means it may not sell for as much as it could have.

How an Agent Can Help

So, what should you do? The answer isn’t one-size-fits-all. It’s going to depend a lot on your house and your local market.

And that’s why working with an agent is a must. The right agent will help you weigh your options and anticipate what your house may sell for either way – and that can be a key factor in your final decision. 

• If you choose to sell as-is: They’ll call attention to the best features, like the location, size, and more, so it’s easy for buyers to see the potential, not just the projects.
• If you decide to make repairs: Your agent can pinpoint what’s really worth the time and effort based on your budget and what buyers care about the most.

The good news is, there’s still time to get repairs done. Typically speaking, the spring is the peak homebuying season, so there are still several months left before buyer demand will be at its seasonal high. That means you have time to make some repairs, without rushing or stressing, and still hit the listing sweet spot.

The choice is yours. No matter what you end up picking, your agent will market your house to draw in as many buyers as possible. And in today’s market, that expertise is going to be worth it.

Bottom Line

While selling as-is can still make sense in certain situations, in some markets today, it may cost you. So, no, you don’t have to make repairs before you list. But you may want to.

To make sure you’re considering all your options and making the best choice possible, connect with an agent to have a quick conversation about your house.

 

 From my home to yours,

Best Wishes for a

Holiday Season & New Year

Blessed with Love, 

Good Health, Good Friends, 

and Good Times. 

 

Pook 

SCCL MARKET UPDATE

The SCCL market has slowed down quite a bit in the last 5 months or so.  The number of ACTIVE listings has gone up and the number of showings has gone down.  You can follow market information using the "UP-TO-DATE-STATS FOR SCCL" and "WHAT KIND OF MARKET ARE WE IN?" tabs above.  

 

Single Family Residences

 

 

Carriage Homes and Villas 

 

 

SHOWINGS

 

 Single Family Residences

 Carriage Homes and Villas

 

Previous posting dated 11/2/25: WHAT KIND OF MARKET ARE WE IN? 

SCCL PRICE REDUCTIONS ARE INCREASING

Chart below will be updated as changes occur.

In my September 1st posting about OUR CHANGING MARKET, I mentioned that SCCL is seeing an increasing number of price reductions. According to an article by Keeping Current Matters that I posted yesterday, titled Why 50% of Homes Are Selling for Under Asking and How To Avoid It,  "that isn’t necessarily bad news, even if it feels like it. Here’s why. The wild run-up over the last few years was never going to be sustainable. The housing market needed a reset, and data shows that’s exactly what’s happening right now."  

Sound decisions can only be made with accurate and reliable information.  If you haven't had a chance to read the postings mentioned above, please be sure to do so.  It's in your best interest to be well-informed.

If you have questions or would like to discuss our current market, please contact me.  I'm always happy to answer your questions. If you're currently working with a real estate professional, this is not intended to be a solicitation. 

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

My heartfelt thanks to all who have 

made this year so special.
Your friendship and your trust 

are deeply appreciated!