Best Wishes for a Wonderful New Year

What a strange year it has been.  As we look at 2020 in the rear-view mirror, we look ahead to a year of promise and exciting expectation for returning to life before the COVID-19 pandemic.  While so many have suffered greatly from personal loss of family and friends, failing businesses, confinement, and adjusting to a world of masks, Zoom meetings, children young and old dealing with virtual education, and lack of personal connections, we continue to persevere and keep our eyes on the light at the end of the tunnel.  I am personally grateful that I am one of the fortunate ones who, despite inconveniences and lack of personal contact with loved ones and dear friends, have made it through relatively well.  I have enjoyed daily walks with our dog, Rudy, which provided me with the opportunity to meet safely with many people (and pets) along the walkways and trails of our beautiful community.  I have also been able to work with clients, albeit under very restricted conditions.  Masks, gloves, and hand sanitizer have become part of my business life, but have allowed me to help people purchase and sell homes in these unusual times.  As we head into the new year, I look forward to (at some point) getting back to more normal personal and business routines.  I look forward to spending time with family, friends, and clients, and, as president of our Grey Hawk neighborhood, I look forward to seeing my neighbors again at events that have been put on hold for way too long.  So, as we move into 2021, I wish you a year filled with all the pleasures that you missed in 2020!  Stay strong.  Stay safe.  Stay healthy.  And know that, as always, I am here for you.  

Why Selling Your House on Your Own in 2021 Is a Mistake

 Article Courtesy of Keeping Current Matters/The KCM Blog

There are many benefits to working with a real estate professional when selling your house. During challenging times, like what we face today, it becomes even more important to have an expert you trust to help guide you through the process. If you’re considering selling on your own, known in the industry as a For Sale By Owner (FSBO), it’s critical to consider the following items.

1. Your Safety Is a Priority

Your safety should always come first, and that’s more crucial than ever given the current health situation in our country. When you FSBO, it is incredibly difficult to control entry into your home. A real estate professional will have the proper protocols in place to protect not only your belongings but your health and well-being too. From regulating the number of people in your home at one time to ensuring proper sanitization during and after a showing, and even facilitating virtual tours, real estate professionals are equipped to follow the latest industry standards recommended by the National Association of Realtors (NAR) to help protect you and your potential buyers.

2. A Powerful Online Strategy Is a Must to Attract a Buyer

Recent studies from NAR have shown that, even before COVID-19, the first step 43% of all buyers took when looking for a home was to search online. Throughout the process, that number jumps to 97%. Today, those numbers have grown exponentially. Most real estate agents have developed a strong Internet and social media strategy to promote the sale of your house.

3. There Are Too Many Negotiations

Here are just a few of the people you’ll need to negotiate with if you decide to FSBO:

• The buyer, who wants the best deal possible
• The buyer’s agent, who solely represents the best interest of the buyer
• The inspection company, which works for the buyer and will almost always find challenges with the house
• The appraiser, if there is a question of value

As part of their training, agents are taught how to negotiate every aspect of the real estate transaction and how to mediate the emotions felt by buyers looking to make what is probably the largest purchase of their lives.

4. You Won’t Know if Your Purchaser Is Qualified for a Mortgage

Having a buyer who wants to purchase your house is the first step. Making sure they can afford to buy it is just as important. As a FSBO, it’s almost impossible to be involved in the mortgage process of your buyer. A real estate professional is trained to ask the appropriate questions and, in most cases, will be intimately aware of the progress being made toward a purchaser’s mortgage commitment. You need someone who’s working with lenders every day to guarantee your buyer makes it to the closing table.

5. FSBOing Is Becoming More Difficult from a Legal Standpoint

The documentation involved in the selling process is growing dramatically as more and more disclosures and regulations become mandatory. In an increasingly litigious society, the agent acts as a third-party to help the seller avoid legal jeopardy. This is one of the major reasons why the percentage of people FSBOing has dropped from 19% to 8% over the last 20+ years.

6. You Net More Money When Using an Agent

Many homeowners think they’ll save the real estate commission by selling on their own. Realize that the main reason buyers look at FSBOs is because they also believe they can save the real estate agent’s commission. The seller and buyer can’t both save on the commission.

A study by Collateral Analytics revealed that FSBOs don’t actually save anything by forgoing the help of an agent. In some cases, the seller may even net less money from the sale. The study found the difference in price between a FSBO and an agent-listed home was an average of 6%. One of the main reasons for the price difference is effective exposure:

“Properties listed with a broker that is a member of the local MLS will be listed online with all other participating broker websites, marketing the home to a much larger buyer population. And those MLS properties generally offer compensation to agents who represent buyers, incentivizing them to show and sell the property and again potentially enlarging the buyer pool.”

The more buyers that view a home, the greater the chance a bidding war will take place, potentially driving the price higher, too.

Bottom Line

Listing on your own leaves you to manage the entire transaction by yourself. Why do that when you can hire an agent and still net the same amount of money? Before you decide to take on the challenge of selling your house alone, reach out to a local real estate professional to discuss your options.

 

The Do’s and Don’ts after Applying for a Mortgage

Once you’ve found the right home and applied for a mortgage, there are some key things to keep in mind before you close. You’re undoubtedly excited about the opportunity to decorate your new place, but before you make any large purchases, move your money around, or make any major life changes, consult your lender – someone who is qualified to tell you how your financial decisions may impact your home loan.

Below is a list of things you shouldn’t do after applying for a mortgage. They’re all important to know – or simply just good reminders – for the process.

1. Don’t Deposit Cash into Your Bank Accounts Before Speaking with Your Bank or Lender. Lenders need to source your money, and cash is not easily traceable. Before you deposit any amount of cash into your accounts, discuss the proper way to document your transactions with your loan officer.

2. Don’t Make Any Large Purchases Like a New Car or Furniture for Your New Home. New debt comes with new monthly obligations. New obligations create new qualifications. People with new debt have higher debt-to-income ratios. Higher ratios make for riskier loans, and then sometimes qualified borrowers no longer qualify.

3. Don’t Co-Sign Other Loans for Anyone. When you co-sign, you’re obligated. With that obligation comes higher ratios as well. Even if you promise you won’t be the one making the payments, your lender will have to count the payments against you.

4. Don’t Change Bank Accounts. Remember, lenders need to source and track your assets. That task is significantly easier when there’s consistency among your accounts. Before you transfer any money, speak with your loan officer.

5. Don’t Apply for New Credit. It doesn’t matter whether it’s a new credit card or a new car. When you have your credit report run by organizations in multiple financial channels (mortgage, credit card, auto, etc.), your FICO® score will be impacted. Lower credit scores can determine your interest rate and maybe even your eligibility for approval.

6. Don’t Close Any Credit Accounts. Many buyers believe having less available credit makes them less risky and more likely to be approved. Wrong. A major component of your score is your length and depth of credit history (as opposed to just your payment history) and your total usage of credit as a percentage of available credit. Closing accounts has a negative impact on both of those determinants of your score.

Bottom Line

Any blip in income, assets, or credit should be reviewed and executed in a way that ensures your home loan can still be approved. If your job or employment status has changed recently, share that with your lender as well. The best plan is to fully disclose and discuss your intentions with your loan officer before you do anything financial in nature.

 

2021 Housing Forecast [INFOGRAPHIC]

   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Some Highlights

• Experts project an optimistic year for the 2021 housing market.
• With mortgage rates forecasted to remain low, high buyer demand is expected to fuel more home sales and continue to increase home prices.
• Reach out to a local real estate professional today to determine how to make your best move in the new year.

South Carolina Homestead Exemption

  

HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION

SC Department of Revenue Information on Homestead Exemption:

https://dor.sc.gov/lgs/homestead-exemption

 

 

 

The Homestead Exemption is a complete exemption of taxes on the first $50,000 in Fair Market Value of your Legal Residence for homeowners over age 65, totally and permanently disabled, or legally blind.

 

To qualify for a Homestead Exemption, you must be a legal resident of South Carolina for at least one year on or before December 31 of the year prior to the exemption. 

Example:  If you become a resident between January 1 and December 31, 2020, you will qualify in  2022.  If you become a resident in January 2021, you will not qualify until 2023.

 

You must apply for the Homestead Exemption at your County Auditor's office. If you are unable to go to the Auditor's office, you may authorize someone to apply for you. 

Lancaster County SC website > Departments > Auditor > Online forms > Homestead Exemption 

Wishing You a Joyous Holiday Season

                                   

From my family to yours, 

Best wishes for a joyous holiday season 

and a New Year blessed 

with good health, good friends, and good times.

Pook