Horry County, South Carolina is located in the northeastern part of the state. On a map, Horry county appears as wedge shape between North Carolina and the Atlantic Ocean. As the largest county in the state, Horry county comprises a land area of 1,134 square miles. Myrtle Beach is the largest city in the county and Conway is the county seat. The good news for people who are considering … [Read more...]
Living the Dreamlife: Michael and Marge Rzepka
Sometimes, taking a chance pays off in a big way. For Michael and Marge Rzepka, who have lived in Naperville IL for the past 18 years, visiting the ocean was always something they looked forward to. A couple of years ago, the couple visited Myrtle Beach and fell in love with the wonderful atmosphere of the area as well as the beautiful coastline. The idea of purchasing a second home on the South … [Read more...]
Living the Dream Life: Ray and Ricki Barger
Ray and Ricki Barger, along with their two sons, have lived in the foothills of North Carolina for 25 years. The Bargers have loved living so close to the beautiful mountains, but always knew that someday their goal was to have a second home by the ocean. For Ricki and Ray there is no other experience that can compare to sitting on the balcony with a cup of coffee and watching the sun rise or … [Read more...]
Condo Living: Small Bedroom Guide
Your vacation home is more than a financial investment…it’s an invaluable step in making lifelong family memories that will be cherished for years to come. For many families, purchasing a beach condo is the right choice for a second home. Condos are low maintenance, and often come with a host of amenities that are convenient and perfect for multi-generational gatherings. When you have … [Read more...]
Can you count on Zillow?
The Zillow buzz The real estate community was a buzz at the launch of Zillow.com in 2005. The prospect of receiving appraisals (Zestimates) with a few keystrokes was exciting. It was fun to type in your home address or the address of your former boss or local politician. Zestimates provided the ability to be a voyeur into the homes and finances of others. But how accurate were those … [Read more...]
Do I really need A Real Estate Agent When Buying a Home?
Reasons to use a buyer’s agent when purchasing your new home. Should you work with a real estate agent, specifically a buyer's agent, when purchasing a home? In the internet age is a real estate agent really necessary? Let’s face it; technology has evolved to the point where prospective homebuyers have access to thousands upon thousands of property listings. There are dozens of websites … [Read more...]
Do I need an HO-6 Policy When Buying a Condo?
HO6 Insurance Policy When buying a condo, there are many decisions to make. Most buyers spend a huge amount of time searching for the perfect location and the perfect amenities, but often fail to think about protecting their investment with the correct insurance policy. The truth is, not all insurance policies are created equally and this is especially true when buying a condo. An HO-6 … [Read more...]
Vacation Home purchases up 29.7%
Vacation Home Sales Vacation home sales surged last year. According to the 2014 Investment and Vacation Home Buyers Survey by the NAR, vacation home sales rose 29.7% from the previous year. For many baby boomers, owning that vacation home is making more and more sense as their home values have increased and their stock portfolios have almost recovered fully from the Great Recession of the … [Read more...]
Do you Need a Buyer’s Agent When Purchasing New Construction?
Why You Need a Buyer’s Agent When Purchasing a New Construction Property Did you know that, in general, the National Association of Realtors estimates that nine out of 10 home buyers use a real estate agent help them with the process? Buying a new construction home may seem easy enough to do on your own; in fact, it can be even trickier than buying an existing home. When buying a new … [Read more...]
Do you need a Home Inspection?
Who needs a home inspection? Well, you do. Nobody needs to tell you that purchasing real estate is exciting and terrifying. To manage the terrifying, let’s have a really close look before we jump head first into the pool. Home inspections are conducted by people who have not fallen in love with the view, the neighborhood or the price. Your home inspector will go through with a … [Read more...]