Where should I buy my vacation home? There is no right or wrong answer to this question. When buying a vacation home or second home, the biggest thing to consider is choosing a location that you and your family will enjoy and will want to visit multiple times a year. Another thing to consider is whether or not you want to rent your vacation home out when you are not using it. If the answer … [Read more...]
Golf Carts in Myrtle Beach; Buy or Rent?
Myrtle Beach is home to a large number of gated communities. Drive through these communities and you’re probably going to notice a lot of golf carts. The fact is, golf carts or golf cars are not just for use on the links. In fact, a growing number of people are trading in their full sized cars for the smaller golf carts. Electric golf carts don’t use any gas, and are easy and convenient for … [Read more...]
Obtaining a Mortgage for a Second Home
Obtaining a mortgage for a second home for vacation or retirement purposes is not all that different from the process you went through when buying your primary residence. Of course, there is typically more scrutiny from your lender and the underwriters when submitting your application, but this is mainly because they want to be sure you can afford to pay both mortgages as well as taking into … [Read more...]
5 Ideas to Maximize Space in a Condo
If you've chosen a condo for your vacation or home to retire, you’ll need to think about maximizing space. Condos are generally smaller than stand alone houses, and like apartments, don’t have as much square footage as a larger ‘house’. However, the benefits to condo living are obvious; great views, great amenities, and less maintenance. learning to maximize space in a condo is fun and easy. … [Read more...]
What Fees are Associated With Buying a Condo?
Before we talk about condominium fees, let’s first define what makes a condo a condo. A condo development or community can actually take on many physical forms. Some condo developments are set up like apartment style units. Others look like townhouses or even a converted property that was once a single or multi-family dwelling. What makes a condominium development different from other … [Read more...]
Condo Living: Creating the Perfect Balcony
Living in a condo usually means you’re working with smaller square footage than a standalone house. Because of this, figuring out how to best use the available space can present challenges to new condo owners. One of the most overlooked parts of a condo is the balcony. It might be short on square footage, but the balcony is probably one of the most critical points of interest for any condo … [Read more...]
What is a Condo Association?
Chances are, when you buy a condo, you will become a member of your Condo (condominium) association. In a nutshell, that’s what a homeowner's association is; the group of people who own condos in a particular building or development. However, the homeowner's association (HOA) is more than just a loose group of homeowners; it keeps things running smoothly and protects all the owners’ … [Read more...]
Living the Dream Life: Ken & Kim Sobieski
The Value of the Dream Life for Ken and Kim Sobieski Ken and Kim Sobieski are both accounting/financial professionals. Is it any wonder that they searched for the best value for their time, their investment, and their family legacy? From their first vacation on Myrtle Beach in September of 1999 when they were on their “babymoon” (the vacation shortly before the arrival of their first child … [Read more...]
Information on Property Taxes in Horry County, SC
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...]
