Myrtle Beach Real Estate

The recent decline in real estate is no longer hidden news.  It is a fact that the number of homes in Myrtle Beach, SC and surrounding areas has decreased since 2005.  With that being said, selecting the right real estate agent to sell your home is imperative.  One of the most effective parts of selling a home is how the property is being marketed.  Below is a list of items that are helping to sell homes.  If you are thinking of selling your home, you may want to print this out to ask the real estate agent if your home will be marketed in these places.

1. Real Estate Website- Does the agent have an effective website that is drawing in buyers?  Recent statistics show over 70% of all buyers begin their real estate search on the internet before even contacting an agent. Also ask the agent if they have their own domain name website instead of just the website provided by the company.  For my team we have www.dennisgblanton.com, plus our local company, Coldwell Banker Chicora's website which you can see here. In addition, we have a profile page on Coldwell Banker's National site, ColdwellBanker.com. Also all our Luxury Homes Listed for Sale in Myrtle Beach show up on a special company website dedicated just to luxury homes called Previews.com.
2. Real Estate 2.0- Social Networks & other websites are rapidly gaining in popularity.  Buyers are using sites like Facebook, Myspace, & Twitter to find out the information about a community, the agent, and the surrounding areas before making contact with a real estate agent.
3. Real Estate Blog- Buyers who begin their online searches are finding blogs each and every day with the information they are interested in.  They are going to major search engines like Google or Yahoo! and entering the keywords for information they want.  For example, they may want to find a "Myrtle Beach Real Estate Expert" If someone searches for that term, the top three search engine results are for blogs. 
   
4. Real Estate Networks- Real Estate Networks are also great ways for real estate agents to market homes for sale.  Not only are they continuing to advertise your home to potential buyers, but on the real estate networks, your home is being marketed to other real estate agents.  A few of these wonderful sites include Activerain, Trulia, and Hotpads.  Activerain for example has over 119,000 members all related to real estate.  While not all these agents are in your area, they do have the potential of referring a buyer to a local agent that could sell your home.

Remember these four areas of effective marketing in the current real estate market.  Unfortunately, just like many things in life, what is effective at one time may not work anymore now.  You need an agent that stays on top of the market and keeps track of what is and is not working in selling homes.

An article I read in our local paper today, The Sun News confirmed that our marketing efforts are targeted in the right direction. The article shared about how the Myrtle Beach Chamber of Commerce is focusing over 60% of their advertising towards internet marketing.  23.2% towards tv, 7% for newspapers, 5% on magazines 3% on radio & 1.8 on billboards.  Just as the chamber has come to realize, in order to be effective with marketing the focus needs to be on internet advertising!

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Remember, if you know anyone looking to buy or sell real estate, contact me for assistance. Through my advanced real estate network, I can help anyone, anywhere in the world with their real estate needs! Our motto is "Your Satisfaction is Our Reputation!" We work hard to help our clients buy & sell real estate in Myrtle Beach and around the world.

Contact Jeremy Blanton, ABR, Relocation Specialist, REALTOR®, with Coldwell Banker Chicora Real Estate in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina at 843-449-4404 to list your property for sale or to purchase a property in Myrtle Beach, North Myrtle Beach, Conway, Murrells Inlet, and the rest of the Grand Strand area in Myrtle Beach, SC.

If you're thinking about buying a home in Myrtle Beach there are plenty of great deals in today's market and now is one of the best times to buy while interest rates remain low.

To keep up to date on the current state of the Myrtle Beach Home Market & other information about Myrtle Beach, subscribe to my blog via email here or visit online at www.myrtlebeachhomesblog.com.

Contact Jeremy or start your home search here - www.dennisgblanton.com. If email is your communication preference, email me at jeremyblanton@chicora.net.

For info on Myrtle Beach homes for sale, click here and then select the box that says Click here to search properties for sale along the Grand Strand.

Copyright © 2008 Jeremy Blanton... If You Are Selling Your Home, You Need An Agent Who Markets Effectively!

It is no news to anyone that selling real estate has drastically changed over the past two years.  During 2004-2006 we experienced a very strong sellers market where you would just list your home for sale and wait for multiple offers to flood in within the first week.  In many occasions, these multiple offers would result in higher than listing price offers being made by buyers.

The seller had no need to do any renovations to the home.  Well with the market swinging to a strong buyers market, now a seller must look at their property and do whatever possible to make their property appealing to prospective buyers.  The simple fixes of de-cluttering rooms and a fresh coat of paint are not enough anymore.

The two rooms to start your updating in any home are the bathrooms and kitchen.  It is time to remove the dated pink toilet that was installed in the early 1980's and replace with an upgraded new one.  Also, upgrade the faucets, flooring, counters.  Another thing buyers are looking for are upgrades in appliances.  Whenever you do these types of renovations remain neutral in all selections.  Sometimes the little bit of extra money spent to upgrade to the granite counters or stainless appliances can be the difference between a home for sale and SOLD home.

Statistics show that Generation Y buyers normally will staying in their first home a total of 5 years.  So this large pool of buyers want a home that is move in ready and not in need of renovations. 

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Remember, if you know anyone looking to buy or sell real estate, contact me for assistance. Through my advanced real estate network, I can help anyone, anywhere in the world with their real estate needs! Our motto is "Your Satisfaction is Our Reputation!" We work hard to help our clients buy & sell real estate in Myrtle Beach and around the world.

Contact Jeremy Blanton, ABR, Relocation Specialist, REALTOR®, with Coldwell Banker Chicora Real Estate in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina at 843-449-4404 to list your property for sale or to purchase a property in Myrtle Beach, North Myrtle Beach, Conway, Murrells Inlet, and the rest of the Grand Strand area in Myrtle Beach, SC.

If you're thinking about buying a home in Myrtle Beach there are plenty of great deals in today's market and now is one of the best times to buy while interest rates remain low.

To keep up to date on the current state of the Myrtle Beach Home Market & other information about Myrtle Beach, subscribe to my blog via email here or visit online at www.myrtlebeachhomesblog.com.

Contact Jeremy or start your home search here - www.dennisgblanton.com. If email is your communication preference, email me at jeremyblanton@chicora.net.

For info on Myrtle Beach homes for sale, click here and then select the box that says Click here to search properties for sale along the Grand Strand.

Copyright © 2008 Jeremy Blanton... Is Your Home Not Selling?  Time to Address "The Pink Toilet Effect" in Your Home!

The other day,as I was leaving my blog class I pulled up to a traffic light and was enjoying the beautiful scenery of Myrtle Beach.  I then looked over to the left saw a sign that said "List on MLS $399." It made me start thinking about the effectiveness of this type of advertising.  When I mean effectiveness, I am not referring to the sign itself and attracting sellers, but instead to the effectiveness of listing your home for sale using this type of method.

With high inventory of homes currently available for sale across the nation, someone who is selling their home needs more than just their home placed in a local MLS.  They need a REALTOR® who will market their property effectively.  One of the main places a home being sold needs to be marketed to is on the internet.  Some of the recent statistics I have heard state that more than 80% of buyers search online before even making contact with an agent to purchase real estate. 

Also, many listing agents have a group of buyers both past & present  that they are going to contact to tell about your property.  Agents also place their listings in local newspapers, different magazines, and just about everywhere else you can imagine.

Remember, as your REALTOR® if I do not sell your home, I don't get paid!  So, I am going to do everything in my ability to sell your home.  Unlike the company that charges you $399 to list on the MLS up front, you do not owe me a penny till your home closes.  Even if I have your home listed for sale for several months and it does not sell, if the listing expires you do not have to pay me anything.

Here is just one of the many ways I market my Myrtle Beach Real Estate Listings:

Internet exposure.  Every one of my listings is placed on over 30 different websites to give your listing as much exposure possible.  This list includes sites such as REALTOR.com, ColdwellBanker.com, Trulia.com, and on my personal Myrtle Beach Real Estate Blog, Myrtlebeachhomesblog.com.

So, you be the judge as to the effectiveness of the $399 list on MLS idea in comparison to having a REALTOR® assist you in selling your home.

Myrtle Beach Real Estate by Jeremy Blanton

Wallingford Place is a wonderful community located in Myrtle Beach, SC. It is located close to area attractions like The Market Commons, Coastal Grande Mall, Myrtle Beach International Airport & more. 

442 Wallingford Circle features great lake views from the double lot, a Carolina Room, Home Office, detached storage unit, 1 car garage & much more.  For more information about this property or any other Myrtle Beach Real Estate, do not hesitate to contact me.

Jeremy Blanton- Myrtle Beach Real Estate Expert

Forest Lake Estates is a custom home community located in Conway, SC.  This small community is a great location close to The Conway Medical Center, Coastal Carolina University, & Horry-Georgetown Technical College main campus. Forest Lake Estates is one of the best kept secrets that Conway Real Estate has to offer.

This wonderful listing features a spacious living and family room, formal dining room, eat-in kitchen, 2 car garage and more.  Sit on the fabulous rear porch and enjoy picturesque views of the lake.  For more information, do not hesitate to contact me.

Jeremy Blanton- Conway Real Estate Expert

With the current decrease in Myrtle Beach Real Estate property values, many clients that we have recently met with are left speechless when we share with them a comparitive market analysis on their property.  The reason for their shock is that only two years ago they re-financed their property to get a lower interest rate. 

During the process of refinancing, they also were given an option to do a cash out refi and collect several thousands of dollars for all sorts of things. Some used the money to pay off other bills,do renovations on their home, or take a wonderful Caribbean Cruise, finally purchase that fantastic 50" plasma TV, or the shiny new red convertible sportscar.  Ah yes, those were the good times.  Nobody worried about the higher loan on their house because property values were rising and the market was strong. So we didn't care if we had a higher mortgage payment, if an emergency came, we could quickly sell our home, and still have some money left over.

Then, the market took a swift swing from this strong sellers market to a strong buyers market. And, all of the additional equity that we had left on our homes dissapeared instantly.

Here we are now, in 2008 and that job transfer has come in, or the family has added another little one and you need to sell the current property.  The problem is that home values have decreased and you are what we would call "upside down" in your property.  That means the value of your property is less than the amount owed.  Or, maybe you are lucky to break even.  Either way, when you are given the current value of your property, please remember that you are not losing thousands on your property. What has actually happened is that you have already spent the equity in your home to do other things.  There is nothing bad about that.  It is your money to do with what you please. 

When you begin to become upset about how you have "lost" so much and can't sell your home now, remember the wonderful trip you took to the Bahamas...Maybe sit back and watch your home videos of the trip on your big screen tv!  Also, remember you originally purchased your property for much less than it is still worth now.  

Jeremy Blanton- Myrtle Beach Real Estate Expert

As a Real Estate Agent I hear all types of Horror Stories about deals that have gone bad, and all types of crazy things that have happened.  One of the couples that was helped by our real estate team had one of these stories.

They were a nice couple, looking to sell their beautiful home on a golf course.  Home had excellent view, had been meticulously taken care of, and was in "model home" condition.  These people contacted us because they were in a major dilemma and after sharing it with a neighbor who were former clients of ours, urged them to call us immediately. Here is their story:

The couple had tried selling their home via For Sale By Owner.  They bought the yard sign, had a little website made up and had instant gratification.  Within two weeks, they were having daily showings, and multiple calls on their home.  As they came to the end of their second week of trying to sell the house, they received an offer on the property.  They came to an agreement with the buyer and things seemed to be moving along perfectly for them.

As closing day came closer, the sellers began packing their items in their home.  Since the property sold quicker than they thought it would, they had to pack all their belongings & furniture and place it into a climate controlled storage unit.  Also, they had to sign a 6 month lease to rent an apartment until the home they were building would be complete.

The day of closing came and the sellers went to the closing attorneys office expecting to meet the buyer, sign the documents and sell their lovely home.  Well, when they got to the attorney's office, the buyer was nowhere to be found.  They called and found out that the seller was unable to purchase the property.  They received a pre-qualification letter, but had no way of following up on whether the buyer would be able to secure the funds to purchase the home.  The buyer had actually given false information to the bank and got caught.  So, needless to say the home was not going to sell to this new buyer.

The sellers went back to their now vacant home disheartened and placed the sign back in the yard.  After a few more weeks with not much activity, the sellers were becoming distressed because they were paying a lot of money out of pocket and the cash flow was coming to an end.  Paying the mortgage on the vacant home, plus their monthly rent for the apartment & storage unit on top of the construction loan on the property is more than enough to do that.

Finally the sellers gave in to the neighbors advice and contacted us.  We met with them, listed the property for sale and were able to sell it & close in 5 weeks time.

Unfortunately for the sellers, the money spent trying to sell their house on their own was much more than my commission. While this story sounds like it might be a rare occassion, it is something becoming more and more common.  Lenders are tightening their regulations on who they will lend to, and buyers are not always accurate with the information they supply.  That is why having a Real Estate Professional is important.

If you are thinking of selling a home, I hope you consider this story before trying to sell it on your own.  We are real estate professionals here to prevent situations like this from happening to you.  If you are thinking of selling property in or around Myrtle Beach, contact me today!

Jeremy Blanton- Myrtle Beach Real Estate Expert

Once again in 2007 Coldwell Banker Chicora Real Estate was the #1 Real Estate Company in Myrtle Beach. According to the Coastal Carolina Association of Realtors, Coldwell banker Chicora sold 1720 Properties in comparison to the next company which sold only 991 properties. That is 70% more properties sold than the nearest competition.

Also, Coldwell Banker Chicora Real Estate was named the #1 Coldwell Banker in the state of South Carolina for 4 straight years.

The Blanton Team which is located in one of the main offices was awarded Top Listing and Sales Team in their office for the 6th year straight. They also received Coldwell Banker's Diamond Society Award. The Blanton Team is made up of Dennis Blanton and his son Jeremy Blanton.

Dennis and Jeremy are both well known for their knowledge of Myrtle Beach Real Estate and also their committment to Customer Service. Their motto is "Your Satisfaction is Our Reputation." Jeremy recently joined Activerain and has quickly climbed the ranks to reach the honor of Featured Agent in Myrtle Beach, and also for Horry County. His blog contains endless knowledge on area happenings as well as facts about the local market. Mixed in is a myriad of other humorous and fun things including information on his family.

For more information on Dennis or Jeremy visit Jeremy's Blog or their website.

If you are looking for someone to assist you in buying real estate or selling a home in Myrtle Beach, North Myrtle Beach, Little River, Surfside Beach, Murrells Inlet, Conway, or the rest of Horry County, do not hesitate to Contact Us Today!

Remember, "Your Satisfaction is Our Reputation!" We look forward to hearing from you soon!

In todays market there are so many homes for sale. Our market currently has 21,514 properties actively listed for sale. Over the past 7 days there have been 170 properties sold, 633 new listings and 751 properties with a price change.

As the market began to slow one of the things I learned was to change some of the speech I used. Instead of saying "price reduced", I changed it to "price improved". While it may not seem like much, when talking with a buyer it can mean a whole lot.

Here is a definition of reduced: "To bring down, as in extent, amount, size, rank or degree; diminish. Diminish? Bring Down Size? Lower Rank? These are not ideas I want my buyers or sellers to think of when I mention price reduction.

Instead try saying price improvement...by saying this buyers and sellers are thinking these types of things: "bringing to a more deisrable condition, making more profitable, increasing the value of, and all around making the home better."

If you are a buyer looking for a home with an Improved Price, do not hesitate to contact Jeremy Blanton with The Blanton Team of Coldwell Banker Chicora Real Estate. The #1 Real Estate Company in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.

Sellers if you are thinking of selling a home in the Myrtle Beach & Surrounding Areas, do not hesitate to contact us today so we can sell your home fast at the best possible price!

When looking for an agent to sell your property, there are several questions that are very important to ask to make sure you are choosing the proper agent.  Of course, the #1 question everyone has on there mind is: What is your Commission to sell my home?

While this is an important thing in selling your home, so that you are able to save as much money as possible, it can sometimes do the opposite effect if the agent has to cut back their marketing and advertising because they cut their commission.   So, here are a few other questions to ask when interviewing an agent:

1. How many listings do you currently have?  You want an agent that has other listings at this time.  Normally that is a good sign that they are receiving buyer leads.  If an agent only has your home listed, the percentage of sales leads they receive will be less.  Less leads means less opportunities for the agent to share information about your home with those who call in. 

2.  What will you do to market my property?  This is a key question.  When you ask this question, don't just listen to the things they say, ask them for proof.  One of the things we do for our listings is make a full color feature sheet that is placed in every listing.  We do this because when a person views 10-12 homes in a day, they sometimes forget what all they have seen, so if they have something like the flyer to the left to take home with them, they will remember your home more.  You also will want to know what type of print publications are will your property be in, and how often will it be found in those publications.

3.  What websites will my home be listed on?  In todays market over 82% of buyers search on the web before even contacting an agent.  If you are wanting your property sold in a timely manner, it needs to be exposed to as many places as possible. 

4.  Are you participating in Real Estate 2.0?  The way real estate is being done now includes agents having blogs where buyers can find more information about the current market, a certain area, and also what recent trends are showing.  This also helps an agent to build up ranking on the major search engines like Google. 

5.  Do you do virtual tours? With increasing numbers of internet buyers, they want to see more than just an outside picture, they want to be able to view an entire home with one click.  They want a full tour of the inside, outside, and amenities a home has to offer. 

Asking these 5 simple questions can help you to find an agent that will try to aggressively sell your property in the quickest time possible. In order for an agent to do all of the things listed above, it does cost time and money.  But, if the end result is getting your home sold in market where there are 10 other properties like yours listed for sale already, it will definitely be worth a higher commission rate to sell your home faster than your neighbors.  Think of it this way...if you can pay an extra 1% commission on a home listed at $175,000, that is an addition $1,750.  But if your home sells in 2 months instead of 10 months, you have saved 8 months of mortgage payments, utility bills, association dues, maintenance, and upkeep.  Plus, think of how selling the home will affect your future!

In closing, remember, your agent is there to try and sell your home as soon as possible and in the quickest time possible.  The quicker they can sell your home, and the more it sells for means less money spent by the agent and more in their pocket. 

Hope these tips help, and if you need assistance selling property in the Myrtle Beach Area, or anywhere in the world, contact me and let me assist you in selling your home!