Myrtle Beach Real Estate

As most are aware, there is always some sort of events taking place in Myrtle Beach. Here are a few upcoming events in Myrtle Beach, SC.

Well, on Tuesday January 20, 2009, the blizzard of the year blew into Myrtle Beach.  Temperatures were down lower than normal and that funny white stuff called snow was falling from the sky.  The snow continued to fall for a few hours and there was some major accumulation on the ground. 

As your local Myrtle Beach Expert, I quickly grabbed my camera and grabbed a few shots. 

Luckily, the blizzard only lasted a few hours and temperatures today are supposed to return back into the mid 60's!  That is why I love living in Myrtle Beach, SC!

I just finished reading an article on AOL that shared the top real estate searches on their website.  Myrtle Beach Real Estate was among the top 5 searched areas.  Other notable cities included Miami, San Diego, and Phoenix.  I was surprised to see that Myrtle Beach Real Estate was searched more times than some others cities like Atlanta, Orlando, & even Austin.

I believe there are a few reasons for this increased interest in Myrtle Beach Real Estate. First, there are many new attractions here. With attractions like Broadway at the Beach & The Market Commons, combined with so many fabulous restaurants & golf courses make Myrtle Beach very appealing.

Another reason people are considering Myrtle Beach is because the great weather we have!  This year I enjoyed putting the outside decorations up in shorts!  If you don't believe me, look here! The temperature that day was in the mid 60's!!!

The final and one of my favorite things about Myrtle Beach is the Beach!  You can relax along the Golden Mile and enjoy watching the waves crash while listening to the seagulls nearby.  The pictures speak for themself.

Time to decorate for Christmas, I love being able to wear shorts to do it!  Another advantage of living in Myrtle Beach, SC.  Yesterday, my wife and I decided that it was time for a day off!  Now, as a real estate agent, you technically never have a day off, but I was going to do my best to not focus on work, but instead spend time on household things and spending time with my family.  

Since we have been so busy with work and church since returning from our Thanksgiving trip to Atlanta we decided that we would focus our efforts on getting our outside decorations up.  When I awoke in the morning, I checked the weather to see what the temperatures were supposed to be in Myrtle Beach. It said sunny with temperatures in the mid to upper 60's!  

I sometimes forget how wonderful it is to live in Myrtle Beach, SC.  As a real estate agent, I spend a lot of time working with buyers who are ready to move out of the cold weather of the north.  In fact, that is the reason that my family originally moved south.  My father was in an automobile accident and his Doctors said that a warmer climate would be better for his conditions.  So, we packed up and headed to Myrtle Beach. 

Yesterday, I was able to wear shorts as I am able to almost every year at this time of year while installing the outside decorations.  I remember growing up in Pennsylvania and when we would go to put up the decorations we would sometimes need full winter gear and even need to clean off the snow just to put up the Christmas lights! One thing for sure, I certainly do not miss shoveling the snow!

The warm temperatures made the installation of the outside decorations go rather quickly and smoothly.  We were able to install everything without a hitch.  Luckily all the lights still worked!  After we finished last night, Katherine brought Isabelle outside to see what she thought of the lights.  As you can see from the picture, she was thoroughly engaged in the pretty bright lights.

Once we finished our townhome, I shot a few outside pictures for you all to see.  I know it isn't much, but it is about all we can do when living in a townhome with HOA regulations. If you are tired of dealing with the freezing cold temperatures of the North, maybe it is time to consider a move to Myrtle Beach?  Feel free to contact me and I can share even more wonderful advantages to living in a sub tropical climate!

Jeremy Blanton- Myrtle Beach Real Estate Agent

Copyright © 2008 Jeremy Blanton...Time to decorate for Christmas, I love being able to wear shorts to do it!  Another advantage of living in Myrtle Beach, SC

Over the past 7 years of selling real estate, I have experienced all types of situations and questions from

clients.  Unfortunately, because of the Fair Housing Act there are certain questions that as a Real Estate Agent, I am not allowed to answer.  Here are just of the few questions I have been asked in the past.  These are questions you should never ask your REALTOR®:

• Are there a bunch of kids in the neighborhood? I don't want a bunch of children living around me!  One of the classes covered under the Fair Housing Act is age.  If the age of your neighbors is an issue to you, I always suggest driving through the neighborhood and look for clues to make your own conclusion.  Look for basketball hoops, trampolines, swingsets and children on bicycles.
• Are there a bunch of (enter a particular race) living h ere?  Another protected class under the Fair Housing Act is race.  As a REALTOR® we cannot discriminate against race.  Surprisingly though, we are asked this question probably more than any other question.  
• Is this home located in a ghetto?  This is the actual question that sparked me to write this post.  First, I do not know what you would consider a ghetto.  Secondly, even if I knew what was considered a ghetto, I would not be able to disclose that information.  If someone who asked this was referring to the safety of a neighborhood, I cannot discuss that either. I would instead refer the client to the local police department who can share about the safety of the neighborhood.
• Are there a bunch of (enter any religion) living here?  Just like race and age, we cannot discriminate against religion either.
• It seems there are some disabled people living next door, will that affect my property?  Disabled people are also part of a protected class.  I cannot comment, positive or negative about disabled people either.

While there are many other wild and crazy questions I receive daily, these are just 5 of the more regular questions I am asked that I cannot answer. So, while you may want answers to questions like these, use some of the suggestions I mentioned to find your answers instead of your real estate agent.

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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...5 Things You Should NEVER Ask Your REALTOR®!

I find it hard to believe that yesterday Isabelle turned 6 months old.  It feels like it was yesterday when I found out I was going to be a father.  Over the past 6 months it is amazing how much things have changed.  Hours can be spent playing with her & not even realize the time has passed by.  I never imagined finding so much joy & love from such a small package. 

Hours can be spent playing with her and enjoying her presence.  Her bright blue eyes are enough to bring joy into anyones heart.  She has reached the point in life where when she sees someone she loves, she will grin from ear to ear with the most adorable smile. 

One of her latest favorite things to do is play with our puppy Hannah.  We will place Isabelle in her jumper seat and she will just laugh as hard as she can at her puppy who becomes very excited by Isabelle's laughter.

Isabelle's smile & giggles warm my heart instantly and bring a smile to my face daily.  As I sat this morning reflecting on my first 6 months of being a Daddy, I began to realize a lot of similarities between being a new parent & real estate. Here are a few of these:

• They both want to run before they even know how to crawl.  Isabelle loves standing up and gets herself so frustrated at times when her favorite toys are just out of reach.  She wishes she could just run over to them & pick them up.  Both buyers & sellers are many times the same way.  Sellers want their home sold yesterday while buyers want to see property immediately without taking time to take the proper preliminary steps of finding a Buyer's Agent to represent them & getting a pre-approval to know how much they can actually afford. 

• Cleaning up their messes.  As a daddy of a newborn, you definitely get to clean up your share of dirty diapers every day.  Unfortunately as a real estate agent, you end up doing the same thing a lot of the time.  Sellers do not realize the small items in their homes that need to be adressed in order to sell it quicker.  Buyers on the other hand may come in to buy a home with terrible credit and need you to explain how to fix this, or buy a home in need of major repairs that you need to negotiate to have done. Just like being a parent, I spend a lot of time cleaning up the messes, and making things clean and fresh.
  

• Giving correction when needed.  In just the past few days Isabelle has started to learn how to sing with a lovely ear piercing high pitch squeal.  While she loves doing this, it is painful on the ears, and cannot be done in some places (restaurants, library, church).  So we have been having to teach her correction of when it is not allowed.  When dealing with a seller, one of the big areas we have to give correction is in price.  Unfortunately, most sellers are still hoping for the price their home was worth in 2005.  Buyers on the other hand, are still wanting to use mortgage programs that are no long available or believe they can buy a home with no money, no job, and no credit.

• Need our help even though they think they can do it on their own!  Isabelle is starting to hold her bottle on her own and doesn't always want assistance.  But, whether she realizes it or not, she still needs it.  Who else will pick up the bottle when it falls on the floor?  Both buyers & sellers try to purchase & sell real estate daily without the assistance of a REALTOR®.  With the current changes in real estate, you must have an agent to represent you.  One main reason is to make sure the buyer is able to obtain the financing to purchase.  While the real estate market has undergone some big changes over the past few years, the mortgage industry has seen even more drastic changes.  Having the professional on your side is imperative to the transaction going a smooth as possible.
  

• Achieving something THEY want makes them happy & content.  When Isabelle is wanting something and is then given that thing she becomes instantly content & happy.  An example of this is food.  When she is hungry she can become very fussy and cranky.  The minute she is given food, she instantly changes her whole demeanor and becomes her happy giggly self again.  Both buyers & sellers have the same type of need.  Whether they are buying or selling the home, they can become cranky if things do not go as planned, or take longer than they want.  But, the minute the transaction completes, they are the happiest people on the planet and are so appreciative of your help.

Now that I have managed to conquer the first 6 months of parenting it is now time to move onto the next 6 months.  These times will be filled with learning crawling, walking, and talking.  While these 6 months are exciting for parenting, I hope they also are just as exciting for real estate!

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...My first 6 months of being a Parent & how it relates to Real Estate- A Parity

I have been reading more recently more and more information that people want to find video footage of areas.  Also, they want to get to know a Real Estate agent more than just their accolades.  So, I figured this morning while heading to the office I would give everyone a little peek into my commute into the Real Estate Office in Myrtle Beach, SC. 

It was a rather overcast Fall Day here in Myrtle Beach, so you couldn't really see a lot of the vibrant colors of our area.  I did manage to share a brief view of some beautiful Crape Myrtle's that are beginning to change color.  Also, you will get to see just how close my office is to the beach. With the temperatures staying in the mid 70's the past few days, it makes it much more tempting to sneak out of work & head to the ocean!

I have never actually tracked the distance, but it is defintely less than a mile!  Hope everyone enjoys!  To see more of what fall looks like in Myrtle Beach, SC click here or visit us at http://www.myrtlebeachhomesblog.com

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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...The Life of Your Myrtle Beach Real Estate Agent~ My Commute to Work! Club Chaos OctECV10

Here it is, November 15, 2008 and we are in the middle of fall in Myrtle Beach, SC!  The craziest part about fall here in Myrtle Beach is the weather!  Normally our fall consists of some of the best weather on the planet!  Temperatures are in the mid 60's-70's and the sun shines bright.

The fall season has always been a favorite of mine. Not because it is when my birthday & anniversary takes place but because of the wonderful changes that take place all around you.

I remember when I was a child growing up in Pennsylvania I would love visiting my grandparents home even more during the fall.  The leaves would begin to change color and fall. My brother & I would visit  my grandparents home & rake the leaves.  They had a giant maple tree that was in the front yard. It had these huge leaves that it would drop. Many of the leaves would be larger than my head!  We would rake all the leaves into a pile and then have so much fun jumping into the pile.  In Myrtle Beach, there are very few of these trees that ever make it to that size. The main reason is that if a bad hurricane comes, they just don't seem to be able to hold up to the winds.  I did manage to find one tree that had lost a few of these wonderful large maple leaves which is pictured above.

Since Myrtle Beach is a sub-tropical climate, the leaves do not change as much as they did in Pennsylvania. One of the reasons for this is due to the different types of vegetation.  Here in Myrtle Beach, our plants consist of various species of beautiful palms, sea grasses, & long needle pines which stay green for a much longer time before turning to their burnt copper colors.  Some of our seasonal flowers from the summer manage to stay alive through most of the fall unless a heavy frost comes in early. 

Today as I left my home, I noticed one of our tomato plants was beginning to bloom again and produce more tomatoes!  I then took a quick trip out the front so find one of our Hibiscus plants had just opened another bloom.  This plant has been blooming with beautiful flowers like the one to the right since mid spring.  As the temperatures begin to cool, we will move these plants into the garage for winter.

Another way that I can tell that fall is coming is by some of the other flowers that are planted.  The lantana from the summer along with the impatients are removed from the ground and are replaced by vibrant & colorful yellow, purple, red, white, & lavender pansies & broad leaf decorative cabbages. 

Also, the grasses are seeded with Rye grass.  Rye grass is a narrowed leaf grass that grows throughout the fall/winter.  It has a beautiful green color that lasts through the cool weather.  Many say that when this grass comes in, it is as soft as walking on carpet.

All of the Myrtle Beach Golf Courses use this to entice golfers to come and play.  That is why October through January is a very busy time for golf in Myrtle Beach.  Golfers come from around the globe to play some of the finest courses around and also purchase their golf course home.  With over 100 courses to choose from, they definitely have options on where to play!

This photo was taken the other day while I was listing a condo in Riverwalk.  It is one of the holes at Arrowhead Country Club in Myrtle Beach.  By far, Arrowhead is one of my favorite courses to play.

Now don't get me wrong, Myrtle Beach does have a little bit of fall colors that splash throughout the area.  Some of the most beautiful trees to watch change color are called Bradford Pears.  Although they are called a pear tree, they do not produce any fruit.  But, during the fall they do produce some beautiful fall colors!

Another tree that produces some beautiful fall leaves is what Myrtle Beach was named after, the Crape Myrtle.  During the summer, these plants grow throughout the entire city.  Some are as large as trees while others are small decorative bushes.  Either way, their bright green leaves coupled with deep pink or white flowers make these plants so attractive.  But, as fall time comes, these plants turn to an attractive burnt orange & yellow color on their leaves and then slowly fall to the ground. 

The picture to the right is just up the street from my office. You can see how these large Crape Myrtle's drape the sidewalk and are beginning to change color and lose their leaves.  These particular plants are about 12-15 feet in height. 

Once all the leaves have fallen off, they all the branches that once held leaves will be pruned back to the main trunks of the Myrtle.  The first time I saw someone doing this I wondered why they were killing the tree. 

The funny thing is that what they are doing is actually the opposite.  They are pruning this tree so it will grow back stronger & healthier.

One special part of fall this year is that my family has someone extra special this time to share the season with.  Last year at this time my wife & I were just finding out whether we were going to have a boy or girl.  This year however, we have a wonderful & beautiful baby girl who is entering into the perfect age for fall.  Isabelle is beginning to enjoy bright and colorful things as well as textures and sounds.  The feel of leaves crackling between her fingers will be an awesome thing for her to experience.

Here are a few more pictures from around Myrtle Beach during Fall.  I hope you all enjoy!!

For more photos or information about Myrtle Beach, visit my Myrtle Beach Real Estate Blog at http://myrtlebeachhomesblog.com.

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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...Fall in Myrtle Beach, SC through the eyes of a local Myrtle Beach Real Estate Agent. ~Club Chaos OctECP10

The Elections are Finally Over! That means the political campaign ads are now ending and all of the signs that have decorated the City of Myrtle Beach over the past few months will slowly dissapear. The end of the election also means changes in several offices taking place as the new electees move into office.

One of our good clients from Circleville Ohio, home of the World Famous Pumpkin Show was up for Re-Elect for the Pickaway County Treasurer Office.  Ellery Elick, has been the county treasurer for the past few years and has done an excellent job in his position. He won his race, and the one thing that Ellery & his wife Pam were even more excited was their victory trip back to their Myrtle Beach vacation home.

Ellery & Pam purchased a vacation home here in Myrtle Beach a few years back.  Before purchasing in Myrtle Beach, they had been visiting on vacation for several years to Myrtle Beach and just love the area.  Due to a previous connection with Pam through Longaberger, they knew that if they were going to purchase a home in Myrtle Beach, SC they were going to buy with The Blanton Team.

This past weekend, my wife & I along with my parents were able to catch up with them for dinner.  The picture above shows Isabelle during her extensive interview with Ellery on all the ups & downs of politics.  Luckily she was a little more attentive for this interview than she was for casting her vote on Election Day. 

One thing for sure, Isabelle really enjoyed her first interview of an actual politician.  If you ever wondered what the duties are of a County Treasurer, I would highly suggest visiting the Pickaway County Ohio Treasurer's FAQ.  It answers all types of questions including what are the duties of a county treasurer, what to do if you receive a tax bill, etc.

If you are like Pam & Ellery and have been thinking of purchasing a home in Myrtle Beach, we would love the abililty to assist you in finding a wonderful vacation home.  Feel free to contact us today!

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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... With the Elections all Over, Politicians are Heading to Myrtle Beach to Relax!