THERE'S A NEW EDITION TO THE FORT MILL - TEGA CAY NEWSLETTER: Guy's Corner, By Rene Lurion - Realtor® Partner of the Linda Hall Team

Guys Corner will become a regular feature of our newsletter and will feature subjects near and dear to the hearts of our male readers. Fan mail and comments will be welcome.

Now that the announcement has been made that Charlotte will be home to a major league Soccer team, we think it is appropriate to talk a bit about the sport.

American Football is the game that most of us are familiar with but did you know that over 240 million people around the world play Soccer? Also, Soccer is actually called Football in all parts of the world except the USA and Canada. Confusing, I know. 

Originally, as one story goes, Soccer can be traced back some 3,000 years when 2 teams used a rock as the ball that symbolized the sun and the captain of the losing team would be sacrificed to the gods… great motivation to win.

A form of Soccer existed in Ancient Greece where the ball was made by bits of leather filled with hair. Ancient Rome is credited with exporting the game to the British Isles, or Britannica as it was known in those days. From there the game developed through the ages and spread throughout the world to become the sport as we know it today and that culminates every 4 years at the World Cup. I am excited to see that high class of a sport comes to Charlotte.

Charlotte’s Bank of American stadium will be the new home for the team in Charlotte and that is where the home matches will take place.  If your interest has been spiked and you want to reserve the ability to buy season tickets, go to charlottemls2021.com where you can register with a refundable deposit of a maximum of $100. Once pricing and seat selection are possible you will be contacted by a team representative.

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Do you feel that you’re ready to buy your first home? Tired of paying your landlord’s mortgage? Do you want to put down roots and start building equity for yourself? There are many reasons why people decide it could be time to buy a home. The costs associated with buying and owning a home can feel overwhelming but fortunately, there are simple steps you can take to see if you can afford to buy a home.

Talk With a Lender

The best step you can take to start your home buying planning is to find a good lender and meet to talk about your financial situation. Your lender will look at your income, savings and credit and then talk about your needs. They will help you explore the loan options available to you and the down payment, saving reserves and closing costs requirements.

Can You Afford the Mortgage?

Typically rent payments are less than a mortgage payment; this can feel unsettling until you understand the qualifying formula. Because mortgage interest is deductible (speak with your tax professional for exact details), most lenders look for the buyers to spend approximately 30% of their GROSS income on the loan payment and no more than 36% on all other debt.

Ex. If your monthly gross income is $5000/month, you can spend $1500/month on your mortgage payment.

If you think you’re ready to buy a home, find a good lender and start talking about your unique situation. Learn the costs and benefits to help you determine if you can afford to buy a new home.

Owning a home can be one of the most important parts of a satisfying lifestyle. The joy of coming home to someplace you can call your very own offers security and comfort. Yet owning a home comes with responsibilities as well; maintaining the home in proper condition is critical to avoid larger problems later.

While some people are handier than others, here are 5 maintenance skills anyone can master.

1. How to Turn off Your Gas and Water –If you smell gas or have a water leak, taking quick action to shut off the source to the home while you wait for a professional can save thousands of dollars, and even lives.
2. Understanding How Electricity Is Fed to Your Home –Learn how to reset GFI outlets and popped breakers at the panel to avoid expensive house calls.
3. How to Find a Wall Stud – Avoid drywall repair when hanging pictures or shelves.
4. How to Change Your Air Filters – Keep your air fresh and your HVAC systems running efficiently.
5. How to Address Simple Plumbing – From fixing a running toilet to recaulking the shower, simple plumbing related issues can save money in service calls and damage.

A quick visit to the local big box home supply store or afternoon online watching repair videos can help any homeowner tackle a few simple do-it-yourself tasks around the house. Learning a few basic maintenance skills will ensure you and your loved ones are safe and you’ll help your home stay in top condition.

Many homeowners are surprised when they suddenly realize that the “perfect” home of just a few years ago no longer suits their needs. From an expanding family to an empty nest, it’s common for a home to no longer be the right fit. If you’re unsure if you’ve reached the point where a move is warranted, here are a few signs you’ve outgrown your home.

• More Kids than Rooms or More Rooms than Kids – Life changes and our homes must change also.

• Clutter or Lack of Storage – Do you need more closet or storage space? A home with more space could be the answer.

• Home Office – More and more companies are opting for telecommuting or home office workers, if your kitchen is your office, it might be time to look for a new home with extra room for a home office.

• Outdoor Entertaining – Home design trends over the last couple of decades have seen a rise in outdoor living and entertaining areas. You might have simply outgrown your yard if you crave space for an outdoor living or dining area.

• Lifestyle – The square footage might be fine, but you would prefer a different floorplan; more open, single-story, more windows, etc.

Your reasons for moving will be as unique as you are, but these are just a few considerations that indicate you might have outgrown your current home. Make sure your home still meets your needs and wants, then you’ll be able to decide if it’s time to move.

Let's dive even deeper than this. Let's begin by looking at a year over year comparison of specific real estate data that will help us understand what our local markets are doing compared to the rest of the country. 

DECEMBER New Listings:

We start by looking at the NEW LISTINGS that came on the market in December and we begin with 2017, where we see there were 360 NEW LISTINGS that came on the market. In December of 2018, we find a slight decrease of -0.3 percent with 359 NEW LISTINGS. The following year in December of 2019, we decreased again by -7.0 percent with 334 NEW LISTINGS. 

DECEMBER Homes for Sale:

We again, start by looking at December of 2017, where we see there were 1,355 HOMES FOR SALE. In December of 2018, we find an increase of +2.8 percent with 1,393 HOMES FOR SALE. The following year in December of 2019, we decreased by -12.3 percent with 1,222 HOMES FOR SALE. 

DECEMBER Pending Sales:

Let's view December of 2017, where we see there were 334 PENDING SALES. In December of 2018, we decreased by -12.3 percent with 293 PENDING SALES. The following year in December of 2019, we increased by +8.5 percent with 318 PENDING SALES. 

DECEMBER Median Days on Market:

Let's view December of 2017, where we see there were 21 MEDIAN DAYS ON MARKET. In December of 2018, we increased by 47.6 percent to 31 MEDIAN DAYS ON MARKET. The following year in December of  2019, we decreased by -32.3 percent to 21 MEDIAN DAYS ON MARKET. 

DECEMBER Months Supply of Homes for Sale:

In December of 2017, the MONTHS SUPPLY OF HOMES FOR SALE was 3.2. In December of 2018, we held even at 3.2 MONTHS SUPPLY OF HOMES FOR SALE. The following year in December of 2019, we decreased by -21.9 percent to 2.5 MONTHS SUPPLY OF HOMES FOR SALE. 

So there is your comprehensive LOCAL look at the real estate market. If you are thinking about purchasing a home, please reach out to the Linda Hall Team. We'd love to assist you!!

Homeownership is the American Dream, right? Owning a place to call home, being able to paint the walls purple if you like, that’s what everyone wants, isn’t it? The reality is there are pros and cons to buying a house. Understanding them can help you make the best decision for your goals.

Pros for Buying.

This might seem obvious, but there are 3 main reasons to buy a home.

Financial Advantages -

A home is an asset that should appreciate over time, providing wealth-building opportunities.

Pride of Ownership -

As a homeowner, you control the environment in which you live. If you want those purple walls or granite countertops then you can have them.

Roots -

Regardless of whether you have children, there is a natural desire to be part of a community and involved in said community. Owning a home is a step in that direction. 

Cons for Buying

As with all things, there are considerations which may mean you need to delay buying that home. 

Increased Monthly Costs -

While not always the case, in some instances your monthly mortgage might be larger than comparable rent. This is definitely an instance you would want to investigate with a local realtor or mortgage officer.

Freedom -

A renter can move from one city or state to another very easily which allows you to move when you need/want to, but again, you still may be able to have the best of both worlds. This would depend on the health of the local economy and real estate market. How fast are homes appreciating and selling?

Upkeep -

You are responsible for the repairs and upkeep of the property. Unexpected problems can become quite expensive if you are unprepared

In Closing -

There are some wonderful reasons to buy a home, but you will need to do your research and finding a local real estate professional should be step one of the process. The Linda Hall Team is here to guide you into making the best decision that will fit your current needs and lifestyle. Contact us today!

The 10th annual Linda Hall Team client appreciation event was held and turned out to be a huge success. Every year we put together an event where we invite our past and current clients to come to our office and receive a free pie. At the same time, we ask that they bring a donation for the Fort Mill Care Center. In this way, we are able to show appreciation to not only our dear clients but to our community. 

We are proud to share that this year we donated 846 lbs of food along with a $500 check due to the generosity of our clients. What a wonderful way to begin our holiday season. Here's a video of our pie event. 

We look forward to further serving our clients and our community in the coming year! Thanks again for coming to us to help you with your real estate needs in 2019 and for referring your friends and family. We are blessed.

Over the past few decades, the way we view homeownership has changed. Unlike previous generations who bought a home with a 30-year mortgage and celebrated the day they made their last payment; today’s home buyers rarely stay in their homes that long. As a result, the way we view mortgages has changed as well and often buyers are not building the equity in their homes the way we used to.

But there are benefits to building equity and paying down the loan, here are just a few.

Flexibility. Having equity in your home gives you the flexibility to move if you need to or want to. For homeowners who plan to either buy a large home or perhaps downsize, having equity allows you to not only put money down on a new loan but pay for moving and closing costs.

Safety Net. Life is full of unexpected expenses such as a job loss or relocation, unexpected illness or accident, natural disasters and the equity in your home can help you navigate these unexpected costs with a line of credit or proceeds from a sale.

Asset Recovery. Many homeowners over the last couple of decades have found themselves underwater in their homes; negative equity. By either making additional principal payments on the loan or reaping the effect of higher home values, building equity can help create wealth and turn a negative asset into a positive.

Homeowners might not plan to stay in their homes as long as they're parents and grandparents, but there are still great reasons to focus on building equity in their homes. A home is an asset and if treated properly can become a wealth-building tool, unlike any other option.

Let's dive even deeper than this. Let's begin by looking at a year over year comparison of specific real estate data that will help us understand what our local markets are doing compared to the rest of the country. 

NOVEMBER New Listings:

We start by looking at the NEW LISTINGS that came on the market in November and we begin with 2017, where we see there were 389 NEW LISTINGS that came on the market. In November of 2018, we find an increase of +11.1 percent with 432 NEW LISTINGS. The following year in November of 2019, we increased slightly by +1.4 percent with 438 NEW LISTINGS. 

NOVEMBER Homes for Sale:

We again, start by looking at November of 2017, where we see there were 1,464 HOMES FOR SALE. In November of 2018, we find an increase of +2.7 percent with 1,503 HOMES FOR SALE. The following year in November of 2019, we decreased by -12.1 percent with 1,321 HOMES FOR SALE. 

NOVEMBER Pending Sales:

Let's view November of 2017, where we see there were 328 PENDING SALES. In November of 2018, we increased by +6.4 percent with 349 PENDING SALES. The following year in November of 2019, we increased by +17.5 percent with 410 PENDING SALES. 

NOVEMBER Median Days on Market:

Let's view November of 2017, where we see there were 21 MEDIAN DAYS ON MARKET. In November of 2018, we increased by 23.8 percent to 26 MEDIAN DAYS ON MARKET. The following year in November of  2019, we decreased by -26.9 percent to 19 MEDIAN DAYS ON MARKET. 

NOVEMBER Months Supply of Homes for Sale:

In November of 2017, the MONTHS SUPPLY OF HOMES FOR SALE was 3.5. In November of 2018, we decreased by -2.9 percent to 3.4 MONTHS SUPPLY OF HOMES FOR SALE. The following year in November of 2019, we decreased by -20.6 percent to 2.7 MONTHS SUPPLY OF HOMES FOR SALE. 

So there is your comprehensive LOCAL look at the real estate market. If you are thinking about purchasing a home, please reach out to the Linda Hall Team. We'd love to assist you!!

Tis the season to spend some fun one on one time with the family and what better place to do it then on the rink! Many people don’t think of ice skating rinks when they think of South Carolina, but we do have this activity and we look forward to it! We will share with you one that’s nearby in Rock Hill and has opened as of November 15^th!

Founders Holiday Ice Rink

Location: 205 Saluda Street, Rock Hill, SC 29730

Open November 15, 2019, through January 20, 2020

For Hours Click Here

$10 covers skate rental and up to 2 hours on the ice with every Wednesday being buy one, get one free night! No charge if you’d simply like to watch and not skate.

Upcoming Special Events

December 5^th through 8^th – Christmasville. A four-day festival of all things Christmas.

January 11^th – Harry Potter Night. Wizards and muggles alike are all invited to enjoy a magical night on the ice!

Special note - If conditions become unsafe due to rain or snow, or even unseasonably warm temperatures, the rink may need to close. Any such closure will be announced on their Facebook page.

We hope you have enjoyed this local scoop and that you will come back often to see what else is happening in our local area. Also, if you need any real estate assistance the Linda Hall Team would love to help you. Contact any of them for all your real estate needs.