Charleston SC Metro Real Estate

Wordless Wednesday - Life in the South

Michael Johnson, REALTOR, ABR - Goose Creek SC (Carolina One Real Estate) — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 10:28:57 -0600

Wordless Wednesday: Life in the South - 10 March 2010

Photo of my little girl taken in Ravenel, SC, a small country town just outside of Charleston. This is the essence of life in the South!

Other Blogs:

Charleston Real Estate Housing Appreciation Trend: A Case Study

Crowfield Plantation Goose Creek SC

Mt Pleasant, South Carolina Homes Sold Stats 2009

Understanding Real Estate Property Rights!

Energy Star Residental Tax Credits

5 Things to Consider When Buying New Construction

If you have a home anywhere in the Charleston Metro Area and would like to get more information about selling your home, please contact me for a free home evaluation.

I also work with buyers. If you are interested in more information about buying a home please contact me and I would be glad to meet with you or email you a list of homes.

Michael J. Johnson, Realtor, ABR

843-817-5299

michaeljohnson@carolinaone.com

www.MetroCharlestonHomes.com -Search Charleston Homes

www.providingthelight.com - My Blog

"Providing the Light to Guide You Home"

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Charleston Real Estate Housing Appreciation Trend: A Case Study

Michael Johnson, REALTOR, ABR - Goose Creek SC (Carolina One Real Estate) — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 14:02:09 -0600

Charleston Real Estate

Below is a graph that maps out the annual appreciation trend for real estate in the metro Charleston SC area for the last ten years. Metro Charleston is primarily made up of three counties: Berkeley county, Dorchester county, and Charleston county. The major towns that make up this metro are, Mt. Pleasant, Summerville, Goose Creek, North Charleston, James Island, and of course the city of Charleston.

On the graph you will see three lines. The red line represents the number of homes sold in a given year. Reference the numbers on the left margin. The green line represents the median sales price in a given year. Reference the numbers on the right margin. The blue line represents what home value appreciation should look like in a healthy stable market. If indeed the market were to stay healthy one should normally see about a 5% appreciation in their home every year, (all other things being equal).

As you can see, in an ideal world if someone bought a home in 2000 and decided to sell in in 2009 the home would increase in value by about $77,000. (This of course is assuming that the home is well maintained.) Unfortunately this is not what happened. For reasons that are too many to count, our market and the perception there-in skyrocketed in 2005, and our market went from being healthy to a bit obese. Prices began to rise and demand increased. Everyone thought, "the market is up, that is a good thing right?" It was too good! And, we are now feeling the effects. Prices have now slipped below the 5% yearly appreciation and the number of homes sold have dropped to that of 2001 and 2002.

A few lessons to learn from this market trend map.

1) Buyers: never buy more than you can afford just to keep up with the "Joneses." A lot of fancy financing schemes were one of the leading causes for what has happened. Too many people willing to pay too much with money they did not have.

2) Sellers: you now have to adjust your mentality as to what you are going to get for your home. Only 35% of homes that go on the market in the metro Charleston area are actually selling, and most of those are selling for a lesser price than what is being asked for. If you must sell, get with a Realtor who knows the market and can advise you on the right price to sell your home in this market.

3) Realtors: our number one job is "to protect the public." We need to be more vigilant in providing the most up to date information to our customers and clients. I think we need to be more aware of this type of situation in the future and start sounding alarms when prices start going well above the 5% annual appreciation trend.

Like every other civilization that has come before us, if we do not learn the lessons of the past, we most certainly are doomed to repeat them. Next time, the cost may be greater!

Other Blogs:

Mt Pleasant, South Carolina Homes Sold Stats 2009

Goose Creek Real Estate

Crowfield Plantation Goose Creek SC

The Elms Plantation

Tanner Plantation

If you have a home anywhere in the Charleston Metro Area and would like to get more information about selling your home, please contact me for a free home evaluation.

I also work with buyers. If you are interested in more information about buying a home please contact me and I would be glad to meet with you or email you a list of homes.

Michael J. Johnson, Realtor, ABR

843-817-5299

michaeljohnson@carolinaone.com

www.MetroCharlestonHomes.com -Search Charleston Homes

www.providingthelight.com - My Blog

"Providing the Light to Guide You Home"

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What's So Great About Charleston SC?

Michael Johnson, REALTOR, ABR - Goose Creek SC (Carolina One Real Estate) — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 08:29:31 -0600

For those who have never lived or visited the area, it's an understandable question. Before I first moved here in 1993 my understanding of what Charleston SC was all about was very limited. I knew two things about the city: 1) this is where the United States Civil War started. and 2) there was a dance named after the city in the 20's. But, as I began to be knitted into the fabric of the metropolitan community, I learned that there was much more to this great area.

So, What's So Great About Charleston SC? Here are a few recent awards the city and surrounding area have been awarded:

National Geographic Adventure magazine named Charleston as one of the "50 Best Placed to Live" and top 5 among Southern cities in the US in 2008.
Next Generation Consulting ranked Charleston 2nd among smaller cities for "Best Places to Live and Work for Young Professionals" in 2008.
Charleston was awarded 1st place for "Most Liveable Cities in America" by the U.S. Conference of Mayors in 2009.
In 2009 Forbes ranked Charleston #8 for its strong infrastructure, attractive economy, and savvy urban planning - "The World's Smartest Cities."
Charleston ranked 10th among the largest U.S. metropolitan areas by the Milken Institute in 2008 for "Best Performing Cities: Where America's Jobs are Created."
American Style ranked Charleston 6th among mid-sized cities in American in 2008 for "Top Arts Destinations."
Outside Magazine ranked Charleston as one of the 10 best small town "Adventure Burgs" in 2009.
In 2009 Mount Pleasant (part of the Charleston Metro) was cited as the best city in South Carolina for business start-ups by Business Week.
Charleston was ranked the 6th among mid-sized metros for "Top U.S. Cities for Doing Business."
In 2009 Forbes ranked Charleston among the top 10 in America's Strongest Housing Markets.
Money Magazine ranked Charleston #4 for "Real Estate Markets Expected to Fare Best in 2010."
Forbes ranked Charleston in the nations top 10 for "Best Cities for Technology Jobs" in 2009.

If you have a home anywhere in the Charleston Metro Area and would like to get more information about selling your home, please contact me for a free home evaluation.

I also work with buyers. If you are interested in more information about buying a home please contact me and I would be glad to meet with you or email you a list of homes.

Michael J. Johnson, Realtor, ABR

843-817-5299

michaeljohnson@carolinaone.com

www.MetroCharlestonHomes.com -Search Charleston Homes

www.providingthelight.com - My Blog

"Providing the Light to Guide You Home"

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I'ON in Mt. Pleasant SC

Michael Johnson, REALTOR, ABR - Goose Creek SC (Carolina One Real Estate) — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 21:44:25 -0600

I'on in Mt. Pleasant SC:

There are very few neighborhoods like it! The I'on is a newer neighborhood made to have the feel of an older neighborhood, perhaps from another time. The houses look like the old traditional Southern style homes and many have front porches that harken back to days before air conditioners when people would congregate in neighborhoods in the evening to socialize and cool off from the heat of the day.

The I'on features a few large large ponds/lakes. The ponds are encircled with multi-million dollar homes that remind me of homes in San Francisco. There is a also a canal that connects the ponds and several of the homes are nestled against like the San Antonio Riverwalk. In addition the community has 4 boat ramps along Shelmore, and Hobcaw creeks, tidal creeks that leads out to the Wando and Cooper Rivers. These rivers provide easy access to Charleston harbor and the Atlantic Ocean.

Currently the homes range in price from $500K to nearly 2.5 million dollars. In 2009, 38 homes were sold in the I'on. The average sales price was nearly $818,000, and the average price per square foot was $265.

If you would like more information on homes in the I'on. Please email me at michaeljohnson@carolinaone.com or call 843-817-5299.

Other Blogs:

Mt Pleasant, South Carolina Homes Sold Stats 2009

Wordless Wednesday - 17 Feb 2010 - Artisian Chocolates

Real Estate in Charleston SC

Goose Creek Real Estate

Crowfield Plantation Goose Creek SC

The Elms Plantation

Tanner Plantation

If you have a home anywhere in the Charleston Metro Area and would like to get more information about selling your home, please contact me for a free home evaluation.

I also work with buyers. If you are interested in more information about buying a home please contact me and I would be glad to meet with you or email you a list of homes.

Michael J. Johnson, Realtor, ABR

843-817-5299

michaeljohnson@carolinaone.com

www.MetroCharlestonHomes.com -Search Charleston Homes

www.providingthelight.com - My Blog

"Providing the Light to Guide You Home"

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Wordless Wednesday - 17 Feb 2010 - Artisian Chocolates

Michael Johnson, REALTOR, ABR - Goose Creek SC (Carolina One Real Estate) — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 06:28:25 -0600

Wordless Wednesday

This is a local chocolate shop in the Ion subdivision in Mt. Pleasant. The shop is owned an operated by a Chocolatier, Christophe Artisan from southwest France. My wife enjoyed her Valentine gift of hand made and hand picked chocolates.

Other Blogs:

Mt Pleasant, South Carolina Homes Sold Stats 2009

Goose Creek Real Estate

Crowfield Plantation Goose Creek SC

The Elms Plantation

Tanner Plantation

Real Estate in Charleston SC

If you have a home anywhere in the Charleston Metro Area and would like to get more information about selling your home, please contact me for a free home evaluation.

I also work with buyers. If you are interested in more information about buying a home please contact me and I would be glad to meet with you or email you a list of homes.

Michael J. Johnson, Realtor, ABR

843-817-5299

michaeljohnson@carolinaone.com

www.MetroCharlestonHomes.com -Search Charleston Homes

www.providingthelight.com - My Blog

"Providing the Light to Guide You Home"

Follow me:

Mt Pleasant, South Carolina Homes Sold Stats 2009

Michael Johnson, REALTOR, ABR - Goose Creek SC (Carolina One Real Estate) — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 17:30:47 -0600

Mt Pleasant, South Carolina Homes Sold Stats 2009

Mount Pleasant SC is one of the most desirable cities for which to live in the Charleston SC Metro. Why? There are a number of reasons not the least of which is its easy accessibility to both downtown Charleston and area beaches (Isle of Palms and Sullivan's Island). The city also has some very popular schools as well as a wide assortment of neighborhoods from which to choose. In 2009, the city saw a decline in home sales as did most of the Charleston Metro. Below are the sales stats for Mount Pleasant in 2009.

Because of the city's location and high consumer desirability, prices tend to be a bit more expensive than that of other areas of Charleston such as North Charleston, Goose Creek, and Summerville. In 2009 the average price per square foot for Mount Pleasant was $157 and the average sales price was $375,000. There are currently over 1500 homes on the market for sale in Mount Pleasant.

Other Blogs:

Goose Creek Real Estate

Crowfield Plantation Goose Creek SC

The Elms Plantation

Tanner Plantation

Real Estate in Charleston SC

If you have a home anywhere in the Charleston Metro Area and would like to get more information about selling your home, please contact me for a free home evaluation.

I also work with buyers. If you are interested in more information about buying a home please contact me and I would be glad to meet with you or email you a list of homes.

Michael J. Johnson, Realtor, ABR

843-817-5299

michaeljohnson@carolinaone.com

www.MetroCharlestonHomes.com -Search Charleston Homes

www.providingthelight.com - My Blog

"Providing the Light to Guide You Home"

Follow me:

Saints Win the Super Bowl!!?? I Don't Think You Understand........

Michael Johnson, REALTOR, ABR - Goose Creek SC (Carolina One Real Estate) — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 09:33:50 -0600

The years of pain and agony have finally ended for New Orleans Saints fans worldwide. If you have not been a Saints fan since the day you were born then you probably don't fully understand the magnitude of the Super Bowl win. I was born and raised in southwest Louisiana. You see, every person born in Louisiana is given four things when they are born: a name, social security number, and a stamp on each foot. One is a Tiger paw and the other is a Fleur-de-lis (Saints logo).

I know what you're thinking! You've never seen such a stamp on any of your Cajun friends feet. There is a good reason for that. It dissolves almost instantly into the blood stream leaving a small imprint that can only be seen under special light. Trust me...it's there! For the remainder of the Louisianian's life he/she becomes one with the team's sports program and often feels defined by their success and failure.

As a child (starting in the early 80's) I did not understand my devotion to the Saints. The teams were always horrible but yet I watched every Sunday afternoon between church services. That's right! Church in the morning, Saints game in the afternoon (which usually ended with a loss), then church in the evening to cry to God and ask why! Saints fans actually take loosing personally as if God was mad at them for some reason. I can remember times of not watching the game thinking that my not watching might bring them good luck. That only worked once!

Year after year of high expectations always turned into disappointing losses. It was a hard road! Heck, we had to play the 49ers twice every year because we were in the same division. Playing the "team of the 80's" did not help our chances at all. Then it happened! In 1987 we made it to the playoffs! Sure we lost, but hey WE MADE IT TO THE PLAYOFFS! That was huge and the whole State celebrated. Things were looking up! Decent years followed in 1990, 1991, and 1992. We had great defenses but the below average offense led us to first round playoff losses. In 1993, things looked promising! I was in basic training in the Air Force at the start of the football season. I would get newspaper clipping from home every week. The Saints started the season 6-0. Wow! Could this be the year? Nope...they finished the season 8-8 and no playoffs.

Part of me wanted to give up and say they are never going to win, but the elixir from the stamp that was flowing in my blood demanded that I keep hope alive. Year after year of disappointment chipped away at my belief. Then in 2000 the Saints won their first playoff game. Oh Happy Day! We are going to the Super Bowl.....not! We lost the next round.

Fast forward to 2005. Tragedy struck the entire Gulf Coast region. Several hurricanes hit the area that year to include Hurricane Katrina that devastated New Orleans as well as the surrounding areas. The Super Dome was torn up pretty badly. There was talk of the owner moving the team to Los Angeles. It was not pretty and I was certain that I had seen the last of the Saints in New Orleans. But the following year (2006) the Saints, under new head coach Sean Payton and Quarterback Drew Brees, finished first in thier division and made it to the conference championship. They lost to the Bears, who went on to loose to the Colts in the Superbowl. Something different was in the air!

The following years were mediocre at best! The offense was stellar but the defense was horrible! We never seem to be able to put together a good offense and defense. Then came the 2009-2010 season.

As they stacked 6 or 7 wins in a row. I was waiting for the disappointment! This is too good to be true! Something is going to happen and they are going to start loosing. It didn't happen. They racked up 13 wins in a row before loosing the last three games of the season. I thought to myself, "There it is! That is the letdown. Great season but now they've run out of gas and will loose in the playoffs." Don't get me wrong, I was praying and hoping for great things to happen, but history plagued my mind. They demolished the Cardinals and then fate shined down upon them in the conference championship game against the Vikings! "Holy Cow, we are going to the Super Bowl!" A rush of emotion slapped over me! Then, two weeks of anticipation! Could we pull it off? Could we be great???

Last night's game proved that we are great! I say "we" because that is what last night's Super Bowl win was all about! It validated the greatness of the Saints team! But, for every person who ever grew up in the State of Louisiana (no matter where they live now) and felt the sting of constantly not being good enough, our identification with the Saints makes us great as well!! At least that is how it feels!

"Pigs are Flying! Hell has frozen over! And, the Saints have won the Superbowl!"

If you have a home anywhere in the Charleston Metro Area and would like to get more information about selling your home, please contact me for a free home evaluation.

I also work with buyers. If you are interested in more information about buying a home please contact me and I would be glad to meet with you or email you a list of homes.

Michael J. Johnson, Realtor, ABR

843-817-5299

michaeljohnson@carolinaone.com

www.MetroCharlestonHomes.com -Search Charleston Homes

www.providingthelight.com - My Blog

"Providing the Light to Guide You Home"

Follow me:

Wordless Wednesday 27 Jan 2010

Michael Johnson, REALTOR, ABR - Goose Creek SC (Carolina One Real Estate) — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 20:00:09 -0600

Wordless Wednesday for 27 Jan 2010 - Stella Nova Spa in downtown Charleston South Carolina located at 78 Society St. My wife and I visited this spa for our anniversary. It was an amazing experience.

Other Blogs:

Goose Creek Real Estate

Crowfield Plantation Goose Creek SC

The Elms Plantation

Tanner Plantation

Real Estate in Charleston SC

The Ponds - Summerville SC

Understanding Real Estate Property Rights!

Energy Star Residental Tax Credits

5 Things to Consider When Buying New Construction

If you have a home anywhere in the Charleston Metro Area and would like to get more information about selling your home, please contact me for a free home evaluation.

I also work with buyers. If you are interested in more information about buying a home please contact me and I would be glad to meet with you or email you a list of homes.

Michael J. Johnson, Realtor, ABR

843-817-5299

michaeljohnson@carolinaone.com

www.MetroCharlestonHomes.com -Search Charleston Homes

www.providingthelight.com - My Blog

"Providing the Light to Guide You Home"

Follow me:

The Elms Plantation

Michael Johnson, REALTOR, ABR - Goose Creek SC (Carolina One Real Estate) — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 17:48:53 -0600

The Elms Plantation is a retirement/semi-retirement community located in North Charleston off of University Blvd near Trident Hospital and Charleston Southern University. The Elms is a quiet and gated community restricted to people who are 55 years old or older. The community has both single family detached homes as well as attached townhouses/patio homes.

History of The Elms Plantation - The Elms Plantation, like nearly all of the plantations in our area, has a history. The earliest known existence of the plantation is 1682, when it was granted to Ralph Izard. Several plantation homes were built since that time but all have succumb to the wear and tear of time to include wars, earthquakes, and fires. The original land grant was 4350 acres and the reported primary crop was rice. Today the land which composed the old Elms Plantation is utilized by Charleston Southern University, Charleston County's Wannamaker Park, many area businesses, and of course The Elms Plantation community.

Current Home and Community Info -The community offers both single family detached homes as well as attached townhouses/patio homes. There are currently 18 homes on the market with prices ranging from $119,000 to $200,000. The Elms has covenants and restricts which are overseen by a Home Owners Association (HOA). The current HOA price is $200 per month. The amenities include the neighborhood security gate (no guard), exterior home maintenance, lawn maintenance and landscaping, tennis courts, walking trails, mansion style clubhouse that has a heated swimming pool, shuffleboard court, and a craft room. There is also planned events, daily activities as wells as fitness and Aerobic programs.

If you would like more information about purchasing or selling a home in The Elms Plantation, please contact me at the phone number or email address below.

Other Blogs:

Goose Creek Real Estate

Crowfield Plantation Goose Creek SC

Tanner Plantation

Real Estate in Charleston SC

The Ponds - Summerville SC

Understanding Real Estate Property Rights!

What is Earnest Money?

Energy Star Residental Tax Credits

5 Things to Consider When Buying New Construction

If you have a home anywhere in the Charleston Metro Area and would like to get more information about selling your home, please contact me for a free home evaluation.

I also work with buyers. If you are interested in more information about buying a home please contact me and I would be glad to meet with you or email you a list of homes.

Michael J. Johnson, Realtor, ABR

843-817-5299

michaeljohnson@carolinaone.com

www.MetroCharlestonHomes.com -Search Charleston Homes

www.providingthelight.com - My Blog

"Providing the Light to Guide You Home"

Follow me:

Goose Creek Real Estate

Michael Johnson, REALTOR, ABR - Goose Creek SC (Carolina One Real Estate) — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 15:16:14 -0600

Goose Creek Real Estate - Goose Creek South Carolina is a suburb city of Charleston SC. The real estate market in the Metro Charleston area has seen a decline in recent years, as has most of the country, but overall the market has stayed pretty sound. I say sound because the last few years has been the effect of the market balancing itself from the real estate bubble that occurred during the mid years of this decade.

The chart below shows the rise and fall of homes sold during 2009 in Goose Creek, SC. The year started off extraordinarily slow but with government incentives for first time home buyers the year ended strong, save December. The primary culprits for the low home sale numbers throughout the year included higher unemployment and tighter lending guidelines.

The next chart gives a big picture of the Goose Creek housing market from 2002 - 2009. Home sales began to escalate in the first part of the decade with a peek in 2006. Although home sales began to decline in 2007, home prices have only seen a modest decline in comparison to most of the other country. Why? According to Jeannine Cataldi, a senior economist at IHS Global Insight, "They (Charleston) didn't have such a big run-up, and they have a diverse economic base that enabled them (home prices) to stay stable." Click here to read more on the 5 Markets Expected to Fare Best in 2010.

If you have a home anywhere in the Charleston Metro Area and would like to get more information about selling your home, please contact me for a free home evaluation.

I also work with buyers. If you are interested in more information about buying a home please contact me and I would be glad to meet with you or email you a list of homes.

Michael J. Johnson, Realtor, ABR

843-817-5299

michaeljohnson@carolinaone.com

www.MetroCharlestonHomes.com -Search Charleston Homes

www.providingthelight.com - My Blog

"Providing the Light to Guide You Home"

Follow me:

Crowfield Plantation Goose Creek SC

Michael Johnson, REALTOR, ABR - Goose Creek SC (Carolina One Real Estate) — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 13:57:23 -0600

Crowfield Plantation is a vibrant community in Goose Creek South Carolina, a suburb of Charleston. Crowfield is the largest community of its kind in the Charleston metropolitan and is comprised of 27 subsections/neighborhoods. It is centrally located with easy access to downtown, Charleston Air Force Base, and The Navy Weapons Station. The early neighborhoods began being built in the late 1970's and early 1980's by WestVaco Development Corporation. The neighborhoods development continued through the new century and while most of it is complete there are still a few new homes being built in a few neighborhoods. Crowfield has 4 pools, two tennis courts, a lake, six parks, a golf course and 26 miles of leisure trails. Note that access to some amenities may require a fee.

The following is a list of the major subsections within Crowfield Plantation: Alston Court, Spring Hall, Cherry Hill, Bridge Creek, Hunters Woods, The Commons, Bloomfield, Gibbs Forest, Piedmont Place, Deerfield Place, Stratford Forest, Lakeview Terrace, The Preserve, Chatfield Place, Haleswood, Adthan Place, Stonehurst, Hearthstone, Bedford Place, Friar's Grove, Cadbury, Pembroke, & The Hamlets. Note: Detail neighborhood reports to follow in the coming days and months. Check back for updates.

If you are interested in buying or selling a home in Crowfield Plantation, contact your neighborhood expert, Michael Johnson at 843-817-5299 or via email at michaeljohnson@carolinaone.com. Visit my website at www.providingthelight.com.

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Other Blogs:

Goose Creek Real Estate

Tanner Plantation

Real Estate in Charleston SC

The Ponds - Summerville SC

If you have a home anywhere in the Charleston Metro Area and would like to get more information about selling your home, please contact me for a free home evaluation.

I also work with buyers. If you are interested in more information about buying a home please contact me and I would be glad to meet with you or email you a list of homes.

Michael J. Johnson, Realtor, ABR

843-817-5299

michaeljohnson@carolinaone.com

www.MetroCharlestonHomes.com -Search Charleston Homes

www.providingthelight.com - My Blog

"Providing the Light to Guide You Home"

Follow me:

The Different Faces of Realtors

Michael Johnson, REALTOR, ABR - Goose Creek SC (Carolina One Real Estate) — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 10:52:25 -0600

Realtors are people! Like people in any given profession we all have different personalities and different reasons for being in this business. These personalities and reasons usually dictate the way we approach the real estate business. I've assembled a list of a few of the different faces of Realtors, each with their own strengths and weaknesses:

The Salesman - the salesman does whatever it takes to sale a house. They may show up at an open house and do some cleaning or they may inflate a property in description and photos to draw attention to it. The salesman may seem a bit too pushy but they are also the ones who tend to get buyers off the fence about buying. (Annette Bening in American Beauty)

The Consultant/Teacher - The Consultant takes pride in the fact that he/she knows something that the average person does not and is usually eager to pass that knowledge along. For most the teaching process meets an elementary ego need. They are usually helpers and get great satisfaction from helping others. The Consultant is usually not pushy and demonstrates a little more patience with buyers and sellers.

The Marketer - you know this person. It is the person that is constantly sending you mass emails about their business or sending you recipe postcards. They are marketing themselves and then once you hire them they market your property with the same vigilance. They go above and beyond the normal marketing. They utilize flyers, postcards, social media, personalized property websites, etc.

The Lister - there is an old saying in real estate, "List to Live." The agents that are strickly listing agents usually carry anywhere from 10-30 properties on their books at all times. They have little patience for working with buyers and often will either refer the buyer to another agent or pass on them all together. Sometimes the Lister will stop at nothing to list a house, including allowing a house to be overpriced. They know eventually the seller will get tired of waiting and drop the price on the house to where it should be to sell.

The Geek - the Geek is not always recognizable. Today's Geek doesn't always have wierd looking glasses, a sinus problem, braces, and a calculator in his front shirt pocket. In Real Estate, the term Geek is not a derogatory term. It is a term that references those who know the ins and outs of how to utilize technology to reach buyers and sellers. The Real Estate Geek understands the importance of a powerful website, search engine optimization, blogging, social media, smart phones, etc.

The Old Schooler -these are the Realtors that have been in the business for 20 plus years. The Old Schoolers are a valuable resource in knowledge and information. The best of the Old Schoolers embrace modern technology and have left behind the old ideas of guarding information tightly as a means of job security.

Very few Realtors fit only one category. As with most people in the world, Realtors are dominant in one or two (maybe more) of the categories and may show traces of the others from time to time. For Realtors it is important to identify your strengths and manage your weaknesses. For buyers and sellers, think of these personality/professional sets and identify which is the most important to you. Then find the Realtor that best fits that set, and one that you can trust.

Recent Blogs:

Crowfield Plantation Goose Creek SC

Understanding Real Estate Property Rights!

What is Earnest Money?

Goose Creek Real Estate Stats - Oct 2009

Energy Star Residental Tax Credits

Home for Sale in Ladson SC

Tanner Plantation

Charleston SC - A City of Firsts

5 Things to Consider When Buying New Construction

If you have a home anywhere in the Charleston Metro Area and would like to get more information about selling your home, please contact me for a free home evaluation.

I also work with buyers. If you are interested in more information about buying a home please contact me and I would be glad to meet with you or email you a list of homes.

Michael J. Johnson, Realtor, ABR

843-817-5299

michaeljohnson@carolinaone.com

www.MetroCharlestonHomes.com -Search Charleston Homes

www.providingthelight.com - My Blog

"Providing the Light to Guide You Home"

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Charleston Holiday Festival of Lights

Michael Johnson, REALTOR, ABR - Goose Creek SC (Carolina One Real Estate) — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 19:31:00 -0600

The holidays are upon us once again. (Where has the year gone?) One of my favorite places to bring my family in Charleston to get into the holiday spirit is the Holiday Festival of Lights. Located at the James Island County Park, the festival of lights is barrage Christmas lights and exhibits that includes a "Winter Wonderland," and "Santa's Village."

Much of what you will see will be from the comfort of your car as you travel down the road that encircle the park, gazing and pointing to the different light exhibits. You can make the circle in your car as many times as you would like until the park closes for the evening.

At some point during the drive you will have the option to stop, park, and walk around the Winter Wonderland. This is an area that has a carousel, a rock climbing wall, and vending that includes hot chocolate and marshmallow's that can be roasted over an open fire.

Just a short trek down a walking path and you will find yourself at Santa's Village. This area has several shops to buy different Christmas items. My wife and I love to buy our yearly ornament from here and put the year on it. There is also a holiday train depot where tickets can be bought to take a small train ride around the park.

Admission to the Holiday Festival of Lights varies based on the number of people that are in a vehicle. 1-15 guests costs $10. 16-30 guests costs $25. Any vehicle with over 30 people costs $100.

The hours are Sunday-Thursday 5:30-10pm and Friday-Saturday from 5:30 to 11pm.

If you have a home anywhere in the Charleston Metro Area and would like to get more information about selling your home, please contact me for a free home evaluation.

I also work with buyers. If you are interested in more information about buying a home please contact me and I would be glad to meet with you or email you a list of homes.

Michael J. Johnson, Realtor, ABR

843-817-5299

michaeljohnson@carolinaone.com

www.MetroCharlestonHomes.com -Search Charleston Homes

www.providingthelight.com - My Blog

"Providing the Light to Guide You Home"

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Top Ten News Worty Events of the New Millennium: 2000-2009

Michael Johnson, REALTOR, ABR - Goose Creek SC (Carolina One Real Estate) — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 18:11:57 -0600

I am a student of History. It is the light that helps me understand the present and helps me anticipate the future. The first decade of this new millennium have been eventful from the start. Below is a list of what I feel is the Top Ten News Worthy Evens of the New Millennium. These events and trends help define this first decade:

10. Euro Becomes Cash Currency - a united Europe with a united currency was an idea that goes back to the 19th century but the real attempts to implement such a plan began after World War II. World leaders after the war wanted to stabilize the region and have it mimic the U.S. But many countries were opposed to such an idea fearing it would lead to a loss of autonomy. During the Cold War the western European nations bonded together (NATO) against a common enemy (USSR). They invested in each other militarily and monetarily. After the Russian wall and empire fell in the early 90's, it became apparent that a united European currency was better for all involved. On January 1st 2002, the Euro went into effect and now rival, and often outperforms the U.S. dollar.

9. Reality TV - In 1998 the movie Truman Show staring Jim Carrey hit theaters to rave reviews. Little did we know that it was really a prophetic bull horn warning of things to come. Most people agree that the popularity explosion of reality tv occurred with the emergence of the CBS television series, Survivor. From that time the television population has been delightfully inundated with such shows to include, The Amazing Race, Dancing With the Stars, and The Real World, just to name a few.

8. Google's Emergence - although Google started in 1996, it did not become the "go to" search engine for the world wide web until the beginning of the new decade. The company first offered stocks to the general public in 2004 and since that time its stock and brand has skyrocketed. Fortune magazine called it the "most powerful brand in the world." It is also considered the Internets most visited site and for many web searches it is the most trusted means of finding exactly what you are looking for on the net.

7. Indonesian Tsunami - On December 26, 2004 an estimated 9.1 earthquake shook from the ocean floor and triggered a series of Tsunamis in Indonesia with waves nearly 100 feet high. The results were that nearly 230,000 people were killed from 14 countries. It was the 3rd deadliest earthquake in recorded history. People from around the world came to the aid of these devastated regions, donating over 7 billion dollars for the cause.

6. Social Networking Websites - imagine being social without ever having to have a face to face conversation. That is social networking on the web. There were many early attempts during the infancy stages of the Internet to develop social networking sites, but not until the early to middle part of this decade did it become common place. MySpace began in 2003 and set the bar for modern social networking. They were followed by popular sites such as LinkedIn, Facebook, and now the biggest craze, Twitter.

5. Global Recession of 07-09 - As much as the economic boom affected us all in the mid portion of the decade, so much more were we affected by the economic recession that reverberated like a shock wave throughout the world. It seems that nearly everything was tied to it: housing, 401K's, retirement funds, vehicle manufacturers and dealers, etc. The economic boom blew the bubble and inflated prices (sometimes artificially) until the bubble exploded at the end of 2007 and became more apparent in 2008. Many economic experts have called it the worst financial crisis since The Great Depression of the 1930's, which was preceded by economic bliss of the 1920's. It seems that we do not learn from our history after all. Most agree that we are not out of the woods yet, but things are starting to look up.

4. America's First Black President - regardless of whether you agree with Brack Obama's politics or not, its hard to deny the historical significance of the first elected African American President. America has come a long way in the last 150 years, nay, the last 50 years. The fact that a person was elected President that belongs to a group of people who historically were considered inferior and were enslaved is amazing, and is an indicator of our social progress as a nation.

3. Global War on Terror - After the events of 9/11 shook the U.S. to its core, a coalition of nations led by America went on the offensive and took the responsible groups (the ruling Taliban and its associates, Al Queda) out of power in Afghanistan. America then went after and dethroned one of the world's "thug leaders," Saddam Hussein, in the War in Iraq (Gulf War II). Stabilization efforts continue in Iraq with talks of troops draw downs, but the new sitting US President, Obama, recently announced troop build up in Afghanistan to combat the recent Taliban and Al Queda resurgence and to possibly finally find Osama Bil Laden.

2. China's Rise to Economic Power - look around your house. Chances are that about 85% of everything in your house was - you guessed - Made in China! Why? Whatever happened to the old slogan "Made in America," or "Buy American?" Well, quite frankly, it is all about economics. China can make it cheaper. And, don't forget whose money the US government borrowed to bail out banks and companies such as GM. That's right! It was China. China currently sits 3rd in the world for Gross Domestic Product ranking behind the U.S. and Japan.

1. 9/11 - It was our generation's Pearl Harbor. Everyone knows exactly where they were when they heard of the World Trade Center and Pentagon attacks on the morning of September 11, 2009. The explosive crashes trusted us almost unwillingly into the new century where nothing seemed it would ever be the same. The events of that day and the reaction therein stand as the defining moment of this decade.

If you have a home anywhere in the Charleston Metro Area and would like to get more information about selling your home, please contact me for a free home evaluation.

I also work with buyers. If you are interested in more information about buying a home please contact me and I would be glad to meet with you or email you a list of homes.

Michael J. Johnson, Realtor, ABR

843-817-5299

michaeljohnson@carolinaone.com

www.MetroCharlestonHomes.com -Search Charleston Homes

www.providingthelight.com - My Blog

"Providing the Light to Guide You Home"

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Understanding the Title Search

Michael Johnson, REALTOR, ABR - Goose Creek SC (Carolina One Real Estate) — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 19:11:57 -0600

Understanding the Title Search

Among the many areas of due diligence in buying a home, a title search, or sometimes called a title examination, is one of the most important. The title is a document that gives evidence of an individual's ownership of property. The title search is usually performed by an attorney (usually the closing attorney) in an effort to ensure that the title on a particular house is free of encumbrances. An encumbrance is any lien, liability, or charge against a property. The attorney performing the title search will be looking for many things including:

Mortgages - looks for 2nd and 3rd mortgages that may affect the closing.

Life Estates

Right of Ways

Judgment liens

Special assessment liens

Current leases

Deed restrictions

Easements

Tax liens

Mechanic liens.

It is important to note that if a buyers is securing a loan from a lending institution, that lending institution will require a title search to be performed to assure the seller is conveying a good and marketable title. Upon completion of the title search, the attorney will most likely offer the buyer Title Insurance.

What is Title Insurance? Title insurance normally covers defects which do not appear in public records. Title insurance indicates only that title is insurable and not that it is without defects. If no defect is found it is considered Marketable Title, which means that it is a title that an ordinary person in an ordinary market would accept. This is based on the concept that no title is completely free of all defects. There are two type of title insurance policies. Mortgagee Policies are policies that would cover the amount of the mortgage only. Owners Policy are policies that would cover the owner's equity plus the mortgage if there were one.

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Michael J. Johnson, Realtor, ABR

843-817-5299

michaeljohnson@carolinaone.com

www.MetroCharlestonHomes.com -Search Charleston Homes

www.providingthelight.com - My Blog

"Providing the Light to Guide You Home"

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