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For three years or so, there were more real estate agents quitting and getting another job than new agents coming into the real estate industry in South Carolina.  Real Estate was a tuff way to make a living for most agents.  Those that stayed in saw the number of transactions go way down along with their income.  Looking back, as tough as it was, could this have been a blessing in disguise? 

As a Real Estate Instructor in South Carolina, I have the pleasure of traveling all over the state teaching and speaking to real estate agents.  Just last week, I was in Charleston speaking to a group of agents and as always, I asked how business was going in Charleston?  Everyone in the room said it is awesome.  They are all very busy with the number one comment I heard was “buyers are coming out of the woodwork right now.”  Charleston is not alone.  I have been hearing that same comment every where I go.  This year has been a come back year for sure so I was not surprised to hear those comments, but I was surprised to hear them this time of the year.  Traditionally, the fourth quarter is a very slow time of the year in real estate.  Very few transaction during this time for many reasons normally, but not this year.  Typically, the number of transaction drop off significantly during the winter, but pick up again in the early spring and all through the summer.  Agents tell me that the number of transactions are actually increasing right now and that they have never been more busy!

The tough few years have weeded out most of the agents that were not very serious about their careers.  In fact, so many agents gave up their license and went back into the work force, many multi-office companies around South Carolina had to close several offices and consolidate. The tough times also taught real estate agents the necessity to budget carefully and stick to it.  The agents that stuck to their business plans and budget have learned to be very disciplined which are now paying big dividends.  I thought I would never say this, but today, we actually have a shortage of real estate agents in many areas around the state.  With the substantial increase in business (Buyers and Sellers), many agents actually have more than they can manage properly.  The hardest thing to do right now is to turn down business but someone has to do it.

Real Estate is obviously on its way back and in a big way!!  My guest on Success In Real Estate this past week was Erica West, Mortgage Consultant with New American Mortgage.  Erica backs up the comments we are hearing from real estate agents by saying the number of home loans she is processing right now are unbelievable.  She is seeing huge increases in new home loans as well as current homeowners re-financing because the interest rates are still going down!  Today, home buyers can get a 30 year fixed loan around 3.5 %.  If you are thinking of buying or refinancing, you must give Erica West a call and talk to her.  Erica and New American Mortgage will guarantee a clear to close in seven (7) days or less!!  Most lenders are taking 4 to 6 weeks.  This is incredible.  Give Erica West a call at 803-528-5019.

If you are interested in getting your South Carolina Real Estate License, we would love to have attend our Real Estate School For Success.  We will train you to not only pass the state exam, but also teach you how to build a lucrative career in the Real Estate Industry.  We also offer many other licensing courses such as Property Manager, Appraiser, Home Inspector, etc.  The Real Estate School For Success is an approved MyCAA provider, which allows for many military spouses to take all classes at no charge.  Give us a call for details.  You can also receive a 10% discount on any class by entering the promo code below when you register on line at the Real Estate School for Success.

Discount/Promo Code is:  Mortgage

  Click Here to Listen To Radio Show

Has the economy recovered enough to warrant getting a SC Real Estate License and begin practicing real estate?  This is the most common question I get as a Real Estate Instructor in South Carolina.  The short answer is, absolutely.  This is a great time to get started if you feel real estate may be your calling.

My guest on Success in Real Estate Radio Show this week was Laura Reid to help me answer this question.   Laura attended the Real Estate School For Success about seven years ago to get her license.  As Laura explains during the show, not only did she learn the information necessary to pass the state exam, she also learned how to be Successful in the Real Estate Industry.  After just seven short years of success, Laura Reid is now the owner of a REMAX Franchise in Lexington, SC.  Laura will continue providing top notch representation for her clients, but also teaching and training other real estate agents how to be successful in real estate.

I think it is also important to note that Laura Reid has created this level of success during the worst economic downturn we have seen in most of our lifetimes.  Once you learn how to be successful, you know how to overcome and adapt to what ever the economy is doing.  People have to have a place to live.  Whether they are buying a home or renting a home, real estate agents will always have work to do.  At the Real Estate School for Success, we train those desiring a career in real estate to be Successful in business.  We have the most highly trained professionals you will see in the industry.  Our instructors not only teach others, we actually practice real estate on a daily basis.  There is a huge difference between those that just own a real estate company versus one that is in the trenches providing representation and negotiating a deal in the best interest of their client.  At the Real Estate School for Success, that is exactly what we teach you to do from first hand experience, not just reading it to you from a book.

If you are interested in getting your South Carolina Real Estate License, we would love to have attend our Real Estate School For Success.  We will train you to not only pass the state exam, but also teach you how to build a lucrative career in the Real Estate Industry.  We also offer many other licensing courses such as Property Manager, Appraiser, Home Inspector, etc.  The Real Estate School For Success is an approved MyCAA provider, which allows for many military spouses to take all classes at no charge.  Give us a call for details.  You can also receive a 10% discount on any class by entering the promo code below when you register on line at the Real Estate School for Success.

Discount/Promo Code is:  License

  Dwayne Blanton, with Terratec, Inc

Residential Home Sellers have a legal responsibility to disclose on know defects and material facts concerning their home.  This responsibility falls under the SC Residential Property Disclosure Law which applies to homes listed by licensed real estate agents or those selling their home by owner.  Although it is not the agents responsibility to act as inspectors and look for issues, agents certainly cannot turn a blind eye to the obvious either.  Some of the biggest issues deal directly with soil and foundation issues.

Terratec, Inc. is the midlands expert when it comes to soil and foundation issues.  If your home is experiencing settling and cracked foundations, you need to call Dwayne Blanton with Terratec so he can come out and inspect the problem.  If your home has settling issues, Terratec can fix the problem before it becomes a major problem.  They have several different repairing systems depending on the situation and cause of the problem such as Steel Piering, Helix Foundation and Helix Tieback.

Terratec can also resolve issues such as water leaking through walls, cracks in pools or pool decks, as well as cracked concrete driveways.  Terratec uses cementious grouting which is injected into the cracks and can expand up to 7,000 times its original size to clog up and prevent leaking and cracks.

If you are interested in getting your South Carolina Real Estate License, we would love to have attend our Real Estate School For Success.  We will train you to not only pass the state exam, but also teach you how to build a lucrative career in the Real Estate Industry.  We also offer many other licensing courses such as Property Manager, Appraiser, Home Inspector, etc.  The Real Estate School For Success is an approved MyCAA provider, which allows for many military spouses to take all classes at no charge.  Give us a call for details.  You can also receive a 10% discount on any class by entering the promo code below when you register on line at the Real Estate School for Success.

Discount/Promo Code is:  Foundation

The most dreaded word for home buyers and home sellers is MOVING.  As if buying a new home is not stressful enough, moving can add tremendous stress to the home buying process.  Fortunately, the moving problem can be resolved with one word, NILSON.  Nilson Van and Storage is the company to call on.  Nilson has been moving home owners and business owners since the 1930’s.  Whether moving across the street or across the world, there is no one better you can count on!  Nilson Van and Storage has also been a strong supporter of the University of South Carolina Athletics.  Look for their large Mayflower moving trucks running across the new Jumbotron being installed at Williams Brice Stadium!

Nilson Van and Storage has a webpage for all movers.  This website will keep you informed throughout the entire moving process.  You can even track the exact location of your furniture at all times through GPS technology as well as tons of other information concerning your move.  Be sure to check out this Movers Webpage provided by Nilson Van to get your moving estimates!

With Nilson Van, you can decide how much or how little you want to move yourself and have Nilson Van move the rest.  You will find the cost of having a professional will be well worth the charge.  How much would it cost if you pulled your back, or worse, and out of work for days or even weeks?  Make sure you review and use the moving checklist provided by Nilson Van and Storage.  This checklist will save you in ways you can’t imagine.  Nothing beats planning ahead and having these pointers to help you in the planning to move process.

If you are interested in getting your South Carolina Real Estate License, we would love to have attend our Real Estate School For Success.  We will train you to not only pass the state exam, but also teach you how to build a lucrative career in the Real Estate Industry.  We also offer many other licensing courses such as Property Manager, Appraiser, Home Inspector, etc.  The Real Estate School For Success is an approved MyCAA provider, which allows for many military spouses to take all classes at no charge.  Give us a call for details.  You can also receive a 10% discount on any class by entering the promo code below when you register on line at the Real Estate School for Success.

Discount/Promo Code is:  Moving

   CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO RADIO SHOW!

 Aun and McKay Law Firm

Andy Aun and Randy McKay are aggressive and professional attorneys at law you can count on!

Knowledge and understanding is so important in everything we do to be Successful.  Real Estate is no different.  We never know what we don’t know.  I know that sounds like an awkward statement, but it is a true statement.  South Carolina has some of the most knowledgeable Real Estate Agents I have ever been around and had the pleasure of speaking to.  But just like every other profession, there are some agents that do not make it part of their business to know their business.  As a result, they ultimately fail in the Real Estate business and in many cases, cause significant damage to their clients.  The most trusted Agents are those that know their business and always looking to learn what they do not know!

Andy Aun, with Aun and McKay Law Firm, provides Real Estate Agents, as well as consumers, with outstanding Real Estate Training.  This training if absolutely free and is provided once a month, usually the last Thursday of every month from 5:30pm to 7:00pm.  Andy Aun is a Real Estate Attorney, as well as a trial lawyer.  So he knows how the advice he gives will play out in a courtroom if you every find yourself in that situation.  South Carolina License Law requires we practice real estate under the Laws of Agency.  Laws of Agency require Real Estate Agents to represent someone, buyer or seller or both, in an Agency Capacity.  Laws of Agency require Real Estate Agents to provide legal Fiduciary Duties to their clients.  If any of these duties are not met or provided, the Real Estate Agent can be liable to their clients.  Due to the nature of Agency Relationships, Real Estate Agents take on significant risk when representing home buyers and sellers.  Andy Aun teaches Real Estate Professionals how to manage the risk.

This weeks Radio Show, Success in Real Estate, is all about Education and Training.  Andy Aun answers several great questions from home owners that are issues in many Real Estate transactions.  Home buyers and sellers expect their Real Estate Agents to know the answers and how to resolve the issues.  You can listen to this weeks show by clicking below and hear for yourself the kinds of questions homeowners have and are dealing with in Real Estate.

If you are interested in getting your South Carolina Real Estate License, we would love to have attend our Real Estate School For Success.  We will train you to not only pass the state exam, but also teach you how to build a lucrative career in the Real Estate Industry.  We also offer many other licensing courses such as Property Manager, Appraiser, Home Inspector, etc.  The Real Estate School For Success is an approved MyCAA provider, which allows for many military spouses to take all classes at no charge.  Give us a call for details.  You can also receive a 10% discount on any class by entering the promo code below when you register on line at the Real Estate School for Success.

Discount/Promo Code is:  Education

  Click Here to Listen to Radio Show.

If you are in need of a Professional Contractor to fix and/or repair anything around your home, the man to call is Jeremy Johnson, owner of Crescent Construction, LLC.  Jeremy has been a licensed contractor for many years and will fix any problem you have, regardless of size.  Crescent Construction has an office in Irmo, SC, 121 Centrum Drive, Suite #2, which is always fully staffed and open every day!  With Crescent Construction, you never have to worry about fly by night contractors that take your money and never really fix the problem and cannot locate them after they have been paid.

As a Real Estate Agent in South Carolina, I know how critical it is to know a highly competent contractor that will come out immediately to give free estimates so my buyers and sellers can make an informed decision when buying/selling their home.  Time is of the essence with Real Estate Contracts and a contractor that is non-responsive can kill a deal very quickly.  Homebuyers will typically have a home inspection completed within 10 days of acceptance of an offer.  If the home inspector finds issues that need repair or replacement, the buyer will often times require the seller to make the repairs prior to closing.  Before the seller will agree to make repairs, they need to know what the expense will actually be.  Jeremy will provide that expense estimate within 24 hours of receiving the call.  You can rest assured the job will be performed right and complete in a very short time.

Often times repairs needed on the exterior of the home are created by “Acts of God” which is typically covered by homeowners insurance.  Crescent Construction has a trained staff to coordinate repairs needed through your insurance company so you don’t need to spend valuable time of your own.  For instance, hail can cause extensive damage to a roof, siding, and windows.  Crescent Construction will come out and evaluate the damage and cause of damage.  If the damage is caused by a hail storm, you may likely get a new roof and paid by your insurance company!

You can contact Jeremy Johnson at 803-361-3744 or stop by his office at 121 Centrum Drive, Suite #2, Irmo, SC.  His Contractor License Number is GC #G117066. 

If you are interested in getting your South Carolina Real Estate License, we would love to have attend our Real Estate School For Success.  We will train you to not only pass the state exam, but also teach you how to build a lucrative career in the Real Estate Industry.  We also offer many other licensing courses such as Property Manager, Appraiser, Home Inspector, etc.  The Real Estate School For Success is an approved MyCAA provider, which allows for many military spouses to take all classes at no charge.  Give us a call for details.  You can also receive a 10% discount on any class by entering the promo code below when you register on line at the Real Estate School for Success.

Discount/Promo Code is:  Repairs

Click below to listen to show

 6-9-12.mp3 (64.81 mb)

Aun and McKay Law Firm

Is the door you are opening an Opportunity or an Obstacle?  Andy Aun, with Aun and McKay Law Firm, addresses this issue and much more on today’s Success in Real Estate Show.  Homebuyers applying for FHA or VA financing should understand that the Contract of Sale must include addenda that could become substantial obstacles if one does not have competent representation.   Andy Aun is not your typical real estate attorney.  In addition to closing loans for real estate, Andy is also a trial lawyer.  Andy Aun provided training to real estate agents and the public by giving advice and suggestions on avoiding closing pitfalls for homebuyers and home sellers as well as avoiding unnecessary liability for South Carolina Real Estate Agents.

This months “Out of the Box Marketing Seminar”, will cover issues such as:

·        Understanding the Key Differences between our contract of sale and the Government imposed Contractual Addenda

·        How these differences impact the lender’s ability to qualify your deal

·        To what extent are the governmental addenda negotiable

FHA and VA loans are Government Loans that add additional stipulations to the agreement (contract of sale) between buyers and sellers.  These stipulations include;

1)      These addenda require the homebuyer to pledge whether they will live in the home or not. 

2)      2) If applying for a VA loan, the property must have a Certificate of Reasonable Value (CRV) that indicates the sales price does not the market value (CRV).  Although the VA offers 100% financing, the VA will not loan more than the CRV amount.   If applying for FHA financing, the sales price cannot exceed the appraised value.  If the property does not appraise for the purchase price or more, the buyer may walk away from the contract and have all earnest monies returned.

3)      Seller must agree to repair or replace all defects noted on the appraisal. 4) Seller must provide buyer a termite inspection (CL-100 Letter) and repair any necessary damages caused by termites.

4)      Seller must agree to pay for certain buyer loan related closing costs.

Please find the Seminar Flyer attached below for dates and times.

Anytime you are considering buying a new home or refinancing your current home, I recommend you speak to a lender that you or your agent knows and trusts.  One lender you will be glad you spoke to is Erica West, with New American Mortgage.  Erica is an expert in all loan programs as well SC down payment Assistance Programs.  If she knows another lender can provide a better product, she will be the first to suggest you speak to them.  Erica will go out of her way to protect your best interest.  You can reach Erica by calling (803) 528-5019.

If you are interested in getting your South Carolina Real Estate License, we would love to have attend our Real Estate School For Success.  We will train you to not only pass the state exam, but also teach you how to build a lucrative career in the Real Estate Industry.  We also offer many other licensing courses such as Property Manager, Appraiser, Home Inspector, etc.  The Real Estate School For Success is an approved MyCAA provider, which allows for many military spouses to take all classes at no charge.  Give us a call for details.  You can also receive a 10% discount on any class by entering the promo code below when you register on line at the Real Estate School for Success.

Discount/Promo Code is:  Government loans

 Seminar.bmp (1.98 mb)  Seminar Flyer

[mp3:Track01.cda]  Success in Real Estate Radio Show

 [mp3:Track02.cda]

Today was the inauguration of the Success In Real Estate Radio Show on Carolina 92.1 FM and what a great show it was!  The first objective in buying or selling real estate is Financing.  Most South Carolina Real Estate transactions require approved financing and the one person you need to talk to is Erica West, with New American Mortgage.  Erica can have the underwriting complete and ready to close within seven days of a property going under contract!   You may call Erica West at 803-528-5019

We discussed in great detail many different types of financing available today.  Erica West can have a buyer approved and ready to close within one week of the property going under contract.  I know that sound to good to be true, but it is true!  It is so important to have someone who knows the right questions to ask to ensure you not only get approved for a loan, but a loan that would be in your best interest depending on your goals and objectives.

We also talked about the 2012 Palmetto Heroes Program.  Under this program, Palmetto Heroes can get a loan with a fixed rate of 3.75% and $5000 to go towards your down payment.  Palmetto Heroes include; Law Enforcement Officers, Correctional Officers, Teachers, Fire Fighters, Nurses, Veterans, and EMS Personnel.

Erica explained how homebuyers could purchase homes that need repairs at incredibly low prices and include the money needed to make all repairs in the financing.  This is called the FHA 203-k loan.  This is a government loan, used when purchasing an owner occupied property, which includes required funds to make necessary repairs that may be required.  The end result is that the homebuyer now owns a home with substantial equity in the home after repairs are made.  The homeowner or purchaser cannot complete any of this work; only licensed contractors can complete the work.  We also discussed USDA loans for homes in Rural areas. 

If you are interested in getting your South Carolina Real Estate License, we would love to have you attend our Real Estate School For Success.  We will train you to not only pass the state exam, but teach you how to build a lucrative career in the Real Estate Industry.  We also offer many other licensing courses such as Property Manager, Appraiser, Home Inspector, etc.  The Real Estate School For Success is an approved MyCAA provider, which allows for many military spouses to take all classes at no charge.  Give us a call for details.  You can also receive a 10% discount on any class by entering the promo code below when you register on line at the Real Estate School for Success.

Discount/Promo Code is:  Finance

 Click below to listen to the Success In Real Estate Radio show 

5-5-12.mp3 (68.29 mb)

Talk to any potential buyer or seller of real estate in South Carolina, you can expect the subject of property taxes to come up very quickly.  It’s a big issue for many reasons and rightfully so. 

Now is a great time to buy real estate in South Carolina, and for the first time in several years, the potential of selling is now looking good as well.  Inventories are at lowest numbers in five years, the average sales price is up nearly $10,000 from this time last year, and the interest rates are still very low.  South Carolina property taxes are near the lowest in the country for residential homes IF it will be owner occupied.

However, commercial real estate that includes non-owner occupied residential property (investment/rental property) is among the highest taxes in the country.  Investment property is taxed at the 6% assessment rate whereas owner occupied property is taxed at the 4% assessment rate.  After all, the math is calculated, the 6% rate results in about twice the taxes owed than the 4% rate.  Effective January 1, 2013, many real estate sales will have an additional 3.8% tax charged to the seller of real estate.  The 3.8% real estate tax is part of the Health Care bill to help pay for the cost of health care.

South Carolina Real Estate Licensees must understand how the property taxes will affect real estate transactions so they explain it properly to potential buyers and sellers of real estate.  Andy Aun, Attorney with Aun and McKay Law Firm, will be holding this months tutor and tour seminar on Thursday, March 29^th, at Cobblestone Farms in Lexington, SC.  This seminar is open to the everyone at no charge.  Some of the topics to be discussed include:

·        Issues to consider when advising clients in real estate transactions

·        Options which allow for the 4% assessment rate on investment properties

·        3.8% real estate tax under the Health Care law

·        Changes in law relating to SC tax assessments

If you would like to attend this free seminar, contact Angela, with Aun and McKay Law Firm. to RSVP.  The RSVP is required to make sure we have enough food and drinks for everyone.  You can find all the information about this seminar in the flyer attached below.

If you are considering a Real Estate License to start a new career or even to make some money part time in Real Estate, we would love to help you become a Successful Real Estate Agent at the Real Estate School for Success.  We have classes for any type of license you would be interested in to include, a SC Real Estate License, SC Appraisers License, SC Property Managers License or SC Home Inspectors License.  

You can also receive a 10% discount on any class by entering the promo code below when you register on line at the Real Estate School for Success.

Discount/Promo Code is:  tax

 Taxation without Rationalization Seminar1.pdf (141.20 kb)

  Click Here to listen to Succes in Real Estate Show.