Getting Pre-Approved for Your New Home Before Listing Your Current Home For Sale

You may think getting pre-approved for your new home before listing your current home is counterintuitive. I have run across a few scenarios over the years of selling real estate where getting pre-approved prior to to listing a home for sell would have really helped the sellers.

Getting Pre-Approved for Your New Home Before Listing Your Current Home

Here are some scenarios I have heard about or had happen to clients over the years of selling real estate:

You have a negative mark on your credit report that you were unaware of. Getting pre-approved will not only help you find that negative mark but also give you time to correct the problem.
You might not be able to qualify for as much of a loan as you thought you would be able to qualify for. Finding this information out before you list your home for sale gives you time to preview homes with your agent in your new price range. You can decide if you are willing, or able, to move into a property in the new price range. Sometimes staying where you are is the best option.
You might not be able to qualify for a loan at all. There are many reasons why you may not qualify for a loan and most of them can be fixed with time. Imagine the stress of having your current home under contract and finding out you do not qualify at all for a loan. At that point, renting might be your only option. Renting can be tough if you have pets and could be more expensive than your current mortgage.

In order to avoid last minute stress, start with the end in mind. Give your lender a call, go through the pre-approval process and make sure everything is on track for your new home purchase. Should you not already have a relationship with a lender, I'll be happy to make some recommendations.

As always, contact me if you are interested in buying or selling in Murrells Inlet or the surrounding area or if you are interested in learning more about living at the beach.

Sea Turtles

You might be asking what sea turtles have to do with real estate. They don’t, but they are important to our area and you will hear a lot about sea turtles throughout the spring and summer.

A great way to keep up with the sea turtle activity in our area is to follow the S.C.U.T.E. Facebook Page.

Sea Turtles

When is Sea Turtle Season?

Sea turtle season starts May 1 and ends at the end of October. You can see sea turtles in the waters off the areas coasts from April to November.

What do you need to know about sea turtles?

While there are 7 types of sea turtle species, only 4 are found in our area. The most common is the loggerhead turtle but you may also see green, Kemp’s ridley and leatherback sea turtles.

Female sea turtles come onshore at night from May to August to lay their eggs. They dig a hole above the high tide line about 18 inches deep and that is where they lay their eggs. Females turtles can nest up to 4 times in one season. Those eggs incubate for about 60 days and are at risk from predators such as foxes, ghost crabs, higher than normal high tides and humans. The sex of the hatchlings is determined by the temperature of the nest in the second trimester. The hatchlings crawl to the ocean guided by the moon.

Volunteer members of SCUTE (South Carolina United Turtle Enthusiasts) help keep track of turtle nests and turtle hatchlings on our coast. Each morning, they walk the beaches looking for signs of a new nests. When they find a new nest, it is marked off for protection and reported to DNR. Later in the nesting season, they also watch for signs of hatched nests. They inventory the nest and release any hatchlings that may not have been able to get out on their own.

Over the years, I have been fortunate enough to witness several inventories and even help count the eggs once.

I will include some pictures of baby hatchlings, nest inventories and the protective cages around the nests. You can also look back through my Facebook page and search “sea turtles” for other posts and pictures.

What are the Rules Regarding Sea Turtles?

All sea turtles are an endangered and protected by state and federal laws. Federal penalties include jail and a $15,000 fine for each offense.
If you see a mama turtle coming onshore to lay a nest, do not approach the turtle or take pictures with a flash. Both could scare the turtle back into the ocean and the eggs she is carrying could be lost.
Do not try to sit on or ride a turtle. Sadly, this has happened. Be respectful of nature and watch the turtles from a distance.
Do not dig up a turtle nest.
Remove any trash and do not leave beach chairs, tents, toys and other things on the beach. Turtles can get entangled in the objects.
Before you leave the beach for the day, fill any holes you dug. Not only can people fall in the holes and get hurt, but turtles can as well.
If you are staying in an ocean front condo or home, turn off exterior lights facing the ocean. Hatchlings can get confused by the lights thinking they are the moon and head away from the ocean.

Sea Turtle Links

Sea Turtle Program: https://www.dnr.sc.gov/seaturtle/

Lights: https://www.dnr.sc.gov/seaturtle/lights.htm

Education Materials: https://www.dnr.sc.gov/seaturtle/outreach.htm

Sea Science: https://www.dnr.sc.gov/marine/pub/seascience/seaturtle.html

FAQs: https://www.dnr.sc.gov/seaturtle/faq.htm

S.C.U.T.E. Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/SCUTE-36320641283

Garden City Surfside Sea Turtle Guardians Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1386608734999979

Sea Turtle Nest Monitoring Websites for 2021:

You will start seeing results as nests are laid.

Garden City Beach: http://www.seaturtle.org/nestdb/index.shtml?year=2021&view_beach=30 (You can also adopt a nest!)
Huntington Beach State Park: http://www.seaturtle.org/nestdb/index.shtml?view_beach=31
Surfside Beach: http://www.seaturtle.org/nestdb/index.shtml?view_beach=29

Being able to witness the cycle of life with sea turtles is only one of the great things you get to witness while living at the beach. Let’s do our part to protect the sea turtles and their habitat. If you have any questions about sea turtles, comment below. I’ll be happy to answer your questions or find out the answer.

What NOT to Post on Social Media When Selling or Previewing Homes

A few weeks ago, I shared some tips on what not to say while previewing a home. Now, we are going to move to social media. I am sure it comes as no surprise to you that people over share on social media and people "Facebook stalk" the other side in a real estate transaction. You also never know who could have mutual friends and see your posts. Do not let what you share. on social media negatively effect your home purchase or home sale. This extends to your kids as well if they have social media accounts.

What NOT to Post on Social Media When Selling or Previewing Homes

What NOT to Post When Selling Your Home

Complaining about your neighbors, the neighborhood or the HOA all the time. If someone looks you up and sees that you are constantly complaining about the neighborhood, why would they want to buy your home.
Talk about problems you have or have had with your home that have not been disclosed to potential buyers.
Talking about your motivation for selling that could impact your negotiating ability. For instance, if you are selling because you are getting a divorce, buyers could see that and offer a lower price because they think you need to sell.

What NOT to Post When You are Buying a Home

Talking about how much you love and can’t live without a home you previewed. If the seller sees that, you’ll likely be paying full price.
Talking about pulling out of a purchase because you changed your mind. While there are legitimate ways within the contract to not go through with the purchase of a home, you could lose your earnest money deposit for just backing out of a transaction.
Taking pictures of the sellers’ home and posting those online with negative comments about the sellers’ decor or housekeeping skills. That’s just mean.

While this is not an exhaustive list of things not to share on social media while buying to selling a home, I wanted to give you a few ideas.

As always, contact me if you are interested in buying or selling in Murrells Inlet or the surrounding area or if you are interested in learning more about living at the beach.

5 Tips for Showing Your Home

You’ve done the tough work of deep cleaning your home, de-personalizing and decluttering the inside of your home and getting the curb appeal on point on the outside of your home. The listing pictures have been taken, your home is officially listed for sale on the MLS and can be seen by potential buyers. Your agent calls you to let you know some buyers and their agent want to see your home. What should you do right before you walk out the door? Here are 5 tips for showing your home and should take less than 15 minutes to complete.

5 Tips for Showing Your Home

Do a quick clean up

Hopefully, since your home is listed for sale, you have a regular cleaning schedule. Before showings, give your home a quick look to make sure all dishes are put up or in the dishwasher, clutter is picked up, all kids toys and pet toys are put up or organized, all beds are made and no clothes are on the floor.

2. Take care of smells

Your home needs to smell fresh and neutral and not have any strong scents. Take out your trash. Avoid using strong smelling fragrances during the times your home will be shown. Instead use fresh, neutral candles, diffusers or room sprays.

3. Keep your valuables safe

Either lock up or take with you any expensive jewelry, important paperwork and electronics. If you have any weapons or medications, also secure those. Turn off your computers and put up any mail.

4. Make sure the home shows well.

Set the temperature of your home so it is comfortable, lights are on and blinds are open.

5. Leave

This is possibly the most important part of the showing prep. When you have a showing scheduled, be sure to leave your house and take any pets with you and plan to stay away for the length of the scheduled showing time.

We want to make sure the buyers have plenty of time to look at your home and envision themselves living there. Some buyers can be distracted or feel uneasy if the seller is there.

If you’ve done the prep before your home is listed to sell, getting ready for a showing should not take more than 15 minutes.

As always, contact me if you are interested in buying or selling in Murrells Inlet or the surrounding area or if you are interested in learning more about living at the beach.

5 Ideas to Increase Curb Appeal in the Spring

Have you ever thought your front yard or front porch and entrance need a little sprucing up? This week's video gives five ideas to increase curb appeal in the spring. All of the ideas mentioned can be completed in a weekend or two with a trip (or 2... or 3 if you really like flowers like me!) to your local hardware store or garden center. Two great local garden centers are Inlet Culinary Gardens in Murrells Inlet and True Blue Nursery in Pawleys Island. Most importantly, have fun while you increase the curb appeal of your home.

5 Ideas to Increase Curb Appeal in the Spring

1. Tidy up your landscaping

Declutter your yard - take away anything that could distract the attention of potential buyers. Remember, you want them focusing on the house not your garden globes, garden gnomes or kids toys.
Work on your flower beds - Weed, remove and replace any dead or dying plants and add some annual flowers for seasonal color
Add or replace mulch - fresh mulch makes your flowers and plants pop
Clean your water features - If you have any water features, drain the water and give them a good cleaning.
Make sure your grass is mowed and your lawn edged.

2. Power wash and paint

Power wash your house, sidewalks and driveway. It really is amazing what a good power washing can do for a home!
After you power wash, you may notice peeling paint. Give any trim or railings a fresh coat of paint.

3. Freshen up your entryway

You could add a trendy color to your front door or refresh the existing color. Now is a great time to add a new door knob and door knocker.
Add new address numbers that can easily be seen from the street - you want potential buyers to be able to find your house!
Finish off your entryway with a seasonal wreath, some potted flowers on either side of the door and a new doormat.

4. Update your lighting.

Change out your porch light fixtures with new modern fixtures.
You may also want to add lighting throughout your yard to light a walkway or call attention to landscaping features.

5. Tackle your mailbox.

Mailboxes are one of the last things we think about when thinking about curb appeal but it is often the first thing buyers see.
Repaint your mailbox or consider replacing it.
If you have any extra plants or flowers from step 1, add them around your mailbox.

Increasing your curb appeal can easily be done by a trip (or two!) to your local hardware store and garden center and a weekend of two of work. The benefits of increasing your curb appeal when selling are huge. Buyers perceive a higher home value when the home has a nice, well taken care of landscape and curb appeal. More than that though, buyers are attracted to your home and want to take a look inside. Remember the old adage, you never get a second chance to make a first impression and that is so true with the front of your home when your home is on the market. If you are not looking to sell your home, still invest a little time and money into the curb appeal of your home so you have something beautiful to see when you come home!

As always, contact me if you are interested in buying or selling in Murrells Inlet or the surrounding area or if you are interested in learning more about living at the beach. Have a great day!

“Helping You Find the Sandcastle of Your Dreams!”

5 Tips to Get Your Home Ready to Sell

5 Tips to Get Your Home Ready to List

Name: Justin C.
Rating: 5

Getting your home ready to list for sale is tough work! Here are five tips you help you get your home ready to sell.

5 Tips to Get Your Home Ready to Sell

1. Hire a real estate agent.

Your agent can help you navigate the steps needed to get your home sold. These steps include getting the home ready to list, marketing your home, receiving and negotiating offers and getting you to the finish line when you hand over your keys to the new owners. That’s the ultimate goal: handing over the keys. Many bumps can happen along the way, and your agent is there for guidance before you list your home, while your home is listed and once you are under contract. It is never too early to start talking with an agent. I have had sellers enlist my help months and even years before listing their homes.

2. Declutter and de-personalize your home

As a seller, you want to show your home in the best light. That means decluttering and depersonalizing your house. Remove the clutter and knick-knacks from your home so the buyers can see the house instead of your decor items. Plus, you want potential buyers to envision what their items will look like in your home. Remove seasonal clothing from your closet to show off the storage space. Also, take down pictures, especially of children. When your home is listed for sale, the pictures of your home will be online. You want to be careful what you are showing to the public.

3. Deep clean your home

Once potential buyers start looking at your home online and in person, you want it to sparkle. Either spend a weekend deep cleaning your home or hire a professional cleaner to do it for you. You want to make sure every corner of your home is spotless and smells good! It also may be worth your time to schedule weekly cleaning while your home is being shown.

4. Step up your curb appeal

You’ve depersonalized, decluttered and cleaned the inside of your home until it is spotless. Now it’s time to tackle the outside of your home. The outside of your home is the first thing buyers see when they drive by your home and from the pictures online. You’ve heard the phrase “you never have a second chance to make a first impression” a million times. Use that logic on your home. Get your house and driveway power washed. Make sure your grass is trimmed and edge your lawn. You may want to consider hiring a professional to cut and edge your lawn throughout the time your home is listed. Touch up any paint and maybe consider adding a fresh, trendy color of paint to your front door. Also, make sure all flower beds are mulched and shrubs are trimmed. Add some colorful, seasonal flowers to make the front of your house pop. Last but not least, make sure you have a nice mat at the front door. Not only will a mat make your home look inviting but it will help keep buyers from tracking in dirt.

5. Finish any projects you have going on, repair anything that is broken and make updates if necessary.

If you have half-finished projects going on at your house, finish those before listing your home. No one is judging because everyone has a project! However, buyers want to walk into a house they can see themselves living in, not a house that will take too much work.
Make sure everything in your house works. Walk your home with the eyes of a buyer. Check to make sure lights and fans work, windows open, blinds open correctly, faucets do not drip and nothing is squeaky. You do not want a buyer to think your home is not well taken care of because of small things.
Talk to your agent about making updates. Buyers are most focused on the kitchen and bathrooms because those can be high-dollar items to update. While you want your kitchen and bathrooms to attach buyers, doing a complete overhaul may not be necessary. Kitchen updates could include new cabinet hardware, a new backsplash or new appliances. Bathroom updates could include a new vanity, a new toilet and a new sink and shower hardware.

Once you have decided you want to move, talk to your listing agent to help you prepare your home for sale.

As always, contact me if you are interested in buying or selling in Murrells Inlet or the surrounding area or if you are interested in learning more about living at the beach. Have a great day!

“Helping You Find the Sandcastle of Your Dreams!”

5 Things Not To Do When Applying For a Loan

When applying for a loan to purchase a home, there are things you definitely should NOT do. Learn the top 5 things not to do when applying for a loan.

5 Things Not To Do When Applying For a Loan

DO NOT make any large purchases including a car or furniture and appliances for your new home. I know it is exciting to pick out items for your new home and get everything lined up for closing. However, the new payment for those purchases (if you buy on credit) could disqualify you from being able to qualify for your loan.
DO NOT stop making payments on your current obligations – rent, utilities, credit cards, student loans, car payments, etc.
DO NOT open any new credit cards. Opening any new credit cards could lower your credit score. Your credit will be re-checked right before closing. A lower score may mean you no longer qualify for your mortgage.
DO NOT make any large deposits or withdrawals that you cannot document.
DO NOT quit or change your job, even if it is for a better one. A change in jobs means you will have to produce 30 days worth of paystubs for the new job. Having to do this could delay your closing.

I hope learning about the top 5 things not to do when applying for a loan will help save you time and lower your stress levels when purchasing a home. Any time you have any questions about a financial decision that you are going to make between when you apply for your loan and when you close on your home, take a few minutes to call your loan officer or REALTOR. Taking those few minutes to explain what you are doing could save you a lot of headaches down the road or even save you from the worst-case scenario which is not being able to qualify for your loan and purchase your home.

As always, contact me if you are interested in buying or selling in Murrells Inlet or the surrounding area or if you are interested in learning more about living at the beach. Have a great day!

“Helping You Find the Sandcastle of Your Dreams!”

CONNECT WITH KATHY:

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Buying a New Construction Home vs. Buying a Resale Home

Advantages of Buying a New Construction Home vs. Buying a Resale Home

Building a new home can be a lot of fun and there are some advantages of buying a new construction home vs. buying a resale home.

Before getting into the advantages, we need to think about the timeframe to build. The timeframe to build a home and close is longer than purchasing a resale home and closing. You need to make sure the building timeline fits with your current living situation. Also, add in some extra building time for weather or supply delays.

Advantages of Building a Home:

You get to choose the floor plan and finishes you like. Once you pick out the floor plan that works best for you, you get to go to the builder’s design center to pick out your finishes – cabinets, countertops, flooring, light fixtures, etc.
As you get closer to closing on your home, we will meet with your builder to complete the punch list walk-through. During this walk-through, your builder will explain where the major systems of your home are and how to work those systems. We will also walk through your home looking for any paint that needs to be touched up and other issues that need to be addressed prior to closing on your home.
Either the day of closing or a day before closing, we will meet with the builder to make sure the items on your punch list were completed and make sure nothing else needs to be done.
When purchasing a new construction home, you also have a year warranty on almost everything in the home and an extended warranty for the systems and structure.

Buying a new construction home vs buying a resale home has some great advantages if the building process works for your timeframe.

As always, contact me if you are interested in buying or selling in Murrells Inlet or the surrounding area or if you are interested in learning more about living at the beach. Have a great day!

“Helping You Find the Sandcastle of Your Dreams!”

CONNECT WITH KATHY

PHONE/TEXT: 843-267-2710

EMAIL: Kathy@TeamRukat.com

55+ NEIGHBORHOOD FACEBOOK GROUP: https://www.facebook.com/groups/MyrtleBeach55Neighborhoods/

INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/kathyrukatsmith/

FACEBOOK BUSINESS PAGE: https://www.facebook.com/kathyrukatmyrtlebeachrealestate/

OTHER LINKS: https://linktr.ee/kathyrukatsmith

Murrells Inlet SC Property Taxes

Types of Property Taxes

In SC, we have two tax rates for property taxes. The 4% rate for primary residents and the 6% rate for second homes and investment properties. When you close on a property, you will automatically be charged the 6% rate. You need to apply for the 4% rate, and I can give you information on how to apply for the 4% rate after you close. Also, after you are 65 years old and have lived in the home for 1 year, you can apply for the Homestead exemption. For property tax purposes, the tax office will reduce the taxable value of your home by $50,000.

Property tax example

Let’s look at an example. Keep in mind these numbers are estimates only and your taxes will vary by where you purchase and the different millage rates. For our example, you are purchasing a $300,000 home in the Horry County section of Murrells Inlet.

If you purchased that property for a primary residence, the yearly taxes are just over $1000.00.
If you purchased that property for a second home or investment property, the yearly taxes are just over $2400.00.
If you are living in the home as a primary residence, are 65 years old or older and have lived in the home for 1 year, you can apply for the homestead exemption. Your yearly taxes are just over $800.

If you are moving from the northeast or midwest, you will notice our taxes are likely much lower than what you are paying now.

As always, contact me if you are interested in buying or selling in Murrells Inlet or the surrounding area or if you are interested in learning more about living at the beach. Have a great day!

Wire Transfers During COVID and Wire Fraud

WireTransfers During COVID

Setting up a wire transfer during COVID may be a little different at your bank than pre-COVID. In the past, I advised calling your bank around a week prior to closing to see what they needed you to do to schedule your wire transfer. Most banks require you to sign a wire transfer form. Under COVID restrictions, most banks are requiring an appointment for in-person meetings. Give your bank a call around 2 weeks prior to closing to schedule an appointment. This way, you know you have time to get things scheduled.

Wire Fraud

Wire fraud is something that has not changed during COVID. In fact, it may be getting worse. It is more important than ever that you are diligent in making sure your funds get to the right person. To do this, call your paralegal and verbally verify the wiring instructions that were emailed to you. Do not accept the wiring instructions that were emailed to you without calling to verify. Hackers are targeting emails during real estate transactions and sending incorrect wire instructions.

As always, contact me if you are interested in buying or selling in Murrells Inlet or the surrounding areas or if you want to learn more about the area. Have a great day!

Getting Pre-Approved for Your New Home Before Listing Your Current Home

Sea Turtles

When is Sea Turtle Season?

What do you need to know about sea turtles?

What are the Rules Regarding Sea Turtles?

Sea Turtle Links

What NOT to Post on Social Media When Selling or Previewing Homes

What NOT to Post When Selling Your Home

What NOT to Post When You are Buying a Home

5 Tips for Showing Your Home

5 Ideas to Increase Curb Appeal in the Spring

5 Tips to Get Your Home Ready to List

5 Tips to Get Your Home Ready to Sell

1. Hire a real estate agent.

2. Declutter and de-personalize your home

3. Deep clean your home

4. Step up your curb appeal

5. Finish any projects you have going on, repair anything that is broken and make updates if necessary.

“Helping You Find the Sandcastle of Your Dreams!”

5 Things Not To Do When Applying For a Loan

“Helping You Find the Sandcastle of Your Dreams!”

Advantages of Buying a New Construction Home vs. Buying a Resale Home

Advantages of Building a Home:

“Helping You Find the Sandcastle of Your Dreams!”

CONNECT WITH KATHY

Murrells Inlet SC Property Taxes

Types of Property Taxes

Property tax example

WireTransfers During COVID

Wire Fraud

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