In today's ever-evolving real estate market, prospective homebuyers are facing the challenge of rising mortgage interest rates. While the notion of higher rates may seem daunting at first glance, it's essential to put this into perspective. In this blog post, we'll explore how even with higher interest rates, securing a mortgage can still be a financially savvy move when compared to the alternatives of high-interest credit cards and steep rental costs.

1. Mortgage Rates vs. High-Interest Credit Cards

When you compare mortgage interest rates to the exorbitant interest charges that come with high-limit credit cards, it becomes clear that a mortgage is a more sound choice. Here's why:

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Why is my homeowner's insurance so high?

Recently I received a letter from my insurance carrier saying they would no longer be issuing policies in my area due to it being a coastal region and I would not be renewed. No problem, I thought. I went back and asked for a quote which led to another, which led me to ask for a quote from 7 different companies in order to understand why my rate was SO HIGH!  I needed answers and I knew if I needed them that my clients did as well, so I found some.

In this blog I sat down with Perry Stalvey from Perry Insurance Group in North Myrtle Beach to find answers for all of you. Here is what I found. 

Me: Perry, thank you so much for being here today. ...

"Which Real Estate Website is the Most Accurate"? If you are anything like me you want to use the most accurate website to find your home and if you are selling you definitely want your home on that site! How do you know which one is THE most accurate? Let's get into it. 

1. Are Realtor.com and Zillow the MOST accurate?

Let me first say, I like these sites. I use them. I know, I am not supposed to say that because they are supposed to be my enemy but I find them to be useful to me in the field sometimes. They are easy to use and pretty to look at but they are not the most accurate. Though they provide most of the same information that other sites provide the ease of use is their great...

Looking for useful information on buying a home but don't want to enter your personal information out of fear that the emails will never stop? I understand. We are NOT some lead capture site. We just want to provide useful information to those who need it. Visit our page on buying a home to request your free personal copy of this booklet with no obligation. 

Pelican Bay Lakes is a new home community in Longs, SC. What most people don't know is that this particular area of Longs lies between North Myrtle Beach and Little River closer to North Myrtle Beach. Pelican Bay Lakes is tucked back off of Robert Edge Parkway near the Intracoastal Waterway and just minutes from the beach. 4 stop lights separate this community from the beach at the end of Main Street in North Myrtle Beach! 

This community offers a convenient location that still gives you the feeling of privacy and nature. Surrounded by small lakes on all sides, each lot offers water views/front in the rear yard with a small community feel. Just around the corner is the North Myrtle Beach...

When it comes to buying a home interest rates have always been a huge determining factor in figuring affordability. So what can be done, as a buyer, if rates are higher than they have been?

It is common to hyper focus on interest rates but the number that matters the most is the monthly payment on your new home. This is the number that you need to work with in order to stay within your budget. 

If the interest rate is high that means that your affordability may be decreased. Basically, the amount you are qualified for may be less than expected and in some markets can affect your chance of buying a home. Don't worry though! There is always a solution, sometimes you just have to look a li...

CLOSE ON YOUR BRAND NEW HOME AT THE BEACH BY THE END OF THE YEAR!

Del Webb North Myrtle Beach is an active adult community (55+) located between the Intracoastal Waterway and the Atlantic Ocean. 

Del Webb North Myrtle Beach offers new construction built by Pulte Homes featuring low-maintenance exteriors less than a mile from the beach. 

Planned amenities for Del Webb North Myrtle Beach is expected to include multiple sports courts, a fitness center, multiple pools, and planned activities complete with a full time Lifestyle Director. 

THESE HOMES are currently under construction and are expected to be ready to close by the end of the year. 

For more information on Del Webb North Myrtl...

Thanksgiving is a time for people to come together, enjoy each other's company, eat some awesome food, and just give thanks. The kicker to all of this, food can be expensive and hosting for a large group can cost a whole lot if you do it wrong and can become stressful instead of joyful. 

Here are some tips on keeping Thanksgiving stress free, affordable, and enjoyable!

1. Keep it simple!

Thanksgiving doesn't have to be a huge feast of a million foods that takes you 2 days to prepare. Keep it simple this year by streamlining your menu. Offer the basics that you know will be eaten and enjoyed. You can also ask your guests to bring their favorite dish to share. This helps take some burden...

One of the questions I am getting lately is from sellers who want to know if now is a good time to sell. As we enter into the fall market people tend to think that it would be better to wait for spring. In some markets, that may be the case and though things do slow a bit during the holiday season, in our coastal region we still see a very active market. So the short answer to the question is, yes. Now is a good time to sell. However, as a seller you need to remember these few things;

1. Do NOT overprice your house!

I can't even say this enough. NEVER put yourself in a position where you need to make continual adjustments. Be realistic with the true market value of your home and price i...

It's like music to a buyer's ears! "The return of a buyer's market". Seems great but there's a catch. Rates are much higher than they were even a year ago. What does this mean for a buyer? Let's take a real look at what the market is doing and what it means for both buyers and sellers. 

A look through the Buyer's eyes

Not so long ago interest rates to purchase a home were as low as 2.875%. When you are living the moment, it is easy to forget that rates were higher just a few years before that. In fact, this isn't the first time we have faced an increase in rates or even truly high interest rates! Low rates were never going to last forever, yet somehow we expected them to and that has ...

Relocating? We are here to help! Our agents know firsthand what it is like to move across the country to the beach. We understand the complexity of trying to piece together every moving part in order to make sure everything and everyone gets to where they are going. 

We also know that you need someone at your destination to be your eyes and hands-on advocate when you are looking for that new place to call your own. Once you have decided to relocate, there are a few steps you should take.

1. FIND AN AGENT TO REPRESENT YOU. This may seem like a no brainer but so many people begin their search only to discover that the area or home that they thought they loved didn't quite work for their ne...

"It's a Seller's market", "highest and best", "multiple offers", these are the phrases that are repeated over and over right now. Buyers are just expected to accept the fact that the home they see may not be within reach for them. They are expected to understand and accept that the price they see listed is most likely not what that property will sell for, and Buyers are being encouraged to pay more for a home than what it appraises for because there is someone else who will buy it if they don't. In some cases, contingencies are being removed; contracts won't be accepted if they have any protection in place for the buyer such as home inspections, appraisals, even financing in some cases. H...

For close to 20 years I have been a licensed Realtor in 2 different states. I have loved every minute of this career. That's not to say that every minute has been easy or that I am able to help everyone but one thing I have learned along the way is that it costs nothing to be kind and it can make all the difference to someone. 

Over the past few years, I have been asked what the culture of my company is, how we work, and what makes us different from the rest. I wanted to take a minute to share our company philosophy and the rules that we do our best to live by in this profession. 

In the photo you will see what we value and how we serve our clients and each other. It's not a complicated...

Are you thinking about a career in real estate and you don't know where to start? I can help. Many people come into this business thinking the same thing. Whenever I ask an agent why they chose a career in real estate I usually hear one answer more than anything else, money. Seems like it would be a good answer, right? I mean, no one chooses a career that they could potentially make no money doing. That wouldn't be smart. So in short, money is a valid reason but it can't be THE reason. Chasing dollars and deals in this industry will result in burn out and frustration. There will always be a LOT of agents to choose from but the majority of them won't make it past year 1 and if they do, by ...