By Dian Hymer, Inman News | Published: 4/27/2009

An energetic real estate agent can have your home on the market in a day. However, to provide the kind of marketing exposure you need to sell in today’s market takes a little longer, unless your home is photo-ready when you list.

Ideally, you should start planning for your home sale months before you want your home to be on the market. First find an agent to represent you. Then, create a game plan together for the premarketing phase of the process.

Use your agent as a resource. Walk through your home with your agent to get feedback on work, decluttering and rearranging that needs to be done before the house is photographed for advertising and shown to prospective buyers. If your agent doesn’t have a good eye for design, ask for a recommendation of a staging decorator..

Some sellers have presale inspections done to find out if repairs should be made before the property goes on the market. This wasn’t as important several years ago when buyers were enthusiastic about the prospect of making money in the residential real estate market. Now buyers are much more cautious, and property condition is a critical variable.

One seller did a beautiful job fixing up her house for sale. She ordered a termite report and had some of the work done. But she didn’t hire a home inspector to inspect the house. The interior was top-notch. In fact, more money was spent on this than was necessary. The listing agent was hired after the work had been done so the seller didn’t benefit from the agent’s advice about how much to spend and on what.

The house sold with multiple offers. However, the buyer’s home inspection report revealed that the house needed a new foundation. Fortunately, there was a backup buyer. But, the price was negotiated down significantly. In hindsight, it would have been better to have fixed the foundation and done a less expensive redo of the interior.

A couple sold a similar home. They worked with their agent for months before the house was marketed. They did presale inspections and got estimates for painting, staging, furnace replacement, making necessary structural modifications and fixing miscellaneous defects referenced in the termite report.

Then, they prioritized, with input from their agent, and had the most critical repairs and enhancements done before the listing hit the MLS. There was no renegotiation necessary with the buyers after they completed their inspections.

Make sure buyers receive copies of proposals and paid invoices for work you did to your home so they know which items in your presale inspection reports have been repaired.

Another couple, who plan to move in a few years, decided to get their home ready to sell now. They put in a new master bathroom, refinished floors and plan to replace a dry-rotted deck. They will enjoy the improvements for the remaining years they stay in the house.

Most sellers wait until the last minute to get their house ready for sale. It can be very stressful trying to get all the work done in a short time frame. Doing work gradually over time is a saner approach. Sadly, most homes never look as good as they do when they’re sold.

THE CLOSING: Now is a good time to have work done. A lot of contractors are looking for work. You might receive more competitive bids and be able to have the work done when you want.

Dian Hymer is a nationally syndicated real estate columnist and author of “House Hunting, The Take-Along Workbook for Home Buyers” and “Starting Out, The Complete Home Buyer’s Guide,” Chronicle

South Carolina has plenty to offer as a retirement relocation option. Northerners may be looking forward to thawing out earlier in the year, while those from the Deep South may be looking forward to four distinct seasons. Nearly everyone moving to South Carolina appreciates the low cost of living and the high quality of life.

Many retirees have found another one of South Carolinas allures, charming towns with colleges that provide an exciting retirement environment. A college town’s mix of youthful energy, academic achievement, and cultural stimulation is instantly appealing, and a great number of older people are finding out, it’s not just for the young, but also for the young at heart.

From the cobblestone streets, to the gas lights glowing in front of antebellum homes, it’s hard not to fall in love with Charleston. Charleston has a strong economy, with the fourth busiest port in the nation, and a great medical care system.

The College of Charleston’s 9,700 plus students make up the largest portion of the undergraduate pie, with Trident Technical College following with over 6,000 students. There are a few other schools with approximately 2,000 students each, including Citadel Military University, the Medical University of South Carolina, and Charleston Southern University.

The College of Charleston has two programs for seniors: a Center for Creative Retirement, similar to the program found in Asheville, NC, and the Elderhostel Program. The Center for Creative Retirement is a member led organization with weekly lectures, discussion groups, educational tours, social activities, and other programs to stimulate interest, without the participants having to worry about assignments and grades. The Center also helps newcomers understand more about Charleston by providing informative history lectures on the area and its people. The Elderhostel Program is a non-profit, fee based organization that organizes experiential based learning and travel activities for older adults.

Heading up the coast, our next town is one you may not have heard of before, Conway. Set just about 16 miles northwest of Myrtle Beach, Conway is a great town for retirees. The cost of living is remarkably cheap, for its close proximity to the beach. Residents of Conway can also worry less about seasonal hurricanes, as their inland location takes some of the force out of the storms. Conway has its own hospital, located in town, as well as being located 156 miles from Myrtle Beach’s facilities. The town of Conway, located along the Waccamaw River, with a population of around 13,500 people, is showing strong signs of growth. Coastal Carolina University is located in Conway, and with over 4,000 students is an integral part of the community. Seniors can find courses in the Lifelong Learners catalog. The courses run anywhere from one session to multiple classes.

Columbia may be known as the state’s capital, but it is also home to a number of colleges. The largest, with an enrollment of about 20,000 students is the University of South Carolina at Columbia. Other colleges in Columbia include, Midlands Technical College, with about 6,000 students, and Benedict College, with about 3,000 students. Now, because of the size of the city of Columbia, many people won’t consider it your quintessential college town. But, with around 30,000 students in Columbia, you’ll certainly have plenty of opportunities to get in the classroom. USC Columbia is your best bet for continuing your education in your retirement. There are non-credit certificate programs, online courses you may take from the comfort of your home, and the traditional curriculum which is open to students of all ages. If you want to live in a college town for the events it provides, Columbia is a great place to choose. USC Columbia has competitive teams playing football, basketball, baseball, soccer, tennis, and more. USC’s football program is one of the best in the nation, consistently fielding great teams and sending players onto the NFL. There are concerts ranging from a cappella groups to piano or guitar masters recitals. .

For your classic definition of a college town, head up into the mountains, and visit Clemson. Home of Clemson University and the orange covered Clemson Tigers football team, with their rabid fans, come football season you’ll be in the midst of some of the best collegiate football the country has to offer. The town of Clemson is small, encompassing the school’s campus, a main street and a few other small streets. Offerings for nightlife and restaurants in town are somewhat limited, but do show a cosmopolitan flair suited to a college town. For more options you can take a short drive over to Seneca, which is a growing town near the banks of Lake Keowee. Greenville is only 45 minutes away, so you won’t be too far from the airport and more options for shopping, dining, and entertainment. Residents of the Clemson area are lucky, as the college hosts a branch of the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI). OLLI centers can be found across the country, and focus on enhancing the social, recreational, and educational development of elder citizens. It is a membership based group, with nominal fees for a wide range of classes.

Greenville has a total of around 13,000 students, spread out in three colleges. They are Greenville Technical College, Bob Jones University, and Furman University. Downtown Greenville is a tree lined, walkable area, perfect for newcomers and long time residents alike. There are plenty of options for shopping, dining, and nightlife. With the Greenville area experiencing rapid growth, now is a great time for retirees to research the area.

The largest college in Greenville, SC is Greenville Technical College, with about 6,000 students, followed by Bob Jones University, which has about 3,500 students, and Furman University, which accounts for about 3,000 students. Greenville Technical College has a continuing education department which has a number of vocational based courses such as computer and business, or healthcare courses. Bob Jones University is a great place for events and cultural happenings. There are art exhibits, bible conferences (it is a Christian college), plays, and plenty more. Bob Jones also has a nice continuing education department with a variety of computer classes, digital photography courses, scripture study, and health and fitness classes to keep you in shape between courses. Furman University steals the show when it comes to community involvement. There is the Furman Golf Club, a hiring service that places undergraduates with residents needing help with a job, and a great continuing education department coordinated by the Furman University Learning in Retirement (FULIR) division. FULIR is associated with the Elderhostel program mentioned above in our Charleston section, and provides a safe, enjoyable learning environment for seniors.

Choosing any of these South Carolina college towns for retirement is a great idea. Cities like Charleston and Columbia will give you access to colleges, as well as a full range of city entertainments, while places like Clemson and Conway are a bit more laid back. Greenville is a great mix of the two. No matter your preference in size and pace, staying active is the key to a successful and enjoyable retirement. Good luck in your search to find your Best Places to Live in South Carolina!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Bob_Bencivenga

Standard & Poors released its Case-Shiller Index a few weeks ago.  The index is a monthly home valuation report from select cities and among the private sector’s most popular home pricing models.

In reviewing the April Case-Shiller Index and its accompanying analysis, it appears that the housing market’s rebound is gathering momentum.

In the index’s 20 tracked cities:

• 18 of 20 improved from March to April 2010
• Versus April 2009, home prices are up nearly 4 percent
• The two “down” cities from April — Miami and New York — are off just 0.5% and 1.0% annually, respectively

Furthermore, as another sign of strength, San Diego, a city in which homeowners have lost a lot of equity since 2007, has now shown 12 straight months of home price improvement.

However, the Case-Shiller Index must be kept in context. It’s far from perfect.

For one, the index reports on a 60-day delay; it’s only now showing data from the end of April, when the federal homebuyer tax credit was expiring. Home sales have been weak since then it’s been reported.

And second, the Case-Shiller Index is limited to just 20 cities nationwide. Therefore, the index doesn’t consider every home sale in every American city — it only considers a select few. Many more U.S. homes are excluded from the Case-Shiller Index than are included.

But, despite its flaws, the Case-Shiller Index remains important with respect to economic analysis. Much like the government’s Home Price Index, Case-Shiller helps to identify broader trends in housing that shape government and monetary policy.

Note: We’re seeing similar trends in the Greenville SC real estate market. Put a Rockwell agent to work for you to learn more.

A “pending home” is a property that is under contract to sell, but not yet closed.

March marks the second straight month in which the Pending Home Sales Index improved after a series of weak showings this past winter.

March showed a 5 percent increase over the month, but the Pending Home Sales Index is still off its October 2009’s peak.  October 2009 is a comparable period to March 2010 in that it marked the 1-month deadline before the home buyer tax credit’s initial expiration date. The credit was later extended to April 2010, of course.

That said, March’s surge in sales is being felt on the street.

Home buyers in Greenville, SC no doubt noticed the change in activity. Around the country, anecdotally, multiple offer situations were more common last month and “right-priced” homes tended to go under contract quickly.

The increase in March’s Pending Home Sales is diminishing the nation’s home supply which, in turn, should cause prices to rise in most markets — including the Greenville, SC market.

Today’s buyers should consider making an offer sooner rather than later.  Looking at the data, it appears the best time to have found a “deal” on a home may have been in February.

What is a Realtor?

Before you can make an informed decision about whether or not you should use a Realtor, you need to know what a Realtor is and what role he or she will play in the home-buying process. Realtors are individuals licensed by the state to protect buyers and sellers in real estate transactions. A realtor is there to protect you. It’s that simple.

Not all real estate agents are “Realtors,” however. Only those who are members of the National Association of Realtors are actually Realtors. To earn the title of Realtor, individuals must complete course work, and must be tested on his or her skills and knowledge of the real estate industry. Realtors are held to a strict code of ethics and must maintain an advanced knowledge of the home buying and selling process.

How a Realtor can help you

Realtors know the process of buying a property inside and out. The experienced Realtors at Rockwell Realty have been buying and selling homes for years and have seen literally hundreds–or even thousands–of real estate transactions. Realtors are also expected to maintain a high level of knowledge about current market trends and local real estate market news. The purchase of a home or property is, likely, one of the biggest investments you will make in your life. Wouldn’t you want a professional with experience and insight on your team when so much is at stake?

A Realtor can . . .
•    Help you determine your buying power.
•    Find great properties using resources not available that the general public.
•    Show you reputable, qualified sources of financing.
•    Help you negotiate and get the best deal.
•    Conduct due diligence on properties.
•    Guide you through closing to make sure everything runs smoothly.